Q611. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the ethical standpoint of the Charvaka school?
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 611–615 of 615 questions
Browse Ancient Indian History chapters
Q612. Identify the odd one out. The Charvaka philosophy accepts the physical reality of only four fundamental elements. Which of the following traditional elements is rejected by Charvaka?
Explanation
Materialist philosophers recognize only those elements that can be directly perceived through the senses. They accept earth, water, fire, and air as the fundamental building blocks of the physical world. However, they reject the concept of a fifth subtle element like space or ether because it cannot be seen or touched. This strict reliance on empirical evidence defines their limited view of physical reality.
Q613. Which of the following concepts is NOT rejected by the Lokayata (Charvaka) philosophy?
Explanation
The materialistic school denies all spiritual and metaphysical concepts, including the authority of scriptures, the law of karma, and the existence of an immortal soul. Its proponents focus entirely on the tangible world. They accept the physical body as the only reality of a person, arguing that consciousness is merely an accidental byproduct of specific material combinations that ceases completely upon death.
Q614. The term ‘Lokayata’, historically used synonymously with Charvaka, literally means:
Explanation
The term Lokayata reflects a philosophy that is deeply rooted in the observable world and accessible to the general population. It emphasizes worldly concerns and material well-being over abstract spiritual speculations. Historically, it described a system of thought that prioritized the here and now, focusing on the practical and sensory experiences shared by all humans in their daily lives.
Q615. An individual is born with certain inherent traits and life circumstances resulting from past actions, while simultaneously generating new karma through present choices. Which type of Karma specifically refers to the portion of past actions that have begun to bear fruit in the present life?
Explanation
The law of karma categorizes actions into different types based on their timing and effects. Prarabdha karma specifically refers to the portion of past deeds that has matured and is currently influencing an individual’s present circumstances. While some karma remains stored for the future, this particular aspect determines the unavoidable conditions of the current life, emphasizing the continuity of cause and effect.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 611 | (d) Sensual pleasure is the legitimate and supreme goal of human life. |
| 612 | (a) Ether/Space (Akasha) |
| 613 | (c) The material existence of the physical body |
| 614 | (a) Prevalent among common people or related to this empirical world. |
| 615 | (d) Prarabdha Karma |
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.