Followings are best selective Objective Type Questions on Ancient Indian History for Competitive exam as a part of general studies or general knowledge. These questions will help you to recall knowledge for best performance in upcoming competitive examination 2023.
Ancient India, 50 multiple choice questions (MCQs) on ancient Indian history that can be supportive for examination.
1. Who is considered the founder of the Maurya Empire?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Ashoka
c) Bindusara
d) Kautilya
Ans. a) Chandragupta Maurya
2. The ancient Indian text, Arthashastra, is attributed to:
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Ashoka
c) Kautilya
d) Chanakya
Ans. c) Kautilya
3. The Indus Valley Civilization was primarily located in what modern-day countries?
a) India and Nepal
b) India and Pakistan
c) India and Bangladesh
d) India and Sri Lanka
4. What is the primary source of information about the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Vedas
b) Upanishads
c) Rigveda
d) Archaeological excavations
5. The ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro was located in which modern-day country?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Afghanistan
d) Nepal
6. The concept of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) was closely associated with which ancient Indian leader?
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Mahavira
d) Gautama Buddha
7. Which ancient Indian epic poem tells the story of the prince Rama?
a) Ramayana
b) Mahabharata
c) Bhagavad Gita
d) Arthashastra
8. The sacred text of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita, is a part of which larger epic?
a) Mahabharata
b) Ramayana
c) Rigveda
d) Upanishads
9. The practice of Yoga is closely associated with which ancient Indian text?
a) Bhagavad Gita b) Upanishads c) Yoga Sutras d) Manusmriti
10. The founder of Buddhism is:
a) Ashoka b) Chandragupta Maurya c) Mahavira d) Gautama Buddha
11. What is the term for the Buddhist community of monks and nuns?
a) Bhikshus b) Sangha c) Samsara d) Dharma
12. The first Buddhist council was held at:
a) Sarnath b) Rajgir c) Lumbini d) Bodh Gaya
13. The ancient city of Varanasi (Banaras) is closely associated with which river?
a) Ganges b) Yamuna c) Saraswati d) Brahmaputra
14. The concept of ‘Dharma’ in ancient India is associated with:
a) Buddhism b) Jainism c) Hinduism d) Sikhism
15. The ancient Mauryan capital, Pataliputra, is located in present-day:
a) Delhi b) Patna c) Kolkata d) Mumbai
16. The rock-cut architecture at Ajanta and Ellora caves is primarily related to which religion?
a) Hinduism b) Buddhism c) Jainism d) Sikhism
17. The ancient university of Nalanda was a center for the study of:
a) Science and mathematics b) Medicine c) Buddhism and philosophy d) Art and music
18. The famous Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath contains edicts in which language?
a) Sanskrit b) Pali c) Prakrit d) Mauryan
19. The author of the ancient Indian medical treatise, Sushruta Samhita, is:
a) Charaka b) Sushruta c) Dhanvantari d) Vagbhata
20. The ancient practice of “Sati” involved:
a) Worship of the sun god b) Self-immolation of widows on their husband’s funeral pyre c) Fasting for religious purity d) Meditation and yoga
21. The famous ruler Harsha Vardhana belonged to which dynasty?
a) Maurya b) Gupta c) Chola d) Mughal
22. The famous Iron Pillar of Delhi, dating back to the Gupta period, is made of which metal?
a) Iron b) Gold c) Copper d) Bronze
23. The “Golden Age of India” is associated with which dynasty?
a) Maurya b) Gupta c) Chola d) Kushan
24. The Kailasa Temple at Ellora is primarily dedicated to which deity?
a) Vishnu b) Shiva c) Durga d) Brahma
25. The Chola dynasty is known for its achievements in which field?
a) Literature b) Architecture c) Mathematics d) Maritime trade
26. The famous rock-cut temples of Badami and Aihole are located in which Indian state?
a) Tamil Nadu b) Karnataka c) Andhra Pradesh d) Maharashtra
27. The currency used during the Gupta Empire was:
a) Rupee b) Rupiya c) Dinar d) Tanka
28. Who is considered the father of Indian mathematics and authored the treatise “Aryabhatiya”?
a) Aryabhata b) Brahmagupta c) Bhaskara I d) Varahamihira
29. The concept of “Zero” (0) was developed by Indian mathematicians and is attributed to:
a) Aryabhata b) Brahmagupta c) Bhaskara I d) Varahamihira
30. The term “Jina” is associated with which religious tradition?
a) Buddhism b) Jainism c) Hinduism d) Sikhism
31. The first woman Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, belonged to which political party?
a) Indian National Congress b) Bharatiya Janata Party c) Communist Party of India d) Janata Dal
32. The ancient Indian art of “Natyashastra” is primarily concerned with:
a) Dance and music b) Architecture c) Sculpture d) Poetry
33. The author of the “Natyashastra” is traditionally believed to be:
a) Kalidasa b) Panini c) Bharata d) Bhasa
34. Which Mughal emperor is known for his policy of religious tolerance and the construction of the Taj Mahal?
a) Akbar b) Jahangir c) Shah Jahan d) Aurangzeb
35. The Qutub Minar in Delhi was built by which ruler?
a) Akbar b) Shah Jahan c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak d) Babur
36. The famous battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between:
a) Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi b) Akbar and Hemu c) Sher Shah Suri and Humayun d) Jahangir and Rana Pratap
37. The ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, is based on the teachings of:
a) Charaka b) Sushruta c) Hippocrates d) Galen
38. The “Puranas” are a genre of ancient Indian texts primarily concerned with:
a) Mythology, history, and cosmology b) Philosophy and ethics c) Mathematics and astronomy d) Political science
39. The ancient text “Manusmriti” is primarily concerned with:
a) Medicine b) Law and social order c) Philosophy d) Poetry
40. The famous ancient observatory known as “Jantar Mantar” is located in which Indian city?
a) Jaipur b) Delhi c) Varanasi d) Ujjain
41. The Mughal Empire reached its zenith under the rule of:
a) Akbar b) Aurangzeb c) Shah Jahan d) Jahangir
42. Who was the founder of the Sikh religion?
a) Guru Nanak b) Guru Gobind Singh c) Guru Tegh Bahadur d) Guru Arjan Dev
43. The sacred scripture of Sikhism is called:
a) Bhagavad Gita b) Quran c) Guru Granth Sahib d) Vedas
44. The architectural style of the Khajuraho Temples is primarily:
a) Dravidian b) Nagara c) Vesara d) Indo-Aryan
45. The famous “Dandi March” led by Mahatma Gandhi was a protest against:
a) The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre b) The Salt Act c) The partition of India d) The imposition of martial law
46. The “Harappan” script is primarily written from:
a) Left to right b) Right to left c) Top to bottom d) Bottom to top
47. The “Stupa” is a prominent architectural feature in which religion?
a) Hinduism b) Buddhism c) Jainism d) Sikhism
48. The Gupta Empire is often described as the “Golden Age of India.” Which century did it primarily rule in?
a) 2nd century CE b) 4th to 6th century CE c) 8th century CE d) 10th century CE
49. The “Battle of Plassey” in 1757 was a significant event in Indian history. It marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India. It was fought between the British East India Company and the forces of which Indian ruler?
a) Tipu Sultan b) Siraj-ud-Daulah c) Rani Lakshmibai d) Bahadur Shah II
50. The Mauryan Empire was divided into several provinces known as:
a) Janapadas b) Mahajanapadas c) Ashramas d) Parganas
51. Who was the first woman to become the Prime Minister of India?
a) Indira Gandhi b) Sonia Gandhi c) Jayalalithaa d) Mayawati
52. What is the name of the ancient Indian musical scale system that divides the octave into 22 shrutis (microtones)?
a) Raga b) Tala c) Swara d) Sruti
53. The famous Indian festival of Diwali is primarily associated with which religion?
a) Hinduism b) Buddhism c) Jainism d) Sikhism
54. The ancient Indian numeral system, which introduced the concept of zero, is known as:
a) Roman numerals b) Babylonian numerals c) Arabic numerals d) Indian numerals
55. The “Red Fort” in Delhi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built during the reign of which Mughal emperor?
a) Akbar b) Aurangzeb c) Shah Jahan d) Babur
56. Who composed the Indian national song “Vande Mataram”?
a) Rabindranath Tagore b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay c) Sarojini Naidu d) Lala Lajpat Rai
57. The “Indian Rebellion of 1857” against British rule is often referred to as:
a) The Sepoy Mutiny b) The Indian Civil War c) The War of Independence d) The Quit India Movement
58. The Kalinga War, which had a profound impact on Emperor Ashoka, was fought in modern-day:
a) Bengal b) Orissa (Odisha) c) Punjab d) Madhya Pradesh
59. In ancient Indian history, ancient Indian text “Kamasutra” is primarily concerned with:
a) Philosophy and ethics b) Astronomy and mathematics c) Art of love and relationships d) Yoga and meditation
60. The “Bhakti” and “Sufi” movements in India emphasized:
a) Rituals and ceremonies b) Devotion and love for God c) Asceticism and penance d) Military conquest
61. The famous Ashoka Pillar at Sanchi has which animal at its top?
a) Bull b) Lion c) Elephant d) Horse
62. The Gupta Empire is known for its contributions to which field of science?
a) Mathematics b) Chemistry c) Astronomy d) Medicine
63. The “Rigveda” is one of the oldest texts in the world and is a part of which group of ancient Indian texts?
a) Upanishads b) Vedas c) Puranas d) Dharma Shastras
64. Who is regarde d as the father of Indian space research and the founder of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)?
a) Vikram Sarabhai b) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam c) Satish Dhawan d) C.V. Raman
Ancient Indian History MCQ with Answer
Answer of the above questions on Ancient Indian history is available below according to the numeric align.
- a) Chandragupta Maurya
- c) Kautilya
- b) India and Pakistan
- d) Archaeological excavations
- b) Pakistan
- c) Mahavira
- a) Ramayana
- a) Mahabharata
- c) Yoga Sutras
- d) Gautama Buddha
- b) Sangha
- b) Rajgir
- a) Ganges
- c) Hinduism
- b) Patna
- b) Buddhism
- c) Buddhism and philosophy
- b) Pali
- b) Sushruta
- b) Self-immolation of widows on their husband’s funeral pyre
- b) Gupta
- a) Iron
- b) Gupta
- b) Shiva
- d) Maritime trade
- b) Karnataka
- b) Rupiya
- a) Aryabhata
- b) Brahmagupta
- b) Jainism
- a) Indian National Congress
- a) Dance and music
- c) Bharata
- c) Shah Jahan
- c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
- a) Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi
- c) Hippocrates
- a) Mythology, history, and cosmology
- b) Law and social order
- a) Jaipur
- a) Akbar
- a) Guru Nanak
- c) Guru Granth Sahib
- b) Nagara
- b) The Salt Act
- b) Right to left
- b) Buddhism
- b) 4th to 6th century CE
- a) Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi
- b) Mahajanapadas
- a) Indira Gandhi
- d) Sruti
- a) Hinduism
- d) Indian numerals
- c) Shah Jahan
- b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
- a) The Sepoy Mutiny
- b) Orissa (Odisha)
- c) Art of love and relationships
- b) Devotion and love for God
- b) Lion
- a) Mathematics
- b) Vedas
- a) Vikram Sarabhai