61. ‘Kalibangan’ is situated in –
- Uttar Pradesh
- Sindh
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
Answer: C.Rajasthan
Explanation: Kalibangan is a town located on the left or southern banks of the Ghaggar (Ghaggar-Hakra River), identified by some scholars with Sarasvati River in Tehsil Pilibangan, between Suratgarh and Hanumangarh in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan, near Bikaner. It was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan is distinguished by its unique fire altars and “world’s earliest attested ploughed field.
62. ‘Mahavira’ was born in a Kshatriya clan by the name of
- Shakya
- Janatrika
- Mallas
- Lichhavis
Answer: B.Janatrika
Explanation: Born into the Kshatriya (warrior) caste Mahavira’s father was chief of the Jnatrika clan, an indigenous oligarchical tribe. Mahavira’s tribal affiliation is reflected in one of his later epithets, Nigantha Nataputta, which means literally the naked ascetic of the Jnatrika clan.
63. The official court language of the Guptas was –
- Pali
- Hindi
- Prakrit
- Sanskrit
Answer: D.Sanskrit
Explanation: The Sanskrit language, once ignored under the Buddhist and Jain influence, was patronized during the Gupta period. It was recognized as the court language and was used in their inscriptions. Gradually it became the lingua franca of India. Some of the well- known scholars who flourished during this period were: Kalidasa, Vishakhadutta, Shudraka, Bharavi Dandin, Subandhu, etc.
64. The Virupaksha Temple was built by the –
- Chalukyas
- Pallavas
- Vakatakas
- Satavahanas
Answer: A.Chalukyas
Explanation: The Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi near Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka in southern India. Virupaksha is a form of Shiva and has other temples dedicated to him. The temple’s history is uninterrupted from about the 7th century when it was built by the Chalukyas. Evidence indicates there were additions made to the temple in the late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods, though most of the temple buildings are attributed to the Vijayanagar period.
65. Carving in the famous Ajanta caves was first started during the reign of the –
- Kadambas
- Satavahanas
- Rashtrakutas
- Marathas
Answer: B.Satavahanas
Explanation: The earlier phase of Ajanta falls between third century BCE to second century BC. In this phase just five caves were excavated: Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A. The region during this time was ruled by the Satavahana dynasty (230 BC-c. 220 A.D). Therefore, they may be called the Satavahana-period caves. This phase is also widely known as the Hinayana phase.
66. The famous Kailasa temple cut out of the solid rock at Ellora was built under the patronage of the-
- Cholas
- Kadambas
- Pallavas
- Rashtrakutas
Answer: D.Rashtrakutas
Explanation: Kailashnath Temple is a famous temple, one of the 34 monasteries and temples, known collectively as the Ellora Caves which was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna-I.
67. ‘Purushapura’ is the other name for –
- Patna
- (3) Peshawar
- (2) Pataliputra
- (4) Punjab
Answer: B.(3) Peshawar
Explanation: The Kushan king Kanishka, moved the capital from Pushkalavati to Purushapura (Peshawar) in the 2nd century AD. Following this move by the Kushans, Peshawar became a great center of Buddhist learning.
68. Great Stupa at Sanchi is in –
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B.Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: Structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BC. It is located in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD.
69. The year of accession of Kanish ka to throne was:
- 108 AD
- 78 AD
- 58 AD
- 128 AD
Answer: B.78 AD
Explanation: Kanishka was an emperor of the Kushan dynasty (127-151) who ruled an empire extending from Turfan in the Tarim Basin toPataliputra on the Gangetic plain and famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. Kanishka’s era is believed by many to have begun in 127 AD on the basis of Harry Falk’s ground-breaking research. Chinese records of Yuehchi show his coronation as 78 AD. He was the founder of the Saka era which starts from 78 A.D.
70. Ajanta Caves were built during period of –
- Mauryas
- Nandas
- Guptas
- Cholas
Answer: C.Guptas
Explanation: Some coins of the Gupta dynasty throw significant light on the personal events of certain rulers like Samudra Gupta. Some coins depict him playing veena which bears out his love for music.
