Gupta and Post-Gupta Period (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

21. With reference to the history of India, the terms "kulyavapa" and "dronavapa" denote [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (a) Measurement of land
Solution:Kulyavapa & dronavapa were different measurements of land during the Gupta period.
  • Kulyavapa: A unit of land that could be sown with 12-16 acres of seeds
  • Dronavapa: A unit of land that could be sown with a "drona" of seeds, where a "drona" is a traditional Indian unit of volume.

The large number of land measurement units indicates that there was no single standard for measurement, and that different regions had different ways of measuring land.

22. The Gupta Empire granted tax-free agrarian land to which of the following ? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (c) Brahmins
Solution:The Gupta Empire granted tax-free agrarian land to religious functionaries, i.e. Brahmins.

23. In ancient India, the irrigation tax was called - [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

Correct Answer: (e) Udakbhog
Solution:In ancient India, the irrigation tax was known as 'Udakbhog.' Hiranya was the cash tax in the Mauryan period. The land tax was called Udrang in Gupta inscriptions. 'Uparnika' was the tax on farmers living on the land.

The term Bidakhbhagam referred to the irrigation tax collected by the monarchs in ancient India. This tax was collected as a share of the produce generated from the land irrigated by the government-owned canals or wells.

24. In 3ʳᵈ AD, Warangal was famous for - [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]

Correct Answer: (c) Iron implements
Solution:Warangal was famous for production of iron equipment. 'Agaria' people lived there, and iron making was the traditional occupation for them.

25. With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (a) Ports handling foreign trade
Solution:During Gupta period there was flourishing external and internal trade. Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were ports handling foreign trade.

26. Tormad was from the racial group of - [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (b) Huna
Solution:Tormad was the leader of the second Huna invasion on India. The Hunas were a group of nomadic tribes from Central Asia who invaded the Indian subcontinent in the late 5th or early 6th century. The Hunas' invasion weakened the Gupta Empire and had a significant impact on India's history.

The Hunas invaded again under their ruler Toramana, succeeding in occupying Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

27. Who amongst the following had defeated Huna ruler Mihirakula ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (b) Yashodharman
Solution:Mihirkula was of central Asian Huna origin who was one of the most important Hephthalite emperors. The Gwalior inscription showed his territory which included Gwalior. Mihirkula suffered a defeat by the Aulikara king Yasodharman of Malwa in 528 A.D.

28. The Chinese Pilgrim who visited India in the early 6ᵗʰ century was - [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) Sung Yun
Solution:Chinese pilgrim Sung Yun came to India in 518 AD and collected texts of Buddha's preaching in his three years of stay in India.

29. Chinese traveller 'Sungyen' was came to India in : [60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above
Solution:Chinese traveller 'Sungyun' came to India in 518 to 521 AD. He collected texts of buddha's preaching in his three years of travel. He wrote an account of the Gandhara dynasty and visited the Swat valley.

30. According to Chinese source, Meghavarman, the ruler of Sri Lanka, sent missionary to which of the following Gupta Kings for permission to built a Budhhist temple at Gaya ? [69ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2023]

Correct Answer: (b) Samudragupta
Solution:Meghavarman sent a missionary to Samudragupta to built a Buddhist temple at Gaya. Samudragupta granted permission to Buddhist king of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Meghavarman to built a monastry at Bodh Gaya.