Q31. Which of the following represents the most appropriate description of the ‘Golden Age’ characterization of the Gupta period?
Gupta Empire and Post-Gupta Period: RAS Prelims MCQs
80 RAS Prelims MCQs on the Gupta Empire and the post-Gupta period examine rulers, titles, inscriptions, administration, the economy and the Pushyabhuti and Maitraka dynasties. Questions ask who adopted which title, which inscription belongs to which king and how land grants changed the economy, and the explanations tie each point to its period.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 31–40 of 80 questions
Q32. Who among the following Gupta kings performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to celebrate his military victories and issued coins depicting a horse standing before a sacrificial post?
Explanation
Samudragupta revived the ancient Vedic Ashvamedha sacrifice to commemorate his extensive military conquests across the Indian subcontinent. To mark this grand event, he issued a special series of gold coins known as the Ashvamedha type. These coins depicted a sacrificial horse standing in front of a ritual post, symbolizing his imperial sovereignty and his restoration of the traditional Brahmanical rituals of kingship.
Q33. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the religious policy of the Gupta rulers:
Explanation
The Gupta rulers were predominantly followers of Vaishnavism, yet they maintained a policy of religious tolerance. While they promoted Brahmanical traditions and temple construction, they did not persecute other faiths. In fact, Buddhism and Jainism continued to thrive during this period. Major Buddhist centers like Nalanda and Sarnath received royal patronage, and religious art for various sects flourished side by side throughout the empire.
Q34. Consider the following statements regarding the social and economic conditions during the Gupta period:
I. The position of shudras improved slightly as they were permitted to listen to the epics and Puranas.
II. The number of untouchables (Chandalas) increased, and their social disabilities intensified.
III. Guilds of merchants and artisans possessed considerable administrative and judicial powers over their members.
IV. Land grants to Brahmanas (Agrahara) decreased the central authority’s direct control over revenue collection.
V. Roman trade was the most significant driver of the Gupta economy, far surpassing internal agricultural output.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The position of shudras improved slightly as they were permitted to listen to the epics and Puranas.
II. The number of untouchables (Chandalas) increased, and their social disabilities intensified.
III. Guilds of merchants and artisans possessed considerable administrative and judicial powers over their members.
IV. Land grants to Brahmanas (Agrahara) decreased the central authority’s direct control over revenue collection.
V. Roman trade was the most significant driver of the Gupta economy, far surpassing internal agricultural output.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
During the Gupta period, while long-distance trade existed, Roman trade had actually declined compared to the earlier Kushana era. The economy was increasingly driven by agriculture and internal trade. The claim that Roman trade was the most significant economic driver, far surpassing agriculture, is incorrect. Instead, the period saw the rise of landed intermediaries and a more localized, rural-oriented economic structure through land grants.
Q35. The term ‘Bhitari pillar inscription’ is most closely associated with the reign of which Gupta ruler, and documents his struggle against the Pushyamitras and Hunas?
Explanation
The Bhitari pillar inscription is a vital historical record belonging to the reign of Skandagupta. It provides a detailed account of his heroic struggles to defend the Gupta Empire against serious internal and external threats. The inscription specifically documents his successful military campaigns against the Pushyamitras and his decisive victory over the invading Hunas, which temporarily preserved the integrity of the imperial borders.
Q36. Identify the incorrect pair regarding the agricultural crops and their economic significance in the Gupta period:
Explanation
Agriculture was the backbone of the Gupta economy, with crops like Yava (barley), Godhuma (wheat), and Ikshu (sugarcane) being widely cultivated. However, the term Hiranya did not refer to cotton. In the context of the Gupta revenue system, Hiranya specifically meant a tax that was paid in cash or gold, as opposed to taxes paid in kind, which were more common.
Q37. Match List-I (Text) with List-II (Theme/Subject) from the Gupta period:
Which of the following matches is correct?
| Text | Theme/Subject |
|---|---|
| A. Panchasiddhantika | i. Lexicography (Dictionary) |
| B. Ashtangahridaya | ii. Astronomy and Mathematics |
| C. Amarakosha | iii. Compilation of five astronomical treatises |
| D. Aryabhatiya | iv. Medicine (Ayurveda) |
Explanation
The Gupta period produced foundational texts across various disciplines. Varahamihira’s Panchasiddhantika compiled five astronomical systems, while Vagbhata’s Ashtangahridaya summarized Ayurvedic medicine. Amarasimha’s Amarakosha became the standard Sanskrit dictionary. Aryabhata authored the Aryabhatiya, covering advanced mathematics and astronomy. These works standardized knowledge and provided a framework for future scientific and literary developments in the Indian subcontinent.
Q38. The widespread issuance of land grants (Brahmadeya and Agrahara) during the Gupta and post-Gupta periods effectively caused which of the following?
Explanation
The practice of granting land to Brahmanas and temples, known as Agrahara or Brahmadeya, became very common during the Gupta and post-Gupta eras. These grants often included the transfer of administrative and judicial rights to the recipients. Consequently, this led to the rise of a class of powerful landed intermediaries, which decentralized political power and laid the foundations for a feudal social structure.
Q39. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cave paintings of Ajanta achieved their highest level of sophistication during the Vakataka-Gupta period.
Reason (R): The Vakataka rulers completely abandoned structural temples and mandated that all artistic endeavors be directed strictly towards rock-cut architecture.
Which of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cave paintings of Ajanta achieved their highest level of sophistication during the Vakataka-Gupta period.
Reason (R): The Vakataka rulers completely abandoned structural temples and mandated that all artistic endeavors be directed strictly towards rock-cut architecture.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The cave paintings of Ajanta reached their artistic zenith during the Gupta-Vakataka era, specifically under the patronage of the Vakatakas. However, the reason provided is incorrect because the Vakataka rulers did not abandon structural temples or mandate rock-cut architecture. They patronized various forms of art and architecture simultaneously, and the focus on rock-cut caves was a choice rather than a restrictive royal mandate.
Q40. Which of the following statements correctly identifies Toramana?
Explanation
Toramana was a powerful leader of the Hunas who successfully invaded northern India during the late fifth and early sixth centuries. He managed to conquer significant parts of western and central India, establishing Huna authority over regions previously held by the Guptas. His reign, followed by his son Mihirakula, marked a period of great disruption and the beginning of the end for Gupta hegemony.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) It reflects a significant growth in classical Sanskrit literature, art, and sciences. |
| 32 | (b) Samudragupta |
| 33 | (b) They actively persecuted followers of Jainism and Buddhism, leading to the destruction of many viharas. |
| 34 | (c) V only |
| 35 | (c) Skandagupta |
| 36 | (d) Hiranya - Cotton |
| 37 | (c) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 38 | (b) The rise of landed intermediaries and decentralized political power |
| 39 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 40 | (a) A Huna king who conquered parts of western and central India. |
Key facts from Gupta Empire and Post-Gupta Period
- Chandragupta I first took the title Maharajadhiraja; his marriage alliance with the Lichchhavis raised his political status.
- Samudragupta performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice; the Bhitari pillar inscription belongs to Skandagupta.
- The Gupta Era is dated from 319-320 CE.
- An Uparika governed a Bhukti, the Gupta province; a Pustapala kept land records; Bhaga was the king’s share of produce, usually one-sixth.
- The Maitrakas ruled from Valabhi in Saurashtra; Harshavardhana wrote the play Nagananda.
- Land grants (Brahmadeya and Agrahara) created landed intermediaries and weakened central power.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Gupta Empire and Post-Gupta Period?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Gupta Empire and Post-Gupta Period (Ancient Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who first adopted the title Maharajadhiraja among the Guptas?
Chandragupta I. He struck coins and took the imperial title Maharajadhiraja, and his marriage with the Lichchhavi family raised the standing of the Gupta line, making him the real founder of Gupta power.
What was the role of an Uparika in Gupta administration?
An Uparika was the governor appointed to administer a Bhukti, the large province of the Gupta Empire. Below the Bhukti were districts and villages, and the Uparika answered to the king.
When did the Gupta Era begin?
In 319-320 CE, the date generally accepted by historians for the start of the Gupta Era and linked with the accession of Chandragupta I. Many Gupta inscriptions are dated in this era.