RAS question
Prithviraj Chauhan III defeated Muhammad of Ghor in the First Battle of Tarain in which year?
Correct answer: (C) 1191 CE.
Prithviraj Chauhan III defeated Muhammad of Ghor in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 CE.
Explanation
The First Battle of Tarain, also called Taraori, was fought in 1191 CE near present-day Haryana. Prithviraj Chauhan III marched against Muhammad of Ghor after Ghori's pressure on the Chauhan frontier increased, and the two armies met at Taraori. Britannica supports the key sequence: the armies met in 1191, Muhammad of Ghor was seriously injured during fierce fighting, and his forces withdrew in disorder. That is why 1191 CE is the date attached to Prithviraj's victory in the first encounter. The later reversal belongs to the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, not to Prithviraj's first Tarain victory.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 1175 CE is linked to Muhammad Ghori's first invasion of India through Multan, not to Prithviraj Chauhan III's victory at Tarain.
- (B) 1194 CE refers to the Battle of Chandawar between Ghori and Jaichand of Kannauj, so it does not date the First Battle of Tarain.
- (D) 1192 CE was the year of the Second Battle of Tarain, when Prithviraj was defeated after Ghori returned with a stronger force.
Concept
This tests the chronology of early medieval Rajasthan and north Indian political history, especially the two Battles of Tarain. RAS repeats this because one year separates Prithviraj's victory from his defeat, making it a common chronology trap.