1. Which of the following was the main reason of the downfall of Mauryan empire?

(a) Weak successors of Ashoka who could not control the empire properly
(b) Religious policy of Ashoka
(c) Ashoka maintained friendly relations with his neighbours
(d) None of the above

2. The Mauryan capital of Pataliputra has been associated with the archaeological remains of [UPSC CAPF 2021]

(a) Bulandibagh and Rajagriha
(b) Kumrahar and Mocharim
(c) Kumrahar and Bulandibagh
(d) Kumrahar and Jalalgarh

3. Which one among the following inscriptions was installed in the Easternmost part of Ashoka’s territory? [UPSC CAPF 2013]

(a) Barabar hill cave inscription
(b) Dhauli major rock edicts
(c) Sahasram minor rock edicts
(d) Lauriya-Araraj pillar edicts

4. The ancient trade route, popularly called the Dakshinapatha, connected [UPSC CAPF 2013]

(a) Ajanta with Golconda
(b) Ellora with Muziris
(c) Ajanta with Arikamedu
(d) Ajanta with Pataliputra

5. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka? [UPSC CSE 2016]

(a) Georg Bilhler
(b) James Prinsep
(c) Max Muller
(d) William Jones

6. Which king is known as ‘Constantine of Buddhism‘ ?

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Akbar
(d) Sri Krishna Devaraya

7. Megastheneses visited India during the reign of

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Bindusara
(d) Mahapadma Nanda

8. Who wrote Mudrarakshasa?

(a) Vishakhadatta
(b) Panini
(c) Patanjali
(d) Shudraka

9. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? [UPSC CSE 2020]

“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

(a) Ashoka
(b) Samudragupta
(c) Harshavardhana
(d) Krishnadeva Raya

10. Arrange the following provinces of Ashokan Empire from south to north:

1. Tosali
2. Taxila
3. Suvarnagiri

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 2 3
(b) 2 1 3
(c) 3 2 1
(d) 3 1 2

11. Who is said to have conquered the land between Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal ?

(a) Kanishka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Vikramaditya
(d) Ajatashatru

12. Which one of the following rulers was known as Amitraghata, the ‘destroyer of foes’?

(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Bindusara
(c) Kanishka
(d) Samudragupta

13. What does the word ‘Ashoka’ literally mean?

(a) One with pleasing appearance
(b) Beloved of gods
(c) Slayer of foes
(d) Bereft of sadness

14. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka? [UPSC CSE 1997]

(a) Kalsi
(b) Rummindei
(c) Special Kalinga Edict
(d) Maski

15. In Ashoka’s administration, Rajukas looked after

(a) religious matters
(b) collection of taxes
(c) municipal administration
(d) administration of justice