1. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct about Panini’s great grammar the Ashtadhyayi?

A.  It was most probably composed towards the 4th century BC.

B.  It was stated that with Panini the language attained its highest state of development and thereafter there was improvement only in its vocabulary.

C.  Both A & B

D.  None of the above

Ans: C

2. Who among the following had written the ‘Rajatarangini’ which was the metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western Indian subcontinent?

A.  Megasthenese

B.  Kalhana

C.  Al-Biruni

D.  Herodotus

Ans: B

3. Consider the following statements related to the Megasthenese profess of writing:

I. Megasthenese wrote extensively in a book called ‘Indica’ which is no longer available to us.

II. Megasthenese’s writings could be seen through various extracts in the writings of Diodorous, Strabo and Arrian.

III. Megasthenese mentions that Indian society comprised of seven castes (jatis).

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?

A.  Only I

B.  I and II

C.  II and III

D.  All of the above

Ans: D

4.  Match the following:

a. RigVeda          1. A collection of spells and charms

b. Samveda        2. A collection of songs mostly taken from Rig Veda

c. Yajurveda       3. A collection of sacrificial formulae

d. Atharvaveda   4. A collection of hymns

Code:

a   b   c  d

A.  4   2   3  1

B.  1   2   3  4

C.  3   4   2  1

D.  1   2   4  3

Ans: A

I. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, on astronomical grounds, dated Rig Veda to .6000 B.C. to Harmon Jacobi, Vedic civilization flourished between 4500 B.C. and 2500 B.C. and the Samhitas were composed in the latter half of the period.

II. Famous Sanskritist, Winternitz felt that the Rig Veda was probably composed in the third millennium B.C.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are not correct?

A.  Only I

B.  Only II

C.  Both I and II

D.  Neither I nor II

Ans: D

6. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct about ancient Indian literature?

A.  The Puranas is important as they were the main influence in the development from early Vedic religion to Hinduism.

B.  The Shastras contained works of science and philosophy.

C.  The Bhagvad Gita a later addition to the Mahabharata enshrines a philosophical doctrine and in it are described the three paths to salvation: karma, gyan and bhakti.

D.  All of the above

Ans: D

7. Select correct pair of book and author.

A.  Mudrarakshasa: Somdeva

B.  Brihat Samhita: Ravi Kriti

C.  Kathasaritsagar: Visakdatta

D.  Panchsidhantika : Varharmihara

Ans: D

8. Find the correct pair of Poet in the Court of the King during Ancient India

A.  Vasumitra       : Kanishka

B.  Harisena         : Chandragupta II

C.  Kalidasa         : Samudragupta  II

D.  Banabhatta     : Pulkesin II

9. Consider the following statement (s) is/are related to the historical literary sources of Ancient India

I.  The ‘Puranas’ serves as a source of historical facts of ancient India. There are eighteen Puranas. They provide historical information of various dynasties.

II.  According to Dr. R.C. Majumdar, the war occurred in 1000 B.C. Apart from the Kurukshetra war, the Mahabharata contains various accounts of social life and religious

thinking of the people of ancient India.

Which is/are correct statement (s)?

A.  Only I

B.  Only II

C.  Both I and II

D.  Neither I nor II

Ans: C

10. Who among the following had written down the ‘Ramcharita’?

A.  Sandhyakara Nandi

B.  Chand Bardoi

C.  Banabhatta

D.  Kalhana

Ans: A