Indian History & Freedom Movement – Ancient Indian History

Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)

Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)

Preliminary Examination – General Studies Paper I (Objective, 200 Marks)

Topic: Indian History & Freedom Movement

Sub Topic: Ancient Indian History

Ancient Indian History – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Explanations

Q1. The earliest evidence of human activity in India belongs to which period?

A. Neolithic Age
B. Mesolithic Age
C. Paleolithic Age
D. Chalcolithic Age

Answer: C
Explanation: The Paleolithic Age marks the earliest phase of human history, characterized by stone tools and hunter-gatherer life.

Q2. Which metal was first used by humans in India?

A. Iron
B. Copper
C. Gold
D. Silver

Answer: B
Explanation: The Chalcolithic Age saw the first use of copper, preceding the Iron Age.

Q3. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:

A. Aryan Civilization
B. Harappan Civilization
C. Vedic Civilization
D. Chalcolithic Civilization

Answer: B
Explanation: It is called the Harappan Civilization after its first discovered site, Harappa.

Q4. Which of the following was a prominent feature of Harappan town planning?

A. Circular roads
B. Random house layout
C. Grid pattern streets
D. Mud-brick houses only

Answer: C
Explanation: Harappan cities followed a grid pattern with well-planned streets and drainage.

Q5. The Great Bath is associated with:

A. Harappa
B. Mohenjo-daro
C. Dholavira
D. Lothal

Answer: B
Explanation: The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro reflects the ritual importance of water.

Q6. Which Harappan site is known for its dockyard?

A. Kalibangan
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Banawali

Answer: C
Explanation: Lothal had a dockyard, indicating advanced maritime trade.

Q7. The economy of the Harappan Civilization was mainly based on:

A. Pastoralism
B. Agriculture and trade
C. Forest produce
D. Fishing only

Answer: B
Explanation: Agriculture supported by extensive trade networks formed the economic base.

Q8. The script of the Indus Valley Civilization is:

A. Alphabetical
B. Deciphered
C. Pictographic and undeciphered
D. Brahmi

Answer: C
Explanation: The Harappan script remains undeciphered and uses pictorial symbols.

Q9. Which crop was NOT known to the Harappans?

A. Wheat
B. Barley
C. Rice
D. Cotton

Answer: C
Explanation: Rice cultivation became common after the Harappan period.

Q10. The Rig Vedic people were primarily:

A. Urban traders
B. Pastoral nomads
C. Coastal fishermen
D. Forest dwellers

Answer: B
Explanation: Early Vedic society was pastoral, with cattle wealth being important.

Q11. The Rig Veda consists of:

A. 500 hymns
B. 1,028 hymns
C. 2,000 hymns
D. 1,500 hymns

Answer: B
Explanation: The Rig Veda contains 1,028 hymns dedicated mainly to nature gods.

Q12. Which god was the most important deity in the Rig Vedic period?

A. Varuna
B. Indra
C. Agni
D. Soma

Answer: B
Explanation: Indra, the god of rain and war, was the most prominent Rig Vedic deity.

Q13. Sabha and Samiti were:

A. Religious assemblies
B. Judicial bodies
C. Popular assemblies
D. Military councils

Answer: C
Explanation: Sabha and Samiti were early democratic assemblies in Vedic society.

Q14. Which varna emerged last in the Vedic social system?

A. Brahmana
B. Kshatriya
C. Vaishya
D. Shudra

Answer: D
Explanation: The Shudra varna emerged later to serve the other three varnas.

Q15. Iron was widely used in India during:

A. Rig Vedic period
B. Later Vedic period
C. Harappan period
D. Mauryan period

Answer: B
Explanation: The Later Vedic period saw extensive use of iron, aiding agriculture.

Q16. Which Mahajanapada was ruled by a republican form of government?

A. Magadha
B. Kosala
C. Vajji
D. Avanti

Answer: C
Explanation: Vajji was a gana-sangha (republic), not a monarchy.

Q17. Buddhism was founded by:

A. Mahavira
B. Ashoka
C. Gautama Buddha
D. Nagarjuna

Answer: C
Explanation: Gautama Buddha founded Buddhism in the 6th century BCE.

Q18. The core teaching of Buddhism is:

A. Varna system
B. Eightfold Path
C. Yajna
D. Bhakti

Answer: B
Explanation: The Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering.

Q19. Jainism was founded by:

A. Parshvanatha
B. Mahavira
C. Buddha
D. Kapila

Answer: B
Explanation: Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara and founder of Jainism.

Q20. Which principle is central to Jain philosophy?

A. Ahimsa
B. Karma Yoga
C. Bhakti
D. Moksha

Answer: A
Explanation: Ahimsa (non-violence) is the core principle of Jainism.

Q21. The Mauryan Empire was founded by:

A. Ashoka
B. Bindusara
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Chanakya

Answer: C
Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire with Chanakya’s guidance.

Q22. The Arthashastra was written by:

A. Kalidasa
B. Ashoka
C. Chanakya
D. Panini

Answer: C
Explanation: Chanakya (Kautilya) authored the Arthashastra on statecraft.

Q23. Ashoka adopted Buddhism after the:

A. Battle of Taxila
B. Battle of Panipat
C. Battle of Kalinga
D. Battle of Pataliputra

Answer: C
Explanation: The Kalinga War deeply influenced Ashoka to embrace Buddhism.

Q24. Ashokan edicts were written in:

A. Sanskrit
B. Pali and Prakrit
C. Tamil
D. Persian

Answer: B
Explanation: Most edicts were in Prakrit, written in Brahmi script.

Q25. Which pillar edict mentions Dhamma Mahamatras?

A. Sarnath Pillar
B. Allahabad Pillar
C. Lauriya Nandangarh
D. Rampurva

Answer: B
Explanation: The Allahabad Pillar mentions Dhamma Mahamatras, officers of morality.

Q26. The capital of the Mauryan Empire was:

A. Taxila
B. Ujjain
C. Pataliputra
D. Rajgir

Answer: C
Explanation: Pataliputra was the administrative and political center.

Q27. Which ancient text deals with Sanskrit grammar?

A. Arthashastra
B. Ashtadhyayi
C. Rig Veda
D. Manusmriti

Answer: B
Explanation: Panini’s Ashtadhyayi is a foundational work on Sanskrit grammar.

Q28. Which ancient Indian university was famous for Buddhist learning?

A. Vikramshila
B. Nalanda
C. Takshashila
D. All of the above

Answer: D
Explanation: All three were major centers of ancient higher learning.

Q29. The decline of the Harappan Civilization is associated with:

A. Foreign invasion only
B. Climatic changes
C. Over-urbanization
D. Religious conflicts

Answer: B
Explanation: Climate change and river shifts are major reasons for decline.

Q30. Ancient Indian history is mainly reconstructed from:

A. Myths
B. Foreign accounts only
C. Archaeological and literary sources
D. Oral traditions alone

Answer: C
Explanation: Archaeology, inscriptions, and texts together reconstruct ancient history.

• APSC Ancient History MCQs

• Ancient Indian history questions for APSC

• APSC GS Paper I history MCQs

• Indus Valley Civilization MCQs

• Vedic and Mauryan history MCQs