Daily Static Quiz (Ancient History) October 15, 2025
Daily Static Quiz (Ancient History) October 15, 2025
Q1. With reference to ancient Indian literature, consider the following statements:
Brahmanas are prose texts that explain the rituals and ceremonies described in the Vedas.
Aranyakas are called ‘Forest Books’ and form the transition between Brahmanas and Upanishads.
The concepts of ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’ are primarily explained in the Upanishads.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q2. The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily characterised by:
(a) Bhakti and temple worship
(b) Image worship and elaborate rituals
(c) Worship of nature and performance of Yajnas
(d) Monastic practices and asceticism
Q3. Consider the following pairs regarding the Mahajanapadas:
| Mahajanapada | Capital |
|---|---|
| 1. Vatsa | Kausambi |
| 2. Avanti | Ujjaini |
| 3. Kamboja | Taxila |
| 4. Anga | Champa |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Q4. With reference to the administrative structure of Mahajanapadas, consider the following statements:
The basic unit of settlement was the village called Grama.
All Mahajanapadas followed a monarchical system of governance.
Taxation systems were well-defined to finance the administration.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Which of the following were features of the Gana-Sangha type of Mahajanapadas?
Oligarchical system of governance
The king was elected with the help of large councils or assemblies
Comprised heads of important clans and families
Had hereditary monarchy as the primary form of governance
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. Ashokan inscriptions suggest that ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’ and ‘Yukta’ were important officers at the:
(a) Village-level administration
(b) District-level administration
(c) Provincial administration
(d) Level of the central administration
Q7. With reference to Mauryan art and architecture, consider the following statements:
The life-size standing image of Yakshini at Didarganj was made during the Mauryan period.
The Lion Capital at Sarnath was built to commemorate the Buddha’s first sermon.
Mauryan pillars were constructed in pieces by masons similar to Achaemenid pillars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q8. Which one of the following literary works mentions the love story of Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga?
(a) Swapnavasavadatta
(b) Malavikagnimitra
(c) Meghaduta
(d) Ratnavali
Q9. With reference to the post-Mauryan period, consider the following statements:
The Satavahanas followed a decentralised system of administration.
The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit, and the script was Brahmi.
The Satavahanas had a three-tier feudal system consisting of Raja, Mahabhoja, and Senapati.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q10. The Milinda Panha, an important Buddhist text, records a dialogue between which of the following?
(a) King Ashoka and Buddhist monk Upagupta
(b) King Menander I and Buddhist sage Nagasena
(c) King Kanishka and Buddhist scholar Vasumitra
(d) King Harsha and Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang
ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS
Answer 1: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct. The Brahmanas are prose texts that provide detailed explanations of rituals and ceremonies mentioned in the Vedic Samhitas. Examples include Aitareya Brahmana and Shatapatha Brahmana. The Aranyakas, meaning ‘Forest Books’, were composed for hermits and students living in forests and deal with mysticism and symbolism, forming a bridge between the ritualistic Brahmanas and philosophical Upanishads. The Upanishads are philosophical texts that primarily explore the concepts of Atman (individual soul) and Brahman (universal soul/ultimate reality), marking the transition from ritualistic religion to spiritual philosophy in Vedic tradition.
Answer 2: (c) Worship of nature and performance of Yajnas
Explanation: The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily based on the worship of natural forces and phenomena. They worshipped deities representing natural elements like Indra (thunder), Agni (fire), Varuna (rain), Vayu (wind), Prithvi (earth), and Surya (sun). Yajnas (sacrificial rituals) were performed by four priests – the hota, the adhvaryu, the udgata, and the Brahma. Bhakti movement, temple worship, and image worship came much later in Indian religious history. The early Vedic period did not have elaborate temple structures or idol worship.
Answer 3: (c) Only three
Explanation: Three pairs are correctly matched. Vatsa had its capital at Kausambi (modern Allahabad region), Avanti’s capital was Ujjaini (in Malwa and Madhya Pradesh), and Anga had its capital at Champa (in Munger and Bhagalpur region). However, Kamboja’s capital was Poonch (not Taxila), located in the Rajouri and Hazara region of Kashmir and NWFP. Gandhara Mahajanapada had Taxila as its capital. This type of question tests detailed knowledge of the 16 Mahajanapadas and their geographical locations.
Answer 4: (b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct, but statement 2 is incorrect. The basic unit of settlement in Mahajanapadas was indeed the village (Grama), and when two villages merged, it was called Sangrama. The leaders of villages were called Gamini. Taxation systems like Bali (voluntary contribution) and Bhaga (share of produce) were well-defined to support administration and military. However, not all Mahajanapadas followed monarchical systems. Some followed the Gana-Sangha or republican system with oligarchical governance, such as Vaishali, Vajji, and Malla. Others like Magadha, Kosala, and Kashi were monarchies.
Answer 5: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct features of Gana-Sanghas. These republics had an oligarchical system of governance where the king was elected with the help of large councils or assemblies comprising heads of important clans and families. Decision-making was participatory through assemblies like Sabha and Samiti. Statement 4 is incorrect because hereditary monarchy was the characteristic of monarchical Mahajanapadas (Rajyas), not Gana-Sanghas. Examples of Gana-Sanghas include Vaishali (Vajji confederation) and the Shakya republic.
Answer 6: (b) District-level administration
Explanation: According to Ashokan inscriptions, ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’, and ‘Yukta’ were important officers at the district-level administration of the Mauryan Empire. The Pradeshika was the head of the district administration, Rajukas were responsible for judicial and administrative duties including revenue collection and maintaining law and order, and Yuktas were subordinate officers who assisted in various administrative functions. This question directly appeared in UPSC Prelims 2025 and tests knowledge of Mauryan administrative structure.
Answer 7: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct, but statement 3 is incorrect. The life-size standing image of Yakshini at Didarganj (near Patna) is indeed a masterpiece of Mauryan sculptural tradition, made of highly polished sandstone. The Lion Capital at Sarnath was built by Ashoka to commemorate Dharmachakrapravartana, the Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath, and serves as India’s national emblem. However, statement 3 is incorrect because Mauryan pillars were monolithic structures carved from single pieces of rock (usually sandstone from Chunar), unlike Achaemenid pillars which were constructed in pieces by masons. This was a key distinguishing feature of Mauryan architecture.
Answer 8: (b) Malavikagnimitra
Explanation: Malavikagnimitra is a Sanskrit play written by the great poet Kalidasa that narrates the love story between King Agnimitra (son of Pushyamitra Sunga, founder of the Sunga dynasty) and Malavika, a palace maid. This play is set during the Sunga period and provides historical insights into that era. Swapnavasavadatta was written by Bhasa, Meghaduta is Kalidasa’s lyrical poem about a cloud messenger, and Ratnavali was written by King Harshavardhana. This question directly appeared in UPSC Prelims 2016 and tests knowledge of ancient Indian literature.
Answer 9: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct regarding Satavahana administration. The Satavahanas retained some Mauryan administrative features but followed a more decentralised system. The kingdom was divided into districts called Aharas, administered by Amatyas and Mahamatras. The official language was Prakrit (though Sanskrit was occasionally used), and the script was Brahmi. The Satavahanas established a three-tier feudal system: Raja (who had the right to strike coins and were the highest rank), Mahabhoja (second-rank rulers), and Senapati (military chiefs who also served as provincial governors). This feudal structure was a distinctive feature of Satavahana administration.
Answer 10: (b) King Menander I and Buddhist sage Nagasena
Explanation: The Milinda Panha (Questions of Milinda) is an important Buddhist text written between 100 BC and 200 AD. It records a philosophical dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Menander I (known as Milinda in Pali), who ruled in the 2nd century BC, and the Buddhist sage Nagasena. The text explores Buddhist philosophy through questions posed by the king and answers provided by Nagasena. At the end of the dialogue, Menander is said to have converted to Buddhism. The text is regarded as canonical in Burmese Buddhism and is an excellent example of the cultural exchange between Greek and Indian civilizations.