Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,

Railway and UPSC Exams

Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) - Part-2

1) Which area of India was known as Avantika in 2) Which of the following Vedas provides
ancient times? information about the civilisation of the Early
Vedic Age?
a) Bundelkhand
a) Yajur-veda
b) Malwa
b) Atharv-veda
c) Avadh
c) Rig-veda
d) Ruhelkhand
d) Sama-veda

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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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3) ………………was an ancient centre of high- b) Guptas

learning which became famous in the Post-Gupta
c) Cholas
era?

a) Taxila d) Mauryas

b) Kanchi 7) Who were the first kings to issue gold coins in

India?
c) Vallabhi
a) Guptas
d) Nalanda
b) Kushans
4) Banabhatta was a Sanskrit scholar and the
c) Indo-Greeks
court-poet of which Emperor?

a) Harshvardhana d) Mauryas

b) Kumargupta 8) Brihadeshwar Temple, a brilliant example of

major heights achieved by Cholas in Tamil
c) Vikramaditya architecture is situated in…………?

d) Kanishka a) Shri Shailan

5) Who among the following was the first Indian b) Tanjore

ruler who established the supremacy of Indian
c) Kanchi
Navy in the Arabian Sea?

a) Rajendra I d) Madurai

b) Kulottunga I 9) Who, according to Buddhists, is believed to be

the next incarnation of Gautam Buddha?
c) Rajaraja I
a) Nagarjuna
d) Rajadhiraja I
b) Atreya
6) The rulers of which dynasty started the
c) Kalki
practice of granting tax-free villages to
Brahmanas and Buddhist monks? d) Maitreya
a) Satavahanas
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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10) Who among the following also had the name d) Gautamputra Satakarni
‘Devanama Piyadassi’?
14) The Rathas of Mahabalipuram was built
a) Gautam Buddha during the reign of the ……………...?

b) Bhagwan Mahavira a) Rashtrakutas

c) Ashoka b) Palas

d) Chandra-gupta Maurya c) Pallavas

11) The words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ in the State d) Cholas

Emblem of India were taken from……………...?
15) Who is hailed as the ‘God of Medicine’ by the
a) Rig Veda practitioners of Ayurveda?

b) Upanishads a) Dhanwantari

c) Sama Veda b) Chyavana

d) Ramayana c) Susruta

12) Where has the world’s largest monolithic d) Charaka

statue of Buddha been installed?
16) Which among the following was the only
a) Kandy Indus site with an artificial brick dockyard?

b) Lhasa a) Harappa

c) Hyderabad b) Lothal

d) Bamiyan c) Kalibangan

13) ‘Junagarh rock inscription’ is associated with d) Mohenjodaro

whom?
17) Which of the following domesticated animals
a) Bimbisara was absent in the terracottas of the Indus
civilisation?
b) Chandragupta II
a) Sheep
c) Rudradaman
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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b) Cow a) Cholas

c) Pig b) Pallavas

d) Buffalo c) Cheras

18) Which among the following is the sacred book d) Pandyas

of Buddhists?
22) Who among the following was the author of
a) Jatakas Kadambari, a great romantic novel in Sanskrit?

b) Upanishad a) Harshavardhana

c) Vedas b) Bindusara

d) Tripitaka c) Banabhatta

19) Who propounded the ‘Eight-Fold Path’ for d) Baskaravardhana

the end of misery of mankind?
23) St. Thomas is said to have come to India to
a) Gautam Buddha propagate Christianity during the reign of
the…………...?
b) Kabir
a) Parthians
c) Mahavir
b) Cheras
d) Adi Shankaracharya
c) Cholas
20) Achievements of which of the following ruler
are recorded in the Allahabad Pillar Inscription? d) Pandyas

a) Vikramaditya 24) Which event brought about a profound

change in Ashoka’s administrative policy?
b) Chandragupta Maurya
a) His embracing of Buddhism
c) Samudragupta
b) The third Buddhist council
d) Skandgupta
c) His sending of missionary to Ceylon
21) The Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram are a
witness of the art patronised by the …………….? d) The Kalinga War
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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25) Who was the Buddhist monk who influenced d) Dohakosa

Ashoka to embrace Buddhism?
29) After Alexander’s death, the Eastern part of
a) Upagupta his empire came under………….?

b) Vishnu Gupta a) Menander

c) Brihadratha b) Kanishka

d) Brahma Gupta c) Rudradaman

26) Which of the following is not one of the d) Seleucus Nicator

animals carved on the Sarnath Pillar?
30) Who among the following scholars was the
a) Elephant first to discover the traces of the Harrapan
Civilisation?
b) Humped Bull
a) Daya Ram Sahani
c) Deer
b) Sir John Marshall
d) Horse
c) R.D Baneji
27) The ‘Kannauj Assembly’ organised by Harsha
was held in the honour of…………...? d) A. Cunningham

a) Itsing 31) Who is called as the ‘Second Ashoka’ as he

worked for preaching of Buddhism?
b) Hieun-Tsang
a) Kanishka
c) Fa-Hien
b) Samudragupta
d) Megasthenes
c) Chandragupta Maurya
28) Which one of the following was the last
Buddhist text produced in India? d) Harshvardhana

a) Vamsathapaksini 32) The Famous Kailasanath temple at Kanchi

was built by………………...?
b) Divya Vandana
a) Dantivarman
c) Vajrachedika
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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b) Mahendravarman I 36) Beetapala and Diman, the two great artists

that India had produced belonged to the
c) Nandivarman II
……………...?
d) Narasimhavarman II a) Pala age
33) Mahabalipuram is an important city that b) Pathan age
reveals the interest in arts of…………….?
c) Maurya age
a) Cheras
d) Gupta age
b) Pallavas
37) Which Chola king founded the city of Puhar?
c) Chalukyas
a) Senguttavan
d) Pandyas
b) Rajendra Chola
34) The Indus people knew the use of weights and
measures, which is proved by the discovery of the c) Karikala
seal at………….?
d) Ellara
a) Chanhudaro
38) Which Rashtrakuta ruler built the famous
b) Lothal Kailash temple of Siva at Ellora?

c) Kalibangan a) Vatsraja

d) Harappa b) Dantidurga

35) Which of the following language was mostly c) Amoghvarsha-I

used for the propagation of Buddhism?
d) Krishan-I
a) Sauraseni
39) Which museum houses the largest collection of
b) Sanskrit Kushan sculptures?

c) Prakrit a) Bombay museum

d) Pali b) Mathura museum

c) Delhi museum
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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d) Madras museum b) Jayasimha II

40) Which of the following dynasties conquered c) Pulakesin II

Sri lanka and South-east Asian countries?
d) Somesvara II
a) The Cholas
44) Buddhism in Nepal was introduced during the
b) The Pandyas reign of which of the following ruler?

c) The Rashtrakutas a) Chandragupta

d) The Chalukyas b) Samudragupta

41) Who among the following is the last Buddhist c) Harshvardhana

king who was a great Sanskrit scholar and a
d) Ashoka
writer?

a) Bimbisara 45) The Gandhara style of sculpture, during the

Kushan period is a combination of…………...?
b) Harshvardhana
a) Indo-China style
c) Kanishka
b) Indo-Islamic style
d) Ashoka
c) Indo-Greek style
42) Carving in the famous Ajanta caves was first
d) Indo-Persian style
started during the reign of the……………?

a) Satvahanas 46) Which ruler founded the famous Vikramshila

University for the Buddhists?
b) Kadambas
a) Dharampala
c) Marathas
b) Mahipala
d) Rashtrakutas
c) Devapala
43) Who among the following was the most
d) Gopala
distinguished ruler of the Chalukyan dynasty?

a) Vikramaditya VI 47) Which of the following Gupta kings stopped

the Huns from invading India?
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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a) Samudragupta 51) Chanakya, the famous teacher of

Chandragupta Maurya was associated with which
b) Skandagupta
of the following centres of learning?
c) Kumargupta a) Vikramshila
d) Chandragupta b) Takshashila
48) Who amidst the following was a wife of c) Nalanda
Emperor Ashoka who influenced him?
d) Vaishali
a) Gautami
52) The tax which the kings used to collect from
b) Karuwaki the people in the Vedic period was
c) Chandalika called………….?

d) Charulata a) Varman

49) Which of the following materials was mainly b) Kara

used in the manufacture of Harappan seals? c) Bali
a) Copper d) Vidatha
b) Bronze
53) ‘Charak’ was the famous court physician
c) Terracota of………….?

d) Iron a) Chandragupta Maurya

50) Vaishaka Poornima has a great significance b) Ashoka

because it was on this day…………...? c) Harsha
a) Buddha died d) Kanishka
b) Buddha got enlightened
54) Harappa, an archaeological site in Punjab is
c) Buddha was born situated on the bank of which of the following
river?
d) All of the above
a) Yamuna
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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b) Ravi 58) Which one of the following Vedas contains

sacrificial formulae?
c) Sindhu
a) Rigveda
d) Ganga
b) Samaveda
55) The Great Bath, one of the best-known
structures of Indus Valley civilization is found c) Yajurveda
at……………?
d) Atharv veda
a) Ropar
59) The religion, which preached ‘Desire is the
b) Harappa cause for all sufferings’ is…………….?

c) Mohenjodaro a) Buddhism

d) Kalibangan b) Sikhism

c) Hinduism

56) ‘Prince of Pilgrims’ was the name attributed d) Jainism

to…………….?

a) I-tsing
60) Which inscription mentions about the village
b) Hiuen Tsang administration under the Cholas?

c) Fa-Hien a) Aihole

d) Megasthenes b) Nasik

57) The coins of which of the following dynasty c) Junagarh

reveal their love for music?
d) Uttaramerur
a) Nandas
61) During the reign of which Pallava ruler began
b) Mauryas the long-drawn struggle between the Pallavas and
Chalukyas?
c) Guptas
a) Simhavishnu
d) Cholas
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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b) Mahendravarman II 65) Which one of the following is the principal

source of information on Ashoka’s campaign
c) Mahendravarman I
against Kalinga?
d) Narasimhavarman I a) Mahavasma
62) Who among the following was called b) Pillar Edict VII
‘Lichchavi Dauhitra’?
c) Divyavadana
a) Samudragupta
d) Rock Edict XIII
b) Skandgupta
66) Which one of the following inscriptions is
c) Chandragupta I related to the Chalukya king, Pulakesin II?
d) Kumargupta a) Nasik
63) Who among the following was the Buddhist b) Maski
monk who spread Buddhism in Tibet?
c) Hathigumpha
a) Ananda
d) Aihole
b) Nagarjuna
67) Which dynasty immediately succeeded the
c) Padmasambhava
Maurya dynasty and ruled Magadha Kingdom?
d) Asanga a) Nanda
64) King Kharvela was the greatest emperor of b) Kanva
the Chedi Dynasty of………….?
c) Satvahana
a) Kalinga
d) Sunga
b) Kannauj
68) The origin of Indian music can be traced to
c) Purushpur
which of the following Vedic Samhitas?
d) Cholamandalam a) Yajurveda

b) Rigveda

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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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c) Atharvaveda 72) Which one of the following was the book

written by Amoghvarsha, the Rashtrakuta king?
d) Samaveda
a) Ganitsara Samgraha
69) In which rock-edict Ashoka mentions about
the casualities of Kalinga war and declares the b) Adipurana
renunciation of war?
c) Kavirajamarga
a) Rock Edict XIII
d) Saktayana
b) Maski Edict
73) Who among the following ruler built the
c) Rock Edict X famous Vaikunta Perumal temple at
Kanchipuram?
d) Rock Edict XI
a) Nandi varman II
70) Ravikirti, a jain who composed the Aihole
Prashasti, was patronized by……………...? b) Aparajita Varman

a) Kharavela c) Narasimna Varman II

b) Harsha d) Parmeshvara Varman II

c) Pulakeshin I 74) Who among the following Mughal rulers has

been called as the ‘Prince of Builders’?
d) Pulakeshin II
a) Babur
71) The original founder of the Manuscripts and
Editor of Kautilya’s Arthashastra b) Akbar
was……………?
c) Jahangir
a) William Jones
d) Shah Jahan
b) Srikanta Shastri
75) Who among the following was the greatest
c) Srinivasa Iyanagar king of the Pratihara dynasty?

d) R. Shamashastri a) Dantidurga

b) Nagbhatta II

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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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c) Vatsaraj a) Nibandhas

d) Mihir-Bhoj b) Charits

c) Prabandhas

76) Who among the following was the author of d) Angas

Telugu work ‘Amuktamalyada’?
80) In which of the following mudra did Gautam
a) Bukka Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath?

b) Harihara a) Dhyan mudra

c) Krishnadevaraya b) Dharmachakra mudra

d) Devaraya c) Bhumisparsa mudra

77) Which among the following was the early d) Abhaya mudra
capital of Rashtrakutas?
81) What is the popular name of Monolithic rock
a) Ellora shrines at Mahabalipuram?

b) Sopara a) Mathika

c) Ajanta b) Rathas

d) Vatapi c) Gandhakuti

78) Alexander, the Greek ruler confronted whose d) Prasad

army on the banks of river Jhelum?
82) Under the bank of which river Mahavira got
a) Ambi enlightenment ?

b) Dhanananda a) Ravi

c) Chandragupta Maurya b) Rijupalika

d) Porus c) Saraswati

79) A collective term used by the Jains for their d) Krishna

sacred books is…………...?
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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83) The Veda which deals with the rituals is d) Marshal

known as……………...?
87) Name the Gupta ruler who repaired
a) Atharvaveda Sudarshan Lake for second time?

b) Rigveda a) Samudra Gupta

c) Samaveda b) Vishnu Gupta

d) Yajurveda c) Skand Gupta

84) Who among the following was the first d) Rama Gupta
grammarian of the Sanskrit language?
88) What was the name of river Chenab known
a) Kalidasa during Vedic period?

b) Panini a) Vipasha

c) Maitreyi b) Purushni

d) Kalhana c) Visttata

85) Mathura was the capital of which of the d) Askini

following ancient Mahajanapada? 89) In which Rock edicts, the information of
Ashok’s visit to Bodhgaya is found?
a) Ashmaka
a) Rock edicts 2
b) Kosala
b) Rock edicts 8
c) Panchala
c) Rock edicts13
d) Shurasena
d) Rock edicts 1
86) Who among the following called Samudra
Gupta as Indian Napoleon? 90) “Double burials” is found from which site of
Indus Valley civilization?
a) A.V. Smith
a) Surkotda
b) D.N. Acharya
b) Lothal
c) Dayanand
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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c) Banwali a) Pradeshta

d) Dholavira b) Yukta

91) Proto Shiva seal is found from which site of c) Samahatra

Indus Valley civilization?
d) Sannidhatri
a) Kalibanga
95) Which among the following is the most famous
b) Banwali Bronze Image of Chola Period?

c) Mohenjodaro a) Venkateshwar

d) Lothal b) Vishnu

92) Who was the mother of Mahavira? c) Murugan

a) Yasoda d) Nataraja

b) Anojja 96) Which among the following is the hallmark

feature of the Dravidan style of temple
c) Trishala
architecture?
d) Devanandi a) Vimana
93) Which was probably the most popular b) Mandapa
assembly in which even women enjoyed an equal
status with men in the Early Vedic period? c) Shikhara

a) Samiti d) Gopuram

b) Gana 97) The 23rd Jain Tirthankara was associated with

which among the following places?
c) Vidatha
a) Kausambi
d) Sabha
b) Varanasi
94) Who among the following was in-charge of the
collection of all revenues in the empire in the c) Sravasti
revenue department of the Mauryas?
d) Vaishali
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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98) Which one of the following is the most
common motif of the Indus Seals?
a) Bull
b) Rhinoceros
c) Elephant
d) Unicorn
99) Which of the following was not a diety of the
Harappans?
a) Mother Goddess
ANSWER
1. Answer: b)
An ancient city situated on the eastern bank of the
Kshipra River, Ujjain was known as Avantika. It is
the most prominent city on the Malwa plateau of
central India for much of its history. It emerged as
the political centre of central India around 600 BCE.
2. Answer: c)
The Rig Veda is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit
hymns counted among the four Hindu religious texts
known as the Vedas. The Rig Veda was likely
composed roughly between 1700–1100 BCE, making
it one of the oldest texts of any Indo-Iranian
language, one of the world's oldest religious texts.
3. Answer: d)
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b) Peepal Tree
c) Vishnu
d) Shiva
100) Parnadatta was appointed the Provincial
Governor of Saurashtra by……….?
a) Rudradaman
b) Chandragupta II
c) Skandagupta
d) Chandragupta Maurya
Nalanda was an ancient centre of higher learning in
Bihar, which was a Buddhist centre of learning from
the fifth or sixth century A.D. to 1197 CE.
4. Answer: a)
Banabhatta was a Sanskrit scholar and poet of India.
He was the Asthana Kavi in the court of King
Harshavardhana, who reigned in the years 606–647
CE in north India. Bana's principal works include a
biography of Harsha, the Harshacharita and one of
the world's earliest novels, Kadambari.
5. Answer: c)
Rajaraja I created a powerful standing army and a
considerable navy. Chola king Raja raja-I maintained
very large Navy. Thus, he was the first Indian ruler
Page 15 of 26
 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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who established the supremacy of Indian Navy in the
Arabian Sea.
6. Answer: a)
The Satavahanas started the practice of granting tax-
free villages to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks.
7. Answer: c)
The Indo-Greeks were the first rulers in India to issue
coins which can definitely be attributed to the kings.
They were the first to issue gold coins in India.
8. Answer: b)
Brihadishvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to
Shiva located in South bank of Kaveri river in
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It was built during the
reign of the Chola emperor Rajaraja and designed by
the famous architect Sama Varma between 1003 and
1010 AD.
9. Answer: d)
According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a
bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future,
achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure
dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a
successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha.
10. Answer: c)
Devanampriya was a Pali honorific epithet used by a
few Indian monarchs, but most particularly the
Indian Emperor Ashoka in his inscriptions.
"Devanampriya" means "Beloved of the Gods". It is
often used by Ashoka in conjunction with the title
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Priyadassi, which means "He who regards others
with kindness", Humane.
11. Answer: b)
"Satyameva Jayate" is a mantra from the ancient
Indian scripture Mundaka Upanishad. Upon
independence of India, it was adopted as the national
motto of India. It is inscribed in script at the base of
the national emblem.
12. Answer: d)
The world's largest Buddha's monolithic statue is
situated at Bamiyan. The Buddha of Bamiyan had
two stunning statues of Buddha built in fourth and
fifth century which was located in Bamyan of
Afghanistan. These were at a height of 2500 meters
about 230 kilometres northwest of Kabul
13. Answer: c)
The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman, also
known as the Girnar Rock inscription of
Rudradaman, is a Sanskrit prose inscribed on a rock
by the Western Satraps ruler Rudradaman I. It is
located near Girnar hill near Junagadh, Gujarat,
India.
14. Answer: c)
The magnificent 'Ratha' cave temples of
Mahabalipuram was built by the Pallava king
Narsimha in the 7th and 8th centuries. The beauty of
the rock-cut sculpture of the temple is reflective of
the artistic tastes of the erstwhile Pallava rulers.
Page 16 of 26
 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
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15. Answer: a)
Dhanvantari is the Hindu god of medicine and an
avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the
Puranas as the god of Ayurveda. He is a Yakshas,
and during the Samudramanthan arose from the
Ocean of Milk with the nectar of immortality.
16. Answer: b)
Lothal was the port city of Indus Valley Civilization.
It was located at Saragwala, Gujarat. It was the only
Indus site with an artificial brick dockyard. The
dockyard was located away from the main current to
avoid deposition of silt.
17. Answer: b)
Cow was absent in the terracottas of the Indus
civilization. The terracotta figurines excavated at
Harappan site had images of oxen, buffaloes, pigs,
goat, sheep and humped bull.
18. Answer: d)
The Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras and the
Tibetan Book of the Dead are three major
noncanonical Buddhist texts. The Pali Canon, which
means “the word of Buddha,” includes some of the
Buddha's discourse, but it also incorporates the
teachings of his pupils.
19. Answer: a)
Gautam Buddha propounded the ‘Eight-Fold Path’
for the end of misery of mankind. The Eightfold Path
consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve,
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right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right
effort, right mindfulness, and right Samadhi.
20. Answer: c)
The Allahabad pillar is an Ashoka Stambha, one of
the Pillars of Ashoka, erected by Ashoka, Emperor of
the Maurya dynasty. While it is one of the few extant
pillars that carry his edicts, it is particularly notable
for containing later inscriptions attributed to the
Gupta emperor Samudragupta. The achievements of
Samudragupta are recorded in this inscription.
21. Answer: b)
The seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram are a witness
to the art patronised by the Pallavas. The Shore
Temple of Mahabalipuram is located in the state of
Tamil Nadu.
22. Answer: c)
Kadambari is a romantic novel in Sanskrit. It was
substantially composed by Banabhatta in the first half
of the 7th century CE, who did not survive to see it
through completion. The novel was completed by
Banabhatta's son Bhushanabhatta, according to the
plan laid out by his late father.
23. Answer: a)
The most famous Shaka ruler in India was
Rudradaman I. The Parthians Shaka domination in
north-western India was followed by Parithans in
whose reign St Thomas is said to have come to India
to propagate Christianity. St. Thomas came to India
in the reign of Parthians.
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
24. Answer: d)
The Kalinga War was fought in ancient India
between the Maurya Empire under Ashoka and the
state of Kalinga, an independent feudal kingdom
located on the east coast, in the present-day state of
Odisha and north parts of Andhra Pradesh. The
Kalinga War included one of the largest and
bloodiest battles in Indian history. This event brought
about a profound change in Ashoka’s administrative
policy.
25. Answer: a)
Ashoka has been particularly influenced by the
famous Buddhist monk Upagupta. Due to his
influence Ashoka embraced Buddhism. Upagupta is
also known as the spiritual teacher of Mauryan King
Ashoka.
26. Answer: c)
The Lion Capital of Ashoka sandstone sculpture was
originally erected around 250 BC atop an Ashoka
Pillar at Sarnath near Varanasi, India. Four Asiatic
Lions Top the Sculpture which has been adopted as
the National Emblem of India. The pillar symbolizes
Bull, Lion, Horse and Elephant rolling the Chakras.
27. Answer: b)
The Kannauj assembly was held in the honour of
Hieun Tsang (Chinese pilgrim) and to popularise
Mahayana sect of Buddhism. Harshavardhana was a
Mahayana Buddhist. He organised Kannauj assembly
to popularise Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
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28. Answer: a)
Vamsathapakasini was the last Buddhist text
produced in India.
29. Answer: d)
After the death of Alexander in June 323 BC,
Seleucus Nicator initially supported Perdiccas, the
regent of Alexander's empire, and was appointed
Commander of the Companions and chiliarch at the
Partition of Babylon in 323 BC. Seleucus ruled not
only Babylonia, but the entire enormous eastern part
of Alexander's empire.
30. Answer: d)
The Harappa site was first briefly excavated by Sir
Alexander Cunningham in 1872-73, two decades
after brick robbers carried off the visible remains of
the city. He found an Indus seal of unknown origin.
The first extensive excavations at Harappa were
started by Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni in 1920.
31. Answer: a)
Kanishka worked for the preaching of Buddhism. He
spread Buddhism to China, Japan, Central Asia and
Tibet, and convened the 4th Buddhist Council at
Kundalvana in Kashmir. Due to his works, he is often
called 'Second Ashoka'.
32. Answer: d)
The famous Kailashnath temple at Kanchi is
dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and is known for its
historical importance. The temple was built from
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
685-705 AD by Narasimhavarman II, ruler of the
Pallava Dynasty.
33. Answer: b)
Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, is a town on a
strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the
Great Salt Lake, in the south Indian state of Tamil
Nadu. It is known for its temples and monuments
built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th
centuries.
34. Answer:d)
The Indus people knew the use of weights and
measures, which is proved by the discovery of the
seal at Harappa. The standard Harappan seal was
square in shape with a 2X2 dimension. It is believed
that the seals were used for commercial purposes.
35. Answer: d)
Pali is a Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian
subcontinent. It is best known as the language of
many of the earliest extant Buddhist scriptures as
collected in the Pali Canon or Tip taka, and as the
liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.
36. Answer: a)
Both Beetapala and Dhiman were the artists during
the Pala rule in Bengal who flourished in the 9th
century A.D.
37. Answer: c)
Puhar was founded by Chola King Karikala. Puhar
served as the capital of the early Chola kings.
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Karikala was a Tamil Chola king who ruled southern
India. He is attributed to the conquest of the whole of
India up to the Himalayas and the construction of the
flood banks of the river Kaveri.
38. Answer: d)
The Kailash Temple is the sixteenth cave, and it is
one of the 32 cave temples and monasteries forming
the magnanimous Ellora Caves. As per the historical
records, it was built by the 8th century Rashtrakuta
King Krishna I between the year 756 and 773 AD.
39. Answer: b)
Government Museum, Mathura commonly referred
as Mathura museum is an archaeological museum in
Mathura city of Uttar Pradesh state in India. It houses
the largest collection of Kushan sculptures.
40. Answer: a)
Rajendra Chola I was a Chola emperor of South
India. During his reign, he extended the influence of
the Chola empire to the banks of the river Ganga in
North India and across the Indian ocean to the West
and South East Asia, making the Chola Empire one
of the most powerful maritime empires of India.
Rajendra's conquests included Sri Lanka, Maldives,
and he successfully invaded the territories of
Srivijaya in Malay Peninsula, Southern Thailand,
Sumatra and Java in South East Asia.
41. Answer: b)
The last Buddhist king who was a great Sanskrit
scholar and a writer was Harshvardhana. He was an
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to
647 CE. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty.
42. Answer: a)
The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave
monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to
about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra
state of India. Carving of the famous Ajanta caves
was first started during the reign of Satvahanas
dynasty.
43. Answer: c)
Pulakeshin II was the most famous ruler of the
Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi. During his reign, the
Chalukya kingdom expanded to cover most of the
Deccan region in peninsular India.
44. Answer: d)
Buddhism in Nepal started spreading since the reign
of Ashoka through Indian and Tibetan missionaries.
The Kiratas were the first people in Nepal who
embraced Gautama Buddha's teachings, followed by
the Licchavis and Newars. Buddha was born in
Lumbini in the Shakya Kingdom.
45. Answer: c)
Gandhara art is a style of Buddhist visual art that
developed in what is now north-western Pakistan and
eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century BCE
and the 7th century CE during the Kushan period. It
is a combination of Indo-Greek style.
46. Answer: a)
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Vikramashila was founded by Pala king Dharmapala
in the late 8th or early 9th century. It prospered for
about four centuries before it was destroyed by
Bakhtiyar Khilji along with the other major centres
of Buddhism in India around 1193.
47. Answer: b)
The Hephthalites, known as the Hunas in India kept
on invading India until the Gupta ruler Skandagupta
repulsed them. The Hunas, under the leadership of
Toramana, suffered a crushing defeat by the Gupta
emperor Skandagupta.
48. Answer: b)
Karuvaki was the second queen of the third Mauryan
emperor, Ashoka. She was also the mother of
Ashoka's son, Prince Tivala.
49. Answer: c)
There are plenty of terracotta seals and figurines
recovered from Harappan sites which range from
toys to cult objects such as mother goddess to birds
and animals, including monkeys, dogs, sheep, cattle-
both humped and humpless bulls. Thus, terracotta
was mainly used in the manufacture of Harappan
seals.
50. Answer: d)
The day of Vaisakh Purnima, which usually falls in
the month of May, is considered most sacred by
Buddhists all over the world. Buddha attained
Supreme Enlighten or Buddha hood, beneath the
Bodhi-tree at Boddha Gaya. Forty-five years later at
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
the age of eighty, he finally passed away in
Parinivana on the same day of the year at
Kushinagar. Thus, on Vaishaka Poornima Buddha
was born, enlightened and died on the same day.
51. Answer: b)
Takshashila had great influence on Hindu culture and
the Sanskrit language. It is perhaps best known for its
association with Chanakya, also known as Kautilya,
the strategist who guided Chandragupta Maurya and
assisted in the founding of the Mauryan empire.
52. Answer: c)
In the early Vedic period the king collected taxes
regularly from his subjects. The taxes were called
bali and consisted of 1/6 the agricultural produce or
cattle for a given person.
53. Answer: d)
Charak was the court physician of Kanishka I. He
was one of the principal contributors to the ancient
art and science of Ayurveda, a system of medicine
and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. He is
sometimes referred to as the Father of Indian
Medicine.
54. Answer: b)
Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan,
about 24 km west of Sahiwal. The site takes its name
from a modern village located on the bank of River
Ravi.
55. Answer: c)
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The Great Bath is one of the well-known structures
among the ruins of the ancient Indus Valley
Civilization at Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh, Pakistan.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Great
Bath was built in the 3rd millennium BCE, soon after
the raising of the "citadel" mound on which it is
located.
56. Answer: b)
'Prince of pilgrims' was the name attributed to Hieun
Tsang. He was the well-known Chinese traveller and
a Buddhist scholar who visited India in the 7th
century A.D. He came to India to visit all the places
connected with the life of the Buddha, to further his
knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and to collect
Buddhist manuscripts.
57. Answer: c)
The Guptas minted gold coins in abundance. These
coins were depicted with the images of rulers in
various pose. Some coins depicted Samudragupta
playing veena. Gupta coins, mainly the silver ones,
carried the images of Garuda, a mythical bird of
Hindu tradition. Thus, the coins of Gupta dynasty
reveal their love for music.
58. Answer: c)
Yajurveda is a compound Sanskrit word, composed
of yajus and Veda. Michael Witzel interprets
Yajurveda to mean a "knowledge text of prose
mantras" used in Vedic rituals. Ralph Griffith
interpreted Yajurveda as "knowledge of sacrifice or
sacrificial texts and formulas".
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
59. Answer: a)
The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of
Buddha's teachings, though they leave much left
unexplained. They are the truth of suffering, the truth
of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of
suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the
end of suffering. Thus, the religion which preached
‘Desire is the cause for all sufferings’ is Buddhism.
60. Answer: d)
Uttaramerur is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram
district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.The
Uttaramerur inscription gives us information on the
village administration, taxation and land revenue
under the Cholas.
61. Answer: c)
During the reign of Mahendravarman I began the
long drawn out struggle between the Pallavas and the
Chalukyas. He was defeated by Pulakesin II and a
part of his kingdom was occupied.
62. Answer: a)
Chandragupta-I married the daughter of Licchhavis, a
royal influential family. His son and successor
Samudragupta called himself Lichchavi- dauhitra, the
son of the daughter of the Lichchavis.
63. Answer: c)
The most important event in the history of Tibetan
Buddhism was the arrival of sage Padmasambhava in
the 8th century. Padmasambhava translated
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numerous Buddhist texts into Tibetan language and
combined tantric Buddhism with the local Bon
religion to create what is today widely known as the
Tibetan Buddhism.
64. Answer: a)
Kharvela was the third and greatest emperor of the
Chedi dynasty of Kalinga (present-day Odisha). The
main source of information about Kharavela is his
famous Hanthigumpha inscription. During his reign,
the Chedi dynasty ascended to eminence, which had
been subdued since the devastating war with Ashoka.
65. Answer: d)
The rock edict XIII gives a clue that Kalinga was a
country previously unconquered, thus Ashoka's
declaration of war was that of unprovoked
aggression. The Kalinga war witnessed terrible
manslaughter and destruction.
66. Answer: d)
Aihole in Karnataka state, India, is known as Cradle
of Indian architecture. It was the first capital of
Chalukyas where they built numerous temples dating
back to the 6th century CE. The Aihole inscription
were written by the court poet and minister Ravi Kirti
of Chalukyan king Pulakesin-II.
67. Answer: d)
After the Mauryan rule Pushyamitra, the founder of
the Sunga dynasty established his rule. The Sungas
ruled for over a hundred years. The extent of the
Sunga kingdom under Pushyamitra extended from
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 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
Punjab and extended to the southern regions of the
Narmada.
68. Answer: d)
The origin of Indian music can be traced to
Samaveda in Vedic Samhita.
69. Answer: a)
Ashoka mentions the casualties of Kalinga War in
the Major Rock Edict, Rock Edict XIII. It talks about
the Ashoka's victory over Kalinga and also mentions
about the high number of casualties in that war.
70. Answer: d)
Aihole inscription is found at Aihole in Karnataka
state, India. The Aihole inscription was written by
the Ravikirti, royal poet at the court of Chalukya
King, Pulakeshi II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE.
Thus, it was patronized by Pulakeshin II.
71. Answer: d)
Rudrapatna Shamasastry was a Sanskrit scholar and
librarian at the Oriental Research Institute Mysore.
He re-discovered and published the Arthashastra, an
ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy,
and military strategy.
72. Answer: c)
Amoghavarsha was a scholar in Kannada and
Sanskrit literature. His own writing Kavirajamarga is
a landmark literary work in the Kannada language
and became a guide book for future poets and
scholars for centuries to come.
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73. Answer: a)
The Vaikunta Perumal Temple in Uthiramerur, a
village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is
dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple is
constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.
was built by Pallava King Nandivarman-II in the 8th
century.
74. Answer: d)
Shah Jahan born in 1592 was the fifth Mughal
emperor who is known as the 'Prince of Builder'. He
was one of the greatest patrons of Mughal
architecture. The Taj Mahal built by him is counted
among one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
75. Answer: d)
Mihira Bhoja was a ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara
dynasty of India. He succeeded his father
Ramabhadra. He was the greatest ruler of the
Pratihara dynasty. He recovered Kanauj and it
remained the capital of the Pratiharas for almost a
century.
76. Answer: c)
Amuktamalyada is an epic poem in Telugu composed
by Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Dynasty.
77. Answer: a)
Since most of the Rashtrakutas monuments are found
at Ellora it has been suggested that the early capital
was located in the vicinity of the Ellora caves in the
Page 23 of 26
 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
time of Dantidurga who was the founder and first
ruler of the dynasty.
78. Answer: d)
The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC
between Alexander the Great and King Porus of the
Paurava kingdom on the banks of the river Jhelum in
the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent
(modern-day Punjab, Pakistan).
79. Answer: d)
Angas are one of the categories of Jain scriptures
followed by the Shwetambara sect. These are
considered to be Bhagwan Mahavira’s direct
preaching, his original words in Prakrit language.
Thus, Angas is a collective term used by the Jains for
their sacred books.
80. Answer: b)
After getting enlightenment Lord Buddha gave his
first sermon to his five disciples in a deer park at
Sarnath near Varanasi. This event of his life is known
as "Dharmachakrapravartana". Thus, Dharmachakra
Mudra is the gesture of Buddha as depicted in his
first sermon.
81. Answer: b)
Rathas also known as Five Rathas or Pandava Rathas
is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the
Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the
Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu,
India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic
Indian rock-cut architecture.
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82.Answer: b)
At the age of 42, Mahavira attained Kaivalaya under
a Sal tree on the bank of river Rijupalika near
Jrimbhikgrama in Modern Bihar.
.83. Answer: d)
Yajurveda is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text that is a
compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said
by a priest while an individual performed ritual
actions such as those before the yajna fire. Yajurveda
is one of the four Vedas, and one of the scriptures of
Hinduism.
84. Answer: b)
Panini was an ancient Sanskrit philologist,
grammarian, and a revered scholar in ancient India.
He was considered as the first grammarian of the
Sanskrit language.
85. Answer: d)
Shurasena capital was Mathura. It was located on the
junction of Uttarpatha and Dakshinpatha around
Mathura of Today.
86. Answer: a)
Samudragupta of the Gupta Dynasty is known as the
Napoleon of India. Historian V.A Smith called him
so because of his great military conquests known
from the 'Prayag Prashati' written by his courtier and
poet Harisena, who also describes him as the hero of
a hundred battles.
87. Answer: c)
Page 24 of 26
 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
Around 150 AD, the lake was repaired by the Shaka
ruler Rudradaman-I. And, it was again repaired under
the Skandgupta's reign for the second time by his
governor Parnadatta.
88. Answer: d)
River Chenab was called as Askini in the Rig Vedic
period.
89. Answer: b)
The great Emperor Ashoka, the third monarch of the
Maurya dynasty converted to Buddhism after
witnessing the horrific effects of war in Kalinga. He
became a champion and patron of Buddhism and
strove to spread Dhamma throughout his empire and
beyond. Thus, from Rock Edict VIII we get
information about Ashoka’s first visit to Bodh Gaya
and the Bodhi tree (his first Dhamma Yatra)
90. Answer: b)
Lothal is one of the most prominent cities of the
ancient Indus valley civilization. Evidence of double
burial (burying a male and a female in a single grave)
has been found here.
91. Answer: c)
The Pashupati Seal is a steatite seal that was
discovered at the Mohenjo-Daro archaeological site
of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seal depicts a
seated figure that is possibly tricephalic (having three
heads).
92. Answer: c)
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Vardhamana Mahavira was born at Kundagrama near
Vaishali in Bihar. His father, Siddharth was the head
of "Jantrika clan" of Kshatriyas. His mother, Trishala
belonged to Lichchhavi tribe. After getting true
knowledge, he came to be known as the master of
"Kevalajana". He was 24th Tirthankara of Jain
religion. He died at Pawapuri in Bihar.
93. Answer: c)
Vidatha appears for 122 times in the Rig-Veda and
seems to be the most important assembly in the Rig
Vedic period. Vidatha was an assembly meant for
secular, religious and military purpose. The Rig-
Veda only once indicated the connection of woman
with the Sabha whereas Vidatha is frequently
associated with woman.
94. Answer: c)
Samaharta: collector general of revenue was in-
charge of the collection of all revenues in the empire
in the revenue department of the Mauryas.
95. Answer: d)
The most famous of all the bronze icons is that of
Nataraja, the Divine Dancer. The symbolism presents
Siva as lord of the cosmic dance of creation and
destruction.
96. Answer: a)
Vimana is a term for the tower above the
Garbhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum in a Hindu
temple in Dravidian style. It is the hallmark feature
of the Dravidan style of temple architecture.
Page 25 of 26
 Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams

97. Answer: b) 99. Answer: c)

Tirthankara Parshvanath was the son of king
Ashvasena and queen Vama of Varanasi. He
achieved Nirvana on the Sammet Sikhar. He lived in
Varanasi around 800 BC. Parsvanatha is the 23rd
Jain Tirthankara.
Mother Goddess, Pashupati Shiva, Peepal, Pigeon,
Swastik were worshipped by the Harappans. Thus,
Vishnu was not a diety of Harappans.
100. Answer: c)

Skandgupta’s Junagarh Inscription states that

98. Answer: d)
Skandagupta appointed Parnadatta as goptri
The unicorn is the most common motif on Indus seals (governor) of Surashtra (Saurashtra).
and appears to represent a mythical animal that
Greek and Roman sources trace back to the Indian
subcontinent.

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