UPSC Prelims 2016
Ancient History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 3 solved UPSC Prelims 2016 Ancient History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of which of the following?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Maagadha
Maagadha (or Magadha) was a professional class of bards and chroniclers in ancient India who specialized in memorizing and reciting dynastic histories, genealogies, chronicles, and epic tales. They were attached to royal courts and performed the crucial function of preserving oral traditions before written records became widespread. The other options refer to different professions: Shramana were ascetic monks in Jainism and Buddhism who renounced worldly life; Parivraaj (Parivrajaka) were wandering mendicants seeking spiritual wisdom; and Agrahaarika were administrators of land grants (agraharas) given to Brahmins, unrelated to historical preservation.
Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — James Prinsep
James Prinsep (1799-1840), an English scholar and antiquary with the British East India Company, was the first person to decipher Emperor Ashoka's edicts in 1837. He successfully decoded the Brahmi script in which most of Ashoka's inscriptions were written, enabling scholars to understand the content and historical significance of these ancient edicts. This breakthrough was pivotal in establishing Ashoka's identity and the extent of the Mauryan Empire, as prior to Prinsep's work, the inscriptions remained undeciphered and Ashoka was largely unknown in modern historical records.
In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Eripatti | Land revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank |
| 2. Taniyurs | Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins |
| 3. Ghatikas | Colleges generally attached to the temples |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1 and 3 only
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Eripatti was land revenue specifically allocated for the maintenance and repair of village irrigation tanks (eri) during the Pallava and Chola periods in South India. This was a crucial component of agrarian infrastructure management.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Taniyurs were not villages donated to Brahmins. They were large, independent administrative units in the Chola empire that functioned as separate revenue entities outside the jurisdiction of regular Nadus (districts). Villages donated to Brahmins were called Brahmadeya or Agrahara.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Ghatikas were institutions of higher learning in ancient and medieval South India, typically attached to temples. They served as centers for Vedic studies, theology, and other branches of knowledge. The Ghatika at Kanchipuram was particularly renowned.
🧐 Not Sure What to Study Next?
Get a personalised study plan based on your goals, time and revision needs.
UPSC Prelims 2016 - Ancient History Chapter-wise Distribution
Sangam Age and South India
1 Qs (33.3%)Mauryan Empire
1 Qs (33.3%)Ancient Indian Society
1 Qs (33.3%)UPSC Prelims 2016 - Ancient History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Ancient History questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2016?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Ancient History in UPSC Prelims 2016?
- Sangam Age and South India: 1 questions (33.3%)
- Mauryan Empire: 1 questions (33.3%)
- Ancient Indian Society: 1 questions (33.3%)