History plays a crucial role in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) as it forms a significant part of the General Studies (GS) Paper I in both Prelims and Mains. The subject covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History, along with important world history events.
To help aspirants, here’s a comprehensive list of important UPSC History GK questions and answers, covering key topics essential for IAS, SSC, State PSCs, and other competitive exams.
1. Ancient Indian History GK Questions
Q1: Which is the oldest civilization in India?
A) Vedic Civilization
B) Indus Valley Civilization
C) Mauryan Empire
D) Gupta Empire
✅ Answer: B) Indus Valley Civilization
Q2: The Great Bath was found in which Indus Valley site?
A) Harappa
B) Mohenjo-Daro
C) Lothal
D) Kalibangan
✅ Answer: B) Mohenjo-Daro
Q3: Which Veda is the oldest?
A) Sama Veda
B) Yajur Veda
C) Atharva Veda
D) Rig Veda
✅ Answer: D) Rig Veda
Q4: Who is known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”?
A) Alexander Cunningham
B) John Marshall
C) R.D. Banerjee
D) James Prinsep
✅ Answer: A) Alexander Cunningham
Q5: The term ‘Dharma’ was first used in which ancient text?
A) Arthashastra
B) Manusmriti
C) Rig Veda
D) Bhagavad Gita
✅ Answer: C) Rig Veda
2. Medieval Indian History GK Questions
Q6: Who founded the Delhi Sultanate in 1206?
A) Babur
B) Iltutmish
C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D) Alauddin Khilji
✅ Answer: C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Q7: Who introduced the “Iqta System” in India?
A) Balban
B) Iltutmish
C) Alauddin Khilji
D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
✅ Answer: B) Iltutmish
Q8: The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between?
A) British and Marathas
B) British and Mughals
C) British and French
D) British and Nawab of Bengal
✅ Answer: D) British and Nawab of Bengal
Q9: Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb
✅ Answer: C) Shah Jahan
Q10: Who was the last ruler of the Mughal Empire?
A) Bahadur Shah Zafar
B) Shah Alam II
C) Aurangzeb
D) Humayun
✅ Answer: A) Bahadur Shah Zafar
3. Modern Indian History GK Questions
Q11: In which year did the Revolt of 1857 start?
A) 1856
B) 1857
C) 1858
D) 1862
✅ Answer: B) 1857
Q12: Who was known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’?
A) Haider Ali
B) Tipu Sultan
C) Shivaji Maharaj
D) Bajirao Peshwa
✅ Answer: B) Tipu Sultan
Q13: Who founded the Arya Samaj in 1875?
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
✅ Answer: C) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Q14: Who was the first Governor-General of British India?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Clive
C) Warren Hastings
D) Lord Mountbatten
✅ Answer: C) Warren Hastings
Q15: Who gave the slogan ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it’?
A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
✅ Answer: A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. Indian National Movement GK Questions
Q16: Who led the Dandi March in 1930?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Sardar Patel
✅ Answer: B) Mahatma Gandhi
Q17: When was the Indian National Congress (INC) founded?
A) 1857
B) 1885
C) 1905
D) 1947
✅ Answer: B) 1885
Q18: Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
A) A.O. Hume
B) Dadabhai Naoroji
C) W.C. Banerjee
D) Mahatma Gandhi
✅ Answer: C) W.C. Banerjee
Q19: Which movement was launched after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
A) Quit India Movement
B) Civil Disobedience Movement
C) Non-Cooperation Movement
D) Swadeshi Movement
✅ Answer: C) Non-Cooperation Movement
Q20: Who founded the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army)?
A) Bhagat Singh
B) Lala Lajpat Rai
C) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
D) Rajguru
✅ Answer: C) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
5. Important World History GK Questions
Q21: Who was the first President of the United States?
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) George Washington
C) Thomas Jefferson
D) John F. Kennedy
✅ Answer: B) George Washington
Q22: The French Revolution started in which year?
A) 1776
B) 1789
C) 1804
D) 1815
✅ Answer: B) 1789
Q23: Who was the architect of German Unification?
A) Karl Marx
B) Otto von Bismarck
C) Napoleon Bonaparte
D) Adolf Hitler
✅ Answer: B) Otto von Bismarck
Q24: What was the main cause of World War I?
A) Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
B) Hitler’s invasion of Poland
C) Cold War tensions
D) Industrial Revolution
✅ Answer: A) Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Q25: The United Nations was established in which year?
A) 1919
B) 1945
C) 1950
D) 1962
✅ Answer: B) 1945
Conclusion: Master UPSC History GK with Regular Practice!
For UPSC Prelims, Mains, and other competitive exams, mastering history GK is essential. Regular revision, reading NCERT books, practicing mock tests, and following current affairs related to historical events will help you score well.
💡 Challenge yourself! How many questions did you get right? Comment your score below! 🚀📚