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. ​

The correct option is B (1, 3, 4 and 6 only). The window runs from the mid-sixth century, when the imperial Guptas declined, to Harsha's accession around 606 CE, so the test is which dynasties were active then.

• 1. Later Guptas of Magadha: correct. A line of Gupta rulers continued in Magadha into the seventh century, Adityasena being a prominent name.
• 2. Paramaras of Malwa: wrong. They rose only in the ninth century, under Upendra/Krishnaraja, after the period ended.
• 3. Pushyabhutis of Thanesar: correct. This was Harsha's own dynasty, rising to power in the late sixth century under Prabhakaravardhana.
• 4. Maukharis of Kanauj: correct. They ruled Kanauj in the late sixth century, and Grahavarman was Harsha's brother-in-law.
• 5. Yadavas of Devagiri: wrong. Their power came in the twelfth century, far outside the window.
• 6. Maitrakas of Valabhi: included in the key. They ruled Valabhi (Saurashtra, Gujarat) from about 475 to 775 CE. Geographically they sit in western India, so the question's 'Northern India' wording is loose here, and this is the reason my confidence is medium.

The core concept is political chronology of post-Gupta India, which links to the Mains theme of regional powers before Harsha's empire. Note that Harsha's rule was centred on Kanauj and Thanesar, so these dynasties matter for his political background.

Trap: aspirants pick option A or D by recognising Deccan and Western dynasties as famous, without checking dates. Medieval-era names such as Paramaras and Yadavas feel familiar, but they belong to later periods.