Q70. What was a principal responsibility of the Mauryan official called Samaharta?
[SSC CGL, 2023]
A. Tax and revenue assessment
B. Commanding cavalry
C. Supervising mines only
D. Conducting foreign diplomacy
Answer: A. Tax and revenue assessment
Explanation: The Samaharta was a major revenue official associated with assessment and collection, while the Sannidhata was particularly concerned with the state treasury and stores.
Q69. Which ancient text provides detailed information about Mauryan administration and military organization?
[SSC Selection Post, 2023]
A. Arthashastra
B. Ramayana
C. Rigveda
D. Milindapanha
Answer: A. Arthashastra
Explanation: The Arthashastra contains systematic discussions of governance, economic regulation, espionage, taxation, diplomacy, warfare and law, making it central to Mauryan administrative studies.
Q68. What was the principal purpose of Ashoka’s inscribed pillars?
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Spreading Dhamma policies
B. Promoting Bherighosha
C. Encouraging sectarian conflict
D. Recording only military victories
Answer: A. Spreading Dhamma policies
Explanation: Ashoka used rock and pillar inscriptions as public communications to explain moral duties, administrative reforms, religious tolerance and his conception of humane governance.
Q67. At which place are no Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka found?
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Girnar
B. Kandahar
C. Sanchi
D. Kalsi
Answer: C. Sanchi
Explanation: Sanchi is famous for its Buddhist monuments and minor inscriptions, whereas locations such as Girnar and Kalsi are prominent sites of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts.
Q66. According to Ashokan inscriptions, how many major political centres are commonly identified in the Mauryan Empire?
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Five
B. Six
C. Seven
D. Eight
Answer: A. Five
Explanation: Pataliputra was the imperial capital, while Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri functioned as major provincial political centres across the extensive empire.
Q65. After which war did Ashoka abandon the policy of aggressive territorial conquest?
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Hydaspes
B. Kalinga
C. Panipat
D. Tarain
Answer: B. Kalinga
Explanation: Kalinga’s destruction generated Ashoka’s famous remorse. His inscriptions thereafter place greater emphasis on Dhamma-vijaya, welfare policies and restraint in the use of force.
Q64. Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador at the court of:
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Bindusara
D. Brihadratha
Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Seleucus I dispatched Megasthenes to Chandragupta’s court. Although Indica survives only in fragments quoted by later writers, it remains historically significant.
Q63. Which of the following was NOT one of the major Mauryan political centres indicated by Ashokan evidence?
[SSC MTS, 2023]
A. Taxila
B. Ujjain
C. Indraprastha
D. Suvarnagiri
Answer: C. Indraprastha
Explanation: The principal centres were Pataliputra, Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri. Indraprastha does not appear among this standard list of Mauryan provincial centres.
Q62. The foundation of the Mauryan Empire was laid by:
[SSC CHSL, 2023]
A. Kalashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Bindusara
D. Ashoka
Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Chandragupta transformed Magadha into the centre of a vast empire, securing the Gangetic plain and northwestern territories with Chanakya’s strategic support.
Q61. Ashoka’s inscriptions state that he conquered Kalinga how many years after becoming king?
[SSC GD Constable, 2023]
A. Seven
B. Ten
C. Nine
D. Eight
Answer: D. Eight
Explanation: Major Rock Edict XIII places the conquest in Ashoka’s eighth regnal year, after which his policy gradually moved towards moral rather than military conquest.
