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.

Asked in 5 of 11 years · most in 2023 (2)

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Prelims 2025 · Q14

Medium

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) Mahendravarman I

The Mandagapattu inscription mentions the Pallava king Mahendravarman I, who ruled in the seventh century, with numerous titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded), one of the three titles the question names. He was also a fine poet who left a satirical Sanskrit play.

✓ (a) Mahendravarman I, who ruled in the seventh century and built temples at Panamalai, Mandagapattu and Kanchipuram, is the king the Mandagapattu inscription credits with titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded) and Chitrakarapuli (tiger among artists).
✗ (c) Narasimhavarman I, the son of Mahendravarman I, was also known as Mamalla ('wrestler' or 'warrior'); NCERT notes that he defeated Pulakeshin II and went on to capture Badami. That is not the set of titles in the question.
✗ (b) Simhavishnu is not the Pallava king whom NCERT links with the Mandagapattu inscription's titles such as Vichitrachitta; that is Mahendravarman I.

Remember · Mahendravarman I (Pallava, 7th century): titles such as Vichitrachitta and Chitrakarapuli at Mandagapattu; poet of a satirical Sanskrit play; rock-cut temples at Mandagapattu. His son Narasimhavarman I = Mamalla.

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

Sources

NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “The inscription at Mandagapattu mentions Mahendravarman I with numerous titles such as Vichitrachitta (curious-minded),”
NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “Mahendravarman I himself was a fine poet who left a satirical Sanskrit play.”
NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “The latter was also known as 'Mamalla', which means 'wrestler' or 'warrior'; indeed, it was he who defeated Pulakeshin II and went on to capture Badami.”
NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “Chitrakarapuli (tiger among artists), Chaityakari (temple builder), which show his interest in art activities.”
NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “Mahendravarma I who ruled in the seventh century was responsible for building temples at Panamalai, Mandagapattu and Kanchipuram.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2025 · Q16

Easy

Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Rajendra I (Chola)

Only the Cholas had a navy able to strike across the Bay of Bengal. Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja I, sent a naval expedition in the 1020s that defeated Srivijaya's forces and took its capital, a punitive raid rather than a lasting occupation.

✓ (c) Rajendra I's fleet defeated the Shrivijaya forces and captured their capital; he also took the title Gangaikondachola after campaigns reaching Odisha and Bengal.
✗ (a) Amoghavarsha I was a ninth-century Rashtrakuta king of the Deccan, remembered as Nripatunga and a patron of scholars, not for any overseas war.
✗ (d) Vishnuvardhana freed the Hoysalas of Karnataka from Chalukya overlordship in the twelfth century and challenged the Cholas on land; he led no naval campaign.

Remember · Rajendra Chola I (c. 1014–1044): naval raid on Srivijaya (Malay Peninsula–Sumatra), title Gangaikondachola, new capital Gangaikondacholapuram.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (practise this chapter)

Sources

NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 4 “Rajendra sent his navy, which defeated the Shrivijaya forces and captured their capital. However, he did not try to occupy the defeated empire; it was a punitive expedition,”
NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 4 “Under King Vishnuvardhana, they broke away from Chalukya overlordship, challenged the Cholas, and gradually extended their sway over most of present-day Karnataka.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

The same topic in Mains

Indian art, literature & architectureGS 1 syllabus

Read it in NCERT

Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5cited in 3 explanations
Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3cited in 2 explanations
Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 4cited in 2 explanations