Maurya

✅ PYQs (1–20)

Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Chandragupta I
b) Ashoka
c) Bindusara
d) Chandragupta Maurya
✅ Answer: d) Chandragupta Maurya
🔹 Founded the Mauryan Empire with the help of Chanakya in ~321 BCE.
Which foreign account gives details about Chandragupta’s court?
a) Megasthenes
b) Fa-Hien
c) Hiuen Tsang
d) I-Tsing
✅ Answer: a) Megasthenes
🔹 He was the Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court.
The book written by Megasthenes is:
a) Arthashastra
b) Milinda Panha
c) Indica
d) Purana
✅ Answer: c) Indica
🔹 Indica describes Mauryan society, administration, and economy.
Who succeeded Chandragupta Maurya?
a) Ashoka
b) Harsha
c) Bindusara
d) Kaniska
✅ Answer: c) Bindusara
🔹 Ruled between Chandragupta and Ashoka.
Ashoka’s Dhamma was aimed at:
a) Expanding Buddhism
b) Religious tolerance and moral behavior
c) Conquering neighbors
d) Revenue collection
✅ Answer: b) Religious tolerance and moral behavior
Ashoka embraced Buddhism after:
a) Conquest of Magadha
b) Kalinga War
c) Meeting with Buddha
d) Treaty of Taxila
✅ Answer: b) Kalinga War
🔹 He was deeply moved by the bloodshed.
The Kalinga War was fought in:
a) 261 BCE
b) 240 BCE
c) 200 BCE
d) 185 BCE
✅ Answer: a) 261 BCE
Ashokan edicts were inscribed in which language?
a) Sanskrit
b) Prakrit
c) Pali
d) Tamil
✅ Answer: b) Prakrit
🔹 Using Brahmi script in most areas.
The only Ashokan inscription in Greek and Aramaic is found at:
a) Sanchi
b) Shahbazgarhi
c) Kandahar
d) Girnar
✅ Answer: c) Kandahar
Which animal is found on the Sarnath capital?
a) Horse
b) Elephant
c) Lion
d) Bull
✅ Answer: c) Lion
🔹 Four lions represent Ashoka's power and were adopted as national emblem.
The Lion Capital is preserved at:
a) Sanchi
b) Lumbini
c) Sarnath
d) Rajgir
✅ Answer: c) Sarnath
Which ruler sent missionaries to Sri Lanka?
a) Chandragupta
b) Ashoka
c) Bindusara
d) Harshavardhana
✅ Answer: b) Ashoka
🔹 Sent Mahendra and Sanghamitra.
Ashoka’s father was:
a) Ajatashatru
b) Bindusara
c) Harsha
d) Kanishka
✅ Answer: b) Bindusara
Which was the southernmost Ashokan inscription?
a) Maski
b) Jaugada
c) Erragudi
d) Yerragudi
✅ Answer: d) Yerragudi
Ashoka ruled from which capital?
a) Pataliputra
b) Ujjain
c) Taxila
d) Rajgir
✅ Answer: a) Pataliputra
Who was the author of Arthashastra?
a) Manu
b) Bimbisara
c) Chanakya
d) Patanjali
✅ Answer: c) Chanakya
🔹 Also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta.
The last Mauryan ruler was:
a) Ashoka
b) Brihadratha
c) Pushyamitra
d) Devavarman
✅ Answer: b) Brihadratha
🔹 Killed by Pushyamitra Shunga, ending the dynasty.
Who overthrew the Mauryas?
a) Satavahanas
b) Guptas
c) Shungas
d) Kanvas
✅ Answer: c) Shungas
Which Greek ruler did Chandragupta defeat?
a) Xerxes
b) Seleucus Nicator
c) Alexander
d) Darius
✅ Answer: b) Seleucus Nicator
🔹 Chandragupta received territories in exchange for 500 elephants.
Which Buddhist council was held under Ashoka?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth
✅ Answer: c) Third
🔹 Held at Pataliputra under Moggaliputta Tissa.

📘 NCERT-Based MCQs (21–35)

Arthashastra mainly deals with:
a) Grammar
b) Politics and Economics
c) Astronomy
d) Religion
✅ Answer: b) Politics and Economics
Rock Edict XIII describes:
a) Kalinga War
b) Revenue System
c) Lion Capital
d) Ashoka’s marriage
✅ Answer: a) Kalinga War
Ashokan edicts were first deciphered by:
a) Cunningham
b) Max Muller
c) James Princep
d) Wheeler
✅ Answer: c) James Princep
🔹 In 1837, he decoded Brahmi script.
Which script was used in Ashoka’s northwest inscriptions?
a) Kharosthi
b) Brahmi
c) Devanagari
d) Greek
✅ Answer: a) Kharosthi
Ashoka’s edicts promote:
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhism
c) Religious tolerance
d) Jainism
✅ Answer: c) Religious tolerance
Ashoka called himself in inscriptions as:
a) Rajarshi
b) Devanampriya
c) Chakravartin
d) Maharaja
✅ Answer: b) Devanampriya
🔹 Means “Beloved of the Gods”.
Which animal is not on the Sarnath capital?
a) Horse
b) Bull
c) Lion
d) Tiger
✅ Answer: d) Tiger
Which site has Pillar Edict VII?
a) Lauriya-Nandangarh
b) Sanchi
c) Kalsi
d) Barabar
✅ Answer: a) Lauriya-Nandangarh
🔹 Located in Bihar.
Bindusara was also known as:
a) Amitrochates
b) Devanampriya
c) Chandragupta II
d) Simhavarma
✅ Answer: a) Amitrochates
🔹 Mentioned in Greek accounts.
Major source of Mauryan administration:
a) Manusmriti
b) Rigveda
c) Arthashastra
d) Dhammapada
✅ Answer: c) Arthashastra
Ashoka’s dhamma emphasized:
a) Rituals
b) Sectarian dominance
c) Practical morality
d) Idol worship
✅ Answer: c) Practical morality
Ashoka ruled for how many years?
a) 35
b) 41
c) 20
d) 60
✅ Answer: b) 41
🔹 From c. 273 BCE to 232 BCE.
Which Mauryan ruler followed Jainism later in life?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Ashoka
c) Bindusara
d) Harsha
✅ Answer: a) Chandragupta Maurya
🔹 He abdicated throne and died at Shravanabelagola.
What was the main tax under Mauryas?
a) Bhaga
b) Bali
c) Kara
d) Sulka
✅ Answer: a) Bhaga
🔹 A sixth of the produce.
Which edict prohibits animal sacrifice?
a) Rock Edict V
b) Rock Edict I
c) Pillar Edict II
d) Minor Edict I
✅ Answer: b) Rock Edict I

📚 Predicted & Enrichment MCQs (36–50)

Ashokan edicts were mostly written on:
a) Clay
b) Copper
c) Stone
d) Birch bark
✅ Answer: c) Stone
Who were the provincial governors under Mauryas?
a) Mahamatras
b) Amatyas
c) Kumars
d) Rajukas
✅ Answer: c) Kumars
Which river was near ancient Pataliputra?
a) Yamuna
b) Ganga
c) Saraswati
d) Narmada
✅ Answer: b) Ganga
Barabar caves were donated to:
a) Buddhists
b) Ajivikas
c) Jains
d) Hindus
✅ Answer: b) Ajivikas
Ashoka’s mother was:
a) Subhadrangi
b) Trishala
c) Gautami
d) Kaushalya
✅ Answer: a) Subhadrangi
Ashokan inscriptions are found in Bihar at:
a) Sanchi
b) Lauriya Araraj
c) Amravati
d) Nagarjunakonda
✅ Answer: b) Lauriya Araraj
Ashoka’s personal religion was:
a) Jainism
b) Hinduism
c) Buddhism
d) Ajivika
✅ Answer: c) Buddhism
The Kalinga region lies in present-day:
a) Bengal
b) Odisha
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Tamil Nadu
✅ Answer: b) Odisha
Which of the following is NOT a Mauryan coin type?
a) Punch-marked
b) Copper cast
c) Die-struck
d) Gold coins
✅ Answer: d) Gold coins
Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma aimed to:
a) Expand empire
b) Divide people
c) Promote ethics
d) Build temples
✅ Answer: c) Promote ethics
Mauryan Empire ended in:
a) 232 BCE
b) 187 BCE
c) 200 CE
d) 321 CE
✅ Answer: b) 187 BCE
The Mauryan dynasty ruled for around:
a) 50 years
b) 100 years
c) 137 years
d) 200 years
✅ Answer: c) 137 years
Which empire came after the Mauryas?
a) Gupta
b) Nanda
c) Shunga
d) Mughal
✅ Answer: c) Shunga
Who was Ashoka’s Buddhist teacher?
a) Mahakassapa
b) Asvaghosha
c) Moggaliputta Tissa
d) Alara Kalama
✅ Answer: c) Moggaliputta Tissa
Which edict mentions respect to Brahmanas and Shramanas?
a) Rock Edict I
b) Rock Edict V
c) Rock Edict XIII
d) Pillar Edict VI
✅ Answer: b) Rock Edict V

📚 Sources:

NCERT Class 6 (Ch 4), Class 12 Themes I
Lucent GK – History
Spectrum – Ancient India
Drishti Bihar Special
BPSC PYQs (63rd–70th)