Best Ancient History Practice Set and Mock Test for SSC Aspirants
Are you an SSC aspirant aiming to score high in the General Awareness section?
This post brings you the best Ancient History practice set, specially curated for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD, and other competitive exams.
What You’ll Find:
- Handpicked Ancient Indian History MCQs based on previous year SSC papers
- Accurate and exam-oriented questions for effective revision
- Suitable for beginners as well as advanced learners
Take the Mock Test:
Once you complete the practice set, test your knowledge with a free online mock test. It’s a great way to assess your performance and improve your preparation strategy.
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Stay consistent, practice daily, and take one step closer to cracking SSC Exam 2025!
Best Ancient History Practice Set and Mock Test
- Q1: ‘Dharmaraja (Yudhishthir) Ratha’, ‘Bhima Ratha’, ‘Arjuna Ratha’ and ‘Nakula Sahadeva Ratha’ are four of the Panch Rathas at Mahabalipuram. What is the name of the fifth Ratha?
- a) Sahadeva Ratha
- b) Gandhari Ratha
- c) Draupadi Ratha
- d) Abhimanyu Ratha
- Explanation: The five monolithic Rathas at Mahabalipuram are named after the Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi. The fifth one is the Draupadi Ratha.
- Q2: Which of the following books was written by the Roman author Pliny the Elder?
- a) Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
- b) Naturalis Historia (Natural History)
- c) Geographica
- d) Indica
- Explanation: Pliny the Elder was the author of the monumental encyclopedic work ‘Naturalis Historia’ (Natural History), which covered a wide range of natural and geographical subjects.
- Q3: The Manusmrti is one of the best-known legal texts of early India, written in …….
- a) Pali
- b) Prakrit
- c) Sanskrit
- d) Tamil
- Explanation: The Manusmriti, a foundational text of Hindu law and ethics, is written in Sanskrit.
- Q4: Which of the following books was not written by King Harshavardhana?
- a) Priyadarsika
- b) Ratnavali
- c) Nagananda
- d) Kadambari
- Explanation: ‘Kadambari’ was written by Banabhatta, Harshavardhana’s court poet. Priyadarsika, Ratnavali, and Nagananda are plays attributed to Harshavardhana himself.
- Q5: Book ‘Rajatarangini’ written in 12th century AD is about the history of which state?
- a) Bengal
- b) Assam
- c) Gujarat
- d) Kashmir
- Explanation: ‘Rajatarangini’, authored by Kalhana in the 12th century CE, is a historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir.
- Q6: Who among the following wrote ‘Indica’, which described India during the rule of the Maurya Dynasty.
- a) Pliny the Elder
- b) Megasthenes
- c) Ptolemy
- d) Fa Hien
- Explanation: Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya, wrote ‘Indica’, providing valuable insights into Mauryan India.
- Q7: Who composed the collection of stories, Panchatantra?
- a) Kalidasa
- b) Valmiki
- c) Vishnu Sharma
- d) Tulsidas
- Explanation: The ‘Panchatantra’, a famous collection of animal fables with moral lessons, is traditionally attributed to Vishnu Sharma.
- Q8: The book ‘Vikramarjun Vijay’ written by Pampa is written in which of the following languages?
- a) Tamil
- b) Telugu
- c) Kannada
- d) Malayalam
- Explanation: Pampa, one of the greatest Kannada poets, wrote ‘Vikramarjunavijaya’ (also known as Pampa Bharata) in Kannada.
- Q9: Which poet of ancient India composed Meghdoot?
- a) Banabhatta
- b) Kalidasa
- c) Bharavi
- d) Vishakhadatta
- Explanation: ‘Meghaduta’ (The Cloud Messenger), a lyrical poem, is one of the celebrated works of the classical Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.
- Q10: How many classes of Indian society are mentioned in Megasthenes’ book Indica?
- a) 4
- b) 5
- c) 6
- d) 7
- Explanation: Megasthenes, in his ‘Indica’, divided Indian society into seven classes: philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates, and councillors.
- Q11: Bharatanatyam’s theoretical foundation has been found in which of the following scriptures?
- a) Abhinayadarpana
- b) Natyashastra
- c) Sangita Ratnakara
- d) Bharata Kosh
- Explanation: The theoretical foundation for classical Indian dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, is largely derived from the ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts, the ‘Natyashastra’, attributed to Bharata Muni.
- Q12: Who among the following was the court poet of Harshavardhana and the author of ‘Harshacharita’?
- a) Kalidasa
- b) Banabhatta
- c) Harishena
- d) Vishakhadatta
- Explanation: Banabhatta was the court poet of Harshavardhana and authored the ‘Harshacharita’ (a biography of Harsha) and ‘Kadambari’.
- Q13: The Purva Mimamsa school of philosophy was founded in ancient India by…………
- a) Patanjali
- b) Jaimini
- c) Kapila
- d) Kanada
- Explanation: The Purva Mimamsa school of Hindu philosophy, focusing on the interpretation of the Vedas and ritualistic duties, was founded by the sage Jaimini.
- Q14: Two epic works, ‘Raghuvansh’ and ‘Kumarasambhavam’ are written by……..
- a) Valmiki
- b) Vyasa
- c) Kalidasa
- d) Tulsidas
- Explanation: ‘Raghuvamsa’ and ‘Kumarasambhava’ are two of the most celebrated epic poems (Mahakavyas) by the renowned Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.
- Q15: ‘Ashtadhyayi’ written by Sanskrit scholar Panini is related to……
- a) Medicine
- b) Astronomy
- c) Grammar
- d) Political science
- Explanation: ‘Ashtadhyayi’ is a foundational text of Sanskrit grammar, written by the ancient Indian grammarian Panini.
- Q16: Who was the author of Si-yu-ki or ‘The Records of the Western World’?
- a) Fa Hien
- b) Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
- c) I-tsing
- d) Sung Yun
- Explanation: Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang), the famous Chinese Buddhist monk, wrote ‘Si-yu-ki’ (Journey to the West or Records of the Western Regions), which recounts his travels in India.
- Q17: Who among the following has made an important contribution in the field of medicine in ancient India?
- a) Sushruta
- b) Charaka
- c) Patanjali
- d) Both A and B
- Explanation: Both Sushruta (author of Sushruta Samhita, known for surgery) and Charaka (author of Charaka Samhita, known for internal medicine) made monumental contributions to medicine in ancient India.
- Q18: With reference to the early Indian history, who among the following was famous in the field of medicine?
- a) Panini
- b) Kalidasa
- c) Charaka
- d) Aryabhatta
- Explanation: Charaka was a prominent ancient Indian physician, considered one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda.
- Q19: Si-yu-ki or Buddhist Records of the Western World was written by:
- a) Fa-hien
- b) Hiuen Tsang
- c) I-tsing
- d) Sung Yun
- Explanation: Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) authored the ‘Si-yu-ki’, documenting his travels and observations in India.
- Q20: Who among the following was a contributor to the subject of medicine in ancient India?
- a) Bhaskara
- b) Sushruta
- c) Panini
- d) Kapil
- Explanation: Sushruta was an ancient Indian surgeon and physician, known as the “Father of Surgery.”
- Q21: Who among the following was an ancient Indian mathematician-astronomer?
- a) Kalidasa
- b) Chanakya
- c) Aryabhata
- d) Panini
- Explanation: Aryabhata was a pioneering ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on zero, place value system, and Earth’s rotation.
- Q22: Which of the following books was written by Panini?
- a) Mrichchhakatika
- b) Ashtadhyayi
- c) Meghaduta
- d) Kadambari
- Explanation: ‘Ashtadhyayi’, a treatise on Sanskrit grammar, was written by Panini.
- Q23: ‘Ashtadhyayi’, written by Sanskrit scholar Panini, is a book on ______.
- a) Astronomy
- b) Medicine
- c) Grammar
- d) Philosophy
- Explanation: ‘Ashtadhyayi’ is a comprehensive work on Sanskrit grammar.
- Q24: The rules made for the ______ were written down in a book called ‘Vinaya Pitaka’.
- a) Jain Sangha
- b) Buddhist Sangha
- c) Hindu monasteries
- d) Sikh Gurdwaras
- Explanation: The ‘Vinaya Pitaka’ is one of the three baskets (Tripitaka) of the Buddhist canon, containing the rules and regulations for the Buddhist monastic community (Sangha).
- Q25: As per Tamil Tradition, Assemblies of poets – known as ‘Sangam’ were held at:
- a) Kancheepuram
- b) Uraiyur
- c) Madurai
- d) Thanjavur
- Explanation: According to Tamil literary tradition, three major Sangams (assemblies of poets) were held in ancient Madurai.
- Q26: Who wrote the ‘Amuktamalyada’ ?
- a) Krishnadevaraya
- b) Allasani Peddana
- c) Tenali Ramakrishna
- d) Pingali Suranna
- Explanation: ‘Amuktamalyada’, an epic poem about the Hindu deity Andal, was composed by the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya in Telugu.
- Q27: Who were the patrons Sangama Literature?
- a) Cholas
- b) Cheras
- c) Pandyas
- d) Pallavas
- Explanation: The Pandya kings of Madurai were the traditional patrons of the Sangam literary assemblies.
- Q28: Tolkappiyar is a famous ancient grammarian of the –––––language.
- a) Tamil
- b) Kannada
- c) Telugu
- d) Malayalam
- Explanation: Tolkappiyar is the revered author of ‘Tolkappiyam’, the earliest extant work on Tamil grammar and poetics.
- Q29: Which of the following books is written by Varahamihira?
- a) Aryabhatiya
- b) Surya Siddhanta
- c) Brihat Samhita
- d) Laghu Jataka
- Explanation: ‘Brihat Samhita’ is a comprehensive encyclopedic work by Varahamihira, covering astronomy, astrology, meteorology, architecture, and other subjects.
- Q30: The ‘Tanakh’ is the sacred text of which religion/sect?
- a) Christianity
- b) Judaism
- c) Islam
- d) Zoroastrianism
- Explanation: The Tanakh is the canonical collection of Jewish texts, comprising the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim.
- Q31: Who among the following was the first grammarian of the Sanskrit language?
- a) Patanjali
- b) Panini
- c) Valmiki
- d) Vyasa
- Explanation: Panini is widely recognized as the first and most influential grammarian of the Sanskrit language.
- Q32: What is the name of the book written by Panini?
- a) Mahabhasya
- b) Ashtadhyayi
- c) Mudrarakshasa
- d) Rajatarangini
- Explanation: Panini wrote ‘Ashtadhyayi’.
- Q33: The Arthashastra was written by
- a) Kalidasa
- b) Kautilya (Chanakya)
- c) Banabhatta
- d) Megasthenes
- Explanation: The ‘Arthashastra’, a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, is attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta).
- Q34: The important book written by Kautilya is
- a) Indica
- b) Arthashastra
- c) Mudrarakshasa
- d) Rajatarangini
- Explanation: Kautilya’s most important work is the ‘Arthashastra’.
- Q35: Who wrote the Panchatantra?
- a) Vatsyayana
- b) Vishnu Sharma
- c) Kalidasa
- d) Chanakya
- Explanation: Vishnu Sharma is traditionally credited with writing the ‘Panchatantra’.
- Q36: In which of the following languages did Kamban wrote Ramayan ?
- a) Kannada
- b) Telugu
- c) Malayalam
- d) Tamil
- Explanation: Kamban wrote the ‘Ramavatharam’ or ‘Kamba Ramayanam’, a Tamil epic, based on the Ramayana.
- Q37: Which of the following is associated with the Sanskrit Mahabharata ?
- a) Vyasa
- b) Valmiki
- c) Kalidasa
- d) Tulsidas
- Explanation: The Sanskrit epic ‘Mahabharata’ is traditionally attributed to Vyasa.
- Q38: Who wrote the play ‘Mricchakatika’ (The Little Clay Cart), a social drama with touches of grim reality?
- a) Kalidasa
- b) Shudraka
- c) Vishakhadatta
- d) Bhasa
- Explanation: ‘Mricchakatika’ (The Little Clay Cart) is a Sanskrit drama attributed to Shudraka.
- Q39: Who wrote the Tamil epic ‘Shilpadikaram’ ?
- a) Kamban
- b) Tiruvalluvar
- c) Ilango Adigal
- d) Seethalai Sattanar
- Explanation: ‘Silappadikaram’, one of the five great Tamil epics, was written by Ilango Adigal.
- Q40: Which of the following is an ancient book written by Banabhatta?
- a) Ashtadhyayi
- b) Harshacharita
- c) Indica
- d) Mudrarakshasa
- Explanation: ‘Harshacharita’, a biography of Harshavardhana, was written by Banabhatta.
- Q41: Which of the following is NOT a work of Kalidasa?
- a) Raghuvamsa
- b) Kumarasambhava
- c) Meghaduta
- d) Kadambari
- Explanation: ‘Kadambari’ was written by Banabhatta. Raghuvamsa, Kumarasambhava, and Meghaduta are all works by Kalidasa.
- Q42: What is the style of sculpture prevalent from Bengal during the period between the ninth and eleventh centuries called?
- a) Gandhara style
- b) Mathura style
- c) Pala style
- d) Gupta style
- Explanation: The sculptural style that flourished in Bengal and Bihar under the patronage of the Pala dynasty (9th-12th centuries) is known as the Pala style of art, characterized by bronze and stone sculptures.
- Q43: Oil paint was first used for Buddhist paintings by Indian and Chinese painters in western ……..sometime between the fifth and tenth centuries.
- a) China
- b) India
- c) Afghanistan
- d) Central Asia
- Explanation: Evidence suggests that oil paint was first used for Buddhist paintings in the caves of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, and other parts of Central Asia, along the Silk Road.
- Q44: Which tales are related with the painting and sculptures of the Ajanta caves ?
- a) Ramayana
- b) Mahabharata
- c) Jataka Tales
- d) Panchatantra
- Explanation: The paintings and sculptures in the Ajanta Caves primarily depict stories from the Jataka Tales, which recount the previous lives of the Buddha.
- Q45: In the middle of which century did the Arab traveler Suleiman come to India?
- a) 8th century
- b) 9th century
- c) 10th century
- d) 11th century
- Explanation: The Arab merchant and traveler Suleiman visited India in the mid-9th century (around 851 CE) and wrote about his observations.
- Q46: Bimbisara sent physician Jeevak for the treatment of the king of which dynasty?
- a) Kosala
- b) Avanti
- c) Magadha
- d) Vatsa
- Explanation: Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, sent his royal physician Jivaka to Ujjain to treat Pradyota, the king of Avanti, when he was suffering from jaundice.
- Q47: Which of the following Magadha emperors made Anga a part of his empire?
- a) Bimbisara
- b) Ajatashatru
- c) Udayin
- d) Shishunaga
- Explanation: Bimbisara, the founder of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha, conquered the kingdom of Anga and annexed it to his empire.
- Q48: Which of the following varnas was responsible for the protection of the people and administration of justice in ancient India as per the rules laid down by the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras?
- a) Brahmanas
- b) Kshatriyas
- c) Vaishyas
- d) Shudras
- Explanation: The Kshatriyas were traditionally the warrior and ruling class, responsible for governance, protection of the kingdom, and upholding justice.
- Q49: Which of the following names was used by ancient travelers like Megasthenes, Fa Hien, Hiuen Tsang, Al Beruni, Ibn Battuta etc. for the active contribution of Indian traders to the Indian subcontinent?
- a) Land of Gold
- b) Land of Spices
- c) Golden Sparrow (Sone ki Chidiya)
- d) Land of Diamonds
- Explanation: “Sone ki Chidiya” (Golden Sparrow) is a popular term that refers to India’s historical prosperity and wealth, often used to describe its economic contributions, which attracted many traders and travelers.
- Q50: The iron implement site of Hastinapur was found in which of the following present states of India?
- a) Haryana
- b) Punjab
- c) Uttar Pradesh
- d) Rajasthan
- Explanation: Hastinapur, an ancient city and significant archaeological site associated with the Mahabharata, is located in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.
Ancient History MCQs With Mock Test Set:-8 Click Here
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