Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Chandragupta Maurya ✅
d) Bimbisara Explanation: He founded the empire with help from Chanakya.
Who was the author of Arthashastra?
a) Kalidasa
b) Megasthenes
c) Kautilya ✅
d) Patanjali Explanation: Kautilya (Chanakya), adviser to Chandragupta Maurya.
Ashoka was the son of:
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Bindusara ✅
c) Bimbisara
d) Ajatashatru Explanation: Bindusara was the second Mauryan ruler.
Which Mauryan ruler adopted Buddhism?
a) Chandragupta
b) Bindusara
c) Ashoka ✅
d) Dasaratha Explanation: After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced Buddhism.
Which famous battle led Ashoka to embrace Buddhism?
a) Battle of Hydaspes
b) Battle of Kalinga ✅
c) Battle of Kurukshetra
d) Battle of Panipat Explanation: The bloodshed moved him to adopt non-violence.
Megasthenes was an ambassador from:
a) Persia
b) Greece ✅
c) China
d) Rome Explanation: He came from Seleucus I’s court.
The capital of the Mauryan Empire was:
a) Ujjain
b) Pataliputra ✅
c) Taxila
d) Rajgir Explanation: Modern-day Patna.
Which rock edict mentions the Kalinga War?
a) 1st
b) 7th
c) 13th ✅
d) 14th Explanation: It describes Ashoka’s remorse.
Which symbol is associated with Ashoka and is on the Indian National Emblem?
a) Elephant
b) Horse
c) Lion Capital of Sarnath ✅
d) Chakra Explanation: The four-lion capital is India’s national emblem.
Ashoka’s Dhamma emphasized:
a) Rituals
b) Conquest
c) Moral values ✅
d) Taxation Explanation: It was a code of ethical conduct.
Which religion did Chandragupta Maurya adopt in his later life?
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhism
c) Jainism ✅
d) Shaivism Explanation: He became a Jain monk.
Ashoka sent his son Mahinda to:
a) China
b) Persia
c) Sri Lanka ✅
d) Myanmar Explanation: To spread Buddhism.
The last Mauryan ruler was:
a) Ashoka
b) Dasaratha
c) Brihadratha ✅
d) Devavarman Explanation: He was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga.
Who founded the Shunga dynasty?
a) Kanishka
b) Pushyamitra Shunga ✅
c) Agnimitra
d) Kalidasa Explanation: After assassinating the last Mauryan king.
The famous Buddhist university at Mauryan time was:
a) Nalanda
b) Takshashila ✅
c) Vallabhi
d) Vikramshila Explanation: Known for various subjects.
Ashoka’s inscriptions were mostly written in:
a) Sanskrit
b) Prakrit ✅
c) Tamil
d) Pali Explanation: Using Brahmi script.
Which script is used in most of Ashokan edicts?
a) Devanagari
b) Brahmi ✅
c) Kharosthi
d) Tamil-Brahmi Explanation: Brahmi in most regions; Kharosthi in northwest.
The Mauryan Empire was established around:
a) 321 BCE ✅
b) 500 BCE
c) 185 BCE
d) 100 CE Explanation: After Alexander’s withdrawal.
Bindusara was also known as:
a) Amitraghata ✅
b) Devanampriya
c) Chakravarti
d) Ashokavardhana Explanation: It means “slayer of enemies”.
The primary source for Ashoka’s rule is:
a) Manusmriti
b) Arthashastra
c) Inscriptions ✅
d) Mahabharata Explanation: Rock and pillar edicts across India.
🟡 MODERATE (21–40)
Which foreign power did Chandragupta defeat to consolidate his empire?
a) Greeks under Alexander
b) Seleucus I ✅
c) Persians
d) Romans Explanation: Seleucus gave territory in exchange for peace.
Which Mauryan king was a contemporary of Alexander the Great?
a) Bindusara
b) Chandragupta Maurya ✅
c) Ashoka
d) Brihadratha Explanation: They overlapped around 326–323 BCE.
The Arthashastra deals with:
a) Rituals
b) Warfare and administration ✅
c) Religion
d) Poetry Explanation: It’s a political treatise.
Ashokan inscriptions were first deciphered by:
a) Megasthenes
b) James Prinsep ✅
c) Cunningham
d) Hiuen Tsang Explanation: In the 1830s.
Which dynasty ruled immediately after the Mauryas?
a) Nandas
b) Sungas ✅
c) Satavahanas
d) Guptas Explanation: Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga.
Which Indo-Greek king embraced Buddhism and appears in Milindapanho?
a) Antiochus
b) Menander ✅
c) Darius
d) Demetrius Explanation: Referred to as “Milinda”.
Kharosthi script was used mainly in:
a) South India
b) Central India
c) Northwest India ✅
d) Bengal Explanation: Influenced by Aramaic.
Which post-Mauryan dynasty ruled over parts of Deccan and central India?
a) Sakas
b) Satavahanas ✅
c) Sungas
d) Guptas Explanation: Prominent in the Deccan.
Who defeated the last Mauryan emperor?
a) Kanishka
b) Pushyamitra Shunga ✅
c) Chandragupta I
d) Harshavardhana Explanation: Marked the end of Mauryan rule.
Which ruler performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice after the Mauryas?
a) Ashoka
b) Pushyamitra Shunga ✅
c) Satakarni
d) Menander Explanation: To assert supremacy.
Which Indo-Greek king invaded India after the Mauryas?
a) Diodotus
b) Demetrius ✅
c) Seleucus
d) Antigonus Explanation: Ruled Gandhara and beyond.
Who composed the text ‘Milindapanho’?
a) Kautilya
b) Nagarjuna
c) Nagasena ✅
d) Vasubandhu Explanation: A dialogue between Nagasena and Menander.
The Satavahana king known for expanding his empire was:
a) Gautamiputra Satakarni ✅
b) Simuka
c) Vasishthiputra
d) Hala Explanation: Mentioned in Nashik inscriptions.
Post-Mauryan coinage introduced:
a) Copper-only coins
b) Bilingual and portrait coins ✅
c) Square coins
d) Religious symbols only Explanation: Greco-Indian styles merged.
Which language did Ashoka use in northwest India?
a) Sanskrit
b) Pali
c) Aramaic ✅
d) Tamil Explanation: To communicate with local populations.
The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I is important because:
a) First inscription in Sanskrit ✅
b) Mentions Buddha
c) Shows Tamil influence
d) Refers to Alexander Explanation: A Saka ruler’s inscription.
Which ruler introduced Satavahana coinage?
a) Satakarni I
b) Simuka ✅
c) Nahapana
d) Rudradaman Explanation: Founder of the Satavahana dynasty.
Which Indo-Parthian ruler issued coins with Indian deities?
a) Gondophares ✅
b) Kanishka
c) Menander
d) Azes Explanation: Merged Greco-Roman and Indian styles.
The Indo-Greeks ruled mainly in:
a) Eastern India
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Northwestern India ✅
d) Bengal Explanation: Present-day Punjab and Afghanistan.
The first woman ruler of the Satavahanas was:
a) Prabhavati Gupta
b) Naganika ✅
c) Gautami Balashri
d) Devaki Explanation: Wife of Satakarni I.
🔴 HARD (41–50)
The Mauryan army included:
a) Only infantry
b) Infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants ✅
c) Navy
d) Tribal soldiers Explanation: A large, well-organized force.
Ashoka’s Rock Edict XII deals with:
a) Kalinga War
b) Dhamma policy
c) Religious tolerance ✅
d) Animal protection Explanation: Promotes respect for all sects.
Ashoka’s queen mentioned in inscriptions is:
a) Tishyaraksha ✅
b) Mahadevi
c) Gautami
d) Khema Explanation: Known from literary sources and legends.
Mauryan administration was highly:
a) Decentralized
b) Feudal
c) Centralized ✅
d) Tribal Explanation: Power was concentrated in the king’s hands.
What were “Rajukas” in Mauryan administration?
a) Priests
b) Army commanders
c) Civil officials/judges ✅
d) Diplomats Explanation: Appointed by Ashoka for local governance.
Post-Mauryan coins were made of:
a) Iron
b) Lead, silver, copper ✅
c) Gold only
d) Shell Explanation: Depending on region and ruler.
Ashoka’s inscriptions were found in how many scripts?
a) 1
b) 2 ✅
c) 3
d) 4 Explanation: Brahmi and Kharosthi (and some in Aramaic/Greek).
Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated which Saka ruler?
a) Menander
b) Nahapana ✅
c) Rudradaman
d) Azes Explanation: Restored Satavahana power in western India.
The Mauryan postal system is mentioned in:
a) Ramayana
b) Arthashastra ✅
c) Manusmriti
d) Mahabharata Explanation: Well-organized communication network.
Which of the following was NOT a post-Mauryan polity?
a) Sungas
b) Satavahanas
c) Kushans
d) Pallavas ✅ Explanation: Pallavas emerged much later in South India.