This page lists 3 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Ancient History in the UPSC 2012 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2012Ancient History · Construction of Ancient History
Q1. With reference to the scientific progress of Ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct? 1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by the 1st century AD. 2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body began in the 3rd century AD 3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in the 5th century AD. 4. The concept of cyclic quadrilateral was known in the 7th century AD. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Ancient India made significant contributions to science, particularly in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Achievements include the concept of zero and the decimal system, advancements in surgery and the accurate calculations of the Earth’s circumference.
Statement 1 is correct: Ancient Indian texts like the Sushruta Samhita (6th century BC) describe specialized surgical instruments for procedures such as surgery, eye treatments, and plastic surgery, indicating well-developed surgical knowledge by the 1st century AD.
Statement 2 is incorrect: There has been no documented proof of organ transplants in the 3rd century AD. The concept of organ transplantation is much more modern, developing in the 20th century.
Statement 3 is correct: Aryabhata, in the 5th century AD, improvised the concept of sine (jya in Sanskrit) in his book and used it in astronomical calculations. Aryabhata’s work in trigonometry laid the foundation for later developments in mathematics.
Statement 4 is correct: The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals, where a quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle, was known to Brahmagupta in the 7th century AD, who also provided a formula for their area.
Additional insight:
Aryabhata (approximately 476 CE) was an Indian mathematician-astronomer who wrote Aryabhatiya and the lost Aryabhatasiddhanta. He helped develop the decimal system, approximated, solved quadratic equations, and explained planetary motion. He proposed Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s reflected light. Brahmagupta (approximately 598-665 CE) was a pioneering Indian mathematician-astronomer. In Brahma-sphuta-siddhanta (628), he introduced rules for zero, negative numbers, and quadratic equations. He formulated a cyclic quadrilateral area formula and contributed to trigonometry. His work influenced Islamic mathematics after its Arabic translation. He later wrote Khandakhadyaka (665), refining astronomical calculations.
UPSC 2012Ancient History · Construction of Ancient History
Q2. With reference to the Guilds (Shrenis) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s economy, which of the following statements is/are true? 1. Every Guild was registered with the central authority of the state and the King was the chief administrative authority on them 2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the Guild 3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
As mentioned in Arthshastra, Guilds, also known as Shrenis or Trade Guilds, played a significant role in ancient Indian society. These organizations brought together artisans, merchants, and traders to promote their collective interests, provide protection, and facilitate trade.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The king or local rulers protected guilds and ensured compliance with state regulations, but guilds operated autonomously and were not always formally registered with the central authority.
Statement 2 is correct: Guilds had significant control over the economic activities of their members. They were responsible for regulating various aspects of production, trade, and commerce, which included setting wages, standards of workmanship, prices for goods, and rules of operation.
Statement 3 is correct: Guild members were entitled to impeach and punish a chief found guilty of misconduct. The Arthashastra describes the role of guilds in resolving disputes through a Shreni court, where matters related to trade, contracts, and disagreements were handled by the guild’s officials.
Exam tip:
For S1, Absolute words like "Every" - they’re usually a red flag. Also, If guilds were known to be autonomous (As S2 mentions), would it make sense for the king to directly administer them? No!, Hence S1 likely false, eliminate options A and D as S1 and S2 contradicts each other.
UPSC 2012Ancient History · History of the Vedic Period
Q3. The Religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of:
Explanation
Vedic Aryans used to worship manifestations of forces of nature as Gods in the form of Indra, Agni, Soma, Varuna. Mother Earth and Rivers, especially Saraswati, were worshiped as the goddess. The hymns in the Rigveda reflect reverence for natural forces like fire, wind, and the sun, with a strong emphasis on rituals and offerings. Yajna was a method of worship that involved offering sacrifices. It included Vedic chants singing and a sacrificial mantra. The Vedic mantra was chanted while sacrificing havan samagri in the fire during a yajna. Bhakti (devotion) and image worship became more prominent in later religious developments.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2012
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
2
2012
(c) 2 and 3 only
3
2012
(c) Worship of nature and yajnas
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Ancient History?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Ancient History in the UPSC 2012 Prelims, asked between 1995 to 2024. 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 Ancient History?
Questions on Ancient History in the UPSC 2012 Prelims are available for 22 years, from 1995 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
