Ancient History of India

161. The significant difference between Mahayana and Hinayana forms of Budd

The significant difference between Mahayana and Hinayana forms of Buddhism lay in that

[amp_mcq option1=”Mahayana allowed for the transference of merit while in Hinayana, a person would only help another by example and advice” option2=”Mahayana believed in the Bodhisattvas while Hinayana did not” option3=”Hinayana promoted the ideas of a suffering saviour” option4=”Mahayana propounded the idea of the ‘Arhant’, the ‘worthy'” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
Download PDFAttempt Online
A significant difference between Mahayana and Hinayana (often equated with Theravada) Buddhism lies in their understanding of the path to liberation and the role of merit. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the ideal of the Bodhisattva, one who postpones their own enlightenment to help others achieve liberation, and teaches that merit can be transferred to benefit other beings. Hinayana, on the other hand, primarily focuses on the individual’s path to becoming an Arhant (one who achieves personal enlightenment), and while helping others through teaching and example is important, the concept of transferring merit for the salvation of others is not central.
– Mahayana emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal and universal salvation.
– Hinayana emphasizes the Arhant ideal and individual liberation.
– Mahayana allows for the transference of merit to others.
– Hinayana/Theravada focuses on individual accumulation of merit and helping others primarily through teaching/example.
Mahayana schools developed later and are more widespread in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) and Tibet. Hinayana/Theravada is prevalent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos). Other differences include views on the nature of the Buddha, cosmology, and the number of Buddhas.

162. The prevalence of grain in Harappan sites indicated that

The prevalence of grain in Harappan sites indicated that

[amp_mcq option1=”Harappans ploughed their fields” option2=”Harappans broadcast seed on their fields” option3=”agriculture was prevalent in Harappan sites” option4=”trade in bulk items like food grains was well-established in Harappan times” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is C. The prevalence of various types of grain (wheat, barley, rice, millet, pulses, etc.) found at numerous Harappan sites is direct evidence that agriculture was a major economic activity in the Harappan civilization.
– Archaeological excavations at Harappan sites have unearthed large quantities of domesticated plant remains, primarily grains.
– Granaries have been found at major sites like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, suggesting surplus production and storage of grains.
– Evidence like terracotta plough models and ploughed fields at Kalibangan further supports the practice of agriculture.
While options A and B relate to agricultural practices (ploughing, broadcasting seeds), the mere *prevalence* of grain directly confirms that agriculture itself was widespread (C). While trade in grains likely occurred (D), the abundance of grains at sites points to local production as the primary reason for their prevalence, making agriculture a key feature of the economy.

163. Which one among the following inscriptions was installed in the easter

Which one among the following inscriptions was installed in the easternmost part of Ashoka’s territory?

[amp_mcq option1=”Barabar hill cave inscription” option2=”Dhauli major rock edicts” option3=”Sahasram minor rock edicts” option4=”Lauriya Araraj pillar edicts” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is B. The Dhauli major rock edicts are located in Odisha (near Bhubaneswar), which was part of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga. Ashoka conquered Kalinga in a bloody war, and subsequently issued the Dhauli edicts, including the special Kalinga Edicts, which are located in the eastern part of his vast empire.
– Ashoka’s inscriptions are spread across modern-day India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
– Barabar hill caves (Bihar), Sahasram (Bihar), and Lauriya Araraj (Bihar) are located in the region of Magadha and its vicinity.
– Odisha is located to the east of Bihar. The conquest of Kalinga was a pivotal event in Ashoka’s life, leading to his adoption of Dhamma.
– Dhauli was the site of a major rock edict. Another major rock edict site in Kalinga is Jaugada, also in Odisha.
The special Kalinga Edicts found at Dhauli and Jaugada replaced Edicts 11, 12, and 13 from the standard set of 14 Major Rock Edicts, reflecting Ashoka’s specific message of reconciliation and welfare for the newly conquered Kalinga people. These sites are indeed among the easternmost locations of Ashoka’s major rock inscriptions within the core empire.

164. Who among the following is the author of ‘Ashtadhyayi’, the Sanskrit

Who among the following is the author of ‘Ashtadhyayi’, the Sanskrit grammar?

[amp_mcq option1=”Patanjali” option2=”Panini” option3=”Kalidasa” option4=”Banabhatta” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is B. ‘Ashtadhyayi’, the foundational work on Sanskrit grammar, was written by Panini.
– Panini was an ancient Sanskrit philologist, grammarian, and a revered scholar in ancient India.
– His ‘Ashtadhyayi’ (meaning “Eight Chapters”) is a comprehensive and scientific treatise on the Sanskrit language, formulating its grammar in 3,959 sutras or aphorisms.
– It laid down the rules for Sanskrit grammar, phonetics, and morphology, and is considered one of the greatest linguistic works of all time.
Patanjali is known for his Mahabhasya, a commentary on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi and Katyayana’s Varttikas. Kalidasa was a famous poet and dramatist, while Banabhatta was a celebrated prose writer and court poet of King Harsha.

165. Various causes have been suggested for the decline of Harappan culture

Various causes have been suggested for the decline of Harappan culture. Consider the causes mentioned below and identify the weakest of them.

[amp_mcq option1=”Due to constant incidents of naturally occurring floods” option2=”Due to increase in the salinity of the soil, fertility decreased there” option3=”Earthquakes caused changes in the course of the Indus, which led to inundation” option4=”The Aryans invaded and destroyed the Harappan culture” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is D. The theory that the Aryans invaded and destroyed the Harappan culture is now widely considered the weakest explanation among scholars regarding the decline of the Harappan civilization.
– Various theories have been proposed for the decline of the Harappan civilization, including environmental factors like floods, changes in river courses, increased aridity, soil salinity, and internal factors like decline in trade or administrative collapse.
– The “Aryan Invasion Theory,” popularized by Mortimer Wheeler, suggested a violent end to the civilization by invading Aryans.
– Modern archaeological research has found little evidence of large-scale violence or invasion across the entire Harappan area at the time of decline. Evidence points more towards a gradual decline and abandonment of many sites due to complex factors.
Current scholarship favors a multi-causal explanation for the decline, emphasizing environmental changes (like the drying up of the Ghaggar-Hakra river system), ecological stress, and possibly internal socio-economic factors, rather than a single catastrophic event like an invasion.

166. The famous terra-cotta images of rivers Ganga and Yamuna from the Gupt

The famous terra-cotta images of rivers Ganga and Yamuna from the Gupta period have been found at

[amp_mcq option1=”Ahichchhatra” option2=”Kaushambi” option3=”Rajghat” option4=”Bhitargaon” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
Download PDFAttempt Online
The famous terra-cotta images of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna from the Gupta period have been excavated at Ahichchhatra (located in present-day Uttar Pradesh). Ahichchhatra was an important ancient city and a significant archaeological site, yielding numerous artifacts and structures from different periods, including the Gupta era. These terra-cotta panels are notable examples of Gupta art.
Ahichchhatra is a well-known archaeological site associated with Gupta period art and architecture, including specific terra-cotta representations of deities.
Images of Ganga and Yamuna as river goddesses became popular iconographic elements in temple entrances during the Gupta period, symbolizing purification and auspiciousness. Ahichchhatra was the capital of the ancient Panchala kingdom.

167. Consider the following statements about Rig Veda : 1. It reflects a

Consider the following statements about Rig Veda :

  • 1. It reflects a naturalistic polytheism-a belief in many Gods who personified natural phenomenon.
  • 2. The Gods were conceived of as anthropomorphic, i.e., as having a physical form similar to that of humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 2 are both correct. The Rig Veda depicts a naturalistic polytheism where deities represent natural forces (like Indra for thunder, Agni for fire, Surya for sun), and these deities are often described with anthropomorphic characteristics, having human-like forms, emotions, and interactions.
Rig Vedic religion was characterized by the worship of multiple gods personifying natural phenomena, and these gods were often attributed human-like forms and qualities.
Some of the major deities in the Rig Veda include Indra, Agni, Surya, Vayu, Varuna, Mitra, Ushas, etc. The hymns are primarily prayers, praises, and invocations to these gods, seeking their favour and protection.

168. Which one among the following statements regarding Satavahanas is NOT

Which one among the following statements regarding Satavahanas is NOT correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Satavahanas are identified with the Andhras of the Puranas” option2=”The Satavahanas claimed Brahmana descent and followed Brahmanical Vedic tradition” option3=”Satavahanas and Shakas were involved in prolonged conflict” option4=”Vasishthiputra Satakarni defeated Shaka ruler Rudradaman I” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
Download PDFAttempt Online
A) The Satavahanas are indeed identified with the Andhras mentioned in the Puranas, who ruled over the Deccan region. This statement is correct.
B) Some Satavahana rulers, notably Gautamiputra Satakarni, claimed to be Brahmanas (Ekabamhana) and performed Vedic sacrifices like Ashvamedha, indicating they followed and patronized Brahmanical Vedic traditions. This statement is correct.
C) The Satavahanas were engaged in prolonged conflicts with the Western Kshatrapas (Shakas), particularly over the control of fertile regions and trade routes, such as those in Malwa and Gujarat. This statement is correct.
D) According to the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I, the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I defeated the lord of Dakshinapatha (identified with Vashishthiputra Pulamavi, a Satavahana ruler) twice, but did not destroy him due to a matrimonial alliance. This indicates that Rudradaman I defeated the Satavahana ruler, not the other way around. Therefore, the statement that Vasishthiputra Satakarni defeated Shaka ruler Rudradaman I is incorrect.
The Satavahanas ruled in the Deccan region for several centuries. They were patrons of both Brahmanism and Buddhism, engaged in conflicts with the Shakas, and controlled important trade routes. Matrimonial alliances were sometimes used to resolve conflicts with rivals.
The most famous Satavahana ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni. Important sources of information about the Satavahanas include Puranas, inscriptions (like the Nasik Prasasti of Gautami Balashri and the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I), coins, and literary works.

169. The Nagar style of architecture developed mostly in

The Nagar style of architecture developed mostly in

[amp_mcq option1=”South India” option2=”North India” option3=”North-West India” option4=”North-East India” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is B) North India.
Indian temple architecture is broadly classified into three styles: Nagar, Dravida, and Vesara. The Nagar style, characterized by its curvilinear shikhara (spire), developed and is predominantly found in the northern regions of India, extending into central and eastern parts as well.
The Nagar style typically includes a sanctuary (garbhagriha) and one or more mandapas (halls) covered by shikharas. Examples include the Khajuraho temples, Sun Temple at Konark, Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar, and temples in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Dravida style is found in South India and features tiered pyramidal towers (vimanas). The Vesara style, found in the Deccan, is a hybrid blend of Nagar and Dravida characteristics.

170. India is a land of many beautiful ancient temples. Which one among the

India is a land of many beautiful ancient temples. Which one among the following temples displays the most extensive and sumptuous rock-cut shrines and is the most marvellous architectural freak in India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Rath temple at Mamallapuram” option2=”The Kailash temple at Ellora” option3=”The Chaturbhuja-Vishnu temple at Khajuraho” option4=”The Kailash temple at Kanchi” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is B) The Kailash temple at Ellora.
The description “most extensive and sumptuous rock-cut shrines” and “most marvellous architectural freak” perfectly fits the Kailash Temple (Cave 16) at Ellora. It is a monolithic structure carved out of a single rock face, designed to replicate a structural temple, and is unparalleled in scale and craftsmanship among rock-cut monuments in India.
The Kailash Temple at Ellora, built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty (likely under King Krishna I in the 8th century), is one of the most spectacular examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. It is carved top-down from a single massive rock, creating a complete temple complex with a main shrine, gateway, pavilions, and courtyard. The Rath temples at Mamallapuram are also monolithic but are much smaller and less complex. The temples at Khajuraho and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchi are structural temples, built stone by stone, not rock-cut.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5