Mahajanpada Period (600-325 BC)– Old Year Questions and Answers

Test your knowledge related to Mahajanpada Period (600-325 BC) and boost your preparation with following the previous year’s questions asked in different civil service exams on this topic. Let’s start!

1. The earliest extant coins of India were of –

(a) Copper
(b) Gold
(c) Lead
(d) Silver

[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]

 

2. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the code given below the lists:
  List-I                            List-II
  (King)                         (State)

A. Pradyot 1. Magadha
B. Udyan 2. Vatsa
C. Prasenjit 3. Avanti
D. Ajatshatru 4. Kosala

Code :
A B C D

(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 3 2 4 1
(d) 4 1 3 2

[U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

 

3. Chand-pradyota was the ruler of which ancient republic?

(a) Kasi
(b) Anga
(c) Avanti
(d) Vajji

[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

 

4. What was the name of the ruler of Kosala in Samudragupta’s “Prayag Prashasti”?

(a) Shiv Gupta
(b) Someshwar Deo
(c) Mahendra
(d) Mahipal
(e) None of these

[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

 

5. The epigraphical evidence reveals that under the instructions of a Nanda king, a canal was dug:

(a) Anga
(b) Vanga
(c) Kalinga
(d) Magadha

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

 

6. What was the ancient name of Ujjain?

(a) Taxila
(b) Indraprastha
(c) Avantika
(d) None of above.

[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]

 

7. Matsya Mahajanapada of 6th Century B.C. was located in:

(a) Western Uttar Pradesh
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Bundelkhand
(d) Rohilkhand

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

 

8. How many Mahajanapadas were located in present-day Uttar Pradesh among the oldest sixteen Mahajanapadas of India?

(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
(d) 9

[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre.) 2021]

 

9. The ancient city is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Mahabhashya both

(a) Madhyamika (Nagari)
(b) Karkot
(c) Viratnagar (Bairat)
(d) Raidh

[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]

 

10. Who founded Pataliputra –

(a) Udayin
(b) Ashoka
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Mahapadmanada

[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

 

11. Which ruler had made Pataliputra the capital of his empire for the first time?

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka the Great
(c) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(d) Kanishka

[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

 

12. Who among the following kings had founded Pataliputra?

(a) Sisunaga
(b) Bimbisara
(c) Ajatashatru
(d) Udayin

[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]

 

13. By which ruler Pataliputra was chosen as the capital for the first time?

(a) Ajatashatru
(b) Kalashoka
(c) Udayin
(d) Kanishka

[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

 

14. The Legend of Udayan-Vasavadatta is related to

(a) Ujjain
(b) Mathura
(c) Mahishmati
(d) Kaushambi

[U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2008]

 

15. In which century did the first Magadha Empire rise?

(a) Fourth Century B.C.
(b) Sixth Century B.C.
(c) Second Century B.C.
(d) First Century B.C.

[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

 

16. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city-state in India in the 6th century B.C.?

(a) Gandhar
(b) Kamboj
(c) Kashi
(d) Magadha

[I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

 

17. Which was the first capital of ancient Mahajanapada Magadh?

(a) Pataliputra
(b) Vaishali
(c) Champa
(d) Anga
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre.) 2020]

 

18. Which one was not in the earlier Republic?

(a) Shakya
(b) Lichchhavi
(c) Yaudheya
(d) All of the above

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

 

19. By whom the first republic of the world was established in Vaishali –

(a) Maurya
(b) Nanda
(c) Gupta
(d) Lichchhavi

[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

 

20. Where was the first republican system of the world during the 6th century B.C. located?

(a) Vaishali
(b) Athens
(c) Sparta
(d) Pataliputra

[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

 

21. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

(a) Parsvanath – Janatrika
(b) Bindusara-Shakya
(c) Skandagupta-Maurya
(d) Chetak-Lichchhavi

[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]

 

22. Which Buddha text has described 16 Mahajanpads of the 6th century B.C.?

(a) Digha Nikaya
(b) Tripitaka
(c) Deepavansh
(d) Anguattar Nikaya

[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Pre) 2004]

 

23. The list of sixteen Mahajanapadas is available in –

(a) Mahabharata
(b) Anguttara Nikaya
(c) Chandogya Upanishad
(d) Samyuktha Nikaya

[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

 

24. Which one of the following Buddhist texts describes the sixteen Mahajanapadas?

(a) Anguttara Nikaya
(b) Majjhima Nikaya
(c) Khuddaka Nikaya
(d) Digha Nikaya

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008,U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]

 

25. In which of the following texts does the list of the sixteen great states (Shodasha Mahajanapadas) of ancient India occur?
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
(i) Arthashastra
(ii) Anguttara Nikaya

(iii) Digha Nikaya
(iv) Bhagavati Sutra

Code :

(a) (ii) and (iv)
(b) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (ii)
(d) (i), (ii)and (iii)

[R.A.S. /R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]

 

26. 16 Janapadas of the age of Mahajanapada have often been mentioned in the Buddhist literature which of the following Janapadas has been mentioned by Panini in his Ashtadhyayi?
A. Magadh
B. Ashmak

C. Kamboj
D. Chedi

E. Vatsa
Code :

(a) A, B, and C
(b) D and E
(c) C, D, and E
(d) A, C, D, and E

[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2013]

 

27. The capital of North Panchal, according to Mahabharata, was located at :

(a) Hastinapur
(b) Indraprastha
(c) Ahichhatra
(d) Mathura

[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

 

28. During the period of 16 Mahajanapadas, Mathura was the capital of –

(a) Vajji
(b) Vatsa
(c) Kashi
(d) Surasena

[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

 

29. Which of the following is NOT correctly matched?

(a) Kamboj – Rajpur/Hatak
(b) Ashmak – Potan/Potil
(c) Sursen – Kaushambi
(d) Koshal – Shravasti

[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016]

 

30. Champa was the capital of Mahajanapada.

(a) Magadha
(b) Vajji
(c) Kosala
(d) Anga

[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]

 

31. In the sixth century B.C. Suktimati was the capital of

(a) Panchala
(b) Kuru
(c) Chedi
(d) Avanti

[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

 

32. Mahajanapada situated on the bank of river Godavari was-

(a) Avanti
(b) Vatsa
(c) Assaka
(d) Kamboja

[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008]

 

33. Which was the capital of Magadha?

(a) Pratishthan
(b) Vaishali
(c) Rajgriha
(d) Champa

[47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

 

34. Which was the initial capital of Magadha?

(a) Pataliputra
(b) Vaishali
(c) Girivraja (Rajgriha)
(d) Champa

[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]

 

35. Which one of the following was not the capital of the Magadha Empire?

(a) Girivraja
(b) Rajgriha
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Kaushambi

[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

 

36. What is the town configuration of ancient Shravasti?

(a) Circular
(b) Crescentic
(c) Triangular
(d) Quadratic

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

 

37. Which initial ruler of Magadha killed his father for enthroning and also was killed by his son for the same reason?

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Ajatshatru
(c) Udayin
(d) Nagdashak

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]

 

38. What was the name of the dynasty of Ajatshatru?

(a) Maurya
(b) Haryanka
(c) Nanda
(d) Gupta

[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]

 

39. The Prince who was responsible for the death of his father was-

(a) Ajatashatru
(b) Chanda Pradyota
(c) Prasenjit
(d) Udayan

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

 

40. The power of Magadha was extended over the Malwa region during the reign period of –

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Ajatshatru
(c) Udayabhadra
(d) Sisunaga

[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]

 

41. Which dynasty ruled over Magadha after the Nanda Dynasty?

(a) Maurya
(b) Shunga
(c) Gupta
(d) Kushana

[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]

 

42. Which inscription is the evidence of King Nand?

(a) Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela
(b) Rummindei pillar inscription
(c) Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman
(d) Ayodhya inscription of Dhandeva.

[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]

 

43. Arrange the following Magadhan dynasties in chronological order
1. Nandas
2. Sungas

3. Mauryas
4. Haryana

Choose the answer from the following codes :

(a) 2, 1, 4 and 3
(b) 4, 1, 3 and 2
(c) 3, 2, 1 and 4
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 2

[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

 

44. Which King of Magadha is known as Aparo Parashurama?

(a) Bindusara
(b) Ajatasatru
(c) Kalasoka
(d) Mahapadma Nanda

[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]

 

45. Who was the founder of the Nanda Dynasty in Magadha?

(a) Mahapadma Nanda
(b) Dhanananda
(c) Nandivardhan
(d) Mahanandin

[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

 

46. Read the statements (A) and (B) and choose the correct answer from the code given below :
(A) The sixth century B.C. was a period of great religious upheaval in all parts of the world.
(B) The Vedic religion had become very complex.
Code :

(a) Both (A) and (B) are false.
(b) Both (A) and (B) are true.
(c) (A) is true, while (B) is false.
(d) (A) is false, while (B) is true.

[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

 

47. Jivaka, the famous physician of the time of Mahatma Buddha was associated with the court of –

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Chanda Pradyota
(c) Prasenjit
(d) Udyana

[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

 

48. The town of Kalpi is situated on the bank of the river –

(a) Ganga
(b) Yamuna
(c) Narmada
(d) Krishna

[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

 

49. Match List-I (A) with List-II (B) and select the correct answer from the codes given below the lists:
 List-I                       List-II
(Ancient Places of U.P.) (Capital)

A. Kuru 1. Saket
B. Panchal 2. Kaushambi
C. Kosala 3. Ahichhatra
D. Vatsa 4. Indraprastha

Code:
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 1 2
(c) 3 4 2 1
(d) 4 2 3 1

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

 

50. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the code given below the lists:
 List–I                        List-II
(Mahajanapadas)  (Capitals)

A. Matsya 1. Mathura
B. Kuru 2. Potan
C. Sursena 3. Virat Nagar
D. Asmak 4. Indraprastha

Code :
A B C D
(a) 4 2 1 3
(b) 3 1 4 2
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 2 3 4 1

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

 

51. Which of the following is not correctly matched?

(a) Anga- Champa
(b) Kosala – Ahichhatra
(c) Vatsa – Kaushambi
(d) Matsya – Viratnagar

[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

 

52. Which of the following is not correctly matched? Early Medieval Present Status Cities of Uttar Pradesh

(a) Koil – Aligarh
(b) Mahotsav Nagar – Mahoba
(c) Mahoday Shree – Kannauj
(d) Jaijakbhukti – Kaushambi

[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre.) 2021]

 

53. Who was the last King of the Karnata dynasty?

(a) Harisimha Dev
(b) Ramsimha
(c) Matisimha
(d) Shyamsimha
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]