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History PYQ Practice: Set 01

Authored CAPF-level history MCQs (foundational) on ancient India up to the Mauryas, with answer key and explanations, not verbatim PYQs

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PaperPaper ISubjectHistory

Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. Twenty-five questions on ancient India, the Indus Valley Civilisation, the Vedic Age, the Mahajanapadas, Jainism and Buddhism, and the Mauryan Empire. Attempt closed-book, then check the key. For disputed dates, treat ranges as approximate.

Questions

Q1The Indus Valley Civilisation is also known as the:
  1. AVedic Civilisation
  2. BHarappan Civilisation
  3. CMauryan Civilisation
  4. DGupta Civilisation
Q2Which of the following Harappan sites is famous for the Great Bath?
  1. AHarappa
  2. BMohenjo-daro
  3. CLothal
  4. DKalibangan
Q3Lothal, a Harappan site, is noted for its:
  1. AStupa
  2. BDockyard
  3. CIron pillar
  4. DRock-cut caves

Q4 (statement-based). Consider the following about the Indus Valley Civilisation:

  1. It had a well-planned drainage system.
  2. The script has been fully deciphered.
  3. Town planning followed a grid pattern. How many are correct?
  • (a) Only one
  • (b) Only two
  • (c) All three
  • (d) None
Q5The four Vedas are the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and:
  1. AAtharvaveda
  2. BAyurveda
  3. CDhanurveda
  4. DArthaveda
Q6The Gayatri Mantra is found in which Veda?
  1. ASamaveda
  2. BYajurveda
  3. CRigveda
  4. DAtharvaveda
Q7Match List I (Veda) with List II (Subject):
  1. ARigveda
  2. BSamaveda
  3. CYajurveda
  4. DAtharvaveda
  1. Sacrificial formulae and rituals
  2. Hymns of praise
  3. Melodies and chants
  4. Charms, spells and folk beliefs Codes:
  • (a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
  • (b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • (c) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • (d) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
Q8The term "Mahajanapadas" refers to:
  1. AVedic sacrifices
  2. BSixteen great territorial states of the sixth century BCE
  3. CBuddhist councils
  4. DMauryan provinces
Q9Which Mahajanapada eventually rose to dominate the others and formed the nucleus of the Magadhan empire?
  1. AKosala
  2. BAvanti
  3. CMagadha
  4. DGandhara
Q10The founder of Jainism, as traditionally regarded, is the first Tirthankara:
  1. ARishabhanatha (Adinatha)
  2. BParshvanatha
  3. CMahavira
  4. DGautama Buddha
Q11Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, attained enlightenment (Kaivalya) and his teachings emphasise:
  1. AThe middle path
  2. BThe three jewels and non-violence (ahimsa)
  3. CDevotion to a personal god
  4. DAnimal sacrifice

Q12 (statement-based). Consider the following about Buddhism:

  1. Gautama Buddha was born at Lumbini.
  2. He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
  3. He delivered his first sermon at Sarnath. How many are correct?
  • (a) Only one
  • (b) Only two
  • (c) All three
  • (d) None
Q13The first sermon of the Buddha at Sarnath is known as:
  1. AMahaparinirvana
  2. BDharmachakra Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law)
  3. CKaivalya
  4. DSangha
Q14The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the:
  1. AEightfold Path
  2. BTenfold Path
  3. CFive Vows
  4. DThree Vedas
Q15Who founded the Maurya Empire by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty?
  1. ABindusara
  2. BAshoka
  3. CChandragupta Maurya
  4. DChanakya
Q16The political treatise Arthashastra is attributed to:
  1. AKalidasa
  2. BKautilya (Chanakya)
  3. CMegasthenes
  4. DPatanjali
Q17Megasthenes, who wrote the Indica, was an ambassador of:
  1. AAlexander
  2. BSeleucus Nicator
  3. CDarius
  4. DCyrus

Q18 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): Ashoka adopted the policy of Dhamma after the Kalinga War. Reason (R): The bloodshed of the Kalinga War deeply affected Ashoka and turned him towards non-violence and moral conduct.

  • (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  • (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • (c) A is true, R is false
  • (d) A is false, R is true
Q19Ashoka's edicts were mostly inscribed in which script in most of his empire?
  1. ADevanagari
  2. BBrahmi
  3. CGreek only
  4. DTamil
Q20Match List I (Buddhist Council) with List II (Place or ruler):
  1. AFirst Council
  2. BThird Council
  3. CFourth Council
  4. DSecond Council
  1. Kundalvana, under Kanishka
  2. Rajagriha, under Ajatashatru
  3. Vaishali
  4. Pataliputra, under Ashoka Codes:
  • (a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
  • (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • (c) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
  • (d) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Q21The Lion Capital of Ashoka, now the State Emblem of India, was originally erected at:
  1. ABodh Gaya
  2. BSarnath
  3. CSanchi
  4. DLumbini

Q22 (statement-based). Consider the following about Mauryan administration:

  1. The empire was divided into provinces with a high degree of central control.
  2. Espionage and a network of spies are described in the Arthashastra.
  3. The Mauryas had no standing army. How many are correct?
  • (a) Only one
  • (b) Only two
  • (c) All three
  • (d) None
Q23The Harappan people were the earliest to produce:
  1. AIron tools
  2. BCotton textiles
  3. CGunpowder
  4. DPaper
Q24Which animal is most commonly depicted on Harappan seals?
  1. AThe horse
  2. BThe one-horned bull (unicorn)
  3. CThe lion
  4. DThe camel

Q25 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): The later Vedic period saw the rise of large kingdoms and the use of iron. Reason (R): Iron technology, referred to in texts as "krishna ayas", helped clear forests and expand agriculture in the Ganga plains.

  • (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  • (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • (c) A is true, R is false
  • (d) A is false, R is true

Answer key

Reveal the answer key and full worked solutions
Q Answer
1 (b) Harappan Civilisation
2 (b) Mohenjo-daro
3 (b) Dockyard
4 (b) Only two
5 (a) Atharvaveda
6 (c) Rigveda
7 (a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
8 (b) Sixteen great territorial states
9 (c) Magadha
10 (a) Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)
11 (b) Three jewels and non-violence
12 (c) All three
13 (b) Dharmachakra Pravartana
14 (a) Eightfold Path
15 (c) Chandragupta Maurya
16 (b) Kautilya (Chanakya)
17 (b) Seleucus Nicator
18 (a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
19 (b) Brahmi
20 (a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
21 (b) Sarnath
22 (b) Only two
23 (b) Cotton textiles
24 (b) One-horned bull (unicorn)
25 (a) Both true, R is the correct explanation

Explanations

  • Q1. The Indus Valley Civilisation is named the Harappan Civilisation after Harappa, the first excavated site. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q2. The Great Bath is the best-known structure at Mohenjo-daro. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q3. Lothal in Gujarat had a tidal dockyard, evidence of maritime trade. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q4. Statements 1 and 3 are correct; the script remains undeciphered, so statement 2 is false. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q5. The four Vedas are Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. See vedic age.
  • Q6. The Gayatri Mantra, addressed to Savitr, appears in the Rigveda. See vedic age.
  • Q7. Rigveda hymns of praise, Samaveda melodies, Yajurveda ritual formulae, Atharvaveda charms and folk beliefs. See vedic age.
  • Q8. The Mahajanapadas were the sixteen great states of about the sixth century BCE. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q9. Magadha rose to dominance and became the core of the first pan-Indian empire. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q10. Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) is regarded as the first Tirthankara; Mahavira was the 24th. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q11. Jainism stresses the three jewels (right faith, knowledge, conduct) and ahimsa. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q12. All three are correct: born at Lumbini, enlightened at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q13. The first sermon at Sarnath is the Dharmachakra Pravartana, the turning of the wheel of law. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q14. The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q15. Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 321 BCE, overthrowing the Nandas with Chanakya's help. See mauryan empire.
  • Q16. The Arthashastra is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), minister to Chandragupta. See mauryan empire.
  • Q17. Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador of Seleucus Nicator at the Mauryan court and wrote the Indica. See mauryan empire.
  • Q18. Both true and correctly linked: the carnage of the Kalinga War turned Ashoka towards Dhamma. See mauryan empire.
  • Q19. Most Ashokan edicts are in Brahmi script; some northwest edicts use Kharoshthi, Greek and Aramaic. See mauryan empire.
  • Q20. First Council at Rajagriha (Ajatashatru), Second at Vaishali, Third at Pataliputra (Ashoka), Fourth at Kundalvana (Kanishka). See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
  • Q21. The Lion Capital was erected at Sarnath and is now the State Emblem of India. See mauryan empire and art and architecture of india.
  • Q22. Statements 1 and 2 are correct; the Mauryas maintained a large standing army, so statement 3 is false. See mauryan empire.
  • Q23. The Harappans were among the earliest to grow cotton and weave it into textiles. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q24. The one-horned bull (often called the unicorn) is the most common motif on Harappan seals. See indus valley civilisation.
  • Q25. Both true and correctly linked: iron technology in the later Vedic age aided forest clearance and farming in the Ganga plains. See vedic age.

Cross-references

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