The Vedic texts are primarily written in which language?
a) Pali
b) Prakrit
c) Sanskrit ✅
d) Tamil Explanation: The Vedas were composed in Vedic Sanskrit.
Which is the oldest of the four Vedas?
a) Sama Veda
b) Yajur Veda
c) Atharva Veda
d) Rig Veda ✅ Explanation: Rig Veda is the earliest, dating around 1500 BCE.
What were the assemblies in the Early Vedic period called?
a) Sabha and Samiti ✅
b) Mahajanapadas
c) Sanghas
d) Parishads Explanation: Sabha and Samiti were early political assemblies.
Which metal was most commonly used during the Vedic period?
a) Iron
b) Bronze
c) Copper ✅
d) Steel Explanation: Copper was commonly used; iron came in later.
What was the primary occupation of Vedic people?
a) Pottery
b) Agriculture ✅
c) Weaving
d) Hunting Explanation: Agriculture was central to Vedic economy.
Which river is most frequently mentioned in the Rig Veda?
a) Yamuna
b) Ganga
c) Saraswati
d) Sindhu (Indus) ✅ Explanation: “Sindhu” is frequently referenced in hymns.
How many Mahajanapadas are mentioned in Buddhist texts?
a) 12
b) 16 ✅
c) 18
d) 10 Explanation: 16 Mahajanapadas were listed in texts like Anguttara Nikaya.
Which Mahajanapada had its capital at Pataliputra?
a) Magadha ✅
b) Kashi
c) Avanti
d) Kuru Explanation: Magadha’s capital was later shifted to Pataliputra.
Which Mahajanapada was a republic (Gana-sangha)?
a) Avanti
b) Kuru
c) Vajji ✅
d) Magadha Explanation: Vajji had a republican form of governance.
The term ‘Arya’ in Vedic texts refers to:
a) Priests
b) Kings
c) Nobles or cultured people ✅
d) Foreigners Explanation: “Arya” meant noble or civilized.
The later Vedic period saw the rise of which metal usage?
a) Silver
b) Gold
c) Iron ✅
d) Lead Explanation: Iron tools became common in the Later Vedic age.
What was the Vedic god of fire called?
a) Indra
b) Agni ✅
c) Varuna
d) Soma Explanation: Agni was the god of fire and a mediator in sacrifices.
Which Vedic god was the king of the gods?
a) Agni
b) Soma
c) Indra ✅
d) Mitra Explanation: Indra was considered the chief deity in Rig Veda.
Who performed rituals and sacrifices in Vedic society?
a) Vaishyas
b) Shudras
c) Kshatriyas
d) Brahmins ✅ Explanation: Brahmins were priests and scholars.
The term ‘Janapada’ means:
a) Tribal king
b) Foot of the people ✅
c) Empire
d) Town Explanation: Jana = people, Pada = foot/place → Janapada = land of people.
Who among the following belonged to the Mahajanapada of Magadha?
a) Bimbisara ✅
b) Ajatashatru
c) Udayin
d) All of the above Explanation: All three were Magadhan rulers.
Which Mahajanapada was known for its trade and wealth?
a) Kashi
b) Magadha ✅
c) Gandhara
d) Kuru Explanation: Magadha had a strong economy due to trade and agriculture.
Which text mentions the sixteen Mahajanapadas?
a) Bhagavad Gita
b) Arthashastra
c) Anguttara Nikaya ✅
d) Mahabharata Explanation: Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya lists them.
Which Vedic text deals with melodies and chants?
a) Rig Veda
b) Sama Veda ✅
c) Yajur Veda
d) Atharva Veda Explanation: Sama Veda is the Veda of chants and melodies.
The Ashvamedha sacrifice was performed by:
a) Merchants
b) Soldiers
c) Kings ✅
d) Priests Explanation: It was a royal ritual asserting dominance.
🟡 MODERATE (21–40)
The political units in the Early Vedic period were called:
a) Janas ✅
b) Rashtras
c) States
d) Kingdoms Explanation: Jana was the basic tribal unit.
Which social division emerged in the Vedic period?
a) Republics
b) Jatis
c) Varnas ✅
d) Sects Explanation: Society began to be divided into four varnas.
What is the correct order of varnas?
a) Shudra, Vaishya, Kshatriya, Brahmin
b) Kshatriya, Brahmin, Vaishya, Shudra
c) Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra ✅
d) Vaishya, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Shudra Explanation: This was the hierarchy established in later Vedic texts.
Which Mahajanapada became most powerful in the 6th century BCE?
a) Avanti
b) Kashi
c) Vajji
d) Magadha ✅ Explanation: Magadha rose to dominance with military and economic power.
Gana-sanghas were governed by:
a) Hereditary kings
b) Tribal chiefs
c) Oligarchies ✅
d) Priests Explanation: They were ruled by a group of elders or nobles.
Which Vedic god was associated with the sky and moral order?
a) Agni
b) Indra
c) Varuna ✅
d) Soma Explanation: Varuna was the guardian of cosmic order (Rta).
Which Vedic text is mainly for rituals and sacrifices?
a) Rig Veda
b) Yajur Veda ✅
c) Sama Veda
d) Atharva Veda Explanation: Yajur Veda is a manual for ritual performance.
The Brahmanas are:
a) Priests
b) Commentaries on the Vedas ✅
c) Kings
d) Stories Explanation: They explain the rituals and meaning of Vedas.
What is the main theme of Upanishads?
a) Rituals
b) Social order
c) Philosophy and metaphysics ✅
d) Music Explanation: Upanishads focus on spiritual and philosophical ideas.
Which Mahajanapada was ruled by Pradyota dynasty?
a) Magadha
b) Kuru
c) Avanti ✅
d) Anga Explanation: Avanti was ruled by the Pradyota dynasty.
The Vedic society gradually transitioned from:
a) Nomadic to urban ✅
b) Urban to tribal
c) Feudal to democratic
d) Socialist to capitalist Explanation: Society moved from nomadic to settled agriculture.
Women in early Vedic period could:
a) Perform rituals ✅
b) Vote
c) Rule kingdoms
d) Become Kshatriyas Explanation: Women had relatively higher status early on.
‘Rajasuya’ was a:
a) Priest ceremony
b) Warrior ritual
c) Royal consecration ritual ✅
d) Rain prayer Explanation: A king’s coronation sacrifice.
‘Mahajanapada’ literally means:
a) Big people
b) Great Kingdom ✅
c) Army base
d) Trading post Explanation: Maha = great, Janapada = land/people.
What replaced tribal assemblies in later Vedic period?
a) Kingdoms
b) Republics
c) Monarchies ✅
d) Guilds Explanation: Power shifted from people’s assemblies to monarchs.
Ajatashatru was the ruler of:
a) Kosala
b) Magadha ✅
c) Anga
d) Kashi Explanation: He expanded Magadha’s territory.
Which kingdom was annexed by Bimbisara?
a) Kashi ✅
b) Vajji
c) Kuru
d) Gandhara Explanation: He married a Kashi princess and annexed it.
Kosala’s capital was:
a) Ujjain
b) Vaishali
c) Rajagriha
d) Shravasti ✅ Explanation: Shravasti was an important Kosalan city.
Which king shifted Magadha’s capital to Pataliputra?
a) Bimbisara
b) Ajatashatru ✅
c) Udayin
d) Ashoka Explanation: Udayin actually completed the shift; Ajatashatru began it.
Kuru and Panchala were located in:
a) South India
b) Central India
c) Eastern India
d) North India ✅ Explanation: These were important kingdoms in northern India.
🔴 HARD (41–50)
The earliest known Janapadas are mentioned in:
a) Mahabharata
b) Vedas ✅
c) Arthashastra
d) Ramayana Explanation: Vedas refer to early Janas and Janapadas.
Which Mahajanapada was situated in the northwest frontier?
a) Gandhara ✅
b) Avanti
c) Kashi
d) Matsya Explanation: Gandhara was located in present-day Pakistan-Afghanistan.
‘Rta’ in Vedic philosophy means:
a) Rule
b) Morality
c) Cosmic order ✅
d) Caste Explanation: Rta was the universal order upheld by gods like Varuna.
Which Upanishad contains the phrase “Tat Tvam Asi”?
a) Katha
b) Chandogya ✅
c) Brihadaranyaka
d) Taittiriya Explanation: Chandogya Upanishad emphasizes the unity of self and Brahman.
‘Sanghas’ and ‘Ganas’ were examples of:
a) Monarchies
b) Oligarchies ✅
c) Republics
d) Dictatorships Explanation: These were early republican oligarchic systems.
Which Mahajanapada was an early center of Buddhism?
a) Kashi
b) Vajji ✅
c) Kuru
d) Matsya Explanation: Vaishali (Vajji capital) was linked to Buddha’s life.
The Purusha Sukta explains:
a) Social duties
b) Varna system ✅
c) War rituals
d) Life after death Explanation: It describes origin of varnas from cosmic being.
The Atharva Veda is distinct for containing:
a) Devotional hymns
b) Musical chants
c) Magical spells and healing ✅
d) Laws Explanation: Deals with charms, curses, medicine.
The term ‘Rajan’ in Vedic times referred to:
a) Judge
b) Priest
c) King ✅
d) Soldier Explanation: Rajan was the tribal chief or king.
The Brahmavadinis were:
a) Warrior women
b) Female priests
c) Women philosophers ✅
d) Women merchants Explanation: Women who pursued Vedic learning and spiritual discourse.