General awareness questions for SSC CGL List- II

Ancient History

1. Who built the Great Stupa at Sanchi?
   • Answer: Ashoka.
2. What is the Rigveda mainly about?
   • Answer: Hymns dedicated to various deities.
3. Which university in ancient India was a great center of learning?
   • Answer: Nalanda University.
4. Which dynasty is known for rock-cut temples and caves?
   • Answer: Pallava Dynasty.
5. Who was the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty?
   • Answer: Brihadratha.

Medieval History

1. Which famous battle marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India?
   • Answer: First Battle of Panipat (1526).
2. Who was known as the ‘Lion of the Mughal Empire’?
   • Answer: Aurangzeb.
3. Which medieval traveler visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq?
   • Answer: Ibn Battuta.
4. Who built the Qutub Minar?
   • Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (completed by Iltutmish).
5. Which Bahmani ruler built the Gol Gumbaz?
   • Answer: Mohammed Adil Shah.

Modern History

1. Who founded the Indian National Army (INA)?
   • Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose.
2. When was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
   • Answer: 13 April 1919.
3. Who led the Salt March in 1930?
   • Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
4. What was the Vernacular Press Act?
   • Answer: An act passed in 1878 to suppress the freedom of the Indian press.
5. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?
   • Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Additional Tips for Memorizing History

1. Break it Down into Periods: Divide history into three sections (Ancient, Medieval, Modern) and focus on one section at a time.
   • Ancient: Focus on empires, religions, and literature.
   • Medieval: Study rulers, architecture, and battles.
   • Modern: Emphasize movements, reforms, and freedom struggle.
2. Use Mind Maps:
   • Create visual diagrams for topics like Mughal emperors, Mauryan rulers, and British acts.
   • E.g., Start with “Ashoka” at the center and branch out to topics like “Kalinga War,” “Dhamma,” “Sanchi Stupa.”
3. Storytelling Method: Convert facts into stories. For example:
   • “Ashoka fought the Kalinga War, saw its devastation, and decided to follow Buddhism.”
4. Mnemonics for Chronology:
   • For the Mughal emperors: BHAJ SA (Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb).
   • For major movements: SCQK (Swadeshi, Civil Disobedience, Quit India, Khilafat).
5. Practice with Quizzes: Use online mock tests or create flashcards with questions and answers to test yourself.
6. Associate Events with Visuals: Relate historical events to monuments, symbols, or notable figures.
   • Example: Taj Mahal → Shah Jahan → Mughal Era.
7. Timelines: Draw a timeline for important events, such as battles, movements, and treaties. It makes recalling dates easier.
8. Revision is Key: Review topics daily, weekly, and monthly to strengthen memory retention.

Keep Learning 🙂