BPSC Prelims · Topic-wise PYQs
Ancient History BPSC Prelims PYQs
159 questions on Ancient History asked in BPSC Prelims, sorted into 5 sub-topics. In the app you practise each sub-topic as a timed test (longer sub-topics in sets of about 25 questions) with the BPSC marking (+1 / −0.33 per question), followed by a full analysis.
About Ancient History in BPSC Prelims
Ancient History is the 6th largest of the 12 topics in the BPSC bank: 159 of its 2,570 topic-wise PYQs (6.2%). The biggest sub-topics are Mahajanapadas & the Mauryas (47), Vedic Age & Religious Movements (44), Post-Maurya & Gupta Age (34).
Sub-topics and question counts
| Sub-topic | PYQs | Latest year |
|---|---|---|
| Mahajanapadas & the Mauryas | 47 | 2025 |
| Vedic Age & Religious Movements | 44 | 2025 |
| Post-Maurya & Gupta Age | 34 | 2024 |
| South India & Early Medieval | 19 | 2025 |
| Prehistory & Indus Valley | 15 | 2024 |
| Total | 159 | 2025 |
Sub-topics with fewer than 20 questions are practised inside the Ancient History tests in the app and have no page of their own.
Ancient History PYQs by the latest year asked
Each question is counted once, under the latest year it was asked in the exam.
| Period | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 and later | 35 | |
| 2016–2020 | 39 | |
| 2011–2015 | 15 | |
| 2001–2010 | 28 | |
| Before 2001 | 42 |
Sample Ancient History questions from the free tests
Question text only. The options, the answer and the explanation open in the free test (free sign-in with your mobile number).
Asked in 2025
Who among the following was not an Acharya in The Nalanda Vishvavidyalaya?
Attempt it in the free 71st CCE Prelims (2025)Asked in 2024
Name the major city of the Indus Valley civilization that had trade with West Asia.
Attempt it in the free Indus Valley Civilization topic-wise testAsked in 2023
Which of the following animals was not known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Attempt it in the free Indus Valley Civilization topic-wise test
Questions students ask
How many Ancient History questions has BPSC Prelims asked?
Sovereign IAS has 159 Ancient History previous-year questions from BPSC Prelims in 5 sub-topics, the latest from 2025.
Which Ancient History sub-topics come up most often?
Mahajanapadas & the Mauryas (47 questions), Vedic Age & Religious Movements (44 questions), Post-Maurya & Gupta Age (34 questions).
Can I practise BPSC Ancient History PYQs for free?
Partly. 17 of these 159 questions are in the free BPSC tests (the latest papers and two topic-wise tests, free with a sign-in); the full set is part of the Destiny Pass.