MCQ on Indus Valley Civilisation

🟢 EASY (1–20)

1. Which river was primarily associated with the Indus Valley Civilization?
   a) Ganga
   b) Yamuna
   c) Indus ✅
   d) Saraswati
   Explanation: The civilization was mainly located along the Indus River.
2. Which of the following is a major site of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   a) Lothal ✅
   b) Delhi
   c) Ayodhya
   d) Pataliputra
   Explanation: Lothal is a prominent port city of IVC in Gujarat.
3. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:
   a) Aryan Civilization
   b) Dravidian Civilization
   c) Harappan Civilization ✅
   d) Vedic Civilization
   Explanation: Named after its first discovered site—Harappa.
4. Which script did the people of Indus Valley use?
   a) Devanagari
   b) Pictographic ✅
   c) Brahmi
   d) Persian
   Explanation: The script was pictographic and remains undeciphered.
5. What type of drainage system did the Indus cities have?
   a) None
   b) Open sewers
   c) Underground drainage ✅
   d) River canals
   Explanation: The cities had highly advanced underground drainage systems.
6. Harappa is located in present-day:
   a) India
   b) Pakistan ✅
   c) Bangladesh
   d) Nepal
   Explanation: It is in Punjab province, Pakistan.
7. The Great Bath is found at which site?
   a) Harappa
   b) Mohenjo-daro ✅
   c) Kalibangan
   d) Rakhigarhi
   Explanation: A large tank-like structure found in Mohenjo-daro.
8. Which was a common material for making tools in IVC?
   a) Iron
   b) Steel
   c) Stone and copper ✅
   d) Plastic
   Explanation: Tools were typically made from stone, copper, and bronze.
9. Which animal is frequently seen on seals of the IVC?
   a) Tiger
   b) Horse
   c) Unicorn ✅
   d) Elephant
   Explanation: A one-horned animal, possibly mythical, is often shown.
10. The Indus Valley people used which metal first?
    a) Iron
    b) Copper ✅
    c) Aluminum
    d) Mercury
    Explanation: They were part of the Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone) age.
11. What material were most seals made of?
    a) Wood
    b) Terracotta
    c) Steatite ✅
    d) Bronze
    Explanation: Soft stone (steatite) was commonly used for seals.
12. Which site is famous for dockyard remains?
    a) Harappa
    b) Mohenjo-daro
    c) Kalibangan
    d) Lothal ✅
    Explanation: Lothal was an important port with dockyard structures.
13. Which type of planning did IVC cities follow?
    a) Circular
    b) Grid system ✅
    c) Pyramid-based
    d) Random
    Explanation: Cities were laid out in a well-planned grid pattern.
14. The script of IVC is still:
    a) Widely used
    b) Deciphered
    c) Undeciphered ✅
    d) Sanskrit-based
    Explanation: Despite efforts, it remains undeciphered.
15. Which IVC site shows evidence of ploughed fields?
    a) Mohenjo-daro
    b) Kalibangan ✅
    c) Lothal
    d) Harappa
    Explanation: Kalibangan had ploughed field patterns preserved.
16. The economy of the Indus Valley was primarily based on:
    a) Mining
    b) Industry
    c) Agriculture ✅
    d) Banking
    Explanation: Farming and trade were the economic backbone.
17. Which crops were cultivated in IVC?
    a) Maize
    b) Rice
    c) Wheat and barley ✅
    d) Tea
    Explanation: Wheat and barley were common crops.
18. Terracotta figurines found in the IVC include:
    a) Soldiers
    b) Deities and animals ✅
    c) Kings
    d) Pilgrims
    Explanation: Figurines represented animals, women (possibly deities).
19. The main source of information about IVC is:
    a) Vedas
    b) Coins
    c) Archaeological evidence ✅
    d) Foreign travelers
    Explanation: Excavations have provided most knowledge.
20. Which metal was unknown to IVC people?
    a) Bronze
    b) Copper
    c) Tin
    d) Iron ✅
    Explanation: Iron came later, during the Iron Age.

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

21. Which site is considered the largest in the Indus Valley Civilization?
    a) Harappa
    b) Mohenjo-daro
    c) Rakhigarhi ✅
    d) Dholavira
    Explanation: Rakhigarhi in Haryana is the largest known IVC site.
22. The people of IVC worshipped which natural element?
    a) Wind
    b) Fire
    c) Trees and animals ✅
    d) Lightning
    Explanation: Tree worship and animal reverence were common.
23. Which craft was highly developed in the IVC?
    a) Weaving
    b) Pottery ✅
    c) Writing
    d) Stone carving
    Explanation: Pottery was decorated and well-made.
24. Which color pottery was common in IVC?
    a) Black and red
    b) Black-on-buff ✅
    c) Blue and white
    d) Green
    Explanation: Black designs on buff clay were common.
25. What type of climate did the Indus Valley experience?
    a) Arid
    b) Tropical
    c) Semi-arid ✅
    d) Polar
    Explanation: The region had a semi-arid climate.
26. What feature of Mohenjo-daro indicates urban planning?
    a) Rural huts
    b) Thatched roofs
    c) Drainage system ✅
    d) Canals
    Explanation: The city had a networked drainage system.
27. What does the word ‘Mohenjo-daro’ mean?
    a) City of Kings
    b) City of Wells
    c) Mound of the Dead ✅
    d) Land of Wisdom
    Explanation: “Mohenjo-daro” means “Mound of the Dead” in Sindhi.
28. Who first discovered Harappa?
    a) Alexander Cunningham
    b) Dayaram Sahni ✅
    c) John Marshall
    d) R.D. Banerjee
    Explanation: Dayaram Sahni led the first excavation in 1921.
29. Which IVC site is located in Gujarat?
    a) Rakhigarhi
    b) Kalibangan
    c) Lothal ✅
    d) Harappa
    Explanation: Lothal was a major port city in Gujarat.
30. Which of these shows evidence of a water reservoir?
    a) Dholavira ✅
    b) Harappa
    c) Kalibangan
    d) Mohenjo-daro
    Explanation: Dholavira had large reservoirs for water conservation.
31. The dancing girl statue is made of:
    a) Stone
    b) Clay
    c) Bronze ✅
    d) Copper
    Explanation: A famous bronze statue found at Mohenjo-daro.
32. Which deity is believed to be depicted on seals?
    a) Vishnu
    b) Shiva in Pashupati form ✅
    c) Indra
    d) Agni
    Explanation: Seals show a horned figure interpreted as Pashupati.
33. Which structure was likely used for public rituals?
    a) Great Bath ✅
    b) Granary
    c) Dockyard
    d) Observatory
    Explanation: Its purpose is unclear but assumed to be ritualistic.
34. Evidence of cotton use is found at:
    a) Kalibangan
    b) Mehrgarh
    c) Mohenjo-daro ✅
    d) Dholavira
    Explanation: Cotton was known and used in the region.
35. Trade with Mesopotamia is indicated by:
    a) Written records
    b) Seals and beads ✅
    c) Coins
    d) Pottery styles
    Explanation: Indus seals were found in Mesopotamia.
36. Which was NOT found in IVC cities?
    a) Fortified citadel
    b) Temples ✅
    c) Granaries
    d) Bathing areas
    Explanation: No evidence of temples like later Hindu structures.
37. Which animal is notably absent from Indus seals?
    a) Elephant
    b) Tiger
    c) Horse ✅
    d) Bull
    Explanation: The horse is rarely, if ever, depicted.
38. IVC people obtained raw materials from:
    a) Imports only
    b) Local and distant regions ✅
    c) Persia
    d) Africa
    Explanation: Resources came from places like Rajasthan, Afghanistan, etc.
39. What does the granary suggest about IVC?
    a) Lack of food
    b) Hoarding practices
    c) Organized food storage ✅
    d) Worship of grain
    Explanation: Central storage hints at administration and planning.
40. Which foreign civilization traded with IVC?
    a) Greek
    b) Chinese
    c) Mesopotamian ✅
    d) Roman
    Explanation: Artifacts indicate trade with Mesopotamia.

🔴 HARD (41–50)

41. Which site shows three divisions of town planning?
    a) Mohenjo-daro
    b) Dholavira ✅
    c) Lothal
    d) Kalibangan
    Explanation: Dholavira had citadel, middle, and lower towns.
42. Which site provides earliest known dockyard remains?
    a) Harappa
    b) Mohenjo-daro
    c) Lothal ✅
    d) Banawali
    Explanation: Lothal had the earliest dockyard in the world.
43. Which item suggests long-distance trade?
    a) Pottery
    b) Semi-precious stones ✅
    c) Cotton
    d) Seals
    Explanation: Carnelian and lapis lazuli were imported/exported.
44. The weights and measures in IVC were based on:
    a) Metric system
    b) Binary multiples ✅
    c) Random measures
    d) Vedic system
    Explanation: Their weights followed a binary decimal system.
45. Which site has fire altars and animal sacrifice evidence?
    a) Harappa
    b) Kalibangan ✅
    c) Lothal
    d) Mohenjo-daro
    Explanation: Suggests ritualistic activity in Kalibangan.
46. Which site was excavated by R.D. Banerjee?
    a) Harappa
    b) Mohenjo-daro ✅
    c) Dholavira
    d) Rakhigarhi
    Explanation: He discovered Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
47. Which artifact shows artistic excellence in metallurgy?
    a) Unicorn seal
    b) Bronze Dancing Girl ✅
    c) Terracotta bull
    d) Pottery
    Explanation: The Dancing Girl shows remarkable metal casting.
48. Which of the following was used as an ornament?
    a) Iron
    b) Carnelian ✅
    c) Coal
    d) Tin
    Explanation: Semi-precious stones were used in jewelry.
49. Which foreign word mentions Indus people as ‘Meluhha’?
    a) Sanskrit
    b) Akkadian ✅
    c) Persian
    d) Chinese
    Explanation: Mesopotamians referred to Indus as Meluhha.
50. Which of the following is NOT an IVC feature?
    a) Town planning
    b) Written language
    c) Use of iron ✅
    d) Granaries
    Explanation: Iron was not used in the Harappan period.