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 2019Ancient History · The History of the Gupta Period
Q1. With reference to forced labor (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
Explanation
During the Gupta period, forced labor (vishti) became a source of income for the state and was also looked upon as a form of taxation on the subjects. Vishti was forced labor instead of taxes hence no weekly wages were entitled. Anyone from the family can be sent as a forced laborer, not particularly the eldest son of the family.
Additional insight:
The Gupta period was a time of significant economic and administrative development in ancient India, and taxes played a crucial role in the functioning of the state. The types of taxes during the Gupta period include Land Tax (Bhojabhaga or Bhaga), Trade and Market Taxes (Sulka), Water tax, Vishti, etc.
Exam tip:
For option B, "Totally absent" extreme phrase = red flag. False. For Option C, Logical contradiction: you can’t be both forced and regularly paid like a voluntary worker. False. For option D, Specificity = red flag, Sounds artificially constructed -- eldest son clause looks too precise for ancient systemic Vishti. Forced labor primogeniture rule. Hence likely false too.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2019
(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
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.
