UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 1
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.
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C
Explanation: Rigvedic literary sources describe defensive armour and horses. Harappans knew several metals including gold and silver, while convincing evidence of horses in mature Harappan culture is disputed. Statements 1 and 3 are the intended distinctions.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Statement/Item 1: Correct - Rigvedic texts mention armour/helmets; comparable Indus-period military armour has not been established archaeologically.
Statement/Item 2: Incorrect - Harappans used copper/bronze, gold and silver, not iron; they were not limited to copper and iron.
Statement/Item 3: Correct - Horses figure prominently in Vedic society; clear, widespread horse domestication in mature Harappan contexts is not established.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - omits correct statement/item 3.
B: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 2; omits correct statement/item 1.
C: Correct - includes all and only the true statements/items.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 2.
Review Note: Harappan horse evidence is debated. “No evidence of awareness” is stronger than the archaeological record strictly establishes; this is the conventional exam interpretation.