UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I
Question 2: History and Culture
With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct ?
- 1.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.
- 2.Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- 3.Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The Rigveda mentions coats of mail and helmets, while Indus Valley sites give no evidence of such defensive gear, so Statement 1 is right. The horse is central to Rigvedic life; Indus sites show no clear evidence of a domesticated horse, so Statement 3 is right. Statement 2 is wrong because Indus people used gold, silver, copper and bronze, and iron was unknown to them. Remember: the Indus Valley was a Bronze Age culture with no iron, while the Vedic people used the horse and chariot.
- 1. The Rigveda mentions body armour and helmets; Indus sites show none.
- 2. Indus people used gold, silver, copper and bronze; iron was not known to them.
- 3. The horse was central to Vedic life, with no clear evidence of it at Indus sites.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Indus people used gold, silver, copper and bronze; iron was not known to them.
The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: The horse was central to Vedic life, with no clear evidence of it at Indus sites.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incomplete: the horse statement (3) is also correct.
- (b) Wrong: it includes statement 2, which is false, and leaves out statement 1.
- (c) Right: statements 1 and 3 hold; statement 2 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 2 is false, since the Indus people knew gold, silver and bronze but not iron.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.