In this post, we have put in a lot of effort to compile a set of highly important and repeatedly asked multiple-choice questions on the Mauryan Empire and Emperor Ashoka. These questions have been carefully selected based on their frequent appearance in various competitive exams such as OPSC, OSSC, OSSSC, Police, Railway, SSC, and more.
We are confident that 1 to 2 questions from this set are very likely to appear in your upcoming exams.
Your job is to practice all the questions thoroughly to improve your chances of success.
At the end of this post, we’ve also provided a download link for the PDF, so you can easily save and study it offline.
All the best, friends – keep practicing and crack your exam!
Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Bindusara
(c) Ashoka
(d) Brihadratha
Answer: (a) Chandragupta Maurya
Who was Chanakya?
(a) A Mauryan emperor
(b) Chandragupta Maurya’s chief advisor
(c) Ashoka’s religious teacher
(d) The commander of the Mauryan army
Answer: (b) Chandragupta Maurya’s chief advisor
What is the name of Chanakya’s famous treatise on political science and statecraft?
(a) Indica
(b) Arthashastra
(c) Rajatarangini
(d) Mudrarakshasa
Answer: (b) Arthashastra
Which dynasty did Chandragupta Maurya overthrow to establish the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Nanda Dynasty
(b) Gupta Dynasty
(c) Kushan Dynasty
(d) Maurya Dynasty (itself)
Answer: (a) Nanda Dynasty
What was the capital of the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Pataliputra
(b) Taxila
(c) Ujjain
(d) Kalinga
Answer: (a) Pataliputra
Who was the Greek ambassador sent to Chandragupta Maurya’s court?
(a) Seleucus Nicator
(b) Megasthenes
(c) Ptolemy
(d) Alexander
Answer: (b) Megasthenes
What is the name of the book written by Megasthenes about India during the Mauryan period?
(a) Arthashastra
(b) Indica
(c) Dipavamsa
(d) Mahavamsa
Answer: (b) Indica
Who succeeded Chandragupta Maurya as the Mauryan emperor?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Dasharatha
(d) Samprati
Answer: (b) Bindusara
Bindusara was also known by which other name?
(a) Devanampiya
(b) Amitraghata
(c) Dharmashoka
(d) Piyadassi
Answer: (b) Amitraghata
Ashoka was the governor of which region before becoming the emperor?
(a) Taxila and Ujjain
(b) Kalinga and Magadha
(c) Gandhara and Kambhoja
(d) Vatsa and Kosala
Answer: (a) Taxila and Ujjain
Which event is considered a turning point in Ashoka’s life?
(a) His coronation ceremony
(b) The Kalinga War
(c) His marriage to Devi
(d) His meeting with Chanakya
Answer: (b) The Kalinga War
In which year did the Kalinga War take place?
(a) 261 BCE
(b) 322 BCE
(c) 185 BCE
(d) 273 BCE
Answer: (a) 261 BCE
What was the primary reason for Ashoka’s remorse after the Kalinga War?
(a) Loss of territory
(b) High number of casualties
(c) Failure to achieve victory
(d) Opposition from his ministers
Answer: (b) High number of casualties
After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced which religion?
(a) Jainism
(b) Buddhism
(c) Hinduism
(d) Ajivika
Answer: (b) Buddhism
Who was the Buddhist monk who influenced Ashoka to adopt Buddhism?
(a) Mahavira
(b) Upagupta
(c) Gautama Buddha
(d) Nagarjuna
Answer: (b) Upagupta
What is the term used for Ashoka’s policy of governance based on Buddhist principles?
(a) Arthashastra
(b) Dhamma
(c) Tripitaka
(d) Sangha
Answer: (b) Dhamma
What were Ashoka’s edicts primarily inscribed on?
(a) Gold coins
(b) Copper plates
(c) Pillars and rock surfaces
(d) Palm leaves
Answer: (c) Pillars and rock surfaces
In which script were most of Ashoka’s edicts written?
(a) Sanskrit
(b) Pali
(c) Brahmi
(d) Kharosthi
Answer: (c) Brahmi
Which script was used for Ashoka’s edicts found in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent?
(a) Brahmi
(b) Pali
(c) Kharosthi
(d) Aramaic
Answer: (c) Kharosthi
What does the Lion Capital of Ashoka, adopted as the national emblem of India, originate from?
(a) Sarnath Pillar
(b) Lauriya Nandangarh Pillar
(c) Sanchi Stupa
(d) Bharhut Stupa
Answer: (a) Sarnath Pillar
What does the “Dharma Chakra” in the center of the Indian national flag represent, which is also found on Ashokan pillars?
(a) Truth and non-violence
(b) The wheel of law (Dhamma)
(c) Peace and prosperity
(d) Courage and strength
Answer: (b) The wheel of law (Dhamma)
Ashoka appointed officials called “Dhammamahamatras.” What was their primary role?
(a) Collecting taxes
(b) Maintaining law and order
(c) Spreading the principles of Dhamma
(d) Commanding the army
Answer: (c) Spreading the principles of Dhamma
Which of the following was NOT a principle of Ashoka’s Dhamma?
(a) Respect for elders
(b) Tolerance towards all religions
(c) Animal sacrifice
(d) Truthfulness
Answer: (c) Animal sacrifice
Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at which place?
(a) Rajagriha
(b) Vaishali
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Kundalvana
Answer: (c) Pataliputra
Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council convened by Ashoka?
(a) Mahakassapa
(b) Moggaliputta Tissa
(c) Vasumitra
(d) Asanga
Answer: (b) Moggaliputta Tissa
Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to various parts of the world. Who was sent to Sri Lanka?
(a) Majjhima and Kassapagotta
(b) Mahinda and Sanghamitta
(c) Sona and Uttara
(d) Dharmarakshita
Answer: (b) Mahinda and Sanghamitta
The construction of which famous Buddhist structure is attributed to Ashoka?
(a) Ajanta Caves
(b) Ellora Caves
(c) Sanchi Stupa
(d) Konark Temple
Answer: (c) Sanchi Stupa
Which of Ashoka’s major rock edicts describes the Kalinga War and his remorse?
(a) Rock Edict I
(b) Rock Edict VIII
(c) Rock Edict XIII
(d) Rock Edict XII
Answer: (c) Rock Edict XIII
Which of Ashoka’s pillar edicts is known as the “Queen’s Edict”?
(a) Pillar Edict I
(b) Pillar Edict VII
(c) Queen’s Pillar Edict (Rummindei Pillar Edict)
(d) Delhi-Topra Pillar Edict
Answer: (c) Queen’s Pillar Edict (Rummindei Pillar Edict)
The Rummindei Pillar Edict of Ashoka commemorates his visit to which place?
(a) Lumbini
(b) Bodh Gaya
(c) Sarnath
(d) Kushinagar
Answer: (a) Lumbini
What was the main purpose of Ashoka’s rock and pillar edicts?
(a) To record his military victories
(b) To announce tax policies
(c) To propagate his Dhamma and administrative principles
(d) To list the names of his queens
Answer: (c) To propagate his Dhamma and administrative principles
Which of the following regions was NOT part of the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka?
(a) Afghanistan
(b) Bengal
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Kashmir
Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu
The Mauryan administration was highly centralized. What was the highest level of administration?
(a) Village
(b) District
(c) Province
(d) Empire
Answer: (d) Empire
The Mauryan Empire was divided into several provinces. What were these provinces called?
(a) Janapadas
(b) Mahajanapadas
(c) Vishayas
(d) Chakras
Answer: (d) Chakras
Who was the head of a province in the Mauryan administration?
(a) Gramika
(b) Yukta
(c) Kumara
(d) Rajuka
Answer: (c) Kumara
What was the smallest unit of administration in the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Grama (village)
(b) Vishaya (district)
(c) Mandala (province)
(d) Pura (city)
Answer: (a) Grama (village)
The head of the village administration during the Mauryan period was known as?
(a) Nagarika
(b) Gramani or Gramika
(c) Pradeshika
(d) Samaharta
Answer: (b) Gramani or Gramika
What was the main source of revenue for the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Trade with foreign countries
(b) Land tax
(c) Gifts from feudatory kings
(d) Mining of precious metals
Answer: (b) Land tax
The officer responsible for the assessment and collection of land revenue in the Mauryan Empire was known as?
(a) Sannidhata
(b) Samaharta
(c) Antapala
(d) Sitadhyaksha
Answer: (b) Samaharta
What was the name of the royal highway connecting Pataliputra to the northwest frontier during the Mauryan period?
(a) Uttarapatha
(b) Dakshinapatha
(c) Silk Road
(d) Grand Trunk Road (though its current form is later)
Answer: (a) Uttarapatha
Which of the following was an important center of learning during the Mauryan period?
(a) Nalanda
(b) Taxila
(c) Vikramshila
(d) Valabhi
Answer: (b) Taxila
The Mauryan army was known for its large size and organization. Which of the following was a key component of the Mauryan army?
(a) Cavalry
(b) Chariots
(c) Elephants
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
Who was the head of the army department in the Mauryan administration?
(a) Senapati
(b) Amatya
(c) Purohita
(d) Yuvaraja
Answer: (a) Senapati
The Mauryan Empire had an efficient spy system. What were the spies called?
(a) Dutas
(b) Charas
(c) Agni Rakshakas
(d) Vanapalas
Answer: (b) Charas
Which of the following art forms flourished during the Mauryan period?
(a) Terracotta figurines
(b) Stone pillars with animal capitals
(c) Rock-cut caves
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
The Barabar Caves in Bihar, some of the earliest rock-cut caves in India, belong to which period?
(a) Gupta Period
(b) Mauryan Period
(c) Kushan Period
(d) Vakataka Period
Answer: (b) Mauryan Period
Which of the following Mauryan rulers adopted the title “Devanampiya Piyadassi”?
(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Bindusara
(c) Ashoka
(d) Brihadratha
Answer: (c) Ashoka
The term “Devanampiya” literally means?
(a) Beloved of the gods
(b) Great king
(c) Righteous ruler
(d) Conqueror of all
Answer: (a) Beloved of the gods
Ashoka’s inscriptions provide valuable insights into his reign and policies. Which language was commonly used in these inscriptions in the eastern part of the empire?
(a) Sanskrit
(b) Pali
(c) Magadhi Prakrit
(d) Tamil
Answer: (c) Magadhi Prakrit
Which of the following was a significant contribution of the Mauryan Empire to Indian history?
(a) Establishment of a unified empire
(b) Promotion of art and architecture
(c) Spread of Buddhism
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
After Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire began to decline. Who was the last Mauryan ruler?
(a) Kunala
(b) Dasharatha
(c) Samprati
(d) Brihadratha
Answer: (d) Brihadratha
The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha, was assassinated by whom?
(a) Pushyamitra Sunga
(b) Vasudeva Kanva
(c) Kharavela
(d) Agnimitra
Answer: (a) Pushyamitra Sunga
Which dynasty succeeded the Mauryan Empire in the Magadha region?
(a) Gupta Dynasty
(b) Sunga Dynasty
(c) Kushan Dynasty
(d) Satavahana Dynasty
Answer: (b) Sunga Dynasty
The Sarnath Lion Capital has how many lions facing different directions?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Answer: (c) Four
The Ashoka Chakra in the Indian flag has how many spokes?
(a) 20
(b) 22
(c) 24
(d) 26
Answer: (c) 24
Which of Ashoka’s minor rock edicts mentions his personal faith in Buddhism?
(a) Maski Edict
(b) Brahmagiri Edict
(c) Sarnath Edict
(d) Kalinga Edict
Answer: (a) Maski Edict
The Maski Edict is significant because it is the first inscription that explicitly refers to Ashoka by which name?
(a) Devanampiya
(b) Piyadassi
(c) Ashoka
(d) Chakravartin
Answer: (c) Ashoka
Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma was aimed at creating a society based on?
(a) Strict laws and punishments
(b) Religious uniformity
(c) Peace, harmony, and tolerance
(d) Military strength and expansion
Answer: (c) Peace, harmony, and tolerance
Which of the following animals is NOT depicted on the Sarnath Lion Capital?
(a) Lion
(b) Elephant
(c) Horse
(d) Bull
(e) Tiger
Answer: (e) Tiger
The concept of “Vithi Karaka” in Mauryan administration referred to?
(a) Forest officials
(b) Road construction officials
(c) Revenue collectors
(d) Judges
Answer: (b) Road construction officials
The term “Pulisani” in Mauryan administration referred to?
(a) City administrators
(b) Village elders
(c) Royal physicians
(d) Accountants
Answer: (a) City administrators