Q190. The Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh is an early example of which temple arrangement?
[RRB NTPC UG – 2026]
A. Dravida gopuram plan
B. Panchayatana-Nagara tradition
C. Vesara mandapa complex
D. Buddhist chaitya plan
Answer: B. Panchayatana-Nagara tradition
Explanation: The Deogarh Vishnu temple represents an early developed Nagara tradition and is associated with the Panchayatana concept of a principal shrine accompanied by subsidiary shrines.
Q189. The Gupta-period Dashavatara Temple is located at which place?
[UPSSSC Junior Engineer – 2026]
A. Deogarh
B. Sanchi
C. Badami
D. Amaravati
Answer: A. Deogarh
Explanation: The Dashavatara or Vishnu Temple at Deogarh in present-day Uttar Pradesh is a celebrated Gupta monument featuring important sculptural panels based on Vaishnava themes.
Q188. The famous Iron Pillar at Mehrauli primarily demonstrates ancient India’s achievement in which field?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Navigation
B. Metallurgy
C. Textile production
D. Shipbuilding
Answer: B. Metallurgy
Explanation: The pillar’s sophisticated wrought-iron composition and remarkable resistance to corrosion demonstrate the high level of ferrous metallurgy achieved by craftspeople of ancient India.
Q187. Which ancient institution was a celebrated Buddhist Mahavihara and major centre of learning during and after the Gupta age?
[DSSSB MTS – 2026]
A. Nalanda
B. Madurai
C. Taxila
D. Pratishthana
Answer: A. Nalanda
Explanation: Nalanda developed into a renowned residential monastic university patronized by Gupta and later rulers, attracting scholars from India and several other Asian regions.
Q186. Which inscription indicates that Kumaragupta I’s minister Prithvishena was a Shaiva?
[UPHESC Assistant Professor, Ancient History – 2026]
A. Karmadanda Inscription
B. Hathigumpha Inscription
C. Junagadh Inscription of Rudradaman
D. Aihole Inscription
Answer: A. Karmadanda Inscription
Explanation: The Karmadanda inscription is an important Gupta epigraphic source and provides information about Prithvishena, a high official under Kumaragupta I, and his Shaiva affiliation.
Q185. Consider the Gupta kings: (1) they assumed titles such as Maharajadhiraja and Parameshvara; (2) they used religious epithets such as Parama-bhagavata. Which is correct?
[UPSC CDS-I – 2026]
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Gupta monarchs emphasized imperial sovereignty through grand political titles while religious epithets, particularly Vaishnava ones such as Parama-bhagavata, also appeared in royal ideology.
Q184. Which political change became prominent after the decline of Gupta imperial authority?
[RRB NTPC Graduate – 2026]
A. Emergence of smaller hereditary kingdoms
B. Creation of another Mauryan Empire
C. Elimination of regional rulers
D. Political unification under Rome
Answer: A. Emergence of smaller hereditary kingdoms
Explanation: Post-Gupta India witnessed increasing regionalization, with Maukharis, Maitrakas, Later Guptas, Pushyabhutis and other powers establishing autonomous hereditary kingdoms.
Q183. Nalanda Mahavihara is traditionally associated with initial royal patronage under which Gupta ruler?
[RRB NTPC Graduate – 2026]
A. Samudragupta
B. Kumaragupta I
C. Skandagupta
D. Vishnugupta
Answer: B. Kumaragupta I
Explanation: Kumaragupta I is traditionally connected with Nalanda’s foundation or early institutional development, after which later Gupta, Harsha and Pala rulers continued its patronage.
Q182. Who composed Harshacharita?
[RRB NTPC Graduate – 2026]
A. Harisena
B. Banabhatta
C. Kalidasa
D. Bharavi
Answer: B. Banabhatta
Explanation: Banabhatta, Harshavardhana’s court writer, composed the Sanskrit prose biography Harshacharita, an important literary source for seventh-century northern Indian political and social history.
Q181. The Prayaga Prashasti chiefly celebrates the achievements of which Gupta ruler?
[RRB NTPC Graduate – 2026]
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Kumaragupta I
D. Skandagupta
Answer: B. Samudragupta
Explanation: Harisena’s Prayaga Prashasti lists Samudragupta’s conquests, tributary states and political relationships, making it the principal epigraphic source for his imperial career.
