Indus Valley MCQs

Q41. Consider the following statements regarding Megasthenes’ Indica:
1. Megasthenes visited India during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.
2. He served as the ambassador of Seleucus Nicator.
3. The original text of Indica survives in complete form today.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Notes: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Megasthenes visited Chandragupta’s court as Seleucus’ ambassador. The original Indica has not survived; it is known through quotations preserved by later Greek and Roman writers.

Q42. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Edict — Subject
1. Major Rock Edict I — Animal sacrifice
2. Major Rock Edict XII — Religious tolerance
3. Major Rock Edict XIII — Kalinga War

(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Notes: Major Rock Edict I discourages animal sacrifice, Edict XII promotes religious harmony, and Edict XIII discusses the Kalinga War and Ashoka’s remorse. All three pairs are correctly matched.

Q43. Which of the following Mauryan provincial capitals was associated with the southern region of the empire?

(A) Taxila
(B) Tosali
(C) Ujjain
(D) Suvarnagiri
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Correct Answer: (D) Suvarnagiri
Notes: Suvarnagiri served as the administrative headquarters of the southern province. It was strategically important because of its mineral resources and its location in the Deccan region.

Q44. Consider the following statements about Ashoka’s Dhamma:
1. It was a new religion founded by Ashoka.
2. It emphasized moral conduct and social harmony.
3. It encouraged respect for parents, teachers, and elders.
Which statements are correct?

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
Notes: Ashoka’s Dhamma was not a new religion. It was a moral and ethical code promoting non-violence, tolerance, respect for elders, compassion, and social welfare.

Q45. Which Mauryan ruler is associated with the Junagadh inscription’s reference to the construction of the Sudarshana Lake?

(A) Ashoka
(B) Bindusara
(C) Chandragupta Maurya
(D) Dasharatha
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (C) Chandragupta Maurya
Notes: The Junagadh Inscription of Rudradaman records that Pushyagupta, governor under Chandragupta Maurya, built the Sudarshana Lake, an important irrigation project in western India.

Q46. Consider the following statements regarding Mauryan administration:
1. The empire was divided into provinces.
2. Provincial governors were often members of the royal family.
3. Villages formed the basic unit of administration.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Notes: The Mauryan Empire had a highly organized administration. Provinces were frequently governed by princes, and villages served as the fundamental administrative and revenue units.

Q47. Which of the following inscriptions was crucial in identifying Devanampriya Priyadarshi as Ashoka?

(A) Maski Inscription
(B) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
(C) Hathigumpha Inscription
(D) Junagadh Inscription
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Correct Answer: (A) Maski Inscription
Notes: The Maski Inscription explicitly mentions the name “Ashoka” along with the title Devanampriya, helping historians conclusively identify Ashoka as the issuer of the edicts.

Q48. Which statement best explains why the Mauryan Empire is considered a landmark in Indian political history?

(A) It introduced Buddhism to India.
(B) It established the first extensive centralized empire covering most of the subcontinent.
(C) It founded the caste system.
(D) It abolished monarchy.
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Correct Answer: (B) It established the first extensive centralized empire covering most of the subcontinent.
Notes: The Mauryan Empire created unprecedented political unity, administrative centralization, and economic integration across much of the Indian subcontinent, setting a model for later empires.

Q49. Consider the following pairs:
Foreign Visitor — Associated Ruler
1. Megasthenes — Chandragupta Maurya
2. Deimachus — Bindusara
3. Dionysius — Ashoka
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Notes: Megasthenes was associated with Chandragupta Maurya, while Deimachus visited the court of Bindusara. Dionysius was sent by Ptolemy II and is not associated with Ashoka in standard historical accounts.

Q50. Consider the following statements regarding the decline of the Mauryan Empire:
1. Weak successors after Ashoka reduced central authority.
2. Provincial governors gained greater autonomy.
3. Foreign invasions and internal revolts weakened the empire.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Notes: The decline of the Mauryan Empire resulted from weak rulers after Ashoka, increasing provincial independence, administrative difficulties, and external pressures. These factors culminated in the overthrow of Brihadratha by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

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