71st BPSC Prelims 2025
Ancient History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 5 solved 71st BPSC Prelims 2025 Ancient History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Which Buddhist council was not held in Bihar?
Detailed Explanation:
First Council was held at Rajagriha (Rajgir), Bihar immediately after Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (483 BCE) under the patronage of King Ajatashatru.
Second Council convened at Vaishali, Bihar around 383 BCE, about 100 years after the First Council.
Third Council took place at Pataliputra (Patna), Bihar during Emperor Ashoka's reign (250 BCE).
Fourth Council was held in Kashmir (Kundalavana) under King Kanishka (circa 72 CE) – the only council not held in Bihar.
Consider the following dynasties of Ancient India:
- Shunga
- Maurya
- Kushana
- Kanva
Which of the following is the correct chronological order of their rule?
Detailed Explanation:
Maurya dynasty ruled from 322 BCE to 185 BCE, founded by Chandragupta Maurya.
Shunga dynasty ruled from 185 BCE to 73 BCE, established by Pushyamitra Shunga after the last Mauryan ruler.
Kanva dynasty ruled from 73 BCE to 28 BCE, replaced the Shungas.
Kushana dynasty ruled from 1st century CE to 3rd century CE, much later period.
Correct chronological order: Maurya (2) → Shunga (1) → Kanva (4) → Kushana (3), i.e., 2-1-4-3.
Match List I with List II
| List-I Event/Place | List-II Connected with Person |
| a) Chola Gangam Lake | 1) Chandragupta Maurya |
| b) Appointmehtof Dhama Mahamata | 2) Harshavardhan |
| c) Assembly at Prayag | 3) Rajendra I |
| d) Sudarshan Lake | 4) Ashoka |
Detailed Explanation:
a) Chola Gangam Lake – Rajendra I (3): Built to commemorate his victorious northern campaign up to the Ganges.
b) Appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras – Ashoka (4): Special officers appointed in his 14th Rock Edict to propagate his policy of Dhamma.
c) Assembly at Prayag – Harshavardhan (2): Organized grand religious assemblies (Mahamoksha Parishad) at Prayag every five years for charity and donations.
d) Sudarshan Lake – Chandragupta Maurya (1): Constructed in Girnar, Gujarat during his reign; later repaired by Rudradaman I and Skandagupta.
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Which one of the following is not related to the Rigvedic period?
Detailed Explanation:
Ghosha, Apala, and Vishvavara were female Rishikas (seers) who composed hymns in the Rigveda, primarily in the 10th Mandala.
Gargi Vachaknavi appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (later Vedic period) and is famous for debating Yajnavalkya, not for Rigvedic hymns.
Match List I with List II
| List-I Places in Ancient India | List-II Presently in which State |
| a) Karmasuvarna | 1) Maharashtra |
| b) Pragjyotish | 2) Gujarat |
| c) Gimar | 3) WestBengal |
| d) Pratishthan | 4) Assam |
Detailed Explanation:
Karmasuvarna (a) was the capital of the Gauda kingdom in present-day West Bengal (3).
Pragjyotish (b), ancient capital of the Pragjyotisha kingdom, is located in present-day Assam (4).
Gimar/Girnar (c) is situated near Junagadh in Gujarat (2), famous for Ashoka's Rock Edicts.
Pratishthan/Paithan (d) was the capital of the Satavahana dynasty on the Godavari River in Maharashtra (1).
Correct matching: a-3, b-4, c-2, d-1.
71st BPSC Prelims 2025 - Ancient History Chapter-wise Distribution
Mauryan Empire
1 Qs (20%)Post-Mauryan Period
1 Qs (20%)Religious Movements
1 Qs (20%)Gupta Empire
1 Qs (20%)Vedic Age
1 Qs (20%)71st BPSC Prelims 2025 - Ancient History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Ancient History questions were asked in 71st BPSC Prelims 2025?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Ancient History in 71st BPSC Prelims 2025?
- Mauryan Empire: 1 questions (20%)
- Post-Mauryan Period: 1 questions (20%)
- Religious Movements: 1 questions (20%)
- Gupta Empire: 1 questions (20%)
- Vedic Age: 1 questions (20%)