333 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on medieval Indian history are on this page, in 6 chapters. They cover the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Each question has an answer and an explanation, and the formats match the exam: facts, statements, match-the-list and assertion-reason.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 271–280 of 333 questions
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RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q271. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The Bhakti movement in North India was highly influenced by the egalitarian principles of Islam and Sufi mysticism. Statement II: All Bhakti saints of North India uniformly rejected the concept of idol worship due to Islamic influence. Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Medieval religious thought in North India was shaped by cross-cultural exchanges, incorporating egalitarian ideas from Islamic mysticism and Sufi practices. While some leaders focused on a formless divine, many others continued to worship personal deities with physical forms. Therefore, the assertion that every saint in the region completely abandoned traditional idol worship is historically inaccurate, as diverse devotional paths coexisted.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q272. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the general characteristics of the Bhakti movement.
Explanation
Most leaders of this tradition sought to make spiritual truths accessible to the common person. To achieve this, they deliberately moved away from Sanskrit, which was the language of the scholarly elite. Instead, they composed their hymns and teachings in regional vernaculars, ensuring that their message of equality and devotion reached the widest possible audience across various social and economic classes.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q273. Consider the following lists regarding foundational texts or groups of the Southern Bhakti tradition and their religious orientation:
Texts or Groups
Religious Orientation
A. Divya Prabandham
i. Devotees of Lord Shiva
B. Tevaram
ii. Anthology of Shaiva hymns
C. Alvars
iii. Anthology of Vaishnava hymns
D. Nayanars
iv. Devotees of Lord Vishnu
Which of the following is the correctly matched code?
Explanation
The southern devotional tradition is categorized into two main groups based on their primary deity. The Alvars were dedicated to Lord Vishnu, while the Nayanars focused on Lord Shiva. Their respective literary contributions include the Divya Prabandham, an anthology of Vaishnava hymns, and the Tevaram, which consists of hymns dedicated specifically to the Shaiva tradition, forming the foundation of Tamil Bhakti.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q274. Find the odd one out among the following saints of the Southern Bhakti tradition.
Explanation
The early medieval religious landscape of South India featured two distinct groups of poet-saints. While Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar were prominent Nayanars who composed hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, Nammalvar belonged to the Alvar tradition. As a devotee of Lord Vishnu, his inclusion here represents a different sectarian focus compared to the other three figures who championed the Shaiva path.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q275. Consider the following statements regarding the early Bhakti movement in South India: I. Andal was a prominent female Alvar saint known for her profound devotion to Lord Krishna. II. The Alvar and Nayanar saints strictly belonged to the upper castes and excluded Shudras. III. They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Early southern devotional movements were notably inclusive and mobile, featuring saints like Andal who expressed intense love for the divine. These individuals rejected the exclusivity of upper-caste rituals and welcomed followers from all social backgrounds, including Shudras. They traveled extensively across the region, singing hymns in the Tamil language to make spiritual experiences accessible to the common masses in temples.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q276. Which of the following pairs of Bhakti saints and their specific royal patronage or conflict is correctly matched?
Explanation
Religious history records significant interactions between spiritual leaders and political authorities. A famous instance involves the saint Appar, who initially faced severe persecution from a Pallava king due to his religious leanings. However, the saint’s spiritual resilience eventually led to the ruler’s own conversion to Shaivism. This event highlights the dynamic and sometimes confrontational relationship between the emerging Bhakti movements and established royalty.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q277. In the context of the Tamil Bhakti traditions, what does the term Tirumurai refer to?
Explanation
This significant literary work serves as a foundational scripture for the Shaiva community in South India. It is a massive twelve-volume anthology that compiles the soulful hymns and poems composed by the Nayanar saints. By preserving these expressions of intense devotion, the collection played a crucial role in systematizing religious worship and maintaining the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tamil Shaivism.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q278. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): Ramanuja advocated the path of devotion (Bhakti) to attain moksha while accepting the reality of the material world. Reason (R): According to his philosophy of Vishishtadvaita, the individual soul and the material world are real but remain completely dependent on Brahman.
Explanation
The philosophy of Vishishtadvaita posits that the universe and individual souls are real entities that exist as attributes of the Supreme Brahman. This logical framework supports the necessity of devotion, as the soul remains distinct yet inseparable from the divine. By acknowledging the reality of the material world, this system provides a solid metaphysical foundation for spiritual practice and ultimate liberation.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q279. Ramanuja wrote a highly influential commentary on the Brahma Sutras. What is the name of this famous philosophical text?
Explanation
Among the various intellectual contributions of this great philosopher, his commentary on the Brahma Sutras stands out as a masterpiece of theological reasoning. This text provides a detailed interpretation of Vedic scriptures from the perspective of qualified non-dualism. It successfully integrated the emotional depth of the Alvar hymns with the rigorous requirements of Sanskrit scholarship, establishing a robust philosophical framework for devotion.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Q280. A seeker follows a philosophy which states that God (Brahman) is the ultimate reality, but the souls (Chit) and the universe (Achit) are its real, inseparable attributes, much like the body is to the soul. Which philosophy is the seeker following?
Explanation
The seeker is following a school of thought that describes the relationship between God and the world using the soul-body analogy. In this perspective, while the divine is the ultimate reality, the individual souls and the physical universe are real and inseparable attributes of that reality. This approach allows for a meaningful relationship between the devotee and a personal, attribute-filled God.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
271
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
272
(d) The heavy reliance on Sanskrit to ensure the purity of spiritual and religious transmission.
273
(c) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i
274
(d) Nammalvar
275
(c) I and III only
276
(c) Appar - Conflict with the Pallava ruler before his conversion to Shaivism
277
(a) A twelve-volume collection of Tamil Shaiva devotional poetry
278
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
279
(b) Sri Bhashya
280
(c) Vishishtadvaita
Key facts from Medieval Indian History
The RPSC syllabus names the Sultanate period, the political and cultural achievements of Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Delhi Sultanate questions revolve around reforms: Alauddin Khalji’s market control and cash salaries, Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s public works and the Iqta system.
Mughal and Maratha questions pair a ruler with a battle, treaty or institution, such as Panipat 1526, Khanwa 1527, Purandar 1665 and the Ashtapradhan.
Art questions link monuments, painters and poets to their patron, for example the Buland Darwaza with Akbar and the Bani Thani with Savant Singh of Kishangarh.
Bhakti questions test founders, philosophies and texts, such as Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita and Kabir’s Bijak.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Medieval Indian History?
This page has 333 practice MCQs on Medieval Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters are in the medieval Indian history set?
Six chapters: the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire (administration and policies), the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Is medieval history in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC includes the Sultanate period, Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements in the ancient and medieval part of Indian History.
How can I revise medieval history quickly?
Make a timeline of rulers, battles and treaties for each chapter, and a table of reforms, buildings and texts against their rulers. Then attempt the chapter questions, read each explanation, and repeat the ones you missed.
