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History PYQ Practice: Set 02

Authored CAPF-level history MCQs (foundational to moderate) on post-Mauryan India, the Guptas, South India and ancient culture, with answer key and explanations, not verbatim PYQs

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At a glance

PaperPaper ISubjectHistory

Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. Twenty-five questions on the post-Mauryan dynasties, the Gupta Age, South India and the Sangam Age, and ancient art and architecture. Attempt closed-book, then check the key.

Questions

Q1Who founded the Kushana dynasty's most famous reign and patronised the Fourth Buddhist Council?

AKanishka
BMenander
CRudradaman
DGautamiputra Satakarni

Q2The Gandhara school of art shows a strong influence of:

APersian art
BGreco-Roman (Hellenistic) art
CChinese art
DEgyptian art

Q3The Satavahanas ruled mainly in which region?

AThe Deccan
BKashmir
CBengal
DPunjab

Q4 (statement-based). Consider the following about the Gupta Age:

Chandragupta I started the Gupta era around 320 CE.
Samudragupta is described in the Allahabad Prashasti by Harisena.
The decimal system and the concept of zero developed in this period. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q5Which Gupta ruler assumed the title "Vikramaditya" and is associated with victory over the Shakas?

ASamudragupta
BChandragupta II
CSkandagupta
DKumaragupta

Q6Aryabhata, the mathematician and astronomer, belonged to which age?

AMauryan
BGupta
CMughal
DSultanate

Q7Match List I (Scholar) with List II (Work):

AKalidasa
BAryabhata
CVarahamihira
DVishakhadatta

Aryabhatiya
Abhijnanashakuntalam
Mudrarakshasa
Brihatsamhita Codes:

(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(b) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
(c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(d) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q8The Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II was:

AHiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
BFa-Hien (Faxian)
CI-Tsing
DMegasthenes

Q9The Sangam literature was composed in which language?

ASanskrit
BPrakrit
CTamil
DPali

Q10The three major dynasties of the Sangam Age in South India were the Cheras, Cholas and:

APallavas
BPandyas
CChalukyas
DRashtrakutas

Q11The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, noted for its rust resistance, is generally dated to the:

AMauryan period
BGupta period
CMughal period
DSultanate period

Q12 (statement-based). Consider the following about the rock-cut architecture of ancient India:

The Ajanta caves are famous for Buddhist murals.
The Ellora caves include Hindu, Buddhist and Jain shrines.
The Kailasa temple at Ellora is a monolithic rock-cut structure. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q13The Nalanda University, a great centre of Buddhist learning, flourished under the patronage of which dynasty in its early growth?

AThe Mauryas
BThe Guptas
CThe Mughals
DThe Cholas

Q14 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): The Gupta Age is called the Golden Age of ancient India. Reason (R): It saw notable achievements in literature, science, art and administration.

(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

Q15Harshavardhana's reign and the visit of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang are dated to which century?

AFourth century CE
BSeventh century CE
CTenth century CE
DTwelfth century CE

Q16Which dynasty built the Kailasa temple at Ellora?

AThe Cholas
BThe Rashtrakutas
CThe Pallavas
DThe Chalukyas

Q17Match List I (Dynasty) with List II (Capital or centre):

APallavas
BCholas
CChalukyas of Badami
DPandyas

Tanjore (Thanjavur)
Kanchipuram
Madurai
Badami (Vatapi) Codes:

(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(b) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
(c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(d) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

Q18The Cholas were renowned for their:

ACave architecture only
BPowerful navy and Dravidian temple architecture
CMughal-style gardens
DStupa construction

Q19The Brihadeeswara (Brihadishvara) Temple at Thanjavur was built by:

AKrishnadevaraya
BRajaraja Chola I
CPulakesin II
DMahendravarman

Q20Which of the following is a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu?

AKathak
BBharatanatyam
COdissi
DManipuri

Q21 (statement-based). Consider the following about ancient Indian science:

Sushruta is associated with surgery.
Charaka is associated with medicine.
Brahmagupta worked on mathematics and astronomy. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q22The Sanchi Stupa, a major Buddhist monument, is located in present-day:

ABihar
BMadhya Pradesh
CUttar Pradesh
DMaharashtra

Q23The Mathura school of art is distinguished by its use of:

AGrey schist
BSpotted red sandstone
CWhite marble
DBronze only

Q24 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): The Sangam Age society had a flourishing maritime trade with the Roman world. Reason (R): Finds of Roman coins in South India and references in classical sources point to extensive Indo-Roman trade.

(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

Q25Nagara, Dravida and Vesara are the three main styles of:

AIndian painting
BIndian temple architecture
CIndian music
DIndian dance

Answer key

Reveal the answer key and full worked solutions

Q	Answer
1	(a) Kanishka
2	(b) Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) art
3	(a) The Deccan
4	(c) All three
5	(b) Chandragupta II
6	(b) Gupta
7	(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
8	(b) Fa-Hien (Faxian)
9	(c) Tamil
10	(b) Pandyas
11	(b) Gupta period
12	(c) All three
13	(b) The Guptas
14	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
15	(b) Seventh century CE
16	(b) The Rashtrakutas
17	(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
18	(b) Powerful navy and Dravidian temple architecture
19	(b) Rajaraja Chola I
20	(b) Bharatanatyam
21	(c) All three
22	(b) Madhya Pradesh
23	(b) Spotted red sandstone
24	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
25	(b) Indian temple architecture

Explanations

Q1. Kanishka, the greatest Kushana ruler, patronised the Fourth Buddhist Council and Mahayana Buddhism. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q2. The Gandhara school blended Indian themes with Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) technique. See art and architecture of india.
Q3. The Satavahanas ruled the Deccan; Gautamiputra Satakarni was a notable king. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q4. All three are correct: the Gupta era began about 320 CE, the Prashasti records Samudragupta, and the decimal system with zero developed then. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q5. Chandragupta II took the title Vikramaditya after defeating the Shakas. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q6. Aryabhata flourished in the Gupta Age. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q7. Kalidasa wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam, Aryabhata the Aryabhatiya, Varahamihira the Brihatsamhita, Vishakhadatta the Mudrarakshasa. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q8. Fa-Hien (Faxian) visited India during Chandragupta II's reign; Hiuen Tsang came later under Harsha. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q9. Sangam literature is in old Tamil. See south india and sangam age.
Q10. The three crowned kingdoms were the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. See south india and sangam age.
Q11. The Mehrauli Iron Pillar is dated to the Gupta period and praises a king Chandra. See post mauryan and gupta age and art and architecture of india.
Q12. All three are correct about Ajanta, Ellora and the monolithic Kailasa temple. See art and architecture of india.
Q13. Nalanda grew under Gupta patronage and became a major Buddhist university. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q14. Both true and correctly linked: the cultural and scientific flowering is why the Gupta Age is called golden. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q15. Harshavardhana ruled in the seventh century CE, when Hiuen Tsang visited. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q16. The Rashtrakutas built the monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora. See art and architecture of india.
Q17. Pallavas at Kanchipuram, Cholas at Thanjavur, Chalukyas at Badami, Pandyas at Madurai. See south india and sangam age.
Q18. The Cholas had a strong navy and built grand Dravidian temples. See south india and sangam age.
Q19. Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur. See south india and sangam age and art and architecture of india.
Q20. Bharatanatyam originated in Tamil Nadu. See indian music dance and painting.
Q21. All three are correct: Sushruta surgery, Charaka medicine, Brahmagupta mathematics and astronomy. See post mauryan and gupta age.
Q22. The Sanchi Stupa is in Madhya Pradesh. See art and architecture of india.
Q23. The Mathura school used spotted red sandstone. See art and architecture of india.
Q24. Both true and correctly linked: Roman coin finds and classical references confirm extensive Indo-Roman trade. See south india and sangam age.
Q25. Nagara, Dravida and Vesara are the three main temple architecture styles. See art and architecture of india.

Cross-references

Framework and honesty rule: 00 pipeline
History module index: Index
Previous set: set 01 · Next set: set 03

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