Prelims 2013 · archive
EasyWhich of the following characterise/characterize the people of the Indus Civilization?
- 1.They possessed great palaces and temples.
- 2.They worshiped both male and female deities.
- 3.They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
Only statement 2 is accepted: figurines taken as mother goddesses and the seal showing a male horned figure point to both female and male deities. No clear palaces or temples have been identified, and there is no evidence of horse-drawn chariots in the Harappan phase.
- ✗ 1. A large building at Mohenjodaro was labelled a palace, but no spectacular finds were associated with it; no certain temples or palaces are known.
- ✓ 2. Female terracotta figurines were regarded as mother goddesses, and the seal of a male figure (proto-Shiva, Pashupati) suggests a male deity.
- ✗ 3. The horse is not securely attested at mature Harappan sites, and chariot warfare belongs to the later Vedic world.
Remember · Harappans: no definite palaces or temples, no horse-drawn chariots; mother goddess figurines and a male deity seal suggest both male and female worship.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 1 (practise this chapter) · Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 1 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part I, Chapter 1 “A large building found at Mohenjodaro was labelled as a palace by archaeologists but no spectacular finds were associated with it.”
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part I, Chapter 1 “These included terracotta figurines of women, heavily jewelled, some with elaborate head-dresses. These were regarded as mother goddesses.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2013: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·