Q71. All of the following were notable ports facilitating trade during the Gupta period, except:
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 71–80 of 80 questions
Q72. Which of the following statements provides the best understanding of the religious atmosphere during Harsha’s reign?
Explanation
Harshavardhana’s religious policy was characterized by broad tolerance. Although he was a devotee of Shiva and Surya in his early years, he became a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism later in life, influenced by Xuanzang. However, he never imposed his personal faith on his subjects and continued to support Brahmanas and other sects, maintaining a balanced and peaceful religious atmosphere throughout his vast northern Indian empire.
Q73. Which of the following is an incorrect statement about the status of women during the Gupta period?
Explanation
During the Gupta period, the status of women showed mixed trends. While upper-class women were educated and there were instances of women in administration, they did not enjoy absolute equality in property rights. Legal texts generally limited their inheritance to ‘Stridhana’ (movable property given at marriage). The period also saw the first recorded instance of Sati and a general trend toward earlier marriages for girls, indicating a decline in social freedom.
Q74. Consider the following statements regarding the regional kingdoms that emerged in the post- Gupta period:
I. The Gauda kingdom under Sasanka was a major rival to the Pushyabhutis.
II. The Varmans established a powerful kingdom in Kamarupa (Assam).
III. The Maitrakas made Valabhi a prominent center of learning, rivaling Nalanda.
IV. The Maukharis controlled the strategic region of Kannauj before Harsha’s ascension.
V. The region of Rajasthan was entirely untouched by post-Gupta political fragmentation and remained under direct Gupta control.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The Gauda kingdom under Sasanka was a major rival to the Pushyabhutis.
II. The Varmans established a powerful kingdom in Kamarupa (Assam).
III. The Maitrakas made Valabhi a prominent center of learning, rivaling Nalanda.
IV. The Maukharis controlled the strategic region of Kannauj before Harsha’s ascension.
V. The region of Rajasthan was entirely untouched by post-Gupta political fragmentation and remained under direct Gupta control.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Following the decline of the Gupta Empire, various regional powers arose across the north. The Gaudas, Varmans, Maitrakas, and Maukharis all established independent domains. The statement that Rajasthan remained under direct Gupta control is incorrect. In reality, Rajasthan also experienced political changes, with various local clans and tribes, including the early Gurjaras, asserting their influence and moving toward independent political formations during the post-Gupta era.
Q75. The famous copper-plate inscriptions that often record land grants to Brahmanas during the Gupta period are generally referred to as:
Explanation
In ancient India, particularly during the Gupta period, royal orders regarding land grants were frequently engraved on copper plates to ensure their permanence. These copper-plate inscriptions are known as Tamrapatras. They typically include details about the donor, the recipient (often Brahmanas or temples), the boundaries of the land, and the specific rights or tax exemptions granted, making them invaluable primary sources for studying socio-economic history.
Q76. The widespread adoption of the Bhakti concept during the Gupta period primarily resulted in:
Explanation
The rise of the Bhakti movement during the Gupta period transformed Indian religion. It emphasized a personal, emotional bond between the devotee and a specific deity, primarily Vishnu or Shiva. This led to the popularization of image worship and the construction of many structural temples to house these idols. It also facilitated the integration of various local and tribal cults into the broader fold of Brahmanical Hinduism through Puranic stories.
Q77. Match List-I (Historical figure) with List-II (Associated Kingdom/Dynasty) in the post- Gupta era:
Which of the following matches is correct?
| Historical figure | Associated Kingdom/Dynasty |
|---|---|
| A. Grahavarman | i. Kamarupa |
| B. Bhaskaravarman | ii. Gauda |
| C. Dhruvasena II | iii. Maukharis |
| D. Sasanka | iv. Maitrakas |
Explanation
The post-Gupta political landscape was dominated by several key figures. Grahavarman was a prominent ruler of the Maukharis of Kannauj. Bhaskaravarman ruled Kamarupa and was an ally of Harsha. Dhruvasena II was the king of the Maitrakas of Valabhi and Harsha’s son-in-law. Sasanka was the powerful king of Gauda (Bengal). Their interactions, alliances, and conflicts shaped the history of northern India during the early seventh century.
Q78. Which of the following terms from the Gupta period is the odd one out as it pertains to a different category?
Explanation
In the Gupta period, several terms were used to denote different types of currency. ‘Dinara’ and ‘Suvarna’ were names for gold coins, while ‘Rupayaka’ referred to the silver coins introduced after the defeat of the Sakas. These terms are all related to the monetary system. In contrast, ‘Kumaramatya’ was a prestigious administrative title for high-ranking officials, making it the odd one out in a list of currency terms.
Q79. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Harsha’s empire was not as politically cohesive and centralized as that of the Mauryas.
Reason (R): The post-Gupta polity was characterized by the presence of powerful Samantas who possessed their own military forces and administrative control over their territories.
Which of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Harsha’s empire was not as politically cohesive and centralized as that of the Mauryas.
Reason (R): The post-Gupta polity was characterized by the presence of powerful Samantas who possessed their own military forces and administrative control over their territories.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Harsha’s empire lacked the highly centralized and extensive bureaucratic machinery that characterized the Mauryan state. His political authority was more decentralized, relying on a system of feudal subordinates known as Samantas. These lords managed their own territories and maintained their own armies, only owing allegiance to Harsha. This structural reliance on local powerful figures meant the empire was less cohesive and more prone to fragmentation after the ruler’s death.
Q80. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the historical significance of the Eran inscription of 510 CE?
Explanation
The Eran pillar inscription, dated to 510 CE during the reign of the later Gupta king Bhanugupta, holds great historical significance. It provides the first clear epigraphical evidence for the practice of Sati in ancient India. The inscription records that the wife of a general named Goparaja burned herself on his funeral pyre after he died in battle, documenting a significant social custom of the era.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 71 | (d) Pataliputra |
| 72 | (a) He patronized Buddhism in his later years while maintaining tolerance towards Hinduism and Jainism. |
| 73 | (c) Women enjoyed absolute equality in property rights and inheritance identical to men. |
| 74 | (a) V only |
| 75 | (d) Tamrapatras |
| 76 | (b) Popularized image worship and the synthesis of local cults into the Brahmanical fold. |
| 77 | (c) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 78 | (d) Kumaramatya |
| 79 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 80 | (b) It provides the first epigraphical evidence of the practice of Sati. |
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.