Ancient Educational Institutions MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Ancient Educational Institutions - Download Free PDF

The Chinese scholars, I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited ancient Nalanda University during the 7th century CE.

• I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda, the greatest Indian university in the Indian state of Bihar, where he spent two years.
• He visited Champa Monastery, Bhagalpur. He was in the company of several thousand scholar-monks, whom he praised.
• Xuanzang studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yogacara school of Buddhism during his time at Nalanda. 
• René Grousset notes that it was at Nalanda that Xuanzang met the venerable Silabhadra, the monastery's superior.
• At Nalanda, Xuanzang became a critic of two major philosophical systems of Hinduism opposed to Buddhism: the Samkhya and the Vaiseshika.
• The former was based upon a dualism of Nature and Spirit.
• The latter was a realist system, immediate and direct in its realism, resting upon the acceptance of the data of consciousness and experience as such.

The Chinese scholars, I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited ancient Nalanda University during the 7th century CE.

• I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda, the greatest Indian university in the Indian state of Bihar, where he spent two years.
• He visited Champa Monastery, Bhagalpur. He was in the company of several thousand scholar-monks, whom he praised.
• Xuanzang studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yogacara school of Buddhism during his time at Nalanda. 
• René Grousset notes that it was at Nalanda that Xuanzang met the venerable Silabhadra, the monastery's superior.
• At Nalanda, Xuanzang became a critic of two major philosophical systems of Hinduism opposed to Buddhism: the Samkhya and the Vaiseshika.
• The former was based upon a dualism of Nature and Spirit.
• The latter was a realist system, immediate and direct in its realism, resting upon the acceptance of the data of consciousness and experience as such.

The correct answer is - Sage Nagarjuna

Key Points

• Sage Nagarjuna
  • Sage Nagarjuna was a prominent Indian philosopher and the founder of the Madhyamaka (Middle Path) school of Mahayana Buddhism.
  • He lived during the 2nd century CE and is credited with significant contributions to Buddhist thought and philosophy.
  • Sage Nagarjuna's association with Sridhanya Katak University elevated its status to a renowned center of learning during his time.

Additional Information

• Sage Sankaracharya
  • Sage Sankaracharya was an 8th-century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.
  • He is known for his commentaries on ancient scriptures such as the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras.
• Sage Ramanuja
  • Sage Ramanuja was an 11th-century Indian philosopher and theologian who is known for his role in the Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) school of Vedanta.
  • He wrote influential texts such as the Sri Bhashya, a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.
• Sage Prabhakara
  • Sage Prabhakara was an Indian philosopher and an important figure in the Purva Mimamsa school of Hindu philosophy, which focuses on the earlier portions of the Vedas.
  • He is known for his work on the Mimamsa Sutras and his unique interpretations of Vedic rituals and dharma.

The correct answer is (A), (B), (C), (D)

Key Points

• Anglican Missionary Societies in North India:
  • In the later part of the nineteenth century, several Anglican missionary societies were actively involved in educational work in high schools and colleges across North India.
  • The Church Missionary Society (CMS), the London Missionary Society (LMS), the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG), and the Cambridge Mission to Delhi all contributed significantly to education in the region.
  • These societies established and supported numerous educational institutions, promoting both general and religious education.
  • They played a crucial role in the spread of Western education and the English language in North India.

Additional Information

• Other Options:
  • (A) and (B) Only: While the Church Missionary Society and the London Missionary Society were indeed active in educational work, this option excludes the significant contributions of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Cambridge Mission to Delhi.
  • (C) and (D) Only: This option recognizes the roles of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Cambridge Mission to Delhi but omits the Church Missionary Society and the London Missionary Society, which were also very active.
  • (A), (C) and (D) Only: This option includes the Church Missionary Society, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the Cambridge Mission to Delhi but leaves out the London Missionary Society, which was also involved in educational activities in North India.

The correct answer is 'Only B, C, D, E'

Key Points

• Ancient Indian Universities:
  • Takshashila: One of the oldest universities in the world, Takshashila was known for its diverse range of subjects including medicine, law, military science, and more.
  • Nalanda: A renowned center for learning, Nalanda offered studies in subjects like theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, and medicine.
  • Vallabhi: Vallabhi University was an important educational center in Western India, offering various disciplines including law, economics, and politics.
  • Vikramshila: Another major educational institution, it was known for specializing in subjects like Buddhist philosophy, grammar, logic, and metaphysics.

Additional Information

• Banaras Hindu University:
  • While Banaras Hindu University is a well-known multi-disciplinary institution in modern India, it does not belong to the category of ancient universities.

History of education in India

• India has a long and venerable history in the field of higher education. In ancient times, the country was known to have been home to the oldest formal universities in the world.

Taxila university

• More than 2700 years back a huge university existed in ancient India where over 10,500 students from all across the world came for higher studies. This was the Takshashila university of ancient India, Present Rawalpindi district, Punjab Pakistan India (before 1947)
• It was an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist center of learning but wasn’t as well organized as the University of Nalanda.
• The campus accommodated students who came from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Arabia, and China and offered over 64 different fields of study like Vedas, grammar, philosophy, Ayurveda, agriculture, surgery, politics, archery, warfare, astronomy, commerce, futurology, music, dance, etc.
• There were even curious subjects like the art of discovering hidden treasures, decrypting encrypted messages, etc.
• Admission into this university was purely based on merit. 

Vikramashila University

• Vikramashila was one of the two most important centers of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda.
• Its location is now the site of Antichak village, Bhagalpur district in Bihar.
• Vikramashila was founded by Pāla king Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century. It prospered for about four centuries before it was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji along with the other major centers of Buddhism in India around 1193.
• Subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic, etc. were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was Buddhist tantra.
• To ensure a high standard of learning students were admitted to the University only if they satisfied the test given by eminent authorities in charge of various subjects. Tibetan sources chronicle that at one time, there were six eminent logicians posted for the work.

Nalanda University

• Nalanda was an ancient Mahavihara, a revered Buddhist monastery that also served as a renowned center of learning, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India.
• The university of Nalanda obtained significant fame, prestige, and relevance during ancient times, and rose to legendary status due to its contribution to the emergence of India as a great power around the fourth century.
• Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries, and later under Harsha, the emperor of Kannauj.
• The challenging ‘entrance exams’ of Nalanda were administered by Dwaracharyas (learned pundits), various gatekeepers, and finally, through a separate board of teachers specially assigned to handling the admission process. 

• In ancient times, India was the pride hub of education.
• Universities like Nalanda (Bihar), Vikramshila (Bihar), and Taxila (Rawalpindi, Pakistan) were centers of education, where students from different parts of the world visited to get an education in subjects like philosophy, medicine, arithmetic, etc.
• The admission procedure in these universities was very tough. Students had to clear the entrance examination.
• Hence, only meritorious students were able to get admission. So, according to the fact, a statement I is wrong and statement II is correct.

During the ancient period in India, all of the given places were included among the places of learning. The correct answer is A, B, C and D.

Key PointsTemple:

• In ancient India, temples were not just places of worship, but also centers of education and learning.
• Students would learn a variety of subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, and literature in temple schools.

Mathas:

• These which were Hindu monasteries, were also important centers of education during this time.
• These institutions would provide students with knowledge of the Vedas, Sanskrit language, and various philosophical systems.

Basadis:

• These were Jain centers of worship and learning, were also prevalent during the ancient period in India.
• They offered education in Jain philosophy, language, and literature.

Viharas:

• Viharas were Buddhist monasteries that were important centers of learning, especially for Buddhist philosophy and language.

Overall, these four types of institutions played a vital role in shaping the educational and intellectual landscape of ancient India.

Important Points In ancient times, India was a center of higher learning as it is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. A large number of centers of learning were established across ancient India, of which Nalanda and Takshashila were the most famous and the oldest universities in the world. However, these were not the only ones.

India is home to many ancient universities and students from across the world came and studied in the learning centers.

Following are some Indian ancient universities:

Jagaddala University

• It was set up by Pala king Rampala in the early 11^th century in North Bengal (Now Bangladesh).
• Various subjects including Sanskrit had been taught in this university. One of the special subjects taught was Vajrayana Buddhism.
• Subhasitaratnakosa is one of the anthologies of Sanskrit, is compiled by Buddhist scholars in this university.

Mithila University

• It is believed that this university had been in existence since the time of Raja Janak (The father of Sita).
• It was famous for the Brahmanical system of education.
• Rishis and other learners took part in the conferences held in this university.
• Subjects like literature, fine arts, science, the scriptures including Vedas, Nyaya shastra were offered by this university.
• In the 12^th century, A school of new logic (Navya- Nyaya) was found by Indian Mathematician and philosopher Ganesha Upadhyaya in this university.  
• Later, Nyaya (Jurisprudence) and Tarka Shastra (Logic) were two famous subjects In this university.

Nadia University

• Also known as Navadweep is located at the junction of Ganga and Jalangi rivers in Bengal.
• It was set up after the destruction of Nalanda and Takshashila University.
• Subjects like Logic, Politics, and Law were taught here.
• In the 15^th century, the School of Logic was set up by Indian philosopher and logician Raghunatha Shiromani at Nadia university.

Vallabhi University

• It was set up by the kings of the Maitraka dynasty.
• It is approximately 2000 years old, and it was flourished until the 12^th century.
• Several subjects like Economics, Law, Politics, Medical Science, Book-keeping, Literature, Vyakaran, and Hinayana Buddhism were taught in this university.
• Students from every corner of Aryavrat including neighboring countries come here to study.
• It was renowned for religious tolerance and mental freedom.

• Among the most notable universities that evolved during this period were situated at Takshashila, Nalanda, Valabhi, Vikramshila, Odantapuri, and Jagaddala.
• These universities developed in connection with the viharas. 
• Benaras, Navadeep, and Kanchi developed in connection with temples.
• In ancient India, students went to viharas and universities for higher knowledge.
• Vihars are also known as monasteries, the places were set up for Buddhist monks and nuns to meditate, debate and discuss with the learned for their quest for knowledge during this period.
• Around these viharas, other educational centers of higher learning developed, which attracted students from China, Korea, Tibet, Burma, Ceylon, Java, Nepal, and other distant countries.

Therefore, option 2 is the correct answer.

• There were leading centres of Education in the form of Universities in Ancient India which even attracted worldwide students due to its excellent Teaching methodologies and renowned faculties.
• Ancient Universities were mostly spread across the Northern India which received royal patronage from the kingdoms in which they were situated.

Takshasila 

• It was credited to be the world's first University situated at the ancient site of Taxila (modern-day Punjab province of Pakistan).
• It flourished from 600 BC-500AD.
• Subjects taught were grammar,philosophy,medicine,politics,warfare,astronomy,commerce,music,vedas.
• More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied here.
• The age eligibility criterion was set at 16 years after students had completed their basic education in their local institutions.
• Renowned Teachers of this University includes Kautilya, Panini, Jivak and Vishnu Sharma.
• Arthashastra (the text on administration and statecraft) by Kautilya was written here.
• India's first emperor Chandragupta was a student of Takshila University.

Education has always been given great prominence in Indian society since the times of the Vedic civilization, with gurukul and ashrams being the centers of learning.

Vikramshila University:

• Vikramshila University was one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the Pala empire, along with Nalanda University.
• It was established by King Dharmapala (783 to 820) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda University.
• This university was situated on top of the hills along the bank of river Ganga and was well known for its specialized training on the subject of Tantra (Tantrism).
• It gave direct competition to Nalanda University with over 100 teachers and over 1000 students listed in this University. 

Therefore, the ancient educational institutions situated on the banks of river Ganga was Vikramshila University.

Nalanda University:

• Nalanda University was established by Shakraditya of the Gupta dynasty in modern Bihar during the early 5th century and flourished for 600 years till the 12th century.
• Nalanda was the world’s first university to have residential quarters for both students and teachers.
• It also had large public lecture halls. Students from countries like Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia, and Turkey came to study in this university.
• The library of this university was the largest library of the ancient world and had thousands of volumes of manuscripts on various subjects like grammar, logic, literature, astrology, astronomy, and medicine.

Pushpagiri University:

• Pushpagiri University was established in ancient Kalinga kingdom (modern-day Odisha) and was spread across Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
• It was established in the 3rd century and flourished for the next 800 years till the 11th century.
• The university campus was spread across three adjoining hills – Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, and Udayagiri.
• This was one of the most prominent centers of higher education in ancient India along with the universities of Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila.
• The Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Huien Tsang) visited this university in 639 CE.

Takshashila University:

• Taxila as it is called today in Pakistan, Takshasila University established around 3700 years ago (around 1700 BC) was home to over 10500 students where the students from all across the world used to come to attain specialization in over 64 different fields of study like Vedas, grammar, philosophy, Ayurveda, agriculture, surgery, politics, archery, warfare, astronomy, commerce, futurology, music, dance, etc.
• Famous graduates of this University include the ones like Panini, Chanakya, Charaka, Vishnu Sarma, Jivaka, etc.
• This is the world’s oldest university found to date.

The ancient universities developed in connection with temples and became centers of community life in places of their location are Banaras and Navadeep.

Key Points

• Banaras or Varanasi, also known as Kashi, has been a prominent center of learning since ancient times.
  • It is home to the famous Banaras Hindu University, which was established in 1916.
• Navadeep, also known as Nabadwip, is a city in West Bengal, India.
  • It was a center of learning and culture during the reign of the Palas in the 8th and 9th centuries.
  • It is home to the Nabadwip Vidyasagar College, which was established in 1942.

In ancient times, India was a centre of higher learning as it is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. A large number of centres of learning were established across ancient India, of which Nalanda and Takshashila were the most famous and the oldest universities in the world.

Nalanda University

• Historical sources indicate that the University had a long and illustrious life which lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE.
• It was a completely residential university believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students.
• The Nalanda ruins reveal through their architectural components the holistic nature of knowledge that was sought and imparted at this University. It suggests a seamless co-existence between nature and man, and between living and learning.
• The profound knowledge of Nalanda’s teachers attracted scholars from places as distant as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia.
• These scholars have left records about the ambience, architecture, and learning at this unique university.
• The most detailed accounts have come from Chinese scholars and the best known of these is Xuan Zang who carried back many hundred scriptures which were later translated into Chinese.

Additional Information

Magadh University in Bodh Gaya, Bihar is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was established in 1962 by Satyendra Narayan Sinha, an educationist. The university is now governed by the Bihar State University Act 1976. It provides facilities for higher learning and research in the faculties of science, social sciences, humanities and commerce.

Vikramsila, founded by king Dharmapala in the 8th century, was a famous centre of international learning for more than four centuries. It was one of the most important centres of Buddhist learning in India. Vikramashila is known to us mainly through Tibetan sources, especially the writings of Taranatha, the Tibetan monk historian of the 16th–17th centuries. This university was well known for its specialized training on the subject of Tantra (Tantrism).

Takshashila University was founded by Bharata and named after his son Taksha, who was established as its ruler. The famous Sanskrit grammarian, Kautilya who wrote Arthashastra and Charaka, the famous physician of ancient India were professors in this University. Taxila specialized in the study of Medicine. Chandragupta Maurya was the product of this University.

Hence, the first known residential International University of the world is Nalanda University.

The correct answer is A and C only.

​Both Nalanda and Odantapuri were ancient universities in India that developed in connection with the viharas during the ancient period.Important PointsViharas were Buddhist monasteries that served as centers of learning, where scholars and students would engage in the study of various subjects, including Buddhist philosophy, scriptures, logic, medicine, and other fields of knowledge.

Nalanda University:

• Nalanda University, located in present-day Bihar, India, was founded in the 5th century CE and is considered one of the oldest universities in the world.
• It was a renowned center of learning that attracted scholars and students from different parts of the world, and it played a significant role in the development of Indian, Buddhist, and other Asian intellectual traditions.

Odantapuri:

• Odantapuri, also known as Odantapura or Uddandapura, was another ancient Buddhist university located in present-day Bihar, India.
• It was founded during the Gupta period in the 6th century CE and was known for its emphasis on the study of Buddhist philosophy and logic.
• Although not as well-known as Nalanda, Odantapuri was an important center of learning during the ancient period in India.

Additional Information

•  Navadeep and Kanchi, on the other hand, were not universities associated with the viharas during the ancient period in India.
• Navadeep is a city in present-day West Bengal, India, known for its cultural and historical significance, but it did not have an ancient university associated with viharas.
• Kanchi, or Kanchipuram, is a city in present-day Tamil Nadu, India, which was an important center of learning during the medieval period, but it did not have a university associated with viharas during the ancient period.