UPSC 2025 Ancient History Questions with Answers

Explanation

Mahendravarman I, a prominent Pallava ruler (600-630 CE) was known for his literary talent and artistic inclinations, in addition to his political achievements. He assumed titles such as ‘Mattavilasa’, ‘Vichitrachitta’ and ‘Gunabhara’. These titles reflect his reputation as a scholar, playwright, and patron of arts and culture, especially noted for his Sanskrit and Tamil plays. Mahendravarman I is also famous for his temple-building activities, such as the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram.

Explanation

Fa Xian (337-422 CE), a Chinese Buddhist monk, came to India on a pilgrimage during the reign of Chandragupta II (375-415 CE) and penned A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms. His travelogues highlight the prosperity and stability of the Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II’s rule, and he visited Buddhist sites like Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath. Fa-hien praised the empire for its law and order and the flourishing of Buddhist monastic institutions. His accounts provide valuable insights into the political and social conditions of India during the Gupta Golden Age.

Explanation

The re-emergence of Cholas began with Vijayalaya (850-871 CE) conquering the Kaveri delta from Muttaraiyar. He built the city of Thanjavur and established the Chola kingdom in 850. Vijayalaya’s illustrious successors starting from Parantaka I (907-955) to Kulothunga III (1163-1216) brought glory and fame to the Cholas. Parantaka Chola set the tone for expansion of the territory and broadened the base of its governance, and Rajaraja I (985-1014), the builder of the most beautiful Brihadishvarar temple at Thanjavur, and his son Rajendra I (1012-1044), whose naval operation extended as far as Sri Vijaya, consolidated the advances made by their predecessors and went on to establish Chola hegemony in peninsular India. During the Chola reign, the naval achievements of the Tamils reached its peak. The Cholas controlled both the Coromandel and Malabar coasts. The Chola navy often ventured into the Bay of Bengal for some decades. Rajendra’s naval operation was directed against Sri Vijaya. The Srivijaya kingdom was a powerful maritime empire controlling trade routes in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and surrounding islands, dominating the Straits of Malacca and Southeast Asian sea trade. Sri Vijaya kingdom (southern Sumatra) was one of the prominent maritime and commercial states that flourished from c. 700 to c. 1300 in South-east Asia. Similarly, Kheda (Kadaram), a feudatory kingdom under Sri Vijaya, was also conquered by Rajendra. Hence, Option (c) is correct Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Amoghavarsha I was a Rashtrakuta ruler, known for cultural patronage, not naval expeditions to Southeast Asia. Prataparudra was a Kakatiya ruler who fought against the Delhi Sultanate; no known campaign against Srivijaya. Vishnuvardhana was a Hoysala king associated with expansion in Karnataka, not maritime campaigns against Srivijaya.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct: Asmaka (or Assaka) was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas, located in the Deccan region, corresponding to parts of present-day Maharashtra and Telangana. It was located on the banks of the Godavari River, particularly near Paithan.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Kamboja was located in the northwestern region (possibly near modern Afghanistan or parts of Tajikistan). The Vipas (modern Beas River) is located in present-day Punjab. It flows much further east than where Kamboja is believed to have been. Therefore, this river does not flow through Kamboja.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Avanti was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas, located in western Madhya Pradesh, with its capital at Ujjain or Mahishmati. The main river flowing in this region is the Chambal or Shipra, not Mahanadi. Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, far to the east of Avanti.

Pair 4 is correct: Kosala was located in eastern Uttar Pradesh, with capitals at Ayodhya and Shravasti. The Sarayu River (a tributary of the Ghaghara) flows through Ayodhya, so this match is correct

Explanation

Ashoka’s rule gives us an alternative model of a righteous king and a just state. He instructed his officials, the yuktas (subordinate officials), rajjukas (rural administrators) and pradesikas (heads of the districts) to go on tours every five years to instruct people in dhamma (Major Rock Edict 3). Ashoka’s injunctions to the officers and city magistrates stressed that all the people were his children and he wished for his people what he wished for his own children, that they should obtain welfare and happiness in this world and the next. These officials should recognise their own responsibilities and strive to be impartial and see to it that men were not imprisoned or tortured without good reason. He added that he would send an officer every five years to verify if his instructions were carried out (Kalinga Rock Edict 1). Thus, The terms ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’, and ‘Yukta’ refer to officials who were part of the district-level administration (also called ‘pradesha’ or ‘vishaya’). Pradeshika was an official responsible for overseeing a district or province, often charged with judicial and revenue duties. Rajuka was the chief revenue officer or district officer responsible for land revenue and agricultural administration. Yukta generally refers to an assistant or subordinate officer serving under the Rajuka.

Explanation

The ‘Dancing Girl’ is a renowned artifact from the Indus Valley Civilization, specifically discovered at Mohenjo-daro. It is a bronze statue, about 10.5 cm tall, and represents advanced metal casting skills (lost-wax casting technique) of the Harappan people. The figurine is notable for its naturalistic posture, with one hand on the hip and bangles on the arms, showcasing the aesthetic and artistic sensibilities of the time.