UPSC CSE Prelims
Gupta Empire Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Gupta Empire
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With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Ports handling foreign trade
During the Gupta period (c. 320–550 CE), Ghantasala and Kadura on the eastern coast (Andhra region) and Chaul on the western coast (Maharashtra) were prominent maritime centers engaged in overseas trade. These ports facilitated commerce with Southeast Asia, Western Asia, and the Roman world, trading in textiles, spices, ivory, and other commodities.
📝 Short Notes: Major Ports of Ancient India (Gupta Period)
| Port | Location | Trade Links | Main Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghantasala | Eastern coast (Andhra Pradesh) | Southeast Asia, Roman Empire | Textiles, spices, ivory |
| Kadura | Eastern coast (Andhra region) | Southeast Asia | Textiles, spices, precious stones |
| Chaul | Western coast (Maharashtra) | Western Asia, Arabia | Cotton textiles, spices |
| Barbaricum | Indus delta | Western Asia, Rome | Indigo, cotton, silk |
| Barygaza (Bharuch) | Gujarat coast | Rome, Arabia, East Africa | Textiles, spices, gems |
| Muziris | Kerala coast | Rome, Arabia | Pepper, spices, pearls |
With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — measurement of land
The terms kulyavapa and dronavapa were units of land measurement used in ancient India, particularly during the Gupta period. These measurements were based on the quantity of seed required to sow a specific area of land—'vapa' means 'to sow', while 'kulya' and 'drona' were volumetric measures of grain.
📝 Short Notes: Ancient Indian Land Measurement Systems
| Term | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Kulyavapa | Area of land requiring one kulya (larger measure) of grain to sow | Commonly found in Gupta-era copper-plate inscriptions (Damodarpur plates, etc.) recording land grants and transactions |
| Dronavapa | Area of land requiring one drona (smaller measure) of grain to sow | |
| Adhavapa | Area requiring one adha of grain to sow | |
| Pataka | Another unit of land measurement |
- Vapa literally means 'to sow', indicating these were seed-based measurements
- These units reflect an agricultural economy where land value was tied to productivity
- The Gupta period (c. 320-550 CE) saw systematic land revenue administration using these measures
- Land grants to Brahmanas and temples were often recorded using these units
- This system differed from modern area-based measurements, instead using functional agricultural capacity
With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:
- Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
- Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.
- Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 3 only
This question tests the association of ancient Indian scholars with their contemporary rulers. Only Kalidasa's association with Chandragupta II is historically accurate, while Panini and Amarasimha are incorrectly matched with the given rulers.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Panini (5th-4th century BCE), author of Ashtadhyayi, lived centuries before Pushyamitra Shunga (2nd century BCE). Patanjali, not Panini, was contemporary to Pushyamitra Shunga.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Amarasimha, author of Amarakosha, was one of the Navaratnas in the court of Chandragupta II (Gupta period), not Harshavardhana (7th century CE, Pushyabhuti dynasty).
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Kalidasa, the greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist, was indeed one of the Navaratnas in the court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya, r. 375-415 CE).
📝 Short Notes: Scholars and Their Patrons
| Scholar/Litterateur | Period/Century | Associated Ruler/Dynasty | Major Work(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panini | 5th-4th century BCE | Pre-Mauryan period | Ashtadhyayi (Sanskrit grammar) |
| Patanjali | 2nd century BCE | Pushyamitra Shunga | Mahabhashya (commentary on Panini) |
| Kalidasa | 4th-5th century CE | Chandragupta II (Gupta) | Abhijnanashakuntalam, Meghaduta, Raghuvamsa |
| Amarasimha | 4th-5th century CE | Chandragupta II (Gupta) | Amarakosha (Sanskrit thesaurus) |
| Banabhatta | 7th century CE | Harshavardhana | Harshacharita, Kadambari |
- Navaratnas of Chandragupta II: Included Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Vetala Bhatta, and Ghatakarpara.
- Gupta Golden Age: The period of Chandragupta II (375-415 CE) marked the zenith of classical Sanskrit literature and learning.
- Harsha's Court: While Harshavardhana (r. 606-647 CE) was a patron of learning, his court litterateurs included Banabhatta and Mayura, not Amarasimha.
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With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
During the Gupta period, Vishti (forced labour) was recognized as a legitimate fiscal obligation where subjects rendered compulsory labour services to the State in lieu of tax payment. The Junagadh inscription explicitly lists Vishti alongside other revenue sources like Bali (tribute) and Bhaga (share of produce), confirming its status as a state income mechanism.
✅ Option 1 – Correct: Vishti was indeed regarded as a tax-in-kind, a compulsory labour service that constituted a revenue source for the State during the Gupta administration.
❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: Vishti was prevalent across the Gupta Empire, including Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions, as evidenced by inscriptional records from Junagadh (Kathiawar).
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: Being a form of forced extraction, Vishti did not entitle labourers to any wages; it was an unpaid compulsory service obligation.
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: There is no historical evidence suggesting that the burden of Vishti was specifically assigned to the eldest son; it was a general obligation imposed on the subject population.
📝 Short Notes: Taxation System in Gupta Period
| Tax/Revenue Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Bhaga | King's share of agricultural produce (usually 1/6th of the produce) |
| Bali | Religious tribute or offering paid to the king |
| Vishti/Visti | Forced labour service; compulsory unpaid work for the State |
| Hiranya | Tax paid in cash instead of kind |
| Udranga | Periodic tax or additional levy |
| Uparikara | Extra cess or additional tax on land |
- The Gupta revenue system was largely agrarian-based, with land revenue being the primary source of state income.
- Taxes were collected both in kind (grain, produce) and in cash depending on regional practices.
- Forced labour (Vishti) was particularly burdensome on lower social strata and peasant communities.
- The Allahabad Pillar Inscription and various land grant records provide detailed insights into Gupta fiscal administration.