100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

📘 100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

🏛️ SECTION 1: Founding and Expansion of the Gupta Empire

Q: Who founded the Gupta Empire?
👉 Sri Gupta
Explanation: He was a local chief in Magadha and laid the foundation of the Gupta dynasty around 240 CE.
Q: Who is considered the real founder of the Gupta Empire?
👉 Chandragupta I
Explanation: He expanded the kingdom significantly and assumed the title “Maharajadhiraja”.
Q: What was Chandragupta I’s capital?
👉 Pataliputra
Q: Chandragupta I strengthened his power through which marriage alliance?
👉 Marriage with Kumaradevi of the Lichchhavi clan
Q: What was the significance of the marriage with Kumaradevi?
👉 It brought prestige and possibly political control over the Lichchhavi territory (modern Bihar/Nepal).
Q: Which Gupta ruler is known as the ‘Napoleon of India’?
👉 Samudragupta
Q: Who succeeded Chandragupta I?
👉 Samudragupta
Q: What is the main source for Samudragupta’s reign?
👉 Allahabad Pillar Inscription
Q: Who authored the Allahabad Pillar Inscription?
👉 Harishena (court poet of Samudragupta)
Q: What does the Allahabad Inscription describe?
👉 Samudragupta’s military campaigns and administrative policies.

⚔️ SECTION 2: Samudragupta’s Military Conquests

Q: How many kings did Samudragupta defeat according to the inscription?
👉 Over 20 kings
Q: What was Samudragupta’s southern policy?
👉 He defeated southern rulers but reinstated them as feudatories.
Q: Which foreign rulers sent envoys to Samudragupta’s court?
👉 Chandravarman, rulers from Sri Lanka and Kushanas
Q: Who was Meghavarna?
👉 King of Sri Lanka who sent an embassy to Samudragupta to build a monastery in Bodh Gaya.
Q: What musical instrument is seen on Samudragupta’s coins?
👉 Veena
Q: What does this coin indicate?
👉 Samudragupta was a patron of music and arts.
Q: What type of government was followed under Samudragupta?
👉 Monarchy with centralised administration
Q: Who succeeded Samudragupta?
👉 Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
Q: Who was Chandragupta II’s mother?
👉 Dattadevi
Q: What was Chandragupta II’s famous title?
👉 Vikramaditya

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

👑 SECTION 3: Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)

Q: What was the capital under Chandragupta II?
👉 Ujjain (also continued Pataliputra)
Q: Whom did Chandragupta II defeat to gain western India?
👉 Shaka Kshatrapas
Q: Who was the famous astronomer in Chandragupta II’s court?
👉 Varahamihira
Q: Which famous poet was part of his court?
👉 Kalidasa
Q: What were the Navaratnas?
👉 Nine gems in Chandragupta II’s court including Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Varahamihira, etc.
Q: Who was Fa-Hien?
👉 Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India during Chandragupta II’s reign.
Q: What did Fa-Hien write?
👉 ‘Fo-Kuo-Ki’ (Account of Buddhist Kingdoms)
Q: What did Fa-Hien say about India?
👉 India was peaceful, law-abiding, and prosperous with well-functioning governance.
Q: What religion did Chandragupta II follow?
👉 Vaishnavism (but tolerant of others)
Q: What coinage did Chandragupta II issue?
👉 Gold, silver, and copper coins with inscriptions and deities.

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

🏛️ SECTION 4: Later Gupta Rulers

Q: Who succeeded Chandragupta II?
👉 Kumaragupta I
Q: What was Kumaragupta I’s major achievement?
👉 Founded Nalanda University
Q: Who invaded during Kumaragupta’s reign?
👉 Pushyamitras (tribal rebellion)
Q: Who succeeded Kumaragupta I?
👉 Skandagupta
Q: What was Skandagupta’s major challenge?
👉 Invasion by the Hunas
Q: Who was the leader of the Huna invasion?
👉 Toramana
Q: Did Skandagupta successfully repel the Hunas?
👉 Yes, initially
Q: What was the effect of the Huna invasion?
👉 It weakened the Gupta Empire significantly.
Q: After Skandagupta, who took over?
👉 Successors like Narasimhagupta Baladitya, but decline had begun.
Q: What was the main reason for Gupta decline?
👉 Huna invasions, weak successors, feudalism, and regional uprisings.

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

📜 SECTION 5: Administration and Economy

Q: What type of administration did the Guptas follow?
👉 Monarchical, centralised with provinces
Q: What were the provinces called?
👉 Bhuktis
Q: Who was the head of a Bhukti?
👉 Uparika
Q: What was a Vishaya?
👉 District
Q: Who headed a Vishaya?
👉 Vishayapati
Q: What was the smallest administrative unit?
👉 Gram (village)
Q: Who was the head of the village?
👉 Gramik or Gramika
Q: What was the primary source of revenue?
👉 Land tax (Bhaga)
Q: What was ‘Bali’?
👉 A type of tax or offering to the king
Q: What was the economy based on?
👉 Agriculture and trade

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

🧠 SECTION 6: Education, Literature, and Science

Q: Which university was established during Gupta rule?
👉 Nalanda University
Q: Who founded Nalanda University?
👉 Kumaragupta I
Q: Who was Aryabhatta?
👉 A great mathematician and astronomer of Gupta age
Q: What was Aryabhatta’s famous work?
👉 Aryabhatiya
Q: What did Aryabhatta discover?
👉 Concept of zero, rotation of Earth, value of pi (π)
Q: Who was Varahamihira?
👉 Astronomer and astrologer, author of “Brihat Samhita”
Q: What was Kalidasa’s famous play?
👉 Abhijnanashakuntalam
Q: Name any other work of Kalidasa.
👉 Meghaduta
Q: What language did Gupta scholars write in?
👉 Sanskrit
Q: What script did they use?
👉 Brahmi script

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

🎨 SECTION 7: Art, Architecture & Culture

Q: What is the Gupta period famous for in art?
👉 Classical sculpture, temples, and paintings
Q: Name a famous cave with Gupta paintings.
👉 Ajanta Caves (though earlier, they were renovated during Gupta period)
Q: What kind of temples were built?
👉 Structural temples (not rock-cut)
Q: What is the Dasavatara Temple at Deogarh famous for?
👉 One of the earliest Hindu temples with Gupta art style
Q: What was the material used in Gupta temple architecture?
👉 Stone and brick
Q: What deities were commonly worshipped?
👉 Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, and Surya
Q: What style did the sculptures follow?
👉 Graceful, smooth body lines, spiritual expressions
Q: What metal art form was developed?
👉 Bronze casting
Q: Were coins used as art?
👉 Yes, with detailed images and inscriptions
Q: What is the Gupta style of painting known for?
👉 Delicacy, grace, and use of natural colours

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

🧭 SECTION 8: Religion and Society

Q: What religion did most Guptas follow?
👉 Hinduism (Vaishnavism dominant)
Q: Were other religions tolerated?
👉 Yes, Buddhism and Jainism flourished
Q: Who built Buddhist monasteries during Gupta rule?
👉 Foreign kings like Meghavarna of Sri Lanka with Gupta support
Q: What was the status of women?
👉 Patriarchal society, but women in elite class had education and some rights
Q: What were the four varnas in society?
👉 Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra
Q: Was untouchability present?
👉 Yes, but less rigid than in later periods
Q: Did the Gupta rulers support Vedic sacrifices?
👉 Yes, like Ashvamedha by Samudragupta
Q: Were there land grants to Brahmins?
👉 Yes, called ‘Brahmadeya’ grants
Q: Did caste system strengthen during Gupta rule?
👉 Yes, more rigid social stratification emerged
Q: Were guilds (Shrenis) active?
👉 Yes, in trade and crafts

📉 SECTION 9: Decline of the Gupta Empire

Q: What led to the decline of the Gupta Empire?
👉 Huna invasions, weak rulers, and internal revolts
Q: Who was the most powerful Huna ruler?
👉 Toramana
Q: Who was Mihirakula?
👉 Son of Toramana, known for his cruelty
Q: Could the Guptas stop the Hunas completely?
👉 No, they weakened but didn’t fully defeat them in the long term
Q: Which region broke away from Gupta rule?
👉 Vakatakas, Bengal, and Malwa
Q: Did the empire split into smaller kingdoms?
👉 Yes, after the 6th century CE
Q: What was the last known Gupta ruler?
👉 Vishnugupta
Q: By which century did the Gupta Empire end?
👉 7th century CE
Q: Did regional kingdoms rise after Gupta fall?
👉 Yes, like Vardhanas, Chalukyas, Pallavas
Q: What legacy did the Gupta Empire leave?
👉 Golden Age of India in science, art, literature, and administration

100 GK Questions on Gupta Empire | Golden Age of India Notes for Exams

📝 SECTION 10: Quick Revision – MCQ Style

Q: Gupta coins were mostly made of?
👉 Gold
Q: Gupta script was?
👉 Brahmi
Q: Which Gupta ruler issued silver coins after defeating Shakas?
👉 Chandragupta II
Q: Nalanda was founded by?
👉 Kumaragupta I
Q: Aryabhatta was in whose court?
👉 Chandragupta II / Later Gupta age
Q: Kalidasa was in whose court?
👉 Chandragupta II
Q: Which Gupta king repelled Hunas?
👉 Skandagupta
Q: What is the Gupta period also called?
👉 Golden Age of India
Q: Who visited India during Gupta rule from China?
👉 Fa-Hien
Q: Gupta Empire began around which year?
👉 320 CE (Chandragupta I)

🌟 Conclusion

The Gupta Empire (c. 320–550 CE) is remembered as the Golden Age of India for its unmatched progress in art, science, literature, administration, and economy. From Chandragupta I to Skandagupta, it saw strong rulers, effective governance, and immense cultural achievements. Though the empire declined due to Huna invasions and internal fragmentation, its contributions continue to influence Indian history and heritage.

🔗More Interesting History GK Notes:

🔗Authoritative:

NCERT Class 6–12 History PDFs – Official NCERT
Ancient India – UPSC CSE Notes (BYJU’s)
Gupta Empire – Britannica
Indian History – UPSC CSE Preparation (Vision IAS)

1. Why is the Gupta Period called the Golden Age of India?

The Gupta period is called the Golden Age because of major achievements in science, mathematics, literature, art, and architecture. Scholars like Aryabhata and Kalidasa flourished during this time.

2. Who founded the Gupta Empire?

The Gupta Empire was founded by Sri Gupta around 240 CE.

3. Who was the greatest ruler of the Gupta Empire?

Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) is considered the greatest ruler due to military expansion and cultural development.

4. Who wrote Aryabhatiya?

Aryabhata wrote Aryabhatiya and introduced the concept of zero and decimal system.

5. Who was the court poet of Chandragupta II?

Kalidasa was the famous court poet and author of works like Abhijnanasakuntalam.

6. What was the capital of the Gupta Empire?

Pataliputra was the main capital of the Gupta Empire.

7. Who defeated the Huns?

Skandagupta successfully defeated the Huns and protected the empire.

8. What type of coins were used in the Gupta period?

Gold coins (Dinara) were widely used, showing high economic prosperity.

9. Which religion was mainly supported by Gupta rulers?

Gupta rulers mainly supported Hinduism but were tolerant towards Buddhism and Jainism.

10. When did the Gupta Empire decline?

The Gupta Empire declined around 550 CE due to Hun invasions and weak successors.