NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 3: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. 14th - 16th centuries)

mcqeasy

In the economic and commercial context of the Vijayanagara Empire, the term kudirai chettis referred to which of the following groups?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AArchitects of the royal gateways
BPriests associated with the Pampadevi shrine
COfficers responsible for collecting land revenue
DLocal communities of horse merchants

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is Local communities of horse merchants.

Explanation

The military strength of the Vijayanagara Empire relied heavily on effective cavalry. Since high-quality warhorses were not bred locally in the peninsula, the state depended on the import of horses from Arabia and Central Asia. This trade was a vital component of the empire's economy and defense strategy.

Analysis:

The import trade was initially controlled by Arab traders.
Local communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis also participated actively in these exchanges.
The term is derived from the Tamil word kudirai, meaning "horse," and chetti, referring to "merchants."
Later, from 1498 onwards, the Portuguese arrived and attempted to establish control over this trade, leveraging their superior military technology.

Key Takeaway:

Kudirai chettis refers to the local communities of horse merchants in the Vijayanagara Empire who played a significant role in the procurement of cavalry horses.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. 14th - 16th centuries)

Consider the following statements regarding the titles used in popular traditions of Vijayanagara: 1. The Deccan Sultans were termed as ashvapati. 2. The Gajapati rulers of Orissa were termed as narapati. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Which of the following pairs of travellers and their countries of origin is/are correctly matched? 1. Nicolo de Conti : Italy 2. Abdur Razzaq : Persia 3. Afanasii Nikitin : Portugal 4. Fernao Nuniz : Russia Select the correct answer using the code given below:

easy

Which one of the following waterworks drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra and irrigated the cultivated valley separating the "sacred centre" from the "urban core"?

medium

The battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi (1565), which led to the sacking of the city of Vijayanagara, was fought between the Vijayanagara army led by Rama Raya and the combined armies of:

easy

With reference to the discovery and reconstruction of the history of Hampi, consider the following statements: 1. The initial information received by Mackenzie was based exclusively on the written records preserved in the Virupaksha temple. 2. The ruins at Hampi were first brought to light in 1800 by Colonel Colin Mackenzie. 3. Epigraphists began collecting inscriptions at Hampi only after 1947. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Keep practising Chapter 3: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. 14th - 16th centuries)

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

Browse all NCERT Class 12 History chapters

Correct Option

The correct option is Local communities of horse merchants.

Explanation

Analysis:

The import trade was initially controlled by Arab traders.
Local communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis also participated actively in these exchanges.
The term is derived from the Tamil word kudirai, meaning "horse," and chetti, referring to "merchants."
Later, from 1498 onwards, the Portuguese arrived and attempted to establish control over this trade, leveraging their superior military technology.

Key Takeaway:

Kudirai chettis refers to the local communities of horse merchants in the Vijayanagara Empire who played a significant role in the procurement of cavalry horses.