UPSC CSE Prelims
Vedic Age Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Vedic Age
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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 ?
- There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
- Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu / kulisha (axe) and datra / sreni (sickle).
- 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 :
Detailed Explanation:
The question asks which information supports the statements about well irrigation and the use of draught animals for drawing water during the Rigvedic period.
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Statement 1 is Correct: References to ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (wooden pails) in the Rigveda indicate the use of wells and water-lifting devices for irrigation.
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Statement 3 is Correct: The long-standing use of oxen for ploughing and pulling carts supports the idea that draught animals could also be used to draw water from wells.
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Statement 2 is Incorrect: Tools like axe (parashu/kulisha) and sickle (datra/sreni) relate to farming activities, not irrigation or water-lifting.
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Therefore, only 1 and 3 support the given statements, making Option C the correct answer.
Short Notes: Agriculture in the Rigvedic Period
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Occupation | Agriculture and Pastoralism |
| Irrigation Source | Wells and rivers |
| Water-Lifting Devices | Ashma Chakra (stone pulley), Ahava (wooden pail) |
| Draught Animals | Oxen/Bulls |
| Agricultural Tools | Plough, Axe (Parashu), Sickle (Datra) |
Important Facts
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The Rigvedic people gradually expanded cultivation beyond river banks using well irrigation.
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Oxen played a crucial role in agriculture, transport, and water-lifting activities.
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Agriculture became more organized during the Later Vedic period with increasing use of irrigation techniques.
In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate ?
Detailed Explanation:
The term Kshetra-patni literally means "Mistress of the Field" (Kshetra = field, Patni = wife/mistress).
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Atharvaveda mentions Kshetra-patni as an agricultural deity associated with fertility, cultivation, and prosperity of fields.
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Rigveda mentions Kshetrapati (Lord of the Field), but not Kshetra-patni.
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Ashtadhyayi and Arthashastra were composed much later and are not the source of this term.
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Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong
| Option | Why Incorrect? |
|---|---|
| Rigveda | Mentions Kshetrapati (Lord of the Field), not Kshetra-patni. |
| Atharvaveda | Contains references to Kshetra-patni (Mistress of the Field). ✅ |
| Ashtadhyayi | A grammatical text by Panini, not related to Vedic agricultural deities. |
| Arthashastra | Deals with administration and economy; not the origin of the term. |
Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ?
- Vitasta : Chenab
- Asikni : Jhelum
- Parushni : Ravi
- Yavyavati : Beas
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
Many rivers mentioned in the Rigveda are known today by different names.
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Pair 1 is Incorrect: Vitasta = Jhelum, not Chenab.
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Pair 2 is Incorrect: Asikni = Chenab, not Jhelum.
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Pair 3 is Correct: Parushni = Ravi.
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Pair 4 is Incorrect: Beas = Vipasha, not Yavyavati.
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Therefore, only Pair 3 is correctly matched, making Option C the correct answer.
Pair-wise Analysis
| Ancient Name | Modern Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vitasta | Jhelum | ❌ Incorrectly matched in the question |
| Asikni | Chenab | ❌ Incorrectly matched in the question |
| Parushni | Ravi | ✅ Correct |
| Yavyavati | Beas | ❌ Incorrect (Beas = Vipasha) |
Rigvedic Rivers
| Ancient Name | Modern River |
|---|---|
| Sindhu | Indus |
| Vitasta | Jhelum |
| Asikni | Chenab |
| Parushni | Ravi |
| Vipasha | Beas |
| Shutudri | Sutlej |
| Saraswati | Ghaggar-Hakra (identified by many scholars) |
Important Fact
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Parushni (Ravi) is famous as the site of the Battle of Ten Kings (Dasarajna) mentioned in the Rigveda, where King Sudas emerged victorious.
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Consider the following statements:
- There are no parables in Upanishads.
- Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
This question tests knowledge about the chronology and characteristics of ancient Indian literary sources. Statement 1 is incorrect because Upanishads do contain parables and allegories to convey philosophical concepts. Statement 2 is correct as Upanishads (800-500 BCE) were indeed composed much earlier than the Puranas (3rd century CE onwards).
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Upanishads contain numerous parables and allegories, such as the story of Satyakama Jabala in Chandogya Upanishad and the parable of two birds in Mundaka Upanishad, used to explain complex philosophical ideas.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Upanishads, forming the Vedanta (end of Vedas), were composed between 800-500 BCE, while Puranas are a later genre of texts composed from around the 3rd century CE onwards, making Upanishads considerably older.
📝 Short Notes: Upanishads and Puranas
| Feature | Upanishads | Puranas |
|---|---|---|
| Period of Composition | 800-500 BCE (Later Vedic period) | 3rd century CE onwards (Gupta period and later) |
| Part of Vedic Literature | Yes, form Vedanta (end of Vedas) | No, belong to Smriti tradition |
| Literary Style | Philosophical dialogues, parables, allegories | Narratives, genealogies, cosmology, myths |
| Main Content | Brahman, Atman, moksha, philosophical inquiry | Creation, destruction, genealogies of gods and sages, rituals |
| Number | 108 Upanishads (13 principal ones) | 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas |
| Language | Vedic Sanskrit | Classical Sanskrit |
- Upanishads are also called Vedanta (Veda + anta = end) as they represent the culmination of Vedic thought and form the philosophical foundation of Hinduism.
- Major Upanishads include: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka.
- Puranas popularized religious ideas among common people through stories and myths, playing a crucial role in the spread of Bhakti movement.
- Major Puranas include: Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Shiva Purana, Markandeya Purana, Matsya Purana.
The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of -
Detailed Explanation:
Early Vedic religion centered on worship of natural forces such as Indra (rain), Agni (fire), Varuna (water), Surya (sun), and Vayu (wind), personified as deities in the Rig Veda.
Yajnas (sacrificial rituals) were the primary mode of worship, involving offerings of soma, ghee, and grains to invoke divine blessings; Bhakti (devotional worship) and image worship emerged only in the later Vedic and post-Vedic periods.