From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? 1. The Guptas of Magadha 2. The Paramaras of Malwa 3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar 4. The Maukharis of Kanauj 5. The Yadavas of Devagiri 6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi Select the correct answer using the code given below.

States that by the 6th century the Gupta Empire was weakening and that the rise of powerful regional rulers followed.

A student could infer that regional dynasties (not the Guptas) might control areas like Malwa in the 6th c and then check which dynasties (by name and dates) held Malwa then.

Notes that Malwa was a contested region attacked/conquered by neighboring powers (Vakataka gains over Malwa) during the late Gupta period.

One could use this pattern (Malwa changing hands) to ask whether the Paramaras were already present or emerged later — by checking Paramara origins and dates against these conflicts.

Describes the Pushyabhuti/Prabhakaravardhana family (pre-Harsha) establishing authority 'as far as Malwa and Gujarat' before Harsha's rise.

Suggests that in the period immediately before Harsha, other regional powers claimed Malwa; a student could compare the Pushyabhuti territorial reach and dates with Paramara chronology to judge Paramara presence then.

Lists the Paramaras of Malwa among important Rajput dynasties but in a context describing the political landscape by the 10th century.

This indicates the Paramaras are documented as a later medieval power; a student can therefore test the statement by checking whether Paramara rule in Malwa already existed in the 6th–7th centuries or arose later (e.g., by comparing known Paramara dates).

Records that Chandragupta II conquered western Malwa under the Guptas, showing Malwa's incorporation into earlier imperial structures.

A student could use this to note a pattern: Malwa alternated between imperial control and regional powers — so to evaluate Paramara control in 6th–7th c they should place Paramara origins relative to earlier imperial control.

Shows that by the 6th century the Gupta central control weakened due to Hun invasions and the rise of powerful regional rulers.

A student could use this pattern to ask whether a Deccan-based dynasty (like the Yadavas of Devagiri) plausibly expanded northward into power vacuums created in this period.

Describes concrete examples of regional rulers (Vakatakas) attacking and taking territories from the Guptas during the later Gupta period.

One could compare the geography and timing of Vakataka expansion with where/when Yadavas of Devagiri are known to have been active to judge possible northern influence.

Provides a timeline placing the fall of classical Gupta power (c. 320–600 CE) and the accession of Harshavardhana (c. 606–647 CE), defining the exact interval in question.

A student can use this dated window to check whether the Yadavas of Devagiri were politically active in that same interval (comparing known Yadava dates from outside sources).

Explains that the Pushyabhuti (Harsha's family) rose from a regional generalship under the Guptas to control northern territories after the Guptas' collapse.

This illustrates how military or regional elites could convert local power into northern rule, a model one could test for the Yadavas by checking their origins and routes of expansion.

Notes that southern/Deccan polities (e.g., Satavahanas) had considerable autonomy and were politically distinct from north Indian empires.

A student could use this geographic-political separation to assess how feasible it would be for a Deccan dynasty (Devagiri Yadavas) to exert power in northern India during the stated period.

Explicitly lists the 'Maithrakas of Valabhi' among sub-regional kingdoms that existed between the Guptas and the Vardhanas, indicating they were a recognised political entity in that interregnum.

A student could combine this with a map of contemporary political boundaries to judge whether Valabhi's influence reached into what is classed as 'Northern India' at that time.

States that the Maithrakas organised a powerful state in Saurashtra (Gujarat) with Valabhi as their capital, giving a clear geographic base and degree of political strength.

Using basic geography, a student can estimate the distance from Valabhi (Saurashtra/Gujarat) to core northern regions to assess whether their power extended into northern India.

Describes the Gupta Empire's decline by the 6th century CE due to Huna invasions and rise of powerful regional rulers, establishing the time-frame and the general pattern of regional powers filling the vacuum.

A student can align the timing of Gupta decline with the known chronology of the Maitrakas to see if their period of activity overlaps the stated interval.

Explains that Pushyabhutis (Vardhanas) rose after the fall of the Guptas, illustrating that several regional dynasties were contemporaries in the period between Gupta decline and Harsha's rise.

A student could compare the territorial reach and chronology of Pushyabhutis and Maitrakas to infer whether Maitraka power was significant in the north during that interval.

Gives a general pattern that empires weaken and new regional kingdoms emerge to fill the space, supporting the idea that regional dynasties like the Maitrakas could gain power after imperial decline.

A student might use this pattern plus archaeological or inscriptional maps (outside sources) to judge whether Valabhi's rise followed this common post-imperial pattern and whether its influence reached northern territories.