1997 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies

Question 62: History and Culture

Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

aBrahmi
bNandnagari
cSharada
dKharosthi

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Kharosthi, used in north-western India (Gandhara) in Mauryan and later times, was written from right to left, like the Aramaic script it came from. Brahmi, and the later Sharada and Nandinagari scripts that descend from it, were written from left to right.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Brahmi runs from left to right.
  • (b) Nandinagari belongs to the Brahmi family and runs from left to right.
  • (c) Sharada, used in Kashmir, runs from left to right.
  • (d) Right: Kharosthi runs from right to left.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.