Ancient Assam GK MCQs with Answers and Explanations for APSC, ADRE & Assam Police
Ancient Assam GK MCQs for Competitive Exams
The following 30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on Ancient Assam History and General Knowledge have been carefully prepared for APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, Assam TET, Grade III, Grade IV, SSC, Railway, Banking, and various other competitive examinations. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help build a strong conceptual foundation.
1. Ancient Assam was popularly known as:
A. Pragjyotisha
B. Kamarupa
C. Kamata
D. Both Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa
✅ Answer: D. Both Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa
Explanation:
Ancient Assam was known as Pragjyotisha in early texts and later as Kamarupa. Both names are frequently mentioned in historical and mythological sources.
Exam Tip:
Pragjyotisha → Early Name
Kamarupa → Historical Kingdom
2. The word “Pragjyotisha” literally means:
A. Land of Rivers
B. City of Eastern Astronomy
C. Kingdom of Gods
D. Land of Elephants
✅ Answer: B. City of Eastern Astronomy
Explanation:
“Prag” means east and “Jyotisha” means astronomy or celestial science. Thus, Pragjyotisha means “Eastern Centre of Astronomy.”
3. Which ancient king is associated with Pragjyotisha in Hindu mythology?
A. Bhagadatta
B. Narakasura
C. Banasura
D. Jarasandha
✅ Answer: B. Narakasura
Explanation:
According to Hindu mythology, Narakasura was the legendary ruler of Pragjyotisha and is often regarded as the founder of the kingdom.
4. Who was the son of Narakasura according to the Mahabharata?
A. Bhaskaravarman
B. Pushyavarman
C. Bhagadatta
D. Mahiranga
✅ Answer: C. Bhagadatta
Explanation:
Bhagadatta ruled Pragjyotisha and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war.
5. Bhagadatta fought in which famous war?
A. Kurukshetra War
B. Panipat War
C. Mahabharata War
D. Kalinga War
✅ Answer: C. Mahabharata War
Explanation:
Bhagadatta was a renowned warrior and participated in the Mahabharata war with his elephant army.
6. Which dynasty established the historical Kamarupa Kingdom?
A. Ahom Dynasty
B. Koch Dynasty
C. Varman Dynasty
D. Chutia Dynasty
✅ Answer: C. Varman Dynasty
Explanation:
The Varman Dynasty founded the Kamarupa Kingdom in the 4th century AD.
7. Who was the founder of the Varman Dynasty?
A. Bhaskaravarman
B. Pushyavarman
C. Susthitavarman
D. Mahendravarman
✅ Answer: B. Pushyavarman
Explanation:
Pushyavarman founded the Varman Dynasty and established Kamarupa as an important political power.
8. Which ruler is considered the greatest king of the Varman Dynasty?
A. Pushyavarman
B. Mahendravarman
C. Bhaskaravarman
D. Narayanavarman
✅ Answer: C. Bhaskaravarman
Explanation:
Bhaskaravarman was the most powerful ruler of Kamarupa and expanded its influence considerably.
9. Bhaskaravarman was a contemporary of:
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Harshavardhana
D. Samudragupta
✅ Answer: C. Harshavardhana
Explanation:
Bhaskaravarman maintained friendly relations with Emperor Harshavardhana of North India.
10. Which Chinese traveler visited Kamarupa during Bhaskaravarman’s reign?
A. Fa-Hien
B. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
C. I-Tsing
D. Marco Polo
✅ Answer: B. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
Explanation:
Xuanzang visited Kamarupa in the 7th century and left valuable descriptions of the kingdom.
11. Hiuen Tsang visited Kamarupa around:
A. 520 AD
B. 580 AD
C. 643 AD
D. 720 AD
✅ Answer: C. 643 AD
Explanation:
His travel accounts provide important information about ancient Assam’s society and administration.
12. The capital of Kamarupa during Bhaskaravarman’s reign was:
A. Tezpur
B. Pragjyotishpura
C. Sadiya
D. Dimapur
✅ Answer: B. Pragjyotishpura
Explanation:
Pragjyotishpura, identified with present-day Guwahati, served as the capital of Kamarupa.
13. Which inscription provides important information about Kamarupa?
A. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B. Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription
C. Junagadh Inscription
D. Hathigumpha Inscription
✅ Answer: B. Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription
Explanation:
This inscription contains valuable details about Bhaskaravarman and the Varman Dynasty.
14. After the Varman Dynasty, Kamarupa was ruled by:
A. Ahom Dynasty
B. Mlechchha Dynasty
C. Koch Dynasty
D. Pala Dynasty
✅ Answer: B. Mlechchha Dynasty
Explanation:
The Mlechchha Dynasty succeeded the Varman rulers in Kamarupa.
15. Who founded the Mlechchha Dynasty?
A. Harjaravarman
B. Salastambha
C. Ratnapala
D. Pushyavarman
✅ Answer: B. Salastambha
Explanation:
Salastambha established the Mlechchha Dynasty after the fall of the Varman Dynasty.
16. Which dynasty succeeded the Mlechchha Dynasty in Kamarupa?
A. Koch Dynasty
B. Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa
C. Ahom Dynasty
D. Chutia Dynasty
✅ Answer: B. Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa
Explanation:
The Pala rulers governed Kamarupa from the 10th to the 12th century.
17. Who founded the Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa?
A. Dharmapala of Bengal
B. Brahmapala
C. Ratnapala
D. Gopala
✅ Answer: B. Brahmapala
Explanation:
Brahmapala founded the Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa.
18. Which Pala ruler shifted the capital to Durjaya?
A. Brahmapala
B. Ratnapala
C. Indrapala
D. Gopala
✅ Answer: B. Ratnapala
Explanation:
Ratnapala established Durjaya near present-day Guwahati as the capital.
19. Which temple in Assam is associated with ancient Kamarupa?
A. Umananda Temple
B. Kamakhya Temple
C. Navagraha Temple
D. Basistha Temple
✅ Answer: B. Kamakhya Temple
Explanation:
Kamakhya Temple is one of the most important Shakti Peethas and a symbol of ancient Assam.
20. Kamakhya Temple is located on:
A. Nilachal Hill
B. Chitrachal Hill
C. Sandhyachal Hill
D. Narakasura Hill
✅ Answer: A. Nilachal Hill
Explanation:
The temple is situated on Nilachal Hill in Guwahati.
21. Which Gupta ruler mentioned Kamarupa in the Allahabad Pillar Inscription?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Skandagupta
D. Kumaragupta
✅ Answer: B. Samudragupta
Explanation:
Kamarupa is listed among frontier kingdoms in Samudragupta’s inscription.
22. The Allahabad Pillar Inscription was composed by:
A. Kalidasa
B. Harisena
C. Banabhatta
D. Patanjali
✅ Answer: B. Harisena
Explanation:
Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta.
23. Which river was central to the development of ancient Assam civilization?
A. Ganga
B. Yamuna
C. Brahmaputra
D. Narmada
✅ Answer: C. Brahmaputra
Explanation:
The Brahmaputra Valley was the heart of ancient Assam’s political, economic, and cultural life.
24. Ancient Kamarupa was famous for:
A. Cotton Industry
B. Shipbuilding
C. Elephants and Silk
D. Diamond Mines
✅ Answer: C. Elephants and Silk
Explanation:
Ancient texts frequently mention Kamarupa’s elephants and silk products.
25. Which ancient text mentions Pragjyotisha?
A. Arthashastra
B. Mahabharata
C. Meghaduta
D. Panchatantra
✅ Answer: B. Mahabharata
Explanation:
Pragjyotisha and its ruler Bhagadatta are mentioned in the Mahabharata.
26. Which religion flourished prominently in ancient Kamarupa?
A. Islam
B. Christianity
C. Hinduism
D. Zoroastrianism
✅ Answer: C. Hinduism
Explanation:
Various forms of Hinduism, especially Shaktism and Shaivism, flourished in ancient Assam.
27. Ancient Assam was a major centre of:
A. Jainism
B. Tantric Worship
C. Sikhism
D. Judaism
✅ Answer: B. Tantric Worship
Explanation:
Kamakhya became one of the most important centres of Tantra in India.
28. Which ancient kingdom occupied much of present-day Assam?
A. Magadha
B. Kosala
C. Kamarupa
D. Avanti
✅ Answer: C. Kamarupa
Explanation:
Kamarupa was the principal ancient kingdom covering large parts of Assam.
29. Which dynasty ruled Kamarupa immediately before the medieval period?
A. Varman Dynasty
B. Mlechchha Dynasty
C. Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa
D. Ahom Dynasty
✅ Answer: C. Pala Dynasty of Kamarupa
Explanation:
The Pala Dynasty was the last major dynasty of ancient Kamarupa.
30. Which city is identified with ancient Pragjyotishpura?
A. Tezpur
B. Sivasagar
C. Guwahati
D. Jorhat
✅ Answer: C. Guwahati
Explanation:
Modern Guwahati is widely identified with ancient Pragjyotishpura, the capital of Kamarupa.
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Ancient Name of Assam | Pragjyotisha |
| Historical Kingdom | Kamarupa |
| Founder of Varman Dynasty | Pushyavarman |
| Greatest Varman King | Bhaskaravarman |
| Chinese Traveler | Hiuen Tsang |
| Visit to Kamarupa | 643 AD |
| Founder of Mlechchha Dynasty | Salastambha |
| Founder of Pala Dynasty | Brahmapala |
| Famous Temple | Kamakhya Temple |
| Capital of Ancient Kamarupa | Pragjyotishpura |
| Associated River | Brahmaputra |
| Mahabharata King | Bhagadatta |
| Mythological Founder | Narakasura |
These 30 MCQs cover the most important topics from Ancient Assam History and GK frequently asked in APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, Assam TET, Grade III, Grade IV, SSC, Railway, Banking, and other competitive examinations.
