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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 2013
South Indian Kingdoms
Question No. 54Interactive Test Mode
00:00
+2-0.66

Q54. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offenses, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery.
  2. As regards punishment for offenses, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
  3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)
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Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2013 • Ancient History

Correct Answer: Option (B) — 2 and 3 only

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified
  • Statement 1 is incorrect: Roads and water routes were not completely free from crime. Hiuen Tsang himself was robbed and attacked on multiple occasions during his travels across India.
  • Statement 2 is correct: Hiuen Tsang recorded that the criminal justice system included trial by ordeal (using fire, water, poison, and weights) to establish innocence or guilt.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Heavy commercial surveillance existed where merchants and tradesmen had to pay tolls and duties at river ferries and barrier checkpoints, forming a major source of royal revenue.
Elimination Heuristic & Exam Approach

Eliminate extreme modifiers: Statement 1 asserts that routes were 'completely immune' from robbery, which is historically implausible for any ancient empire. Eliminating Statement 1 leaves Option (b) directly.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2013 (Q54)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicAncient History → South Indian Kingdoms
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — 2 and 3 only

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2013 Q54

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2013 GS Paper I Question 54 (Ancient History)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2013 Ancient History (South Indian Kingdoms) question is Option (B): "2 and 3 only". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2013 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Ancient History" and micro-topic "South Indian Kingdoms". You can explore all repeated questions from South Indian Kingdoms in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this South Indian Kingdoms UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

Eliminate extreme modifiers: Statement 1 asserts that routes were 'completely immune' from robbery, which is historically implausible for any ancient empire. Eliminating Statement 1 leaves Option (b) directly.

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