50 Most Common Indian History Questions and Answers for Students

Thousands of years. Ancient civilisations, freedom struggles and modern nations. India has it all. To know it all can be overwhelming sometimes for students when they are preparing for exams or quizzes. 

We have compiled here for yo a set of 50 Indian history questions and answers spanning the length and breadth of our historical legacy.

Feel free to use this list for quizzes, worksheets, or classroom revision:

1. Who is known as the Father of Indian History?
   Answer: Kalhana for his work Rajatarangini.
   
2. Which is the oldest civilization in India?
   Answer: The Indus Valley Civilization.
   
3. Who discovered the Indus Valley Civilization?
   Answer: Sir John Marshall.
   
4. Which city was the largest in the Indus Valley Civilization?
   Answer: Mohenjo-Daro.
   
5. What was the script used in the Indus Valley Civilization?
   Answer: The script is undeciphered.
   
6. Which Veda is the oldest?
   Answer: Rig Veda.
   
7. Who founded Buddhism?
   Answer: Gautama Buddha.
   
8. At which place did Buddha attain enlightenment?
   Answer: Bodh Gaya.
   
9. Who was the founder of Jainism?
   Answer: Mahavira.
   
10. Who was the first Mauryan emperor?
    Answer: Chandragupta Maurya.

Read More: Top 50 General Knowledge Quiz Questions with Answers

11. Who wrote the Arthashastra?
    Answer: Kautilya (Chanakya).
    
12. Who was the greatest ruler of the Maurya Empire?
    Answer: Ashoka.
    
13. What symbol was associated with Emperor Ashoka?
    Answer: The Lion Capital of Ashoka.
    
14. Which dynasty is known as the golden age of India?
    Answer: The Gupta Empire.
    
15. Who was called the “Napoleon of India”?
    Answer: Samudragupta.
    
16. Who built the famous Nalanda University?
    Answer: Kumaragupta.
    
17. Who founded the Mughal EmpiQutb-ud-din Aibakre?
    Answer: Babur.
    
18. Who built the Red Fort?
    Answer: Shah Jahan.
    
19. Who built the Taj Mahal?
    Answer: Shah Jahan.
    
20. Who was the last Mughal emperor?
    Answer: Bahadur Shah II (Zafar).

Read More: Top 10 Famous Indian Mathematicians and Scientists

21. Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi?
    Answer: Razia Sultana.
    
22. Who introduced the Mansabdari system?
    Answer: Akbar.
    
23. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?
    Answer: 1757.
    
24. Who defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah in Plassey?
    Answer: Robert Clive.
    
25. The Revolt of 1857 is also known as?
    Answer: The First War of Indian Independence.
    
26. Who was the leader of the Revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?
    Answer: Nana Sahib.
    
27. Who led the revolt in Jhansi during 1857?
    Answer: Rani Lakshmibai.
    
28. Who founded the Indian National Congress?
    Answer: A. O. Hume.
    
29. When was INC founded?
    Answer: 1885.
    
30. Who gave the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”?
    Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Read More: 10 Proven Tips to Boost Your Motivation to Study Every Day

31. Who is known as the Father of the Nation?
    Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
    
32. When did the Jalianwala Bagh massacre happen?
    Answer: 1919.
    
33. Who was the Governor-General during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
    Answer: General Dyer (executing) under Lord Chelmsford.
    
34. Which movement started after the Chauri Chaura incident?
    Answer: Non-Cooperation Movement (called off by Gandhi).
    
35. The Salt March began from which place?
    Answer: Sabarmati Ashram.
    
36. In which year did the Quit India Movement start?
    Answer: 1942.
    
37. Who gave the slogan “Do or Die”?
    Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
    
38. When did India gain independence?
    Answer: 15 August 1947.
    
39. Who was the first President of India?
    Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
    
40. Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.

Read More:Best Books to Read for Students: Top 5 Must-Reads for Every Age Group

41. Who wrote the Indian Constitution?
    Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman of Drafting Committee).
    
42. When was the Indian Constitution enforced?
    Answer: 26 January 1950.
    
43. Who was known as the “Iron Man of India”?
    Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
    
44. Who was India’s first woman Prime Minister?
    Answer: Indira Gandhi.
    
45. Who founded the Arya Samaj?
    Answer: Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
    
46. Who is called the “Nightingale of India”?
    Answer: Sarojini Naidu.
    
47. Who discovered the sea route to India?
    Answer: Vasco da Gama.
    
48. Where did Vasco da Gama land in India?
    Answer: Calicut (Kozhikode).
    
49. Who built the Qutub Minar?
    Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (completed by Iltutmish).
    
50. Who was known as Netaji?
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose.

Read More: How to concentrate on studies: 10 proven tips for students

 Final note

Whether you’re preparing for school exams, Olympiads, or competitive tests, this list of Indian history knowledge questions offers a quick and effective revision tool.