Ancient Indian History Mixed Practice — MCQs with Answers (Set 6)

Kashi was eventually annexed by Kosala after repeated wars. Kosala itself was later absorbed into the expanding Magadhan empire under Ajatashatru — part of a wider pattern in which individually powerful Mahajanapadas fell, one by one, to stronger neighbours.

Sarnath sits just outside Varanasi, the capital of Kashi. Kashi’s older reputation for learning and trade helps explain why the region attracted a teacher like the Buddha.

Archaeological layers at Rajghat show settlement from around 800 BCE onward, well before Kashi’s political peak as a Mahajanapada. In August 2026, BHU began new genetic testing on a skeleton excavated there decades earlier, comparing it against Harappan remains from Rakhigarhi.

Bimbisara of Magadha married Kosaladevi, sister of the Kosalan king Prasenajit. Kashi’s revenue, worth around 100,000 coins a year, came with her as dowry — a marriage that also ended a long-running rivalry between Magadha and Kosala.

Silappatikaram and Manimekalai are the ‘twin epics’ of Tamil literature, but historians treat them as post-Sangam works, composed after the classical Sangam-era poems.

A samanta owed tribute and homage in person. He also gave military help when called. This matches NCERT’s list of gifts, court attendance and military support.

The correct answer is Kashi. A village in Kashi came to Bimbisara as part of Kosaladevi’s dowry. Anga, Champa and Vaishali are wrong because the sources name Kashi as the dowry. Memory hook: the Kosala bride brought Kashi.

The answer is Daya Ram Sahni. The textbook timeline says he began excavations at Harappa in 1921. Live History gives 1921-22 and says M S Vats worked with him. Why the others fail: R.D. Banerji found similar seals at Mohenjodaro. John Marshall sent Sahni and announced the civilisation in 1924. Cunningham only made a small dig in 1872. Memory hook: Sahni began, Vats finished.

The six most prominent cities were Champa, Rajagaha, Savatthi, Saketa, Kosambi, and Varanasi. Pataliputra rose to prominence only later, under the Mauryas.

Chandana (also called Chandrabala), Dadhivahana’s daughter, became the first woman to convert to Jainism, shortly after Mahavira attained enlightenment.

Bimbisara of Magadha killed King Brahmadatta of Anga and annexed the kingdom, avenging an earlier defeat.

Karna was barred from challenging Arjuna in an archery contest for not being a prince, so Duryodhana crowned him King of Anga on the spot.

Odantapuri was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji’s forces in the late 12th century CE, which reportedly mistook its fortified complex for a military citadel.

These five monastic universities formed a network often called the five great Mahaviharas of eastern India.

Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first, was built directly on the model of Odantapuri, under King Trisong Detsen’s patronage.

The shift from Jana to Janapada reflects political identity moving from “who your ancestors were” to “where you live” — from kinship to settled territory.

The earliest known textual mentions of “janapada” appear in the Aitareya Brahmana and the Shatapatha Brahmana.

“Janapada” combines “jana” (people or tribe) and “pada” (foot), meaning roughly “where a tribe set its foot.”

Varada Mudra, with the right hand extended downward and palm facing outward, symbolizes charity and boon-granting.

Abhaya Mudra, with the right palm facing outward at shoulder height, signals fearlessness and protection.

Dhyana Mudra shows both hands resting in the lap, palms upward, thumbs lightly touching, echoing the Buddha’s meditative posture before enlightenment.

The correct answer is Bhumisparsha Mudra. Bhumisparsha means earth-touching. The Buddha touches the ground with his right hand. This calls the earth goddess to witness his right to enlightenment.

Dhyana Mudra is the meditation gesture. Abhaya Mudra is the raised-hand gesture for fear not. Varada Mudra is the lowered, boon-giving gesture.

Memory hook: Bhumi = earth; sparsha = touch.

Rice husk impressions in pottery at Rangpur and Lothal provided some of South Asia’s earliest evidence of rice cultivation.

Both are correct. S.R. Rao excavated Rangpur from 1953-56, and the site shows occupation spanning the Mature to Late Harappan phases.

Rangpur’s excavations were significant enough that the whole regional late-Harappan phase in Gujarat was named the ‘Rangpur Culture’ after it.