Q271. According to the Greek ambassador Megasthenes, Indian society was divided into how many distinct classes based on occupation?
Ancient Indian History: RAS Prelims MCQs
615 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on ancient Indian history are on this page, in 8 chapters. They begin with the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Vedic Age, move through Buddhism, Jainism, the Mauryas and Guptas, and then cover the Chalukyas, Pallavas and Cholas, ancient art and science, and the Indian knowledge and value system. Every question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q272. Identify the incorrect statement about Megasthenes and his work Indica.
Explanation
Megasthenes served as a Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya and documented his experiences in the book Indica. Although the original manuscript is lost, substantial portions of the work have survived through fragments quoted by later classical writers like Arrian, Strabo, and Diodorus. His writings provide valuable, though sometimes misinterpreted, insights into the social, political, and economic conditions of India during the early Mauryan period.
Q273. Match List-I (Megasthenes’s classes) with List-II (Description).
| Megasthenes’s classes | Description |
|---|---|
| A. Philosophers | i. The largest class, exempted from military service |
| B. Husbandmen | ii. Spies and inspectors who reported directly to the king |
| C. Overseers | iii. The smallest class, comprising the highest state officials |
| D. Councillors | iv. Brahmins and ascetics |
Explanation
Megasthenes identified various social groups based on their societal roles. Philosophers included Brahmins and ascetics who performed sacrifices. Husbandmen formed the largest class and were dedicated to farming, exempted from military duties. Overseers acted as inspectors or spies, reporting directly to the monarch about the state of affairs. Councillors were the smallest but most powerful group, serving as high-level advisors and administrative officials within the central government.
Q274. Consider the following statements regarding the observations made in the Indica:
Statement I: Megasthenes accurately understood and documented the intricate details of the four-fold Varna system.
Statement II: Megasthenes mentioned the existence of a Pandya kingdom in the south that was ruled by women.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: Megasthenes accurately understood and documented the intricate details of the four-fold Varna system.
Statement II: Megasthenes mentioned the existence of a Pandya kingdom in the south that was ruled by women.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Megasthenes failed to accurately describe the complex four-fold Varna system, instead classifying society into seven groups based on occupation. However, he did provide intriguing details about South India, specifically mentioning the Pandya kingdom. He recorded a legend that the kingdom was founded by a daughter of Heracles and was ruled by women, who were provided with a massive army to protect and maintain the sovereign’s authority.
Q275. Consider the following statements based on Megasthenes’ account of India:
I. Famines never occur in India.
II. The art of writing was widely used for drafting legal contracts.
III. Dionysus and Heracles were worshipped by the Indians.
IV. The practice of usury (lending money at interest) was prevalent among the common people.
V. Indian soldiers were equipped primarily with longbows and broadswords.
Which combination accurately reflects the claims made by Megasthenes?
I. Famines never occur in India.
II. The art of writing was widely used for drafting legal contracts.
III. Dionysus and Heracles were worshipped by the Indians.
IV. The practice of usury (lending money at interest) was prevalent among the common people.
V. Indian soldiers were equipped primarily with longbows and broadswords.
Which combination accurately reflects the claims made by Megasthenes?
Explanation
Megasthenes made several remarkable claims, including the observation that famines never occurred in India and that Indians were unfamiliar with the art of writing for legal contracts. He identified the worship of Indian deities, which he associated with the Greek gods Dionysus and Heracles. Furthermore, he noted that the Indian military was well-organized, with soldiers typically equipped with formidable longbows and large, heavy broadswords.
Q276. The standard silver coin widely circulated during the Mauryan period, bearing punch marks of various symbols, was known as:
Explanation
The Pana, also frequently referred to as the Karshapana, was the primary silver currency used during the Mauryan era. These coins were produced using the punch-mark technique, where various symbols such as the sun, moon, hills, and animals were stamped onto pieces of silver. These coins played a vital role in the highly monetized Mauryan economy, facilitating trade, tax collection, and the payment of salaries.
Q277. Which of the following statements about the Mauryan economy is correct?
Explanation
The Mauryan state exercised significant control over the economy to maximize revenue and ensure strategic resource management. Mining and metallurgy were considered vital sectors and were maintained as strict state monopolies. The Akaradhyaksha was the designated official responsible for overseeing all mining operations and metallurgical production. This centralized control allowed the empire to secure the necessary metals for weaponry, coinage, and various industrial purposes.
Q278. Arrange the following administrative divisions of the Mauryan Empire in descending order (from largest to smallest):
I. Janapada
II. Ahara (District)
III. Grama
IV. Sthaniya (Unit of 800 villages)
I. Janapada
II. Ahara (District)
III. Grama
IV. Sthaniya (Unit of 800 villages)
Explanation
The Mauryan administration was organized in a clear hierarchy to ensure effective governance over its vast territory. The largest unit below the imperial level was the Janapada or province. This was followed by the Ahara, which functioned as a district. Below the district level were units like the Sthaniya, which consisted of 800 villages. The smallest and most fundamental unit of the administrative structure was the Grama.
Q279. Identify the odd one out among the following types of taxes levied during the Mauryan period.
Explanation
During the Mauryan period, Bhaga, Bali, and Hiranya were different forms of financial or in-kind taxes paid to the state. Bhaga was the main land revenue, usually a share of the produce, while Hiranya was a tax paid specifically in cash. In contrast, Visti was not a monetary or agricultural tax; it referred to forced or unpaid labor that subjects were required to provide for state projects.
Q280. In the context of the Mauryan economy, the term ‘Shrenis’ specifically refers to:
Explanation
In the Mauryan economy, the term Shrenis referred to the professional guilds formed by artisans and merchants. These organizations played a crucial role in economic life by regulating production, ensuring quality standards, and providing social security to their members. Over time, these guilds became highly organized and even functioned as banking institutions, accepting deposits and providing loans, which helped facilitate both internal and external trade networks.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 271 | (a) Seven |
| 272 | (b) The original manuscript of Indica has survived intact to the present day. |
| 273 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 274 | (b) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct. |
| 275 | (a) I, III, and V only |
| 276 | (d) Pana (or Karshapana) |
| 277 | (c) Mining and metallurgy were state monopolies supervised by the Akaradhyaksha. |
| 278 | (a) I, II, IV, III |
| 279 | (d) Visti |
| 280 | (a) Guilds of artisans and merchants |
Key facts from Ancient Indian History
- The RPSC syllabus lists the Indus and Vedic ages, the religious ideas of the 6th century BC, the Maurya, Kushan, Satavahana, Gupta, Chalukya, Pallava and Chola dynasties, ancient art and science, and the Indian knowledge system.
- Questions on sites and rulers usually ask for one distinguishing fact: the northernmost Harappan site, the first Gupta Maharajadhiraja, the builder of the Shore Temple.
- Statement and match-the-list formats are common, so learn each ruler or site with its period, region and monument.
- Art and science questions link a monument or text to its dynasty, for example Amaravati with the Satavahanas and the Khandakhadyaka with Brahmagupta.
- The Indian knowledge and value system chapter covers varna, ashrama, purushartha, samskaras and the six schools of philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Ancient Indian History?
This page has 615 practice MCQs on Ancient Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the ancient Indian history set cover?
Eight chapters: the Indus Valley Civilisation, the Vedic Age, the religious movements of the 6th century BC, the Maurya and post-Maurya dynasties, the Gupta Empire, South Indian dynasties, art, architecture and science, and the Indian knowledge and value system.
Is ancient history part of the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC lists Indian History under General Knowledge and General Science, and the ancient and medieval part names the Indus and Vedic ages, religious ideas of the 6th century BC, the major dynasties and ancient art and science.
How should I revise ancient history for RAS Prelims?
Work chapter by chapter. Attempt each question first, read the explanation, and write the key fact in a table of rulers, sites, texts and monuments. Revisit the weak chapters after a few days, since the facts are easy to confuse.