Mahajanapadas MCQs for UPSC Prelims

32 practice questions on Mahajanapadas from the Ancient & Medieval History section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 32 come with a written explanation and 2 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

6 Easy 17 Medium 9 Hard 2 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium

Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? 1. Avanti 2. Gandhara 3. Kosala 4. Magadha Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1, 2 and 3
  2. B 2 and 4
  3. C 3 and 4 only
  4. D 1, 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 3 and 4 only

The Buddha spent most of his life teaching in the eastern Gangetic plains. Kosala, with its capital Shravasti where he passed many rainy seasons, and Magadha, where he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and was patronised by King Bimbisara, were directly associated with his life, so statements 3 and 4 are correct. Avanti and Gandhara lay outside this core region and are not linked to his life, so statements 1 and 2 are wrong. Hence 3 and 4 only.

Q2
Previous year question medium

With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs : Territorial region - River flowing in the region I. Asmaka - Godavari II. Kamboja - Vipas III. Avanti - Mahanadi IV. Kosala - Sarayu How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C Only three
  4. D All the four
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Only two

Asmaka was the only mahajanapada of the Deccan and lay on the banks of the Godavari, so pair I is correct, and Kosala in eastern Uttar Pradesh was watered by the Sarayu, so pair IV is correct. Kamboja was located in the far north-west around the Hindukush region and is not associated with the Vipas (Beas), making pair II incorrect. Avanti, with its capitals Ujjain and Mahishmati, lay in the Malwa region on the Shipra and Narmada, not on the Mahanadi, so pair III is also incorrect. Hence only two pairs are correctly matched.

Q3
easy

Among the sixteen Mahajanapadas, which one had Mathura as its capital and was associated with the Surasena clan?

  1. A Surasena
  2. B Panchala
  3. C Vatsa
  4. D Chedi
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Surasena

The Surasena Mahajanapada had its capital at Mathura. It is mentioned in Buddhist and Jain texts; the Greek writer Megasthenes referred to the Sourasenoi and their city Methora (Mathura). The region was an early centre of Krishna worship associated with the Yadava-Surasena lineage.

Q4
hard

Consider the following pairs of Mahajanapadas and their capitals: 1. Avanti : Ujjain 2. Vatsa : Kaushambi 3. Kosala : Rajagriha 4. Anga : Champa Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. A 1, 2 and 4 only
  2. B 1, 2 and 3 only
  3. C 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. D 1, 3 and 4 only
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1, 2 and 4 only

Avanti's capital was Ujjayini (and Mahishmati for its southern part), so pair 1 is correct. Vatsa's capital was Kaushambi, so pair 2 is correct. Anga's capital was Champa, so pair 4 is correct. Pair 3 is wrong: the capital of Kosala was Shravasti (and Ayodhya), whereas Rajagriha (Girivraja) was the early capital of Magadha. Therefore only 1, 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Q5
easy

Which of the following Mahajanapadas had its capital at Rajagriha (later Pataliputra) and eventually absorbed most of the others to dominate the Gangetic plains?

  1. A Magadha
  2. B Avanti
  3. C Vatsa
  4. D Gandhara
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Magadha

Magadha, with early capitals at Rajagriha and later Pataliputra, rose to supremacy over the other Mahajanapadas, becoming the nucleus of later empires. Avanti's capital was Ujjain, Vatsa's was Kausambi, and Gandhara's was Taxila; none achieved comparable dominance.

Q6
medium

Among the sixteen Mahajanapadas, which one had its capital at Champa and was eventually absorbed into the expanding kingdom of Magadha?

  1. A Anga
  2. B Avanti
  3. C Vatsa
  4. D Kosala
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Anga

Anga, with its capital at Champa (near modern Bhagalpur in Bihar), was annexed by Magadha, an early step in Magadha's rise to imperial dominance. Avanti had its capital at Ujjayini (and Mahishmati), Vatsa at Kausambi, and Kosala at Shravasti (and Ayodhya). These were Magadha's later rivals, but it was Anga that was an early conquest, making it the correct answer.

Q7
medium

With reference to the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century BCE, consider the following statements: 1. Magadha had its early capital at Rajagriha (Girivraja). 2. Avanti had its capital at Ujjain (in the northern part) and Mahishmati. 3. Gandhara, with its capital at Taxila, was one of the Mahajanapadas. How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - All three

All three are correct. Magadha's early capital was Rajagriha (Girivraja) before it shifted to Pataliputra. Avanti had two centres, Ujjain in the north and Mahishmati in the south. Gandhara, with its capital at Taxila, was indeed one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas. Hence all three are correct.

Q8
medium

The Mahajanapada of Avanti, prominent in the 6th century BCE, had its two principal centres at:

  1. A Ujjayini and Mahishmati
  2. B Champa and Rajagriha
  3. C Kausambi and Sravasti
  4. D Taxila and Pushkalavati
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Ujjayini and Mahishmati

Avanti was divided into a northern part with its capital at Ujjayini and a southern part centred on Mahishmati. Champa was the Anga capital; Rajagriha was the Magadhan capital; Kausambi was the Vatsa capital and Sravasti that of Kosala; Taxila and Pushkalavati belonged to Gandhara.

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