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.
11. In Buddhism, Patimonkha deals with which among the following?
[A] Education
[B] Propaganda
[C] Discipline
[D] All the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Discipline]
Notes:
In Theravada Buddhism, the Patimokkha is the basic code of monastic discipline,. It consists of 227 rules for fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) and 311 for nuns (bhikkhunis). It is contained in the Suttavibhanga, a division of the Vinaya Pitaka.
12. Mahanataka Sushanidhi was composed by which Sangam dynasty ruler?
[A] Harihara I
[B] Bukka
[C] Krishna Deva Raya
[D] Devaraya II
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Devaraya II]
Notes:
Mahanataka Sushanidhi and a commentary on the Brahma Sutras of Badarayana was composed by Sangam dynasty emperor Devaraya II. His both the works are in Sanskrit language.
13. Which of the following facts about Chandragupta is true?
[A] He called his people children.
[B] He trained women to protect his palace.
[C] He converted to Buddhism and rejected war.
[D] He had stone pillars set up through India with Buddhist inscriptions on them.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [He trained women to protect his palace.]
Notes:
Chandragupta was perhaps one of the most anxious emperors, and he particularly feared being killed. As well as training woman to be guards and putting them to protect the palace, he also had servants taste his food to protect him from poisoning and made secret palaces in the palace to protect him from being harmed if ever his palace was invaded.
14. Which among the following had contact with the Indus Valley people? (UPSC Prelims General Studies 1980)
[A] Egyptians
[B] Sumerians
[C] Chinese
[D] Mesopotamians
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mesopotamians]
Notes:
The Indus people were greatly reliant on trade. They traded with many different civilizations like Persia, Mesopotamia and China. They were also known to trade in the Arabian Gulf region, central parts of Asia, portions of Afghanistan and northern and western India. The ancient Mesopotamian civilizations were located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Indus-Mesopotamia relations are thought to have developed during the second half of 3rd millennium BCE, until they came to a halt with the extinction of the Indus valley civilization after around 1900 BCE.
15. The beginning of urbanization of the Ganges from the 6th century was mainly attributed to which of the following reasons? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Fertility of soil
[B] Trade improvement
[C] Population growth
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fertility of soil]
Notes:
The beginning of urbanization of the Ganges from the 6th century was mainly attributed to fertility of soil.
16. Who among the following was not a writer of legal texts? (UPSC Prelims 1990)
[A] Yajnavalkya
[B] Manu
[C] Narada
[D] Bharavi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Narada]
Notes:
Narada is a Vedic sage, famous in Hindu traditions as a traveling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He appears in a number of Hindu texts, notably the Mahabharata as Vidur and the Ramayana as Vibhishan, as well as in the Puranas.
17. Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve foodgrains to be utilized during the crises in the country? (UPSC Prelims 1998)
[A] Sohagaura Copper-plate
[B] Rummindei pillar-edict of Asoka
[C] Prayaga-Prasasti
[D] Mehrauli Pillar inscription of Chandra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sohagaura Copper-plate]
Notes:
The earliest known copper-plate called Sohgaura is a Maurya record that mentions famine relief efforts. It is one of the very few pre-Ashoka Brahmi inscriptions in India.
18. Utnur is an important Neolithic site located in which state?
[A] Telangana
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Telangana ]
Notes:
Utnur is an important Neolithic site located in Adilabad district of Telangana. Ash-mounds, which mystified archeologists, have been discovered at UtnurNote that Ash mounds are also found in Pallavoy (Andhra Pradesh), Kupgal (Karnataka) and Kodekal (Karnataka)
19. Who among the following noticed ruins of Harappa for the first time?
[A] Charles Mason
[B] Sahni
[C] M Wheeler
[D] MS Vats
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Charles Mason]
Notes:
The buried remains of Harappa were first noticed in modern times by Charles Masson, a deserter from the East India Company army who explored old sites while disguised as an American or Jewish-Indian merchant during 1826-1838. Though Masson recorded the imposing high brick walls, little investigation occurred for decades until extensive excavations in the 1920s confirmed Harappa as a major city of an ancient civilization parallel to those of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
20. What is the reason for the spread of Harappan culture and settlement of new colonies in far off places?
[A] the population expansion
[B] to meet their religious obligations
[C] to safeguard their security concerns
[D] their desire to colonise
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [the population expansion]
Notes:
The primary reason attributed by scholars for the spread of Harappan culture across the Northwestern subcontinent establishing new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan apart from the Indus core was population expansion and migration from original urban centers like Harappa triggered by accumulating surplus manpower and resources. The secondary colonies expanded trade networks, tapped resources from new regions while decentralization eased supply burdens on the chief cities as the civilization peaked.
