50 MCQ on ancient India

50 MCQ on ancient India

1. Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire? a) Chandragupta Maurya b) Ashoka c) Bindusara d) SamudraguptaAnswer: a) Chandragupta Maurya
2. The ancient Indian text, Rigveda, is a collection of: a) Hymns b) Proverbs c) Legal codes d) StoriesAnswer: a) Hymns
3. The concept of ‘Ahimsa’ or non-violence was strongly advocated by: a) Ashoka b) Chandragupta Maurya c) Gautama Buddha d) MahaviraAnswer: d) Mahavira
4. Which river is associated with the Harappan Civilization? a) Yamuna b) Ganges c) Indus d) SarasvatiAnswer: c) Indus
5. The capital of the Gupta Empire was: a) Pataliputra b) Ayodhya c) Ujjain d) KannaujAnswer: c) Ujjain
6. The famous Mauryan rock edicts were inscribed in: a) Prakrit b) Sanskrit c) Pali d) TamilAnswer: a) Prakrit
7. The Great Bath is a notable structure found in the ancient city of: a) Harappa b) Mohenjo-daro c) Lothal d) KalibanganAnswer: b) Mohenjo-daro
8. Who was the first ruler to issue gold coins in ancient India? a) Ashoka b) Chandragupta Maurya c) Kanishka d) HarshaAnswer: c) Kanishka
9. The famous ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata belonged to which period? a) Vedic period b) Gupta period c) Maurya period d) Harappan periodAnswer: b) Gupta period
10. The ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, ‘Arthashastra,’ is attributed to: a) Chanakya b) Kalidasa c) Bhasa d) Vishnu SharmaAnswer: a) Chanakya
11. The rock-cut temples of Ellora are located in which state of India? a) Madhya Pradesh b) Maharashtra c) Karnataka d) RajasthanAnswer: b) Maharashtra
12. The famous battle of Kalinga, which had a profound impact on Ashoka, took place in modern-day: a) Bihar b) Odisha c) Madhya Pradesh d) Andhra PradeshAnswer: b) Odisha
13. The ancient Indian medical text ‘Sushruta Samhita’ is primarily focused on: a) Astronomy b) Mathematics c) Medicine and surgery d) PhilosophyAnswer: c) Medicine and surgery
14. The famous Buddhist cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora are located in which region of India? a) Western Ghats b) Eastern Ghats c) Himalayas d) Deccan PlateauAnswer: d) Deccan Plateau
15. The ancient Indian city of Takshashila was a renowned center for: a) Trade and commerce b) Education and learning c) Religious pilgrimage d) Military trainingAnswer: b) Education and learning
16. The term “Dharma” in ancient Indian context refers to: a) Duty and righteousness b) Wealth and prosperity c) Love and compassion d) Liberation and salvationAnswer: a) Duty and righteousness
17. The concept of ‘Jati’ or caste system is mentioned in which ancient Indian religious text? a) Rigveda b) Upanishads c) Manusmriti d) ArthashastraAnswer: c) Manusmriti
18. The ancient Indian festival of Diwali is associated with the victory of Lord Rama over: a) Ravana b) Kansa c) Hiranyakashipu d) MahishasuraAnswer: a) Ravana
19. The Gupta ruler known for his patronage of arts and learning, often referred to as the “Napoleon of India,” was: a) Chandragupta I b) Samudragupta c) Chandragupta II d) KumaraguptaAnswer: c) Chandragupta II
20. The ancient Indian board game mentioned in the Mahabharata is: a) Chess b) Pachisi c) Snakes and Ladders d) ChaturangaAnswer: d) Chaturanga
21. The concept of ‘Moksha’ in Hinduism refers to: a) Reincarnation b) Liberation from the cycle of birth and death c) Ritual sacrifices d) AsceticismAnswer: b) Liberation from the cycle of birth and death
22. The author of the ancient Indian epic, Ramayana, is: a) Valmiki b) Vyasa c) Tulsidas d) KalidasaAnswer: a) Valmiki
23. The ancient Indian numeral system, including the concept of zero, was developed during the: a) Vedic period b) Mauryan period c) Gupta period d) Harappan periodAnswer: c) Gupta period
24. The Iron Pillar of Delhi, which has not rusted for over a thousand years, is associated with the reign of: a) Ashoka b) Chandragupta Maurya c) Samudragupta d) Chandragupta IIAnswer: d) Chandragupta II
25. The famous Buddhist stupa, Sanchi Stupa, is located in the present-day state of: a) Uttar Pradesh b) Madhya Pradesh c) Bihar d) RajasthanAnswer: b) Madhya Pradesh
26. The ancient Indian text ‘Natya Shastra’ is attributed to: a) Kalidasa b) Bharata Muni c) Panini d) PatanjaliAnswer: b) Bharata Muni
27. The concept of ‘Dharma’ in Jainism refers to: a) Duty b) Righteousness c) Non-violence d) All of the aboveAnswer: d) All of the above
28. The Kailasa Temple, one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples, is located at: a) Khajuraho b) Ellora c) Hampi d) KonarkAnswer: b) Ellora
29. The ancient Indian text ‘Kautilya Arthashastra’ primarily deals with: a) Politics and governance b) Philosophy and ethics c) Science and technology d) Medicine and healthAnswer: a) Politics and governance
30. The ancient Indian ruler who embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War was: a) Ashoka b) Chandragupta Maurya c) Bindusara d) SamudraguptaAnswer: a) Ashoka
31. The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka is known for spreading Buddhism through: a) Missionaries b) Trade routes c) Military conquests d) Cultural exchangesAnswer: a) Missionaries
32. The ancient Indian text ‘Yajnavalkya Smriti’ is associated with: a) Law and jurisprudence b) Medicine and surgery c) Astronomy d) Epic poetryAnswer: a) Law and jurisprudence
33. The concept of ‘Anatta’ (non-self) is a central tenet of which ancient Indian religious tradition? a) Hinduism b) Buddhism c) Jainism d) SikhismAnswer: b) Buddhism
34. The term ‘Bhakti’ in the context of ancient Indian philosophy refers to: a) Rituals and sacrifices b) Devotion and love towards a deity c) Meditation and asceticism d) Duty and righteousnessAnswer: b) Devotion and love towards a deity
35. The ancient Indian university of Nalanda was a center for the study of: a) Medicine b) Philosophy c) Astronomy d) All of the aboveAnswer: d) All of the above
36. The ancient Indian city of Vijayanagara, known for its grand architecture, is located in the present-day state of: a) Karnataka b) Tamil Nadu c) Andhra Pradesh d) TelanganaAnswer: a) Karnataka
37. The ‘Saptaparni Cave’ is associated with the First Buddhist Council and is located in: a) Bodh Gaya b) Rajgir c) Sarnath d) VaishaliAnswer: b) Rajgir
38. The Gupta period is often referred to as the “Golden Age of India” due to: a) Economic prosperity b) Artistic and cultural achievements c) Scientific advancements d) All of the aboveAnswer: d) All of the above
39. The ancient Indian city of Ujjain is associated with the observatory built by the astronomer: a) Aryabhata b) Varahamihira c) Brahmagupta d) Bhaskara IAnswer: a) Aryabhata
40. The ancient Indian text ‘Kamasutra’ is attributed to the sage: a) Valmiki b) Vyasa c) Vatsyayana d) PatanjaliAnswer: c) Vatsyayana
41. The capital of the Chola dynasty, a prominent South Indian dynasty, was: a) Tanjavur b) Madurai c) Kanchipuram d) HampiAnswer: a) Tanjavur
42. The ancient Indian city of Patliputra (Pataliputra) was located on the banks of which river? a) Ganges b) Yamuna c) Sarasvati d) BrahmaputraAnswer: a) Ganges
43. The famous Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ is traditionally attributed to the sage: a) Vyasa b) Valmiki c) Tulsidas d) KalidasaAnswer: a) Vyasa
44. The Mauryan Emperor who was known for his patronage of Buddhism and was Ashoka’s grandson was: a) Chandragupta Maurya b) Bindusara c) Ashoka d) SamudraguptaAnswer: b) Bindusara
45. The ancient Indian philosopher and teacher who founded the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy was: a) Ramanuja b) Shankaracharya c) Madhva d) VallabhaAnswer: b) Shankaracharya
46. The ancient Indian city of Taxila (Takshashila) was a center of learning in the region of: a) Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan) b) Magadha (modern-day Bihar, India) c) Kalinga (modern-day Odisha, India) d) Vatsa (modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India)Answer: a) Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan)
47. The ancient Indian art of storytelling through dance and drama is known as: a) Kathak b) Bharatanatyam c) Kathakali d) NatyaAnswer: d) Natya
48. The ancient Indian astronomer who wrote the ‘Brahmasphutasiddhanta’ and made significant contributions to trigonometry was: a) Aryabhata b) Varahamihira c) Brahmagupta d) Bhaskara IIAnswer: c) Brahmagupta
49. The ancient Indian city of Amaravati, known for its stupa and Buddhist art, is located in the present-day state of: a) Andhra Pradesh b) Tamil Nadu c) Karnataka d) TelanganaAnswer: a) Andhra Pradesh
50. The ancient Indian text ‘Manusmriti’ deals with: a) Medicine and surgery b) Law and jurisprudence c) Astronomy d) Philosophy and ethicsAnswer: b) Law and jurisprudence