1. The famous treatise on statecraft and military strategy, ‘Arthashastra’, was authored by __________.
A) Ashwaghosha
B) Kautilya
C) Bharata Muni
D) Megasthenes
Answer: B
Explanation: Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta, was the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya. The Arthashastra is a comprehensive Ancient Indian discourse on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy.
2. Which ancient text is considered the foundational work for Indian classical dance and music?
A) Brihaddeshi
B) Geet Govinda
C) Natya Shastra
D) Mrichchakatikam
Answer: C
Explanation: Attributed to Bharata Muni, the Natya Shastra is a detailed treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance, and music.
3. The biography of King Harshavardhana, titled ‘Harshacharita’, was written by _________.
A) Banabhatta
B) Kalhana
C) Vishakha Datta
D) Harsha
Answer: A
Explanation: Banabhatta was the Asthana Kavi (Court Poet) of King Harshavardhana. Harshacharita is considered one of the earliest examples of a historical poetic biography in Sanskrit.
4. ‘Indica’, an account of Mauryan India, was written by which foreign ambassador?
A) Thomas Roe
B) Megasthenes
C) Marco Polo
D) Francois Bernier
Answer: B
Explanation: Megasthenes was a Greek ethnographer and ambassador sent by Seleucus I Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. His book Indica provides crucial details about the Mauryan administration and social structure.
5. The Sanskrit play ‘Mudra Rakshasa’, which narrates the ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to power, was written by _______.
A) Shudraka
B) Vishakha Datta
C) Kalidas
D) Bhasa
Answer: B
Explanation: Mudra Rakshasa is a historical play in Sanskrit that describes how Chanakya helped Chandragupta Maurya overthrow the Nanda Dynasty.
6. Which of the following books was written by Gulbadan Begum, the daughter of Emperor Babur?
A) Akbarnama
B) Baburnama
C) Humayun Nama
D) Shahjahannama
Answer: C
Explanation: Gulbadan Begum wrote the Humayun Nama at the request of her nephew, Emperor Akbar, to record the history of her half-brother, Humayun.
7. The famous traveler Al-Beruni, who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni, wrote which of the following?
A) Kitab-ul-Rehala
B) Kitab-ul-Hind
C) Tughlaq Nama
D) Fatwa-i-Jahandari
Answer: B
Explanation: Al-Beruni was a Persian scholar. Kitab-ul-Hind is an encyclopedic work on Indian culture, religion, and science during the medieval period.
8. ‘Tarikh-i-Feroz shahi’, an important source for the history of the Tughlaq dynasty, was authored by _________.
A) Ziauddin Barni
B) Amir Khusrau
C) Abul Fazl
D) Minhaj-us-Siraj
Answer: A
Explanation: Ziauddin Barni was a Muslim political thinker of the Delhi Sultanate. His work covers the period from the reign of Ghiyasuddin Balban to the first six years of Feroz Shah Tughlaq.
9. Who authored the ‘Tujuk-i-Jahangiri’, the autobiography of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir?
A) Abul Fazl
B) Jahangir
C) Inayat Khan
D) Mohammad Saqi
Answer: B
Explanation: Unlike Akbar (whose biography was written by Abul Fazl), Emperor Jahangir wrote his own memoirs, known as Tujuk-i-Jahangiri or Jahangirnama.
10. The ‘Tughlaq Nama’, describing the rise of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, was written by ________.
A) Ibn Batuta
B) Al-Masudi
C) Amir Khusrau
D) Ziauddin Barni
Answer: C
Explanation: Amir Khusrau was a legendary Sufi musician and poet. Tughlaq Nama is one of his historic poetic works focusing on the Tughlaq dynasty.
11. The book ‘Hind Swaraj’, which outlines the concept of self-rule, was written by _________.
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Subhash Chandra Bose
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: B
Explanation: Written in 1909, Hind Swaraj (or Indian Home Rule) expresses Gandhi’s views on Swaraj, modern civilization, and mechanization.
12. Who authored ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’ to explain the “Drain of Wealth” theory?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji
B) Raja Rammohan Roy
C) Jyotibha Phule
D) S.N. Banerjee
Answer: A
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the “Grand Old Man of India,” used this book to highlight how British colonial policies were systematically draining India’s wealth.
13. The famous anti-caste work ‘Ghulam Giri’ (Slavery) was written by _________.
A) Tarabai Shinde
B) Jyotibha Phule
C) B.R. Ambedkar
D) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Answer: B
Explanation: Jyotirao Phule wrote Ghulam Giri in 1873. He dedicated the book to the American movement to abolish slavery, linking it to the struggle against the caste system in India.
14. ‘Gitanjali’, the collection of poems that won the Nobel Prize in Literature, was written by
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Rabindranath Tagore
C) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
D) Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Answer: B
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 specifically for his work Gitanjali.
15. The book ‘The Indian Struggle’ (1920–1942) was authored by _________.
A) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
B) Lala Lajpat Rai
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Bhagat Singh
Answer: A
Explanation: In this book, Bose analyzes the Indian independence movement from the Non-Cooperation movement to the early 1940s.
16. Who wrote the famous essay ‘Why I Am an Atheist?’ while imprisoned in Lahore Central Jail?
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Bhagat Singh
C) Amitav Ghosh
D) Vikram Seth
Answer: B
Explanation: Bhagat Singh wrote this landmark essay in 1930 as a response to his religious friends who thought his atheism was born out of vanity.
17. The novel ‘The God of Small Things’, which won the Booker Prize in 1997, was written by __________.
A) Jhumpa Lahiri
B) Arundhati Roy
C) Kiran Desai
D) Anita Desai
Answer: B
Explanation: This was Arundhati Roy’s debut novel. It explores how small things affect people’s lives and destinies, set in the state of Kerala.
18. ‘Midnight’s Children’, a novel dealing with India’s transition from British colonialism to independence, was written by __________.
A) Salman Rushdie
B) Shashi Tharoor
C) Khushwant Singh
D) Vikram Seth
Answer: A
Explanation: This book won the Booker Prize and later the “Booker of Bookers.” It is a masterpiece of magical realism.
19. Who is the author of ‘India After Gandhi’, a comprehensive history of the Indian nation since 1947?
A) Ramachandra Guha
B) Upamanyu Chatterjee
C) Rohinton Mistry
D) Satyajit Ray
Answer: A
Explanation: Ramachandra Guha is a prominent Indian historian. This book is widely regarded as the definitive history of post-independence India.
20. The classic adventure novel ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ was authored by _______.
A) Jules Verne
B) Robert Louis Stevenson
C) Walter Scott
D) H.G. Wells
Answer: A
Explanation: Jules Verne was a French novelist known for his adventure stories and heavy influence on the sci-fi genre. He also wrote Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
21. Which book by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is aimed at motivating Indian youth to dream big?
A) Ignited Minds
B) Discovery of India
C) Unhappy India
D) My Experiments with Truth
Answer: A
Explanation: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, wrote Ignited Minds to encourage young Indians to develop a sense of mission and realize their potential.
22. The novel ‘Q&A’, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, was written by __________.
A) Vikas Swarup
B) Chetan Bhagat
C) Aravind Adiga
D) Vikram Seth
Answer: A
Explanation: Vikas Swarup is an Indian diplomat and author. His debut novel Q&A tells the story of a waiter who wins a massive jackpot on a quiz show.
23. ‘Train to Pakistan’, a historical novel about the Partition of India in 1947, was written by _________.
A) Khushwant Singh
B) Salman Rushdie
C) Amitav Ghosh
D) Shashi Tharoor
Answer: A
Explanation: Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan is a harrowing account of the human cost and violence that accompanied the Partition.
24. ‘The White Tiger’, which won the Man Booker Prize in 2008, was authored by __________.
A) Aravind Adiga
B) Amitav Ghosh
C) Kiran Desai
D) Rohinton Mistry
Answer: A
Explanation: Aravind Adiga’s debut novel provides a dark, humorous, and provocative look at India’s class struggle through the eyes of a village boy turned driver.
25. The famous autobiography ‘My Experiments with Truth’ was originally written by __________.
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Bhagat Singh
D) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Answer: B
Explanation: This book covers Gandhi’s life from early childhood through to 1921. It is a critical source for understanding his philosophy of Satya (Truth) and Ahimsa (Non-violence).
26. ‘Waiting for the Mahatma’, a novel set during the Indian independence movement, was written by __________.
A) A. R.K. Narayan
B) Mulk Raj Anand
C) Raja Rao
D) Khushwant Singh
Answer: A
Explanation: R.K. Narayan, famous for his “Malgudi” stories, wrote this novel focusing on the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on the lives of common people.
27. The play ‘Ratnavali’ was written by which Indian King?
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Harshavardhana
C) Ashoka
D) Samudragupta
Answer: B
Explanation: King Harshavardhana of Kannauj was a patron of the arts and a dramatist himself, credited with writing three plays: Ratnavali, Priyadarsika, and Nagananda.
28. ‘Rajtarangini’, a metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western Indian subcontinent, particularly the kings of Kashmir, was written by __________.
A) Kalhana
B) Kalidas
C) Banabhatta
D) Bilhana
Answer: A
Explanation: Kalhana’s Rajtarangini (The River of Kings), written in the 12th century, is considered one of the earliest reliable historical texts of India.
29. The ‘Panchatantra’, a collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, is attributed to ____________.
A) Vishnu Sharma
B) Valmiki
C) Vyasa
D) Narayana Pandit
Answer: A
Explanation: Traditional accounts attribute the Panchatantra to Pandit Vishnu Sharma, who allegedly wrote it to educate three young princes in the ways of “Niti” (wise conduct).
30. The epic ‘Buddha Charitam’, a biography of Gautama Buddha in Sanskrit, was authored by __________.
A) Ashwaghosha
B) Banabhatta
C) Kalidas
D) Bharata Muni
Answer: A
Explanation: Ashwaghosha was a philosopher and poet in the court of Kanishka. Buddha Charitam is one of the most important works of Sanskrit literature detailing the life of the Buddha.
31. Which of the following works was NOT written by the famous Sanskrit poet Kalidas?
A) Kumar Sambhava
B) Meghdoot
C) Raghuvansha
D) Mudra Rakshasa
Answer: D
Explanation: Mudra Rakshasa was written by Vishakha Datta. Kalidas is the author of Kumar Sambhava, Meghdoot, and Raghuvansha.
32. The medieval text ‘Akbarnama’, the official history of the reign of Akbar, was written by _________.
A) Gulbadan Begum B
B) Abul Fazl
C) Abdul Qadir Badayuni
D) Nizamuddin Ahmed
Answer: B
Explanation: Abul Fazl was one of the “Nine Jewels” (Navaratnas) of Akbar’s court. Akbarnama is divided into three volumes, the third being the Ain-i-Akbari.
33. Who wrote ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’, a staple of Victorian “nonsense” literature?
A) Lewis Carroll
B) Jules Verne
C) Bram Stoker
D) Oscar Wilde
Answer: A
Explanation: Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. The book is famous for its play with logic and fantastical characters.
34. The ‘Yoga Sutra’, the foundational text of Yoga philosophy, is attributed to _________.
A) Patanjali
B) Yajnavalkya
C) Manu
D) Vyasa
Answer: A
Explanation: Compiled around 400 CE, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are the basis of classical yoga, organized into four chapters (Padas).
35. ‘Tabkat-i-Nasiri’, a major source for the history of the Slave Dynasty and the Mongol invasion, was written by ________.
A) Minhaj-us-Siraj
B) Ziauddin Barni
C) Al-Beruni
D) Ibn Batuta
Answer: A
Explanation: Minhaj-us-Siraj wrote this work in Persian, dedicating it to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud of the Delhi Sultanate.
36. ‘Anand Math’, the novel that contains India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’, was authored by __________.
A) Rabindranath Tagore
B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
C) Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
D) Dinbandhu Mitra
Answer: B
Explanation: Set against the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion in the late 18th century, Anand Math played a significant role in the Indian nationalist movement.
37. ‘Mudra Rakshasa’ by Vishakha Datta is a unique play because it _______.
A) Is a romantic comedy
B) Contains no female characters
C) Is written in Pali
D) Focuses primarily on religious rituals
Answer: B
Explanation: Unlike most Sanskrit dramas, Mudra Rakshasa is a political thriller that notably lacks a female lead and focuses entirely on the rivalry between Chanakya and Rakshasa.
38. The ‘Baburnama’, the first true autobiography in Islamic literature, was written in which language?
A) Persian
B) Chagatai Turkic
C) Arabic
D) Urdu
Answer: B
Explanation: Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, wrote his memoirs in his mother tongue, Chagatai Turkic. It was later translated into Persian during Akbar’s reign.
39. Who wrote ‘A Nation in the Making’, an autobiographical account of the early years of the Indian National Congress?
A) S.N. Banerjee
B) Dadabhai Naoroji
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: A
Explanation: Surendranath Banerjee was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress and a key leader in the protest against the Partition of Bengal.
40. ‘Geet Govinda’, a lyrical poem describing the relationship between Krishna and the Gopis (specifically Radha), was composed by _____________.
A) Jaya Deva
B) Kalidas
C) Matanga Muni
D) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Answer: A
Explanation: Written in the 12th century, Jaya Deva’s Geet Govinda is a seminal work of the Bhakti movement and has deeply influenced Indian classical dance and music.
41. The ‘Manusmriti’ is an ancient legal text of India traditionally attributed to __________.
A) Manu
B) Yajnavalkya
C) Patanjal
D) Vyasa
Answer: A
Explanation: The Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) is one of the most famous and influential Dharmashastras, discussing the duties of different castes and social classes.
42. ‘The Great Indian Novel’ by Shashi Tharoor is a satirical work that recasts the story of the Mahabharata in the context of __________.
A) The Indian Independence Movement
B) The Mughal Empire
C) The Vedic Age
D) Ancient Greece
Answer: A
Explanation: Shashi Tharoor uses the characters and events of the Mahabharata to satirize the major figures and events of 20th-century Indian history.
43. Who authored the ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’, a prose text describing Vedic rituals and mythology?
A) Yajnavalkya
B) Valmiki
C) Vatsayayana
D) Bharata Muni
Answer: A
Explanation: The Shatapatha Brahmana is a massive commentary on the White Yajurveda and is a key source for understanding the development of early Indian philosophy.
44. The book ‘Unhappy India’, written as a response to Katherine Mayo’s ‘Mother India’, was authored by ___________.
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: A
Explanation: Lala Lajpat Rai, the “Lion of Punjab,” wrote this book to counter the biased and negative portrayal of Indian society by the American author Katherine Mayo.
45. Which of the following is an autobiography by the first Mughal Emperor, Babur?
A) Baburnama
B) Akbarnama
C) Humayun Nama
D) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
Answer: A
Explanation: Baburnama is noted for its frankness and detailed descriptions of the flora, fauna, and geography of Central Asia and India.
46. The literary work ‘Kumar Sambhava’, which describes the birth of the war god Kartikeya, was written by
A) Kalidas
B) Tulsidas
C) Banabhatta
D) Bharavi
Answer: A
Explanation: Kalidas is often referred to as the “Shakespeare of India.” Kumar Sambhava is one of his greatest epic poems in Sanskrit.
47. ‘Travels in the Mogul Empire’, which provides a detailed account of the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, was written by __________.
A) Francois Bernier
B) Jean Baptist Tavernier
C) Thomas Roe
D) Niccolao Manucci
Answer: A
Explanation: Bernier was a French physician and traveler who spent twelve years in India, serving as a physician to Prince Dara Shikoh and later at the court of Aurangzeb.
48. ‘Discovery of India’, written during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort (1942–1946), is the work of
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Sardar Patel
D) Maulana Azad
Answer: A
Explanation: In this book, Nehru provides a broad overview of Indian history, philosophy, and culture from the Indus Valley Civilization to the British Raj.
49. The medieval administrative text ‘Ain-i-Akbari’ is the third volume of which larger work?
A) Akbarnama
B) Baburnama
C) Humayun Nama
D) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
Answer: A
Explanation: Written by Abul Fazl, the Ain-i-Akbari provides detailed data about Akbar’s administration, including the army, revenues, and the geography of the empire.
50. ‘Atonement’, a highly acclaimed modern British novel about guilt and perspective, was authored by _______.
A) Ian McEwan
B) Julian Barnes
C) Kazuo Ishiguro
D) Salman Rushdie
Answer: A
Explanation: Ian McEwan’s Atonement (2001) is a seminal work of contemporary fiction, later adapted into an Oscar-winning film.
51. Which of the following works was written by the Portuguese traveler Duarte Barbosa?
A) Book of Durate Barbosa
B) Narrative of Domingo Paes
C) Storio Dor Mogor
D) Mirat-i-Ahmadi
Answer: A
Explanation: Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese writer and officer in Portuguese India. His book provides vital information on the trade and geography of the Indian Ocean in the early 16th century.
52. The medieval text ‘Padshahnama’, which is the official visual history of the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, was written by ________.
A) Abdul Hamid Lahori
B) Inayat Khan
C) Abul Fazl
D) Gulbadan Begum
Answer: A
Explanation: Much like the Akbarnama, the Padshahnama (Book of Emperors) was commissioned to document the life and reign of Shah Jahan in great detail.
53. Which ancient Indian text by Ashwaghosha is a famous Sanskrit poem about the conversion of Buddha’s half-brother?
A) Saundarananda
B) Buddha Charitam
C) Meghdoot
D) Ratnavali
Answer: A
Explanation: While Buddha Charitam is his most famous work, Ashwaghosha also wrote Saundarananda, which focuses on Nanda’s journey toward enlightenment.
54. The ‘Baburnama’ was translated from Chagatai Turkic into Persian during the reign of Akbar by _________.
A) Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana
B) Abul Fazl
C) Birbal
D) Faizi
Answer: A
Explanation: Though the original was by Babur, the Persian version (which made it widely accessible in the Mughal court) was translated by the famous poet-scholar Abdul Rahim.
55. The ‘Rajtarangini’ by Kalhana is a unique historical source because it provides a chronological history of __________.
A) The Kings of Kashmir
B) The Gupta Empire
C) The Chola Dynasty
D) The Delhi Sultanate
Answer: A
Explanation: Written in the 12th century, it is hailed by modern historians as one of the few ancient Indian texts that follows a systematic historical methodology.
56. ‘The War and Peace’, a massive epic set during the Napoleonic Wars in Russia, was written by _________.
A) Leo Tolstoy
B) Fyodor Dostoevsky
C) Vladimir Nabokov
D) Franz Kafka
Answer: A
Explanation: Tolstoy’s masterpiece is famous for its philosophical depth and its intricate depiction of five Russian aristocratic families.
57. ‘Malgudi Days’, a collection of short stories, features a fictional town located in which part of India?
A) South India
B) North India
C) East India
D) West India
Answer: A
Explanation: R.K. Narayan’s Malgudi is a microcosm of South Indian society, capturing the simplicity and humor of everyday life.
58. The ‘Brihaddeshi’, an important Sanskrit text on Indian classical music that first defined the term ‘Raga’, was written by __________.
A) Matanga Muni
B) Bharata Muni
C) Jaya Deva
D) Kalidas
Answer: A
Explanation: Written around the 6th–8th century, Brihaddeshi is a bridge between ancient and medieval musicology. It is the first text to speak of the Raga system in Indian music.
59. ‘Discovery of India’ was written by Jawaharlal Nehru while he was imprisoned in which jail?
A) Ahmednagar Fort
B) Yerawada Jail
C) Cellular Jail
D) Alipore Jail
Answer: A
Explanation: Nehru was imprisoned by the British for his participation in the Quit India Movement. He wrote this book to pay tribute to India’s rich cultural heritage.
60. ‘Anand Math’ by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is based on which famous 18th-century rebellion?
A) Sannyasi Rebellion
B) Santhal Rebellion
C) Indigo Revolt
D) Munda Rebellion
Answer: A
Explanation: The novel depicts a group of ascetic warriors fighting against the British East India Company and is the source of the national song Vande Mataram.
61. Who is the author of the ‘Famous Five’ and ‘Secret Seven’ children’s adventure series?
A) Enid Blyton
B) Roald Dahl
C) J.K. Rowling
D) Hans Christian Andersen
Answer: A
Explanation: Enid Blyton remains one of the world’s best-selling children’s authors, known for her mystery and adventure stories.
62. The book ‘Unhappy India’ was written as a stinging rebuttal to which foreign author’s work?
A) Katherine Mayo
B) Thomas Roe
C) Francois Bernier
D) Marco Polo
Answer: A
Explanation: Lala Lajpat Rai wrote Unhappy India to disprove the claims made in Katherine Mayo’s Mother India, which he viewed as British propaganda.
63. ‘War and Peace’ is set during the invasion of Russia by which historical figure?
A) Napoleon Bonaparte
B) Julius Caesar
C) Alexander the Great
D) Adolf Hitler
Answer: A
Explanation: Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel follows the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the stories of five aristocratic families.
64. The ‘Yoga Sutra’, which outlines the “Eight Limbs of Yoga,” was compiled by ________.
A) Patanjali
B) Kapila
C) Kanada
D) Jaimini
Answer: A
Explanation: Patanjali systemized the existing practices of yoga into a formal philosophy, focusing on the path to spiritual liberation.
65. The biography “Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi” is authored by whom?
A) Shashi Tharoor
B) Katherine Frank
C) Arundhati Roy
D) Indra Nooyi
Answer: B
Explanation: Katherine Frank is the author of this comprehensive biography. It is a frequent subject in exams because it covers the personal and political life of India’s first female Prime Minister.
66. Which former President of India authored the memoir “The Coalition Years”?
A) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
B) Pratibha Patil
C) Pranab Mukherjee
D) Ram Nath Kovind
Answer: C
Explanation: Pranab Mukherjee’s “The Coalition Years” (1996–2012) provides deep insights into the dynamics of Indian politics during the era of multiparty alliances.
67. “My Life in Full” is a memoir written by which prominent Indian-American business executive?
A) Satya Nadella
B) Sundar Pichai
C) Indra Nooyi
D) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Answer: C
Explanation: Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, wrote this book to chronicle her journey and offer perspectives on work-life balance and women’s leadership.
68. The book “The India Story” focuses on the Indian economy. Who is its author?
A) Raghuram Rajan
B) Bimal Jalan
C) Manmohan Singh
D) Urjit Patel
Answer: B
Explanation: Bimal Jalan, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), wrote this book to discuss India’s economic history and future policy directions.
69. Which of these books is a satirical take on Indian history and politics, drawing parallels with the Mahabharata?
A) Sea of Poppies
B) The Great Indian Novel
C) The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
D) The Coalition Years
Answer: B
Explanation: Shashi Tharoor’s “The Great Indian Novel” is famous for recasting the events of the Indian Independence movement using characters and themes from the epic Mahabharata.
70. “Open: An Autobiography” belongs to which international sports personality?
A) Roger Federer
B) Andre Agassi
C) Rafael Nadal
D) Pete Sampras
Answer: B
Explanation: Andre Agassi’s “Open” is widely regarded as one of the most honest sports memoirs, covering his rise to tennis stardom and personal struggles.
71. “The Test of My Life” is an inspirational autobiography by which Indian cricketer?
A) Sachin Tendulkar
B) MS Dhoni
C) Yuvraj Singh
D) Virat Kohli
Answer: C
Explanation: Yuvraj Singh wrote this book to detail his battle with cancer and his triumphant return to international cricket.
72. Arundhati Roy is the author of which of the following books?
A) The India Story
B) The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
C) My Life in Full
D) The Great Indian Novel
Answer: B
Explanation: “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” is Arundhati Roy’s second novel, published twenty years after her Booker-winning “The God of Small Things.”
73. Which author in the list has served as a Governor of the Reserve Bank of India?
A) Indra Nooyi
B) Bimal Jalan
C) Pranab Mukherjee
D) Shashi Tharoor
Answer: B
Explanation: Bimal Jalan held the post of RBI Governor from 1997 to 2003, making his book “The India Story” significant for economics sections in exams.
74. “Sea of Poppies” is a novel that primarily explores which historical theme?
A) The Partition of India
B) The Opium Trade and Colonialism
C) The Green Revolution
D) The 1857 Revolt
Answer: B
Explanation: Amitav Ghosh’s novel is set against the backdrop of the East India Company’s opium trade between India and China.
75. Shashi Tharoor, the author of “The Great Indian Novel,” is also a prominent ____________.
A) Scientist
B) Member of Parliament
C) RBI Governor
D) Tennis Player
Answer: B
Explanation: Shashi Tharoor is a well-known Indian politician (MP) and former diplomat at the United Nations.
76. Which book is most likely to be featured in a section about “Inspirational Women Achievers”?
A) Open
B) My Life in Full
C) The India Story
D) Sea of Poppies
Answer: B
Explanation: Indra Nooyi’s memoir is a staple for discussions on women’s empowerment and leadership in the corporate world.
77. Which of these books is an autobiographical essay written by the revolutionary Bhagat Singh while in Lahore Central Jail?
A) My Experiments with Truth
B) Why I Am an Atheist
C) The Indian Struggle
D) Jail Diary
Answer: B
Explanation: Bhagat Singh wrote “Why I Am an Atheist” in 1930 in response to a fellow prisoner who suggested his vanity led him to atheism. It is a landmark text in Indian revolutionary philosophy.
78. Vikram Seth’s “A Suitable Boy,” one of the longest novels in the English language, is set in which period of Indian history?
A) Pre-Independence
B) Post-Independence (Early 1950s)
C) The Emergency
D) The 1990s Liberalization
Answer: B
Explanation: The novel is set in a newly independent, post-partition India (around 1951-1952) and follows Lata Mehra’s search for a husband against the backdrop of the country’s first general elections.
79. The famous fictional detective “Prodosh Chandra Mitra,” popularly known as Feluda, was created by which legendary filmmaker and author?
A) Satyajit Ray
B) Rabindranath Tagore
C) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
D) Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Answer: A
Explanation: Satyajit Ray created Feluda, a private investigator from Kolkata. The series is a cult classic in Bengali literature, often accompanied by his sidekick Topshe and the thriller writer Jatayu.
80. “Flood of Fire” is the final installment of which acclaimed trilogy by Amitav Ghosh?
A) The Bengal Trilogy
B) The Ibis Trilogy
C) The Opium War Series
D) The Sea of Poppies Trilogy
Answer: B
Explanation: The Ibis Trilogy comprises Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire. It deals with the trade of opium between India and China under British rule.
81. Which author, known for mass-market fiction, wrote the novel “Half Girlfriend”?
A) Ravinder Singh
B) Durjoy Datta
C) Chetan Bhagat
D) Amish Tripathi
Answer: C
Explanation: Chetan Bhagat wrote Half Girlfriend (2014), which explores the linguistic and social gap between a boy from Bihar and a girl from a wealthy Delhi family.
82. “I Too Had a Love Story” is a debut semi-autobiographical novel by which author?
A) Ravinder Singh
B) Chetan Bhagat
C) Sudeep Nagarkar
D) Novoneel Chakraborty
Answer: A
Explanation: Ravinder Singh wrote this book based on his real-life tragic love story. It became a massive bestseller in the “Indian romance” genre.
83. “Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India” was written by which former President of India?
A) Pranab Mukherjee
B) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
C) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
D) K.R. Narayanan
Answer: B
Explanation: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam wrote this book to inspire Indian youth to help India become a developed nation by 2020.
84. Which novel by Salman Rushdie won the “Booker of Bookers” and deals with India’s transition from British colonialism to independence?
A) The Satanic Verses
B) Shame
C) Midnight’s Children
D) Fury
Answer: C
Explanation: Midnight’s Children (1981) uses magical realism to tell the story of children born at the exact moment of India’s independence, possessing telepathic powers.
85. Shashi Tharoor’s “The Great Indian Novel” is a satirical retelling of which epic, superimposed on the Indian Independence movement?
A) Ramayana
B) Mahabharata
C) Bhagavad Gita
D) Silappadikaram
Answer: B
Explanation: Tharoor uses the characters and events of the Mahabharata to represent key figures and events in 20th-century Indian politics (e.g., Bhishma as Mahatma Gandhi).
86. “The God of Small Things,” the debut novel that won the Booker Prize in 1997, was written by __________.
A) Kiran Desai
B) Arundhati Roy
C) Anita Desai
D) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: B
Explanation: Arundhati Roy’s novel is set in Kerala and explores how small things affect people’s lives and the “Love Laws” that dictate who should be loved and how much.
87. The fictional town of “Malgudi” is the setting for many stories by which author, including “The Maneater of Malgudi”?
A) Mulk Raj Anand
B) Raja Rao
C) R.K. Narayan
D) Ruskin Bond
Answer: C
Explanation: R.K. Narayan created the immortal fictional town of Malgudi. The Maneater of Malgudi follows the life of a timid printer, Nataraj, and a bully taxidermist, Vasu.
88. “The Namesake,” a novel exploring the immigrant experience and cultural identity, is authored by _________.
A) Jhumpa Lahiri
B) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
C) Kiran Desai
D) Bharati Mukherjee
Answer: A
Explanation: Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake follows the Ganguli family from Calcutta to New York, focusing on the struggles of their son, Gogol.
89. “The Oath of the Vayuputras” is the concluding book of the Shiva Trilogy. Who is the author?
A) Ashwin Sanghi
B) Amish Tripathi
C) Devdutt Pattanaik
D) Anand Neelakantan
Answer: B
Explanation: Amish Tripathi authored the Shiva Trilogy (The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas, and The Oath of the Vayuputras), reimagining Lord Shiva as a human hero..
90. “The Peacock Garden” is a notable work for children/young adults by which author?
A) Anita Desai
B) Shobhaa De
C) Gita Mehta
D) Kamala Das
Answer: A
Explanation: Anita Desai, a multiple-time Booker nominee, wrote The Peacock Garden. She is well known for her psychologically deep novels like Clear Light of Day.
91. Which novel by Aravind Adiga won the Booker Prize in 2008 and critiques the class struggle in globalized India?
A) Last Man in Tower
B) Selection Day
C) The White Tiger
D) Between the Assassinations
Answer: C
Explanation: The White Tiger provides a dark, humorous perspective on India’s class divide through the protagonist Balram Halwai, a village boy who becomes a successful entrepreneur.
92. “Train to Pakistan,” a classic novel about the horrors of Partition, was written by _________.
A) Bhisham Sahni
B) Khushwant Singh
C) Saadat Hasan Manto
D) Yashpal
Answer: B
Explanation: Khushwant Singh’s 1956 novel is set in Mano Majra, a fictional village on the border, showing how the peace of the village is shattered by the Partition of India.
93. “Wise and Otherwise” is a collection of non-fiction vignettes and real-life experiences by ________.
A) Sudha Murty
B) Indra Nooyi
C) Kiran Bedi
D) Barkha Dutt
Answer: A
Explanation: Sudha Murty, Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, writes about her encounters with ordinary people that reveal profound life lessons.
94. The Oscar-winning movie “Slumdog Millionaire” is based on which novel by Vikas Swarup?
A) Six Suspects
B) Q&A
C) The Accidental Apprentice
D) The 39 Steps
Answer: B
Explanation: Q&A tells the story of Ram Mohammad Thomas, a poor waiter who wins a massive jackpot on a quiz show, explaining how his life experiences gave him the answers.
95. “India After Gandhi,” a definitive history of the world’s largest democracy, is written by _________.
A) Bipan Chandra
B) Ramachandra Guha
C) Romila Thapar
D) Satish Chandra
Answer: B
Explanation: Ramachandra Guha is a prominent historian. This book covers Indian history from 1947 to the contemporary era.
96. Who won the Booker Prize in 2006 for the novel “The Inheritance of Loss”?
A) Anita Desai
B) Kiran Desai
C) Arundhati Roy
D) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: B
Explanation: Kiran Desai (daughter of Anita Desai) won the Booker for this novel, which explores themes of colonialism, identity, and globalization through characters in Kalimpong.
97. “English, August: An Indian Story” is a humorous take on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) written by ________.
A) Upamanyu Chatterjee
B) Vikas Swarup
C) Shashi Tharoor
D) Arvind Subramanian
Answer: A
Explanation: The novel follows Agastya Sen, a young IAS officer posted to a remote town called Madna, highlighting the absurdity of bureaucracy.
98. “The Hungry Tide” is a novel set in the Sundarbans archipelago. Who is the author?
A) Vikram Seth
B) Amitav Ghosh
C) Rohinton Mistry
D) Ruskin Bond
Answer: B
Explanation: Amitav Ghosh’s novel explores the ecology, history, and human struggles in the tide country of the Sundarbans.
99. “Two Lives” is a non-fiction work by Vikram Seth that chronicles the lives of ________.
A) His parents
B) His great-uncle and German great-aunt
C) Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten
D) Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba
Answer: B
Explanation: Vikram Seth tells the story of his great-uncle Shanti and his German-Jewish wife Henny, set against the background of the 20th century.
100. What is the title of the first book in the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi?
A) The Secret of the Nagas
B) The Immortals of Meluha
C) Scion of Ikshvaku
D) Legend of Suheldev
Answer: B
Explanation: The Immortals of Meluha (2010) was Amish’s debut novel, which portrays Shiva as a Tibetan tribal leader who becomes a savior in the land of Meluha.