Sixth century B.C.E - Political Condition Archives

1. Which among the following was/were the capital(s) of the Magadha Janap

Which among the following was/were the capital(s) of the Magadha Janapada ?

1. Rajgriha
2. Patliputra
3. Champa
4. Vaishali

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 4

1 and 2

2 and 3

2 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2021

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Rajgriha (Girivraja) was the early capital of the Magadha Janapada, and later Pataliputra became the capital.

– Rajgriha served as the capital of Magadha during the reigns of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.
– Pataliputra was established near the confluence of the Ganga and Son rivers and was made the capital by Udayin. It remained a major capital for subsequent empires like the Mauryas.

Champa was the capital of the neighbouring kingdom of Anga, which was conquered by Magadha. Vaishali was the capital of the Vajjian (Lichchavi) confederacy, which was also eventually annexed by Magadha, but it was not a capital of Magadha itself.

2. Arrange the following ‘Mahajanapadas’ in terms of their locations from

Arrange the following ‘Mahajanapadas’ in terms of their locations from south to north :

1. Chedi
2. Ashmaka
3. Panchala
4. Kamboja

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1-4-2-3

4-2-3-1

2-1-3-4

4-3-1-2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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Arranging the given Mahajanapadas from south to north yields the order: Ashmaka, Chedi, Panchala, Kamboja.

The 16 Mahajanapadas were major kingdoms or oligarchies that existed in ancient India during the 6th-4th centuries BCE. Their geographical locations are key to arranging them spatially:
1. **Ashmaka (Assaka):** Located in the Deccan region, on the banks of the Godavari River (modern Maharashtra/Andhra Pradesh). This is the southernmost among the given options.
2. **Chedi:** Located in the Bundelkhand region (parts of modern Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), south of the Yamuna River. It was north of Ashmaka.
3. **Panchala:** Located in the fertile region of the upper Ganges valley, in present-day western Uttar Pradesh. It was north of Chedi.
4. **Kamboja:** Located in the extreme northwest of the Indian subcontinent, possibly in parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan, adjoining Gandhara. This is the northernmost among the given options.

Therefore, the south-to-north order is Ashmaka (2) -> Chedi (1) -> Panchala (3) -> Kamboja (4), which is 2-1-3-4.

Understanding the locations of the major Mahajanapadas like Magadha, Kosala, Avanti, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara, Kamboja, etc., is important for studying the political and geographical landscape of India during the Mahajanapada period.

3. Which one of the following is not a pottery type?

Which one of the following is *not* a pottery type?

OCP

CCE

NBP

BRW

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2023

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The question asks which of the options is *not* a pottery type. The options are abbreviations commonly encountered in the study of Indian archaeology.

A) OCP: Stands for Ochre Coloured Pottery. This is a distinct pottery type found primarily in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab, associated with cultures dating roughly from the late Harappan period through the early Iron Age.

B) CCE: This abbreviation does not correspond to a recognized standard archaeological pottery type found in India or widely known in archaeology.

C) NBP: Stands for Northern Black Polished Ware. This is a high-quality, glossy pottery type characteristic of the Northern Indian Iron Age, particularly associated with the Mahajanapada period and the Mauryan Empire.

D) BRW: Stands for Black and Red Ware. This is a widely distributed pottery type in India, spanning various cultural periods from the Chalcolithic to the early Iron Age, characterized by its black interior and rim and red exterior.

Archaeological pottery types are crucial for dating and understanding ancient cultures. They are classified based on characteristics like material, manufacturing technique, shape, colour, surface treatment (e.g., slip, polish, paint), and firing method. OCP, NBP, and BRW are established categories used by archaeologists working in the Indian subcontinent.

4. Which one of the following is NOT listed as one of the sixteen mahajan

Which one of the following is NOT listed as one of the sixteen mahajana-padas in the pre-Mauryan period?

Kuru

Vatsa

Gandhara

Kalinga

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Ancient Indian texts, such as the Anguttara Nikaya (a Buddhist text) and the Bhagavati Sutra (a Jaina text), list sixteen Mahajanapadas (Great Kingdoms) that existed in the Indian subcontinent during the 6th-4th centuries BCE, in the pre-Mauryan period. The commonly listed Mahajanapadas are: Anga, Magadha, Kashi, Kosala, Vriji (Vajji), Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya (Machcha), Surasena, Asmaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.
Let’s check the options:
A) Kuru: Is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas.
B) Vatsa: Is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas.
C) Gandhara: Is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas.
D) Kalinga: The region of Kalinga (modern Odisha) was a significant political entity, but it is not listed among the sixteen Mahajanapadas in the standard ancient lists for this period. It became particularly prominent during the reign of Ashoka, who conquered it in the 3rd century BCE.

The sixteen Mahajanapadas were prominent kingdoms in North India during the pre-Mauryan period. Kalinga was a separate kingdom that gained historical prominence later.

The lists of Mahajanapadas sometimes vary slightly between different texts. However, Kalinga is consistently absent from the lists of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the 6th-4th centuries BCE.

5. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The cities of the s

Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The cities of the second urbanization in Indian history are mainly located in the Ganga valley
Statement II: Advanced iron technology, ensuring an agrarian surplus is instrumental to this process of urbanization

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

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2014

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Both Statement I and Statement II are individually true, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I. The second urbanization in India (around the 6th century BCE) saw the rise of major cities, primarily located in the middle Ganga valley. This development was closely linked to significant advancements in iron technology, which facilitated large-scale forest clearing and improved agricultural productivity, leading to an agrarian surplus.

The Second Urbanization (Mahajanapada period) was concentrated in the Ganga valley. Advanced iron technology enabled agrarian surplus, which supported the growth of non-agricultural populations and led to urbanization.

The iron tools like axes and ploughshares made it possible to cultivate the fertile but densely forested Ganga plain extensively. The resulting surplus production could feed a growing urban population not directly involved in agriculture, fostering trade, crafts, and administrative centres which developed into cities. Notable cities of this period include Pataliputra, Rajagriha, Vaishali, Shravasti, Kaushambi, and Varanasi.

6. Taxila was the capital of which one among the following Mahajanapadas

Taxila was the capital of which one among the following Mahajanapadas of ancient India ?

Kuru

Kasi

Gandhar

Avanti

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2024

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The correct answer is C. Taxila (Takshashila) was the capital of the ancient Mahajanapada of Gandhara.

– Gandhara was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, powerful kingdoms or oligarchic republics that existed in ancient India from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.
– It was located in the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent, in parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.
– Its capital cities were Purushapura (modern Peshawar) and Takshashila (Taxila). Taxila was a major center of learning and commerce.
– The other options are incorrect:
– Kuru: Capital was Hastinapura or Indraprastha, located in the Delhi-Haryana region.
– Kasi: Capital was Varanasi, located in modern-day Uttar Pradesh.
– Avanti: Capital was Ujjayini or Mahishmati, located in modern-day Madhya Pradesh.

The Mahajanapada period was a significant phase in early Indian history, marking the consolidation of political power into larger states following the Vedic period. Gandhara was known for its unique Gandhara school of art, which showed Greek influence.

7. Which one of the following was NOT a way in which kings in ancient Ind

Which one of the following was NOT a way in which kings in ancient India attempted to claim a higher status ?

Identifying with a variety of deities

Assuming pompous titles

Imposing high taxes

Conquests and annexation of territories

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2023

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Ancient Indian kings used various methods to elevate their status and legitimize their rule. Identifying with deities (e.g., claiming divine lineage or being representatives of gods) was a common way to reinforce authority. Assuming grand and pompous titles (like Maharajadhiraja, Samrat, Chakravartin) directly proclaimed their power and superiority. Conquests and annexation of territories demonstrated military strength and expanded their influence, bringing prestige and validating their claim to a higher status. Imposing high taxes, while a means of extracting resources and exercising power, was primarily an administrative and economic function rather than a method for *claiming* higher inherent status. High taxes could even lead to resentment rather than being a source of popular legitimacy for elevated status.

Claiming higher status often involved symbolic actions, assertions of divine connection, military prowess, and grand pronouncements, distinguishing it from the practical exercise of administrative power like taxation.

Examples include the Kushana rulers adopting titles like ‘Devaputra’ (son of god), Gupta emperors using titles like ‘Maharajadhiraja’, and numerous dynasties performing Ashvamedha sacrifices after conquests to assert their paramountcy.

8. Consider the following statements about the emergence of urban centres

Consider the following statements about the emergence of urban centres in India from circa 6^th Century BCE :

All of them developed away from the capitals of mahajanpadas.
Major towns were located along routes of communication.
Many were bustling centres of commercial, cultural and political activity.

How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

None

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2024

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Two of the provided statements about the emergence of urban centres in India from circa 6th Century BCE are correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Many major urban centres of this period, which marked the ‘Second Urbanization’ (e.g., Pataliputra, Rajagriha, Sravasti, Kausambi, Ujjayini), were indeed the capitals of the prominent *mahajanapadas* (great kingdoms).
Statement 2 is correct. Major towns and cities often developed along important trade routes and communication arteries, particularly river valleys like the Ganges, which facilitated transport and connectivity.
Statement 3 is correct. These emerging urban centres were not just administrative hubs but also vibrant centres of economic activity (trade, craft production), cultural exchange, and political power.

The 6th century BCE saw significant socio-economic changes in the Gangetic plain, including increased agricultural surplus due to the use of iron tools, the rise of powerful states (*mahajanapadas*), and the growth of trade networks, all of which contributed to the development of urban centres. Statements 2 and 3 accurately describe characteristics of these cities.

9. Which one among the following rulers established Pataliputra as the ca

Which one among the following rulers established Pataliputra as the capital of the Magadhan Empire ?

Bimbisara

Bindusara

Ajatashatru

Ashoka

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2023

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While the earliest capital of the Magadhan Empire was Rajagriha (Rajgir), Pataliputra became increasingly important due to its strategic location. Ajatashatru, the son of Bimbisara, is credited with fortifying the village of Pataligrama (which grew into Pataliputra) during his conflicts, particularly against the Vajjis. His son, Udayin (Udayibhadra), subsequently shifted the capital of the Magadhan Empire from Rajagriha to Pataliputra due to its central and strategic position. Among the given options, Ajatashatru initiated the process of establishing Pataliputra as a significant stronghold by building a fort, paving the way for it to become the capital under his successor.

Ajatashatru fortified Pataliputra, which was later established as the capital of the Magadhan Empire by his son Udayin. Among the given options, Ajatashatru is the ruler most directly associated with initiating Pataliputra’s rise.

Pataliputra (modern Patna) remained the capital of major empires, including the Nanda and Mauryan empires, for centuries due to its advantageous location at the confluence of several major rivers (Ganges, Gandak, Son, and Ghaghara), providing natural defence and facilitating trade.

10. Which one among the following sects was associated with Gosala Maskari

Which one among the following sects was associated with Gosala Maskariputra ?

Vajrayana

Ajivikas

Sthaviravadins

Mahasanghikas

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2015

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The correct answer is B) Ajivikas. Gosala Maskariputra (Makkhali Gosala) was the founder and leader of the Ajivika sect, one of the ancient Indian ascetic movements that existed concurrently with early Buddhism and Jainism.

– Gosala Maskariputra was a contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) and Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism).
– The Ajivika philosophy is known for its strict determinism (Niyati), asserting that everything is predetermined and human effort is futile in altering destiny.
– The Ajivika sect was a prominent non-Vedic ascetic tradition in ancient India but eventually declined.

Vajrayana is a later development within Mahayana Buddhism. Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas were the two main early schools of Buddhism that emerged after the Second Buddhist Council, following a schism within the Buddhist Sangha.