When was the term ‘Hindustan’ first used in a Persian inscription?
- A1,800 years ago
- B2,500 years ago
- C500 years ago
- D1,000 years ago
Question types
India, That is Bharat question types
181 questions across 11 question groups — pick any mix to generate a Social Studies paper with step-by-step answer keys.
181
Questions
11
Question groups
5
Question types
01
M.C.Q
41 Q→02Fill in the blank
36 Q→03true or false.
26 Q→04[1 Mark Questions]
38 Q→05[2 Mark Questions]
10 Q→06[3 Mark Questions]
12 Q→07[5 marks Questions]
2 Q→08[4 Mark Questions]
3 Q→09case /data -based (4 Marks)
2 Q→10Match the following.
3 Q→11Assertion - Reasoning (1 Marks)
8 Q→Sample Questions
India, That is Bharat questions
One sample from each question group in this chapter. Select any group above to see the full set with answer keys.
Xuanzang was a /an scholar.
- AIndian
- BPersian
- CGreek
- DChinese
Which part of the Indian Constitution mentions the phrase ‘India, that is Bharat’?
- AThe preamble
- BThe first article
- CThe appendix
- DThe second article
Which emperor is known to have used the term ‘Jambudvipa’ in inscriptions?
- AAshoka
- BChandragupta
- CHarsha
- DArjuna
Which of the following words was NOT used by the Chinese lo refer to India?
- ATianzhu
- Bsindhu
- CYintu
- DYindu
Xuanzang returned to China from India after __________ years.
The name ‘Hindustan’ was first used in a __________ inscription.
The __________ uses the phrase ‘India, that is Bharat’ right at the beginning.
The ancient Greeks referred to India as ‘__________’ or ‘In dike’
Sindhu refers to the __________ river.
‘Bharata’ is a name given to India by foreign travellers.
In ancient Persian, the word ‘Hindu’ refers to the Hindu religion.
The term ‘Hindustan’ first appeared in a Greek inscription more than 2,000 years ago.
The Mahabharata lists many regions, including Kashmir, Kutch and Kerala.
In Ashoka's time, 'Jambudvipa' included today's India, parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Have you identified the ‘snowy mountains’? Do you think this brief description of Bharata is correct?
Consider the physical map of the Indian Sub-continent at the start of the chapter. What are its natural boundaries that you can make out?
If you were born some 2,000 years ago and had the chance to name our country, what name or names might you have chosen, and why? Use your imagination!
What were the ancient names for India?
How do we define India?
In the given reproduction of the first page of the original Constitution of India, can you make out the phrase 'India, that is Bharat'?
Do you recognise the names of any regions given in the map? List the ones that you have heard of.
Who was Xuanzang, and what made him significant in the context of Indian history?
How did ancient Persians influence the naming of India?
What is the significance of the Mahabharata in Indian history? What is the impact of this significance?
Why did people travel to India from various parts of the world in ancient times? What could be their motivations in undertaking such long journeys?(Hint: There could be at least four or five motivations)
Discuss what could be the meaning of the quotation at the start of the chapter.
Can you complete this table of the many names of India ?
| Persian | |
| Greek | |
| Latin | India |
| Chinese | |
| Arabic & Persian | |
| English | India |
| French | Inde |
What was the significance of the Persian conquest of the Indus River region in the 6th century BCE and how did it impact the naming of India?
What is the definition of Bharata according to Vishnu Purana? Mention the importance of this definition.
You are a historian tasked with explaining the evolution of India’s names to a curious reader. Write a clear and concise explanation.
Imagine you are a traveller in ancient India. Write a story about your journey across the Indian sub-continent, mentioning the different regions you visit.
Comment on the geographical understanding of ancient Indians.
Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows.
But when do we come across a name for the entire Indian sub-continent? Because ancient Indian texts are difficult to date, this is not an easy question to answer. The Mahabharata uses the terms
‘Bharatavarsha’ and ‘Jambudvipa’, and scholars generally agree that this long poem was written from a few centuries BCE onward.
The first term, ‘Bharatavarsha’, clearly extends to the entire Subcontinent, and the text includes the names of numerous rivers and peoples. ‘Bharatavarsha’ means ‘the country of the Bharatas’. ‘Bharata’ is a name that first appears in the Rigveda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic groups of people. In later literature, several kings named ‘Bharata’ are mentioned.
(i) What are the challenges faced by the scholars in determining when the Indian sub-continent was first referred to by a single name ?
(ii) How does the term ‘Bharatavarsha’ contribute to our understanding of ancient Indian geography and identity ?
(iii) What significance does the name ‘Bharata’ hold in ancient Indian literature and how does its evolution reflect the development of Indian identity ?
But when do we come across a name for the entire Indian sub-continent? Because ancient Indian texts are difficult to date, this is not an easy question to answer. The Mahabharata uses the terms
‘Bharatavarsha’ and ‘Jambudvipa’, and scholars generally agree that this long poem was written from a few centuries BCE onward.
The first term, ‘Bharatavarsha’, clearly extends to the entire Subcontinent, and the text includes the names of numerous rivers and peoples. ‘Bharatavarsha’ means ‘the country of the Bharatas’. ‘Bharata’ is a name that first appears in the Rigveda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic groups of people. In later literature, several kings named ‘Bharata’ are mentioned.
(i) What are the challenges faced by the scholars in determining when the Indian sub-continent was first referred to by a single name ?
(ii) How does the term ‘Bharatavarsha’ contribute to our understanding of ancient Indian geography and identity ?
(iii) What significance does the name ‘Bharata’ hold in ancient Indian literature and how does its evolution reflect the development of Indian identity ?
Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
It is interesting to note that different parts of the country adopted a similar definition for India. For instance, a poem of ancient Tamil literature, from about 2,000 years ago, praises a king whose name is known “from [Cape] Kumari in the South, from the great mountain in the North, from the oceans on the East and on the West…”
You can now recognise ‘the great mountain in the North’, and it should not be difficult to identify ‘Cape Kumari’. It looks like ancient Indians knew their geography well!
(i) What value is reflected in the ancient Tamil poem’s description of the king’s realm ?
(a) Military conquest
(b) Geographical unity
(c) Cultural diversity
(d) Economic prosperity
(ii) What does the poem reveal about ancient Indian culture’s attitude towards geography ?
(a) Indifference to geographical boundaries
(b) Importance of trade routes
(c) Value of geographical knowledge
(d) Focus on religious sites
(iii) What cultural value is showcased in the poem’s praise of the king’s widespread recognition ?
(a) Regionalism
(b) National pride
(c) Religious tolerance
(d) Social hierarchy
(iv) What does the ancient Tamil literature indicate about the knowledge of geography in ancient India ?
(a) Ancient Indians had limited geographical knowledge.
(b) Ancient Indians had a detailed and accurate understanding of their geography.
(c) Ancient Indians were unaware of their geographical boundaries.
(d) Ancient Indians confused the locations of various geographical features.
It is interesting to note that different parts of the country adopted a similar definition for India. For instance, a poem of ancient Tamil literature, from about 2,000 years ago, praises a king whose name is known “from [Cape] Kumari in the South, from the great mountain in the North, from the oceans on the East and on the West…”
You can now recognise ‘the great mountain in the North’, and it should not be difficult to identify ‘Cape Kumari’. It looks like ancient Indians knew their geography well!
(i) What value is reflected in the ancient Tamil poem’s description of the king’s realm ?
(a) Military conquest
(b) Geographical unity
(c) Cultural diversity
(d) Economic prosperity
(ii) What does the poem reveal about ancient Indian culture’s attitude towards geography ?
(a) Indifference to geographical boundaries
(b) Importance of trade routes
(c) Value of geographical knowledge
(d) Focus on religious sites
(iii) What cultural value is showcased in the poem’s praise of the king’s widespread recognition ?
(a) Regionalism
(b) National pride
(c) Religious tolerance
(d) Social hierarchy
(iv) What does the ancient Tamil literature indicate about the knowledge of geography in ancient India ?
(a) Ancient Indians had limited geographical knowledge.
(b) Ancient Indians had a detailed and accurate understanding of their geography.
(c) Ancient Indians were unaware of their geographical boundaries.
(d) Ancient Indians confused the locations of various geographical features.
The most popular reference to a geographical area being described as Bharat is in the Vishnu Purana- “Uttaram yat samudrasya, Himadreschaiva dakshinam, varsham tad Bharatam nama Bharati yatra santatih”, meaning, the country that lies to the north of the ocean and to the south of the snowy mountains is called Bharata as there dwell the descendants of Bharat. In Hindu scriptures Bharatvarsha is identified as part of a larger geographical entity called Jambudweepa.
Bharata, whose descendants were said to be living in a particular area in Vishnu Purana, is commonly thought to be King Bharata, the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala, and an ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. That also explains the name of the ‘Mahabharata’ which chronicles the war between Bharata’s descendants. In the Vedas, Bharata is the name of a tribe. King Sudasa of the Bharata tribe fights a war against the Puru tribe of which the Bharta tribe was a part. Later, Kuru dynasty emerged from the Bharata lineage in which King Bharata was born.
Q.1. What is the geographical location of Bharat, according to the Vishnu Purana?
(a) North of the snowy mountains and south of the ocean.
(b) North of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains.
(c) East of the snowy mountains and west of the ocean.
(d) West of the snowy mountains and east of the ocean.
Q.2. The term ‘Bharatavarsha’ was mentioned in which ancient text?
(a) Rig Veda $\quad$ (b) Mahabharata $\quad$ (c) Vishnu Purana $\quad$ (d) None of these
Q.3. In Hindu scriptures, Bharatvarsha is identified as a part of which larger geographical entity?
(a) Jambudweepa $\quad$ (b) Aryavarta $\quad$ (c) Indraprastha $\quad$ (d) Bharata
Q.4. In Vishnu Puaran, who is commonly thought to be the ‘Bharata’?
(a) A Vedic sage $\quad$ (b) An ancient tribe
(c) A king from the Kuril dynasty $\quad$ (d) The son of Dushyant and Shakuntala
View full solution →Bharata, whose descendants were said to be living in a particular area in Vishnu Purana, is commonly thought to be King Bharata, the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala, and an ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. That also explains the name of the ‘Mahabharata’ which chronicles the war between Bharata’s descendants. In the Vedas, Bharata is the name of a tribe. King Sudasa of the Bharata tribe fights a war against the Puru tribe of which the Bharta tribe was a part. Later, Kuru dynasty emerged from the Bharata lineage in which King Bharata was born.
Q.1. What is the geographical location of Bharat, according to the Vishnu Purana?
(a) North of the snowy mountains and south of the ocean.
(b) North of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains.
(c) East of the snowy mountains and west of the ocean.
(d) West of the snowy mountains and east of the ocean.
Q.2. The term ‘Bharatavarsha’ was mentioned in which ancient text?
(a) Rig Veda $\quad$ (b) Mahabharata $\quad$ (c) Vishnu Purana $\quad$ (d) None of these
Q.3. In Hindu scriptures, Bharatvarsha is identified as a part of which larger geographical entity?
(a) Jambudweepa $\quad$ (b) Aryavarta $\quad$ (c) Indraprastha $\quad$ (d) Bharata
Q.4. In Vishnu Puaran, who is commonly thought to be the ‘Bharata’?
(a) A Vedic sage $\quad$ (b) An ancient tribe
(c) A king from the Kuril dynasty $\quad$ (d) The son of Dushyant and Shakuntala
It is interesting to note that different parts of the country adopted a similar definition for India. For instance, a poem of ancient Tamil literature, from about 2,000 years ago, praises a king whose name Is known “from [Cape] Kumari in the south, from the great mountain in the north, from the oceans on the east and on the west..” You can now recognise The great mountain in the north’, and it should not be difficult to identify ‘Cape Kumari’. It looks like ancient Indians knew their geography well!
Q.1. Which geographical feature is referred to as ‘the great mountain in the north’, in the Tamil Poem?
(a) The Himalayas $\quad$ (b) The Vindhya Range
(c) The Satpura $\quad$ (d) The Karakoram
Q.2. What does ‘Cape Kumari’ refer to in the Tamil poem?
(a) Karnataka $\quad$ (b) Kerala $\quad$ (c) Coimbatore $\quad$ (d) Kanyakumari
Q.3. ‘Ocean on the east’ most likely refers to which of the following?
(a) Indian Ocean $\quad$ (b) Bay of Bengal $\quad$ (c) Arabian Sea $\quad$ (d) Mediterranean Sea
Q.4. What can be inferred from the ancient Tamil poem mentioned in the passage?
(a) It solely mentions religious sentiments
(b) It demonstrates the grammar of Tamil literature.
(c) It highlights a clear understanding of India’s vast geography in the past.
(d) It tells about the ruling dynasties of South India.
View full solution →Q.1. Which geographical feature is referred to as ‘the great mountain in the north’, in the Tamil Poem?
(a) The Himalayas $\quad$ (b) The Vindhya Range
(c) The Satpura $\quad$ (d) The Karakoram
Q.2. What does ‘Cape Kumari’ refer to in the Tamil poem?
(a) Karnataka $\quad$ (b) Kerala $\quad$ (c) Coimbatore $\quad$ (d) Kanyakumari
Q.3. ‘Ocean on the east’ most likely refers to which of the following?
(a) Indian Ocean $\quad$ (b) Bay of Bengal $\quad$ (c) Arabian Sea $\quad$ (d) Mediterranean Sea
Q.4. What can be inferred from the ancient Tamil poem mentioned in the passage?
(a) It solely mentions religious sentiments
(b) It demonstrates the grammar of Tamil literature.
(c) It highlights a clear understanding of India’s vast geography in the past.
(d) It tells about the ruling dynasties of South India.
Column A | Column B |
(1) Sapta Sindhava | (i) Island of the fruit of the Jamun tree |
(2) Bharatavarsha | (ii) Land of the seven rivers |
(3) Jambudvipa | (iii) The Indian subcontinent |
(4) Hind | (iv) Persian name for India |
Column A | Column B |
1. Kashmira | (a) Parts of Bengal |
2. Kurukshetra | (b) More or less today’s Kashmir |
3. Vanga | (c) Roughly today’s Assam |
4. Pragjyotisha | (d) Parts of Haryana today |
| List I | List II |
| A. Kashmira | 1. Parts of Bengal |
| B. Kurukshetra | 2. Parts of Haryana |
| C. Vanga | 3. Roughly today’s Assam |
| D. Pragjyotisha | 4. More or less today’s Kashmir |
Assertion: Chinese speakers refer to India as ‘Yintu’ or’Yindu’.
Reason: The Chinese name for India ‘Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’ is derived from the word ‘Sindhu’.
Reason: The Chinese name for India ‘Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’ is derived from the word ‘Sindhu’.
- ABoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- CAssertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- DAssertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Assertion: Emperor Ashoka used the name ‘Jambudvipa’ to describe the whole of India.
Reason: ‘Jambudvipa’ was used to describe present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, as well as parts of Afghanistan.
Reason: ‘Jambudvipa’ was used to describe present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, as well as parts of Afghanistan.
- ABoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- CAssertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- DAssertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Assertion: The name ‘Bharat’ is of recent origin.
Reason: In South India, India is referred to as ‘Bharatam’.
Reason: In South India, India is referred to as ‘Bharatam’.
- ABoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- CAssertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- DAssertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Assertion (A): The term ‘Hindustan’ was first used about 1,800 years ago.
Reason (R):It was used by most invaders of India to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
Reason (R):It was used by most invaders of India to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
- ✓Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- C(A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
- D(A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: A.
View full solution →Assertion (A): Xuanzang visited India in the 7th century CE.
Reason (R):He traveled to India to collect Buddhist texts and meet scholars.
Reason (R):He traveled to India to collect Buddhist texts and meet scholars.
- ✓Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- C(A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
- D(A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: A.
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