History Optional · Paper I · Medieval India
The Fourteenth Century Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for The Fourteenth Century (Paper I, Medieval India), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: The Khalji revolution, Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughluq, Firuz Tughluq, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts.
37
Solved PYQs
1985–2025
Years covered
39
Questions listed
12
Free notes
On this page
Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All History Optional units
Paper I · Unit 16
The Fourteenth Century notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
-
Agricultural Production in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
-
Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and Territorial expansion, Agrarian and Economic Measures
-
Deccan Policy of Alauddin Khalji
-
Deccan Policy of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
-
Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian Measures, Achievements in Civil Engineering and Public Works, Decline of the Sultanate
-
Foreign Contact: Ibn Battuta’s accounts
-
Muhammad Tughluq: Major Projects, Agrarian measures, Bureaucracy
-
Rise of Urban Economy and Non-Agricultural Production in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
-
Shams Siraj Afif’s Account: Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi
-
Society in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries : Town dwellers, Women, Religious classes, Caste and Slavery
-
Society in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries: Composition of rural society, Ruling classes
-
Trade and Commerce in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
Free practice
Previous year questions: The Fourteenth Century
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
-
UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2026
-
UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2025
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2024
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2023
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2012
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2011
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2013
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2014
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2015
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2016
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2017
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2018
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2019
-
History Optional Question Paper: 2021
History PYQ Master Pack
Solved PYQ answers: The Fourteenth Century
Topic-wise model answers, newest exam year first. Members open the full answer; everyone else sees the question and can join the pack.
PYQ Solutions
-
Barani’s “Fatwa-i-Jahandari” was not a proper account of the Delhi Sultanate, rather a lament. Elucidate.
-
‘Alauddin Khilji’s economic measures aimed at centralising political authority in the Delhi Sultanate.’ Elucidate.
-
Evaluate Firuz Shah Tughluq’s economic policies.
-
The motive of Alauddin Khilji’s agrarian policy was to curb the powers of the intermediaries. Examine the measures which he adopted to achieve his objective.
-
The market regulations of Ala-ud-din Khilji were useful for the Sultan’s military might but harmful for the economy of the Sultanate. Comment.
-
Why is the reign of the Khaljis known as the ‘Khalji Revolution’?
-
Elaborate upon the agrarian reforms of Alauddin Khilji.
-
‘The economic measures of Alauddin Khalji were aimed at greater political control’. Discuss
-
‘The policy of creating heterogeneous nobility by Muhammad Tughluq started the process of disintegration of Delhi Sultanate’. Explain
-
To what extent was the Caliphate the source and sanction to the legal authority of the Sultans of Delhi?
-
Do you agree that the schemes of Muhammad bin Tughluq were correctly conceived, badly executed and disastrously abandoned? Discuss.
-
Do you think that the economic measures introduced by the Sultanate rulers beneficial to the common people as well? Illustrate with examples.
-
What measures were initiated by the Sultans for the consolidation of Delhi Sultanate? Discuss
-
Evaluating the theory of kingship of the Sultanate, discuss the deviations seen in the reigns of different Sultans
-
Analyse the ordinances mentioned by Barani which Alauddin Khalji promulgated for market control
-
What is your assessment of Ibn Batutah’s Rehla as an important source of Indian history
-
How did the Mongol invasions affect the Delhi Sultanate and the north-western frontier policy of the Delhi Sultans?
-
Examine critically the agrarian and economic reforms of Alauddin Khalji. How did it strengthen the Sultanate?
-
Write short essay: Muhammad Tughluq as an agrarian innovator
-
Bring out the main features of the administrative system under Delhi Sultanate during Turko-Afghan period
-
Write brief essay: The Khilji Revolution
-
Write brief essay: The Token Currency System introduced by Muhammad Tughlaq
-
Write brief essay: Experiments of Mohammad Tughluq
-
Discuss Balban’s concept of kingship. How was it modified by Alauddin Khalji?
-
Assess the impact of the market reforms of Alauddin Khilji on contemporary economy and society
-
Form an estimate of the personality of Firoz Shah Tughlaq with special reference to his religious policy and public works
-
Write brief essay – Alauddin Khilji was a typical despot
-
Discuss the implications of Khilji with reference to administration and economic regulations on the State and people of India
-
Write brief essay on Ziauddin Barani as a historian
-
Examine the significance of Alauddin Khalji’s administrative reforms. Was he really successful in implementing these measures?
-
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s contradictory qualities were beyond the grasp knowledge and common sense. Evaluate the significance of his administrative measures and policies in the light of this statement
-
What, in your opinion, was the significance of the extensive military expeditions undertaken during the time of Alauddin Khalji? Do you think his reign is considered significant in terms of such expeditions alone?
-
‘Firuz Tugluq has been overshadowed by Muhammad Tughluq.’ In the light of this statement evaluate the significance of the policies and actions of Firuz Tughluq
-
The significance of Alauddin Khilji economic regulations for his imperialism
-
Was the state in the Sultanate period a theocracy? Discuss the new orientation of state policies and administrative principles under Muhammad bin Tughluq
-
Critically examine the price control measures of Alauddin Khilji. What was the main objective behind them and how far was he able to put them into effect?
-
Examine the responsibility of Firoz Tughluq for the fall of his dynasty
Premium content · how to get access
This page is part of the History Optional PYQ Master Pack.
Every model answer below opens with one enrolment. One-time payment, no subscription, access from the moment your payment is confirmed.
- 1,390+ topic-wise model answers (1985–2025), Paper I and Paper II
- Historiography, primary sources and map references built into each answer
- Access on phone, laptop or tablet
Full pack
₹1,499 ₹2,500 40% off
One-time payment · instant access · UPI, cards, RuPay
