MCQ on Gupta and Post Gupta Period

🟢 EASY (1–20)

Who is considered the founder of the Gupta Empire?
a) Samudragupta
b) Chandragupta I ✅
c) Chandragupta II
d) Skandagupta
Explanation: He started the dynasty around 319 CE.
Which Gupta ruler is known as the “Napoleon of India”?
a) Chandragupta I
b) Samudragupta ✅
c) Kumaragupta
d) Harshavardhana
Explanation: Due to his extensive military conquests.
Which period is known as the ‘Golden Age of India’?
a) Mauryan Period
b) Gupta Period ✅
c) Mughal Period
d) Vedic Period
Explanation: Due to advancements in science, art, and literature.
The famous Iron Pillar near Qutub Minar was erected by:
a) Ashoka
b) Harsha
c) Chandragupta II ✅
d) Samudragupta
Explanation: As a mark of victory.
Who was the greatest poet in Chandragupta II’s court?
a) Tulsidas
b) Kalidasa ✅
c) Bhavabhuti
d) Banabhatta
Explanation: Known for Abhijnanashakuntalam.
The Gupta coins were mostly made of:
a) Iron
b) Copper
c) Gold ✅
d) Silver
Explanation: Known for their artistic excellence.
Which famous Chinese traveler visited India during Gupta rule?
a) Hiuen Tsang
b) Fa-Hien ✅
c) I-Tsing
d) Marco Polo
Explanation: During Chandragupta II’s reign.
Which script was commonly used in Gupta inscriptions?
a) Tamil-Brahmi
b) Kharosthi
c) Brahmi ✅
d) Devanagari
Explanation: Inscribed in Sanskrit.
Which field saw great development during the Gupta period?
a) Politics
b) Literature and Science ✅
c) Agriculture
d) Naval warfare
Explanation: Especially astronomy and mathematics.
Who wrote the book ‘Aryabhatiya’?
a) Varahamihira
b) Aryabhata ✅
c) Brahmagupta
d) Bhaskara
Explanation: A mathematical treatise.
What was the capital of the Gupta Empire?
a) Pataliputra ✅
b) Mathura
c) Ujjain
d) Kannauj
Explanation: Administrative and cultural center.
Which of the following was NOT a Gupta ruler?
a) Chandragupta I
b) Skandagupta
c) Harshavardhana ✅
d) Kumaragupta
Explanation: Harsha came later.
Who stopped the Hunas during the Gupta period?
a) Samudragupta
b) Skandagupta ✅
c) Harsha
d) Pushyamitra
Explanation: Fought and weakened them.
The Nalanda University was patronized by:
a) Harsha ✅
b) Ashoka
c) Chandragupta I
d) Kanishka
Explanation: During the post-Gupta period.
Which religion flourished the most under Gupta rule?
a) Jainism
b) Buddhism
c) Hinduism ✅
d) Zoroastrianism
Explanation: Though others were tolerated.
Who wrote the Panchatantra?
a) Vishnu Sharma ✅
b) Banabhatta
c) Kalidasa
d) Aryabhata
Explanation: Moral stories in animal fables.
Which river’s basin was the core area of Gupta rule?
a) Godavari
b) Krishna
c) Ganga ✅
d) Narmada
Explanation: Rich and fertile plains.
Which Gupta ruler issued coins depicting musical instruments?
a) Kumaragupta
b) Samudragupta ✅
c) Skandagupta
d) Chandragupta II
Explanation: Suggests his interest in music.
Gupta temples were mainly built of:
a) Mud
b) Brick and stone ✅
c) Wood
d) Marble
Explanation: Some still survive.
Which dynasty ruled after the Guptas in North India?
a) Satavahanas
b) Harsha’s Vardhana dynasty ✅
c) Pallavas
d) Cholas
Explanation: Harsha rose in the 7th century.

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

The Allahabad pillar inscription was composed by:
a) Banabhatta
b) Harisena ✅
c) Kalidasa
d) Vishnugupta
Explanation: Describes Samudragupta’s achievements.
Samudragupta was the son of:
a) Chandragupta I ✅
b) Ashoka
c) Kumaragupta
d) Harsha
Explanation: He succeeded his father.
Who among the following was not a court poet of Gupta rulers?
a) Harisena
b) Kalidasa
c) Vishakhadatta
d) Panini ✅
Explanation: Panini lived earlier.
The Gupta period saw the decline of:
a) Buddhism
b) Jainism
c) Trade with the West ✅
d) Sanskrit
Explanation: Due to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Which astronomical work did Aryabhata write?
a) Surya Siddhanta
b) Aryabhatiya ✅
c) Brihatsamhita
d) Siddhanta Shiromani
Explanation: Covered mathematics and astronomy.
The decimal system was developed during:
a) Mauryan Period
b) Gupta Period ✅
c) Vedic Age
d) Mughal Period
Explanation: Decimal and zero concepts emerged.
Which of the following was a prominent center of learning?
a) Ujjain ✅
b) Delhi
c) Mathura
d) Puri
Explanation: Famous for astronomy and mathematics.
Gupta inscriptions were mainly in which language?
a) Pali
b) Prakrit
c) Sanskrit ✅
d) Tamil
Explanation: Classical Sanskrit revived.
The decline of Gupta Empire began with the invasion of:
a) Kushans
b) Hunas ✅
c) Cholas
d) Arabs
Explanation: Attacks from Central Asia.
Who was the last important Gupta ruler?
a) Kumaragupta
b) Skandagupta ✅
c) Chandragupta III
d) Samudragupta
Explanation: After him, empire disintegrated.
Who wrote Meghaduta and Raghuvamsha?
a) Kalidasa ✅
b) Bhavabhuti
c) Banabhatta
d) Sudraka
Explanation: Court poet of Chandragupta II.
Which was a common feature of Gupta coins?
a) Jain symbols
b) Brahmi script and images of rulers ✅
c) Greek symbols
d) Roman numerals
Explanation: Reflected royalty and achievements.
Post-Gupta polity was mostly:
a) Centralized
b) Decentralized ✅
c) Theocratic
d) Tribal
Explanation: Rise of regional kingdoms.
The first Indian to calculate value of π (pi) was:
a) Varahamihira
b) Bhaskara
c) Aryabhata ✅
d) Brahmagupta
Explanation: Value approximated in Aryabhatiya.
Which king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty expanded after Gupta decline?
a) Rajyavardhana
b) Harshavardhana ✅
c) Narasimhavarman
d) Pulakesin II
Explanation: Ruled much of north India.
Which Gupta ruler assumed the title ‘Vikramaditya’?
a) Samudragupta
b) Chandragupta II ✅
c) Skandagupta
d) Kumaragupta
Explanation: Reflected ideal kingship.
Which Gupta ruler had strong relations with foreign powers?
a) Skandagupta
b) Chandragupta II ✅
c) Ashoka
d) Harsha
Explanation: Sent missions to Iran and Sri Lanka.
The Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa describes which period?
a) Vedic
b) Mauryan
c) Gupta
d) Post-Gupta ✅
Explanation: Though written later, it reflects post-Gupta themes.
The famous mathematician Varahamihira wrote:
a) Aryabhatiya
b) Panchasiddhantika ✅
c) Brahmasphutasiddhanta
d) Siddhanta Shiromani
Explanation: On astronomy and astrology.
What was the nature of Gupta polity?
a) Theocratic
b) Feudal-monarchical ✅
c) Democratic
d) Republican
Explanation: Central power with local autonomy.

🔴 HARD (41–50)

Which post-Gupta dynasty ruled parts of central India?
a) Satavahanas
b) Chalukyas ✅
c) Mauryas
d) Sungas
Explanation: Based in Badami.
Which Gupta-era author wrote ‘Dashakumaracharita’?
a) Vishakhadatta
b) Dandin ✅
c) Kalidasa
d) Bhavabhuti
Explanation: Prose narrative in Sanskrit.
Which mathematical concept was first clearly explained by Brahmagupta?
a) Infinity
b) Zero as a number ✅
c) Geometry
d) Algebra
Explanation: In Brahmasphutasiddhanta.
Which was a major center of Buddhism in the post-Gupta period?
a) Kanchipuram
b) Nalanda ✅
c) Ajanta
d) Ujjain
Explanation: Visited by Chinese pilgrims.
Who defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada?
a) Pulakesin II ✅
b) Mahendravarman I
c) Rajaraja I
d) Skandagupta
Explanation: Chalukya king.
The Sanskrit work Harshacharita was written by:
a) Kalidasa
b) Banabhatta ✅
c) Aryabhata
d) Dandin
Explanation: Biography of Harsha.
The Bhitari inscription describes the reign of:
a) Skandagupta ✅
b) Samudragupta
c) Harsha
d) Pulakesin
Explanation: Mentions his achievements.
Gupta temples are notable for their:
a) Wooden construction
b) Flat roofs and square sanctums ✅
c) Shikharas
d) Dome roofs
Explanation: Early Hindu architecture.
What was the religious policy of the Guptas?
a) Intolerant
b) Strict Hinduism
c) Tolerant ✅
d) Buddhist
Explanation: Patronized many faiths.
Which dynasty rose in Bengal after Gupta decline?
a) Palas ✅
b) Rashtrakutas
c) Cholas
d) Sungas
Explanation: Founded by Gopala in 8th century.

🟢 EASY (1–20)

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

🔴 HARD (41–50)

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