1. The Narmada Man discovered at Hathnora is dated to which prehistoric period?
A. Lower Paleolithic
B. Middle Paleolithic
C. Upper Paleolithic
D. Mesolithic
Ans: B
2. Which of the following is not a characteristic of Mesolithic culture?
A. Microlithic tools
B. Domestication of animals
C. Iron usage
D. Rock paintings
Ans: C
3. The site of Mehrgarh is most important for showing the:
A. Beginning of iron smelting
B. First urban center of India
C. Early Neolithic agriculture
D. Earliest coinage system
Ans: C
4. The earliest known use of the wheel is associated with which age?
A. Neolithic
B. Chalcolithic
C. Iron Age
D. Bronze Age
Ans: B
5. Which of the following features is not typical of the Harappan culture?
A. Grid pattern of city planning
B. Use of iron tools
C. Standardized weights and measures
D. Underground drainage
Ans: B
6. Lothal was an important site of the Harappan civilization because of its:
A. Fire altars
B. Dockyard
C. Buddhist monasteries
D. Great Bath
Ans: B
7. Which of the following Indus Valley sites is in present-day Pakistan?
A. Kalibangan
B. Rakhigarhi
C. Dholavira
D. Mohenjodaro
Ans: D
8. Painted Grey Ware culture is associated with which age?
A. Paleolithic
B. Neolithic
C. Iron Age
D. Chalcolithic
Ans: C
9. Which text contains hymns in praise of natural forces?
A. Rig Veda
B. Yajur Veda
C. Atharva Veda
D. Sama Veda
Ans: A
10. Sabha and Samiti were:
A. Rigvedic tribal assemblies
B. Later Vedic taxes
C. Mauryan officers
D. Harappan trade guilds
Ans: A
11. The term ‘Arya’ in the Vedic context refers to:
A. An ethnic group
B. A linguistic race
C. A cultural elite
D. Agricultural communities
Ans: C
12. The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasarajna) is described in the:
A. Atharva Veda
B. Rig Veda
C. Ramayana
D. Mahabharata
Ans: B
13. The Purusha Sukta is important for understanding the:
A. Creation of Universe
B. Evolution of Varna System
C. Spread of Buddhism
D. Agricultural rites
Ans: B
14. The transition from Rig Vedic to Later Vedic society marked a shift toward:
A. Tribal egalitarianism
B. Pastoralism
C. Agriculture and monarchy
D. Republics and Buddhism
Ans: C
15. Who was the founder of Jainism?
A. Rishabha
B. Parsvanatha
C. Mahavira
D. Bharata
Ans: A
16. The Tirthankara who immediately preceded Mahavira was:
A. Rishabha
B. Neminatha
C. Ajitanatha
D. Parsvanatha
Ans: D
17. The Buddhist council which marked the division into Hinayana and Mahayana was the:
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth
Ans: D
18. Which of the following does not belong to the Six Schools of Indian Philosophy?
A. Nyaya
B. Samkhya
C. Vedanta
D. Lokayata
Ans: D
19. Ashoka’s inscriptions were first deciphered by:
A. James Princep
B. Alexander Cunningham
C. Max Müller
D. H.H. Wilson
Ans: A
20. The edict which mentions Ashoka’s remorse after the Kalinga War is:
A. Rock Edict XIII
B. Rock Edict I
C. Pillar Edict V
D. Minor Rock Edict
Ans: A
21. The earliest coins in India were:
A. Punch-marked coins
B. Satavahana lead coins
C. Indo-Greek gold coins
D. Gupta silver coins
Ans: A
22. The Arthashastra was authored by:
A. Chanakya
B. Kalidasa
C. Megasthenes
D. Patanjali
Ans: A
23. The capital of the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka was:
A. Taxila
B. Rajagriha
C. Pataliputra
D. Ujjain
Ans: C
24. The Greek ambassador at Chandragupta’s court was:
A. Ptolemy
B. Alexander
C. Megasthenes
D. Seleucus
Ans: C
25. Megasthenes wrote the famous book:
A. Indika
B. Naturalis Historia
C. Periplus
D. Rajatarangini
Ans: A
26. The Mauryan economy was based mainly on:
A. Slave labor
B. Maritime trade
C. Agriculture and land revenue
D. Guilds and artisans
Ans: C
27. Ashoka’s Dhamma aimed at:
A. Expanding Buddhism
B. Promoting administrative reforms
C. Social harmony and moral values
D. Military conquest
Ans: C
28. The pillar inscriptions of Ashoka were mostly written in:
A. Sanskrit
B. Prakrit in Brahmi script
C. Pali in Kharosthi script
D. Aramaic
Ans: B
29. The Mauryan administration was based on the principles outlined in:
A. Manusmriti
B. Rig Veda
C. Arthashastra
D. Ashoka’s edicts
Ans: C
30. The Mauryan army was controlled by:
A. The Emperor himself
B. The Mantri Parishad
C. A Board of 6 Committees
D. Provincial Governors
Ans: C
31. The city of Taxila was famous for:
A. Buddhist pilgrimages
B. A large library
C. A renowned university
D. Rock-cut architecture
Ans: C
32. Which of the following is true about the Mauryan taxation system?
A. Flat tax rate for all
B. Voluntary donations
C. One-sixth of produce as tax
D. Property tax only
Ans: C
33. Ashoka’s inscriptions have been found in which foreign language and script?
A. Greek and Aramaic
B. Persian and Arabic
C. Chinese and Brahmi
D. None of the above
Ans: A
34. The Mauryan dynasty lasted approximately from:
A. 400–100 BCE
B. 350–250 BCE
C. 321–185 BCE
D. 270–180 BCE
Ans: C
35. The famous lion capital of Ashoka is found at:
A. Sanchi
B. Lumbini
C. Sarnath
D. Ujjain
Ans: C
36. Who was Ashoka’s father?
A. Chandragupta
B. Bindusara
C. Dasaratha
D. Susima
Ans: B
37. The last ruler of the Maurya dynasty was:
A. Brihadratha
B. Dasaratha
C. Bindusara
D. Ashoka
Ans: A
38. The Sunga dynasty replaced the Mauryas after the assassination of:
A. Chandragupta
B. Ashoka
C. Bindusara
D. Brihadratha
Ans: D
39. Which of the following statements is true about the Indus script?
A. It has been deciphered fully
B. It is mostly written in Sanskrit
C. It remains undeciphered
D. It is found only in seals of Mohenjodaro
Ans: C
40. The Great Bath was discovered at:
A. Harappa
B. Lothal
C. Kalibangan
D. Mohenjodaro
Ans: D
41. The staple crop of the Indus Valley people was:
A. Wheat and barley
B. Rice and jowar
C. Maize
D. Millets
Ans: A
42. Which Harappan site is located in Gujarat?
A. Mohenjodaro
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Ropar
Ans: C
43. The most commonly used material for Indus seals was:
A. Bronze
B. Copper
C. Steatite
D. Terracotta
Ans: C
44. Who among the following did not belong to the Mauryan dynasty?
A. Ashoka
B. Bindusara
C. Chandragupta
D. Harshavardhana
Ans: D
45. Which site provides evidence of the earliest ploughed field in India?
A. Kalibangan
B. Lothal
C. Ropar
D. Mohenjodaro
Ans: A
46. The Vedic tribe was known as:
A. Janapada
B. Jana
C. Gram
D. Pura
Ans: B
47. Which text lays the basis for sacrificial rituals in Brahmanism?
A. Samhitas
B. Brahmanas
C. Aranyakas
D. Upanishads
Ans: B
48. Upanishads mainly deal with:
A. Vedic sacrifices
B. Astronomy
C. Metaphysical questions
D. Law and order
Ans: C
49. Who introduced coinage in India?
A. Indo-Greeks
B. Mauryas
C. Mahajanapadas
D. Harappans
Ans: C
50. The capital of Kalinga during the Mauryan period was:
A. Tosali
B. Pataliputra
C. Ujjain
D. Tamralipti
Ans: A