General Knowledge MCQs
Topic Notes: General Knowledge
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
20301
The use of the **Do-Aspa and Seh-Aspa** system in the Mughal Empire under Jahangir primarily aimed to:
Answer:
Increase the effective cavalry strength of a *mansabdar* without raising his rank and salary excessively
The Do-Aspa (two horses) and Seh-Aspa (three horses) clause was an amendment to the *Sawar* rank of the Mansabdari system. It allowed a Mansabdar to be counted and paid for maintaining double or triple the number of cavalry troops, making the military more efficient and flexible without dramatically increasing the officer's personal rank (*Zat*).
20302
Which early medieval Frankish King was crowned **'Emperor of the Romans'** by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, 800 AD?
Answer:
Charlemagne
Charlemagne, King of the Franks and the Lombards, was crowned as the first Emperor in Western Europe since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This coronation solidified the political alliance between the Papacy and the Frankish monarchy, initiating the Carolingian Renaissance.
20303
What economic reform did **Muhammad bin Tughluq** introduce that failed disastrously, causing widespread forgery and devaluation?
Answer:
Introduction of a token currency (bronze coins)
Muhammad bin Tughluq introduced bronze coins to replace silver coins, intending to save silver. However, since the state failed to maintain its monopoly on minting, widespread forgery of the copper/bronze coins occurred, leading to inflation, economic chaos, and the eventual withdrawal of the scheme.
20304
The **Ashta Pradhan** (Council of Eight Ministers) was the highly structured administrative system of which medieval Maratha ruler?
Answer:
Shivaji
Shivaji (1630–1680), the founder of the Maratha Empire, established the Ashta Pradhan Mandal—a system of eight ministers that provided counsel and managed various state affairs. Each minister was responsible for a specific portfolio, ensuring an efficient central administration.
20305
The reign of which Byzantine Emperor marked the beginning of the end of the empire, following the disastrous defeat against the Seljuk Turks at the **Battle of Manzikert** in 1071?
Answer:
Romanos IV Diogenes
The Battle of Manzikert in 1071 resulted in the capture of Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes and the devastation of the Byzantine army. This defeat opened the door for Turkish settlement in Anatolia (the empire's heartland) and is widely regarded as the start of the Byzantine decline.
20306
Which Arab invader defeated the Hindu ruler Raja Dahar and conquered the Sindh region of India in 712 AD?
Answer:
Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim was an Umayyad general who led the Arab invasion of Sindh (in modern Pakistan) in 712 AD. He defeated Raja Dahar, marking the first successful and lasting Muslim conquest of territory in the Indian subcontinent.
20307
In the feudal hierarchy of Medieval Europe, a **vassal** owed his lord primarily:
Answer:
An oath of fealty and military service
A vassal in the feudal system was a person, often a noble, granted a fief (land) by a lord in exchange for a commitment to be loyal and provide military support—specifically knights and soldiers—to the lord. This military obligation was the core of the feudal contract.
20308
The Sufi saint and poet **Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti** is most famously associated with which city in India, where his *Dargah* (shrine) is located?
Answer:
Ajmer
Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (c. 1143–1236 AD) was the founder of the Chishti order of Sufism in the Indian subcontinent. His shrine in Ajmer, Rajasthan, is one of the most revered and important pilgrimage sites in India for people of all faiths.
20309
The long-distance sailing ships used by the Vikings during the Middle Ages, known for their shallow draft allowing them to navigate rivers, were called:
Answer:
Longships
Viking longships were characterized by their long, narrow, and light wooden construction with a shallow draft. This design made them fast and maneuverable, capable of landing on beaches or sailing up rivers into the heart of Europe, which was crucial for Viking raiding and trading.
20310
What Mughal practice, involving the Emperor appearing on a balcony to greet the public, was banned by Aurangzeb as un-Islamic?
Answer:
Jharokha Darshan
Jharokha Darshan was a daily practice where the Mughal Emperor would appear on a balcony (*jharokha*) to be viewed by the public. Aurangzeb banned it, along with other practices like the celebration of the Persian festival of Nauroz, citing them as un-Islamic or forms of human worship.