Q1: Assertion(A): Art and culture flourished during the Gupta era.
Reason(R): Harishena, who was a poet and minister at the court of Skandagupta, wrote an inscription in the King's honour.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: c
Harishena was a poet and minister at the court of Gupta King Skandagupta. He did write an inscription in the king's honour, but it does not necessarily mean that art and culture flourished during the Gupta era. Art and culture flourished during this era due to a number of factors, not just because of one poet or minister.
Q2: Assertion(A): The Gupta Empire extended beyond India's boundaries.
Reason(R): Harishena's Prashasti, which depicts tributes and Matrimonial alliances, which extended to countries like Sri Lanka.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The Gupta Empire did extend beyond India's boundaries. This is corroborated by Harishena's Prashasti, which depicts tributes and matrimonial alliances extending to countries like Sri Lanka.
Q3: Assertion(A): The genealogy of the Gupta rulers can be chronologised by the Prashastis.
Reason(R): Samudra Gupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of Maharaj Adhi Raja.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: c
The genealogy of the Gupta rulers can be chronologised by the Prashastis, but Samudra Gupta was not the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of Maharaj Adhi Raja. It is true that he did adopt this title, but it is not related to the chronology of the Gupta rulers.
Q4: Assertion(A): Foreign ambassadors came to India during the era of Harshavardhana.
Reason(R): Fa Hien, a chinese traveller, came during Harsha's time on a religious mission.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: c
Fa Hien, a Chinese traveller, did visit India during Harsha's time on a religious mission, but he was not a foreign ambassador. Therefore, while it is true that foreign ambassadors came to India during Harsha's era, Fa Hien's visit does not provide the correct explanation for this.
Q5: Assertion(A): Pulakeshin II was not too keen on expanding his kingdom.
Reason(R): Pulakeshin II led expeditions along both the West and East Coast.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
Pulakeshin II led expeditions along both the West and East Coast, indicating that he was indeed keen on expanding his kingdom, contradicting the assertion.
Q6: Assertion(A): The Chalukya and Pallavas' reign was short lived.
Reason(R): Ultimately, both the Pallavas and the Chalukyas gave way to new rulers belonging to the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasty.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The reign of the Chalukyas and Pallavas was indeed short-lived. Both dynasties eventually gave way to new rulers from the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties.
Q7: Assertion(A): In southern India, the Kings did not maintain regular armies.
Reason(R): There were military leaders who provided the king with troops whenever he needed them. They were not paid regular salaries instead, some of them received grants of land.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
In southern India, kings did not maintain regular armies. Instead, military leaders provided the king with troops whenever he needed them. These leaders were not paid regular salaries, but some of them received grants of land.
Q8: Assertion(A): Vikram Samvat has huge significance even today.
Reason(R): The era beginning in the 58 BC is traditionally associated with Gupta King, Chandragupta II, who founded it as a mark of victory over the Shakas and assumed the title of Vikramaditya.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
The Vikram Samvat, which begins in 58 BC, is associated with Gupta King Chandragupta II. However, this king did not found the Vikram Samvat, and it is not a mark of his victory over the Shakas. Therefore, while the Vikram Samvat does have huge significance even today, the reason is not correctly explained.
Q9: Assertion(A): Harishena's Prashasti reveals a lot about the Gupta kings.
Reason(R): It depicts Samudragupta's victories over kings in all parts of India and abroad.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Harishena's Prashasti does reveal a lot about the Gupta kings, including Samudragupta's victories over kings in all parts of India and abroad.
Q10: Assertion(A): The Gupta Empire extended to the east of India also.
Reason(R): This could be corroborated by the written evidence of tributes brought by kings from afar as Assam, coastal Bengal and Nepal.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The Gupta Empire did extend to the east of India, as evidenced by the tributes brought by kings from as far as Assam, coastal Bengal, and Nepal.
Q11: Assertion(A): Inscriptions and coins are not the only source of finding out about ancient Indian rulers.
Reason(R): Harshvardhan's biography was written by Banbhatta in Sanskrit.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Inscriptions and coins are not the only sources of information about ancient Indian rulers. Other sources, such as biographies, also provide valuable information. For example, Harshvardhan's biography was written by Banbhatta in Sanskrit. However, the fact that Harshvardhan's biography was written by Banbhatta is not the reason why inscriptions and coins are not the only sources of information about ancient Indian rulers.
Q12: Assertion(A): Along with being successful in the East, Harsha was successful in the southwest part of the country also.
Reason(R): In the east Harsha conquered Magadha and Bengal also.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
Harsha did conquer Magadha and Bengal in the east, but the assertion is about his success in the southwest part of the country. Therefore, the reason does not correctly explain the assertion.
Q13: Assertion(A): The Kingdom of Pallavas and Chalukyas extended to long boundaries.
Reason(R): The Kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri Delta, while that of Chalukyas was centred around the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The Kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri Delta, while that of the Chalukyas was centred around the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. This indicates that their kingdoms did indeed extend to long boundaries.
Q14: Assertion(A): The Chalukyas did not give much importance to trade.
Reason(R): Aihole, the capital of the Chalukyas, was an important trading centre.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The capital of the Chalukyas, Aihole, was an important trading centre, indicating that the Chalukyas did give importance to trade. Therefore, the assertion is incorrect.
Q15: Assertion(A): There was considerable harmony between the Chalukyas and Pallavas.
Reason(R): The Pallavas & Chalukya frequently raided one another's lands, especially attacking the capital cities, which were prosperous towns.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: c
The assertion that there was considerable harmony between the Chalukyas and Pallavas is contradicted by the fact that these two dynasties frequently raided one another's lands, especially attacking the capital cities, which were prosperous towns.
Q16: Assertion(A): There was considerable struggle for succession among the Chalukya dynasty.
Reason(R): The best known Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II.It is known about him through a prashasti composed by his court poet Ravikirti.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
The assertion that there was considerable struggle for succession among the Chalukya dynasty is not explained by the fact that the best known Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II, who is known through a prashasti composed by his court poet Ravikirti.
Q17: Assertion(A): Pulakeshin checked the advances of Harsha.
Reason(R): According to Ravikirti, Harsha led expeditions along the west and east coasts. There was a play of words mocking Harsha's loss in the poem.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
According to Ravikirti, Pulakeshin II did check the advances of Harsha. There was a play of words mocking Harsha's loss in Ravikirti's poem.
Q18: Assertion(A): Along with a robust administration, politics and diplomacy played a pivotal part in the southern dynasty.
Reason(R): Kings adopted a number of steps to win the support of men who were powerful, either economically or socially, or because of their political and military strength.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Along with a robust administration, politics and diplomacy did play a pivotal part in the southern dynasty. Kings adopted a number of steps to win the support of men who were powerful, either economically or socially, or because of their political and military strength.
Q19: Assertion(A): There was no mention of local assembly in Pallavas' kingdom.
Reason(R): The inscriptions of the Pallavas mentioned a number of local assemblies. These included the sub which was an assembly of Brahmin land owners. This assembly functioned through sub committees which looked after irrigation, agriculture, operations making roads, local temples etcetera.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The assertion that there was no mention of local assembly in Pallavas' kingdom is contradicted by the fact that the inscriptions of the Pallavas mentioned a number of local assemblies, including the sabha, which was an assembly of Brahmin land owners.
Q20: Assertion(A): Like Indus Valley Civilization, there is no real account of the life of ordinary people of the southern Kingdom.
Reason(R): Kalidasa is known for his place depicting life in the King's court. His place shows King and most Brahmins speaking Sanskrit, whereas women and men other than King and Brahmins were using Prakrit language.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The assertion that there is no real account of the life of ordinary people of the southern Kingdom is contradicted by Kalidasa's plays, which depict life in the king's court, showing the king and most Brahmins speaking Sanskrit, while women and men other than the king and Brahmins were using the Prakrit language.
