Previous Years Solved Questions of Ancient History of UPSC Civil (Prelims)

Previous Years Solved Questions of Ancient History of UPSC Civil (Prelims)

Previous Years Solved Questions of Ancient History of UPSC Civil (Prelims) ( Reference Book:Disha Publication)

Question No 01. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century B.C?(UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

• Kashi
• Kamboj
• Magadh
• Gandhar

Answer:Magadh

Question No 02. From  the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended  the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the:(UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

• African trade
• West-European trade
• South-East Asian trade
• Middle-Eastern trade

Answer:South-East Asian trade

Question No 03. Which one of the following ports handled the North Indian trade during the Gupta period?(UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

• Tamralipti
• Broach
• Kalyan
• Cambray

Answer:Tamralipti

Question No 04. The term Aryan denotes:    (UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

• an ethnic group
• a nomadic people
• a speech group
• a superior race

Answer:a speech group

Question No 05. The Indo-Laws Kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century B.C. was  (UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

• Zedrasia
• Bacteria
• Aria
• Scythia

Answer:Bacteria

Question No 06. Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the carlicst royal order to preserve food-grains to be utilised during the crises in the country?

(UPSC Civil prelims 1998)

• Sohgaura Copper-Plate
• Rummindei Pillar-edict of Ashoka
• Prayaga-Prasasti
• Mehrauli Pillar inscription of Chandra

Answer:Sohgaura Copper-plate

Question No 07. The following persons came to India at one time or another (UPSC Civil prelims 1999)

Fa-Hien
I-Tsing
Megasthenes
Hiuen-Tsang
The Correct chronological sequence of their visits is

• 3,1,2,4
• 3,1,4,2
• 1,3,2,4
• 1,3,4,2

Answer:3,1,4,2

Question No 08. The concept of Eight fold path forms the theme of(UPSC Civil prelims 1998)

• Dipavamsa
• Divyavadana
• Mahaparinibbana
• Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutta

Answer:Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutta

Question No 09. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?(UPSC Civil prelims 1997)

• Kharosthi
• Brahmni
• Nandnagari
• Sharada

Answer:Kharosthi

Question No 10. The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the  (UPSC Civil prelims 1997)

• Kathopanishad
• Kenopanishad
• Mundakopanishad
• Chhandogyopanishad

Answer:Kathopanishad

Question No 11. Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk(UPSC Civil prelims 1997)

• Nagasena
• Nagarjuna
• Nagabhatta
• Kumarilabhatta

Answer: Nagasena

Question No 12. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?(UPSC Civil prelims 1997)

• Kalsi
• Rummindei
• Special Kalinga Edict
• Maski

Answer: Maski

Question No 13. Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?(UPSC Civil prelims 1997)

• These are highly polished
• These are monolithic
• The shaft of pillar is tapering in shape
• These are parts of architectural structures

Answer: These are parts of architectural structures

Question No 14. Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?(UPSC Civil prelims 1996)

• Kamasutra
• Manava Dharma Shastra
• Sukra Nitisara
• Arthashastra

Answer: Arthashastra

Question No 15. The term " Apabhramsa" was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote(UPSC Civil prelims 1996)

• Outcastes among the Rajputs
• Deviations from Vedic rituals
• Early forms of some of the modem Indian Language
• non-Sanskrit verse metress

Answer: early forms of some of the modem Indian Language

Question No 16. In the context of ancient Indian society which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?(UPSC CIVIL 1996)

• Kula
• vamsa
• kosa
• Gotra

Answer: Kosa

Question No 17. Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?(UPSC CIVIL 1996)

• Saumilla
• Sudraka
• Shaunaka
• Susrutha

Answer: Susrutha

Question No 18. Which one of the following sculptures was invariably used green schist as the medium?(UPSC CIVIL 1996)

• Maurya sculptures
• Mathura sculptures
• Bharhut sculptures
• Gandhara sculptures

Answer: Gandhara sculptures

Question No 19. According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas the sequential order of the cycle of four icons (yugas) is(UPSC CIVIL 1996)

• Dvapara, Krita, Treta and Kali
• Krita, Dvapara, Treta and Kali
• Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali
• Treta, Dvapara, Kali and Krita

Answer: Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali

Question No 20. Which one of the following temples figured in the news regarding the institution of the Devadasi?(UPSC CIVIL 1996)

• Jagannath temple, Puri'
• Pashupatinath temple, Kathmandu
• Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho
• Chausath Yogini temple, Bhedaghat

Answer:Jagannath temple, puri

Question No 21. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period women and Sudras speak(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• Sanskrit
• Prakrit
• Pali
• Sauraseni

Answer:Prakrit

Question No 22. The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to his inscriptions is(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• Chakravarti
• Dharmadeva
• Dharmakirti
• Priyadarshi

Answer:Priyadarshi

Question No 23. The term Yavanapriya mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts denoted(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• a fine variety of India Muslims
• Ivory
• damsels sent to the Greek court for dance performance
• Pepper

Answer: pepper

Question No 24. The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• Mahayana Buddhism
• Hinayana Buddhism
• Jainism
• The Lokayata School

Answer: Jainism

Question No 25. The word Hindu as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• the Greeks
• the Romans
• the Chinese
• the Arabs

Answer: the Arabs

Question No 26. Who among the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?(UPSC CIVIL 1995)

• Lopamudra
• Gargi
• Leelavati
• Savitri

Answer: Lopamudra
For Previous Year's Solved Questions of Ancient History Series Two UPSC, Click Here.