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 ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Why the answer is (b)

• The sixteen mahajanapadas of the sixth century BCE can be located by their rivers.

• Pair I is correct: Asmaka (Assaka), the only southern mahajanapada, lay on the Godavari with its capital at Potana/Paithan.

• Pair IV is correct: Kosala, with its capital Ayodhya (later Shravasti), lay on the Sarayu (Ghaghara).

• Pair II is wrong: Kamboja was in the far north-west (Hindukush–Rajauri region), nowhere near the Vipas (Beas) of Punjab. Pair III is wrong: Avanti in Malwa lay on the Shipra and Narmada, not the Mahanadi, which flows through Odisha.

• Hence only two pairs match, option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Only one: Two pairs (I and IV) are correct, not one.
(c) Only three: Pairs II and III are both wrong, so the count is two.
(d) All the four: Kamboja was not on the Vipas and Avanti was not on the Mahanadi.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.