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. The bilingual Inscriptions of Asoka involved which of the following two languages?
[A] Brahmi & Aramaic
[B] Brahmi, Greek & Aramaic
[C] Brahmi & hieroglyphics
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brahmi, Greek & Aramaic]
Notes:
Asoka used 4 scripts The scripts used for the Prakrit inscriptions were Brahmi and Kharoshthi, and for the others, Greek and Aramaic
12. Charak was a contemporary of which of the following Kings?
[A] Chandra Gupta Maurya
[B] Kanishka
[C] Ashoka
[D] Akbar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kanishka]
Notes:
Charak was a contemporary of King Kanishka. Charak was a member of Kanishka’s court and is known as the “Father of Indian Medicine”. Charak was a major contributor to Ayurveda and is famous for writing the Charak Samhita. Kanishka was the king of the Kushan dynasty, which ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia. Other scholars in Kanishka’s court included Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, and Mathara.
13. Who erected the Garuda pillar inscription of Besnagar in modern Madhya Pradesh?
[A] Heliodorus
[B] Vijayamitra
[C] Kanishka
[D] Ashoka
Show Answer
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.
14. During whose reign among the following the Mahayan emerged ?
[A] Ashoka
[B] Kanishka
[C] Bimbisara
[D] Harsha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kanishka]
Notes:
Kanishka regarded Mahayana as his state religion. The state religion of Kanishka determined preaching the divinity of Gautama Buddha
15. Preservation of the genealogies of the gods, Risis and famous kings, is the duty of the Sutas or bards. Which among the following says this ?
[A] Vishnu Puran
[B] Vayu Puran
[C] Skand Puran
[D] Skand Puran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vayu Puran]
Notes:
The Vayu Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism.The Vayu Purana discusses its theories of cosmology, genealogy of gods and kings of solar and lunar dynasties, mythology, geography, manvantaras, the solar system and the movements of the celestial bodies. It talks about Preservation of the genealogies of the gods, Risis and famous kings, is the duty of the Sutas or bards.
16. “Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya” ” Lead us from Darkness to Light” , this comes from which among the following Upanishadas?
[A] Chandogya
[B] Mandukya
[C] Mukdaka
[D] Brahadaranyaka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Brahadaranyaka]
Notes:
“Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya” ” Lead us from Darkness to Light” , this comes from Brahadaranyaka Upanishad. It is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the Brihadaranyaka Upanisad is tenth in the Muktikā or “canon of 108 Upanishads”.
17. Who among the following rulers of the Chola empire is credited with conquering the Sri Vijaya empire of the Sailendra rulers by sending a naval expedition?
[A] Rajendra I
[B] Kulottunga I
[C] Rajaraja Chola I
[D] Vikramachola
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajendra I]
Notes:
During the reign of Rajendra Chola I, a naval expedition was sent against the Shailendera rulers of Shri Vijaya empire and defeated him.
18. Who among the following erected a monastery stupa at Peshawar ?
[A] Ashoka
[B] Kanishka
[C] Bimbisara
[D] Sri Gupta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kanishka]
Notes:
The Kanishka stupa was a monumental stupa established by the Kushan king Kanishka during the 2nd century CE in today’s Shaji-ki-Dheri on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan. The stupa was built during the Kushan era to house Buddhist relics.
19. Which of the following was the principal article of food of the Indus Valley people? (UPSC Prelims 1986)
[A] Fish
[B] Palm-date
[C] Eggs
[D] Wheat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Wheat]
Notes:
The Indus Valley civilization grew wheat and barley as their staple food. Besides this, they also grew peas, sesamum, lentils and other pulses. In some places, particularly Gujarat, they also grew millets. It has not been proved if they consumed rice or not.
20. 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.
