Mauryan Empire Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. The founder of the Mauryan Empire was __________.
A) Ashoka
B) Chandragupta Maurya
C) Bindusara
D) Bimbisara

2. Chandragupta Maurya overthrew which dynasty to establish the Mauryan Empire?
A) Shunga
B) Kanva
C) Nanda
D) Gupta

3. Who guided Chandragupta Maurya in overthrowing the Nanda dynasty?
A) Ashvaghosha
B) Chanakya (Kautilya)
C) Panini
D) Patanjali

4. Arthashastra, a treatise on politics and economics, was written by__________.
A) Panini
B) Kalidasa
C) Kautilya (Chanakya)
D) Patanjali

5. Chandragupta Maurya established his empire in__________.
A) 322 BCE
B) 250 BCE
C) 100 CE
D) 185 BCE

6. Chandragupta Maurya’s capital was at__________.
A) Vaishali
B) Pataliputra
C) Ujjain
D) Taxila

7. Which Greek ruler invaded India shortly before the rise of Chandragupta Maurya?
A) Darius
B) Alexander the Great
C) Seleucus
D) Antiochus

8. After Alexander’s death, Chandragupta defeated__________.
A) Seleucus Nicator
B) Antiochus
C) Ptolemy
D) Philip

9. Seleucus Nicator ceded which territories to Chandragupta Maurya?
A) Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Baluchistan
B) Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat
C) Kashmir, Bengal, Orissa
D) Deccan Plateau

10. The Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus to Chandragupta’s court was__________.
A) Pliny
B) Megasthenes
C) Ptolemy
D) Arrian

11. The book Indica was written by__________.
A) Kautilya
B) Megasthenes
C) Strabo
D) Arrian

12. Chandragupta Maurya embraced which religion later in life?
A) Hinduism
B) Buddhism
C) Jainism
D) Ajivika

13. Chandragupta Maurya is believed to have ended his life by__________.
A) Poisoning
B) Sallekhana (fasting to death)
C) Assassination
D) Battle wound

14. The famous Jain monk associated with Chandragupta’s later life was__________.
A) Bhadrabahu
B) Hemachandra
C) Haribhadra
D) Kalidasa

15. The alliance between Chandragupta and Seleucus Nicator was sealed by__________.
A) War indemnity
B) Matrimonial alliance
C) Trade concessions
D) Division of territory

16. Which of the following is NOT true about Megasthenes’ Indica?
A) It described Mauryan society and administration
B) It survives only in fragments
C) It mentions the caste system
D) It was written in Sanskrit

17. The major source of revenue during the Mauryan Empire was__________.
A) Salt tax
B) Land revenue
C) Customs duty
D) War booty

18. Chandragupta Maurya’s administration was described as__________.
A) Military democracy
B) Centralized bureaucracy
C) Feudal monarchy
D) Tribal confederacy

19. Which Mauryan ruler established control over north-west India after Alexander’s departure?
A) Bindusara
B) Ashoka
C) Chandragupta Maurya
D) Samudragupta

20. The most important official in Mauryan provinces was called __________.
A) Rajuka
B) Amatya
C) Kumara or Aryaputra
D) Senapati

21. The Mauryan army was notable for its __________.
A) Navy
B) Elephants
C) Camel corps
D) Fire weapons

22. According to Megasthenes, the Mauryan army had__________.
A) 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants
B) 60,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 900 elephants
C) 100,000 infantry, 10,000 cavalry, 5,000 elephants
D) 50,000 infantry, 25,000 cavalry, 1,000 elephants

23. The prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya was__________.
A) Kautilya (Chanakya)
B) Radha Gupta
C) Amatya Rakshasa
D) Bhadrabahu

24. Chandragupta Maurya abdicated the throne in favor of__________.
A) Ashoka
B) Bindusara
C) Susima
D) Dasharatha

25. Chandragupta Maurya’s empire extended up to__________.
A) Bengal in the east, Kabul in the west, Deccan in the south
B) Punjab in the west, Kashmir in the north, Orissa in the east
C) Tamil Nadu in the south
D) Afghanistan and Burma both

26. Bindusara was the son of__________.
A) Ashoka
B) Chandragupta Maurya
C) Susima
D) Brihadratha

27. Bindusara is also known in Buddhist texts by the name__________.
A) Amitraghata (Slayer of enemies)
B) Priyadarshi
C) Ashokavardhana
D) Kunal

28. In Greek sources, Bindusara is referred to as__________.
A) Amitrochates
B) Sandrocottus
C) Allitrochades
D) Antiochus

29. Bindusara’s empire extended from__________.
A) Kashmir to Kanyakumari
B) Bengal to Mysore
C) Himalayas to the Deccan (Karnataka region)
D) Afghanistan to Burma

30. Bindusara did not conquer__________.
A) Kalinga
B) Karnataka
C) Maharashtra
D) Orissa

31. The Greek ambassador sent to Bindusara’s court by Antiochus I was__________.
A) Megasthenes
B) Deimachus
C) Pliny
D) Arrian

32. Another Greek ambassador at Bindusara’s court was__________.
A) Dionysius
B) Deimachus
C) Ptolemy
D) Strabo

33. Which Mauryan emperor is said to have asked the Greek king Antiochus I to send figs, wine, and a philosopher?
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka
D) Dasharatha

34. Bindusara’s reign lasted for about__________.
A) 12 years
B) 28 years
C) 40 years
D) 50 years

35. Bindusara was succeeded by__________.
A) Susima
B) Ashoka
C) Kunal
D) Dasharatha

36. According to Taranatha (Tibetan Buddhist source), Bindusara suppressed__________.
A) Revolts in Taxila
B) Revolts in Deccan
C) Ajivika uprisings
D) Revolts in Gandhara

37. Bindusara is said to have maintained friendly diplomatic relations with__________.
A) Seleucid rulers of Persia
B) Egyptian rulers (Ptolemies)
C) Greek rulers of Syria
D) All of the above

38. Which title did Bindusara inherit from Chandragupta Maurya?
A) Samrat Chakravartin
B) Devānāmpriya (Beloved of the Gods)
C) Priyadarshi
D) Amitraghata

39. Bindusara’s expansion mainly covered which region?
A) North-West Frontier
B) Deccan plateau up to Karnataka
C) Eastern India
D) Tamil Nadu

40. The empire of Bindusara covered nearly__________.
A) Entire Indian subcontinent except Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Kalinga
B) Only Gangetic plains
C) Punjab and Bihar
D) Central India only

41. Which Mauryan emperor requested the Greek king to send figs, wine, and a philosopher, but was denied the philosopher?
A) Chandragupta
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka
D) Dasharatha

42. Bindusara’s policy can be described as__________.
A) Expansionist and consolidatory
B) Purely non-violent
C) Culturally conservative
D) Weak and defensive

43. The revolt of Taxila during Bindusara’s reign was caused by__________.
A) Misrule of officials
B) Heavy taxation
C) Foreign invasions
D) Rivalry with Greeks

44. Which future emperor was sent by Bindusara to suppress the Taxila revolt?
A) Ashoka
B) Susima
C) Kunal
D) Dasharatha

45. Bindusara’s rule represents__________.
A) A transitional phase between Chandragupta and Ashoka
B) The collapse of the Mauryan Empire
C) The cultural flowering of Gupta age
D) The decline of Buddhism

46. Bindusara did not conquer the far south (Tamil Nadu and Kerala) because__________.
A) The terrain and independent Tamil kingdoms resisted
B) He signed treaties with them
C) His empire was already too large
D) He lacked military strength

47. Bindusara maintained a strong standing army like Chandragupta because__________.
A) To resist Greek invasions
B) To expand into the Deccan
C) To suppress internal revolts
D) All of the above

48. Which of the following is the correct succession order?
A) Chandragupta → Ashoka → Bindusara
B) Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka
C) Bindusara → Chandragupta → Ashoka
D) Ashoka → Bindusara → Chandragupta

49. Bindusara ruled for nearly__________.
A) 10 years
B) 28 years
C) 45 years
D) 60 years

50. The significance of Bindusara’s reign in Mauryan history lies in__________.
A) Extending the empire into the Deccan
B) Maintaining diplomacy with foreign powers
C) Preparing ground for Ashoka’s reign
D) All of the above

51. Ashoka ascended the Mauryan throne after__________.
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Susima
D) Dasharatha

52. Ashoka’s coronation as emperor took place in__________.
A) 276 BCE
B) 273 BCE
C) 268 BCE
D) 260 BCE

53. The Kalinga War took place in__________.
A) 273 BCE
B) 268 BCE
C) 261 BCE
D) 250 BCE

54. The Kalinga War was fought against__________.
A) Cheras
B) Pandyas
C) Cholas
D) Kalinga kingdom (modern Odisha)

55. The result of the Kalinga War was__________.
A) Kalinga defeated and annexed
B) Ashoka embraced Buddhism
C) Ashoka abandoned further conquests
D) All of the above

56. Which inscription gives details of the Kalinga War?
A) Rock Edict XIII
B) Rock Edict II
C) Minor Rock Edict I
D) Pillar Edict V

57. After the Kalinga War, Ashoka adopted the policy of__________.
A) Digvijaya (military conquest)
B) Dharmavijaya (conquest through Dharma)
C) Rajavijaya (conquest through wealth)
D) Balavijaya (conquest through force)

58. Ashoka embraced which religion after the Kalinga War?
A) Jainism
B) Hinduism
C) Buddhism
D) Ajivika

59. Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma emphasized__________.
A) Non-violence and tolerance
B) Respect for elders and parents
C) Humane treatment of animals
D) All of the above

60. Ashoka appointed special officers to propagate Dhamma called__________.
A) Rajukas
B) Amatyas
C) Dhamma Mahamatras
D) Kumara

61. Which inscription mentions Ashoka’s Dhamma Mahamatras?
A) Rock Edict V
B) Rock Edict XIII
C) Pillar Edict VII
D) Minor Rock Edict I

62. The language of Ashoka’s inscriptions was mostly__________.
A) Sanskrit
B) Prakrit (in Brahmi script)
C) Tamil
D) Pali

63. In the north-western provinces, Ashoka’s inscriptions were written in__________.
A) Brahmi script, Prakrit
B) Kharosthi script, Aramaic and Greek
C) Tamil script, Prakrit
D) Sanskrit, Brahmi

64. Which Mauryan ruler sent Buddhist missions to foreign countries?
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka
D) Dasharatha

65. Ashoka sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra to which country to spread Buddhism?
A) Myanmar
B) Sri Lanka
C) Thailand
D) Tibet

66. Ashoka is called “Devanampiya” and “Priyadarshi” in__________.
A) Buddhist texts
B) His inscriptions
C) Jain texts
D) Greek sources

67. The inscription that mentions Ashoka’s name directly is__________.
A) Maski inscription (Karnataka)
B) Girnar inscription
C) Kandahar inscription
D) Sarnath inscription

68. The first ruler to make extensive use of inscriptions for administration was__________.
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Ashoka
C) Bindusara
D) Kanishka

69. Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at__________.
A) Rajgir
B) Pataliputra
C) Vaishali
D) Kashmir

70. Which Buddhist text describes the Third Buddhist Council under Ashoka?
A) Dipavamsa
B) Mahavamsa
C) Ashokavadana
D) Both A and B

71. Ashoka sent missionaries to Hellenistic kings like__________.
A) Antiochus II, Ptolemy II, Antigonus II, Magas of Cyrene
B) Alexander II, Seleucus II, Philip II, Pericles
C) Constantine, Augustus, Nero, Trajan
D) None of the above

72. The Ashokan edicts promoting religious tolerance emphasize respect for__________.
A) Brahmanas and Shramanas
B) Different sects and religions
C) Family and social ethics
D) All of the above

73. Which inscription refers to Ashoka’s principle of “conquest by Dhamma”?
A) Rock Edict XIII
B) Rock Edict II
C) Pillar Edict VII
D) Minor Rock Edict I

74. The Ashokan edict that mentions medical treatment for men and animals is__________.
A) Rock Edict II
B) Rock Edict V
C) Rock Edict XIII
D) Pillar Edict IV

75. Ashoka’s significance in Indian history is that he__________.
A) Expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent
B) Popularized Buddhism as a world religion
C) Introduced moral governance through Dhamma
D) All of the above

76. The last Mauryan ruler was__________.
A) Ashoka
B) Brihadratha
C) Dasharatha
D) Kunala

77. The Mauryan Empire collapsed in__________.
A) 322 BCE
B) 261 BCE
C) 200 BCE
D) 185 BCE

78. The founder of the Shunga dynasty who ended Mauryan rule was__________.
A) Pushyamitra Shunga
B) Agnimitra
C) Vasumitra
D) Narayana

79. A major factor in the decline of the Mauryan Empire was __________.
A) Weak successors after Ashoka
B) Financial crisis due to large army and administration
C) Loss of centralized control over distant provinces
D) All of the above

80. The north-western provinces of the Mauryan Empire were invaded by__________.
A) Greeks (Indo-Greeks)
B) Shakas
C) Parthians
D) Kushanas

81. The Mauryan administrative system was described as__________.
A) Highly centralized monarchy
B) Federal monarchy
C) Tribal democracy
D) Feudal confederacy

82. The chief source of state revenue under the Mauryas was__________.
A) Land revenue
B) Customs duty
C) Mining tax
D) Salt tax

83. Mauryan officials in charge of agriculture and revenue were called __________.
A) Samaharta
B) Sannidhata
C) Rajuka
D) Amatya

84. The Mauryan officer in charge of the treasury was called__________.
A) Samaharta
B) Sannidhata
C) Rajuka
D) Pradesika

85. The Mauryan provincial governors were usually__________.
A) Elected by people
B) Nominated from royal family (Kumara)
C) Hereditary feudal lords
D) Local chiefs

86. The village headman during Mauryan administration was called__________.
A) Gopa
B) Gramak
C) Gramani
D) Gramabhojaka

87. Which official was responsible for land survey and assessment of taxes?
A) Rajuka
B) Dhamma Mahamatra
C) Amatya
D) Yuktas

88. Ashoka’s pillar inscriptions were mainly carved on__________.
A) Sandstone from Chunar near Varanasi
B) Marble from Gandhara
C) Granite from Karnataka
D) Basalt from Deccan

89. The most famous Mauryan pillar capital is the__________.
A) Rampurva bull
B) Sarnath lion capital
C) Lauria Nandangarh lion
D) Sankisa elephant

90. The Mauryan economy was characterized by__________.
A) State control over mines and forests
B) Regulated trade and markets
C) Taxation on agriculture and crafts
D) All of the above

91. The Mauryan army was maintained at great expense, contributing to__________.
A) Administrative efficiency
B) Financial crisis after Ashoka
C) Expansion into South India
D) Decline of agriculture

92. One important reason for Mauryan decline was Ashoka’s__________.
A) Over-centralization of power
B) Shift from militarism to pacifism after Kalinga
C) Favoritism toward Buddhists
D) Introduction of coinage

93. The Mauryan decline was accelerated by invasions from__________.
A) Indo-Greeks
B) Shakas
C) Kushanas
D) Huns

94. After Ashoka, Mauryan rulers could not maintain control because__________.
A) Provinces declared independence
B) Weak successors ruled
C) Bureaucracy became corrupt
D) All of the above

95. The Arthashastra of Kautilya is a major source for__________.
A) Mauryan political philosophy and administration
B) Gupta military organization
C) Mughal revenue system
D) Delhi Sultanate politics

96. The Mauryan Empire was the first to__________.
A) Control almost the entire Indian subcontinent
B) Use coins for taxation
C) Patronize Sanskrit literature
D) Conquer South-East Asia

97. The decline of the Mauryan Empire led to__________.
A) Rise of regional kingdoms like Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks
B) Revival of Vedic sacrifices
C) Spread of Buddhism abroad
D) All of the above

98. Ashoka’s contribution to Buddhism was significant because__________.
A) He made Buddhism a world religion through missions
B) He built stupas and viharas across India
C) He inscribed Buddhist values on rocks and pillars
D) All of the above

99. The Mauryan legacy in Indian history includes__________.
A) Centralized governance model
B) Cultural unity across subcontinent
C) Early welfare state ideals under Ashoka
D) All of the above

100. The Mauryan Empire is remembered in history as__________.
A) India’s first major centralized empire
B) The empire that spread Buddhism worldwide
C) A symbol of unity and cultural integration
D) All of the above