Prelims GS I · 47 questions · 2016–2026
Ancient India: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Ancient India in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 47 questions on Ancient India in GS Paper I from 2016 to 2026 — about 4 a year, the most in 2020 (7). The most-asked topic is Buddhism, Jainism & other schools (15 questions).
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 16 Oct 2026.
- Buddhism, Jainism & other schools15 questions · asked in 9 of 11 years
- Prehistory & the Harappan civilisation8 questions · asked in 6 of 11 years
- Vedic age & the Mahajanapadas6 questions · asked in 3 of 11 years
- The Mauryan empire6 questions · asked in 5 of 11 years
- Post-Mauryan kingdoms & the Guptas6 questions · asked in 4 of 11 years
- Sangam age & early South India6 questions · asked in 5 of 11 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q3 · Vedic age & the Mahajanapadasनिम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : I. पाली ग्रंथों में, कहापण, निक्खा, कन्स और काकणिका जैसे सिक्कों के प्रथम स्पष्ट संदर्भ समाविष्ट हैं। II. पाली ग्रंथों से प्राप्त साहित्…
- 2026 · Q5 · Buddhism, Jainism & other schoolsजैन धर्म में मान्यता-प्राप्त जीवन के अस्तित्व के चार मुख्य रूपों में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सम्मिलित नहीं है ?…
- 2026 · Q8 · Prehistory & the Harappan civilisationहड़प्पा नगरों में पुरातात्विक खोजों के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : I. घरों में तकली की प्रचुर उपलब्धता है किंतु चरखे अनुपलब्ध हैं। II. अंशांकित बाट और मापन…
- 2026 · Q10 · Vedic age & the Mahajanapadasऋग्वेदिक काल के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : I. कूपों से की जाने वाली सिंचाई ने कृषि को प्लावनीय मैदानों और नदी किनारों की पट्टियों से दूर वर्तमान पंजाब और …
- 2026 · Q13 · Vedic age & the Mahajanapadasनिम्नलिखित नदियों के प्राचीन और आधुनिक नामों के युग्मों में से कौन-सा/कौन-से सही सुमेलित है/हैं ?…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Ancient India. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Ancient India PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Ancient India question from 2016 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 37 pages. Free; sign up once.
Ancient India PYQs: quick answers
How many Ancient India questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2016 to 2026?
47 questions in GS Paper I — about 4 a year, the most in 2020 (7). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Ancient India topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
Buddhism, Jainism & other schools: 15 questions between 2016 and 2026, asked in 9 of 11 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
Yes. Every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Ancient India PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Ancient India question with answers and explanations (37 pages, 1 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.