In ancient Indian history, what was the ancient name of the region roughly corresponding to present day North Bihar?

Introduction / Context:
Ancient Indian political geography is very important for exams related to history and general knowledge. Different regions were known by different names in the age of the Mahajanapadas. The area of modern North Bihar had a distinct political and cultural identity. Knowing which ancient term refers to which modern region helps in understanding Buddhist and Jain history, early republics and the spread of trade routes in the Gangetic plain. This question tests whether you can correctly associate the ancient name Vajji with the region of North Bihar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to ancient North Bihar.
• Options list several Mahajanapadas such as Vajji, Vatsa, Surasena and Avanti.
• We assume standard mapping of Mahajanapadas taught in Indian history books.
• We are not dealing with exact modern district boundaries but with approximate regions.

Concept / Approach:
During the sixth century BCE, India was divided into many Mahajanapadas or great states. Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali, was a confederation of clans located in what is now North Bihar. Vatsa was centred around Kausambi in present day Uttar Pradesh. Surasena was around Mathura, also in modern Uttar Pradesh. Avanti was a kingdom in western and central India with centres like Ujjain. Because the question clearly asks about North Bihar, we have to recall which Mahajanapada is linked to Vaishali and that region. That points directly to Vajji.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question refers to the Mahajanapada period and the ancient names of regions. Step 2: Recall that Vaishali, an important centre of early Buddhism and Jainism, was located in North Bihar. Step 3: Remember that the confederation of clans around Vaishali was called Vajji or Vrijji. Step 4: Compare with other options: Vatsa belongs to the Allahabad region, Surasena to the Mathura region and Avanti to Ujjain and Malwa. Step 5: Conclude that the correct ancient name for North Bihar is Vajji.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to cross check is to recall the connection between Vajji and Mahavira, the twenty fourth Jain Tirthankara. He spent time in this region, and texts mention the republican character of the Vajji confederacy. Buddhist literature, such as the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, also refers to the Vajji people and their assembly at Vaishali. All these references consistently place Vajji in the area corresponding to modern North Bihar, which confirms our selection of the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B: Vatsa refers to the region around Kausambi and does not correspond to North Bihar.
• Option C: Surasena was centred on Mathura in western Uttar Pradesh, not in Bihar.
• Option D: Avanti was a powerful kingdom in the Malwa and Ujjain region, far from North Bihar.
• Option E: Kosala mainly covered parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring areas, again not North Bihar.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse Vajji with Vatsa or Kosala because names appear similar in sound in textbooks. Another error is to focus only on capital cities and forget the larger region they controlled. To avoid this, always revise a simple map of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, marking their approximate modern equivalents. Associating Vaishali with Vajji and with North Bihar is a simple memory anchor that will help you handle many related questions on ancient Indian geography and polity.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Vajji.