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.

Option (B) is correct because the Guptas of Magadha (Later Guptas), Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, Maukharis of Kanauj, and Maitrakas of Valabhi were the primary regional powers that filled the vacuum in Northern and Western India after the fall of the Imperial Guptas. The Paramaras of Malwa and Yadavas of Devagiri are incorrect as they rose to power much later, in the 9th and 12th centuries respectively, with the Yadavas being a Deccan-based kingdom rather than a Northern one. The core concept being tested is the political geography and chronology of the "Post-Gupta" transition period (c. 550–606 CE) leading up to the unification under Harshavardhana.