Q50. Which composition in Hindustani music is especially associated with Sufi devotional music?
[RRB NTPC (UG) 2026]
A. Qawwali
B. Tarana
C. Dhrupad
D. Tappa
Answer: A. Qawwali
Explanation: Qawwali developed as a major form of Sufi devotional expression in medieval India. Amir Khusrau is traditionally associated with shaping its Indo-Persian musical and poetic tradition.
Q49. Who among the following was a noted historian of the Delhi Sultanate period?
[SSC GD Constable 2026]
A. Amir Khusrau
B. Abul Fazl
C. Al-Biruni
D. Ziauddin Barani
Answer: D. Ziauddin Barani
Explanation: Ziauddin Barani was an eminent fourteenth-century historian and political thinker. His Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi and Fatawa-i-Jahandari are major sources for Sultanate history.
Q48. Which description best reflects the historiographical interpretation of Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign?
[UP PGT History 2026]
A. His policies were entirely conventional
B. He was mainly a religious reformer
C. Intellectual ambition was combined with impractical execution
D. His administration lacked innovative ideas
Answer: C. Intellectual ambition was combined with impractical execution
Explanation: Chroniclers such as Barani recorded Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s ambitious experiments. Modern historians generally distinguish his intellectual originality from the administrative difficulties and poor execution of several schemes.
Q47. Arrange the following Persian historical works in chronological order: (a) Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, (b) Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, (c) Futuh-us-Salatin, (d) Akbarnama.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor History 2026]
A. c-b-a-d
B. b-c-a-d
C. a-b-c-d
D. b-a-c-d
Answer: B. b-c-a-d
Explanation: Tabaqat-i-Nasiri was completed around 1260, Futuh-us-Salatin around 1350, Barani’s Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi around 1357, while Akbarnama belongs to the Mughal period.
Q46. Match the following: A. Circle of Justice, B. Iqta, C. Razia Sultan, D. Minhaj-us-Siraj with 1. Interdependence of ruler-soldiers-peasants, 2. Revenue assignment, 3. Daughter of Iltutmish, 4. Contemporary chronicler.
[RRB NTPC Graduate 2026]
A. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
B. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
C. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
D. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
Answer: D. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
Explanation: Minhaj-us-Siraj was a contemporary Persian chronicler whose Tabaqat-i-Nasiri provides important information on the Mamluk rulers, particularly Iltutmish, Razia and Nasiruddin Mahmud.
Q45. Which language was predominantly used by Amir Khusrau in his literary compositions during the Delhi Sultanate?
[RRB NTPC Graduate 2026]
A. Sanskrit
B. Prakrit
C. Persian
D. Apabhramsha
Answer: C. Persian
Explanation: Although Amir Khusrau also composed in Hindavi, the bulk of his sophisticated poetry and historical compositions was in Persian, the principal court and literary language of the Sultanate.
Q44. After studying Indian society and culture, Al-Biruni wrote which work?
[RRB NTPC Graduate 2026]
A. Baburnama
B. Chahar Maqala
C. Kitab-ul-Hind
D. Qiran-us-Sadain
Answer: C. Kitab-ul-Hind
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, written in Arabic, systematically examined Indian religion, philosophy, sciences, customs and social organization. It remains an important source for early medieval India.
Q43. Amir Khusrau remarked that ordinary people did not know a certain language and that it was known mainly to Brahmanas. Which language was he referring to?
[RRB NTPC Graduate 2026]
A. Sanskrit
B. Urdu
C. Pali
D. Hindavi
Answer: A. Sanskrit
Explanation: In discussing India’s linguistic diversity, Amir Khusrau distinguished Sanskrit as a learned language primarily cultivated by Brahmanical scholars rather than commonly spoken by the general population.
Q42. Which of the following book-author combinations is incorrect?
[RRB NTPC Graduate 2026]
A. Gita Govinda — Jayadeva
B. Baburnama — Babur
C. Tughlaq Nama — Abul Fazl
D. Prithviraj Raso — Chand Bardai
Answer: C. Tughlaq Nama — Abul Fazl
Explanation: Tughlaq Nama was composed by Amir Khusrau. It narrates the rise of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq following the defeat of Khusrau Khan and is an important Persian masnavi.
Q41. Who were among the writers of ‘Tawarikh’ during the Delhi Sultanate? I. Administrators II. Poets and courtiers
[SSC MTS 2026]
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. Both I and II
D. Neither I nor II
Answer: C. Both I and II
Explanation: Sultanate tawarikh, meaning histories or chronicles, were generally produced by educated urban elites, including administrators, secretaries, court poets and courtiers closely connected with royal establishments.