UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 3: The Harappan Civilisation – Extent, Sites and Town Planning (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 3: The Harappan Civilisation – Extent, Sites and Town Planning (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

Harappa is situated on the bank of the:

Correct Answer: B [Ravi]

Explanation:

Harappa, the first Harappan site excavated (1921), stands on the Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan.

2.  

Mohenjo-daro was excavated in 1922 by:

Correct Answer: D [R.D. Banerji]

Explanation:

R.D. Banerji excavated Mohenjo-daro on the Indus in Sindh in 1922, a year after Sahni dug Harappa.

3.  

The southernmost Harappan site is:

Correct Answer: C [Daimabad]

Explanation:

Daimabad on the Pravara in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra, is the southernmost Harappan site.

4.  

Shortugai, a Harappan trading outpost, is located in:

Correct Answer: A [Afghanistan]

Explanation:

Shortugai lies on the Amu Darya (Oxus) in northern Afghanistan and served as a Harappan trading outpost.

5.  

The Great Bath was found at:

Correct Answer: A [Mohenjo-daro]

Explanation:

The Great Bath is a watertight brick tank on the citadel mound of Mohenjo-daro, probably used for ritual bathing.

6.  

A brick basin identified as a dockyard was found at:

Correct Answer: C [Lothal]

Explanation:

S.R. Rao identified the large brick-lined basin at Lothal, linked to the sea by a channel, as a dockyard.

7.  

A ploughed field of the Early Harappan phase was found at:

Correct Answer: A [Kalibangan]

Explanation:

Kalibangan in Rajasthan yielded a ploughed field with criss-cross furrows from its Early Harappan phase.

8.  

Which Harappan site had no citadel and was a bead-making centre?

Correct Answer: B [Chanhudaro]

Explanation:

Chanhudaro in Sindh had no citadel and was a centre of bead-making and other crafts.

9.  

The ratio of length, breadth and height of standard Harappan bricks was:

Correct Answer: A [4:2:1]

Explanation:

the 1:2:4 ratio read as length:breadth:height.

10.  

Consider the following statements about Harappan town planning:

1. Streets crossed one another roughly at right angles.
2. Houses were connected to covered street drains.
3. Most houses had large windows facing the main street.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Streets crossed at right angles and houses drained into covered street drains; ground-level walls facing streets had no windows.

11.  

Assertion (A): Dholavira built a series of reservoirs and dams.

Reason (R): Dholavira lay on a dry island in the Rann of Kutch with only seasonal streams.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Because Khadir Bet was dry and fed only by seasonal streams, Dholavira dammed them and stored water in reservoirs.

12.  

Rakhigarhi, one of the largest Harappan sites, is in:

Correct Answer: D [Haryana]

Explanation:

Rakhigarhi, one of the largest Harappan sites and known for an ancient DNA study, is in Hisar district, Haryana.

13.  

Which of the following is the easternmost Harappan site?

Correct Answer: D [Alamgirpur]

Explanation:

Alamgirpur on the Hindon in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh, is the easternmost Harappan site.

14.  

The Harappan script:

Correct Answer: A [remains undeciphered]

Explanation:

The Harappan script of about 375 to 400 signs, found in short inscriptions, has not been deciphered.

15.  

In a typical Harappan city, the citadel was located:

Correct Answer: C [on the west, on a raised platform]

Explanation:

The smaller citadel stood on the west on raised mud-brick platforms, with the larger lower town to the east.

16.  

Dholavira was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in:

Correct Answer: B [2021]

Explanation:

Dholavira: a Harappan City was inscribed in July 2021 as India's 40th World Heritage Site.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Lothal excavations begin
2. Dholavira inscribed as a World Heritage Site
3. Excavation of Harappa
4. Mohenjo-daro inscribed as a World Heritage Site

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-1-4-2]

Explanation:

Order: Excavation of Harappa (1921) → Lothal excavations begin (1955) → Mohenjo-daro inscribed as a World Heritage Site (1980) → Dholavira inscribed as a World Heritage Site (2021).

18.  

Which of the following Harappan sites is in Pakistan?

Correct Answer: B [Kot Diji]

Explanation:

Kot Diji, an Early and Mature Harappan fortified settlement, lies on the Indus plain in Sindh, Pakistan.

19.  

Manda, the northernmost Harappan site in India, lies on the:

Correct Answer: D [Chenab]

Explanation:

Manda, near Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir, stands on the Chenab and is the northernmost Harappan site in India.

20.  

Who announced the discovery of the Harappan civilisation to the world in 1924?

Correct Answer: B [John Marshall]

Explanation:

John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilisation to the world in 1924.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

Correct Answer: A [Dholavira]

Explanation:

Dholavira dammed seasonal streams and stored water in connected reservoirs.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2019

Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

Correct Answer: C [Sohgaura]

Explanation:

Sohgaura (Uttar Pradesh) is known for a copper-plate inscription, not Harappan remains.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U01 · Ancient India (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-ancient-india

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