Ancient History PYQs

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1. Prelims 2005Q22Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

   Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?

   aBimbisarabGautama BuddhacMilindadPrasenjit
2. Prelims 2004Q24Inscriptions, Coins & Foreign Travellers

   Consider the following statements:

   1.The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.

   2.The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

   Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

   a1 onlyb2 onlycBoth 1 and 2dNeither 1 nor 2
3. Prelims 2004Q26Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

   aJainism was spread in South India under the leadership of SthalabahubThe Jains who remained under the leadership of Bhadrabahu were called Svetambaras after the Council held at PataliputracJainism enjoyed the patronage of the Kalinga king Kharavela in the first century BCdIn the initial stage of Jainism, the Jains worshipped images unlike Buddhists
4. Prelims 2004Q27Vedic Period

   Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?

   aRig-vedabYajur-vedacAtharva-vedadSama-veda
5. Prelims 2003Q43Buddhism, Jainism & Other SectsAnswer disputed

   Consider the following statements:

   1.Vardhamana Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka.

   2.Gautama Buddha’s mother was a princess from the Kosha-lan dynasty.

   3.Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras.

   Which of these statements is/are correct?

   aOnly 1bOnly 2c2 and 3d1, 2 and 3
6. Prelims 2003Q70Post-Mauryan & Sangam Age

   Consider the following statements:

   1.The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha 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 Andhra’s.

   Which of these statements is/are correct?

   a1 and 2bOnly 2cOnly 3d1, 2 and 3
7. Prelims 2003Q93Gupta & Post-Gupta Age

   Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada River by

   aPulakesin-IbPulakesin-IIcVikramaditya-IdVikramaditya-II
8. Prelims 2002Q15Prehistory & Harappan Civilisation

   Match List I (Ancient site) with List II (Archaeological finding) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

   List I (Ancient site)

   A.Lothal

   B.Kalibangan

   C.Dholavira

   D.Banawali

   List II (Archaeological finding)

   1.Ploughed field

   2.Dockyard

   3.Terracotta replica of a plough

   4.An inscription comprising ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script

   aA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4bA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3cA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3dA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
9. Prelims 2002Q19Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

   In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the

   aoccasion to elect the Sanghaparinyaka and two speakers, one on Dhamma and the other on Vinayabconfession by monks of their offences committed during their stay in the monasteries during the rainy seasoncceremony of initiation of new person into the Buddhist Sangha in which the head is shaved and when yellow robes are offereddgathering of Buddhist monks on the next day to the full-moon day of Ashadha when they take up a fixed abode for the next four months or rainy season
10. Prelims 2001Q28Gupta & Post-Gupta Age

    Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.

    Reason (R): He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

    aBoth A and R are individually true, and R is the correct explanation of AbBoth A and R are individually true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of AcA is true, but R is falsedA is false, but R is true
11. Prelims 2001Q41Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

    Who among the following presided over the Buddhist Council held during the reign of Kanishka at Kashmir?

    aParsvabNagarjunacSudrakadVasumitra
12. Prelims 2001Q47Prehistory & Harappan Civilisation

    Which one of the following animals was NOT represented on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture?

    aCowbElephantcRhinocerosdTiger
13. Prelims 2000Q18Post-Mauryan & Sangam Age

    The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the

    aGreeksbShakascParthiansdMughals
14. Prelims 2000Q23Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

    Which one of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander's invasion?

    aNandabMauryacSungadKanva
15. Prelims 2000Q85Post-Mauryan & Sangam AgeAnswer disputed

    Assertion (A): The Aham and Puram poems of the Padinen Kilukanakku group formed a continuation of the Sangam composition.

    Reason (R): They were included under the Post-Sangam works as against the Sangam works proper.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of AbBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of AcA is true, but R is falsedA is false, but R is true
16. Prelims 2000Q90Buddhism, Jainism & Other Sects

    Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.

    Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of AbBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of AcA is true, but R is falsedA is false, but R is true
17. Prelims 2000Q91Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Assertion (A): The origin of feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns.

    Reason (R): There was considerable expansion of the feudal system during the Gupta period.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of AbBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of AcA is true, but R is falsedA is false, but R is true
18. Prelims 2000Q92Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

    Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.

    Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of AbBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of AcA is true, but R is falsedA is false, but R is true
19. Prelims 1999Q1Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of

    athe absence of minerals like ironbtoo many divisions in the social structurecthe absence of vast areas of fertile landdthe scarcity of manpower
20. Prelims 1999Q11Vedic Period

    The term ‘Aryan’ denotes

    aan ethnic groupba nomadic peopleca speech groupda superior race