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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 2017
Vedic Age
Question No. 17Interactive Test Mode
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Q17. 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 the 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:

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 the 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:

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 2017 • Ancient History

Correct Answer: Option (C) — 1 and 3 only

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

Statement 1 is correct: Rigvedic texts refer to body armour (varman/coat of mail) and helmets (sipra) used in warfare, whereas no such military defensive equipment has been unearthed in IVC sites.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Indus Valley people were a Bronze Age civilization who did not know iron (iron appeared in the later Vedic period, c. 1000 BCE). They were well acquainted with gold, silver, copper, and bronze.

Statement 3 is correct: The Rigvedic lifestyle placed central importance on domesticated horses and horse-drawn chariots (ashva), while convincing and unambiguous evidence of horse domestication is lacking in the Harappan civilization.

Elimination Heuristic & Exam Approach

Indus Valley was a Bronze Age civilization and did NOT possess iron technology. Hence, any claim that IVC people knew iron is factually false, eliminating statements containing 2 (b and d).

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017 (Q17)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicAncient History → Vedic Age
Official Answer KeyOption (C) — 1 and 3 only

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2017 Q17

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2017 GS Paper I Question 17 (Ancient History)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2017 Ancient History (Vedic Age) question is Option (C): "1 and 3 only". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2017 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Ancient History" and micro-topic "Vedic Age". You can explore all repeated questions from Vedic Age 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 Vedic Age UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

Indus Valley was a Bronze Age civilization and did NOT possess iron technology. Hence, any claim that IVC people knew iron is factually false, eliminating statements containing 2 (b and d).

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