CDS History · Free notes
Ancient India: CDS History
Ancient India has 120 past-year questions in CDS General Knowledge, from 2016 (II) to 2026 (II), and 67 of them are HARD. It is asked more and more: 62 of the 120 come from 2023 or later, and 39 from the papers of 2025 and 2026 alone. CDS seldom asks for the big story of a period. It names a site, a text, a king's title or an old word and asks where, who or what, and in statement questions it hides one false line among true ones. So every page here is a set of named facts in tables, with the traps the options have set before.
The handout has every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap with answers shown. The formula sheet is the chapter’s formulas and traps alone, on one page.
Subtopic notes
Stone Age and Chalcolithic Cultures
12 PYQsHow historians study the distant past, the tools and sites of the Old, Middle and New Stone Ages, and the copper-using farming cultures of Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
Harappan Civilization
11 PYQsThe Harappan sites and the states they lie in, what the cities, seals and crafts show, and how the Harappans farmed and ate.
Vedic Age
8 PYQsRig Vedic tribes, rivers, grains and crafts; the hymns, goddesses and Upanishad stories CDS asks about; and the eight forms of marriage in the law books.
Buddhism, Jainism and Other Schools
13 PYQsBuddhist texts, nuns and goddesses; the Jain gems, vows and sects with the Ajivikas; and the Charvaka, Vedanta and other schools of thought.
Mahajanapadas and the Mauryas
15 PYQsThe Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadha, the Mauryan state as the Arthashastra describes it, Ashoka's turn to Buddhism, and where his edicts stand.
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms and the Guptas
12 PYQsThe Shungas, Satavahanas and Kushanas, the great inscriptions of Kharavela, Rudradaman and Samudragupta, the Gupta state and its coins, and Harsha's world.
Sangam Age and the Pallavas
14 PYQsThe five landscapes and the people of Sangam poetry, the Tamil grammar and epics, the ports and capitals of the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas, and the Pallavas of Kanchi.
Literature, Grammar and Science
10 PYQsThe grammarians Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali, Shruti and Smriti, the Sanskrit plays and poems CDS matches with their authors, and the early manuscripts of mathematics and medicine.
Art and Architecture
13 PYQsStupas, the Sarnath capital and Buddhist sites, the Gandhara and Mathura schools and the Ajanta paintings, and the early temples and rock-cut caves.
Society, Land and Trade
12 PYQsWomen and property in the Smriti law books, trade with Rome and the sites that prove it, and the old words for kinds of land, assemblies, dress and weapons.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 34 reference tables · 57 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 34 reference tables · 57 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Stone Age and Chalcolithic Cultures
Reference tables (4)
Studying the past and Palaeolithic tools5 rows
| Term or name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Levallois technique | A Middle Palaeolithic way of making flake tools from a prepared coreQ CDS 2023 (II): it has nothing to do with Harappan pottery. |
| Blade | A flake tool more than twice as long as it is wideQ |
| Isampur | Palaeolithic tool factory in Gulbarga district, Karnataka, beside the Kamta Halla stream |
| Anthropology | The study of human societies and cultures from the oldest times to the presentQ |
| Alexander Cunningham | First Director-General of the Archaeological Survey; identified TaxilaQ |
Mesolithic sites and rock art6 rows
| Site | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Bagor | Bhilwara district, Rajasthan | A long Mesolithic record; early keeping of animals |
| Adamgarh | Madhya Pradesh | Mesolithic microliths |
| Birbhanpur | West Bengal | Mesolithic microliths |
| Bhimbetka | Near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | Painted rock shelters, found by V.S. Wakankar |
| Sohagighat | Kaimur hills, Uttar Pradesh | First rock paintings reported in India, by Archibald Carlleyle |
| Vikramkhol | Jharsuguda district, Odisha | An inscribed rock shelterQ |
Neolithic sites5 rows
| Site | Region | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Burzahom | Kashmir valley | Pit dwellings; dogs buried with their owners |
| Gufkral | Kashmir valley | Pit dwellings |
| Utnur | Telangana | Ash mounds of the southern NeolithicQ CDS 2026 (I): Utnur was the Neolithic site; Bhimbetka, Adamgarh and Birbhanpur were the other options. |
| Piklihal, Maski, Tekkalakota | Karnataka | Southern Neolithic villages |
| Chirand | Bihar | Neolithic bone tools |
Chalcolithic cultures2 rows
| Culture | Region | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Ahar or Banas | Banas and Berach valleys, south-east Rajasthan | Copper working; black-and-red pottery |
| Jorwe | Almost all of Maharashtra except the Konkan coast | Core in the Pravara and Godavari valleys; sites Daimabad and InamgaonQ CDS 2024 (I): the large Jorwe sites show settled farming, not shifting agriculture. |
Watch out for (7)
- Levallois is a stone-tool method, not pottery→ Studying the past and Palaeolithic tools
- Cunningham found Taxila, Marshall dug it→ Studying the past and Palaeolithic tools
- Carlleyle, not Burns, at Sohagighat→ Mesolithic sites and rock art
- Bagor is in Rajasthan→ Mesolithic sites and rock art
- Pit houses belong to Kashmir→ Neolithic sites
- Bhimbetka is not a Neolithic answer→ Neolithic sites
- Ahar is Rajasthan, Jorwe is Maharashtra→ Chalcolithic cultures
Harappan Civilization
Reference tables (3)
Harappan sites and where they are9 rows
| Site | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Dholavira | Khadir island, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat | Cisterns and reservoirs in the citadel and lower townQ CDS 2022 (II): Dholavira, not Mohenjodaro, was the city of reservoirs. |
| Rakhigarhi | Hisar district, Haryana | One of the largest Harappan sites |
| Bhirrana | Fatehabad district, Haryana | A site in the Ghaggar plain |
| Banawali | Fatehabad district, Haryana | A terracotta model of a plough |
| Farmana | Rohtak district, Haryana | A large Harappan burial ground |
| Ganweriwala | Cholistan, Punjab (Pakistan) | One of the largest Harappan cities |
| Kot Diji | Sindh, near Mohenjo-daro | Gives its name to the Early Harappan Kot Dijian phaseQ |
| Rohri and Sukkur hills | Sindh | Factory sites for chert bladesQ |
| Bhogavo | Saurashtra, Gujarat | A river of the Harappan region in SaurashtraQ |
Cities, script, metals and seals5 rows
| Feature | Fact |
|---|---|
| Cities | The first cities of the subcontinent |
| Script | Written right to left; still not read |
| Metals | Copper and bronze; no iron at all |
| Sculpture | Earliest stone sculpture, such as the priest-king; the bronze dancing girl |
| Seal animals | Unicorn, humped bull, elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, buffalo, gharialQ CDS 2025 (I): the lion was the animal that does not appear. |
Farming and food5 rows
| Evidence | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Ploughed field | Kalibangan, Rajasthan | Furrows at right angles: two crops in one field |
| Terracotta plough models | Cholistan and Banawali | The plough was in use |
| Canals | Shortughai, Afghanistan | Irrigation |
| Cotton | Harappan region | The earliest cotton growing in EurasiaQ CDS 2026 (II): both the cotton and the turmeric, ginger and banana statements were correct. |
| Grains | Many sites | Wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sesame; millets in Gujarat |
Watch out for (5)
- Farmana is in Haryana→ Harappan sites and where they are
- Two Punjabs→ Harappan sites and where they are
- No iron in Harappan India→ Cities, script, metals and seals
- Tiger yes, lion no→ Cities, script, metals and seals
- Kalibangan's field is Early Harappan→ Farming and food
Vedic Age
Reference tables (3)
Rig Vedic tribes, rivers and economy7 rows
| Vedic word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rajan | Tribal chief and war leader, ruling a people, not a territoryQ |
| Parushni | The Ravi river |
| Shutudri | The Sutlej river |
| Vitasta | The Jhelum river |
| Yava | BarleyQ CDS 2024 (II): yava and dhanya were the Rig Vedic words for cereals. |
| Vrihi and godhuma | Rice and wheat, named in later Vedic texts |
| Ishukrit or ishukara | Arrow makerQ |
Hymns, goddesses and Upanishad stories7 rows
| Name | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Purusha Sukta | Rig Veda 10.90: origin of the four varnas |
| Surya Sukta | Rig Veda 10.85: the wedding hymnQ CDS 2018 (I): the hymn of the 10th Mandala on marriage. |
| Ushas | Goddess of the dawn |
| Aditi | Mother of the gods |
| Vak | Goddess of speech |
| Sinivali | Goddess who grants children |
| Shvetaketu and Nachiketa | Upanishad seekers who asked questions to gain knowledgeQ |
The eight forms of marriage8 rows
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Brahma | The father gives his daughter to a learned man of good conduct |
| Daiva | The daughter is given to a priest during a sacrifice |
| Arsha | The groom gives the bride's father a cow and a bull |
| Prajapatya | The couple are blessed to follow dharma together |
| Asura | Marriage by purchase |
| Gandharva | Marriage by mutual love |
| Rakshasa | Marriage by capture |
| Paishacha | Marriage by seduction or trickery |
Watch out for (5)
- Parushni is the Ravi→ Rig Vedic tribes, rivers and economy
- Rice and wheat are later Vedic words→ Rig Vedic tribes, rivers and economy
- Ushas is the dawn, not Aditi→ Hymns, goddesses and Upanishad stories
- Surya Sukta for marriage, Purusha Sukta for varnas→ Hymns, goddesses and Upanishad stories
- Asura buys, Rakshasa seizes→ The eight forms of marriage
Buddhism, Jainism and Other Schools
Reference tables (3)
Buddhist texts, nuns and goddesses6 rows
| Name | Who or what |
|---|---|
| Theri | An elder Buddhist nun; their verses are the Therigatha |
| Mahapajapati Gotami | The Buddha's foster mother, the first woman ordained |
| Khema | A Buddhist nun, a leading woman disciple of the BuddhaQ CDS 2021 (II): Khema was the one who was not a Jain acharya. |
| Hariti | A child-eating yakshi who became a protector of childrenQ |
| Madhura Sutta | Majjhima Nikaya: Kachchana tells King Avantiputta that birth fixes no rankQ |
| Jatakas | Stories of the Buddha's earlier births, in PaliQ |
Jainism and the Ajivikas6 rows
| Term | Fact |
|---|---|
| Triratna | Right faith, right knowledge, right conduct |
| Five vows | Non-violence, truth, not stealing, not owning, chastity |
| Shvetambara | White-clad monks who stayed in Magadha under SthulabhadraQ CDS 2023 (II): the move south of the Vindhyas was wrongly given to them. |
| Digambara | Sky-clad monks, who went south with Bhadrabahu |
| Ajivikas | Makkhali Gosala's sect: fate rules all; rivals of Jains and BuddhistsQ |
| Chandana | Mahavira's first woman disciple, once a captive slaveQ |
Charvaka, Vedanta and the guardian gods4 rows
| School or name | Key idea |
|---|---|
| Charvaka (Lokayata) | Only the material world exists; branches Dhurta and SushikshitaQ CDS 2022 (II): Dhurta and Sushikshita were the Charvaka branches; Nyaya and Vaisheshika were not. |
| Nyaya and Vaisheshika | Orthodox schools that accept the Vedas |
| Advaita Vedanta | Shankara: one reality; built on GaudapadaQ |
| Lokapalas | Indra (east), Yama (south), Varuna (west), Kubera (north)Q |
Watch out for (6)
- Nuns were not made equal to monks→ Buddhist texts, nuns and goddesses
- Khema was Buddhist, not Jain→ Buddhist texts, nuns and goddesses
- Vows are not gems→ Jainism and the Ajivikas
- The Ajivikas were rivals, not allies→ Jainism and the Ajivikas
- Nyaya and Vaisheshika are not Charvaka→ Charvaka, Vedanta and the guardian gods
- Brahma and Shiva are not Lokapalas→ Charvaka, Vedanta and the guardian gods
Mahajanapadas and the Mauryas
Reference tables (4)
The Mauryan state and the Arthashastra6 rows
| Office or term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Samahartri | Chief collector of revenueQ CDS 2024 (II): the Dauvarika paired with the army was the wrong match. |
| Samnidhatri | Treasurer and keeper of stores |
| Akshapatala | Office of records and accounts |
| Dauvarika | Chief of the palace guard |
| Senapati | Head of the army |
| Atavikas | Forest peoples; used as soldiers, spies and assassinsQ |
Ashoka's turn to Buddhism6 rows
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Rock Edict XIII | Remorse after the Kalinga war |
| Mahavamsa | Sri Lankan chronicle of Ashoka's reign; Nigrodha turns him to the dhammaQ |
| Divyavadana | Samudra, a merchant turned monk, draws him to the Buddha's teachingQ CDS 2019 (II): the Dipavamsa does not tell the Samudra story. |
| Minor Rock Edict I | A gradual deepening of faith, not a sudden changeQ |
| Rummindei pillar | His visit to Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace |
| Nigali Sagar pillar | He enlarged the stupa of the earlier Buddha Konakamana |
Reading and placing Ashoka's edicts7 rows
| Site | Where | Edict |
|---|---|---|
| Kalsi | Dehradun district, Uttarakhand | Major Rock EdictsQ CDS 2025 (I): Kalsi was the correct statement. |
| Girnar | Junagadh, Gujarat | Major Rock Edicts |
| Dhauli and Jaugada | Odisha | Major Rock Edicts, with the Separate Kalinga Edicts |
| Sasaram | Bihar | Minor Rock Edict |
| Maski | Karnataka | Minor Rock Edict that names Ashoka |
| Bahapur | Delhi | Minor Rock Edict |
| Rajula-Mandagiri | Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh | Minor Rock Edict |
Watch out for (7)
- All three reasons for Magadha→ Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadha
- Dhamma is not a limb of the state→ The Mauryan state and the Arthashastra
- Dauvarika guarded the palace→ The Mauryan state and the Arthashastra
- Ashoka kept his army and the death penalty→ Ashoka's turn to Buddhism
- Nigrodha in Sri Lanka, Samudra in the north→ Ashoka's turn to Buddhism
- No Ashokan edict is in Sanskrit→ Reading and placing Ashoka's edicts
- Jaugada is in Odisha→ Reading and placing Ashoka's edicts
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms and the Guptas
Reference tables (4)
Hathigumpha, Junagadh and Prayaga4 rows
| Inscription | King | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Hathigumpha, Udayagiri (Odisha) | Kharavela of Kalinga | Broke a Tamil confederacy 113 years oldQ |
| Junagadh (Girnar), Gujarat | Rudradaman, a Shaka ruler | Sanskrit in Brahmi; repair of the Sudarshana lake |
| Prayaga Prashasti, Allahabad | Samudragupta | Composed by Harishena; carved on an Ashokan pillarQ |
| Sannati | Ashoka | Edicts in KarnatakaQ CDS 2025 (II): three of the four pairs were right; Sannati in Odisha was the wrong one. |
Gupta kings, coins and society5 rows
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Gold coins | Dinara; the most numerous Gupta coinsQ CDS 2020 (II): 'most Gupta coins were copper' was the wrong statement. |
| Silver coins | From Chandragupta II, after he conquered the Western Kshatrapas |
| Coin design | The king on the front, a deity on the back |
| Land grants | Villages given with tax and administrative rights; power spread out |
| Women | Status fell: early marriage, no formal educationQ |
Harsha and after6 rows
| Person | Link to Harsha |
|---|---|
| Banabhatta | Court poet; wrote the Harshacharita |
| Xuanzang | Chinese pilgrim who visited his court |
| Bhaskaravarman | Varman king of Kamarupa (Assam); an ally who sent gifts |
| Shashanka | King of Gauda (Bengal); an enemy |
| Pulakeshin II | Chalukya king who stopped him at the Narmada |
| Arunashva | Minister who seized Kanyakubja after his deathQ |
Watch out for (5)
- A mother's name does not mean a mother's line→ Shungas, Satavahanas and Kushanas
- Junagadh is Sanskrit and dated→ Hathigumpha, Junagadh and Prayaga
- Gupta women lost ground→ Gupta kings, coins and society
- Gold, not copper→ Gupta kings, coins and society
- Shashanka fought Harsha; he did not succeed him→ Harsha and after
Sangam Age and the Pallavas
Reference tables (4)
Sangam landscapes and people5 rows
| Tinai | Landscape | People and work |
|---|---|---|
| Kurinji | Hills | Hill people (kuravar); hunting and gathering |
| Mullai | Forest and pasture | Herders |
| Marutam | Farmed plains | PloughmenQ CDS 2019 (II): Maruta makkal were ploughmen and Neytal makkal fishing people. |
| Neytal | Seashore | Fishing people |
| Palai | Dry, parched land | Little farming; poems of hard journeys |
Tamil grammar and epics4 rows
Capitals and ports of the three kingdoms3 rows
| Kingdom | Capital | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Chola | Uraiyur | Puhar (Kaveripattinam) |
| Chera | Vanji | Muchiri (Muziris) |
| Pandya | Madurai | Korkai, famous for pearlsQ |
The Pallavas4 rows
| Name | Fact |
|---|---|
| Early Pallava grants | Prakrit at first, Sanskrit laterQ CDS 2023 (II): the Pallavas were the dynasty that moved from Prakrit to Sanskrit. |
| Mahendravarman I | Titles Vichitrachitta, Chaityakari, Chitrakarapuli; wrote Mattavilasa Prahasana |
| Adivaraha cave, Mamallapuram | Portraits of Simhavishnu and Mahendravarman IQ |
| Kudumiyamalai | Pudukkottai district: an inscription of musical notesQ |
Watch out for (7)
- Vellalar owned, uzhavar ploughed→ Sangam landscapes and people
- Kurinji is the hills, palai the dry land→ Sangam landscapes and people
- Ilango for the anklet, Sattanar for Manimekalai→ Tamil grammar and epics
- The Tolkappiyam is grammar→ Tamil grammar and epics
- Korkai is the Pandya port→ Capitals and ports of the three kingdoms
- Adivaraha, not Varaha→ The Pallavas
- Chitrakarapuli is about art→ The Pallavas
Literature, Grammar and Science
Reference tables (3)
Grammarians and the order of texts5 rows
| Text or class | Fact |
|---|---|
| Ashtadhyayi | Panini's grammar, about the 5th or 4th century BCEQ CDS 2025 (I): earlier than the Natyashastra, the Sushruta Samhita and the Manusmriti. |
| Varttikas | Katyayana's notes on Panini's rules |
| Mahabhashya | Patanjali's commentary on Panini and Katyayana; history only in passingQ |
| Shruti | Revealed texts: the Vedas |
| Smriti | Remembered texts: Vedangas such as the Kalpa Sutras, the epics, the PuranasQ |
Plays, poems and stories6 rows
Manuscripts of mathematics and medicine6 rows
| Text | Subject | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bakshali manuscript | Mathematics | Gatha Prakrit in Sharada script; fractions, square roots, progressionsQ CDS 2023 (II): the Sharangadhara Samhita as a political text was the false statement. |
| Bower manuscript | Medicine | Birch bark, found at Kucha in Central Asia |
| Aryabhatiya | Mathematics and astronomy | Pi as 3.1416 |
| Sushruta Samhita | Surgery | An early medical classic |
| Charaka Samhita | Medicine | An early medical classic |
| Sharangadhara Samhita | Ayurveda | A medieval medical text |
Watch out for (5)
- Katyayana sits between Panini and Patanjali→ Grammarians and the order of texts
- The Vedas are Shruti→ Grammarians and the order of texts
- Mrichchhakatika is Shudraka's→ Plays, poems and stories
- The Manjushrimulakalpa is not Ashvaghosha's→ Plays, poems and stories
- Bakshali is maths, Bower is medicine→ Manuscripts of mathematics and medicine
Art and Architecture
Reference tables (3)
Stupas, pillars and Buddhist sites4 rows
| Site or object | Where | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | Gateways carved with the shalabhanjika and GajalakshmiQ CDS 2022 (I): the woman with lotuses and elephants is Gajalakshmi, not the shalabhanjika. |
| Sarnath Lion Capital | Uttar Pradesh | Inverted lotus below a round abacus carved with animals and wheelsQ |
| Kanaganahalli | Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, on the Bhima | Stupa of the 1st to 3rd centuries CE; a portrait of Ashoka |
| Guntupalle | Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh | Rock-cut Buddhist cavesQ |
Gandhara, Mathura and Ajanta3 rows
| School or site | Material | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Gandhara | Blue-grey schist and green phyllite, later stucco | The Buddha with Greek features |
| Mathura | Red sandstone | Images in an Indian style |
| Ajanta | Paint on cave walls | Jataka stories; yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras; several viewpoints in one scene |
Temples and rock-cut caves5 rows
| Monument | Where | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Dashavatara temple, Deogarh | Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta temple of stoneQ CDS 2023 (II): asked for its state, Uttar Pradesh. |
| Bhitargaon temple | Near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta temple of brick with terracotta panels |
| Elephanta caves | Near Mumbai, Maharashtra | Shaiva caves linked with the Pashupata sect; three-headed ShivaQ |
| Ellora caves | Maharashtra | Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves; Kailasa cut from one rockQ |
| Rani Gumpha | Udayagiri, Odisha | Two-storeyed Jain cave with carved friezes |
Watch out for (5)
- The Sarnath abacus is carved→ Stupas, pillars and Buddhist sites
- Stupas were not in remote villages→ Stupas, pillars and Buddhist sites
- Grey schist for Gandhara, red sandstone for Mathura→ Gandhara, Mathura and Ajanta
- Ellora is not only Buddhist→ Temples and rock-cut caves
- Elephanta is Shaiva, not Vishnu→ Temples and rock-cut caves
Society, Land and Trade
Reference tables (3)
Women and property in the law books5 rows
| Rule | What the Smritis say |
|---|---|
| Paternal estate | Divided equally among sons; a special share for the eldest |
| Stridhana | Gifts a woman received at marriage; hers to keep |
| Who inherits stridhana | Her children; the husband has no claim |
| Men's ways to wealth | Seven: inheritance, finding, purchase, conquest, investment, work, gifts from good people |
| Women's ways to wealth | Six: gifts at the nuptial fire, at the bridal procession, as a token of affection, and from brother, mother and fatherQ CDS 2018 (II): token of affection was the answer; purchase, investment and inheritance are on the men's list. |
Trade with Rome and links abroad6 rows
| Item or place | Fact |
|---|---|
| Arikamedu | Near Puducherry, Coromandel coast; Roman amphorae and Arretine wareQ CDS 2019 (II): asked as the site of maritime links on the Coromandel coast. |
| Aurei | Roman gold coins, found in hoards in south IndiaQ |
| Exports to Rome | Pepper, spikenard, tortoiseshell, pearls, ivory, fine cloth |
| Bharukachchha | A port in Gujarat (Broach) |
| Tamralipti | A port in Bengal |
| Romani | The Roma's language; an Indo-Aryan languageQ |
Words for land, places, dress and arms9 rows
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Urvara | Fertile land |
| Maru | Desert land |
| Nadimatrika | Land watered by a river |
| Devamatrika | Land watered by rain |
| Nattar | Assembly of a nadu in Chola timesQ CDS 2023 (II): 'male serpent deity' was the wrong meaning. |
| Yupa | Sacrificial post |
| Viragal | Hero stone |
| Antariya | Unstitched lower garment draped round the bodyQ |
| Kunta | SpearQ CDS 2025 (I): sharnga, kodanda and karmuka mean bow; kunta does not. |
Watch out for (5)
- The husband had no say over stridhana→ Women and property in the law books
- Arikamedu is on the Coromandel coast→ Trade with Rome and links abroad
- Aurei are coins→ Trade with Rome and links abroad
- Devamatrika is rain-fed→ Words for land, places, dress and arms
- Nattar is an assembly, not a god→ Words for land, places, dress and arms
PYQ weightage by concept
34 concepts · 120 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
34 concepts · 120 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
Stone Age and Chalcolithic Cultures12 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Studying the past and Palaeolithic tools | 5 | 4% |
| Mesolithic sites and rock art | 3 | 3% |
| Neolithic sites | 2 | 2% |
| Chalcolithic cultures | 2 | 2% |
Harappan Civilization11 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Harappan sites and where they are | 6 | 5% |
| Cities, script, metals and seals | 3 | 3% |
| Farming and food | 2 | 2% |
Vedic Age8 PYQs · 7%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rig Vedic tribes, rivers and economy | 4 | 3% |
| Hymns, goddesses and Upanishad stories | 3 | 3% |
| The eight forms of marriage | 1 | 1% |
Buddhism, Jainism and Other Schools13 PYQs · 11%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhist texts, nuns and goddesses | 5 | 4% |
| Jainism and the Ajivikas | 4 | 3% |
| Charvaka, Vedanta and the guardian gods | 4 | 3% |
Mahajanapadas and the Mauryas15 PYQs · 13%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Mauryan state and the Arthashastra | 5 | 4% |
| Ashoka's turn to Buddhism | 4 | 3% |
| Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadha | 3 | 3% |
| Reading and placing Ashoka's edicts | 3 | 3% |
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms and the Guptas12 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hathigumpha, Junagadh and Prayaga | 4 | 3% |
| Shungas, Satavahanas and Kushanas | 3 | 3% |
| Gupta kings, coins and society | 3 | 3% |
| Harsha and after | 2 | 2% |
Sangam Age and the Pallavas14 PYQs · 12%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sangam landscapes and people | 4 | 3% |
| Tamil grammar and epics | 4 | 3% |
| The Pallavas | 4 | 3% |
| Capitals and ports of the three kingdoms | 2 | 2% |
Literature, Grammar and Science10 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grammarians and the order of texts | 4 | 3% |
| Plays, poems and stories | 4 | 3% |
| Manuscripts of mathematics and medicine | 2 | 2% |
Art and Architecture13 PYQs · 11%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Stupas, pillars and Buddhist sites | 6 | 5% |
| Temples and rock-cut caves | 5 | 4% |
| Gandhara, Mathura and Ajanta | 2 | 2% |
Society, Land and Trade12 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Trade with Rome and links abroad | 6 | 5% |
| Words for land, places, dress and arms | 4 | 3% |
| Women and property in the law books | 2 | 2% |
Test yourself on Ancient India
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.