1A) Ancient History – Political and Social Life (Prelims PYQs)

1] According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct? [2022]
1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

2] Consider the following pairs: [2022]

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs

3] Consider the following pairs: [2021]

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

a) 1 only 
b) 1 and 2
c) 3 only 
d) 2 and 3

4] From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? [2021]
1) The Guptas of Magadha
2) The Paramaras of Malwa
3) The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
4) The Maukharis of Kanauj
5) The Yadavas of Devagiri
6) The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1, 2 and 5
b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
c) 2, 3 and 4
d) 5 and 6

5] With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: [2020]

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 4 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 2 and 4 only

6] Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? [2020]
“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

a) Ashoka
b) Samudragupta
c) Harshavardhana
d) Krishanadeva Raya

7] With reference to the history of India, the terms ‘kulyavapa’ and ‘dronavapa’ denote: [2020]

a) Measurement of land
b) Coins of different monetary value
c) Classification of urban land
d) Religious rituals

8] With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were known as: [2020]

a) Ports handling foreign trade
b) Capitals of powerful kingdoms
c) Places of exquisite stone art and architecture
d) Important of Buddhist pilgrimage centres

9] Consider the following events in the history of India: [2020]

1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I
3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I
4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala
What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

a) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3
b) 3 – 1 – 4 – 2
c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3
d) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2

10] Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period? [2020]

a) An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
b) A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
c) A bill of exchange
d) An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates

11] Which one of the following is not a Harappan site? [2019]

a) Chanhudaro
b) Kot Diji
c) Sohgaura
d) Desalpur

12] With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct? [2019]

a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.

13] With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2017]
1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

14] Consider the following pairs: [2016]

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) 1, 2 and 4
b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
c) 2 and 5 only
d) 1, 3, 4 and 5

15] In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: [2016]

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 2
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3
d) 1 and 3

16] Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? [2014]
1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2 and 4
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 3 and 4

17] Which of the following characterizes/ characterizes the people of Indus civilization? [2013]
1. They possessed great palaces and temples.
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
Select the correct statement/ statements using the codes given below.

a) 1 and 2 only       
b) 2 only
c) 1, 2, and 3           
d) None is correct

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