Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) 

For HPPSC, HPSSSB

Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) on Ancient Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.

1. The Golden age of the “Gupta Literary Renaissance” is said to be the reign of whom among the following?

Correct Answer: Chandragupta II

Information:
Chandragupta II, also known by his title Vikramaditya, was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta Empire in northern India. His reign is called “Gupta Literary Renaissance”. Kalidasa was his court poet.

2. Ratnavali, Priyadarsika and Nagananda are famous plays written by _?

Correct Answer: Harsha

Information:
Ratnavali, Priyadarsika and Nagananda are famous plays written by the powerful Indian Emperor Harsha

3. What is the half life of Carbon-14 isotope which is radio active in nature?

Correct Answer: 5730 years

Information:
Carbon-14 (C-14) isotope which is radioactive in nature is used in Carbon Dating to determine the age of plants and fossils. It has a half-life (decays to half the strength) of 5,730 years.

4. The mention of the eastern and western seas is found in which of the following?

Correct Answer: Satpatha Brahmana

Information:
The mention of the eastern and western seas is found in the Satpatha Brahmana. The Shatapatha Brahmana is considered significant in the development of Vaishnavism.

5. The Shvetambara ascetic is allowed to have how many possessions?

Correct Answer: 14

Information:
In Jainism the Shvetambara ascetic is allowed to have fourteen possessions which includes loin-cloth, shoulder-cloth, etc. Whereas the Digambara ascetic must renounce all possessions, including clothes and is allowed only two possessions which are: Rajoharana and a Kamandalu.

6. Which of the following is also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata?

Correct Answer: Buddha

Information:
Gautama Buddha is also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata. He was born as Siddhartha in 563 BCE at Lumbini (near Kapilavastu, Nepal) to the King Suddhodana (chief of republican Sakya clan).

7. Buddha was offered a bowl of milk-rice by which of the following?

Correct Answer: Sujata

Information:
When Buddha was moving towards the village of Senani he was offered a bowl of milk-rice by a low-caste village girl named Sujata. Buddha Accepted from a grass-cutter a gift of kusa grass for a mat and took a seat under a Peepal tree facing the east.

8. The magistrates who looked after towns and cities in Mauryan Empire were known as?

Correct Answer: Nagaradhyaksha

Information:
According to the Arthashastra of Kautilya the magistrates who looked after towns and cities were called Nagaradhyaksha, whereas those who looked after the military were called Baladhyakshas. 

9. in which year, Ashoka, the Great was born?

Correct Answer: 304 BCE

Information:

Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, was born in 304 BCE in the capital city Patliputra. He ruled the Mauryan Empire from 268 BCE to 232 BCE. He was the son of the second ruler of the Mauryan Empire, Bindusara.

10. What does the use of ‘Elephant’ as a motif in the Ashokan pillar symbolizes?

Correct Answer: Buddha’s conception

Information:
Ashoka was a patron of Buddhism therefore he used many symbols that are relevant in Buddhism as motifs in the Ashokan pillar. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha entered his mother’s womb in the form of a white elephant.

11. Which of the following were known as wandering spies who wandered from place to place for collecting secret information in the Mauryan Empire?

Correct Answer: Sanchara

Information:
The Arthashastra of Kautilya or Chanakya mentions about wandering spies also known as sanchara who wandered from place to place for collecting secret information in the Mauryan Empire.

12. Which of the following was in charge of standardized weights and measures during the Mauryan period?

Correct Answer: Pautavadhyaksha

Information:
Pautavadhyaksha was in charge of standardised weights and measures during the Mauryan period. Rupadarshaka was the inspector of coins. Sansthadhyaksha was the superintendent of markets. And Panyadhyaksha was the officer in charge of trade, price fixation, and sale of goods produced by state-run manufacturing units.

13. Bactrian Greeks ruled over parts which of the following parts of Indian subcontinent?

Correct Answer: North-west India

Information:
The Bactrian Greeks ruled over parts of north-west India between the 2nd century BCE and the early 1st century BCE. Bactrian Greeks are known as the Indo-Greeks.

14. Which of the following is identical with the ‘Andhras’ of the Puranas

Correct Answer: Satavahanas

Information:
The Satavahanas were considered identical with the ‘Andhras’ which are mentioned in Puranas. However, the name Andhra does not appear in Satavahana inscriptions. Also the Puranas do not speak of the Satavahanas . They only refer to Andhras.

 

15. Which of the following is the author of the Panchatantra?

Correct Answer: Vishnusharman

Information:
Vishnusharman is the author of the Panchatantra. Panchatantra is a fine illustration of nidarshana which tells what should and should not be done. It is written in elegant prose style and is interspersed witty verses.

 

16. The southward march of Harsha was stopped by which of the following Chalukyan Kings?

Correct Answer: Pulakeshin

Information:
The southward march of Harshavardhan was stopped by the Chalukyan King Pulakeshin. Pulakeshin ruled over a great part of the modern Karnataka and the state of Maharashtra. He also faced opposition from Shaivite King Shashanka of Gauda.

 

17. The Chola dynasty came to an end in which of the following centuries?

Correct Answer: 13th century

Information:
Kulottunga II, Rajaraja II and Kulothunga III tried to maintain the Chola Empire but the Chola power gradually decline. The dynasty came to an end in the 13th century. The Pandyas and the Hoysalas overtook the Cholas in the south.

 

18. “Samaya” referred to which of the following in Chola administration?

Correct Answer: Corporate organizations

Information:
The corporate organisations during the Chola administration were also referred to as samaya as they were created through an agreement or contract. The members of samaya were governed by a code of conduct called bananju-dharma.

 

19. Which of the following kings succeeded the king Maravarman Arikesari Parankusan?

Correct Answer: Koccadiyan Ranadhira

Information:
Kochchadaiyan Ranadhira was a Pandya king of early medieval South India. He was the son and successor of Arikesari Maravarman. He ruled the Pandya kingdom from 700 A.D. to 730 A.D.

 

20. Which Madala of Rig Veda Mandala is known as Soma Mandala?

Correct Answer: Ninth Mandala

Information:
The Rig-Veda is the largest and most important text of the Vedic collection; it includes 1028 hymns and itis divided into ten books called mandalas. Soma was the personification of the sacred soma plant, whose juice was holy and intoxicating to gods and men. The ninth Mandala of the Rigveda, also called the Soma Mandala, has 114 hymns devoted to Soma Pavamana.

 

21. Who founded Mahabalipuram?

Correct Answer: Narasimha Varman

Information:
Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, was founded by 7th-century CE Pallava king, Narasimha Varman, also called Mamalla (“great wrestler”), for whom the town was named. At present, it is a town in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for the Shore Temple, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.

 

22. What caused the caste system of India?

Correct Answer: Occupational division of labor

Information:
The caste system is a system of division of labour and power in human society. It is a system of social stratification, and a basis for affirmative action. Historically, it defined communities into thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jatis. The Jatis were grouped by the Brahmanical texts under the four well-known caste categories (the varnas): viz Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.

 

23. Who was known as Lichchavi Dauhitra?

Correct Answer: Chandragupta I

Information:
Chandragupta I was known as ‘Lichchavi dauhitra.’ His marriage with the Lichchavi Princess Kumaradevi was one of the significant events in the Gupta rule. The importance of this marriage can be known further from Samudragupta’s Allahabad inscription in which he has described himself as “Lichchhavis-dauhitra or daughter’s son of the Lichchavis.

 

24. How do you define ‘Milinda panha’?

Correct Answer: Buddhist text

Information:
The Milinda Panha (Questions of Milinda) is a Buddhist text which dates from approximately 100 BC. It purports to record a dialogue in which the Indo-Greek king Menander I of Bactria, who reigned in the 2nd century BC, poses questions on Buddhism to the sage Nagasena.

 

25. Who was the greatest king of Satavahana dynasty?

Correct Answer: Gautamiputra Satkarni

Information:
Gautamiputra Satakarni (78-102 A.D) is often acknowledged by historians as the greatest of the Satavahana rulers. He defeated the Yavanas, Sakas, and Pallavas and re-established the ancient glory of the Satavahanas. He performed two Ashwamedha sacrifices.

 

26. Who the Kailasanatha Shiva Temple at Kanchipuram was built?

Correct Answer: Narasimhavarman

Information:
The Kailasanatha Temple (Siva Temple) at Kanchipuram was built from 685-705 AD by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) of the Pallava Dynasty. His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front façade and the gopuram (tower). The temple is located on the banks of the Vegavathy River at the western limits of the Kanchipuram. The inner wall of it contains sculptures with paintings.

 

27. Charak was a contemporary of which of the following Kings?

Correct Answer: Kanishka

Information:
Some of the scholars in the Court of Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara. Charaka has been called the Court Physician of Kanishka, though it is very much disputed.

 

28. Which among the following kingdom in South India was known for an excellent Navy?

Correct Answer: Cholas

Information:
The cholas had a good navy. The Chola navy played a vital role in the expansion of the Chola Empire, including the conquest of the Ceylon islands and naval raids on Sri Vijaya.

 

29. Who among the following had written “Rajavalipataka”?

Correct Answer: Pandit Prajabhatta

30. Which among the following site has given evidence that the people of Indus Valley Civilization were aware of tides?

Correct Answer: Lothal

Information:
People of Lothal, which had a dockyard, were aware of tides.