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 ancient India, the term Nishka was related to which among the following?
[A] Crop
[B] Tax
[C] Currency
[D] Tool
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Currency]
Notes:
Nishka meant currency or coin as well as a Necklace (that would also be made of coins during those times).
12. Kharvela who constructed caves in the Udaigri for jain Monks was a ruler belonging to which dynasty ?
[A] Cheti
[B] Satavahana
[C] Shunga
[D] Nanda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cheti]
Notes:
The small caves were constructed for meditation purpose of Jain monks at Udaigiri by Kharvela. As per the inscription at the site, the caves were first excavated by king Kharavela of Chedi Dynasty.
13. Who is Kumara in the epic poem Kumarasambhava written by Kalidasa?
[A] Kartikeya
[B] Abhimanyu
[C] Sanatahkumara
[D] Arjuna
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kartikeya]
Notes:
Kumarasambhava, is an epic poem by Kalidasa written in the 5th century CE. The work describes the courting of the ascetic Shiva, who is meditating in the mountains, by Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas; the conflagration of Kama (the god of desire)—after his arrow struck Shiva—by the fire from Shiva’s third eye; the wedding and lovemaking of Shiva and Parvati; and the subsequent birth of Kumara (Skanda), the war god. Kumara is son of shiva Kartikeya.
14. The following were the immediate successors of imperial Mauryas?
[A] Pandyas
[B] Kushans
[C] Nandas
[D] Sungas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sungas]
Notes:
The Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty from Magadha that controlled areas of the central and eastern Indian subcontinent from around 185 to 75 BCE. They are the immediate successors of imperial Mauryas.
15. The word coromandal cost has been derived from the kingdom of which of the following?
[A] Cheras
[B] Cholas
[C] Chalukyas
[D] Pandyas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cholas]
Notes:
The name coromandal occurs in the forms Cholamandalam or Solamandalam on the great temple inscription of Tanjore. So Coromandel takes its name from the ancient dynasty of Tamil rulers known as the Cholas.
16. Which among the following work was originally called as Jaya Kavya?
[A] Ramayan
[B] Mahabharata
[C] Aitreya Brahaman
[D] Manu Smriti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahabharata]
Notes:
The work originally called “Jaya Kavya” is the Mahabharata. This epic, attributed to the sage Vyasa, was initially a shorter poem celebrating the victory of the Kuru dynasty in battle. The term “Mahabharata” means “the great tale of the Bharata dynasty,” and it has evolved into one of the longest epic poems in the world, consisting of over 100,000 shlokas (verses). The Mahabharata also includes the Bhagavad Gita, a key philosophical text in Hinduism.
17. Which of the following works credits ‘Pushyabhuti’ as the founder of the Vardhana dynasty ?
[A] Harshacharita
[B] Banskhera Inscription of Harsha
[C] Yuan-Chwang
[D] Kadambari
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Harshacharita]
Notes:
The Harshacharita, is the biography of Indian emperor Harsha by Banabhatta,.The Pushyabhuti dynasty, also known as the Pushpabhuti dynasty or Vardhana dynasty, ruled parts of northern India during 6th and 7th centuries. Harshacharita credits ‘Pushyabhuti’ as the founder of the Vardhana dynasty.
18. Which of the following Chinese pilgrim gives account of the First Gupta Ruler?
[A] Fa Hien
[B] Huen Tsang
[C] Itsing
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Itsing]
Notes:
Yijing or I-tsing, was a Tang-era Chinese Buddhist monk famed as a traveler and translator. His account of his travels is an important source for the history of the medieval kingdoms along the sea route between China and India. He gave account of the first gupta ruler Srigupta.
19. Which of the following Indian playwright was imitated by Ceylon King Kumaradasa, the author of Janakiharana?
[A] Bharavi
[B] Kalidasa
[C] Bhatti
[D] Vagbhatta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kalidasa]
Notes:
Kalidasa was Indian playwright imitated by Ceylon King Kumaradasa, the author of Janakiharana.
20. Which among the following is correct about Bhaddasala?
[A] He was a poet in the court of Chandragupta Maurya
[B] He was the general of the Nanda Army
[C] He was an ambassador of Ceylon King sent to Asoka’s court
[D] He was a playwright in the Gupta Era
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [He was the general of the Nanda Army]
Notes:
Bhaddasala – (Bhadra shala / Bhadra shal ) was very strong opponent faced by chandragupta. He was a general of King Nanda.
