Ancient History PYQs

Tap an option to check it. For one question at a time, use Start practice above.

1. Prelims 2016Q50Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :

   1.The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.

   2.Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.

   3.Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   a1 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc2 onlyd1, 2 and 3
2. Prelims 2016Q89Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

   aShramanabParivraajakacAgrahaarikadMaagadha
3. Prelims 2015Q39Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   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.

   a1, 2 and 3b2 and 3 onlyc1, 3 and 4d3 and 4 only
4. Prelims 2014Q25Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   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.

   a1, 2 and 3b2 and 4c3 and 4 onlyd1, 3 and 4
5. Prelims 2013Q6Inscriptions, Coins & Foreign Travellers

   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.

   a1 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc1 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
6. Prelims 2013Q45Prehistory & Harappan Civilisation

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

   1.They possessed great palaces and temples.

   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.

   a1 and 2 onlyb2 onlyc1, 2 and 3dNone of the statements given above is correct
7. Prelims 2012Q21Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   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 1st century AD.

   2.Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of 3rd century AD.

   3.The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.

   4.The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.

   Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

   a1 and 2 onlyb3 and 4 onlyc1, 3 and 4 onlyd1, 2, 3 and 4
8. Prelims 2012Q22Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   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 :

   a1 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc1 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
9. Prelims 2012Q73Vedic Period

   The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of

   aBhaktibimage worship and Yajnascworship of nature and Yajnasdworship of nature and Bhakti
10. Prelims 2012Q82Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    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 :

    a1 and 2 onlyb3 onlyc2 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
11. Prelims 2011Q56Ancient Society, Economy & Science

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

    aAs compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval timesbThe rulers of southern India always patronized traders, brahmin priests and buddhist monks in this contextcMonsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyagesdBoth (a) and (b) are convincing explanations in this context
12. Prelims 2011Q92Prehistory & Harappan Civilisation

    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?

    a1 onlyb2 onlycBoth 1 and 2dNeither 1 nor 2
13. Prelims 2011Q100Vedic Period

    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?

    a1 onlyb2 onlycBoth 1 and 2dNeither 1 nor 2
14. Prelims 2010Q141Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

    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.The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.

    3.The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

    a1 onlyb1 and 3 onlyc2 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
15. Prelims 2008Q46Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    What does Baudhayana theorem (Baudhayana Sulva Sutra) relate to?

    aLengths of sides of a right-angled trianglebCalculation of the value of picLogarithmic calculationsdNormal distribution curve
16. Prelims 2006Q38Ancient Society, Economy & ScienceAnswer disputed

    Match List – I with List – II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

    List – I ( Finding / Invention / Calculation )

    A.Time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun

    B.Calculation of the value of ‘pi’

    C.Invention of the digit zero

    D.The game of snakes and ladders

    List – II ( Ancient Indian Scholar )

    1.Aryabhatta

    2.Bhaskaracharya

    3.Budhayana

    4.Gyandev

    aA-2, B-4, C-1, D-3bA-2, B-3, C-1, D-4cA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4dA-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
17. Prelims 2006Q129Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

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

    aIndus and JehelumbJhelum and ChenabcChenab and RavidRavi and Beas
18. Prelims 2006Q130Post-Mauryan & Sangam Age

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

    aGreeks – Sakas – KushansbGreeks – Kushans – SakascSakas – Greeks – KushansdSakas – Kushans – Greeks
19. Prelims 2006Q131Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

    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 statements given above is/are correct?

    a1 onlyb2 onlycBoth 1 and 2dNeither 1 nor 2
20. Prelims 2006Q144Gupta & Post-Gupta Age

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

    aMahapadma NandabChandragupta MauryacAshokadSamudragupta