2023 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I
Question 43: History and Culture
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
acapital cities
bports
ccentres of iron-and-steel making
dshrines of Jain Tirthankaras
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Korkai (a Pandya port famed for pearls), Poompuhar or Kaveripattinam (the Chola port) and Muchiri or Muziris (the Chera port on the Malabar coast) were ports of Sangam-age South India. They were centres of trade with the Roman world in pepper, pearls, textiles and gems. They were not capitals, iron-making centres or Jain shrines.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) The Pandya, Chola and Chera capitals were Madurai, Uraiyur and Vanji.
- (b) Correct: all three were ports on the coast.
- (c) They were known for trade, not for iron and steel.
- (d) They were not Jain pilgrimage sites.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.