UPSC Prelims 2015
Medieval History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 4 solved UPSC Prelims 2015 Medieval History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Consider the following pairs:
| Medieval Indian State | Present Region |
|---|---|
| 1. Champaka | Central India |
| 2. Durgara | Jammu |
| 3. Kuluta | Malabar |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Champaka (Chamba) was located in present-day Himachal Pradesh, not Central India.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Durgara corresponds to the present-day Jammu region.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Kuluta (Kullu) was situated in present-day Himachal Pradesh (Kullu Valley), not Malabar; Malabar refers to the southwestern coastal region of India.
Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?
Detailed Explanation:
Harihara I founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 along with his brother Bukka I, establishing the capital Vijayanagara (Hampi) on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River (a tributary of the Krishna River).
The rulers of the Sangama dynasty ruled as agents of the deity Virupaksha (a form of Lord Shiva), who was believed to be the true owner of all land south of the Krishna River, with royal orders signed in the name of 'Shri Virupaksha'.
Consider the following:
The arrival of Babur into India led to the:
- introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
- introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture
- establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Gunpowder was already known in India by the mid-14th century during the Delhi Sultanate period; Babur introduced superior field artillery technology, not gunpowder itself.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The arch and dome were introduced to India by the Turks during the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century, with examples like Alai Darwaza and Qutb Minar complex predating Babur's arrival.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Babur was a direct descendant of Timur and established the Timurid dynasty (Mughal Empire) in India after his victory at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) against Ibrahim Lodi.
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With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential elementary elements of the feudal system?
- A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
- The emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of the land
- Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Feudalism is characterized by a weak central authority with power dispersed among regional lords, not strong centralization.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Land control forms the economic foundation of feudalism, where administrative power derives from possession and control of land rather than formal bureaucratic structures.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The lord-vassal relationship is a defining feature, involving land grants (fiefs) in exchange for military service, loyalty, and revenue, creating a hierarchical pyramid of obligations.
UPSC Prelims 2015 - Medieval History Chapter-wise Distribution
Social and Economic Life in Medieval India
1 Qs (25%)Mughal Empire
1 Qs (25%)Vijayanagara Empire
1 Qs (25%)Early Medieval India
1 Qs (25%)UPSC Prelims 2015 - Medieval History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Medieval History questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2015?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Medieval History in UPSC Prelims 2015?
- Social and Economic Life in Medieval India: 1 questions (25%)
- Mughal Empire: 1 questions (25%)
- Vijayanagara Empire: 1 questions (25%)
- Early Medieval India: 1 questions (25%)