Preparing for competitive exams such as OSSSC RI (Revenue Inspector), ARI (Assistant Revenue Inspector), Amin, SFS, or ICDS Supervisor often requires a strong grasp of historical events. Modern history, especially, forms a significant part of the syllabus, covering crucial periods and events that shaped the world as we know it today. To aid in your preparation, here are 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) focusing on modern history:
Top 30 Modern History MCQs for OSSSC RI,ARI, Amin, SFS, ICDS Supervisor
- Who was the founder of the Sikh Empire?
a) Maharaja Duleep Singh
b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
c) Guru Nanak Dev
d) Sher Shah Suri
Ans: b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh - In which year did Maharaja Ranjit Singh become the ‘Maharaja of Punjab’?
a) 1799
b) 1801
c) 1820
d) 1839
Ans: b) 1801 - Which of the following cities was NOT part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s empire?
a) Lahore
b) Peshawar
c) Delhi
d) Srinagar
Ans: c) Delhi - Who succeeded Maharaja Ranjit Singh after his death in 1839?
a) Kharak Singh
b) Sher Singh
c) Ranjit Singh II
d) Duleep Singh
Ans: a) Kharak Singh - What was the primary reason for the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845 – 1846)?
a) Disputes over trade
b) Territorial ambitions of the British
c) Religious conflicts
d) Succession issues in the Sikh Empire
Ans: b) Territorial ambitions of the British - Which treaty marked the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Treaty of Amritsar
b) Treaty of Delhi
c) Treaty of Lahore
d) Treaty of Sobraon
Ans: c) Treaty of Lahore - According to the Treaty of Lahore, which area was ceded to the British?
a) Kashmir
b) Jalandhar Doab
c) Attock
d) Rawalpindi
Ans: b) Jalandhar Doab - Who was appointed as the British Resident to the Sikh court as part of the Treaty of Lahore?
a) Major Broad
b) Sir Henry Lawrence
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Robert Clive
Ans: b) Sir Henry Lawrence - What was the major consequence for the Sikh army as per the Treaty of Lahore?
a) It was to be expanded
b) It was to be limited to a certain number
c) It was to be disbanded
d) It was to be allied with the British
Ans: b) It was to be limited to a certain number - Which region was NOT included in the territories ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Kashmir
b) Hazarah
c) Beas
d) Multan
Ans: d) Multan - What was a significant humiliation for the Sikh Empire resulting from the First Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) The loss of control over Multan
(b) The forced resignation of Maharani Jindan Kaur
(c) The imposition of heavy taxes by the British
(d) The loss of territories to the British East India Company
Ans: (d) The loss of territories to the British East India Company - How was Maharani Jindan Kaur treated by the British after the First Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) She was promoted to a higher position
(b) She was given more autonomy in Lahore
(c) She was removed from Lahore on conspiracy charges
(d) She was granted a significant pension
Ans: (c) She was removed from Lahore on conspiracy charges - Which British officer was involved in the imposition of another governor in Multan during the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) Sir John Lawrence
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Sir Frederick Currie
(d) Patrick Vans Agnew
Ans: (c) Sir Frederick Currie - Who governed Multan before the Second Anglo-Sikh War and resented the increased tax assessment?
(a) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
(b) Dewan Mulraj
(c) Sir Frederick Currie
(d) Sardar Kahan Singh
Ans: (b) Dewan Mulraj - What event in 1848 significantly escalated unrest in Punjab?
(a) The assassination of Sir Frederick Currie
(b) The annexation of Punjab by the British
(c) The murder of Vans Agnew and another officer by Mulraj’s troops
(d) The battle of Gujrat
Ans: (c) The murder of Vans Agnew and another officer by Mulraj’s troops - Where was the final battle of the Second Anglo-Sikh War fought?
(a) Chilianwala
(b) Gujrat near Chenab
(c) Ramnagar
(d) Multan
Ans: (b) Gujrat near Chenab - Which forces joined the Sikhs during the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) The British East India Company
(b) The Marathas
(c) The Afghan forces under Dost Mohammad Khan
(d) The Portuguese
Ans: (c) The Afghan forces under Dost Mohammad Khan - What was the outcome of the battle fought at Ramnagar during the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) The British won decisively
(b) The Sikhs won decisively
(c) The battle was indecisive
(d) The battle was canceled
Ans: (c) The battle was indecisive - What was one of the significant outcomes of the Second Anglo-Sikh War regarding Maharaja Duleep Singh?
(a) He was made the new ruler of Punjab
(b) He was pensioned off to England
(c) He was made the Chief Commissioner of Punjab
(d) He was given control of Multan
Ans: (b) He was pensioned off to England - What happened to the Koh-i-Noor diamond after the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
(a) It was returned to the Puri Jagannath Temple
(b) It was acquired by the British as part of the Treaty of Lahore
(c) It was given to Maharaja Duleep Singh
(d) It was sold at auction
Ans: (b) It was acquired by the British as part of the Treaty of Lahore - What was the primary reason for the Vellore Mutiny on 10 July 1806?
(a) The introduction of new weaponry by the British
(b) The religious insensitivity towards Hindu and Muslim sepoys
(c) Dispute over pay scales for the sepoys
(d) A famine affecting the local population
Answer: (b) The religious insensitivity towards Hindu and Muslim sepoys - Who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army responsible for the controversial orders that led to the mutiny?
(a) Sir Arthur Wellesley
(b) Sir John Craddock
(c) Sir Robert Clive
(d) Sir Charles Cornwallis
Answer: (b) Sir John Craddock - Which change in military uniform caused discontent among the sepoys?
(a) Introduction of a new type of boots
(b) Mandatory wearing of new round hats
(c) Removal of epaulettes from uniforms
(d) Replacement of traditional weapons
Answer: (b) Mandatory wearing of new round hats - What was the immediate action taken by the sepoys during the mutiny on 10 July 1806?
(a) They petitioned the British officers for change
(b) They seized the Vellore Fort and raised the flag of the Mysore Sultanate
(c) They evacuated the fort and sought refuge in the nearby city
(d) They surrendered to the British forces
Answer: (b) They seized the Vellore Fort and raised the flag of the Mysore Sultanate - Who was declared king by the mutineers during the revolt?
(a) Hyder Ali
(b) Tipu Sultan
(c) Fateh Hyder
(d) Ranjit Singh
Answer: (c) Fateh Hyder - What was the response of the British forces to the mutiny?
(a) They negotiated a settlement with the mutineers
(b) They sent reinforcements from Calcutta
(c) They quickly arrived from Arcot and suppressed the rebellion
(d) They abandoned the fort and retreated
Answer: (c) They quickly arrived from Arcot and suppressed the rebellion - What was the fate of the Indian soldiers who were captured and sought refuge in the palace?
(a) They were exiled to another region
(b) They were given lenient punishments
(c) They were executed by firing squads
(d) They were released after surrendering
Answer: (c) They were executed by firing squads - What was one of the significant outcomes of the Vellore Mutiny?
(a) The introduction of more lenient policies towards sepoys
(b) The disbandment of the regiments involved in the mutiny
(c) The promotion of Indian officers in the British Army
(d) The increase in military funding for Indian regiments
Answer: (b) The disbandment of the regiments involved in the mutiny - Which British officer was recalled to Britain following the mutiny?
(a) Sir Rollo Gillespie
(b) Sir John Craddock
(c) Sir Robert Clive
(d) Sir Charles Cornwallis
Answer: (b) Sir John Craddock - How did the suppression of the Vellore Mutiny affect the participation of Southern sepoys in the Indian Revolt of 1857?
(a) It encouraged their participation
(b) It did not affect their participation
(c) It led to their complete withdrawal from the rebellion
(d) It increased their support for the British
Answer: (c) It led to their complete withdrawal from the rebellion
