Daily Static Quiz (History) March 5,2025
Daily Static Quiz (History)
This comprehensive set of questions covers key aspects of prehistoric India through the Vedic period, following the standard UPSC prelims pattern. The questions test conceptual understanding, chronology, and archaeological evidence related to ancient Indian history.
Which of the following statements about Paleolithic sites in India is/are correct?
Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh contain extensive rock paintings dating back to the Paleolithic period.
Ostrich eggshell fragments found at Patne in Maharashtra indicate their presence in India over 25,000 years ago.
Evidence of fire use has been discovered in the Kurnool caves of Andhra Pradesh.
Hungsi in Karnataka is known for habitation cum factory sites from this period.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Consider the following statements about Mesolithic sites in India:
Bagor in Rajasthan is known for its microliths, pottery, and evidence of domesticated animals.
Langhnaj in Gujarat has yielded stone tools, pottery fragments, and animal bones.
The Mesolithic period in India is generally dated from around 10,000 to 2,500 BCE.
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters contain rock paintings exclusively from the Mesolithic period.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Which of the following Neolithic sites is known for its unique pit dwellings and evidence of the earliest cultivation of wheat and barley in the Indian subcontinent?
(a) Burzahom
(b) Mehrgarh
(c) Chirand
(d) Gufkral
With reference to the Chalcolithic cultures of India, consider the following statements:
Jorwe culture is primarily associated with Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Malwa culture is known for its distinctive black-and-red ware pottery.
Ahar-Banas culture sites have yielded evidence of copper smelting.
Pandu Rajar Dhibi represents a Chalcolithic culture from West Bengal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Consider the following statements about the Harappan Civilization:
The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro was likely used for ritual purification ceremonies.
Dholavira, located in Gujarat, contains a sophisticated water management system.
The script of the Harappan Civilization has been fully deciphered.
Evidence of trade contacts with Mesopotamia has been found at multiple Harappan sites.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
With reference to the Harappan Civilization, which of the following sites is known for its “dockyard” structure, indicating maritime trade activities?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Banawali
Which of the following practices was NOT prevalent in the Harappan Civilization?
(a) Use of standardized weights and measures
(b) Construction of cities based on a grid pattern
(c) Production of seals with animal motifs
(d) Iron metallurgy
With reference to the Early Vedic Period, consider the following statements:
The Sabha and Samiti were important political assemblies.
The Varna system was rigid and fully established.
Agriculture was the primary economic activity.
The term ‘Gavishthi’ referred to search for cattle or cattle raids.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Which of the following texts is associated with the Later Vedic Period?
(a) Rigveda Samhita
(b) Aranyakas
(c) Samaveda Samhita
(d) Yajurveda Samhita
In the context of Vedic culture, which of the following rituals was performed for the coronation of kings?
(a) Vajapeya
(b) Rajasuya
(c) Ashvamedha
(d) Agnichayana
Explanation: All statements are correct. Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh contain extensive rock paintings dating back to the Paleolithic period, serving as shelters for over 100,000 years. Archaeological findings at Patne in Maharashtra include ostrich eggshell fragments, indicating their presence in India over 25,000 years ago. Traces of ashes discovered in Kurnool caves (Andhra Pradesh) show that inhabitants knew how to use fire. Hungsi (Karnataka) has yielded evidence of habitation cum factory sites where stone tools and weapons made of reddish-brown chert have been found.
Explanation: Langhnaj in Gujarat has indeed yielded stone tools, pottery fragments, and animal bones, suggesting a settled lifestyle with hunting and gathering emphasis. The Mesolithic period in India is generally dated from around 10,000 to 2,500 BCE. However, Bagor in Rajasthan is known primarily for microliths but evidence of domesticated animals belongs to later periods, not exclusively Mesolithic. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters contain paintings from multiple periods including Paleolithic and Chalcolithic, not exclusively Mesolithic.
Explanation: Burzahom, located in Kashmir Valley, is a Neolithic site known for its unique pit dwellings dug into the earth for cold weather shelter. It has provided evidence of the earliest cultivation of wheat and barley in the Indian subcontinent. The site shows a transition from subterranean pit dwellings to above-ground structures. Mehrgarh is in present-day Pakistan; Chirand is a Neolithic site in Bihar known for bone tools; Gufkral is another Kashmir site but less known for early wheat and barley cultivation.
Explanation: Jorwe culture (1400-700 BCE) is primarily associated with Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh, known for distinctive pottery and well-planned settlements. Ahar-Banas culture sites (especially in Rajasthan) have yielded evidence of copper smelting, including furnaces and slag. Pandu Rajar Dhibi represents a Chalcolithic culture from West Bengal, with evidence of copper tools and distinctive pottery. However, Malwa culture is known for its distinctive Malwa ware (red slipped ware with black painted designs), not black-and-red ware pottery.
Explanation: The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro was likely used for ritual purification ceremonies, given its sophisticated water-tight construction. Dholavira, in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch, contains a sophisticated water management system with reservoirs, channels, and collection areas. Evidence of trade contacts with Mesopotamia has been found at multiple Harappan sites, including Harappan seals found in Mesopotamian sites and vice versa. However, the script of the Harappan Civilization has NOT been fully deciphered despite numerous attempts.
Explanation: Lothal, located in Gujarat, is famous for its dockyard structure. This large rectangular basin with walls made of kiln-fired bricks connected to the nearby river and eventually to the sea, indicating its use for maritime trade activities. This provides strong evidence for the Harappan Civilization’s engagement in sea trade with Mesopotamia and other regions. The other sites mentioned (Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, and Banawali) do not have similar dockyard structures.
Explanation: Iron metallurgy was NOT prevalent in the Harappan Civilization. The Harappans were adept at copper and bronze metallurgy, but iron technology came into widespread use in the Indian subcontinent only during the later Iron Age (around 1800-1200 BCE), after the decline of the Harappan Civilization. The other practices mentioned were all characteristic of the Harappan Civilization: standardized weights and measures, grid-pattern cities, and seals with animal motifs.
Explanation: The Sabha and Samiti were important political assemblies during the Early Vedic Period, mentioned in the Rigveda. The Sabha was an assembly of elders, while the Samiti was a general tribal assembly. The term ‘Gavishthi’ in Early Vedic literature referred to search for cattle or cattle raids, highlighting the importance of cattle in their economy. However, during the Early Vedic Period, the Varna system was NOT rigid but in its formative stage, and pastoralism was the primary economic activity, not agriculture, which became prominent only in the Later Vedic Period.
Explanation: The Aranyakas (“forest texts”) are associated with the Later Vedic Period. They contain mystical and philosophical speculations about ritual meanings and represent a transition between the ritual-focused Brahmanas and the philosophical Upanishads. The Rigveda Samhita, Samaveda Samhita, and Yajurveda Samhita are all part of the Samhita literature, which constitutes the oldest layer of Vedic texts, primarily associated with the Early Vedic Period.
Explanation: The Rajasuya was the royal consecration ritual performed for the coronation of kings in Vedic culture. It affirmed the king’s position and divine right to rule. The Vajapeya was a ritual performed to consecrate a king to a higher rank than an ordinary kingdom ruler. The Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) was performed by kings to demonstrate sovereignty over neighboring kingdoms. The Agnichayana was a complex ritual involving the building of a fire altar, primarily focused on cosmic regeneration rather than royal coronation.