Indian History by K. Krishna Reddy – UPSC MCQ Series (Set 3)

101. Who is considered the founder of the Gupta dynasty?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Sri Gupta
D. Ghatotkacha
Ans: C

102. The Gupta era was started in:
A. 319 CE
B. 310 CE
C. 321 CE
D. 300 CE
Ans: A

103. The Allahabad Pillar inscription was composed by:
A. Harisena
B. Kalidasa
C. Bharavi
D. Banabhatta
Ans: A

104. Which Gupta ruler is called the “Napoleon of India”?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Skandagupta
Ans: B

105. Who among the following issued the first gold coins in India on a large scale?
A. Kushanas
B. Satavahanas
C. Guptas
D. Indo-Greeks
Ans: A

106. The title ‘Vikramaditya’ was assumed by:
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta I
C. Chandragupta II
D. Kumaragupta
Ans: C

107. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of:
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Harsha
D. Kumaragupta
Ans: B

108. The famous iron pillar at Mehrauli was erected by:
A. Ashoka
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Kumaragupta
Ans: C

109. The classical Sanskrit writer Kalidasa was in the court of:
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Skandagupta
Ans: C

110. The decimal system was known to the people of:
A. Harappan civilization
B. Vedic period
C. Mauryan period
D. Gupta period
Ans: D

111. The greatest mathematician and astronomer of the Gupta period was:
A. Aryabhata
B. Varahamihira
C. Brahmagupta
D. Bhaskaracharya
Ans: A

112. Aryabhata wrote:
A. Suryasiddhanta
B. Panchasiddhantika
C. Aryabhatiya
D. Brahmasphutasiddhanta
Ans: C

113. The Gupta rulers were the first to issue:
A. Silver coins
B. Gold coins
C. Bronze coins
D. Paper currency
Ans: B

114. Which Gupta king is credited with defeating the Huna invaders?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Skandagupta
D. Kumaragupta I
Ans: C

115. The book Panchatantra was composed by:
A. Vishakhadatta
B. Banabhatta
C. Varahamihira
D. Vishnu Sharma
Ans: D

116. The Bhitari pillar inscription is associated with:
A. Skandagupta
B. Samudragupta
C. Kumaragupta
D. Harsha
Ans: A

117. Who among the following was known as the last great Gupta ruler?
A. Chandragupta II
B. Kumaragupta I
C. Skandagupta
D. Vishnugupta
Ans: C

118. The Gupta period saw a decline in:
A. Literature
B. Art
C. Foreign trade
D. Science
Ans: C

119. Gupta temple architecture is known for its:
A. Absence of shikharas
B. Use of granite
C. Development of shikhara style
D. Rock-cut techniques only
Ans: C

120. The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh was built during:
A. Satavahana period
B. Kushana period
C. Gupta period
D. Pallava period
Ans: C

121. The famous university of Nalanda was established by:
A. Harsha
B. Kumaragupta I
C. Ashoka
D. Chandragupta II
Ans: B

122. Who composed Kadambari and Harshacharita?
A. Kalidasa
B. Vishakhadatta
C. Banabhatta
D. Bharavi
Ans: C

123. The Pushyabhuti dynasty was founded by:
A. Harsha
B. Naravarman
C. Prabhakaravardhana
D. Rajyavardhana
Ans: C

124. Harsha’s empire was centered in:
A. Bengal
B. Magadha
C. Thanesar and Kanauj
D. Ujjain
Ans: C

125. The Chinese pilgrim who visited India during Harsha’s reign was:
A. Fa-Hien
B. Hiuen Tsang
C. I-Tsing
D. Megasthenes
Ans: B

126. Harsha was defeated by:
A. Pulakesin II
B. Chandragupta II
C. Baladitya
D. Shashanka
Ans: A

127. Harsha’s religious orientation was mainly:
A. Buddhist
B. Shaivite
C. Jain
D. Vaishnavite
Ans: A

128. The assembly at Prayag every five years was presided over by:
A. Harsha
B. Ashoka
C. Chandragupta II
D. Samudragupta
Ans: A

129. Harsha’s reign marked the:
A. Decline of urban centers
B. Revival of feudalism
C. Re-emergence of Buddhism
D. Expansion of Mauryan model
Ans: C

130. The art style during Harsha’s time was influenced by:
A. Persian
B. Gandhara
C. Gupta
D. South Indian
Ans: C

131. Which ancient Indian astronomer suggested that the earth rotates on its axis?
A. Aryabhata
B. Varahamihira
C. Bhaskaracharya
D. Brahmagupta
Ans: A

132. Which of the following works is associated with Varahamihira?
A. Aryabhatiya
B. Brihat Samhita
C. Siddhantakaumudi
D. Surya Siddhanta
Ans: B

133. During the Gupta period, land grants were called:
A. Agrahara
B. Bhoga
C. Dronavapi
D. Charth
Ans: A

134. The famous poet Bharavi wrote:
A. Kiratarjuniya
B. Meghaduta
C. Raghuvamsa
D. Abhijnanashakuntalam
Ans: A

135. The rock-cut caves of Ajanta belong to which period?
A. Maurya
B. Gupta
C. Post-Gupta
D. Early Medieval
Ans: B

136. The Gupta coins were mostly made of:
A. Bronze
B. Copper
C. Silver
D. Gold
Ans: D

137. The Nalanda University flourished under:
A. Samudragupta
B. Harsha
C. Kumaragupta I
D. Chandragupta II
Ans: B

138. The term Kumaramatya during Gupta period referred to:
A. Chief tax collector
B. Governor
C. Military general
D. High administrative officer
Ans: D

139. Who among the following wrote a drama on Chandragupta Maurya?
A. Kalidasa
B. Banabhatta
C. Vishakhadatta
D. Harisena
Ans: C

140. The Devichandraguptam is attributed to:
A. Vishakhadatta
B. Kalidasa
C. Harisena
D. Bhasa
Ans: D

141. The early Pallava dynasty came into prominence during the decline of the:
A. Kushanas
B. Satavahanas
C. Guptas
D. Mauryas
Ans: B

142. Which Gupta ruler performed the Asvamedha sacrifice?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Kumaragupta I
D. Skandagupta
Ans: B

143. Who succeeded Chandragupta I?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Kumaragupta
D. Skandagupta
Ans: A

144. The occupation of Sarthavaha in Gupta times referred to:
A. Craftsman
B. Caravan trader
C. Temple priest
D. Royal courier
Ans: B

145. Which of the following was not a port during Gupta period?
A. Tamralipti
B. Broach
C. Sopara
D. Pataliputra
Ans: D

146. The University of Vallabhi was known for:
A. Vedic education
B. Medical science
C. Jain studies
D. Mathematics
Ans: C

147. The end of the Gupta Empire came with the invasion of:
A. Huns
B. Shakas
C. Turks
D. Greeks
Ans: A

148. Gupta inscriptions were generally written in:
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Prakrit
D. Tamil
Ans: A

149. The Bhaskaracharya of the 7th century was famous for his work in:
A. Surgery
B. Grammar
C. Astronomy
D. Metallurgy
Ans: C

150. The ancient Indian astronomer who accurately calculated the solar year:
A. Aryabhata
B. Varahamihira
C. Brahmagupta
D. Bhaskaracharya
Ans: A

Leave a Reply