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Topic Harappan civilization
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 3 years (2022–2025), peaking in 2025.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2025
- Recurs across 3 years (2022–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2022 → NDA 2023
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2025
Which one of the following periods has provided the evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan in Rajasthan ?
- A Early Harappan
- B Mature Harappan
- C Late Harappan
- D Chalcolithic
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
History › Ancient India
NDA2023
Consider the following statements
- Terracotta models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan and at Banawali (Haryana)
- There is evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan associated with the mature phase of the Harappan civilization
- The ploughed field at Kalibangan had two sets of furrows crossing at right angles to each other suggesting two different crops were grown together in it
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A 1, 2 and 3
- B 2 and 3 only
- C 1 and 3 only ✓
- D None of the above
✓ Correct answer: (C)
History › Ancient India
CDS2022
In the citadel and lower-town areas of which one of the following Harappan cities, have several large cisterns and reservoirs been found?
- A Banawali
- B Mohenjodaro
- C Dholavira ✓
- D Rakhigarhi
✓ Correct answer: (C)
History › Ancient India
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