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Ancient History MCQs – 5 (Mahajanpadas)

Mahajanpadas MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, State PSCs and other Examinations

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1. Which of the following buddhist texts provide information about 16 Mahajanapadas ?

(a) Anguttara Nikaya
(b) Sutta Pitaka
(c) Mahavastu
(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Anguttara Nikaya

The description of 16 Mahajanapadas is given in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya.
These were:
- Anga
- Magadha
- Kasi
- Kosala
- Vajji
- Malla
- Chedi
- Vatsa
- Kuru
- Panchala
- Matsya
- Surasena
- Asmaka
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kambhoja

2. Which of the following Jain texts describes 16 Mahajanapadas?

(a) Bhagwati Sutra
(b) Kalpasutra
(c) Parishishta Parvan
(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Bhagwati Sutra

The description of 16 Mahajanapadas has been found in the Jain text Bhagwati Sutra.

3. By whom, the first republic of the world was established in Vaishali?

(a) Nandas
(b) Lichchhavi
(c) Guptas
(d) Mauryas

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (b) Lichchhavi

Licchavi existed in the Kathmandu Valley in modern-day Nepal from approximately 750 BCE to 400 BCE.
The Licchavi clan originated from Vaishali and they established the first republic of the world there.
Samudragupta was a son of the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta I and the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi.
Gold coins bearing portraits of Chandragupta and Kumaradevi have been discovered at Mathura, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Sitapur, Tanda, Ghazipur, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh; Bayana in Rajasthan; and Hajipur in Bihar.

4. Which of the following was the capital of Anga Mahajanapada?

(a) Champa
(b) Vaishali
(c) Shravasti
(d) None of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Champa

Anga Mahajanapada came under the Bhagalpur and Munger districts of northern Bihar state.
Its capital was Champa.
In ancient times, Champa was famous for its trade and commerce.

5. Taxila was the capital of which among the following ancient Mahajanapada ?

(a) Magadha
(b) Vajji
(c) Gandhar
(d) Vatsa

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (c) Gandhar

Taxila was the capital of Gandhara Mahajanapada.
Taxila was an important city of ancient India, situated on the eastern shore of the Indus River – the pivotal junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.
By some historians, the University of ancient Taxila is considered to be one of the earliest universities in the world.

6. Name of the Mahajanapada, which was a confederacy of eight republican clans ?

(a) Magadha
(b) Vajji
(c) Malla
(d) Vatsa

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (b) Vajji

The Vajji Mahajanapada was a league of republican tribal states under the leadership of the Licchavis centered around the city of Vaishali.

7. How many Mahajanapadas have been mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi ?

(a) 18
(b) 20
(c) 22
(d) 24

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (c) 22

Ashtadhyayi is a Sanskrit grammar book authored by Sanskrit scholar Paṇini and dated to around 350 BCE.
Panini has mentioned 22 Mahajanapadas in Ashtadhyayi.

8. Which one of the following states was not an ancient republic ?

(a) Shakya
(b) Lichchhavis
(c) Magadha
(d) All of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (c) Magadha

Magadha was a strong monarchy with its capital at Rajagriha.
Of all the Mahajanapadas, The Magadha later emerged as the most powerful and prosperous.
It was not a republic.

9. Famous physician Jivaka belonged to whose court ?

(a) Bimbisara
(b) Prasenjit
(c) Pradyota
(d) None of these

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Bimbisara

Jivaka was a famous physician in ancient India who lived around the 5th century BCE.
Jivaka belonged to the court of Bimbisara, the ruler of Magadha.
Pradyota’s jaundice was treated by the Raj Vaidya Jivak of Bimbisara.
Pradyota was the ruler of Avanti Mahajanapada.

10. Ajatashatru was ruler of which Mahajanapada ?

(a) Avanti
(b) Panchal
(c) Magadh
(d) Kosala

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (c) Magadh

Ajatashatru was the ruler of Magadha.
He was son of Bimbisara and Chellana.
He killed his father and became ruler and later embraced Buddhism.
He convened the First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha after the death of Buddha in 483 BCE.
The extent of Magadha Mahajanapada was in the modern state of Bihar.

11. Which Mahajanapadas ruler was Udayana ?

(a) Vatsa
(b) Panchal
(c) Magadh
(d) Kosala

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Vatsa

Udayana was the ruler of Vatsa Mahajanapada.
The Vatsa Mahajanapada was spread over the modern Allahabad region on the banks of the river Yamuna.
Its capital was Kaushambi.
He strengthened his position by entering into matrimonial alliances with Avanti, Anga and Magadha.
However, After his death, Vatsa was annexed to the Avanti kingdom.

12. Which of the following Mahajanapadas was famous for having good quality horses ?

(a) Kamboja
(b) Asmaka
(c) Matsya
(d) Chedi

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (a) Kamboja

Kamboja Mahajanapada was famous for the good quality of horses.
The capital of Kamboja was located in Poonch.
It is situated in present-day Kashmir and Hindukush.

13. Which Mahajanapadas ruler was Prasenjit ?

(a) Kashi
(b) Panchal
(c) Magadh
(d) Kosala

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – (d) Kosala

Prasenjit was the ruler of Kosala Mahajanapada. He was a contemporary of Mahatma Buddha.
Ayodhya was the capital of Kosala.
He strengthened his position by having a matrimonial alliance with Magadha.
His sister was married to Bimbisara.
After his death, Kosala was annexed to Magadha.

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