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U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2008

Invasions of India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Arrange the following names chronologically and select correct answer from the codes given below: 1. Genghis Khan 2. Mahmud Ghaznavi 3. Muhammad Ghori 4. Taimur

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Indian history was repeatedly shaped by invasions from Central and West Asia. Understanding their chronological sequence is key to mapping the shifts in political power.

Explanation Chronological sequence: Mahmud Ghaznavi (r. 998–1030), Muhammad Ghori (r. 1173–1206), Genghis Khan (r. 1206–1227, reached Indus in 1221), and Taimur (invaded India in 1398).

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Mahmud Ghaznavi (2) raided India in the early 11th century.
Logic 2: Muhammad Ghori (3) established a permanent foothold in the late 12th century.
Logic 3: Genghis Khan (1) threatened India during Iltutmish’s reign in 1221.
Logic 4: Taimur (4) sacked Delhi during the Tughlaq decline in 1398.

Active Recall

Question

Who was the first invader to establish a permanent sultanate in India?

Answer

Muhammad Ghori, as his conquests were turned into a stable administration by his general Qutbuddin Aibak.

Core Insight

Each of these invaders represented a different wave of ethnic and military transformation—Turkic, Mongol, and Timurid—that redefined the subcontinent.

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