Expected Ancient Indian History Part 1 Questions PDF For Railway SSC and Upsc Exams

Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,
Railway and UPSC Exams
Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) - Part-1

1) Which among the following was the the first site of 2) Which among the following is the only Indus
the Indus Civilization to be excavated early in the site where the remains of the horse have been
20th century? actually found?
a) Chanhudaro a) Chanhudaro
b) Lothal b) Surkotada
b) Kalibanga c) Daimabad
d) Harappa d) Lothal
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3) Which among the following archaeologists b) Mohenjodaro

discovered the Harappa site of the Indus Valley
c) Surkotada
civilization?
a) S.R Rao d) Lothal
b) Daya Ram Sahni 7) Which one of the following metal was not
known to the people of Indus valley civilization?
c) R.S Bist
a) Copper
d) J.P Joshi
b) Bronze
4) Which one of the following is the only site of the
c) Silver
Indus civilization with no citadel?
a) Chanhudaro d) Iron
b) Kalibanga 8) Stone dancing Natraja and Cemetry-37 have

been excavated at which of the following
c) Banawali harappan site?
d) Mohenjodaro a) Mohenjodaro
5) Evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan b) Lothal

culture and barley with good quality has been at
c) Harappa
which of the following Indus site?
a) Dholavira d) Banawali
b) Harappa 9) Which one of the following sites located in

Gujarat was an ancient port of the Indus Valley
c) Banawali civilization?
d) Daimabad a) Lothal
6) Which one of the following is the only site of b) Kalibanga

Indus civilization that has been divided into three
c) Dholavira
parts?
a) Dholavira d) Daimabad
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10) Which of the following statement is not 1) Rig Veda- Udgatri

correct about Indus Valley Civilization?
2) Yajur Veda- Adhvaryus
a) Indus people were the first to produce cotton in the
world 3) Sama Veda- Hotri
b) Cow and lion were known to Indus people a) Only 1
c) Chief male deity was Pashupati Mahadeva b) Only 2
d) Humpless bull is represented in most of the Indus c) Both 1 and 3

seals d) Both 2 and 3
11) Which among the following is the oldest text in 14) Which one of the following Vedas contains the
the world known as ‘the first testament of charms and spells to ward off evils and diseases?
mankind’?
a) Atharva Veda
a) Sama Veda
b) Rig Veda
b) Yajur Veda
c) Sama Veda
c) Atharva Veda
d) Yajur Veda
d) Rig Veda
15) Which one of the following river is mentioned
12) According to Rig-Veda, the famous Dasrajan most of the times in Rig Veda?
war was fought on the bank of which of the
following river? a) Saraswati
a) Sutlej river b) Sindhu
b) Jhelum river c) Ganges
c) Parushni river d) Yamuna
d) Indus river 16) Shatapatha Brahamana, the oldest and the

largest Brahamana belongs to which one of the
13) Which of the following combination of Vedas following Vedas?
and their reciters is matched correctly?
a) Sama Veda
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b) Rig-Veda d) None of these
c) Yajur Veda 20) Mathura was the capital of which of the

following ancient Mahajanapada?
d) Atharva Veda
a) Ashmaka
17) Which is one of the oldest and probably the
most important of the smritis? b) Kosala
a) Narad Smriti c) Panchala
b) Manu Smriti d) Shurasena
c) Brihaspati Smriti 21) Which among the following was one of the
most prominent and prosperous of
d) Katyayana Smriti
mahajanapadas?
18) According to which Brahamana, daughter is a) Magadha
the sources of misery but the son is the protector
of the family? b) Chedi
a) Aitareya Brahmana c) Matsya
b) Sadvimsha Brahmana d) Ashmaka
c) Vamsa Brahmana 22) Which of the following combination of

Mahajanapadas and its capital is matched
d) Shatapatha Brahmana
correctly?
19) As per the Dharmashastras, what does 1. Kashi- Varanasi
‘Pratiloma Vivah’ mean?
2. Matsya- Viratnagar
a) Marriage between upper-caste bridegroom and
lower caste bride 3. Kuru- Kausambi
b) Marriage between lower-caste bridegroom and a) Only 1

upper-caste bride
b) Only 2
c) Marriage between bridegroom and bride of same
caste c) Both 1 and 2
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d) Both 2 and 3 b) Jayash
23) The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva c) Dharmanth

Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is
d) Vimalnath
taken from
a) Katha Upanishad 27) Mahavira attained Nirvana at which of the

following place?
b) Chandogya Upanishad
c) Aitareya Upanishad a) Patliputra
d) Mundaka Upanishad b) Vaishali
24) Who among the following was the last and 24th c) Rajgriha
Tirthankaras who revived Jainism? d) Pavapuri
a) Aranatha 28) Who among the following was the patron of
b) Mahavira the first Jain council held in patliputra?
c) Parshvanatha a) Ajatashatru
d) Vasupujya b) Ashoka
25) Mahavira attained Kaivalya at the age of 42 c) Kanishka

on the bank of which of the following river? d) Chandragupta Maurya
a) Rijupalika 29) Which among the following combination of
b) Sadanira Buddhist council and their venues is matched
correctly?
c) Yamuna
1. 1st Buddhist council- Patliputra
d) Ganges
2. 3rd Buddhist council- Kashmir
26) Who among the following was the son-in-law
and first disciple of Tirthankara Mahavira? 3. 2nd Buddhist council- Vaishali
a) Jamali a) Only 1
b) Only 2
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c) Only 3 33) Which among the following physician was sent

by Bimbisara when Avanti King Pradyota was
d) Both 1 and 3
attacked by jaundice?
30) Which of the following symbols represent the a) Kalashoka
Nirvana of Gautama Buddha?
b) Mahapadma
a) Horse
c) Dhanananda
b) Wheel
d) Jivaka
c) Stupa
34) Which of the following ruler of the Magadha
d) Bodhi tree Empire laid the foundation of the city of
31) The division of Buddhists into Hinayanists ad Patliputra on the bank of river Ganges?
Mahayanists was the result of which of the a) Udayin
following Buddhist council?
b) Bimbisara
a) 3rd Buddhist council
c) Ajatshatru
b) 4th Buddhist council
d) Shishunaga
c) 1st Buddhist council
35) Invasion of Alexander took place in the North-
d) 2nd Buddhist council
West India during the reign of which of the
32) Who among the following was the first Indian following ruler?
king of Haryanaka dynasty who had a regular a) Shisunaga
and standing army?
b) Kalashoka
a) Ajatshatru
c) Mahapadma
b) Udayin
d) Dhanananda
c) Bimbisara
36) Battle of Hydaspes was fought between
d) Kalashoka
Alexander and King Porus on the bank of which
of the following river?
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a) Jhelum d) Major rock edict XI
b) Ravi 40) Who among the following is considered to help

Asoka to capture the throne after the death of
c) Indus
Bindusara?
d) Godavari a) Radhagupta
37) Who among the following was the Greek b) Brihadratha
ambassador sent to the court of Chandragupta
Maurya by Selecus Nikator? c) Kunala
a) Dionysius d) Vishnugupta
b) Megasthenese 41) Which of the following pillar edict describes

the works done by Ashoka for fulfilment of the
c) Potlemy
Dhamma Policy?
d) Hiuen Tsang a) Pillar edict V
38) "Every Human is my child" is mentioned by b) Pillar edict VII
Ashoka in which one of the following rock edicts?
c) Pillar edict II
a) Major rock edict V
d) Pillar edict VI
b) Major rock edict II
42) Who among the following was the chief
c) Major rock edict VI
treasury officer in the Mauryan Empire?
d) Major rock edict III a) Samaharta
39) Which among the following rock edict b) Pradeshta
describes Asoka’s first Dhamma Yatra to
Bodhgaya & Bodhi Tree? c) Sannidhata
a) Major rock edict VII d) Nagaraka
b) Major rock edict X 43) Who among the following succeeded

Pushymitra Sunga who established Sunga
c) Major rock edict VIII
Dynasty?
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a) Agnimitra 47) Who among the following was the most

famous Indo-Greek ruler who was converted to
b) Vasudeva
Buddhism?
c) Simuka a) Menander
d) Vajramitra b) Rudradaman
44) Which among the following is the most famous c) Gondaphernes
monument of Sunga Period?
d) Ghamatika
a) Stupa of Bhaja
48) Who among the following was the most
b) Amravati Stupa famous Saka ruler in India who replaced Indo-
c) Bharhut Stupa Greeks?
d) Nasika Chaitya a) Rudradaman
45) Who among the following was the last ruler of b) Nahapana
the Sunga dynasty who was murdered by his c) Ushavadeva
minister?
d) Chashtana
a) Agnimitra
49) St. Thomas came to India for the propagation
b) Devabhuti
of Christianity during the reign of which Parthian
c) Simuka ruler?
d) Vajramitra a) Mithridates
46) Which of the following ruler of Satavahana b) Gondaphernes

Dynasty was the author of “Gathasaptasati”? c) Artabanus
a) Simuka d) Tiridates
b) Satakarni I
50) Who among the following were the first rulers
c) Hala in India to issue gold coins on a wide scale?
d) Pulamavi III a) Sakas

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b) Parthians 54) Which of the following Gupta ruler founded

Nalanda Mahavira which developed into a great
c) Maurya
centre of learning?
d) Kushans a) Kumargupta I
51) Who among the following was the most b) Skandgupta
famous ruler of the Kushan Dynasty also known
as ‘Second Ashoka’? c) Samudragupta
a) Kanishka d) Chandragupta I
b) Vasishka 55) Chinese pilgrim Fahien visited India during

the reign of which of the following ruler of Gupta
c) Huvishka
Dynasty?
d) Vasudeva a) Skandgupta
52) Who among the following was the first ruler of b) Samudragupta
the Kushan Dynasty to introduce gold coins in
India? c) Chandragupta II
a) Kujul Kadhphises d) Kumargupta I
b) Vema Kadphises 56) Which of the following ruler of the gupta

dynasty was the worshipper of god Kartikeya?
c) Kanishka
a) Skandgupta
d) Vasudeva
b) Samudragupta
53) Which of the following ruler of the Gupta
Dynasty is known as the ‘Napoleon of India’? c) Chandragupta II
a) Skandgupta d) Kumargupta I
b) Samudragupta 57) Which of the following ruler of the gupta

dynasty made Ujjain as its second capital?
c) Chandragupta II
a) Skandgupta
d) Kumargupta I
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b) Samudragupta b) Both 2 and 3
c) Chandragupta II c) Only 1
d) Kumargupta I d) Only 3
58) The Yajnavalkya Smriti which is one of the 61) Harshacharita, an important historical work
many Dharma-related texts of Hinduism is narrating the incidents of earlier part of Harsha’s
written in which of the following era? reign is authored by whom?
a) Maurya Period a) Banabhatta
b) Gupta Period b) Hieun Tsang
c) Vedic Period c) Harshavardhana
d) Later Vedic Period d) Rajyavardhana
59) Who among the following was the officer who 62) Which of the following celebrated Chinese
maintained the records of all the land transactions pilgrim visited India during the reign of
during Gupta period? Harshavardhana?
a) Bhogapati a) Fahien
b) Nagarpati b) Hiuen Tsang
c) Gramika c) Marco Polo
d) Ustapala d) Megasthenes
60) Which of the following combination of Gupta 63) Harshavardhana was defeated by Pulakeshin II
rulers and their titles is matched correctly? of Chalukya dynasty on the bank of which of the
following river?
1. Samudragupta- Kaviraja
a) Indus
2. Chandragupta II- Devashri
b) Sutlej
3. Kumargupta I- Narendra Chandra
c) Narmada
a) Both 1 and 2
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d) Godavari 3. The Pandays of Madurai- Bhattarka
64) Which of the following Sanskrit play is/are a) Only 1

written by Harshvardhana?
b) Only 2
a) Nagananda
c) Both 1 and 2
b) Ratnavali
d) Both 1 and 3
c) Kadambari
68) Which of the following pallava ruler assumed
d) Both a and b the title of Vatapikonda?
65) Who among the following was the father of a) Mahendravarman I

King Harshavardhana?
b) Narasimhavarman I
a) Rajyavardhana
c) Mahendravarman II
b) Prabhakarvardhana
d) Kirtivarman
c) Pushyabhuti
69) Which among the following Pallava ruler built
d) Dhruvasena the Kailashnatha Temple at Kanchi?
66) Aihole Inscription is an eulogy written by the a) Dhruvasena II

court poet of which of the following ruler?
b) Narasimhavarman II
a) Dhruvasena II
c) Pulakesin II
b) Narasimhavarman
d) Rudradaman
c) Pulakesin II
70) Who among the following Pallava ruler built
d) Rudradaman the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram?
67) Which of the following combination of a) Mahendravarman I

dynasty and their founder is matched correctly?
b) Narasimhavarman I
1. The Chalukyas of Vatapi- Jayasimha
c) Narasimhavarman II.
2. The Guptas of Magadha- Shri Gupta
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d) Nandivarmana a) Uthiyan Cheral Athan
71) What is the other name of Narasimvarmana I b) Palyani Sel Kelu Kuttuvan
who was the most famous ruler of Pallava
c) Chenguttuvan Chera
Dynasty?
a) Rajsimha d) Adu Kottu Cheral Athan
b) Aparajit 75) Which among the following was the royal

emblem of the Chera Kingdom?
c) Mammala
a) Twin Fish
d) Jayasimha
b) Bow and arrow
72) Which among the following was the capital of
c) Jumping Tiger
the Chola Dynasty famous for cotton trade?
a) Vanjii d) Nandi and Simha
b) Uraiyaur 76) Which among the following was/were the main

ports of Chera Rulers?
c) Kaveripattanam
a) Muzris
d) Madurai
b) Tondi
73) Which among the following was the main port
c) Kaveripattnam
of Cholas that also served as their alternative
capital? d) Both a and b
a) Vanjii 77) Which among the following was the inland
b) Uraiyaur capital of the Pandya Kingdom?
c) Kaveripattanam a) Vanjji
d) Madurai b) Uraiyaur
c) Madurai
74) Who among the following was one of the
earliest and better known among chera rulers? d) Tondi
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78) Which of the following is another capital of d) None of these

the Pandya Kingdom which is famous for pearls?
82) With reference to Sangam Period, which of
a) Vanjji the following combination of epics and their
authors is matched correctly?
b) Korkai
1. Silappadikaram- Ilango adigal
c) Madurai
2. Manimekalai- Tiruttakrdevas
d) Tondi
3. Bharatam- Perudevanar
79) Which among the following was the royal
emblem of the Pandya Kingdom? a) Only 3
a) Fish b) Only 2
b) Bow and arrow c) Both 1 and 3
c) Jumping Tiger d) Both 2 and 3
d) Nandi and Simha 83) Which among the following ruler started the
religious festival of Kumbh Mela at Allahabad?
80) Who among the following is the author of
Jivaka Chintamani? a) Harshavardhana
a) Perudevanar b) Samudragupta
b) Ilango Adigal c) Chandragupta I
c) Tiruttakrdevas d) Buddhagupta
d) Sittalai Sattanar 84) Which of the following symbol represents the

birth of the Gautama Buddha?
81) Who among the following was the chairman of
the First Tamil Sangam? a) Horse
a) Agastasya b) Wheel
b) Tolakapiyyar c) Stupa
c) Nakkirar d) Lotus and Bull

Page 13 of 27
85) Which one of the following Buddhist council b) Rummindei Pillar Inscription
was held during the reign of Ashoka?
c) Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription
st
a) 1 Buddhist council
d) Bhabru Inscription
rd
b) 3 Buddhist council
89) Which of the following ruler of the Haryanka
nd
c) 2 Buddhist council dynasty was the contemporary of Gautama
Buddha?
d) 4th Buddhist council
a) Ajatashatru
86) The Compilation of Sutta-Pitaka and Vinaya
pitaka took place in which of the following b) Bimbisara
Buddhist council?
c) Udayin
st
a) 1 Buddhist council
d) Nag-Dasak
rd
b) 3 Buddhist council
90) Which of the following ruler overthrown the
nd
c) 2 Buddhist council Shisunaga dynasty and established new line of
kings known as Nandas?
d) 4th Buddhist council
a) Mahapadma
87) The Greek Ambassador Deimachus visited the
court of which of the following rulers of Mauryan b) Dhanananda
Empire?
c) Kalashoka
a) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Udayin
b) Bindusara
91) Which among the following is the most
c) Ashoka important literary source for the Mauryas?
d) Both a and b a) Arthasastra
88) Which among the following famous rock edict b) Dipavasma

of Ashoka talks about taxation?
c) Divyavandana
a) Kandhar Bilingual Rock Inscription
d) Mudra Rakshasa
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92) Which among the following combination of 95) The Famous Bull Seal of the Indus Valley
Buddhist Universities and their founder is Civilization was found at which of the following
matched correctly? places?
1. Nalanda- Kumargupta I a) Harappa
2. Somapuri- Dharmapala b) Chanhudaro
3. Vallabhi- Bhattarka c) Mohenjodaro
a) Only 1 d) Daimabad
b) Only 2 96) Who among the following was the chairman of

the second Jain council held in Vallabhi?
c) Both 1 and 2
a) Sthulabhadra
d) All are correct
b) Devardhi Kshmasramana
93) Which among the following is the largest
Indian site of the famous Indus civilization? c) Mahakassapa
a) Lothal d) Sabbakami
b) Mohenjodaro 97) Who among the following ruler was the

founder of the Kadambas of Banavasi?
c) Kalibanga
a) Konakanivarma
d) Dholavira
b) Mayurasharma
94) Which of the following two Indus sites were
located on the bank of river Ghaggar? c) Simhavarman
a) Kalibanga and Banawali d) Kodungon
b) Harappa and Lothal 98) Which of the following text written by

Tiruvallur is called as the ‘Bible of the Tamil
c) Dholavira and Chanhudaro
Land’?
d) Mohenjodaro and Banawali a) Kural
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b) Silappadikaram d) Purugupta
c) Manimekalai 100) Which of the following statement regarding

the life of Gautama Buddha is not correct?
d) Bharatam
a) Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath
99) Who among the following was the first Gupta
ruler to assume the title of Maharajadhiraja? b) Buddha attained Mahaparnirvana at Bodh Gaya
a) Ramgupta c) Gautama Buddha was married to Yasodhara who

was princess of Kolli dynasty
b) Chandragupta I
d) His first teacher was Alara Kalama from whom he
c) Kumargupta I learned meditation
ANSWER
1. Answer: d) River Ravi. It was excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in

1921-1923.
Harappa was the first site of the Indus civilization to
be excavated early in the 20th century in what was 4. Answer: a)
then the Punjab province of British India and now is
Pakistan. Thus, the Indus civilisation is also known Chanhudaro is an archaeological site belonging to the
as the Harappan Civilisation. post-urban Jhukar phase of Indus Valley Civilization.
The site is located 130 kilometres south of Mohenjo-
2. Answer: b) daro, in Sindh, Pakistan. It is the only Indus site with
no citadel.
Surkotada is an archaeological site located in Rapar
Taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India which 5. Answer: c)
belongs to the Indus Valley Civilisation. It is the only
Indus site where the remains of horse have been Banawali is an archaeological site belonging to Indus
found. Valley Civilization period in Fatehabad district,
Haryana, India. Evidence of both pre-Harappan and
3. Answer: b) Harappan culture and barley with good quality has
been found here.
Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan,
about 24 km west of Sahiwal situated on the bank of 6. Answer: a)
Page 16 of 27
Dholavira is an archaeological site at Khadirbet in mankind. It was composed around 1700 BC. Last
Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District, in the state of hymns were composed between 1500-1200 BC.
Gujarat in western India. It is the only site of the
Indus civilization that has been divided into three 12. Answer: c)
parts. The Battle of the Ten Kings is a battle alluded to in
the Rig-Veda, the ancient Indian sacred collection of
7. Answer: d)
Vedic Sanskrit hymns. The battle took place during
The Indus valley people knew the use of copper, the middle or main Rigvedic period, near the
bronze, silver, gold but not iron. Thus, Iron was not Parushni (Ravi) River in Punjab in which sudas
known to the people of Indus valley civilization. emerged victorious.
8. Answer: c) 13. Answer: b)
Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan, Rig Veda- Hotri

about 24 km west of Sahiwal. Stone dancing nataraja
and Cemetry-37 have been excavated at this Indus Sama Veda- Udgatri
site. Yajur Veda- Adhvaryus
9. Answer: a) 14. Answer: a)
Lothal was one of the southernmost cities of the The Atharva Veda is the "knowledge storehouse of
ancient Indus Valley Civilization located in the Bhal atharvanas, the procedures for everyday life”. The
region of the modern state of Gujarat. This site was text is the fourth Veda, but has been a late addition to
an ancient port of Indus Valley Civilization. the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. It is the last Veda
that contains charms and spells to ward off evils and
10. Answer: b)
diseases.
All the above statements are true except b). Animals
like buffaloes, sheep's and pigs and the humped bull 15. Answer: b)
were bred. Animals like elephant, camels and dogs According to Rig Veda, the most mentioned river
were also domesticated. Cow and lion were not was Sindhu, the most pious river was Saraswati,
known to the people of the Indus civilization. Ganges river is mentioned one time and Yamuna
three times.
11. Answer: d)
Rig-Veda is probably the oldest religious text in the 16. Answer: c)

world and is also known as “First testament” of
Page 17 of 27
The title Satapatha Brahmana means "Brahmana of 21. Answer: a)

the Hundred Paths". It is one of the largest Brahmana
text of Yajur Veda that has survived. It includes, The Magadha was one of the most prominent and
states Staal, a "veritable encyclopedia of meandering prosperous of mahajanapadas. The capital city
opinions on ritual and other matters". Pataliputra (Patna, Bihar) was situated on the
confluence of major rivers like the Ganga, Son,
17. Answer: b) Punpun and Gandak.Its location at the centre of the
highways of trade of those days contributed to its
Manu Smriti is one of the oldest and probably the wealth. All these factors helped Magadha to emerge
most important of the smritis which contain the laws as the most prosperous state of that period.
(conducted in life) that need to be followed in various
orders of life and by persons of various tendencies 22. Answer: c)
(varnas).
Kashi- Varanasi
18. Answer: a)
Matsya- Viratnagar
The Aitareya Brahmana is the Brahmana of the
Shakala Shakha of the Rigveda, an ancient Indian Kuru- Indraprashtha
collection of sacred hymns. According to Aitareya 23. Answer: d)
Brahamana, daughter is the sources of misery but the
son is the protector of the family. The national motto of India ‘Satyameva Jayate’
inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from
19. Answer: b) Mundaka Upanishad.
The marriage of a man of higher Varna with a girl 24. Answer: b)
from lower Varna was called “Anuloma Vivah”. It
was allowed by the sacred texts. The marriage of a Mahavira was the twenty-fourth tirthankara who
girl of higher Varna with a man of a lower Varna was revived Jainism. Mahavira is usually depicted in a
called “Pratiloma Vivah” and it was NOT allowed in sitting or standing meditative posture, with the
the texts. symbol of a lion beneath him. His earliest
iconography is from archaeological sites in the North
20. Answer: d) Indian city of Mathura, and is dated from the 1st
Shurasena capital was Mathura. It was located on the century BCE to the 2nd century CE. His birth is
junction of Uttarpatha and Dakshinpatha around celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti, and his nirvana is
Mathura of Today. observed by Jains as Diwali.
25. Answer: a)
Page 18 of 27
At the age of 42, Mahavira attained Kaivalaya under going. The Nirvana of the Gautama Buddha is
a Sal tree on the bank of river Rijupalika near represented by the symbol of Bodhi tree.
Jrimbhikgrama in Modern Bihar.
31. Answer: b)
26. Answer: a)
The fourth Buddhist council was held in 72 AD at
Jamali who was the son-in-law of Mahavira became Kundalvana, Kashmir. It was presided by Vasumitra,
the first disciple of Mahavira and the leader of the while Asvaghosa was his deputy. The council was
first sehism of the Jaina Church. held under the patronage of Kushan King Kanishka
of Kushan Empire. Buddhists were divided into
27. Answer: d) Hinayanists and Mahayanists as a result of 4th
At the age of 72 years and 4.5 months, Mahavira Buddhist council.
attained Nirvana in the area known as Pawapuri on
32. Answer: c)
the last day of the Indian and Jain calendars,
Dipavali. Bimbisara also known as Seniya or Shrenika in the
Jain histories was a King of Magadha and belonged
28. Answer: d) to the Haryanka dynasty. He is known for his cultural
First Jain Council was held at Patliputra under the achievements and was a great friend and protector of
chairmanship of Sthulabhadra in 300 B.C and the the Buddha. He was the first Indian king who had a
patron of the first Jain council was Chandragupta regular and standing army.
Maurya.
33. Answer: d)
29. Answer: c) Jivaka was the personal physician of the Buddha and
1st Buddhist council- Rajgriha the Indian King Bimbisara. He lived in Rajagṛha,
present-day Rajgir, in the 5th century BCE. Jivaka
3rd Buddhist council- Patliputra was sent to Ujjain when Avanti king Pradyota was
attacked by jaundice.
2nd Buddhist council- Vaishali
34. Answer: a)
30. Answer: d)
Udayin was a king of Magadha in ancient India.
In the Buddhist context, nirvana refers to realization
According to the Buddhist and Jain accounts, he was
of non-self and emptiness, marking the end of rebirth
the son and successor of the Haryanka king
by stilling the fires that keep the process of rebirth
Ajatashatru. Udayin laid the foundation of the city of
Pataliputra at the confluence of two rivers, the Son
Page 19 of 27
and the Ganges. He shifted his capital from Rajgriha Human is my child". Appointment of
to Patliputra due to the latter's central location in the Dhammamahamatras is mentioned in this edict.
empire.
39. Answer: c)
35. Answer: d)
Major Rock Edict VIII is remarkable in that it
According to the Buddhist text Mahabodhivamsa, describes the visit of the king to Sambodhi another
Dhana Nanda was the last ruler of the Nanda name of Bodh Gaya. It is thought that Ashoka built in
dynasty. He was the youngest of the eight brothers of Bodh Gaya the Diamond Throne, in order to mark
the dynasty's founder Ugrasena. It was during the the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment.
rule of Dhanananda that the invasion of Alexander
took place in north-west India in 326 B.C. 40. Answer: a)
Ashoka the Great was an Indian emperor of the

36. Answer: a)
Maurya Dynasty. A minister named Radhagupta
The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC seems to have played an important role in Ashoka's
between Alexander the Great and King Porus of the rise to the throne after the death of Bindusara.
Paurava kingdom on the banks of the river Jhelum in
the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. The 41. Answer: b)
battle resulted in a Greek victory and the surrender of Pillar Edict VII describes the works done by Ashoka
Porus. for fulfilment of the Dhamma Policy. He observes
that all sects desire self control as well as purity of
37. Answer: b)
mind.
Megasthenes was an ancient Greek historian,
diplomat and Indian ethnographer and explorer in the 42. Answer: c)
Hellenistic period. He described India in his book The Sannidhata was an officer in charge of the
Indica, which is now lost, but has been partially treasury in the administration of the Mauryan
reconstructed from the writings of the later authors. Empire.
He was sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya by
Selecus Nikator. 43. Answer: a)
38. Answer: a) The Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty

from Magadha that controlled areas of the central and
Major Rock Edict V Concerns about the policy eastern Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 78
towards slaves. He mentions in this rock edict "Every BCE. The dynasty was established by Pushyamitra
Shunga, after the fall of the Maurya
Page 20 of 27
Empire.Pushyamitra Shunga was succeeded in 148 having become a patron of Buddhism. He was
BCE by his son Agnimitra. converted to Buddhism by Nagasena or Nagarjuna.
44. Answer: c) 48. Answer: a)
Bharhut is a village located in the Satna district of Rudradaman was the most famous Saka ruler from
Madhya Pradesh, central India. It is known for its the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. He was the
famous relics from a Buddhist stupa. It was the most grandson of the king Chastana. Rudradaman I was
famous monument of the Sunga Period. instrumental in the decline of the Satavahana Empire.
45. Answer: b) 49. Answer: b)
Devabhuti also known as Devbhomi, was the last Gondophernes was an Indo-Parthian king in the areas
king of the Shunga Empire in ancient India. He was of Arachosia, Kabul, and Gandhara (present
assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva and is Afghanistan and Pakistan). It was during the reign of
said to have been overfond of the company of Gonadophernes, when St. Thomas came to India for
women. Following his death, the Shunga dynasty was the propagation of Christianity.
then replaced by the subsequent Kanvas.
50. Answer: d)
46. Answer: c)
The Kushans were one of five branches of the Yuezhi
Hala was a Satavahana king who ruled in present-day confederation, a possibly Iranian or Tocharian, Indo-
Deccan region. The Matsya Purana mentions him as European nomadic people who migrated from Gansu
the 17th ruler of the Satavahana dynasty. Hala is and settled in ancient Bactria. The Kushans were the
famous for compiling an anthology of Maharashtri first rulers in India to issue gold coins on a wide
Prakrit poems known as the Gaha Sattasai scale.
(Sanskrit:Gatha Saptasati), although from linguistic
evidence it seems that the work now extant must 51. Answer: a)
have been re-edited in the succeeding century or two. Kanishka the Great was an emperor of the Kushan
dynasty in the second century, is famous for his
47. Answer: a)
military, political, and spiritual achievements. A
Menander was an Indo-Greek King of the Indo- descendant of Kujula Kadphises, founder of the
Greek Kingdom who administered a large empire in Kushan Empire, Kanishka came to rule an empire in
the Northwestern regions of the Indian Subcontinent Bactria extending to Pataliputra on the Gangetic
from his capital at Sagala. Menander is noted for plain. He was most famous ruler of Kushan dynasty
also known as ‘Second Ashoka’.
Page 21 of 27
52. Answer: b) 56. Answer: d)
Vima Kadphises was a Kushan emperor from Kumaragupta I was an emperor of the Gupta Empire
approximately 90–100 CE. According to the Rabatak of present-day India and Bangladesh. A son of the
inscription, he was the son of Vima Takto and the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and queen
father of Kanishka. He was the first ruler of Kushan Dhruvadevi, he seems to have maintained control of
Dynasty to issue gold coins in India. his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat
in the west to Bengal region in the east. He was the
53. Answer: b) worshipper of god Kartikeya.
Samudragupta was a ruler of the Gupta Empire of 57. Answer: c)
present-day India. As a son of the Gupta emperor
Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Chandragupta II also known by his title
Kumaradevi, he greatly expanded his dynasty's Vikramaditya, was one of the most powerful
political power. Samudragupta’s military campaigns emperors of the Gupta Empire in northern India.
justify description of him as the Napolean of India by Ujjain seems to have been made the second capital
V.A Smith. by Chandragupta II.
54. Answer: a) 58. Answer: b)
Kumaragupta I was an emperor of the Gupta Empire Yajnavalkya Smriti is one of the many Dharma-
of present-day India and Bangladesh. A son of the related texts of Hinduism composed in Sanskrit. It is
Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and queen dated to between the 3rd to 5th-century CE, and
Dhruvadevi, he seems to have maintained control of belongs to the Dharmasastras tradition. It was written
his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat during Gupta era.
in the west to Bengal region in the east. He founded
Nalanda Mahavira which developed into a great 59. Answer: d)
centre of learning. An officer named Ustapala maintained the records of
all the land transactions in the district during the
55. Answer: c)
Gupta Period.
Chandragupta II also known by his title
Vikramaditya was one of the most powerful 60. Answer: a)
emperors of the Gupta Empire in northern India. Samudragupta- Kaviraja
Chinese pilgrim Fahien visited India during the reign
of Chandragupta II. Chandragupta II- Devashri
Page 22 of 27
Kumargupta I- Mahendraditya Gupta Empire. According to the historian Ramesh

Chandra Majumdar, he was the first notable king of
61. Answer: a) the Vardhana dynasty but the fourth ruler from the
The Harshacharita is the biography of Indian emperor family, who are also referred to as the Pushpabhutis.
Harsha by Banabhatta, also known as Bana, who was He was the father of Harshavardhana.
a Sanskrit writer of seventh-century CE India. He
66. Answer: c)
was the Asthana Kavi, meaning Court Poet, of
Harsha. The Harshacharita was the first composition The Aihole inscription was written by the Ravikirti,
of Bana and is considered to be the beginning of court poet of Chalukya King, Pulakeshi II who
writing of historical poetic works in Sanskrit reigned from 610 to 642 CE. The poetic verses of
language. Ravikirti, in praise of the king, can be read in the
Meguti temple, dated 634 CE.
62. Answer: b)
67. Answer: c)
Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, visited India
during the reign of Harshavardhana with an aim of The Chalukyas of Vatapi- Jayasimha
securing authentic Buddhist scripts. The Kannauj
assembly (643 AD) was held in the honour of Hieun The Guptas of Magadha- Shri Gupta
Tsang and to popularise Mahayana sect of Buddhism. The Pandays of Madurai- Kodungon
63. Answer: c) 68. Answer: b)
Pulakeshin II was the most famous ruler of the The Pallava King Narsimhavarman I assumed the
Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi. He defeated title of 'Vatapikonda' (Conqueror of Vatapi), when he
Harshavardhana on the bank of river Narmada. defeated and killed Pulakesin II (Chalukya King) and
captured the Chalukyan capital, Badami in 642 AD.
64. Answer: d)
Emperor Harshvardhana was not only patron of 69. Answer: b)

learning but was himself an accomplished author. He The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest
wrote three plays in the Sanskrit Language namely structure in Kanchipuram. Located in Tamil Nadu,
Nagananda, Priyadarshika and Ratnavali. India, it is a Hindu temple in the Tamil architectural
style. The temple was built from 685-705CE by a
65. Answer: b)
Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II) ruler of the Pallava
Prabhakaravardhana was a king of Thanesar in Dynasty.
northern India around the time of the decline of the
Page 23 of 27
70. Answer: c) Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (central Kerala). His lifetime

is broadly determined to be between first and third
The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram and century CE. His consort was Veliyan Nallini, the
Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram built by Pallava daughter of Veliyan chief Venman. Uthiyan
ruler Narasimhavarman II. Cheralathan was a contemporary of the Chola chief
71. Answer: c) Karikala.
Narasimhavarman I or Narasimha Varma I was a 75. Answer: b)

king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India Cheras are the ancient rulers of Southern India. They
from 630–668 AD. He was popularly known as are prominent in history as two dynasties ruling in
Mammala. two different eras. The first Chera dynasty ruled from
72. Answer: b) 300 BC to 300 AD according to Sangam literature
while the other ruled from the 9th Century onwards.
Uraiyur is an area of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, The bow-arrow was the insignia of the Chera dynasty
India. It was the capital of the early Cholas and which was present on their flag. The presence of the
Muthurajas, who were one of the three main bow and arrow on the coins indicated the Supremes
kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Inscriptions of the Cheras.
and rock edicts of Ashoka and the Satavahanas
describe Urayur as "the citadel and centre of the 76. Answer: d)
Cholas". Uraiyur was ruled by Karikala Cholan. The Cheras of the early historical period are known
73. Answer: c) to have had their original centre at Karur/Karuvur-
Vanchi in interior Tamil Nadu and strategic outlets to
Kaveripattinam is a town in Krishnagiri district in the their harbours at Muchiri (Muziris) and Thondi
northern part of Tamil Nadu.It is a revenue block in (Tyndis) on the Indian Ocean coast (Kerala).
the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, India.
Karikala founded Kaveripattanam which was the 77. Answer: c)
main port of Cholas and served as their alternative The Pandya dynasty, also known as the Pandyas of
capital. Madurai, was a dynasty of south India, one of the
74. Answer: a) three early historic ethnically Tamil lineages, the
other two being the Chola and the Chera. The rulers
Uthiyan Cheralathan is earliest known ruler Chera of of the three dynasties were referred to as "the three
early historic south India from available literary crowned rulers of the Tamil country". Madurai was
sources. He had his headquarters at a place called the inland capital of Pandya Kingdom.
Page 24 of 27
78. Answer: b) 82. Answer: c)
Korkai is a small village in the Srivaikuntam taluk of Silappadikaram- Ilango adigal

Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. It was
called Pandya-Kavada in the Kapatapuram in Manimekalai- Sittalai Sattanar
Kalithogai. It is another capital of the Pandya Bharatam- Perudevanar
Kingdom which is famous for pearls.
83. Answer: a)
79. Answer: a)
Harsha, also known as Harshavardhana, was an
The Pandya dynasty, also known as the Pandyas of Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to
Madurai, was a dynasty of south India, one of the 647 CE. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty;
three early historic ethnically Tamil lineages, the and was the son of Prabhakarvardhana who defeated
other two being the Chola and the Chera. The rulers the Alchon Huna invaders, and the younger brother
of the three dynasties were referred to as "the three of Rajyavardhana, a king of Thanesar, present-day
crowned rulers of the Tamil country". The royal Haryana. He started the religious festival of Kumbh
emblem of this kingdom was Fish. Mela at Allahabad.
80. Answer: c) 84. Answer: d)
The epic Tamil poem, Jivaka Cintamani is a Jain Lotus and bull resembles the symbol of birth of
religious epic authored by Jain saint Tiruttakrdeva. Gautama Buddha.
This epic is considered one of the classic epics of
Sangam Literature. 85. Answer: b)
81. Answer: a) Third Buddhist council was held in 250 BC at

Pataliputra under the patronage of King Asoka and
Sangam period is the period of history of ancient under the presidency of Moggaliputta Tissa.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala spanning from 5th century
BCE to 3rd century CE. It is named after the famous 86. Answer: a)
Sangam academies of poets and scholars centered in
During the first Buddhist council, both sutta-pitaka
the city of Madurai. According to Tamil legends,
and vinaya were recited so that the teachings can be
there were three Sangam periods, namely Head
compiled, consolidated and transmitted 3 months
Sangam, Middle Sangam and Last Sangam period.
after Buddha's Mahaparinibbana. Rajagaha was
The first Tamil Sangam was held under the
selected for the meeting of the council. It was held
chairmanship of Agastasya.
near the Saptapanni Cave. It was sponsored by King
Page 25 of 27
Ajatasattu who was a firm believer in the Buddhist The Arthashastra is the title of a handbook for
faith, and he would provide the necessary running an empire, written by Kautilya an Indian
accommodation, food, and security for the gathering. statesman and philosopher, chief advisor and Prime
Minister of the Indian Emperor Chandragupta, the
87. Answer: b) first ruler of the Mauryan Empire. It served as the
Deimachus was a Greek of the Seleucid Empire who most important literary source for the Mauryas.
lived during the third-century BCE. He became an
92. Answer: d)
ambassador to the court of Bindusara "Amitragata"
(son of Chandragupta Maurya) in Pataliputra in Nalanda- Kumargupta I
India. As an ambassador, he was the successor to the
famous ambassador and historian Megasthenes. Somapuri- Dharmapala
Vallabhi- Bhattarka
88. Answer: b)
Rummindei Pillar Inscription of Ashoka is the only 93. Answer: d)

inscription that talks about taxation. It has been taken Dholavira is an archaeological site at Khadirbet in
from Lumbini in Nepal. Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District, in the state of
Gujarat in western India. It is the largest Indian site
89. Answer: b)
of the Indus Civilization.
Bimbisara also known as Seniya or Shrenika in the
Jain histories was a King of Magadha and belonged 94. Answer: a)
to the Haryanka dynasty. He was the contemporary Kalibangan is an ancient site of the Indus valley
of Gautama Buddha. civilization, in northern Rajasthan state, north-
western India and Banawali is an archaeological site
90. Answer: a)
belonging to Indus Valley Civilization period in
Mahapadma Nanda, according to the Puranas, was Fatehabad district, Haryana, India. Both the Indus
the first Emperor of the Nanda Empire of ancient sites are located on the bank of river Ghaggar.
India. The Puranas describe him as a son of the last
Shaishunaga king Mahanandin and a Shudra woman, 95. Answer: a)
and credit him with extensive conquests. Shisunaga The famous Bull-seal of Indus Valley Civilization
dynasty was overthrown by him and established new was found at Harappa site.The Bull-seal is known to
line of kings known as Nandas. be dated back to around 2200-2500 BC.
91. Answer: a) 96. Answer: b)
Page 26 of 27
Second Jain council was at Vallabhi in 512 AD. It was authored by Valluvar, also known in full as
Vallabhi is in Modern Gujarat and was headed by Thiruvalluvar and is called as the ‘Bible of the Tamil
Devardhi Kshamasemana. land’.
97. Answer: b) 99. Answer: b)
Mayurasharma, a Kannada scholar and a native of Chandragupta I was a king of the Gupta dynasty,
Talagunda, was the founder of the Kadamba who ruled in northern India. His title Maharajadhiraja
Kingdom of Banavasi, the earliest native kingdom to suggests that he was the first emperor of the dynasty.
rule over what is today the modern state of
Karnataka, India. 100. Answer: b)
All the above statements are true except b).

98. Answer: a)
Kushinagar is a pilgrimage town in the Kushinagar
The Tirukkural or shortly the Kural is a classic Tamil district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an
text consisting of 1,330 couplets or Kurals, dealing important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists
with the everyday virtues of an individual. It is one of believe Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana
the two oldest works now extant in Tamil literature. after his death.
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Expected Ancient Indian History Part 1 Questions PDF For Railway SSC and Upsc Exams

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Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) For SSC,

Railway and UPSC Exams

Expected Ancient Indian History Questions (MCQs) - Part-1

3) Which among the following archaeologists b) Mohenjodaro

a) S.R Rao d) Lothal

b) Kalibanga 8) Stone dancing Natraja and Cemetry-37 have

5) Evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan b) Lothal

b) Harappa 9) Which one of the following sites located in

6) Which one of the following is the only site of b) Kalibanga

10) Which of the following statement is not 1) Rig Veda- Udgatri

b) Cow and lion were known to Indus people a) Only 1

c) Chief male deity was Pashupati Mahadeva b) Only 2

d) Humpless bull is represented in most of the Indus c) Both 1 and 3

a) Sutlej river b) Sindhu

b) Jhelum river c) Ganges

c) Parushni river d) Yamuna

d) Indus river 16) Shatapatha Brahamana, the oldest and the

b) Rig-Veda d) None of these

c) Yajur Veda 20) Mathura was the capital of which of the

a) Narad Smriti c) Panchala

b) Manu Smriti d) Shurasena

a) Aitareya Brahmana c) Matsya

b) Sadvimsha Brahmana d) Ashmaka

c) Vamsa Brahmana 22) Which of the following combination of

b) Marriage between lower-caste bridegroom and a) Only 1

d) Both 2 and 3 b) Jayash

23) The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva c) Dharmanth

a) Katha Upanishad 27) Mahavira attained Nirvana at which of the

d) Mundaka Upanishad b) Vaishali

25) Mahavira attained Kaivalya at the age of 42 c) Kanishka

c) Only 3 33) Which among the following physician was sent

a) Jhelum d) Major rock edict XI

b) Ravi 40) Who among the following is considered to help

b) Megasthenese 41) Which of the following pillar edict describes

a) Major rock edict VII d) Nagaraka

b) Major rock edict X 43) Who among the following succeeded

a) Agnimitra 47) Who among the following was the most

d) Nasika Chaitya a) Rudradaman

46) Which of the following ruler of Satavahana b) Gondaphernes

d) Pulamavi III a) Sakas

b) Parthians 54) Which of the following Gupta ruler founded

b) Vasishka 55) Chinese pilgrim Fahien visited India during

a) Kujul Kadhphises d) Kumargupta I

b) Vema Kadphises 56) Which of the following ruler of the gupta

b) Samudragupta 57) Which of the following ruler of the gupta

b) Samudragupta b) Both 2 and 3

a) Maurya Period a) Banabhatta

b) Gupta Period b) Hieun Tsang

c) Vedic Period c) Harshavardhana

d) Later Vedic Period d) Rajyavardhana

b) Nagarpati b) Hiuen Tsang

c) Gramika c) Marco Polo

d) Godavari 3. The Pandays of Madurai- Bhattarka

64) Which of the following Sanskrit play is/are a) Only 1

65) Who among the following was the father of a) Mahendravarman I

66) Aihole Inscription is an eulogy written by the a) Dhruvasena II

67) Which of the following combination of a) Mahendravarman I

d) Nandivarmana a) Uthiyan Cheral Athan

a) Rajsimha d) Adu Kottu Cheral Athan

b) Aparajit 75) Which among the following was the royal

a) Vanjii d) Nandi and Simha

b) Uraiyaur 76) Which among the following was/were the main

78) Which of the following is another capital of d) None of these