UPSC CSE Prelims
Social and Economic Life in Medieval India Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — waterwheel used in the irrigation of land

Araghatta was a traditional water-lifting device widely used in medieval India for irrigation purposes. It consisted of a large wheel fitted with pots or buckets along its rim, which were rotated by animal power (typically oxen or bullocks). As the wheel turned, the pots descended into a well or water source, filled with water, and then rose to empty the water into an irrigation channel or trough that distributed it to agricultural fields. This ingenious mechanism, also known as the Persian wheel or rahat, significantly improved agricultural productivity by enabling efficient irrigation in areas dependent on well water.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — traders

Banjaras were nomadic trading communities during the medieval period who transported goods like salt, grain, and cattle across long distances using bullock caravans called tandas. They played a vital role in the internal trade network of the Indian subcontinent, moving goods between production centers and markets, and were especially important in supplying armies during military campaigns.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Feudalism is characterized by a weak central authority with power dispersed among regional lords, not strong centralization.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Land control forms the economic foundation of feudalism, where administrative power derives from possession and control of land rather than formal bureaucratic structures.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The lord-vassal relationship is a defining feature, involving land grants (fiefs) in exchange for military service, loyalty, and revenue, creating a hierarchical pyramid of obligations.