Category 10 · Art & Culture

Science & Technology in Ancient India

8 micro topics in Art & Culture for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Metallurgy (Iron Pillar of Delhi, Harappan Bronze Work); Mathematics (Zero, Decimal System, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta); and 6 more.

1. 10.1

   Metallurgy (Iron Pillar of Delhi, Harappan Bronze Work)

   Ancient Indian metallurgy covers the working of copper, bronze, iron, steel, zinc, gold and silver from the Harappan age to the Gupta and Chola periods. The Harappans cast bronze by the lost-wax method, as in the…

2. 10.2

   Mathematics (Zero, Decimal System, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta)

   Ancient Indian mathematics gave the world the decimal place-value system and zero as a number. The Sulba Sutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba and Katyayana set out geometry for altar building, including the Pythagorean relation. Aryabhata wrote the…

3. 10.3

   Astronomy (Aryabhatiya, Varahamihira, Observatories)

   Ancient Indian astronomy, called Jyotisha, grew from the Vedic need to fix the calendar and ritual dates. The Vedanga Jyotisha is its oldest surviving text. Aryabhata, in the Aryabhatiya of 499 CE, held that the Earth…

4. 10.4

   Medicine (Ayurveda – Charaka, Sushruta)

   Ayurveda, the science of life, is the traditional medical system of India, with roots in the Atharvaveda and its classical form in two Samhitas. The Charaka Samhita, attributed to Charaka and linked with the Kushana age,…

5. 10.5

   Metallurgical and Chemical Knowledge (Rasashastra)

   Rasashastra is the Indian tradition of alchemy and medical chemistry in which mercury, called rasa or parada, is the central substance. It grew between the early centuries CE and the 13th century, and its main works…

6. 10.6

   Town Planning and Engineering (Harappan Drainage Systems)

   Town planning and engineering in ancient India begin with the Harappan cities of about 2600 to 1900 BCE, laid out on a grid with straight streets, standard baked bricks in the ratio 4:2:1, wells, bathrooms and…

7. 10.7

   Ancient Universities/Centres of Learning (Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi)

   The ancient universities of India were large centres of higher learning, led by Takshashila (Taxila), Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi. Takshashila, in Gandhara in present Pakistan, was a Mauryan-era centre linked with Panini, Chanakya, Charaka and Jivaka,…

8. 10.8

   Ship-Building and Maritime Technology

   Ship-building and maritime technology in ancient India began with Harappan sea trade. The brick dockyard at Lothal in Gujarat, about 2400 BCE, is the earliest known tidal dock, and Harappan seals show boats trading with Mesopotamia.…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Science & Technology in Ancient India?

Science & Technology in Ancient India has 8 micro topics in Art & Culture: Metallurgy (Iron Pillar of Delhi, Harappan Bronze Work); Mathematics (Zero, Decimal System, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta); Astronomy (Aryabhatiya, Varahamihira, Observatories); Medicine (Ayurveda – Charaka, Sushruta); Metallurgical and Chemical Knowledge (Rasashastra); Town Planning and Engineering (Harappan Drainage Systems); Ancient Universities/Centres of Learning (Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi); Ship-Building and Maritime Technology.

Is Science & Technology in Ancient India important for UPSC Prelims?

Science & Technology in Ancient India is a part of the UPSC Prelims Art & Culture syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 8 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.