At the time of Alexander’s invasion of north-western India (4th century BCE), which Indian dynasty was ruling over Magadha and much of North India?

Introduction / Context:
Alexander the Great invaded north western India around 326 BCE, reaching regions corresponding to modern Punjab and parts of Pakistan. At that time, the political landscape of the Gangetic plains was dominated by a powerful kingdom based in Magadha. Examinations often test your ability to place major foreign invasions in the correct dynastic context of Indian history. This question focuses specifically on identifying which dynasty ruled Magadha and thereby held effective power over much of North India during Alexander's advance.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The time frame is the 4th century BCE, during Alexander's Indian campaign. - The region concerned is North India, particularly Magadha. - Four dynasties are given: Nanda, Maurya, Sunga and Kanva. - We assume standard chronological ordering used in textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha just before the rise of the Mauryan Empire. Mahapadma Nanda and his successors controlled a vast and prosperous empire in North India when Alexander reached the north western frontier. The Mauryan dynasty, beginning with Chandragupta Maurya, came to power shortly after Alexander's departure, partly in the political vacuum created in the northwest. The Sunga and Kanva dynasties were later post Mauryan dynasties. Therefore, the correct approach is to place Nandas before Mauryas and recognise that they were the contemporaries of Alexander's Indian campaign.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the chronological order of major Magadhan dynasties: Haryanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, Maurya, Sunga, Kanva. Step 2: Fix Alexander's invasion date around 326 BCE. Step 3: Recognise that at this time, the Nanda dynasty ruled over Magadha under rulers like Dhana Nanda. Step 4: Understand that Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nandas shortly after Alexander's exit, which means the Mauryan dynasty began slightly later. Step 5: Observe that the Sunga and Kanva dynasties came even later, following the decline of Mauryan power. Step 6: Conclude that the Nanda dynasty was in power in North India at the time of Alexander's invasion.

Verification / Alternative check:
Exam guides regularly mention that Alexander did not directly clash with the Nanda army but that his soldiers refused to move further east partly because they heard of the great strength and elephant forces of the Magadhan king, identified as Dhana Nanda. This storyline links Alexander's halted advance with the might of the Nanda Empire and helps you confirm that the Nandas, not the Mauryas, were the ruling Magadhan dynasty at that precise time. Timeline tables in history books also clearly place the beginning of the Mauryan Empire a few years after Alexander's departure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Maurya is wrong because Chandragupta Maurya came to power after overthrowing the Nandas, which happened after Alexander's Indian campaign was over.

Sunga is wrong as this dynasty arose much later, after the decline of the Mauryan Empire, and belongs to a different period.

Kanva is wrong because it succeeded the Sunga dynasty and therefore is far removed in time from Alexander's incursion.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students instinctively answer “Maurya” whenever they see a question about ancient Indian power in the 4th–3rd century BCE, forgetting that the Nandas ruled immediately before the Mauryas. Another pitfall is to ignore the exact timing of Alexander's invasion and just match him with any famous Indian dynasty. To avoid this, memorise the sequence “Nanda – Alexander – then Maurya” as a fixed relationship. This simple chronological anchor will help you answer similar questions with confidence.

Final Answer:
At the time of Alexander's invasion, North India (Magadha) was ruled by the Nanda dynasty.