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Vedic Age & Later Vedic Society: 48 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 48 questions on Vedic Age & Later Vedic Society between 1980 and 2026: CSE 28 · CDS 11 · CAPF 7 · CISF (LDCE) 1 · Geo-Scientist 1. 18 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 28 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 48, one at a timeRead the questions

Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CAPF2023Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Consider the following statements about the practice of Vedic sacrifices : 1. The shrauta (Vedic sacrifices) involved the use of three fires — the garhapatya (householder‘s fire), ahavaniya (offeratorial fire) and dakshinagni (southern fire). 2. These fires were supposed to be placed in pits of different shapes, i.e., the garhapatya to be square, ahavaniya to be round and that of the dakshinagni, rectangle-shaped. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Shrauta sacrifices → three fires: garhapatya, ahavaniya, dakshinagni | Pits → garhapatya round, ahavaniya square, dakshinagni crescent-shaped
CAPF2022Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (Vedic name of river): A. Drishadvati; B. Askini; C. Vitasta; D. Purushni List II (Modern name): 1. Chenab; 2. Chautang; 3. Ravi; 4. Jhelum

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Drishadvati → Chautang | Askini → Chenab | Vitasta → Jhelum | Purushni → Ravi
CDS2017 · 2Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·2

Consider the following statements Statement I: The early Aryans, who were essentially pastoral, did not develop any political structure which could measure up to a State in either ancient or modern sense. Statement II: Kingship was the same as tribal chiefship; the term Rajan being used for tribal chief who was primarily a military leader and who ruled over his people and not over any specified area. Codes:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Early pastoral Aryans → no political structure measuring up to a State | Rajan → tribal chief, primarily a military leader, ruling over his people, not a specified area | Statement II explains Statement I
CSE2017Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·2

With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them. 2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver, and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron. 3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rigvedic Aryans → used coat of mail and helmet; no such evidence from Indus Valley | Rigvedic Aryans → domesticated the horse; no evidence Indus Valley people knew it | NOT: Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron
CDS2015 · 1Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Which of the following characteristic(s) describes the nature of religion according to the Rig Veda? 1. Rig Vedic religion can be described a naturalistic polytheism. 2. There are striking similarities between the Rig Vedic religion and the ideas in the Iranian Avesta. 3. Vedic sacrifices were conducted in the house of the priest who was called yajaman. 4. Vedic sacrifices were of two kind – those conducted by the household and those that required rituals specialists. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Rig Vedic religion → naturalistic polytheism | Striking similarities with the Iranian Avesta | Vedic sacrifices → two kinds: by the household and those needing ritual specialists | NOT: sacrifices were conducted in the house of the priest called yajaman
CDS2014 · 1Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Which one of the following statements about Rig Veda is not correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Rig Vedic sacrifices → not performed in temples (temples did not exist in Vedic times)
CSE2013Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 15·1

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school: 1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul. 2. Sankhya holds that it is self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Sankhya → accepts the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul | Sankhya → self-knowledge, not any exterior agent, leads to liberation
CAPF2012Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Consider the following statements about Rig Veda : 1. It reflects a naturalistic polytheism—a belief in many Gods who personified natural phenomenon. 2. The Gods were conceived of as anthropomorphic, i.e., as having a physical form similar to that of humans. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rig Veda → naturalistic polytheism (many gods personifying natural phenomena) | Rig Vedic gods → anthropomorphic
CDS2011 · 2Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Which one among the following is not a characteristic of Rig-Vedic Aryans?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Rig-Vedic Aryans → not acquainted with iron (iron came into prominence in the later Vedic period)
CSE2011Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

The “Dharma” and “Rita” depict a central idea of the ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements : 1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one‘s duties to oneself and to others. 2. Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Dharma → obligations and discharge of one's duties to oneself and others | Rita → fundamental moral law governing the universe
CSE1989Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 15·1

Match the following: List I List II A. Charak 1. Samkhya B. Nagarjuna 2. Sanskrit author C. Kapila 3. Ayurveda D. Gorakhnath 4. Rasaratnakara Select the correct answer from the codes given below: A B C D

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Charak → Ayurveda | Nagarjuna → Rasaratnakara | Kapila → Samkhya | Gorakhnath → Sanskrit author
CSE1989Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Assertion (A): The form of government in Rig vedic period was monarchy Reason (R): Priest enjoyed both social and political status and influenced administration

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Rig Vedic form of government → monarchy | Priests → social and political status, influenced administration | R does not explain A
CSE1988Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·1

Match the columns: [1988] List-I List-I A. Rig Veda 1. Musical hymns B. Yajur Veda 2. Hymns and rituals C. Sama Veda 3. Charms and spells D. Atharva Veda 4. Hymns and prayers Select the Correct answer from the codes given below : A B C D

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rig Veda → hymns and prayers | Yajur Veda → hymns and rituals | Sama Veda → musical hymns | Atharva Veda → charms and spells
CSE1986Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·2

Lineage is

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Lineage → line of descendants of a particular ancestor
CSE1985Vedic Age & Later Vedic SocietyOn card AMH 2·2

Match the columns : A. Upanishads : 1 World‘s oldest scriptures B. Samaveda : 2. Magical chants C. Rigveda : 3. Mysterious doctrine D. Atharvaveda : 4. Ritual chants / Musical Chanting Select the correct answer from the codes given below : A B C D

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Upanishads → mysterious doctrine | Samaveda → ritual/musical chants | Rigveda → world's oldest scriptures | Atharvaveda → magical chants

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