CDS Questions on Ancient Indian History

Topicwise CDS Questions

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CDS 2020-I

1. In the Gandhara School of Art, initially blue schist and green phyllite were used. When did stucco completely replace stone as main material used by Gandhara School sculptors?

  1. 1st century CE
  2. 2nd century CE
  3. 3rd century CE
  4. 5th century CE

2. Which one of the following statements about Gupta coins is NOT correct?

  1. Gupta kings issued large number of gold coins known as Dinar.
  2. Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I, Skandatupta and Budhagupta issued silver coins.
  3. The obverses of coins are cared with the images of the kings and on the reverse are carved deities.
  4. The largest number of coins issued by the Guptas were of copper.

CDS 2021 - I

3. The Amara-Nayaka system was a major political innovation of which Indian imperial rulers?

  1. Cholas
  2. Chalukyas
  3. Guptas
  4. Vijayanagara

4. Match List I with List II and selec the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

List I (Author)List II (Poetical work)
A. Brindavan Das1. Shivasankirttan
B. Krishnadas Kaviraj2. Chandimangal
C. Mukundaram Chakravarti3. Chaitanyacharitamrita
D. Ramesh Bhattacharya4. Chaitanyamangal

Code:

  1. A - 4; B - 2; C - 3; D - 1
  2. A - 4; B - 3; C - 2; D - 1
  3. A - 1; B - 3; C - 2; D - 4
  4. A - 1; B - 2; C - 3; D - 4

CDS 2021 - II

5. Who among the following ancient Indian kings was praised in glowing terms in the Prayaga Prashasti?

  1. Ashoka
  2. Harshavardhana
  3. Samudragupta
  4. Bindusara

6. The location of of the ancient city of Taxila (Takshshila), mentioned in ancient Indian texts, was identified by

  1. Alexander Cunnigham
  2. R.D. Banerji
  3. John Marshall
  4. Daya Ram Sahni

7. Who among the following was not a Jain Acharya?

  1. Bhadrabahu
  2. Khema
  3. Haribhadra
  4. Siddhasena Divakara

8. Consider the following statements about Patanjali's Mahabhashya:

  1. It makes a mention of Kautilya.
  2. It is a book on grammar and refers to historical personalities only incidentally.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

9. Which one of the following was an important Pandya port, celebrated for its pearls in Sangam poems and Greek accounts?

  1. Muchiri
  2. Korkai
  3. Puhar
  4. Arikamedu

CDS 2022 - I

10. Who among the following was the founder of the Virashaiva Movement in Karnataka?

  1. Basavanna
  2. Appar
  3. Sambandar
  4. Sundarar

11. The ruins of Hampi were brought to light by which of the following British officers of the East India Company?

  1. Colonel Colin Mackenzie
  2. James Prinsep
  3. William Jones
  4. James Rennell

12. Which one of the following works was composed by Krishnadevaraya on statecraft in Telugu?

  1. Amuktamalyada
  2. Jambavati Kalyanam
  3. Rayavachakamu
  4. Satyavadu Parinaya

13. Which one of the following was not a part of Kautilya's Saptanga Theory of the State?

  1. Amatya
  2. Janapada
  3. Durga
  4. Dhamma

14. Consider the following statements about Ashoka's faith in Buddhism:

  1. Rummindei Pillar Inscription and Nigali Sagar Pillar Inscription provide clear evidence of Ashoka's faith in Buddhism.
  2. Minor Rock Edict-I gives evidence of a sudden change in Ashoka's faith in Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

15. From among the following Mahajanapadas identify the gana/sangha (oligarchy):

  1. Magadha
  2. Vajji
  3. Avanti
  4. Kosala

CDS 2022 - II

16. What were Manigramam and Nanadesi in early medieval India?

  1. Cluster of non-revenue paying villages
  2. Village-level community groups
  3. Guilds of Indian merchants
  4. Literary societies in the capital towns

17. To which one of the following schools of philosophy did Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara belong?

  1. Lokayata
  2. Madhyamika
  3. Purva-Mimamsa
  4. Uttara-Mimamsa

18. The Tolkappiyam is

  1. A work of grammar
  2. A Tamil poem in praise of Rajendra Chola
  3. An ancient didactic work in Tamil
  4. A drama composed by a Chera King

19. On the banks of which one of the following rivers was the ancient Mahishmati located?

  1. Sarayu
  2. Son
  3. Narmada
  4. Godavari

20. What was a munjaniq in medieval period?

  1. Cannon
  2. Catapult
  3. Gun carriage
  4. Portable armoury

21. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

List I
(Literary Work)		List II
(Author)
A. Duta Ghatotkacha1. Bhatti
B. Mrichchhakatikam2. Bhasa
C. Kiratarjuniyam3. Shudraka
D. Ravanavadha4. Bharavi

Code:

  1. A - 1; B - 3; C - 4; D - 2
  2. A - 1; B - 4; C - 3; D - 2
  3. A - 2; B - 3; C - 4; D - 1
  4. A - 2; B - 4; C - 3; D - 1

22. At the banks of which of the following rivers was the Battle of Ten Kings fought in the Early Vedic Period?

  1. Saraswati
  2. Drishadvati
  3. Parushni
  4. Shutudri

23. Which one of the following is not the work of Ashvaghosha?

  1. Sariputraprakarana
  2. Buddhacharita
  3. Saundarananda
  4. Manjushrimulakalpa

24. Which among the following are Charvaka Schools of Philosophy?

  1. Dhurtta
  2. Nyaya
  3. Sushikshita
  4. Vaisheshika

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1, 2 and 3
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 4 only
  4. 1 and 3 only

25. During the 8th-14th centuries, in the Sanskrit texts and inscriptions, which of following terms were used to denote Muslims?

  1. Turushka
  2. Tajika
  3. Parashika
  4. Kardamaka

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1, 2 and 3
  2. 1, 2 and 4
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 3 and 4

26. In the citadel and lower-town areas of which one of the following Harappan cities, have several large cisterns and reservoirs been found?

  1. Banawali
  2. Mohenjodaro
  3. Dholavira
  4. Rakhigarhi

27. Consider the following statements about cavalry warfare in India:

  1. The iron stirrup made it possible for the armoured warrior to sit firmly on a horse without falling off.
  2. The iron stirrup also allowed a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider being thrown off by the shock of impact.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

28. Who among the following usurped power in Kanyakubja after the death of Harshavardhana?

  1. Adityasena
  2. Arunashva
  3. Shashanka
  4. Lalitaditya

29. The legend of Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashyap was first set out in the

  1. Bhagwat Purana
  2. Vishnu Purana
  3. Vamana Purana
  4. Agni Purana

30. Which one of the following statements on the issue of ownership according to Smriti literature is not correct?

  1. The paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons.
  2. Women were allowed to retin the gifts they receive on the occasion of their marriage.
  3. The gifts to women on the occasion of their marriage were known as Stridhana.
  4. Stridhana was not inherited by the children without the permission of the husband.

CDS 2023 - I

31. Who among the following were referred to as the 'Theris' in ancient India?

  1. Respected women
  2. Elder nuns in Buddhism
  3. Women denied the Bhikkhuni status
  4. Women expelled from the Buddhist Sangha

32. The titles of 'Rajyagajakesari' and 'Dayagajakesari' were associated with which one of the following dynasties?

  1. Kakatiya
  2. Vijayanagara
  3. Gajapati
  4. Rashtrakuta

33. Name the location of the musical inscription containing groups of musical notes arranged for the benefit of his pupils by a king in the seventh or eighth century CE

  1. Ennayiram
  2. Uttaramerur
  3. Siyyamangalam
  4. Kudumiyamalai

34. Consider the following statements about Kanaganahalli archaeological site:

  1. It is situated on the bank of Bhima river.
  2. The remains of the Kanaganahalli Stupa can be dated between 1st and 3rd centuries CE.
  3. Emperor Ashoka's image was found at the site.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

CDS 2023 - II

35. Which one of the following is the language of the famous political treatise Amuktmalyada?

  1. Sanskrit
  2. Tamil
  3. Kannada
  4. Telugu

36. Which of the following statements about the Shvetambara Sect of Jainism is not correct?

  1. It refers to monks, who wear white clothes.
  2. It refers to monks, who migrated to the south of Vindhyas in 4th century BCE.
  3. They recognized the existence of canonical texts including the 12 Angas.
  4. The believed that women can also attain salvation.

37. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The Bakshali Manuscript written in the Gatha language (a refined version of old Prakrit) using the Sharada script deals with topics such as fractions, square roots, arithmetic and geometric progressions.
  2. In the field of geometry, Aryabhatta described the various properties of a circle giving a very accurate value for pi (π) correct to four decimal places at 3.1416.
  3. Sharangadhara Samhita is an important text on political system of ancient India.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1, 2 and 3
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 2 only

38. Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint?

  1. Karaikkal Ammaiyar
  2. Mangayarkkarasiyar
  3. Andal
  4. Insaignaniyar

39. Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not correctly matched?

  1. Nagarakkani : Land owned by the nagaram
  2. Nattar : Male serpent deity
  3. Yupa : Sacrificial post
  4. Viragal: 'Hero stone' in the Tamil Nadu area

40. Where is the famous Gupta period Deogarh Temple situated?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Madhya Pradesh
  3. Chhattisgarh
  4. Rajasthan

41. Consider the following statements with reference to the Nataraj bronze sculpture of Chola period:

  1. Shiva is shown balancing himself on his right leg representing tirobhava.
  2. Shiva is shown relating his left leg in bhujangatrasita stance, representing kicking away the illusion from the devotee's mind.
  3. The main right hand holds the damaru, Shiva's favourite musical instrument.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

42. The famous Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela mentions that in the eleventh year of his reign, Kharavela destroyed a confederacy of Tamil States, "Tramiradesa Sanghatam", which had long been a source of danger. How old was this confederacy of Tamil States at that time?

  1. 110 years old
  2. 111 years old
  3. 112 years old
  4. 113 years old

43. Which of the following statements about the Vaishnava saint of Assam, Shankardeva, is/are correct?

  1. His teachings are often known as the Bhagavati dharma.
  2. He encouraged the establishment of satra or monasteries and namghars or prayer halls for the transmission of spiritual knowledge.
  3. His major compositions include the Kirtana-ghosha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. 3 only

44. Consider the following statements with reference to Paleolithic tools:

  1. Isampur was a well-known center of stone tool manufacture located in Gulbarga district of Karnataka and was situated along a small seasonal stream known as Kamta Halla.
  2. A Paleolithic blade is a flake tool, the length of which is more than twice its width.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

45. Consider the following statements about science in medieval South India:

  1. The Katapayadi system of numerals, which was invented by Vararuchi of Kerala, the author of Chandra Vakyas, was used for calculating the position of Moon on any day of the year.
  2. Achyuta Pisharati (1550 - 1621) wrote Uparagakriyakrama, a text on eclipses.
  3. Ravi Varma of Mahodayapuram set up an observatory and is also said to have inaugurated the Kollam era.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

46. Which of the following dynasties of South India issued their documents first in Prakrit and later in Sanskrit?

  1. The Cholas of Tamil Nadu
  2. The Pandyas of the post-Sangam Age
  3. The Pallavas of Tondaimandalam
  4. The Gangas of Kalinganagara

47. Who was the author of the Gwalior Prashasti of Mihira Bhoja?

  1. Nagabhata
  2. Vatsaraja
  3. Baladitya
  4. Kakkuka

48. The Sahajiya Cult, which can be traced back to 10th and 11th centuries, is usually associated with:

  1. early Bhakti traditions
  2. a kind of early Sufism
  3. early Upanishadic philosophy
  4. Buddhism


CDS Solved Papers

CDS 2021 - I Solved Paper CDS 2021 - II Solved Paper CDS 2022 - I Solved Paper CDS 2022 - II Solved Paper CDS 2023 - I Solved Paper CDS 2023 - II Solved Paper