History

Sikandar Lodi was known as Sikandar-i-Sani, meaning 'Alexander the Second,' reflecting his ambition and military prowess. The other options did not use this title.

Muhammad bin Tughluq is historically credited with establishing the Dewan-i-Kohi, the department responsible for agriculture and irrigation during his reign. This administrative innovation aimed to improve agricultural productivity and revenue collection.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was nominated to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1877, making option A the correct answer. This was a significant event in his political career, reflecting his involvement in British Indian governance.

The first municipal corporation in India was established in Madras (now Chennai) in 1687 by the British East India Company. This predates the establishment of municipal corporations in Bombay and Calcutta, which were set up later in 1726.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is a famous mosque located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It is one of the oldest mosques in India, known for its historical and architectural significance.

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656, making option B correct.

The title 'Hazrat-i-Ala' was associated with Alauddin Khilji, a ruler of the Khilji dynasty known for his strong administration and military campaigns. The other rulers listed did not commonly bear this title.

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. It is one of the largest mosques in India and a significant example of Mughal architecture.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq is historically known for constructing an extensive network of canals in India, significantly improving irrigation and agriculture during his reign. This distinguishes him from other rulers listed, who are not credited with such large-scale canal building.

The Temple of Somnath is located near the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat, close to the Arabian Sea peninsula. This makes option C (Gujrat) the correct answer.

The War of Independence, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, started in the year 1857. This is a well-documented historical fact.

The Mughal Empire is widely regarded as India's last golden age due to its significant achievements in art, architecture, culture, and administration during its peak. Neither the Ottoman Empire nor Safavid Persia ruled India, so options A and B are incorrect, and option D is not applicable.

Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, gave birth to fourteen children during their marriage, but only seven survived infancy. This is well documented in historical records, including Encyclopaedia Britannica. Therefore, the correct answer is C (Fourteen).

Jalal-ud-Din Khilji was the founder of the Khilji dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate, establishing the Khilji Empire. Alauddin Khilji was his successor, while Babur and Akbar belonged to the Mughal Empire, not the Khilji dynasty.

Orissa (now Odisha) was separated from Bihar and became a separate province under the Government of India Act of 1935, which came into effect in 1936. Hence, the correct answer is the Act of 1936.

The first native state to conclude a formal Subsidiary Alliance with the East India Company was Hyderabad under the Nizam in 1798. This system was introduced by Lord Wellesley as a method of indirect control, where Indian rulers accepted British protection and stationed British troops in their territories, ceding control of foreign affairs to the Company. Although Awadh (Avadh) had treaties with the Company earlier, these were not formal Subsidiary Alliances as introduced by Wellesley. Hyderabad was the first to enter into this formal arrangement, followed by other states like Mysore and Awadh later.

The system of communal electorates in India was first introduced by the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909, also known as the Indian Councils Act 1909. This act introduced separate electorates for Muslims, allowing them to elect their own representatives separately from the general electorate.

Francisco de Almeida was the first Portuguese governor of India, appointed in 1505. He established Portuguese control and naval dominance in the Indian Ocean, preceding Alfonso de Albuquerque who succeeded him.

Ram Bagh in Agra was laid out by Sher Shah Suri in 1528, making it one of the earliest Mughal gardens in India. Babur, although founder of the Mughal dynasty, is not credited with this garden's creation.

Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India, was assassinated by a convict during his visit to the Andaman Islands in 1872. This historical event is well-documented, making option D the correct answer.

During Shah Jahan's reign, the Golconda Sultanate was initially made a tributary state by 1636. Later, in 1656-57, Shah Jahan launched a full-scale invasion that led to the annexation of Golconda into the Mughal Empire, including the cession of the Coromandel Coast region. Ahmadnagar was annexed earlier, and Bijapur and Khandesh were not fully annexed during Shah Jahan's reign but later under Aurangzeb.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra mosque in Ajmer was originally commissioned by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in 1192 CE and completed in 1199 CE. It was built on the site of earlier Hindu and Jain temples that were partially destroyed. Although Sher Shah Suri renovated and enhanced the mosque later, the original commissioning and construction are attributed to Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, the Ghurid general and first Sultan of Delhi. Therefore, the correct answer is Qutub Din Aibak (B).

Ziauddin Barani is the author of Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, a historical chronicle of the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. The other options wrote different historical or literary works.

The dyarchy system was first introduced in India under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, which aimed to increase Indian participation in governance by dividing subjects into reserved and transferred categories.

The Classic Period of the Mughal Empire is generally considered to have started with the reign of Akbar, who ascended the throne in 1556 and established a strong and expansive empire with significant cultural and administrative developments.