Question 1

Who was the ruler of the Mahajanapada of Magadha when Gautama Buddha passed away (Parinirvana)?

Accepted Answer

Ajatashatru — Ajatashatru, who had earlier imprisoned and succeeded his father Bimbisara, was ruling Magadha at the time of the Buddha's Parinirvana (c. 483 BCE) and is credited with patronizing the First Buddhist Council held shortly after.

Question 2

The ancient city of Taxila served as the capital of which Mahajanapada?

Accepted Answer

Gandhara — Taxila (Takshashila) was the capital of the Gandhara Mahajanapada in the northwest, and later became a renowned center of learning under the Mauryas and subsequent Indo-Greek, Kushana, and other regimes.

Question 3

Which Mauryan official was in charge of weights and measures according to Kautilya's Arthashastra?

Accepted Answer

Pautavadhyaksha — The Pautavadhyaksha was the Superintendent of Weights and Measures in Kautilya's administrative scheme, responsible for standardizing and regulating commercial measures — distinct from the Sitadhyaksha (agriculture) and Panyadhyaksha (trade/commerce).

Question 4

The famous iron pillar at Mehrauli records achievements attributed to King Chandra, associated with defeating which enemy confederacy across the seven mouths of the Indus?

Accepted Answer

Vahlikas — The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription credits "Chandra" with crossing the seven mouths of the Indus in battle and defeating the Vahlikas (a northwestern people) — used alongside other evidence to support his identification with Chandragupta II.

Question 5

Under the Guptas, what was the administrative unit immediately below the Bhukti (province) called?

Accepted Answer

Vishaya — The Gupta administrative hierarchy ran Bhukti (province) > Vishaya (district) > Vithi (sub-division) > Grama (village) — the Vishaya, headed by a Vishayapati, was the key district-level unit immediately below the province.

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