Ancient History › Foreign Travellers & Accounts – UPSC Prelims PYQs

4 questions · 1999–2025 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of

(a) Samudragupta
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Kumaragupta I
(d) Skandagupta
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Answer: (b) Chandragupta II

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
  2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
  3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
  2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

The following persons came to India at one time or another: I. Fa-Hien II. I-Tsing III. Megasthenes IV. Hieun-Tsang The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

(a) III, I, II, IV
(b) III, I, IV, II
(c) I, III, II, IV
(d) I, III, IV, II
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Answer: (b) III, I, IV, II