1. The word ‘Veda’ means:
a) Knowledge
b) Wisdom
c) Skill
d) Power
Answer: a

2. The Upanishads are essentially:
a) Great Epics
b) Story Books
c) Source of Hindu Philosophy
d) Law Books
Answer: c

3. The term ‘Upanishad’ literally means:
a) Knowledge
b) Wisdom
c) Sitting near
d) Recitation
Answer: c

4. The words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ in the State Emblem of India are taken from which of the following?
a) Mundaka Upanishad
b) Brahma Upanishad
c) Mudgala Upanishad
d) Maitreyi Upanishad
Answer: a

5. The Veda that deals with the rituals is known as:
a) Rigveda
b) Yajurveda
c) Samaveda
d) Atharvaveda
Answer: b

6. The origins of Indian music can be traced back to:
a) Rigvedic Samhita
b) Yajurvedic Samhita
c) Samavedic Samhita
d) Atharvavedic Samhita
Answer: c

7. Which of the four Vedas contains accounts of magic charms and spells?
a) Rigveda
b) Samaveda
c) Yajurveda
d) Atharvaveda
Answer: d

8. The term ‘Gotra’ is first found in the:
a) Rigveda
b) Samaveda
c) Yajurveda
d) Atharvaveda
Answer: a

9. Who was the first European to identify Aryans as a distinct race?
a) William Jones
b) H.H. Wilson
c) Max Muller
d) General Cunningham
Answer: c

10. The earliest group to invade India were the:
a) Aryans
b) Greeks
c) Persians
d) Arabs
Answer: a

11. Who was considered the great law-giver of ancient times?
a) Manu
b) Vatsyayana
c) Ashoka
d) Aryabhatta
Answer: a

12. Who among the following wrote Sanskrit grammar?
a) Kalidasa
b) Charaka
c) Panini
d) Aryabhatt
Answer: c

13. ‘Ashtadhyayi’ was written by:
a) Ved Vyas
b) Panini
c) Shukadeva
d) Valmiki
Answer: b

14. In which language was the ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ originally composed?
a) Sanskrit
b) Apabhramsa
c) Prakrit
d) Pali
Answer: a

15. Patanjali is famous for compiling the:
a) Yoga Sutra
b) Panchatantra
c) Brahma Sutra
d) Ayurveda
Answer: a

16. Identify the medicinal trio of ancient India:
a) Charaka, Sushruta, and Bharata
b) Charaka, Sushruta, and Patanjali
c) Charaka, Sushruta, and Banabhatta
d) Charaka, Vatsyayana, and Banabhatta
Answer: b

17. Who is revered as the “God of Medicine” by Ayurveda practitioners?
a) Sushruta
b) Chyavana
c) Dhanwantari
d) Charaka
Answer: c

18. The religion of the early Vedic Aryans primarily consisted of:
a) Bhakti
b) Image worship and Yajnas
c) Worship of nature and Yajnas
d) Worship of nature and Bhakti
Answer: c

19. Which river is not mentioned in the Rigveda?
a) Sindhu
b) Saraswati
c) Yamuna
d) Periyar
Answer: d

20. In the Rigveda, the god Varuna was considered the:
a) Harbinger of peace
b) Destroyer of foes
c) Guardian of cosmic order
d) God of prosperity
Answer: c

21. The battle of Mahabharata is believed to have been fought at Kurukshetra for:
a) 14 days
b) 16 days
c) 18 days
d) 20 days
Answer: c

22. Who was the eldest of the Pandava brothers?
a) Yudhishthira
b) Bhima
c) Sahadeva
d) Nakula
Answer: a

23. Nivi, Paridhan, and Adhivasa were:
a) Different types of Aryan clothing
b) Government officials under Aryan kings
c) Tribal people of ancient kings
d) Musical instruments of ancient Indians
Answer: a

24. Which craft was NOT practiced by the Aryans?
a) Pottery
b) Jewelry making
c) Carpentry
d) Blacksmithing
Answer: d

25. Purushamedha, or male sacrifice, is mentioned in the:
a) Krishna Yajurveda
b) Shukla Yajurveda
c) Shatapatha Brahmana
d) Panchvisha Brahmana
Answer: c

26. Which is the outlier?
a) Samveda
b) Yajurveda
c) Vishnu Purana
d) Rigveda
Answer: c