UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 20 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Rigvedic Agriculture
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectAncient History
- TopicVedic Period
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period:
I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements?
1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).
3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Show answer
Answer: C. 1 and 3 only
Analysis
Information 1 and 3 support the given statements, so the answer is Option (c).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 is correct: The Rigveda refers to ashma chakra (stone pulley wheels) and ahava (wooden buckets or pails used for drawing water). These references indicate the use of wells and simple water-lifting devices for irrigation, particularly in areas located away from river flood plains.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Implements such as parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/srni (sickle) primarily point to activities like forest clearing and agriculture. However, they do not provide any direct evidence regarding well irrigation systems or the use of animal-powered mechanisms for lifting water.
Statement 3 is correct: Oxen were widely used during and even prior to the Rigvedic period for ploughing fields and pulling carts. This suggests the availability of draught-animal power, which could also have been employed in drawing water from wells for irrigation purposes.