Prelims 2023 · Q45
MediumConsider the following dynasties:
- 1.Hoysala
- 2.Gahadavala
- 3.Kakatiya
- 4.Yadava
How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) None
None of the four belongs to the early eighth century. All are kingdoms of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries: the Hoysalas and Kakatiyas rose as the Western Chalukyas faded in the twelfth century, the Gahadavalas of the Ganga plain were contemporaries and rivals of the Chahamana Prithviraja III (1168-1192), and the Yadavas of Devagiri ruled Maharashtra in the thirteenth century.
- ✗ 1. The Hoysalas of southern Karnataka, with their capital region around Belur, Halebidu and later Mysore, became a major power only after Chola and Pandya power waned, from the twelfth century onwards.
- ✗ 2. The Gahadavalas ruled the Kanauj-Varanasi tract of western Uttar Pradesh in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, opposing the eastward expansion of the Chahamanas of Ajmer and Delhi under Prithviraja III (1168-1192).
- ✗ 3. The Kakatiyas of Warangal rose in the twelfth century, replacing the Western Chalukyas in the Telugu country; their best-known ruler, Rudramadevi, reigned from 1262 to 1289.
- ✗ 4. The Yadavas ruled most of Maharashtra from Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad) during the thirteenth century and were overcome by the Khalji Sultanate of Delhi in the early fourteenth century.
Remember · Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Gahadavalas and Yadavas are all post-1000 CE regional kingdoms (11th-13th centuries), not early eighth century; the early eighth century belongs to the Chalukyas, Pallavas and Pratiharas' rise.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 6 (practise this chapter) · Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 4 “12th century: Rise of the Kakatiyas”
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 6 “With the waning of Chola and Pandya power, the Hoysalas of Karnataka grew to prominence in South India and became the most important patrons centred at Mysore.”
- NCERT Class 8 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Chapter 3 “During the 13th century, most of Maharashtra was ruled by the Yadava dynasty with Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad) as its capital.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·