Ancient History and Art & Culture Question and Answer: Part 1
UPSC History and Culture Preliminary Question with Answers (2023-2017) Part 1
UPSC History and Culture Preliminary Question with Answers (2016-2011) Part 2
2023
1. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?
(a) Andhra
(b) Gandhara
(c) Kalinga
(d) Magadha
Answer:
(a) Andhra
2. With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements :
- The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.
- Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
- Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer:
(b) Only two
3. With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
(a) capital cities
(b) ports
(c) centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer:
(b) ports
4. Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?
(a) Kings employing women body guards
(b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
(c) Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals
(d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
Answer:
(d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
5. With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs :
Literary work : Author
- Deuichandragupta : Bilhana
- Hammira-Mahakauya : Nayachandra Suri
- Milinda-panha : Nagatjuna
- Nitiuakyamrita : Somadeva Suri
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer:
(c) Only three
6. “Souls are not only the property ‘of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and· many other natural objects not looked ‘on as living by other religious sects.”
The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Shaivism
(d) Vaishnavism
Answer:
(b) Jainism
7. Consider the following pairs :
Site – Well known for
- Besnagar: Shaivite cave shrine
- Bhaja: Buddhist cave shrine
- Sittanavasal: Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
Answer:
(b) Only two
8. Consider the following dynasties:
- Hoysala
- Gahadavala
- Kakatiya
- Yadava
How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) None
Answer:
(d) None
9. Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and canalcum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?
(a) Devaraya I
(b) Mallikarjuna
(c) Vira Vijaya
(d) Virupaksha
Answer:
(a) Devaraya I
2022
1. According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?
- A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
- If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
- If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:
Historical person Known as
- Aryadeva Jaina scholar
- Dignaga Buddhist scholar
- Nathamuni Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) None of the pairs
(b) Only one pair
(c) Only two pairs
(d) All three pairs
Answer:
(c) Only two pairs
3. With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:
- Nettipakarana
- Parishishtaparvan
- Avadanashataka
- Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts
(a) 1,2 and 3
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1,3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Answer:
(b) 2 and 4 only
4. Consider the following pairs:
Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts Location in the State of
- Dhauli Odisha
- Erragudi Andhra Pradesh
- Jaugada Madhya Pradesh
- Kalsi Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Answer:
(b) Only two pairs
5. Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?
(a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
(b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
(c) Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
(d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.
Answer:
(b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
6. The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
- Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
- A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
- Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Answer:
(a) 1 and 2 only
7. The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
(a) The best means of salvation was devotion.
(b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
(c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss
(d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.
Answer:
(a) The best means of salvation was devotion.
8. “Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
(a) Akbar
(b) Humayun
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer:
(a) Akbar
2021
1. Which one of the following ancient towns is well known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar
Answer:
(a) Dholavira
2. 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 of Malwa
(3) The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
(4) The Maukharis of Kanauj
(5) The Yadavas of Devagiri
(6) The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 5 and 6
Answer:
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
3. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(1) Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
(2) In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim the right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim the right to the property.
(3) The Mitakshara system deals with matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer:
(b) 2 only
4. With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous
(a) Jain monks
(b) playwrights
(c) temple architects
(d) philosophers
Answer:
(b) playwrights
5. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:
(1) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
(2) It is the only circular temple built in India.
(3) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
(4) Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Answer:
(c) 1 and 4
6. Consider the following pairs:
| Historical place | Well-known for |
| (1) Burzahom | Rock-cut shrines |
| (2) Chandraketugarh | Terracotta art |
| (3) Ganeshwar | Copper artefacts |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer:
(d) 2 and 3
7. Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora river.
(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of the Chambal river.
(c) Pandu – lena cave shrines lie in the gorge of the Narmada river.
(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of the Godavari river.
Answer:
(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora river.
8. Consider the following statements:
(1) 21st February is declared to be International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
(2) The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer:
(b) 2 only
9. With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to
(a) dance forms of Northwest India
(b) musical instruments
(c) pre-historic cave paintings
(d) tribal languages
Answer:
(d) tribal languages
2020
1. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?
(a) An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
(b) A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
(c) A bill of exchange
(d) An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates
Answer:
(c) A bill of exchange
2. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?
“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”
(a) Ashoka
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Harshavardhana
(a) Krishnadeva Raya
Answer:
(a) Ashoka
3. With reference to the period of the Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as
(a) ports handling foreign trade
(b) capitals of powerful kingdoms
(c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture
(d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres
Answer:
(a) ports handling foreign trade
4. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism
- Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism
- The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(b) 2 and 3 only
5. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:
- Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
- Shramana — Priest with a high status
- Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(b) 1 and 3 only
6. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’?
(a) The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
(b) Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
(c) Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
(d) Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India
Answer:
(c) Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
7. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
| Famous Place | Present State | ||
| 1. | Bhilsa | – | Madhya Pradesh |
| 2. | Dwarasamudra | – | Maharashtra |
| 3. | Girinagar | – | Gujarat |
| 4. | Sthanesvara | – | Uttar Pradesh |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 4 only
Answer:
(a) 1 and 3 only
8. Consider the following events in the history of India:
- Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
- Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I
- Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I
- Pala dynasty founded by Gopala
What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?
(a) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3
(b) 3 – 1 – 4 – 2
(c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3
(d) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2
Answer:
(c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3
9. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
| 1. | Aurang | – | In-charge of treasury of the State |
| 2. | Banian | – | Indian agent of the East India Company |
| 3. | Mirasidar | – | Designated revenue payer to the State |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(b) 2 and 3 only
10. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:
- Panini is associated with Pushyamitra
- Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana
- Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(c) 3 only
11. With reference to the history of India, the terms ‘kulyavapa’ and ‘dronavapa’ denote
(a) measurement of land
(b) coins of different monetary value
(c) classification of urban land
(d) religious rituals
Answer:
(a) measurement of land
2019
1. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
(a) Chanhudaro
(b) Kot Diji
(c) Sohgaura
(d) Desalpur
Answer:
(c) Sohgaura
2. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
(a) Kanganahalli
(b) Sanchi
(c) Shahbazagrhi
(d) Sohgaura
Answer:
(a) Kanganahalli
3. Consider the following:
1.Deification of the Buddha
2.Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3.Image worship and rituals
Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(d) 1, 2 and 3
4. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of
(a) Chalukya
(b) Chandela
(c) Rashtrakuta
(d) Vijayanagara
Answer:
(d) Vijayanagara
5. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
(c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.
Answer:
(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
2018
1. Consider the following pairs:
Tradition State
1. Chapchar Kut Festival — Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur
3. Thang-Ta Dance — Sikkim
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3
Answer:
(b) 1 and 2
2. With reference to culture history of India,consider the following statements:
- Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
- Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
- Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
- Annamacharya kirtnas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venketshwara.
Which of the statement is given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Answer:
(b) 2 and 4 only
3. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:
- White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
- Red Sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. With reference to the Indian History, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
(a) Avalokiteshvara
(b) Lokesvara
(c) Maitreya
(d) Padmapani
Answer:
(c) Maitreya
5. The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the
(a) Bundi school
(b) Jaipur school
(c) Kangra school
(d) Kishangarh school
Answer:
(d) Kishangarh school
6. With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to
(a) Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Vaishnavism
(d) Shaivism
Answer:
(b) Jainism
2017
7. With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
- Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(c) 1 and 3 only
8. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer:
(b) 2 only
9. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom?
(a) Kakinada
(b) Motupalli
(c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
(d) Nelluru
Answer:
(b) Motupalli
10. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at:
(a) Ajanta
(b) Badami
(c) Bagh
(d) Ellora
Answer:
(a) Ajanta
11. Consider the following pairs:
| Traditions | Communities | |
| 1 | Chaliha Sahib Festival | Sindhis |
| 2 | Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra | Gonds |
| 3 | Wari-Warkari | Santhals |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(a) 1 only
12. Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
- Arasavalli
- Amarakantak
- Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(a) 1 only
13. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:
- It is a song and dance performance.
- Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
- It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only
Answer:
(b) 1 and 3 only
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