Chola MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Chola - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Kurram, Nadu, Valanadu and Mandalams.

• The administrative units of Cholas are as follow:
  • The whole empire had been divided into nine provinces called mandalams.
  • Each province was headed by a viceroy who received orders from the king.
    Each mandalam was divided into the number of Kottams or Valanadus which was further sub-divided into nadu.
  • Each nadu was further divided into villages called Urs or Kurram.

Additional Information

• The capital of the Cholas was Tanjore.
• The Chola Empire was divided into three major administrative units called Central Government, Provincial government, and local government.
• Uttaramerur inscriptions throws light on the administration of the Cholas.

• Vellanvagai- land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
• Brahmadeya- land gifted to Brahmanas
• Shalabhoga- land for the maintenance of a school
• Devadana, Tirunamattukkani- land gifted to temples
• Pallichchhandam- land donated to Jaina institutions

Thus, we can say that land gifted to a temple called in the Chola Empire is called Tirunmadukkani.

The correct answer is - Ur

Key Points

• Ur
  • The term Ur refers to the village assembly in the Chola Kingdom that was responsible for village administration.
  • It was primarily associated with villages that were inhabited by farmers.
  • The Ur assembly functioned as a local administrative body, ensuring the smooth operation of governance, resource management, and dispute resolution at the village level.
  • This was a key feature of the highly organized local governance system under the Cholas, reflecting their emphasis on decentralization.

Additional Information

• Other assemblies in the Chola Kingdom
  • Sabha:
    • This was the assembly of Brahmadeya villages (villages gifted to Brahmins).
    • The Sabha was highly organized, with specific committees such as the garden committee, tank committee, and gold committee, responsible for different administrative functions.
  • Nadu:
    • A larger administrative unit that consisted of several villages.
    • The Nadu assembly coordinated the resources and resolved disputes among villages within its jurisdiction.
  • Cheri:
    • This referred to settlements of lower-caste communities in villages.
    • While not an assembly, Cheri was an integral part of the Chola village structure.
• Chola administration
  • The Cholas are renowned for their decentralized administrative structure, with significant autonomy granted to village assemblies.
  • The village assemblies like Ur and Sabha played a crucial role in maintaining law and order, tax collection, and infrastructure development.
  • Inscriptions like the famous Uttaramerur inscription provide detailed accounts of the Chola administrative system, including the roles and functioning of village assemblies.

The correct answer is - He abolished customs tax

Key Points

• Kulottunga Chola was a renowned ruler of the Chola dynasty, known for his administrative reforms and economic policies.
• The title ‘Sugama Tavirta Chola’ translates to "the Chola who removed difficulties" in Tamil.
• He earned this title because he abolished customs taxes, which eased the movement of goods and promoted trade.
• This reform was highly significant as it:
  • Facilitated seamless trade within the empire.
  • Reduced the economic burden on merchants and traders.
  • Improved the prosperity of the Chola kingdom by encouraging commerce.

Additional Information

• Administrative Achievements of Kulottunga Chola
  • He was known for his excellent governance, which focused on economic stability and public welfare.
  • Introduced policies to maintain a well-organized bureaucracy.
• Economic Policies
  • Encouraged internal and external trade by abolishing taxes like the customs tax.
  • Strengthened the empire’s economy through maritime trade with regions such as Southeast Asia.
• Chola Dynasty’s Legacy
  • The Chola dynasty is remembered for its advancements in art, architecture, and trade.
  • They had a strong navy, which helped them dominate trade routes and establish cultural influence in regions like Srivijaya and beyond.

The correct answer is option 4 i.e. More than one of the above

• The Chola king Rajaraja invaded the Chalukya's king Satyashraya and looted his state.
• Rajaraja protected Vengi's deposed princes (Shaktivarman and Vimaladitya) against Choda Bhima.
• And later Rajaraja defeated Choda Bhima and made Shaktivarman king of Vengi.
• Now Vengi became the protectorate state of Rajaraja.
• Rajaraja then conquered Kalinga and with the help of his navy also took control of Maldives.

The correct answer is Sabha.Key Points

• Sabha:-
  • It​ was the assembly in the villages which were inhabited predominantly by the Brahmanas in the Chola administration.
  • It was a local self-government institution that functioned as a council of elders who were responsible for the administration and maintenance of the village.
  • Sabha was also responsible for the collection of taxes, maintenance of law and order, and resolving disputes within the village.
  • The members of the Sabha were usually Brahmanas who were elected by the villagers.
  • Sabha was an important institution in the Chola administration as it helped in the smooth functioning of the village administration.

Additional Information

• Ur:-
  • It was the smallest unit of administration in the Chola empire.
  • It was a village or a group of villages that were governed by a council of elders.
• Khilya:-
  • It​ was a military unit in the Chola army that consisted of 100 soldiers.
• Nagaram:-
  • It was a term used for a city or a town in the Chola empire. 

The correct answer is Vijayalaya.Key Points

• Chola Empire was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in southern India, which existed from the 3^rd century BCE to the 13^th century CE.
• The Chola dynasty was known for its maritime trade, art, literature, and architecture.
• Vijayalaya Chola was the founder of the Chola Empire in 848 CE.
• Vijayalaya Chola was a Tamil ruler. 
• He conquered the regions of Tanjore, Trichy, and parts of Pudukkottai and Tiruchirappalli, which formed the nucleus of the Chola Empire.
• The Chola Empire reached its zenith under the reign of Rajendra Chola I, who conquered territories up to the Ganges in the north and the Malay Peninsula in the south.

Additional Information

• Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire in the Deccan region.
  • It existed from the 6th to the 10th century CE.
• Singhavishnu was a ruler of the Pallava dynasty.
  • It existed in the southern part of India from the 3^rd to the 9^th century CE. 
• Upendrarai is not a known historical figure or ruler in Indian history. 

The correct answer is shalabhoga.Key Points

• Shalabhoga stands with respect to revenue administration under the imperial Cholas is land donated for the maintenance of a school.
• The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil Nadu suggest that their kingdom used more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes.
• Cholas were the most civilized race in the south Indian subcontinent.

Additional Information

• The Chola Empire was one of the most famous empires in south India that came into prominence in the 9th century AD.
• Their kingdom was mainly concentrated in the Kaveri-fed delta called Cholamandalam.
• According to Chola inscriptions, there were five types of ' land gifts ' that Chola kings gave to their people.

The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century.

• The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were famous emperors of the medieval Cholas.

Key Points

Chola Temples and Bronze Sculpture:

• Chola temples often became the nuclei of settlements that grew around them.
• These were centres of craft production.
• They were not only places of worship, they were the hub of economic, social, and cultural life as well.
• Amount the crafts associated with temples, the making of bronze images was the most distinctive.
• Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the world.
• While most images were of deities, sometimes images were made of devotees as well.

Hence, we can conclude that both the statement A) and B) are true, but B) is not the correct explanation of A).

The correct answer is Kurram, Nadu, Valanadu and Mandalams.

• The administrative units of Cholas are as follow:
  • The whole empire had been divided into nine provinces called mandalams.
  • Each province was headed by a viceroy who received orders from the king.
    Each mandalam was divided into the number of Kottams or Valanadus which was further sub-divided into nadu.
  • Each nadu was further divided into villages called Urs or Kurram.

Additional Information

• The capital of the Cholas was Tanjore.
• The Chola Empire was divided into three major administrative units called Central Government, Provincial government, and local government.
• Uttaramerur inscriptions throws light on the administration of the Cholas.

• Vellanvagai- land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
• Brahmadeya- land gifted to Brahmanas
• Shalabhoga- land for the maintenance of a school
• Devadana, Tirunamattukkani- land gifted to temples
• Pallichchhandam- land donated to Jaina institutions

Thus, we can say that land gifted to a temple called in the Chola Empire is called Tirunmadukkani.

The correct answer is Chola​Key Points

• The Kadamai tax was a type of land revenue that the peasants had to pay to their landlords or king.
•  During the Chola administration, there were around 400 different types of taxes.
• Vetti also called forced labour and Kadamai also called land revenue.
• Land revenue and trade tax were the main source of income, The Chola rulers.

 Additional Information

• The Chola Empire was a Southern Indian Tamil family and is one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world.
• The dynasty emerged from the valley of the wealthy Kaveri (Cauvery) River. Its oldest capital is Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli).
• Vijayalaya was the founder of the Chola dynasty.
• The Chola Dynasty reached its peak under Rajaraja Chola I (985 – 1014 AD) and his son, Rajendra Chola (1014 – 1044 AD).
• Chola rulers used the symbol of a tiger as their royal emblem.
• The medieval Cholas are best known for the construction of the magnificent Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur.
•  Rajendra I was the first to venture to the banks of the Ganges.
• He was popularly called the Victor of the Gange.

Important Points

• Kushan-Kushan Dynasty was established by Kujula Kadphises.
• Gupta - Founded by Sri Gupta, the dynasty rose to fame with rulers like Chandragupta-I, Samudragupta, etc.
• Chalukya dynasty-Jayasimha was the first ruler of the Chalukyas.
• Founded the empire with his capital at Vatapi.​

The correct answer is Vijayalaya Chola.

The Chola dynasty was founded by Vijayalaya Chola.

Additional Information

Chola dynasty

• The Chola Empire of the South emerged in the ​9th century AD (850-1279 AD).
• The founder of Chola Dynasty - Vijayalaya.
• Vijayalaya captured Tanjore in 850 AD and he took the title of Narkesari.
• The ancient capital of Cholas was Palayarai.
• Aditya Chola defeated the Pallava king Aparajit and captured Tondamanadalam and took the title of 'Maduaikonda'.
• The greatest Chola ruler was Rajaraja (985-1014 AD) and Rajendra I (1014-1044 AD).
• Rajaraja built Brihadeshwara temple / Rajarajeshwara temple (attributed to Shiva) at Tanjore.
• Rajendra I conquered Orissa, Bengal, Burma, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Chola dynasty was as its zenith during his reign.
• Rajendra I defeated the Pala king Mahipala and took the title of Gangaikondachola and built a city called Gangaikondacholapuram.
• King Rajasimha built the Kailashnath temple at Kancheepuram.
• Parantak I built Koranganatha temple at Srini wasanllur.
• Rajaraja II built the Airawteshwar temple at Darasuram.
• Kullotung III built the Kampahreshwar temple at Tribhuvan.
• The last ruler of the Chola dynasty was Rajendra III.
• Land revenue and trade tax were the main sources of income.
• The Chola empire divided into Mandalams (Province) and these were divided into Valanadu (Commissionary), Nadu (District), and Kurram ( a group of villages)

The correct answer is - Rajaraja I

Key Points

• Rajaraja I
  • Rajaraja I (985–1014 CE) was a remarkable ruler and the architect of the Chola Empire's golden age.
  • He strengthened the Chola naval power, making the empire a dominant maritime force in South Asia.
  • Under his reign, the Cholas began expansive territorial conquests, including parts of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
  • Rajaraja I constructed the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, showcasing the architectural brilliance of the Chola period.
  • He also organized an efficient administrative system and ensured cultural and economic prosperity during his rule.

Additional Information

• Rajendra I
  • Rajendra I, the son of Rajaraja I, succeeded him and extended the Chola Empire further.
  • He conducted the Gangaikonda Chola campaign and founded the capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
  • Rajendra I is also renowned for his naval expeditions to Southeast Asia.
• Dantidurga
  • Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty and not associated with the Cholas.
  • He is known for establishing Rashtrakuta control in the Deccan region during the 8th century CE.
• Vijayalaya
  • Vijayalaya Chola founded the Chola dynasty in the 9th century CE.
  • He captured Tanjore and laid the foundation for the later expansion of the Chola Empire.

• Vellanvagai- land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
• Brahmadeya- land gifted to Brahmanas
• Shalabhoga- land for the maintenance of a school
• Devadana, Tirunamattukkani- land gifted to temples

• Pallichchhandam- land donated to Jaina institutions

Thus, we can say that "Vellanvagai" denotes the land of the Farmer other than Brahmin.

Additional Information

The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes.

• The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labor, and kadamai, or land revenue.
• There were also taxes on thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.