History 2023 Paper I 50 marks 30 words Compulsory Write short notes

Q1

Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim: (i) Neolithic site (ii) Site of Mother and Child Terracotta Figure (iii) Hoard of Gupta Coin (iv) Site of Botanical remains (v) Harappan site with mud-brick platform (vi) Mauryan reservoir site (vii) Capital of Maitraka dynasty (viii) Dockyard (ix) Rock shelter (x) Stone axe factory (xi) Satavahana inscription site (xii) Minor rock inscription of Asoka (xiii) Buddhist Stupa (xiv) Mesolithic site (xv) Iron smelting workshop (xvi) Megalithic site (xvii) Temple site dedicated to Surya (xviii) Roman factory site (xix) Site of Muvar Koil (Temple of Three) (xx) Megalith stone site

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आपको दिए गए मानचित्र पर अंकित निम्नलिखित स्थानों की पहचान कीजिए एवं अपनी प्रश्न-सह-उत्तर पुस्तिका में उनमें से प्रत्येक पर लगभग 30 शब्दों की संक्षिप्ट टिप्पणी लिखिए। मानचित्र पर अंकित प्रत्येक स्थान के लिए स्थान-निर्धारण संकेत क्रमानुसार नीचे दिए गए हैं: (i) नवपाषाणकालीन स्थल (ii) माँ और शिशु की मूर्ति का स्थल (iii) गुप्त मुद्रा निधि (iv) वानस्पतिक अवशेष स्थल (v) मिट्टी की ईंटों से बने प्लेटफार्म वाला हड़प्पा स्थल (vi) मौर्य तड़ाग स्थल (vii) मैत्रक वंश की राजधानी (viii) गोदीबाड़ा (ix) शैलाश्रय (x) पत्थर की कुल्हाड़ी का कारखाना (xi) सातवाहन अभिलेख स्थल (xii) अशोक का लघु शिलालेख (xiii) बौद्ध स्तूप (xiv) मध्यपाषाणकालीन स्थल (xv) लोहा गलाने की कार्यशाला (xvi) महापाषाणयुगीन स्थल (xvii) सूर्य को समर्पित मंदिर स्थल (xviii) रोमन कारखाना स्थल (xix) मुवर कोइल (तीन मंदिर) स्थल (xx) महापाषाण लौह स्थल

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Directive word: Write short notes

This question asks you to write short notes. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'write short notes' demands precise identification followed by 30-word factual descriptions for each of the 20 map locations. Allocate approximately 1.5 minutes per sub-part (30 minutes total), spending roughly 10-12 words on correct site identification and 18-20 words on specific significance, avoiding elaboration. No introduction or conclusion is required; present as serially numbered points matching the question format.

Key points expected

Correct identification of Neolithic site (e.g., Burzahom, Chirand, or Koldihawa) with period and geographical context
Site of Mother and Child Terracotta Figure (e.g., Mohenjodaro) linked to Harappan craftsmanship and artistic tradition
Hoard of Gupta Coin (e.g., Bayana hoard) with ruler attribution and economic significance of gold coinage
Site of Botanical remains (e.g., Surkotada rice, Atranjikhera rice) indicating agricultural diversification
Harappan site with mud-brick platform (e.g., Kalibangan fire altars, Banawali) showing ritual architecture
Mauryan reservoir site (e.g., Sudarshana lake, Girnar) demonstrating state-sponsored water management
Capital of Maitraka dynasty (Vallabhi/Vallabhipur) with cultural and educational significance
Dockyard (Lothal) with evidence of maritime trade and hydraulic engineering

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Chronology accuracy	20%	10	Assigns correct chronological periods to all 20 sites (e.g., Mesolithic 10,000-4000 BCE, Mauryan 322-185 BCE, Gupta 320-550 CE) without anachronistic errors; for (i) correctly dates Neolithic to 7000-1000 BCE, for (xiv) distinguishes Mesolithic from Neolithic, for (xvi) and (xx) places Megaliths in Iron Age	Correctly dates 12-15 sites with minor errors (confusing Early Historic with Megalithic, or Harappan with Chalcolithic); vague period references like 'ancient' or 'medieval' for some entries	Fundamental chronological confusion (e.g., placing Mauryan reservoir in Gupta period, treating Neolithic and Mesolithic as synonymous, or assigning Megaliths to Bronze Age); more than 8 sites incorrectly dated
Source & evidence	20%	10	Cites specific excavators or landmark studies for key sites: for (v) mentions A.K. Sharma's Kalibangan excavations, for (viii) S.R. Rao's Lothal work, for (xii) references D.C. Sircar's epigraphic analysis; uses precise evidence like 'Northern Black Polished Ware at (vi)' or 'rice impression at (iv)'	Generic references to 'archaeological evidence' or 'excavations revealed'; mentions 1-2 specific archaeologists correctly but uses broad descriptors like 'potsherds found' or 'coins discovered' without typological specificity	No mention of excavation history, archaeologists, or material evidence; relies on vague statements like 'historians say' or 'it is believed'; confuses archaeological cultures (e.g., attributing PGW to Harappans)
Multi-perspective analysis	20%	10	Demonstrates interconnectedness across sites: for (xv) iron smelting links to (xvi) Megalithic culture's iron tools; for (xviii) Roman factory connects to (viii) dockyard's maritime network; for (xi) Satavahana inscription contextualizes Deccan polity against (vii) Maitraka Gujarat; notes regional variations in similar site types	Treats sites as isolated entries with minimal cross-referencing; occasional recognition of broad patterns (e.g., noting trade importance for both dockyard and Roman factory) but no explicit linkage	Completely compartmentalized treatment; no recognition that (x) stone axe factory and (xv) iron smelting represent technological succession, or that multiple Megalithic sites (xvi, xx) share cultural horizons
Historiographic framing	20%	10	Acknowledges interpretive debates where relevant: for (v) mud-brick platform notes B.B. Lal's fire-cult hypothesis versus alternative ritual interpretations; for (xii) distinguishes minor rock edicts' purpose (border areas, local populations) from major rock edicts; for (xvii) Surya temple references Martand versus Konark typology	Presents archaeological consensus without acknowledging alternative interpretations; standard descriptions without historiographic nuance (e.g., accepts 'dockyard' identification of Lothal without noting R.S. Bisht's critique or alternative warehouse theories)	Outdated or discredited interpretations (e.g., describing Harappan civilization as 'Aryan', attributing Megaliths to 'Dravidian' migration without qualification, or treating all identifications as settled fact); no awareness of scholarly debate
Conclusion & synthesis	20%	10	Despite 30-word constraint, achieves thematic clustering: groups sites by function (economic: iii, viii, xviii; ritual: v, xii, xiii, xvii, xix; technological: x, xv; settlement: i, v, xiv); demonstrates India's diverse ecological zones and adaptive strategies from Neolithic to Early Medieval; implicit regional distribution awareness	Random or serial ordering without thematic organization; some accidental clustering (e.g., Harappan sites together) but no deliberate pattern; misses opportunity to highlight geographical spread or functional diversity	No discernible organizational logic; sites appear in examined order with identical descriptive templates; fails to exploit the map's implicit demonstration of India's archaeological richness across regions and periods

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