Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms – UPSC Prelims PYQs

6 questions · 1997–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key

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UPSC 2026 · Q5 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched ?

  1. Senguttuvan : Chera
  2. Udiyanjeral : Chola
  3. Nedunjeliyan : Pandya

Select the answer using the code given below :

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
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Answer: (b) 2 only
UPSC 2015 · Q39 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

  1. Avanti
  2. Gandhara
  3. Kosala
  4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
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Answer: (d) 3 and 4 only
UPSC 2014 · Q25 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

  1. Avanti
  2. Gandhara
  3. Kosala
  4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (c) 3 and 4 only
UPSC 2005 · Q22 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Gautama Buddha
(c) Milinda
(d) Prasenjit
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Answer: (c) Milinda
UPSC 1999 · Q63 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century B.C.?

(a) Gandhar
(b) Kamboj
(c) Kashi
(d) Magadh
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Answer: (c) Kashi
UPSC 1997 · Q85 · Ancient History › Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms · Save

The following map shows four of the sixteen mahajanapadas that existed in ancient India. The places marked A, B, C and D respectively are

(a) Matsya, Cedi, Kosala, Anga
(b) Surasena, Avanti, Vatsa, Magadha
(c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga
(d) Surasena, Cedi, Kosala, Magadha
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Answer: (c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga