About this quiz
50 questions covering every section of the note.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: History of Nepal · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Easy). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
The Anglo-Nepal War was fought between Nepal and:
- A) China
- B) East India Company ✔
- C) Tibet
- D) Sikkim
Why: The Anglo-Nepal War was fought between Nepal and the British East India Company, which ruled much of India. Both sides were expanding into the same hill and Terai lands.
The Anglo-Nepal War took place in:
- A) 1814 to 1816 AD ✔
- B) 1788 to 1792 AD
- C) 1846 to 1850 AD
- D) 1857 to 1860 AD
Why: The war began in 1814 AD and ended in 1816 AD, about 1871 to 1873 BS. It ended when Nepal ratified the Treaty of Sugauli in March 1816.
The immediate cause of the war was a dispute over:
- A) Kathmandu and Lalitpur
- B) Butwal and Sheoraj ✔
- C) Kumaon and Garhwal
- D) Sikkim and Darjeeling
Why: Nepal and the Company both claimed Butwal and Sheoraj in the Terai. When Nepali forces took back these areas in 1814, killing Company police, the British declared war.
Who was the Mukhtiyar of Nepal during the war?
- A) Jung Bahadur
- B) Bhimsen Thapa ✔
- C) Bahadur Shah
- D) Mathbar Singh Thapa
Why: Bhimsen Thapa was the Mukhtiyar (chief minister) during the war, under the young King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah. He led Nepal's government from 1806 to 1837.
Who defended the Nalapani fort?
- A) Bhakti Thapa
- B) Balbhadra Kunwar ✔
- C) Amar Singh Thapa
- D) Ranajor Singh Thapa
Why: Captain Balbhadra Kunwar defended Nalapani (Khalanga) near Dehradun in 1814 with a small force, including women and children, against a much larger British army, before leaving the fort without water.
Which British general was killed at Nalapani?
- A) Ochterlony
- B) Rollo Gillespie ✔
- C) Paris Bradshaw
- D) Lord Hastings
Why: Major-General Rollo Gillespie was killed on 31 October 1814 while leading an attack on the Nalapani fort, which Balbhadra Kunwar defended.
Which elderly hero died at Deuthal?
- A) Bhakti Thapa ✔
- B) Balbhadra Kunwar
- C) Amar Singh Thapa
- D) Kaji Kalu Pande
Why: Sardar Bhakti Thapa, over 70 years old, died leading an attack at Deuthal in April 1815 on the western front. The British returned his body with honour.
Amar Singh Thapa surrendered to which British general?
- A) David Ochterlony ✔
- B) Gillespie
- C) Wellesley
- D) Clive
Why: Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa, commander of the western front, surrendered to General David Ochterlony at Malaun fort in May 1815, after Bhakti Thapa's death and the loss of key forts.
Where was the Treaty of Sugauli signed?
- A) Kathmandu
- B) Sugauli, Bihar ✔
- C) Calcutta
- D) Makwanpur
Why: The Treaty of Sugauli was signed at Sugauli, a place in the Champaran area of Bihar, India, close to Nepal's border.
The Treaty of Sugauli was signed on:
- A) 2 December 1815 ✔
- B) 4 March 1816
- C) 1 November 1814
- D) 15 May 1815
Why: The Treaty of Sugauli was signed on 2 December 1815. Nepal delayed ratifying it, so fighting resumed until the Battle of Makwanpur in early 1816.
The Treaty of Sugauli was ratified on:
- A) 4 March 1816 ✔
- B) 2 December 1815
- C) 10 January 1817
- D) 1 November 1814
Why: After defeat at Makwanpur, Nepal ratified the treaty on 4 March 1816, about three months after it was signed on 2 December 1815.
Who signed the treaty for the British?
- A) Paris Bradshaw ✔
- B) Edward Gardner
- C) Lord Hastings
- D) Ochterlony
Why: Lieutenant Colonel Paris Bradshaw signed the Treaty of Sugauli for the East India Company. Gajraj Mishra and Chandrashekhar Upadhyaya signed for Nepal.
Who was the first British Resident in Kathmandu?
- A) Edward Gardner ✔
- B) Brian Hodgson
- C) Captain Knox
- D) Paris Bradshaw
Why: Edward Gardner became the first British Resident in Kathmandu in 1816, as the treaty allowed. Brian Hodgson, the famous scholar, was a later Resident.
About how much territory did Nepal lose under the Sugauli treaty?
- A) One-tenth
- B) One-third ✔
- C) Half
- D) Two-thirds
Why: Under the Treaty of Sugauli, Nepal lost about one-third of its territory: lands west of the Mahakali (such as Kumaon and Garhwal), land east of the Mechi, and much of the Terai.
After Sugauli, the western border of Nepal became the:
- A) Sutlej
- B) Karnali
- C) Mahakali ✔
- D) Yamuna
Why: The treaty made the Mahakali river Nepal's western border, so Nepal lost Kumaon, Garhwal and the hills further west up to the Sutlej.
After Sugauli, the eastern border of Nepal became the:
- A) Teesta
- B) Mechi ✔
- C) Koshi
- D) Kankai
Why: The Mechi river became Nepal's eastern border. The land between the Mechi and Teesta went to the British, who later gave it to Sikkim.
Which districts formed the Naya Muluk?
- A) Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur ✔
- B) Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari
- C) Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi
- D) Dang, Deukhuri, Surkhet, Salyan
Why: Naya Muluk (new territory) means the western Terai now in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur, which the British returned to Nepal in 1860 AD.
Naya Muluk was returned to Nepal in:
- A) 1816
- B) 1846
- C) 1860 ✔
- D) 1923
Why: The British returned Naya Muluk in 1860 AD (1917 BS) by a new treaty, as a reward for Jung Bahadur Rana's help during the Indian revolt of 1857.
Naya Muluk was returned for Jung Bahadur's help in:
- A) The Anglo-Sikh war
- B) The Indian revolt of 1857 ✔
- C) World War I
- D) The Tibet war
Why: In the Indian revolt (sepoy mutiny) of 1857, Jung Bahadur Rana led Nepali troops to help the British, including at Lucknow. In return they gave back the western Terai (Naya Muluk).
Who was the British Governor-General when the war started?
- A) Lord Hastings ✔
- B) Lord Dalhousie
- C) Lord Curzon
- D) Lord Wellesley
Why: Lord Hastings, also called the Earl of Moira, was the Governor-General of India when the war began in 1814. He planned the multi-front attack on Nepal.
The Anglo-Nepal war was fought between Nepal and the:
- A) East India Company ✔
- B) Mughals
- C) Sikhs
- D) Chinese
Why: Nepal's opponent was the British East India Company, not the Mughals, Sikhs or Chinese. The Company's army included many Indian soldiers under British officers.
The war lasted from:
- A) 1814–1816 AD ✔
- B) 1857–1858 AD
- C) 1792–1793 AD
- D) 1768–1769 AD
Why: The war lasted from 1814 to 1816 AD (1871 to 1873 BS), from the first attacks in late 1814 to Nepal's ratification of the Sugauli Treaty in March 1816.
The war began over a dispute about:
- A) Butwal and Sheoraj ✔
- B) Kumaon
- C) Sikkim
- D) Tibet trade
Why: The war began over Butwal and Sheoraj, fertile Terai areas both sides claimed. The dispute reflected the wider clash between Gorkhali and British expansion.
Balbhadra Kunwar defended:
- A) Nalapani (Khalanga) ✔
- B) Deuthal
- C) Jaithak
- D) Makwanpur
Why: Balbhadra Kunwar defended Nalapani (Khalanga) fort near Dehradun in 1814, holding off repeated British attacks for about a month.
General Rollo Gillespie was killed at:
- A) Nalapani ✔
- B) Deuthal
- C) Malaun
- D) Sindhuli
Why: Gillespie was killed at Nalapani in October 1814, leading an assault on the fort. His death shocked the British and showed how strong the Gorkhali defence was.
Bhakti Thapa died at Deuthal at the age of about:
- A) 70 ✔
- B) 40
- C) 50
- D) 90
Why: Bhakti Thapa was over 70 when he led the attack at Deuthal in 1815 and was killed. He is remembered as a national hero for fighting so bravely at that age.
Amar Singh Thapa surrendered to:
- A) David Ochterlony ✔
- B) Gillespie
- C) Lord Hastings
- D) Bradshaw
Why: Amar Singh Thapa surrendered to David Ochterlony at Malaun in 1815. Ochterlony was the British general who won the western campaign and later the Battle of Makwanpur.
Amar Singh Thapa surrendered at the fort of:
- A) Malaun ✔
- B) Nalapani
- C) Jaithak
- D) Kangra
Why: After losing nearby positions, Amar Singh Thapa surrendered at Malaun fort in May 1815. This ended Nepal's hold over the western hills beyond the Mahakali.
Ranajor Thapa defended the fort of:
- A) Jaithak ✔
- B) Nalapani
- C) Makwanpur
- D) Sindhuli
Why: Ranajor Singh Thapa, son of Amar Singh Thapa, defended Jaithak fort on the western front, where the British attacks were repelled with heavy losses.
The Treaty of Sugauli was signed in:
- A) Bihar, India ✔
- B) Kathmandu
- C) Calcutta
- D) London
Why: Sugauli lies in the Champaran district of Bihar, India, just south of Nepal's border, which is why the treaty is named after it.
Nepal's signatories to Sugauli included:
- A) Gajraj Mishra and Chandrashekhar Upadhyaya ✔
- B) Bhimsen Thapa
- C) Jung Bahadur
- D) Amar Singh Thapa
Why: Raj Guru Gajraj Mishra and Chandrashekhar Upadhyaya signed the treaty as the king's envoys. Bhimsen Thapa led the government but did not sign it himself.
The British signatory of Sugauli was:
- A) Paris Bradshaw ✔
- B) Edward Gardner
- C) Ochterlony
- D) Lord Moira
Why: Lieutenant Colonel Paris Bradshaw signed for the East India Company. Edward Gardner was later the first Resident, and Ochterlony was the general.
The Treaty of Sugauli was signed in:
- A) 1815 AD (2 December) ✔
- B) 1816 AD (4 March)
- C) 1814 AD
- D) 1923 AD
Why: The treaty was signed on 2 December 1815 and ratified on 4 March 1816. Exams ask for both dates, so remember: signed in 1815, ratified in 1816.
The treaty was ratified on:
- A) 4 March 1816 ✔
- B) 2 December 1815
- C) 21 December 1923
- D) 1 January 1817
Why: Nepal ratified the treaty on 4 March 1816 after losing the Battle of Makwanpur. 21 December 1923 is the date of the later Nepal–Britain Treaty of Friendship.
The first British Resident in Kathmandu was:
- A) Edward Gardner ✔
- B) Brian Hodgson
- C) Kirkpatrick
- D) Bradshaw
Why: Edward Gardner was the first British Resident in Kathmandu (from 1816). The Resident was the Company's representative, as allowed by the Treaty of Sugauli.
Nepal lost about what fraction of its territory at Sugauli?
- A) One-third ✔
- B) Half
- C) One-tenth
- D) Two-thirds
Why: Nepal lost about one-third of its territory at Sugauli, including Kumaon, Garhwal, the Sikkim area east of the Mechi and much of the Terai.
After Sugauli the western border became the:
- A) Mahakali ✔
- B) Sutlej
- C) Karnali
- D) Yamuna
Why: The Mahakali river became the western border after Sugauli. The Kalapani–Lipulekh–Limpiyadhura dispute with India is about the source of this river.
After Sugauli the eastern border became the:
- A) Mechi ✔
- B) Teesta
- C) Koshi
- D) Kankai
Why: The Mechi river became the eastern border. Nepal gave up its claim to land up to the Teesta river, which the British later handed to Sikkim.
The Naya Muluk was returned in:
- A) 1860 AD ✔
- B) 1816 AD
- C) 1923 AD
- D) 1950 AD
Why: Naya Muluk was returned in 1860 AD (1917 BS), when Jung Bahadur Rana was in power, as thanks for Nepal's help to the British in the 1857 revolt.
The Governor-General during the war was:
- A) Lord Hastings (Moira) ✔
- B) Lord Dalhousie
- C) Lord Curzon
- D) Lord Clive
Why: Lord Hastings (the Earl of Moira) was Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823, so he directed the British side during the Anglo-Nepal War.
The British began recruiting Gorkha soldiers:
- A) After the Anglo-Nepal war ✔
- B) After WWII
- C) In 1950
- D) Before 1700
Why: Impressed by Gorkhali bravery, the British began recruiting Gorkha soldiers in 1815, during the war itself. This was the start of the Gurkha regiments.
Kumaon and Garhwal were lost through:
- A) The Sugauli Treaty ✔
- B) Betrawati Treaty
- C) Kerung Treaty
- D) 1950 Treaty
Why: Kumaon and Garhwal, west of the Mahakali, were given to the British under the Treaty of Sugauli (1815 to 1816). Betrawati and Kerung were treaties with Tibet and China.
Which region was ceded east of the Mechi?
- A) Sikkim territory up to Teesta ✔
- B) Darjeeling only
- C) Bhutan
- D) Assam
Why: Nepal gave up the land between the Mechi and the Teesta, which Gorkhali forces had taken from Sikkim. The British returned it to Sikkim in 1817.
The Nepali fort at Makwanpur fell in:
- A) 1816 AD ✔
- B) 1814 AD
- C) 1768 AD
- D) 1857 AD
Why: In February 1816, the British under Ochterlony won the Battle of Makwanpur and threatened Kathmandu. Nepal then ratified the Treaty of Sugauli in March 1816.
The 1923 Nepal–Britain treaty replaced Sugauli and recognised:
- A) Nepal's independence ✔
- B) British rule
- C) Tibetan control
- D) Indian rule
Why: The Nepal–Britain Treaty of Friendship of 21 December 1923, signed when Chandra Shumsher was Prime Minister, replaced Sugauli and formally recognised Nepal's independence.
Sugauli Treaty allowed the British to keep a:
- A) Resident in Kathmandu ✔
- B) Army in Kathmandu
- C) Governor in Nepal
- D) Trade monopoly
Why: The treaty let the British keep a Resident in Kathmandu, their official representative. They did not station an army or a governor in Nepal.
Who was king of Nepal during the Anglo-Nepal war?
- A) Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah ✔
- B) Rajendra
- C) Rana Bahadur
- D) Surendra
Why: King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah reigned during the war (1799 to 1816). He was a minor, so Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa ran the government.
The phrase 'Better to die than live a coward' is linked to:
- A) Gorkhali soldiers ✔
- B) Mughals
- C) Sikhs
- D) Marathas
Why: 'Better to die than live a coward' (कायर हुनुभन्दा मर्नु राम्रो) is the famous motto of Gorkhali and Gurkha soldiers, reflecting the bravery shown in this war.
Kalapani–Lipulekh dispute arises from interpreting the source of the:
- A) Mahakali ✔
- B) Mechi
- C) Koshi
- D) Karnali
Why: Sugauli made the Mahakali river the western border. Nepal says the river starts at Limpiyadhura, which puts Kalapani and Lipulekh in Nepal; India reads the source differently.
The British praised Nepali bravery by building a memorial at:
- A) Nalapani ✔
- B) Malaun
- C) Sindhuli
- D) Kirtipur
Why: Near Dehradun, the British built memorials at Khalanga (Nalapani), one honouring 'our gallant adversary' Balbhadra and his men, a rare tribute to an enemy.