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. 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.
13. According to the Jaina traditions, who among the following Tirthankaras was from the same Yadava clan as Krishna?
[A] Neminatha
[B] Mallinatha
[C] Parsvanatha
[D] Adinatha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Neminatha]
Notes:
Neminatha is said to be from Vrishni clan of Yadavas like Krishna.
14. Bhaddasala, mentioned several times in Puranas and other ancient Indian texts was_?
[A] a poet in the court of Chandragupta Maurya
[B] general of the Nanda Army
[C] ambassador of Ceylon King sent to Asoka’s court
[D] playwright in the Gupta Era
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [general of the Nanda Army ]
Notes:
Bhaddasala was a general of King Nanda and a strong opponent of Chandragupta. He is mentioned in the Puranas and other ancient Indian texts. Bhaddasala is also named as a Nanda general in the Buddhist scripture Milinda Panha, which dates from 100 BCE. The scripture describes a fight between Bhaddasala and Chandragupta. Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nanda dynasty with the help of his guru, Chanakya.
15. Which of the following Vedas is sometimes referred as the “Veda of magical formulas”?
[A] Rig-Veda
[B] Samveda
[C] Yajurveda
[D] Atharvaveda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Atharvaveda ]
Notes:
Atharvaveda is sometimes referred as the “Veda of magical formulas”
16. Which of the following remains of the Gupta empire in the western Indian city of Ajanta most notable for?
[A] Cave Painting
[B] Buddhist Monastery
[C] Stone Carvings
[D] Large Temple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cave Painting]
Notes:
In the caverns of Ajanta, India, one can see the many cave paintings that were left on the walls of cave temples. The Buddhists who had their temples their painting mural of Buddhist stories and legends and also of scenes of Gupta India.
17. Megasthenes was an ambassador for which of the following empires?
[A] Greek
[B] Egyptian
[C] Roman
[D] Ottoman
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Greek]
Notes:
Megasthenes described what he called “the great capital of Pataliputra” as the most largest and prosperous city in the world. He wrote about its palaces, school, temples, parks, and said that the wall around the city “was crowned with 570 towers and had 64 gates”.
18. Who among the following use the word ‘Hindu’ as reference to the people of Hind? (UPSC Prelims 1995)
[A] The Greeks
[B] The Romans
[C] The Chinese
[D] The Arabs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The Greeks]
Notes:
The word Hindu or Indu was used by Greeks to denote the country and people living beyond the Indus river. Megasthenes’ ‘Indica’ epitomizes the name for India and Indians around the 4th Century B.C.E. This word was misunderstood to be coined by Arabs, by medieval and some modern Indian Historians.
19. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period women and sudras speak which of the following languages? (UPSC Prelims 1995)
[A] Sanskrit
[B] Prakrit
[C] Pali
[D] Sauraseni
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Prakrit]
Notes:
In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period women and sudras speak Prakrit. It is a group of languages based between Between Sanskrit and its modern derivatives.
20. The area formed by Harappan culture represents:
[A] triangle area
[B] circular area
[C] zigzag formation
[D] square area
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [triangle area]
Notes:
At its peak extent during the Mature Harappan phase from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE, the territorial spread of the Indus Valley civilization represented a triangular shape or region. Its apex was near the current city of Delhi, with the base spanning between southern Afghanistan and western India along Indus tributaries like Hakra Ghaggar, while the coast of the Arabian sea marked the hypotenuse. This triangulation enclosed the area hosting the densest concentration of Indus settlements. Trade networks extended influences beyond.
