Indian history quiz for kids

20 questions

1. Which tall tower of red sandstone in Delhi was started over 800 years ago?Ages 8–10

   Choose from: India Gate, Gateway of India, Charminar, Qutub Minar

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   Qutub Minar. The Qutub Minar was started around 1199. It is about 73 metres tall.

2. Who is known as the “Missile Man of India” and later became President of India?Ages 11–14

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   A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam led India’s missile programme and was President from 2002 to 2007. He loved talking to students.

3. Which freedom fighter said, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”?Ages 8–10

   Choose from: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru

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   Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Lokmanya Tilak said these famous words about self-rule.

4. Which largely self-taught Indian mathematician is remembered on National Mathematics Day, 22 December?Ages 11–14

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   Srinivasa Ramanujan. Srinivasa Ramanujan, born on 22 December 1887, made amazing discoveries about numbers with very little formal training.

5. Which Maratha king built many hill forts and founded the Maratha kingdom?Ages 8–10

   Choose from: Tipu Sultan, Akbar, Ashoka, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

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   Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha kingdom in the 1600s.

6. On which date is India’s Republic Day celebrated?Ages 11–14

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   26 January. The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, so Republic Day is celebrated every 26 January.

7. Which Mughal emperor was known for his fairness and his court of nine gems (navratnas)?Ages 8–10

   Choose from: Babur, Akbar, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb

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   Akbar. Akbar had nine talented courtiers called the navratnas, including Birbal and Tansen.

8. Which ancient university in Bihar was one of the world’s earliest great centres of learning?Ages 11–14

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   Nalanda. Nalanda, founded about 1,600 years ago, had thousands of students and teachers from across Asia.

9. Who was the clever minister in Akbar’s court, famous for his witty stories?Ages 8–10

   Choose from: Tansen, Chanakya, Tenali Raman, Birbal

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   Birbal. Birbal is famous for his clever answers in the Akbar–Birbal stories.

10. Which ancient civilisation had the planned cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?Ages 11–14

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    Indus Valley Civilisation. The Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation had well-planned cities with drains, around 2500 BCE.

11. Which ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilisation is in Gujarat and had a dockyard?Ages 8–10

    Choose from: Lothal, Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Pataliputra

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    Lothal. Lothal in Gujarat had one of the world’s earliest known dockyards.

12. Which south Indian dynasty built the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur?Ages 11–14

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    The Cholas. Raja Raja Chola I built the great Brihadeeswarar Temple about 1,000 years ago.

13. In which year did the Constitution of India come into force?Ages 8–10

    Choose from: 1952, 1947, 1950, 1949

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    1950. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, which we celebrate as Republic Day.

14. Which dynasty built the shore temples and stone chariots (rathas) of Mamallapuram?Ages 11–14

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    The Pallavas. The Pallava kings built the monuments of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in the 600s and 700s.

15. Which 1942 movement asked the British to leave India?Ages 8–10

    Choose from: Swadeshi Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, Quit India Movement, Salt March

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    Quit India Movement. In 1942, Gandhiji gave the call “Do or Die” in the Quit India Movement.

16. Which Portuguese explorer reached Calicut (Kozhikode) by sea in 1498?Ages 11–14

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    Vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama found a sea route from Europe to India around Africa.

17. Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?Ages 8–10

    Choose from: Pratibha Patil, Sushma Swaraj, Indira Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu

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    Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi became India’s first woman Prime Minister in 1966.

18. Which 1757 battle marked the start of British power in Bengal?Ages 11–14

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    Battle of Plassey. The East India Company’s win at Plassey in 1757 began British rule in Bengal.

19. Who was the first woman President of India?Ages 8–10

    Choose from: Sarojini Naidu, Kalpana Chawla, Pratibha Patil, Indira Gandhi

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    Pratibha Patil. Pratibha Patil became India’s first woman President in 2007.

20. Which leader is known as “Punjab Kesari” (the Lion of Punjab) of the freedom movement?Ages 11–14

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    Lala Lajpat Rai. Lala Lajpat Rai led protests against the Simon Commission in 1928.