Ancient Society, Economy & Science PYQs

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1. Prelims 2026Q13Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   Consider the following statements :

   I.Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.

   II.The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.

   The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?

   1.Emergence of urban life

   2.Transition to money economy

   Select the answer using the code given below :

   a1 onlyb2 onlycBoth 1 and 2dNeither 1 nor 2
2. Prelims 2026Q17Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India :

   1.The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595 – 596).

   2.In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.

   3.The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.

   Which of the statements given above are correct ?

   a1 and 2 onlyb1 and 3 onlyc2 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
3. Prelims 2022Q60Ancient Society, Economy & ScienceAnswer disputed

   According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct ?

   1.A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.

   2.If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.

   3.If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.

   Which of the statements given above are correct ?

   a1 and 2 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc1 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
4. Prelims 2021Q40Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

   1.Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.

   2.In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.

   3.The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.

   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

   a1 and 2b2 onlyc1 and 3d3 only
5. Prelims 2020Q29Ancient Society, Economy & Science

   With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

   ameasurement of landbcoins of different monetary valuecclassification of urban landdreligious rituals
6. 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
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 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. Prelims 1999Q38Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the

    aAfrican tradebWest European tradecSoutheast Asian tradedMiddle Eastern trade
15. Prelims 1998Q77Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India?

    I.Gold coins

    II.Punch-marked silver coins

    III.Iron plough

    IV.Urban culture

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    aIII, IV, I, IIbIII, IV, II, IcIV, III, I, IIdIV, III, II, I
16. Prelims 1997Q98Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

    aChaturvedi MangalambParishadcAshtadikgajadManigrama
17. Prelims 1996Q41Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    In the context of ancient Indian society, which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?

    aKulabVamsacKosadGotra
18. Prelims 1996Q47Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

    aSaumillabSudrakacShaunakadSusrutha
19. Prelims 1996Q67Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:

    List I

    I.Visakhadatta

    II.Varahamihira

    III.Charaka

    IV.Brahmagupta

    List II

    A) Medicine

    B) Drama

    C) Astronomy

    D) Mathematics

    aI – A, II – C, III – D, IV – BbI – B, II – A, III – C, IV – DcI – B, II – C, III – A, IV – DdI – C, II – B, III – A, IV – B
20. Prelims 1996Q79Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?

    aKamasutrabManavadharmashastracSukra NitisaradArthashastra
21. Prelims 1995Q56Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    The term Yavanapriya, mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts, denoted

    aa fine variety of Indian muslinbivorycdamsels sent to the Greek court for dance performancedpepper
22. Prelims 1995Q109Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Who among the following anticipated Newton by declaring that all things gravitate to the earth?

    aAryabhatabVarahamihiracBuddha GuptadBrahmagupta
23. Prelims 1995Q118Ancient Society, Economy & Science

    Zero was invented by

    aAryabhatabVarahamihiracBhaskara Idan unknown Indian