The Guptas and The Vakatakas

The Guptas and The Vakatakas

The Guptas

1. The capital of the Guptas was at

Rajgriha
Vaishali
Pataliputra
Kannauj

Ans: Pataliputra

2. Silver coins issued by Guptas were known as

Pana
Dinara
Rupaka
Karshapana

Ans: Rupaka

3. The founder of the Gupta dynasty was

Kumaragupta
Chandragupta I
Sri Gupta
Samudragupta

Ans: Sri Gupta

The Guptas are believed to be feudatories of the Kushans.

4. What was the symbol of the Gupta Empire?

Garuda
Elephant
Tiger
Lion

Ans: Garuda

They are most likely Vaishyas in origin, and they ruled over fertile parts of the madhyadesha, that is, anuganga (the middle Gangetic basin), saketa (modern Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh), and magadha (mostly Bihar).

5. The Gupta empire granted tax-free agrarian land to which of the following?

Military Officials
Civil Officials
Brahmins
Court Scholars

Ans: Brahmins

6. The officer responsible for the safe custody of land records during the Gupta period was known as:

Dhruvadhikarana
Karanika
Samaharta
Shaulkika

Ans: Karanika

7. The __ period has been described as the ‘golden age’ of Indian history.

Mughal
Maratha
Gupta
Buddhist

Ans: Gupta

8. Arrange the following rulers of the Gupta dynasty in chronological order :

(l) Chandragupta II
(ii) Skandagupta
(iii) Samudragupta
(iv) Kumaragupta I

Ans: 3, 1, 4, 2

9. Who among the following was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of Maharaj-adhiraja?

Skandagupta
Samudragupta
Chandragupta I
Vishnugupta

Ans: Chandragupta I

10. Gupta emperor Chandragupta II was known by which other following name/s?

(A) Devagupta
(B) Devaraja
(C) Devaputra
(D) Devavrata

Ans: A and B

Which one of the following was the official language of Gupta period?

Pali
Magadhi
Prakrit
Sanskrit

Ans: Sanskrit

11. Which King of Gupta dynasty was known as Napoleon of India?

Chandragupta
Samudragupta
Ashoka
None of these

Ans: Samudragupta

12. By what name were the provinces known in the Gupta Empire?

Vidhi
Bhukti
Government
None of these

Ans: Bhukti

13. During the Gupta Period, gold coins were called by which of the following names?

Rupaka
Tanka
Drama
Dinaras

Ans: Dinaras

14. Who is a literary figure of Gupta Age?

Bhairavi
Kalidasa
Harisena
All of the above

Ans: All of the above

15. Which of the following Gupta emperors called himself “Lichchhavi dauhitra”?

Ramgupta
Chandragupta I
Chandragupta II
Samudragupta

Ans: Samudragupta

16. Which of the following rulers established the Gupta dynasty?

Ramgupta
Sri Gupta
Chandragupta I
Samudragupta

Ans: Sri Gupta

Maharaja Gupta/Sri Gupta (Founder of Gupta Dynasty)

17. Who among the following was the successor of Chandragupta l?

Vikramaditya
Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Ghatotkacha

Ans: Samudragupta

18. Which Gupta ruler repulsed Huna invasion?

Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Skandagupta
Kumaragupta

Ans: Skandagupta

19. Second king of the gupta dynasty was?

Vikramaditya
Samudragupta
Chandragupta I
Ghatotkacha

Ans: Ghatotkacha

20. Which Gupta ruler married to the Lichchhavi princess Kumara Devi?

Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Chandragupta I
Kumaragupta I

Ans: Chandragupta I

21. Chandragupta I was married to princess Kumaradevi of __ kingdom.

Lichchhavi
Haryanka
Naga
Vakataka

Ans: Lichchhavi

Enhanced his power and prestige by marrying Kumaradevi, princess of Lichchhavi clan of Nepal (since the Guptas were probably Vaishyas by caste, marriage into a Kshatriya clan granted legitimacy, prestige, and strength to the Guptas).

22. Samudragupta is depicted in coins playing which musical instrument?

Tanpura
Sitar
Veena
Flute

Ans: Veena

23. With reference to Chandragupta II, which of the following statements is / are correct?
    • The strongest evidence in the context of Shaka Victory is the silver coins of this King.
    • The weight of these coins used to be about 33 grains.

Ans: 1 and 2

Chandragupta II was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins which were called Rupaka.
He was the son of Samudragupta and also known as the Chandragupta Vikramaditya.

24. Who among the following succeeded Samudragupta as the next ruler of the Gupta dynasty?

Chandragupta II
Vishnugupta
Chandragupta I
Skandagupta

Ans: Chandragupta II

25. Which of the following statements about Samudragupta is not correct?

1. He was represented on the coins by playing sitar.
2. His rule was from 335 AD to 375 AD.
3. He had been termed as the Nepolean of India by VA Smith.
4. The most detailed record of his reign is preserved in the Allahabad pillar inscription known as Prayag Prasasti.

Ans: He was represented on the coins by playing sitar.

Some of his coins resent him la in Veena and not Sitar.

26. What was the name of the ruler of Kosal in Samudragupta’s “Prayag Prashashti”?

Shiv Gupta
Someshewar Deo
Mahendra
Mahipal

Ans: Mahendra

27. Which of the following titles was held by Samudragupta, a ruler of the Gupta Dynasty?

Jahan Panah
Sahib-e-Qiran
Kaviraja
Mahendraitya

Ans: Kaviraja

28. Which among the following Gupta rulers maternally related to Lichhavis?

Shrigupta
Ghatotkachgupta
Samudragupta
Chandragupta-I

Ans: Samudragupta

29. Which of the following the policy of ‘Kanyopayana’ was followed by Samudragupta?

Atvikas
Dakshinapatha
Aryavarta
Foreign Rulers

Ans: Foreign Rulers

30. Who among the following ancient Indian kings was praised in glowing terms in the Prayaga Prashasti ?

Ashoka
Harshavardhana
Samudragupta
Bindusara

Ans: Samudragupta

31. Which ruler is known as the father of the Gupta monetary system?

Skandagupta
Chandragupta
Kumar Gupta
Samudragupta

Ans: Samudragupta

32. The ‘Prayag Prashasti’ also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription was composed by whom in Sanskrit?

Harishena
Chanakya
Panini
Banabhatta

Ans: Harishena

33. Which Gupta ruler is associated with the Allahabad inscription?

Chandragupta II
Harigupta
Samudragupta
Vinayagupta

Ans: Samudragupta

34. ‘Kurala’ in the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta is identified with

Chilika lake
Pulicut lake
Kolleru lake
Kondapalli vagu

Ans: Kolleru lake

Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?

Banabhatta
Harishen
Chand Bardai
Bhavabhuti

Ans: Harishen

35. Allahabad Pillar Inscriptions also contains the Inscription of whom of the following Mughal ruler?

Akbar
Aurangzeb
Shahjahan
Jahangir

Ans: Jahangir

36. Prayag Prashasti (also known as Allahabad Pillar Inscription) provides us information about the achievements of

Samudragupta
Chandragupta-I
Ashoka
Srigupta

Ans: Samudragupta

The Allahabad pillar is a Stambha, containing one of the Pillars edicts of Ashoka, possibly erected by Ashoka, Emperor of the Maurya dynasty, who reigned in the 3rd century BCE or it may have prior origins.

37. The Allahabad pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following?

Mahapadmananada
ChandraguptaMaupya
Ashoka
Samudragupta

Ans: Ashoka

38. Which Prashasti (Pillar Inscription) was composed in Sanskrit by Harisena who was the court poet of Samudragupta?

Hatigumbha Inscription
Prayag pillar inscription
Ashokan Inscription
Junagarh pillar inscription

Ans: Prayag pillar inscription

39. ‘Prayag Prashasti’ was composed in

Prakrit
Pali
Hindi
Sanskrit

Ans: Sanskrit
According to the inscription, Samudragupta exerted direct or indirect control over much of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from kingdoms in Nepal and the Punjab in the north to the Pallava kingdom at Kanchipuram in the southeast. The last vestiges of Kushan rule, like the Shakas, the Murundas, and even the faraway independent territory of Simhala (present day Sri lanka), accepted his suzerainty as well.

40. Which of the following offices was NOT held by the poet Harishena?

Sandhi-vigrahika
Maha-danda-nayaka
Nagara-shreshthi
Kumar-amatya

Ans: Nagara-shreshthi

Harisena was not only his court poet but was also a kumaramatya, that is, a high-ranking official who described himself by different titles such as sandhivigrahika (minister for peace and war) and mahadandanayaka (judicial/military officer).

41. Which ruler’s coinage provides information about Ashyamedha Yagna?

Chandragupta Maurya
King Ashoka
Samudragupta
Kanishka

Ans: Samudragupta

42. During the reign of Samudragupta, the meaning of Sandhi-Vigrahika was

Chief Justice Officer
Chief Banker
Merchant Convoy Leader
Minister of War and Peace

Ans: Minister of War and Peace

43. Which of the following Gupta kings granted permission to Meghverma, the ruler of Sri Lanka to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya?

Chandragupta I
Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Skandagupta

Ans: Samudragupta

The magnificence of this monastery was described in the 7th century works of Hieun Tsang/Xuanzang.

44. The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang came to India during the reign of

Samudragupta
Ashoka
Harsavardhan
Kulotunga 1

Ans: Harsavardhan

45. Which of the later Gupta King assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja and performed the Ashwamedha Yajna?

Mahasena Gupta
Adityasena
Kumargupta Ill
Kamarupa

Ans: Adityasena

46. The great Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu was one of the minister of which of the following Gupta kings?

Chandragupta I
Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Skandagupta

Ans: Samudragupta

47. Which one among the following was not an attribute of Samudragupt described in Prayag Prashasti?

Sharp and polished intellect
Accomplished sculptor
Fine musical performances
The poetical talent of a genius

Ans: Accomplished sculptor

48. Which of the following is an ancient Buddhist text?

Vishnu Purana
Raghuvamsam
Ritusamhara
Abhidharma kosha

Ans: Abhidharma kosha

It was written in Sanskrit by the Indian Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu.
Vasubandhu wrote this book before he converted to Mahayana Buddhism.

49. wrote the book Abhidharma kosha, a Buddhist text?

Nagarjuna
Asanga
Vasubandhu
Asvaghosha

Ans: Vasubandhu

50. Vikramaditya is another name of which famous Gupta ruler?

Chandragupta 1
Ramagupta
Kumaragupta 2
Chandragupta 2

Ans: Chandragupta 2

51. Give the chronological order of the following Guptha Kings:
    1. Skanda Guptha
    2. Samudra Guptha
    3. Chandra Guptha – 1
    4. Chandra Guptha – 2
    5. Kumara Guptha- 1
    6. Ghatotkacha

Ans: 6, 3, 2, 4, 5, 1

52. Ramagupta was the son of which of the following kings?

Skanda Guptha
Samudra Guptha
Chandra Guptha – 1
Chandra Guptha – 2

Ans: Samudra Guptha

According to some legends, Samudragupta was succeeded by his elder son Ramagupta, but Chandragupta II killed him.

It is also believed that during Ramagupta’s tenure, the Gupta empire was invaded by a powerful Shaka king. Ramagupta lost the battle and signed a humiliating treaty that allowed his wife to be sent to the enemy camp. It is said that Chandragupta II had to kill his brother and marry his wife, Dhruvadevi, to safeguard the honour of the Gupta dynasty.

53. Identify the literary sources, which mention the story of ‘Ramgupta- Dhruvadevi.

(i) Devi Chandraguptam
(ii) Kavya Mimansa
(iii) Harshcharit
(iv) Malti Madhav

Ans: 1, 2, and 3

It is said that Chandragupta II had to kill his brother and marry his wife, Dhruvadevi, to safeguard the honour of the Gupta dynasty.

The Sanskrit poet Rajshekhar lived in the court of Mahendrapala I. He wrote the Kavyamimamsa.

Vishakhadatta, a Sanskrit poet and playwright from the Gupta kingdom, is credited with writing Devichandraguptam.

The epic poem “Malti Madhav” is written by Bhavabhuti. 

Consider the following statements regarding Chandra Gupta II:
1.The peak of the territorial expansion of the Gupta Empire was reached during Chandragupta II’s reign.
2.He was the first ruler to issue silver coins.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Ans: 1 and 2

54. Prabhavati Gupta, the Queen Regent of the Vakataka empire, was the daughter of Kuberanaga and

Kumaragupta
Chandragupta I
Chandragupta II
Skandagupta

Ans: Chandragupta II

55. Name the daughter of one of the most important rulers in early Indian history, Chandragupta II.

Parvatigupta
Rudrama Devi
Prabhavatigupta
Lopamudra

Ans: Parvatigupta

He married Kuberanaga, the Naga princess, and had a daughter, Prabhavati, with her. Prabhavati was married to Rudrasena II of the ruling Vakataka dynasty in Deccan.

Chandragupta thus exercised indirect control over the Vakataka kingdom, which proved very beneficial to him.

56. Who made Ujjain as the second capital of the Gupta Empire?

Purugupta
Chandragupta II
Samudragupta
Chandragupta I

Ans: Chandragupta II

57. Ujjain was the capital of ancient Avanti and was ruled by

Rana Pratap
King Ashoka
King Vikramaditya
Queen Durgavati

Ans: King Vikramaditya

58. Chandra Gupta II extended the Gupta Kingdom to Gujarat in _ AD

390
309
903
930

Ans: 390

Thus, he conquered western Malwa and Gujarat from the Shaka satraps (one of them was Rudrasimha III) who had been in command in western India for about the past four centuries. This conquest took the expanse of the Gupta empire to the western sea coast, which was an important region for trade and commerce. This contributed to the prosperity of Malwa and its chief city Ujjain, which was also Chandragupta II’s second capital.

59. Who built the Mehrauli Iron Pillar in his reign?

Skandagupta
Samudragupta
Chandragupta 2
Kumaragupta 1

Ans: Chandragupta 2

60. The Iron Pillar is located in?

Qutb Minar complex
Humayun’s Tomb
Red Fort Complex
Mahabodhi Temple Complex

Ans: Qutb Minar complex

61. Where is the Iron Pillar is situated?

Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
Mehrauli, Delhi

Ans: Mehrauli, Delhi

62. Which of the following pair of the Gupta rulers and their adopted titles is incorrectly matched?

Chandragupta-I – Simhavikrama
Chandragupta-II – Vikramaditya
Kumaragupta-l – Mahendraditya
Samudragupta – Vikramanka

Ans: Chandragupta-I – Simhavikrama

Chandragupta 2 took the title of Vikramaditya, and Simhavikrama.

63. Who is known as ‘Saka Conqueror’?

Chandragupta-I
Chandragupta-II
Samudragupta
Kumaragupta

Ans: Chandragupta-II

64. During the Gupta period which of the following places was not a seat of learning?

Vaishali
Mathura
Pataliputra
Kanchi

Ans: Vaishali

65. Who was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins?

Chandragupta II
Purugupta
Skandagupta
Chandragupta I

Ans: Chandragupta II

66. The Udayagiri Caves are associated with which dynasty?

Nanda
Maurya
Gupta
None of the above

Ans: Gupta

The Udayagiri Caves are located near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
They consist of 21 caves which contain iconography of Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Durga and Matrikas), Jainism, and Shaivism (Shiva).
The site at Udayagiri Caves was the patronage of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty.
The Udaigiri cave inscriptions refer to his digvijaya, that is, his conquest of the whole world.
Construction began in 250 CE and was completed in 410 CE.
The caves were discovered by Alexander Cunningham in the 1870s.

67. Which is the place described below :
    ‘A huge statue of Vishnu’s boar Avatar as he rescues Goddess earth from deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rocks’.

Ajanta caves
Mammalapuram
Mount Abu
Udaygiri

Ans: Udaygiri

68. Udaygiri Caves have statues that are related to

Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
Both 1st & 3rd.

Ans: Both 1st & 3rd.

69. In which district of Madhya Pradesh are the caves of Udayagiri situated?

Raisen
Vidisha
Ujjain
Bhopal

Ans: Vidisha

70. During whose reign did Fa-Hien come to India?

Ashoka
Chandra Gupta-II
Harsh
Kanishk

Ans: Chandra Gupta-II

71. Who among the following was one of the ‘Nine Gems’ of Chandragupta II?

Bhaskara
Brahmagupta
Varahmihira
Aryabhatta

Ans: Varahmihira

The nine gems or Navratna were —
Amarsimha (Sanskrit lexicographer and a poet)
Dhanvantri (Renowned Physician)
Harisena (Poet/Writer)
Kalidasa (Renowned poet, Playwright)
Kahapanaka (Astrologer)
Sanku (Architect)
Varahmihira (Astronomer)
Vararuchi (Grammarian, Sanskrit scholar)
Vetalbhatta (Magician)

72. Dhanvantari was one of the Navaratnas (Nine Gems) of which ruler in India?

Babar
Chandragupta II
Krishnadevaraya
Akbar

Ans: Chandragupta II

His court at Ujjain was adorned by nine famous scholars known as the Navaratnas (‘nine gems’)

Which of the following are two works of Kalidasa, the great poet of the court of Chandragupta II?

Malti Madhav and Kumara Sambhava
Malti Madhava and Raghuvamsha
Kumara Sambhav and Raghuvamsha
Raghuvamsha and Kiratarjuniya

Ans: Kumara Sambhav and Raghuvamsha

73. Which of the following books was written by Kalidasa?

Abhijnanashakuntalam
Ashtadhyayi
Padmavat
Panchatantra

Ans: Abhijnanashakuntalam

74. Which of the following works of Kalidasa is based on the context of the birth of Kartikeya, the son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati?

Meghaduta
Raghuvamsa
Kumarasambhava
Ritusamhara

Ans: Kumarasambhava

75. Malavikagnimitram of Kalidasa mentions about the:

Satavahanas
Shungas
Kanvas
Kushanas

Ans: Shungas

76. The immortal poet Kalidasa belonged to the town of

Ujjain
Bhojpur
Hoshangabad
Indore

Ans; Ujjain

77. Which of the following was authored by the great poet Kalidasa?

Mattavilasa Prahasana
Vikramorvasiyam
Mrichchhakatika
Amuktamalyada

Ans: Vikramorvasiyam

78. What form of literature are Kalidasa’s ‘Raghuvamsha’ and ‘Kumarasambhava’?

Novel
Poetry
Drama
Short Story

Ans: Poetry

79. Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhavam’ describes the story of the birth of which mythological character?

Sanatkumara
Kartikeya
Pradyumna
Abhimanyu

Ans: Kartikeya

80. Which of the following books is not written by Kalidas?

Meghdootam
Kumarasambhava
Uttararamacharitam
Ritusanharam

Ans: Uttararamacharitam

Works of Kalidasa:
Ritusanharam
Meghadutam
Kumarasambhavam
Raghuvansham
Malavikagnimitram
Vikramorvashiyam
Abhijnanashakuntalam

81. The poem Meghaduta is composed by

Banabhatta
Kalidasa
Amarasimha
Bilhana

Ans: Kalidasa

82. Which of the following literary works of the Gupta period is the contribution of a different author than the other four ?

Meghadutam
Kumarsambhavam
Mrichchakatikam
Ritusamhara

Ans: Mrichchakatikam

83. Who is the author of Rajatarangini?

Kalhana
Banabhatt
Abhinavgupta
Kalidas

Ans: Kalhana

Kalhana was the court poet during Jayasimha’s reign 1101 AD

84. Who wrote the play ‘Mricchakatika’ (The Little Clay Cart), a social drama with touches of grim reality?

Sudraka
Raidasa
Kalidasa
Magh

Ans: Sudraka

He was the court poet of the Kushana king Kanishka.

85. Who was Amarsimha?

A famous lexicographer of ancient India
A Rajput king of Chalukya lineage.
A poet mentioned by Kautilya in his Arthashastra.
A dance form of Orissa.

Ans: A famous lexicographer of ancient India

86. Which of the following texts was compiled during Gupta Period?

Brihatkatha
Kavya Mimansa
Amarkosh
Awapnavasavadutta

Ans: Brihatkatha

Bchatkatha is an ancient Indian epic (Sanskrit, the Great Narrative) said to have been written by gunadhya in a poorly-understood language known as Paisaci language.

The work no longer exists but several later adaptations the Kathäsaritsagara, Bchatkathamanjari, and Bchatkathaslokasamgraha in the Sanskrit language, as well as the Vasudevahimdi and Peruhkatai.

87. Who was the author of ‘Brihatsmhita’?

Aryabhatta
Varahamihira
Amarasimha
Brahmagupta

Ans: Varahamihira

Brihat Samhita (compilation of wide-ranging topics such as astrology, planetary movements, eclipses, rainfall, clouds, architecture, growth of crops, manufacture of perfume, matrimony, domestic relations, gems, pearls, and rituals, which also provides interesting details of the beliefs of those times), and the Brihat Jataka (considered the standard textbook on Vedic astrology).

88. Which type of land was called ‘Aprahat’?

Without cultivated forest land
Irrigated land
Dense forest land
Cultivated land

Ans: Without cultivated forest land

The land of the Gupta period was majorly categorized into the following groups:
Kshetra:- Cultivable land.
Khila:- Wasteland.
Aprahata:- Jungle or forest land.
Vasti:- Habitable land and Gapata
Sarah:- Pastureland.
Hence, Aprahata is basically referred to as woodland or field with thick and dense shrubs and trees.
Information about Aprahata can be found in Amarakosha written by Amarsimha (one of the courtiers of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty).
Aprahata was one of the 12 types of land that was classified depending on soil fertility, irrigation, and physical features of the land.

89. Amarakosa is written by whom?

Aryabhatta
Varahamihira
Amarasimha
Brahmagupta

Ans: Amarasimha

Amarasimha: Sanskrit lexicographer and poet, and his ‘Amarakosha’ is a vocabulary of Sanskrit roots, homonyms, and synonyms. It is also called Trikanda, as it has three parts containing around ten thousand words.

90. During the Gupta Age, Varahamihira was a / an

Sculptor
Artist
Scientist
None of the above

Ans: Scientist

The book Panchasiddhantika was written by

Varahamihira
Madhava
Bhaskara
Pingala

Ans: Varahamihira

Panchasiddhantika (a treatise on mathematical astronomy which is a compendium of Vedanga Jyotisha as well as Hellenistic astronomy and summarises five earlier astronomical treatises, namely the Surya Siddhanta, Romaka Siddhanta, Paulisa Siddhanta, Vasishtha Siddhanta, and Paitamaha Siddhanta)

91. In Indian History who was Dhanvantari?

A famous general of Chandragupta Maurya
A noted physician who adorned the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya
A famous dramatist who lived during the time of Harsha
None of these

Ans: A noted physician who adorned the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya

Dhanvantri: Physician who is considered the father of Ayurveda (literally meaning ‘knowledge for longevity’).
Ghatakarapara : An expert in sculpture and architecture.

92. With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as

ports handling foreign trade
capitals of powerful kingdoms
places of exquisite stone art and architecture
important Buddhist pilgrimage centres

Ans: ports handling foreign trade

93. ‘Shulva Sutras’ were related to :-

Rules of the society
Medicine
Military techniques
Measurements and construction of fire altars

Ans: Measurements and construction of fire altars

Shanku: An architect who wrote the Shilpashastra

94. Who wrote the first textbook on Jyotish?

Panini
Patanjali
Katyayan
Bhrigu

Ans: Bhrigu

95. Match the following

Vararuchi – Architecture
Sanku – poetry
Harisena – Medicine
Dhanvantri – Grammar

Ans: a4, b1, c2, d3

96. What was the similarity between Subandhu, Ghatkharpar, Shapnak, veersen?

All of them were the rulers of Gujarat
All of them were the preacher of Buddhism
All of them were in the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya
All of them were the preacher of Jainism

Ans: All of them were in the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya

Vetala Bhatta: A magician who wrote the Mantrashastra.

97. Which of the following astrologers and mathematicians belongs to the Gupta period?

Aryabhata
Varahamihira
Brahmagupta
All of the above

Ans: All of the above

98. By whom was the ‘Brahmasphut Siddhanta’ propounded in 628 AD?

Chandbardai
Brahmagupta
Ramanuja
Chakrapani Mishra

Ans: Brahmagupta

99. Who was ‘Brahmagupta’?

The person who discovered a text called Brahmasphutasiddhanta
The person who came up with the concept of zero
An Indian astronomer and mathematician
Author of the Bakhshali script

Ans: An Indian astronomer and mathematician

100. Which of the following is considered as the first surviving Indian text containing a systematic discussion of astronomical instruments?

Aryabhatiya
Surya Siddhanta
Bramasphutasiddhanta
Khandakhadyaka

Ans: Bramasphutasiddhanta

Brahmaaupta wrote many textbooks for mathematics and astronomy when he was in Ujjain.
These include ‘Durkeamynarda’ (672), ‘Khandakhadyaka’ (665),
‘Brahmasphutasiddhanta’ (628), and ‘Cadamakela’ (624).

101. Who among the following was the first to explain that the rotation of the Earth on its axis accounts for the daily rising and setting of the Sun ?

Aryabhatta
Bhaskara
Brahmagupta
Varhamihira

Ans: Aryabhatta

102. Who was the first well-known exponent of Algebra among Indian Mathematicians?

Varahamihra
Brahmagupta
Aryabhatta
Bhaskara

Ans: Aryabhatta

103. Brahmagupta used the terms ‘Kuttaka’ and ‘Kuttakaganita’ to refer to:

algebra
trigonometry
arithmetic
geometry

Ans: algebra

104. The writer of ‘Ganita Saar Sangrah” is

Aryabhatta
Bhaskaracharya
Mahaviracharya
Brahmagupta

Ans: Mahaviracharya

Mahaviracharya was patronized by the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha.

105. Brahmagupta has also mentioned laws of gravitation in the book

Aryasiddhanta
Brahmasiddhanta
Brihad Samhita
Dash Gitika

Ans: Brahmasiddhanta

106. Which of the following was not discovered by Aryabhatta?

The earth is a sphere
The earth rotates on its axis
The earth revolves around the sun
The shadow of the earth falling on the moon causes eclipses

Ans: The earth revolves around the sun

107. During Gupta Age, Aryabhatta was a great

politician
sculptor
mathematician
None of the above

Ans: mathematician

108. Aryabhata, a famous mathematician and astronomer of ancient India, was in the court of who among the following Gupta rulers?

Ramagupta
Kumaragupta
Chandragupta II
Samudragupta

Ans: Chandragupta II

109. The first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was launched on 19 April

1977
1974
1976
1975

Ans: 1975

110. Aryabhatta, the great mathematician and astrologer was related to which place?

Odantpura
Patliputra
Vaishali
Nalanda

Ans: Patliputra

111. In which one of the following languages, mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata wrote his book, Aryabhatiyam?

Prakrit
Hindi
pali
Sanskrit

Ans: Sanskrit

112. Aryabhattiyam is a book of

Geography
History
Astronomy
Agriculture

Ans: Astronomy

113. Who is credited with discovery of Zero (0)?

Aryabhata
Ramanujan
Panini
Varahmihira

Ans: Aryabhata

114. Which age is Aryabhatta associated with?

Gupta
Pala
Kushana
Dravida

Ans: Gupta

115. The University of Nalanda was set-up by which Gupta ruler?

Kumaragupta II
Kumaragupta I
Chandragupta II
Samudragupta

Ans: Kumaragupta I

116. Which of the following Gupta ruler was the worshipper of Lord Kartikeya (son of Lord Shiva)?

Chandragupta I
Samudragupta
Chandragupta II
Kumargupta I

Ans: Kumargupta I

117. Who from the following Gupta kings took the title of Mahendraditya ?

Chandragupta 1
Samudragupta
Kumaragupta
Skandagupta

Ans: Kumaragupta

118. Which pair is NOT correctly matched?
     Gupta Rulers and their Queens

Samudragupta – Datttadevi
Chandra Gupta 2 – Kuberanaga
Kumargupta – Prabhavati
Chandra Gupta 1 – Kumaradevi

Ans: Kumargupta – Prabhavati

Kumargupta – Anantadevi

119. Which Gupta king earned the title of “Shakraditya”?

Samudragupta
Chandragupta I
Kumargupta
Skandgupta

Ans: Kumargupta

120. Which of the following rulers campaigns are mentioned in Eran Stone Inscription of Madhya Pradesh?

Chandragupta II
Skandgupta
Samudragupta
Kumaragupta

Ans: Samudragupta

Eran is an ancient town in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. It was the capital of Erakina Pradesha of the Gupta empire.
Eran inscription confirms the Sati system practised during the Gupta era.

121. Which of the following inscriptions of the Gupta age do / does NOT belong to the Skandagupta?

Junagarh Rock
Eran stone Pillar
Indore Copper Plate
Bhitari Pillar

Ans: Eran stone Pillar

Kumaragupta I (lssued largest number of Inscription) Vilsad, Mankunwar, Mathura, Sanchi, Udaygiri cave, Tumain, Baigram etc

122. Which of the following inscription known as the first advertisement of the World?

Dashpur inscription
Sohgara inscription
Supia inscription
Eran inscription

Ans: Dashpur inscription

Everywhere we see in this world we will see an advertisement and this advertisement were started around 436 — 455 A.D.
This advertisement was written in Sanskrit in Mandsaur Madhya Pradesh India. This advertisement was written by some businessman on the wall of surya mandir in khilchipura in mandsaur this advertisement is written for promoting silk saris sales.
Aulikar Dynasty (4th-6th Century AD)
Jayverman established the Aulikar dynasty in (present-day Mandsaur).
Bandhuvarman accepted the rule of Kumar Gupta. His Dashpur inscription mentioned his grant to the guild of yarn Manufacturers to construct the Sun temple.

123. Who among the following Gupta ruler issued gold coins with the lowest percentage of gold?

Skandagupta
Budhagupta
Narasimhagupta
Vishnugupta

Ans: Vishnugupta

124. Paharpur Copper Plate is related to __, the king of the Gupta Empire.

Skandagupta
Chandragupta II
Buddhagupta
Kumaragupta I

Ans: Buddhagupta

125. The last ruler of Gupta dynasty was

Budhagupta
Kumaragupta
Vishnugupta
Srigupta

Ans: Vishnugupta

126. Junagadh inscription is written in which of the following languages?

Prakrit
pali
Kharoshthi
Sanskrit

Ans: Sanskrit

It is famously known as Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman or Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman.
It was inscribed by the Western Kshatrap King, Rudradaman l.

127. According to epigraphic records who among the following kings of ancient India were accomplished musicians?

(a) Kharavela
(b) Harshavardhana
(c) Rudradaman
(d) Samudragupta
Choose the correct option:

Ans: A and D

128. The Junagarh Rock inscription of Rudradaman says that a dam on the Sudarshan lake for irrigation was constructed by

Skandagupta
Pushyagupta
Bhanugupta
Chandragupta Vikramaditya

Ans: Pushyagupta

Rudraadaman’s Junagarh rock inscription says that Pushyagupta built a dam on the Sudarshan lake for irrigation. Sudarshan lake was founded by Pushyagupta, the governor of Saurashtra under Chandragupta Maurya.

129. Skandagupta’ s Junagarh inscription provides information on:

Kanauj
Saurashtra
Vidarbha
Magadha

Ans: Saurashtra

130. Who renovated Sudarshan lake without using forced labour?

Chandragupta Maurya
Bindusar
Ashoka
Rudradaman – I

Ans: Rudradaman – I

The “Sudarshan” lake was repair or renovated by the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I around 150 AD.
It was again repaired under the Skandguptas reign by his governor Parramatta during 415 AD. 455AD.

131. Which of the later Gupta King assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja and performed the Ashwamedha Yajna?

Mahasena Gupta
Adityasena
Kumargupta Ill
Kamarupa

Ans: Adityasena

132. The last recognised king of the Gupta kingdom was

Bimbisara
Vishnugupta
Ashoka
Samudragupta

Ans: Vishnugupta

133. After Gupta dynasty, in the middle of Sixth Century AD, _ established supremacy over Punjab

Pallavas
Gujarat
Kadambas
Huns

Ans: Huns

134. The Gupta rulers imposed a fine called _ which was a plough tax paid by every cultivator owning a plough.

Halivakara
Hiranya
Kara
Sulka

Ans: Halivakara

135. Who among the following provides much useful information for determining the beginning of Gupta Era?

Fa-Hian
Hien-Tsang
Al-Masudi
Al-Biruni

Ans: Fa-Hian

Fa-Hien was a disciple of Kumarajiya and came to India in the 5th AD during the reign of Chandragupta II. He traveled to India in search of authentic copies of Buddhist scriptures.

136. The information about the first Huna invasion of India is received from—

Nasik inscription
Ahol inscription
Bitari inscription
Eran inscription

Ans: Bitari inscription

The first inscription of the Hun attack on India is found in the inner piller. This column article is written in Sanskrit language. It is in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Skandagupta is the ruler associated with this pillerinscription.

137. Who among the following was the writer of Harshacharita?

Banabhatta
Bharavi
Amarasimha
Bhavabhuti

Ans: Banabhatta

Banabhatta in his Harshcharitra refers to the Huns invasion.

138. 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?
     1. The Guptas of Magadha
     2. The Paramaras Malwa
     3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
     4. The Maukharis of Kanauj
     5. The Yaduvas of Devagiri
     6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi

Ans: 1, 3, 4, and 6

The Paramara dynasty ruled the western and central parts of India including Malwa between the 9th and 14th century AD, before being captured by Delhi Sultanate rulers.

The Yadavas of Devagiri ruled from around 1187 to 1317 AD in western parts of India.

The Chalukyas and the Pallavas emerged as strong regional powers in Deccan and northern Tamil Nadu respectively.

139. The ancient Indian text ‘Rajatarangini’ is a composition of:

Bilhana
Kalhana
Banabhatta
Sandhyakar Nandi

Ans: Kalhana

140. The Rajtarangini composed by Kalhana in the twelfth century is the main source of :

the History of Assam
the History of Nepal
the History of Medieval Kashmir
the Post-Gupta Economics

Ans: the History of Medieval Kashmir

141. Which of the following is true regarding Kalhana’s Rajatarangini?

1. Written in 12th century under the patronage of Sriharsa and Jaisingh
2. Is an account of history of Kashmir upto 12th century
3. It was written in Sanskrit
4. All the above

Ans: All the above

142. The Huna King Toramana was defeated by the Aulikara King

Yasodharman
Prakasadharman
Rajyavardhana
Vishnuvardhana

Ans: Prakasadharman

143. Which of the following Book consist the story of “The River of Kings”?

Akbar-Nama
Babur-Nama
Rajatarnagini
Tarikh-i-Firozshahi

Ans: Rajatarnagini

Toramana was succeeded by his son Mihirkula, who was a tyrant and an iconoclast (Kalhana’s Rajataringini mentions his cruelty; even Hieun Tsang mentions him as a fierce persecutor of Buddhists) who finally suffered defeat at the hands of Yashodharman of Malwa, Narasimhagupta Baladitya of the Gupta dynasty, and the Maukharis.

The Guptas’ power was severely curbed by the rise of feudatories. Yashodharman of Malwa, who belonged to Aulikara feudatory family.

144. What was the land donated to Brahmins in the Gupta period called?

Vellanvagai
Shalabhoga
Devadana
Agrahara

Ans: Agrahara

145. Mandasor Stone inscription records the history of a guild of

goldsmiths.
rathakaras.
potters.
silk weavers.

Ans: silk weavers.

146. Mandasor inscription and Damodarpur copper plate inscriptions were related to :

Kumaragupta
Chandragupta II
Chandragupta I
Samudragupta

Ans: Kumaragupta

Veersena was the author of Mandasore inscription. There is an inscription about Bandhuverma at Mandasore. The silk workers had constructed a Sun temple here which was repaired by Bandhuverma in Samvat 493. This indicates that he was present there till 436 CE.

147. Who was the author of Mandasore inscription?

Veersena
Harisena
Vatsabhatta
Banabhatta

Ans: Veersena

148. Chandragupta II assumed the famous title of ‘Sakari’. What does it imply?

Lord of the world
Destroyer of the Sakas
Well Wisher of the masses
Devotee of Shankara

Ans: Destroyer of the Sakas
 

149. Match the following

Mahabaladhi Krita – Commander of the cavalry
Mahashvapati – Commander in Chief
Mahapilupati – Chief judicial officer
Mahadanda Nayak – Commander of the elephant force

Ans: (a) – 2, (b) – 1, (c) – (4), (d) – (3)

Sandhivigrahika (the foreign minister).
The most important officers under the Guptas were called the kumaramatyas, with an office of their own called the adhikarana.

150. Uparika were

Gupta rulers
landlord
tax collector
military administrator

Ans: Gupta rulers

151. In the context of Gupta administration, the term ‘vithi’ referred to alan:

elephantry unit
administrative unit
personal guard of the king
soldier

Ans: administrative unit

152. With reference to Gupta empire, the term ‘Bhukti’ refers to

Feudatories
Provinces
Central officers
High-ranking officers

Ans: Provinces

The Gupta empire was divided into provinces known as deshas, rashtra, or bhuktis and their head was called uparika.

Bhukti (province) Uparika (viceroy)
Vishayas (District) Vishayapati
Vithis (sub-districts)
Gram (village) Gramika

153. The Gupta empire had a very elaborate administrative system at the village level. Which of the bodies below are mentioned in the inscription of that period.

(A) Ghatika
(B) Pancha-mandli
(C) Ashtakula-adhikarana
(D) Sabhamandala
(E) Tri-mandli

Ans: B and C Only

154. In ancient India, the leader of merchant caravans was called

Maha-danda-nayaka
Sandhi-vigrahika
Prathama-kulika
Sarthavaha

Ans: Sarthavaha

adhishthana adhikarana (a board of five members). These members were:
the uparika,
the nagara- sreshthin (chief merchant),
sarthavaha (chief caravan trader),
prathama-kulika (chief artisan or merchant) and
prathama-kayastha (chief in-charge of revenue collection).

155. Which one of the following is not correctly matched?

Mahadandanayaka – Chief Judicial Officer
Nagara-Shreshthi – – Chief Banker/ merchant
Uprik – Chief Craftsman
Sarthavaha – Leader of the merchant caravans

Ans: Uprik – Chief Craftsman

The judicial system was far more developed under the Gupta rulers than in earlier times. For the first time, civil and criminal laws were clearly demarcated.

156. Match the following

Mahanadanyaka – chief justice
Uparikas – provinces head
Vishyapatis – districts head
Shaulkika – Collector of shulka

Ans: all are correctly matched

157. What is Vishti?

A kind of god
A kind of entertainment
A kind of forced labor
None of the above

Ans: A kind of forced labor

158. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.

Ans: It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people

Vakataka inscriptions mention of klipta (purchase tax or sales tax) and upaklipta (additional minor tax)

159. Which of the following statement is not true about the religion section of the Gupta period?

Bhagvatism centred around the worship of Vishnu or Bhagavad
Gupta kings followed a policy of tolerance towards the different religious sects
Bhagavad Gita was written in this phase
Buddhism was at its peak at this time

Ans: Buddhism was at its peak at this time

160. Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
     Assertion (A): The Gupta period saw the ascendency of Hinduism, especially Bhagavatism or vaishnavism
     Reason (R): Fahsien given the impression that Buddhism was flourishing during this period. It may be said first that four Buddha images were added at the four entrances of the great stupa of Sanchi. Nalanda also became a centre of Buddhist education during this period.

Ans: Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

161. The famous Gupta period Dashavatara Temple, recognised as one of the earliest Panchayatan temples in north India, is located at:

Nachna-Kuthara
Bhitargaon
Tigawa
Deogarh

Ans: Deogarh

162. Who wrote holy book ‘Bhagavad Gita’?

Kalidas
Valmiki
Surdas
Ved Vyas

Ans: Ved Vyas

163. The Bhagavad Gita is extracted from which parva of Mahabharat?

Bhisma parva
Shanti parva
Saupitka parva
Adi parva

Ans: Bhisma parva

164. Who first translated the Bhagavad Gita into English?

HT Colebrook
Alexander Duff
Charles Wilkins
Sir William Jones

Ans: Charles Wilkins

165. Which of the following islare true about Nalanda university?
     1. It was founded during the reign of Chandragupta II.
     2. It imparted knowledge of Both Mahayana and Hinayana sects of Buddhism along with Vedas and Sanskrit.
     3. Its fame declined with the advent of Tantric ideas in Buddhism in and around the 12th century A.D.

Ans: 2 and 3 Only

166. The famous epic Mahabharata was composed by

Tulsidas
Kalidas
Ved Vyasa
Maharishi Valmiki

Ans: Ved Vyasa

167. Who wrote the epic Ramayana?

Chitragupta
Valmiki
Chanakya
Dronacharya

Ans: Valmiki

168. Which of the following statements are correct?

A. Art and literature flourished under the Gupta empire in ancient India. Sanskrit was the main language of literature in this period.
B. The two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were compiled in the 4th century CE.

Ans: A and B

169. Which of the following statements are correct about gupta period?

A. The major Puranas written in this period are the Vishnu Purana, Vayu Purana, and the Matsya Purana.
B. Kamandaka’s Nitisara, which is a book on statecraft, and Vatsayayana’s Kamasutra, which is a treatise on sensual pleasure, belong to this period.

Ans: A and B

170. The play ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’ by Kalidasa is a love story between Shakuntala and King

Dushasana
Dasharatha
Dhritarashtra
Dushyanta

Ans: Dushyanta

171. Consider the following statements:
     1. ‘Manusmriti’ was translated in English by William Jones.
     2. ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’ was translated in English by James Prinsep.
     3. Kalidas is known as ‘the Shakespeare of India’.
        Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

Ans: 1 and 3 Only

Abhijyanashakuntalam: Considered a classic and one of the best hundred literary works in the world. It was first translated in English by Charles Wilkins

Kumarasambhavam: Story about the birth of Shiva and Parvati’s son and also contains references of Sati system
Raghuvamsha: Depicts Vishnu as the origin and the end of the universe. Ritusamhara: Poem describing the cycle of seasons.
Malvikagnimitram: First Dramatic work of Kalidasa, for the celebration of Vasantutsava (spring festival).

172. The famous Sanskrit play “mrichchhakatika” was written by

Bhasa
Vishakhadatta
Bhavabhuti
Shudraka

Ans: Shudraka

Shudraka: Writer of the play Mrichchhkatikam (Little Clay Cart), which deals with the love affair of a poor brahmana with the beautiful daughter of a courtesan

173. Who wrote Mudrarakshasa?

Vatsayayana
Vishakhadatta
Vishnu Sharma
Varahamihira

Ans: Vishakhadatta

174. Devichandraguptam is written by:

Vishakadutta
Banabhatta
Kalidasa
Bhasa

Ans: Vishakadutta

175. Who among the following is the author of the Kiratarjuniya?

Magha
Bharavi
Bhasa
Bhavabhuti

Ans: Bharavi

Dandin: Writer of Kavyadarshana and Dasakumaracharita.

The Uttararamacharita is a Sanskrit drama written by the renowned Indian playwright Bhavabhuti.

176. Which among the following Drama/Book was not written by famous poet Bhasa ?

Karnabhara
Urubhanga
Dutvakya
Shishupalvadh

Ans: Shishupalvadh

The Svapnavasavadattam is the most famous composition of Bhasa.
His other famous works are Pratijna-yaugandharayan, Charu Duttam, Pancharatral, ‘Karnabhara’, Urubhanga ‘Dootvakya’, and Bat Charit, Abibharaki. Prupuk was written in the Prakrit language and staged by common people during social ceremonies Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas.

Bhasa: Celebrated writer of 13 plays, including Madhyamavyayoga, Duta- Ghatotkacha, Dutavakya, Balacharita, and Charudatta.

The Shishupala Vadha is a work of classical Sanskrit poetry (kāvya) composed by Māgha in the 7th or 8th century.

177. In Aihole inscription, the writer Ravikirti compared himself with

Kalidas and Bhasa
Kalidas and Amar Singh
Sudrak and Bhasa
Sudarak and Harisen

Ans: Kalidas and Bhasa

The Aihole inscription, also known as the Aihole Prashasti, is a copper plate inscription from the 7th century CE.
That was discovered in Aihole, a village in present-day Karnataka, India.
The inscription was written by Ravikirti, the court poet of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II, and praises the king’s victories and accomplishments.

178. The ‘Kathasaritsagara’ is written by:

Kalidasa
Bhasa
Jayadeva
Somadeva

Ans: Somadeva

Somadeva was an 1 lth century CE writer from Kashmir.
He was believed to be the court poet to King Ananta of Kashmir.

179. Who among the following is the author of the Ravanavadha?

Magha
Bharavi
Bhatti
Bhavabhuti

Ans: Bhatti

180. ‘Panchatantra’ was written by:

Kalidasa
Banabhatta
Vishnu Sharma
Tulsidas

Ans: Vishnu Sharma

Mentha: Author of the Hayagrivavadha.

It is rather interesting to note that Sanskrit literature has produced five mahakavyas, all of which belong to Gupta Empire:
Raghuvamsham
Kumarasambhavam by Kalidasa
Kiratarjuniyam by Bharavi
Shishupal-vadha by Magha: Describes the slaying of Shishupala by Krishna.
Naisadhiyacharitam by Sri Harsa: On the life of King Nala and Queen Damayanti.

181. Which period do the Ajanta cave paintings belong to?

Gupta dynasty
Rashtrakuta dynasty
Pala dynasty
Maurya dynasty

Ans: Gupta dynasty

Beautiful images of the Buddha were also created at Mathura and Sarnath. The finest examples of Buddhist art during Gupta period are the paintings of Ajanta caves, which are now included in the list of the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.
Out of the 28 caves at Ajanta, 23 belong to the Vakataka period, while five caves were excavated during the Satavahana period.

182. There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

Bagh caves
Ellora caves
Lomas Rishi cave
Nasik caves

Ans: Bagh caves

183. Which of the following statements are true?

A. The Gupta period marks beginning of Indian temple architecture.
B. These temples were made in the architectural style known as Nagara, in which generally flat-roofed square temples were built.

Ans: A and B

184. An early temple at Bhitargaon, Uttar Pradesh was built about 1500 years ago was made of

wood
mud brick
clay and thatch
baked brick

Ans: baked brick

185. With reference to the temple of Bhitargaon, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, which of the following statement/s islare correct?
     (1) This temple was constructed during the 5th century A.D. to the 6th century A.D.
     (2) It is one of the oldest brick temples of India.

Ans: 1 and 2

186. Where is the temple of “Bhitargaon” situated?

Uttar Pradesh
Bihar
Odisha
Bengal

Ans: Uttar Pradesh

187. The earliest brick temple in India was built by

Mauryas
Sungas
Vijayanagaras
Guptas

Ans: Guptas

188. The temple of Deogarh near Jhansi and the sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimen of the

Gupta art
Rashtrakutas art
Pallavas art
Mauryan art

Ans: Gupta art

189. The Gupta rulers constructed the Vishnu temple of Tigawa, it is located in

Assam
Madhya Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Bihar

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

190. Deh Parbati is the temple constructed by the Gupta rulers, it is located in

Odisha
Assam
Delhi
Karnataka

Ans: Assam

191. Nachna Kuthara Parvati Temple is located in

Odisha
Madhya Pradesh
Delhi
Karnataka

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

The sculptures pertaining to period of c. 300 – 600 CE not only show a continuation of earlier styles and trends derived from Mathura and Gandhara schools, but also show introduction of new styles.
The inspiration of the themes for sculpture was drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina traditions.
Many Vaishnava sculptures, which include images of the avatars such as boar, man-lion, dwarf, and Vasudeva-Krishna, have been found at Mathura.
One of the largest known free standing stone image belonging to this period is a colossal figure of Krishna effortlessly lifting up Govardhana mountain, found at Varanasi.

192. At which of the following places the colossal figure of Krishna effortlessly lifting up Govardhana mountain can be found?

Varansi
Sanchi
Ujjain
Ajantha

Ans: Varansi

193. Which creature is depicted in the sculptures of the Gupta period as the ‘vehicle’ of the Yamuna river?

Fish
Kurma
Crocodile
Hippopotamus

Ans: Kurma

“Kurma” is Sanskrit for “tortoise” or “turtle”.
Makara is a Sanskrit word which means “sea-animal, crocodile”.

194. Which creature is depicted in the sculptures of the Gupta period as the ‘vehicle’ of the Ganga river?

Fish
Kurma
Crocodile
Hippopotamus

Ans: Crocodile

195. Pythagoras Theorem statement is found in the oldest sulba sutra known as Baudhayana sulba sutra. Is this statement true or false?

True
False

Ans: True

The Pythagoras theorem and Pythagorean triples’ earliest expression can be found in a. i. ii. Baudhayana, which was composed around 600 BCE. The ganita shastra (mathematics) was far more advanced as the oldest datable evidence of the decimal place value system can be found in a 3rd century work on astrology called the Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja (which however, does not mention zero).
But an even earlier work, the Chhandasutra of Pingala, mentions the zero symbol as a dot used in metrics.

196. Who of the following is the writer of ‘Panchsiddhantika’-

Aryabhatt
Varahmihir
Brahmagupta
Charak

Ans: Varahmihir

197. Father of Algebra and the earliest known astronomer of India

Varahmihir
Aryabhatta
Brahmagupta
Mahavira

Ans: Aryabhatta

Bhaskara I, who wrote a commentary on Aryabhatiya, calls the Aryabhatiya the Ashmaka-tantra and Ashmakiya

198. Which of the following is a famous Astronomical science book?

Sushruta Samhita
Surya Siddhanta
Charak Samhita
Panchatantra

Ans: Surya Siddhanta

The Suryasiddhanta, which contains sine tables, was also written by Aryabhatta.
His method of extracting the square root and cube root presupposes the decimal place value of numbers, which certainly shows that Indian mathematicians (started using the decimal system in the 5th century CE) were much ahead of Arabs and Europeans who started using the same in the 12th century after learning from Arabs.

He was first to discover that the earth rotates on its axis and also worked out the correct equation for calculating the orbit of a planet and gave extremely accurate estimate of the length of a year to 365.2586805 days.

He found out the sine functions and used them in astronomy and laid foundations of trigonometry. He also made tables for the trigonometric ratio sine, for angles from 0 to 90 degrees.
He described the various properties of a circle and gave a very accurate value of pi (π), correct to 4 decimal places at 3.1416.

199. By whom was the ‘Brahmasphut Siddhanta’ propounded in 628 AD?

Chandbardai
Brahmagupta
Ramanuja
Chakrapani Mishra

Ans: Brahmagupta

Brahmasputasiddhanta (628 CE), in which he hinted at the Law of Gravitation, and Khandakhadyaka (665 CE), covering such topics as the longitudes of the planets, diurnal rotation, lunar and solar eclipses, rising and setting of the sun, the moon’s crescent, and conjunctions of the planets.
He also referred to svayamvaha yantras signifying complex automatic devices, which reflects an awareness of the idea of perpetual motion too.

200. ‘Lilavati’ was written by?

Hemchandra Acharya
Mahaviracharya
Bhaskaracharya
Kalkaacharya

Ans: Bhaskaracharya

201. The Lilavati of Bhaskara is a standard text on:

Mathematics
Surgery
Poetics
Linguistics

Ans: Mathematics

Bhaskara II: Author of the Lilavati written in the 12th century, which contains important ideas of calculus.

Vagbhata: A disciple of Charaka and distinguished physician of Ayurvedic system of medicine from c. 600 CE. He wrote the Ashtangahridaya (meaning ‘Heart of Medicine’) and the Ashtangasamgraha (meaning ‘Tome on Medicine’).

Maharishi Palakapya: He wrote the Hastyayurveda, a treatise dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of the major diseases of elephants through medication and surgery.

202. Hastyayurveda which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the major

Vagbhata
Kashyapa
Palakpya
Sushruta

Ans: Palakpya

Kashyapa: A 7th century physician who compiled his Ayurvedic knowledge in a compendium which dealt with the diseases of women and children.

203. Susruta is known as

Father of Indian medicine
Father of Indian surgery
Father of Indian Ecology
Father of Indian Paleobotany

Ans: Father of Indian surgery

204. Which of the following is an ancient Indian book on surgery?

Susruta Samhita
Arthashastra
Manusmriti
Charak Samhita

Ans: Susruta Samhita

The Sushruta and Charaka texts differ in one major aspect, with Sushruta Samhita providing the foundation of surgery, while Charaka Samhita being primarily a foundation of medicine.
Sushruta: The famous author of the Sushruta Samhita, which deals with surgery. It contains six sections, mainly focusing on the treatment of wounds, extraction of splinters and arrows, suturing, embryology, anatomy, poisons, removal of cataracts, removal of stones in the bladder, etc.
The text also refers to plastic surgery, with detailed references to rhinoplasty wherein a flap of skin is grafted to repair a severed nose and the repair of torn ear lobes. It also mentions of study of human anatomy by dissecting corpses.

205. Metallurgy is the process of:

rusting of iron.
distillation.
extracting metals from ore.
galvanization of ores.

Ans: extracting metals from ore.

Metallurgy also saw technological advancement in Gupta times.

The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, standing in the open, which has surprisingly not gathered rust even after fifteen centuries, speaks volumes of the iron technology prevailing in the Gupta period. The wonderful paintings of Ajanta, still intact, indicate that the art of making colours was unmatched in this period.

The Vakatakas of the Deccan

206. Who was the founder of Vakataka dynasty in the third century?

Nagabhata
Vindhyashakti
Pravarasena
Rudrasena

Ans: Vindhyashakti

207. Arrange the following in chronological order:
     a. Satvahanas
     b. Vakatakas
     c. Chalukyas

Ans: a, b, c

208. The art of Ajanta was mainly patronized by the

Chalukyas
Pallavas
Vakatakas
Gangas

Ans: Vakatakas

209. Which of the following statements islare incorrect about Prabhavati Gupta?
     1. She was the daughter of Chandragupta l.
     2. She married Vakataka king Rudrasena II.
     3. She took over as queen after the sudden death of her husband.

Ans: 1 Only

210. Who are known as the first “empire builders” of India?

Mauryas
Guptas
Vakatakas
Nandas

Ans: Nandas

211. Arrange the following in chronological order
     (A) Naynika
     (B) Diddha
     (C) Prabhavati
     (D) Rudramba
     (E) Akkadevi

Ans: (A), (C), (B), (E), (D)

Naynika – Satavahana
Naynika – Shatkarni I was the first successful ruler of the Satavahana dynasty (30 BCE 250 AD). Information about its achievements comes from the Nanaghat inscription of Queen Naynika between the 2nd and the 1st century BCE.

Didda
Didda was the ruler of Kashmir from 980 CE to 1003 CE and acted as regent for her son and grandsons from 958 CE to 980 CE.
She was the daughter of Simharäja, the King of Lohara, and married the King of Kashmir, Ksemagupta, at age 26.

Rudrama Devi
Rudrama Devi was a queen of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263 to 1289 (or 1295) until her death.

Akkadevi
Akkadevi was a princess of the Chalukya dynasty of Karnataka and governor of an area known as Kishukädu.
She was born in 1010 and died in 1064 at 54.

Naynika – Between the 2nd and the 1st century BCE
Prabhavati – 390 to 410 CE
Diddha – 980 to 1003 CE
Akkadevi – Around 12th Century
Rudramba – 1263 to 1289 CE

212. Which of the following dynasty ruled in Vidisha of central India?

Kalchuri Chedi Dynasty
Guptas Dynasty
Vakataka Dynasty
Aulikara dynasty

Ans: Vakataka Dynasty

The Vakataka Dynasty (300 to 500 AD) established as the important power of the South after the Satavahanas.
The most famous ruler of this dynasty was King “Pravarsena l”.
Pravarsena conducted four “Ashwamedha Yagyas” during his reign.
The Aulikara dynasty was founded by King Jayavarman in ancient Mandsaur.
The Aulikara dynasty was contemporary to the Gupta dynasty.
The Kalchuri dynasty was founded by “Kokall•l” in about 845 AD and he made “Tripuri” his capital.

213. Which ancient dynasty belongs to Bengal and Assam region of India?

Gurjara-Pratihara
Vakataka
Varman
None

Ans: Varman

The Varman dynasty was part of the Kamarupa kingdom of Assam.
Its reign was from 350 CE to 655 CE and Pushyavarman was its founder.

214. Which of the following ruler established the kingdom in Saurashtra?

Bhatarka
Harsha
Simha Vishnu
Pravarasena I

Ans: Bhatarka

Bhatarka established the Maitraka kingdom in Saurashtra.
He was the Senapati of Gupta king in the Saurashtra region.
He declares himself as independent around 475 AD.
The first two rulers of this dynasty use the title of Senapati.

215. Which one of the following kings used title ‘Samrat’?

Vindhya Saktivakataka
Samudra Gupta
Harshavardhana
Vakataka Pravarasena I

Ans: Vakataka Pravarasena I

Vindhayasakti’s son and successor, who is considered the founder of the real power and greatness of the Vakatakas.
He extended the empire southwards into Vidarbha and adjoining areas of the Deccan, with his capital at Kanchanaka (modern Nachna).
His son Gautamiputra married the daughter of the Naga king Bhavanaga, which cemented an important political alliance.
Rudrasena I succeeded his grandfather Pravarsena to the throne and ruled from Nandivardhana, near modern Nagpur.
Sarvasena, another son of Pravarasena, started ruling independently from Vastugulma as his capital, which is identified as modern Bassien in Vidarbha.

216. Which of the following statements is/are true?

A. Rudrasena I (c. 340 – 365 CE) was the Founder of the Vakataka Nandivardhana branch.
B. He is known to have been a worshipper of Lord Mahabhairava, the fierce form of Shiva.

Ans: A and B

217. Which among the following Vakataka ruler performed all the seven sacrifices viz. Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Ukthya, Shodasin, Atiratra, Vajapeya, Brihaspatisava, Sadyaskra and four Asvamedhas?

Rudrasena
Pravarsena-I
Narendrasena
Prithivisena

Ans: Pravarsena-I

Described in later Vakataka inscriptions as a righteous conqueror, he was compared to the epic hero Yudhishthira due to his comparable qualities of truthfulness, transparency, compassion, and humility.
Padmapura seems to have been an important administrative centre during his time.

Prithvisena’s son Rudrasena II, the crown prince, was married to Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of Chandragupta II.

Rudrasena II – Ruled only for a period of five years as he died prematurely, leaving behind three minor sons Divakarasena, Damodarasena, and Pravarasena. His wife Prabhavatigupta ruled as the regent until 410 CE.
Prabhavatigupta’s Maregaon plates describes her as the ‘mother of two kings’.

218. Prabhavatigupta ruled as the regent until 410 CE, Queen of which dyanasty?

Vakataka
Gupta
Pushyabuthi
Chalukya

Ans: Vakataka

219. Who among the following is the author of poetry Setubandh?

Bharavi
Pravarsena 2
Shrivera
Banabhatta

Ans: Pravarsena 2

Largest number of Vakataka inscriptions belong to his reign.
He is credited with the founding of a new capital at Pravarapura, which is identified as Paunar in the presentday Wardha district.
Even though he was a devotee of Shiva, he composed a Prakrit kavya glorifying Rama, the Setubandha/Ravanavaha, which is about Rama’s journey to Lanka and his victory over Ravana.

220. Which of the following kings is considered as the last known ruler of the Nandivardhana branch of the Vakataka dynasty?

Prithivisena 2
Narendrasena
Rudrasena 2
None of the above

Ans: Prithivisena 2

221. Which of the following kings faced the invasion of the Nala king Bhavadottavarman?

Prithivisena 1
Narendrasena
Rudrasena 2
None of the above

Ans: Narendrasena

Prithivisena II – He had to face the invasion of Harisena of Vatsagulma line thrice, and the invasion of Bhavadottavarman of the Nala dynasty.
After Prithivisena II’s death, it is presumed that Harisena of the Vatsagulma line of the Vakatakas conquered his successors and united the Nandivardhana line with his own.

222. Which of the following was the founder of the Vatsagulma line of the Vakatakas?

Sarvasena
Pruthvisena
Vindhyasena
None of the above

Ans: Sarvasena

223. Which of the following Vakataka ruler adopted the title dharma-maharaja?

Sarvasena
Pruthvisena
Vindhyasena
None of the above

Ans: Sarvasena

224. Harivijaya was the work of which of the following Vakataka ruler?

Sarvasena
Pruthvisena
Vindhyasena
None of the above

Ans: Sarvasena

Was believed to be a renowned Prakrit poet, and his lost work, the Harivijaya, was lauded by later writers. Some of his verses were incorporated into the Gathasattasai.

Vindhyashakti II/ Vindhyasena – He is believed to have defeated the Kadambas of Banavasi, who ruled over Kuntala (north Karnataka).
His son and successor Pravarasena II appears to have ruled for a period of fifteen years. Pravarasena II was followed by Devasena, who was a pleasure-seeking ruler, but luckily had the services of a very capable minister, Hasthibhoja. His successor Harisena was the ablest and the greatest ruler of this line.

Harisena (c.475 – 500 CE) Last known king of the Vatsagulma line, who not only united the two Vakataka branches but also extended his territories by conquering Kuntala, Avanti, Kalinga, Kosala, Konkan, and Andhra.

225. Which of the following works was written by Dandin?

Mrichchakatikam
Mitakshara
Dasakumaracharita
Jagadvachanavaahinee

Ans: Dasakumaracharita

226. __ , a famous Sanskrit writer, was the court poet of Narsimhavarman II.

Bharavi
Mayursarman
Dinganaga
Dandin

Ans: Dandin

Pallava Dynasty:
Kalabhras rule for 250 years after Sangam Age in Tamil country.
The Pallava dynasty situated in Tondaimandalam and capital at Kanchipuram.

Dandin, a poet of the 6th century CE, described Harisena as “powerful, truthful and bountiful, glorious, lofty, and a penetrating critic of ethical and economic compendia”.

227. Thalner Copper Plate belongs to which of the following vakataka rulers?

Pravahasena
Vindhyasena
Devasena
Harisena 2

Ans: Harisena

The Thalner copper plates (which record the gifts of villages of bronze workers and goldsmiths) belong to his rein and many of the Ajanta caves were executed during his reign. In one of the inscriptions at cave XVI and the Ghatotkacha cave, there is mention of his minister Varahadeva.

With the death of Harisena II, the glory of the Vakatakas ended and the Nalas, the Kadambas, the Kalachuris, and Yasodharman of Malwa occupied their territory

228. Nalanda Copper Plate belongs to which of the following Gupta emperor?

Chandragupta II
Chandragupta I
Skandagupta
Samudragupta

Ans: Samudragupta

The king was the focus of administration and Gupta kings adopted pompous titles like parameshwara, maharajadhiraja, paramabhattaraka, parama-daivata (the foremost worshipper of gods), and paramabhagavata (foremost worshipper of Vasudeva Krishna).

The Allahabad prashasti thus which describes Samudragupta as a god dwelling on earth, equal to the gods Dhanada (Kuber), Varuna (god of the waters), Indra, and Antaka (Yama), who had no antagonist of equal power in the world.