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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 10

Topic: Ancient history

Q10

Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period :

I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.

II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.

Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ?

  1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.

  2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).

  3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 1, 2 and 3
  3. (c) 1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer
  4. (d) 3 only

Solution.

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

  1. Statement 1 is correct: Rigvedic references to avata (dug wells), ashma-chakra (stone pulley wheel), and ahava (wooden pails/troughs) directly support well irrigation and mechanical water lifting.
  2. Statement 2 is incorrect: references to parashu/kulisha (axes) and datra/sreni (sickles) relate to forest clearing and crop harvesting rather than well irrigation or draught-animal water lifting.
  3. Statement 3 is correct: the established pre-Rigvedic and Rigvedic use of oxen as draught animals for traction supports the employment of animal power to draw water from wells.