UGC NET History Practice Question

Which early Vedic text contains the Purusha Sukta, which introduces the concept of four Varnas?

Tenth Mandala of the Rigveda ✓

Sama Veda Samhita

Atharva Veda Samhita

Gopatha Brahmana

The Purusha Sukta appears in the tenth (and latest-composed) Mandala of the Rigveda, describing the cosmic sacrifice of Purusha from whom the four varnas emerged — its late position in the Rigveda is itself used by historians to argue the varna system developed later in the Vedic period, not from the start.

The site of Arikamedu was excavated comprehensively by which British archaeologist in 1945?

John Marshall

Mortimer Wheeler ✓

Alexander Cunningham

Aurel Stein

Mortimer Wheeler conducted the landmark 1945 excavation at Arikamedu, applying stratigraphic methods that firmly established the site's identity as a Roman trading settlement and set new standards for archaeological technique in India.

Which of the following Sangam texts is classified as a major epic and written by Prince Ilango Adigal?

Manimekalai

Silappadikaram ✓

Pattinappalai

Maduraikkanchi

Silappadikaram is traditionally attributed to Ilango Adigal, said to be a Chera prince-turned-monk — it is considered one of the "five great epics" of Tamil literature, alongside its sequel Manimekalai (attributed to a different author, Sattanar).

In ancient epigraphy, the Eran Stone Pillar Inscription of Bhanugupta (510 CE) is historically famous as the earliest epigraphic evidence for:

Widow remarriage

Practice of Sati ✓

Devadasi system

Royal coronation ritual

The Eran inscription of Bhanugupta's time (510 CE) records the self-immolation of Goparaja's widow on his funeral pyre — it is generally cited as the earliest clear epigraphic reference to the practice of Sati in India.

Which ancient author penned Naturalis Historia, criticizing the drain of Roman wealth to India for luxury goods?

Strabo

Pliny the Elder ✓

Arrian

Justin

Pliny the Elder, in his Naturalis Historia, complained that India drained the Roman Empire of a hundred million sesterces a year for luxury imports like spices, gems, and textiles — a Roman perspective that corroborates the archaeological Roman coin-hoard evidence in South India.

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More Free UGC NET History Practice

This question is part of our free Unit-Wise mock test series, drawn from the same real question bank used across every UGC NET History mock test on this site. For structured, chapter-by-chapter notes covering everything these questions test, see our UGC NET History Notes, or try the History Glossary Flashcard Quiz for daily term-by-term practice.