Ancient Indian History – Yearwise Questions – W.B.C.S. Preliminary Examination.

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WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2020

1. Who among the following historians has written the book entitled ‘The
wonder that was India‘ ?
(A) A. L. Basham
(B) Alison Bashford
(C) R. C. Majumder
(D) Satish Chandra

2. What were the two assemblies during the early Vedic period ?
(A) Samiti
(B) Sabha
(C) Samiti and Sangam
(D) Both (A) and (B)

3. Boghazkoi is important because
(A) it is known as significant trading centre between Central Asia and Tibet.
(B) the original text of the Vedas was composed there.
(C) inscription found here mention the names of Vedic Gods and
Goddesses.
(D) None of the above

4. Which among the following places has given the earliest evidence of
agriculture in Indian Subcontinent?
(A) Pratapgarh
(B) Mehergarh
(C) Quetta
(D) Kalat

5. Which of the following is a correct statement about Indus Valley
civilization ?
(A) Both Harappa and Mohenjodaro are located on the banks of river Ravi
(Irabati).
(B) Both Chanhudaro and Kalibangan were located within the boundaries of present day Rajasthan.
(C) Both Surkotada and Dholavira are located in the Kutchh region of
Gujarat
(D) Lothal site was located on the bank of Narmada river.

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2019

1. Where did Gautama Buddha attain Nirvana (enlightenment) ?
(A) Lumbini
(B) Sarnath
(C) Kusinagar
(D) Bodh Gaya

2. Who wrote Mrichhakatikam ?
(A) Vishakhasdatta
(B) Shudrak
(C) Banabhatta
(D) Bhas

3. The inscriptions of Ashoka and the Brahmi scripts were deciphered by

(A) Alexander Cunningham
(B) James Princep
(C) Max Muller
(D) Mortimer Wheeler

4. Which among the following places have given the earliest evidence of
agriculture in Indian sub-continent ?
(A) Pratapgarh
(B) Mehrgarh
(C) Quetta
(D) Kalat

5. Who among the following succeeded Samudragupta as the next ruler of
the Gupta dynasty ?
(A) Chandragupta II
(B) Vishnugupta
(C) Chandragupta I
(D) Skandagupta

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2018

1. Who was the writer of ‘Buddha Charita’?
(a) Buddhaghosha
(b) Ashvaghosha
(c) Nagarjuna
(d) Panini

2. Which kingdom covered the modern Patna and Gaya districts of Bihar?
(a) Anga
(b) Kosala
(c) Magadha
(d) Avanti

3. Who came to India during the time of Chandragupta Maurya?
(a) Faxian [Fa Hien]
(b) Xuanzang [Hiuen Tsang]
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Strabo

4. Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon?
(a) Bodh Gaya
(b)Shravasti
(c) Sarnath
(d) Vaishali

5. Who was referred to as ‘Sandrocottus’ in the writings of the Greeks?
(a) Asoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Dhanananda

6. Which among the following Harappan sites is not located in Gujrat?
(a) Surkotada
(b) Lothal
(c) Dholavira
(d) Banwali

7. Which Gupta ruler repulsed Huna invasion?
(a) Samudragupta
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Skandagupta
(d) Kumaragupta

8. Who was the author of “Brihatsamhita”
(a) Aryabhatta
(b) Varahamihira
(c) Amarasimha
(d) Brahmagupta

9. Which historian is famous for his research on Ancient Indian History?
(a) Sathis Chandra
(b) Bipan Chandra
(c) Ram Sharan Sharma
(d) Amalesh Tripathi

10. Who assumed the title of ‘Gangaikondachola’?
(a) Rajendra I
(b) Rajaraja I
(c) Rajadhiraja I
(d) Kulotunga I

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2017

1. Which of the following is a Harappan site located in Rajasthan ?
(a)Mohenjo Daro
(b)Suktagen Dor
(c)Kalibangan
(d)Lothal

2. The Mauryan ruler who used the name ‘ Piyadasi’ in his official
declaration was
(a)Bimbisara
(b)Ashoka
(c)Chandragupta Maurya
(d)Brihaddrata

3. The famous physician during Budhha’s time was
(a)Kautilya
(b)Nachiketa
(c)Charaka
(d)Jivaka

4. The author of ‘Kadambari ‘ was
(a)Kshemendra
(b)Kalhana
(c)Bhababhuti
(d)Banabhatta

5. Which Magadha ruler was known as ‘ Seniya”
(a)Bimbisara
(b)Ajatshatru
(c)Mahapadma Nanda
(d)Chandragupta Maurya

6. The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang came to India during the reign of
(a)SamudraGupta
(b)Ashoka
(c)Harshavardhan
(d)Kulotunga

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2016

1. Who is considered as the father of Indian Archaeology ?
(A) Alexander Cunningham
(B) Gordon Child
(C) Mortimer Wheeler
(D) John Marshall

2. The decline of the Nandas at the hands of Kautilya and Chandragapta
Maurya has been vividly portrayed in the Sanskrit Play.
(A) Mrichhakatika
(B) Devi Chandragupta
(C) Mattavilasa
(D) Mudrarakshasa (Vishakhadatta)

3. Which King founded the Vikramaslla University ?
(A) Dharmapala
(B) Dhruva
(C) Devapala
(D) Ballal Sen

4. Who were the participants in the tripartite struggle in northern India
from the 8th to the 10th Century ?
(A) Palas, Cholas, Pallavas
(B) Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas
(C) Cholas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas
(D) Palas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas

5. Rice cultivation is associated with the Harappan site of :
(A) Kalibangan
(B) Lothal
(C) Kot Diji
(D) Ropar

6. The most famous Indo-Greek ruler of India was :
(A) Demetrius
(B) Antiochus I
(C) Menander
(D) None of the above

7. The Upanishadas were compiled around :
(A) 600 BC
(B) 800 BC
(C) 1000 BC
(D) 1600-600 BC

8. According to Buddhism the cause of all sorrows is :
(A) Maya
(B) Kama
(C) Trishna
(D) Krodh

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2015

1. The author of Kadambari was
(A) Khemendra
(B) Kalhana
(C) Bhababhuti
(D) Banabhatta

2. Which was the ancient port of Indus Civilization ?
(A) Harappa
(B) Lothal
(C) Dholavira
(D) Surkotada

6. Which of the following was a Buddhist genealogical text ?
(A) Suttapitaka
(B) Vinayapitaka
(C) Abhidharnmapitaka
(D) Dipavansa

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2014

1. What was the policy of Samudragupta in the south ?
(A) Conquest
(B) Dharma Vijaya

(C) Digvijay
(D) None of the above

2. The oldest Veda is
(A) Atharvaveda
(B) Rigveda
(C) Yajurveda
(D) Samveda

3. Alexander fought against Perus on the Banks of the river
(A) Indus
(B) Jhelum
(C) Ravi
(D) lravati

4. Who is the author of ‘Indica’ ?
(A) Herodotus
(B) Megastenes
(C) Strabo
(D) Plutarch

5. Taxila was the famous site of
(A) Early Vedic Age
(B) Gandhara Art
(C) Gupta Art
(D) Mauryan Art

6. Sasanka belonged to the
(A) Pal dynasty
(B) Sen dynasty
(C) Gauda dynasty
(D) Kamrup dynasty

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2013

1. The great Bath was found in —
(A) Lothal
(B) Harappa
(C) Mohen-jo-daro
(D) Kalibangan

2. Who composed ‘Ai-hole prasasti’ ?
(A) Kautilya
(B) Rabikirti
(C) Harisena
(D) Nayanikar

3. Buddha was born in —
(A) 523 B.C.
(B) 563 B.C.
(C) 623 B.C.
(D) 602 B.C

4. The first permanent home of the Aryans in India was —
(A) Punjab
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Sindh
(D) Gujarat

5. Who of the following put up a stiff resistance against Alexander ?
(A) Ambhi
(B) Mahapadma
(C) Porus
(D) All of the above

6. In his inscriptions, Ashoka calls himself
(A) Priyadarshi
(B) Dhammasoka
(C) Daivaputra
(D) Devanampriya Priyadarsin

7. Which of the following Gupta rulers was known as Vikramaditya ?
(A) Chandragupta-I
(B) Samudragupta
(C) Chandragupta-II
(D) Skandagupta

8. In which year did Muhammad-bin-Qasim conquer Sind ?
(A) 712 AD
(B) 715 AD
(C) 718 AD
(D) 721 AD

9. How many times did Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (1002 –1030) invade
India ?
(A) 12
(B) 17
(C) 5
(D) 20

10. Who introduced Kaulinya system in Bengal ?
(A) Gopala
(B) Ballal Sen (1160 – 79)
(C) Lakshana sen
(D) Dharmapala

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2012

1. Who composed the Allahabad Prasasti of Sumudragupta ?
(A) Kalhana
(B) Bilhana
(C) Banabhatta
(D) Harisena

2. In which ancient text you will find the earliest reference to the Varna
System ?
(A) Manu Samhita
(B) Rigveda (Purusha Suktam)
(C) Atharva Veda
(D) Satapatha Brahmana

3. The Khalimpur Copper Plate inform us about the military exploit of
Pala ruler
(A) Devapala
(B) Rampala
(C) Dharampala
(D) Mahipala

4. Who among the Gupta rulers was known as ‘Lichchavi-dauhitra’ ?
(A) Samudragupta
(B) Chandragupta II
(C) Kumargupta
(D) Skandagupta

5. Who was the Kaivartta chief who rebelled against the Pala ruler
Mahipala II of Bengal ? [Varendra rebellion]
(A) Dhekata
(B) Gandhata
(C) Divya
(D) Mayuraddhwaja

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2011

1. The first metal discovered by man was
(A) Iron
(B) Aluminium
(C) Zinc
(D) Copper

2. The main Buddhist religious texts are written in
(A) Prakrit
(B) Sanskrit
(C) Pali
(D) Ardha magadhi

3. Alexander stayed in India for
(A) 16 months
(B) 19 months
(C) 20 months
(D) 24 months

4. An important port in the time of Satavahanas was
(A) Sopara
(B) Tamralipta
(C) Calicut
(D) Cochin

5. Who was known as Amitraghata ?
(A) Bimbisara
(B) Bindusara
(C) Asok
(D) Kalasoka

6. Who issued the Nasik Prasasti (Inscription) ?
(A) Gautamiputra Satakarni
(B) Samudragupta
(C) Harshavardhan
(D) Dharmapala

7. The Lion capital of currency notes was discovered from
(A) Bharut
(B) Sanchi
(C) Bodh Gaya
(D) Sarnath

8. Gopal was the founder of
(A) Pala dynasty (750–1174)
(B) Pallava dynasty
(C) Pratihara dynasty
(D) Chalukya dynasty

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2010

1. To which period of Indian history did Aryabhatta and Varahamihira
(Scientist and Mathematician respectively) belong ?
(A) Maurya period
(B) Gupta period (Vikramaditya)
(C) Pala period
(D) Delhi Sultanate

2. The oldest school of Indian Philosophy is
(A) Yoga
(B) Samkhya
(C) Vaisesika
(D) Karma Mimansa

3. Who was Megasthenes ?
(A) Ambassador of Seleucus
(B) Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya
(C) A Greek pilgrim
(D) A Chinese traveller

4. Who was the author of Rajtarangini ?
(A) Kautilya
(B) Megasthenes
(C) Kalhan
(D) None of the above

5. With the people of which country Harappan people carried trade ?
(A) China
(B) Iran
(C) Russia
(D) Sumer

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2009

1. Who discovered the Indus Valley Civilization ?
(A) Sir Leonard Wooley
(B) V. S.Agarwal
(C) Rakhaldas Banerjee (1921-22)
(D) A. L. Basham

2. Which metal was unknown to the Indus people ?
(A) Copper
(B) Iron
(C) Bronze
(D) Gold

3. The “Tripitaka” was written in
(A) Brahmi
(B) Kharosti
(C) Pali
(D) Sanskrit

4. How many Tirthankars were there in ancient India ?
(A) 16
(B) 22
(C) 23
(D) 24

5. Name the last Tirthankara
(1st– Rishabhanatha)
(A) Parsvanath
(B) Mahavira
(C) Siddhartha
(D) Silbhadra

6. Who was the founder of the Nanda dynasty ?
(A) Bimbisara
(B) Mahapadmananda
(C) Ajatasatru
(D) Dhananda

7. During which period the Vedic Literature was composed ?
(A) 1000 B.C.
(B) 3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C.
(C) 1500 B.C – 1000 B.C.
(D) 1200 B.C. – 1000 B.C.

8. The word Aryan denotes
(A) Cultivation
(B) A race
(C) Pastoral society
(D) Brahmachari

9. Who in ancient India assumed the title ‘amitraghata’ ?
(A) Ajatasatru
(B) Chandragupta Maurya
(C) Bindusara
(D) Asoka

10. Who introduced the Saka era ?
(78 AD)
(A) Bhumaka
(B) Nahapana
(C) Rudradaman
(D) Kanishka (78-110)

11. When did the Mathura School of Art flourish ?
(A) Sunga period
(B) Satavahana period
(C) Saka period
(D) Kushana period

12. Who was the founder of the Gupta dynasty ?
(A) Chandragupta I
(B) Srigupta
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Skanuagupta

13. Which emperor has been called ‘Napoleon of India’ ?
(A) Asoka
(B) Kanishka
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Chandragupta II Vikramaditya

14. Where was the capital of Sasanka ?
(A) Samatata
(B) Tamralipta
(C) Karnasuvarna
(D) Lakhnawati

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2008

3. Who was the Court poet of Samudra Gupta ?
(A) Asvaghosha
(B) Nagarjuna
(C) Aryabhatta
(D) Harishena

5. Chandra gupta Maury defeated
(A) Poros
(B) Alexander
(C) Seleukas
(D) Ambhi

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2007

1. Who Was the Chola King to have conquered Bengal?
(A) Rajaraja
(B) Rajendra Chola I (1014-44)
(C) Rajendra Chola II
(D) Rajadhiraja

2. In which year was “Sakabda” started?
(A) 78 A.D.
(B) 58 B.C.
(C) 273 B.C.

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2006

1. Indus-valley civilization is called.
(a) Urban
(b) Rural
(c) Stone Age
(d) Iron Age

2. According to Ceylonese tradition Buddha’s Parinirbana took place in.
(a) 483 B.C
(b) 486 B.C
(c) 543 B.C
(d) 546 B.C

3. Charbak was the name of a
(a) Religions School of thoughts
(b) Doctor
(c) Science Scholar
(d) Wrestler

4. The Principal Sacred Book of the Buddhists is
(a) Tripitaka
(b) Astha
(c) Panchapatika
(d) Astanga Marga

5. The ‘Ratha temples’ of Mahabalipuram were constructed in the reign
of (630-80, Pallava, Tamil nadu)
(a) Pulakeshin II
(b) Narasingha Varman I
(c) Raja Raja
(d) Rajcndra Chola

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2005

1. Who is known as ‘Kunik’ in the history of India?
(a) Bimbisara
(b) Ajatasharu
(c) Bindusara
(d) Aslioka

2. Who was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty?
(a) Simuka
(b) Krishna
(c) Satakarni I
(d) Gautamiputra Satakarni

3. Surya-Siddhanta was authored by
(a) Aryabhatta
(b) Barahamihir
(c) Bararuchi
(d) Sushruta

4. Who among the following kings performed ‘AsvamedhYajna’?
(a) Pulakesin I
(b) Kirtivarman
(c) Pulakesin II
(d) Mangalesh

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2004

1. Who was the first historical emperor of India?
(A) Biinbisara
(B) Mahapadmananda
(C) Chandragupta Maurya
(D) Vikramaditya

2. ‘Fo-Kuo-King’ was authored by whom?
( Chandragupta II)
(A) It-Tsing
(B) Fa-Hien
(C) Hiuen Tsang
(D) Megasthenes

3. Who was populary known as “Indian Machiavelli”?
(A) Chanakya
(B) Nana Farnabis
(C) Abul Fazl
(D) Alivardi Khan

4. Who was the first independent King of Bengal?
(A) Sasanka
(B) King Ganesh
(C) Gopala
(D) Mahasengupta

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2003

1. ‘Divya’ was the leader of the
(A) Kaivarta Rebellion
(B) Kol Rebellion
(C) Munda Rebellion
(D) Santal Rebellion

2. Asokan Brahmi was first read by
(A) Cunningham
(B) Princep
(C) R.L. Mitra
(D) Burgess

3. Sandhyakara nandi was the court poet of the
(A) Pratiharas
(B) Rashtrakutas
(C) Senas
(D) Palas

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2002

1. Which of the following was not a part of the Tripitaka (three baskets)?
(A) Jatakas
(B) Vinaya (350 BC)
(C) Sutta (300 BC)
(D) Abhidhamma

2. Which of the following are true with regard to the Gandhara School of
Art?
(i) Buddha’s figure appears here for the first time,
(ii) Its craftsmen used white stone to make images,
(iii) It was also known as Greco Buddhist Art.
(iv) Its figure were superior to Mathura School of Art.
(A) i, ii and iii
(B) i and ii
(C) i and iv
(D) iii and iv

3. Whom does the Gayatri mantra in the Rig Veda address?
(Vishvamitra)
(A) Indra
(B) Agni
(C) Savitri
(D) Ushas

4. According to Buddhist tradition Chandragupta Maurya belonged to the
Moriya tribe of
(A) Shudras
(B) Vaishyas
(C) Brahmanas
(D) Kshatriyas

5. The original name of the Seet which later came to be known as ‘Jaina’
was
(A) Tirthankaras
(B) Jina
(C) Nigranthas
(D) Arhant

6. The Kalinga war is mentioned in the(262 – 261 BC)
(A) 13th Rock Edict
(B) 12th Rock Edict
(C) Bhabru Rock Edict
(D) 8th Rock Edict

7. Who of the following were the first rulers to mamke land grants to the
Brahmanas?
(A) Shungas
(B) Kanvas
(C) Satabahanas
(D) Shakas and Kushanas.

8. The Indus Valley Civilization belongs to the
(A) Neolithic Period
(B) Paleolitihic period
(C) Mesolithic period
(D) Chalcolithic period

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2001

1.The finest specimen of Pallava architecture’are
(A)Temples at Madurai
(B)Temples at Tanjore
(C) Kailashnath Temple at Ellora
(D) Rock-cut Ratha temples at Mahabalipurarn

2. The greatest scholar of Medical Science during Gupta Age
(A) Bhatta
(B) Bana
(C) Charaka
(D)Bhagabhatta

3. Buddhist doctrines are contained in
(A) Jatakas
(B) Satapaths
(C) Upanishads
(D) Dhammapadas

4.The most important source of information for the municipal administration of the city of Pataliputra in the Mauryan empire is
(A) Indra
(B) Arthasastra
(C) Mudrarakshasa
(D) Asokan inscriptions

5. Which of the following Gods does not belong to the Rigvedic period?
(A) Indra

(B) Maruts
(C) Shiva

(D) Aditi

6. Whose contemporary was famous grammarian Patanjali?
(A) Agni Mitra Sunga
(B) Pushya Mitra Sunga
(C) Vasudeva Kanva
(D) Gautami Putra Satakami

7. Chalukyas established their empire in
(A) Gujrat
(B) Malwa
(C) Deccan
(D) Far South India

WBCS Preliminary Question Paper – 2000

1. ‘Si-U-Ki’ was authored by
(A) Huen-Tsang
(B) Fa-Hien
(C) Megasthences
(D) I-Tsing

2. ‘Sabha’ & ‘Samiti’ are two democratic institutaion of
(A) Rigvedic Aryan
(B) Dravidans
(C) Hilly Trides of India
(D) Indius valley people

3. ‘Indica’ was written by
(A) Gondopbharnes
(B) Megasthenes
(C) Vincent Smith
(D) Wiliam

4. The famed mathematician of ancient India was
(A) Kalhana
(B) Aryabhatta
(C) Rudrasena
(D) Abul Fazal

5. ‘Allahabad Pillar’ inscription was penned by.
(A) Harisena
(B) Ravikirti
(C) Rudradaman
(D) Banabhatta

6. ‘Ankorvat’ was built by
(Combodia, 12 th century)
(A) Chandragupta II
(B) Aryabhatta
(C) Suryavarman
(D) Kaniska

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