Saturday, May 3, 2025

Vijayanagar empire Quiz

                                                                Lotus Mahal in Hampi.
                        Photograph by John Gollings from the George Michell Collection

Q. 1.- Where are the ruins of Vijayanagar empire found ?

(A) Bijapur

(B) Bidar 

(C) Golconda

(D) Hampi

Q. 2.-  Lotus Mahal is an important monument in___

(A) Pattadakal 

(B) Hampi

(C) Badami

(D) Aihole

Q.3.- Which among the following was the single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire?

(A) Cotton and silk clothes

(B) Spices

(C) Horses

(D) Sugar 

Q.4.- Who was the most famous ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire?

(A) Krishnadeva Raya

(B) Harihara II, 

(C) Sadasiva Raya

(D) Deva Raya

Q.5, - Who was the author of Madhura Vijayam?

(A)  Shilabhattarika

(B) Gangadevi

(C) Tirumalamba

(D) Vijjika


Answer

Q.1- D

The nucleus of the Vijayanagar kingdom was the city of Vijayanagar, identified with present day Hampi (located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River) in Karnataka. 

Q.2- B

Lotus Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal is an important structure in Hampi.

Q.3- C

Horses was the single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire.

Q.4. - A

One of the greatest kings of India, Krishnadeva Raya raised the Hindu power of Vijayanagar to the zenith of its prosperity and glory.

Q.5. - B

Gangadevi was a 14th-century princess and Sanskrit-language poet of the Vijayanagara Empire of present-day India.She was the wife of Veera kampana, son of the Vijayanagara ruler Bukka Raya I (c. 1360s-1370s).

Madhurā Vijayam was written by the poet Gangadevi. 

Madhurā Vijayam is also named Vira Kamparaya Charitham by the poet. It chronicles the life of Kumara Kampana. The poem describes in detail, the conquest of the Madurai Sultanate by the Vijayanagara Empire

Gangadevi is a key inspiration for Pampa Kampana, the protagonist of Salman Rushdie's novel Victory City.





Friday, May 2, 2025

Satavahana Empire Quiz

Q.1. Which Satavahana ruler had authored Gathasaptashati?

[A]  Gautamiputra Satkarni 

[B] Simuka 

[C] Pulumayi 

[D] Hala

Q.2. The famous book ‘Brihatkatha’ written in Paishachi language was composed by __?

[A] Subandhu

[B] Guṇāḍhya 

[C] Somadeva 

[D] Kshemendra 

Q.3. With whom is Nashik Inscription associated?

[A] Samudragupta

[B] Rudradaman 

[C] Gautamiputra Satakarni

[D] Ashoka

Answer: 

Q.1. -  D

Hāla was a Satavahana king who is traditionally assigned the authorship of Saptasataka (Seven Hundred) or Gathasaptashati, the most important literary work in Prakrit. Written in the Arya metre, Saptasataka is a collection of self contained stanzas full of beauty. 

Q.2. -  B

Brihatkatha is a book written by Gunadhya. Gunadhya was a scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala. Brihat Katha is written in Paisachi language.

Q. 3. -  C

Nashik prashasti inscription was issued by Gautami Balashri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of Satavahana Dynasty


Thursday, May 1, 2025

Ancient India QUIZ

Q.1.  The Mauryan Emperor Asoka is said to have founded the famous city of______? 

(A) Takshashila 

(B) Vaishali

(C) Pataliputra

(D) Srinagar

Q.2. Consider the statements regarding Buddhist councils

1.The First Buddhist council was convened in Vaishali

2. First Buddhist Council was convened under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of the Haryanka dynasty.

3. Ashvaghosha, who was part of the fourth Buddhist Council, had written Buddhacharita.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) both 1 and 3

(B) both 2 and 3

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer

Q.1.- D

  • Notes: According to Kalhana's Rajatarangini, Srinagar was built by Ashoka. 
  • Pataliputra was the capital of Mauryan Empire.
  • Takshashila was the provincial capital of Mauryan Empire.
  • Vaishali contains one of the best-preserved of the Pillars of Ashoka. 


Q. 2- B

  • The First Buddhist council was convened in Rajgriha.
  • The First Buddhist Council was convened under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of the Haryanka dynasty.
  • Ashvaghosha had written BuddhacharQita. Asvaghosha was patronised by Kushan king Kanishka. 


Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Sixteen Mahajanapadas Quiz

 Q.1. In ancient India the only Mahajanapada to be located in south India was 

(A) Kamboja

(B) Asmaka

(C) Matsya 

(D) Surasena

Q.2. The capital of Panchala Mahajanapada was Ahichatra which is in the state of 

(A) Bihar

(B) Punjab

(C) Uttar Pradesh

(D) Gujarat

Q.3. Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?  

(1) Gandhara

(2) Avanti

(3) Magadha

(4) Kosala

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(A) 1, 2 and 3

(B) 2 and 4

(C) 3 and 4 

(D) 1, 3 and 4

Q.4. Which among the following was the capital of Mahajanapada of Vatsa?

(A) Kausambi

(B) Viratnagar

(C) Kusinara

(D) Rajapura

Q.5. Which of the following Buddhist text has referred to the existence of the 16 Mahajanapadas on the sixth century BC?

(A) Khuddaka Nikaya 

(B) Anguttara Nikaya

(C) Sutta Piṭaka

(D) None of the above

Answer

Q. 1. - B

Asmaka or Assaka is one of the 16 Janapadas that existed in the sixth century BC in ancient India. It included areas in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 

The capital of the Assaka was Potana or Potali. It is identified with present-day Bodhan in Telangana. 

The ancient Assaka janapada was located along the Godavari river 

Q.2. - C

Capital of Panchala was Ahichatra (also known as Adhichhatra and Chhatravati, near present-day Aonla) tehsil of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh. 

Q.3. - C

A large number of Buddha's sermons were delivered in Sravasti which served as the ancient capital of Kosala during the reign of king Presenajit.

Q. 4. - A

The capital of Vatsa Mahajanapada was the city of Kauśāmbī or Kosāmbī, on the Yamunā river. 

Q. 5. - B

Angutara Nikaya, a Buddhist Pali scripture mentions 16 great kingdoms or Mahajanapadas at the beginning of the 6th century BCE in India. 


Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Ajivikas and Other Ascetics Quiz

Q.1. Ajivika sect was founded by which of the following?

(A) Ajita Kesakambalin

(B) Pūraṇa Kassapa, 

(C) Makkhali Gosala

(D) Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta 

Q.2. Which among the following rulers is associated with the Sudama Caves in Bihar?

(A) Chandragupta Maurya

(B) Bimbisara

(C) Bindusara

(D) Ashoka

Q.3.  "As long as he lives a man should live happily

And drink ghee, though he run into debt,

For when the body is turned to ashes

How can there be any return to life?”

This rejection of after-life is an aphorism of which of the following sects?

(A). Kapalika sect. 

(B) Sunyavada of Nagarjun

(C)  Ajivikas. 

(D) Charvakas


Q.1. Answer: C

Notes: Ajivikas were a religious sect founded in the 5th century BC by Goshala Maskariputra (Makkhali Gosala), a contemporary of the Buddha and Mahavir. 

Q.2. Answer: D

Notes: The 3rd century BC Mauryan emperor Ashoka had dedicated the Sudama cave as evidenced in Brahmi featuring his protocol name (Priyadarsin who brings joy) found at the cave entrance. 

Ashoka had dedicated the caves of Sudama to the "Ajivikas" in the 12th year of his reign. 

Q.3. Answer: D

Notes: Charvaka is an ancient Indian philosophical system which propounded materialism and rejected the notions of an afterlife. According to the Charvaka school of thought, all religious observance and morality were useless. The school encouraged making most of the life and seeking after the happiness that can be found in life.


IT Quiz


Q. 1. The term used to describe an email that is targeting a specific person is known as

(A) Spam

(B) Phishing

(c) Vishing

(D) Spear phishing

 

Q. 2. Machine learning is a subset of which of the following.

(A) Deep learning

(B) Data learning

(C) Artificial intelligence

(D) None of the above


Q. 3. What is the term used when a cybercriminal sends a fraudulent email disguised as being from a legitimate, trusted source?

(A) Trojan

(B) vishing

(C) Phishing

(D) backdoor

 

Q. 4. Who is the father of Machine Learning?

(A) Geoffrey Everest Hinton

(B) Howard Hinton

(C) George Everest

(D) Colin Clarkf

 

Q. 5.Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is used to distinguish one person from another and verify your identity. Which of the following is an example of PII?

(A) ID Number

(B) Date of Birth

(C) Home Address

(D) All of the answers are correct

 

Q. 6.Who is responsible for information security within your company?

(A) IT Security Department

(B) Everyone in the Company

(C) IT Department

(D) Top Management

 

Q. 7. Tailgating is a form of social engineering that allows hackers to:

(A) Watch company’s main gate

(B) Get unauthorized access to restricted area

(C) Watch employees as they leave gates

(D) Follow employee after work

 

Q. 8. Which one of the following can protect a computer from the risk of unwanted emails?

(A) Anti-Spam Software

(B) Anti-Virus Software

(C) Anti-Spyware Software

(D) PC Diagnostic Software


Q. 9. If you want to share a password with someone, what's the best option?

(A) Tell it via the phone

(B) Send a text message

(C) Send it via email

(D) None of the above

 

Q. 10. Which one of the following describes why firewalls are used?

(A) To prevent unauthorised access by incoming transmissions.

(B) To prevent destruction of a computer in the event of a fire.

(C) To enable easy downloading of data from web sites

(D) To detect and disable viruses already on a computer.



Answers


Q.1. Answer: D

Notes: Spear phishing is a phishing method that targets specific persons or targets.

Spear Phishing occurs when a malicious party obtains information about the targeted individuals from websites or social networking sites and customize a phishing scheme to them


Q.2. Answer: C

Notes: Deep learning is a subset of machine learning, and machine learning is a subset of Artificial Intelligence.


Q.3. Answer: C

Notes: Phishing is an email used by cybercriminals who create fraudulent messages that are meant to lure a user into either revealing sensitive or confidential information or installing malware.


Q.4. Answer: A

Notes: Geoffrey Everest Hinton is the father of Machine Learning.


Q.5. Answer: D

Notes: Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that is used to identify a specific individual. All information that directly or indirectly links to a person is considered PII. One's name, email address, phone number, bank account number, and government-issued ID number are all examples of PII.


Q.6. Answer: B

Notes: Everyone bears the responsibility for information security in an organization?


Q.7. Answer: B

Notes: In information security, tailgating is a social engineering technique used by hackers to deceive organization's officials through direct speech or actions in order to gain access into restricted areas. An example of tailgating is when one person tags along with an authorized employee to access a building or pass a certain checkpoint.


Q.8. Answer: A

Notes: Anti-Spam Software has the potential of protecting your computer from the risk of unwanted emails.


Q.9. Answer: D

Notes: A password is personal data which shouldn't be shared with others.


Q.9. Answer: A

Notes: Firewalls are used to prevent unauthorised access by incoming transmissions.




Monday, April 28, 2025

Vedic Period Quiz - 2

Q.1. Which of the following tribal assemblies completely disappeared during the later Vedic Period?

1. Sabha

2. Samiti

3. Vidhata

Select the correct option from the codes given below:

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 1 and 2

(C) Only 2 and 3

(D) Only 3

Q.2. On the bank of which river the Battle of Ten Kings (Dasrajan Yudha), referred to in the Rig Veda, was fought?

(A) Parushni 

(B) Vitasta

(C) Vipasa

(D) Asikni

Q.3. In which among the following sacrifices, the sacrificial materials used was sura in Vedic Era?

A. Agnistoma

B. Rajasuya

C. Sautramani

D. Vajapeya

Q.4.  The number of hymns (suktas) Rig Veda contains are __.

(A) 1124

(B) 1028

(C) 1149

(D) 1024

Q.5. How many Mandalas were in Rig Vedic Samhita?

(A) 10

(B) 11

(C) 12

(D) 13

Answers:

Q. 1. - D

In later Vedic Period the Rig Vedic assemblies lost importance and royal power increased. The vidatha completely disappeared; the sabha and samiti continued to exist with changed character. 

Q. 2. - A

The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasrajan Yudha), referred to in the Rig Veda, was fought on the bank of the Parushni river (modern Ravi River). This battle pitted the Bharata tribe, led by Sudas, against a coalition of ten other tribes. 

Q. 3. - A 

Agnistoma. In the Vedic Era, the sacrificial material used was "sura" in the Agnistoma sacrifice.

Q.4. - B

Rig Veda consists of 1028 hymns grouped into ten books (mandalas) distributed over 10 chapters known as mandalas. These hymns are addressed to different Gods that included Agni, Indra, Agni and Soma.

Q.5. - A 

Rig Veda is organized in ten "books", or maṇḍalas ("circles"). The first and the tenth mandalas are the youngest. The ninth mandala is entirely dedicated to Soma and the Soma ritual.








Hawa Mahal

One of the most written-about and photographed of the monuments in the world, the Hawa Mahal ( Palace of Winds)  was built in 1799 by Sawai ...