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. King Prasenjita was a contemporary and friend of Lord Buddha. He was a king of ________?
[A] Kasi
[B] Kosal
[C] Anga
[D] Magdha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kosal]
Notes:
King Prasenjita was an Aikṣvāka dynasty ruler of Kosala. Sāvatthī was his capital. He was a prominent Upāsaka of Gautama Buddha, who built many Buddhist temples. He was friend of Lord Buddha.
12. Who among the following granted permission to Buddhist King of Ceylon Meghavarman to build a Monastery at Bodh Gaya?
[A] Chandra gupta Virkramaditya
[B] Samudra Gupta
[C] Skand Gupta
[D] Kumara Gupta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Samudra Gupta]
Notes:
Samudragupta granted permission to Buddhist king of Ceylon Meghavarman to build a monastery at Bodh Gaya. Samudragupta was a ruler of the Gupta Empire of Ancient India. As a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he greatly expanded his dynasty’s political power.
13. Which among the following Buddhist work is written in Sanskrit?
[A] Mahavamsha
[B] Deepavamsha
[C] Divyavadana
[D] Milinda Panho
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Divyavadana]
Notes:
Buddhist work that is written in Sanskrit is the “Divyavadana” (Option C). The “Divyavadana” is a collection of Buddhist stories and legends written in Sanskrit. It contains narratives of the lives and teachings of the Buddha, as well as stories about various Buddhist monks and nuns. Sanskrit was one of the classical languages used for Buddhist scriptures and texts, alongside Pali and other languages, depending on the Buddhist tradition and region.
14. Which among the following Brahaman gave an account of agricultural operations for a season?
[A] Aitreya
[B] Satpatha
[C] kaushitaki
[D] Panchvimsh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Satpatha]
Notes:
The Shatapatha Brahmana is a commentary on the Sukla Yajurveda. It is described as the most complete, systematic, and important of the Brahmanas, it contains detailed explanations of Vedic sacrificial rituals, symbolism, and mythology. It has detailed account on the operation of agriculture according to the seasons.
15. What was the name of the silver coins issued by Guptas?
[A] Karshapana
[B] Rupaka
[C] Dinara
[D] Pana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rupaka]
Notes:
The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called Rupaka. The silver coin was called Rupaka based on Sakas of Ujjaini weighing 32-36 grains. The Gupta gold coins are known as Dinars.
16. Which among the following correctly described the plot of the Indian Play Mudra Rakshasha?
[A] Conflicts between Demons (Rakshasha) and Gods (Deva)
[B] Romantic Love story of a demon and a princess
[C] Story of a young Arya Man and a Court Dancer
[D] Intrigues at the time of accession of Chandragupta Maurya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Intrigues at the time of accession of Chandragupta Maurya]
Notes:
The Mudrarakshasa is a Sanskrit-language play by Vishakhadatta that narrates the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya to power in India.
17. 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.
18. Which of the following statements about the Gupta Empire under Samudragupta is NOT correct?
[A] Prayaga Prashasti of Samudragupta composed by his court poet Harisena is engraved on an Ashokan pillar at Allahabad.
[B] Samudragupta was the first Gupta ruler to have exercised direct administrative control over western and Southern India.
[C] Samudragupta carved out an extensive empire which is evident from the fact that he had performed an Asvamedha sacrifice.
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Samudragupta was the first Gupta ruler to have exercised direct administrative control over western and Southern India.]
Notes:
Samudragupta was the first Gupta ruler to have exercised direct administrative control over western and Southern India.
19. In 1837, James Princep deciphered an Inscription in Brahmi script referring to a king called ‘Devanampiya Piyadassi’. The celebrated monarch known by this epithet was :
[A] Ashoka
[B] Akbar
[C] Kanishka
[D] Chandragupta Vikramaditya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ashoka]
Notes:
James Princep had deciphered an inscription in 1837 written in Brahmi, which referred a King called Devanampiya Piyadassi. However, immediately, it could not be confirmed that it was Asoka. It was later only when Buddhist Chronicles of Ceylon and other inscriptions confirmed the name of King Asoka.
20. Lothal is the excavation site of which of the following civilizations? (UPSC Prelims General Studies 1980)
[A] Indus Valley Civilisation
[B] Sumerians
[C] Mesopotamians
[D] Vedic Aryan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indus Valley Civilisation]
Notes:
Lothal is famous for the discovery of several ruins of Indus Valley Civilization. Lothal is located between the Sabarmati River and its tributary Bhogavo, in the Saurasthra region. The people of Lothal made significant and often unique contributions to human civilisation in the Indus era, in the fields of city planning, art, architecture, science, engineering, pottery and religion. Their work in metallurgy, seals, beads and jewellery was the basis of their prosperity.
