2016 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2016 · GS Paper I
Question 88: History and Culture
With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to
abonded labour
bland grants made to military officers
cwaterwheel used in the irrigation of land
dwasteland converted to cultivated land
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Araghatta was the Persian wheel, a waterwheel with a chain of pots or buckets turned by animals, used to lift water for irrigation. It spread in medieval India and is mentioned in sources of the period. It is not bonded labour, a land grant to military officers or the conversion of wasteland into cultivated land.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Araghatta is not a term for bonded labour.
- (b) Land grants to military officers had other names, such as iqta.
- (c) Right: araghatta is a waterwheel used in irrigation.
- (d) Reclaimed wasteland is not what the term means.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.