Indian History

and Culture
1
Harappan Civilisation
1. Regarding the Indus Valley Civilisation,
consider the following statements

1. It was predominantly a secular

civilisation and the religious element,
though present, did not dominate the
scene.
2. During this period, cotton was used for
manufacturing textiles in India.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
[IAS 2011]
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. What is the Vedic name of river Ravi?
[HPPSC 2012]

(a) Purushni
(c) Arjikiya

(b) Chandrabhaga
(d) Satadru

3. The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished

during
[SSC (10+2) 2009]
(a) 5000 3500 BC (b) 3000 1500 BC
(c) 2500 1750 BC (d)1500 500 BC
4. Which was the first metal used by man?
(a) Copper
(b)Silver
(c) Bronze
(d)Brass
5. The greatest stylistic forms of temple
architecture during the early medieval
period were the Nagara, the Dravida and
the Vesara. Which of the following was
the geographical spread of the Dravida
[NDA/NA 2013]
style?
(a) Between Vindhyan and Krishna rivers
(b) Between Krishna and Cauvery rivers
(c) Between Vindhyan and Cauvery
rivers
(d) Between Godavari and Krishna rivers
1. (c)

2. (a)

3. (c)

4. (a)

5. (d)

6. Which of the following characterises

/characterise the people of Indus Valley
Civilisation?

1. They possessed great palaces and

temples.
2. The worshipped both male and female
deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots
in warfare.
Select the correct statement/statements
using the codes given below
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 2
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of these
7. The main occupation of the people of the
Indus Valley Civilisation was
[Astt Comm 2005]

(a) agriculture
(b) cattle rearing
(c) hunting
(d) trade
8. The Indus Valley
relations with

people

had

trade

(a) Egypt
(b) Greece
(c) Ceylon
(d) Mesopotamia
9. The main channels of our knowledge
about the Indus Valley Civilisation are
(a) inscriptions
[CDS 2010]
(b) coins
(c) palm and barch leaf manuscripts
(d) archaeological excavations
6. (b)

7. (d)

8. (d)

9. (d)

2 Objective General Knowledge 2750+

10. With reference to the Indus Valley
Civilisation, consider the following animals

20. Match the following

1. Bull
2. Elephant
3. Rhinoceros
The figure / figures of which of the above
animal(s) is/are found on the Indus seals?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2 [IAS 2009]
(c) 2 and 3
(d) All of these
11. Which one among the following
statement regarding Jorwe Culture is not
correct?
[CDS 2012]
(a) Pravara-Godavari Valley was the
nuclear zone of Jorwe Culture
(b) The main sites of Jorwe Culture are
Daimabad, Inamgaon, Jorwe and
Nevasa
(c) At Daimabad one gets archaeological
evidences of symbolic burial
(d) Practically all Jorwe settlements in
the Northern Deccan were suddenly
deserted
12. Which one of the following was not an
Indus Valley Civilisation site?
[NDA 2000]
(a) Lothal
(b) Patliputra
(c) Rangpur
(d) Suktagendor
13. Rice cultivation is associated with
Harappan site of
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Harappa
(c) Ropar
(d) Lothal
14. Which of the following Harappan sites had
a dock?
(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Lothal
(d) Alamgirpur
15. The famous figure of a dancing girl found in
the excavations of Harappa was made up of
(a) terracotta
(b) steatite
(c) bronze
(d) red limestone
16. The Indus Valley people knew the use of
[CDS 2000]

(a) gold, silver, copper, bronze but not iron

(b) copper, iron, gold but not bronze
(c) silver, lead, iron but not gold
(d) gold, tin, bronze but not copper
17. The Indus Valley Civilisation was
discovered in
[RRB 2011]
(a) 1902 (b) 1921 (c) 1922 (d) 1932
18. The main characteristic of the Indus Valley
Civilisation was
(a) town planning
(b) drainage system
(c) well laid out roads
(d) pacca house
19. The Indus Valley Civilisation is known as
Pre-Aryan Civilisation because of the
evidence of
(a) art
(b) copper
(c) pottery
(d) script

[IFS 1991]

List I
(Harappan Site)
A.
B.
C.
D.

21.

22.

23.

24.

Kalibangan
Mohenjodaro
Banwali
Surkotda

List II
(State)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Haryana
Rajasthan
Gujarat
Sind

Codes
A B C D
A B C D
(a) 2 1 3 4
(b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 3 4 2 1
(d) 4 2 1 3
Use of plough has been evidenced at
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Harappa
(d) Banwali
The Stone Age people had the first
domestic
[IAS 1990]
(a) asses
(b) dogs
(c) horses
(d) sheep
Nomad man started settling in [CRPF 2002]
(a) Palaeolithic Age (b) Mesolithic Age
(c) Neolithic Age
(d) None of these
Match the following
[IES 2009]
List I
A. Pleistocene
B. Palaeolithic
C. Neolithic
D. Mesolithic
E. Chalcolithic

List II
1. Ice Age
2. Old Stone Age
3. New Stone Age
4. Middle Stone Age
5. Copper Stone Age

Codes
A B C D E
A B C D E
(a) 1 2 3 4 5 (b) 5 4 3 2 2
(c) 3 2 1 4 5 (d) 4 1 3 5 2
25. The earliest evidence of silver in India is
found in the
[IAS 1994]
(a) Harappan culture
(b) Chalcolithic cultures of Western India
(c) Vedic texts
(d) Silver punch marked coins
26. During the Neolithic Age in India, the only
metal known to the people was [RRB 2010]
(a) iron
(b) copper
(c) gold
(d) silver
27. Statement I Mahavira initially joined a
group of ascetics called Nirgranthas.
Statement II The sect was founded 200
years earlier by Parsva.
[Bank PO 2012]
Codes
(a) Both the statements are true and
Statement
II
is
the
correct
explanation of Statement I
(b) Both the statements are true, but
Statement II is not the correct
explanation of Statement I
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II
is false
(d) Statement I is false, but Statement II
is true

Harappan Civilisation 3
28. Out of the following remains excavated in
Indus Valley, which one indicates the
commercial and economic development?
(a) Pottery
(b)Seals [CPO SI 2002]
(c) Boats
(d)Houses
29. On the basis of available evidence, the
Indus Valley Civilisation contributed two
important things to mankind which were
(a) mathematics and decimal system
(b) script and language
[IAS 2003]
(c) wheat and cotton (d) rearing animal
30. Which of the following crops were grown
by the people of the Indus Valley
Civilisation?
[SSC (10+2) 2011]

1. Wheat 2. Barley 3. Cotton 4. Peas

Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3
31. Which one of the following archaeologists
initially discovered the Mohenjodaro site
of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
(a) Sir John Marshall
(b) Rakhal Das Bannerji
(c) Daya Ram Sahni
(d) Sir Martimer Wheeler
32. Match the following
[IAS 2007]
List I
(Harappan Settlement)
A. Mohenjodaro
B. Ropar
C. Kalibangan
D. Harappa

List II
(River)
1. Indus
2. Ghaggar
3. Sutlej
4. Ravi

Codes
A B C D
A B C D
(a) 1 3 2 4
(b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 1 4 2 3
(d) 2 3 1 4
33. From the scattered skeletal remains of the
Harappans found at different sites, the
most appropriate conclusion to be drawn
would be that there was
[IAS 2003]
(a) mass execution
(b) casual burial of human bodies
(c) some kind of military assault
(d) great epidemic
34. Which of the following are Indus Valley
sites in India?
[SSC (10+2) 2009]

1. Rangpur
2. Banwali
3. Suktangendor 4. Alamgirpur
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
10.
20.
30.
40.

(d)
(a)
(b)
(d)

11.
21.
31.
41.

(d)
(b)
(a)
(b)

(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) All of these
12.
22.
32.
42.

(b)
(c)
(d)
(c)

13.
23.
33.
43.

(c)
(a)
(c)
(d)

14.
24.
34.
44.

(c)
(a)
(c)
(c)

35. There are similarities between the seals

found at Mohenjodaro and
(a) Egypt
(b) China
(c) Sumeria
(d) Afghanistan
36. The script of Indus Valley Civilisation
was/is
(a) Persian
(b) Dravidian
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Undeciphered
37. Which of the following animals were
domesticated by the Harappans? [IES 2006]
(a) Goat, oxen, pig, buffalo
(b) Oxen, elephant, horse, pig
(c) Buffalo, sheep, dog, pig
(d) Camel, oxen, buffalo, pig
38. The tools and weapons of Harappan
Civilisation were mostly made of [IFS 2003]
(a) stone
(b) stone and copper
(c) copper, bronze and iron
(d) copper, tin and bronze
39. Which of the following was/were not
related to Buddha's life?
[Bank PO 2012]

1. Kanthaka 2. Alara Kalama

3. Channa
4. Goshala Maskariputra
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 4
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 and 4
40. The Harappan site showing evidence of
two cultural phases, Harappan and
pre-Harappan is
[IES 1993]
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Chanhudaro
(d) Banwali
41. Consider the following statements

1. Lime mortar was never used at Mohenjodaro in the construction of dwellings.

2. At Dholavira, stone was never used in
the construction of dwellings.
Which of the statement (s) given above
is/are correct?
[IAS 2009]
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
42. The Indus Valley houses were built of
(a) bamboos
(b) bricks
(c) wood
(d) stone
43. During the Indus Valley Civilisation period
the dominant number used for weights
and measures was
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 12
(d) 16
44. The Indus Valley Civilisation belongs to
the
[IES 1994]
(a) Neolithic Age
(b) Palaeolithic Age
(c) Chalcolithic Age (d) Mesolithic Age
15. (a)
25. (b)
35. (d)

16. (b)
26. (b)
36. (c)

17. (a)
27. (b)
37. (d)

18. (d)
28. (c)
38. (b)

19. (b)
29. (b)
39. (a)

4 Objective General Knowledge 2750+

45. At which Harappan site have traces of a
horse been found?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Surkotada
(d) Suktagendor
46. Which of the following distinguishes the
Harappan from other contemporary
[IAS 2003]
Civilisation of the world?
(a) Science and technology
(b) Religion and social structure
(c) Town planning and drainage
(d) Uniform weights and measures
47. Consider the following persons

1. John Marshall
2. SR Rao
3. RD Bannerji
4. Dayaram Sahni
Who among these were associated with
the first excavations carried out at
Harappa and Mohenjodaro?
[CDS 2005]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1, 3 and 4

(b) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4

48. Match the following

[CDS 2001]

List I
(Important Find)
A.
B.
C.
D.

Dockyard
Ploughed field
Horse
Great Bath

List II
(Site)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Harappa
Lothal
Kalibangan
Surkotada
Mohenjodaro

Codes
A B C D
A B C D
(a) 1 4 2 5
(b) 2 3 4 5
(c) 4 3 5 1
(d) 2 5 4 3
49. Knowledge about the existence of which
of the following animals is doubtful in the
Indus Valley Civilisation?
(a) Dog
(b) Cat
(c) Bull
(d) Horse
50. Which of the following can definitely be
said to be beliefs and practices of the
Indus people?
[IAS 2003]

1. Worship of nature
2. Phallic and yonic worship
3. Belief in ghosts and spirits
4. Belief in life after death
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) All of the above
51. Man passed from the food gathering
stage to the food producing stage in the
(a) Palaeolithic Age
(b) Mesolithic Age
(c) Neolithic Age
(d) Chalcolithic Age

52. Match the following

List I
(Ancient Site)

[IAS 2002]

List II
(Archeological Finding)

A. Lothal
1. Ploughed field
B. Kalibangan 2. Dockyard
C. Dholavira 3. Terracotta replica of a
plough
D. Banwali
4. An inscription comprising
ten large sized signs of
the Harappan script

Codes
A B C D
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 2 1 4 3
(c) 1 2 4 3
(d) 2 1 3 4
53. Of the following Harappan sites those not
in India are
[RRB 2011]
(a) Mohenjodaro and Harappa
(b) Banwali and Ropar
(c) Lothal and Kalibangan
(d) Lothal and Ropar
54. The Harappans extensively used burnt
bricks because
[IAS 2003]

1. stone was not available.

2. they provided defence against floods.
3. they provided security and longevity.
4. its import was easy.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) All of these
55. Match the following
List I
(Important Find)
A.
B.
C.
D.

Practice of the fire cult

Lower town fortified
Granary
Shipbuilding

Codes
A B C
(a) 1 2 3
(c) 2 4 3
56. Consider the

List II
(Site)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Lothal
Kalibangan
Harappa
Surkotada

D
A B C D
4
(b) 4 3 2 1
1
(d) 4 2 3 1
given statements [IAS 2007]

1. The inhabitants of Harappa grew and

used cotton.
2. The inhabitants of Harappa had no
knowledge of copper and bronze.
3. The standard Harappan seals were
made of clay.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) All of these
57. Which of the following is not an Indus
Valley Civilisation site?
[MPPSC 2014]

(a) Kalibangan
(c) Patliputra

(b) Ropar
(d) Lothal

Harappan Civilisation 5
58. The script of the Harappan people
consisted of
(a) a family of quasi-pictographic writings
(b) a family of geometrical shapes
(c) a combination of both pictures and
geometrical shapes
(d) None of the above
59. The script of the Indus Valley civilisation is

(b) The inhabitants of Harappa had

neither knowledge of copper nor
bronze
(c) The Harappan Civilisation was rural
based
(d) The inhabitants of Harappa grew and
used cotton
66. Match the following

[IAS 2006]

[SSC (10 + 2) 2013]

(a) Brahmi
(b) Tamil
(c) Kharosthi
(d) undeciphered
60. Which of the following presents the most
significant feature of Indus Valley
Civilisation?
[SSC CGL 2010]
(a) Burnt brick building
(b) Art and architecture
(c) Buildings of worship
(d) First true arches
61. The primary purpose of seal in the Indus
Valley Civilisation was probably
(a) to signify royalty
(b) as a medium of exchange in trade
(c) to signify ownership of property
(d) to indicate social status

A.
B.
C.
D.

67.

Directions (Q.Nos. 62-64) In the questions

given below are two statements labelled as
Assertion (A) and Reason (R). In the
context of the two statements, which one of
the following is correct?
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the
correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the
correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
62. Assertion (A) Indus Valley people knew
the art of navigation.
Reason (R) Indus Valley seals indicate
prevalence of overseas trade.
63. Assertion (A) The Harappans had
commercial links with Mesopotamia.
Reason (R) Many Harappan seal have
been discovered in Mesopotamia.
[IAS 2008]

64. Assertion (A) The Harappans did not

believe in any religion.
Reason (R) No temples have been
found at any Harappan site as yet.
65. Which one of the following statements
regarding
Harappan
Civilisation
is
correct?
[CDS 2010]
(a) The standard Harappan seals were
made of clay
45. (c)
55. (a)
65. (a)

46. (c)
56. (d)
66. (d)

47. (b)
57. (c)
67. (d)

48. (b)
58. (d)
68. (b)

49. (d)
59. (d)
69. (d)

68.

69.

70.

71.

List I

List II

(Harappas
Settlement)

(Bank of rivers on
which located)

Alamgirpur
Kalibangan
Harappa
Mohenjodaro

1.
2.
3.
4.

Indus
Ghaggar
Hindon
Ravi

Codes
A B C D
(a) 3 2 4 1
(b) 4 1 3 2
(c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 4 2 3 1
From which one of the following sites,
was the famous Bull-Seal of Indus Valley
found?
(a) Harappa
(b) Chanhudaro
(c) Lothal
(d) Mohenjodaro
Near the banks of which of the following
rivers excavations have brought to light
that Indus Valley Civilisation percolated to
far South?
(a) Godavari
(b) Mahanadi
(c) Cauvery
(d) Krishna
With which of the following periods do we
associate the 'microlith' implements?
(a) Palaeolithic
(b) Mesolithic
(c) Neolithic
(d) Chalcolithic
The site of Harappa is located on the bank
of river
[CDS 2012]
(a) Saraswati
(b) Indus
(c) Beas
(d) Ravi
Which one among the following Indus
cities was known for water management?
[CDS 2012]

(a) Lothal
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Harappa
(d) Dholavira
72. Who among the following was not
associated with the excavation of
Harappa and Mohenjodaro?
[BPSC 2015]
(a) RD Banerjee
(b) KN Dikshit
(c) MS Vats
(d) VA Smith

50. (c)
60. (c)
70. (d)

51. (b)
61. (a)
71. (d)

52. (a)
62. (a)
72. (b)

53. (c)
63. (d)

54. (c)
64. (d)