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mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance for Students
Which empire is regarded as the earliest to unify the Indian subcontinent?
a) Kushan Empire
b) Mauryan Empire
c) Gupta Empire
d) Satavahana Empire
Option b – Mauryan Empire
Who laid the foundation of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Ashoka
b) Vikramaditya
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Bindusara
Option c – Chandragupta Maurya
What was the capital city under Chandragupta Maurya’s reign?
a) Nalanda
b) Magadha
c) Pataliputra
d) Vaishali
Option c – Pataliputra
Who assumed the Mauryan throne following Chandragupta Maurya around 297 BCE?
a) Kumaragupta
b) Bindusara
c) Kanishka
d) Ashoka
Option b – Bindusara
The lion capital, a symbol of India, was discovered at which site?
a) Bairat
b) Bhabru
c) Sarnath
d) Sanchi
Option c – Sarnath
Which Mauryan monarch was the first to use inscriptions to communicate with the public?
a) Chandragupta
b) Ashoka
c) Bindusara
d) Brihadratha
Option b – Ashoka
Which ancient Indian kingdom was the first to widely deploy elephants in warfare?
a) Chola
b) Shunga
c) Magadha
d) Kushans
Option c – Magadha
Which Sri Lankan chronicle serves as a key historical record of the Mauryan period?
a) Indica
b) Mudrarakshas
c) Mahavamsa
d) Arthasastra
Option c – Mahavamsa
Megasthenes was sent as an envoy to which Mauryan ruler by Seleucus Nicator?
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta
c) Pushyamitra Shunga
d) Bindusara
Option b – Chandragupta
The writer of the Arthashastra was a contemporary of which Mauryan ruler?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Ashoka
c) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
d) Samudragupta
Option a – Chandragupta Maurya
In which year did Bindusara ascend to the Mauryan throne?
a) 321 BCE
b) 297 BCE
c) 299 BCE
d) 301 BCE
Option b – 297 BCE
Which Mauryan emperor embraced Buddhism and non-violence after the Kalinga conflict?
a) Ashoka
b) Dasharatha
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Bindusara
Option a – Ashoka
Which Mauryan emperor ended his life by fasting at Shravanabelagola?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Bindusara
c) Dasharatha
d) Ashoka
Option a – Chandragupta Maurya
The construction of the Sanchi Stupa was initiated by which ruler?
a) Samudragupta
b) Bimbisara
c) Ashoka
d) Chandragupta Maurya
Option c – Ashoka
What was the duty of the officer known as the Samaharta in the Mauryan government?
a) Reserve the state treasury
b) Tax assessment
c) Security assurance
d) To correspond
Option b – Tax assessment
Who dispatched Megasthenes as a diplomat to Chandragupta Maurya’s court?
a) Seleucus
b) Tolmi
c) Dionysus
d) Sikandar
Option a – Seleucus
According to Megasthenes, in which group of Indian society were royal advisors categorized?
a) Fifth
b) First
c) Second
d) Seventh
Option d – Seventh
Who was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya during his conquests?
a) Cassander
b) Seleucus Nicator
c) Antigones
d) Ptolemy
Option b – Seleucus Nicator
With whose assistance did Chandragupta Maurya overthrow the Nanda dynasty?
a) Skandagupta
b) Chandragupta II
c) Vishnugupta
d) Samudragupta
Option c – Vishnugupta
How many Social divisions were described by Megasthenes in his work ‘Indica’?
a) 12
b) 10
c) 5
d) 7
Option d – 7
In the Arthashastra, what was the title of the officer overseeing the cavalry?
a) Hastyadhyaksha
b) Rathadhyaksha
c) Ashwadhyaksha
d) Patyadhyaksha
Option c – Ashwadhyaksha
Who documented his experiences in Mauryan India in a work titled ‘Indica’?
a) Strabo
b) Diodorus
c) Megasthenes
d) Pliny
Option c – Megasthenes
Which ancient treatise provides intricate details of Mauryan administrative and military systems?
a) Brihat Samhita
b) Nitisara
c) Shulba Sutra
d) Arthashastra
Option d – Arthashastra
The Mauryan rulers dedicated the Nagarjuni Caves to which philosophical sect?
a) Ajivika
b) Buddhism
c) Lokayat
d) Jainism
Option a – Ajivika
Who was responsible for compiling a collection of Ashokan inscriptions in the year 1877?
a) MS Vats
b) DC Sircar
c) Alexander Cunningham
d) Colin Mackenzie
Option c – Alexander Cunningham
Ashoka dispatched Mahendra and Sanghmitra to promote the principles of Dhamma in which country?
a) Burma
b) Sri Lanka
c) China
d) Afghanistan
Option b – Sri Lanka
How many years after Ashoka’s coronation did the conquest of Kalinga occur?
a) 5 years
b) 8 years
c) 11 years
d) 15 years
Option b – 8 years
The title ‘Piyadassi’ is linked to which Mauryan emperor?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Brihadratha
c) Ashoka
d) Bindusara
Option c – Ashoka
Ashoka’s children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra, were sent to which place to propagate Dhamma?
a) Kalinga
b) Ceylon
c) Cambodia
d) Thailand
Option b – Ceylon
Which Mauryan ruler was assassinated by his own military commander?
a) Dashratha
b) Brihadratha
c) Shatadhanvan
d) Bindusara
Option b – Brihadratha
The painting showing the relocation of the Ashoka Pillar from Topra is found in which historical chronicle?
a) Tarikh Shahi
b) Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi
c) Sirut-i-Firuz Shahi
d) Akbar Nama
Option c – Sirut-i-Firuz Shahi
Which of the following does not belong to the components of Kautilya’s Saptanga theory of state?
a) Amatya
b) Janapada
c) Durga
d) Dhamma
Option d – Dhamma
Consider the following about Ashoka’s association with Buddhism: 1. Evidence from Rummindei and Nigali Sagar Pillars confirms Ashoka’s Buddhist belief. 2. Minor Rock Edict-I indicates a sudden transformation in Ashoka’s religious faith.
Which of these is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Option a – 1 only
Read the following about the Mauryan state and Forest dwellers: 1. Forest communities were brought under political and economic control. 2. Forest resources were considered exclusive to Forest inhabitants. 3. The state took steps to conserve forests and banned burning them. 4. Forest people were recruited for services like espionage, combat, and assassination. How many of these statements are accurate?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Option c – 3
Identify the correct features of the Lion Capital at Sarnath: 1. A tall, tapering pillar known as the shaft (stambha-yashti) 2. An uncarved elliptical abacus 3. Petals in an inverted overflow design below the abacus. Choose the right combination:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Option b – 1 and 3 only
Match the Mauryan administrative titles with their departments: 1. Samahartri – Revenue Collection Chief 2. Dauvarika – Military Commander 3. Akshapatala – Officer for Records and Audits 4. Somnidhatri – Treasury Head. Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Option b – 1, 3 and 4 only
What type of clothing was the antariya during the Mauryan age?
a) A piece of unstitched cloth wrapped around the body
b) A stitched tunic with sleeves
c) A veil worn only by women
d) Cloth strips tied at the waist with a belt
Option a – A piece of unstitched cloth wrapped around the body
Which archaeological sites are linked to the Mauryan capital of Pataliputra?
a) Bulandibagh and Rajagriha
b) Kumrahar and Mocharim
c) Kumrahar and Bulandibagh
d) Kumrahar and Jalalgarh
Option c – Kumrahar and Bulandibagh
Which script was used for Ashokan inscriptions discovered in Afghanistan?
a) Brahmi
b) Sharada
c) Kharoshthi
d) Greek-Aramaic
Option d – Greek-Aramaic
Ashokan inscriptions mention which among the following ancient political centers?
a) Indraprastha
b) Kaushambi
c) Suvarnagiri
d) Kandahar
Option c – Suvarnagiri
According to the Arthashastra, which activity was not part of a king’s daily routine?
a) Reviewing defense matters
b) Secretly visiting towns
c) Accepting tax revenue in cash
d) Holding discussions with ministers
Option b – Secretly visiting towns
Which of the following animals is not part of the four noble creatures (Maha-Ajaneya Pasu) featured on the drum of the Sarnath lion capital?
a) Deer
b) Lion
c) Horse
d) Bull
Option a – Deer
Which of the following statements is accurate? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Brahmi script used in Ashokan records shows regional differences
b) Mesopotamians created the system of hieroglyphic writing
c) Cuneiform writing started in Egypt around 3000 BCE
d) Kharoshthi was widely employed in southern India
Option a – Brahmi script used in Ashokan records shows regional differences
As per Kautilya’s Arthashastra, what societal framework should a victorious ruler establish in newly conquered territories?
a) A structure centered solely on the varna system
b) A system combining dharma, varna, and ashrama principles
c) A Social order based exclusively on dharma
d) A framework rooted in varna and ashrama systems
Option b – A system combining dharma, varna, and ashrama principles
In the context of ancient India, what was Tosali recognized for? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) A Jain figure related to the Buddhist Upali
b) A regional administrative hub under the Mauryan Empire
c) Spouse of Mahapadma Nanda
d) A revered river in present-day Andhra Pradesh
Option b – A regional administrative hub under the Mauryan Empire
Evaluate the following about Indian inscriptions: 1. The earliest deciphered scripts were Brahmi and Kharosthi. 2. The Tamil language first appears in inscriptions as copper plate grants. Which statement(s) is/are correct?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Option a – Only 1
Which of the following was excluded from Ashoka’s Dhamma policy? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Honoring the monarch
b) Acceptance of different religious beliefs
c) Esteem for Brahmanas
d) Initiatives for public well-being
Option a – Honoring the monarch
What is the primary subject of the Arthashastra, an ancient Indian text?
a) Economic strategies
b) Cultural practices
c) Political governance and administration
d) Hereditary monarchy
Option c – Political governance and administration
Who is traditionally regarded as the writer of the Sanskrit play Mrichchhakatika? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Kalidasa
b) Bhasa
c) Valmiki
d) Shudraka
Option d – Shudraka
In which of Ashoka’s Minor Rock Edicts is his personal name explicitly mentioned? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Maski
b) Bahapur
c) Bairat
d) Sahasram
Option a – Maski
Analyze the following about early inscriptions in India: 1. Sanskrit was the language used in the earliest inscriptions. 2. The decipherment of the Kharosthi script was aided by Indo-Greek coinage. 3. Most inscriptions highlight notable events rather than routine farming activities. How many of these statements are accurate?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) None
Option a – 1
According to the Arthashastra, which of the following are true regarding slavery? 1. A person could become a slave as a result of judicial punishment. 2. A female slave gained freedom upon giving birth to her master’s child. 3. A child born from such a union was considered the legitimate son of the master. Which of the statements are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Option b – 2 and 3 only
Who was the first to successfully interpret and read Ashoka’s inscriptions? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) William Jones
b) John Marshall
c) James Prinsep
d) Alexander Cunningham
Option c – James Prinsep
Based on Ashokan inscriptions, which location was not recognized as a provincial capital in the Magadhan Empire?
a) Ujjayini
b) Tosali
c) Indraprastha
d) Taxila
Option c – Indraprastha
According to records from Ashoka’s reign, how many key administrative centers did the Mauryan Empire have? ( mcq on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Three
b) Four
c) Five
d) Six
Option c – Five
The Mauryan king referred to by Greek sources as “Amitrochates” was:
a) Kanishka
b) Samudragupta
c) Chandragupta I
d) Bindusara
Option d – Bindusara
Which of the following cities marked the southern boundary of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Topra
b) Girnar
c) Rupnath
d) Brahmagiri
Option d – Brahmagiri
Identify the correct statement below ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Ashoka’s inscriptions were primarily written in the Brahmi script
b) Chanakya’s doctrines were documented in a text named Arthashastra
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b
Option c – Both a and b
Which of the following rulers did not belong to the Mauryan lineage?
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Bimbisara
d) Chandragupta
Option c – Bimbisara
From the following Karnataka sites, which is not linked to Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Gavimath
b) Brahmagiri
c) Rupnath
d) Maski
Option c – Rupnath
What is the name of the Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicle that gives insights into the Mauryan administration? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Divyavadana
b) Parishishtaparvan
c) Ashokavadana
d) Dipavamsa
Option d – Dipavamsa
Who typically oversaw provincial governance under Mauryan rule?
a) Kumara
b) Samaharta
c) Dandapala
d) Prashasti
Option a – Kumara
Which among the following was not part of Ashoka’s Dhamma principles? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Secular approach
b) Political integration
c) Celibacy
d) Promotion of non-violence
Option c – Celibacy
Deimachus, a Greek envoy, visited the Mauryan court during the rule of:
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Bindusara
c) Ashoka
d) Shatadhanvan
Option b – Bindusara
What material did Ashoka predominantly use for constructing the Mahabodhi Temple? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Rocks
b) Wood
c) Stones
d) Bricks
Option d – Bricks
Concerning Mauryan city governance, which of the following are accurate? I. Megasthenes wrote about city administration II. The municipal council operated via six specialized committees III. Urban planning was organized and efficient
a) I and II
b) II and III
c) I and III
d) I, II, and III
Option a – I and II
The Kalinga War is detailed in which of Ashoka’s edicts? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Rock Edict II
b) Rock Edict XIII
c) Pillar Edict III
d) Pillar Edict IV
Option b – Rock Edict XIII
Which ruling dynasty was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya to establish his empire? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Nanda
b) Shishunaga
c) Sunga
d) Haryanka
Option a – Nanda
Identify the correctly matched administrative region and its capital under the Mauryas:
a) Prachyapatha (East) – Toshali
b) Avantiratha (West) – Taxila
c) Uttarapatha (North) – Suvarnagiri
d) Dakshinapatha (South) – Ujjain
Option a – Prachyapatha (East) – Toshali
The Palkigundu site, known for its Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka, is located in: ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Maharashtra
b) Karnataka
c) Telangana
d) Tamil Nadu
Option b – Karnataka
How many of Ashoka’s Major Pillar Edicts have been discovered? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Seven
b) Fourteen
c) Nine
d) Two
Option a – Seven
Who successfully decoded the ancient Brahmi script used during the Mauryan period?
a) Herbert Hope Risley
b) James Prinsep
c) Rakhal Das Banerji
d) James Mill
Option b – James Prinsep
Seleucus Nicator was a contemporary of which of the following Indian historical figures? ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Kalashoka
b) Ashoka
c) Kanishka
d) Chanakya
Option d – Chanakya
What significant incident led Ashoka to reform his administrative policies?
a) Adoption of Buddhism
b) Dispatching envoys to Sri Lanka
c) The aftermath of the Kalinga War
d) Hosting the Third Buddhist Council
Option c – The aftermath of the Kalinga War
To address Social concerns in his empire, Ashoka appointed ( MCQ on Mauryan Administration and Governance )
a) Nyayadhish
b) Samaharta
c) Dhamma Mahamatta
d) Amatya
Option c – Dhamma Mahamatta
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