APSC / UPSC PRACTICE QUESTIONS

 

 This article provides some important questions related to APSC / UPSC examination.

1. Consider the following statements:

i) After the break - up of Maurya Empire the Satavahanas and the Kushans emerged as two large political powers.

ii) Satavahanas ruled in the Deccan and South, as well as , Kushans ruled in the North.

Which of the above statements is/  are true?

a)  Only i 

b) Only ii 

c) Both i and ii

Ans: Both i and ii.

2. Consider the following statements.

i) Guptas were Vaishyas in origin.

ii) The original kingdom of Guptas comprised Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

iii) Guptas emerged in the middle of third century AD .

Which of the above statements is/ are correct?

a) Only i

b) Only ii

c) i and ii

d) i , ii and iii 

Ans:i , ii and iii 

3. Consider the following statements .

i) The early Gupta coins and inscriptions have been mainly found in Uttar Pradesh.

ii) They were possibly the feudatories of the Kushans in Uttar Pradesh.

iii) Horses played an important part in Gupta period.

Which of the above statements is/ are correct about Guptas?

a) Only i

b) Only ii

c) i and ii

d) i , ii and iii 

Ans:i , ii and iii 

4. Consider the following statements .

i) Guptas were carried on silk trade with the Byzantine empire.

ii) Guptas set up their rule over Anuganga, Prayag, Saketa and Magadha.

Which of the above statements is/  are true about Guptas ?

a)  Only i 

b) Only ii 

c) Both i and ii

Ans: Both i and ii.

5.Consider the following statements .

 

i) The Gupta dynasty came to power in 275 AD.

ii) Chandragupta I was the first important king of the Gupta dynasty.

Which of the above statements is/  are true about Guptas ?

a)  Only i 

b) Only ii 

c) Both i and ii

Ans: Both i and ii.

6.Consider the following statements .

i) Samudragupta believed in a policy of peace and non - aggression.

ii) Samudragupta is popularly known as the Napoleon of India.

Which of the above statements is/  are true about Samudragupta ?

a)  Only i 

b) Only ii 

c) Both i and ii

Ans: b) Only ii 

7. Consider the following statements .

i) Chandragupta II extended his empire by marriage alliance and conquests.

ii) He adopted the title of Vikramaditya.

iii) During his time the Chinese pilgrim Fa - hien visited India.

Which of the above statements is/ are correct about Chandragupta II?

a) Only i

b) Only ii

c) i and ii

d) i , ii and iii 

Ans:i , ii and iii 

8. Who was the founder of Gupta dynasty?

a) Chandragupta I

b) Sri Gupta 

c) Samudragupta 

d) Skandagupta

Ans: b) Sri Gupta 

9. Find out the correct chronology from the following :

a) Srigupta, Samudragupta, Ramagupta, Chandragupta II , Skandagupta.

b) Srigupta , Ramagupta, Chandragupta II , Samudragupta, Skandagupta.

c) Srigupta, Samudragupta,Chandragupta II ,Ramagupta, Skandagupta.

d) Srigupta,Skandagupta , Ramagupta, Chandragupta II ,Samudragupta

Ans:a) Srigupta, Samudragupta, Ramagupta, Chandragupta II , Skandagupta.

10. Outline the rise and growth of the Gupta empire.

Ans: The Gupta empire emerged in the third century . They came into power in bout 275 AD.

             Factors that led to the rise and growth of the Gupta empire : 

             a)Decline of the rule of Satavahanas and the Kushans : On the ruins of the Kushan empire, the Guptas came in power of the former dominions of both the Kushans and Satavahanas.

            b) Trade maintained by the Guptas : The Guptas carried on silk trade with the Eastern Roman Empire, which helped them in developing their hegemony.

            

             c) Feudatories of Kushans : The Guptas were possibly the feudatories of Kushans in Uttar Pradesh, and seem to have succeeded them without any wide timelag.

             d) Material advantages:  The Guptas enjoyed some material advantages. For instance, the centre of their operations lay in the fertile land of  Madhyadesa covering Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They could exploit the iron ores of central India and South Bihar.

              On account of these favourable factors, the Guptas set up their rule over Anuganga , Prayag, Saketa and Magadha.

               The Gupta rulers extended their territory by following different methods. For example, some rulers followed the policy of conquest. However, Chandragupta II followed the policy of marriage alliance and conquests for the expansion of his territory.

11) Enumerate the conquests of Samudragupta.

Ans: Samudragupta, Napoleon of India, was an influential Gupta ruler , who ruled from 335 AD to 380 AD. 

              To extend the territory Samudragupta delighted in violence and conquest, who was a complete opposite of Ashoka. His court poet Hari - Shena wrote a glowing account of the military exploits of his patron.

           The places and the countries conquered by Samudragupta can be divided into five groups. They are as follows:

             a) Group one: It includes princes of Ganga - Yamuna doab.

              b) Group two : It includes the rulers of the Eastern Himalayan states, some frontier states like princes of Nepal, Assam, Bengal etc. and republics of Punjab and ruins of the Maurya Empire.

               c) Group three : Group three includes the atavika - rajyas in the Vindhya region.

                d) Group four : It includes 12 rulers of the Eastern Deccan and South India.

                e) Group five : It includes the names of the Sakas and Kushans , some of them ruling in Afghanistan.

                 Samudragupta was a great conqueror. His prestige and influence spread even outside India . It is well known that Samudragupta never know any defeat; for what he is called as the Napoleon of India.