The Varman Dynasty holds a prominent place in the ancient history of Assam. This dynasty was the first historical ruling family of the Kamarupa Kingdom. Founded by Pushyavarman in the 4th century CE, the Varman rulers governed from their capital at Pragjyotishpura. The dynasty played a remarkable role in shaping the political and cultural landscape of ancient Assam. Their rule lasted for several centuries and laid the foundation for subsequent dynasties in the region.
The Varman kings were known for their patronage of Hinduism and their diplomatic relations with other powerful kingdoms of ancient India. Several copper plate inscriptions and literary references provide valuable information about this dynasty. For students preparing for APSC, UPSC, and other competitive examinations related to Assam history, the Varman Dynasty is a frequently tested topic. This blog post presents 30 MCQs that will help you strengthen your preparation on this subject.
30 MCQs on Varman Dynasty – History of Assam
Q1. Who was the founder of the Varman Dynasty of Kamarupa?
A) Bhaskaravarman
B) Pushyavarman
C) Mahendravarman
D) Narayanvarman
Q2. The Varman Dynasty ruled from which capital city?
A) Durjaya
B) Haruppesvara
C) Pragjyotishpura
D) Tezpur
Q3. In which century was the Varman Dynasty established?
A) 2nd century CE
B) 3rd century CE
C) 4th century CE
D) 5th century CE
Q4. The Varman Dynasty belonged to which ancient kingdom?
A) Davaka Kingdom
B) Kamarupa Kingdom
C) Ahom Kingdom
D) Pala Kingdom
Q5. Pushyavarman is believed to have been a contemporary of which Gupta ruler?
A) Chandragupta I
B) Samudragupta
C) Kumaragupta
D) Skandagupta
Q6. How many kings ruled under the Varman Dynasty approximately?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 15
Q7. The Varman rulers claimed descent from which legendary figure?
A) Bhagadatta
B) Narakasura
C) Arjuna
D) Bhima
Q8. Which religion did the Varman Dynasty primarily patronize?
A) Buddhism
B) Jainism
C) Hinduism
D) Animism
Q9. Which of the following inscriptions provides information about the Varman Dynasty?
A) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B) Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription
C) Hathigumpha Inscription
D) Junagarh Rock Inscription
Q10. Who was the last ruler of the Varman Dynasty?
A) Bhutivarman
B) Supratisthitavarman
C) Mriganka
D) Susthitavarman
Q11. The Varman Dynasty was succeeded by which dynasty in Kamarupa?
A) Pala Dynasty
B) Mlechchha Dynasty
C) Koch Dynasty
D) Ahom Dynasty
Q12. Pragjyotishpura, the capital of the Varman kings, is identified with which modern location?
A) Tezpur
B) North Guwahati
C) Dibrugarh
D) Jorhat
Q13. Which Varman king is mentioned in the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Samudravarman
C) Balavarman
D) Kalyanavarman
Q14. The Varman Dynasty traced its lineage to which mythological epic?
A) Ramayana
B) Mahabharata
C) Bhagavata Purana
D) Vishnu Purana
Q15. Which Varman king performed the Ashwamedha Yajna according to inscriptional evidence?
A) Mahendravarman
B) Pushyavarman
C) Narayanvarman
D) Bhutivarman
Q16. The Nidhanpur Copper Plate was issued by which ruler but mentions the Varman genealogy?
A) Bhaskaravarman
B) Kumar Bhaskaravarman
C) Sthitavarman
D) Supratisthitavarman
Q17. What was the approximate duration of the Varman Dynasty’s rule?
A) 100 years
B) 200 years
C) 250 years
D) 350 years
Q18. Samudravarman, a Varman king, was the son of which ruler?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Balavarman I
C) Kalyanavarman
D) Mahendravarman
Q19. The Varman rulers governed the region historically known as?
A) Magadha
B) Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa
C) Gauda
D) Vanga
Q20. Which Varman king is associated with the spread of Brahmanical culture in Kamarupa?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Balavarman II
C) Chandramukhavarman
D) Ganapativarman
Q21. The administrative system of the Varman Dynasty was influenced by which empire?
A) Mauryan Empire
B) Gupta Empire
C) Kushan Empire
D) Satavahana Empire
Q22. In which part of present-day India did the Varman Dynasty rule?
A) Western India
B) Southern India
C) North-Eastern India
D) Central India
Q23. Which of the following is NOT a ruler of the Varman Dynasty?
A) Pushyavarman
B) Bhaskaravarman
C) Mahendravarman
D) Samudravarman
Q24. The Varman rulers used which language in their inscriptions?
A) Prakrit
B) Pali
C) Sanskrit
D) Assamese
Q25. Bhutivarman of the Varman Dynasty is known for which of the following?
A) Building Buddhist monasteries
B) Making large land grants to Brahmins
C) Defeating the Gupta Empire
D) Establishing trade with China
Q26. How did the Varman Dynasty come to an end?
A) Foreign invasion
B) Internal succession dispute
C) Replaced by the Mlechchha Dynasty
D) Natural disaster
Q27. The Dubi Copper Plate Inscription is associated with which period of Kamarupa?
A) Pala Dynasty
B) Varman Dynasty
C) Koch Dynasty
D) Ahom Dynasty
Q28. What was the social structure during the Varman Dynasty period?
A) Tribal egalitarian society
B) Varna-based hierarchical society
C) Matriarchal society
D) Feudal European model
Q29. Which river valley formed the heartland of the Varman Dynasty’s territory?
A) Ganga River Valley
B) Brahmaputra River Valley
C) Indus River Valley
D) Narmada River Valley
Q30. Pushyavarman is believed to have established the Varman Dynasty around which year?
A) 250 CE
B) 350 CE
C) 450 CE
D) 550 CE
Correct Answers
- B) Pushyavarman
- C) Pragjyotishpura
- C) 4th century CE
- B) Kamarupa Kingdom
- B) Samudragupta
- C) 12
- B) Narakasura
- C) Hinduism
- B) Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription
- C) Mriganka
- B) Mlechchha Dynasty
- B) North Guwahati
- A) Pushyavarman
- B) Mahabharata
- B) Pushyavarman
- A) Bhaskaravarman
- C) 250 years
- A) Pushyavarman
- B) Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa
- A) Pushyavarman
- B) Gupta Empire
- C) North-Eastern India
- B) Bhaskaravarman
- C) Sanskrit
- B) Making large land grants to Brahmins
- C) Replaced by the Mlechchha Dynasty
- B) Varman Dynasty
- B) Varna-based hierarchical society
- B) Brahmaputra River Valley
- B) 350 CE
Conclusion
The Varman Dynasty remains one of the most important chapters in the history of Assam and the Kamarupa Kingdom. From the founding efforts of Pushyavarman to the administrative and cultural contributions of later rulers, this dynasty shaped the political identity of ancient Assam. Their patronage of Brahmanical traditions, land grants to scholars, and adoption of Sanskrit in official records left a lasting imprint on the region.
For aspirants preparing for APSC, UPSC, and other state-level competitive exams, thorough preparation on the Varman Dynasty is highly recommended. These 30 MCQs cover the major aspects of this dynasty including its origin, rulers, administration, and cultural contributions. Regular practice of such questions will help you perform well in the history section of your examinations. Bookmark this page for future revision and share it with fellow aspirants.