Best Ancient History MCQs and Mock Test for SSC Exam Preparation
Want to level up your SSC preparation?
Here’s your chance to master Ancient Indian History – one of the most scoring sections in SSC exams!
This post provides the top Ancient History multiple choice questions (MCQs) selected from previous year SSC papers, tailored for aspirants of SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD, and other government exams.
📖 What’s Included:
- Best Ancient History questions for SSC Exam 2025
- Quick and reliable revision content
- Based on real exam patterns
🧠 Test Your Knowledge:
After reviewing the MCQs, click the link below to take a free mock test. It’s the perfect way to check your readiness and boost your confidence.
Stay focused. Practice smart. Crack SSC 2025!
Best Ancient History MCQs
- Q1: In the 4th century BCE, the capital of Magadha was shifted to –––––.
- a) Rajagriha
- b) Pataliputra
- c) Vaishali
- d) Champa
- Explanation: Pataliputra (modern Patna) became the capital of Magadha during the reign of Udayin in the 4th century BCE, succeeding Rajagriha.
- Q2: Kalinga’s King Kharvela was associated with which of the following dynasty?
- a) Maurya dynasty
- b) Satavahana dynasty
- c) Chedi dynasty
- d) Gupta dynasty
- Explanation: King Kharavela of Kalinga belonged to the Mahameghavahana (or Chedi) dynasty, as documented in his Hathigumpha inscription.
- Q3: Which was the first empire in ancient India to use elephants in its war on a large scale?
- a) Nanda
- b) Magadha
- c) Maurya
- d) Gupta
- Explanation: The Magadha empire, particularly under the Nanda and later Maurya dynasties, was the first to effectively utilize elephants on a large scale in warfare, which contributed significantly to its military prowess.
- Q4: Who was the last Tirthankara of Jains?
- a) Rishabhanatha
- b) Parshvanatha
- c) Mahavira
- d) Ajitnath
- Explanation: Lord Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, who propagated its current form.
- Q5: In which Indian Religion, there are 24 Tirthankaras?
- a) Hinduism
- b) Jainism
- c) Buddhism
- d) Sikhism
- Explanation: The concept of 24 Tirthankaras is unique to Jainism.
- Q6: Who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism?
- a) Rishabhanatha
- b) Mahavira
- c) Parshvanatha
- d) Ajitnath
- Explanation: Rishabhanatha (also known as Adinath) is revered as the first Tirthankara in Jainism.
- Q7: Which of the following religious groups annually celebrates the ‘Paryushan Parva’ for self purification and uplift by adhering of the ten universal virtues in practical life ?
- a) Buddhists
- b) Jains
- c) Sikhs
- d) Hindus
- Explanation: Paryushan Parva is the most important annual festival observed by Jains for spiritual purification and adherence to ethical principles.
- Q8: Lord Mahavira was born in present state of
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Bihar
- c) Rajasthan
- d) Madhya Pradesh
- Explanation: Lord Mahavira was born in Kundalagrama, near Vaishali, in what is now the state of Bihar, India.
- Q9: Santhara is a religious ritual of…. community.
- a) Buddhist
- b) Jain
- c) Hindu
- d) Sikh
- Explanation: Santhara (or Sallekhana) is a religious vow of voluntary fast unto death practiced by Jains for spiritual purification.
- Q10: With which religion is Kaivalya associated?
- a) Buddhism
- b) Jainism
- c) Hinduism
- d) Sikhism
- Explanation: Kaivalya, meaning “isolation” or “aloneness,” is the Jain concept of ultimate liberation and omniscience.
- Q11: A collective term used by the Jains for their sacred books is
- a) Tripitaka
- b) Agamas
- c) Angas
- d) Sutras
- Explanation: The sacred texts of Jainism are collectively known as the Agamas. (While Angas are a significant part, Agamas is the broader term.)
- Q12: The renowned Temple at Ranakpur is a__ Temple.
- a) Hindu
- b) Buddhist
- c) Jain
- d) Sikh
- Explanation: The Ranakpur Jain Temple, dedicated to Adinath, is a significant Jain pilgrimage site in Rajasthan, India.
- Q13: Name the holy city recognized as the birthplace of the first and fourth Jain Tirthankaras.
- a) Vaishali
- b) Pawapuri
- c) Ayodhya
- d) Kundalagrama
- Explanation: According to Jain tradition, Ayodhya is the birthplace of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha (Adinath), and the fourth Tirthankara, Abhinandananatha.
- Q14: According to the Jain Philosophy, the term ‘Jina’ means –––––.
- a) God
- b) Sage
- c) Conqueror
- d) Liberator
- Explanation: ‘Jina’ literally means “conqueror” – one who has conquered inner passions and attained perfect knowledge.
- Q15: Teachings of Mahavira, which were written about 1500 years ago, are currently present at which place?
- a) Pataliputra
- b) Vaishali
- c) Vallabhi
- d) Sarnath
- Explanation: The Jain Agamas, containing the teachings of Mahavira, were formally written down at a council held in Vallabhi, Gujarat, around the 5th century CE.
- Q16: In which of the following states are the Son Bhandar Caves located?
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Bihar
- c) Madhya Pradesh
- d) Maharashtra
- Explanation: The Son Bhandar Caves, also known as Swarnabhandar, are located in Rajgir, Bihar, and are associated with Jainism.
- Q17: __________was the first woman to become a nun in Buddhism.
- a) Yasodhara
- b) Mahapajapati Gotami
- c) Amrapali
- d) Khema
- Explanation: Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s maternal aunt and foster mother, was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun).
- Q18: Which of the following Buddhist sites is not located in the Vengi Region of Andhra Pradesh?
- a) Amaravati
- b) Nagarjunakonda
- c) Ghantasala
- d) Sanchi
- Explanation: Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, and Ghantasala are important Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. Sanchi, famous for its stupas, is located in Madhya Pradesh.
- Q19: Which is the oldest stupa of the Buddhist period?
- a) Sanchi Stupa
- b) Dhamek Stupa
- c) Chaukhandi Stupa
- d) Amaravati Stupa
- Explanation: The Great Stupa at Sanchi, originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, is considered the oldest surviving large stupa.
- Q20: Buddha meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at ……., where he attained enlightenment.
- a) Sarnath
- b) Bodh Gaya
- c) Kushinagar
- d) Lumbini
- Explanation: Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.
- Q21: ………..was the book in which all the rules made for the Buddhist sangha was written down in.
- a) Sutta Pitaka
- b) Abhidhamma Pitaka
- c) Vinaya Pitaka
- d) Jataka Tales
- Explanation: The Vinaya Pitaka contains the monastic rules and disciplinary codes for the Buddhist monastic community (Sangha).
- Q22: At which Buddhist site in India did Gautam Buddha first preach the Dhamma?
- a) Sarnath
- b) Bodh Gaya
- c) Kushinagar
- d) Lumbini
- Explanation: After attaining enlightenment, Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath.
- Q23: Kya Gompa, the largest centre of Buddhist learning in the western Himalayas, is situated in the state/Union territory of ……
- a) Ladakh
- b) Uttarakhand
- c) Himachal Pradesh
- d) Jammu and Kashmir
- Explanation: Key Monastery (Key Gompa) is located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
- Q24: The place of Gautama Buddha’s birth was a grove known as ______.
- a) Sarnath
- b) Bodh Gaya
- c) Kushinagar
- d) Lumbini
- Explanation: Gautama Buddha was born in the Lumbini grove, in present-day Nepal.
- Q25: At which of the following places did Lord Buddha attain enlightenment?
- a) Sarnath
- b) Bodh Gaya
- c) Kushinagar
- d) Lumbini
- Explanation: Lord Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
- Q26: To which Ganarajya Gautam Buddha belonged?
- a) Lichchhavis
- b) Vajjis
- c) Koliyas
- d) Sakyas
- Explanation: Gautam Buddha belonged to the Sakya clan, and his birthplace Lumbini was part of the Sakya Republic.
- Q27: Which Buddhist Council was held soon after the death of Gautam Buddha?
- a) First Buddhist Council
- b) Second Buddhist Council
- c) Third Buddhist Council
- d) Fourth Buddhist Council
- Explanation: The First Buddhist Council was convened at Rajagriha immediately after the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana to compile his teachings.
- Q28: In which city was the third Buddhist Council held?
- a) Rajagriha
- b) Vaishali
- c) Pataliputra
- d) Kundalavan
- Explanation: The Third Buddhist Council was held in Pataliputra under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka.
- Q29: One of the major events of Ashoka’s reign was the convening of the ______ Buddhist Sangha (council) in 250 BCE in the capital Pataliputra.
- a) First
- b) Second
- c) Third
- d) Fourth
- Explanation: The Third Buddhist Council was convened by Emperor Ashoka in Pataliputra around 250 BCE.
- Q30: In which language did most Buddhist texts were written?
- a) Sanskrit
- b) Hindi
- c) Pali
- d) Prakrit
- Explanation: Many early and canonical Buddhist texts, especially of the Theravada tradition, were written in Pali.
- Q31: Buddhism was divided into Mahayana and Hinayana during the reign of which of the following rulers?
- a) Ashoka
- b) Kanishka
- c) Harshavardhana
- d) Samudragupta
- Explanation: The division of Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana occurred during the Fourth Buddhist Council, held under the patronage of Kanishka.
- Q32: The term ‘Stupa’ is associated with which of the following event of Gautam Buddha’s life?
- a) Birth
- b) Enlightenment
- c) First Sermon
- d) Mahaparinirvana (Death)
- Explanation: Stupas are funerary monuments housing relics, particularly associated with the Buddha’s death (Mahaparinirvana).
- Q33: Which of the following is a part of Sutta Pitaka?
- a) Vinaya
- b) Abhidhamma
- c) Jataka Tales
- d) Mahavagga
- Explanation: The Jataka Tales, narratives of Buddha’s previous lives, are part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, which is a division of the Sutta Pitaka.
- Q34: ‘Tripitakas’ are sacred books of………….
- a) Jains
- b) Buddhists
- c) Hindus
- d) Sikhs
- Explanation: The Tripitakas (Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka) are the three main collections of canonical Buddhist scriptures.
- Q35: Gautam Buddha’s teachings are found mainly in:
- a) Vinaya Pitaka
- b) Sutta Pitaka
- c) Abhidhamma Pitaka
- d) Jataka Tales
- Explanation: The Sutta Pitaka contains the main body of the Buddha’s discourses and teachings.
- Q36: From which monument, Gautama Buddha propagated his divine knowledge of Buddhism to the world?
- a) Sanchi Stupa
- b) Mahabodhi Temple Complex
- c) Dhamek Stupa
- d) Ajanta Caves
- Explanation: The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya marks the site of Buddha’s enlightenment, which led to the propagation of his teachings.
- Q37: The language in which Buddha preached?
- a) Sanskrit
- b) Pali
- c) Prakrit
- d) Ardhamagadhi
- Explanation: The Buddha taught in a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect, which is commonly associated with Pali, the language of the Theravada Buddhist canon.
- Q38: Which of the following stupas is not located in the state Uttar Pradesh ?
- a) Dhamek Stupa
- b) Chaukhandi Stupa
- c) Sarnath Stupa
- d) Sanchi Stupa
- Explanation: Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, and Sarnath Stupa are in Uttar Pradesh. Sanchi Stupa is in Madhya Pradesh.
- Q39: Which of the following is related with the architecture of Buddhist stupas ?
- a) Garbhagriha
- b) Shikhara
- c) Anda
- d) Vimana
- Explanation: ‘Anda’ refers to the hemispherical dome, which is the central and most recognizable part of a stupa. Garbhagriha, Shikhara, and Vimana are Hindu temple architectural terms.
- Q40: The Mahayana text belongs to which religion?
- a) Jainism
- b) Buddhism
- c) Hinduism
- d) Sikhism
- Explanation: Mahayana is one of the major branches of Buddhism, and its texts are specific to this tradition.
- Q41: Which is the most important work of the Hinayana school?
- a) Mahayana Sutras
- b) Tripitaka (Pali Canon)
- c) Lotus Sutra
- d) Vajrayana Tantras
- Explanation: The Tripitaka (Pali Canon) is the foundational and most authoritative collection of scriptures for the Theravada school, which is often identified with the historical Hinayana.
- Q42: Which of the following sites is asociated with the birth of Gautama Buddha?
- a) Bodh Gaya
- b) Lumbini
- c) Sarnath
- d) Kushinagar
- Explanation: Lumbini is the pilgrimage site identified as the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
- Q43: The concept of ‘The Four Noble Truths’ belongs to which of the following religions ?
- a) Jainism
- b) Buddhism
- c) Hinduism
- d) Sikhism
- Explanation: The Four Noble Truths are the fundamental tenets of Buddhist philosophy, taught by Buddha after his enlightenment.
- Q44: The Buddhist sites Vaishali and Nalanda are situated in which of the following states ?
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Bihar
- c) Madhya Pradesh
- d) West Bengal
- Explanation: Both Vaishali and Nalanda, historically significant Buddhist sites, are located in the state of Bihar.
- Q45: Ashta Mahasthan refers to eight important places associated with the life of Buddha. Which of the following is not one of them?
- a) Lumbini
- b) Bodh Gaya
- c) Sarnath
- d) Sanchi
- Explanation: The Ashta Mahasthanas are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, Rajagriha, Sankassa, and Vaishali. Sanchi is a major stupa site but not one of these eight.
- Q46: During the reign of Kanishka, which of the following places was chosen as the venue of the fourth Buddhist Council?
- a) Pataliputra
- b) Vaishali
- c) Kundalavan (Kashmir)
- d) Rajagriha
- Explanation: The Fourth Buddhist Council was convened in Kundalavan, Kashmir, during the reign of the Kushan emperor Kanishka.
- Q47: At which of the following places did Lord Buddha gave his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths?
- a) Bodh Gaya
- b) Sarnath
- c) Kushinagar
- d) Lumbini
- Explanation: Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, outlining the Four Noble Truths, at the Deer Park in Sarnath.
- Q48: Who among the following was NOT a Nayanar saint?
- a) Appar
- b) Sambandar
- c) Sundarar
- d) Andal
- Explanation: The Nayanars were Tamil Shaivite (devotees of Shiva) saints. Andal was one of the twelve Alvars, who were Vaishnavite (devotees of Vishnu) saints.
- Q49: ………is a depiction of the Hindu God Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance called Tandavam.
- a) Ardhanarishvara
- b) Nataraja
- c) Lingam
- d) Bhairava
- Explanation: Nataraja is the iconic representation of Shiva as the cosmic dancer, embodying the divine dance of creation and destruction.
- Q50: Which god despite being the creator god among the Trimurti, is rarely worshiped today?
- a) Vishnu
- b) Shiva
- c) Brahma
- d) Indra
- Explanation: Brahma, the creator god in the Hindu Trimurti, has very few temples dedicated to him independently and is less widely worshipped than Vishnu or Shiva.
Best Ancient History MCQs All Mock Test Set:- Click Here
Ancient History MCQs With Mock Test Set:-3 – Click Here
Ancient History MCQs With Mock Test Set:-2 – Click Here
Ancient History MCQs With Mock Test Set:-1 – Click Here