GK MCQ (English)

Mauryan and Post-Mauryan Period History MCQs from the previous year exam question papers. The objective question answer is very helpful for the preparation of upcoming UPSC, SSC, UPSSSC PET Competitive exams.

Mauryan and Post-Mauryan Period Questions

Qns 1 : Which among the following is India’s oldest dynasty?

(a) Gupta
(b) Maurya
(c) Vardhana
(d) Kushana

Qns 2 : First Indian Empire was established by

(a) Kanishka
(b) Harsha
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Samudragupta

Qns 3 : Who was the first king to conquer Malwa, Gujarat and Maharashtra?

(a) Harsha
(b) Skandagupta
(c) Vikramaditya
(d) Chandragupta Maurya

Qns 4 : In which year Chandragupta Maurya had defeated Seleucus?

(a) 317 BC
(b) 315 BC
(c) 305 BC
(d) 300 BC

Qns 5 : Who came to India during the time of Chandragupta Maurya?

(a) Faxian (Fa-Hien)
(b) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Strabo

Qns 6: The Greek ambassador Megasthenese was in the court of which of the following rulers?

(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta
(c) Bindusara
(d) Chanakya

Qns 7 : Who was referred to as ‘Sandrocottus’ in the writings of the Greeks?

(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Dhanananda

Qns 8 : Who was the son of Chandragupta?

(a) Bindusara
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Ashoka
(d) Bimbasara

Qns 9 : To which dynasty did Ashoka belong?

(a) Vardhana
(b) Maurya
(c) Kushan
(d) Gupta

Qns 10 : Which of the king has been mentioned as ‘Piyadassi’ and Devanampiya’ in inscriptions?

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Samudragupta
(d) Harshavardhana

Qns 11 : Sarnath Pillar was built by

(a) Harshavardhana
(b) Ashoka
(c) Gautam Buddha
(d) Kanishka

Qns 12 : Who constructed the ‘Sanchi Stupa’?

(a) Chandragupta
(b) Kautilya
(c) Gautam Buddha
(d) Ashoka

Qns 13 : Which one of the following inscriptions contains the name of Ashoka?

(a) Gujarra
(b) Ahraura
(c) Brahmagiri
(d) Sarnath

Qns 14 : Which one of the following is considered the best Stupa?

(a) Amravati
(b) Bharhut
(c) Sanchi
(d) Sarnath

Qns 15 : Language used in the inscriptions of Ashoka is

(a) Sanskrit
(b) Prakrit
(c) Apabhramsa
(d) Hindi

Qns 16 : Kalsi is famous for

(a) Buddhist Chaityas
(b) Persian coins
(c) Rock Edicts of Ashoka
(d) Temples of Gupta period

Qns 17 : Kautilya was Prime Minister of

(a) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) King Janak

Qns 18 : The another name of Chanakya was

(a) Bhattswami
(b) Vishnugupta
(c) Rajshekhar
(d) Vishakhadatta

Qns 19 : The most famous centre of learning during Maurya period was

(a) Vaishali
(b) Nalanda
(c) Taxila
(d) Ujjain

Qns 20 : The system governing villages through autonomous elected Panchayats was evolved by

(a) Kushans
(b) Dravids
(c) Aryans
(d) Mauryans

Qns 21 : During Mauryan Period ‘Pin tax’ was a

(a) tax given for labour
(b) irrigation tax
(c) tax on non-agricultural product
(d) tax collected by a village

Qns 22 : ‘Sita’ in Maurya period means

(a) a Goddess
(b) a religious sect
(c) revenue from crown land
(d) barren land

Qns 23 : India’s first hospital and herbal gardens were built by

(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Lord Mahavir
(d) Dhanvantari

Qns 24 : India’s first hospital and herbal gardens were built by

(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Lord Mahavir
(d) Dhanvantari

Qns 25 : Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a book on

(a) economic relations
(b) principles and practice of statecraft
(c) foreign policy
(d) wealth accumulation

Qns 26 : What is the name of Megasthenes’s book?

(a) Economics
(b) Rig Veda
(c) Purana
(d) Indica

Qns 27 : Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Gautama Buddha
(c) Milinda
(d) Prasenjit

Qns 28 : The last Mauryan emperor was

(a) Jaloka
(b) Avanti Verma
(c) Nandivardhana
(d) Brihadratha

Qns 29 : The following persons came to India at one time or another.
I. Fa-Hien II. I-Tsing
III. Megasthenes IV. Hieun-Tsang
The correct chronological sequence of their visits are

(a) III, I, II and IV
(b) III, I, IV, II
(c) I, III, II and IV
(d) I, III, IV and II

Qns 30 : Who started the Shaka era and when?

(a) Kadphises in 58 BC [WBCS 2008]
(b) Vikramaditya in 58 BC
(c) Rudradaman I in AD 78
(d) Kanishka in AD 78

Qns 31 : Which of the following dynasty empire was expanded even outside of India?

(a) Gupta dynasty
(b) Maurya dynasty
(c) Kushan dynasty
(d) None of these

Qns 32 : Art of Ganghara style flourished during the reign of

(a) Kushans
(b) Guptas
(c) Akbar
(d) Mauryas

Qns 33 : Who among the following was the ruler of Kushan dynasty?

(a) Vikramaditya
(b) Danti Durga
(c) Khadphises I
(d) Pushyamitra

Qns 34 : The capital of the Satavahanas was located at

(a) Amravati
(b) Nanded
(c) Naldurg
(d) Durg

Qns 35 : When was Vikram Samvat started?

(a) 78 AD
(b) 57 BC
(c) 72 BC
(d) 56 BC

Qns 36 : The art style which combines Indian and Greek feature is called

(a) Sikhar
(b) Vera
(c) Gandhara
(d) Nagara

Qns 37 : With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order?

(a) Greeks, Shakas and Kushans
(b) Greeks, Kushans and Shakas
(c) Shakas, Greeks and Kushans
(d) Shakas, Kushans and Greeks

Qns 38 : Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the given rulers of ancient India?

(a) Ashoka, Kanishka and Milinda
(b) Milinda, Ashoka and Kanishka
(c) Ashoka, Milinda and Kanishka
(d) Milinda, Kanishka and Ashoka

Thanks for visit and attempt Mauryan and Post-Mauryan Period MCQ questions practice set for competitive exams.

The Vedic Era and Mahajanapadas MCQ Questions in English for the preparation of competitive exams. Important GK question answer from the previous year examinations of UPSC, SSC CGL, UPSSSC PET.

The Vedic Era and Mahajanapadas MCQs Practice Set

Qns 1: The earliest evidence of the use of iron in India has been discovered from

(a) Taxila
(b) Atranjikhera
(c) Kaushambi
(d) Hastinapur

Qns 2: In the ancient period chief-livelihood of the Aryans was

(a) Agriculture
(b) Hunting
(c) Artcraft
(d) Business

Qns 3: Meaning of the term ‘Arya’ in classical Sanskrit is

(a) believer of the God
(b) a hereditary cast
(c) a believer in particular religion
(d) a Noble man

Qns 4: Which of the following rivers was known as Purushni in the Vedic Period?

(a) Ravi
(b) Sutlej
(c) Beas
(d) Chenab

Qns 5: The Vedic river Kubha was located in

(a) Afghanistan
(b) Chinese Turkistan
(c) Kashmir
(d) Punjab

Qns 6: Vedic river Askini is identified with which one of the following rivers?

(a) Beas
(b) Ravi
(c) Chenab
(d) Jhelum

Qns 7: Which one of the following rivers was earlier known as ‘Vitasta’?

(a) Tista
(b) Jhelum
(c) Tungabhadra
(d) Bharatpuzha

Qns 8: Gayatri Mantra is found in which book?

(a) Upanishad
(b) Bhagavad Gita
(c) Rigveda
(d) Yajurveda

Qns 9: Who composed the Gayatri Mantra?

(a) Vasishtha
(b) Vishwamitra
(c) Indra
(d) Parikshit

Qns 10: The word Gotra occurs for the first time in

(a) Atharvaveda
(b) Rigveda
(c) Samaveda
(d) Yajurveda

Qns 11: The largest number of the Mantras in Rigveda belongs to

(a) Agni
(b) Varuna
(c) Vishnu
(d) Yama

Qns 12: Which of the following rivers mentioned in the Rigveda gives the due to relations of Aryans with the Afghanistan?

(a) Askini
(b) Parushni
(c) Kubha, Kramu
(d) Vipasha, Shutudri

Qns 13: Rights and Rituals related to Yajnas are mentioned in

(a) Rigveda
(b) Samaveda
(c) Brahmin Granth
(d) Yajurveda

Qns 14: ‘Nachiketa’ Legend finds mention in

(a) Atharvaveda
(b) Satapatha Brahmin
(c) Kathopanishad
(d) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Qns 15: ‘Satyamev Jayate’ which is engraved on the Indian Emblem has been taken from

(a) Rigveda
(b) Bhagavad Gita
(c) Mundakopanishad
(d) Matsya Purana

Qns 16: Panini, the first Grammarian of Sanskrit language in India, lived during the

(a) 2nd century BC
(b) 6th-5th century BC
(c) 2nd century AD
(d) 5th-6th century AD

Qns 17: Ashtadhyayi was written by

(a) Ved Vyas
(b) Panini
(c) Shukadeva
(d) Valmiki

Qns 18: Which of the following is the correct order of the Vedic literature?

(a) Vedic Samhitas, Brahmins, Aranyakas and Upanishads
(b) Vedic Samhitas, Upanishads, Aranyakas and Brahmins
(c) Vedic Samhitas, Aranyakas, Brahmins and Upanishads
(d) Vedic Samhitas, Vedangas, Aranyakas and Smritis

Qns 19: The battle of Mahabharata is believed to have been fought at Kurukshetra for

(a) 14 days
(b) 16 days
(c) 18 days
(d) 20 days

Qns 20: ‘Nishka’ in ancient India was known as

(a) Gold ornament
(b) Cows
(c) Copper Coins
(d) Silver Coins

Qns 21: Boghaz-Koi is important because

(a) It was an important trading centre between Central Asia and Tibet.
(b) Inscriptions were found which mentioned the names of Vedic Gods and Goddesses.
(c) Original Texts of the Vedas were composed here.
(d) None of the above

Qns 22: Originally the Mahabharata was known as

(a) Brihatkatha
(b) Brahmins
(c) Brihatsamhita
(d) Jayasamhita

Qns 23: Which among the following is considered as the centre of Aryan civilisation during post-Vedic Period?

(a) Anga, Magadha
(b) Kosal, Videh
(c) Kuru, Panchal
(d) Matsya, Surasena

Qns 24: Who founded Pataliputra?

(a) Udayin
(b) Ashoka
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Mahapadmananda

Qns 25: In ancient India, the earliest capital of Magadha kingdom was at

(a) Pataliputra
(b) Rajgir
(c) Vaishali
(d) Varanasi

Qns 26: First ruler of Magadha from the Haryanka Dynasty was ………

(a) Ashoka
(b) Prasenajit
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Ajatashatru

Qns 27: What was the name of the dynasty of Ajatashatru?

(a) Maurya
(b) Haryanka
(c) Nanda
(d) Gupta

Qns 28: Which Magadha ruler was known as ‘Seniya’?

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Ajatashatru
(c) Mahapadma Nanda
(d) Chandragupta Maurya

Qns 29: Which emperor of Magadha is known as ‘Aparoparashurama’?

(a) Bindusar
(b) Ajatashatru
(c) Kalashoka
(d) Mahapadma Nanda

Qns 30: Alexander invaded India in ……

(a) 326 BC
(b) 326 BC
(c) 232 BC
(d) 323 AD

Qns 31: Alexander the Great died in 323 BC in ……

(a) Pharus
(b) Babylon
(c) Macedonia
(d) Taxshila

Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation MCQ question answer in English for competitive exams. Practice set of Previous year exam questions are useful for the preparation of UPSC, SSC, UPSSSC PET, Bank examinations.

Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation: Practice Set

Qns 1 : The source of knowledge about Harappan culture is ?

(a) rock edicts
(b) writing in terracotta seals
(c) archaeological excavations
(d) All of the above

Qns 2 : Which of the following is related to Harappa civilisation?

(a) Sumerian Civilisation
(b) Indus Valley Civilisation
(c) Vedic Civilisation
(d) Mesopotamian Civilisation

Qns 3: Which of the following statements about the Indus Civilisation is not true?

(a) Accurate drainage system in cities.
(b) Trade and commerce were in an advanced stage.
(c) Worshipping of Mother Goddess.
(d) People knew about iron.

Qns 4: Shortugai is located in which country?

(a) Bharat
(b) Pakistan
(c) Tibet
(d) Afghanistan

Qns 5: Mohenjodaro is situated in which of the following?

(a) Gujarat state of India
(b) Punjab state of India
(c) Sindh Province in Pakistan
(d) Afghanistan

Qns 6: Which of the following sites of Harappan culture are located in Sindh?
I. Harappa II. Mohenjodaro
III. Chanhudaro IV. Surkotada
Indicate the correct answer from the codes given below.

(a) I and II
(b) II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) I, IV, III and IV

Qns 7: Which of the following is a Harappan site located in Rajasthan?

(a) Mohenjo-Daro
(b) Suktagen Dor
(c) Kalibangan
(d) Lothal

Qns 8: A ploughed field was discovered at

(a) Mohenjodaro
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Harappa
(d) Lothal

Qns 9: A horned deity engraved on a terracotta cake has been recovered from

(a) Banawali
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Lothal
(d) Surkotada

Qns 10: Which one among the following Indus cities was known for water management?

(a) Lothal
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Harappa
(d) Dholavira

Qns 11: Which Harappan city is divided into three parts?

(a) Lothal
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Dholavira
(d) Sukotada

Qns 12: Dholavira is located in the state of

(a) Gujarat
(b) Haryana
(c) Punjab
(d) Rajasthan

Qns 13: From where the copper chariot of Harappan times was found?

(a) Kunal
(b) Rakhigarhi
(c) Daimabad
(d) Banawali

Qns 14: Which among the following Harappan sites is not located in Gujarat?

(a) Surkotada
(b) Lothal
(c) Dholavira
(d) Banawali

Qns 15: Which one among the following sites is located in the valley of Ghaggar and its associated rivers?

(a) Alamgirpur
(b) Lothal
(c) Mohenjodaro
(d) Banawali

Qns 16: Which among the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(a) Alamgipur – Uttar Pradesh
(b) Banawali – Haryana
(c) Daimabad – Maharashtra
(d) Rakhigarhi – Rajasthan

Qns 17: Which place of Harappan civilisation is located in Maharashtra?
I. Harappan
II. Mohenjodaro
III. Diamabad
IV. Surkotda
Select the correct answer using codes
given below.

(a) I and II
(b) Only III
(c) II, III and
IV (d) All of these

Qns 18: The Harappan city represented by the archaeological site of Lothal was situated on the river

(a) Narmada
(b) Mahi
(c) Bhogava
(d) Bhima

Qns 19: An ivory scale in Harappan context was found at

(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Dholavira
(d) Banawal

Qns 20: Which of the following is a Harappan port?

(a) Alexandria
(b) Lothal
(c) Mahasthangarh
(d) Nagapattinam

Qns 21: Indus Valley Civilisation was non-Aryan because

(a) it was an Urban Civilisation.
(b) it has its own script.
(c) it has an agricultural economy.
(d) it extended up to the Narmada valley.

Qns 22: What is the most significant feature of the Indus Valley Civilisation?

(a) Burnt brick buildings
(b) First true arches
(c) Buildings of worship
(d) Art and architecture

Qns 23: How were the street of cities of Indus Valley Civilisation?

(a) Broad and straight
(b) Narrow and zig-zag
(c) Slippery
(d) Narrow and dirty

Qns 24: The ‘Great Bath’ was found at the archaeological site of

(a) Ropar
(b) Harappa
(c) Mohenjodaro
(d) Kalibangan

Qns 25: Which among the following pairs is not correct?

(a) Labour Residence – Harappa
(b) Granary – Mohenjodaro
(c) Assembly Hall – Kalibangan
(d) Copper axe – Ropad

Qns 26: Remains of which animal have not been discovered in the Indus Valley Civilisation?

(a) Lion
(b) Horse
(c) Cow
(d) Elephant

Qns 27: One of the following sites from where the famous Bull-seal of Indus Valley Civilisation was found

(a) Harappa
(b) Chanhudaro
(c) Lothal
(d) Mohenjodaro

Qns 28: Harappan people were first in which production?

(a) Coins
(b) Cotton
(c) Copper tools
(d) Wheat

Qns 29: The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in the

(a) Harappan culture
(b) Chalcolithic cultures of Western India
(c) Vedic texts
(d) Silver Punch-marked coin

Qns 30: The Indus valley people worshipped

(a) Shiva
(b) Indra and Varun
(c) Brahma
(d) Vishnu

Qns 31: The first ancient Civilisation to develop the art of writing in a proper system was

(a) Indus
(b) Egypt
(c) Sumerian
(d) China

Qns 32: Which of the following is not an Indus Valley Civilisation site?

(a) Kalibangan
(b) Ropar
(c) Patliputra
(d) Lothal

Qns 33: The largest site of Harappan in India is

(a) Alamgirpur
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Lothal
(d) Rakhigarhi

Qns 34: Which of the following is not correctly matched?

(a) Alamgirpur – Uttar Pradesh
(b) Lothal – Gujarat
(c) Kalibangan – Haryana
(d) Ropar – Punjab

Qns 35: Which of the following Civilisations flourished on the bank of River Nile?

(a) Roman Civilisation
(b) Indus Valley Civilisation
(c) Greak Civilisation
(d) Egyptian Civilisation

Historical Sources and Pre-Historic Period General Knowledge MCQ Questions Answers in English for SSC CGL, CPO, CHSL, UPSC and all competitive exams. Selected from previous year exam question paper for free online practice.

Historical Sources and Pre-Historic Period

Qns 1 : Which one of the following is oldest Veda?

(a) Yajurveda
(b) Rigveda
(c) Samaveda
(d) Atharvaveda

Qns.2 : The Rigveda is the

(a) collection of hymns.
(b) collection of stories.
(c) collection of words.
(d) text of war.

Qns 3: ‘Ayurveda’ that is ‘Science of Life’ appeared first in

(a) Aranyaka
(b) Sunyaveda
(c) Yajurveda
(d) Atharvaveda

Qns 4: King Aswapati of the Upanishadic period was the ruler of

(a) Kashi
(b) Kekaya
(c) Panchala
(d) Videha

Qns 5: The ‘Manusmriti’ mainly deals with

(a) social order
(b) laws
(c) economics
(d) state-craft

Qns 6: In which language was the ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ originally written?

(a) Sanskrit
(b) Urdu
(c) Pali
(d) Hindi

Qns 7: Originally the Mahabharata was known as

(a) Brihatkatha
(b) Brahmins
(c) Brihatsamhita
(d) Jayasamhita

Qns 8 : The number of Puranas is

(a) 16
(b) 18
(c) 19
(d) 21

Qns 9 : The earliest evidence of man in India is found in

(a) Nilgiri Hills
(b) Shiwalik Hills
(c) Nallamala Hills
(d) Narmada Valley

Qns 10 : Which one of the following places is famous for pre-historic paintings?

(a) Ajanta
(b) Bhimbetka
(c) Bagh
(d) Amravati

Qns 11 : Which of the following sites has yielded skeleton of the dog along with human skeleton in burial?

(a) Brahmagiri
(b) Burzahom
(c) Chirand
(d) Maski

Qns 12 : Which one of the following periods is also known as Chalcolithic age?

(a) Old stone age
(b) New stone age
(c) Copper age
(d) Iron age

Qns 13 : In the Chalcolithic period people of Maharashtra buried their dead under the floor of their houses in the following orientation

(a) North to South position
(b) South to North position
(c) South to North position
(d) West to East position

Qns 14 : The ochre-coloured pottery was christened in

(a) Hastinapur
(b) Ahichatra
(c) Nuh
(d) Red Fort

Indian History GK MCQ questions in English for the preparation of competitive exams.

Press Finish for the result of History GK MCQ questions in English.

Indian History GK : Important One Liner

1. The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest urban civilizations in the world.
2. The Maurya Empire, under the reign of Ashoka, saw the spread of Buddhism.
3. The Mughal Empire reached its peak during the rule of Emperor Akbar.
4. The British East India Company established its first factory in India in Surat in 1612.
5. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 marked a significant turning point in India’s struggle for independence.
6. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 and played a crucial role in the freedom movement.
7. Mahatma Gandhi led the non-violent civil disobedience movement against British rule.
8. India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.
9. The partition of India in 1947 led to the formation of India and Pakistan.
10. The Constitution of India was adopted on January 26, 1950, making India a republic.
11. India’s first Prime Minister was Jawaharlal Nehru, serving from 1947 to 1964.
12. The Green Revolution in the 1960s brought significant advancements in agricultural productivity.
13. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, becoming a nuclear power.
14. Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, served as India’s first female Prime Minister.
15. The economic liberalization policies were introduced in India in 1991, leading to economic reforms.
16. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, known as the Missile Man of India, served as the President from 2002 to 2007.
17. India became a nuclear-armed nation with the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
18. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975.
19. India has a rich cultural heritage, including diverse art forms, music, dance, and literature.
20. The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a symbol of India’s architectural marvel and love story.