Ans:D

Exp:

The Lumbini pillar inscription is known as Rummindei Pillar Inscription. It is an inscription in the ancient brahmi script, discovered in 1896 in Lumbini, Nepal by former Army General Jang Bahadur Rana. This is classified as minor pillar edicts. The inscription was a commemoration of Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini.

Statement 1 is correct: The inscription mentions the Ashoka as ‘Devanampiya’ and ‘Piyadassi’. It denotes that the King was loved by both God and the people.

Statement 2 is correct: It is mentioned in the inscription that the village of Lumbini was exempted from  the taxes of Bali(tribute) and Bhaga(the royal share of the produce).

Statement 3 is correct: It is learned from the Pillar Inscription that Ashoka came himself and worshiped here because the place marked the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni.

Ans: C

Exp:

Ashoka succeeded his father Bindusara. He is considered as the greatest of the Mauryan rulers. Ashokan inscriptions provide details about his rule. He appointed ‘Dharmamahamattas’ for propagating dharma among various social groups. There were many changes done in the administration of the Empire, post the Kalinga war.

Statement 1 is correct: Ashoka disapproved of rituals, especially those observed by women. He prohibited the killing of birds and animals. The objective of Ashoka’s dhamma was to preserve social order. Dhamma preached that people should obey their parents and pay respect to Brahmins and Buddhist monks.

Statement 2 is correct: Ashoka appointed ‘Rajukas’ for the administration of justice in his empire. He deputed officials to help in the administration. 

Ans: B

Exp:

The Mauryan empire was a vast territorial entity. Various levels of administration were required to govern it well. Senior officers called pradeshikas were tasked with touring the empire every five years and performing an audit as well as keeping a check on the provincial administration. In addition, there were judicial officers, rajukas, in both urban and rural areas, whose judicial functions often combined with assessment of revenue.  The Yukta was a junior officer giving secretarial kind of assistance to the other two. The officials fulfilled the following duties: survey and assessment of land; tours and inspections; revenue collection; and maintaining law and order.

Ans: D

Exp: 

In Ashokan inscriptions, Brahmi, Kharosthi, Prakrit, Aramaic, and Greek languages (deciphered by James Prinsep in c.1837 CE) have been used.

The inscriptions were composed in the Prakrit language (in Magadhi, the dialect of Prakrit in Magadha) and written in Brahmi script throughout the greater part of the empire. But in the north-western part, they appear in Kharosthi script and in Kandahar in Afghanistan, they were written in Aramaic, in Greek script and Greek language. Hence statement 1 is correct but 3 is incorrect.

Brahmi script used in eastern India and Greek and Aramaic scripts in western India. Hence,Option 2 is incorrect but 4 is correct.

Ans: A

Exp:

Pair 1 is incorrect: Varanasi was the capital of Kashi. It is located in the present day Varanasi. Of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, Kashi seems to have been the most powerful in the beginning. But eventually, it succumbed to the power of Koshala.  

Pair 2 is incorrect: Koshala embraced the area occupied by eastern Uttar Pradesh and had its capital at Shravasti. Koshala had an important city called Ayodhya which is associated with the story in the Ramayana.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Vatsas had its capital at Kausambi near Allahabad. The Vatsas were a Kuru clan who had shifted from Hastinapur and settled at Kausambi. 

Pair 4 is correct: Beginning from the east, we hear of the kingdom of Anga which covered the modern districts of Monghyr and Bhagalpur. It had its capital at Champa, which shows signs of habitation in the fifth century BC, and there is a mud fort dating to that century. Eventually the kingdom of Anga was swallowed by its powerful neighbour Magadha.