✅ Answer: B) DahirMuhammad bin Qasim defeated and killed Dahir, the Hindu king of Sindh, in 712 CE. This was the first permanent Muslim conquest in India. The account of this conquest is found in the Chach Nama (Arabic text). The Arab advance was later stopped by the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas.

✅ Answer: B) KanaujThe Tripartite Struggle (8th–10th centuries) was fought for control of Kanauj — the most prestigious city in North India. Three dynasties fought: Pratiharas (North India), Palas (Bengal/Bihar), and Rashtrakutas (Deccan). No single dynasty could hold Kanauj permanently, exhausting all three and making India vulnerable to Ghaznavid invasions.

✅ Answer: C) 1025 CEMahmud of Ghazni raided the Somnath Temple (Gujarat) in 1025 CE — his most famous raid. He looted enormous wealth from the temple. Mahmud made 17 invasions of India between 1000–1027 CE. His primary motive was plunder. Al-Biruni (who wrote Kitab-ul-Hind) came to India with Mahmud.

✅ Answer: B) Prithviraj Chauhan IIIThe Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE) was fought between Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan III. Muhammad Ghori won decisively, defeating and capturing Prithviraj. This battle opened North India to Muslim rule. In the First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE), Prithviraj had defeated Muhammad Ghori.

✅ Answer: C) ChandellaThe Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandella dynasty of Bundelkhand (MP). They are famous for their erotic sculptures and Nagara-style architecture. The temples were built between 950–1050 CE. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The greatest Chandella king was Dhanga who built many of these temples.

✅ Answer: B) Mahmud of GhazniAl-Biruni came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century. He learned Sanskrit and wrote Kitab-ul-Hind — the most scholarly foreign account of India. It covers Indian science, philosophy, religion, mathematics, and customs. Al-Biruni is considered one of the greatest scholars of the medieval Islamic world.

✅ Answer: B) DharmapalaVikramashila University was founded by Dharmapala, the greatest Pala king. It was a major centre of Buddhist learning, second only to Nalanda. It was also destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1203 CE. Dharmapala also patronised Nalanda and other Buddhist institutions. The Palas were the last great Buddhist dynasty in India.

✅ Answer: C) Mass self-immolation by Rajput womenJauhar was the practice of mass self-immolation by Rajput women when their fort was about to fall to the enemy. It was done to avoid capture and dishonour. The most famous Jauhar was at Chittorgarh — performed three times (1303, 1535, 1568 CE). “Saka” was the corresponding practice of Rajput men fighting to death.

✅ Answer: B) Sacred fire pit at Mount AbuThe Agnikula theory states that four Rajput clans — Pratiharas, Paramaras, Chahamanas (Chauhans), and Chalukyas (Solankis) — emerged from a sacred fire pit (agnikunda) at Mount Abu in Rajasthan. This is a mythological origin story. The foreign origin theory (descended from Central Asian invaders) is considered more historically plausible.

✅ Answer: B) Qutb-ud-din AibakQutb-ud-din Aibak was Muhammad Ghori’s general who was left in charge of India. After Ghori’s assassination in 1206 CE, Aibak declared independence and founded the Delhi Sultanate (Slave/Mamluk dynasty). He built the Qutb Minar (started) and Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi. He died in 1210 CE while playing polo.