Maurya Dynasty
????Who recognised Sandrokottos as Chandra Gupta Maurya?
(A) William Jones
(B) V. Smith
(C) R. K. Mukherjee
(D) D. R. Bhandharkar
Ans: (A)
???? Chandragupta Maurya figures prominently in the book of
(A) Bhasa
(B) Sudraka
(C) Vishakhadatta
(D) Ashvaghosha
Ans: (C)
????. Which among the following is India’s oldest dynasty?
(A) Gupta (B) Maurya
(C) Vardhana (D) Kushana
Ans: (B)
???? First Indian Empire was established by
(A) Kanishka
(B) Harsh
(C) Chandra Gupta Maurya
(D) Samundragupta
Ans: (C)
????Who was called as ‘Sandrocottos’ by Justin, the Greek Writer?
(A) Chandragupta Maurya
(B) Chandragupta I
(C) Chandragupta II
(D) Samudragupta
Ans: (A)
????. Who of the following mentions about the meeting of Sandrokottos
(Chandragupta Maurya) with Alexander, the Great?
(A) Pliny
(B) Justin
(C) Strabo
(D) Megasthenese
Ans: (B)
???? By which name was Chanakya known in his childhood?
(A) Ajaya (B) Chanakya
(C) Vishnugupta (D) Deogupta
Ans: (C)
???? Kautilya was prime minister of
(A) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(B) Ashoka
(C) Chandragupta Maurya
(D) King Janak
Ans: (C)
????. The Arthashastra of Kautilya is a
(A) Play about Chandragupta Maurya
(B) Biography
(C) History of Chandragupta Maurya
(D) Book on Principles of Government
Ans: (D)
????. Another name of Chanakya was
(A) Bhattswami
(B) Vishnugupta
(C) Rajshekhar
(D) Vishakhdatta
Ans: (B)
???? Kautilya’s Arthashastra deals with the aspects of
(A) Economic life
(B) Political policies
(C) Religious life
(D) Social life
Ans: (B)
???? Which one of the following is the seventh part of the State according to Saptang Theory of State?
(A) Janapada (B) Durga
(C) Mitra (D) Kosha
Ans: (C)
????. Deimachus came to India during the reign of
(A) Chandragupta Maurya
(B) Bindusara
(C) Ashoka
(D) Kanishka
Ans: (B)
????. Which of the following can be compared to ‘Prince’ of Machiavelli?
(A) Kalidasa’s ‘Malvikagni Mitram’
(B) Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’
(C) Vatsyanana’s ‘Kamasutra’
(D) Thiruvalluvar’s ‘Thirukkural’
Ans: (B)
????. The remains of which ancient city have been found at the Kumrahar site?
(A) Vaishali (B) Pataliputra
(C) Kapilavastu (D) Shravasti
Ans: (B)
????Chandragupta’s palace situated at Pataliputra is mainly made up of
(A) Bricks (B) Stones
(C) Woods (D) Clays
Ans: (C)
???? Who amongst the following Mauryan rulers did conquer the Deccan?
(A) Ashoka
(B) Chandragupta
(C) Bindusara
(D) Kunala
Ans: (B)
????. Bulandibagh was ancient site of
(A) Kapilavastu (B) Pataliputra
(C) Vaishali (D) Varanasi
Ans: (B)
????. The Inscription which proves Chandragupta’s way over Western India is
(A) Kalinga Rock Inscription
(B) Girnar Rock Inscription of Ashoka
(C) Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman
(D) Sopara Rock Inscription of Ashoka
Ans: (C)
???? Who was the first king to conquer Malwa, Gujarat and Maharashtra?
(A) Harsh
(B) Skandgupta
(C) Vikramaditya
(D) Chandragupta Maurya
Ans: (D)
????. Which Indian King defeated Seleucus, the administrator of Sindh and Afghanistan appointed by Alexander?
(A) Samudragupta
(B) Ashok
(C) Bindusar
(D) Chandragupta
Ans: (D)
????. That Gujarat was included in the Kingdom of Chandragupta Maurya is proved by
(A) Greek accounts
(B) Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman
(C) Jain tradition
(D) Pillar Edict II of Ashoka
Ans: (B)
???? The given map relates to
(A) Kanishka at the time of his death
(B) Samudragupta after the close of his South Indian campaign
(C) Ashoka towards the close of his reign
(D) Empire of Thaneswar on the eve of Harsha’s accession
Ans: (C)
???? In which year Chandragupta Maurya had defeated Seleucus?
(A) 317 B.C. (B) 315 B.C.
(C) 305 B.C. (D) 300 B.C.
Ans: (C)
????. Which one territory of the following was not a part of Ashoka’s empire?
(A) Afghanistan (B) Bihar
(C) Sri Lanka (D) Kalinga
Ans: (C)
????. Who established ‘Rajdharma’ on triplex bases of longanimity, liberty and compassion?
(A) Ashoka (B) Akbar
(C) Ranjit Singh (D) Shivaji
Ans: (A)
???? India’s first hospital and herbal gardens were built by
(A) Ashoka
(B) Chandragupta Maurya
(C) Lord Mahavir
(D) Dhanvantari
Ans: (A)
????. In which of the following inscriptions of Ashoka, mention has been made of South Indian kingdoms?
(A) Third Major Rock Edict
(B) Second Major Rock Edict
(C) Ninth Major Rock Edict
(D) First Pillar Inscription
Ans: (B)
???? A Buddhist Council during the reign of Ashoka was held at
(A) Magadha (B) Pataliputra
(C) Samastipur (D) Rajgriha
Ans: (B)
????. ‘Inspite of being Buddhist, Ashoka did not leave belief in Hinduism’ validation of this fact is
(A) Pilgrims
(B) Belief in Moksha
(C) Epithet of ‘Devanampriya’
(D) Establishment of veterinary hospitals
Ans: (C)
????. What were ‘Sarthwah’?
(A) Brokers
(B) Convoy of Merchants
(C) Money lender
(D) Pilgrims
Ans: (B)
????. Rajjuka’s were
(A) Traders in the Chola Kingdom
(B) Officers in the Mauryan administration
(C) Feudal Lords in the Gupta empire
(D) Soldiers in the Saka army
Ans: (B)
????. Sarnath Pillar was built by
(A) Harshavardhana
(B) Ashoka
(C) Gautam Buddha
(D) Kanishka
Ans: (B)
????. Which one of the following officials was not a part of the Mauryan administration?
(A) Agraharika
(B) Yukta
(C) Pradeshika
(D) Rajjuka
Ans: (A)
????. Who of the following ruler constructed the ‘Sanchi Stupa’?
(A) Bimbisara
(B) Ashoka
(C) Harshavardhana
(D) Pusyamitra
Ans: (B)
???? Which one of the following is considered the best Stupa?
(A) Amaravati
(B) Bharhut
(C) Sanchi
(D) Sarnath
Ans: (C)
???? Language used in the inscription of Ashoka is
(A) Sanskrit (B) Prakrit
(C) Pali (D) Hindi
Ans: (B)
???? Who constructed the ‘Sanchi Stupa’?
(A) Chandragupta
(B) Kautilya
(C) Gautam Buddha
(D) Ashoka
Ans: (D)
???? The earliest inscription on stone was in which language?
(A) Pali (B) Sanskrit
(C) Prakrit (D) Brahmi
Ans: (C)
????. Which one of the following Ashokan inscription is in ‘Kharosthi’ script?
(A) Khalsi
(B) Girnar
(C) Shahbazgarhi
(D) Meerut
Ans: (C)
???? The first scholar who read Ashokan edicts was
(A) Buhler
(B) Robert Sebel
(C) James Prinsep
(D) Cordriguttan
Ans: (C)
????. The Brahmi Script was first deciphered by letters inscribed on
(A) Stone tablets (B) Seal
(C) Pillars (D) Coins
Ans: (A)
???? Who first deciphered the Brahmi Script?
(A) A. Cunningham
(B) A. H. Dani
(C) Buhler
(D) James Prinsep
Ans: (D)
???? Ashokan inscriptions were first deciphered by
(A) James Prinsep
(B) George Buhler
(C) Vincent Smith
(D) Ahmad Hasan Dani
Ans: (A)
????Who of the following had first decipher the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
(A) George Buhler
(B) James Prinsep
(C) Max Muller
(D) William Jones
Ans: (B)
???? Who was the First Britisher to study Ashoka’s edicts?
(A) John Tower
(B) Harry Smith
(C) Charles Metcalfe
(D) James Prinsep
Ans: (D)
???? Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?
(A) Brahmi (B) Nandnagari
(C) Sharada (D) Kharoshti
Ans: (D)
????. Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at
(A) Nagarjunakonda
(B) Anuradhapura
(C) Brahmagiri
(D) Maski
Ans: (B)
???? Which of the kings has been mentioned as ‘Piyadassi’ and ‘Devanampriya’ in inscriptions?
(A) Chandragupta Maurya
(B) Ashoka
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Harshavardhana
Ans: (B)
????. The name by which Ashoka is referred to his inscriptions is
(A) Chakravarti (B) Dharmadeva
(C) Dharmakirti (D) Priyadarshi
Ans: (D)
????. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?
(A) Kalsi
(B) Rummindei
(C) Special Kalinga Edict
(D) Maski
Ans: (D)
????. Which one of the following statements regarding Ashokan stone pillars is incorrect?
(A) These are highly polished
(B) These are monolithic
(C) The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
(D) These are parts of architectural structures
Ans: (D)
???? Which one of the following inscriptions contains the name of Ashoka?
(A) Gujarra (B) Ahraura
(C) Brahmagiri (D) Sarnath
Ans: (A)
???? In which of the following inscriptions the name of ‘Ashoka’ has been mentioned?
(A) Bhabru Edict
(B) Rock Edict XIII
(C) Rummindei Pillar Inscription
(D) Minor Rock Edict of Maski
Ans: (D)
???? The Gujarra minor rock edict, in which the name of Ashoka is mentioned, is located in
(A) Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh
(B) Datia district of Madhya Pradesh
(C) Jaipur district of Rajasthan
(D) Champaran district of Bihar
Ans: (B)
????The Rummindei Pillar of Ashoka was put up to mark
(A) Birth of Buddha
(B) Enlightenment of Buddha
(C) First Sermon of Buddha
(D) Demise of Buddha
Ans: (A)
????. Kalsi is famous for
(A) Buddhist Chaityas
(B) Persian Coins
(C) Rock edicts of Ashoka
(D) Temples of Gupta period
Ans: (C)
???? The only pillar on which Ashoka declares himself as the emperor of Magadha.
(A) Minor pillar of Maski
(B) Rummindei pillar
(C) Queen pillar
(D) Bhabru pillar
Ans: (D)
????. Which Ashokan Rock Edict describes the victory and injuries of Kalinga war?
(A) Rock Edict I
(B) Rock Edict II
(C) Rock Edict XII
(D) Rock Edict XIII
Ans: (D)
???? Where in Uttarakhand, was a copy of Emperor Ashok’s Rock Edicts discovered?
(A) Nainital
(B) Pauri
(C) Tehri
(D) Kalsi (Dehradun District)
Ans: (D)
????Which of the following Ashokan inscriptions is devoted to the principle of religious tolerance completely?
(A) Rock Edict XIII
(B) Rock Edict XII
(C) Pillar inscription VII
(D) Bhabru minor rock edict
Ans: (B)
????The accounts of Kalinga War is known to us by the
(A) Rock Edict XIII
(B) Rummindei Pillar Inscription
(C) Accounts of Hiuen Tsang
(D) Minor Rock Edict-I
Ans: (A)
???? Which of the following South Kingdoms is not mentioned in the Ashokan inscriptions?
(A) Chola (B) Pandya
(C) Satiyaputta (D) Satavahana
Ans: (D)
496. The Ashokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts
(A) I and X (B) I and XI
(C) II and XIII (D) II and XIV
Ans: (C)
????. Ptolemy Philadelphus whose had diplomatic relation with Ashoka, was king of
(A) Cyron (B) Egypt
(C) Macedonia (D) Syria
Ans: (B)
????. Which of the following inscriptions of Ashoka bans animal sacrifice on certain festive gathering, that probably included a ban on animal killing as well?
(A) Rock Edict I
(B) Pillar Edict V
(C) Rock Edict IX
(D) Rock Edict XI
Ans: (A)
????. Rulers of which of the following dynasties had diplomatic relations with distant countries like Syria and Egypt?
(A) Chola (B) Gupta
(C) Maurya (D) Pallavas
Ans: (C)
????. Turamaya, a contemporary of Ashoka was the ruler of
(A) Egypt (B) Corinth
(C) Macedonia (D) Syria
Ans: (A)
????. In the Mauryan period, tax evasion was punished with
(A) Death
(B) Confiscation of goods
(C) Imprisonment
(D) None of the above
Ans: (A)
????. Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food-grains to be utilised during the crisis in the country?
(A) Sohagaura Copper-plate
(B) Rummindei Pillar-edict of Ashoka
(C) Prayaga-Prasasti
(D) Mehrauli Pillar inscription of Chandra
Ans: (A)
???? In how many categories did Megasthenese divide the Indian Society?
(A) Four (B) Five
(C) Six (D) Seven
Ans: (D)
????. Famous Greek ambassador Megasthenese came to the court of which emperor?
(A) Ashoka
(B) Harsha Vardhana
(C) Chandragupta Maurya
(D) None of the above
Ans: (C)
????. The division of Mauryan ‘Society into seven classes’ is particularly mentioned in
(A) Kautilya’s Arthashastra
(B) Ashokan Edicts
(C) The Puranas
(D) Megasthenes’ Indica
Ans: (D)
????. Which of the following sources states that there was no slavery in ancient India?
(A) Arthashastra
(B) Mudrarakshasha
(C) Megasthenes’ Indica
(D) Vayupuran
Ans: (C)
???? Which of the following sources gives a detailed account of city administration of the Mauryas?
(A) Kautilya’s Arthashastra
(B) Megasthenes’ Indica
(C) Mudrarakashasa of Vishakha Datta
(D) Inscription of Ashoka
Ans: (B)
????. The description of the administration of Pataliputra is available in
(A) Divyanadan
(B) Arthashastra
(C) Indica
(D) Ashoka’s inscription
Ans: (C)
????. ‘Indica’ was originally written by
(A) Nearchus (B) Megasthenes
(C) Plutarch (D) Diodorus
Ans: (B)
????. What is the name of Megasthenes’s book?
(A) Economics (B) Rig Veda
(C) Purana (D) Indica
Ans: (D)
????. ‘Bhaga’ and ‘Bali’ were
(A) Military Departments
(B) Sources of Revenue
(C) Religious Ceremonies
(D) Administrative Divisions
Ans: (B)
????. Who was the author of ‘Indica’?
(A) Vishnugupta (B) Megasthenes
(C) Diamachus (D) Pliny
Ans: (B)
????. ‘Sita’ in Maurya period means
(A) A goddess
(B) A religious sect
(C) Revenue from Crown land
(D) Barren land
Ans: (C)
????. Land revenue, which was the chief source of income during the Mauryan period, was collected by which officer?
(A) Agronomoi
(B) Shulkadhyaksha
(C) Sitadhyaksha
(D) Akradhayaksha
Ans: (C)
???? Which of the following Mauryan officers was incharge of weights and measures?
(A) Pautavadhyaksha
(B) Panyadhyaksha
(C) Sitadhyaksha
(D) Sunadhyaksha
Ans: (A)
????. Who of the following was associated with the collection of revenue in Mauryan Mantriparishad?
(A) Samaharta (B) Vyabharika
(C) Antapala (D) Pradeshtha
Ans: (A)
????The most famous centre of learning during Maurya period was
(A) Vaishali (B) Nalanda
(C) Taxila (D) Ujjain
Ans: (C)
???? ‘Pankodakasannirodhe’ was the Penalty in Mauryan administration, charged for
(A) Filthy drinking water
(B) Slushing the road
(C) Throwing garbage
(D) Stenching temples
Ans: (B)
???? With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorising of Chronicles, dynastic histories, and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?
(A) Shramana
(B) Parivraajaka
(C) Agrahaarika
(D) Magadha
Ans: (D)
????. Which aspect of municipal administration of today is continuing since the period of Mauryans?
(A) Inspection of weight measure reamer
(B) Determination of prices of goods
(C) Registration of birth and death certificate
(D) Protection of artisans
Ans: (C)
????. Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?
(A) Kamasutra
(B) Manavadharmashastra
(C) Sukra Nitisara
(D) Arthashastra
Ans: (D)
???? The system governing villages through autonomous elected panchayats was evolved by
(A) Kushans (B) Dravids
(C) Aryans (D) Mauryans
Ans: (D)
???? The social status assigned to the foreigners in Indian society by Manu was of the
(A) Kshatriyas
(B) Fallen Kshatriyas
(C) Vaishyas
(D) Sudras
Ans: (B)
????. Which among of the following prohibits remarriage?
(A) Jataka (B) Manusmiriti
(C) Yagyavalkya (D) Arthashastra
Ans: (B)
???? Realising the need of water, the first ruler who got a lake constructed in the Girnar area, was
(A) Chandragupta Maurya
(B) Ashoka
(C) Rudradaman
(D) Skanda Gupta
Ans: (A)
???? The last Mauryan emperor was
(A) Jaloka
(B) Avanti Verma
(C) Nandi Vardhana
(D) Brihadratha
Ans: (D)
????. In which of the following inscriptions, Ashoka’s edicts are also found?
(A) Junagarh inscription of Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman
(B) Nashik Prashasti regarding Gautamiputra Satakarni
(C) Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvavela
(D) None of the above
Ans: (A)
???? In which of the following inscription mentioned Chandragupta and Ashoka both?
(A) Nasik inscription of Gautami putra Shatkarni
(B) Junagarh inscription of Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman
(C) Girnar inscription of Ashoka
(D) Junagarh inscription of Skandgupta
Ans: (B)
????. Which of the following sources mention the occurrence of the third Buddhist Council during the reign of Ashoka?
1. Inscriptions of Ashoka
2. Dipavamsa
3. Mahavamsa
4. Divyavadana Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3
(C) 3 and 4 (D) 1 and 4
Ans: (B)
???? Consider the following statements.
1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadaratha 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?
(A) 1 and 2 (B) Only 2
(C) Only 3 (D) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (D)
???? Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer by using the code given below. List-I (Place)
(a) Kaushambi (b) Kushinagar
(c) Sarnath (d) Shravasti List-II (Monuments/Ruins)
1. Dhamek Stupa
2. Ghositarama Monastery
3. Ramabhar Stupa
4. Saheth Maheth Code
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 2 1 3 4 (B) 4 3 2 1
(C) 2 3 1 4 (D) 4 2 1 3
Ans: (C)
????. The following Mauryan rulers were the followers of Buddhism
1. Chandragupta
2. Ashoka
3. Bindusara
4. Dasaratha Select the correct answer.
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 2 and 3
(C) 3 and 4
(D) 2 and 4
Ans: (D)
????. Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India. Select the correct answer using the code given below. Code
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and
(R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans: (A)
????. In the course of pilgrimage, Emperor Ashoka visited the following places. Which route did he follow?
1. Gaya
2. Kapilavastu
3. Kushinagar
4. Lumbini
5. Sarnath
6. Shravasti Select the correct answer from the code given below. Code
(A) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
(B) 1, 3, 4, 2, 5 and 6
(C) 4, 5, 6, 3, 2 and 1
(D) 4, 2, 1, 5, 6 and 3
Ans: (B)
???? Which of the following statements are correct about Mauryan Kings? They developed
1. Culture, Art and Literature
2. Gold coins
3. Provincial Division
4. Kingship to Hindukush Code
(A) Only 1 (B) Only 2
(C) 1, 2 and 3 (D) 1, 3 and 4
Ans: (D)
????. Assertion (A): The Mauryan kings did not bestow land grants on religious basis. Reason (R): The peasants revolted against land grants. Select the correct answer using the code given below. Code
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and
(R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans: (C)
???? 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 are
(A) 3, 1, 2, 4 (B) 3, 1, 4, 2
(C) 1, 3, 2, 4 (D) 1, 3, 4, 2
Ans: (B)
????. According to the ‘Arthashastra’ of Kautilya the following courts existed in the judicial system of Mauryan Age
1. Dharmamahamatra
2. Dharmasthiya
3. Rajjuka
4. Kantakshodhana Code
(A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3
(C) 1 and 3 (D) 2 and 4
Ans: (D)
???? Who among the following rulers paid attention to the resource management in Girnar region some centuries before the Christian era?
1. Mahapadma Nanda
2. Ashoka
3. Chandragupta Maurya
4. Rudradaman Select the correct answer using the code given below. Code
(A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3
(C) 3 and 4 (D) 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (B)
????Match List-I with List-II select the correct answer by using the code given below. List-I
(a) Chandragupta
(b) Bindusara
(c) Ashoka
(d) Chanakya List-II
1. Piyadarshi 2. Sandrocottus
3. Amitraghat 4. Vishnugupta Code
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 2 3 4 1 (B) 1 3 2 4
(C) 2 3 1 4 (D) 3 4 2 1
Ans: (C)
???? Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
1. Lothal – Ancient Dockyard
2. Sarnath – First Sermon of Buddha
3. Rajgir – Lion Capital of Ashoka
4. Nalanda – Great Seat of Buddhist Learning Select the correct answer using the code given below. Code
(A) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (B) 3 and 4
(C) 1, 2 and 4 (D) 1 and 2
Ans: (C)