Ancient History · Chapter 9 of 15

Mauryan Empire: BPSC Prelims PYQs

26 previous-year questions on Mauryan Empire, asked 1994–2025. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

   Who recognized Sandrokottos as Chandragupta Maurya?

   1. AWilliam Jones
   2. BV. Smith
   3. CR. K. Mukherjee
   4. DD. R. Bhandarkar
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. 66th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020

   The first empire was established by which ruler in India?

   1. AChandragupta Maurya
   2. BAshoka
   3. CKanishka
   4. DChandragupta-II Vikramaditya
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

   Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire?

   1. ABindusara
   2. BBrihadratha
   3. CAshoka
   4. DChandragupta Maurya
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

   Who amongst the following Mauryan rulers conquered the Deccan?

   1. AAshoka
   2. BChandragupta
   3. CBindusara
   4. DKunala
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

   Chandragupta Maurya figures prominently in the book of –

   1. ABhasa
   2. BSudraka
   3. CVishakhadatta
   4. DAshvaghosha
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 63rd BPSC Prelims 2017

   Megasthenes was the ambassador of -

   1. ASeleucus
   2. BAlexander
   3. CDarius
   4. DGreeks
   5. ENone of the above/ More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

   In how many categories did Megasthenes divide the Indian society?

   1. AFour
   2. BFive
   3. CSix
   4. DSeven
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

   The description of the administration of Pataliputra is available in?

   1. ADivyavadana
   2. BArthashastra
   3. CIndica
   4. DAshoka’s inscriptions
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. 71st BPSC Prelims 2025

   Match List I with List II List-I List-II Event Place Connected with person A Chola Gangam Lake 1 Chandragupta Maurya B Appointment of 2 Harshavardhan Dharma Mahamatra C Assembly at Prayag 3 Rajendra I D Sudarshan Lake 4 Ashoka Select the correct answer using the codes given below: A B C D

   1. A3 4 2 1
   2. B1 4 2 3
   3. C3 4 1 2
   4. D2 3 1 4
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

    The inscription which proves Chandragupta’s sway over western India is:

    1. AKalinga Rock Inscription
    2. BGirnar Rock Inscription of Ashoka
    3. CJunagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman
    4. DSopara Rock Inscription of Ashoka
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. 66th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020

    In which inscription is the Kalinga victory mentioned?

    1. AMaski Inscription
    2. BRudradaman Inscription
    3. CJunagarh Inscription
    4. DHathigumpha Inscription
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. 42nd BPSC Prelims 1997

    Which one territory of the following was not a part of Ashoka’s empire?

    1. AAfghanistan
    2. BBihar
    3. CSri Lanka
    4. DKalinga
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

    The only pillar on which Ashoka declares himself as the emperor of Magadha –

    1. AMinor pillar of Maski
    2. BRummindei pillar
    3. CQueen pillar
    4. DBhabru pillar
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. 63rd BPSC Prelims 2017

    The central point in Ashoka's Dhamma is -

    1. ALoyalty to the king
    2. BPeace and non-violence
    3. CRespect for elders
    4. DReligious tolerance
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

    The name by which Ashoka is referred to in his inscriptions is :

    1. AChakravarti
    2. BDharmadeva
    3. CDharmakirti
    4. DPriyadarshi
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. 44th BPSC Prelims 2000

    Language used in the inscriptions of Ashoka is:

    1. ASanskrit
    2. BPrakrit
    3. CPali
    4. DHindi
    Answer and explanation →

17. 17. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    The script written on Ashoka's Pillars is

    1. ABrahmi
    2. BSamaritan
    3. CPali
    4. DSanskrit
    Answer and explanation →

18. 18. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    Which one of the following scripts was written from right to left in ancient India?

    1. ABrahmi
    2. BNandanagari
    3. CSharada
    4. DKharosthi
    Answer and explanation →

19. 19. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019 Asked again

    Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

    1. ABrahmi
    2. BSharada
    3. CKharosthi
    4. DNandanagari
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

20. 20. BPSC Assistant 2019

    The inscriptions of Ashoka were read for the first time by -

    1. AJames Prinsep
    2. BBuhler
    3. CRobert Sewell
    4. DCodrington
    Answer and explanation →

21. 21. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008 Asked again

    Who first deciphered the Brahmi script?

    1. AA. Cunningham
    2. BA.H. Dani
    3. CBuhler
    4. DJames Prinsep
    Answer and explanation →

22. 22. 42nd BPSC Prelims 1997

    Which ruler had made Pataliputra the capital of his empire for the first time?

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

23. 23. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    Who was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty?

    1. AAshoka
    2. BSamudragupta
    3. CBrihadratha
    4. DPushyamitra
    Answer and explanation →

24. 24. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008 Asked again

    The last Mauryan emperor was:

    1. AJaloka
    2. BAvanti Verma
    3. CNandi Vardhana
    4. DBrihadratha
    Answer and explanation →

25. 25. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2022

    The decline of the Mauryan Empire was largely due to the economic consequences of Ashoka's policy. Who believed in this fact?

    1. ARomila Thapar
    2. BD. N. Jha
    3. CV. A. Smith
    4. DH. C. Raychaudhuri
    5. ENone of the above / More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

26. 26. 47th BPSC Prelims 2005

    The most famous centre of learning during the Mauryan period was:

    1. AVaishali
    2. BNalanda
    3. CTaxila
    4. DUjjain
    Answer and explanation →