Ancient Indian History MCQs with Answers and Explanations for UPSC Aspirants

1. Who is known as the founder of the Maurya Empire?
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Bindusara
D. Bimbisara
✅ Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire in 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya.

2. The Harappan civilization was discovered in which year?
A. 1921
B. 1935
C. 1911
D. 1947
✅ Answer: A. 1921
Explanation: The Harappan Civilization was discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni in Punjab (now in Pakistan).

3. The Vedas are written in which language?
A. Prakrit
B. Pali
C. Sanskrit
D. Hindi
✅ Answer: C. Sanskrit
Explanation: The Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, are composed in Vedic Sanskrit.

4. The Great Bath has been discovered from which Harappan site?
A. Mohenjo-Daro
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Kalibangan
✅ Answer: A. Mohenjo-Daro
Explanation: The Great Bath, a significant public structure, was discovered in Mohenjo-Daro.

5. Which ruler is associated with the spread of Jainism in Karnataka?
A. Ashoka
B. Kharavela
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Harsha
✅ Answer: C. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya is believed to have embraced Jainism and migrated to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.

6. Which is the earliest known civilization in India?
A. Vedic Civilization
B. Indus Valley Civilization
C. Mauryan Empire
D. Gupta Empire
✅ Answer: B. Indus Valley Civilization
Explanation: The Indus Valley Civilization is considered the earliest urban civilization in the Indian subcontinent.

7. Who was the author of Arthashastra?
A. Megasthenes
B. Kautilya (Chanakya)
C. Kalidasa
D. Banabhatta
✅ Answer: B. Kautilya (Chanakya)
Explanation: Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy authored by Kautilya.

8. Which of the following was a port city of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A. Kalibangan
B. Banawali
C. Lothal
D. Dholavira
✅ Answer: C. Lothal
Explanation: Lothal, located in present-day Gujarat, was a significant port city of the Indus Valley Civilization.

9. Who was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty?
A. Ashoka
B. Bindusara
C. Brihadratha
D. Dasaratha
✅ Answer: C. Brihadratha
Explanation: Brihadratha was killed by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, marking the end of the Maurya dynasty.

10. The Rigveda is primarily a collection of?
A. Stories
B. Philosophical discourses
C. Hymns
D. Laws
✅ Answer: C. Hymns
Explanation: The Rigveda contains over 1,000 hymns dedicated to various Vedic deities.

11. The term ‘Veda’ means?
A. Knowledge
B. Truth
C. Wisdom
D. Power
✅ Answer: A. Knowledge
Explanation: ‘Veda’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘vid’ meaning knowledge.

12. Who was the first ruler to unify most of the Indian subcontinent?
A. Ashoka
B. Harshavardhana
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Samudragupta
✅ Answer: C. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Under the Mauryan Empire, most of the Indian subcontinent was unified for the first time.

13. Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador to the court of?
A. Ashoka
B. Harshavardhana
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Samudragupta
✅ Answer: C. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Megasthenes visited India during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya and wrote ‘Indica’.

14. The famous university of ancient India ‘Nalanda’ was located in which state?
A. Bihar
B. Odisha
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Uttar Pradesh
✅ Answer: A. Bihar
Explanation: Nalanda University was a renowned centre of learning in ancient Bihar.

15. The Gupta period is often referred to as the?
A. Iron Age of India
B. Bronze Age of India
C. Golden Age of India
D. Dark Age of India
✅ Answer: C. Golden Age of India
Explanation: The Gupta period witnessed major achievements in science, literature, and arts.

16. Who was the author of the Sanskrit epic ‘Ramayana’?
A. Valmiki
B. Ved Vyasa
C. Kalidasa
D. Tulsidas
✅ Answer: A. Valmiki
Explanation: Valmiki is traditionally regarded as the author of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana.

17. Which Gupta ruler is known for his military conquests and the title ‘Indian Napoleon’?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Skandagupta
C. Samudragupta
D. Kumaragupta
✅ Answer: C. Samudragupta
Explanation: Samudragupta’s extensive conquests earned him the title of the ‘Napoleon of India’.

18. The famous ancient university of Takshashila was located in which modern country?
A. India
B. Afghanistan
C. Pakistan
D. Nepal
✅ Answer: C. Pakistan
Explanation: The ancient university of Takshashila is located in modern-day Pakistan.

19. The Ajanta Caves are mainly known for?
A. Sculptures
B. Paintings
C. Architecture
D. Stupas
✅ Answer: B. Paintings
Explanation: The Ajanta Caves are famous for their magnificent murals and Buddhist paintings.

20. Who among the following was the founder of Buddhism?
A. Mahavira
B. Nagarjuna
C. Gautama Buddha
D. Asanga
✅ Answer: C. Gautama Buddha
Explanation: Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, founded Buddhism in the 6th century BCE.

21. The rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram were built under which dynasty?
A. Maurya
B. Chola
C. Gupta
D. Pallava
✅ Answer: D. Pallava
Explanation: The Pallava dynasty was responsible for the creation of the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram.

22. In which language were the Buddhist texts of the early period written?
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Prakrit
D. Tamil
✅ Answer: B. Pali
Explanation: Early Buddhist scriptures were written in Pali.

23. Which Mauryan ruler sent Buddhist missionaries to foreign countries?
A. Bindusara
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Ashoka
D. Dasharatha
✅ Answer: C. Ashoka
Explanation: Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

24. The Indus Valley people worshipped which animal most frequently?
A. Tiger
B. Lion
C. Bull
D. Elephant
✅ Answer: C. Bull
Explanation: The bull was prominently featured in seals and artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization.

25. The term ‘Upanishad’ means?
A. Rituals
B. Sitting near
C. Forest Text
D. Secret
✅ Answer: B. Sitting near
Explanation: ‘Upanishad’ literally means sitting near a teacher to gain knowledge.

26. Who was the founder of the Nanda dynasty?
A. Mahapadma Nanda
B. Dhana Nanda
C. Bimbisara
D. Ajatashatru
✅ Answer: A. Mahapadma Nanda
Explanation: Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda dynasty in Magadha.

27. What was the main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A. Hunting
B. Agriculture
C. Trade
D. Fishing
✅ Answer: B. Agriculture
Explanation: Agriculture, especially wheat and barley cultivation, was the main occupation.

28. Ashoka’s inscriptions were written in which script?
A. Devanagari
B. Brahmi
C. Kharosthi
D. Tamil-Brahmi
✅ Answer: B. Brahmi
Explanation: Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were written in Brahmi script.

29. The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli in Delhi is believed to have been erected during the reign of?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Chandragupta I
D. Chandragupta II
✅ Answer: D. Chandragupta II
Explanation: The Iron Pillar is attributed to the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.

30. The ancient port city of ‘Puhar’ was located in which modern Indian state?
A. Kerala
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Odisha
✅ Answer: B. Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Puhar was an important Chola port on the east coast of Tamil Nadu.

31. Sangam literature is associated with which language?
A. Sanskrit
B. Telugu
C. Tamil
D. Kannada
✅ Answer: C. Tamil
Explanation: Sangam literature is the earliest known literature in Tamil.

32. Which ancient Indian king is known for his support of Jainism and renunciation of throne?
A. Bindusara
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Ashoka
D. Harsha
✅ Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: He renounced his throne and embraced Jainism.

33. The concept of ‘Trimurti’ in Hinduism includes Brahma, Vishnu, and…?
A. Krishna
B. Indra
C. Shiva
D. Agni
✅ Answer: C. Shiva
Explanation: Trimurti represents the three main deities—Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).

34. The ‘Bimbisara’ belonged to which dynasty?
A. Nanda
B. Maurya
C. Shunga
D. Haryanka
✅ Answer: D. Haryanka
Explanation: Bimbisara was the founder of the Haryanka dynasty.

35. Who was the last great ruler of the Maurya dynasty?
A. Bindusara
B. Dasharatha
C. Ashoka
D. Brihadratha
✅ Answer: C. Ashoka
Explanation: Ashoka was the most notable and last powerful ruler of the Maurya dynasty.

36. The term ‘Saptarishi’ refers to?
A. Seven rivers
B. Seven sages
C. Seven cities
D. Seven mountains
✅ Answer: B. Seven sages
Explanation: ‘Saptarishi’ means the seven great sages in Hindu tradition.

37. Which king convened the 3rd Buddhist Council?
A. Ajatashatru
B. Ashoka
C. Harsha
D. Kanishka
✅ Answer: B. Ashoka
Explanation: The 3rd Buddhist Council was convened by Ashoka at Pataliputra.

38. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidasa lived during which dynasty?
A. Maurya
B. Nanda
C. Gupta
D. Shunga
✅ Answer: C. Gupta
Explanation: Kalidasa was a classical Sanskrit poet of the Gupta era.

39. The term ‘Moksha’ in Hinduism signifies?
A. Birth
B. Death
C. Liberation
D. Duty
✅ Answer: C. Liberation
Explanation: Moksha refers to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

40. The coins of which ruler depicted images of deities from different religions?
A. Ashoka
B. Harsha
C. Kanishka
D. Samudragupta
✅ Answer: C. Kanishka
Explanation: Kanishka’s coins depicted Buddhist, Hindu, and Iranian deities.

41. Which of the following was a prominent female philosopher of the Rigvedic period?
A. Gargi
B. Maitreyi
C. Apala
D. All of the above
✅ Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: Gargi, Maitreyi, and Apala were well-known women scholars of the Vedic period.

42. The earliest evidence of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent has been found at?
A. Mehrgarh
B. Harappa
C. Kalibangan
D. Mohenjo-Daro
✅ Answer: A. Mehrgarh
Explanation: Mehrgarh provides the earliest evidence of farming and herding.

43. What is the meaning of ‘Tripitaka’?
A. Three jewels
B. Three cities
C. Three baskets of knowledge
D. Three monks
✅ Answer: C. Three baskets of knowledge
Explanation: Tripitaka refers to the three canonical texts of Buddhism.

44. Who was the most famous ruler of the Satavahana dynasty?
A. Simuka
B. Gautamiputra Satakarni
C. Pulumavi
D. Vasishthiputra
✅ Answer: B. Gautamiputra Satakarni
Explanation: He is credited with restoring the Satavahana power and defeating the Sakas.

45. The ‘Charaka Samhita’ is associated with which field?
A. Astronomy
B. Ayurveda
C. Architecture
D. Law
✅ Answer: B. Ayurveda
Explanation: Charaka Samhita is one of the foundational texts of ancient Indian medicine.

46. Who is considered the first grammarian of Sanskrit?
A. Valmiki
B. Panini
C. Kalidasa
D. Bharata
✅ Answer: B. Panini
Explanation: Panini authored ‘Ashtadhyayi’, a treatise on Sanskrit grammar.

47. The city of Pataliputra was situated on the bank of which river?
A. Ganga
B. Yamuna
C. Saraswati
D. Krishna
✅ Answer: A. Ganga
Explanation: Ancient Pataliputra was located on the banks of the Ganga river.

48. Which empire’s official emblem was the lion capital of Ashoka?
A. Gupta Empire
B. Maurya Empire
C. Nanda Empire
D. Satavahana Empire
✅ Answer: B. Maurya Empire
Explanation: The lion capital erected by Ashoka at Sarnath is India’s national emblem.

49. The famous Buddhist site Sanchi is located in which Indian state?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Bihar
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Odisha
✅ Answer: C. Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: Sanchi is renowned for its stupas and is located in Madhya Pradesh.

50. Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism was due to which war?
A. Kalinga War
B. Third Battle of Panipat
C. First Battle of Tarain
D. Battle of Kurukshetra
✅ Answer: A. Kalinga War
Explanation: The massive bloodshed in the Kalinga War moved Ashoka to embrace Buddhism.