UPSC IAS Prelims Base – Ancient History

Which one of the Chola kings conquered Ceylon?

Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

1.  Lothal : Ancient dockyard
2. Samath : First Sermon of Buddha
3. Rajgir : Lion capital of Ashoka
4.  Nalanda : Great seat of Buddhist learning

From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the:

According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas the sequential order of the cycle of four acons (yugas) is:

Which one of the following is not a part of early Jain literature?

Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk:

Hoysala monuments are found in:

Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?

Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6^th century B.C. ?

The term ‘Aryan’ denotes:

Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by:

Consider the following historical places:

1. Ajanta Caves
2. Lepakshi Temple
3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for moral paintings?

A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

In which one of the following cities is the Lingaraja Temple located?

Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements :

1. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene
2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times?

1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism.
2. Invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.
3. Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The term ‘Yavanapriya’ mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts denoted:

The Indo-Laws Kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century B.C. was:

Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?

What does Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sutras) relate to?

With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

Who among the following laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire?

In the Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisatya Avalokitesvara was also known as:

The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the

Which one of the following sculptures was invariably used green schist as the medium?

Consider the following statements

1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times.
2. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the:

Which of the following characterizes/ characterize the people of Indus Civilization?

1. They possessed great palaces and tern pies.
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?

In the context of cultural history of India, a page in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period women and Sudras speak:

The concept of Eight fold path forms the theme of:

The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called:

A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

The “Dharma” and “Rita” depict a central Idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements :

1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one’s duties to oneself and to others.
2. Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Who among the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?

Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

Who among the following presided over the Buddhist Council held during the reign of Kanishka at Kashmir ?

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

The word ‘Hindu as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by:

Consider the following statements:

1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
2. The last Sunga king, Devabhuti was assassinated by his Brahmana Minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.
3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhras.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above Ware correct?

Assertion (A): The Aham and Puram poems of the Padinen Kilukanakku group formed a continuation of the Sangam composition.
Reason (R): They were included under the post-Sangam works as against the Sangam works proper.

Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?

The Ashoka major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts:

The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on:

Consider the following statements:

1. Vardhaman Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka
2. Gautama Buddha’s mother was a princess from the Koshalan dynasty
3. Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara, belonged to Benaras

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the:

The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this preeminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations ?

Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

1. Mrichchakatikam-Shudraka
2. Buddhacharita-Vasuvandhu
3. Mudrarakshasha-Vishakadatta
4. Harshacharita-Banabhatta

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Mrichchhakatika’ an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with:

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism?

1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment
2. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas
3. Denial of efficacy of rituals

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The following persons came to India at one time or another:

1. Fa-Hien
2. I-Tsing
3. Megasthanese
4. Hieun-Tsang

The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

Assertion (A): The origin of feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns.
Reason (R): There was considerable expansion of the feudal system during the Gupta period.

Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order?

The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of

Which one of the following animals was not represented seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture?

Which of the following were common to both Buddhism and Jainism?

1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment
2.  Indifference to the authority of the Vedas
3.  Denial of efficacy of rituals
4.  Non-injury to animal life

Select the answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct?

1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by 1^st century AD.
2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of 3^rd century AD.
3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5^th century AD.
4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7^th century AD.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by :

The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following?

Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?

Consider the following princely States of the British rule in India:

1. Jhansi
2. Sambalpur
3. Satara

The correct chronological order in which they were annexed by the British is:

The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat, the year would be:

What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India?

1. Gold coins
2. Punch marked silver coins
3. Iron plough
4. Urban culture

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

With reference to the art and archaeo-logical history of India, which one among the following was made earliest

The term ‘Apabhramsa’ was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote:

The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the:

In the context of ancient Indian society which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?

What does Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sutras) relate to?

In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period women and Sudras speak:

Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.
Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?

Which one of the following ports handled the North Indian trade during the Gupta period?

The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is :

Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.
Reason (R): He wanted to popularize only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other there?

Which one of the following temples figured in the news regarding the institution of the Devadasi?

Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non¬violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.
Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s economy, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them.
2. The wages rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to his inscriptions is:

Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because:

Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

Which one of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander’s invasion?

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?

1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Between which of the following was the ancient town of Takshasila located?

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by

Assertion (A): According to Ashoka’s edicts social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion.
Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.

With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order?

In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the:

Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?

Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?

Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food-grains to be utilised during the crises in the country?

Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

Consider the following statements

1. The Ikshvaku rulers of Southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
2. The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/ are correct?