Ancient History- Solved Questions (2025) | UPSC Topic Wise Previous Year Questions PDF Download

Ans: (b)
Fa-hien, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, traveled to India during the reign of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty in the early 5th century CE. He sought Buddhist scriptures and studied Indian Buddhist practices, documenting valuable insights into Gupta society, governance, and religion. Other rulers listed are not from the time of his visit.

Ans: (b)
I. Asmaka: Godavari
Correctly matched, as Asmaka, a Mahajanapada in the Deccan, was situated along the Godavari river.
II. Kamboja: Vipas
Incorrect, as Kamboja was located in the northwest (near Afghanistan and Tajikistan), not near the Vipas (Beas) river in Punjab.
III. Avanti: Mahanadi
Incorrect, as Avanti, centered in western Madhya Pradesh with Ujjain as its capital, was associated with the Kshipra river, not the Mahanadi.
IV. Kosala: Sarayu
Correct, as Kosala, in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh, was traversed by the Sarayu river.

Ans: (b)
Ashokan inscriptions refer to 'Pradesika', 'Rajuka', and 'Yukta' as key district-level officials. The Pradesika oversaw district administration, the Rajuka was responsible for revenue collection and judicial duties, and the Yukta served as a subordinate official assisting with administrative tasks and maintaining records.

Ans: (c)
Rajendra I of the Chola dynasty, succeeding his father Rajaraja I, launched a significant naval expedition around 1025 CE against the Srivijaya kingdom, a dominant maritime power in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. This campaign strengthened Chola control over vital sea trade routes. The other rulers—Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta), Prataparudra (Kakatiya), and Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala)—did not undertake campaigns against Srivijaya, focusing instead on regional affairs in the Deccan and South India.

Ans: (a)
The correct answer is A. Mahendravarman I.
Mahendravarman I, a 7th-century Pallava king, was known for his literary talent and artistic patronage. He adopted the titles ‘Mattavilasa’ (lover of playful sport), ‘Vichitrachitta’ (curious-minded or inventive), and ‘Gunabharata’ (full of virtues). He also authored the Sanskrit play Mattavilasa Prahasana, reflecting his cultural contributions.
The other rulers listed did not assume these titles.

Ans: (b)
The Araghatta was an ancient Indian irrigation device consisting of a large wheel with earthen pots fixed around its rim. As the wheel rotated—usually powered by animals or humans—the pots dipped into a water source and lifted water for irrigation. This mechanism is distinct from leather bags or simple buckets pulled by hand and represents early mechanical water-lifting technology.

Ans: (c)
The 'Dancing Girl' from Mohenjo-daro is a renowned artifact of the Indus Valley Civilization, showcasing exceptional bronze metalwork crafted through the lost-wax casting technique.

Ans: (d)
In 1901, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar founded the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore, a pivotal move to formalize music education in India and promote the revival of classical music traditions.