Maurya Empire

31. Statement I : The Greek travellers were most impressed by the fertilit

Statement I : The Greek travellers were most impressed by the fertility of India’s soil and the energy and ability of her cultivators.
Statement II : Ancient India knew the use of manure.

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Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
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Statement I is true. Greek travellers, like Megasthenes in his Indica, often commented on the fertility of the Indian soil and the advanced agricultural practices and diligence of the Indian cultivators, which resulted in high productivity. Statement II is also true. Ancient Indian texts and archaeological evidence indicate a sophisticated understanding and use of various types of manure (organic, animal, green manure) to maintain soil fertility. Statement II provides a direct explanation for why the soil was fertile and the cultivators were effective – they used advanced techniques like manuring.
Ancient India possessed advanced agricultural knowledge, including the use of manure, which contributed to high productivity noticed by foreign observers.
Texts like the Arthashastra mention different types of fertilizers. The observed prosperity and fertility were often attributed to skilled cultivation and rich soil, supported by practices like irrigation and fertilization.

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32. Statement I : King Ashoka abolished capital punishment and disbanded h

Statement I :
King Ashoka abolished capital punishment and disbanded his army.
Statement II :
After Kalinga War, Ashoka was remorseful and became a Buddhist.

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T-55
T-155
T-72
T-90
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Statement I is false, but Statement II is true.
– Statement I: While Ashoka promoted Dhamma and non-violence after the Kalinga War, he did not abolish capital punishment entirely (his edicts mention procedures related to it) and did not disband his army. The army was still used for administrative purposes and maintaining order.
– Statement II: The Kalinga War caused Ashoka immense remorse and suffering, leading him to embrace Buddhism more fully and adopt a policy of Dhamma based on peace, welfare, and moral conquest. This statement is historically accurate.
Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism after the Kalinga War is a significant event in Indian history, marking a shift in his ruling philosophy from conquest to Dhamma vijaya (conquest by righteousness). His edicts spread the message of Dhamma throughout his vast empire.

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33. Consider the following statements about the Mauryan State and the fore

Consider the following statements about the Mauryan State and the forest people :

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  • 1. The forest people were subjected to new forms of political and economic dominance and the necessity to subordinate and assimilate them led to a change in the earlier attitude of excluding these people from imperial territory.
  • 2. The State recognised that the forest produce was the sole monopoly of the forest people.
  • 3. The State was concerned with the conservation of forests and to this end the burning of forests was prohibited.
  • 4. The forest people could be harnessed to serve the State and could be used as troops, spies and assassins.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

1
2
3
4
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Three of the statements regarding the Mauryan State and the forest people are correct. Statements 1, 3, and 4 align with historical evidence and texts like Kautilya’s Arthashastra concerning the Mauryan administration’s interaction with forest areas and tribes. Statement 2 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is correct: The Mauryans sought to integrate forest areas into their empire for resources and strategic reasons, leading to interactions and attempts to control/assimilate forest peoples, moving away from complete exclusion.
– Statement 3 is correct: Kautilya’s Arthashastra mentions state control over forests and regulations, including prohibition of unauthorized burning, indicating a concern for forest management and conservation, though primarily for economic and strategic benefit.
– Statement 4 is correct: The Mauryans utilized forest tribes (Atavikas) for military purposes, including as troops, guides, spies, and potentially assassins, as noted in the Arthashastra.
Statement 2 is incorrect because the Mauryan state asserted significant control over forest resources through officials like the Kupyadhyaksha (Superintendent of Forest Produce), indicating that forest produce was not considered the sole monopoly of the forest people but was a source of revenue and resources for the state.

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34. Consider the following statements about Ashoka’s faith in Buddhism :

Consider the following statements about Ashoka’s faith in Buddhism :

  • 1. Rummindei Pillar Inscription and Nigali Sagar Pillar Inscription provide clear evidence of Ashoka’s faith in Buddhism.
  • 2. Minor Rock Edict-I gives evidence of a sudden change in Ashoka’s faith in Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is correct. The Rummindei Pillar Inscription records Ashoka’s pilgrimage to Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha) and his grant of tax concessions there, indicating his reverence for Buddhism. The Nigali Sagar Pillar Inscription records Ashoka’s visit and enlargement of the stupa of Konagamana Buddha, another strong indicator of his patronage and faith in Buddhism.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Minor Rock Edict I does describe Ashoka’s initial period of less intense practice and his subsequent increased effort and propagation of Dhamma after becoming a Buddhist lay follower (upasaka) for over two and a half years. However, it speaks of a process of gradual increased zeal and influence (“I have made the people more zealous”) rather than a sudden change in faith.
Ashoka’s pillar inscriptions at Rummindei and Nigali Sagar provide direct evidence of his visits to Buddhist holy sites and patronage, affirming his faith. Minor Rock Edict I describes his gradual deepening of faith and efforts, not a sudden conversion.
Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism is often associated with the Kalinga War, but inscriptions like Minor Rock Edict I suggest a more gradual process of strengthening his adherence and active propagation of Dhamma. His Dhamma policies were based on Buddhist principles but encompassed broader moral and social ethics intended for all subjects, irrespective of their faith.

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35. Which one of the following was not a part of Kautilya’s Saptanga Theor

Which one of the following was not a part of Kautilya’s Saptanga Theory of the State ?

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Amatya
Janapada
Durga
Dhamma
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Kautilya’s Saptanga (seven limbs) theory identifies the fundamental constituent elements of a state as Swami (King), Amatya (Minister/Administration), Janapada (Territory and Population), Durga (Fort), Kosha (Treasury), Danda (Army/Force), and Mitra (Ally). Dhamma (Dharma), meaning righteousness, moral duty, or religious law, while a crucial concept in Indian philosophy and particularly associated with Ashoka’s reign (Dhamma Vijaya), is not one of the seven constituent elements listed in Kautilya’s Saptanga theory of the state.
Kautilya’s Saptanga theory lists seven components of the state structure, which are different from moral or religious concepts like Dhamma.
Amatya, Janapada, and Durga are explicitly listed among the seven limbs of the state in the Arthashastra. Kautilya’s Arthashastra focuses on the practical aspects of statecraft, administration, and warfare.

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36. Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts?

Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts?

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Priyadassi
Colin Mackenzie
Alexander Cunningham
James Prinsep
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James Prinsep, a British antiquarian, orientalist, and editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, was the first person to successfully decipher the ancient Indian scripts of Brahmi and Kharoshthi in the 1830s. This breakthrough was crucial for understanding the inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka and shedding light on early Indian history.
James Prinsep was instrumental in deciphering Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts.
Priyadassi was one of the titles used by Ashoka in his inscriptions written in these scripts. Colin Mackenzie was a Surveyor General of India and antiquarian who collected manuscripts and artefacts, but did not decipher the scripts. Alexander Cunningham was a prominent archaeologist and founder of the Archaeological Survey of India, but the decipherment predates his main work in this area.

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37. Consider the following statements: The inscriptions on the pillar at

Consider the following statements:

  • The inscriptions on the pillar at Rummindei give vivid details of Ashoka’s Dhamma
  • The Nigalisagar inscription records the fact of Ashoka having visited the Konagamana stupa

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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The correct answer is 2 only.
Statement 1: The Rummindei pillar inscription of Ashoka records his visit to Lumbini (the birthplace of Gautama Buddha), his veneration of the site, and his decision to exempt the village of Lumbini from *bali* tax and reduce the *bhaga* tax (from one-eighth to one-sixth). It does not provide vivid details of Ashoka’s Dhamma; its focus is on his pilgrimage and associated tax concessions.
Statement 2: The Nigalisagar pillar inscription records that King Priyadasi (Ashoka) visited the Konagamana stupa and enlarged it for the second time. Konagamana was a past Buddha. This statement is factually correct based on the inscription.
Ashoka’s Dhamma is extensively described in his Major and Minor Rock Edicts and some other pillar inscriptions, which cover aspects like tolerance, non-violence, respect for elders, truthfulness, welfare measures, etc. The Rummindei and Nigalisagar inscriptions belong to the category of his pillar inscriptions related to pilgrimages and associated actions.

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