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.
31. Bimbisara belonged to which of the following dynasties?
[A] Mughal dynasty
[B] Haryanka dynasty
[C] Slave dynaty
[D] Shishunaga dynasty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Haryanka dynasty]
Notes:
Magadha came out to be the most powerful state and the centre of a vast empire. Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty and ruled for 52 years starting from 544 to 492 BCE.
32. Which of the following was the last Mauryan King?
[A] Ashoka
[B] Brihadratha
[C] Dashrath
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brihadratha]
Notes:
After Ashoka the Maurya empire declined rapidly and the later kings had very short reigns. The Mauryan dynasty came to an end when the last king Brihadratha was killed by Pushyamitra Sunga, in 187 BCE.
33. Which of the following rulers shifted two Pillar Edicts from Topra and Meerut to Delhi?
[A] Alauddin Khilji
[B] Feroz Shah Tughlaq
[C] Babur
[D] Akbar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Feroz Shah Tughlaq]
Notes:
Feroz Shah Tughlaq brought two Ashokan pillars to Delhi in the fourteenth century, one from Topra and the other from Meerut.
34. How much tax was paid by the peasants in the Mauryan administration?
[A] One-third of produce
[B] One-fourth of produce
[C] One-fifth of produce
[D] One-sixth of produce
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [One-sixth of produce]
Notes:
During the Mauryan administration, the main occupation was agriculture and the main source of revenue was land revenue. Peasants used to pay one-sixth of total produce as tax which was also called as bhaga.
35. Pranaya refers to which of the following?
[A] Fruits tax
[B] Liquor Tax
[C] Emergency tax
[D] Sales tax
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Emergency tax]
Notes:
Kautilya or Chanakya mentions certain emergency taxes which were called Pranaya or additional levies that the state could impose if the treasury got depleted. These emergency taxes included a tax on farmers, an additional levy on the traders, and taxes on the income of actors, singers, and prostitutes.
36. In the Nashik inscription which of the following has been described as ekabamhana?
[A] Simuka
[B] Pulumayi II
[C] Gautamiputra Satkarni
[D] Yajna Sri Satakarni
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gautamiputra Satkarni]
Notes:
In the Nashik inscription Gautamiputra Satkarni is described as ekabamhana which means a peerless Brahmana and also khatiya-dapamanamada which means the one who destroyed the high handedness and pride of the Kshatriyas.
37. Which of the following rulers of the Kushan period adopted the title ‘Devputra’?
[A] Kadphises I
[B] Vima Kadphises
[C] Kanishka
[D] Vasudeva II
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kanishka]
Notes:
Kanishka I or Kanishka the Great, was the most famous king of the Kushana Empire. He ruled the Kushan dynasty in the second century. He adopted the title ‘Devputra’ and has been shown wearing a ‘peaked helmet’ on some of his coins.
38. Which of the following Pala ruler was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king, Dhruva?
[A] Gopala
[B] Devapala
[C] Dharmapala
[D] Mahipala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Dharmapala]
Notes:
The second Pala ruler Dharmapala initially suffered defeats at the hands of the Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas. He was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king, Dhruva. However, later Dharmapala conquered large parts of northern India.
39. The Kadamba King Mayurasharma ruled from Banavasi during which of the following periods?
[A] A.D. 330 to 345
[B] A.D. 335 to 355
[C] A.D. 345 to 365
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [A.D. 345 to 365]
Notes:
Mayurasharma founded the Kadamba dynasty and ruled from Banavasi in the fourth century CE. His reign is conventionally dated to approximately 345–365 CE.
40. Which of the following epics are written by Vasudeva?
1) Yudhishthiravijaya
2) Sauri-kathodaya
3) Tripuradahana
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2, & 3]
Notes:
Vasudeva was the son of Ravi. He was a Yamaka poet and a protege of King Ramavarman of Mahodayapura. Vasudeva has given us three long epics Yudhishthiravijaya, Sauri-kathodaya and Tripuradahana.
