Q351. Which of the following represents the most appropriate description of the ‘Golden Age’ characterization of the Gupta period?
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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Q352. 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.
Q353. 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.
Q354. 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.
Q355. 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.
Q356. 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.
Q357. 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.
Q358. 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.
Q359. 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.
Q360. 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 |
|---|---|
| 351 | (a) It reflects a significant growth in classical Sanskrit literature, art, and sciences. |
| 352 | (b) Samudragupta |
| 353 | (b) They actively persecuted followers of Jainism and Buddhism, leading to the destruction of many viharas. |
| 354 | (c) V only |
| 355 | (c) Skandagupta |
| 356 | (d) Hiranya - Cotton |
| 357 | (c) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 358 | (b) The rise of landed intermediaries and decentralized political power |
| 359 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 360 | (a) A Huna king who conquered parts of western and central India. |
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.