Ancient Indian History Quiz Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Part- 3

21.With reference to historical evidences of ancient India, which of the following is / are correct statements?

1. Oldest manuscripts on bark or palm leaf known in India are Buddhist
2. The earliest written record in India dates from the reign of Asoka
3. The oldest evidences of any foreign language in India were the coins of Indo-Greeks

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3

Correct Answer: D [ 1, 2 & 3 ] Notes: The Buddhist literature Oldest manuscripts on bark or palm leaf known in India are Buddhist. They are written to pass on the knowledge. The pitakas are written on leaves. The earliest written record in India dates from the reign of Asoka and his edicts

22.Which among the following is / are correct statements with respect to the Aryans and Dasyus with respect to earliest settlements of Aryans in India?

1. Aryans believed in bright gods of nature, Dasyus believed in idolatry
2. Aryans performed sacrifices, Dasyus performed no sacrifices

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: B [ Only 2 ] Notes: Dasyus were the rivals of Indo Aryans of Vedas, who were Indo European and most possibly Iranic, who followed quite different religious ideas.

23.Which among the following is / are works of Kalidasa?

[A] Raghuvamsha and kiratarjuniya
[B] Kumarasambhava and Raghuvamsha
[C] Malti madhava and Kumara Sambhav
[D] Malti madhav and Kumara Sambhav

Correct Answer: B [ Kumarasambhava and Raghuvamsha ] Notes: Kumarasambhava and Raghuvamsha are the works of Kalidasa. Raghuvamsha is a Sanskrit mahakavya by the most celebrated Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. Though an exact date of composition is unknown, the poet is presumed to have flourished in the 5th century CE. Kumārasambhavam is an epic poem by Kālidāsa

24.In what way, the administration of the Guptas was different with the Mauryas?

1. The Kings in Gupta era became more and more interested in local administration in comparison to Mauryas
2. The Gupta era saw an increasing trend of paying salaries in cash in comparison to Mauryas

Select the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: D [ Neither 1 nor 2 ] Notes: Following is an excerpt from Romila Thapar’s magnum opus. © 1966 Romila Thapar The Gupta kings took exalted imperial titles – ‘the Great King of Kings, the Supreme Lord’, etc., yet in the case of the later rulers these titles were exaggerated, since their claimants could hardly compare with the emperors of earlier centuries,

25.With reference to Gupta Empire, consider the following statements:

1. Gupta Empire was based mainly in parts of central and southern India.
2. Culture of Gupta Empire revolved around ‘Brahmanical religion’
3. Harisena was a famous poet in the court of Chandragupta-II.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] 2 Only
[B] 2 and 3 Only
[C] 1, 2 and 3
[D] None

Correct Answer: A [ 2 Only] Notes: First statement is incorrect because Gupta Empire was based mainly in central and northern Indian areas of Prayag (Allahabad), Saket (modern Ayodhya) and Magadha (Bihar). Second statement is correct because Gupta Empire revolved around brahmanical characteristics. Many of their works are examples to it. Third statement is also incorrect because Harisena was a famous poet in the court of Samudragupta and not in court of Chandragupta II.

26.Which of the following is / are correct statements with respect to the Indus Valley Civilization people? 

1. They were primarily rural people engaged in agriculture
2.  They had great reverence for bull
3. They used horse for war and outdoor games

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

[A] 1 Only
[B] 2 Only
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: B [ 2 Only ] Notes: Only second statement is correct in this question. Indus valley is considered to be made of urban settlements primarily. Use of horse by Indus Valley People is also doubtful.

27.Consider the following pairs:

1. Sabha and Samiti – Vedic period
2. Girnar inscription – Rudradaman
3. Devnam piya – Ashoka

Which of the above is/are correct?

[A] 1 & 2 Only
[B] 3 Only
[C] 2 & 3 Only
[D] 1, 2 & 3

Correct Answer: D [ 1, 2 & 3 ] Notes: Devnam piya means “Beloved of The Gods”. Ashoka has been referred as “Devanampriya Priyadarshi” in Maski edict in Raichur District of Karnataka. Rudradaman-I was a Saka ruler from the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. Sabha and Samiti were the two popular assemblies existed (in early Rig-Vedic) and the assembly hall (Later Rig-Vedic).

28.The Srauta Sutra, Grihya Sutra, Dharma Sutra and Sulba Sutra are the parts of which among the following Vedangas?

[A] Vyakarana

[B] Kalpa

[C] Nirkuta

[D] Shiksha

Correct Answer: B [Kalpa ] Notes: There are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas: the Siksha and Vyakarana of Panini, the Chhandas of Pingalacharya, the Nirukta of Yaska, the Jyotisha of Garga, and the Kalpas (Srauta, Grihya, Dharma and Sulba) belonging to the authorship of various Rishis. Siksha is a knowledge of phonetics. Siksha deals with pronunciation and accent. The text of the Vedas is arranged in various forms or Pathas. The Pada-patha gives each word its separate form. The Krama-patha connects the word in pairs. Vyakarana is Sanskrit grammar. Panini’s books are most famous. Without knowledge of Vyakarana, you cannot understand the Vedas.

29.Who among the following is known as father of Indian archaeology?

[A] Colonel Mackenzie
[B] Alexander Cunningham
[C] Robert Seawell
[D] John Marshal

Correct Answer: B [ Alexander Cunningham ] Notes: Alexander Cunningham is the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He is often called as the father of Indian archaeology

30.The genesis of settled, village-based societies generally goes back to:

[A] Paleolithic age
[B] Neolithic age
[C] Mesolithic age
[D] Chalcolithic age

Correct Answer: B [ Neolithic age ] Notes: The genesis of settled, village-based societies generally goes back to the Neolithic period.

🔴Previous Part 2 - Click Here