Ancient India & Culture PYQ – Test 2

1. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the codes given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

2. With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

3. With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

4. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

5. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

6. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

7. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

8. Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

9. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

1. White marble was used in making BulandDarwaza and Khankah at FatehpurSikri.
2. Red Sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

10. With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

11. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘RanyoAshoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

12. Consider the following:

1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

13. Building ‘KalyaanaMandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

14. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra
2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana
3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

15. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:

1. Parivrajaka – Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana – Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka – Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

16. With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

17. Consider the following pairs:

Historical place: Well-known for

1. Burzahom: Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandraketugarh: Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar: Copper artefacts

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

18. Consider the following pairs:

Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts: Location in the State of

1. Dhauli —           Odisha
2. Erragudi —           Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada —           Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi —           Karnataka

How many pairs given above are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – Prelims 2022]

19. “Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by NizamuddinPanipati during the reign of: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – Prelims 2022]

20. The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – Prelims 2022]

21. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

Historical person                   Known as

1. Aryadeva —           Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga —           Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni —           Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – Prelims 2022]

22. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

23. Consider the following pairs:

Historical place: Well – known for

1. Burzahom : Rock -cut shrines
2. Chandra – ketugarh : Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

24. With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

25. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?