51. Which Mahajanapada was most powerful during the time of Buddha?
A. Kashi
B. Kosala
C. Magadha
D. Avanti
Ans: C
52. Who among the following was associated with the Ajivika sect?
A. Makkhali Gosala
B. Mahavira
C. Charvaka
D. Pakudha Kaccayana
Ans: A
53. Which dynasty was ruling Magadha immediately before the Mauryas?
A. Haryanka
B. Nanda
C. Shunga
D. Sisunaga
Ans: B
54. The famous Hathigumpha inscription belongs to:
A. Ashoka
B. Kharavela
C. Pushyamitra Sunga
D. Harsha
Ans: B
55. The First Buddhist Council was held at:
A. Rajagriha
B. Vaishali
C. Pataliputra
D. Kashmir
Ans: A
56. The language used in early Buddhist scriptures was:
A. Sanskrit
B. Prakrit
C. Pali
D. Magadhi
Ans: C
57. Which school of Buddhism believes in idol worship and Bodhisattvas?
A. Hinayana
B. Theravada
C. Mahayana
D. Vajrayana
Ans: C
58. The Nalanda University was founded during the reign of:
A. Ashoka
B. Samudragupta
C. Kumaragupta I
D. Harshavardhana
Ans: C
59. The Sanchi Stupa was originally built by:
A. Bindusara
B. Kanishka
C. Ashoka
D. Harsha
Ans: C
60. Who among the following composed the Milindapanho?
A. Nagarjuna
B. Buddhaghosa
C. Nagasena
D. Asvaghosha
Ans: C
61. The most important literary source on the Mauryan administration is:
A. Manu Smriti
B. Arthashastra
C. Megasthenes’ Indica
D. Ashokan Edicts
Ans: B
62. According to Megasthenes, Indian society was divided into:
A. Four varnas
B. Seven classes
C. Six guilds
D. Five sects
Ans: B
63. The doctrine of “Pratityasamutpada” is associated with:
A. Jainism
B. Buddhism
C. Mimansa
D. Vedanta
Ans: B
64. The Buddha delivered his first sermon at:
A. Bodh Gaya
B. Sarnath
C. Kushinagar
D. Vaishali
Ans: B
65. The Buddhist text ‘Mahavamsa’ was written in:
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Prakrit
D. Tamil
Ans: B
66. The symbol of the wheel in Buddhist art stands for:
A. Buddha’s birth
B. Nirvana
C. Dharma
D. Eightfold Path
Ans: C
67. The earliest reference to iron in India is found in:
A. Rig Veda
B. Atharva Veda
C. Yajur Veda
D. Sama Veda
Ans: A
68. Which one of the following was the most important industry during Mauryan times?
A. Textile
B. Iron-smelting
C. Mining
D. Arms and weapons
Ans: A
69. The administrative division Vishaya during Mauryan period refers to:
A. Village
B. District
C. Province
D. Trade post
Ans: B
70. The punch-marked coins were made of:
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. Copper
D. Bronze
Ans: B
71. Ashokan pillars were mostly made of which stone?
A. Marble
B. Granite
C. Sandstone
D. Basalt
Ans: C
72. The sacred text of Jainism Acharanga Sutra contains:
A. Rules for monastic life
B. Teachings of Parsvanatha
C. Mahavira’s biography
D. Rules for lay followers
Ans: A
73. The principle of “Syadvada” is associated with:
A. Buddhism
B. Jainism
C. Charvaka
D. Samkhya
Ans: B
74. The Tirthankaras of Jainism are:
A. 18
B. 21
C. 24
D. 27
Ans: C
75. In Jain tradition, who attained Kevalajnana under a Sal tree?
A. Mahavira
B. Rishabha
C. Neminatha
D. Ajitanatha
Ans: A
76. The Jain Council at Vallabhi compiled:
A. Twelve Angas
B. Four Vedas
C. Tipitaka
D. Avesta
Ans: A
77. The ‘Tripitaka’ of Buddhism consists of:
A. Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma
B. Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka
C. Sutra, Sastra, Samhita
D. Vedanta, Sankhya, Mimansa
Ans: A
78. The earliest Buddhist architecture is represented by:
A. Rock-cut caves
B. Chaityas
C. Stupas
D. Viharas
Ans: C
79. The earliest Jain temples were built in:
A. Mount Abu
B. Shravanabelagola
C. Ellora
D. Rajgir
Ans: D
80. Which Mauryan ruler is known for the organization of animal hospitals?
A. Chandragupta
B. Bindusara
C. Ashoka
D. Dasaratha
Ans: C
81. The Buddhist monastic code is known as:
A. Vinaya Pitaka
B. Dhammapada
C. Jataka
D. Abhidhamma
Ans: A
82. The Indus Valley civilization did not have:
A. Proper roads
B. Script
C. Temples
D. Granaries
Ans: C
83. The Post-Mauryan Indo-Greek ruler who embraced Buddhism was:
A. Menander
B. Demetrius
C. Antialcidas
D. Kanishka
Ans: A
84. The Indo-Greeks introduced which coin innovation?
A. Double-die
B. Punch-mark
C. Cast metal
D. Portrait coins
Ans: D
85. Kanishka ruled during which century?
A. 1st BCE
B. 1st CE
C. 2nd CE
D. 3rd CE
Ans: C
86. The Saka ruler Rudradaman I is known for:
A. Iron weapons
B. Junagadh inscription
C. Buddhist patronage
D. Founding a new era
Ans: B
87. The capital of the Satavahanas was:
A. Paithan
B. Amaravati
C. Nasik
D. Kanchi
Ans: A
88. Who issued the first long inscription in Sanskrit?
A. Samudragupta
B. Ashoka
C. Rudradaman I
D. Kanishka
Ans: C
89. Indo-Parthians ruled parts of India before:
A. Indo-Greeks
B. Sakas
C. Kushanas
D. Guptas
Ans: C
90. Gandhara school of art flourished under:
A. Satavahanas
B. Indo-Greeks
C. Kushanas
D. Guptas
Ans: C
91. Amaravati school of art is known for:
A. Persian influence
B. Buddha’s metal icons
C. White marble sculptures
D. Detailed narrative reliefs
Ans: D
92. Who among the following was a woman Buddhist scholar in early India?
A. Vishakha
B. Amrapali
C. Dhammadinna
D. Yashodhara
Ans: C
93. Which ruler is associated with the spread of Mahayana Buddhism to Central Asia?
A. Menander
B. Kanishka
C. Ashoka
D. Harsha
Ans: B
94. Ashvaghosha wrote the famous work:
A. Buddhacharita
B. Dhammapada
C. Mahavamsa
D. Milindapanho
Ans: A
95. Who was the last Indo-Greek ruler?
A. Strato II
B. Menander
C. Demetrius
D. Hermaeus
Ans: A
96. Who built the Sudarshana lake in Kathiawar?
A. Chandragupta
B. Ashoka
C. Pushyamitra
D. Rudradaman I
Ans: D
97. The term Yavana in ancient texts refers to:
A. Arabs
B. Greeks
C. Romans
D. Persians
Ans: B
98. The Bactrian Greeks entered India after:
A. Chandragupta
B. Ashoka
C. Alexander’s death
D. The fall of Nandas
Ans: C
99. Which of the following dynasties ruled before the Mauryas in Magadha?
A. Shishunagas
B. Guptas
C. Sakas
D. Kushanas
Ans: A
100. The capital of the Indo-Greek kingdom in India was:
A. Pataliputra
B. Ujjain
C. Sakala
D. Mathura
Ans: C