50 History GK Questions on Ancient India – Empires, Culture & Innovations
Ancient India boasts one of the world’s richest and most influential civilizations, spanning millennia from the Harappan cities of the Indus Valley to the scholarly zenith of the Gupta Empire. Landmarks include early urban planning at Mohenjo-Daro, the codification of the Vedas, the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, and the rule of iconic monarchs like Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka the Great. Innovations in mathematics, metallurgy, architecture, and literature laid foundations for future societies around the globe. Test your knowledge of this remarkable heritage with our 50-question History GK quiz on Ancient India!
50 History GK Questions About Ancient India
1. Which ancient city is known for its advanced urban planning and drainage system?
- A. Harappa
- B. Taxila
- C. Pataliputra
- D. Ujjain
2. Which river valley was home to the Harappan civilization?
- A. Ganges
- B. Indus
- C. Brahmaputra
- D. Godavari
3. What script did the Harappans use, still undeciphered?
- A. Brahmi
- B. Kharosthi
- C. Indus script
- D. Devanagari
4. Which text is the oldest of the four Vedas?
- A. Atharva Veda
- B. Sama Veda
- C. Yajur Veda
- D. Rig Veda
5. Who is considered the composer of the Yoga Sutras?
- A. Vyasa
- B. Patanjali
- C. Panini
- D. Vashistha
6. Which empire did Chandragupta Maurya found?
- A. Gupta Empire
- B. Kushan Empire
- C. Maurya Empire
- D. Chola Empire
7. Which Mauryan ruler embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War?
- A. Bindusara
- B. Ashoka
- C. Harsha
- D. Samudragupta
8. What is the capital city of the Gupta Empire under Chandragupta I?
- A. Pataliputra
- B. Ujjain
- C. Mathura
- D. Prayag
9. Which famous scholar wrote the treatise “Arthashastra”?
- A. Kautilya (Chanakya)
- B. Panini
- C. Varahamihira
- D. Patanjali
10. Who codified Sanskrit grammar in the “Ashtadhyayi”?
- A. Panini
- B. Patanjali
- C. Katyayana
- D. Bharata
11. Which religion was founded by Mahavira?
- A. Buddhism
- B. Jainism
- C. Sikhism
- D. Hinduism
12. Where did Gautama Buddha attain enlightenment?
- A. Varanasi
- B. Bodh Gaya
- C. Sarnath
- D. Lumbini
13. Which Buddhist council was held during Ashoka’s reign?
- A. First Council
- B. Second Council
- C. Third Council
- D. Fourth Council
14. Which dynasty followed the Mauryas and established northern rule?
- A. Gupta
- B. Shunga
- C. Kushan
- D. Satavahana
15. Which steel was famously produced in ancient India?
- A. Damascus steel
- B. Wootz steel
- C. Cast iron
- D. Steel 100
16. Which mathematician from ancient India approximated π (pi) accurately?
- A. Aryabhata
- B. Brahmagupta
- C. Bhaskara I
- D. Varahamihira
17. Which ancient text describes surgery and medical procedures?
- A. Sushruta Samhita
- B. Charaka Samhita
- C. Atharva Veda
- D. Rig Veda
18. What was the primary language of Mauryan administration?
- A. Sanskrit
- B. Pali
- C. Prakrit
- D. Tamil
19. Which city did the Gupta ruler Samudragupta make his capital?
- A. Ujjain
- B. Pataliputra
- C. Kaushambi
- D. Mathura
20. Which denomination of coin was introduced by Sher Shah Suri?
- A. Tanka
- B. Rupiya
- C. Dinar
- D. Paisa
21. Which deity is the chief god in Vedic religion?
- A. Shiva
- B. Vishnu
- C. Indra
- D. Agni
22. Which ancient university was located at Takshashila?
- A. Nalanda
- B. Vikramshila
- C. Taxila
- D. Valabhi
23. Which metal pillar from Gupta period still stands without corrosion?
- A. Iron Pillar of Delhi
- B. Ashoka Pillar
- C. Buddha Stupa
- D. Udayagiri Inscription
24. Which emperor’s edicts are inscribed on the rock and pillar at Girnar?
- A. Chandragupta II
- B. Ashoka
- C. Kanishka
- D. Harsha
25. Which classical dance form originated in ancient Tamil Nadu?
- A. Kathak
- B. Bharatanatyam
- C. Kathakali
- D. Odissi
26. Which astronomer from ancient India calculated the solar year as 365.358 days?
- A. Varahamihira
- B. Brahmagupta
- C. Aryabhata
- D. Bhaskara I
27. Which ancient text describes statecraft and diplomacy?
- A. Arthashastra
- B. Manusmriti
- C. Panchatantra
- D. Mahabharata
28. Which Gupta ruler is credited with a golden age of art and science?
- A. Chandragupta I
- B. Samudragupta
- C. Chandragupta II
- D. Skandagupta
29. Which region was ruled by the Kushan king Kanishka?
- A. Bengal
- B. Gandhara
- C. Deccan
- D. Kerala
30. Which epic war is narrated in the Mahabharata?
- A. Kurukshetra War
- B. Lanka War
- C. Devasura War
- D. Tarakam War
31. Which sect was founded by Adi Shankaracharya?
- A. Shaivism
- B. Vaishnavism
- C. Advaita Vedanta
- D. Shaktism
32. Which river is mentioned in the Rig Veda as the holiest?
- A. Sarasvati
- B. Ganges
- C. Yamuna
- D. Narmada
33. Which ancient Indian healer is known as the “father of surgery”?
- A. Charaka
- B. Sushruta
- C. Vagbhata
- D. Dhanvantari
34. Which dynasty built the rock-cut caves at Ajanta and Ellora?
- A. Satavahana
- B. Gupta
- C. Chalukya
- D. Maurya
35. Which ancient Indian text is a collection of fables featuring animals?
- A. Panchatantra
- B. Hitopadesha
- C. Jataka Tales
- D. Kathasaritsagara
36. Which metal did ancient Indians alloy to create “shikharas”?
- A. Bronze
- B. Gold
- C. Iron
- D. Copper
37. Which scholar composed the “Brahmasutra Bhashya”?
- A. Shankaracharya
- B. Ramanuja
- C. Madhva
- D. Nimbarka
38. Which town was the ancient capital of the Western Ganga dynasty?
- A. Talakad
- B. Halebidu
- C. Badami
- D. Kanchipuram
39. Which poetic work by Kalidasa describes the love of a forest maiden?
- A. Raghuvamsha
- B. Kumarasambhavam
- C. Meghaduta
- D. Malavikagnimitram
40. Which king defeated the Indo-Greek ruler Menander I?
- A. Chandragupta Maurya
- B. Pushyamitra Shunga
- C. Kanishka
- D. Samudragupta
41. Which ancient council system was established in early Vedic society?
- A. Sabha and Samiti
- B. Mandal and Sabha
- C. Sabha and Sabha
- D. Diwan and Sabha
42. Which Harappan artifact suggests knowledge of metallurgy?
- A. Terracotta figurines
- B. Copper axes
- C. Stone seals
- D. Painted pottery
43. Which ruler is associated with the Vikram Samvat calendar’s origin?
- A. Vikramaditya
- B. Ashoka
- C. Chandragupta II
- D. Harsha
44. Which ancient Indian metal was exported to Rome?
- A. Wootz steel
- B. Bronze
- C. Iron
- D. Gold
45. Which ancient Indian text discusses state and kingship?
- A. Ramayana
- B. Arthashastra
- C. Mahabharata
- D. Manusmriti
46. Which ancient Indian tradition is the world’s oldest continuous religious practice?
- A. Jainism
- B. Buddhism
- C. Hinduism
- D. Sikhism
47. Which city was renowned for its bronze casting workshop in ancient India?
- A. Mysore
- B. Chola capital Thanjavur
- C. Madurai
- D. Kanchipuram
48. Which ancient Indian astronomer predicted lunar eclipses accurately?
- A. Varahamihira
- B. Aryabhata
- C. Bhaskara I
- D. Brahmagupta
49. Which rock edict of Ashoka is located at Dhauli?
- A. Major Rock Edict I
- B. Minor Rock Edict I
- C. Major Rock Edict XIII
- D. Pillar Edict
50. Which ancient Indian treatise covers music, dance and drama?
- A. Natya Shastra
- B. Sangita Ratnakara
- C. Sangeet Parijat
- D. Abhinavabharati
Comments