Q200. Which inscription records the history and activities of a guild of silk weavers during the Gupta period?
[UPSC NDA-II – 2026]
A. Hathigumpha Inscription
B. Mandasor Inscription
C. Aihole Inscription
D. Nasik Inscription
Answer: B. Mandasor Inscription
Explanation: The Mandasor inscription describes a guild of silk weavers who migrated from Lata to Dashapura and contributed to constructing and repairing a Sun temple.
Q199. Match the Gupta rulers with their associated titles: Kaviraja, Vikramaditya, Shakraditya and Maharaja. Which matching is correct?
[RPSC RAS Prelims – 2026]
A. Samudragupta–Kaviraja; Chandragupta II–Vikramaditya; Kumaragupta I–Shakraditya; Sri Gupta–Maharaja
B. Chandragupta II–Kaviraja; Samudragupta–Vikramaditya; Sri Gupta–Shakraditya; Kumaragupta–Maharaja
C. Kumaragupta–Kaviraja; Sri Gupta–Vikramaditya; Samudragupta–Shakraditya; Chandragupta II–Maharaja
D. None of these
Answer: A. Samudragupta–Kaviraja; Chandragupta II–Vikramaditya; Kumaragupta I–Shakraditya; Sri Gupta–Maharaja
Explanation: Gupta rulers adopted distinctive titles reflecting political authority, religious affiliations and personal accomplishments. Samudragupta’s literary reputation particularly explains his title Kaviraja.
Q198. Which Deccan ruler defeated Harshavardhana and checked his southward expansion?
[RRB NTPC UG – 2026]
A. Narasimhavarman I
B. Pulakeshin II
C. Vikramaditya I
D. Dantidurga
Answer: B. Pulakeshin II
Explanation: Chalukya king Pulakeshin II stopped Harsha near the Narmada. Ravikirti’s Aihole inscription celebrates his achievements and the failure of Harsha’s southern expansion.
Q197. Who wrote the astronomical work Panchasiddhantika?
[RRB NTPC UG – 2026]
A. Aryabhata
B. Brahmagupta
C. Varahamihira
D. Bhaskaracharya
Answer: C. Varahamihira
Explanation: Varahamihira, an eminent sixth-century astronomer, composed Panchasiddhantika, which summarized five earlier astronomical traditions and became an important source for ancient Indian astronomy.
Q196. The reign of Kumaragupta I is mainly associated with which feature of Gupta history?
[RRB NTPC UG – 2026]
A. Immediate collapse of the empire
B. Consolidation and prosperity
C. Conquest by Harsha
D. Establishment of the Pala Empire
Answer: B. Consolidation and prosperity
Explanation: Kumaragupta I inherited a large empire from Chandragupta II and maintained its political stability and prosperity for several decades before major external pressures intensified.
Q195. Which Pala ruler founded Vikramashila Mahavihara near present-day Bhagalpur?
[RRB NTPC UG – 2026]
A. Gopala
B. Dharmapala
C. Devapala
D. Mahipala
Answer: B. Dharmapala
Explanation: Dharmapala founded Vikramashila as an important Buddhist centre of higher learning. It became one of eastern India’s leading universities alongside Nalanda during the Pala age.
Q194. Which pair represents important Gupta-period temple sites in present-day Uttar Pradesh?
[UPSSSC Lekhpal – 2026]
A. Deogarh and Bhitargaon
B. Pattadakal and Aihole
C. Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram
D. Ellora and Elephanta
Answer: A. Deogarh and Bhitargaon
Explanation: Deogarh’s Dashavatara Temple and the brick temple at Bhitargaon are major surviving examples illustrating the development of structural temple architecture under the Guptas.
Q193. Which Chalukya ruler defeated Harshavardhana on the Narmada frontier?
[SSC GD Constable – 2026]
A. Pulakeshin I
B. Pulakeshin II
C. Vikramaditya II
D. Kirtivarman II
Answer: B. Pulakeshin II
Explanation: Pulakeshin II successfully resisted Harsha’s attempt to extend authority into the Deccan, establishing the Narmada as an approximate boundary between their political spheres.
Q192. Which feature best characterizes Gupta-period society?
[UP PGT History – 2026]
A. Complete disappearance of caste distinctions
B. Consolidation of endogamous jatis and growth of landholding Brahmanas
C. Abolition of land grants
D. Establishment of universal slavery
Answer: B. Consolidation of endogamous jatis and growth of landholding Brahmanas
Explanation: Gupta society witnessed greater proliferation of jatis and increasing Brahmanical land grants, developments that influenced agrarian expansion, local hierarchy and social organization.
Q191. Which religious development became especially important during the Gupta age?
[UP PGT History – 2026]
A. Disappearance of Vaishnavism
B. Growth of Puranic Hinduism and temple worship
C. Complete rejection of image worship
D. End of religious patronage
Answer: B. Growth of Puranic Hinduism and temple worship
Explanation: The Gupta age saw consolidation of Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta traditions, growth of devotional worship, Puranic literature and increasingly permanent temples dedicated to deities.