82 previous year UPSC Prelims Ancient History questions are on this page, from 1995 to 2025, in 7 chapters. Mauryan history and ancient art, literature and culture are the largest chapters; the Harappan, Vedic, Gupta and southern-dynasty chapters add a handful each. Filter by chapter or year, then open any option for the correct answer and the full explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 41–50 of 82 questions
Takshasila (Taxila) was a vital ancient city located between the Indus and Jhelum rivers, functioning as a prominent educational and cultural center. It was renowned for its university, attracting scholars like Chanakya and Panini, and played a key role in Indian history.
Milinda’s period is separated by centuries with other given personalities. Bimbisara (approx. 558-491 BCE) was the ruler of Magadha and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha (c. 563-483 BCE). Prasenjit (6th century BCE) was the king of Kosala and also lived during the time of Buddha. Milinda (Greek king Menander I) ruled much later, in the 2nd century BCE. He was not a contemporary of the other three, making him the correct answer.
The Atharvaveda, known as the "Veda of magical formulas" or the "Veda of charms and spells," includes numerous incantations aimed at warding off evil and curing diseases.
The Maurya (321 BCE - 185 BCE), Sunga (185 BCE - 73 BCE), and Kanva dynasties (73 BCE - 30 BCE) represent significant eras in ancient Indian history, spanning the rule from centralized imperial administration to regional governance and eventual fragmentation.
Statement 1 is correct: The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga, who then established the Sunga dynasty (185 BCE).
Statement 2 is correct: The last Sunga king, Devabhuti, was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, a Brahmana, who subsequently usurped the throne and founded the Kanva dynasty (73 BCE).
Statement 3 is correct: The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was overthrown by the Andhras (also known as the Satavahanas) around 30 BCE, marking the end of the Kanva dynasty and the establishment of the Satavahana dynasty in central India.
Buddhism and Jainism part of the Shramana traditions are two ancient Indian religions that originated around the same time, during the 6th century BCE. They emphasized asceticism, non-violence, and liberation from the cycle of rebirth. They offered alternative philosophies to Vedic ritualism, focusing on personal spiritual practices and ethical living.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Vardhaman Mahavira’s mother, Trishala, was the sister (and not daughter) of Chetaka, a chief of the Lichchhavi clan. The Lichchhavis were known for their democratic and republican system of governance.
Statement 2 is correct: Gautama Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi, was a princess from the Koshalan dynasty. She was married to King Suddhodana of the Shakya clan and was the mother of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha.
Statement 3 is correct: Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara of Jainism, was associated with Benaras (Varanasi), where he was born. According to Jain tradition, he was born into a royal family and preached a doctrine of non-violence, truth, and asceticism. The serpent symbol is associated with him.
Option (a) is incorrect: Pulakeshin-I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty and ruled in the early 6th century, i.e. before Harsha’s time.
Option (b) is correct: Emperor Harsha (606-647 CE) expanded his empire across North India, ruling from Kannauj and influencing regions like Punjab, Bengal, Odisha, and Central India. Seeking to extend his control southward beyond the Vindhyas, he invaded the Deccan but was defeated by Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya ruler (c. 610-642 CE), around 618-619 CE at the Narmada River. This defeat established the Narmada as the boundary between Harsha’s northern empire and the Chalukyan kingdom, preventing further expansion into the south.
Option (c) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-I was a later Chalukya king, ruling after Pulakeshin-II.
Option (d) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-II ruled even later than Vikramaditya-I and his reign did not overlap with Harsha’s.
Statement 1 is correct: The Cholas were successful in defeating the Pandya and Chera rulers, establishing a stronghold in peninsular India, and significantly expanding their territorial control in South India during the early medieval period. For example, under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, the Cholas defeated these rulers and extended their empire across peninsular India.
Statement 2 is correct: The Cholas were also known for their naval power and maritime trade, which led them to conduct expeditions to South-East Asia. Their naval campaigns extended the Chola influence to regions like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia, where they challenged the Sailendra Empire. For instance, Rajendra Chola I led a successful naval expedition (1025 CE) against the Srivijaya Empire (modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand). The Cholas temporarily conquered some areas, demonstrating their naval supremacy in the region.
General features of Chola Dynasty:
Aspect Details Time Period 9th to 13th century CE (Imperial Cholas) Key Rulers Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, Kulottunga I Capital Cities Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Territorial Expansion Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Karnataka; naval expeditions to Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Southeast Asia Administration Well-organized bureaucracy, local self-government (village assemblies) Economy Thrived on agriculture, trade (with Southeast Asia and China), and a strong navy Religion Mainly Hindu (Shaivism), but tolerant towards other faiths Architecture Built grand temples like Brihadeshwara Temple (Thanjavur) and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple Naval Power Strong navy, expanded trade and influence across the Indian Ocean Cultural Contributions Promoted Tamil literature, dance, and bronze sculpture-making
| List-I (Ancient site) | List-II (Archaeological finding) |
|---|---|
| A. Lothal | 1. Ploughed field |
| B. Kalibangan | 2. Dockyard |
| C. Dholavira | 3. Terracotta replica of a plough |
| D. Banawali | 4. An inscription comprising ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script |
The Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilisation) flourished between 2600 BC and 1900 BC in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent. It was prominently spread over Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western U.P. and Northern Maharashtra.
The Harappan Civilization made extensive use of seals for administrative, commercial, and religious purposes. These seals were crafted from a variety of materials, including steatite, terracotta, agate, chert, and faience. Notable examples include the Pashupati Seal and the Unicorn Seal etc.
Option (a) is correct: The most common animal depicted on the seals was one horned bull. Other animals like Buffalo, Tiger, Rhinoceros and Elephant were also commonly used. However, cows, horses and camels were not depicted on the seals
Assertion (A) is true: The Prayag Assembly was convened by Harshavardhana around AD 643. This assembly is a significant historical event where Harshavardhana gathered numerous scholars, monks, and dignitaries. Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), was also present at the assembly and provided a detailed account of it. While it is true that Harshavardhana promoted Mahayana Buddhism during his reign, the assembly was not solely focused on promoting this form of Buddhism. Reason (R) is false: Harshavardhana organized the Prayag Assembly not just to promote Mahayana Buddhism but also to strengthen his rule and encourage religious discussions. The assembly was open to different beliefs.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | 2006 | (a) Indus and Jhelum |
| 42 | 2005 | (c) Milinda |
| 43 | 2004 | (c) Atharvaveda |
| 44 | 2003 | (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
| 45 | 2003 | (c) 2 and 3 |
| 46 | 2003 | (b) Pulakesin-II |
| 47 | 2003 | (c) Both 1 and 2 |
| 48 | 2002 | (b) A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3 |
| 49 | 2001 | (a) Cow |
| 50 | 2001 | (c) A is true but R is false |
This page covers 82 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Ancient History, asked from 1995 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
History of Mauryan Age and Art, Literature and Culture During Ancient Times have the most, each with 18 questions in this set. The Harappan Civilization and Vedic Period chapters are the smallest, with fewer than ten each.
Use the Chapter filter on this page, or open a chapter link such as Harappan Civilization or Gupta Period. Each chapter page lists its questions, the key facts UPSC has tested there, and an answer key.
Yes. The 2025 paper’s Ancient History questions, on Ashokan officers, Mahendravarman I, Rajendra Chola’s Srivijaya expedition, Fa-hien, the Dancing Girl figurine and the Mahajanapadas, are filed under their chapters.
