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History question from UPSC CSE-Prelims, 2026

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.

Last updated Jun 5, 2026
Correct Answer: Option B — 1, 2 and 3
Here is a quick breakdown of why:

Statement 1 supports Statement I & II: The Rigveda explicitly mentions the ashma chakra (a stone pulley wheel) and ahava (water pails/troughs), which proves that well-irrigation and water-lifting technology existed to draw water from underground levels.

Statement 3 supports Statement II: The historical use of oxen for heavy labor (like pulling carts and ploughing) directly supports the premise that draught-animal power was available and employed to work these water-drawing mechanisms.

Statement 2 is irrelevant: While axes (parashu) and sickles (datra) prove that agriculture and land-clearing were happening, they do not provide any evidence specifically regarding wells, irrigation, or animal-drawn water systems.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.

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UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims

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Exam UPSC CSE
Stage Prelims
Year 2026
Subject History
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