Q41. Which dynasty ruled immediately after the Maurya Empire?
A. Gupta Dynasty
B. Shunga Dynasty
C. Kushan Dynasty
D. Satavahana Dynasty
View Answer
Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga Dynasty after overthrowing the last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha.
Q42. Who founded the Shunga Dynasty?
A. Agnimitra
B. Pushyamitra Shunga
C. Vasumitra
D. Devabhuti
View Answer
Pushyamitra Shunga, the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan army, established the Shunga Dynasty.
Q43. The famous Sanskrit grammarian Patanjali belonged to which period?
A. Maurya Period
B. Shunga Period
C. Gupta Period
D. Kushan Period
View Answer
Patanjali, author of the Mahabhashya, is generally associated with the Shunga period.
Q44. Who was the most famous ruler of the Kushan Dynasty?
A. Kanishka
B. Kadphises I
C. Vasudeva
D. Huvishka
View Answer
Kanishka was the greatest ruler of the Kushan Dynasty and a patron of Buddhism.
Q45. The Fourth Buddhist Council was held during the reign of:
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Kanishka
D. Harsha
View Answer
The Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir under the patronage of Kanishka.
Q46. The famous Gandhara School of Art flourished under the:
A. Mauryas
B. Guptas
C. Kushans
D. Cholas
View Answer
The Gandhara School of Art developed under Kushan patronage and shows strong Greek influence.
Q47. The Satavahana rulers mainly ruled over:
A. North India
B. South India and the Deccan
C. Kashmir
D. Bengal
View Answer
The Satavahanas established a powerful kingdom in the Deccan region.
Q48. The founder of the Satavahana Dynasty was:
A. Gautamiputra Satakarni
B. Simuka
C. Pulumavi
D. Hala
View Answer
Simuka is regarded as the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty.
Q49. Who was the greatest ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty?
A. Hala
B. Simuka
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Pulumavi
View Answer
Gautamiputra Satakarni is considered the most powerful Satavahana ruler.
Q50. Which Satavahana ruler wrote the ‘Gatha Saptashati’?
A. Hala
B. Simuka
C. Satakarni I
D. Pulumavi
View Answer
King Hala is traditionally credited with compiling the Prakrit work Gatha Saptashati.
Q51. Who founded the Gupta Empire?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta I
C. Chandragupta II
D. Sri Gupta
View Answer
Sri Gupta is regarded as the founder of the Gupta Dynasty.
Q52. Which Gupta ruler assumed the title ‘Maharajadhiraja’?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta I
C. Kumaragupta
D. Skandagupta
View Answer
Chandragupta I greatly expanded the Gupta kingdom and adopted the title ‘Maharajadhiraja’.
Q53. Which Gupta ruler is known as the ‘Napoleon of India’?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Kumaragupta
View Answer
Historian V. A. Smith called Samudragupta the ‘Napoleon of India’ because of his military achievements.
Q54. Who wrote the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta?
A. Kalidasa
B. Harisena
C. Banabhatta
D. Vishakhadatta
View Answer
Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta, composed the Allahabad Pillar Inscription.
Q55. Chandragupta II defeated which foreign rulers?
A. Greeks
B. Kushans
C. Shakas
D. Huns
View Answer
Chandragupta II defeated the Western Kshatrapas (Shakas) and earned the title Vikramaditya.
Q56. The Chinese traveller Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of:
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Kumaragupta
D. Harsha
View Answer
Fa-Hien visited India during Chandragupta II’s reign and described the prosperity of the Gupta Empire.
Q57. Which Gupta ruler founded Nalanda University?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Kumaragupta I
D. Skandagupta
View Answer
Kumaragupta I is traditionally credited with founding Nalanda University.
Q58. Who successfully repelled the Hun invasion?
A. Chandragupta II
B. Kumaragupta
C. Skandagupta
D. Harsha
View Answer
Skandagupta successfully resisted the invasion of the Huns.
Q59. The Gupta Period is known as the:
A. Iron Age
B. Golden Age of India
C. Vedic Age
D. Age of Empires
View Answer
The Gupta period witnessed remarkable achievements in art, literature, science and mathematics.
Q60. Which decimal system mathematician belonged to the Gupta period?
A. Varahamihira
B. Aryabhata
C. Nagarjuna
D. Charaka
View Answer
Aryabhata made significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy, including the decimal place-value system.
Q61. Who wrote the famous work Abhijnanashakuntalam?
A. Banabhatta
B. Kalidasa
C. Vishakhadatta
D. Bharavi
View Answer
Kalidasa, the greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist of the Gupta Age, wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam.
Q62. Which Gupta ruler was also known as Vikramaditya?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Kumaragupta I
View Answer
After defeating the Shakas, Chandragupta II assumed the title Vikramaditya.
Q63. Which ancient Indian physician wrote the Charaka Samhita?
A. Sushruta
B. Charaka
C. Aryabhata
D. Nagarjuna
View Answer
Charaka Samhita is one of the most important ancient texts on Ayurveda.
Q64. The Sushruta Samhita is mainly related to:
A. Astronomy
B. Mathematics
C. Surgery
D. Grammar
View Answer
Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery, and his work explains many surgical procedures.
Q65. Which Gupta-period scientist wrote the Panchasiddhantika?
A. Aryabhata
B. Varahamihira
C. Brahmagupta
D. Nagarjuna
View Answer
Varahamihira was a renowned astronomer and author of Panchasiddhantika and Brihat Samhita.
Q66. The Ajanta Caves are mainly associated with:
A. Jainism
B. Buddhism
C. Hinduism
D. Sikhism
View Answer
The Ajanta Caves contain magnificent Buddhist paintings and rock-cut monasteries.
Q67. The Ellora Caves are famous because they contain monuments of:
A. Buddhism only
B. Hinduism only
C. Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism
D. Jainism only
View Answer
The Ellora Caves are unique because they represent all three religions.
Q68. The Kailasa Temple at Ellora was built by the:
A. Mauryas
B. Rashtrakutas
C. Guptas
D. Cholas
View Answer
The monolithic Kailasa Temple was built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
Q69. Which Sangam kingdom ruled from Madurai?
A. Chera
B. Chola
C. Pandya
D. Pallava
View Answer
Madurai served as the capital of the Pandya kingdom and was the centre of Sangam literature.
Q70. The capital of the early Cholas was:
A. Kanchi
B. Madurai
C. Uraiyur
D. Vengi
View Answer
Uraiyur was the early capital of the Cholas before they shifted to Thanjavur.
Q71. Which Sangam kingdom was famous for the spice trade?
A. Chola
B. Chera
C. Pandya
D. Pallava
View Answer
The Cheras controlled the Malabar Coast and were well known for the export of spices.
Q72. Sangam literature was mainly written in:
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Tamil
D. Prakrit
View Answer
Sangam literature is the earliest known literature written in the Tamil language.
Q73. Which port was famous during the Sangam Age?
A. Surat
B. Kaveripattinam
C. Bharuch
D. Tamralipti
View Answer
Kaveripattinam (Puhar) was an important Chola port involved in overseas trade.
Q74. Which metal coins were first widely issued by the Indo-Greeks?
A. Iron
B. Gold
C. Copper
D. Lead
View Answer
The Indo-Greek rulers introduced well-designed gold coins in northwestern India.
Q75. Which dynasty built the famous Sanchi Stupa?
A. Gupta
B. Maurya
C. Satavahana
D. Kushan
View Answer
The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka.
Q76. Which ruler sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Bindusara
D. Kanishka
View Answer
Ashoka sent Mahendra and Sanghamitra to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Q77. Which inscription helped James Prinsep decipher the Brahmi script?
A. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B. Ashokan Edicts
C. Hathigumpha Inscription
D. Junagadh Inscription
View Answer
James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837 using Ashoka’s inscriptions.
Q78. Which emperor is associated with the Lion Capital of Sarnath?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Samudragupta
D. Kanishka
View Answer
The Lion Capital of Sarnath, adopted as India’s National Emblem, was erected by Ashoka.
Q79. The National Emblem of India is adopted from:
A. Gateway of India
B. Lion Capital of Sarnath
C. India Gate
D. Sanchi Stupa
View Answer
The Lion Capital of Sarnath, built by Ashoka, became India’s National Emblem in 1950.
Q80. The Dharma Chakra in the Indian National Flag is taken from:
A. Konark Temple
B. Ashoka’s Sarnath Lion Capital
C. Ajanta Caves
D. Nalanda University
View Answer
The 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra in the National Flag is inspired by the Dharma Chakra of Sarnath.
Q81. Which ancient university was located in present-day Bihar?
A. Vikramashila
B. Takshashila
C. Nalanda
D. Vallabhi
View Answer
Nalanda was one of the world’s earliest residential universities and a renowned centre of learning.
Q82. Takshashila was located in present-day:
A. India
B. Nepal
C. Pakistan
D. Bangladesh
View Answer
The ancient university of Takshashila is located near Taxila in present-day Pakistan.
Q83. Which Chinese traveller visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana?
A. Fa-Hien
B. Hiuen Tsang
C. Megasthenes
D. Al-Biruni
View Answer
Hiuen Tsang visited India in the 7th century AD during the reign of Harshavardhana.
Q84. Who wrote the biography Harshacharita?
A. Kalidasa
B. Banabhatta
C. Bharavi
D. Dandin
View Answer
Banabhatta, the court poet of Harsha, wrote Harshacharita.
Q85. Harshavardhana belonged to which dynasty?
A. Gupta
B. Pushyabhuti (Vardhana)
C. Maurya
D. Kushan
View Answer
Harshavardhana was the greatest ruler of the Pushyabhuti or Vardhana Dynasty.
Q86. Harshavardhana’s capital was:
A. Kannauj
B. Pataliputra
C. Ujjain
D. Vaishali
View Answer
Kannauj became the capital of Harshavardhana’s empire.
Q87. Which ruler defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada River?
A. Pulakeshin II
B. Narasimhavarman I
C. Vikramaditya II
D. Dantidurga
View Answer
The Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II successfully checked Harsha’s southern expansion.
Q88. The famous Aihole Inscription was composed by:
A. Banabhatta
B. Ravikirti
C. Kalhana
D. Harisena
View Answer
Ravikirti composed the Aihole Inscription in praise of Pulakeshin II.
Q89. The Mehrauli Iron Pillar is associated with which ruler?
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta II
C. Samudragupta
D. Harsha
View Answer
The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription is generally associated with Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.
Q90. Which Gupta ruler issued the largest variety of gold coins?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Skandagupta
View Answer
Samudragupta issued numerous types of gold coins depicting his achievements.
Q91. Which ancient Indian text is regarded as the oldest Veda?
A. Samaveda
B. Yajurveda
C. Rigveda
D. Atharvaveda
View Answer
The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas and the earliest literary source of ancient Indian history.
Q92. Which was the capital of the Kushan ruler Kanishka?
A. Pataliputra
B. Purushapura
C. Ujjain
D. Taxila
View Answer
Purushapura (present-day Peshawar) served as the capital of Kanishka.
Q93. Which ancient Indian ruler embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Bindusara
D. Samudragupta
View Answer
The devastation of the Kalinga War led Ashoka to adopt Buddhism and the policy of Dhamma.
Q94. Which emperor built the Great Stupa at Sanchi?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Kanishka
D. Harsha
View Answer
Ashoka commissioned the original Great Stupa at Sanchi to promote Buddhism.
Q95. Which ancient Indian dynasty is famous for the Iron Pillar of Delhi?
A. Maurya
B. Gupta
C. Kushan
D. Satavahana
View Answer
The Mehrauli Iron Pillar is a remarkable example of Gupta-era metallurgy.
Q96. Which script was mainly used in Ashoka’s inscriptions across most of India?
A. Kharosthi
B. Brahmi
C. Devanagari
D. Grantha
View Answer
Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were engraved in the Brahmi script, while Kharosthi was used in the northwest.
Q97. Which dynasty is regarded as the Golden Age of Indian art, literature and science?
A. Maurya
B. Gupta
C. Kushan
D. Chola
View Answer
The Gupta period is widely known as the Golden Age because of its outstanding cultural and scientific achievements.
Q98. Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?
A. Banabhatta
B. Harisena
C. Kalidasa
D. Ravikirti
View Answer
Harisena composed the Allahabad Pillar Inscription describing the achievements of Samudragupta.
Q99. Which ruler is known as the last great emperor of ancient India?
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta II
C. Harshavardhana
D. Kanishka
View Answer
Harshavardhana is often regarded as the last great emperor of ancient India before the rise of regional kingdoms.
Q100. Which literary work provides valuable information about the administration of Chandragupta Maurya?
A. Arthashastra
B. Rajatarangini
C. Harshacharita
D. Gatha Saptashati
View Answer
The Arthashastra, written by Kautilya (Chanakya), explains administration, economy, taxation, diplomacy and governance during the Mauryan period.
These Ancient Indian History MCQ Questions with Answers cover the most important topics for SSC, Railway, Banking, Police, Defence and other one-day competitive examinations. Regular practice of these questions will strengthen your understanding of the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Jainism, Buddhism, the Mauryan Empire, the Gupta Empire and ancient Indian art and culture. Revise these MCQs regularly to improve your accuracy and confidence in the General Knowledge section of competitive exams.