Q391. All of the following were notable ports facilitating trade during the Gupta period, except:
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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Q392. 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.
Q393. 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.
Q394. 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.
Q395. 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.
Q396. 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.
Q397. 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.
Q398. 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.
Q399. 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.
Q400. 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 |
|---|---|
| 391 | (d) Pataliputra |
| 392 | (a) He patronized Buddhism in his later years while maintaining tolerance towards Hinduism and Jainism. |
| 393 | (c) Women enjoyed absolute equality in property rights and inheritance identical to men. |
| 394 | (a) V only |
| 395 | (d) Tamrapatras |
| 396 | (b) Popularized image worship and the synthesis of local cults into the Brahmanical fold. |
| 397 | (c) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 398 | (d) Kumaramatya |
| 399 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 400 | (b) It provides the first epigraphical evidence of the practice of Sati. |
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.