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Indian Knowledge & Value System MCQ — 50 Practice Questions with Answers

Practice 50 Indian Knowledge & Value System multiple-choice questions with detailed answers and explanations. Ideal for RAS/RPSC exam preparation.

50 Questions Indian History (Ancient & Medieval)

Practice Questions

Q1. Assertion (A): The iron pillar near the Qutb Minar in Delhi, dating to the 4th–5th century CE, is still largely rust-free after 1,600 years. Reason (R): The pillar's rust-resistance is due to the high phosphorus content resulting from the ancient Indian smelting process, which forms a protective passive layer.

A Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A Correct
B Both A and R are correct, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C A is correct, but R is wrong
D A is wrong, but R is correct

Explanation

The iron pillar near Qutb Minar (Gupta period, c. 375–415 CE, reign of Chandragupta II) is a remarkable testament to ancient Indian metallurgical skill. Modern analysis confirms it is rust-resistant due to high phosphorus content (0.15% P) resulting from the charcoal-based smelting process. The phosphorus reacts with moisture and oxygen to form a thin, stable iron hydrogen phosphate (misawite) passive layer that prevents further oxidation. Both A and R are correct, and R correctly explains A.

Q2. PM Modi's year-long commemoration on December 8, 2025, marked the anniversary of which patriotic event?

A 150 years of Vande Mataram Correct
B 200 years of Indian Railways
C 75 years of the Constitution
D 100 years of Quit India Movement

Explanation

PM Modi inaugurated a year-long commemoration of 150 years of Vande Mataram on December 8, 2025, with a special debate in Lok Sabha.

Q3. Sushruta, considered the father of surgery in ancient India, composed the:

A Ashtanga Hridaya
B Rasaratna Samuchchaya
C Charaka Samhita
D Sushruta Samhita Correct

Explanation

The Sushruta Samhita, attributed to Sushruta (c. 6th century BCE), is one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda. It describes over 300 surgical procedures, 120 surgical instruments, and pioneered rhinoplasty (nose reconstruction), cataract surgery, and other surgical techniques.

Q4. The concept of 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' (Non-violence is the highest duty) is prominently featured in:

A Mahabharata Correct
B Manusmriti
C Arthashastra
D Rigveda

Explanation

The phrase 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' appears in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva 11.13 and Anushasana Parva 115.1). While often associated with Jainism and Buddhism, this concept was also acknowledged in Hindu epic literature as the highest form of righteousness.

Q5. Which of the following about Vikramashila University is NOT correct?

A Vikramashila was established by the Pala king Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century CE
B Vikramashila was a major center for Vajrayana Buddhism and Tantric studies
C Vikramashila was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni during his raids on India in the early 11th century Correct
D The scholar Atisha (Dipankara Srijnana), who spread Buddhism to Tibet, was associated with Vikramashila

Explanation

Vikramashila was NOT destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni. It was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji (Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji) around 1203 CE, the same Turkish military commander who also destroyed Nalanda. Option C is incorrect. The rest are accurate: Dharmapala (Pala dynasty) founded Vikramashila in Bengal (now Bhagalpur district, Bihar), it was a premier center for Vajrayana and Tantric Buddhism, and Atisha (985–1054 CE) was its most famous scholar before going to Tibet.

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Q6. Which of the following statements about ancient Indian shipbuilding and navigation is CORRECT?

A Yuktikalpataru, attributed to King Bhoja, is an ancient text that classifies ships into two broad categories and describes their construction materials and measurements
B The term 'Nau' in ancient Sanskrit referred only to small river boats and was never applied to ocean-going vessels
C The Arthashastra has no mention of ports, trade routes, or maritime regulations
D The Indus Valley Civilization had no evidence of sea trade; their dockyard at Lothal was a fresh-water reservoir
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Q7. Which of the following statements about the Surya Siddhanta is NOT correct?

A The Surya Siddhanta is an ancient Indian astronomical treatise that gives methods for calculating the positions of planets
B The Surya Siddhanta defines the length of a sidereal year (the time for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun relative to fixed stars) very accurately
C The Surya Siddhanta was authored by Aryabhata in 499 CE along with the Aryabhatiya
D The Surya Siddhanta gives the diameter of the Earth and calculates its circumference
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Q8. Consider the following statements about Upanishadic philosophy: I. The concept of 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman) expresses the identity of individual Atman with universal Brahman. II. Maya in Advaita Vedanta refers to the divine power that makes the eternal Brahman appear as the multiplicity of the world. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A I only
B II only
C Both I and II
D Neither I nor II
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Q9. Consider the following about Brahmagupta's contributions to mathematics: 1. Brahmagupta was the first to give explicit rules for arithmetic operations involving zero, including the result of dividing a number by zero 2. Brahmagupta formulated a formula for the area of a cyclic quadrilateral, known today as Brahmagupta's formula 3. Brahmagupta's major work is the Brahmasphutasiddhanta (628 CE) How many of the above statements are correct?

A Only one
B Only two
C All three
D None
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Q10. Match List-I (Ancient Indian city/settlement) with List-II (Feature of town planning): List-I: A. Mohenjo-daro B. Harappa C. Dholavira D. Lothal List-II: 1. Famous for its dockyard and bead-making industry, located in Gujarat 2. Known for its Great Bath and grid-pattern street layout 3. Has a unique three-part city division with citadel, middle town, and lower town 4. Known for its large granaries on a high podium west of the citadel Select the correct answer:

A A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
B A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
C A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
D A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
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Q11. The 'Jajmani System' in Indian rural society refers to:

A A system of collective farming
B A hereditary patron-client relationship of exchanging goods and services between castes
C A system of elected village councils
D A modern cooperative credit system
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Q12. Consider the following statements about Nalanda University: I. Nalanda was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193–1203 CE II. The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited Nalanda during the reign of Harshavardhana III. Nalanda was primarily a center for Theravada Buddhism IV. The library at Nalanda, known as Dharmaganja, comprised three large buildings called Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi, and Ratnaranjaka Which of the above statements are correct?

A I, II and IV only
B I, II and III only
C II, III and IV only
D I, II, III and IV
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Q13. Assertion (A): The Indian concept of cyclic time (Yugas and Kalpas) fundamentally differs from the linear time concept prevalent in Abrahamic traditions. Reason (R): According to Hindu cosmology, one Kalpa equals 4.32 billion years, comprising 1,000 Mahayugas, each divided into four Yugas of diminishing length and virtue. Which of the following is correct?

A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C A is true but R is false
D A is false but R is true
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Q14. The Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) warehouse fire of October 2025 destroyed a significant portion of India's popular cultural heritage. Which of the following correctly describes the founding and significance of Amar Chitra Katha?

A Founded in 1967 by Anant Pai, ACK published Indian mythology and history comics in 20+ languages with over 100 million copies sold
B Founded in 1947 as a government initiative to promote literacy among post-independence Indian children
C Founded in 1975 by R.K. Laxman as a companion publication to the Times of India Group
D Founded in 1955 as an arm of Sahitya Akademi to promote regional literature among children
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Q15. Arrange the following in chronological order from earliest to latest: 1. Composition of Natyashastra by Bharata Muni 2. Construction of Rani ki Vav (stepwell at Patan) 3. Composition of Arthashastra by Kautilya 4. Composition of Yoga Sutras by Patanjali Select the correct answer:

A 3 → 4 → 1 → 2
B 4 → 3 → 1 → 2
C 3 → 1 → 4 → 2
D 1 → 3 → 4 → 2

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Indian Knowledge & Value System MCQ questions are available?
There are 50 Indian Knowledge & Value System practice MCQs available on Aspirant Academy, with detailed answers and explanations for each question.
Are answers and explanations provided for Indian Knowledge & Value System MCQs?
Yes, every Indian Knowledge & Value System question comes with the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept.
How is Indian Knowledge & Value System relevant to the RAS/RPSC exam?
Indian Knowledge & Value System falls under the Indian History (Ancient & Medieval) section of the RAS/RPSC syllabus. It is a frequently tested area and regular practice with these MCQs will strengthen your preparation.
Can I practice Indian Knowledge & Value System questions in Hindi?
Yes, Aspirant Academy offers bilingual support. You can practice Indian Knowledge & Value System MCQs in both English and Hindi, including questions, options, and explanations.

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