QUESTION

Hard

Ancient History

Prelims 2012

With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct?

  1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by the 1st century AD.
  2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of 3rd century AD.
  3. The concept of the sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.
  4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Ancient Indian texts such as the Sushruta Samhita, dating back to around the 6th century BCE, describe various surgical instruments and techniques used in surgeries. By the 1st century AD, specialized surgical instruments were indeed in common use in ancient India.

There is no evidence to suggest that organ transplantation, as understood in modern medicine, was practised in ancient India by the beginning of the 3rd century AD.

The concept of trigonometry, including the sine function, was known in ancient India. The Indian mathematician Aryabhata, who lived in the 5th century AD, made significant contributions to trigonometry and provided tables of trigonometric values in his work Aryabhatiya.

The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals, along with other geometric concepts, was known in ancient India. The mathematician Brahmagupta, who lived in the 7th century AD, discussed cyclic quadrilaterals in his mathematical treatise Brahmasphutasiddhanta.

Therefore, the correct answer is options 1, 3, and 4.

Trusted by 2L aspirants

Practice UPSC Prelims PYQs Smarter

Practice Now
  • Track accuracy & weak areas
  • See past trends & repeated themes
Start Practicing Now

Crack UPSC with your
Personal AI Mentor

An AI-powered ecosystem to learn, practice, and evaluate with discipline

SuperKalam is your personal mentor for UPSC preparation, guiding you at every step of the exam journey.

Download the App

Follow us

ⓒ Snapstack Technologies Private Limited