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
111
Which Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate built the towns of Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur, and Hissar?
Answer:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD) was known for his extensive construction and public works, founding several important towns including Firozabad (near Delhi), Fatehabad, Jaunpur, and Hissar. He also established the Diwan-i-Khairat (Charity Department).
112
The Gothic architectural style is famously characterized by the use of **flying buttresses** and:
Answer:
Pointed arches and ribbed vaults
Gothic architecture (c. 1150–16th century) evolved from the Romanesque. Its key features—the pointed arch, ribbed vault, and the flying buttress—allowed builders to create taller structures with thinner walls and larger stained-glass windows, differentiating it from the heavy, round-arched Romanesque style.
113
The poet and musician **Amir Khusrau**, often called the 'Parrot of India,' was a prominent figure during the reign of which Delhi Sultanate dynasty?
Answer:
Khalji Dynasty
Amir Khusrau (1253–1325 AD) was a disciple of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya and a prolific writer, poet, and musician who served under several Sultans of the Delhi Sultanate, most notably during the Khalji Dynasty (especially under Ala-ud-din Khalji).
114
What was the official language of the administration under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire?
Answer:
Persian
Persian was the primary language of administration, court, and high culture for both the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire in India, as it was the language of the ruling elite and the scholarly class.
115
The **Mansabdari System** was a unique administrative and military system introduced by which Mughal Emperor?
Answer:
Akbar
The Mansabdari System was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix the rank of an officer (*mansabdar*), his salary, and the number of cavalrymen he was required to maintain (*zat* and *sawar* rank). It was a key innovation of Akbar's administration.
116
The system of military contracts where land was granted to nobles in exchange for service in Medieval Europe is the definition of:
Answer:
Feudalism
Feudalism, from the Latin *feudum* (fief), was the political and military system defined by mutual obligations and contracts, particularly the granting of land (fief) in return for military service.
117
Which of the following Delhi Sultans shifted his capital from Delhi to **Daulatabad** (Deogiri) and introduced a token currency?
Answer:
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq is infamous for two major failed administrative experiments: the shifting of his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (circa 1327 AD) and the subsequent introduction of token currency (bronze coins with the face value of silver coins), both of which caused economic disruption.
118
The **Battle of Talikota** (1565 AD) is a pivotal event associated with the downfall of which powerful South Indian kingdom?
Answer:
Vijayanagara Empire
The Battle of Talikota (also known as the Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi) in 1565 AD resulted in the decisive defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire by a coalition of Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar). This battle marked the irreversible decline of the great empire.
119
The first major European artistic style of the Middle Ages, characterized by massive quality, thick walls, round arches, and large towers, was:
Answer:
Romanesque
Romanesque architecture (c. 1000–1150 AD) was the first Pan-European style since the Romans. It is characterized by its heavy, thick-walled construction, which evolved into the taller, lighter, and more complex Gothic style in the mid-12th century.
120
Which Mughal Emperor earned the epithet **'Zinda Pir'** (the Living Saint) due to his ascetic lifestyle and strict adherence to Islamic law?
Answer:
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb Alamgir was known as 'Zinda Pir' (Living Saint) for his austere personal life, which included shunning courtly luxuries, stitching caps, and copying the Quran to earn personal income, in sharp contrast to the lavish lifestyles of his predecessors.