Prelims 2020 · Q24
MediumConsider 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?
Answer & explanation
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
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “the dynasty reached its peak in the 7th century under Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I.”
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 6 “In the eighth century, the Palas came to power in the region. The second Pala ruler, Dharmapala, became immensely powerful”
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “In the 9th century, the celebrated Pratihara ruler, King Bhoja, a devotee of Vishnu, built an empire stretching from Punjab and Kathiawar (or Saurashtra) in the west to Kannauj in the east”
- NCERT Class 9 · Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Chapter 5 “The Uttaramerur inscription of Parantaka I (10th century) of the Chola period provides a vivid description of village governance.”
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 ·