Q371. The famous iron pillar, notable for its rust-resistant composition and bearing an inscription of a king named ‘Chandra’, is located at:
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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Q372. Consider the following Chinese travelers who visited India:
I. Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
II. Fa Hien (Faxian)
III. I-Tsing (Yijing)
IV. Song Yun
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their visits?
I. Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
II. Fa Hien (Faxian)
III. I-Tsing (Yijing)
IV. Song Yun
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their visits?
Explanation
Chinese pilgrims visited India at different times to study Buddhism. Fa Hien came first in the fifth century during the Gupta period. Song Yun followed in the early sixth century. Xuanzang arrived in the seventh century during Harsha’s reign, and I-Tsing came later in the same century. Their collective accounts provide invaluable information on the transformation of Indian society and religion over three centuries.
Q373. The rapid disintegration of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century can be primarily attributed to which cause and effect relationship?
Explanation
The fall of the Gupta Empire was primarily caused by the relentless Huna invasions from Central Asia. These wars placed an enormous burden on the imperial treasury and weakened the military’s strength. As central authority faded, ambitious provincial governors and subordinate rulers began to assert their independence, leading to the fragmentation of the once-mighty empire into several smaller, competing regional kingdoms in the sixth century.
Q374. Consider the following statements regarding the art and structural developments of the Gupta era:
I. The period witnessed the construction of early free-standing structural stone temples.
II. The Dashavatara temple is notable for its intricate carvings depicting Vishnu reclining on Ananta.
III. Terracotta art reached a high level of refinement and was widely used for decorating temples and homes.
IV. The Bhitargaon temple is a remarkable example of an early Gupta brick temple.
V. The Ellora caves were entirely excavated during the Gupta period by Chandragupta II.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The period witnessed the construction of early free-standing structural stone temples.
II. The Dashavatara temple is notable for its intricate carvings depicting Vishnu reclining on Ananta.
III. Terracotta art reached a high level of refinement and was widely used for decorating temples and homes.
IV. The Bhitargaon temple is a remarkable example of an early Gupta brick temple.
V. The Ellora caves were entirely excavated during the Gupta period by Chandragupta II.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Gupta era saw the birth of structural temples like those at Deogarh and Bhitargaon and refined terracotta art. However, it is incorrect to say that the Ellora caves were entirely excavated during the Gupta period by Chandragupta II. While some early work might have begun, the major excavation of the Ellora caves took place much later, primarily under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta and Kalachuri dynasties.
Q375. Which of the following statements regarding the regional kingdoms of the post-Gupta period is incorrect?
Explanation
While Sasanka was a Shaivite rival to Harsha and the Maukharis resisted Hunas, the statement about the Maitrakas is incorrect. Although Harsha defeated the Maitraka ruler Dhruvasena II, he did not eradicate the dynasty. Instead, he established a matrimonial alliance by marrying his daughter to Dhruvasena II, allowing the Maitrakas to continue ruling Valabhi as his subordinates and maintaining it as a center of learning.
Q376. Which of the following is a correct statement regarding the scientific contributions of Aryabhata?
Explanation
Aryabhata was a revolutionary scientist who authored the Aryabhatiya. He correctly proposed that the Earth is a sphere and rotates on its own axis, causing day and night. He also provided a scientific, non-mythological explanation for solar and lunar eclipses based on shadows. Furthermore, his work on the value of Pi and the decimal system laid the foundation for modern mathematics and astronomy globally.
Q377. Match List-I (Harshavardhana’s Administration) with List-II (Corresponding feature):
Which of the following matches is correct?
| Harshavardhana’s Administration | Corresponding feature |
|---|---|
| A. Mahasandhivigrahadhikrita | i. Ordinary officials in charge of district administration |
| B. Ayuktakas | ii. The chief of the palace guards |
| C. Mahapratiara | iii. A tax collected from agriculturists |
| D. Udranga | iv. The supreme director of war and peace |
Explanation
Harsha’s government followed a structured administrative pattern. The Mahasandhivigrahadhikrita was the supreme director of war and peace. Ayuktakas were officials managing district-level affairs. The Mahapratihara served as the chief of the palace guards, ensuring the king’s security. Udranga was a specific land tax collected from farmers. These roles highlight the mixture of military, civil, and fiscal management necessary to govern Harsha’s extensive northern Indian empire.
Q378. Which of the following offers the best characterization of the economy during the late Gupta and post-Gupta period?
Explanation
The economy during the late Gupta and post- Gupta periods was characterized by a distinct shift toward localization. Long-distance maritime trade, particularly with the West, had declined, leading to a decrease in the circulation of metallic currency. Concurrently, the increasing frequency of land grants to religious and secular officials fostered a self-sufficient village economy and the rise of local landed intermediaries, marking the transition toward feudalism.
Q379. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): After the death of Harsha, his vast empire rapidly fragmented into numerous independent regional kingdoms.
Reason (R): Harsha’s administration lacked a permanent, highly centralized bureaucratic structure and relied heavily on the loyalty of subordinate feudal lords (Samantas).
Which of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): After the death of Harsha, his vast empire rapidly fragmented into numerous independent regional kingdoms.
Reason (R): Harsha’s administration lacked a permanent, highly centralized bureaucratic structure and relied heavily on the loyalty of subordinate feudal lords (Samantas).
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Harsha’s empire was built more on personal military prestige and a network of alliances than on a deep-rooted, centralized bureaucracy. He relied heavily on the loyalty of subordinate Samantas who maintained their own armies. Consequently, upon his death, there was no institutional mechanism to hold the diverse regions together, leading to the rapid fragmentation of the empire as these feudal lords declared their independence.
Q380. Which of the following rulers is NOT associated with the Later Gupta dynasty of Magadha and Malwa?
Explanation
The Later Gupta dynasty included rulers like Krishnagupta, Kumaragupta, and Adityasena, who ruled over parts of Magadha and Malwa after the main imperial Gupta line declined. Mihirakula, however, was not a member of this dynasty. He was a notorious and powerful king of the Hunas, known for his military campaigns in northern India and his fierce opposition to Buddhism during the early sixth century.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 371 | (c) Mehrauli, Delhi |
| 372 | (a) II, IV, I, III |
| 373 | (c) Huna invasions weakened the military and drained the treasury, leading to provincial independence. |
| 374 | (b) V only |
| 375 | (d) The Maitrakas of Valabhi were entirely eradicated by Harsha and their territories annexed to Magadha forever. |
| 376 | (a) He proposed that the Earth rotates on its own axis and provided a scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipses. |
| 377 | (c) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 378 | (a) An increasingly localized economy marked by a decline in long-distance trade and a rise in land grants |
| 379 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 380 | (b) Mihirakula |
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.