Q40. Which Buddhist Council was convened at Pataliputra under Ashoka’s patronage?
[SSC CGL, 2021]
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth
Answer: C. Third
Explanation: Buddhist tradition places the Third Council at Pataliputra around the reign of Ashoka, with Moggaliputta Tissa traditionally regarded as its presiding elder.
Q39. Ashoka attacked Kalinga approximately how many years after his accession?
[SSC CGL, 2021]
A. Five
B. Six
C. Eight
D. Ten
Answer: C. Eight
Explanation: Ashoka’s own Major Rock Edict XIII dates the Kalinga conquest to his eighth regnal year and describes the resulting human suffering in extraordinary detail.
Q38. ‘Kantakasodhana’ during the Mauryan period referred to a type of:
[SSC CGL, 2021]
A. Market
B. Court
C. Tax
D. Military unit
Answer: B. Court
Explanation: Kautilya describes Kantakashodhana courts dealing broadly with criminal activity, threats to public order and offences affecting the interests of the state.
Q37. Who published an important collection of Ashokan inscriptions in the nineteenth century?
[SSC CGL, 2021]
A. Alexander Cunningham
B. John Marshall
C. R. D. Banerji
D. Mortimer Wheeler
Answer: A. Alexander Cunningham
Explanation: Alexander Cunningham, founder-director of the Archaeological Survey of India, made major contributions to recording, identifying and publishing India’s early archaeological and inscriptional remains.
Q36. Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power involved a successful struggle against which dynasty?
[SSC CGL, 2021]
A. Nanda
B. Gupta
C. Kushana
D. Shunga
Answer: A. Nanda
Explanation: Chandragupta and Chanakya challenged Nanda power in Magadha, eventually defeating Dhana Nanda and establishing a new imperial dynasty.
Q35. Who founded the Mauryan Empire in ancient India?
[SSC CHSL, 2021]
A. Bindusara
B. Ashoka
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Dasharatha
Answer: C. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Chandragupta founded the empire in the late fourth century BCE and later expanded its authority into northwestern territories after Alexander’s withdrawal.
Q34. Who was the first major Indian ruler to communicate extensively through messages engraved on rocks and pillars?
[SSC JE, 2021]
A. Ashoka
B. Kanishka
C. Harsha
D. Samudragupta
Answer: A. Ashoka
Explanation: Ashoka’s inscriptional programme was unprecedented in scale and provides direct royal statements concerning administration, morality, religious tolerance and public welfare.
Q33. Ashoka the Great belonged to which dynasty?
[RRB NTPC, 2021]
A. Maurya
B. Gupta
C. Shunga
D. Chola
Answer: A. Maurya
Explanation: Ashoka was the grandson of Mauryan founder Chandragupta and son of Bindusara, succeeding to the throne during the third century BCE.
Q32. Who originally commissioned the Great Stupa at Sanchi?
[RRB NTPC, 2021]
A. Ashoka
B. Chanakya
C. Bindusara
D. Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: A. Ashoka
Explanation: The earliest Sanchi stupa was a comparatively modest brick monument commissioned under Ashoka; later periods transformed it into the monumental structure visible today.
Q31. Administrative territorial divisions of the Mauryan Empire were commonly referred to as:
[MPSC State Service, 2021]
A. Janapadas
B. Mandalams
C. Nadus
D. Bhuktis
Answer: A. Janapadas
Explanation: Mauryan territorial administration operated through provinces and subordinate divisions. Terms such as Janapada were used for territorial units comprising settled regions and populations.
