Q120. Which interpretation best explains Mahmud of Ghazni’s campaigns in India?
[UP PGT History — 2026]
A. Primarily resource-oriented raids supporting his Central Asian empire
B. Systematic creation of a permanent Indian administration
C. Exclusive campaigns for religious conversion
D. Establishment of a unified Indian kingdom
Answer: A. Primarily resource-oriented raids supporting his Central Asian empire
Explanation: Mahmud repeatedly raided wealthy Indian centres and temples. Although Punjab came under Ghaznavid control, most expeditions sought wealth and prestige rather than comprehensive territorial administration.
Q119. What primarily distinguished Muhammad Ghori’s Indian campaigns from those of Mahmud of Ghazni?
[UP PGT History — 2026]
A. Ghori completely avoided military conquest
B. Ghori systematically conquered territory and created bases for enduring rule
C. Ghori invaded only Sindh
D. Ghori never appointed military governors
Answer: B. Ghori systematically conquered territory and created bases for enduring rule
Explanation: Unlike Mahmud’s largely raiding expeditions, Muhammad Ghori conquered strategic territories and entrusted them to commanders such as Qutb-ud-din Aibak, facilitating permanent Turkish political control.
Q118. What was Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s principal historical significance?
[UP PGT History — 2026]
A. He conquered Sindh for the Arabs
B. He consolidated Ghurid possessions and laid the foundation of Sultanate rule
C. He defeated Mahmud of Ghazni
D. He founded the Khalji dynasty
Answer: B. He consolidated Ghurid possessions and laid the foundation of Sultanate rule
Explanation: Aibak served Muhammad Ghori in India and, after Ghori’s death, established independent authority from Delhi and Lahore, beginning the Mamluk or Slave dynasty.
Q117. Which measure was important in Iltutmish’s consolidation of the Delhi Sultanate?
[UP PGT History — 2026]
A. Abolition of the Iqta system
B. Caliphal recognition and systematic organisation of Iqtas
C. Transfer of capital to Daulatabad
D. Introduction of Mansabdari
Answer: B. Caliphal recognition and systematic organisation of Iqtas
Explanation: Iltutmish strengthened the vulnerable Sultanate through administrative organisation, Iqta assignments and recognition from the Abbasid Caliph, increasing both political legitimacy and institutional stability.
Q116. Why is Iltutmish regarded as a major consolidator of the early Delhi Sultanate?
[UP PGT History — 2026]
A. He founded the Ghaznavid Empire
B. He transformed a fragile conquest-state into a more stable monarchy
C. He conquered Sindh in 712 CE
D. He defeated Prithviraj at Tarain
Answer: B. He transformed a fragile conquest-state into a more stable monarchy
Explanation: Iltutmish overcame rival Turkish claimants, strengthened administration, organised the nobility and obtained caliphal recognition, giving Delhi’s newly established Turkish state greater durability.
Q115. Who described the Arab conquest of Sindh as a “triumph without results”?
[OPSC OCS Preliminary Examination — 2026]
A. Vincent Smith
B. Stanley Lane-Poole
C. Elphinstone
D. R. C. Majumdar
Answer: B. Stanley Lane-Poole
Explanation: Lane-Poole used this description because Arab political authority remained substantially confined to Sindh and Multan and did not immediately produce extensive territorial expansion across India.
Q114. Which work did Al-Biruni compose after extensively studying Indian society and knowledge?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 18 March — 2026]
A. Baburnama
B. Chahar Maqala
C. Kitab-ul-Hind
D. Qiran-us-Sa’dain
Answer: C. Kitab-ul-Hind
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s Arabic work Kitab-ul-Hind examines Indian religion, philosophy, astronomy, sciences, customs and social practices, making it an invaluable source for eleventh-century India.
Q113. Which monument associated with Qutb-ud-din Aibak was begun after the Ghurid conquest of Delhi?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 18 March — 2026]
A. Red Fort
B. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
C. Jama Masjid
D. Buland Darwaza
Answer: B. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Explanation: Aibak commissioned the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque at Delhi following the Ghurid conquest. It became one of the earliest major architectural monuments associated with Turkish rule.
Q112. Which Gurjara-Pratihara ruler is particularly associated with resisting early Arab expansion into western India?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 24 March — 2026]
A. Ramabhadra
B. Nagabhata I
C. Mihira Bhoja
D. Rajyapala
Answer: B. Nagabhata I
Explanation: Nagabhata I strengthened the emerging Gurjara-Pratihara power and is traditionally credited with successfully resisting Arab forces advancing eastward from their conquered territories in Sindh.
Q111. Which of the following author-work combinations is incorrect?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 17 March — 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 is associated with Amir Khusrau, not Abul Fazl. Chand Bardai’s Prithviraj Raso narrates traditions surrounding Prithviraj Chauhan and the Ghurid conflict.
Q110. Who organised the influential group of Turkish nobles known as the Chahalgani or “Group of Forty”?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 16 March — 2026]
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B. Iltutmish
C. Balban
D. Alauddin Khalji
Answer: B. Iltutmish
Explanation: Iltutmish developed the Chahalgani, an elite corps of Turkish slave-officers who occupied important administrative and military positions during the early consolidation of Sultanate authority.
Q109. The Iqta system became an important administrative feature in India under which early Sultanate dynasty?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I, 17 June — 2026]
A. Khalji
B. Mamluk or Slave
C. Sayyid
D. Lodi
Answer: B. Mamluk or Slave
Explanation: The early Turkish Sultans, particularly Iltutmish, developed Iqta assignments whereby officials collected revenue from designated territories in return for administrative and military obligations.
Q108. Which architectural technique became particularly prominent with the establishment of Turkish Sultanate architecture in India?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I, 13 June — 2026]
A. Wooden truss only
B. True arch and dome construction
C. Exclusively rock-cut halls
D. Shikhara construction only
Answer: B. True arch and dome construction
Explanation: Turkish builders popularised arcuate construction involving arches and domes, gradually combining West and Central Asian architectural principles with established Indian craftsmanship and decorative traditions.
Q107. Which early Sultan is closely associated with strengthening the Iqta system and the concept of a Sultanate-centred “Circle of Justice”?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 24 March — 2026]
A. Iltutmish
B. Babur
C. Sher Shah
D. Ibrahim Lodi
Answer: A. Iltutmish
Explanation: Iltutmish institutionalised Iqta administration during the formative Sultanate period. Revenue, military service and political authority became closely interconnected in sustaining the new state.
Q106. Which decorative form became prominent in early Indo-Islamic Sultanate buildings?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March — 2026]
A. Amalaka
B. Kalasha
C. Arabesque
D. Torana only
Answer: C. Arabesque
Explanation: Arabesque decoration uses interlacing geometric and vegetal patterns. It became prominent in Indo-Islamic buildings alongside calligraphy and adaptations of existing Indian ornamental craftsmanship.
Q105. According to Amir Khusrau’s observation, which learned language was particularly associated with Brahmanical scholarship?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 18 March — 2026]
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Turkish
D. Urdu
Answer: A. Sanskrit
Explanation: Sanskrit remained the principal classical language of Brahmanical religious and scholarly traditions, while Persian increasingly became important in administration and literary culture under Sultanate rule.
Q104. Which battle decisively opened the way for the establishment of Turkish political power around Delhi?
[Delhi Police Head Constable AWO/TPO, 21 January — 2026]
A. First Battle of Panipat
B. Second Battle of Tarain
C. Battle of Plassey
D. Battle of Khanwa
Answer: B. Second Battle of Tarain
Explanation: Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192. The victory enabled subsequent Ghurid expansion across the Delhi-Ganga region.
Q103. Who wrote Kitab-ul-Hind, an important account of eleventh-century India?
[Delhi Police Constable Executive, 2 January — 2026]
A. Hasan Nizami
B. Al-Biruni
C. Minhaj-us-Siraj
D. Firdausi
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni learned Sanskrit and closely investigated Indian sciences, beliefs and social institutions. His analytical Kitab-ul-Hind was written in Arabic.
Q102. Al-Biruni was born in which year?
[MP Police Sub-Inspector, 18 January — 2026]
A. 927 CE
B. 973 CE
C. 1017 CE
D. 1027 CE
Answer: B. 973 CE
Explanation: Al-Biruni was born in 973 CE in Khwarazm. Mahmud’s conquest of Khwarazm later brought the scholar into the Ghaznavid intellectual environment.
Q101. Which pair correctly represents important currency associated with Iltutmish?
[MP Police Sub-Inspector, 18 January — 2026]
A. Silver Tanka and Copper Jital
B. Rupiya and Dam
C. Dinar and Dirham only
D. Mohur and Rupiya
Answer: A. Silver Tanka and Copper Jital
Explanation: Iltutmish standardised the silver Tanka and copper Jital, helping strengthen the monetary system of the newly consolidated Delhi Sultanate after the Ghurid conquests.
Q100. The reign of Prithviraj Chauhan effectively ended in which year?
[SSC CGL 2025 Tier-II, held 19 January — 2026]
A. 1175 CE
B. 1192 CE
C. 1206 CE
D. 1210 CE
Answer: B. 1192 CE
Explanation: Prithviraj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, a major turning point in the Turkish conquest of northern India.
Q99. Which reign-period pair is correctly matched?
[SSC CGL 2025 Tier-II, held 19 January — 2026]
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak — 1206–1210
B. Prithviraj Chauhan — 1296–1316
C. Alauddin Khalji — 1175–1192
D. Muhammad bin Tughlaq — 1206–1210
Answer: A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak — 1206–1210
Explanation: Aibak became independent after Muhammad Ghori’s death in 1206 and ruled until 1210, initiating the Mamluk phase of the Delhi Sultanate.
Q98. What was the approximate reign period of Qutb-ud-din Aibak as Sultan?
[SSC MTS 2025, held 9 February — 2026]
A. 1192–1196
B. 1206–1210
C. 1211–1236
D. 1266–1287
Answer: B. 1206–1210
Explanation: Following Muhammad Ghori’s death, Aibak asserted independent authority in 1206. His short reign ended in 1210 after a fatal polo accident at Lahore.
Q97. The Khokhars, whom Muhammad Ghori campaigned against shortly before his death, were influential mainly in which region?
[SSC MTS 2025, held 9 February — 2026]
A. Bengal
B. Gujarat
C. Punjab
D. Assam
Answer: C. Punjab
Explanation: The Khokhars were influential in the Punjab region. Muhammad Ghori suppressed a major Khokhar uprising before being assassinated while returning from the campaign in 1206.
Q96. As the Chauhans expanded their power, they particularly confronted which neighbouring dynasties?
[SSC MTS 2025, held 10 February — 2026]
A. Chalukyas of Gujarat and Gahadavalas of Kannauj
B. Cholas and Cheras
C. Palas and Senas only
D. Hoysalas and Kakatiyas
Answer: A. Chalukyas of Gujarat and Gahadavalas of Kannauj
Explanation: Chauhan expansion generated rivalry with the Gujarat Chalukyas and Kannauj Gahadavalas. This political fragmentation formed the broader setting for Muhammad Ghori’s northern campaigns.
Q95. Which is the correct chronological order of these early Delhi Sultans?
[SSC MTS 2025, held 10 February — 2026]
A. Balban → Aibak → Iltutmish
B. Aibak → Iltutmish → Balban
C. Iltutmish → Balban → Aibak
D. Balban → Iltutmish → Aibak
Answer: B. Aibak → Iltutmish → Balban
Explanation: Aibak established independent Sultanate rule in 1206, Iltutmish consolidated it from 1211, while Balban ruled much later from 1266 to 1287.
Q94. In which year was Razia removed from the throne of Delhi?
[SSC MTS 2025, held 4 February — 2026]
A. 1236
B. 1240
C. 1246
D. 1266
Answer: B. 1240
Explanation: Razia ruled from 1236 to 1240. Opposition from powerful Turkish nobles and subsequent military conflict led to her deposition and death in 1240.
Q93. Who authored the modern historical novel The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath?
[RRB Group D, 2 February — 2026]
A. Natwar Singh
B. Amish Tripathi
C. Arundhati Roy
D. Manorama Mishra
Answer: B. Amish Tripathi
Explanation: The title refers to the historical memory of Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid on Somnath. The examination tested the contemporary book and its historical theme.
Q92. Which battle in 1192 resulted in Prithviraj Chauhan’s defeat and helped establish Turkish rule in northern India?
[UPTET Paper II Social Studies, 3 July — 2026]
A. Chandawar
B. Second Battle of Tarain
C. Khanwa
D. Panipat
Answer: B. Second Battle of Tarain
Explanation: Ghori’s victory in the Second Battle of Tarain destroyed a major Rajput obstacle and allowed his commanders to expand rapidly into Delhi and surrounding territories.
Q91. Qutub Minar was begun under which ruler after the establishment of Turkish power at Delhi?
[OSSC CGLRE Mains, 8 July — 2026]
A. Balban
B. Iltutmish
C. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D. Alauddin Khalji
Answer: C. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: Aibak began Qutub Minar, while Iltutmish subsequently added more storeys. The complex symbolised the new political and architectural presence of Sultanate rule.
Q90. Why has the Sultanate Iqta system sometimes been compared with European feudal arrangements?
[SSC GD Constable, 7 May — 2026]
A. Both abolished taxation
B. Revenue rights were associated with obligations, especially military service
C. Land was permanently owned by peasants
D. Both prohibited military recruitment
Answer: B. Revenue rights were associated with obligations, especially military service
Explanation: Iqta holders received rights to collect designated revenues while performing administrative and military duties, although the system differed substantially from hereditary European feudalism.
Q89. Prithviraj Raso is traditionally associated with which author?
[UPSC NDA & NA (I), 12 April — 2026]
A. Jimutavahana
B. Chand Bardai
C. Bhaskaracharya
D. Vijnaneshvara
Answer: B. Chand Bardai
Explanation: Prithviraj Raso is traditionally attributed to Chand Bardai and celebrates Prithviraj Chauhan, whose conflicts with Muhammad Ghori culminated in the Battles of Tarain.
Q88. Who defeated the ruler of Sindh during the Arab invasion of 712 CE?
[WBCS Mains History — 2024]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
D. Tajuddin Yildiz
Answer: C. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Muhammad-bin-Qasim, an Umayyad commander, defeated Raja Dahir and conquered Sindh, establishing the first durable Arab political foothold in the Indian subcontinent.
Q87. Who emerged victorious in the First Battle of Tarain?
[WBCS Mains History — 2024]
A. Muhammad Ghori
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Jaichand
D. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: In 1191 Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori at Tarain. Ghori reorganised his forces and returned the following year to reverse the result.
Q86. Ghazni, which rose to prominence under Mahmud, is located in which present-day country?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]
A. Iran
B. Afghanistan
C. Uzbekistan
D. Pakistan
Answer: B. Afghanistan
Explanation: Ghazni in modern Afghanistan became the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire. Mahmud used it as the base for repeated military expeditions into northwestern India.
Q85. Who defeated Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]
A. Jayachandra
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Bhimdev I
D. Anandapala
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Prithviraj’s forces defeated and wounded Ghori in 1191. Ghori returned with a reorganised cavalry force and won the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192.
Q84. Muhammad Ghori defeated Jayachandra in which battle?
[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]
A. Tarain
B. Chandawar
C. Khanwa
D. Panipat
Answer: B. Chandawar
Explanation: The Battle of Chandawar in 1194 resulted in the defeat of Gahadavala ruler Jayachandra, extending Ghurid influence farther into the central Gangetic plain.
Q83. Which scholar recorded information about Muslim traders reaching areas such as Rajouri in Kashmir?
[RPSC Assistant Professor History — 2024]
A. Ibn Battuta
B. Al-Biruni
C. Barani
D. Abul Fazl
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s writings are important for reconstructing eleventh-century Indian geography, society and cross-cultural contacts during the period of Mahmud of Ghazni.
Q82. Who wrote Tarikh-ul-Hind/Kitab-ul-Hind?
[RPSC Assistant Professor History — 2024]
A. Minhaj-us-Siraj
B. Hasan Nizami
C. Al-Biruni
D. Ziauddin Barani
Answer: C. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s study of India combined direct observation with Sanskrit learning and comparative analysis, making it one of the most sophisticated accounts of medieval Indian society.
Q81. Who constructed the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque at Delhi?
[APPSC Group-I Preliminary Examination — 2024]
A. Iltutmish
B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
C. Balban
D. Muhammad Ghori
Answer: B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: Aibak commissioned the mosque in the Qutub complex following the Ghurid capture of Delhi, making it closely associated with the establishment of early Sultanate authority.
Q80. Who translated the Chach Nama into Persian?
[70th BPSC Preliminary Examination — 2024]
A. Muhammad Ali bin Abu Bakr Kufi
B. Al-Biruni
C. Utbi
D. Hasan Nizami
Answer: A. Muhammad Ali bin Abu Bakr Kufi
Explanation: Ali Kufi produced the Persian Chach Nama, an important narrative source concerning Sindh and Muhammad-bin-Qasim’s Arab conquest of the region.
Q79. Which literary work is traditionally associated with the heroic exploits of Prithviraj Chauhan?
[SSC CGL — 2024]
A. Rajatarangini
B. Prithviraj Raso
C. Shahnameh
D. Tabaqat-i-Nasiri
Answer: B. Prithviraj Raso
Explanation: Traditionally attributed to Chand Bardai, Prithviraj Raso contains legendary accounts of Prithviraj Chauhan, including later traditions concerning his struggle with Muhammad Ghori.
Q78. Through whose campaigns did Al-Biruni come into close contact with India?
[SSC CGL Tier-II — 2023]
A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
B. Mahmud of Ghazni
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Timur
Answer: B. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Following Mahmud’s conquest of Khwarazm, Al-Biruni became associated with the Ghaznavid world and subsequently gained extensive knowledge of India and Sanskrit scholarship.
Q77. The Battle of Chandawar was fought between Muhammad Ghori and which ruler?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2023]
A. Prithviraj Chauhan
B. Jayachandra
C. Anandapala
D. Bhimdev I
Answer: B. Jayachandra
Explanation: Ghori defeated the Gahadavala ruler Jayachandra near Chandawar in 1194, helping extend Ghurid political penetration eastward into the Gangetic region.
Q76. Mahmud of Ghazni’s celebrated raid beyond Punjab in 1025–26 targeted which place?
[SSC CHSL — 2023]
A. Madurai
B. Somnath
C. Nalanda
D. Puri
Answer: B. Somnath
Explanation: Mahmud crossed western India to raid the wealthy Somnath temple in Gujarat, an expedition that became one of the most frequently remembered Ghaznavid campaigns.
Q75. In 1192, Muhammad Ghori defeated which Chahamana ruler?
[SSC MTS — 2023]
A. Vigraharaja IV
B. Prithviraj III
C. Arnoraja
D. Ajayaraja
Answer: B. Prithviraj III
Explanation: Prithviraj III, popularly known as Prithviraj Chauhan, lost the Second Battle of Tarain to Ghori in 1192, fundamentally altering north Indian political history.
Q74. The First Battle of Tarain was fought in which year?
[SSC MTS — 2023]
A. 1175
B. 1178
C. 1191
D. 1194
Answer: C. 1191
Explanation: The first Tarain encounter occurred in 1191, when Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori. Their decisive rematch took place at Tarain in 1192.
Q73. Which Muslim invader of northern India was contemporary with the imperial Cholas?
[Bihar STET PGT History — 2023]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Timur
D. Babur
Answer: A. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Mahmud’s campaigns from the late tenth to early eleventh century overlapped with the reigns of powerful Cholas such as Rajaraja I and Rajendra I.
Q72. Tahqiq-i-Hind is associated with which scholar?
[MPSC Rajyaseva — 2022]
A. Firdausi
B. Al-Biruni
C. Utbi
D. Amir Khusrau
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Tahqiq ma li’l-Hind, commonly called Kitab-ul-Hind, was Al-Biruni’s systematic Arabic study of Indian religion, philosophy, sciences, customs and social organisation.
Q71. Who was the first successful Muslim conqueror of Sindh?
[Odisha Police SI — 2022]
A. Timur
B. Mahmud of Ghazni
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Answer: D. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Muhammad-bin-Qasim led the Umayyad conquest of Sindh in 711–712 CE and defeated Raja Dahir, establishing Arab authority along the lower Indus.
Q70. Who defeated Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain?
[SSC CGL — 2022]
A. Prithviraj Chauhan
B. Jayachandra
C. Anandapala
D. Bhoja
Answer: A. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: In 1191 Prithviraj’s confederate army defeated the Ghurids. Ghori returned in 1192 with improved cavalry tactics and decisively defeated the Rajputs.
Q69. Muhammad Ghori was defeated by whom at the First Battle of Tarain?
[SSC Selection Post — 2022]
A. Bhima II
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Jaichand
D. Lakshmanasena
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Tarain in 1191 produced a Rajput victory under Prithviraj Chauhan. The Ghurid defeat was reversed at the same battlefield the next year.
Q68. In which year did Muhammad Ghori defeat Prithviraj Chauhan at the Second Battle of Tarain?
[SSC Selection Post — 2022]
A. 1178
B. 1191
C. 1192
D. 1194
Answer: C. 1192
Explanation: The Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 destroyed Prithviraj’s resistance and enabled Ghurid commanders to consolidate control over Delhi, Ajmer and adjoining regions.
Q67. Whom did Prithviraj Chauhan defeat in the First Battle of Tarain?
[BPSC LDC Mains — 2022]
A. Muhammad Ghori
B. Balban
C. Alauddin Khalji
D. Firuz Shah Tughlaq
Answer: A. Muhammad Ghori
Explanation: Ghori’s initial confrontation with Prithviraj at Tarain ended in defeat in 1191, but his reorganised forces won the second encounter one year later.
Q66. What is the correct chronological sequence of Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, Genghis Khan and Timur?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]
A. Ghori → Mahmud → Timur → Genghis
B. Mahmud → Ghori → Genghis → Timur
C. Mahmud → Genghis → Ghori → Timur
D. Timur → Ghori → Mahmud → Genghis
Answer: B. Mahmud → Ghori → Genghis → Timur
Explanation: Mahmud belongs to the early eleventh century, Ghori to the late twelfth, Genghis Khan to the early thirteenth and Timur to the late fourteenth.
Q65. Who was the author of Kitab-ul-Hind?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]
A. Ibn Battuta
B. Al-Biruni
C. Firdausi
D. Minhaj-us-Siraj
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni accompanied the broader Ghaznavid world into India and wrote a detailed scholarly account based on Sanskrit texts, discussions and direct observations.
Q64. In which language was Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind originally written?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]
A. Persian
B. Sanskrit
C. Arabic
D. Turkish
Answer: C. Arabic
Explanation: Although Al-Biruni mastered Sanskrit sufficiently to study Indian texts, he composed Kitab-ul-Hind in Arabic for the learned readership of the Islamic world.
Q63. Which ruler’s Indian expeditions are closely connected with Al-Biruni’s arrival and studies?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Alauddin Khalji
C. Sikandar Lodi
D. Timur
Answer: A. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Al-Biruni became connected with Mahmud’s court after the conquest of Khwarazm and subsequently studied Indian knowledge, languages and cultural traditions extensively.
Q62. The Battle of Chandawar was fought between Muhammad Ghori and a ruler belonging to which dynasty?
[SSC GD Constable — 2021]
A. Gahadavala
B. Chola
C. Sena
D. Paramara
Answer: A. Gahadavala
Explanation: Jayachandra was the powerful Gahadavala ruler of Kannauj. His defeat at Chandawar in 1194 assisted Ghurid expansion across the middle Ganga valley.
Q61. Which Arab commander conquered Sindh in the early eighth century?
[SSC CHSL — 2021]
A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D. Mahmud of Ghazni
Answer: A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Muhammad-bin-Qasim defeated Raja Dahir during the Umayyad campaign of 711–712 CE, incorporating Sindh into the political sphere of the Caliphate.
Q60. Who invaded Sindh in 712 CE?
[SSC CGL — 2021]
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Mahmud of Ghazni
D. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Answer: D. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Qasim’s conquest represents the earliest successful Arab territorial expansion in the subcontinent, much earlier than the Turkish invasions of Mahmud and Muhammad Ghori.
Q59. Muhammad Ghori’s seizure of Tabarhinda in 1191 directly threatened the territory of which ruler?
[SSC CGL — 2021]
A. Prithviraj Chauhan
B. Rana Kumbha
C. Hemu
D. Maharana Pratap
Answer: A. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Tabarhinda or Bhatinda lay within Prithviraj’s sphere. Ghori’s occupation therefore precipitated the confrontation that produced the First Battle of Tarain.
Q58. Prithviraj Chauhan fought Muhammad Ghori at which battlefield?
[SSC CGL — 2021]
A. Chausa
B. Tarain
C. Talikota
D. Khanwa
Answer: B. Tarain
Explanation: Two major battles occurred at Tarain near present-day Taraori in Haryana: Prithviraj won in 1191, while Ghori achieved the decisive victory in 1192.
Q57. In which year was the First Battle of Tarain fought?
[SSC MTS — 2021]
A. 1157
B. 1191
C. 1204
D. 1213
Answer: B. 1191
Explanation: Tarain I took place in 1191 and ended in Ghori’s defeat. The Second Battle, fought in 1192, proved far more consequential politically.
Q56. Who won the First Battle of Tarain?
[Delhi Forest Guard — 2021]
A. Muhammad Ghori
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D. Jayachandra
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Prithviraj’s forces routed Ghori’s army in 1191. Ghori survived, prepared a new campaign and defeated the Chauhan forces the following year.
Q55. Mahmud of Ghazni defeated which dynasty while extending his power towards Punjab?
[CMAT — 2021]
A. Hindu Shahis
B. Cholas
C. Senas
D. Hoysalas
Answer: A. Hindu Shahis
Explanation: The Hindu Shahi rulers Jayapala and Anandapala offered major resistance to the Ghaznavids in Afghanistan and Punjab before Mahmud consolidated his position there.
Q54. Who wrote Kitab-al-Hind?
[RPSC Assistant Professor — 2021]
A. Ibn Battuta
B. Al-Biruni
C. Marco Polo
D. Amir Khusrau
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s work systematically examined Indian intellectual and social traditions and remains an indispensable source for India during the Ghaznavid period.
2020
Q53. Mahmud of Ghazni’s first major invasion against the Hindu Shahis occurred around which year?
[SSC JE — 2020]
A. 1001 CE
B. 1101 CE
C. 1192 CE
D. 1206 CE
Answer: A. 1001 CE
Explanation: In 1001 Mahmud defeated Hindu Shahi ruler Jayapala near Peshawar/Waihind, beginning a series of major Ghaznavid campaigns into the Indian subcontinent.
Q52. How many invasions of India are traditionally attributed to Mahmud of Ghazni?
[SSC CHSL — 2020]
A. 7
B. 12
C. 17
D. 25
Answer: C. 17
Explanation: Standard Indian history accounts traditionally count seventeen Ghaznavid expeditions between roughly 1000 and 1027, including campaigns against Punjab, Mathura, Kannauj and Somnath.
Q51. Which of the following works comes earliest chronologically?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination — 2020]
A. Kitab-ul-Hind
B. Prithviraj Raso
C. Tabaqat-i-Nasiri
D. Fatawa-i-Jahandari
Answer: A. Kitab-ul-Hind
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s eleventh-century Kitab-ul-Hind predates texts associated with the later Ghurid and Delhi Sultanate periods, including Tabaqat-i-Nasiri and Barani’s works.
Q50. Which scholar described the famous Sun Temple at Multan?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination — 2020]
A. Al-Biruni
B. Abul Fazl
C. Bernier
D. Niccolao Manucci
Answer: A. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni recorded extensive geographical and religious information about northwestern India, including important sacred centres encountered in areas affected by Ghaznavid expansion.
Q49. According to the Chach Nama, what was an important capital of Sindh?
[MPPSC Preliminary Examination — 2020]
A. Arod/Aror
B. Kannauj
C. Ajmer
D. Delhi
Answer: A. Arod/Aror
Explanation: Aror or Arod was an important political centre of Sindh associated with Raja Dahir and figures prominently in accounts of Muhammad-bin-Qasim’s conquest.
Q48. Somnath, raided by Mahmud of Ghazni, is situated on which peninsula/coastal region?
[UPSC CDS — 2020]
A. Kathiawar coast
B. Coromandel coast
C. Konkan coast
D. Malabar coast
Answer: A. Kathiawar coast
Explanation: Somnath lies at Prabhas Patan on Gujarat’s Saurashtra or Kathiawar coast. Mahmud’s 1025–26 expedition there became his best-known Indian raid.
Q47. Who fought Muhammad Ghori in the Battles of Tarain?
[Indian Air Force Group Y — 2020]
A. Mularaja
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Dharavarsha
D. Kirtipala
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: The two rulers clashed at Tarain in 1191 and 1192. The first battle favoured Prithviraj, whereas the second established Ghori’s strategic supremacy.
Q46. Who defeated Muhammad Ghori in 1191 but lost to him in 1192?
[Rajasthan Police Constable — 2020]
A. Prithviraj III
B. Rajaraja I
C. Rajendra I
D. Ramraja II
Answer: A. Prithviraj III
Explanation: The contrasting outcomes of the two Battles of Tarain demonstrate Ghori’s ability to recover from the defeat of 1191 and reorganise for a decisive return.
Q45. Who raided the Somnath temple in 1025 CE?
[SSC CGL — 2019]
A. Muhammad Ghori
B. Mahmud of Ghazni
C. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D. Timur
Answer: B. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Mahmud’s Somnath expedition penetrated deep into Gujarat and yielded enormous booty. It became the most famous of his repeated raiding campaigns into India.
Q44. Which invader attacked the Somnath temple on the Kathiawar coast?
[SSC CHSL — 2019]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Babur
C. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
D. Iltutmish
Answer: A. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Mahmud reached Somnath in 1025–26 after crossing western India. The expedition was motivated substantially by the temple’s wealth and the prestige of victory.
Q43. Mahmud of Ghazni defeated which Hindu Shahi ruler during his early Indian campaigns?
[SSC CHSL — 2019]
A. Jayapala
B. Jayachandra
C. Prithviraj
D. Bhoja
Answer: A. Jayapala
Explanation: Jayapala’s defeat around Peshawar in 1001 weakened Hindu Shahi resistance. His successor Anandapala later organised further opposition against Mahmud’s advance.
Q42. Which invader is particularly associated with the plunder of Somnath?
[SSC MTS — 2019]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Chengiz Khan
D. Timur
Answer: A. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Mahmud’s Gujarat campaign culminated at Somnath. Unlike Muhammad Ghori’s later conquests, Ghaznavid expeditions generally emphasised raiding rather than permanent administration deep inside India.
Q41. Which former slave-general of Muhammad Ghori established independent rule in India after 1206?
[SSC CGL — 2019]
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B. Balban
C. Alauddin Khalji
D. Bahlol Lodi
Answer: A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: Aibak administered Ghori’s Indian possessions and, after his master’s death, became an independent ruler, beginning the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi.
Q40. The First Battle of Tarain occurred in which year?
[SSC Stenographer — 2019]
A. 1178
B. 1191
C. 1192
D. 1194
Answer: B. 1191
Explanation: Muhammad Ghori’s 1191 campaign ended in defeat at Tarain. He returned in 1192 and used mobile cavalry tactics to secure a decisive victory.
Q39. Muhammad Ghori’s victory over Prithviraj in 1192 was aided principally by which military advantage?
[APPSC Group-I — 2019]
A. Gunpowder artillery
B. Superior Turkish cavalry and military technology
C. European infantry
D. Naval superiority
Answer: B. Superior Turkish cavalry and military technology
Explanation: Mobile mounted archers, superior horses and tactical flexibility contributed significantly to the Ghurid victory over the more traditionally organised Rajput forces at Tarain.
Q38. Rajasthan’s folk deity Gogaji is traditionally regarded as a contemporary of which invader?
[RPSC — 2019]
A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
B. Mahmud of Ghazni
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Timur
Answer: B. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Rajasthan traditions place Gogaji around the period of Mahmud’s eleventh-century invasions, linking regional heroic traditions with resistance to external incursions.
Q37. Which Ghurid commander became associated with Delhi and northern India after Muhammad Ghori’s death?
[MPSC Rajyaseva — 2019]
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B. Bakhtiyar Khalji
C. Yildiz
D. Qubacha
Answer: A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: After Ghori’s death, his former commanders controlled separate regions: Aibak dominated Delhi, Qubacha Sindh, Yildiz Ghazni and Bakhtiyar’s successors eastern territories.
Q36. In which year did Muhammad Ghori begin his Indian campaigns by attacking Multan?
[SSC CPO — 2019]
A. 1089
B. 1175
C. 1287
D. 1475
Answer: B. 1175
Explanation: Ghori captured Multan in 1175 as an early step in his eastward expansion. His subsequent campaigns increasingly targeted the politically divided north Indian kingdoms.
Q35. Who wrote Kitab-ul-Hind?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination — 2018]
A. Al-Masudi
B. Al-Biruni
C. Sulaiman
D. Firdausi
Answer: B. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s multidisciplinary study provides detailed observations about Indian religion, science, caste, geography and customs during the age of Mahmud of Ghazni.
Q34. Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated by Muhammad Ghori in which battle?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. First Battle of Tarain
B. Second Battle of Tarain
C. Chandawar
D. Khanwa
Answer: B. Second Battle of Tarain
Explanation: Ghori’s 1192 victory at the Second Battle of Tarain marked a decisive shift in the political balance of northern India in favour of Turkish forces.
Q33. Who was the author of Kitab-ul-Hind?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. Al-Biruni
B. Ibn Battuta
C. Barani
D. Firdausi
Answer: A. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s Arabic account reflects years of engagement with Sanskrit scholarship and provides an unusually comparative study of Indian intellectual and social life.
Q32. Al-Biruni came into India in connection with the campaigns of which ruler?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Iltutmish
D. Alauddin Khalji
Answer: A. Mahmud of Ghazni
Explanation: Al-Biruni became associated with the Ghaznavid court after Mahmud conquered Khwarazm and later gained extensive firsthand knowledge of Indian learning and society.
Q31. In which year did Qutb-ud-din Aibak become an independent ruler?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. 1191
B. 1192
C. 1206
D. 1211
Answer: C. 1206
Explanation: Muhammad Ghori died in 1206. Aibak thereafter established independent rule over important former Ghurid territories in India, inaugurating the Delhi Sultanate’s Mamluk dynasty.
Q30. What was the system of assigning revenue-yielding territories to Sultanate officers called?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. Mansabdari
B. Iqtadari
C. Ryotwari
D. Mahalwari
Answer: B. Iqtadari
Explanation: The Iqta system linked territorial revenue assignments with military and administrative service and became fundamental to the organisation of the early Delhi Sultanate.
Q29. Razia Sultan was the daughter of which ruler?
[RRB Group D — 2018]
A. Aibak
B. Iltutmish
C. Balban
D. Nasiruddin Mahmud
Answer: B. Iltutmish
Explanation: Iltutmish recognised Razia’s abilities and reportedly nominated her as a suitable successor. She eventually became Sultan of Delhi in 1236.
Q28. Which scholar compared certain Indian philosophical concepts with Islamic and Sufi thought?
[UPSC CDS — 2018]
A. Al-Biruni
B. Hasan Nizami
C. Abul Fazl
D. Badauni
Answer: A. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni frequently employed comparative methods, examining Indian philosophy alongside ideas familiar to Islamic intellectual traditions while carefully distinguishing cultural and doctrinal differences.
Q27. Why were Turkish invasions comparatively successful in establishing power in northern India?
[UPPCS — 2018]
A. Complete political unity among Indian kingdoms
B. Political fragmentation among major north Indian powers
C. Absence of cavalry among Turks
D. Naval domination by the Ghurids
Answer: B. Political fragmentation among major north Indian powers
Explanation: Rivalries among Rajput and other regional states prevented sustained coordinated resistance, while Turkish armies benefited from mobile cavalry, strategic leadership and better military organisation.
Q26. The Chahamanas or Chauhans, the dynasty of Prithviraj III, are included in which traditional Rajput grouping?
[UPSC NDA & NA (I) — 2018]
A. Agnikula
B. Chandravansha only
C. Ikshvaku only
D. Nanda lineage
Answer: A. Agnikula
Explanation: Later Rajput traditions group the Pratiharas, Paramaras, Chaulukyas and Chahamanas among the Agnikula clans, traditionally linked to a fire sacrifice at Mount Abu.
Q25. Who was the first successful Muslim invader of Sindh?
[PSPCL LDC — 2018]
A. Mahmud of Ghazni
B. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Answer: B. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Qasim’s conquest of Sindh under the Umayyads in 711–712 was the first lasting Muslim territorial conquest within the Indian subcontinent.
Q24. Muhammad Ghori suffered a major defeat in Gujarat in 1178 at the hands of which power?
[RAS/RTS — 2018]
A. Chahamana kingdom
B. Chaulukyas of Gujarat
C. Cholas
D. Palas
Answer: B. Chaulukyas of Gujarat
Explanation: Ghori’s Gujarat expedition ended disastrously near Kayadara. Queen Naiki Devi, acting for the young Chaulukya ruler, is prominently associated with resistance to the invasion.
Q23. Al-Biruni was born in a region corresponding largely to which present-day country?
[KVS TGT — 2018]
A. Uzbekistan
B. Sri Lanka
C. Nepal
D. Iraq
Answer: A. Uzbekistan
Explanation: Al-Biruni was born at Khwarazm in 973, in the region of modern Uzbekistan, before later becoming associated with Mahmud’s court at Ghazni.
Q22. In which year was Muhammad Ghori defeated by the Chaulukyas of Gujarat?
[BPSC CDPO — 2018]
A. 1178
B. 1191
C. 1192
D. 1206
Answer: A. 1178
Explanation: The Battle of Kayadara in 1178 checked Ghori’s attempt to penetrate northern India through Gujarat, encouraging him subsequently to concentrate on the Punjab route.
Q21. Whom did Muhammad Ghori defeat in the Battle of Chandawar in 1194?
[MPPSC Preliminary Examination — 2017]
A. Jaichand/Jayachandra
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Anandapala
D. Bhima I
Answer: A. Jaichand/Jayachandra
Explanation: Jayachandra of the Gahadavala dynasty was defeated and killed in the Battle of Chandawar, strengthening Ghurid access to the middle Gangetic plain.
Q20. The Second Battle of Tarain was fought between Muhammad Ghori and whom?
[SSC CGL — 2017]
A. Alexander
B. Prithviraj Chauhan
C. Hemu
D. Rana Sanga
Answer: B. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Their second encounter in 1192 reversed the outcome of Tarain I and opened Delhi and Ajmer to expanding Ghurid political influence.
Q19. Mahmud was ruler of which important city and empire?
[SSC CGL — 2017]
A. Ghazni
B. Delhi
C. Baghdad
D. Constantinople
Answer: A. Ghazni
Explanation: Mahmud transformed Ghazni into a wealthy imperial capital and used it as the base for campaigns across Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and India.
Q18. Which ruler was defeated by Muhammad Ghori at Chandawar?
[UPRO/ARO — 2016]
A. Jayachandra
B. Prithviraj
C. Bhoja
D. Anandapala
Answer: A. Jayachandra
Explanation: Jayachandra’s defeat in 1194 weakened the Gahadavala kingdom and facilitated further Ghurid penetration into the Ganga-Yamuna region and towards Bihar.
Q17. Who is generally identified as the first successful Muslim conqueror of Indian territory?
[UPSSSC Lower Subordinate — 2016]
A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
B. Mahmud of Ghazni
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Aibak
Answer: A. Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Explanation: Muhammad-bin-Qasim’s conquest of Sindh in the early eighth century created the first lasting Muslim-controlled territories in the Indian subcontinent.
Q16. Who ruled Sindh when Muhammad-bin-Qasim invaded it?
[SSC — 2016]
A. Dahir
B. Jayapala
C. Anandapala
D. Jayachandra
Answer: A. Dahir
Explanation: Raja Dahir was the Brahman ruler of Sindh who confronted Muhammad-bin-Qasim. His defeat enabled the Umayyad conquest of important Indus valley centres.
Q15. Who wrote the Shahnameh and was associated with the Ghaznavid age?
[MPPSC Preliminary Examination — 2015]
A. Firdausi
B. Utbi
C. Al-Biruni
D. Hasan Nizami
Answer: A. Firdausi
Explanation: Persian poet Firdausi composed the monumental Shahnameh. His career became associated with Mahmud’s Ghaznavid court, although their relationship was reportedly difficult.
Q14. Who is regarded as the founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty?
[UP Lower Subordinate — 2015]
A. Alptigin
B. Mahmud
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Aibak
Answer: A. Alptigin
Explanation: Alptigin, a Turkish military commander, established himself at Ghazni in the tenth century. Sabuktigin later strengthened the state before Mahmud transformed it into an empire.
Q13. The earliest Muslim invaders who established authority in Sindh belonged to which ethnic group?
[UP Lower Subordinate — 2015]
A. Arabs
B. Mongols
C. Afghans
D. Mughals
Answer: A. Arabs
Explanation: The Umayyad conquest led by Muhammad-bin-Qasim was Arab. Turkish incursions associated with the Ghaznavids and Ghurids occurred several centuries later.
Q12. Before his victory at the Second Battle of Tarain, Muhammad Ghori had suffered an important defeat in Gujarat at the hands of whom?
[UPSC CDS — 2015]
A. Chaulukya forces associated with Mularaja II/Bhima II
B. Chola forces
C. Sena forces
D. Kakatiya forces
Answer: A. Chaulukya forces associated with Mularaja II/Bhima II
Explanation: Ghori’s 1178 Gujarat campaign failed near Kayadara. The resistance is especially associated with Queen Naiki Devi acting during the young Chaulukya ruler’s reign.
Q11. Who defeated Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain?
[MPPSC — 2014]
A. Prithviraj Chauhan
B. Jaichand
C. Lakshmanasena
D. Govindachandra
Answer: A. Prithviraj Chauhan
Explanation: Prithviraj achieved victory in 1191, but Ghori returned a year later with reorganised forces and defeated him decisively at the Second Battle of Tarain.
Q10. Muhammad Ghori’s first major defeat in India in 1178 came against which dynasty?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination — 2014]
A. Gujarat Chaulukyas
B. Bengal Senas
C. Cholas
D. Eastern Gangas
Answer: A. Gujarat Chaulukyas
Explanation: The failed Gujarat campaign convinced Ghori to alter his route of expansion, eventually targeting Punjab before confronting the Chauhans of Delhi-Ajmer.
Q9. The Battle of Kayadara, where Muhammad Ghori was defeated in 1178, was fought near which geographical feature?
[RAS Preliminary Examination — 2013]
A. Mount Abu
B. Vindhyas
C. Satpura
D. Aravallis near Delhi
Answer: A. Mount Abu
Explanation: Kayadara near Mount Abu in Gujarat was the scene of Ghori’s serious defeat by Chaulukya forces, traditionally led under the direction of Queen Naiki Devi.
Q8. Who wrote the Persian epic Shahnameh?
[UPRO/ARO — 2013]
A. Firdausi
B. Utbi
C. Al-Biruni
D. Baihaqi
Answer: A. Firdausi
Explanation: Firdausi’s Shahnameh is Persia’s great national epic. The poet lived during Mahmud of Ghazni’s reign and is frequently associated with his court.
Q7. Mahmud of Ghazni’s famous attack on Somnath occurred approximately in which year?
[JPSC — 2013]
A. 1001
B. 1014
C. 1025
D. 1192
Answer: C. 1025
Explanation: Mahmud marched into Gujarat in 1025 and attacked Somnath before returning westward. The expedition became his most celebrated and controversial Indian raid.
Q6. India’s earliest sustained contact with Islam occurred primarily through which route?
[RRB — 2012]
A. Arab merchants on the Malabar coast
B. Mongol invasions
C. Portuguese missionaries
D. Ghurid occupation of Delhi
Answer: A. Arab merchants on the Malabar coast
Explanation: Commercial interaction with Arab merchants on India’s western coast began before the conquest of Sindh, demonstrating that cultural contact preceded Muslim territorial expansion.
Q5. Which scholar came to India in connection with Mahmud of Ghazni and wrote extensively about the country?
[Jharkhand PCS Preliminary Examination — 2011]
A. Al-Biruni
B. Ibn Battuta
C. Bernier
D. Marco Polo
Answer: A. Al-Biruni
Explanation: Al-Biruni learned Sanskrit and examined Indian intellectual traditions in depth, producing Kitab-ul-Hind, a major source for the early medieval period.
Q4. What was the principal character of most of Mahmud of Ghazni’s Indian campaigns?
[RAS/RTS — 2010]
A. Primarily plundering expeditions
B. Permanent occupation of all India
C. Naval colonisation
D. Establishment of the Mughal Empire
Answer: A. Primarily plundering expeditions
Explanation: Mahmud repeatedly targeted wealthy centres and temples to finance and glorify his empire, although he retained Punjab as a strategic territorial possession.
Q3. Muhammad Ghori defeated Jayachandra in 1194 in which battle?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination — 2008]
A. First Tarain
B. Chandawar
C. Panipat
D. Khanwa
Answer: B. Chandawar
Explanation: Chandawar followed Ghori’s victory at Tarain and eliminated another major north Indian rival, accelerating Ghurid expansion along the Gangetic plain.
Q2. In which year did Mahmud of Ghazni attack the Somnath temple?
[Chhattisgarh PSC / CGPSC — 2006]
A. 1001 CE
B. 1013 CE
C. 1016 CE
D. 1025 CE
Answer: D. 1025 CE
Explanation: The Somnath campaign of 1025–26 was among Mahmud’s last and most renowned Indian expeditions, aimed at the wealthy temple complex on Gujarat’s coast.
Q1. The term “Hindu” was first used for the people living beyond the Indus by which group?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination — 1995]
A. Greeks
B. Arabs
C. Romans
D. Chinese
Answer: B. Arabs
Explanation: In medieval geographical usage, Arab and Persian writers used forms derived from Sindhu to describe the land and inhabitants beyond the Indus region.