Indian History MCQs for UP PET (in English)

Most Important Indian History MCQs for UP PET Exam in English. All topics questions practice set, as per UPSSSC syllabus for 2025-2026 exam.

Indian History MCQs for UP PET in English

Indus Valley Civilization

Q.1: Which major city was part of the Indus Valley Civilization?

(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjo-daro
(c) Kalibangan
(d) Lothal

Q.2: What material was not used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?

(a) Gold
(b) Silver
(c) Iron
(d) Bronze

Q.3: Which script did the Indus Valley people use?

(a) Brahmi
(b) Devanagari
(c) Indus script
(d) Kharosthi

Q.4: Which river was central to the Indus Valley Civilization?

(a) Ganges
(b) Yamuna
(c) Indus
(d) Saraswati

Q.5: What type of structure is the Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro?

(a) Religious Temple
(b) Granary
(c) Public Bath
(d) Fortress

Vedic Culture

Q.1: What are the primary texts of Vedic culture?

(a) Upanishads
(b) Puranas
(c) Vedas
(d) Smritis

Q.2: Which Veda is known as the book of chants?

(a) Rigveda
(b) Samaveda
(c) Yajurveda
(d) Atharvaveda

Q.3: Which system of social stratification emerged during the Vedic period?

(a) Feudalism
(b) Caste System
(c) Capitalism
(d) Socialism

Q.4: The practice of sacrifices and rituals was most prominent in which Veda?

(a) Rigveda
b) Samaveda
(c) Yajurveda
(d) Atharvaveda

Q.5: Which Vedic text is known for its philosophical discussions?

(a) Brahmanas
(b) Upanishads
(c) Aranyakas
(d) Sutras

Buddhism: Gautam Buddha (Biography and Teachings)

Q.1: In which place was Gautam Buddha born?

(a) Sarnath
(b) Lumbini
(c) Bodh Gaya
(d) Kushinagar

Q.2: What was the original name of Gautam Buddha?

(a) Siddhartha Gautama
(b) Ashoka Maurya
(c) Mahavira
(d) Chandragupta

Q.3: Where did Gautam Buddha attain enlightenment?

(a) Sarnath
(b) Lumbini
(c) Bodh Gaya
(d) Kushinagar

Q.4: Which of the following is not a part of the Four Noble Truths taught by Buddha?

(a) The truth of suffering
(b) The truth of the cause of suffering
(c) The truth of the end of suffering
(d) The truth of the creator of the world

Q.5: What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism according to Gautam Buddha?

(a) Moksha
(b) Nirvana
(c) Heaven
(d) Salvation

Jainism: Mahavira (Biography and Teachings)

Q.1: In which year was Mahavira born?

(a) 599 BCE
(b) 563 BCE
(c) 483 BCE
(d) 427 BCE

Q.2: What was the original name of Mahavira?

(a) Gautama
(b) Siddhartha
(c) Vardhamana
(d) Ashoka

Q.3: Mahavira was the __ Tirthankara of Jainism.

(a) 20th
(b) 21st
(c) 23rd
(d) 24th

Q.4: Which principle is most closely associated with Jainism?

(a) Ahimsa (Non-violence)
(b) Karma
(c) Dharma
(d) Bhakti

Q.5: Where did Mahavira attain Nirvana?

(a) Pavapuri
(b) Rajgir
(c) Vaishali
(d) Sarnath

Maurya Dynasty: Emperor Ashoka

Q.1: Emperor Ashoka belonged to which dynasty?

(a) Gupta
(b) Maurya
(c) Chola
(d) Satavahana

Q.2: Which battle led to Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism?

(a) Battle of Kalinga
(b) Battle of Kurukshetra
(c) Battle of Taxila
(d) Battle of Plassey

Q.3: What is the symbol of Ashoka’s rule that is used in the national emblem of India?

(a) Lion Capital of Sarnath
b) Peacock Throne
(c) Ashoka Chakra
(d) Lotus

Q.4: Which script did Ashoka use for his inscriptions?

(a) Devanagari
(b) Brahmi
(c) Kharosthi
(d) Tamil

Q.5: Ashoka’s edicts primarily promote which principle?

(a) Expansionism
(b) Dhamma (Moral Law)
(c) Wealth accumulation
(d) Military prowess

Gupta Dynasty: Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta II

Q.1: Who was known as the “Napoleon of India”?

(a) Chandragupta I
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Chandragupta II
(d) Skandagupta

Q.2: Which Gupta ruler was known for his extensive conquests and patronage of arts?

(a) Chandragupta I
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Chandragupta II
(d) Kumaragupta

Q.3: Which famous Chinese traveler visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II?

(a) Fa-Hien
(b) Hiuen Tsang
(c) Marco Polo
(d) Ibn Battuta

Q.4: Chandragupta II is also known by which other name?

(a) Vikramaditya
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Skandagupta
(d) Ashoka

Q.5: Which famous iron pillar, that has not rusted over centuries, is associated with the Gupta period?

(a) Delhi Iron Pillar
(b) Iron Pillar of Mehrauli
(c) Sarnath Iron Pillar
(d) Udayagiri Iron Pillar

Harshvardhan

Q.1: Harshvardhan belonged to which dynasty?

(a) Maurya
(b) Gupta
(c) Vardhana
(d) Chola

Q2: What was the capital of Harshvardhan’s empire?

(a) Pataliputra
(b) Kannauj
(c) Ujjain
(d) Mathura

Q.3: Which Chinese traveler visited India during Harshvardhan’s reign?

(a) Fa-Hien
(b) Hiuen Tsang
(c) Marco Polo
(d) Ibn Battuta

Q4: Which religion did Harshvardhan initially follow before converting to Buddhism?

(a) Jainism
(b) Hinduism
(c) Islam
(d) Sikhism

Q5: Which famous literary work was written by Harshvardhan?

(a) Arthashastra
(b) Nagananda
(c) Meghaduta
(d) Raghuvamsa

Rajput Period

Q.1: Which battle marked the beginning of the Rajput period in Indian history?

(a) Battle of Tarain
(b) Battle of Plassey
(c) Battle of Panipat
(d) Battle of Haldighati

Q.2: Who was the founder of the Chauhan dynasty?

(a) Prithviraj Chauhan
(b) Rana Sanga
(c) Rana Pratap
(d) Bhoja

Q.3: Which Rajput ruler is known for his valiant fight against Akbar in the Battle of Haldighati?

(a) Rana Sanga
(b) Rana Pratap
(c) Prithviraj Chauhan
(d) Rana Kumbha

Q.4: Which Rajput kingdom built the famous Chittorgarh Fort?

(a) Chauhan
(b) Rathore
(c) Sisodia
(d) Parmar

Q.5: The famous literary work “Prithviraj Raso” was written by?

(a) Kalidasa
(b) Chand Bardai
(c) Banabhatta
(d) Bhasa

Sultanate Period

Q.1: Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate?

(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Alauddin Khilji
(d) Balban

Q.2: Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate introduced market control policies?

(a) Balban
(b) Alauddin Khilji
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Q.3: Who was the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

(a) Razia Sultana
(b) Rani Durgavati
(c) Nur Jahan
(d) Chand Bibi

Q.4: Which Sultanate ruler shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?

(a) Iltutmish
(b) Alauddin Khilji
(c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Q.5: Which dynasty was founded by Bahlul Lodi?

(a) Slave Dynasty
(b) Khilji Dynasty
(c) Tughlaq Dynasty
(d) Lodi Dynasty

Mughal Empire

Q.1: Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India?

(a) Akbar
(b) Humayun
(c) Babur
(d) Aurangzeb

Q2:Which Mughal ruler is known for his policy of religious tolerance?

(a) Babur
(b) Akbar
(c) Aurangzeb
(d) Shah Jahan

Q.3: Who built the Taj Mahal?

(a) Akbar
(b) Babur
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Jahangir

Q.4: Which Mughal emperor’s reign marked the beginning of the decline of the Mughal Empire?

(a) Babur
(b) Akbar
(c) Aurangzeb
(d) Jahangir

Q.5: Which battle marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India?

(a) Battle of Panipat
b) Battle of Plassey
(c) Battle of Haldighati
(d) Battle of Buxar

Maratha : Indian History MCQs for UP PET (in English)

Q.1: Who was the founder of the Maratha Empire?

(a) Shivaji
(b) Sambhaji
(c) Balaji Vishwanath
(d) Baji Rao I

Q. 2: Which fort is known as the capital fort of Shivaji?

(a) Raigad Fort
(b) Sinhagad Fort
(c) Pratapgad Fort
(d) Shivneri Fort

Q.3: Who was the Peshwa during the third battle of Panipat?

(a) Balaji Vishwanath
(b) Baji Rao I
(c) Balaji Baji Rao
(d) Madhav Rao I

Q.5: Who was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire?

(a) Balaji Vishwanath
(b) Baji Rao II
(c) Madhav Rao I
(d) Narayan Rao

Rise of British Rule and First Freedom Struggle

Q.1: Which battle marked the beginning of British rule in India?

(a) Battle of Plassey
(b) Battle of Buxar
(c) Battle of Panipat
(d) Battle of Haldighati

Q.2: Who was the British commander in the Battle of Plassey?

(a) Robert Clive
(b) Warren Hastings
(c) Lord Cornwallis
(d) James Outram

Q.3: In which year did the First War of Indian Independence take place?

(a) 1757
(b) 1857
(c) 1947
(d) 1827

Q.4: Who was the Mughal emperor during the First War of Indian Independence?

(a) Akbar II
(b) Bahadur Shah II
(c) Shah Alam II
(d) Aurangzeb

Q.5: Which Indian leader led the revolt in Jhansi during the 1857 rebellion?

(a) Nana Sahib
(b) Rani Lakshmibai
(c) Tantia Tope
(d) Kunwar shingh

Thanks for attempt Indian History MCQs for UP PET (in English) practice set for preparation of upcoming competitive exams.