UPSC Prelims 2025
Ancient History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 6 solved UPSC Prelims 2025 Ancient History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of
Detailed Explanation:
Correct Answer: ✅ Option 3 (Bronze)
The famous 'Dancing Girl' is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization. It was discovered at Mohenjo-daro and showcases the advanced metallurgical skills of the Harappans.
✅ Statement I is Correct: The Dancing Girl is made of bronze.
✅ Statement II is Correct: It was created using the Lost-Wax Casting Method (Cire Perdue), a sophisticated metal-casting technique.
❌ Carnelian, Clay, and Gold are Incorrect: The figurine is neither made of stone, clay, nor gold; it is a bronze sculpture.
Short Notes: Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro
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Discovered at Mohenjo-daro in present-day Pakistan.
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Belongs to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 BCE).
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Made of bronze using the Lost-Wax Casting Method.
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Height is approximately 10.5 cm.
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Depicts a young girl in a confident dancing posture.
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Considered a masterpiece of Harappan art and metallurgy.
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Indicates advanced knowledge of metalworking during the Harappan period.
With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs:
Territorial region – River flowing in the region
I. Asmaka : Godavari
II. Kamboja : Vipas
III. Avanti : Mahanadi
IV. Kosala : Sarayu
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Pair I — Correct. Asmaka (also called Assaka) — southernmost Mahajanapada, in the Deccan region, on the banks of the Godavari river.
Pair II — Incorrect. Kamboja was in the extreme north-west (modern Afghanistan/Kashmir area). The Vipas (Beas) river flows through Punjab — a different region, further east.
Pair III — Incorrect. Avanti was in western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa region). Its main rivers were Kshipra and Vetravati, NOT Mahanadi (which flows through Odisha/Chhattisgarh).
Pair IV — Correct. Kosala — Mahajanapada in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its capital Ayodhya sits on the banks of the Sarayu river.
So only 2 pairs (I and IV) are correct.
Mahajanapadas and Their Rivers
| Mahajanapada | Region | Main River(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Asmaka | Deccan (south) | Godavari |
| Kamboja | NW Frontier (Afghanistan/Kashmir) | Not Vipas — different region entirely |
| Avanti | Western MP (Malwa) | Kshipra, Vetravati |
| Kosala | Eastern UP | Sarayu (capital: Ayodhya) |
| Magadha | Bihar | Ganga, Son |
| Vatsa | Allahabad region | Yamuna (capital: Kaushambi) |
| Kashi | Varanasi region | Ganga |
| Vajji | North Bihar | Gandak |
Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya?
Detailed Explanation:
The correct answer is C. Rajendra I (Chola).
Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja Chola I, led a famous naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom around 1025 CE. Srivijaya was a powerful maritime empire controlling the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and nearby islands. Rajendra I’s campaign asserted Chola naval dominance in the region and secured control over important sea trade routes.
The other rulers listed did not conduct campaigns against Srivijaya:
- Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta) focused mainly on the Deccan region.
- Prataparudra (Kakatiya) ruled much later and was centered in the Deccan.
- Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala) focused on South Indian affairs.
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Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of
Detailed Explanation:
Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also called Chandragupta Vikramaditya), in the early 5th century CE. He came to collect Buddhist texts and study Buddhist practices in India.
His travel account gives valuable insight into:
- Gupta society
- Administration
- State of Buddhism in India at that time
Chinese Pilgrims to India (for Revision)
| Pilgrim | Visited During | Key Purpose/Work |
|---|---|---|
| Fa-hien (Faxian) | Chandragupta II (early 5th century CE) | Collected Buddhist texts; described Gupta society |
| Hsuan Tsang (Xuanzang) | Harshavardhana (7th century CE) | Visited Nalanda; wrote "Si-Yu-Ki" |
| I-tsing (Yijing) | Late 7th century CE | Visited Nalanda; recorded Buddhist practices |
About Chandragupta II:
- Son of Samudragupta
- Also known as Vikramaditya
- His reign = often called the "Golden Age" of Gupta dynasty
- Court had Navaratnas (nine gems) including Kalidasa
Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradesika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at the
Detailed Explanation:
These three officers worked together at the district (Pradesa) level during Ashoka's reign:
| Officer | Role |
|---|---|
| Pradesika | Head of district administration (like a district head) |
| Rajuka | Handled revenue collection and judicial matters |
| Yukta | Junior/subordinate official — helped with record-keeping and administration |
Mauryan Administration Officers
| Officer | Level | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Pradesika | District | Head of district administration |
| Rajuka | District | Revenue collection + judicial duties |
| Yukta | District | Subordinate; record-keeping, assistance |
| Amatya | Central/Provincial | High-ranking minister/officer |
| Mahamatta | Central | Special officers (e.g., Dhamma Mahamatta for moral welfare) |
| Pratiharas | Central | Palace guards/gatekeepers |
Mauryan Administrative Hierarchy (Top to Bottom):
- King (Centre)
- Provinces — headed by princes/governors (e.g., Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali, Suvarnagiri)
- District (Pradesa/Ahara) — Pradesika, Rajuka, Yukta
- Village — Gramani (village headman)
The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was
Detailed Explanation:
Araghatta = an ancient water-lifting wheel device. It has a large wheel with earthen pots tied to its spokes. As the wheel turns (powered by animals or people), the pots dip into water, fill up, rise, and pour out the water for irrigation.
Why other options are wrong:
| Option | Describes | Why Not Araghatta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leather bag + pulley | Different device (simple lifting mechanism, not a wheel) |
| 3 | Large pot + bullocks | Just describes a container, not the mechanical wheel system |
| 4 | Bucket pulled by hand | Manual, no wheel mechanism |
Ancient Irrigation Devices
| Device | Description |
|---|---|
| Araghatta | Large wheel with earthen pots on spokes; lifts water mechanically (early water-wheel) |
| Picottah/Shadoof | Lever-based device — bucket on one end, counterweight on other |
| Charas/Mot | Leather bag pulled up via pulley using bullocks |
Context:
- Mentioned in ancient and medieval Indian texts
- Sometimes called the "Persian wheel" in later medieval usage (though technically distinct evolution)
- Represents an early form of mechanical irrigation technology in India
- Found referenced in inscriptions related to agriculture and irrigation systems
UPSC Prelims 2025 - Ancient History Chapter-wise Distribution
Sources of Ancient Indian History
2 Qs (33.3%)Ancient Indian Economy
1 Qs (16.7%)Mauryan Empire
1 Qs (16.7%)Mahajanapada Period
1 Qs (16.7%)Indus Valley Civilization
1 Qs (16.7%)UPSC Prelims 2025 - Ancient History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Ancient History questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2025?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Ancient History in UPSC Prelims 2025?
- Sources of Ancient Indian History: 2 questions (33.3%)
- Ancient Indian Economy: 1 questions (16.7%)
- Mauryan Empire: 1 questions (16.7%)
- Mahajanapada Period: 1 questions (16.7%)
- Indus Valley Civilization: 1 questions (16.7%)