Q471. Who among the following was the last recognized ruler of the Imperial Chola dynasty, whose defeat by the Pandyas in 1279 CE marked the formal end of the empire?
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.
Showing 471–480 of 615 questions
Browse Ancient Indian History chapters
Q472. Which of the following statements incorrectly identifies a factor contributing to the decline and eventual fall of the Chola Empire?
Explanation
Several factors led to the decline of the Chola Empire, including the resurgence of the Pandyas and the rising military pressure from the Hoysalas and Later Chalukyas. These constant conflicts exhausted the state’s treasury and weakened its administrative control. However, the Portuguese did not arrive in India until the late fifteenth century, long after the Chola Empire had already ceased to exist in the thirteenth century. Therefore, a Portuguese invasion could not have caused the dynasty’s downfall.
Q473. What was the immediate regional political consequence in South India following the collapse of the Chola empire in the late 13th century?
Explanation
The fall of the Chola Empire in the late thirteenth century led to a major shift in the political landscape of South India. The power vacuum was immediately filled by the resurgence of the Pandyas of Madurai, who became the dominant force in the Tamil region. Simultaneously, other regional powers like the Hoysalas in Karnataka and the Kakatiyas in Andhra Pradesh expanded their territories. This period was characterized by intense competition among these successor states for regional hegemony.
Q474. Consider the following two statements regarding the transitional period following the Chola decline:
Statement I: The power vacuum created by the subsequent decline of the Pandyas and Hoysalas eventually paved the way for the rise of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Statement II: Harihara and Bukka officially established the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 CE to consolidate Hindu resistance in the South.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: The power vacuum created by the subsequent decline of the Pandyas and Hoysalas eventually paved the way for the rise of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Statement II: Harihara and Bukka officially established the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 CE to consolidate Hindu resistance in the South.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The decline of major regional powers like the Pandyas and Hoysalas following the Chola collapse created a period of political instability. This fragmentation made the South vulnerable to invasions from the Delhi Sultanate. In response to these external threats and the need for regional stability, Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 CE. Their objective was to consolidate local Hindu resistance and preserve traditional South Indian culture, leading to the rise of a new imperial era.
Q475. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding the late medieval South Indian dynasties and their primary capital or political center after the decline of the Cholas.
Explanation
The Pandyas were based in Madurai, the Hoysalas ruled from Dwarasamudra, and the Later Cholas continued to use Gangaikonda Cholapuram as their political center. However, the Kakatiya dynasty was centered in the Deccan region of present-day Telangana, with Warangal (Orugallu) as their primary capital. Thanjavur was the historical capital of the Cholas and later became a seat for the Pandyas and Nayakas, but it was never the capital of the Kakatiya kingdom, making this pair incorrect.
Q476. The Hoysala dynasty, which played a crucial role in the geopolitics that led to the decline of the Cholas, ruled primarily from which present-day region?
Explanation
The Hoysala dynasty was a prominent South Indian power that ruled between the tenth and fourteenth centuries. Their kingdom was primarily located in the Malnad and plateau regions of present-day Karnataka. From their capital at Dwarasamudra (modern-day Halebidu), they played a crucial role as a buffer state and a major military power in the conflicts between the Cholas and the Chalukyas. They are also celebrated for their unique and highly decorative temple architecture found throughout the Karnataka region.
Q477. During the Chola administration, the primary source of state revenue was land tax. What was the specific term used to denote the land revenue or tax collected from the cultivators?
Explanation
Land revenue was the backbone of the Chola economy, and the state maintained a meticulous system of land survey and assessment. The general term used for the land tax or the share of the produce payable to the king by the cultivators was Kadamai. This tax was usually collected in kind, although payments in gold were also accepted. It was distinct from other levies, such as Vetti (forced labor), and was essential for funding the empire’s massive military and architectural projects.
Q478. Which of the following best describes the primary structural foundation of the Ajanta caves?
Explanation
The Ajanta caves represent a significant milestone in Indian rock-cut architecture. These thirty monuments were meticulously excavated from the solid basaltic rock of a vertical cliff within a horseshoe-shaped gorge of the Waghora River. This unique riverine setting provided a secluded environment for Buddhist monks to reside, meditate, and practice their spiritual rituals over several centuries.
Q479. Which of the following statements regarding the Ellora caves is incorrect?
Explanation
The Ellora caves are a multifaceted archaeological site, but their construction did not occur during the Mauryan period under Ashoka. Instead, the excavation of these thirty-four caves spanned from the sixth to the tenth centuries CE. The site is uniquely celebrated for housing monuments belonging to three different faiths--Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism--coexisting within the same geographical complex.
Q480. Match the items in List I with the items in
List II to identify the correct architectural combinations.
List I: (Ancient Temple Architecture Styles)
A. Nagara
B. Dravida
C. Vesara
D. Panchayatana
List II: (Defining Features)
i. Pyramidal vimana and prominent gopurams
ii. Hybrid style combining northern and southern elements
iii. Curvilinear shikhara and prevalent in Northern India
iv. A central shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines
List II to identify the correct architectural combinations.
List I: (Ancient Temple Architecture Styles)
A. Nagara
B. Dravida
C. Vesara
D. Panchayatana
List II: (Defining Features)
i. Pyramidal vimana and prominent gopurams
ii. Hybrid style combining northern and southern elements
iii. Curvilinear shikhara and prevalent in Northern India
iv. A central shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines
Explanation
Ancient Indian temple architecture is categorized by distinct regional styles. The Nagara style is identified by curvilinear shikharas in the north, while the Dravida style features pyramidal vimanas and tall gopurams. The Vesara style represents a hybrid of these two, and the Panchayatana layout consists of a main central shrine surrounded by four smaller subsidiary shrines.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 471 | (a) Rajendra III |
| 472 | (d) The Portuguese naval invasion of the Coromandel coast directly destroyed the Chola capital. |
| 473 | (b) The resurgence of the Pandyas and the rise of Hoysalas and Kakatiyas |
| 474 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true |
| 475 | (d) Kakatiyas - Thanjavur |
| 476 | (a) Karnataka |
| 477 | (b) Kadamai |
| 478 | (b) They are rock-cut monuments excavated from a horseshoe-shaped riverine gorge. |
| 479 | (a) They were excavated entirely during the reign of the Mauryan empire under Ashoka. |
| 480 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
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.