100 GK Questions on Famous Medieval Battles of India (Plassey, Panipat & More)

Famous Medieval Battles in Indian History – 100 GK Questions & Answers

Part A – Early Battles (Rajput–Turk Conflicts)

Q: When was the First Battle of Tarain fought?
A: 1191 CE.
Explanation: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori.
Q: Who won the Second Battle of Tarain (1192)?
A: Muhammad Ghori.
Explanation: He defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, leading to Muslim rule in North India.
Q: Which battle marked the beginning of Turkish rule in India?
A: Second Battle of Tarain (1192).
Q: Who fought the Battle of Chandawar (1194)?
A: Muhammad Ghori vs. Jaichand of Kannauj.
Explanation: Ghori’s victory ended the power of Kannauj.
Q: The Battle of Tarain was fought near which modern town?
A: Near Thanesar, Haryana.
Q: Why is the Second Battle of Tarain significant?
A: It paved the way for the Delhi Sultanate.
Q: Who established Turkish rule in Delhi after Ghori’s death?
A: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206).
Q: The Battle of Kili (1299) was fought between whom?
A: Alauddin Khilji and Mongols.
Explanation: Alauddin defeated the Mongols and secured Delhi.
Q: The Battle of Amroha (1305) was fought with which invaders?
A: Mongols.
Explanation: Alauddin Khilji’s forces crushed them.
Q: Which battle destroyed the Rajput power of Chittor (1303)?
A: Siege of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji.

Part B – Important Sultanate Battles

Q: The Battle of Tarain was decisive for which dynasty’s fall?
A: Chauhans of Ajmer.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Ranthambore (1301)?
A: Alauddin Khilji vs. Hammir Dev Chauhan.
Q: In which battle did Muhammad bin Tughlaq face defeat in South India?
A: Battle of Madurai (1327).
Q: Which battle led to the decline of the Khalji dynasty?
A: Rebellions after Alauddin’s death, esp. Battle of Siri (1320).
Q: Who fought the Battle of Singur (1351)?
A: Muhammad bin Tughlaq vs. Bengal forces.
Q: Which ruler defeated Timur in his 1398 invasion?
A: No ruler defeated him — Timur sacked Delhi successfully.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Kanauj (1540)?
A: Sher Shah Suri vs. Humayun.
Explanation: Sher Shah’s victory led to Humayun’s exile.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Chausa (1539)?
A: Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun.
Q: The battle that confirmed Sher Shah’s rule was?
A: Battle of Kanauj (1540).
Q: Who was defeated in the Battle of Sirhind (1555)?
A: Sikandar Suri by Humayun.

Part C – Battles of Panipat

Q: When was the First Battle of Panipat fought?
A: 1526 CE.
Explanation: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi.
Q: What weapon gave Babur an edge at Panipat?
A: Use of artillery (cannons).
Q: Who fought the Second Battle of Panipat (1556)?
A: Akbar (with Bairam Khan) vs. Hemu.
Q: Outcome of Second Panipat?
A: Hemu was defeated, ensuring Mughal supremacy.
Q: Who fought the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?
A: Ahmad Shah Abdali vs. Marathas.
Q: Who led the Marathas at Panipat III?
A: Sadashiv Rao Bhau.
Q: Which Maratha hero died at Panipat III?
A: Vishwasrao (son of Balaji Baji Rao).
Q: Significance of Panipat III?
A: Weakened Marathas, opening the way for British expansion.
Q: Which ruler invited Abdali to attack Marathas before Panipat III?
A: Najib-ud-Daulah, a Rohilla chief.
Q: Panipat III was fought in which year?
A: 1761.

Part D – Mughal Battles

Q: When was the Battle of Khanwa fought?
A: 1527 CE.
Explanation: Babur defeated Rana Sanga.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Chanderi (1528)?
A: Babur vs. Medini Rai.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Ghagra (1529)?
A: Babur vs. Afghan chiefs.
Q: The Battle of Haldighati (1576) was between?
A: Akbar’s army under Man Singh vs. Maharana Pratap.
Q: Who led Mughal forces at Haldighati?
A: Raja Man Singh of Amber.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Samugarh (1658)?
A: Aurangzeb vs. Dara Shikoh.
Q: Outcome of Samugarh?
A: Aurangzeb won, capturing power.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Khajwa (1659)?
A: Aurangzeb vs. Shuja (his brother).
Q: Who fought the Battle of Deorai (1659)?
A: Aurangzeb vs. Dara Shikoh.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Dharmat (1658)?
A: Aurangzeb vs. Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur.

Part E – Marathas, Vijayanagar & Others

Q: When was the Battle of Pratapgad fought?
A: 1659 CE.
Explanation: Shivaji killed Afzal Khan and defeated Bijapur forces.
Q: Battle of Kolhapur (1659) was fought between?
A: Shivaji vs. Bijapur army.
Q: Battle of Palkhed (1728) involved whom?
A: Marathas vs. Nizam of Hyderabad.
Explanation: Peshwa Baji Rao I defeated Nizam.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Bhopal (1737)?
A: Marathas vs. Mughals.
Q: Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between?
A: Vijayanagara Empire vs. Deccan Sultanates.
Q: Who was the Vijayanagara ruler at Talikota?
A: Aliya Rama Raya.
Q: Outcome of Talikota?
A: Vijayanagara was defeated, city destroyed.
Q: The Battle of Raichur (1520) was fought between?
A: Vijayanagara (Krishnadeva Raya) vs. Bijapur Sultan.
Q: Who won the Battle of Raichur?
A: Krishnadeva Raya.
Q: Battle of Saraighat (1671) was fought between?
A: Ahoms vs. Mughals.
Explanation: Ahoms under Lachit Borphukan defeated Mughals.

Part F – British Battles (Plassey, Buxar, Carnatic Wars)

Q: When was the Battle of Plassey fought?
A: 1757 CE.
Q: Who betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey?
A: Mir Jafar.
Q: Who led the British at Plassey?
A: Robert Clive.
Q: Significance of Plassey?
A: Foundation of British political rule in India.
Q: When was the Battle of Buxar fought?
A: 1764 CE.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Buxar?
A: British vs. Shuja-ud-Daula, Shah Alam II, Mir Qasim.
Q: Who won at Buxar?
A: British East India Company.
Q: Importance of Buxar?
A: Secured Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
Q: Which battle ended French power in India?
A: Battle of Wandiwash (1760).
Q: Who defeated the French at Wandiwash?
A: British under Sir Eyre Coote.

Part G – Later Conflicts

Q: Who fought the Battle of Assaye (1803)?
A: British vs. Marathas.
Explanation: British led by Arthur Wellesley.
Q: Battle of Plassey was part of which war?
A: Anglo-French struggle for supremacy.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Porto Novo (1781)?
A: British vs. Hyder Ali.
Q: The Battle of Pollilur (1780) was won by?
A: Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan against British.
Q: Who died in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)?
A: Tipu Sultan.
Q: Where did Tipu Sultan die?
A: Srirangapatna.
Q: Battle of Delhi (1803) was fought between?
A: British vs. Marathas (Scindias).
Q: Battle of Laswari (1803) was fought between?
A: British vs. Marathas.
Q: Battle of Kharda (1795) was between?
A: Nizam of Hyderabad vs. Marathas.
Q: Outcome of Kharda?
A: Marathas defeated Nizam.

Part H – Other Important Battles

Q: Who fought the Battle of Koppam (1054)?
A: Cholas vs. Western Chalukyas.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Kannauj (1540)?
A: Sher Shah Suri vs. Humayun.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Ghaghra (1529)?
A: Babur vs. Afghan chiefs.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Itakhuli (1682)?
A: Ahoms vs. Mughals.
Q: Who won the Battle of Itakhuli?
A: Ahoms, ending Mughal expansion in Assam.
Q: Battle of Karnal (1739) was fought between?
A: Nadir Shah of Persia vs. Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah.
Q: Outcome of Karnal?
A: Nadir Shah plundered Delhi, took Peacock Throne.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Wai (1687)?
A: Marathas vs. Mughals.
Q: Who fought the Battle of Jajau (1707)?
A: Sons of Aurangzeb after his death.
Q: Outcome of Jajau?
A: Bahadur Shah I became emperor.

Part I – Revision (Quick MCQs style Q&A)

Battle of Talikota year? – 1565.
Battle of Haldighati year? – 1576.
Battle of Plassey year? – 1757.
Battle of Buxar year? – 1764.
Battle of Wandiwash year? – 1760.
Battle of Panipat I year? – 1526.
Battle of Panipat II year? – 1556.
Battle of Panipat III year? – 1761.
Battle of Khanwa year? – 1527.
Battle of Chanderi year? – 1528.
Battle of Raichur year? – 1520.
Battle of Saraighat year? – 1671.
Battle of Karnal year? – 1739.
Battle of Jajau year? – 1707.
Battle of Wai year? – 1687.
Battle of Dharmat year? – 1658.
Battle of Samugarh year? – 1658.
Battle of Khajwa year? – 1659.
Battle of Deorai year? – 1659.
Battle of Pollilur year? – 1780.

✅ This gives you the complete 100 GK Questions & Answers with explanations, covering Tarain → Sultanate → Panipat → Vijayanagar → Mughals → Marathas → British → Carnatic Wars → Later medieval wars.

🔗 External Links (authority references for history study)

NCERT History Textbooks (Free Download)
Indian Culture – CCRT Official Site
Encyclopedia Britannica – Indian History
Wikipedia – Battles Involving India
IndiaNetZone – Famous Battles in Indian History