The Mauryan Empire stands as one of the most powerful and expansive dynasties in ancient Indian history. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, this empire unified most of the Indian subcontinent under a single administrative system for the first time. The empire reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka, whose reign transformed not only the political landscape but also the cultural and religious fabric of the region. With its capital at Pataliputra, the Mauryan Empire became a beacon of organized governance and diplomatic excellence.
For students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, State PSCs and other government examinations, the Mauryan Empire is a frequently tested topic. Questions from this era cover administration, economy, art, architecture, religion and foreign relations. Practicing MCQs on this topic helps aspirants strengthen their grasp on ancient Indian history and score well in examinations. This blog post presents 30 carefully selected MCQs that cover all major aspects of the Mauryan Empire.
30 MCQs on Mauryan Empire – Indian History
Q1. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
a) Bindusara
b) Ashoka
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Brihadratha
Q2. In which year was the Mauryan Empire established?
a) 305 BCE
b) 322 BCE
c) 298 BCE
d) 340 BCE
Q3. Who was the mentor and chief advisor of Chandragupta Maurya?
a) Vishnu Gupta
b) Patanjali
c) Megasthenes
d) Vishakhadatta
Q4. Which Greek ambassador visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
a) Deimachus
b) Megasthenes
c) Ptolemy
d) Seleucus Nicator
Q5. What was the capital of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Taxila
b) Ujjain
c) Pataliputra
d) Vaishali
Q6. Which book was written by Kautilya (Chanakya)?
a) Mudrarakshasa
b) Indica
c) Arthashastra
d) Rajatarangini
Q7. Chandragupta Maurya defeated which Greek ruler to establish his dominance in the northwest?
a) Alexander the Great
b) Demetrius
c) Seleucus Nicator
d) Menander
Q8. Which Jain tradition states that Chandragupta Maurya adopted Jainism in his later life?
a) Digambara tradition
b) Shvetambara tradition
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b
Q9. Where did Chandragupta Maurya reportedly spend his last days according to Jain tradition?
a) Rajagriha
b) Shravanabelagola
c) Varanasi
d) Pataliputra
Q10. Who succeeded Chandragupta Maurya as the ruler of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Dasharatha
d) Kunal
Q11. Bindusara was also known by which title?
a) Devanampriya
b) Amitraghata
c) Priyadarshi
d) Chakravartin
Q12. Which Greek ambassador was sent to the court of Bindusara?
a) Megasthenes
b) Deimachus
c) Dionysius
d) Ptolemy
Q13. Ashoka ascended the throne of the Mauryan Empire in approximately which year?
a) 273 BCE
b) 298 BCE
c) 250 BCE
d) 232 BCE
Q14. The Kalinga War was fought in which year?
a) 265 BCE
b) 261 BCE
c) 258 BCE
d) 255 BCE
Q15. After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced which religion?
a) Jainism
b) Hinduism
c) Buddhism
d) Ajivika
Q16. Who converted Ashoka to Buddhism?
a) Moggaliputta Tissa
b) Upagupta
c) Nagasena
d) Mahendra
Q17. The Third Buddhist Council was held during the reign of Ashoka at which location?
a) Rajagriha
b) Vaishali
c) Pataliputra
d) Sarnath
Q18. Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to which country to spread Buddhism?
a) China
b) Sri Lanka
c) Myanmar
d) Thailand
Q19. Which Ashokan edict provides information about the Kalinga War?
a) Rock Edict X
b) Rock Edict XII
c) Rock Edict XIII
d) Rock Edict VII
Q20. In which script were most of the Ashokan inscriptions written in northern India?
a) Kharosthi
b) Brahmi
c) Greek
d) Aramaic
Q21. The Ashokan pillar at Sarnath has which animal capital?
a) Bull
b) Elephant
c) Four Lions
d) Horse
Q22. The national emblem of India is adopted from which Ashokan pillar?
a) Allahabad Pillar
b) Sarnath Pillar
c) Sanchi Pillar
d) Lauriya Nandangarh Pillar
Q23. What was the term used for provincial governors in the Mauryan administration?
a) Amatya
b) Mahamatya
c) Kumara
d) Rajuka
Q24. The Mauryan Empire was divided into how many major provinces?
a) Three
b) Four
c) Five
d) Six
Q25. Who was the last ruler of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Dasharatha
b) Salisuka
c) Brihadratha
d) Kunala
Q26. Brihadratha, the last Mauryan ruler, was assassinated by whom?
a) Vasudeva
b) Pushyamitra Shunga
c) Agnimitra
d) Menander
Q27. The book “Indica” was written by which Greek historian who visited the Mauryan court?
a) Pliny
b) Strabo
c) Megasthenes
d) Arrian
Q28. Which of the following was NOT a province of the Mauryan Empire?
a) Taxila
b) Ujjain
c) Tosali
d) Varanasi
Q29. The term “Dhamma Mahamatta” refers to which officials appointed by Ashoka?
a) Military officers
b) Tax collectors
c) Officers to spread Dhamma
d) Judicial officers
Q30. Which of the following is the correct chronological order of Mauryan rulers?
a) Chandragupta – Ashoka – Bindusara – Dasharatha
b) Chandragupta – Bindusara – Ashoka – Dasharatha
c) Bindusara – Chandragupta – Ashoka – Brihadratha
d) Ashoka – Chandragupta – Bindusara – Dasharatha
Correct Answers
- c) Chandragupta Maurya
- b) 322 BCE
- a) Vishnu Gupta
- b) Megasthenes
- c) Pataliputra
- c) Arthashastra
- c) Seleucus Nicator
- a) Digambara tradition
- b) Shravanabelagola
- b) Bindusara
- b) Amitraghata
- b) Deimachus
- a) 273 BCE
- b) 261 BCE
- c) Buddhism
- b) Upagupta
- c) Pataliputra
- b) Sri Lanka
- c) Rock Edict XIII
- b) Brahmi
- c) Four Lions
- b) Sarnath Pillar
- c) Kumara
- c) Five
- c) Brihadratha
- b) Pushyamitra Shunga
- c) Megasthenes
- d) Varanasi
- c) Officers to spread Dhamma
- b) Chandragupta – Bindusara – Ashoka – Dasharatha
Conclusion
The Mauryan Empire remains one of the most frequently asked topics in competitive examinations across India. From the rise of Chandragupta Maurya to the decline under Brihadratha, this dynasty shaped the political and cultural history of the subcontinent in lasting ways. Ashoka’s edicts, the administrative machinery described in the Arthashastra and the diplomatic ties with Greek kingdoms are all areas that exam setters regularly draw questions from.
Practicing these 30 MCQs will help you build a strong foundation in ancient Indian history. Make sure to revise the key facts about Mauryan rulers, their policies, administrative terms and the timeline of major events. Regular practice of topic-wise questions like these will boost your confidence and improve your accuracy in actual examinations. Bookmark this page for quick revision before your exam day.