Vedadots
Q1920/100Q21
Q20·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2026

Rigvedic Agriculture and Irrigation

HistoryAncient: Indus & VedicStatement-based● HardStatic

Question

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?

1There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
2Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra /sreni (sickle).
3There 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:

Options

a

1 and 2 only

b

2 and 3 only

c

1 and 3 only

Answer
d

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Information 1 and 3 support the statements. Statement I and II discuss using draft animals to draw water from wells to expand agriculture across plains. Information 1 provides direct textual evidence by mentioning the ashma chakra (a stone pulley wheel or early device) and ahava (water pails) used to draw well water. Information 3 supports this by confirming that oxen were domesticated and used for animal-drawn draft applications before and during the Vedic period. Information 2 lists clearing and harvesting tools like axes and sickles but does not describe the specific well-irrigation or water-lifting mechanisms mentioned in the prompt.

Text references to stone pulleys and the established use of draft oxen directly support the existence of early well-irrigation systems during the Rigvedic period.

Question details

Year

2026

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q20

Subject

History

Sub-topic

Ancient: Indus & Vedic

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Hard

Nature

Static

Source hint

Advanced Vedic India Textbooks / Epigraphical & Textual Studies

Same sub-topic — other years

Ancient: Indus & Vedic has appeared in multiple papers:

Q72

2025

Dancing Girl - Mohenjo-daro

HistoryEasy

See all questions on Ancient: Indus & Vedic

Browse every tagged question across all years

Explore →
Back to GS Paper 1 2026