UPSC CSE Prelims
Indus Valley Civilization Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Indus Valley Civilization
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Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns :
I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.
II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.
III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements ?
- Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.
- Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.
- Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
The archaeological findings provide clues about Harappan society, technology, and economy.
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Inference 1 is Correct: The presence of numerous spindle-whorls and the absence of spinning wheels indicate that spinning was done manually at home, making it a labor-intensive activity.
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Inference 2 is Correct: Standardized weights and graduated measuring scales reflect the Harappans' advanced knowledge of measurement, mathematics, and trade.
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Inference 3 is Incorrect: Houses with private wells, bathing platforms, and spacious rooms indicate private ownership and social differentiation, not a common property system.
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Therefore, only Inferences 1 and 2 are correct, making Option A the correct answer.
Short Notes: Harappan Urban Features
| Feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| Spindle-whorls | Evidence of textile production and household spinning |
| Standardized Weights | Facilitated trade and commercial transactions |
| Graduated Scales | Demonstrates knowledge of measurement and precision |
| Baked Brick Houses | Advanced urban planning and architecture |
| Private Wells & Bathrooms | High standard of sanitation and private ownership |
Important Facts
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The Harappan Civilization had one of the world's earliest urban cultures with planned cities.
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Standardized weights were usually made of chert and followed a uniform system across the civilization.
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Harappan cities such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Dholavira, and Lothal show remarkable engineering and civic planning.
The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of
Detailed Explanation:
Correct Answer: ✅ Option 3 (Bronze)
The famous 'Dancing Girl' is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization. It was discovered at Mohenjo-daro and showcases the advanced metallurgical skills of the Harappans.
✅ Statement I is Correct: The Dancing Girl is made of bronze.
✅ Statement II is Correct: It was created using the Lost-Wax Casting Method (Cire Perdue), a sophisticated metal-casting technique.
❌ Carnelian, Clay, and Gold are Incorrect: The figurine is neither made of stone, clay, nor gold; it is a bronze sculpture.
Short Notes: Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro
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Discovered at Mohenjo-daro in present-day Pakistan.
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Belongs to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 BCE).
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Made of bronze using the Lost-Wax Casting Method.
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Height is approximately 10.5 cm.
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Depicts a young girl in a confident dancing posture.
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Considered a masterpiece of Harappan art and metallurgy.
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Indicates advanced knowledge of metalworking during the Harappan period.
Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Dholavira
Dholavira, located in Gujarat, is one of the five largest Harappan sites and is world-renowned for its extraordinarily sophisticated water harvesting and management system. The city built a series of dams, reservoirs (16 in total), channels, and interconnected water storage structures to harvest and store rainwater, making it unique among Indus Valley Civilization sites. This elaborate hydraulic engineering demonstrates advanced urban planning and water conservation techniques dating back to around 4500 years ago.
📝 Short Notes: Major Harappan Sites and Their Distinctive Features
| Site | Location | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|
| Dholavira | Gujarat (Khadir Island, Kutch) | • Elaborate water harvesting system with 16 reservoirs • Three-part city division (citadel, middle town, lower town) • Large stadium/public gathering area • Earliest known signboard with Harappan inscriptions • Unique dam and channelization system |
| Kalibangan | Rajasthan (Ghaggar River) | • First evidence of ploughed agricultural field • Fire altars indicating ritualistic practices • Mud brick architecture • Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases |
| Rakhigarhi | Haryana | • Largest Harappan site in India • Evidence of advanced jewelry making • Multi-roomed houses and planned settlement • Skeletons showing genetic continuity |
| Ropar (Rupnagar) | Punjab (Sutlej River) | • First Harappan site excavated post-independence (1953) • Overlap of Harappan and later cultures • Burial practices with pottery and ornaments • River-based settlement pattern |
| Lothal | Gujarat | • Dockyard and maritime trade center • Evidence of rice cultivation • Bead-making factory • Fire altars |
| Harappa | Pakistan (Punjab) | • First site to be discovered (1921) • Granaries and fortifications • Cemetery R-37 with multiple burial types • Stone sculptures and seals |
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Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Sohgaura
Sohgaura is not a Harappan site; it is located in Uttar Pradesh and is famous for its copper-plate inscription written in Prakrit using the Brahmi script, dating to the Mauryan period. The other three sites—Chanhudaro and Kot Diji in Sindh, Pakistan, and Desalpur in Gujarat, India—are all authentic Harappan sites.
📝 Short Notes: Harappan Sites
| Site | Location | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chanhudaro | Sindh, Pakistan | Bead-making, toy carts, footprints of dogs; no citadel found |
| Kot Diji | Sindh, Pakistan | Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases; fortification wall |
| Desalpur | Gujarat, India | Coastal Harappan site; evidence of trade |
| Sohgaura | Uttar Pradesh, India | Mauryan copper-plate inscription in Brahmi script; NOT a Harappan site |
With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
- Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only
This question tests the comparative understanding of Rigvedic Aryan culture and Indus Valley Civilization. Statement 1 and Statement 3 are correct, while Statement 2 contains a factual error regarding metallurgical knowledge.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Rigvedic Aryans used protective warfare equipment like 'varman' (coat of mail) and helmets, whereas the Indus Valley Civilization, being primarily a peaceful urban society, has not yielded archaeological evidence of such military gear.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Indus Valley people were part of a Bronze Age civilization and knew gold, silver, copper, and bronze (not iron). Rigvedic Aryans also knew gold, silver, and copper but not iron initially. The statement incorrectly claims IVC people knew only copper and iron, which is factually wrong on both counts.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The horse was central to Rigvedic Aryan culture with extensive mentions in the Rigveda, whereas there is no clear, widespread evidence of horse domestication or awareness in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Which of the following characterizes/ characterize the people of Indus Civilization?
- They possessed great palaces and temples.
- They worshipped both male and female deities.
- They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
Select the correct statement/ statements using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Indus Civilization had Great Baths and granaries, but no palaces or temples have been discovered.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Female figurines suggest worship of Mother Goddess; a seal showing a male figure in yogic posture with animals (possibly proto-Shiva) indicates worship of male deities.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Horse remains are absent or disputed in Harappan sites; horse-drawn chariots were not used in warfare by the Indus people.