SSC CGL - Ancient India Online Test (MCQ Quiz)

1. The earliest evidence of settled agriculture in the Indian subcontinent is found at:

A) Mehrgarh B) Kalibangan C) Harappa D) Mohenjo-daro

2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A) Urban planning B) Bronze metallurgy C) Horse domestication D) Sealed pottery

3. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro was likely used for:

A) Public recreation B) Ritualistic bathing C) Grain storage D) Water supply

4. The script used in the Indus Valley Civilization is:

A) Brahmi B) Kharosthi C) Undeciphered pictographic script D) Sanskrit

5. Which archaeological site revealed evidence of horse remains during the Indus Valley Civilization period?

A) Lothal B) Surkotada C) Dholavira D) Rakhigarhi

6. The Vedic period is generally dated from:

A) 1500 BCE to 500 BCE B) 2500 BCE to 1900 BCE C) 600 BCE to 200 BCE D) 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE

7. The earliest Veda is:

A) Samaveda B) Rigveda C) Yajurveda D) Atharvaveda

8. In the Rigvedic society, the 'Varna' system was primarily based on:

A) Birth B) Occupation C) Wealth D) Education

9. The term 'Janapada' in ancient Indian history refers to:

A) A tribal assembly B) A kingdom or territory C) A religious ritual D) A type of currency

10. Who is considered the founder of Jainism?

A) Mahavira B) Rishabhanatha C) Parshvanatha D) Ajitanatha

11. The first Tirthankara of Jainism was:

A) Mahavira B) Rishabhanatha C) Parshvanatha D) Neminatha

12. The 'Shatdarshanas' or six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy were codified during which period?

A) Vedic Period B) Post-Vedic Period C) Gupta Period D) Mauryan Period

13. Which of the following Upanishads contains the famous saying 'Satyameva Jayate'?

A) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad B) Chandogya Upanishad C) Mundaka Upanishad D) Mandukya Upanishad

14. The Buddha delivered his first sermon at:

A) Bodh Gaya B) Sarnath C) Rajgir D) Vaishali

15. The Four Noble Truths are central to which religion?

A) Jainism B) Buddhism C) Hinduism D) Sikhism

16. The Mauryan Empire was founded by:

A) Ashoka B) Bindusara C) Chandragupta Maurya D) Samudragupta

17. Who was the author of 'Arthashastra', a treatise on statecraft and economics?

A) Kautilya (Chanakya) B) Megasthenes C) Kalidasa D) Vishakhadatta

18. The edicts of Ashoka were primarily inscribed on:

A) Copper plates B) Parchment C) Stone pillars and rocks D) Clay tablets

19. The Third Buddhist Council was held during the reign of:

A) Kanishka B) Ashoka C) Ajatashatru D) Bimbisara

20. Which Mauryan ruler adopted Buddhism and spread its message?

A) Chandragupta Maurya B) Bindusara C) Ashoka D) Dasharatha

21. The capital of the Magadha kingdom was initially:

A) Pataliputra B) Rajgir (Girivraja) C) Ujjain D) Taxila

22. The Sunga dynasty came to power after overthrowing which dynasty?

A) Mauryan Dynasty B) Kushana Dynasty C) Gupta Dynasty D) Nanda Dynasty

23. The famous Gandhara school of art flourished during the reign of which dynasty?

A) Mauryan B) Gupta C) Kushana D) Satavahana

24. Kanishka, the great patron of Buddhism and art, belonged to which dynasty?

A) Shaka B) Kushana C) Indo-Greek D) Gupta

25. The Gupta period is often referred to as the:

A) Age of Imperialism B) Golden Age of India C) Vedic Era D) Sultanate Period

26. Who is considered the 'Napoleon of India' for his military conquests during the Gupta period?

A) Chandragupta I B) Chandragupta II C) Samudragupta D) Skandagupta

27. The famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of:

A) Chandragupta Maurya B) Ashoka C) Harshavardhana D) Samudragupta

28. The Iron Pillar of Delhi, with its remarkable resistance to rust, belongs to the:

A) Mauryan period B) Gupta period C) Kushana period D) Post-Gupta period

29. The Ajanta Caves, famous for their murals, depict scenes from:

A) Jataka Tales B) Ramayana C) Mahabharata D) Vedic rituals

30. Which king is associated with the famous inscription at the Hathigumpha cave?

A) Ashoka B) Kanishka C) Kharavela D) Samudragupta

31. The Sangam literature, a collection of ancient Tamil poetry, provides valuable insights into the:

A) Vedic society B) Early Chola, Chera, and Pandya kingdoms C) Gupta administration D) Buddhist monasteries

32. The earliest known Tamil inscriptions belong to the period:

A) 1st Century BCE to 3rd Century CE B) 5th Century BCE to 2nd Century BCE C) 8th Century CE to 10th Century CE D) 1st Century CE to 3rd Century CE

33. The Chalukya dynasty is known for its patronage of architecture, particularly at:

A) Ellora B) Ajanta C) Aihole and Pattadakal D) Mahabalipuram

34. The Pallava dynasty, known for its rock-cut temples, had its capital at:

A) Madurai B) Thanjavur C) Kanchipuram D) Vengi

35. The Rashtrakuta dynasty's most famous architectural achievement is:

A) The Sun Temple at Konark B) The Kailasa Temple at Ellora C) The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur D) The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai

36. Which ancient Indian text describes the concept of 'Purusharthas' (goals of human life)?

A) Rigveda B) Upanishads C) Mahabharata D) Arthashastra

37. The 'Bhakti movement' originated in ancient India with the teachings of:

A) Alvars and Nayanars B) Buddha and Mahavira C) Adi Shankaracharya D) Ramanujacharya

38. The ancient Indian concept of 'Ashramas' refers to:

A) Stages of life B) Social classes C) Types of sacrifices D) Philosophical schools

39. The Rigvedic god Indra was primarily associated with:

A) Knowledge and wisdom B) War and rain C) Fire and sacrifice D) The sun

40. The Upanishads primarily deal with:

A) Hymns and prayers B) Rituals and sacrifices C) Philosophical speculation and spiritual knowledge D) Social laws and customs

41. The term 'Panchayati Raj' has its roots in the ancient Indian system of:

A) Centralized administration B) Village assemblies (Sabhas and Samitis) C) Monarchical rule D) Feudal lords

42. The battle that led to the foundation of the Mauryan Empire was fought between Chandragupta Maurya and:

A) Alexander the Great B) Seleucus Nicator C) Darius I D) Porus

43. The famous 'Pashupati Seal' from Mohenjo-daro depicts a figure in a yogic posture, often interpreted as:

A) A king B) A warrior C) Shiva D) A merchant

44. Which metal was NOT known to the Indus Valley Civilization?

A) Copper B) Bronze C) Iron D) Gold

45. The concept of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) is a cornerstone of:

A) Buddhism and Jainism B) Hinduism and Sikhism C) Buddhism and Hinduism D) Jainism and Sikhism

46. The earliest known Indian script is:

A) Devanagari B) Brahmi C) Indus Script D) Kharosthi

47. The Mahajanapada that eventually became the most powerful was:

A) Kashi B) Kosala C) Anga D) Magadha

48. Which of the following is NOT one of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

A) The truth of suffering (Dukkha) B) The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya) C) The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha) D) The truth of the eternal soul (Atman)

49. The 'Eightfold Path' is a fundamental concept in:

A) Jainism B) Hinduism C) Buddhism D) Ajivika

50. The author of the epic 'Ramayana' is traditionally considered to be:

A) Vyasa B) Valmiki C) Tulsidas D) Kalidasa

Ancient India - Online Test

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