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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Harappa is located in present-day:
a) India
b) Pakistan ✅
c) Bangladesh
d) Nepal Explanation: It is in Punjab province, Pakistan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What material were most seals made of?
a) Wood
b) Terracotta
c) Steatite ✅
d) Bronze Explanation: Soft stone (steatite) was commonly used for seals.
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.
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.
The script of IVC is still:
a) Widely used
b) Deciphered
c) Undeciphered ✅
d) Sanskrit-based Explanation: Despite efforts, it remains undeciphered.
Which IVC site shows evidence of ploughed fields?
a) Mohenjo-daro
b) Kalibangan ✅
c) Lothal
d) Harappa Explanation: Kalibangan had ploughed field patterns preserved.
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.
Which crops were cultivated in IVC?
a) Maize
b) Rice
c) Wheat and barley ✅
d) Tea Explanation: Wheat and barley were common crops.
Terracotta figurines found in the IVC include:
a) Soldiers
b) Deities and animals ✅
c) Kings
d) Pilgrims Explanation: Figurines represented animals, women (possibly deities).
The main source of information about IVC is:
a) Vedas
b) Coins
c) Archaeological evidence ✅
d) Foreign travelers Explanation: Excavations have provided most knowledge.
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)
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.
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.
Which craft was highly developed in the IVC?
a) Weaving
b) Pottery ✅
c) Writing
d) Stone carving Explanation: Pottery was decorated and well-made.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Which IVC site is located in Gujarat?
a) Rakhigarhi
b) Kalibangan
c) Lothal ✅
d) Harappa Explanation: Lothal was a major port city in Gujarat.
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.
The dancing girl statue is made of:
a) Stone
b) Clay
c) Bronze ✅
d) Copper Explanation: A famous bronze statue found at Mohenjo-daro.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Which animal is notably absent from Indus seals?
a) Elephant
b) Tiger
c) Horse ✅
d) Bull Explanation: The horse is rarely, if ever, depicted.
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.
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.
Which foreign civilization traded with IVC?
a) Greek
b) Chinese
c) Mesopotamian ✅
d) Roman Explanation: Artifacts indicate trade with Mesopotamia.
🔴 HARD (41–50)
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.
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.
Which item suggests long-distance trade?
a) Pottery
b) Semi-precious stones ✅
c) Cotton
d) Seals Explanation: Carnelian and lapis lazuli were imported/exported.
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.
Which site has fire altars and animal sacrifice evidence?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibangan ✅
c) Lothal
d) Mohenjo-daro Explanation: Suggests ritualistic activity in Kalibangan.
Which site was excavated by R.D. Banerjee?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-daro ✅
c) Dholavira
d) Rakhigarhi Explanation: He discovered Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
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.
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.
Which foreign word mentions Indus people as ‘Meluhha’?
a) Sanskrit
b) Akkadian ✅
c) Persian
d) Chinese Explanation: Mesopotamians referred to Indus as Meluhha.
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.