Question map
Which one of the following statements about the Gupta period is NOT correct ?
Explanation
The statement that Saurashtra was not part of the Gupta Empire is incorrect. Historical evidence confirms that Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) annexed territories including Saurashtra, which provided the empire with access to the western coastline and trade links with the Roman Empire. Regarding other options, forced labor (Vishti) did become more prevalent during the Gupta period as a form of taxation. The Vishnu Purana describes the early Gupta dominions as covering territories along the Ganga, specifically mentioning Magadha, Prayaga (Prayag), and Saketa [1]. The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription, attributed to a king named 'Chandra' (identified as Chandragupta II), records his military achievements, including defeating a confederacy of enemies in Bengal (Vanga) and crossing the seven mouths of the Indus to lead a campaign into the Punjab region.
Sources
- [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity > A New Power Emerges > p. 149