Ancient History · Chapter 7 of 15

6th Century BCE - Political Condition: BPSC Prelims PYQs

23 previous-year questions on 6th Century BCE - Political Condition, asked 1997–2024. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

   Who founded Pataliputra?

   1. AUdayin
   2. BAshoka
   3. CBimbisara
   4. DMahapadmananda
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. 42nd BPSC Prelims 1997 Asked again

   Which ruler first made Pataliputra his capital?

   1. AChandragupta Maurya
   2. BAshoka the Great
   3. CChandragupta Vikramaditya
   4. DKanishka
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. 65th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020 Asked again

   Which ruler moved his capital to Pataliputra?

   1. ABimbisara
   2. BAjatashatru
   3. CUdayin
   4. DChandragupta Maurya
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. 44th BPSC Prelims 2000 Asked again

   Which of the following kings founded Patliputra?

   1. AShishunaga
   2. BBimbisara
   3. CAjatashatru
   4. DUdayin
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004 Asked again

   By which ruler was Patliputra chosen as the capital for the first time?

   1. AAjatashatru
   2. BKalashoka
   3. CUdayin
   4. DKanishka
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 68th BPSC Prelims 2023

   In ancient times, the area to the south of the Ganga was known as

   1. AAnarta
   2. BTakshashila
   3. CChola
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. 42nd BPSC Prelims 1997

   In which century did the first Magadhan Empire rise?

   1. AFourth Century B.C.
   2. BSixth Century B.C.
   3. CSecond Century B.C.
   4. DFirst Century B.C.
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. 70th BPSC Prelims 2024

   Which of the following great rulers founded the "Haryanka Vansh" in ancient Bihar?

   1. ABimbisara
   2. BBrihadrath
   3. CAjatashatru
   4. DMore than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

   What was the Prakrit name of Rajgir, the capital of Magadha?

   1. AGrahraj
   2. BRajagriha
   3. CPataliputra
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

    List-I (Mahajanapada)	List-II (Capital)
    A. Malla	1. Taxila
    B. Anga	2. Kaushambi
    C. Gandhara	3. Champa
    D. Vatsa	4. Kushinara

    1. AA-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
    2. BA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
    3. CA-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
    4. DA-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

    By whom was the first republic of the world established in Vaishali –

    1. AMaurya
    2. BNanda
    3. CGupta
    4. DLicchavi
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004 Asked again

    Where was the world’s first republican system in the sixth century BC?

    1. AVaishali
    2. BAthens
    3. CSparta
    4. DPataliputra
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. 47th BPSC Prelims 2005 · 53rd–55th BPSC Prelims 2011

    Which one was the capital of Magadha?

    1. APataliputra
    2. BVaishali
    3. CGirivraj (Rajagriha)
    4. DChampa
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. 66th BPSC Prelims 2020 Asked again

    Which was the first capital of the ancient Mahajanapada Magadh?

    1. APataliputra
    2. BVaishali
    3. CChampa
    4. DAnga
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. 53rd–55th BPSC Prelims 2011 · BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    What was the name of the dynasty of Ajatashatru?

    1. AMaurya
    2. BHaryanka
    3. CNanda
    4. DGupta
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

    The list of sixteen Mahajanapadas is available in –

    1. AMahabharata
    2. BAnguttar Nikaya
    3. CChandogya Upanishad
    4. DSamyukta Nikaya
    Answer and explanation →

17. 17. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

    Pradyota was the king of –

    1. AKasi
    2. BKosala
    3. CMagadha
    4. DAvanti
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

18. 18. 67th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2022

    Who was the physician of Magadha ruler Bimbisara?

    1. AShilabhadra
    2. BVijayasena
    3. CJivaka
    4. DManu
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

19. 19. 44th BPSC Prelims 2000

    Which dynasty ruled over Magadha after the Nanda Dynasty?

    1. AMaurya
    2. BShunga
    3. CGupta
    4. DKushana
    Answer and explanation →

20. 20. 60th–62nd BPSC Prelims 2016

    Kaling king Kharavel was related to-

    1. AMahameghavahan Dynasty
    2. BChedi Dynasty
    3. CSatavahan Dynasty
    4. DRath-Bhojak Dynasty
    5. ENone of the above/ More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

21. 21. 43rd BPSC Prelims 1999

    King Kharavela is related to –

    1. APillar inscription of Girnar
    2. BPillar inscription of Junagarh
    3. CHathigumpha inscription
    4. DSarnath inscription
    Answer and explanation →

22. 22. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

    Gorathagiri in the Barabar Hills was conquered by

    1. ARajaraja Chola
    2. BKharavela
    3. CMenander
    4. DPushyamitra Shunga
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

23. 23. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    The capital of Anga Janapada was-

    1. AChampa
    2. BRamagrama
    3. CKapilvastu
    4. DKundagram
    Answer and explanation →