Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the .extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such - absolute power was undesirable in one person.

Key Points

• Provisions of Charter Act 1793
  • This Act continued the company’s rule over the British territories in India.
  • It continued the company’s trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.
  • The Act established that “acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own right,” which clearly stated that the company’s political functions were on behalf of the British government.
  • The company’s dividends were allowed to be raised to 10%.
  • The Governor-General was given more powers.
  • He could override his council’s decision under certain circumstances.
  • He was also given authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • When the Governor-General was present in Madras or Bombay, he would supersede in authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.

​Additional Information

• In the Governor-General’s absence from Bengal, he could appoint a Vice President from among the civilian members of his Council.
• The composition of the Board of Control changed.
• It was to have a President and two junior members, who were not necessarily members of the Privy Council.
• The salaries of the staff and the Board of Control were also now charged to the company.
• After all expenses, the company had to pay the British government Rs.5 Lakhs from the Indian revenue annually.
• Senior company officials were barred from leaving India without permission.
• If they did so, it would be considered as a resignation.
• The company was granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India.
• This was known as ‘privilege’ or ‘country trade’.
• This led to shipments of opium to China.
• This Act separated the revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats (revenue courts).

The correct answer is Ramnarayan Chaudhary.

Key Points

Additional Information

• Ramnarayan Choudhary was a prominent leader of the Bengu farmers movement.
• Jai Narayan Vyas was the only elected and nominated Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
• Both Ramnarayan Choudhary and Jaynarayan Vyas were instrumental in the formation of Praja Mandal in Rajasthan.

The correct answer is Sri Gupta.

• Sri Gupta established the Gupta dynasty.

Key Points

• In Ancient India, the Gupta Dynasty ruled the mid-to-late 3rd century (approximately) to 543 AD.
• Founded by Sri Gupta, the dynasty rose to fame with rulers like Chandragupta-I, Samudragupta.
• The Murundas ruled for only 25 - 30 years.
• Around the last decade of the 3rd century CE (about  275 CE), the dynasty of the Guptas came to power.
• The Gupta empire established its control over a good part of the former dominions of both the Kushanas and the Satavahanas.
• The Guptas (possibly Vaishyas) kept northern India politically united for more than a century (335 CE- 455 CE).
• The Gupta period in ancient India is referred to as the “Golden Age” because of the numerous achievements in the field of arts, literature, science, and technology. It also brought about the political unification of the subcontinent.

​Additional Information

• Sri Gupta
  • ​Founder of the Gupta Dynasty.
  • Reign from 240 CE to 280 CE.
  • Used the title of Maharaja.
• Chandragupta I
  • ​Reigned from 319 CE to 335/336 CE
  • Started the Gupta Era
  • He assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja.
  • Married Lichchavi princess Kumaradevi
• ​Samudragupta
  • ​Called ‘Napolean of India’ by V.A. Smith (Irish Indologist and Art Historian)
  • His campaigns are mentioned in the Eran inscription (Madhya Pradesh)
• ​​Chandragupta II
  • ​Navratnas (9 Gems in his Court)
  • Took the title Vikramaditya
• ​​Kumaragupta I
  • ​Founded Nalanda University
  • He was also called Shakraditya
• ​Vishnugupta
  • ​Last known ruler of the Gupta Dynasty.

Humayun is NOT correct.

• Mirza Raja Jai Singh did not serve Humayun.

Key Points

• MIrza King Jai Singh-
  • He was the son of Man Singh I.
  • He served three Mughal kings (Jahangir, Sahajahan and Aurangzeb).
  • During the Gandhara campaign, Shah Jahan gave him the title of Mirza King.
  • His first campaign was against Malik Ambar of Ahmed Nagar in 1623 AD.
  • In the Battle of Dharmat (1658 AD), he sided with Darashikoh against Aurangzeb.
  • In 1665 AD, he signed a treaty with Shivaji, known as the Treaty of Purandar.
  • The foreign Manuchi has described this eye-sight treaty.

The correct answer is Muhammad bin Tughluq.

• Ibn Batuta's full name was Muhammad bin Abdullah ibn Battuta.

Key Points

• Ibn Battuta was the greatest of the Muslim travellers.
• He is estimated to have travelled about 75,000 miles.
• Hardly any other traveller of that era has travelled so long.
• He went on to tour the world at the age of 22 and roamed continuously for 30 years.
• During his visit to India, he reached the court of Muhammad Tughluq, where, impressed by his intelligence, Muhammad Tughluq appointed him as Qazi.

Additional Information

• Alauddin Khilji was the ruler of the Khilji dynasty who ruled over the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He is well known for his effective administration related to controlling prices, revenues, and societal development.
• Iltutmish is the first Muslim ruler who ruled from Delhi and is also considered the founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He was the third of the Mamluk dynasty.
• Firoz Shah Tughluq was the ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty who ruled over Delhi from 1351 to 1388. He was succeeded by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

Important Points

Tughluq Dynasty (1320 to 1413):

• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq or Ghazi Malik was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty.
• Ghiyas-ud-din reinstated order in his empire.
• He brought Bengal, Utkala or Orissa, and Warangal under his control.
• The Mongol leaders who invaded North India were seized and confined by him.
• In 1325 A.D. Ghiyas-ud-din was crushed to death while attending an event for his victories in Bengal.
• Junakhan, the crown prince succeeded him.

Lodi Dynasty (1451 to 1526):

• Bahlul Lodi was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty.
• Sultanate Period ended with Lodi Dynasty.
• He took various measures to gratify his nobles.
• Gwalior, Samthal, Sakit, Mewat was conquered by Bahlul Lodi.
• He died in 1489 A.D.

Slave Dynasty (1206 to 1290):

• The first ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty.
• Mamluk Dynasty is also called the Slave Dynasty.
• Sold as a slave to Muhammad Ghori, the ruler of Ghor in Afghanistan.
• Aibak became Ghori’s trusted general and commander.
• He was given charge of Ghori’s Indian possessions after 1192.
• When Ghori was assassinated, Aibak declared himself Sultan of Delhi in 1206.
• Started construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi. This is one of the first Islamic monuments in India.
• He began the construction of Qutb Minar in Delhi.
• He reigned till his death in 1210. He was said to have been trampled to death by a horse.
• He was succeeded by Aram Shah.

 Khilji Dynasty (1290 to 1320):

• Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji was the founder of the Khilji Dynasty.
• He was also called “Clemency Jalal-uddin” as he followed peace and wanted to rule without violence. 
• He suppressed Malik Chhajju’s revolt at Kara
• He appointed Ala-ud-din Khilji as the Governor of Kara. Alauddin was his son-in-law and also nephew.
• In 1292 A.D. Jalal-ud-din defeated the Mongols who had come up to Sunam.
• Jalal-ud-din was treacherously murdered by Ala-ud-din Khilji his son-in-law.