Q 29. Ashokan Administrative Officers and Their Roles (Ancient History)

Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradeshika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at the

a) village-level administration
b) district-level administration
c) provincial administration
d) level of the central administration
Answer: b
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  • Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradeshika', 'Rajuka', and 'Yukta' were important officers at the district-level administration. These inscriptions provide insights into the administrative structure during Ashoka's reign.
  • Pradeshika was the overall in-charge of the district, responsible for overseeing the administration without an advisory council.
  • The district administration was primarily under the charge of Rajukas, whose roles were akin to modern-day collectors. They had the authority to both reward and punish individuals, ensuring law and order.
  • The Yukta was a junior officer who provided secretarial assistance to the Pradeshika and Rajuka, handling tasks related to accounting, secretarial duties, and other miscellaneous works.
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Q . Maurya

Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts – Location in the State
1. Dhauli – Odisha
2. Erragudi – Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada – Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi – Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs
Answer: b
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Right match is:

  •   Dhauli (Puri, Orissa) (Asked in 1997)
  •   Erragudi (Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh)
  •   Jaugada (Ganjam, Orissa)
  •   Kalsi (Dehradun, Uttarakhand) (Asked in 1997)
  •   Refer to 1990 question
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Q . Maurya

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

a) Ashoka
b) Samudragupta
c) Harshavardhana
d) Krishnadeva Raya
Answer: a
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Q . Maurya

In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?

a) Kanganahalli
b) b) Sanchi
c) Shahbazgarhi
d) Sohgaura
Answer: a
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Q . Maurya

A: Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.
R: Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to south India.

a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
Answer: a
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Q . Maurya

The following persons came to India at one time or another:
1. Fa-Hien
2. I-Tsing
3. Megasthenese
4. Hieun-Tsang
The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

a) 3, 1, 2, 4
b) 3, 1, 4, 2
c) 1, 3, 2, 4
d) 1, 3, 4, 2
Answer: b
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  •   Fa-Hien : (405-411CE),
  •   Hieun-Tsang : (630-645CE), 
  •   Megasthanese : (302-298BC),
  •   I-Tsing:(671–695CE)
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Q . Maurya

Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food grains to be utilized during the crises in the country?

a) Sohagaura Copper-plate
b) Rumminidei pillar-edict of Ashoka
c) Prayag-Prasasti
d) Mehrauli pillar inscription of Chandra
Answer: a
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Q . Maurya

The Ashokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam kingdom include rock edicts

a) I and X
b) I and XI
c) II and XIII
d) II and XIV
Answer: c
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  • The Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka refer to 14 major Edicts of Ashoka.
  • These are significantly detailed.
  • These represent some of the earliest dated rock inscriptions of any Indian monarch.
  • These edicts are preceded chronologically by the Minor Rock Edicts.
  • The II and XIII major rock edictsmention the southern kingdoms of Chola, Pandya, Satyaputra, Keralaputra and Tambapanni.
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Q . Maurya

Assertion (A): According to Asoka’s edicts social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion.
Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.

a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer: a
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Q . Maurya

Which one of the following statements regarding Asokan stone pillars is incorrect?

a) These are highly polished
b) These are monolithic
c) The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
d) These are parts of architectural structures
Answer: d
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  • Ashoka stone pillars were meant to spread his Dhamma not a part of architectural structure.
  • The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns spread throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or inscribed with edicts by Ashoka (268 -232 BC) during his reign.
  • The pillars of Ashoka are among the earliest known stone sculptural remains from India.
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Q . Maurya

Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Asoka?

a) Kalsi
b) Rummindei
c) Special Kalinga Edict
d) Maski
Answer: d
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Q . Maurya

The name by which Asoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is

a) Chakravarti
b) Dharmadeva
c) Dharmakirti
d) Priyadarsi
Answer: d
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Q . Maurya

Chanakya, was also known as

a) Bhattasvamin
b) Rajasekhara
c) Vishnugupta
d) Visakhadatta
Answer: c
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Q . Maurya

In ancient India the territorial name Tosali referred to

a) The region between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab
b) The basin of the river Son
c) The delta of the river Cauvery
d) The area of the river Mahanadi
Answer: d
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Q . Maurya

In which one of the following inscriptions is Ashoka mentioned by name?

a) Major Rock edict at Girnar
b) Minor Rock inscription at Maski
c) Bairat inscription
d) Lamghan inscription
Answer: b
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Q . Maurya

Match the columns: (A) Roaper - (i) Informs about Mauryan Empire (B) Kumarahar - (ii) Treaty of alliance between Bentinck and Ranjit Singh (C) Aihole - (iii) Staute of Lord Bahubali (D) Shravan Belgola - (iv) Sites of Chalukyan architecture

a) A-(i) B-(ii) C-(iii) D-(iv)
b) A-(iv) B-(ii) C-(iii) D-(i)
c) A-(ii) B-(i) C-(iv) D-(iii)
d) A-(ii) B-(iii) C-(i) D-(iv)
Answer: c
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Q . Maurya

Which of the following was the main reason of the downfall of Mauryan Empire?

a) Weak successors of Ashoka who could not control the empire properly
b) Religious policy of Ashoka
c) Ashoka maintained friendly relations with his neighbors
d) None of the above
Answer: a
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  •   Although there are various reasons such as Brahmanical reactions towards the Ashokan policies of Buddhism promotion, financial burden due to large army and Buddhism patronage, rebellion in provinces due to oppression and centralized administration etc. that led to the disintegration of Mauryan empire.
  •   The biggest reason behind the downfall was that there was no strong ruler after Ashoka who could control the vast empire properly.
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Q . Maurya

What was the main feature of Maurya dynasty in India?

a) Education was widespread
b) Terrorists were driven out of Sind and Punjab
c) Removal of land tax for the first time
d) Decentralization of administration
Answer: d
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Q . Maurya

Magasthenes visited the court of

a) Ashoka
b) Harsha
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Vikramaditya
Answer: c
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