Q1. What was the mode of exchange in the Later Vedic economy?
- Barter system with use of Nishka as a value unit
- Cow-based currency
- Use of silver coins
- Paper currency
Correct Option: 1. Barter system with use of Nishka as a value unit
Explanation: The Later Vedic economy was not monetized, meaning there was no widespread use of coins. Instead, it operated on a barter system, where goods were exchanged directly. However, units like Nishka (a gold ornament or ingot) were used as measures of value in transactions and religious offerings, though they were not coins in the modern sense.
Q2. What was the role of the Sangrihitri in the Later Vedic period?
- Priest performing sacrifices
- Head of the village council
- Tax and tribute collector
- Merchant guild leader
Correct Option: 3. Tax and tribute collector
Explanation: Unlike the Rig Vedic period, where voluntary offerings were common, the Later Vedic period saw the formalization of tax collection. The Sangrihitri was the official responsible for collecting taxes and tributes, particularly from the Vaishyas, who were the productive class involved in agriculture and trade. This marks a step toward organized administration and state structure.
Q3. Which yajna was performed to assert the political supremacy of kings?
- Vajapeya
- Rajasuya
- Ashvamedha
- Both B and C
Correct Option: 4. Both B and C
Explanation: Both the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha yajnas were significant royal rituals:
• Rajasuya was a coronation ceremony, symbolizing the king’s sovereignty.
• Ashvamedha involved letting a horse roam freely, and the king would assert dominance over any area the horse entered unless challenged.
These rituals reinforced territorial control and divine legitimacy of kingship.
Q4. Which deity rose to prominence during the Later Vedic period as the creator god?
- Indra
- Agni
- Prajapati
- Pushan
Correct Option: 3. Prajapati
Explanation: While Indra (god of rain and war) and Agni (fire god) were dominant in the Rig Vedic period, the Later Vedic religious texts gave Prajapati the status of supreme creator deity. This shift reflects a transition from nature-based deities to more abstract and philosophical concepts of god, indicating deeper theological developments.
Q5. What philosophical movement began as a reaction to ritualism in the Later Vedic age?
- Epic literature
- Buddhism
- Jainism
- Upanishadic thought
Correct Option: 4. Upanishadic thought
Explanation: As rituals became more elaborate, expensive, and dominated by Brahmanas, a philosophical reaction emerged, especially in Panchala and Videha. This led to the compilation of the Upanishads around 600 BCE, which focused on internal spiritual inquiry (atma, Brahman) rather than external ritualism. It marked the beginning of Indian philosophical tradition and laid the foundation for later movements like Buddhism and Jainism.