📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-I | Q.72 | Classroom Explanation

(Art & Culture | Indus Valley Civilization)

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📌 Question

Q.72)
The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of:

(a) carnelian
(b) clay
(c) bronze
(d) gold

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✅ Correct Answer: (c) bronze

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This question tests material culture + metallurgical knowledge of the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization, a core static area with high repeat value.

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🔍 Artifact Overview: Dancing Girl

• The Dancing Girl is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• It dates to c. 2500 BCE.
• Height: ~10.5 cm (about 4 inches).
• Posture: One hand on hip, other arm relaxed and adorned with bangles, conveying confidence and realism.

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🔍 Material & Technique

✅ Material: Bronze

• The figurine is made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin.
• It was created using the lost-wax casting technique (cire perdue).

➡️ This demonstrates:

• Advanced metallurgical knowledge
• Sophisticated casting skills
• Non-utilitarian use of metals for artistic expression

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❌ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

• Carnelian ❌
  • Used mainly for beads and ornaments, not figurines.
• Clay ❌
  • Terracotta was common, but this figurine is metallic, not terracotta.
• Gold ❌
  • Gold ornaments existed, but gold figurines are absent in Harappan art.

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🧮 Logical Elimination (UPSC Style)

Option	Material	Correct?
(a)	Carnelian	❌
(b)	Clay	❌
(c)	Bronze	✅
(d)	Gold	❌

➡️ Correct option: (c)

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🔑 High-Value Add-On Points (Exam Gold)

🔹 1. Lost-Wax Technique (Very Important)

The Dancing Girl is the earliest known example of lost-wax bronze casting in South Asia.

UPSC often links:

• Harappans → Metallurgy → Bronze Age

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🔹 2. Comparison Trap (UPSC Favourite)

Feature	Dancing Girl	Priest-King
Material	Bronze	Steatite
Nature	Secular / artistic	Possibly ritual
Technique	Lost-wax casting	Carving

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🔹 3. Cultural Insight (1-liner Ready)

The figurine reflects urban leisure, aesthetic sense, and bodily confidence, indicating a non-rigid social outlook.

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🔹 4. What It Is Not

• ❌ Not a goddess idol
• ❌ Not ritualistic
• ❌ Not terracotta

This rules out common misconceptions.

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🔹 5. UPSC Trend Alert 🚨

UPSC increasingly asks:

• Material → Technique → Cultural meaning (not just identification)

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📍 GS Mapping

• GS Paper I
• Ancient Indian History
• Indus Valley Art & Culture

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🎯 Final Exam Lock

Dancing Girl = Bronze + Lost-Wax + Harappan Artistic Sophistication

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