Q20. Who were among the earliest rulers to make land grants to Brahmins?
[SSC Selection Post – 30 June 2023, Shift 1]
A) Sakas
B) Satavahanas
C) Guptas
D) Kushans
Answer: B) Satavahanas
Explanation: Satavahana inscriptions provide early evidence of grants to Brahmins and religious beneficiaries. Such donations later became an increasingly important feature of agrarian, administrative and religious development in India.
2022
Q19. Who among the following was the founder of the Kanva dynasty?
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 12 December 2022, Shift 3]
A) Narayana
B) Susharman
C) Vasudeva
D) Devabhuti
Answer: C) Vasudeva
Explanation: Vasudeva Kanva overthrew Devabhuti, the final Shunga ruler, and established Kanva authority. The dynasty was Brahmanical and ruled for a relatively short period before its decline.
Q18. Which of the following Dynasty–Region pairs are correctly matched?
I. Shakas — Northwest and North India
II. Vakatakas — Central and Western India
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 8 December 2022, Shift 2]
A) Neither I nor II
B) Only I
C) Only II
D) Both I and II
Answer: D) Both I and II
Explanation: Shaka political centres developed in northwestern and western India, while the later Vakatakas became an important Deccan and central Indian power after the decline of the Satavahanas.
Q17. Which ruler is identified as King Milinda in the Buddhist text Milinda Panha?
[SSC JE Civil – 16 November 2022, Shift 1]
A) Menander
B) Demetrius
C) Alexander
D) Eucratides
Answer: A) Menander
Explanation: Menander I is called Milinda in Milindapanho. The work presents an extensive philosophical conversation between him and Nagasena concerning important doctrines and problems of Buddhist thought.
Q16. What was the capital of the Satavahana dynasty?
[SSC MTS – 22 July 2022, Shift 1]
A) Pratishthana
B) Vidisha
C) Pataliputra
D) Vanji
Answer: A) Pratishthana
Explanation: Pratishthana, modern Paithan in Maharashtra, was a principal Satavahana capital. The dynasty also exercised influence from centres in the eastern Deccan, including the Amaravati-Dharanikota region.
Q15. Who among the following was a Shaka ruler in India during approximately 130–150 CE?
[SSC MTS – 15 July 2022]
A) Ashoka
B) Rudradaman
C) Menander
D) Bindusara
Answer: B) Rudradaman
Explanation: Rudradaman I was a powerful Western Kshatrapa or Shaka ruler of western India. His reign is especially remembered through the Junagadh inscription and restoration of Sudarshana Lake.
Q14. Colossal statues of Kushana rulers were discovered in a shrine at Mat. Mat is located in which state?
[RRB NTPC CBT-II Level 5 – 15 June 2022, Shift 1]
A) Bihar
B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Odisha
Answer: B) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Mat lies near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Colossal Kushana royal statues found there illustrate the dynasty’s concepts of divine kingship, also reflected in their title Devaputra.
Q13. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of which empire in the second century CE?
[SSC MTS 2020 Cycle – 14 October 2021, Shift 2]
A) Chera
B) Rashtrakuta
C) Chola
D) Satavahana
Answer: D) Satavahana
Explanation: Gautamiputra Satakarni revived Satavahana power and defeated Nahapana’s Kshaharata Shakas. His achievements are celebrated in the Nashik inscription commissioned by his mother Gautami Balashri.
Q12. Which native Indian dynasty issued coins bearing portraits of its rulers?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I – 8 February 2021, Shift 2]
A) Pandya Dynasty
B) Rashtrakuta Dynasty
C) Peshwa Dynasty
D) Satavahana Dynasty
Answer: D) Satavahana Dynasty
Explanation: Satavahana rulers adopted portrait coinage, particularly in later phases, reflecting interaction with Western Kshatrapa numismatic traditions. Their coins are valuable evidence for chronology, economy and political history.
Q11. The first extensive and regular issue of gold coins in India is associated with which dynasty?
[SSC Stenographer 2019 Cycle – 24 December 2020, Shift 2]
A) Chola
B) Gupta
C) Kushana
D) Maurya
Answer: C) Kushana
Explanation: The Kushanas, particularly Vima Kadphises and successors, introduced large-scale regular gold coinage. Their prosperous coinage was supported by flourishing long-distance commerce linking India, Central Asia and Rome.
