PART – I (20 Marks)
All questions compulsory
1 Multiple Choice Questions (10 × 1 = 10)
- The First Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of
(a) Babur & Rana Sanga (b) Babur & Ibrahim Lodi (c) Humayun & Sher Shah (d) Akbar & Hemu - Sher Shah Suri is best remembered for constructing the
(a) Qutub Minar (b) Grand Trunk Road (c) Taj Mahal (d) Red Fort - The Mansabdari system was introduced by
(a) Babur (b) Sher Shah (c) Akbar (d) Aurangzeb - Shah Jahan earned the title of
(a) Alamgir (b) Engineer King (c) Zinda Pir (d) Conqueror of the World - The Bhakti movement mainly focused on
(a) Strict rituals (b) Personal devotion to God (c) Military training (d) Tax collection - Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the religion of
(a) Jainism (b) Buddhism (c) Sikhism (d) Sufism - Aurangzeb reimposed the tax called
(a) Pilgrim Tax (b) Jizya (c) Dahsala (d) Chauth - The Taj Mahal was built in memory of
(a) Nur Jahan (b) Mumtaz Mahal (c) Jahanara (d) Roshanara - Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti belonged to the
(a) Suhrawardi order (b) Chishti order (c) Qadiri order (d) Naqshbandi order - The Vijayanagara Empire was founded by
(a) Krishnadeva Raya (b) Harihara & Bukka (c) Mahmud Gawan (d) Firoz Shah
- (b) Babur & Ibrahim Lodi — 1526 CE; used artillery → foundation of Mughal rule
- (b) Grand Trunk Road — linked Bengal to Punjab; trees, sarais, trade boost
- (c) Akbar — ranked officers (zat & sawar); paid via jagir/cash
- (b) Engineer King — Taj, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, gardens
- (b) Personal devotion to God — rejected caste, rituals; local languages
- (c) Sikhism — Ik Onkar, equality, honest living + sharing
- (b) Jizya — reimposed 1679; caused Rajput, Sikh, Maratha resentment
- (b) Mumtaz Mahal — 1632–1653 Agra mausoleum for wife (died 1631)
- (b) Chishti order — Ajmer Dargah; love, tolerance, qawwali, charity
- (b) Harihara & Bukka — 1336 CE, Hampi, under Vidyaranya guidance
2 Answer the following questions briefly (5 × 2 = 10)
- Mention any four administrative reforms of Sher Shah Suri.
- Write three main features of Akbar’s Rajput policy.
- What was the importance of the Second Battle of Panipat (1556)?
- Who were the Sufis? Name any two famous Sufi orders in India.
- State any three teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
-
1. Grand Trunk Road with trees & sarais
2. Rupiya (silver) & dam (copper) coins
3. Land measurement & fertility-based revenue
4. Postal system (Dak Chowki) & improved police
→ Many adopted by Akbar -
1. Matrimonial alliances (e.g. Jodha Bai)
2. High mansabs to Rajputs (Man Singh, Bhagwan Das…)
3. Allowed loyal rulers to retain thrones
→ Won loyalty → empire stability -
Akbar (Bairam Khan) defeated Hemu → recaptured Delhi & Agra
→ Ended Afghan threat; strengthened Mughal rule -
Sufis = Muslim mystics seeking direct union with God via love & meditation.
Orders: Chishti (Muinuddin Chishti), Suhrawardi (Bahauddin Zakariya)
→ Promoted tolerance & cultural synthesis -
1. One God — Ik Onkar
2. Equality — rejected caste
3. Honest earning + sharing + God’s remembrance
→ Core of Sikh ethics
PART – II (40 Marks)
SECTION – A (20 Marks)
Attempt any TWO questions
3 Explain the following terms (any 10) (10 × 1 = 10)
- Mansabdar
- Sulh-i-Kul
- Jagir
- Dahsala system
- Pietra Dura
- Langar
- Silsila
- Ik Onkar
- Ibadat Khana
- Ashtapradhan
- Mansabdar — Mughal ranked officer (zat & sawar); maintained troops
- Sulh-i-Kul — Akbar’s “universal peace” → religious tolerance
- Jagir — Land assignment instead of salary; revenue for troops
- Dahsala system — 1580 revenue; avg. 10 yrs produce/price; ~1/3 share
- Pietra Dura — Semi-precious stone inlay in marble (Taj Mahal)
- Langar — Sikh free community kitchen → equality
- Silsila — Chain of Sufi spiritual masters
- Ik Onkar — “One God” – Sikh monotheism
- Ibadat Khana — Fatehpur Sikri discussion hall for religions
- Ashtapradhan — Shivaji’s council of 8 ministers
4 Match the Following (10 Marks)
Set A
| 1. Babur | (a) Engineer King |
|---|---|
| 2. Akbar | (b) Tuzuk-i-Baburi |
| 3. Shah Jahan | (c) Din-i-Ilahi |
| 4. Aurangzeb | (d) Taj Mahal |
| 5. Sher Shah | (e) Alamgir |
| 6. Tansen | (f) Grand Trunk Road |
Set B
| 1. Bhakti | (a) Community dining |
|---|---|
| 2. Langar | (b) Personal devotion |
| 3. Kabir | (c) Weaver saint |
| 4. Mirabai | (d) Devotee of Krishna |
| 5. Guru Arjan | (e) Compiled Adi Granth |
| 6. Shivaji | (f) Maratha guerrilla leader |
Set A: 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-e, 5-f, 6-(not listed but Tansen = musician)
Set B: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d, 5-e, 6-f
5 Picture Study + Fill in the Blanks (10 Marks)
Identify this famous monument
- Identify the picture.
- Which ruler got it constructed?
- In whose memory was it built?
Fill in the Blanks (5 marks)
- Akbar introduced the ________ system in 1580 CE.
- The Chishti order was popularised in India by ________.
- Guru Arjan Dev compiled the first version of ________.
- Mirabai was a famous devotee of Lord ________.
- The capital city of Vijayanagara Empire was ________.
- Taj Mahal (or Buland Darwaza / Fatehpur Sikri monument)
- Shah Jahan (or Akbar)
- Mumtaz Mahal (or Shaikh Salim Chishti)
- Dahsala
- Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
- Adi Granth / Guru Granth Sahib
- Krishna
- Hampi
SECTION – B (20 Marks)
Attempt any TWO questions
6 Name the following (5 marks) + True / False (5 marks)
Name the following:
- He was known as 'Alamgir'.
- Tax reimposed by Aurangzeb on non-Muslims.
- Maratha leader who challenged Aurangzeb.
- White marble mosque built by Shah Jahan in Agra Fort.
- Greatest musician in Akbar’s court.
True or False:
- The Vijayanagara Empire had flourishing foreign trade.
- Agriculture was the main source of income for Vijayanagara.
- Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy strengthened the Mughal Empire.
- Langar system promotes caste discrimination.
- Chand Bibi defended Ahmadnagar against Akbar.
Name:
- Aurangzeb
- Jizya
- Shivaji
- Moti Masjid
- Tansen
T/F:
- True
- True
- False (drained resources)
- False (promotes equality)
- True
7 One Word Answers (5) + Fill in the Blanks (5)
One word answers:
- Chain of Sufi masters
- Community kitchen in Sikhism
- Spiritual teacher in Bhakti/Sikhism
- Devotional music form in Sufism
- Holy scripture of Sikhs
Fill in the blanks:
- The Bhakti movement opposed complicated rituals of ________ religion.
- Alvars were devotees of ________; Nayanars of ________.
- Saint ________ was a weaver and preached Hindu-Muslim unity.
- Kabir’s disciples are known as ________.
- Akbar built ________ Darwaza to commemorate Gujarat victory.
- Silsila
- Langar
- Guru
- Qawwali
- Guru Granth Sahib
- Hindu / Islam
- Vishnu / Shiva
- Kabir
- Kabirpanthis
- Buland
8 Give Reasons (10 Marks)
- Saint Kabir did not agree with the brahmanas and the qazis. (2)
- Akbar appeared daily at jharokha darshan. (2)
- There were regular wars between Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms. (2)
- The Directive Principles of State Policy are non-justiciable. (2)
- Mention any four Gandhian Principles. (2)
- He criticised both for complicating religion with rituals, caste, and superstitions; preached simple devotion and equality.
- To make himself accessible to common people, hear grievances, and show he was a ruler for all subjects.
- Competition for fertile Raichur Doab, control of ports & trade routes, and religious differences (Hindu vs Muslim).
- They are guidelines for governance & welfare but cannot be enforced by courts (only Fundamental Rights are justiciable).
- 1. Truth (Satya), 2. Non-violence (Ahimsa), 3. Self-reliance (Swadeshi), 4. Equality & brotherhood