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U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1998

Alexander's Campaign

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following statements: Assertion (A): After campaigning for nearly two years, Alexander, the Great, left India in 325 B.C. Reason (R): He was defeated by Chandra Gupta Maurya. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Historical timelines show that Alexander's retreat and Chandragupta Maurya's rise to power were separate but chronologically close events.

Explanation Alexander left India because his troops mutinied at the Beas river due to exhaustion and the fear of the Nanda army. Chandragupta Maurya only defeated the Greek governor Seleucus Nicator years later (c. 305 BCE).

Logical Breakup
Assertion (A): True. Alexander invaded in 327 BCE and left via the Gedrosian desert in 325 BCE.
Reason (R): False. There is no record of a direct confrontation between Alexander and Chandragupta. The 'defeat' associated with the Mauryas involves Seleucus, not Alexander.

Active Recall

Question

Why did Alexander's troops refuse to move beyond the Beas river?

Answer

They were weary after years of campaigning and had heard terrifying reports about the massive elephant forces of the Nanda Empire in Magadha.

Core Insight

The myth of a direct Alexander-Chandragupta battle is a popular historical conflation; their true connection was the power vacuum Alexander left, which Chandragupta filled.

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