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. Which among the following two dynasties of the Northern India confronted with the Rashtrakutas?
[A] The Pratiharas and the Paramaras
[B] The Palas and the Chandelas
[C] The Pratiharas and the Palas
[D] The Chalukyas and the Chahamanas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ The Pratiharas and the Palas ]
Notes:
North Indian Dynasties : Towards the close of the 8th century AD, there were three great powers in India – the Palas in the east, the Gurjar- Pratiharas in the north and the Rashtrakutas in the deccan. The tripartite struggle for the supremacy among the Palas, Partiharas and the Rashtrakutas was the desire to possess the city of Kannauj ,which was then a symbol of sovereignty.
2. “The king was the ruler of all except Brahamanas”. This was the view of __?
[A] Manu
[B] Yajnavalkya
[C] Apasthamba
[D] Gautama
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Gautama ]
Notes:
Gautama-dharmasutra The Dharmasutras: The Law Codes of Apastamba, Gautama, Baudhayana, and Vasistha The Dharmasutras are the four surviving written works of the ancient Indian tradition on the subject of dharma, or the rules of behavior a community recognizes as binding on its members. Gautama- dharmasutra is believed to be the oldest of the four Hindu Dharmasastras, It survives as an independent treatise. According to Gautama the ruler is the owner of everything in his realm except the brahmanas.
3. In Sangam age, the book ‘Bharatam’ was written by__?
[A] Perudevanar
[B] Manimekalai
[C] Seethalai Saathanaar
[D] Tiruttakrdeva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Perudevanar ]
Notes:
The book, ‘ Bharatam’ was written by Perudevanar. The author had also composed the invocatory versus for the Sangam classics Ahnanuru, Puranamuru, Kuruntogai, Narrinai and Aingurunuru.
4. In the Indus Valley civilization the Great Granary was found in which among the following sites?
[A] Mohenjodaro
[B] Harappa
[C] Surkotada
[D] Lothal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Mohenjodaro ]
Notes:
Great Granary was found at Mohen-jo daro, while six small granaries were found at Harappa.
5. Kushinara or Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha attained parinirvana was located in which among the following provinces of ancient India?
[A] Anga
[B] Magadha
[C] Malla
[D] Vatsa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Malla]
Notes:
The Buddha belonged to a small gana known as the Sakya gana, and was a kshatriya. When he was a young man, he left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge. He wandered for several years, meeting and holding discussions with other thinkers. He finally decided to find his own path to realisation, and meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment. After that, he was known as the Buddha or the Wise One. He then went to Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he taught for the first time.
Buddha attained Nirvana at Kusinara a village some 180km from Varanasi and it was in the state of Mallas.
6. In Pali texts, who among the following is referred to as Nigantha Nataputta?
[A] Gautam Buddha
[B] Mahavira
[C] Parshvanatha
[D] Rishabha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahavira]
Notes:
Nigantha Nataputta refers to Mahavira. A Nirgrantha refers to Jains. A person who has attained kevalya can be a nirgrantha.
7. Which of the following statements about Agastya, a revered Indian sage of Hinduism, is NOT true?
[A] He and his wife Lopamudra are the authors of hymns 1.165 to 1.191 in the Sanskrit text Rigveda.
[B] He is considered to be the father of Siddha medicine.
[C] He is one of the seven most revered rishis in the Vedic texts.
[D] He is attributed to be the author of the Agastya Samhita found embedded in Rigveda Purana.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [He is attributed to be the author of the Agastya Samhita found embedded in Rigveda Purana.]
Notes:
Agastya is a revered Indian sage known for his great contributions to various fields. Agastya and his wife Lopamudra authored hymns 1.165 to 1.191 in the Rigveda. He is also remembered as the father of Siddha medicine. Among the seven most revered rishis in the Vedic texts, he holds a distinguished place. However, the Agastya Samhita is actually found in Skanda Purana, not the Rigveda Purana, differentiating it from the other statements above.
8. Nalanda University was founded by which of the following ?
[A] Kumaragupta
[B] Skandagupta
[C] Samudragupta
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kumaragupta]
Notes:
The Nalanda University was founded by Gupta emperor Kumargupta I. He adopted the title of Mahendraditya. It was established in 5th century.
9. Who among the following was behind the “epoch making” discovery of Arthashastra that altered the false perception of the European scholars that Ancient Indians learnt the art of administration from the Greeks?
[A] R. Shamasastry
[B] C. Sivarama Murti
[C] K. S. Neelakantan Unni
[D] Veturi Prabhakara Sastri
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [R. Shamasastry]
Notes:
Rudrapatna Shamasastry FRAS was a Sanskrit scholar and librarian at the Oriental Research Institute Mysore. He re-discovered and published the Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. He was behind the “epoch making” discovery of Arthashastra that altered the false perception of the European scholars that Ancient Indians learnt the art of administration from the Greeks.
10. What was “Halivakara” in the Gupta Era?
[A] A kind of Tax
[B] A kind of Play
[C] A kind of Instrument
[D] A kind of Tribe
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A kind of Tax]
Notes:
Halivakara is a kind of tax in the Gupta era. Halivakara was a plow tax, paid by every cultivator owning a plow.Some of its taxes include Bali, Bhoga, etc.
