General Studies

The Miscellaneous (Ancient India) Set-1 passage contains many important questions on all aspects of ancient Indian history such as cultural, social, economic, religious and political aspects. This chapter contains practice questions in multiple choice question (MCQ) format that test the students' understanding of the concepts of the chapter as well as their academic preparation for the exam.

SET – I

1. Mohenjo-Daro is also known as –
   Ans: Mound of the dead.

2. Which archaeologist initially discovered the Mohenjo-Daro sites of Indus Valley Civilization?
   Ans: Rakhal Das Banerjee.                                                             [G.I.C, AAO, 1992]

3. The latest Harappan site discovered in Gujarat is –
   Ans: Kuntasi.

4. The Granary at Harappa was made of –
   Ans: Bricks only.

5. The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in –
   Ans: 1922.

6. The Lothal civilization was known for –
   Ans: Trade and commerce.

7. Indications of pre-Harappan civilization have come from the archaeological excavation at –
   Ans: Lothal.                                                                                             [C.D.S, 1995]

8. The sources of the blue gemstone, lapis lazuli, for the people of Harappan culture was –
   Ans: Afghanistan.

9. The spread of the Harappan civilization is coterminous with the –
   Ans: Wheat producing zone.

10. Which elements of Hinduism were practiced in the Indus Valley Civilization?
    Ans: Cult of Shiva.

11. The tools and weapons of Harappan civilization were made of –
    Ans: Copper, tin, and bronze.                                                             [I.F.S, 1990]

12. Rice cultivation is associated with the Harappan site of –
    Ans: Lothal.

13. At which Harappan site have traces of a horse been found?
    Ans: Surkotda.

14. The Indus Valley Civilization was spread over –
    Ans: Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Baluchistan.

15. Who was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?
    Ans: Gargi.                                                                                        [I.A.S, 1995]

16. Upanishads, also known as the Vedantas, are how many in number?
    Ans: 108.

17. How many Puranas are there?
    Ans: 18.

18. Who popularised the theory of “Arctic Region” as the original home of Aryans?
    Ans: B.G. Tilak.

19. The famous Vedic saying “War begins in the minds of men” is stated in –
    Ans: Atharva Veda.

20. In the Vedic society, the term used to denote a group of families was –
    Ans: Jana.                                                                                                 [C.D.S, 1993]

21. Which Yajnas were performed during the Vedic age?
    Ans:
    a) Asvamedha Yajna
    b) Vratyastama Yajna
    c) Rajasuya Yajna

22. Which Vedangas contains the Srautra, the Grihya and the Dharma Sutras?
    Ans: Kalpa.

23. Codes of conduct of the Vedic society are laid down in –
    Ans: Smritis.

24. The tax which the kings used to collect from the people in the Vedic period was called –
    Ans: Bali.

25. “The world is God and God is my soul” is the philosophy contained in the –
    Ans: Upanishads.

26. Which colour was commonly used in Harappan pottery?
    Ans: Red.

27. In the Rig Vedic period, the most important functionary after the king was –
    Ans: Purohita.

28. Svetambaras and Digambaras were two sects of –
    Ans: Jainism.                                                                                                 [I.F.S, 1993]

29. The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily –
    Ans: Yajnas and worship of nature.

30. Which is the earliest school of Indian philosophy?
    Ans: Vaisesika.                                                                                             [Assistant Grade, 1995]

31. The distinguishing feature of Upanishadic thought is –
    Ans: Belief in karma and rebirth.

32. During the Neolithic age in India, the only metal known to the people was –
    Ans: Gold.

33. According to the Mimamsa system of philosophy, liberation is possible by means of –
    Ans: Karma.                                                                                             [I.A.S, 1995]

34. The great Indian philosopher Sankara advocated –
    Ans: Advaita.

35. As per Jain literature, the first Tirthankara was –
    Ans: Rishabhadeva.

36. Barabar caves were used for shelter by –
    Ans: Ajivikas.                                                                                             [P.C.S, 1995]

37. The triratnas were stressed by –
    Ans: Mahavira.                                                                                            [C.D.S, 1993]

38. What was the rate of land revenue as given in the Dharma Shastras?
    Ans: 1/6.                                                                                                 [P.C.S, 1996]

39. The school of philosophy that Ramanuja established in the 25th century A.D was known as –
    Ans: Vishishtadvaita.