The Mauryan Empire – NDA History PYQs

NDA 2025-I

Q. 1. Which one among the following mahajanapadas in ancient India was an oligarchy?

(a) Vajji

(b) Kosala

(c) Gandhara

(d) Magadha

Answer: (a) Vajji

Explanation: Vajji was governed as a gana-sangha, a republic-like oligarchy. Power was shared among clan chiefs rather than one king. Kosala, Gandhara, and Magadha were instead ruled as monarchies. So option (a) Vajji is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Political systems among the mahajanapadas

NDA 2024-II

Q. 2. Taxila was the capital of which one among the following Mahajanapadas of ancient India?

(a) Kuru

(b) Kasi

(c) Gandhar

(d) Avanti

Answer: (c) Gandhar

Explanation: Taxila served as the capital of the Gandhara mahajanapada. It grew into a major centre of learning and trade. Kuru, Kasi, and Avanti each had different capital cities. So option (c) Gandhar is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Mahajanapada capital cities

NDA 2024-I

Q. 3. Consider the following statements about the emergence of urban centres in India from circa 6th Century BCE:

1. All of them developed away from the capitals of mahajanapadas.

2. Major towns were located along routes of communication.

3. Many were bustling centres of commercial, cultural and political activity.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) None

Answer: (b) 2

Explanation: Many new urban centres actually grew at mahajanapada capitals. So statement 1 wrongly claims they stayed away from capitals. Major towns did grow along key trade and communication routes. So statement 2 correctly describes this pattern. Many towns did become busy commercial and political centres. So statement 3 also correctly describes this pattern. Two of the three statements hold true here. So option (b), meaning two statements, is correct. Concept Tested: Pattern of urban growth from the 6th century BCE

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA sometimes asks “how many of the above are correct” instead of lettered combinations. Read each statement carefully before counting.

NDA 2023-II

Q. 4. Which one of the following Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts, contains the personal name of the king – Ashoka?

(a) Maski

(b) Bahapur

(c) Bairat

(d) Sahasram

Answer: (a) Maski

Explanation: The Maski edict was the first to name Ashoka directly. Earlier finds only used his title, Devanampiya Piyadasi. Maski confirmed the link between this title and Ashoka. So option (a) Maski is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Minor Rock Edict containing Ashoka’s personal name

NDA 2023-I

Q. 5. Which one among the following rulers established Pataliputra as the capital of the Magadhan Empire?

(a) Bimbisara

(b) Bindusara

(c) Ajatashatru

(d) Ashoka

Answer: (c) Ajatashatru

Explanation: Ajatashatru built an early fort at Pataliputra’s future site. This fort aimed to guard against the Vajji confederacy. Most sources credit his son Udayin with shifting the capital there. Udayin does not appear among the given options here. Editorial flag: verify this answer against the official NDA answer key. Ajatashatru is chosen here as the closest supported option. Concept Tested: Founder associated with Pataliputra as the Magadhan capital

NDA 2022-II

Q. 6. Which one of the following rivers in India was not crossed by Alexander and his army?

(a) Hyphasis

(b) Acesines

(c) Hydraotes

(d) Hydaspes

Answer: (a) Hyphasis

Explanation: Alexander’s army crossed the Indus, Hydaspes, Acesines, and Hydraotes. At the Hyphasis river, his tired soldiers refused to advance. So Alexander never actually crossed the Hyphasis river. This event marked the end of his eastward campaign. So option (a) Hyphasis is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Rivers crossed during Alexander’s Indian campaign

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA sometimes asks which river was NOT crossed, reversing the usual pattern. Remember Alexander’s mutiny stopped him at the Hyphasis.

NDA 2022-II

Q. 7. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

List-I (Mahamatta)	List-II (Function)
A. Anta-mahamatta	1. Women’s welfare
B. Ithijhakha-mahamatta	2. Spread of Dhamma
C. Dhamma-mahamatta	3. Associated with city administration
D. Nagalaviyohalaka-mahamatta	4. In-charge of frontier areas

Code:

(a) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

(b) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

(c) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

(d) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Answer: (c) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Explanation: Anta-mahamattas managed the empire’s distant frontier regions. Ithijhakha-mahamattas looked after the welfare of women. Dhamma-mahamattas worked to spread Ashoka’s dhamma teachings. Nagalaviyohalaka-mahamattas handled matters of city administration. This matches the code A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. So option (c) correctly matches these officer roles. Concept Tested: Functions of different Ashokan Mahamatta officers

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Mahamatta names use similar Prakrit roots. Break down each name’s root meaning to match its function correctly.

NDA 2022-I

Q. 8. Arthashastra, the classical work of Indian political thought, focuses primarily on

(a) economy

(b) culture

(c) statecraft

(d) monarchy

Answer: (c) statecraft

Explanation: Arthashastra covers economy, law, and administration in detail. But its overall purpose centres on the art of statecraft. It guides the king on power, governance, and diplomacy. So option (c) statecraft best captures its main focus. Concept Tested: Central focus of the Arthashastra

NDA 2021-I

Q. 9. Which one of the following was not a part of the dhamma of King Ashoka?

(a) Honouring the king

(b) Tolerance of religions other than one’s own

(c) Respecting Brahmanas

(d) Promoting the welfare of his subjects

Answer: (a) Honouring the king

Explanation: Ashoka’s dhamma stressed tolerance, welfare, and respect for elders. It included tolerance towards religions other than one’s own. It also included respect towards Brahmanas and other teachers. It promoted the general welfare of the king’s subjects. Honouring the king himself was not a listed dhamma principle. So option (a) is not part of Ashoka’s dhamma. Concept Tested: Core principles of Ashoka’s dhamma

NDA 2017-II

Q. 10. Ashoka’s connection with Buddhism is evident from which one of the following edicts?

(a) Major Rock Edict 13

(b) Rock Edict 6

(c) Minor Rock Edict 1

(d) Pillar Edict 4

Answer: (c) Minor Rock Edict 1

Explanation: Minor Rock Edict 1 records Ashoka’s own religious life. In it, he calls himself a lay Buddhist, an upasaka. He also describes his growing devotion to the Sangha. Major Rock Edict 13 focuses instead on Kalinga’s aftermath. So option (c) best shows this personal Buddhist connection. Concept Tested: Edict revealing Ashoka’s personal Buddhist faith

NDA 2016-I

Q. 11. Consider the following statements:

1. The Arthashastra is the first Indian text to define a State.

2. The main concerns of the Arthashastra are theoretical issues like the origins of the state.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation: Arthashastra is the earliest Indian text defining a state. So statement 1 correctly describes this achievement. But its main focus stays on practical statecraft advice. It rarely dwells on abstract origins of the state. So statement 2 wrongly describes its central concern. Only statement 1 holds true among the two. Concept Tested: Nature and scope of the Arthashastra

NDA 2015-I

Q. 12. Consider the following statements about Ashokan rock edicts:

1. Major Rock Edict XIII records Ashoka’s remorse at the sufferings caused by his Kalinga campaign.

2. Major Rock Edict X records Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini.

3. Major Rock Edict XII refers to Dhamma Mahamattas as a new category of officers instituted by Ashoka.

4. Major Rock Edict XII speaks about showing tolerance towards all sects.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1 and 4 only

Explanation: Major Rock Edict XIII does record Ashoka’s remorse over Kalinga. So statement 1 is correct about this edict. Major Rock Edict X instead discusses fame and glory. It does not mention Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini. So statement 2 is incorrect as written. Dhamma Mahamattas were instituted through Major Rock Edict V, not XII. So statement 3 wrongly names the edict number. Major Rock Edict XII does urge tolerance towards all sects. So statement 4 is correct about this edict. Only statements 1 and 4 are accurate together. Concept Tested: Content of specific Ashokan Major Rock Edicts

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA often swaps edict numbers between similar Ashokan themes. Match each edict number to its exact content, not just its general theme.

NDA 2014-II

Q. 13. Megasthenes was a

(a) Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya

(b) Greek trader during Ashoka’s time

(c) Greek trader in the Gupta period

(d) Chinese pilgrim during Harsha’s time

Answer: (a) Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya

Explanation: Megasthenes served as a Greek ambassador in India. Seleucus Nicator sent him to Chandragupta Maurya’s court. He recorded his observations in the work Indica. So option (a) correctly identifies his role. Concept Tested: Megasthenes and his role at the Mauryan court

NDA 2010-I

Q. 14. The notion of saptanga that was introduced in Arthashastra includes

(a) kings, territory, administration and treasury

(b) music, dance, ragas and wrestling

(c) ministers, civil servants, subalterns and those involved in espionage

(d) aristocrats, acharyas, traders and monks

Answer: (a) kings, territory, administration and treasury

Explanation: Kautilya’s Arthashastra describes the state through the saptanga theory. This theory lists seven core elements of a state. These include the king, ministers, territory, fort, treasury, army, and ally. Option (a) reflects king, territory, and treasury from this list. The other options list unrelated categories instead. So option (a) is the closest correct answer. Concept Tested: Elements of the saptanga theory in the Arthashastra

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