1. The famous Koh-i-nur / Kohinoor diamond was taken away from India in 18th century, during invasion of Delhi by ________.
A. Ahmad Shah Abdali
B. Nadir Shah
C. Nizam-ul-Mulk
D. Saadat Khan
ANSWER: B.Nadir Shah
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SOLUTION : Nadir Shah took away the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond and the jewel-studded Peacock Throne of Shahjahan from India.
2. Who was the Mughal Emperor when Marathas were defeated by Afghans led by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761?
A. Akbar II
B. Shah Alam II
C. Muhammad Shah
D. Bahadur Shah Zafar
ANSWER: B.Shah Alam II
SOLUTION:
Shah Alam II ascended the throne in 1759, but could not see face of Delhi for long time
because he lived in mortal fear of his own wazir who was present in Delhi. In 1764, he
sided with Mir Qasim of Bengal and Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh against British East India
Company in Battle of Buxar, in which he was defeated and confined to Allahabad. It was
Shah Alam II who officially granted Diwani (Revenue) of Bengal to British East India
Company. He returned to Delhi in 1772 under protection of Marathas.
3. Which of the following were causes of downfall of Mughal Empire?
A. Narrow religious policies of Aurangzeb
B. Infighting among nobles
C. Rise of Marathas
D. All of the above
ANSWER : D.All of the above
SOLUTION:
All of the above.
4. In Mughal administration the practice of ijarah was _________.
A. Land revenue was taken on the basis of quality of land
B. Appointment of hereditary military officers
C. Farming the land revenue to the highest bidder
D. Reserving the best lands for King’s own treasury
ANSWER: C.Farming the land revenue to the highest bidder
SOLUTION:
After the death of Aurangzeb, the practice of ijarah or farming the land revenue to the
highest bidder, who was permitted to raise what he could from the peasantry, became
more common.
5. Khalisa lands were ________.
A. Barren lands
B. Land belonging to enemy country
C. Very productive land
D. Land under direct control of Crown
ANSWER: D.Land under direct control of Crown
SOLUTION:
Responsibility of revenue collection in Jagir or Iqta lands was given to Jagirdar (Mughals)
or Iqtedar (Sultanate) respectively. Only a part of revenue collection from these lands went
to the central treasury, rest was used for administration of these Jagirs and Iqtas.
6. Which of the following was not one of the regional kingdoms that emerged in 18th century?
A. Bengal
B. Awadh
C. Kabul
D. Hyderabad
ANSWER:C.Kabul
SOLUTION:
After decline of Mughal power in first half of 18th century, Indian political map was dotted
with numerous regional kingdoms – Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad, Mysore, Maratha, were
prominent among them.
7. Who among the following Mughal Emperor became the first pensioner of the East India Company?
A. Ahmed Shah
B. Shah Alam II
C. Bahadur Shah
D. Muhammed Shah
ANSWER:B.Shah Alam II
SOLUTION :
After defeated in the battle, Mughal emperor Shah Alam II had to signed the Treaty of Allahabad. As per the treaty, he granted Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the British East India Company and became the first Mughal emperor to get pension and protection from the Britishers.
8. Which Mughal Ruler’s gave permission for collecting Chauth and Sardesh Mukhi on Maratha land to Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath?
A. Farrukhsiyar
B. Rafi-ud-Darajat
C. Rafi-ud-Daula
D. Muhammed Shah
ANSWER: A.Farrukhsiyar
SOLUTION:
Farrukhsiyar gave permission for collecting chauth and sardesh mukhi on maratha land to peshwa balaji vishwanath. Farrukhsiyar was the grandson of Aurangzeb who ruled from 1713 to 1719. Farrukhsiyar’s reign was marked by political instability, corruption and rebellions.
9. Who called Muazzam as Shahi-i- Bekhabar?
A. Kafi Khan
B. Zulfikar khan
C. Kam Baksh
D. Nur Jahan
ANSWER: A.Kafi Khan
SOLUTION:
Khafi Khan gave the title of Shah-i-Bekhabar to Bahadur Shah. The 63-year-old Prince Muazzam, the eldest son of Aurangzeb, became the emperor, taking the title Bahadur Shah. He had killed his brothers Muhammad Azam and Kam Bakhsh in the war of succession.
10. Who was Nur Jahan’s son-in-law?
A. Khurram
B. Nazim
C. Abdul
D. Shahryar
ANSWER: D.Shahryar
SOLUTION:
Afraid to lose her powers and influence in the Mughal court if Shah Jahan would succeed her husband, she backed her son-in-law, Shahryar Mirza, whom she believed could be easily manipulated thus retaining influence in the Mughal court. She wished for her daughter, Ladli Begum, to become Empress after her.