The History of the Gupta Period: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Ancient History)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on The History of the Gupta Period (Ancient History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2000Ancient History · The History of the Gupta Period
Q1. Assertion (A): The origin of the 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.
Explanation
The feudal system in ancient India was a socio-economic and political structure characterized by a hierarchy of landownership and obligations, where land was held in exchange for service, primarily military or administrative. Assertion(A) is true: The feudal system, a hierarchical system of land-use and protection, originated in ancient India due to military campaigns. This is true because, during wars and conquests, victorious rulers granted land to military officers and local chiefs as a reward for their service. These landholders, called samantas, later became hereditary lords, leading to the emergence of feudal structures. Reason (R) is also true: During the post Mauryan and Gupta period feudal system became the main state apparatus as the Guptas granted large land tracts (agraharas and bhukti) to Brahmins, officers, and feudatories (samantas). These landholders gained administrative and military control, further decentralizing power. Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion(A):
Feudal system expanded through other factors, not simply the Gupta period.The emergence of feudalism in India was influenced by the arrival of various foreign invaders and rulers.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2000
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on The History of the Gupta Period?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on The History of the Gupta Period (Ancient History), asked from 1995 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for The History of the Gupta Period?
Questions on The History of the Gupta Period (Ancient History) are available for 8 years, from 1995 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
