India Through the Years

Ancient India

100

Which animal was commonly used for transportation in ancient India? 

- Horse

- Elephant

- Camel

- All of the above

- All of the above

200

What material did people in ancient India commonly use to build homes? 

- Mud bricks

- Plastic

- Steel

- Mud bricks

300

What ancient language is many Indian religious texts written in? 

- Sanskrit

- Latin

- Arabic

- Sanskrit 

400

Which river is considered sacred in India? 

- Ganges

- Amazon

- Indus

- The Ganges River (Ganga)

500

Which ancient Indian city is often called one of the world’s earliest planned cities? 

- Delhi

- Harappa

- Varanasi

- Harappa

Religion & Traditions

100

Which religion began in India? 

- Buddhism

- Judaism

- Christianity

- Buddhism

200

What is the traditional Indian greeting where palms are pressed together? 

- Konnichiwa 

- Namaste

- Aloha

- Namaste

300

Buddhism was founded by which spiritual leader?
- Dalai Lama

- Siddhartha Gautama

- Mahatma Gandhi

- Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a spiritual leader born a prince in ancient India around the 6th century BCE, who attained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha (meaning "the Awakened One"). 

400

Diwali is known as the Festival of what? 

- Colors

- Lights

- Water

- Lights

Diwali is known as the "Festival of Lights," symbolizing the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, celebrated with lamps (diyas), fireworks, feasts, and prayers for prosperity.

500

Which religion emphasizes nonviolence and was founded in India? 

- Hinduism

- Taoism

- Jainism

- Jainism

The religion that emphasizes nonviolence and originated in India is Jainism, founded by Mahavira, with its core principle being ahimsa (nonharm to all living beings) as the path to spiritual liberation.

British Rule & Independence

100

Mahatma Gandhi is best known for promoting what method of protest? 

- silent

- non violent resistance

- armed rebellion

- non violent resistance

200

Who is known as the “Father of the Nation” in India? 

- Jawaharlal Nehru 

- Mahatma Gandhi 

- Indira Gandhi 

- Mahatma Gandhi 

known as the "Father of the Nation" in India for leading the nonviolent independence movement against British rule, a title first publicly used by Subhash Chandra Bose in 1944, and widely used by Indians to honor his pivotal role in achieving freedom.

300

What was one major reason Britain wanted control of India? 

- tourism

- trade and resources

- religious conversion

- trade and resources

400

Which language became widely used in India during British rule? 

- Arabic

- English

- Persian

- English

During British rule in India, English became widely used, replacing Persian as the official language for government and administration.

500

What year did India gain independence? 

- 1933

- 1940

- 1947

- 1947

India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, following years of nonviolent resistance led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, marking the end of nearly 200 years of colonial rule and resulting in the creation of two new nations: India and Pakistan.

Daily Life

100

Which food is commonly eaten with curry? 

- bread/rice

- pasta

- corn

- bread/rice

200

What is commonly removed before entering an Indian home or temple? 

- shoes

- jacket

- hat

- shoes

300

Which beverage is often spiced and served hot in India? 

- coffee

- chai tea

- soda

- chai tea

Fun fact - In Hindi, the word "chai" means "tea," so the term "chai tea" is redundant. The traditional Indian beverage referred to is properly called masala chai, which translates to "spiced tea". 

400

What is a sari? 

- a type of jewelry

- a traditional Indian garment

- a musical instrumement

A sari (or saree) is a traditional Indian garment from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of a long, unstitched piece of cloth draped elegantly around the body, forming a skirt with one end flowing over the shoulder or head, worn over a short blouse and a petticoat.

500

Markets in India are often called what? 

- Malls

- Bazaars

- Plazas

- Bazaars

Modern India

100

What is the capital city of India? 

- Mumbai

- New Delhi

- Kolkata

- New Delhi

200

 India is the world’s largest producer of which item? 

- milk

- tea 

- coffee

- milk

300

Which popular sport is widely watched and played across India? 

- soccer

- cricket

- hockey

- cricket

Cricket's popularity in India stems from its introduction by the British, evolving from an elite pastime to a national obsession, fueled by key 1983 World Cup victory, media growth, economic development, and its power to unite diverse people across cultures and classes, becoming a core part of Indian identity, almost like a religion.

400

India is home to one of the world’s largest populations. About how many people live there today?

- 100 million

- over 1 billion

- over 5 billion

- over 1 billion

India is home to over 1.4 billion people, making it the world's most populous country, with recent estimates placing its population around 1.46 to 1.47 billion in early 2026, having surpassed China in 2023. This vast number means nearly one-fifth of the world's population lives in India.

500

What colors are on the Indian flag? 

- saffron, white, green

- red, white, blue

- saffron, blue, white

- saffron, white, green

The Indian flag, known as the Tiranga, features three horizontal stripes: saffron (top, symbolizing courage/sacrifice), white (middle, for peace/truth) with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra (wheel of law) in the center, and green (bottom, representing faith/growth/fertility).