Ancient History (UPSC Prelims) [2013-2022] – Previous Year Questions

1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?

1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following pairs :

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India?

1. The Guptas of Magadha
2. The Paramaras of Malwa
3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
4. The Maukharis of Kanauj
5. The Yadavas of Devagiri
6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous

Which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India; which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’?

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.
3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?

“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?

Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

Consider the following:

1. Deification of the Buddha.
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals.

Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?

Consider the following pairs :

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?

With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of m ail an d h el met in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver am copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements :

1. It is a song and dance performance.
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at

Consider the following pairs :

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

Consider the following pairs :

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?

Kalamkari painting refers to

Consider the following towns of India:

1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal

Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/ fabric?

Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Every year, a monthlong ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/ tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements

1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs :

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs

1. Garba : Gujarat
2. Mohiniattam : Odisha
3. Yakshagana : Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu?

Consider the following statements

1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs :

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to fain doctrine?

1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut, architecture, consider the following statements :

1. The caves at Badami are the ‘oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, eaves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

Its the context of cultural history: of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

Consider the following historical places:

1. Ajanta Caves
2. Lepakshi Temple
3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school:

1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
2. Sankhya holds that it is the self knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?