Ancient Indian History MCQs
Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
1. Who was the founder of Nanda dynasty?
[A] Mahapadmananda
[B] Shisunaga
[C] Dhanananda
[D] Nandivardhan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Mahapadmananda ]
Notes:
Mahapadmananda (345 BC – 329 BC) was the founder of Nanda dynasty. Mahapadmananda was also known as Ekarat and Sarvakshatrantaka.
2. Which among the following major rock edicts of Ashoka are in Kharosthi script?
[A] Mansehra and Sahbazgarhi
[B] Sanchi
[C] Sarnath
[D] Bairut
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Mansehra and Sahbazgarhi ]
Notes:
The two major rock edicts of Ashoka viz. Mansehra and Sahbazgarhi are in Kharosthi script. These both the rock edicts are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
3. Which Greek ruler sent Dionysuis as an ambassador in the court of Patliputra?
[A] Selecus Nicator
[B] Antiochus I
[C] Potlemy Phildelphos
[D] Antigonas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Potlemy Phildelphos ]
Notes:
The Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy II Philadelphus had sent Dionysuis as an ambassador in the court of either Bindusara or Asoka.
4. In the Maurya empire, who was the superintendent of Ports ?
[A] Pattanadhyaksha
[B] Manadhyaksha
[C] Kosadhyaksha
[D] Ganikadhyaksha
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Correct Answer: A [ Pattanadhyaksha ]
Notes:
As per the officials mentioned in the Arthashastra, Pattanadhyaksha was the superintendent of Ports.
5. The gold coins issued during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya were known as__?
[A] Dinara
[B] Couch
[C] Archer
[D] Chhatra
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Correct Answer: A [ Dinara ]
Notes:
The gold coins issued during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya were known as Dinara. The dinara was named after the Roman coin, the denarius aureus, due to India’s trading contacts with the West.
6. Buddhacharita, the epic biography of Gautama Buddha in Sanskrit was written by__:
[A] Asvaghosa
[B] Indrabhuti
[C] Asanga
[D] Bodhisena
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Correct Answer: A [ Asvaghosa ]
Notes:
The Buddha Charita was the biography of Buddha which was penned by Ashvaghosa probably in the first century C.E. He was a renowned Sanskrit poet. The Buddha Charita is made up of 28 songs recounting events in Shakyamuni Buddha’s life up to the time of his great awakening.
7. Vikrampura and Vijaypuri were two capitals of which among the following Sen kings?
[A] Ballal Sen
[B] Vijay Sen
[C] Samnta Sen
[D] Hemanta Sen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vijay Sen]
Notes:
Vijaya Sena is also known as Vijay Sen in vernacular literature, was the son of Hemanta Sena, and succeeded him as a Sena dynasty ruler of Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. Vikrampura and Vijaypuri were two capitals of Vijay sen.
8. Which among the following was the most important grain grown in the Vedic Age?
[A] Wheat
[B] Barley
[C] Maize
[D] Rice
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Correct Answer: B [Barley]
Notes:
The the most important grain grown in the Vedic Age was Barley.
9. Who erected the Garuda pillar inscription of Besnagar in modern Madhya Pradesh?
[A] Heliodorus
[B] Vijayamitra
[C] Kanishka
[D] Ashoka
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Correct Answer: A [Heliodorus]
Notes:
The Bhagavata cult is also known as Heliodorus pillar. It is a stone column that was erected around 113 BCE in central India in Besnagar (near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh). The temple and the inscriptions are among the earliest known evidence of these pillar capitals, found near the Heliodorus pillar, suggests the Bhagavata cult.
10. Which among the following is also called encyclopedia of Buddhism?
[A] Buddhacharita
[B] Mahavibhasa
[C] Milinda Panho
[D] Vinayapitaka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahavibhasa]
Notes:
Abhidharma-mahavibhasa known as Mahavibhaṣa, is a Vaibhashika written treatise on Sarvastivada abhidharma. It translated into Chinese by the scholar–pilgrim Xuanzang and his translation team between 656 and 659 C.E.
