UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 77: History and Culture
What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India? I. Gold coins II. Punch-marked silver coins III. Iron plough IV. Urban culture Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
AnswerThe answer is (d).
The first urban culture, that of the Harappan cities, dates from about 2600 BCE. The iron plough came much later, with iron use in the Gangetic plains after about 1000 BCE. Punch-marked silver coins circulated from about the sixth century BCE in the Mahajanapada period. Gold coins came last, issued by the Indo-Greek and Kushana kings. So the order is IV, III, II, I.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Puts the iron plough first and gold coins before silver ones; both are wrong.
- (b) Puts the iron plough before urban culture, which is much older.
- (c) Puts gold coins before silver ones, but silver punch-marked coins came first.
- (d) Right: urban culture, iron plough, silver punch-marked coins, gold coins.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.