Q80. Who founded the Pushyabhuti/Vardhana dynasty according to conventional examination history?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Pushyabhuti
B. Harsha
C. Prabhakaravardhana
D. Rajyavardhana
Answer: A. Pushyabhuti
Explanation: The dynasty derives its name from its traditional founder Pushyabhuti, while Prabhakaravardhana and his son Harsha later elevated its political importance.
Q79. Harsha became king after the death of his brother:
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Rajyavardhana
B. Devagupta
C. Grahavarman
D. Shashanka
Answer: A. Rajyavardhana
Explanation: Rajyavardhana was killed amid conflicts involving Gauda and Malwa, after which the young Harsha assumed power and eventually established control over Kannauj.
Q78. Harshavardhana transferred his principal political centre from Thanesar to:
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Kannauj
B. Pataliputra
C. Ujjain
D. Valabhi
Answer: A. Kannauj
Explanation: Kannauj’s strategic position in the Ganga-Yamuna region made it an ideal imperial centre and later a focus of major early medieval political contests.
Q77. Which Chalukya ruler halted Harsha’s southern expansion?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Pulakeshin II
B. Mangalesha
C. Vikramaditya I
D. Kirtivarman I
Answer: A. Pulakeshin II
Explanation: Pulakeshin II’s victory established Chalukya prestige and restricted Harsha’s effective expansion southward beyond the Narmada region.
Q76. Which Chinese pilgrim’s writings are an important source on Harshavardhana’s reign?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Xuanzang
B. Faxian
C. Megasthenes
D. Al-Biruni
Answer: A. Xuanzang
Explanation: Xuanzang met Harsha and recorded detailed descriptions of Indian kingdoms, Buddhist establishments, social customs and educational centres such as Nalanda.
Q75. Who wrote the Allahabad Pillar inscription praising Samudragupta?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Harisena
B. Kalidasa
C. Banabhatta
D. Ravikirti
Answer: A. Harisena
Explanation: Harisena served as Samudragupta’s court poet and official, and his Prashasti is one of the richest sources for Gupta imperial politics.
Q74. Which Gupta ruler is celebrated in the Allahabad Pillar inscription?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Samudragupta
B. Kumaragupta
C. Skandagupta
D. Chandragupta I
Answer: A. Samudragupta
Explanation: The inscription narrates Samudragupta’s Aryavarta and Dakshinapatha campaigns and his varying treatment of defeated rulers, frontier states and distant powers.
Q73. Which was the last generally recognized ruler of the main Gupta imperial line?
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Vishnugupta
B. Skandagupta
C. Kumaragupta
D. Samudragupta
Answer: A. Vishnugupta
Explanation: Vishnugupta is commonly regarded as among the last known Gupta rulers, by which time imperial authority had contracted drastically under regional and external pressures.
Q72. The Gupta-period plough tax was known as:
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Halivakara
B. Bhaga
C. Hiranya
D. Bali
Answer: A. Halivakara
Explanation: Halivakara is interpreted as a levy connected with the plough, illustrating the variety of agrarian taxes and dues known from Gupta-era records.
Q71. The Ajanta murals largely depict stories drawn from:
[SSC CGL – 2020]
A. Jatakas
B. Arthashastra
C. Sangam poems
D. Rajatarangini
Answer: A. Jatakas
Explanation: Numerous Ajanta paintings illustrate the Buddha’s previous births narrated in Jataka stories, alongside scenes of courtly, religious and everyday life.
