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NDA 1 2024 GAT, question 63

Topic: History

Q63

Consider the following statements about ancient Indian inscriptions :

  1. The earliest inscriptions are in Sanskrit.

  2. Kharosthi script, used in inscriptions in the north-west, was deciphered with the help of coins of Indo-Greek kings who ruled over the area.

  3. Most of the inscriptions mention grand, unique events, and routine agricultural practices do not find mention.

How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

  1. (a) 1
  2. (b) 2Correct answer
  3. (c) 3
  4. (d) None

Solution.

Answer: (b) 2

  1. The earliest historical inscriptions discussed here were in Prakrit, not Sanskrit, so statement 1 is false.
  2. Bilingual Indo-Greek coins aided decipherment of Kharosthi, confirming statement 2.
  3. Inscriptions tend to record exceptional events rather than routine farming, as statement 3 describes.
  4. Thus two statements are correct.