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Topic Maritime trade
Asked 6 times across 3 UPSC exams over 15 years (2011–2026), peaking in 2011.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 3 of 6 PYQs
- Most asked in 2011
- Recurs across 6 years (2011–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2011 → CDS 2019 → CAPF 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 6) 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.
CDS2026
During the period 100 BCE – 200 CE, valuable evidence of India's maritime trade links has been identified from which of the following sites on the Coromandel Coast ?
- A Arikamedu ✓
- B Tamralipti
- C Bharukachcha
- D Muchiri
✓ Correct answer: (A)
History › Ancient India
CAPF2024
Consider the following statements about the Dutch trade in Mughal period
- The Dutch transported silk goods from Bengal through Hooghly
- Cloves and nutmegs were collected at Surat by the Dutch and exported to Europe
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
History › Medieval India (1757–1857)
CSE2023
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
- A capital cities
- B ports ✓
- C centres of iron-and-steel making
- D shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
✓ Correct answer: (B)
History › Ancient India
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