Vedic and early ancient India — UPSC Prelims PYQs

Consider the following assertion: In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or the Sutlej flowed into the Yamuna and one major tributary of either had shifted from the Ganga to the Indus or vice versa. Which of the following is/are the basis of the above assertion? 1. The Nadi-Sukta of the Rigveda 2. The explorations of the Sutlej and the Yamuna by Robert Bruce Foote 3. The presence of the same species of dolphins in both the Indus and the Ganga river systems Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched? 1. Senguttuvan : Chera 2. Udiyanjeral : Chola 3. Nedunjeliyan : Pandya Select the answer using the code given below:

In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate?

Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India: 1. The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595-596). 2. In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India. 3. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period: I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface. II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells. Which of the following information support/supports the above statements? 1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water. 2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle). 3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts. Select the answer using the code given below:

Consider the following fruits: I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradeshika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at the

With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs: Territorial region — River flowing in the region I. Asmaka — Godavari II. Kamboja — Vipas III. Avanti — Mahanadi IV. Kosala — Sarayu How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?

Consider the following information: Archaeological Site — State — Description 1. Chandraketugarh — Odisha — Trading Port town 2. Inamgaon — Maharashtra — Chalcolithic site 3. Mangadu — Kerala — Megalithic site 4. Salihundam — Andhra Pradesh — Rock-cut cave shrines In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as

With reference to Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with

“Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects.” The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical person Known as 1. Aryadeva Jaina scholar 2. Dignaga Buddhist scholar 3. Nathamuni Vaishnava scholar How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical person Known as 1. Aryadeva Jaina scholar 2. Dignaga Buddhist scholar 3. Nathamuni Vaishnav a scholar How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran”?

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

Consider the following pairs: Historical place Well - known for 1. Burzahom: Rock-cut shrines 2. Chandra - ketugarh: Terracotta art 3. Ganeshwar: Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around: 1. women’s right to gain education 2. age of consent 3. restitution of conjugal rights Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

With reference to the scholars/literatures of ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term Paramitas?

With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements: 1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. 2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following foreign travelers elaborately discussed diamonds and diamond mines of India?

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? 1. Arasavalli 2. Amarkantak 3. Omkareshwar Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism. 2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: Term Description 1. Eripatti: Land revenue which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank 2. Taniyurs: Villages donated to single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins 3. Ghatikas: Colleges generally attached to the temples Which of the pairs given above is correctly matched?

With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: 1. Siddhas (Sittars) of the Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 2. Lingayats of the Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorising of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of which of the following?

Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in

Consider the following towns of India: 1. Bhadrachalam 2. Chanderi 3. Kancheepuram 4. Karnal Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?

Consider the following statements: 1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. 2. The Philosophy of PushtiMarg was propounded by Madhvacharya. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school: 1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul. 2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of:

With reference to the scientific progress of Ancient India, Which of the statements given below are correct? 1. Different kinds of specialised surgical instruments were in common use by the 1st century AD 2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body began in the 3rd century AD 3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in the 5th century AD. 4. The concept of cyclic quadrilateral was known in the 7th century AD. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the Guilds (Shrenis) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s economy, which of the following statements is/are true? 1. Every Guild was registered with the central authority of the state and the King was the chief administrative authority on them 2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the Guild 3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of the early maritime history of the Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing Solution/Solutions?