CAPF AC 2021 Q67: Medieval History – Regional Kingdoms & Frontier States

CAPF AC 2021, Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) · Medieval History

1. (a) Nizam Shahis : Bijapur
2. (b) Barid Shahis : Bidar
3. (c) Qutb Shahis : Golkonda
4. (d) Imad Shahis : Berar

Answer: (a) Nizam Shahis : Bijapur

Explanation

The five Deccan Sultanates

How to think: the Bahmani kingdom broke into five states.

Learn each dynasty with its capital.

The trap is to swap Nizam Shahi and Adil Shahi.

So the wrong pair is: Nizam Shahis : Bijapur.

Bijapur belonged to the Adil Shahis, who built the Gol Gumbaz.

Answer: (a) Nizam Shahis : Bijapur.

Why each option is right or wrong

• (a) CORRECT. This pair is wrong: the Nizam Shahis ruled Ahmadnagar; Bijapur was under the Adil Shahis.
• (b) Incorrect. This pair is right: the Barid Shahis ruled Bidar.
• (c) Incorrect. This pair is right: the Qutb Shahis ruled Golkonda.
• (d) Incorrect. This pair is right: the Imad Shahis ruled Berar.

Key point

Deccan Sultanates: Nizam Shahi (Ahmadnagar), Adil Shahi (Bijapur), Qutb Shahi (Golkonda), Imad Shahi (Berar), Barid Shahi (Bidar). Four of them defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565.

Remember

Bijapur = Adil Shahi; Ahmadnagar = Nizam Shahi.

Common mistakes

• Swapping Nizam Shahi (Ahmadnagar) and Adil Shahi (Bijapur).
• Confusing the Nizam Shahis with the later Nizams of Hyderabad.
• Mixing up Bidar (Barid Shahi) and Berar (Imad Shahi) because the names sound alike.

Exam tip

Educated guess: Bijapur brings to mind Ibrahim Adil Shah and the Gol Gumbaz of Muhammad Adil Shah. That name is Adil, not Nizam.

Sources

• Satish Chandra, History of Medieval India — The Deccan and South India
• NCERT Class VII History — Our Pasts II (regional kingdoms of the Deccan)

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