UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 6: The Later Vedic Age and Vedic Literature (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 6: The Later Vedic Age and Vedic Literature (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The pottery associated with later Vedic settlements in the upper Ganga valley is:

Correct Answer: C [Painted Grey Ware]

Explanation:

Painted Grey Ware, a fine grey pottery painted in black, marks later Vedic sites such as Hastinapur, Ahichchhatra and Atranjikhera.

2.  

"Satyameva Jayate" is taken from the:

Correct Answer: D [Mundaka Upanishad]

Explanation:

The phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' (truth alone triumphs) comes from the Mundaka Upanishad and appears below the State Emblem.

3.  

Which Veda is regarded as the source of Indian music?

Correct Answer: C [Samaveda]

Explanation:

The Samaveda sets Rigvedic hymns to melody for chanting by the udgatri, so it is regarded as the source of Indian music.

4.  

The Vedanga dealing with etymology is:

Correct Answer: C [Nirukta]

Explanation:

Nirukta is the Vedanga of etymology, explaining the meaning of difficult Vedic words; Yaska's Nirukta is the classic text.

5.  

In the later Vedic age, the god who became supreme was:

Correct Answer: A [Prajapati]

Explanation:

In the later Vedic age Prajapati, the creator, became the supreme god as Indra and Agni lost their earlier importance.

6.  

The later Vedic sacrifice in which a horse was let loose to roam was the:

Correct Answer: A [Ashvamedha]

Explanation:

In the Ashvamedha a horse roamed freely, and the king claimed the land over which it roamed unchallenged.

7.  

Gargi and Maitreyi appear in debates recorded in the:

Correct Answer: B [Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]

Explanation:

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad records Gargi's debate with Yajnavalkya and his dialogue with his wife Maitreyi.

8.  

Which Veda contains charms, spells and popular remedies?

Correct Answer: D [Atharvaveda]

Explanation:

The Atharvaveda contains charms, spells, remedies and popular beliefs, throwing light on everyday life and early medicine.

9.  

In the later Vedic age, the official called bhagadugha was the:

Correct Answer: A [collector of taxes]

Explanation:

The bhagadugha, one of the ratnins named in the Rajasuya, collected taxes, reflecting bali's change into a regular tax.

10.  

Consider the following statements about the later Vedic age:

1. Iron came into use.
2. Rice was cultivated.
3. The vidatha became the most powerful assembly.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Iron (shyama ayas) came into use and rice (vrihi) was grown, but the vidatha disappeared, so only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

11.  

Assertion (A): The Upanishads are also called Vedanta.

Reason (R): They come at the end of the Vedic literature.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true and linked: the Upanishads are called Vedanta, 'end of the Vedas', because they form the concluding layer of Vedic literature.

12.  

"Tat tvam asi" ("that thou art") is found in the:

Correct Answer: B [Chandogya Upanishad]

Explanation:

'Tat tvam asi' is Uddalaka Aruni's teaching to his son Shvetaketu in the Chandogya Upanishad, expressing the unity of Atman and Brahman.

13.  

The story of Videgha Mathava crossing the Sadanira is found in the:

Correct Answer: C [Shatapatha Brahmana]

Explanation:

The Shatapatha Brahmana tells how Videgha Mathava, guided by Agni, crossed the Sadanira (Gandak) into Videha.

14.  

Which of the following is classified as shruti?

Correct Answer: A [Aitareya Brahmana]

Explanation:

The Aitareya Brahmana is a Brahmana text of the Rigveda, and the Brahmanas belong to shruti, the revealed literature.

15.  

The priest who sang the chants of the Samaveda was the:

Correct Answer: D [udgatri]

Explanation:

The udgatri was the priest of the Samaveda who sang its chants during the sacrifice.

16.  

Nachiketa's dialogue with Yama is found in the:

Correct Answer: D [Katha Upanishad]

Explanation:

The Katha Upanishad narrates the boy Nachiketa's dialogue with Yama, the god of death, on what happens after death.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Latin translation of the Upanishads published in Europe
2. Later Vedic age begins
3. Satyameva Jayate adopted as the national motto
4. Dara Shikoh's Persian translation of the Upanishads

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

Order: Later Vedic age begins (c. 1000 BCE) → Dara Shikoh's Persian translation of the Upanishads (1657) → Latin translation of the Upanishads published in Europe (1801–02) → Satyameva Jayate adopted as the national motto (1950).

18.  

The Shulba Sutras deal with:

Correct Answer: B [rules for building fire altars and geometry]

Explanation:

The Shulba Sutras, part of the Kalpa Vedanga, give measurements for constructing fire altars and contain early geometry.

19.  

The Yajurveda mainly contains:

Correct Answer: D [sacrificial formulas]

Explanation:

The Yajurveda contains sacrificial formulas in prose and verse used by the adhvaryu priest during rituals.

20.  

The Talagunda pillar inscription records that Mayurasharman, founder of the Kadamba dynasty, went to study at the ghatika of:

Correct Answer: C [Kanchi]

Explanation:

The Talagunda inscription records that Mayurasharman went to study at the ghatika of Kanchi, the Pallava capital, and founded the Kadamba dynasty after a quarrel there.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

Consider the following statements:

1. There are no parables in Upanishads.
2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

the Puranas in their present form are much later.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

Correct Answer: D [Magadha]

Explanation:

the Sutas and Magadhas were bards and chroniclers.

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