Q411. Who among the following was appointed as the viceroy of Vengi by Pulakesi II and later founded the independent Eastern Chalukya dynasty?
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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Q412. Consider the following two statements about the Later Chalukyas of Kalyani:
Statement I: The dynasty was established by Tailapa II after overthrowing the Rashtrakutas.
Statement II: King Vikramaditya VI of this dynasty started the Chalukya-Vikrama era in 1076 CE.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement I: The dynasty was established by Tailapa II after overthrowing the Rashtrakutas.
Statement II: King Vikramaditya VI of this dynasty started the Chalukya-Vikrama era in 1076 CE.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Tailapa II founded the Later Chalukya dynasty by overthrowing the Rashtrakuta ruler Karka II, establishing a new capital at Kalyani. Later, the most prominent ruler of this line, Vikramaditya VI, inaugurated the Chalukya-Vikrama era in 1076 CE to commemorate his accession. His reign is often considered a golden age for the dynasty, marked by significant military successes and extensive patronage of literature.
Q413. Find the odd one out among the following literary figures based on their association with the Later Chalukyas of Kalyani.
Explanation
Bilhana, Vijnaneshwara, and Someshvara III are all closely associated with the Later Chalukyas of Kalyani. Bilhana wrote the Vikramankadevacharita, Vijnaneshwara composed the Mitakshara, and Someshvara III authored the Manasollasa. In contrast, Ravikirti was the court poet of Pulakesi II of the early Chalukyas of Vatapi. He is famous for composing the Aihole inscription, which predates the Kalyani branch by several centuries.
Q414. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi eventually merged with the Chola empire.
Reason (R): Kulothunga I, who ascended the Chola throne in 1070 CE, was an Eastern Chalukya prince born of a Chola princess.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi eventually merged with the Chola empire.
Reason (R): Kulothunga I, who ascended the Chola throne in 1070 CE, was an Eastern Chalukya prince born of a Chola princess.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
The Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi eventually merged with the Chola empire through a series of matrimonial alliances. Kulothunga I, a prince of the Eastern Chalukya line and grandson of Rajendra Chola I, ascended the Chola throne in 1070 CE. His dual lineage facilitated the administrative and political integration of the Vengi region into the Chola sovereign state, creating a unified power.
Q415. Consider the following statements regarding the Pallava king Mahendravarman I:
I. He authored the Sanskrit satirical play Mattavilasa Prahasana.
II. He was originally a Jain but was converted to Shaivism by the saint Appar.
III. He decisively defeated the Chalukya king Pulakesi II at the Battle of Pullalur.
IV. He is credited with introducing rock-cut cave architecture to the Tamil country.
V. He assumed titles such as Vichitrachitta and Gunabhara.
Which of the above combination of statements is correct?
I. He authored the Sanskrit satirical play Mattavilasa Prahasana.
II. He was originally a Jain but was converted to Shaivism by the saint Appar.
III. He decisively defeated the Chalukya king Pulakesi II at the Battle of Pullalur.
IV. He is credited with introducing rock-cut cave architecture to the Tamil country.
V. He assumed titles such as Vichitrachitta and Gunabhara.
Which of the above combination of statements is correct?
Explanation
Mahendravarman I was a versatile Pallava ruler who pioneered rock-cut architecture and authored the Sanskrit play Mattavilasa Prahasana. Initially a Jain, he converted to Shaivism under the influence of the saint Appar and assumed titles like Vichitrachitta. While he engaged in conflict with the Chalukyas, it was his son, Narasimhavarman I, rather than Mahendravarman himself, who decisively defeated Pulakesi II in battle.
Q416. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below.
| Pallava King | Popular Title/Epithet |
|---|---|
| A. Mahendravarman I | i. Rajasimha |
| B. Narasimhavarman I | ii. Pallavamalla |
| C. Narasimhavarman II | iii. Mamalla |
| D. Nandivarman II | iv. Vichitrachitta |
Explanation
Pallava monarchs often adopted grand titles to reflect their achievements and personalities. Mahendravarman I used the title Vichitrachitta to signify his inventive mind. Narasimhavarman I was known as Mamalla, meaning the great wrestler. Narasimhavarman II adopted the name Rajasimha, representing a lion among kings. Lastly, Nandivarman II was referred to as Pallavamalla, reflecting his military prowess during a period of dynastic transition.
Q417. Which Pallava king successfully captured the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi, killed Pulakesi II, and assumed the title of "Vatapikonda"?
Explanation
Narasimhavarman I, the son of Mahendravarman I, sought to avenge his father’s previous humiliations by the Chalukyas. He launched a successful invasion of the Chalukyan kingdom, capturing and burning their capital city, Vatapi. Following this significant military victory and the death of his rival Pulakesi II, Narasimhavarman I assumed the prestigious title of Vatapikonda, which translates to the conqueror of Vatapi.
Q418. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding ancient South Indian dynasties and their achievements.
Explanation
Pulakesi II famously defeated Harshavardhana, and Narasimhavarman I captured Vatapi from the Chalukyas. Rajaraja I is noted for his naval conquests, including the Maldives. However, Mahendravarman I was a contemporary of the early Chalukyas and did not destroy any Rashtrakuta capital, as the Rashtrakuta dynasty only rose to prominence much later by overthrowing the Chalukyas. This makes the association historically inaccurate.
Q419. Which of the following statements about Narasimhavarman I is incorrect?
Explanation
Narasimhavarman I is credited with founding the port city of Mahabalipuram and hosting the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang. He also provided military aid to the Sinhalese prince Manavamma. While he commissioned several monolithic rathas and cave temples at the site, the structural Shore Temple was actually built later during the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha, marking a shift from rock-cut to structural masonry.
Q420. What was the primary cause for Narasimhavarman I dispatching two naval expeditions to Sri Lanka?
Explanation
Narasimhavarman I dispatched two significant naval expeditions to the island of Sri Lanka for political reasons rather than religious or trade-related ones. The primary objective was to provide military support to his ally, the Sinhalese prince Manavamma, who had sought refuge in the Pallava court. With Pallava assistance, Manavamma was eventually able to defeat his domestic rivals and successfully reclaim the Sinhalese throne.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 411 | (b) Kubja Vishnuvardhana |
| 412 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II |
| 413 | (d) Ravikirti |
| 414 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 415 | (b) I, II, IV, and V |
| 416 | (a) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii |
| 417 | (a) Narasimhavarman I |
| 418 | (c) Mahendravarman I - Destruction of the Rashtrakuta capital |
| 419 | (d) He built the structural Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram. |
| 420 | (c) To restore the Sinhalese prince Manavamma to the throne of Sri Lanka. |
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.