History of the Vedic Period: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Ancient History)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on History of the Vedic Period (Ancient History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 1996Ancient History · History of the Vedic Period
Q1. The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is:
Explanation
Vedic literature consists of the Vedas, which are the oldest religious texts of India, comprising hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings. It includes four Vedas--Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda--and their associated texts like the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is the Sindhu. It is mentioned over 150 times in the Rig Veda, the oldest known Hindu text. The Sindhu is identical to the Indus River and is considered to be a sacred river associated with fertility, abundance and prosperity. Other rivers that are mentioned in early Vedic literature include the Saraswati, Yamuna and Ganges. Saraswati is called naditama or the best of the rivers in the Rig Veda.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1996
(a) Sindhu
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on History of the Vedic Period?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on History of the Vedic Period (Ancient History), asked from 1995 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for History of the Vedic Period?
Questions on History of the Vedic Period (Ancient History) are available for 8 years, from 1995 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
