This free Gupta empire MCQ test is the fourth set in our 72nd BPSC practice series. Its 25 questions cover the later Vedic debates, Painted Grey Ware, the Indo-Greeks, Gandhara art, Rudradaman, Indo-Roman trade through Arikamedu, and then the Gupta rulers, their titles, officials, coins, land terms and the Huna invasions. Each question shows the correct answer and an explanation as soon as you choose an option, and you can work out your score with BPSC-style negative marking at the end. For more practice, see our free BPSC mock test series.
What this test covers: Gargi and Yajnavalkya, Mahavira’s kevala jnana, the Milinda Panha, Kushana and Satavahana coinage, the Periplus, the Junagadh inscription, Hippalus and the monsoon, Chandragupta I to Skandagupta, the Mehrauli pillar, Faxian, Aryabhata, bhukti and vishaya, the Eran sati inscription, Nalanda and the dinara.
Post-Mauryan Period & Gupta Empire
25 questions · NCERT Class 11 & 12 · BPSC prelims pattern
How this test works
Click the option you think is right. It locks, turns green if correct or red if not, and the explanation opens underneath. Your score updates in the bar at the top as you go, and Calculate final score at the bottom gives the full breakdown. Choose (E) Not attempted when you would only be guessing, exactly as you would bubble E on the BPSC OMR sheet.
+1 mark — Correct answer
−1/3 mark — Wrong answer
0 — no penalty — (E) Not attempted, the fifth bubble on every question
−1/3 mark — Row left completely blank in the real exam
Later Vedic to Post-Mauryan India11 questions
1. Which of the following female scholars debated Sage Yajnavalkya on the nature of Brahman at King Janaka’s court during the Vedic period?
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Answer: (C) Gargi Vachaknavi
Gargi Vachaknavi questioned Yajnavalkya on the nature of Brahman at King Janaka’s court, as recorded in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
2. Fine grey plates and bowls with painted line designs and geometric patterns found at Janapada sites like Hastinapura and Atranjikhera are classified as:
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Answer: (C) Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
Painted Grey Ware, with its fine grey fabric and painted geometric designs, is the pottery of the later Vedic janapada sites such as Hastinapura and Atranjikhera.
3. At what age did Lord Mahavira attain Kevala Jnana?
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Answer: (A) 42
Mahavira renounced home at 30 and attained kevala jnana after twelve years of austerity, at the age of 42.
4. Consider the following statements regarding Post-Mauryan foreign relations:
Statement-I: The regular interchange of ambassadors between Indian courts and Hellenistic kingdoms directly boosted land and sea trade from India to the West.
Statement-II: Diplomatic missions helped establish secure trade routes, standard ports, and commercial treaties between India and the Mediterranean world.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
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Answer: (A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
Regular exchange of envoys with Hellenistic courts secured routes, ports and agreements, which in turn boosted trade with the West. Both statements are correct and II explains I.
5. With reference to the Indo-Greek ruler Menander I, consider the following statements:
- He established his capital at Sakala.
- His philosophical debate on Buddhism is recorded in the text Milinda Panha.
- He was the first ancient ruler to issue silver coins in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Menander ruled from Sakala (Sialkot) and his dialogue with Nagasena is the Milinda Panha. Statement 3 is wrong: punch-marked silver coins existed long before the Indo-Greeks.
6. Consider the following pairs:
Coinage Type — Primary Metal / Character
- Kushana Coins — Gold coinage influenced by Roman monetary standards; copper coinage followed the Greek drachm standard
- Satavahana Coins — Lead, Potin, Copper, and Silver
- Gupta Coins — Highest number of Gold coins
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
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Answer: (B) Only two pairs
Satavahana coins were of lead, potin, copper and silver, and the Guptas issued the largest number of gold coins. Pair 1 is wrong: Kushana gold followed the Roman standard, but their copper coinage did not follow the Greek drachm standard. Two pairs are correct.
7. With reference to the Gandhara School of Art, consider the following statements:
- It developed as a synthesis of Greek, Roman, and Indian artistic traditions.
- It primarily used spotted red sandstone as its raw material.
- Buddha was depicted with wavy hair, physical realism, and draped robes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only
Gandhara art blended Greek, Roman and Indian elements and showed the Buddha with wavy hair and draped robes. It used grey schist, not red sandstone, which is the hallmark of the Mathura school.
8. Consider the following pairs of Ancient Literary Works and Authors:
- Buddhacharita — Asvaghosha
- Periplus of the Erythraean Sea — Megasthenes
- Kamasutra — Vatsyayana
- Arthashastra — Kautilya
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
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Answer: (C) Only three pairs
Buddhacharita by Asvaghosha, Kamasutra by Vatsyayana and Arthashastra by Kautilya are correctly paired. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is by an anonymous Greek sailor, not Megasthenes. Three pairs are correct.
9. With reference to Saka ruler Rudradaman I, consider the following statements:
- He belonged to the Western Kshatrapa dynasty.
- He issued the first major long inscription written in pure classical Sanskrit at Junagadh.
- He repaired the famous Sudarshana Lake using public taxes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Rudradaman I was a Western Kshatrapa and his Junagadh inscription is the first long inscription in classical Sanskrit. He repaired the Sudarshana lake from his own treasury, without taxing the people, so statement 3 is wrong.
10. The contours of Indo-Roman trade changed drastically during the 1st Century CE. Which of the following factors contributed to this shift?
- Emergence of Rome as the single dominant empire in the Mediterranean region.
- Discovery of the monsoon wind patterns across the Arabian Sea by Hippalus.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Show answer
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Rome’s dominance of the Mediterranean created demand for Indian luxuries, and the knowledge of monsoon winds (attributed to Hippalus) made direct sea voyages possible. Both factors apply.
11. Which ancient South Indian coastal site was an active Indo-Roman trade emporium?
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Answer: (A) Arikamedu
Arikamedu near Pondicherry has yielded Roman amphorae, Arretine ware and coins, showing it was an Indo-Roman trading station.
Gupta empire14 questions
12. Which Gupta ruler first took the title Maharajadhiraja after marrying a Licchavi princess?
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Answer: (C) Chandragupta I
Chandragupta I married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi and took the title Maharajadhiraja, marking the real beginning of Gupta power.
13. The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription, renowned for its rustless metallurgy, commemorates the military achievements of which monarch?
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Answer: (B) Chandragupta II
The Mehrauli iron pillar inscription praises a king Chandra, generally identified with Chandragupta II, and the pillar’s rust resistance shows advanced Gupta metallurgy.
14. Who among the following Gupta kings performed the Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) and issued gold coins depicting a sacrificial horse?
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Answer: (A) Samudragupta
Samudragupta performed the ashvamedha and issued gold coins showing the sacrificial horse, with the legend proclaiming the sacrifice.
15. In the Gupta provincial administration, the administrative unit Bhukti (province) was placed under the direct charge of which officer?
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Answer: (B) Uparika
A bhukti (province) was governed by an uparika; a vishaya (district) by a vishayapati. The kumaramatya was a high official and the gramika a village headman.
16. The earliest known epigraphic evidence of the practice of Sati in India is found in which of the following inscriptions?
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Answer: (D) Eran Stone Inscription of Bhanugupta
The Eran inscription of Bhanugupta (510 CE) records a woman burning herself on her husband’s pyre, the earliest epigraphic reference to sati.
17. During the reign of Chandragupta II, which Chinese Buddhist pilgrim visited India to collect Buddhist manuscripts?
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Answer: (D) Faxian (Fa-Hien)
Faxian (Fa-Hien) travelled in India in the early fifth century, during the reign of Chandragupta II, collecting Buddhist texts.
18. The famous astronomer-mathematician Aryabhata, who authored the Aryabhatiya, flourished during which imperial dynasty?
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Answer: (C) Guptas
Aryabhata wrote the Aryabhatiya in 499 CE during the Gupta period, proposing that the earth rotates on its axis.
19. Which of the following Gupta rulers successfully repulsed the early invasion of the Hunas, as recorded in the Bhitari Pillar Inscription?
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Answer: (C) Skandagupta
Skandagupta’s Bhitari pillar inscription records his victory over the Hunas, who had begun invading India in the mid-fifth century.
20. In the context of the Gupta land revenue system, the term Kshetra referred to which type of land?
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Answer: (A) Cultivable land
In Gupta land records kshetra meant cultivable land, khila waste land, aprahata forest land and vasti habitable land.
21. Who was the court poet (Sandhivigrahika) of Samudragupta who composed the eulogy (Prashasti) engraved on the Allahabad Pillar?
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Answer: (B) Harisena
Harisena, Samudragupta’s sandhivigrahika (minister of peace and war), composed the Allahabad pillar prashasti.
22. The Nalanda University, a major global centre of Buddhist learning, was established during the reign of which Gupta emperor?
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Answer: (C) Kumaragupta I
Nalanda mahavihara was founded under Kumaragupta I in the fifth century and later patronised by Harsha and the Palas.
23. The gold coins issued in high volume during the Gupta era were officially designated by which contemporary term?
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Answer: (C) Dinara
Gupta gold coins are called dinaras in inscriptions, a term borrowed from the Roman denarius.
24. Consider the following statements regarding the Gupta Land Tenure and Agricultural classification:
- Khila referred to uncultivated or wasteland.
- Vasti referred to land set aside for pasture.
- Aprahata referred to jungle or forest land.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only
Khila was uncultivated land and aprahata forest land, so 1 and 3 are correct. Vasti meant habitable land, not pasture.
25. Match List-I (Gupta Ruler) with List-II (Title) and select the correct option:
List-I (Ruler)
a. Samudragupta
b. Chandragupta II
c. Kumaragupta I
d. Skandagupta
a. Samudragupta
b. Chandragupta II
c. Kumaragupta I
d. Skandagupta
List-II (Title)
- Kramaditya
- Kaviraja
- Vikramaditya
- Mahendraditya
Codes:
Show answer
Answer: (D) a-2, b-3, c-4, d-1
Samudragupta was Kaviraja, Chandragupta II Vikramaditya, Kumaragupta I Mahendraditya and Skandagupta Kramaditya. Code a-2, b-3, c-4, d-1.
Your result
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Until it runs, tally by hand: score = correct − (wrong ÷ 3).
Finished, or stopping here? This counts every question you have answered so far.
Show the full answer key
1 C · 2 C · 3 A · 4 A · 5 A · 6 B · 7 B · 8 C · 9 A · 10 C · 11 A · 12 C · 13 B · 14 A · 15 B · 16 D · 17 D · 18 C · 19 C · 20 A · 21 B · 22 C · 23 C · 24 B · 25 D
Scoring: +1 correct, −1/3 wrong, 0 for (E) Not attempted, −1/3 for a row left blank in the real exam.
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