80 RAS Prelims MCQs on the Indus Valley Civilisation test sites, extent, town planning, crafts, trade and the script. The extreme sites of the civilisation, the features that make Dholavira and Lothal unusual and the way Harappans planned their towns come up repeatedly, and each explanation links the fact to its site.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 41–50 of 80 questions
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q41. Match the Harappan site in List I with its present-day state or province in List II and select the correct answer.
Harappan Site
Present-day State/Province
A. Daimabad
i. Rajasthan
B. Kalibangan
ii. Maharashtra
C. Harappa
iii. Sindh
D. Mohenjo-daro
iv. Punjab (Pakistan)
Explanation
Harappan sites are distributed across diverse modern administrative regions. Daimabad is located in Maharashtra, marking the southern reach. Kalibangan is situated in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan. Harappa is located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, specifically on the Ravi River. Mohenjo-daro is found in the Larkana district of Sindh, Pakistan, situated on the banks of the Indus river.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q42. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro?
Explanation
The Great Bath was a monumental structure located on the citadel mound of Mohenjo-daro, not in the lower town. It was designed for ritual bathing and featured sophisticated engineering, including a floor made watertight with bitumen and gypsum. The presence of steps, surrounding rooms, and a nearby well highlights its importance as a center for public or religious ceremonies.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q43. Consider the following statements regarding Kalibangan: I. It was excavated by B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar. II. Evidence of an earthquake occurring around 2600 BCE has been found here. III. Decorative bricks were used in the flooring of a house. IV. A highly sophisticated stone-lined drainage system was its hallmark. Which of the combination of statements given above is incorrect?
Explanation
Kalibangan is famous for its early agricultural evidence and unique ritual structures like fire altars. Archaeologists discovered decorative bricks and evidence of an early earthquake here. However, while the site had a functional drainage system, it was not characterized by the highly sophisticated stone-lined drainage systems seen in cities like Dholavira; instead, it mostly utilized mud-brick and terracotta pipes.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q44. The Harappans procured copper primarily from which of the following regions?
Explanation
The Harappans acquired copper from both local and international sources. The Khetri mines in Rajasthan were a primary domestic source, while chemical analysis of artifacts suggests that copper was also imported from Magan, which is identified with modern-day Oman. This dual sourcing demonstrates the complexity and reach of the Harappan resource procurement networks across both land and sea routes.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q45. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Select the correct option from the choices given below: Assertion (A): The streets of the lower town in Harappan cities were carefully aligned on a grid pattern. Reason (R): Harappan civilization lacked any form of centralized municipal administration or planning authority.
Explanation
The meticulously planned grid pattern of Harappan cities strongly suggests the presence of a centralized municipal administration. The uniformity in street layout, brick sizes, and drainage systems could only have been achieved through organized urban planning. Therefore, the claim that the civilization lacked a centralized authority is contradicted by the overwhelming archaeological evidence of systematic and standardized urban development.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q46. The famous Priest-King statue, made of steatite and depicting a bearded man wearing a trefoil-patterned shawl, was discovered at:
Explanation
The Priest-King is one of the most famous sculptures of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Carved from steatite, it depicts a bearded man with a headband and a shawl decorated with trefoil motifs. This significant artifact was discovered at Mohenjo-daro. It is often cited as evidence of the social hierarchy or religious leadership that may have existed within mature Harappan society.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q47. The inability of modern scholars to decipher the Indus script means that our current understanding of Harappan society relies almost entirely on:
Explanation
Because the Indus script remains undeciphered, historians cannot read the Harappans’ own records or literature. Consequently, all knowledge of their society, economy, and religion must be reconstructed from archaeological findings. This includes analyzing the layout of cities, the types of tools used, pottery styles, and the distribution of artifacts, providing a silent but detailed record of life.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q48. Consider the following archaeologists and their associated excavations: I. Daya Ram Sahni - Harappa II. R.D. Banerji - Mohenjo-daro III. N.G. Majumdar - Chanhudaro IV. S.R. Rao - Lothal V. J.P. Joshi - Dholavira Which of the combination of statements given above is correct?
Explanation
The discovery and documentation of the Indus Valley Civilisation involved many dedicated archaeologists. Daya Ram Sahni and R.D. Banerji were pioneers at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, respectively. N.G. Majumdar carried out important work at Chanhudaro. S.R. Rao’s excavations at Lothal revealed its maritime importance, while J.P. Joshi and later R.S. Bisht were instrumental in uncovering the unique stone architecture of Dholavira.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q49. Match the prominent Harappan artefact or feature in List I with its associated site in List II and select the correct answer.
Prominent Harappan Artefact/Feature
Associated Site
A. Pashupati Seal
i. Lothal
B. Dancing Girl
ii. Kalibangan
C. Fire Altars
iii. Mohenjo-daro (Steatite)
D. Dockyard
iv. Mohenjo-daro (Bronze)
Explanation
Important Harappan artifacts are linked to specific sites. The steatite Pashupati seal and the bronze Dancing Girl statue were both discovered at Mohenjo-daro. Fire altars are a characteristic feature of Kalibangan and Lothal. Additionally, Lothal is uniquely famous for its large brick dockyard. These findings help archaeologists identify the cultural and functional differences between the various urban centers of the civilization.
RAS PrelimsAncient Indian History · Indus Valley Civilisation
Q50. According to the most widely accepted contemporary archaeological consensus, which factor contributed most significantly to the decline of the mature Harappan phase?
Explanation
While many theories exist, the contemporary archaeological consensus leans toward gradual environmental changes as the primary cause of the Harappan decline. The drying up of the Ghaggar-Hakra river system and shifting monsoon patterns likely disrupted the agricultural foundation of the cities. This led to a gradual process of de-urbanization and the migration of populations toward other eastern regions.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
41
(c) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
42
(a) It was located in the lower town for the general public’s daily use.
43
(d) IV only
44
(b) Khetri region in Rajasthan and Oman
45
(c) A is true but R is false.
46
(d) Mohenjo-daro
47
(a) Archaeological material culture and spatial analysis.
48
(b) I, II, III, IV and V
49
(b) A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i
50
(a) Climatic change leading to the drying of the Ghaggar-Hakra system
Key facts from Indus Valley Civilisation
Manda on the Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost site; Sutkagen Dor is the westernmost; Alamgirpur on the Hindon is the easternmost; Daimabad is the southernmost.
The bronze Dancing Girl was found at Mohenjo-daro, and the discovery of the civilisation was announced in 1924 by John Marshall, then Director-General of the ASI.
Dholavira is unusual for its stone architecture and its elaborate water reservoirs.
Lothal, near the Gulf of Khambhat, was a seaport and a centre of bead-making and export.
Harappan towns were laid out on a grid, with streets crossing at right angles to form blocks.
Harappans obtained copper from the Khetri region of Rajasthan and from Oman.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Indus Valley Civilisation?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Indus Valley Civilisation (Ancient Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which is the northernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Manda, on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir. The other extreme sites are Sutkagen Dor in the west, Alamgirpur on the Hindon in the east and Daimabad in the south. These four are frequently asked together.
What is special about Dholavira?
Dholavira is notable for its use of stone in building and its sophisticated water storage reservoirs. Most Harappan towns used baked brick, so the stone architecture and the water system make Dholavira distinctive among mature Harappan sites.
Why was Lothal important?
Lothal lay near the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. This position made it a seaport and a centre for making and exporting beads, which is why it is linked with Harappan overseas trade.
