Advent of the Aryans and the Age of the Rig Veda - UPSC Prelims Quiz
Answer all questions carefully. Questions are UPSC-level involving statement analysis, chronology, and analytical reasoning.
Origins of Vedic Culture: The Indo-Aryan Settlement and Early Hymns•hard•10 questions•~15 min
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Question 01
hard
Consider the following statements about the Rig Veda:
1. The Rig Veda consists of ten mandalas, of which Books II to VII form its earliest portions.
2. Books I and X of the Rig Veda seem to have been the latest additions.
3. The term 'janapada' (territory) occurs prominently in the Rig Veda, showing the Aryans were attached to specific territories.
4. The Rig Veda has much in common with the Avesta, the oldest text in the Iranian language.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 02
hard
The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasarajna) in the Rig Vedic period is significant because:
1. It was fought on the river Parushni, identical with the river Ravi.
2. It was fought between the Bharatas (supported by Vasishtha) and a coalition of five Aryan tribes and five non-Aryan peoples.
3. The victory of Sudas established the supremacy of the Bharatas.
4. As a direct consequence, the Bharatas joined hands with the Panchalas to form the Kurus.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 03
medium
With reference to the tribal polity of the Rig Vedic period, consider the following statements:
1. The two most important assemblies from the political point of view were the sabha and the samiti.
2. The purohita was the most important functionary in day-to-day administration.
3. The Rig Vedic king maintained a regular standing army to protect the tribe.
4. The term for war in the Rig Veda is 'gavisthi', which means 'search for cows'.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 04
hard
The Sudra varna made its first appearance in the Rig Vedic period. In which book of the Rig Veda does it appear for the first time, and why is this significant?
Question 05
hard
Consider the following statements about Rig Vedic society and family:
1. The term 'jana' occurs about 275 times in the Rig Veda, reflecting the primacy of tribal identity over territorial identity.
2. The term 'vis' mentioned 170 times in the Rig Veda refers to the tribe; it was divided into gramas (smaller fighting units).
3. The marriageable age in the Rig Veda seems to have been 16 to 17 years.
4. The Rig Veda explicitly expresses desire for daughters in the hymns.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 06
medium
With reference to the Rig Vedic gods, which of the following is correctly matched in descending order of importance (number of hymns devoted)?
Question 07
medium
Consider the following statements about Soma in the Rig Veda:
1. Soma is considered the god of plants and an intoxicating drink is named after him.
2. The Rig Veda has a large number of hymns which explain the preparation of this drink.
3. Soma has been satisfactorily identified as the cannabis plant by modern scholars.
4. Varuna, not Soma, personified water and was supposed to uphold the natural order.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 08
medium
Which of the following best describes the purpose for which the Rig Vedic people worshipped their gods, as stated in RS Sharma's Ancient India?
Question 09
hard
With reference to the social divisions in the Rig Vedic period, which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Question 10
hard
The Painted Grey Ware (PGW) sites excavated at Bhagwanpura (Haryana) and three sites in Punjab are significant in the context of the Rig Vedic period because:
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