Post-Gupta Period MCQ: Gupta Coinage, Land Revenue & the Vishti System

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Kalidasa was in the ruling period of?

   • A.Samudragupta
   • B.Ashoka
   • C.Chandragupta- I
   • D.Chandragupta- II

   Explanation: Kalidasa was one of the Navratnas (Nine Gems) in the court of Chandragupta-II.

2. Q2.What were the Gupta gold coins called?

   • A.Kaudi
   • B.Dinara
   • C.Nishka✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Pan

   Explanation: Gold coins issued by Gupta rulers were known as Dinara. People used them for daily business according to Fa-hien.

3. Q3.The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called?

   • A.Karshapana
   • B.Dinara
   • C.Rupaka
   • D.Nisc✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The silver coins issued by the Gupta rulers were known as 'Rupaka'.

4. Q4.Who of the following was the first Gupta ruler to issue coins?

   • A.Chandragupta-I
   • B.Ghatotkacha✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Samudragupta
   • D.Srigupta

   Explanation: Chandragupta-I was the first Gupta ruler who issued coins. There is no evidence for earlier rulers issuing coins.

5. Q5.In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period, women and Sudras speak which language?

   • A.Sanskrit
   • B.Prakrit
   • C.Pali✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Sauraseni

   Explanation: In Sanskrit plays of the Gupta period, women and Sudras spoke in Prakrit, while upper class characters spoke Sanskrit.

6. Q6.Which one of the following is the main teaching of Gita?

   • A.Karma yoga
   • B.Gyan yoga
   • C.Bhakti yoga
   • D.Nishkama karma yoga

   Explanation: Nishkama Karma, or selfless or desireless action, is an action performed without any expectation of fruits or results. It is the central tenet of Karma yoga path to liberation and the central message of the Bhagavad Gita.

7. Q7.The first inscriptional evidence of the Satipratha has been found from?

   • A.Eran
   • B.Junagarh✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Mandsaur
   • D.Sanchi

   Explanation: The first evidence of 'Sati Practice' in India is mentioned in the Eran inscription. This inscription belongs to 510 AD in which the practice of Satipratha has been mentioned for a lady who was the wife of a war commander named 'Gopraj'.

8. Q8.Who established Gupta Samvat?

   • A.Chandragupta- I
   • B.Srigupta✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Chandragupta- II
   • D.Ghatotkach

   Explanation: Gupta Samvat was started by Chandragupta-I during 319-20 AD.

9. Q9.Match List-I (Emperor) with List-II (Titles) and select the correct answer: List-I: A. Ashoka, B. Samudragupta, C. Chandragupta-II, D. Skandgupta List-II: 1. Parakramank, 2. Priyadarsin, 3. Kramaditya, 4. Vikramaditya

   • A.A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
   • B.A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
   • C.A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
   • D.A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The correctly matched list is: Ashoka - Priyadarsin; Samudragupta - Parakramank; Chandragupta-II - Vikramaditya; Skandgupta - Kramaditya.

10. Q10.Match List-I (Kings) with List-II (Queens) and select the correct answer: List-I: A. Chandragupta I, B. Samudragupta, C. Chandragupta II, D. Kumargupta I List-II: 1. Duttadevi, 2. Kubernaga, 3. Kumaradevi, 4. Anantdevi

    • A.A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
    • B.A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4✓ Correct Answer
    • C.A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
    • D.A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

    Explanation: The correctly matched pairs are: Chandragupta I - Kumaradevi; Samudragupta - Duttadevi; Chandragupta II - Kubernaga; Kumargupta I - Anantdevi.

11. Q11.During which age, did women enjoy equality with men?

    • A.Gupta age
    • B.Mauryan age
    • C.Cholas
    • D.None of these

    Explanation: Except for the Vedic age, the status of women was generally inferior in ancient India. In the age of Gupta, Maurya, and Chola, evidence of the inferior condition of women has been found.

12. Q12.What was the land revenue rate in Gupta age?

    • A.Fourth part of the production
    • B.Sixth part of the production
    • C.Eighth part of the production✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Half part of the production

    Explanation: A person who cultivated the official land of the ruler had to pay a part of crop-products as tax in the Gupta period which was the sixth portion (1/6) of the production. Land revenue is known as 'Udrang' and 'Bhag' in Gupta inscriptions.

13. Q13.What is the land revenue rate in religious books?

    • A.1/3
    • B.1/4
    • C.1/6
    • D.1/8✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: In every religious text of ancient India, the land revenue rate is mentioned as 1/6th of the produce.

14. Q14.What is the valid tax according to Hindu law?

    • A.Half of the yields
    • B.One-sixth of the yields
    • C.One-third of the yields✓ Correct Answer
    • D.One-fourth of the yields

    Explanation: According to Hindu law/religious texts, the valid tax rate was one-sixth of the yields.

15. Q15.The Gupta Empire granted tax-free agrarian land to which of the following?

    • A.Military officials
    • B.Civil officials
    • C.Brahmins
    • D.Courts scholars✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Gupta Empire granted tax-free agrarian land to religious functionaries, specifically Brahmins. The rulers of the Gupta dynasty donated a maximum number of villages to temples and Brahmins.

16. Q16.With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

    • A.It was considered a source of income for the state, a sort of tax paid by the people
    • B.It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions✓ Correct Answer
    • C.The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages
    • D.The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer

    Explanation: Vishti was a form of forced labour enforced by the state or local chief. It was considered a source of income for the state and a sort of tax paid by the people. It was not wage labour.

17. Q17.Which type of land was called 'Aprahat'?

    • A.Without cultivated forest land
    • B.Irrigated land✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dense forest land
    • D.Cultivated land

    Explanation: Uncultivated forest lands were called 'Aprahat'. It was a term of the revenue system in the Gupta period.

18. Q18.With reference to the history of India, the terms 'kulyavapa' and 'dronavapa' denote?

    • A.measurement of land
    • B.coins of different monetary value✓ Correct Answer
    • C.classification of urban land
    • D.religious rituals

    Explanation: 'Kulyavapa' and 'dronavapa' were different units for the measurement of land used during the Gupta period.

19. Q19.In ancient India, the irrigation tax was called?

    • A.Bidakabhagam
    • B.Hiranya✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Udranga
    • D.Uparnika

    Explanation: In ancient India, the irrigation tax was known as 'Bidakabhagam' or 'Udakabhaga'. 'Hiranya' was a cash tax, 'Udranga' was land tax, and 'Uparnika' was a tax on farmers living on the land.

20. Q20.In 3rd AD, Warangal was famous for?

    • A.Copper pots
    • B.Gold Jewelleries
    • C.Iron implements
    • D.Elephant-teeth work✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Warangal was famous for the production of iron equipment. 'Agaria' people lived there, and iron making was their traditional occupation.