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Indus Valley Civilization MCQ: 20 Important Questions for Competitive Exams

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Indus Valley Civilization MCQ - Ancient Indian History
Indus Valley Civilization MCQ: 20 Selected Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams | Exam Prep Zone (EPZ)
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Indus Valley Civilization: Background and Important Brief Discussion

The Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan Civilization was the first urban civilization of ancient India, contemporary with the Copper and Bronze Age. In 1921, Dayaram Sahni discovered Harappa, and in 1922, Rakhal Das Banerji discovered Mohenjo-daro, unveiling the history of this ancient settlement. The main features of this civilization were planned cities built on a grid system, the use of burnt bricks, and an advanced underground drainage system. In today’s Indus Valley Civilization MCQ session, we have highlighted the important archaeological sites and the stories of their discovery. By solving these Indus Valley Civilization MCQ questions, you will be able to strengthen your foundation in the history of ancient India.

The economy of the Indus Valley Civilization was primarily agriculture-based, with wheat and barley being the main crops produced. On the commercial side, Lothal in Gujarat was an important maritime port of this civilization, used for trade with Mesopotamia. The people here did not know the use of iron, and in religious life, the worship of Pashupati Shiva and Mother Goddess was prevalent. The seals, weighing scales, and the massive granary of Harappa or the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro provide evidence of their advanced lifestyle. Our Indus Valley Civilization MCQ study material is designed in such a way that through every question, you can prepare yourself comprehensively for competitive exams.

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Indus Valley Civilization MCQ: 20 Important Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams

1. Who discovered the Harappa site of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) Rakhal Das Banerji
(B) Dayaram Sahni
(C) John Marshall
(D) N.G. Majumdar
Correct Answer: (B) Dayaram Sahni Extra Info: In 1921, Dayaram Sahni discovered Harappa in the Montgomery district of Punjab. It was the first discovered site of the Indus Valley Civilization. This site is located on the banks of the Ravi River.
2. Mohenjo-daro was located on the banks of which river?
(A) Ravi
(B) Sutlej
(C) Indus
(D) Ghaggar
Correct Answer: (C) Indus Extra Info: Mohenjo-daro is currently located in the Larkana district of Sindh province, Pakistan, on the banks of the Indus River. Rakhal Das Banerji discovered this place in 1922. It was one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
3. In which site of the Indus Valley Civilization was the ‘Great Bath’ found?
(A) Harappa
(B) Lothal
(C) Mohenjo-daro
(D) Kalibangan
Correct Answer: (C) Mohenjo-daro Extra Info: It is believed that this huge bath was used for religious rituals. It was made of burnt bricks and waterproofed with bitumen. There were small rooms for changing clothes all around it.
4. Which was the oldest port of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) Lothal
(B) Dholavira
(C) Surkotada
(D) Banawali
Correct Answer: (A) Lothal Extra Info: Lothal, located in Gujarat, was an important maritime port of the Indus Valley Civilization. The world’s oldest artificial dockyard was found here. From here, commercial transactions with Mesopotamia took place.
5. The inhabitants of Harappa did not know the use of which metal?
(A) Copper
(B) Gold
(C) Iron
(D) Bronze
Correct Answer: (C) Iron Extra Info: The Indus Valley Civilization was a Chalcolithic-Bronze Age civilization, they did not know the use of iron. They were skilled in making bronze by mixing copper and tin. The use of iron in India started mainly from the Vedic period.
6. What does the word ‘Mohenjo-daro’ mean?
(A) Mound of the Dead
(B) Prosperous City
(C) Land of Peace
(D) Land of Pashupati
Correct Answer: (A) Mound of the Dead Extra Info: In the Sindhi language, the word Mohenjo-daro means ‘Mound of the Dead’. It is known that the city was destroyed seven times and rebuilt. It has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
7. What was the name of the script of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) Brahmi
(B) Kharosthi
(C) Pictographic
(D) Devanagari
Correct Answer: (C) Pictographic Extra Info: These scripts have not yet been deciphered, and are often called ‘Boustrophedon’. The writing method was right to left in the first line and left to right in the second line. This type of script is found in abundance on the seals.
8. Which animal was worshipped in the Harappan civilization?
(A) Horse
(B) Bull
(C) Elephant
(D) Lion
Correct Answer: (B) Bull Extra Info: The humped bull was very sacred to them. Pictures of this animal have been found engraved on various seals. However, surprisingly, they were not very familiar with the use of horses.
9. In which state of India is the Kalibangan archaeological site currently located?
(A) Punjab
(B) Haryana
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Gujarat
Correct Answer: (C) Rajasthan Extra Info: This site is located on the banks of the Ghaggar River in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan. The word Kalibangan means ‘Black Bangles’. The world’s oldest ploughed field evidence has been found here.
10. What were the houses of the Indus Valley Civilization mainly made of?
(A) Stone
(B) Raw Bricks
(C) Burnt Bricks
(D) Wood
Correct Answer: (C) Burnt Bricks Extra Info: Instead of sun-dried bricks, they were famous for using burnt bricks. The houses had an advanced drainage system. Almost every house had its own bathroom and well.
11. At which site of the Indus Valley Civilization has evidence of the use of ploughs been found?
(A) Harappa
(B) Mohenjo-daro
(C) Lothal
(D) Kalibangan
Correct Answer: (D) Kalibangan Extra Info: The oldest evidence of the use of wooden ploughs has been found in Kalibangan, Rajasthan. This site was discovered by Amalananda Ghosh in 1953. Remains of camel bones have also been found here.
12. What was the main medium of maritime trade in the Harappan civilization?
(A) Airways
(B) Land routes
(C) Waterways
(D) None
Correct Answer: (C) Waterways Extra Info: They mainly traded with Mesopotamia through waterways. The inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization were known to the Mesopotamians as ‘Meluha’. They used terracotta seals for trade.
13. Which deity is believed to have been worshipped by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) Indra
(B) Pashupati Shiva
(C) Vishnu
(D) Agni
Correct Answer: (B) Pashupati Shiva Extra Info: A seated three-faced yogi figure on a seal has been called Pashupati. This idol is surrounded by an elephant, tiger, rhinoceros, and buffalo. They also worshipped the Mother Goddess.
14. Who gave the theory of floods for the fall of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) S.R. Rao
(B) Marshall and Mackay
(C) Wheeler
(D) Amalananda Ghosh
Correct Answer: (B) Marshall and Mackay Extra Info: John Marshall and Ernest Mackay believed that the civilization fell due to devastating floods in the Indus River. Other historians believe the cause was drying rivers or climate change. Again, Mortimer Wheeler gave the theory of the Aryan invasion.
15. Which city of the Indus Valley Civilization was famous for water conservation (Water Reservoir)?
(A) Lothal
(B) Dholavira
(C) Amri
(D) Kot Diji
Correct Answer: (B) Dholavira Extra Info: Dholavira, located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, was known for advanced drainage and water conservation. A massive stadium and a signboard-like script have also been found here. This city was divided into three main parts.
Also Check: Top 20 Must-Read Mehergarh Civilization MCQ Questions and Answers (Updated)
16. Which site of the Indus Valley Civilization had no citadel?
(A) Harappa
(B) Lothal
(C) Chanhudaro
(D) Ropar
Correct Answer: (C) Chanhudaro Extra Info: This was the only city of the Indus Valley Civilization that did not have a high fortified area or citadel. It was basically an industrial city where a bead-making factory was found. Evidence of using lipstick and kohl has also been found here.
17. What was the ratio used for weighing in the Harappan civilization?
(A) Multiples of 12
(B) Multiples of 16
(C) Multiples of 10
(D) Multiples of 20
Correct Answer: (B) Multiples of 16 Extra Info: Their weights were in the ratio 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc. They used weights made of common chert stone for measuring. Their measurement system was very precise and standardized.
18. In which year did Rakhal Das Banerji discover Mohenjo-daro?
(A) 1921
(B) 1922
(C) 1924
(D) 1925
Correct Answer: (B) 1922 Extra Info: He discovered Mohenjo-daro just one year after the discovery of Harappa. He was a Bengali archaeologist associated with the Archaeological Survey of India. His discovery pushed back the history of ancient India by several thousand years.
19. From which site of the Indus Valley Civilization have game pieces like chess been found?
(A) Mohenjo-daro
(B) Kalibangan
(C) Lothal
(D) Harappa
Correct Answer: (C) Lothal Extra Info: Archaeological excavations at Lothal have revealed evidence of games like chess. This shows that the people of that time played indoor games for entertainment. Lothal was a trade center located on the banks of the modern Bhogava River.
20. What was the main food crop of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(A) Rice and pulses
(B) Corn and jowar
(C) Wheat and barley
(D) Millet and peas
Correct Answer: (C) Wheat and barley Extra Info: They mainly cultivated high-quality wheat and barley in the alluvial soil of the Indus River. Besides, they also knew how to cultivate sesame, mustard, and cotton. Although agriculture started in the Mehrgarh civilization, it gained vastness in the Indus civilization.

People also ask (FAQs)

What was the Indus Valley Civilization?

The Indus Valley Civilization was the first urban Bronze Age civilization of ancient India, developed in the basins of the Indus River and its tributaries. It is famous for its advanced town planning and the use of burnt bricks.

What were the causes of the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Although no single cause is known for the decline, historians suggest it occurred due to devastating floods, changes in the course of the Indus River, climate change, or the Aryan invasion.

Where is the Indus Valley Civilization located today?

The Indus Valley Civilization is currently located mainly in Pakistan and the north-western parts of India (Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana). Some parts were also spread across Afghanistan.

Which is the largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization?

‘Rakhigarhi’, located in the state of Haryana, is the largest currently discovered site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were also among the largest and most important cities.

What was the name of the main fort of the Indus?

The elevated area of each major city in the Indus Valley Civilization was called a ‘Citadel’. It was primarily the residence of the ruling class and the center for administrative activities.

Why was Mohenjo-daro destroyed?

The devastating floods of the Indus River are considered the primary cause of Mohenjo-daro’s destruction. Additionally, it is believed the city became deserted due to ecological imbalance and increased soil salinity.

Also Check: Important MCQs on Vedic Age: Boost Your Exam Preparation (Updated)

📌 Smart Study Tips: Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization MCQ or similar history topics can be remembered more easily by following the tips below:

  • Discoverer and Year: In 1921 Dayaram Sahni discovered Harappa and in 1922 Rakhal Das Banerji discovered Mohenjo-daro.
  • River and Location: Remember that Mohenjo-daro is located on the banks of the Indus River and Harappa on the banks of the Ravi River.
  • Use of Metals: Although people of the Indus Valley Civilization used copper and bronze, they did not know the use of iron.
  • Famous Landmarks: The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro, the Granary of Harappa, and the Maritime Port of Lothal frequently appear in Indus Valley Civilization MCQ exams.
  • Measurement System: They used multiples of 16 for weights, and their script was pictographic. Additionally, to get a deeper understanding of the archaeological research and geographical extent of this civilization, you can check the historical records.

🌟 Message of Success: Every small step takes you towards a bigger goal. By solving these Indus Valley Civilization MCQ questions today, you have taken another step forward in your preparation. Remember, consistent hard work is the key to success. To strengthen your preparation, keep practicing other important history MCQs and Mock Tests on our Exam Prep Zone website regularly.

Also Check: Indus Valley Civilization Mock Test: Check Your Preparation Level (Updated)

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