Q1. What was the primary occupation of the Rig Vedic people?
- Agriculture
- Trade and Commerce
- Cattle Rearing
- Iron Smelting
Correct Option: 3. Cattle Rearing
Explanation: The Rig Vedic society was fundamentally pastoral, with cattle rearing as the central occupation. The economy was not based on intensive agriculture, though shifting cultivation was known. Terms related to cows, such as Gau, appear frequently in Rig Vedic hymns, underscoring their economic and religious importance. Trade was limited and barter was common, often involving cattle as a unit of exchange. While metallurgy was known, especially the use of copper, iron smelting was not practiced during this period.
Q2. What is the correct chronological progression of Vedic geography from Rig Vedic to Later Vedic period?
- Kuru–Panchala → Punjab → Eastern U.P.
- Punjab → Kuru–Panchala → Eastern U.P.
- Punjab → Eastern Afghanistan → Upper Ganga Valley
- Eastern Afghanistan and Punjab → Kuru–Panchala Region
Correct Option: 4. Eastern Afghanistan and Punjab → Kuru–Panchala Region
Explanation: During the Rig Vedic period, the Aryans inhabited regions such as Eastern Afghanistan, Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh. Over time, as agriculture spread and more complex political units developed, the center of Vedic culture shifted eastwards to the Kuru–Panchala region, which included the Indo-Gangetic divide and the upper Ganga Valley. This shift marks a significant development in both geopolitical expansion and social evolution from a pastoral to an agrarian society.
Q3. Which craftsperson had a special status in Rig Vedic society?
- Blacksmith
- Potter
- Chariot-maker
- Weaver
Correct Option: 3. Chariot-maker
Explanation: In Rig Vedic society, the chariot-maker held a prestigious position due to the central role of chariots in warfare and rituals. Chariots were not just vehicles but also symbols of status, power, and martial skill. The warrior class (Kshatriyas) depended on well-crafted chariots for battle and ceremonial purposes. Though other crafts like weaving, carpentry, and pottery were practiced, none carried the same strategic or symbolic value as chariot-making in that era.
Q4. The term ‘Gotra’, which emerged in Later Vedic period, originally meant:
- Clan deity
- Sacred lineage
- Cattle pen
- Joint family
Correct Option: 3. Cattle pen
Explanation: The word ‘Gotra’ originally meant a cattle pen, reflecting the pastoral background of Vedic people. Over time, it evolved to mean a patrilineal clan or lineage traced from a common ancestor, especially from legendary sages such as Vashistha, Vishwamitra, and Bhrigu. The gotra system regulated marriage alliances, and marrying within the same gotra was strictly prohibited, as it was considered equivalent to incest. This shift shows the development of kinship rules in an increasingly stratified society.
Q5. Which type of marriage was considered acceptable by sacred texts in the Later Vedic period?
- Pratiloma Vivah
- Gandharva Vivah
- Anuloma Vivah
- Rakshasa Vivah
Correct Option: 3. Anuloma Vivah
Explanation: Anuloma Vivah refers to a marriage between a man of a higher varna and a woman of a lower varna. This type of marriage was considered acceptable and even sanctioned by sacred texts, although it wasn’t always socially prestigious. In contrast, Pratiloma Vivah, where a woman of a higher varna married a man of a lower varna, was not approved and often condemned. This reflects the patriarchal and hierarchical values of Later Vedic society, where varna purity was maintained through male lineage.