Popular General Knowledge Quiz for Competitive Exams

Popular General Knowledge Quiz for Competitive Exams
Q :  

What was the immediate cause of Ahmadshah Abdali's invasion of India and the third battle of Panipat?

(A) He wanted to avenge the expulsion of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore by the Marathas.

(B) He was invited by Adin Beg Khan, the frustrated governor of Jalandhar, to invade the Punjab.

(C) He wanted to punish the Mughal administration for not paying the revenue of Chahar Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur).

(D) He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi and merge it with his kingdom.


Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Third battle of Panipat took place between Ahmed Shah Abdali (also called Ahmad Shah Durrani) and Maratha commander Sadashiv Rao Bhau on 14 January 1761 in the Panipat ground.


Q :  

Which one of the following was not associated with the Arya Samaj?

(A) Dayanand Saraswati

(B) Lala Hansraj

(C) Pandit Hardayal

(D) Lala Lajpat Rai


Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in Bombay. Its headquarter was later shifted to Lahore. Arya Samaj focussed on the equality of sexes, love and charity towards all. The Samaj emphasised the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of Man. The Samaj started the Shuddhi movement to convert non-Hindus to Hinduism. This became a contributory factor in the spread of Communalism in India in the 20th century. Arya Samaj accepted the authority of Vedas but didn't believe in the authority of the Shastri class.


Q :  

Which of the following rulers had inscribed on his coins- 'Sovereignty is not given to every person, but it is given to the one who is chosen'

(A) Iltutmish

(B) Alauddin Khilji

(C) Muhammad Tughlaq

(D) Bahlol Lodi


Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351, inscribed on his coins the statement that "Sovereignty is not conferred upon every man but is placed on the elect." This inscription reflected his belief in the concept of divine right of kingship, where the ruler is chosen by God and possesses supreme 


Q :  

In the context of the Indian freedom movement, Usha Mehta is famous for-

(A) For participation in the second round table conference

(B) To run secret Congress Radio at the time of Quit India Movement

(C) For leading a unit of Azad Hind Fauj

(D) For playing a supporting role in the formation of Jawaharlal Nehru's interim government


Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Usha Mehta (25 March 1920 – 11 August 2000) was a Gandhian and freedom fighter of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942.


Q :  

Diamond mining is related to?

(A) Fatehpur Sikri

(B) Agra

(C) Golconda

(D) Lahore


Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Alluvial diamond mining occurs in riverbeds and beaches, where thousands of years of erosion and natural forces such as wind, rain, and water currents wash diamonds from their primary deposits in kimberlite pipes to beaches and riverbeds. Some alluvial deposits are from long-ago rivers.


Q :  

Given below are the names of kings and kingdoms known from later Vedic literature. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(A) Ajatshatru – Kashi

(B) Ashwapati – Bahik

(C) Parent – Videha

(D) Janamejaya – Kuru-Panchala


Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

1. Ajatshatru (c. 493/492 BCE - c. 462/460 BCE) was the second important king of the Haryanka Dynasty, who came to the throne of Magadha by deposing and executing his own father Bimbisara. 

2. The Haryana Dynasty (c. 545/544 BCE - c. 413 BCE) came into prominence during the rule of Bimbisara (r. 545/544 BCE - 493/492 BCE), who extended the kingdom through conquests and marriage alliances. 

3. The Magadha Kingdom started its expansion from the time of Bimbisara, but Ajatashatru annexed several important and powerful kingdoms in its vicinity – Kosala and Kashi, and then Vrijji and his empire roughly covered the present-day Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh (some minor parts), West Bengal (some major parts), Odisha (some parts) and also some parts of the neighbour countries of Bangladesh and Nepal. 

4. Ajatashatru, also known as Kunika, grew up in Rajagriha under the able guidance of his father.


Q :  

When was the 'Simon Commission' announced?

(A) November 8, 1927 AD

(B) November 10, 1928 AD

(C) November 11, 1927 AD

(D) November 7, 1928 AD


Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

In November 1927, the British government appointed the Simon Commission two years ahead of schedule. The commission was strongly opposed by the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, and prominent Indian leaders including Nehru, Gandhi, and Jinnah, because it contained only British members and no Indians.


Q :  

Who founded the 'Social Democratic Alliance'?

(A) Karl Marx

(B) Bakunin

(C) Mallincouk

(D) George Faikanoub


Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

In 1869, August Bebel and Liebknecht founded the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany (SDAP) as a merger of the petty-bourgeois Saxon People's Party (SVP), a faction of the ADAV and members of the League of German Workers' Associations (VDA).


Q :  

In which period did Confucius live?

(A) Confucius

(B) Han Dynasty

(C) Sui Dynasty

(D) Tang Dynasty


Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Confucius (551–479 BCE), a scholar and teacher, lived in a chaotic and violent time in China. He wished to see peace and harmony restored and a return to order.


Q :  

Who among the following gave administrative and financial freedom to the Buddhist monks for the first time?

(A) Gautamiputra Shatkarni

(B) Satvahan

(C) Brihadratha

(D) Yajna Shatkarni


Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The Satvahana Empire or Andhra Empire was a royal Indian dynasty based on Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward. The Satavahanas were also the first rulers to make land grants to Brahmanas, although we find more instances of such grants being made to Buddhist monks. The Satavahanas adopted a policy of promoting administrative and financial independence.


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    Rajesh Bhatia

    A Writer, Teacher and GK Expert. I am an M.A. & M.Ed. in English Literature and Political Science. I am highly keen and passionate about reading Indian History. Also, I like to mentor students about how to prepare for a competitive examination. Share your concerns with me by comment box. Also, you can ask anything at linkedin.com/in/rajesh-bhatia-7395a015b/.

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