Introduction:
The Chedi dynasty of Kalinga, also known as the ‘Mahameghavahana dynasty’, was an ancient royal house that ruled the region of Kalinga (present-day Odisha and parts of neighbouring states) around the 2nd–1st century BCE. The dynasty is best remembered for its most powerful ruler, Kharavela, whose achievements are recorded in the famous Hathigumpha inscription found in the Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar. Under Kharavela, Kalinga rose as a strong military and cultural power, with successful campaigns extending into northern and southern India, active patronage of Jainism, and significant contributions to art, architecture, and trade. The Chedi dynasty’s rule marks an important chapter in the ancient history of eastern India, offering valuable insights into the political and cultural landscape of the period.
Here are 50+ Gk MCQs about Chedi dynasty of Kalinga:
Q.1 The Chedi dynasty of Kalinga is mainly associated with which ruling family?
A) Mahameghavahana
B) Gupta
C) Maurya
D) Satavahana
Answer: A) Mahameghavahana
Q.2 Who was the most famous ruler of the Chedi dynasty of Kalinga?
A) Kanishka
B) Kharavela
C) Pushyamitra
D) Gautamiputra Satakarni
Answer: B) Kharavela
Q.3 What important object did Kharavela reportedly bring back from Magadha?
A) Kalinga Jina
B) Ashoka’s relics
C) Buddha’s tooth relic
D) Vedic manuscripts
Answer: A) Kalinga Jina
Q.4 Which inscription is the principal source of information about Kharavela?
A) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B) Hathigumpha Inscription
C) Junagadh Inscription
D) Aihole Inscription
Answer: B) Hathigumpha Inscription
Q.5 The Hathigumpha Inscription is located at which place?
A) Udayagiri
B) Sanchi
C) Amaravati
D) Dhauli
Answer: A) Udayagiri, Odisha
Q.6 Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are located near which modern city?
A) Cuttack
B) Bhubaneswar
C) Puri
D) Sambalpur
Answer: B) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Q.7 The Hathigumpha Inscription was written in which script?
A) Kharosthi
B) Brahmi
C) Sharada
D) Devanagari
Answer: B) Brahmi
Q.8 The Hathigumpha Inscription is primarily written in which language?
A) Sanskrit
B) Prakrit
C) Pali
D) Tamil
Answer: B) Prakrit
Q.9 The Hathigumpha Inscription provides information about Kharavela up to which regnal year?
A) 5th year
B) 8th year
C) 10th year
D) 13th year
Answer: D) 13th year
Q.10 Kharavela belonged to which religious tradition?
A) Jainism
B) Buddhism
C) Shaivism
D) Vaishnavism
Answer: A) Jainism
Q.11 Which dynasty is described as the Mahameghavahana family of the Chedi clan?
A) Kharavela’s dynasty
B) Gupta dynasty
C) Shunga dynasty
D) Kanva dynasty
Answer: A) Kharavela’s dynasty
Q.12 Kharavela is associated with which ancient region?
A) Kalinga
B) Gandhara
C) Avanti
D) Kosala
Answer: A) Kalinga
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Q.13 Which modern Indian state largely corresponds to the historical core of Kalinga ruled by Kharavela?
A) Odisha
B) Punjab
C) Gujarat
D) Kerala
Answer: A) Odisha
Q.14 What was Kharavela’s relationship with the Chedi clan according to the Hathigumpha tradition?
A) He belonged to the Chedi clan
B) He defeated the Chedis
C) He was a Gupta feudatory
D) He was a Satavahana prince
Answer: A) He belonged to the Chedi clan
Q.15 Which title is associated with Kharavela in the Hathigumpha Inscription?
A) Kalingadhipati
B) Maharajadhiraja
C) Devanampriya
D) Vikramaditya
Answer: A) Kalingadhipati
Q.16 According to the Hathigumpha Inscription, Kharavela became Yuvaraja before becoming what?
A) Senapati
B) Maharaja
C) Mahamatra
D) Samrat of Magadha
Answer: B) Maharaja
Q.17 At what age did Kharavela reportedly ascend the throne?
A) 18
B) 21
C) 24
D) 30
Answer: C) 24
Q.18 Kharavela’s first-year activities mainly included repairing what?
A) Buddhist stupas
B) Fortifications and gates of Kalinganagari
C) Ashokan pillars
D) Satavahana temples
Answer: B) Fortifications and gates of Kalinganagari
Q.19 Kalinganagari was associated with which dynasty?
A) Mahameghavahana
B) Gupta
C) Pallava
D) Chola
Answer: A) Mahameghavahana
Q.20 Which natural disaster had damaged the fortifications of Kalinganagari before Kharavela repaired them?
A) Earthquake
B) Cyclone/storm
C) Flood
D) Drought
Answer: B) Cyclone/storm
Q.21 In the second regnal year, Kharavela campaigned against which powerful southern ruler?
A) Satakarni
B) Gautamiputra
C) Pulakeshin
D) Rajaraja
Answer: A) Satakarni
Q.22 Satakarni mentioned in connection with Kharavela belonged to which dynasty?
A) Satavahana
B) Shunga
C) Kanva
D) Maurya
Answer: A) Satavahana
Q.23 Kharavela’s second-year campaign reached which river?
A) Ganga
B) Narmada
C) Krishna
D) Godavari
Answer: C) Krishna
Q.24 Which city or region called Assaka/Asika is mentioned in connection with Kharavela’s southern campaign?
A) Asika
B) Taxila
C) Pataliputra
D) Ujjain
Answer: A) Asika
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Q.25 In his third regnal year, Kharavela promoted which activities at Kalinganagari?
A) Dance and music
B) Naval warfare
C) Vedic sacrifices only
D) Buddhist councils
Answer: A) Dance and music
Q.26 Consider the following statements:
- Kharavela belonged to the Mahameghavahana family.
- He was associated with the Chedi clan.
- His principal historical inscription is the Hathigumpha Inscription.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D) 1, 2 and 3
Q.27 In his fourth regnal year, Kharavela campaigned against which groups?
A) Rathikas and Bhojakas
B) Palas and Senas
C) Cholas and Pandyas
D) Kushanas and Sakas
Answer: A) Rathikas and Bhojakas
Q.28 Rathikas and Bhojakas were associated mainly with which direction from Kalinga?
A) West
B) North
C) Northeast
D) Southeast
Answer: A) West
Q.29 Kharavela’s fifth-year activities included renovation of what?
A) An ancient aqueduct/canal
B) A Buddhist monastery
C) A royal palace at Pataliputra
D) A sea port
Answer: A) An ancient aqueduct/canal
Q.30 The canal renovated during Kharavela’s reign was traditionally attributed to which ruler?
A) Mahapadma Nanda
B) Ashoka
C) Chandragupta Maurya
D) Pushyamitra Shunga
Answer: A) Mahapadma Nanda
Q.31 In his sixth regnal year, Kharavela is said to have provided relief through what measure?
A) Increased taxes
B) Tax remission
C) Land confiscation
D) Forced labour
Answer: B) Tax remission
Q.32 Kharavela’s seventh regnal year is comparatively unclear because:
A) The inscription is damaged/uncertain for that year
B) He was not king
C) He left Kalinga permanently
D) He died that year
Answer: A) The inscription is damaged/uncertain for that year
Q.33 Who deciphered the Hathigumpha Inscription in the nineteenth century?
A) James Prinsep
B) Alexander Cunningham
C) John Marshall
D) William Jones
Answer: A) James Prinsep
Q.34 Kharavela’s eighth-year campaign was directed toward which important region?
A) Magadha
B) Tamilakam
C) Kashmir
D) Sindh
Answer: A) Magadha
Q.35 Which fortification did Kharavela’s army attack during his campaign toward Rajagriha?
A) Gorathagiri
B) Chittorgarh
C) Raichur
D) Daulatabad
Answer: A) Gorathagiri
Q.36 Rajagriha was an important city of which ancient kingdom?
A) Magadha
B) Kalinga
C) Avanti
D) Chedi
Answer: A) Magadha
Q.37 Which foreign/Indo-Greek ruler is mentioned in connection with Kharavela’s northern campaign?
A) Demetrius
B) Menander
C) Antiochus
D) Seleucus
Answer: A) Demetrius
Q.38 Which of the following is the most important epigraphic source for reconstructing Kharavela’s reign?
A) Hathigumpha Inscription
B) Nasik Inscription
C) Mehrauli Pillar Inscription
D) Maski Inscription
Answer: A) Hathigumpha Inscription
Q.39 According to the traditional reading of the Hathigumpha account, the Yavana king retreated toward which city?
A) Mathura
B) Ujjain
C) Taxila
D) Pataliputra
Answer: A) Mathura
Q.40 Which religious tradition was particularly associated with Mathura during this period?
A) Jainism
B) Sikhism
C) Hinduism
D) Christianity
Answer: C) Hinduism
Q.41 What palace did Kharavela construct in his ninth regnal year?
A) Mahavijaya Prasada
B) Kailasa Prasada
C) Rajarajeshvara
D) Vikramaditya Prasada
Answer: A) Mahavijaya Prasada
Q.42 Kharavela was particularly known for patronizing which religion?
A) Jainism
B) Buddhism
C) Zoroastrianism
D) Christianity
Answer: A) Jainism
Q.43 Kharavela’s tenth regnal year involved another expedition toward:
A) Northern India
B) Sri Lanka
C) Southeast Asia
D) Kashmir only
Answer: A) Northern India
Q.44 In his eleventh year, Kharavela is said to have fought against a confederacy of which region?
A) Tamil states
B) Himalayan kingdoms
C) Gandhara
D) Bengal
Answer: A) Tamil states
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Q.45 Which southern city is mentioned in connection with Kharavela’s eleventh-year campaign?
A) Pithunda
B) Madurai
C) Kanchipuram
D) Vanchi
Answer: A) Pithunda
Q.46 Kharavela’s twelfth-year campaign again moved toward:
A) Northern India
B) Sri Lanka
C) Afghanistan
D) Gujarat
Answer: A) Northern India
Q.47 How far north is Kharavela said to have advanced during his twelfth-year campaign?
A) Uttarapatha
B) Kaveri Delta
C) Konkan
D) Malabar
Answer: A) Uttarapatha (North-West India)
Q.48 Which kingdom faced Kharavela’s power during his later northern campaign?
A) Magadha
B) Chola
C) Pandya
D) Chera
Answer: A) Magadha
Q.49 Which Magadha ruler is mentioned in connection with Kharavela?
A) Brihaspati Mitra
B) Bimbisara
C) Ajatashatru
D) Dhana Nanda
Answer: A) Brihaspati Mitra
Q.50 Which sequence correctly connects the historical personalities and regions?
A) Kharavela – Kalinga – Mahameghavahana – Hathigumpha
B) Kharavela – Magadha – Maurya – Sanchi
C) Kharavela – Tamil Nadu – Chola – Thanjavur
D) Kharavela – Gandhara – Kushana – Taxila
Answer: A) Kharavela – Kalinga – Mahameghavahana – Hathigumpha
Q.51 The Kalinga Jina had earlier been taken away from Kalinga by which ruling house?
A) Nandas
B) Mauryas
C) Guptas
D) Satavahanas
Answer: A) Nandas
Q.52 Which of the following was not associated with Kharavela?
A) Hathigumpha Inscription
B) Mahavijaya Prasada
C) Kalinga Jina
D) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
Answer: D) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
Q.53 Which of the following correctly represents Kharavela’s major areas of activity?
A) Kalinga, Deccan, Magadha and northern India
B) Kashmir, Sindh and Punjab only
C) Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka only
D) Bengal and Assam only
Answer: A) Kalinga, Deccan, Magadha and northern India
Q.54 The caves patronized by Kharavela are particularly associated with which hills?
A) Udayagiri and Khandagiri
B) Aravalli and Vindhya
C) Nilgiri and Anaimalai
D) Satpura and Ajanta
Answer: A) Udayagiri and Khandagiri
Q.55 Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves are located in which modern state?
A) Odisha
B) Bihar
C) Maharashtra
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: A) Odisha
Conclusion:
The Chedi dynasty of Kalinga stands as a significant example of regional power and cultural achievement in ancient India. Through rulers like Kharavela, the dynasty left behind a rich legacy of military success, religious patronage, and monumental inscriptions that continue to guide historians in understanding ancient Kalinga. We hope these 50+ Gk MCQs have helped reinforce your understanding of the dynasty’s key rulers, events, and contributions. Regular practice of such questions is essential for aspirants preparing for competitive examinations, as ancient Indian history remains a core part of the General Knowledge syllabus. Keep practicing and stay tuned for more exam-oriented content on Indian history.
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