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Ancient India

Prelims · Ancient India · 9 questions

Sangam age & early South India

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Sangam age & early South India questions per year: 2016: 1, 2017: 0, 2018: 0, 2019: 0, 2020: 0, 2021: 0, 2022: 1, 2023: 2, 2024: 0, 2025: 1, 2026: 1 Asked in 5 of 11 years · most in 2023 (2)

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UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” Sub-topics in the detailed syllabus →

भारत के इतिहास में निम्नलिखित घटनाओं पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.राजा भोज के अधीन प्रतिहारों का उदय
  2. 2.महेन्द्रवर्मन – I के अधीन पल्लव सत्ता की स्थापना
  3. 3.परान्तक – I द्वारा चोल सत्ता की स्थापना
  4. 4.गोपाल द्वारा पाल राजवंश की संस्थापना

उपर्युक्त घटनाओं का, प्राचीन काल से आरम्भ कर, सही कालानुक्रम क्या है ?

Read this question in English

Consider the following events in the history of India:

1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja

2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I

3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I

4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

(a) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3 · (b) 3 – 1 – 4 – 2 · (c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3 · (d) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3

Mahendravarman I ruled the Pallavas in the early seventh century, Gopala founded the Pala dynasty in the eighth century, Bhoja raised the Pratiharas to their height in the ninth, and Parantaka I consolidated Chola power in the tenth. So the order is 2–4–1–3.

  • ✓ 2. Mahendravarman I was a contemporary of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II; the Pallavas reached their peak in the 7th century under him and his son Narasimhavarman I.
  • ✓ 4. The Palas came to power in Bengal in the 8th century, when Gopala was chosen as ruler; his son Dharmapala built their empire.
  • ✓ 1. The Pratihara king Bhoja built a large empire in the 9th century, stretching from Punjab and Kathiawar to Kannauj.
  • ✓ 3. Parantaka I ruled in the 10th century; his Uttaramerur inscription describes village assemblies of the Chola period.

Remember · Order: Mahendravarman I (7th c., Pallava) → Gopala (8th c., Pala) → Bhoja (9th c., Pratihara) → Parantaka I (10th c., Chola).

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 6 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (practise this chapter)

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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