UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper I · Q29 of 99 History hard

With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

  1. (a) measurement of land ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) coins of different monetary value
  3. (c) classification of urban land
  4. (d) religious rituals

Why the answer is (a)

• Kulyavapa and dronavapa are units of land measurement found in Gupta-period copper-plate inscriptions from Bengal — option (a).

• They denote the area that could be sown with one kulya or one drona of seed (a kulyavapa = 8 dronavapas; also adhavapa and pataka).

• Such land grants (e.g. Damodarpur plates) record sales of waste land to donors for religious endowments.

• They are not coins (b), urban classifications (c) or rituals (d).

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) coins of different monetary value
They are land units, not coins.
(c) classification of urban land
They measured rural agricultural land, not urban classes.
(d) religious rituals
They are not religious rituals.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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