HISTORY OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

Concise Notes + PYQ-Pattern MCQs + Statement-Based MCQs

For JKSSB FAA | Sub Inspector (JKP) | Junior Assistant & other JKSSB exams

Note: The "PYQ-pattern" questions are built on facts and formats that JKSSB and JKP papers repeatedly test. They are not verbatim copies of past papers. Cross-check dates once with the official J&K history textbook (Class XI/XII JKBOSE) or your coaching notes.

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1. Sources of J&K History

2. Ancient Period

3. Medieval Period

3.1 Sultanate (1339-1561)

• Rinchana (1320-23): Ladakhi/Tibetan Buddhist prince; converted by Bulbul Shah (Sayyid Sharfuddin); Sultan Sadruddin.
• Shamsuddin Shah Mir (1339): founded Shah Mir dynasty, ended Hindu rule.
• Shihabuddin (1354-73): military expansion.
• Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (Shah-e-Hamdan): came from Hamadan (Persia) in 1381 with followers; introduced crafts; Khanqah-e-Mualla; work *Zakhirat-ul-Muluk*.
• Sikandar (1389-1413) "Butshikan": Jamia Masjid Srinagar began 1394; conversion drive and temple destruction.
• Zain-ul-Abidin "Budshah" (1420-70): abolished jizya, banned cow slaughter, promoted Hindu-Muslim harmony; Zaina Kadal, Zainagir canal, Zaina Lank; introduced paper-making, shawl-weaving, carpet-making, papier-mache; patronised translation of Mahabharata and Rajatarangini.
• Sufi/Rishi movement: Lal Ded (Lalleshwari), Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani (Nund Rishi, 1377-1438), Rishi order (Kashmiriyat).
• Chak dynasty (1561-86): Ghazi Shah Chak; Yusuf Shah Chak (wife Habba Khatoon); Yaqub Shah Chak, the last; Akbar's general Qasim Khan Mir Bahr conquered Kashmir in 1586.

3.2 Mughal Rule (1586-1753)

• Akbar: Hari Parbat fort and Nagar Nagar.
• Jahangir: Shalimar Bagh (1619), Verinag, Achabal; died en route from Kashmir in 1627.
• Shah Jahan era: Nishat Bagh (Asaf Khan, 1633), Chashma Shahi (Ali Mardan Khan, 1632). Dara Shikoh: Pari Mahal.
• Aurangzeb: Bernier visited Kashmir with the emperor; later Mughal decline led to Afghan takeover.

3.3 Afghan Rule (1753-1819)

• Ahmad Shah Abdali's governor Sukh Jiwan Mal first; Afghan governors including Azad Khan and Jabbar Khan (last) were harsh; heavy taxation and cruelty, especially on Pandits and Shias.

3.4 Sikh Rule (1819-1846)

• Ranjit Singh's army under Misr Diwan Chand defeated Jabbar Khan in 1819.
• Governors: Diwan Moti Ram, Hari Singh Nalwa (1820-21), Mihan Singh, Sheikh Ghulam Mohiuddin, Sheikh Imam-ud-din.
• Gulab Singh was made Raja of Jammu (1822) by Ranjit Singh.

4.1 Political Awakening (1930-47)

4.2 Gilgit

• British Gilgit Agency: 1889; Gilgit Wazarat leased for 60 years in 1935; returned to the Maharaja on 1 Aug 1947.
• Gilgit Scouts' revolt on 1 Nov 1947 (Major William Brown); Gilgit joined Pakistan.

6.1 Heads of Government

ALSO READ: Current affairs september 2026 for jkssb exams

7. 60-Second Revision Sheet

• Rajatarangini = Kalhana = 12th century = 8 Tarangas.
• Kanishka = 4th Buddhist Council at Kundalvana.
• Karkota: Durlabhvardhana (founder), Lalitaditya (Martand).
• Avantivarman = Avantipora; Suyya = irrigation engineer.
• Shah Mir 1339; Rinchana converted by Bulbul Shah.
• Sikandar = Butshikan; Zain-ul-Abidin = Budshah.
• Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586 (Yaqub Shah Chak last Chak).
• Afghan rule 1753-1819; Sikh rule 1819-1846.
• Treaty of Amritsar: 16 March 1846; 75 lakh.
• Dogra order: Gulab - Ranbir - Pratap - Hari.
• 13 July 1931: Martyrs' Day. 1932 Muslim Conference. 1939 National Conference.
• 26 Oct 1947 Accession; 27 Oct troops landed; 1 Jan 1948 UN referral.
• Karan Singh: Regent 1949, Sadr-i-Riyasat 1952, Governor 1965.
• J&K Constitution: adopted 17 Nov 1956, in force 26 Jan 1957.
• Article 370 abrogated 5 Aug 2019; UT status effective 31 Oct 2019.

Choose the correct option. Answers and explanations are in Part D.

Q1. Who wrote the Rajatarangini, the chronicle of the kings of Kashmir?

(A) Bilhana

(B) Kalhana

(C) Kshemendra

(D) Jonaraja

Q2. Rajatarangini consists of how many Tarangas (chapters)?

(A) 6

(B) 7

(C) 8

(D) 9

Q3. The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalvana (Kashmir) during the reign of:

(A) Ashoka

(B) Kanishka

(C) Harsha

(D) Lalitaditya

Q4. Which Chinese pilgrim visited Kashmir in 631 CE?

(A) Fa-Hien

(B) I-Tsing

(C) Hiuen Tsang

(D) Sung Yun

Q5. The Karkota dynasty of Kashmir was founded by:

(A) Durlabhvardhana

(B) Lalitaditya

(C) Avantivarman

(D) Pravarasena

Q6. The famous Martand Sun Temple (Mattan, Anantnag) was built by:

(A) Avantivarman

(B) Lalitaditya Muktapida

(C) Zain-ul-Abidin

(D) Jayasimha

Q7. Avantipora temples (Avantiswami and Avantisvara) were built by:

(A) Avantivarman

(B) Harsha

(C) Sangramaraja

(D) Jayapida

Q8. Who is called the "Nero of Kashmir" in Kalhana's account?

(A) Harsha

(B) Jayasimha

(C) Sikandar

(D) Didda

Q9. The first Muslim ruler of Kashmir (Rinchana) was converted to Islam by:

(A) Mir Syed Ali Hamdani

(B) Bulbul Shah

(C) Nund Rishi

(D) Shah Mir

Q10. The Shah Mir dynasty in Kashmir was established in:

(A) 1320

(B) 1339

(C) 1389

(D) 1420

Q11. "Butshikan" (idol breaker) is the title of which Sultan of Kashmir?

(A) Shihabuddin

(B) Sikandar

(C) Zain-ul-Abidin

(D) Ali Shah

Q12. Who is known as "Budshah" (the Great King) of Kashmir?

(A) Sikandar

(B) Shihabuddin

(C) Zain-ul-Abidin

(D) Yusuf Shah Chak

Q13. Who was the wife of the last independent Chak ruler Yusuf Shah Chak and a famous poetess?

(A) Lal Ded

(B) Kota Rani

(C) Habba Khatoon

(D) Arnimal

Q14. Kashmir was annexed to the Mughal Empire by Akbar in:

(A) 1556

(B) 1572

(C) 1586

(D) 1605

Q15. Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar) was built by:

(A) Akbar

(B) Jahangir

(C) Shah Jahan

(D) Dara Shikoh

Q16. Nishat Bagh in Srinagar was laid out by:

(A) Asaf Khan

(B) Ali Mardan Khan

(C) Nur Jahan

(D) Dara Shikoh

Q17. Afghan (Durrani) rule in Kashmir began in:

(A) 1739

(B) 1753

(C) 1780

(D) 1819

Q18. Sikh rule in Kashmir began in:

(A) 1799

(B) 1809

(C) 1819

(D) 1846

Q19. The Treaty of Amritsar was signed on:

(A) 9 March 1846

(B) 16 March 1846

(C) 26 Oct 1947

(D) 1 Jan 1948

Q20. Under the Treaty of Amritsar, Gulab Singh paid how much to the British?

(A) 50 lakh

(B) 75 lakh

(C) 1 crore

(D) 25 lakh

Q21. Which Dogra general conquered Ladakh (1834-35) and Baltistan (1840)?

(A) Hari Singh Nalwa

(B) Zorawar Singh

(C) Dewan Jawala Sahai

(D) Mehr Chand Mahajan

Q22. Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) of J&K was introduced by:

(A) Gulab Singh

(B) Ranbir Singh

(C) Pratap Singh

(D) Hari Singh

Q23. Land settlement of Kashmir (1889) was carried out under the Dogra ruler Pratap Singh by:

(A) Sir Walter Lawrence

(B) B.J. Glancy

(C) Barjor Dalal

(D) Sir Albion Banerji

Q24. The Hereditary State Subject Notification was issued in:

(A) 1912

(B) 1927

(C) 1932

(D) 1939

Q25. Martyrs' Day in J&K commemorates the events of:

(A) 13 July 1931

(B) 13 July 1946

(C) 5 Dec 1947

(D) 9 Aug 1953

Q26. Which Commission (1931) was appointed to look into Muslim grievances after the 1931 agitation?

(A) Glancy Commission

(B) Dalal Commission

(C) Lawrence Commission

(D) Simon Commission

Q27. Muslim Conference was founded in:

(A) 1930

(B) 1932

(C) 1939

(D) 1944

Q28. The "Naya Kashmir" manifesto of the National Conference was adopted in:

(A) 1939

(B) 1944

(C) 1946

(D) 1950

Q29. "Quit Kashmir" movement was launched in:

(A) 1931

(B) 1939

(C) 1946

(D) 1947

Q30. Praja Sabha (first legislature of J&K) was established in:

(A) 1927

(B) 1934

(C) 1939

(D) 1947

Q31. Tribal invasion of Kashmir began on:

(A) 15 Aug 1947

(B) 22 Oct 1947

(C) 26 Oct 1947

(D) 27 Oct 1947

Q32. Who headed the Emergency Administration of J&K in October 1947?

(A) Mehr Chand Mahajan

(B) Sheikh Abdullah

(C) Karan Singh

(D) Bakshi G. Mohammad

Q33. India referred the Kashmir issue to the UN on:

(A) 1 Jan 1948

(B) 1 Jan 1949

(C) 15 Aug 1948

(D) 26 Jan 1950

Q34. The Constitution of J&K came into force on:

(A) 17 Nov 1956

(B) 26 Jan 1957

(C) 26 Jan 1950

(D) 31 Oct 1951

Q35. First Sadr-i-Riyasat of J&K was:

(A) Karan Singh

(B) Hari Singh

(C) G.M. Sadiq

(D) Sheikh Abdullah

Q36. Article 370 of the Constitution of India was abrogated on:

(A) 31 Oct 2019

(B) 5 Aug 2019

(C) 9 Aug 2019

(D) 14 Feb 2019

Q37. Simla Agreement (turning the Cease-Fire Line into the LoC) was signed in:

(A) 1965

(B) 1966

(C) 1972

(D) 1999

Read each question carefully and select the correct option. Answers are in Part D.

Q38. Consider the statements about the Rajatarangini:

1. It was written by Kalhana in the 12th century CE.

2. It is divided into eight Tarangas.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Q39. Consider the statements about early Kashmir:

1. Durlabhvardhana founded the Karkota dynasty.

2. Lalitaditya Muktapida built the Martand Sun Temple.

3. Hiuen Tsang visited Kashmir during Karkota rule.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q40. Consider the statements:

1. Rinchana was the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir.

2. Shamsuddin Shah Mir founded the Shah Mir dynasty in 1339.

3. Shamsuddin Shah Mir was a Hindu ruler.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q41. Consider the statements on Zain-ul-Abidin:

1. He abolished the jizya tax.

2. He banned cow slaughter.

3. He founded the Shah Mir dynasty.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q42. Consider the statements on the Chak dynasty:

1. Yusuf Shah Chak was the husband of Habba Khatoon.

2. Kashmir lost its independence to the Mughals in 1586.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Q43. Consider the statements on Mughal gardens:

1. Shalimar Bagh was built by Jahangir.

2. Chashma Shahi was built by Ali Mardan Khan under Shah Jahan.

3. Nishat Bagh was built by Dara Shikoh.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q44. Consider the statements:

1. Afghan rule in Kashmir began in 1753.

2. It ended in 1819 with the Sikh conquest led by Ranjit Singh's forces.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Q45. Consider the statements on the Treaty of Amritsar:

1. It was signed on 16 March 1846.

2. Kashmir was transferred to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh Nanakshahi rupees.

3. It followed the Treaty of Lahore (9 March 1846).

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q46. Consider the statements on Zorawar Singh:

1. He conquered Ladakh in 1834-35.

2. He died fighting the Tibetans in 1841.

3. He conquered Gilgit in 1840.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q47. Arrange the Dogra rulers in chronological order:

A. Pratap Singh B. Gulab Singh C. Hari Singh D. Ranbir Singh

(A) B-D-A-C

(B) B-A-D-C

(C) D-B-A-C

(D) B-D-C-A

Q48. Consider the statements on Ranbir Singh:

1. The Ranbir Penal Code was enacted in his reign.

2. The Dharmarth Trust was established in his reign.

3. The Lawrence Land Settlement was done in his reign.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q49. Consider the statements on 13 July 1931:

1. Firing took place outside Central Jail, Srinagar.

2. It was linked with the trial of Abdul Qadeer.

3. The day was observed as Martyrs' Day in J&K for decades.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q50. Consider the statements on the freedom movement:

1. Muslim Conference (1932) was founded by Sheikh Abdullah and Ch. Ghulam Abbas.

2. It was renamed National Conference in June 1939.

3. The Naya Kashmir manifesto was adopted in 1950.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q51. Consider the statements on Quit Kashmir Movement:

1. It was launched in 1946 by Sheikh Abdullah.

2. It demanded the annulment of the Treaty of Amritsar.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Q52. Consider the statements on Accession:

1. Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 Oct 1947.

2. Lord Mountbatten accepted it on 27 Oct 1947.

3. J&K signed a Standstill Agreement with India in August 1947.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q53. Consider the statements on Article 370:

1. It is in Part XXI of the Constitution (temporary, transitional and special provisions).

2. Article 35A was added by a Presidential Order in 1954.

3. It was abrogated on 5 August 2019.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q54. Consider the statements on the Constituent Assembly of J&K:

1. It had 100 members.

2. National Conference won all seats in the 1951 elections.

3. The Constitution was adopted on 17 Nov 1956.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q55. Consider the statements on Karan Singh:

1. He became Regent in June 1949.

2. He was the first Sadr-i-Riyasat (1952).

3. He became the first Chief Minister of J&K.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q56. Consider the statements on Sheikh Abdullah:

1. He was arrested on 9 August 1953.

2. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad succeeded him as Prime Minister.

3. He died in 1992.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q57. Consider the statements:

1. India took the Kashmir issue to the UN on 1 Jan 1948.

2. A ceasefire came into effect on 1 Jan 1949.

3. The Simla Agreement (1972) converted the CFL into the LoC.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q58. Consider the statements on the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019:

1. Ladakh became a UT without a legislature.

2. J&K became a UT with a legislature.

3. The Act came into effect on 31 October 2019.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Q59. Arrange chronologically:

A. Muslim Conference formed B. Treaty of Amritsar C. Instrument of Accession D. Martyrs' Day events

(A) B-D-A-C

(B) B-A-D-C

(C) D-B-A-C

(D) B-D-C-A

Q60. Assertion (A): Zain-ul-Abidin is remembered as "Budshah".

Reason (R): He promoted religious tolerance and revived arts, crafts and agriculture.

(A) A and R true; R explains A

(B) A and R true; R does not explain A

(C) A true; R false

(D) A false; R true

Q61. Assertion (A): The Treaty of Amritsar (1846) is considered controversial in Kashmir's political history.

Reason (R): Kashmir was transferred to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh rupees.

(A) A and R true; R explains A

(B) A and R true; R does not explain A

(C) A true; R false

(D) A false; R true

Q62. Match the author with the work:

1. Kalhana 2. Bilhana 3. Kshemendra 4. Jonaraja

a. Brihatkathamanjari b. Dvitiya Rajatarangini c. Rajatarangini d. Vikramankadevacharita

(A) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b

(B) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a

(C) 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b

(D) 1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c

Q63. Gilgit statements:

1. The British set up the Gilgit Agency in 1889.

2. The Gilgit Wazarat was leased to the British in 1935 for 60 years.

3. Gilgit Scouts revolted on 1 Nov 1947.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Part B: PYQ-Pattern MCQs

Part C: Statement-Based MCQs