UPSC CSE Prelims
Mahajanapada Period Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Mahajanapada Period
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Consider the following statements :
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?
- Emergence of urban life
- Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
The mention of coins such as kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika in Pali texts, along with the discovery of punch-marked coins, shows the growth of a monetized economy in ancient India.
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Emergence of Urban Life: Coins facilitated trade, markets, craft production, and the growth of towns during the Second Urbanization (6th century BCE).
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Transition to Money Economy: The use of coins marked a shift from the barter system to a money-based economy, enabling standardized transactions.
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Therefore, the statements are associated with both (1) Emergence of Urban Life and (2) Transition to Money Economy, making Option C the correct answer.
Why Both Statements Are Associated
| Development | Relation with Coinage |
|---|---|
| Emergence of Urban Life | Coins supported trade, markets, guilds, and the growth of cities. |
| Transition to Money Economy | Coins replaced barter and enabled easier exchange of goods and services. |
Punch-Marked Coins
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Period | Around 6th Century BCE |
| Material | Mostly Silver |
| Type | Earliest coins of India |
| Shape | Irregular pieces with symbols punched on them |
| Associated With | Mahajanapadas and Second Urbanization |
Important Facts
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Pali texts provide some of the earliest literary references to coins.
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Punch-marked coins are considered the oldest coins of ancient India.
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Their use reflects increasing trade, taxation, urbanization, and economic specialization.
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?
Detailed Explanation:
Pair I — Correct. Asmaka (also called Assaka) — southernmost Mahajanapada, in the Deccan region, on the banks of the Godavari river.
Pair II — Incorrect. Kamboja was in the extreme north-west (modern Afghanistan/Kashmir area). The Vipas (Beas) river flows through Punjab — a different region, further east.
Pair III — Incorrect. Avanti was in western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa region). Its main rivers were Kshipra and Vetravati, NOT Mahanadi (which flows through Odisha/Chhattisgarh).
Pair IV — Correct. Kosala — Mahajanapada in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its capital Ayodhya sits on the banks of the Sarayu river.
So only 2 pairs (I and IV) are correct.
Mahajanapadas and Their Rivers
| Mahajanapada | Region | Main River(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Asmaka | Deccan (south) | Godavari |
| Kamboja | NW Frontier (Afghanistan/Kashmir) | Not Vipas — different region entirely |
| Avanti | Western MP (Malwa) | Kshipra, Vetravati |
| Kosala | Eastern UP | Sarayu (capital: Ayodhya) |
| Magadha | Bihar | Ganga, Son |
| Vatsa | Allahabad region | Yamuna (capital: Kaushambi) |
| Kashi | Varanasi region | Ganga |
| Vajji | North Bihar | Gandak |
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