Test yourself

Themes in Indian History, Part I

Class 12 · History

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

One of these is a related question: NCERT alone can't answer it, so UPSC's answer is shown with the fact you need.

Theme 1 · Bricks, Beads and Bones: The Harappan Civilisation

Prelims 2019 · Q7

Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

(a)Chanhudaro
(b)Kot Diji
(c)Sohgaura
(d)Desalpur

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 5 (The Rise of Empires); Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 1 (Bricks, Beads and Bones: The Harappan Civilisation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 1 (Map 1), shows Kot Diji and Chanhudaro as Harappan sites. Class 7 Exploring Society (Part 1), ch 5, names Sohgaura (Uttar Pradesh) as the find-spot of a 4th–3rd century BCE inscription. That is Mauryan times, about 1,500 years after the Harappans. Answer (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 7 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q8

Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns:

I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.

II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.

III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.

Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?

1.Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.
2.Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.
3.Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 1 (Bricks, Beads and Bones: The Harappan Civilisation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 1: Harappan weights followed binary and decimal systems, a sign of precise measurement (2). Every house had its own bathroom and many had wells — private homes, not common property (3 false). Answer (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 8 ↗

Theme 2 · Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)

Prelims 2016 · Q39

Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?

(a)Georg Bühler
(b)James Prinsep
(c)Max Müller
(d)William Jones

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Themes in Indian History, Part I (Theme 2): James Prinsep deciphered Ashokan Brahmi in 1838. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 39 ↗

Prelims 2025 · Q15

Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of

(a)Samudragupta
(b)Chandragupta II
(c)Kumaragupta I
(d)Skandagupta

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 7 (The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity); Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society (Part 1), ch 7: Faxian visited in the early 5th century CE. Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2: Chandragupta II ruled c. 375–415 CE. The dates fit only (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2025), question 15 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q3

Consider the following statements:

I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.

II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.

The above statements have been associated with which of the following?

1.Emergence of urban life
2.Transition to money economy

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2: coinage made exchange easier, and the earliest coins were silver and copper punch-marked coins. Its timeline puts punch-marked coins beside urbanisation in the Ganga valley (c. 600–500 BCE). So both. Answer (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 3 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q15

Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched?

1.Senguttuvan : Chera
2.Udiyanjeral : Chola
3.Nedunjeliyan : Pandya

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only

Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (b)

NCERT covers the topic; the answer comes from UPSC's key: Careful: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 titles a box 'The Pandya chief Senguttuvan', but UPSC's answer (b) treats Senguttuvan as a Chera, so pair 1 is correct. Pair 3 (Nedunjeliyan, Pandya) is correct too; only pair 2 is wrong, because Udiyanjeral was not a Chola. Answer (b).

NCERT covers the topic (not the answer): Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)); Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 15 ↗

Theme 3 · Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)

Prelims 2022 · Q93

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

(a)Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
(b)The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
(c)Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
(d)Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE); Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 3 (Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 5): Sangam literature such as the Tolkappiyam refers to a four-fold division of society. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2022), question 93 ↗

Theme 4 · Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)

Prelims 2016 · Q50

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1.The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2.Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3.Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Themes in Indian History, Part I (Theme 4): Bodhisattas were compassionate beings who stayed back to help others instead of attaining nibbana. This new way of thinking was called Mahayana, not Hinayana. Statements 2 and 3 are true, 1 is false. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 50 ↗

Prelims 2019 · Q9

Consider the following:

1.Deification of the Buddha
2.Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3.Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Themes in Indian History, Part I (Theme 4): in Mahayana the Buddha came to be seen as a saviour, the Bodhisatta ideal developed, and images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas were worshipped. All three are features of Mahayana. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 9 ↗

Prelims 2023 · Q42

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:

1.The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.
2.Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
3.Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)All three
(d)None

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)); Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 4 (Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture).

Themes in Indian History, Part I (Theme 4): stupas were mounds where relics of the Buddha were buried, but the tradition may have been pre-Buddhist. An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (ch 4) describes votive stupas. So 2 and 3 are right, 1 is not: (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2023), question 42 ↗

Prelims 2023 · Q47

"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects."

The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

(a)Buddhism
(b)Jainism
(c)Shaivism
(d)Vaishnavism

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Themes in Indian History, Part I (Theme 4): the most important idea in Jainism is that the whole world is alive — even stones, rocks and water have life. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2023), question 47 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q12

What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?

(a)The meditation of the Buddha
(b)The Buddha's First Sermon
(c)The Buddha's Mahaparinibbana
(d)The Buddha's Mahabhinishkramana

Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4 (Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 4: early sculptors showed the Buddha through symbols — the empty seat indicated his meditation, and the stupa his mahaparinibbana. Answer (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 12 ↗

← Back to the books

Spotted an error? Tell us — we fix it and record the change here.

NCERT textbooks are published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Every file comes from NCERT's own website; a full book is joined into one PDF on the reader's device. Minimalist IAS does not store or edit any NCERT file.

Previous-year questions are from UPSC's question papers and answer keys (final keys; for 2026, the provisional key) published on upsc.gov.in.

Minimalist IAS is not affiliated with NCERT or UPSC. Books by other publishers are named for reference only.

NCERT can move or replace a file at any time. We re-check every link each month; if one breaks, tell us.