QUESTION 1 OF 28
Ayodhya, a city central to the Ramayana tradition, is situated on the banks of which river?
Explanation: Ayodhya lies on the banks of the Sarayu river and is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Lord Rama.
QUESTION 2 OF 28
Kannauj served as the capital of which powerful 7th century ruler?
Explanation: Harshavardhana made Kannauj (also called Kanyakubja) his capital in the 7th century CE, and it became a major center of political power in north India.
QUESTION 3 OF 28
Sarnath, near Varanasi, is significant in Buddhist history because it is the site where Buddha:
Explanation: Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, an event known as the Dhammachakra Pravartana.
QUESTION 4 OF 28
Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh is associated with which event in Buddha's life?
Explanation: Kushinagar is the site where Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, meaning he passed away, making it an important Buddhist pilgrimage site.
QUESTION 5 OF 28
Mathura, an ancient city of UP, is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of which deity?
Explanation: Mathura is traditionally venerated as the birthplace of Lord Krishna and is a major pilgrimage center in the Braj region.
QUESTION 6 OF 28
The ancient Mathura school of art, known for its distinctive red sandstone sculptures, flourished mainly under which dynasty?
Explanation: The Mathura school of art developed a distinctive style using spotted red sandstone and reached its peak under the Kushan dynasty around the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.
QUESTION 7 OF 28
Kalinjar Fort, an ancient hill fort with historical significance, is located in which region of UP?
Explanation: Kalinjar Fort is situated in the Bundelkhand region of UP (Banda district) and has a long history spanning several dynasties.
QUESTION 8 OF 28
Chunar Fort, overlooking the Ganga in Mirzapur district, is historically notable because the surrounding area supplied:
Explanation: The sandstone quarried near Chunar in Mirzapur district was used to carve several Ashokan pillars found across ancient India.
QUESTION 9 OF 28
The Allahabad Pillar inscription, praising the achievements of Samudragupta, was composed by which court poet?
Explanation: The Prayaga Prashasti inscribed on the Allahabad Pillar, describing the conquests of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta, was composed by his court poet Harishena.
QUESTION 10 OF 28
Kaushambi, an important archaeological site near Prayagraj, was the ancient capital of which kingdom?
Explanation: Kaushambi served as the capital of the ancient Vatsa kingdom and flourished as a major urban center in the early historic period.
QUESTION 11 OF 28
Sankisa in Farrukhabad district is revered by Buddhists as the place where Buddha is believed to have:
Explanation: Sankisa is traditionally regarded as one of the eight great Buddhist pilgrimage sites, marking the spot where Buddha descended to earth after preaching to his mother in heaven.
QUESTION 12 OF 28
Shravasti, associated with the Jetavana monastery, is significant in Buddhist tradition because Buddha reportedly spent there:
Explanation: Shravasti, home to the Jetavana monastery, is believed to be the place where Buddha spent the largest number of rainy seasons (monsoon retreats) during his ministry.
QUESTION 13 OF 28
The Piprahwa stupa, believed to contain relics of Buddha, is located in which UP district?
Explanation: The Piprahwa stupa in Siddharthnagar district yielded a relic casket in 1898 that is widely believed to contain ashes of Gautama Buddha.
QUESTION 14 OF 28
Which of the following ancient dynasties, along with the Palas and Rashtrakutas, was involved in the prolonged 'Tripartite Struggle' for control of Kannauj?
Explanation: The Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas fought a prolonged contest for control of Kannauj between the 8th and 10th centuries CE, known as the Tripartite Struggle.
QUESTION 15 OF 28
The Ghaghara river, which flows past Ayodhya, is also known locally by which alternate name?
Explanation: The Ghaghara river is referred to as the Sarayu in its stretch near Ayodhya, a name well known from the Ramayana tradition.
QUESTION 16 OF 28
Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, a terai forest tract, is spread across Balrampur, Shravasti, and which other district?
Explanation: Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the terai belt spanning Balrampur, Shravasti, and Gonda districts along the Nepal border.
QUESTION 17 OF 28
Kannauj, sometimes called the 'Perfume Capital of India', has traditionally used which distillation method to produce its ittar (perfume)?
Explanation: Kannauj's traditional perfumers use the age-old deg-bhapka distillation method to produce ittar, natural perfumes distilled from flowers and other aromatic materials.
QUESTION 18 OF 28
Surdas, the blind poet-saint famous for his devotional compositions to Krishna, primarily composed in which dialect associated with the Mathura-Vrindavan region?
Explanation: Surdas composed his devotional poetry, including the celebrated Sur Sagar, in Braj Bhasha, the dialect spoken in the Mathura-Vrindavan region.
QUESTION 19 OF 28
The Lathmar Holi, in which women playfully beat men with sticks, is a distinctive tradition of which UP town near Mathura?
Explanation: Barsana, believed to be the native village of Radha, is famous for its Lathmar Holi, where women playfully strike men with sticks as part of the Holi celebrations.
QUESTION 20 OF 28
The Mahaparinirvana Temple, a major Buddhist pilgrimage monument housing a reclining Buddha statue, is located at:
Explanation: The Mahaparinirvana Temple at Kushinagar houses a large reclining statue of Buddha and marks the traditional site of his passing away.
QUESTION 21 OF 28
Kannauji, a dialect closely related to Awadhi and Braj Bhasha, is traditionally spoken around which UP region?
Explanation: Kannauji is traditionally spoken in the central-western part of UP around Kannauj and Farrukhabad, sharing features with both Awadhi and Braj Bhasha.
QUESTION 22 OF 28
Kannauj's perfume (ittar) industry has functioned for centuries primarily as a:
Explanation: Kannauj's perfume industry has traditionally operated as a small-scale artisanal craft, relying on age-old distillation methods passed down through generations of perfumers.
QUESTION 23 OF 28
The western UP belt around Agra, Kannauj, and Farrukhabad is traditionally known for significant cultivation of which crop besides sugarcane and wheat?
Explanation: The Agra-Kannauj-Farrukhabad belt of western UP is well known for extensive potato cultivation, in addition to sugarcane and wheat.
QUESTION 24 OF 28
The ancient city of Kaushambi, capital of the Vatsa kingdom, is situated close to which present-day UP city?
Explanation: Kaushambi, the ancient capital of the Vatsa kingdom, lies a short distance from present-day Prayagraj (Allahabad) on the banks of the Yamuna.
QUESTION 25 OF 28
The historic Chunar Fort on the Ganga is notable for having been held, among others, by rulers of which medieval dynasty before eventually passing to the Mughals?
Explanation: Chunar Fort changed hands multiple times during the medieval period, including during the Sur dynasty's rule, before eventually passing under Mughal and later British control.
QUESTION 26 OF 28
Kannauj, apart from its perfume industry, is also historically remembered as the capital contested during the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Rashtrakutas, and:
Explanation: Kannauj was the focal point of a prolonged three-way contest for supremacy among the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas between the 8th and 10th centuries.
QUESTION 27 OF 28
The historic Bhitari pillar inscription, relating to the Gupta dynasty, was found in which UP district?
Explanation: The Bhitari pillar inscription, referring to the Gupta ruler Skandagupta, was discovered in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh.
QUESTION 28 OF 28
The historic town of Kalinjar, home to an ancient hill fort, lies in which present-day UP district?
Explanation: Kalinjar Fort, one of the oldest hill forts in the Bundelkhand region, is located in present-day Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.
More UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh PSC) GK MCQs topics
Ancient & Buddhist Heritage28 QMedieval UP (Sultanate & Mughal)26 Q1857 Revolt & Colonial Era16 QFreedom Movement & Modern History8 QUP Polity & Administration14 QUP Geography & Economy60 QArt, Culture, Dialects & Cuisine of UP23 Q
Practising for an exam?
Each exam hub has dates, pattern, syllabus, cut-offs, the free daily current-affairs digest and the study material built for that exam.