UPSC Static Quiz – History : 26 June 2026

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. Archaeological evidence from Mesolithic rock shelters, especially sites such as Bhimbetka, shows a clear transformation in rock art. Earlier paintings emphasizing large, solitary wild animals gradually gave way to dynamic scenes of group hunting using bows and arrows. This reflects technological innovation in hunting methods and increasing cooperation among human groups. Therefore, Inference 1 is valid because these artistic changes correspond with the environmental transformations of the Holocene and indicate evolving patterns of subsistence and social organization.
• Statement 2 is also correct. Mesolithic rock paintings frequently portray collective hunting, dancing, rituals, and even composite figures such as animal-headed humans. Such depictions suggest that these shelters were not merely temporary refuges but places where communities repeatedly gathered for social, ritual, and economic activities. Hence, Inference 2 is valid as the evidence points to social cohesion and the existence of recurrent or seasonal communal occupation sites.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Mesolithic people generally lived in temporary camps or simple huts made of perishable materials such as wood, reeds, and grass. Monumental burnt-brick structures and communal granaries are characteristic of much later agricultural societies, particularly the Harappan Civilization. Since the premise itself is incorrect, Inference 3 regarding the emergence of a common property system cannot be drawn.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 highlights the role of irrigation in supporting agriculture during the Rigvedic period. Although pastoralism remained the dominant economic activity, agriculture was also practiced, and the Rigveda contains references indicating knowledge of water-lifting devices and wells.
• Information 1 directly supports this statement by mentioning the use of the ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) for drawing water from wells. Such evidence suggests that well-water irrigation supplemented cultivation, particularly in the northwestern regions where rainfall was seasonal.
• Statement 2 is also correct. During the Later Vedic period, the economy underwent a gradual transition toward settled agriculture, aided by the expansion into the fertile western Gangetic plains. Archaeological evidence associated with the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture indicates increasing dependence on regular cultivation, permanent settlements, and agricultural surplus.
• Information 2 supports both statements by referring to agricultural implements such as the parashu/kulisha (axe), useful for forest clearance, and the datra/sreni (sickle), used for harvesting crops. These tools reflect both agricultural activity in the Rigvedic period and its expansion during the Later Vedic age.
• Information 3 further strengthens the agricultural context. The use of oxen for ploughing and pulling carts, a practice that predates the Rigveda, demonstrates continuity in farming technology. Oxen remained indispensable for cultivation during both the Rigvedic and Later Vedic periods, facilitating the gradual expansion of agriculture.
• Therefore, all three pieces of information support the broad agricultural developments described in the two statements.

Solution: B

• Rajendra I (c. 1014-1044 CE) was one of the greatest Chola emperors, who expanded the empire to its greatest extent.
• Statement 1 is correct. To emulate the legendary conquests of northern kings, Rajendra I launched a remarkable military campaign that reached the banks of the river Ganga. His armies defeated several rulers, including the Pala king Mahipala. To commemorate this victory, he adopted the title ‘Gangaikonda’ (the conqueror of the Ganga).
• Statement 2 is correct. Following his northern expedition, Rajendra I founded a new capital city, Gangaikondacholapuram (‘the city of the Chola who conquered the Ganga’), near modern-day Chidambaram. He also built a magnificent Shiva temple there, which was a replica of the Brihadeeswarar temple but with more refined features.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Rajendra I’s expedition to North India was a land-based military campaign, not a naval one. His armies marched north through Kalinga (Orissa) to reach Bengal. His famous naval expeditions were directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically against the Srivijaya kingdom, not the Pala kingdom.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. The great Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur was conceived and constructed by Rajendra I’s father, Rajaraja I. It was completed around 1010 CE, before Rajendra’s reign began. Rajendra I built the temple at his new capital, Gangaikondacholapuram, which, while inspired by the Thanjavur temple, is a separate monument.

Solution: D

• Mandalam (1): This was the largest territorial division of the empire, equivalent to a province (B). The empire was divided into about nine mandalams. These were often governed by royal princes or high-ranking officials.
• Nadu (2): Below the mandalams (and their subdivisions, valanadus), the next level of administration was the nadu. A nadu was a grouping of several villages and can be considered analogous to a district (C). The assembly of the nadu, called the nattar, was an important local body.
• Nagaram (3): This was a commercial town or a settlement of merchants and traders. The local assembly that managed the affairs of such a town was known as the nagaram (A). It functioned as a corporate body for traders and had its own administrative and judicial powers.
• Ur (4): This was the most common type of village assembly. It was a general assembly of the land-owning villagers in non-brahmadeya (non-brahminical) villages (D). It was responsible for managing village lands, collecting revenue, and maintaining local order.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct. The Cholas are renowned for their sophisticated irrigation systems, which were crucial for the agricultural prosperity that formed the bedrock of their empire. They built an extensive network of canals, sluices, dams, and tanks (called eris) to effectively manage water resources for agriculture.
• Statement II is incorrect. The Chola heartland was the Kaveri river delta, which is a fertile and water-rich region, not an arid one. The river Kaveri and its tributaries provided an abundant source of water. The challenge was not scarcity but the effective distribution and management of this water, especially to prevent floods and ensure a year-round supply for multiple crops. The need for irrigation was to harness this abundance, not to combat aridity.
• Statement III is correct. Chola kings were great patrons of irrigation projects. Rajendra I, to commemorate his victory in the Gangetic plains, created a massive artificial lake near his new capital, Gangaikondacholapuram. This lake, described as a “liquid pillar of victory,” was an engineering marvel of its time and served as a major source of irrigation. This provides strong evidence for the claim made in Statement I.
• Since Statement III is correct and provides a direct example and explanation for the general claim in Statement I, while Statement II is factually incorrect, option (c) is the correct answer.