Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture: RAS Prelims MCQs
120 RAS Prelims MCQs on society and culture in ancient Rajasthan look at how people lived and traded before the Rajput age. Early tribes, the Matsya kingdom, urban centres like Nagari and Rairh, guilds, marriage customs, the property rights of women and the trade routes to the western ports are all tested, and the explanations place each fact in its period.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 71–80 of 120 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q71. Consider the following statements regarding education and learning centers in ancient Rajasthan: I. Learning was largely transmitted orally in the early Vedic and post-Vedic periods. II. Inscriptions mention grants of villages to Brahmanas, which served as centers of Vedic learning. III. Jain Upashrayas later developed as significant centers for manuscript preservation and education. IV. Technical education, such as metallurgy and architecture, was passed down through hereditary occupational guilds. V. The state completely banned the teaching of astronomy and mathematics in urban centers. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Education in ancient Rajasthan was diverse and often tied to social roles. Vedic knowledge was preserved orally and through village grants, while Jain Upashrayas became important for literature. Technical skills were taught within guilds. It is incorrect to claim the state banned astronomy; on the contrary, centers like Bhinmal were famous for these fields, showing that scientific inquiry was actively pursued.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q72. In the context of ancient social customs in Rajasthan, the term ‘Niyoga’ refers to:
Explanation
In ancient Indian society, Niyoga was a socially sanctioned custom that allowed a childless widow to conceive a child with her husband’s brother or another close relative. The primary goal was to ensure the continuation of the family lineage and the performance of ancestral rites. This practice was regulated by specific social and religious norms described in ancient legal and ethical treatises.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q73. Extensive quantities of shell bangles, terracotta beads, and semi-precious stone ornaments found at Kalibangan highlight the existence of:
Explanation
The large quantity of ornaments like shell bangles and terracotta beads found at Kalibangan indicates a high demand for personal adornment. This suggests the existence of specialized craft communities who possessed the skills to produce these items from various materials. These artisans not only satisfied local needs but likely also engaged in regional trade, contributing to the economic complexity of the center.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q74. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer from the options given below:
Ancient Economic Elements
Description
A. Sreni
i. Traditional term for agriculture, cattle rearing, and trade
B. Nishka
ii. An ancient coin or unit of currency
C. Varta
iii. A guild or corporation of artisans/merchants
D. Karshapana
iv. A gold ornament or ancient currency unit
Explanation
Ancient economic life used specific terminology. A Sreni was a professional guild. Nishka referred to an ancient gold ornament or currency unit. Varta was the collective term for the primary economic activities of agriculture, cattle rearing, and trade. Karshapana was a standard coin used for daily transactions. These terms highlight the organized and diverse nature of the ancient economy in Rajasthan.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q75. Which of the following identifies a key feature of the transition from ancient to early medieval Rajasthan?
Explanation
A defining feature of the transition from ancient to early medieval Rajasthan was the shift toward a more decentralized political structure. This was characterized by the widespread adoption of the land grant system, where kings gave land to Brahmanas and officials in exchange for services. This led to the fragmentation of political authority among local lords and the crystallization of the feudal system.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q76. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the options given below: Statement I: Over time, the assimilation of foreign groups like the Hunas and Gurjaras led to complexities in the traditional Varna system in Rajasthan. Statement II: The early medieval Rajput clans trace their origins back to these complex assimilations and traditional Kshatriya lineages.
Explanation
Over time, Rajasthan saw the entry of several foreign groups, including the Hunas and Gurjaras. Through a process of social and ritual assimilation, these groups were eventually integrated into the Varna system, often as Kshatriyas. This complex process, combined with traditional lineages, played a fundamental role in the formation of the early medieval Rajput identity and the various regional ruling clans.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q77. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the role of tribal societies in ancient Rajasthan:
Explanation
While tribal groups often lived in remote Aravalli regions, they did not live in total isolation. Historical evidence shows they frequently interacted with urban and agrarian centers through trade, military service, and by managing strategic passes. They were an integral part of the regional ecosystem, and their cultural practices often influenced and were influenced by the mainstream societies they interacted with regularly.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q78. Consider the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and select the correct answer from the options given below: Assertion (A): The position of women in ancient Rajasthan underwent a decline during the transition to the early medieval period. Reason (R): Epigraphic sources from the early medieval period increasingly reference the practices of Sati and strict patriarchal control over women’s movement.
Explanation
The transition to the early medieval period in Rajasthan was marked by a gradual decline in the overall social position of women. Epigraphic evidence from this time increasingly mentions practices like Sati and reflects more rigid patriarchal control over women’s lives and movement. These changes were often linked to the rise of a more militarized social structure and hardening of traditional norms.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q79. The mention of ‘Anuloma’ and ‘Pratiloma’ in ancient social treatises applied to Rajasthan refers to regulations concerning:
Explanation
The terms Anuloma and Pratiloma were used in ancient social treatises to regulate inter-varna marriages. Anuloma refers to a man of a higher varna marrying a woman of a lower varna, while Pratiloma refers to the opposite. These regulations also addressed the social status and duties of the children born from such unions, reflecting societal concerns about maintaining varna purity and social order.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q80. The discovery of numerous weights and measures at ancient urban sites like Kalibangan suggests:
Explanation
The discovery of numerous standardized weights and measures at ancient urban sites like Kalibangan is a clear indicator of a sophisticated and organized economic system. It proves that the society did not rely solely on informal barter but had a regulated method for weighing goods in trade. This standardization was essential for both internal commerce and long-distance trade with other civilizations across India.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
71
(a) I, II, III and IV only
72
(a) A widow childbearing with her husband’s brother to continue the lineage
73
(c) Specialized craft communities catering to local and regional demand for ornaments
74
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
75
(d) The widespread emergence of the land grant system and fragmented political authority
76
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
77
(c) Tribal societies lived in harmonious isolation and never interacted with urban or agrarian centers.
78
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
79
(a) Inter-varna marriage customs and the specific status of their offspring
80
(b) A standardized system of economic transactions and trade
Key facts from Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Madhyamika, the ancient name of Nagari in Chittorgarh district, was a fortified urban centre on the route from the Gangetic plains to Bharuch.
Rairh in Tonk district is called the Tata Nagar of ancient Rajasthan for its large hoard of punch-marked coins.
Ganeshwar served as a major copper-supplying centre to the Harappan civilization.
The Matsya kingdom, named in the Rigveda and the Mahabharata, lay in eastern Rajasthan around Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur.
A Sreni was a guild of merchants and artisans, and an Agrahara was tax-free land granted to Brahmanas or temples.
The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited Bhinmal, which was known for its learning.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture?
This page has 120 practice MCQs on Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What was a Sreni in ancient Rajasthan?
A Sreni was a guild of merchants and artisans. Guilds organised crafts and trade, handled finance and sometimes funded temples; the Mandasor inscription, for example, mentions a guild of silk weavers who built a Sun temple.
What was an Agrahara?
An Agrahara was tax-free land granted to Brahmanas or temples, so that they could carry on learning and ritual without paying revenue. Such grants became common during the transition from the ancient to the early medieval period.
Why is Rairh called the Tata Nagar of Rajasthan?
Excavations at Rairh in Tonk district found the largest hoard of ancient punch-marked coins in India, along with iron objects and signs of industrial activity. This points to a busy trading and manufacturing settlement, hence the comparison with the industrial town of Tata Nagar.
