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. Meander who was an Indo Greek king accepted which of the following religion ?
[A] Janism
[B] Buddhism
[C] Jainism
[D] Islam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Buddhism]
Notes:
Before becoming a Buddhist, Menander (an Indo-Greek king) asked Nagasena many questions relating to Buddhism.These questions and Nagasena’s answers are recorded in a form of book known as ‘Milindapanho (or The Questions of Milinda).
12. The ancient city of Raj Griha which is modern Rajgir near Patna was built by which of the following kings?
[A] Bimbisara
[B] Ajatshatru
[C] Prasenjit
[D] Ashoka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bimbisara]
Notes:
The ancient city of Rajgriha which is modern Rajgir near Patna was built by Bimbisara. Bimbisāra also known as Seniya or Shrenika in the Jain histories was a King of Magadha and belonged to the Haryanka dynasty. He was the son of Bhattiya.
13. Who among the following Buddhist Philosophers persuaded the Indo Greek King Meander to Accept Buddhism?
[A] Asanga
[B] Nagasena
[C] Dharmakirti
[D] Jambuka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nagasena]
Notes:
Nagasena was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist sage born in Kashmir and lived around 150 BCE. His answers to questions about Buddhism posed by Menander I, the Indo-Greek king of northwestern India, are recorded in the Milinda Panha and the Sanskrit Nagasenabhiksusutra.
14. Which river is mentioned as ‘Charmanyavati’ in Mahabharata?
[A] Chambal
[B] Shipra
[C] Narmada
[D] Tapti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chambal ]
Notes:
Chambal is known as Charmanyavati in Mahabharata,which means originating from blood of thousand animals sacrificed.
15. Which of the following is not an event in ancient Indian history in BC era?
[A] Foundation of the Indo-Greek empire
[B] Beginning of Vikram samvat Era
[C] Fourth Buddhist Council
[D] Hathigumpha inscription by Kharvela
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Fourth Buddhist Council]
Notes:
Foundation of the Indo-Greek empire by Demetrius in 182 BC. Beginning of Vikram samvat Era in 58BC by Vikramaditya of Ujjain. Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kundalvana, Kashmir in 72 AD under the patronage of Kushan king Kanishka. The King Kharavela of Kalinga left Hathigumpha inscription in around 50BC. So correct answer would be C.
16. In “Kumarasambhava” , the famous work of Kalidasa, who among the following has been referred as Kumara, whose birth has been depicted in this epic poem?
[A] Chadragupta II
[B] Bimbisara
[C] Kumaragupta
[D] Kartikeya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Kartikeya ]
Notes:
Kalidasa, in his epic “Kumarasambhava”, portrays the birth of “Kumara”, referring to Kartikeya. The story aligns with the narrative in the Kalikapurana. Kartikeya, also known as Subramanya or Murugan, is a Hindu god, the son of Shiva and Parvati, and is popularly worshipped in South India and by Tamil communities across the world.
17. At which of the following places the First Buddhist Council took place? (UPSC Prelims 1990)
[A] Rajagriha
[B] Pataliputra
[C] Jalandhara
[D] Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajagriha]
Notes:
According to the scriptures of all Buddhist schools, the first Buddhist Council was held soon after the death of the Buddha.It was dated by the majority of recent scholars around 400 BCE. It took place under the patronage of the king Ajatashatru with the monk Mahakasyapa presiding, at Sattapanni caves, Rajgriha.
18. Which one of the following ports handled the north Indian trade during the Gupta period? (UPSC Prelims 1999)
[A] Tamralipti
[B] Broach
[C] Kalyan
[D] Cambray
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamralipti]
Notes:
Tamralipta or Tamralipti was the name of an ancient city on the Bay of Bengal corresponding with Tamluk in modern-day India. Tamralipta may have been one of the most important urban centres of trade and commerce of early historic India, trading along the Silk Road with China, by Uttarapatha, the northern high road, the main trade route into the Middle East and Europe; and by seafaring routes to Bali, Java and the Far East.
19. Hoysala monuments are found in which of the following places? (UPSC Prelims 2001)
[A] Hampi and Hospet
[B] Halebid and Belur
[C] Mysore and Bangalore
[D] Sringeri and Dharwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Halebid and Belur]
Notes:
It is the largest monument in Halebidu. The temple was built on the banks of a large man-made lake, and sponsored by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire. Its construction started around 1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE.
Hoysala temples have features of both open (outer mantapa) and closed mantapa (innner mantapa). The ceilings of the mantapa are highly ornate bearing mythological figures and floral design.
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.
