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

📘 Gupta Empire – Golden Age of India: 100 GK Questions & Answers with Explanations

🏛️ 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

👑 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.

🏛️ 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.

📜 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

🧠 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

🎨 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

🧭 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

📝 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.

🔗 Internal Links (Suggestions):

🔗 External Links (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)