GENERAL KNOWLEDGE/GENERAL AWARENESS SET - 10
1. ‘Bull’ in Buddhism is associated with which event of Buddha’s life ?
(1) Birth
(2) Great departure
(3) Enlightenment
(4) Mahaparinirvan
2. Which of the following would be the most accurate description of the Mauryan Monarchy under
Ashoka?
(1) Enlightened despotism
(2) Centralised autocracy
(3) Oriental despotism
(4) Guided democracy
3. The illustrious names of Aryabhatta and Varahamihir are associated with the age of the
(1) Guptas
(2) Kushanas
(3) Mauryas
(4) Palas
4. Lothal is a site where dockyards of which of the following civilization were found ?
(1) Indus Valley
(2) Mesopotamian
(3) Egyptian
(4) Persian
5. ‘Buddha’ means
(1) The Enlightened one
(2) The Religious Preacher
(3) The Genius
(4) The Powerful
6. Where do you find the temple of Angkor Wat ?
(1) In Thailand
(2) In Malaysia
(3) In Cambodia
(4) In Myanmar
7. Whose achievements are recorded in the Allahabad Pillar inscription ?
(1) Chandra Gupta Maurya
(2) Samudra Gupta
(3) Vikramaditya
(4) Skand Gupta
8. The essential feature of the Indus Valley Civilisation was
(1) worship of forces of nature
(2) organised city life
(3) pastoral farming
(4) caste society
9. Name the capital of the Pallavas
(1) Kanchi
(2) Vatapi
(3) Trichnapalli
(4) Mahabalipuram
10. The word ‘Veda’ means
(1) knowledge
(2) wisdom
(3) skill
(4) power
11. Which metal was first used by the Vedic people?
(1) Silver
(2) Gold
(3) Iron
(4) Copper
12. Arabs were defeated in 738 A.D. by
(1) Pratiharas
(2) Rashtrakutas
(3) Palas
(4) Chalukyas
13. In Mauryan dynasty Kalinga war took place in the year—
(1) 260 BC
(2) 261 BC
(3) 126 BC
(4) 232 BC
14. The caves and rock-cut temples at Ellora are
(1) Hindu and Buddhist
(2) Buddhist and Jain
(3) Hindu and Jain
(4) Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
15. The Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram are a witness to the art patronised by the
(1) Pallavas
(2) Pandyas
(3) Cholas
(4) Cheras
16. Name the clan Buddha belonged to
(1) Gnathrika
(2) Maurya
(3) Sakya
(4) Kuru
17. Who was the author of the Kadambari, a great romantic play ?
(1) Banabhatta
(2) Harshavardhana
(3) Baskaravardhana
(4) Bindusara
18. During which Gupta King’s reign did the Chinese traveller Fa-hien visit India ?
(1) Chandra Gupta I
(3) Chandra Gupta II
(4) Kumara Gupta
19. St. Thomas is said to have come to India to propagate Christianity during the reign of the
(1) Cheras
(2) Parthians
(3) Pandyas
(4) Cholas
20. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization usually built their houses of
(1) Pucca bricks
(2) Stone
(3) Wood
(4) All of the above
21. Who started the Saka Era and when?
(1) Kadphises in 58 BC
(2) Rudradaman I in AD 78
(3) Vikramaditya in 58 BC
(4) Kanishka in AD 78
22. In which state was the Nalanda University located in India?
(1) Bengal
(2) Bihar
(3) Orissa
(4) Uttar Pradesh
23. Which event brought about a profound change in Ashoka’s administrative policy?
(1) The third Buddhist Council
(2) The Kalinga War
(3) His embracing of Buddhism
(4) His sending of missionary to Ceylon
24. The monk who influenced Ashoka to embrace Buddhism was
(1) Vishnu Gupta
(2) Upagupta
(3) Brahma Gupta
(4) Brihadratha
25. Harshvardhana was defeated by
(1) Prabhakaravardhana
(2) Pulakesin II
(3) Narasimhasvarma Pallava
(4) Sasanka
26. Which of the following statements about the Guptas is NOT true?
(1) They ruled mainly over parts of north and central India
(2) Kingship was hereditary and the throne always went to the eldest son
(3) The judicial system was far more developed than in earlier times
(4) Land taxes increased and taxes on trade and commerce decreased
27. Which of the following was NOT composed by Harshavadhana?
(1) Harshacharita
(2) Ratnavali
(3) Priyadarshika
(4) Nagananda
28. Which of the following is not one of the animals carved on the Sarnath Pillar ?
(1) Humped Bull
(2) Deer
(3) Elephant
(4) Horse
29. The ‘Kannauj assembly’ organised by Harsha was held in honour of
(1) Fa-Hien
(2) Itsing
(3) Hieun-Tsang
(4) Megasthenes
30. The first metal used by man was
(1) Aluminium
(2) Copper
(4) Silver
31. Satvahanas minted their coins predominantly in
(1) Lead
(2) Silver
(3) Gold
32. The headquarters of the Ghadar Party was at
(1) Karachi
(2)Moscow
(3) Berlin
(4) San Francisco
33. Where did Lord Buddha breathe his last?
(1) Bodh Gaya
(2) Sarnath
(3) Kushinagar
(4) Varanasi
34. Mention the place where Buddha attained enlightenment.
(1) Sarnath
(2) Bodh Gaya
(3) Kapilavastu
(4) Rajgriha
35. The Greek ambassador sent to Chandragupta Maurya's Court was:
(1) Kautilya
(2) Seleucus Nicator
(3) Megasthenes
(4) Justin
36. Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of
(1) Chandragupta I
(2) Chandragupta II
(3) Harshavardhana
(4) Rudradaman
37. Which one of the following was the last Buddhist text produced In India?
(1) Divya Vandana,
(2) Dohakosa
(3) Vajrachedika
(4) Vamsathapakasini
38. The home of Gargi, Maitrey, and Kapila was at
(1) Vidisha
(2) Ujjain
(3) Pataliputra
(4) Mithila
39. Which area of India was known as Avantika in ancient times?
(1) Avadh
(2) Ruhelkhand
(3) Bundelkhand
(4) Malwa
40. The Social System of the Harappans was:
(1) Fairly egalitarian
(2) Slave-Labour based
(3) Colour (Varna) based
(4) Caste based
41. Which of the following Vedas provides information about the civilization of the Early Vedic Age?
(1) Rig-veda
(2) Yajur-veda
(3) Atharva-veda
(4) Sama-veda
42. The university which became famous in the post-Gupta Era was:
(2) Taxila
(3) Nalanda
(4) Vallabhi
43. Banabhatta was the court poet of which emperor?
(1) Vikramaditya
(2) Kumaragupta
(4) Kanishka
44. The first Indian ruler, who established the supremacy of Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea was :
(1) Rajaraja I
(2) Rajendra I
(3) Rajadhiraja I
(4) Kulottunga I
45. Which statement on the Harappan Civilisation is correct?
(1) Horse sacrifice was known to them.
(2) Cow was sacred to them.
(3) ‘Pashupati’ was venerated by them.
(4) The culture was not generally static.
46. The First Tirthankara of the Jains was :
(1) Arishtanemi
(2) Parshvanath
(3) Ajitanath
(4) Rishabha
47. The great silk-route to the Indians was opened by :
(1) Kanishka
(2) Ashoka
(3) Harsha
(4) Fa-Hien
48. The rulers of which dynasty started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas
and Buddhist Monks?
(1) Satavahanas
(2) Mauryas
(3) Guptas
49. The most important text of Vedic mathematics is :
(1) Satapatha Brahman
(2) Atharva Veda
(3) Sulva Sutras
(4) Chhandogya Upanishad
50. Yavanika or curtain was introduced in Indian theatre by which of the following?
(1) Shakas
(3) Greeks
(4) Kushans
51. Who started the Saka Era which is still used by the Government of India?
(2) Vikramaditya
(3) Samudra Gupta
(4) Asoka
52. What inspired the paintings of Ajanta?
(1) Compassionate Buddha
(2) Radha-Krishan Leela
(3) Jain Thirthankaras
(4) Mahabharata encounters
53. Who among the following was the first to invade India?
(1) Xerxes
(2) Alexander
(3) Darius-I
(4) Seleucus
54. Which among the following is the oldest dynasty?
(1) Maurya
(2) Gupta
(3) Kushan
(4) Kanva
55. With which of the following is the classic “Jivaka Chintamani” in Tamil associated?
(1) Jainism
(2) Buddhism
(3) Hinduism
(4) Christianity
56. Who were the first kings to issue gold coins in India?
(1) Mauryas
(2) Indo-Greeks
57. Where is Brihadeshwar Temple situated?
(2) Madurai
(3) Shri Shailan
(4) Tanjore
58. In Tamil literature the glorious books ‘Shilppadikaram and Manimekhalai’ are related to
(3) Hindusim
59. Who established Mahabalipuram?
(1) Pallava
(2) Pandya
(3) Chola
(4) Chalukya
60. Ganhadra school of art came into existence in
(1) Hinayana sect
(2) Mahayana sect
(3) Vaishnava sect
(4) Shaiva sect
61. Out of the following remains excavated in Indus Valley, which one indicates the commercial and
economic development?
(1) The Pottery
(2) Seals
(3) The boats
(4) The houses
62. Who, according to the Buddhists, is believed to be the next incarnation of Gautam Buddha?
(1) Atreya
(2) Maitreya
(3) Nagarjuna
(4) Kalki
63. Who among the following were contemporaries of Kanishka?
(1) Kamban, Banabhatta, Asvagosha
(2) Nagarjuna, Asvagosha, Vasumitra
(3) Asvagosha, Kalidasa, Banabhatta
(4) Kalidasa, Kamban, Va-sumitra
64. Which rulers built the Ellora temples?
(1) Chalukya
(2) Sunga
(3) Rashtrakuta
(4) Pallava
65. Who amongst the following also had the name ‘Devanama Piyadassi’?
(1) Mauryan King Ashoka
(2) Mauryan King Chandragupta Maurya
(3) Gautam Buddha
(4) Bhagwan Mahavira
66. The subject-matter of Ajanta Paintings pertains to
(3) Vaishnavism
(4) Shaivism
67. Which of the following Craftsmanship was not practised by the Aryans ?
(1) Pottery
(2) Jewellery
(3) Carpentry
(4) Blacksmith
68. Mohammed-bin-Qasim conquered Sind in the year
(1) 712 A.D.
(2) 812 A.D.
(3) 912 A.D.
(4) 1012 A.D.
69. The words “Satyameva Jayate” in the State Emblem of India were taken from
(1) Upanishads
(2) Sama Veda
(3) Rig Veda
(4) Ramayana
70. The earliest city discovered in India was
(1) Harappa
(2) Punjab
(3) Mohenjodaro
(4) Sindh
71. The famous rock-cut temple of Kailasa is at
(1) Ajanta
(2) Badami
(3) Mahabalipuram
(4) Ellora
72. Epigraphy means
(1) The study of coins
(2) The study of inscriptions
(3) The study of epics
(4) The study of geography
73. Which among the following has not been found in the excavation of Harappan sites?
(1) Drains and well
(2) Fort
(3) Reservoirs
(4) Temple with Shikhar
74. Which among the following ‘MATH’ is related with Buddhism?
(1) Dakhma
(2) Chaitya
(3) Khangah
(4) Angeri
75. Where has the world’s largest monolithic statue of Buddha been installed?
(1) Bamiyan
(2) Hyderabad
(3) Kandy
(4) Lhasa
76. The Harappan Civilisation was discovered in the year :
(1) 1935
(2) 1942
(3) 1901
(4) 1922
77. The title ‘Indian Napoleon’ has been attached to
(2) Samudragupta
(3) Chandragupta-I
(4) Harshavardhana
78. The ‘Ajivikas’ were a
(1) sect contemporary to the Buddha
(2) breakaway branch of the Buddhists
(3) sect founded by Charvaka
(4) sect founded by Shankaracharya
79. Arthasastra was written by
(1) Dhanananda
(2) Kautilya
(3) Bimbisara
(4) Pushyamitra
80. Worship of Mother Goddess was associated with
(1) Aryan Civilization
(2) Mediterranean Civilization
(3) Indus Valley Civilization
(4) Later Vedic Civilization
81. Alexander and Porus fought a battle at
(1) Hydaspes
(2) Jhelum
(3) Panipat
(4) Tarain
82. Identify the Buddhist Literature from the following :
(1) Tripitakas
(2) Upanishads
(3) Angas
(4) Aranyakas
83. Seleucus Nicator was defeated by
(1) Asoka
(2) Chandragupta Maurya
(3) Bindu Sara
84. The striking feature of the Indus Valley Civilization was
(1) Urban Civilization
(2) Agrarian Civilization
(3) Mesolithic Civilization
(4) Paleolithic Civilization
85. After Alexander’s death the Eastern part of his empire came under
(1) Seleucus Nicator
(2) Menander
(3) Rudradaman
86. The early Buddhist scriptures were composed in :
(1) Prakrit texts
(2) Pali texts
(3) Sanskrit texts
(4) Pictographical texts
87. In Mohenjo-Daro, the largest building is :
(1) the great bath
(2) a granary
(3) the Pillared Hall
(4) a two storeyed house
88. The caste system of India was created for :
(1) immobility of labour
(2) recognition of the dignity of labour
(3) economic uplift
(4) occupational division of labour
89. Gautama Buddha was born at
(1) Kusinagar
(3) Bodh Gaya
(4) Lumbini
90. “Monolithic Rathas” of the Pallavas are found at
(1) Kanchipuram
(2) Puri
(4) Agra
91. The paintings of Ajanta depict the stories of
(1) Ramayana
(2) Mahabharta
(3) Jataka
(4) Panchatantra
92. Which is the port-town of Indus valley civilisation?
(1) Kalibangan
(2) Lothal
(3) Ropar
(4) Mohenjo-Daro
93. Poet Kalidasa lived in the court of
(1) Chandragupta Maurya
(3) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(4) Harsha
94. Who is called as the ‘Second Ashoka’?
(1) Samudra Gupta
(2) Chandra Gupta Maurya
(3) Kanishka
95. The famous Kailasanath Temple at Kanchi was built by—
(1) Mahendravarman I
(2) Narasimhavarman II
(3) Nandivarman II
(4) Dantivarman
96. Kalibangan is situated in
(1) Uttar Pradesh
(2) Sindh
(3) Rajasthan
(4) Gujarat
97. Bindusara sent Asoka to quell the rebellion in—
(1) Swarnagiri
(3) Ujjain
(4) Tosali
98. Lord Mahavira died at
(1) Saravana Belagola
(2) Lumbini Garden
(3) Kalugumalai
(4) Pavapuri
99. The Indus people knew the use of Weights and Measures, which is proved by the discovery of the
seal at—
(2) Harappa
(3) Chanhudaro
(4) Lothal
100. Which language was mostly used for the propagation of Buddhism?
(1) Sanskrit
(2) Prakrit
(3) Pali
(4) Sauraseni