Indian History MCQs 39 (For UPSC PSC and other prelims exams)
81. Which of the following rivers is mentioned most frequently in the Rig Veda?
(a) Ganga
(b) Yamuna
(c) Saraswati
(d) Sindhu
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Answer: (d) Sindhu
Explanation:
- The Sindhu (Indus) River is mentioned the most in the Rig Veda (
). - Other rivers like Saraswati, Yamuna, and Ganga are also mentioned but less frequently.
82. The ‘Ajivika’ sect, which existed during the time of Buddha, was founded by:
(a) Mahavira
(b) Gosala Makkhaliputta
(c) Ajatashatru
(d) Nagarjuna
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Answer: (b) Gosala Makkhaliputta
Explanation:
- Gosala Makkhaliputta founded the Ajivika sect, which believed in strict determinism (fatalism) ().
- It was a rival sect to Buddhism and Jainism.
83. The Mauryan administration had a high-ranking officer known as ‘Samaharta’. What was his role?
(a) Head of espionage
(b) Chief revenue officer
(c) Chief justice
(d) Commander-in-chief of the army
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Answer: (b) Chief revenue officer
Explanation:
- The Samaharta was responsible for revenue collection in the Mauryan administration ().
- Kautilya’s Arthashastra provides details about this position.
84. The famous ‘Hathigumpha Inscription’ belongs to which ruler?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Kharavela
(d) Harsha
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Answer: (c) Kharavela
Explanation:
- The Hathigumpha Inscription in Odisha provides information about the reign of Kalinga ruler Kharavela ().
- It describes his military conquests and patronage of Jainism.
85. The ‘Vajji Mahajanapada’ was governed by which type of political system?
(a) Monarchy
(b) Republic
(c) Theocracy
(d) Oligarchy
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Answer: (b) Republic
Explanation:
- Vajji (Vaishali) was a republic, governed by an assembly of chiefs rather than a king ().
- It was one of the earliest known republics in world history.
86. The famous ‘Kushana ruler Kanishka’ was a great patron of which religion?
(a) Jainism
(b) Hinduism
(c) Buddhism
(d) Zoroastrianism
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Answer: (c) Buddhism
Explanation:
- Kanishka of the Kushana dynasty was a great patron of Buddhism and convened the Fourth Buddhist Council ().
- He also promoted Mahayana Buddhism.
87. The ‘Sangam Age’ is most commonly associated with which region of India?
(a) Northern India
(b) Western India
(c) Eastern India
(d) Southern India
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Answer: (d) Southern India
Explanation:
- The Sangam Age refers to the period of early Tamil literature in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu ().
- The literature was composed in three Sangam assemblies in Madurai.
88. The famous ‘Dasaratha Jataka’ mentions which Indian king?
(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) King Harsha
(d) Lord Rama
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Answer: (d) Lord Rama
Explanation:
- Dasaratha Jataka is a Buddhist Jataka tale that narrates the story of Lord Rama’s past life ().
- It portrays Rama as a Bodhisattva in previous births.
89. Which famous traveler visited the court of Harsha and wrote about Indian society?
(a) Fa-Hien
(b) Al-Biruni
(c) Hiuen Tsang
(d) Megasthenes
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Answer: (c) Hiuen Tsang
Explanation:
- Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Harsha’s court in the 7th century and wrote extensively about India ().
- His book “Si-Yu-Ki” provides detailed insights into Harsha’s administration.
90. The term ‘Nagara’ is associated with which style of temple architecture?
(a) Dravidian
(b) Vesara
(c) Nagara
(d) Gandhara
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Answer: (c) Nagara
Explanation:
- The Nagara style is a form of North Indian temple architecture characterized by curvilinear shikharas (towers) ().
- Examples include temples in Khajuraho and Odisha.
