Ancient History - MOST IMPORTANT UPSC EPFO Previous Year Questions
Practice real questions from previous year exams of UPSC EPFO.
📘 The Pushyabhuti Dynasty of Thanesar📚 Harsha and Buddhism
Q1
Nalanda University flourished during the reign of which of the following rulers?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2002
📘 The Gupta Empire (c. 319 - 550 CE)📚 Literature, Science & Technology during Guptas
Q2
Dhanvantari was
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2002
📘 Sangam Period (South India: c. 300 BCE - 300 CE)📚 The Cholas
Q3
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List-I (Indian Kings)
A. Karikala
B. Rudradaman
C. Milinda
D. Kanishka
List-II (Dynasty)
1. Bactria Greek
2. Chola
3. Chalukya
4. Kushanas
5. Shakas
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2004
📘 Buddhism📚 Literature, Spread, and Royal Patronage
Q4
Match List-I (Persons) with List-II (Writings) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
LIST I (Persons)
A. Asvaghosha
B. Nagarjuna
C. Patanjali
D. Ramanuja
LIST II (Writings)
1. Buddha Charita
2. Madhyamika Sutra
3. Vedanta Sangraha
4. Yogasutra
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2004
📘 Deccan & South India Dynasties📚 Pallava Dynasty
Q5
Match List-I (Historical Sites) with List-II (State) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
LIST I (Historical Site)
A. Shore Temple
B. Bhimbetka
C. Kesava Temple (Hoysala Monument)
D. Hampi
LIST II (State)
1. Karnataka
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Kerala
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Rajasthan
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2004
📘 Buddhism📚 Literature, Spread, and Royal Patronage
Q6
Which term is used to describe the spread of Buddhism from India through Southeast Asia?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2012
📘 Prehistoric Period📚 Fossil Evidence & Human Evolution
Q7
Archaeological studies suggest the theory
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2012
📘 The Gupta Empire (c. 319 - 550 CE)📚 Society, Economy, Religion, and Culture
Q8
Which of the following statements are correct in respect of 'Stridhana'?
1. Various types of movable property gifted to a woman on various occasions during her lifetime.
2. Various types of movable property gifted to a woman at the time of her first marriage.
3. On the woman's death, this wealth could be inherited by her children and husband.
4. On the woman's death, this wealth could be inherited by her natural legally adopted children, with none of the sons-in-law, having any claim on any part thereof.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2015
📘 The Mahajanapadas Period (c. 600-322 BCE)📚 System of Administration
Q9
Which of the following statements reflect the distinctive features about 6th century BCE Ganas or Sanghas?
1. The ancient Indian Ganas were oligarchies.
2. The ancient Indian Ganas were non-monarchical states.
3. Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti were the most powerful States of that era.
4. The procedures of the Buddhist monastic order (Sangha) patterned on the Sangha politics.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2015
📘 Prehistoric Period📚 Sources & Periodization of Indian Prehistory
Q10
Who was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2017
📘 Prehistoric Period📚 Sources & Periodization of Indian Prehistory
Q11
Which one among the following observations pertaining to the works of Nineteenth-Twentieth Century archaeologists is not correct?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 The Mahajanapadas Period (c. 600-322 BCE)📚 Rise of the Magadhan Empire
Q12
Which one of the following was an important contributing factor in the rise of Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanapada between the Sixth and the Fourth Centuries BCE?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 Deccan & South India Dynasties📚 Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Q13
Which one among the following statements about the Kailashanatha temple at Ellora is not correct?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 The Mahajanapadas Period (c. 600-322 BCE)📚 Society, Economy, and Administration
Q14
Which one of the following statements about ancient Indian pottery is correct?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 Schools of Art and Architecture📚 Stupas
Q15
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (Ancient Text/Term) : (Meaning)
(a) Samarangana-Sutradhara : A scientific work on ancient Indian architecture
(b) Harmika : A style of temple architecture that originated under the Chola Kings
(c) Vimana : A striking feature of the Dravidian style of temples
(d) Kutagarashala : A hut with a pointed roof where travelling mendicants halted
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 The Mauryan Empire (c. 322-185 BCE)📚 Literary Sources (Kautilya's Arthashastra, Megasthenes' Indica)
Q16
Kautilya in his Arthashastra describes the availability of varieties of pearls from the
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 Deccan & South India Dynasties📚 Chalukya Dynasty
Q17
'Vengi', the capital city of the Eastern Chalukyas, is identified with which one of the following places?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 The Kamrupa Kingdom📚 Kamrupa Kingdom
Q18
Who among the following was the first elected King of the Pala Dynasty in Kamarupa?
🎯 UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
📘 Post-Mauryan Period (c. 200 BCE - 300 CE)📚 Misc
Q19
Which of the following statements about Bharata's Natyashastra is/are correct?
1. It is dated by scholars between the second century BCE and the second century CE.
2. It analyses theatrical spectacle as an amalgam of speech, vocal and instrumental music, gesture, mime, etc.
3. The ground it covers is less extensive than Aristotle's Poetics, its nearest ancient Greek counterpart.
🎯 UPSC EPFO 2025
📘 Prehistoric Period📚 Prehistoric Rock Paintings
Q20
Who amongst the following discovered the rock art of Bhimbetka?
🎯 UPSC EPFO 2025