The Battle of Saraighat is one of the most glorious events in the history of Assam and Indian military history. Fought in 1671 on the banks of the Brahmaputra River near Guwahati, this battle was a decisive confrontation between the Ahom Kingdom and the Mughal Empire. The Ahom forces were led by the legendary general Lachit Borphukan while the Mughal army was commanded by Raja Ram Singh I of Amber. The Ahom navy played a dominant role in this battle and successfully repelled the Mughal forces. This victory proved that the Mughals could not permanently conquer the Ahom territories in Assam.
The Battle of Saraighat holds a special place in the hearts of the Assamese people even today. Lachit Borphukan is revered as a national hero and his birthday on 24 November is celebrated as Lachit Divas across Assam. The battle demonstrated the military genius of Lachit and the fighting spirit of the Ahom soldiers and sailors. It was primarily a naval battle fought on the waters of the Brahmaputra which gave the Ahom forces an advantage over the Mughal army. For students preparing for APSC, UPSC, and other competitive examinations related to Assam history, the Battle of Saraighat is one of the most frequently asked topics. This blog post offers 30 MCQs that cover every major aspect of this historic battle.
30 MCQs on Battle of Saraighat – History of Assam
Q1. The Battle of Saraighat was fought in which year?
A) 1661
B) 1667
C) 1671
D) 1681
Q2. The Battle of Saraighat was fought on the banks of which river?
A) Manas River
B) Brahmaputra River
C) Subansiri River
D) Dihing River
Q3. Who led the Ahom forces in the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Momai Tamuli Barbarua
B) Atan Buragohain
C) Lachit Borphukan
D) Peoli Borphukan
Q4. Who commanded the Mughal forces in the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Mir Jumla
B) Shaista Khan
C) Raja Ram Singh I
D) Aurangzeb
Q5. The Battle of Saraighat was fought near which present-day city?
A) Tezpur
B) Jorhat
C) Guwahati
D) Dibrugarh
Q6. Which Ahom king was ruling during the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Jayadhwaj Singha
B) Chakradhwaj Singha
C) Udayaditya Singha
D) Rudra Singha
Q7. The Battle of Saraighat was primarily fought as which type of battle?
A) Land battle
B) Siege warfare
C) Naval battle
D) Guerrilla warfare
Q8. Which empire was defeated in the Battle of Saraighat?
A) British Empire
B) Mughal Empire
C) Maratha Empire
D) Koch Kingdom
Q9. Raja Ram Singh I belonged to which Rajput kingdom?
A) Mewar
B) Marwar
C) Amber (Jaipur)
D) Bikaner
Q10. Before the Battle of Saraighat which battle did the Ahoms lose to the Mughals?
A) Battle of Itakhuli
B) Battle of Alaboi
C) Battle of Guwahati
D) Battle of Rangpur
Q11. The Battle of Alaboi was fought in which year?
A) 1669
B) 1670
C) 1671
D) 1672
Q12. What was the result of the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Mughal victory
B) Ahom victory
C) Stalemate
D) Both sides retreated
Q13. Lachit Borphukan held which official position in the Ahom administration?
A) Barbarua
B) Buragohain
C) Borphukan
D) Borgohain
Q14. Who appointed Lachit Borphukan to lead the campaign against the Mughals?
A) Jayadhwaj Singha
B) Chakradhwaj Singha
C) Rudra Singha
D) Pratap Singha
Q15. Lachit Borphukan beheaded his maternal uncle for which reason?
A) Treason against the king
B) Neglecting duty during fort construction at night
C) Helping the Mughals
D) Stealing from the treasury
Q16. Which fort did Lachit Borphukan order to be built overnight?
A) Garhgaon Fort
B) Itakhuli Fort
C) An earthen embankment at Saraighat
D) Rangpur Fort
Q17. During the Battle of Saraighat Lachit Borphukan was suffering from which condition?
A) Wound from a sword
B) Severe illness
C) Broken leg
D) Poisoning
Q18. Despite being ill Lachit Borphukan reportedly said which famous words?
A) “We shall fight till the end”
B) “The country is more important than my life”
C) “If the country is saved from the Mughals my death will be auspicious”
D) “No retreat no surrender”
Q19. How many Mughal soldiers approximately participated in the Battle of Saraighat?
A) 10000
B) 30000
C) 70000
D) 100000
Q20. What advantage did the Ahom forces have over the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Larger army
B) Better weapons
C) Superior naval skills and knowledge of terrain
D) Foreign military support
Q21. The Ahom war boats used in the Battle of Saraighat were called?
A) Bajra
B) Panchway
C) Bachhari
D) All of the above
Q22. After the victory at Saraighat which territory did the Ahoms firmly secure?
A) Bengal
B) Guwahati and western Assam
C) Bihar
D) Manipur
Q23. Lachit Borphukan died shortly after the Battle of Saraighat in which year?
A) 1671
B) 1672
C) 1673
D) 1674
Q24. Lachit Divas is celebrated on which date every year?
A) 14 November
B) 24 November
C) 26 January
D) 15 August
Q25. The National Defence Academy in Pune awards which prize named after Lachit Borphukan?
A) Lachit Gold Medal
B) Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal
C) Saraighat Medal
D) Ahom Bravery Award
Q26. The Battle of Saraighat is often compared to which European naval battle?
A) Battle of Trafalgar
B) Battle of Thermopylae
C) Battle of Salamis
D) Battle of Waterloo
Q27. Which Mughal emperor ordered the invasion that led to the Battle of Saraighat?
A) Akbar
B) Shah Jahan
C) Aurangzeb
D) Jahangir
Q28. The strategic location of Saraighat made it difficult for the Mughals because of?
A) Dense forests
B) Narrow stretch of the Brahmaputra River
C) Mountain barriers
D) Desert terrain
Q29. Which of the following statements about the Battle of Saraighat is CORRECT?
A) The Mughals won the battle
B) It was fought in the 16th century
C) Lachit Borphukan led the Ahom forces to victory
D) It was a purely land-based battle
Q30. The Battle of Saraighat is remembered as a symbol of?
A) Ahom surrender to the Mughals
B) Mughal dominance over Assam
C) Assamese bravery and resistance against foreign invasion
D) Ahom-Mughal friendship
Correct Answers
- C) 1671
- B) Brahmaputra River
- C) Lachit Borphukan
- C) Raja Ram Singh I
- C) Guwahati
- C) Udayaditya Singha
- C) Naval battle
- B) Mughal Empire
- C) Amber (Jaipur)
- B) Battle of Alaboi
- C) 1671
- B) Ahom victory
- C) Borphukan
- B) Chakradhwaj Singha
- B) Neglecting duty during fort construction at night
- C) An earthen embankment at Saraighat
- B) Severe illness
- C) “If the country is saved from the Mughals my death will be auspicious”
- C) 70000
- C) Superior naval skills and knowledge of terrain
- D) All of the above
- B) Guwahati and western Assam
- B) 1672
- B) 24 November
- B) Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal
- C) Battle of Salamis
- C) Aurangzeb
- B) Narrow stretch of the Brahmaputra River
- C) Lachit Borphukan led the Ahom forces to victory
- C) Assamese bravery and resistance against foreign invasion
Conclusion
The Battle of Saraighat remains one of the most iconic events in the history of Assam and Indian military heritage. The bravery and determination of Lachit Borphukan and the Ahom soldiers continue to inspire generations of Assamese people. This naval victory on the Brahmaputra River proved that strategic planning and love for one’s homeland can overcome even the mightiest of enemies. The celebration of Lachit Divas on 24 November every year keeps this glorious memory alive in the hearts of people.
For aspirants preparing for APSC, UPSC, and other competitive examinations, the Battle of Saraighat is a topic that appears in almost every exam paper. These 30 MCQs cover all the important facts about this legendary battle including its background, events, leaders, and outcomes. Practicing these questions regularly will improve your accuracy and speed during examinations. Save this page for future revision and share it with fellow aspirants.