Test Preparation on IAS Prelims Sample Paper -26

1.

Which of the following contributed to the strength of the Magadha Mahajanpada?1. Rajagriha, which was a fortified settlement, remained as the permanent capital of Magadha.2. Iron minesjwere easily accessible providing the raw material to tool industries.3. Elephants,'found in nearby forests, added to the potential of the Magadhan army.4. Ganga and^ its tributaries provided a means of cheap and convenient transportation.Select the correct answer using the codes below.

Statement 1: Initially, Rajagaha {the Prakrit name for present day Rajgir in Bihar) was the capital of Magadha. Later, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra, present-day Patna, commanding routes of communication along the Ganga. 52 to 4: Between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE, Magadha (in present-day Bihar) became the mostpowerful mahajanapada. Modern historians explain this development in a variety of waysiMagadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive. Besides, iron mines (in present-day Jharkhand) were accessible and provided resources for tools and weapons. Elephants, an important component of the army, were found in forests in the region.Also, the Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and convenient communication. However, early Buddhist and Jaina writers who wrote about Magadha attributed its power to thepolicies of individuals: ruthlessly ambitious kings of whom Bimbisara, Ajatasattu and Mahapadma Nanda are the best known, and their ministers, who helped implement their policies.
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