Q1. Who among the following is credited with overthrowing the Nanda dynasty and establishing the Maurya Empire?
Maurya and Post-Maurya Dynasties: RAS Prelims MCQs
80 RAS Prelims MCQs on the Maurya and post-Maurya dynasties ask about rulers, edicts, officials and sources. Chandragupta Maurya and the Arthashastra, Bindusara, the Kalinga War, Ashoka’s Dhamma, Megasthenes and the Mauryan economy appear alongside the Kushans and Satavahanas, and the explanations tie each fact to its source.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q2. Which of the following regions was not absorbed into the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya?
Explanation
While Chandragupta Maurya successfully expanded his empire across Northern India, Central India, and the North-Western regions, he did not conquer Kalinga. It remained an independent kingdom on the eastern coast until his grandson, Ashoka, undertook a bloody military campaign to annex it. The Mauryan territories under Chandragupta primarily focused on consolidating power after defeating the Nandas and Greeks.
Q3. Match List-I (Titles/Names) with List-II (Source or Context).
| Titles/Names | Source or Context |
|---|---|
| A. Sandrokottos | i. Plutarch |
| B. Androkottos | ii. Justin |
| C. Vrishala | iii. Ashokan Edicts |
| D. Piyadassi | iv. Mudrarakshasa |
Explanation
Historical identification of Chandragupta Maurya relies on Greek sources where Justin refers to him as Sandrokottos and Plutarch uses the name Androkottos. The Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa uses the term Vrishala, often interpreted as being of humble origin. Piyadassi is the royal title found extensively in the Ashokan edicts, signifying the benevolent nature of the ruler towards his subjects.
Q4. Which statement correctly describes the outcome of the conflict between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator?
Explanation
The military confrontation between Chandragupta Maurya and the Greek general Seleucus Nicator concluded with a diplomatic peace treaty around 305 BCE. Seleucus ceded the strategic territories of Arachosia, Paropamisadae, and Aria in exchange for five hundred war elephants. This agreement was further strengthened by a matrimonial alliance, establishing a lasting diplomatic relationship between the Mauryan Empire and the Hellenistic world.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Chandragupta Maurya:
I. He converted to Jainism in his later years.
II. He migrated to Shravanabelagola in the company of the Jain monk Bhadrabahu.
III. He ended his life by the Jain practice of Sallekhana.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. He converted to Jainism in his later years.
II. He migrated to Shravanabelagola in the company of the Jain monk Bhadrabahu.
III. He ended his life by the Jain practice of Sallekhana.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Traditional Jain accounts state that Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism toward the end of his life under the influence of the monk Bhadrabahu. He abdicated his throne and traveled to Shravanabelagola in modern Karnataka. Following the rigorous spiritual discipline of the faith, he eventually died by performing Sallekhana, which involves voluntary fasting unto death to achieve spiritual liberation from worldly existence.
Q6. The text Arthashastra by Kautilya is primarily a treatise on which of the following subjects?
Explanation
Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a comprehensive ancient Indian treatise focusing on political science and economic policy. It provides detailed instructions on the duties of a king, the organization of civil administration, and methods of warfare. The text serves as a manual for maintaining state sovereignty, managing public finances, and ensuring internal security through an elaborate system of laws and diplomatic strategies.
Q7. Identify the odd one out among the elements of the Saptanga (Seven Limbs) theory of the state proposed by Kautilya.
Explanation
Kautilya’s Saptanga theory identifies seven vital limbs of the state necessary for its functioning. These include the Swami, Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosha, Danda, and Mitra. While the Purohita held a high position as a royal priest and advisor within the court, this specific role is not classified as one of the seven formal constituent elements of the state structure.
Q8. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Kautilya’s Arthashastra strongly recommends an extensive espionage system for the state.
Reason (R): Spies were considered necessary to maintain centralized control, gather intelligence, and prevent rebellions.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Kautilya’s Arthashastra strongly recommends an extensive espionage system for the state.
Reason (R): Spies were considered necessary to maintain centralized control, gather intelligence, and prevent rebellions.
Explanation
Kautilya emphasized an extensive espionage network as crucial for the survival and stability of the Mauryan state. Spies were strategically deployed to gather intelligence on foreign powers, monitor the loyalty of high officials, and identify potential domestic unrest. This centralized intelligence system allowed the monarch to take preemptive actions against internal conspiracies and external threats, ensuring the overall security of the administration.
Q9. According to Kautilya’s Mandala theory, what is the natural geopolitical relationship of a state with its immediate territorial neighbor?
Explanation
The Mandala theory of diplomacy suggests that a state’s immediate neighbor is its natural enemy, known as the Ari. This geopolitical concept posits that shared borders lead to inherent territorial conflicts and competition for resources. Conversely, the state located beyond the immediate neighbor is considered a natural ally, or Mitra, because both share a common interest in neutralizing the intervening hostile power.
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding Kautilya’s Arthashastra:
I. It is written in Sanskrit and divided into 15 Adhikaranas (books).
II. It advocates for the separation of civil and criminal courts.
III. It completely rejects the existence of a formal taxation system.
IV. It mentions the practice of employing both stationary and wandering spies.
Which of the combinations is correct?
I. It is written in Sanskrit and divided into 15 Adhikaranas (books).
II. It advocates for the separation of civil and criminal courts.
III. It completely rejects the existence of a formal taxation system.
IV. It mentions the practice of employing both stationary and wandering spies.
Which of the combinations is correct?
Explanation
Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a Sanskrit text composed of fifteen books. It outlines a sophisticated legal system that distinguishes between civil courts, known as Dharmasthiya, and criminal courts, called Kantakashodhana. The treatise also details an extensive intelligence network utilizing both stationary and wandering spies. Contrary to rejecting taxation, the text provides a highly organized framework for various state taxes to fund the imperial administration.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Chandragupta Maurya |
| 2 | (a) Kalinga |
| 3 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 4 | (d) A peace treaty was signed where Seleucus ceded North-Western territories. |
| 5 | (d) I, II and III |
| 6 | (b) Statecraft, administration, and modern military strategy |
| 7 | (d) Purohita |
| 8 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 9 | (c) Natural enemy |
| 10 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
Key facts from Maurya and Post-Maurya Dynasties
- Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nanda dynasty and founded the Maurya Empire.
- Bindusara was called Amitrochates (slayer of foes) by the Greeks; the Syrian king Antiochus I sent Deimachus to his court.
- The Kalinga War was fought in the eighth year of Ashoka’s reign.
- Ashoka appointed Dhamma-mahamattas to spread Dhamma and look after the welfare of the people.
- The Maski Minor Rock Edict names Ashoka; the Bhabru-Bairat Edict in Rajasthan shows his faith in Buddhism.
- Dharmasthiya and Kantakashodhana were the civil and criminal courts of the Mauryan administration.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Maurya and Post-Maurya Dynasties?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Maurya and Post-Maurya Dynasties (Ancient Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which Ashokan edict names Ashoka?
The Maski Minor Rock Edict. In most edicts Ashoka calls himself Devanampiya Piyadasi, but the Maski edict gives his personal name Ashoka, which makes it a key source for identifying the Piyadasi of the edicts with Ashoka.
What were Dhamma-mahamattas?
Special officials created by Ashoka to spread the code of Dhamma and to look after the welfare of people of all sects. They are mentioned in his edicts and show how he made moral policy part of administration.
What were Dharmasthiya and Kantakashodhana?
Dharmasthiya courts handled civil cases and Kantakashodhana courts handled criminal cases, as described in the Arthashastra. Together they show how the Mauryan state separated civil disputes from the removal of thorns, meaning crimes against the state.