Maurya Empire (Part-III)

31. Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband ? [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

(a) Kamasutra
(b) Manavadharmashastra
(c) Sukra Nitisara
(d) Arthashastra

Correct Answer: (d) Arthashastra

Solution:Arthashastra allows the divorce to a wife deserted by her husband. Divorce was prevalent in the Mauryan period. Wife had the right to divorce on the basis of long abroad stay off her husband and being physically handicapped. Similarly, husband had also the right to leave his wife for being barren or adulteress.

32. Which among the following prohibits remarriage ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Jataka
(b) Manusmiriti
(c) Yagyavalkya
(d) Arthshastra

Correct Answer: (b) Manusmiriti

Solution:It is mentioned in 38ᵗʰ part of Manusmriti that a widower could remarry but a widow had no right to seek remarriage.

Manusmriti is written in the from of a dialogue between a teacher and his disciples It discusses dharma which means duty, religion, law and practice.

33. The social status assigned to the foreigners in Indian society by Manu was of the - [U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014]

(a) Kshatriyas
(b) Fallen Kshatriyas
(c) Vaishyas
(d) Sudras

Correct Answer: (b) Fallen Kshatriyas

Solution:The foreign invader who didi not follow priestly customs or traditions (Shakas, Kushans, Hunas, Pratihar) were stated as 'Fallen Kshatriyas' in Manusmriti.

34. The following persons came to India at one time or another : [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]

1. Fa-Hien
2. I-Tsing
3. Megasthanes
4. Hieun-Tsang
The correct chronological sequence of their visits are :

(a) 3, 1, 2, 4
(b) 3, 1, 4, 2
(c) 1, 3, 2, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4, 2

Correct Answer: (b) 3, 1, 4, 2

Solution:Megasthanes came to the court of Chandragupta Maurya, Fa-Hien visited India during Chandra Gupta II "Vikramaditya," Hieun-Tsang visited the court of Harshvardhana while I-Tsing a Chinese traveller came to Indian in 7ᵗʰ century A.D.

35. Match List-I with List-II select the correct answer by using the codes given below. [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]

List-I	List-II
A. Chandragupta	1. Piyadashi
B. Bindusara	2. Sandrocottus
C. Ashoka	3. Amitraghat
D. Chanakya	4. Vishnugupta

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	3	4	1
(b)	1	3	2	4
(c)	2	3	1	4
(d)	3	4	2	1

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:Justin and other Greek authors stated Chandragupta Maurya as "Sandrocottus." Greek authors mentioned Bindusara as Amitrachates (Amitraghat) while Ashoka was mentioned as Priyadashi in his inscriptions. Vishnugupta is the another name of Chanakya, the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya.

36. The last Mauryan emperor was ? [48ᵗʰ to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Jaloka
(b) Avanti Verma
(c) Nandi Vardhana
(d) Brihadratha

Correct Answer: (d) Brihadratha

Solution:Last Maurya emperor was Brihadratha. Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander/lieutenant Pushyamitra Shunga in 184 B.C. Pushyamitra Shunga established a new dynasty which is known as Shunga Dynasty.

37. Consider the following statements : [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadaratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
2. The last Sunga King, Devabhuti, was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.
3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhras.
Which of these statements is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) only 2
(c) only 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:Ambitious Pushyamitra Shunga assassinated last Mauryan king Brihadrath in 184 B.C. and became famous in the history for the establishment of Shunga dynasty. The last king of Shunga dynasty, Devabhuti was killed by a conspiracy of his 'Amatya' Vasudeva. According to Vayupurana, the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty, Susharma was deposed by his Andhrian servant Simuk (Sindhuk).

38. In Mauryan period 'Pranayam' was : [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Emergency Tax
(b) Love Marriage
(c) Land Grant
(d) Land Tax

Correct Answer: (a) Emergency Tax

Solution:'Pranayam' (Pranay) was an emergency tax during Mauryan period.

The amount of pranayam was one third or one fourth of the produce, depending on the nature of the soil.

39. Who among the following rulers paid attention to the resource management in Girnar region some centuries before the Christian era ? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

1. Mahapadma Nanda
2. Chandragupta Maurya
3. Ashoka
4. Rudradaman
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
Code :

(a) 1, 2
(b) 2, 3
(c) 3, 4
(d) 2, 3, 4

Correct Answer: (b) 2, 3

Solution:Few centuries before the Christian era, the Mauryan emperors, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka focussed on the water resource management in Girnar region. The Governor of Chandragupta Maurya's Western Province Pushyagupt built Sudarshan Lake and The Governor of Emperor Ashok, Tushasp took out canals from the lake. The Junagarh inscription of Shaka ruler Rudradaman describes the works of both Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. 2 century A.D., the lake was repaired by the Governor of Rudradaman Suvisakh. According to the question, he did this work after the Christian era. Thus he is not included in the answer, so the correct answer for the question is Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.

40. Realizing the need for water, the first ruler who got a lake constructed in the Girnar area, was [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002, 2007]

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Rudradaman
(d) Skanda Gupta

Correct Answer: (a) Chandragupta Maurya

Solution:Few centuries before the Christian era, the Mauryan emperors, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka focussed on the water resource management in Girnar region. The Governor of Chandragupta Maurya's Western Province Pushyagupt built Sudarshan Lake and The Governor of Emperor Ashok, Tushasp took out canals from the lake. The Junagarh inscription of Shaka ruler Rudradaman describes the works of both Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. 2 century A.D., the lake was repaired by the Governor of Rudradaman Suvisakh. According to the question, he did this work after the Christian era. Thus he is not included in the answer, so the correct answer for the question is Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.