Pre-Medieval Indian History MCQs with Answers for Competitive Exams
The Pre-Medieval Period in Indian history (8th–12th century CE) witnessed the rise and fall of powerful dynasties, including the Palas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Pratiharas, and Paramaras. This was an age of political struggles, cultural growth, temple architecture, and literary advancements. We have compiled a set of 64 carefully arranged Pre-Medieval Indian History MCQs with answers. These objective questions are very useful for UPSC, SSC, State PCS, NET/JRF, and other competitive exams. This set of MCQs is under Ancient Indian History MCQs.

1. Aalha-Udal were related to________
(A) Chanderi
(B) Vidisha
(C) Mahoba
(D) Panna
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Answer: (C) Mahoba
2. Who among the following ruler is famous as ‘Prithvi Raj Chauhan’?
(A) Prithviraj-I
(B) Prithviraj-II
(C) Prithviraj-III
(D) None of the above
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Answer: (C) Prithviraj-III
3. The author of ‘Prithviraj Raso’ is_______
(A) Kalhana
(B) Bilhana
(C) Jayanaka
(D) Chand Bardai
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Answer: (D) Chand Bardai
4. Kumaradevi, a queen of Govind Chandra Gahadavala, constructed Dharma-chakra – Jaina Vihara at_______
(A) Bodh Gaya
(B) Rajgriha
(C) Kushinagar
(D) Sarnath
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Answer: (D) Sarnath
Chola Dynasty MCQs with Answers
5. The author of Gaudavaho was________
(A) Harishena
(B) Aryabhatta
(C) Vakpati
(D) Banabhatta
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Answer: (C) Vakpati
6. The presiding deity of Bhojshala Temple is______
(A) Goddess Durga
(B) Goddess Parvati
(C) Goddess Lakshmi
(D) Goddess Saraswati
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Answer: (D) Goddess Saraswati
7. The poet Jayadeva, composer of Gita Govinda, lived in the court of which king?
(A) Lakshmana Sena
(B) Ballala Sena
(C) Rajaraja Chola I
(D) Bhoja of Dhar
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Answer: (A) Lakshmana Sena
8. Mahodaya is an old name of______
(A) Allahabad
(B) Khajuraho
(C) Kannauj
(D) Patna
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Answer: (C) Kannauj
9. Jejakabhukti was the ancient name of______
(A) Baghelkhand
(B) Bundelkhand
(C) Malwa
(D) Vidarbha
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Answer: (B) Bundelkhand
10. Pundravardhan Bhukti was located in______
(A) North Bengal
(B) Bihar
(C) Odisha
(D) Assam
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Answer: (A) North Bengal
11. According to Hammir Mahakavya the Chauhans were______
(A) Chandravanshi
(B) Brahmins
(C) Yaduvanshis
(D) Suryavanshis
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Answer: (D) Suryavanshis
12. The Gurjar-Pratiharas dynasty was founded by______
(A) Nagabhatta I
(B) Vatsraj
(C) Harshvardhan
(D) Mihir Bhoj
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Answer: (A) Nagabhatta I
13. Who was the founder of Pala dynasty?
(A) Dharmapala
(B) Deopala
(C) Gopala
(D) Ramapala
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Answer: (C) Gopala
14. Who among the following had built the Sompura Mahavihar?
(A) Kumargupta-I
(B) Harsha
(C) Dharmapala
(D) Vijayasena
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Answer: (C) Dharmapala
Chola Dynasty MCQs with Answers
15. Which ruler of Bengal founded the ancient University called ‘Vikramshila’?
(A) Dharmapala
(B) Gopala
(C) Devpala
(D) Mahipala
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Answer: (A) Dharmapala
16. Vikramshila Maha Vihar was established by the ruler of______
(A) Pushyabhuti Dynasty
(B) Varman Dynasty
(C) Sen Dynasty
(D) Pala Dynasty
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Answer: (D) Pala Dynasty
17. In which modern day’s State, the University of Vikramashila was located?
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Odisha
(C) Bihar
(D) Jharkhand
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Answer: (C) Bihar
18. Which one of the following places was not the centre of learning during early medieval period?
(A) Nalanda
(B) Vikramashila
(C) Taxila
(D) Uddantapur
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Answer: (C) Taxila
19. Dangdev was the ruler of which dynasty?
(A) Chandelas of Jejakabhukti
(B) Parmar of Malwa
(C) Kalchuri of Mahishmati
(D) Kalchuri of Tripuri
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Answer: (A) Chandelas of Jejakabhukti
20. Who was the founder of Parmar Dynasty?
(A) Ajai Pal
(B) Krishnaraj
(C) Kanak Rao
(D) Jagar Pal
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Answer: (B) Krishnaraj
21. King Bhoj ruled over______
(A) Bastar
(B) Dhar
(C) Mahakaushal
(D) Ujjain
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Answer: (B) Dhar
22. Who amongst the following wrote a book on artificial scientific equipments?
(A) Bhoj
(B) Govindraj
(C) Chandravarman
(D) Mahipala
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Answer: (A) Bhoj
23. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya Kingdom?
(A) Kakinada
(B) Motupalli
(C) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
(D) Nelluru
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Answer: (B) Motupalli
24. The greatest Pratihara King was______
(A) Dharmapala
(B) Harsha
(C) Mihir Bhoj
(D) Mahendrapala
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Answer: (C) Mihir Bhoj
25. The great Jain Scholar Hemchandra adorned the court of______
(A) Amoghavarsha
(B) Kumarpala
(C) Jaysimha Siddharaja
(D) Vidhyadhara
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Answer: (B) Kumarpala
26. Who among the following granted financial aid for the restoration of a demolished mosque in Khambhat?
(A) Chamundaraya
(B) Jayasimha Siddharaja
(C) Kumarpala
(D) Mahipaladeva
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Answer: (B) Jayasimha Siddharaja
27. Which of the following was known as ‘Nagar Mahoday Shri’?
(A) Mahoba
(B) Kampilya
(C) Mathura
(D) Kannauj
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Answer: (D) Kannauj
28. The Luxman Era was started by which of the following dynasty?
(A) Pratiharas
(B) Pals
(C) Chauhans
(D) Sena
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Answer: (D) Sena
29. Who was the last ruler of the Sena dynasty?
(A) Ballala Sena
(B) Lakshmana Sena
(C) Hemanta Sena
(D) Vijayasena
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Answer: (B) Lakshmana Sena
30. The great Sanskrit poet and dramatist, Rajshekhara was in the court of______
(A) Raja Bhoj
(B) Mahipal
(C) Mahendrapala-I
(D) Indra-III
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Answer: (C) Mahendrapala-I
31. Who was the founder of Rashtrakuta dynasty?
(A) Dantidurga
(B) Amoghavarsha
(C) Govinda III
(D) Krishna I
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Answer: (A) Dantidurga
32. The Kailasa Temple at Ellora was built by______
(A) Krishna I
(B) Dantidurga
(C) Dhruva
(D) Amoghavarsha
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Answer: (A) Krishna I
33. The capital of Rashtrakutas was______
(A) Badami
(B) Manyakheta
(C) Kalyani
(D) Warangal
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Answer: (B) Manyakheta
Sangam Period MCQs with answers
34. Which Rashtrakuta ruler was also known as Nripatunga?
(A) Krishna II
(B) Amoghavarsha I
(C) Govinda IV
(D) Dhruva
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Answer: (B) Amoghavarsha I
35. The Tripartite Struggle was fought among______
(A) Cholas, Chalukyas, Pallavas
(B) Palas, Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas
(C) Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas
(D) Chalukyas, Pratiharas, Palas
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Answer: (B) Palas, Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas
36. The famous Khajuraho temples were built by______
(A) Chandellas
(B) Paramaras
(C) Senas
(D) Palas
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Answer: (A) Chandellas
37. The Sun Temple at Konark was built by_______
(A) Narsimhadeva I
(B) Anantavarman Chodaganga
(C) Devapala
(D) Ballala Sena
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Answer: (A) Narsimhadeva I
38. The famous Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu were built during the reign of______
(A) Paramaras
(B) Chalukyas of Gujarat
(C) Solankis
(D) Chandelas
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Answer: (C) Solankis
39. The founder of the Chola dynasty was______
(A) Vijayalaya
(B) Rajaraja I
(C) Aditya I
(D) Rajendra I
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Answer: (A) Vijayalaya
40. Who among the following Chola rulers adopted the title ‘Gangaikonda Chola’?
(A) Rajaraja I
(B) Rajendra I
(C) Kulottunga I
(D) Aditya I
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Answer: (B) Rajendra I
41. The Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur was built by______
(A) Rajaraja I
(B) Rajendra I
(C) Vijayalaya
(D) Kulottunga I
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Answer: (A) Rajaraja I
42. Rajendra Chola I led a naval expedition against______
(A) Burma
(B) Maldives
(C) Sri Lanka and South-East Asia
(D) Java only
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Answer: (C) Sri Lanka and South-East Asia
43. Who among the following was the last ruler of the Imperial Cholas?
(A) Rajendra III
(B) Rajaraja II
(C) Kulottunga II
(D) Aditya II
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Answer: (A) Rajendra III
44. Who was the most famous Pallava ruler?
(A) Mahendravarman I
(B) Narsimhavarman I
(C) Aparajita
(D) Simhavishnu
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Answer: (B) Narsimhavarman I
45. The famous rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram were built under______
(A) Pallavas
(B) Cholas
(C) Chalukyas
(D) Pandyas
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Answer: (A) Pallavas
46. The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram was built by_______
(A) Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)
(B) Mahendravarman I
(C) Simhavishnu
(D) Nandivarman II
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Answer: (A) Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)
47. The Aihole inscription, which gives an account of Pulakeshin II, was composed by_______
(A) Ravikirti
(B) Banabhatta
(C) Bilhana
(D) Kalhana
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Answer: (A) Ravikirti
48. Who defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of Narmada?
(A) Dantidurga
(B) Pulakeshin II
(C) Narasimhavarman I
(D) Krishna I
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Answer: (B) Pulakeshin II
49. The Chalukyas of Badami were succeeded by______
(A) Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
(B) Rashtrakutas
(C) Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
(D) Cholas
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Answer: (B) Rashtrakutas
50. The Vesara style of temple architecture is associated with______
(A) Pallavas
(B) Cholas
(C) Chalukyas
(D) Pandyas
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Answer: (C) Chalukyas
51. Which one of the following temples is called the ‘Black Pagoda’?
(A) Lingaraja Temple
(B) Konark Sun Temple
(C) Jagannath Temple
(D) Kailasa Temple
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Answer: (B) Konark Sun Temple
52. The term ‘Ghatika’ in early medieval South India referred to______
(A) A village assembly
(B) A temple college
(C) A tax system
(D) A military unit
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Answer: (B) A temple college
53. Uttaramerur inscriptions provide details about______
(A) Land grants
(B) Chola village administration
(C) Pallava trade
(D) Rashtrakuta army
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Answer: (B) Chola village administration
54. The famous copper plate grants of land by Chola rulers were known as______
(A) Danapatra
(B) Sasanapatra
(C) Leydan
(D) Hero stones
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Answer: (B) Sasanapatra
55. Which Chola ruler completed the conquest of Sri Lanka?
(A) Rajaraja I
(B) Rajendra I
(C) Kulottunga I
(D) Vijayalaya
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Answer: (A) Rajaraja I
56. The Chola navy was considered the strongest in South Asia during the reign of______
(A) Vijayalaya
(B) Rajaraja I
(C) Rajendra I
(D) Kulottunga I
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Answer: (C) Rajendra I
57. Which one of the following dynasties issued silver coins called ‘Gadyanakas’?
(A) Cholas
(B) Rashtrakutas
(C) Pallavas
(D) Paramaras
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Answer: (B) Rashtrakutas
58. The book ‘Manasollasa’ was written by______
(A) Someshvara III of Western Chalukyas
(B) Bhoja of Paramaras
(C) Amoghavarsha I of Rashtrakutas
(D) Rajendra I of Cholas
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Answer: (A) Someshvara III of Western Chalukyas
59. The temple at Halebidu (Hoysaleswara Temple) was built by_______
(A) Hoysala dynasty
(B) Chalukyas
(C) Pallavas
(D) Cholas
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Answer: (A) Hoysala dynasty
60. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to______
(A) Bonded labour
(B) Land grants made to military officers
(C) Waterwheel used for the irrigation of land
(D) Wasteland converted to cultivated land
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Answer: (C) Waterwheel used for the irrigation of land
61. Match List-I (Dynasty) with List-II (Capital) on the basis of code.
List-I (Dynasty) – (a) Pratihara (b) Chola (c) Parmara (d) Solanki
List-II (Capital) – 1. Tanjore 2. Anhilwada 3. Dhara 4. Kannauj
(A) 4 2 3 1
(B) 4 3 2 1
(C) 4 2 1 3
(D) 4 1 3 2
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Answer: (D) 4 1 3 2
62. Who among the following were famous jurists of medieval India?
Vigyanesvara
Hemadri
Rajashekhara
Jimutavahana
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 2, 3 and 4
(C) 1, 2 and 4
(D) 1 and 3
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Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 4
63. Which were the three dynasties who were engaged in a Tripartite struggle for Kannauj?
Chola
Pala
Gurjara
Rashtrakuta
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1, 2 and 4
(C) 2, 3 and 4
(D) 1, 3 and 4
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Answer: (C) 2, 3 and 4
64. Consider the following pairs.
Bodh Gaya : Baghelkhand
Khajuraho : Bundelkhand
Shirdi : Vidarbha
Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa
Tirupati : Rayalaseema
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(A) 1, 2 and 4
(B) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(C) Only 2 and 5
(D) 1, 3, 4 and 5
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Answer: (C) Only 2 and 5