Question
GSHardPrelims 2026Ancient History

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 ?

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

Explanation

Information 1 is Correct: The Rigveda contains references to the use of an ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw water from wells. This provides direct evidence of well-based irrigation and supports the view that agriculture could expand beyond flood plains and river margins into areas with accessible groundwater.

Information 2 is Incorrect: While the Rigveda mentions agricultural implements such as parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle), these tools are associated with land clearance, cultivation, and harvesting. They do not directly provide evidence for well irrigation or the use of draught animals in lifting water.

Information 3 is Correct: There is evidence of the use of oxen as draught animals even before the Rigvedic period for ploughing fields and pulling carts. This supports the inference that draught-animal power could have been employed for drawing water from wells, thereby supporting the second statement.

Therefore, the correct option is C (1 and 3 only), as Information 1 and Information 3 support the given statements, whereas Information 2 does not.

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