📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-I Q.17 | Classroom Explanation

(Ancient History: 600–322 BC)

📌 Question

Q.17) With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs:

Territorial Region	River flowing in the region
I. Asmaka	Godavari
II. Kamboja	Vipas
III. Avanti	Mahanadi
IV. Kosala	Sarayu

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

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✅ Correct Answer: (b)

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This question tests Mahajanapada geography, especially the river–region association, a classic UPSC area requiring map-based elimination.

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🔍 Key Concept: Mahajanapadas and River Geography

• Between 600–322 BC, India witnessed the rise of 16 Mahajanapadas
• Rivers played a crucial role in:

• Settlement patterns
• Agriculture
• Trade and political power

UPSC often frames mismatched river–region pairs to test spatial clarity.

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🔍 Pair-wise Analysis

✅ Pair I: Asmaka – Godavari (Correct)

• Asmaka (Assaka) was the only Mahajanapada located south of the Vindhyas
• Situated on the banks of the Godavari River
• Capital often identified as Potana / Pratisthana

➡️ Pair I is correctly matched.

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❌ Pair II: Kamboja – Vipas (Incorrect)

• Kamboja was located in the north-western frontier region
• Associated more with Indus system and trans-Hindukush routes

• Vipas (Beas) flows through:

• Punjab region
• Associated with Gandhara, not core Kamboja territory

➡️ Pair II is not correctly matched.

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❌ Pair III: Avanti – Mahanadi (Incorrect)

• Avanti was located in Malwa region
• Capital: Ujjain
• Major rivers associated:

• Shipra
• Narmada basin influence

• Mahanadi flows through:

• Chhattisgarh
• Odisha

➡️ Pair III is not correctly matched.

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✅ Pair IV: Kosala – Sarayu (Correct)

• Kosala lay in the Awadh region
• Capital cities:

• Ayodhya
• Sravasti

• River Sarayu flows through Ayodhya and Kosala region

➡️ Pair IV is correctly matched.

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🧮 Logical Counting (UPSC Style)

• Correct pairs: I and IV
• Incorrect pairs: II and III

➡️ Total correct = 2

➡️ Correct option: (b) Only two

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🎯 Final Answer

✅ Correct Answer: (b)

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📦 Info Box — Extra Points (Prelims Value Add)

• Asmaka:

• Southernmost Mahajanapada
• Important bridge between Deccan and northern India

• Kosala:

• Closely associated with Ramayana tradition
• Politically powerful during early historic period

• Avanti:

• One of the most urbanised Mahajanapadas
• Ujjain later became a major astronomical centre

• UPSC Trap Tip:

• Punjab rivers (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) are often wrongly paired with non-Punjab Mahajanapadas

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📍 GS Mapping

GS Paper I
Subject: Ancient History
Theme: Mahajanapadas — Political Geography
Nature: Map-based + Conceptual

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