General Studies

The history of ancient India focuses on early India. It provides a proper guide to the rise of major empires like the Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic period, the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, and the development of Jainism and Buddhism. Ancient Indian history occupies a prominent place in the UPSC and Civil Services Examinations, including the Prelims and Mains examinations.

   SET – II

1. Taxila University was situated in –

2. Ans: Taxila, Punjab (Present day in Pakistan).                                       [RRB, 2005]

3. When was the “Panchtantra” written?
   Ans: Gupta Period.                                                                            [SSC Tax Assist, 2009]

4. The subject matter of Ajanta painting pertains to –
   Ans: Buddhism.                                                                               [SSC Gr. 2003]

5. The decimal system was first known in India at the beginning of –
   Ans: 5th century AD.                                                                           [NDA, 2003]

6. What do the paintings of Ajanta depict?
   Ans: Jatakas.                                                                                   [SSC Grad. 2003]

7. Fahien visited the kingdom of –
   Ans: Chandragupta Vikramaditya.

8. Huen – Tsang visited the kingdom of –
   Ans: Harshavardhan.

9. Which source of Islam is associated with the teachings of Prophet Mohammad?
   Ans: Quran.                                                                                     [SCRA, 2000]

10. The caves and rock-cut temples at Ellora are –
    Ans: Hindu, Buddhist and Jain.                                                           [SSC Gr. 2008]

11. Which is considered an encyclopaedia of Indian Medicine?
    Ans: Charaka Samhita.                                                                     [NDA, 2004]

12. Where did the game of chess originate?
    Ans: India.                                                                                     [SSC Mat, 2008]

13. Bhagavatism centred around the worship of –
    Ans: Vishnu.                                                                                    [NDA, 2000]

14. Which was known as Chalcolithic Age?
    Ans: Copper-stone Age.

15. The first major inscription in classical Sanskrit is that of –
    Ans: Rudraman.

16. “Use of white marble, long legs and slender frames, human beings as central characters and prominence of kings, princess and places” – were the characteristic features of which ancient art forms of India?
    Ans: Amaravati school of Art.                                                           [NDA, 2010]

17. Who calculated the value of pi?
    Ans: Bodhayana.

18. Who calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun?
    Ans: Bhaskaracharya.

19. Who invented the digit zero?
    Ans: Aryabhatta.

20. Who invented the game of snakes and ladders?
    Ans: Gyandev.

21. How many Tarangas are in “Rajatarangini” of Kalhana?
    Ans: Eight.                                                                                       [UP PCS (M), 2015]

22. The cultivation of cereals first started in –
    Ans: Neolithic Age.                                                                           [UP PCS (M), 2005]

23. Carbon-dating is used to determine the age of –
    Ans: Fossils.                                                                                   [Utt. PCS (P), 2008]