Ancient History - MOST IMPORTANT NDA Previous Year Questions

Which among the following materials was used in making the Harappan seals?

Which one among the following mahajanapadas in ancient India was an oligarchy ?

Which one of the following sculptures found at Sanchi Stupa is NOT directly inspired by Buddhist ideas ?

Consider the following statements about the emergence of urban centres in India from circa 6th Century BCE :

1. All of them developed away from the capitals of mahajanpadas.
2. Major towns were located along routes of communication.
3. Many were bustling centres of commercial, cultural and political activity.
   How many of the above statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements about ancient Indian inscriptions :

1. The earliest inscriptions are in Sanskrit.
2. Kharosthi script, used in inscriptions in the north-west, was deciphered with the help of coins of Indo-Greek kings who ruled over the area.
3. Most of the inscriptions mention grand, unique events, and routine agricultural practices do not find mention.
   How many of the above statements is/are correct?

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List-I (Unit in use in early India)
A. Muhurta
B. Raktika
C. Angula
D. Pada
List-II (Content)

1. Measure of weight
2. Measure of time
3. Metre of poetry
4. Measure of length
   Code:
   A B C D

First coins in Indian history bearing the names and images of rulers were issued by the:

Which of the following statements with regard to the famous ‘silk routes' are correct?

1. Silk routes refer to East-bound European silk cargoes along these routes.
2. There were several silk routes, over land and by sea, joining together vast regions of Asia with Europe and northern Africa.
3. They are known to have existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till the fifteenth century.
4. Besides silk, Chinese pottery, textiles and spices from India and South-east Asia travelled the same route.

Consider the following statements about Ajanta paintings :

1. The surface of the rock was coated with clay mixed with rice husk and gum and a coat of lime was applied over this.
2. The outline drawing was done first on the lime coating and colours were added subsequently.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Taxila was the capital of which one among the following Mahajanapadas of ancient India?

Which one of the following statements about Rabatak inscription is not correct?

Who among the following was the author of the famous Sanskrit work 'Mrichchhakatika'?

Yashovarman was ruler of which one of the following kingdoms ?

Near which one of the following cities in India have large statues of Kushana rulers been discovered?

Which one of the following was NOT a way in which kings in ancient India attempted to claim a higher status?

Consider the following statements regarding Sanchi and its archaeological findings :

1. When Sanchi was discovered in 1818, three of its four gateways were still standing, the fourth was lying on the spot where it had fallen
2. Animals depicted at Sanchi include elephants, horses, monkeys and cattle
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts, contains the personal name of the king - Ashoka ?

Arrange the following in correct chronological order

1. Charak Samhita
2. Bharat's Natyashastra
3. Sangam Literature
4. Ashtadhyayi
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

'Sengol', installed in the new Parliament building of India, was seen as a symbol of the path of service, duty and nation in which Empire of the past?

Arthashastra, the classical work of Indian political thought, focuses primarily on