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Prelims 2019 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I · Question 7 · Prehistory & the Harappan civilisation

निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक हड़प्पा स्थल नहीं है?

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Question 7 — Prehistory & the Harappan civilisation.

Prelims 2019 · Q7

Prehistory & the Harappan civilisation Medium

निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक हड़प्पा स्थल नहीं है?

Read this question in English

Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

(a) Chanhudaro · (b) Kot Diji · (c) Sohgaura · (d) Desalpur

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) सोहगौरा

Sohgaura, in Uttar Pradesh, is known for a copper-plate inscription of the 4th–3rd century BCE in Brahmi, a Mauryan-age record far later than the Harappan cities. Chanhudaro, Kot Diji and Desalpur (Kutch) are Harappan settlements.

  • ✓ (c) Sohgaura's fame is its copper-plate inscription (4th–3rd century BCE, Prakrit in Brahmi) about storing grain against famine, an early administrative record, not a Harappan settlement.
  • ✗ (a) Chanhudaro is marked among the important Mature Harappan sites; it was a small settlement almost wholly given to crafts such as bead-making and shell-cutting.
  • ✗ (b) Kot Diji is shown among Mature Harappan sites, and NCERT's map of Early Harappan occupation also names a Kot Diji culture area.

Remember · Sohgaura (Uttar Pradesh) = Mauryan-age copper-plate inscription on famine relief granaries; not Harappan. Chanhudaro, Kot Diji, Desalpur = Harappan sites.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 5 (practise this chapter) · 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

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2019, Q7 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2019/q7

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