Model questions IES 2010 Indian History Practice Test

1. Where was Buddha born?

(A) Rajagriha
(B) Magadha
(C) Kosala
(D) Lumbini

2. The Jataka tales are Stories about the lives of?

(A) The Bodhisattvas
(B) The lain teachers
(C) The Vedic saints
(D) All of the above

3. Which of the following scientists and mathematicians belonged to the Gupta period?
(A) Aryabhatta
(B) Varahamihira
(C) Both of them
(D) Neither of them

4. Which country influenced Gandhara art?

(A) China
(B) Greece
(C) Rome
(D) Egypt

5. Which of the following incidents marked the beginning of the Turkish rule in India?

(A) First attack of Mahmud of Ghazni

(B) Defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan
(C) Attack of Muhammad Ghori
(D) None of the above

6. Which incident forced Gandhiji to call for the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in
1922?
(A) Mob violence in Chaura – Chauri
(B) Jallianwallabag Massacre
(C) Chittagong Armoury Raid
(D) Foundation of Swaraj Party

7. What is Din-i-llahi?
(A) A mosque set-up by Akbar
(B) A religious book
(C) A religious prayer
(D) A religious path laid down by Akbar

8. The slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ was given by?

(A) Sir Mohammad Iqbal
(B) Bhagat Singh
(C) Subhas Chandra Bose
(D) Lala Lajpat Rai

9. Who was the founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal?

(A) David Hare
(B) Sir William Jones
(C) Warren Hastings
(D) Sir East Hyde

10. What is the main aim of ‘Swaraj Party’?

(A) To start non-cooperation movement
(B) To enter Legislative Councils
(C) To make a demand for a new constitution
(D) To get complete freedom for India

11 In which year All India Muslim League was founded?

(A) 1906
(B) 1919
(C) 1937
(D) 1940

12. Lord Buddha achieved Mahaparinirvana at the age of 80 at?

(A) Lumbini
(B) Kapilabastu
(C) BodhGaya
(D) Kushinagar

13. Who was the author of ‘India Wins Freedom’?

(A) J. L. Nehru
(B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(C) M. K. Gandhi
(D) None of them

14. Who was the founder commander of the Indian National Army
(INA)?
(A) Rashbehari Bose
(B) Capt. Mohan Singh
(C) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
(D) None of them

15. Who was the founder of the Indian Independence League?

(A) Krishna Verma
(B) Rashbehari Bose
(C) Subhas Chandra Bose
(D) None of them

16. What new names were given to Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the Provisional I.N.A.
Government in 1944 after their
liberation?
(A) Mother India
(B) Azad
(C) ‘Sahid’ and ‘Swaraj’
(D) None of the above

17. Who was the first woman President of Indian National Congress?
(A) Anne Besant
(B) Vijay Lakshmi Pandit
(C) Sarojini Naidu
(D) Aruna Asaf Ali

18. Khilafat Movement subsided because?

(A) Britishers gave concession to the Muslims
(B) The National Congress and the Muslim League achieved unity
(C) Accession of Kamal Pasha on the throne of Turkey
(D) None of the above

19. Who was the founder of Bhoodan Movement?

(A) Vinoba Bhave
(B) Baba Amte
(C) Jai Prakash Narayan
(D) Manabendra Nath Roy

20. Who first proposed the creation of ‘Pakistan’ as a separate State?

(A) Mohanunad Ali Jinnah
(B) Syed Ahmed Khan
(C) Mohammad Iqbal
(D) Chaudhuri Rahmat Ali

21. The first political society started under British rule in India was?
(A) Brahma Samaj
(B) Arya Samaj
(C) Land holders society
(D) None of the above

22. In which year the capital of India was shifted from Kolkata to Dethi?
(A) 1905
(B) 1911
(C) 1934
(D) 1947

23. Who was founder of Vijayanagar empire?

(A) Krishna Deva Raya
(B) Devorayal
(C) Harihar and Bukka
(D) Ram Raya

24. Who started the ‘Home Rule’ Movement?

(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Mrs. Anne Besant
(C) Mohammad Mi Jinnah
(D) None of them

25. At which place Gandhiji had the first experience of mass movement in India?
(A) Bardoli
(B) Dandi
(C) Chauri Chaura
(D) Champaran

Answers:
1D
2A
3C
4B
5C
6A
7D
8B
9B
10 B
11 A
12 C
13 B
14 C
15 B
16 C
17 A
18 C
19 A
20 C
21 A
22 B
23 C
24 B
25 D

1. The institution of Varna appeared in the

(a) Rig Vedic period
(b) later Vedic period
(c) Period of the Manava Dharma Shastra
(d) period of the consolidation [...]

2. Which of the following Vedas is a collection of spells and incantations?

(a) Rig Veda
(b) Sama Veda
(c) Yajur Veda
(d) Atharva Veda
3. 800B.C.-600B.C is designated as the
(a) Period of Brahmanas
(b) period of the Sutras
(c) Period of Ramayana
(d) period of Mahabharata

4. What was the main difference between the Indus Valley civilization and Vedic civilization?
(a) Indus Valley civilization was urban, whereas the Vedic civilization was rural.
(b)Peepal tree was worshipped in Indus valley civilization whereas Burgad tree was worshipped in
Vedic civilization.
(c) The main emphasis in Indus Valley civilization was on trade whereas in Vedic age it was on
religion.
(d) Indus Valley civilization believed in non violence whereas Vedic civilization had no hard and
fast rules about it.

5. Which of the following is an Upanishad?

(a) Aitreya
(b) Vijasena
(c) Chandogya
(d) Krishna Karnamruta

6. The Vedic deity Indra was the goddess of

(a) Wind
(b) Eternity
(c) Rain and thunder
(d) Fire

7. Which of the following usages was a post-Vedic development?

(a) Dharma-Alh-Kama-Moksha
(b) Brahmana-Kshatiiya-Vaishya-Shudra
(c) Brahmacharya-Grihastashrama-Vanaprast ha-Sanyasa
(d) Indra-Swya-Rudra-Marut

8. Which among the following is the source of information about early Vedic period?
(a)Jataka stories
(b) Rig Veda
(c) Post-Vedic literature
(d) Excavations

9. What was the basis of class differentiation among Aryans?

(a) Economic condition
(b) Trade
(c) Color
(d) None of these

10. The chief characteristic of the Rig Vedic religion was

(a) Worship of images
(b) Belief in the existence of heaven
(c) Performance of sacrifices
(d) Preponderance of female goddesses
11. The ninth mandala of the Rig Veda samhita is devoted wholly to
(a) Urvashi and the Heaven
(b) Soma and the god who is named after the drink
(c) Indra and his elephant
(d) Gods related to plants and drugs

12. In Rig Vedic society, which of the following was unknown?

(a) Polygamy
(b) Purdah system
(c) Polyandry
(d) Child marriage

13. The ritualistic precepts attached to the hymns of the Vedas were known as the
(a) Brahmanas
(b) Samhitas
(c) tipariishads
(d) Aranyakas

14. The Aryarts at first settled in

(a) Sindh
(b) Gujarat
(c) Kashmir
(d) Punjab

15. The Puranas contain

(a) hymns in favor of the Gods
(b) thoughts on the mystery of life and universe
(c) mythology
(d) laws of Manu and the history on various dynasties

16. The chief impact of Vedic culture on Indian history was the
(a) growth of Sanskrit
(b) progress of philosophy
(c) consolidation of caste system
(d) rise of other worldly outlook

17. The classical Indian music has its origin in which of the following?

(a)Samaveda
(b) Atharva Veda
(c) Yajurveda
(d) Rig veda

18. Which of the following is said to be the oldest Jaina scripture?

(a) Twelve Angas
(b) Twelve Upangas
(c) Fourteen Purvas
(d) Fourteen Uparvas
19, What is the subject matter of the Upanishads?
(a) Law
(b) Philosophy
(c) Religion
(d) politics

20. Boghazkoi is important because

(a) inscriptions found here mention the names of Vedic gods and goddesses.
(b) it is known as significant trading centre between Central Asia and Tibet.
(c) the original text of the Vedas was composed there.
(d) None of these

21. Which of the following Vedas is rendered musically?

(a)Rig Veda
(b) Sama Veda
(c) Yajur Veda
(d) Atharva Veda

22. Which of the following were the yajnas that were performed during the Vedic age?
I. Vratyastama yajna
II. Asyamedha Yajnalit
III Rajasuya Yajna
(a)I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III l only
(d) I, II and III

23. The first discourse of Buddha at Deer Park in Sarnath is called

(a) Mahab/ziniskraman
(b) Malwparinirvana
(c) Mahamastahizisheka
(d) Dharnwchakrapravartan

24. Who, according to Jains, was the founder of Jainism?

(a)Rishahha
(b) Mahavira
(c) Arishtanemi
(d) Parsavanatha

25. Which one of the following is a doctrine said to have been added by Mahavira to the four other
doctrines propounded by previous teachers?
(a) Do not commit violence
(b) Do not speak a lie
(c)Observe brahmacharya
(d)Do not acquire property

26. Who delivered his first sermon at Sarnath?

(a)Buddha
(b) Mahavira
(c) Shankaracharya
(d) None of these

27. ‘Right belief, Right knowledge and Right action’ are the three jewels of
(a) Shájvites
(b) Jams
(c) Buddhi
(d) KabirPanthis

28. Lord Buddha was born in

(a) Lumbini
(b) Vaishali
(c)Bodh Gaya
(d) Pataliputra

29. The famous ruler of ancient India who, towards the end of his life, is said to have converted to
Jainism, was
(a) Satnudragupta
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupa
(d) Ashoka

30 The first Buddhist Council was held in the reign of

(a)Bimbisara
(b) Ajatashatru
(c)Ashoka
(d) Kanishka

31. Who was the greatest Buddhist commentator of the Buddhist canonical literature?
(a) Euddhaghosha
(b) Vasumitra
(c) Nagaijuna
(d) Ashvaghosha

32. The Great Buddhist Council in 483 B.C. was held at

(a) Ujjain
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Rajagriha
(d) Kashmir

33. Ambapali whose name occurs in the early Buddhist literature was
(a) A nun from Vaishali
(b) A courtesan of Pataliputra
(c) The author of the work Buddhachari
(d) None of these

34. Jainism had the patronage of

(a) Pushyamitra Sunga
(b) Kanishka
(c) Samudragupta
(d) Kharavela

35. Jainism was divided into two sects known as

(a) Kapalika and Kalamukija
(b) Maha and Hinayana
(c) Ajivika and Nyaya Vaisesika
(d) Svetambara and Digambara

36, Which one of the following is the most fundamental difference between Mahayana Buddhism
and Hinayath Buddhism?
(a) Emphasis on.ahima
(b) Casteless Society
(c) Worship of gods and goddesses
(d) Worship of Stupa

37. Buddha was born in the year

(a) 581 B.C
(b) 567 B.C
(c) 576 B.C
(d) 534 B.C.

38. Which of the following religions got spread in different parts of Asia?
(a)Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Hinduism
(d) None of these

39. Which of the following places are known for early Buddhist stupas?
1. Bharhut 2. Sanchi 3. Ai 4. Nagarjunakonda 5. Kanchipuram

(a) l, 2,4and 5
(b) l, 3and5
(c) 1, 2,3and 4
(d) 2, 3,4 & 5

40. Which of the following features is not associated with Buddhism and Jainism?
(a) Rejection of the caste system
(b) Atheism
(c) Emphasis on rituals and sacrifices
(d) Rejection of the authority of Vedas

41. The last of the 24 Jam Tirthankaras was

(a)Parsva Nath
(b) Mahavira
(c) Rishabha
(d) Arishtanemi

42 Which of the following statements about Mahavira is/are correct?

1. Mahavira’s doctrines include observance of continence.
2. The division of Jainism into Svetambara & Digambara sects took place during Mahavira’s time.
3. Mahavira condemned the Varna system.
(a) I and 2
(b) I and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) I only

43. The First Buddhist Council met at

(a)Kashmir
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Rajagriha
(d) Kanauj

44. The Fourth Buddhist Council was held by

(a)Ashoka
(b) Kanishka
(c) Chandragupta
(d) Harashavardhana

45. In his teachings, the Buddha attacked

a) ascetism
(b) the vama system
(c) Vedic rituals
(d) the concept of God

46. Buddhist historian Taranath belonged to

(a) Tibet
(b) China
(c) Mongolia
(d) Japan

47. Relics of Buddha are preserved in a

(a) Vihara
(b) Chaitya
(c) Stupa
(d) Monastery

48. Buddhism became the state religion during the reign of

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Samudragupta
(d) Kumaragupta-1

49. Which of the following is in the correct chronological order of Buddhist Councils?
(a) Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir
(b) Vaishali, Kashmir, Rajagriha, Pataliputra
(c) Kashmir, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Rajagriha
(d) Pataliputra, Vaishali, Kashmir, Rajagriha
50. Who among the following is said to have been born and to have passed away on the Vaishakha
Purnima day?
(a) Buddha
(b) Mahavira
(c) Shankaracharya
(d) Chaitanya

Answers to the above questions:

1. (a)
2(d)
3.(a)
4.(a)
5.(a)
6.(c)
7.(c)
8.(b)
9. (c)
10. (c)
11.(b)
12. (c)
13. (a)
14. (d)
15. (b)
16. (c)
17. (a)
18. (a)
19. (c)
20. (a)
21. (b)
22. (d)
23. (d)
24. (d)
25. (c)
26. (a)
27. (b)
28. (a)
29. (c)
30. (b)
31. (d)
32. (c)
33. (d)
34. (d)
35. (d)
36. (c)
37. (b)
38.(a)
39. (c)
40. (d)
41. (b)
42. (d)
43. (c)
44. (b)
45. (b)
46. (a)
47. (c)
48. (b)
49.(a)
50 (a)

Indus Valley Civilization Mohenjodaro Harrapa Quiz Indian History Solved

Questions

1. The main characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization was

(a) Town planning
(b) Drainage system
(c) Well laid out roads
(d) Pucca houses

Ans : b

2. The main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley civilization was
(a) Agriculture
(b) Cattle rearing
(c) Hunting
(d) Trade

Ans : a

3. Which one of the following archaeologists initially discovered the Mohenjodaro site of the Indus
Valley Civilization?
(a) Sir John Marshall
(b) Rakhal Das Banerji
(c) Daya Ram Sahni
(d) Sir Martimer Wheeler

Ans : b

4., Which one of the following was not an Indus Valley Civilization site?
(a) Lothal
(b) Patliputra
(c) Rangpuc
(d) Sukatagendor

Ans : b

5. man started settling in

(a) Palaeolithic Age
(b) Mesolithic Age
(c) Neolithic Age
(d) None of these
Ans : c

6. The Harappan site showing evidence of two cultural phases, Harappan and pre-Harappan. is?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Chanhu-daro
(d) Banwali

Ans : a

7. The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in the ?

(a) Harappan Culture
(b) Chalcolithic cultures of Western India
(c) Vedic texts
(d) Silver punch – marked coins

Ans : a

8. The Indus -Valley Civilization is known as Pre Aryan Civilization because of the evidence of ?
(a) art
(b) copper
(c) pottery
(d) script

Ans : d

9. The script of Indus Valley Civilization was

(a) Persian
(b) Dravidian
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Undeciphered

Ans : b

10. Knowledge about the existence of which of the following animals is doubtful in the Indus
Valley Civilization?
(a) Dog
(b) Cat
(c) Bull
(d) Horse

Ans : b

11. The Indus Valley Civilization belongs, to the

(a)Neolithic Age
(b) Palaeolithic Age
(c) Chalcolithic Age
(d) Mesolithic Age

Ans : a
12. Which of the following Harappan sites had a dock?
(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Lothal
(d) Alamgirpur

Ans : c

13. Which of the following statements regarding Indus Valley Civilization is incorrect?
(a) The supreme god was the Pipal God.
(b) Excavations at Lothal proved that the civilization was confined to Harappa and Mohenjodaro
only.
(c) People had great artistic sense.
(d) There was a great communal bath in Mohenjodaro.

Ans : b

14. At which of the following places have excavations in recent years brought to light new
evidence of Neolithic sites in India?
(a) Hamren in Assam
(b) Daimahad in Ahmednagar
(c) Hulas in Saharanpur
(d) Sringaverapur in U.P.

Ans a

15. The figure of the god that was depicted in the seal of Indus Valley people is ?
(a) Agni
(b) Indra
(c) Varuna
(d) Pashupati

Ans : d

16. Which of the following is incorrect concerning Mohenjodaro?

(a) It was a well planned city.
(6) Buildings were of varying sizes.
(c) Bathrooms were important features of most houses.
(d) There was no drainage system.

Ans : d

17. The Indus Valley people had trade relations with

(a) Egypt
(b) Greece
(c) Ceylon
(d) Mesopotamia

Ans : d
18. The Indus Valley houses were built of ?
(a) bamboos
(b) bricks
(c) wood
(d) stone

Ans : b

19. Indus Valley Civilization is also known as Harappan culture because ?

(a) the site of Harappa is six times larger than Mohenjodaro site.
(b) the Indus Valley Civilization is considered the elementary/initial stage of Vedic culture and
Harappa is believed to be the same as Harappa mentioned in the Vedas.
(c) Harappa was the first site to be excavated in the Indus Valley.
(d) the most important evidence of the achievements of this civilization have been excavated from
Harappa.

Ans : d

20. The God with three heads and horns, surrounded by animals represented on a seal from
Mohenjodaro is said to be ?
(a) Varuna
(b) lndra
(c) Vishnu
(d) Pashupati

Ans : d

21. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished during

(a) 5000-3500 B.C.
(b) 3000- B.C.
(c) 2500-1750 B.C.
(d) 1500-500 B.C.

Ans : b

22. Which of the following animals were domesticated by the Harappans?

(a) Goat, oxen, pig, buffalo

(b) Oxen, elephant, horse, pig
(c) Buffalo, sheep, dog, pig
(d) Camel, oxen, buffalo, pig

Ans : c

23. The tools and weapons of Harappan Civilization were mostly made of ?

(a) stone
(b) copper and bronze
(c) copper and bronze
(d) stone and copper
Ans : c

24. The main channels of our knowledge about theIndus Valley Civilization are ?
(a) Inscriptions
(b) Coins
(c) Palm and barch leaf manuscripts
(d) Archaeological excavations

Ans : d

25. The Stone Age people had the first domestic

(a) asses
(b) dogs
(c) horses
(d) sheep

Ans : d

Indian History Sample paper BA level

1. Which one of the following ancient cities is not related to the life of Gautam Budctha?
(A) Champa
(B) Saketa
(C) Pataliputra
(D) Kosambi

2. The term ‘Rupadarshaka’ de notes what?

(A) The supervisor of prostitutes
(B) The supervisor of royal harem
(C) The supervisor of the quality of coins
(D) The supervisor of the folk- dancers

3. Which,one of the statements is contrtversial in the context of the treaty of 303 B.C. between
Chandragupta and Seleucus?
(A) Seleucus surrendered his large territories to handragupta
(B) Chandragupta made a gift of 500 elephants to Seleucus
(C) Megasthenes was sent as a Greek envoy to the court of Chandragupta
(D) Seleucus gave his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta

4. In which year of Asoka’s coronation did the Kalinga war take place?
(A) First
(B) Fifth
(C) Eighth
(D) Thirteenth

5. Which among the following com binations is correct?

(A) Pushyamitra Shunga—Patanjali
(B) Kanishka—Thera Nagasena
(C) Menander—Ashvaghosh
(D) Chandragupta 1—Harishena
6. Which Gupta emperor has been called ‘Lichchhavi-dauhitra’?
(A) Shrigupta
(B) Chandragupta I
(C) Chandragupta II
(D) Samudragupta

7. Which Kushana king adopted the epithet ‘dhrama-thida’?

(A) Vim Kadaphises
(B) Kuzul Kadaphises
(C) Kanishka the Great
(D) Huvishka

8. Which of the following inscriptions record the annihilation OF

Hunas?
(A) Prayag-Prashasti
(B) Bhitari Inscription
(C) Junagarh Inscription
(D) Mandasor Inscription

9. Who impressed upon Harsha to incline towards Buddhism?

(A) Bhikshu Mahakashyapa
(B) Hiuen-Tsang
(C) Thera Nagasen
(D) Diwakarmitra

10. Which king is called ‘Kaviraj’ in one of his inscriptions?

(A) Pratihara king Mihirbhoja
(B)Paramara king Bhoja
(C)Pala king Dharmapala
(D)Chalukya king Kumarapala

11. Who among these is credited with the construction of ‘Pagodas’ at Mahabalipuram?
(A) Cholas
(B) Chalukyas of Kalyani
(C) Pallavas
(D) Pandyas

12. The Office-in-charge of collection of revenue in the Mauryan administration was?

(A) Sannidhatri
(B) Pradeshta
(C) Yukta
(D) Samahatri

13. Which of the statements about the trade regulation in the Mauryan period is not correct?
(A) The state exercised control over the trade process and profits
(B) A levy of 1/10th was fixed on merchandise
(C) The state kept strict vigil on the sale of merchandise
(D) The state employed a few of the artisans directly
14. Which one among the following
statements about the land-system of post-Mauryan period is not true?
(A) The private individuals had absolute right over their land
(B) The private individuals had limited right to alienation of land
(C) There is no record to trans fer of land non-religious purposes
(D) The person who brought the land under cultivation was the owner

15. Who among the following constituted the local town administration council during the
Guptas?
(A) Purupala, Sarthavaha,
Pratham Kulika, Pratham
Kayastha
(B) Purupala, Sarthavaha,
Dvarapala, Karnika
(C) Sarthavaha, Pratham Kulika,
Pratham Kayastha
(D) Purupala, Pratham Kulika,
Pratham Kayastha

16. Who lamented upon the drain of gold from Rome to India?
(A) Ptolemy
(C) Strabo
(B) Nero
(d) Pliny

17. Which of the following statements about the agrahara land grant is not correct?
(A) The king could offer it to any one
(B) It was a village granted tax- free to Brahmans
(C) The king could confiscate it on being displeased by the grantee
(D) It underlined the privileges of the Brahmans

18. Debasement of the coins and gradual disappearance of gold- coins during the post-Gupta
period indicates?
(A) Cheapness of commodities, no need of gold-coins
(B) Non-availability of gold
(C) Decline of money economy
(D) Decline of Trade

19. Which new route was added for foreign trade during Gupta period?
(A) Overseas route to SouthAfrica
(B) Overseas route to Alexandria
(C) Overland route to China
(D) Overland route to North Russia

20. The most famous bi image of the Chola period belongs to

(A) Murugan
(B) Nataraja
(C) Venkateshwar
(D) Vishnu
ANSWERS:
 1C
2C
3D
4C
5C
6B
7B
8C
9D
10B
11C
12D
13B
14B
15C
16D
17A
18D
19C
20B