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Prehistoric and Harappan India – UPSC GS1

This module of the GS Paper 1: History, Culture, Geography & Society course covers stone ages, chalcolithic cultures and the indus valley civilisation. It has 3 study lessons and a 27-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Stone Age India: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Cultures

Free 7 min

Prehistory is the long period before writing. For India, it stretches from the first stone tools, perhaps over 1.5 million years ago, to the rise of the Harappan cities around 2600 BCE. Because there are…

2. Harappan Civilisation: Sites, Town Planning and Phases

Premium 8 min

The Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation was South Asia's first urban civilisation. It was discovered in 1921 when Daya Ram Sahni excavated Harappa on the Ravi (Punjab, Pakistan). In 1922 R.D. Banerji excavated Mohenjo-daro on…

3. Harappan Economy, Religion, Art and Decline

Premium 7 min

Harappan cities rested on a strong farming base. Farmers grew wheat and barley as main crops, along with peas, lentils, sesame, mustard and dates. Rice remains have been found at Lothal and Rangpur in Gujarat.…

Module quiz: Prehistoric and Harappan India (27 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

An Acheulean hand axe (biface), a typical tool of the Lower Palaeolithic. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · CC0.

Terracotta female figurines from Mehrgarh, Balochistan. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · CC0.

Timeline of Indian prehistory from Lower Palaeolithic hand-axes 1.5 million years ago to mature Harappan cities in 2600 BCE — Learn the order and the defining tool or practice of each stage; exact dates differ between studies.

Map of India marking prehistoric sites: Attirampakkam, Isampur, Hathnora, Bagor, Bhimbetka, Burzahom, Mehrgarh, Koldihwa, Chirand, Utnur, Ahar and Inamgaon, coloured by stage — Sites are spread across river valleys and plateaus; Mehrgarh in Balochistan has the earliest farming evidence in the subcontinent. Locations are approximate.

Table of five Chalcolithic cultures of India with region and key sites — Chalcolithic communities were mainly village farmers using copper alongside stone.

Map of north-west South Asia marking Harappan sites including Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Chanhudaro, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Banawali, Ropar, Alamgirpur, Manda, Lothal, Dholavira, Surkotada, Sutkagen-dor and Daimabad with the Indus and Ghaggar–Hakra rivers — The civilisation spread from Balochistan to western Uttar Pradesh and from Jammu to Maharashtra. River courses are schematic.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Stone Age India: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Cultures; Harappan Civilisation: Sites, Town Planning and Phases; Harappan Economy, Religion, Art and Decline.

Answer: Mehrgarh. Mehrgarh (c. 7000 BCE) shows wheat, barley and domesticated animals.

Answer: Burzahom. Burzahom and Gufkral in Kashmir had pit dwellings.

Answer: Mesolithic. Tiny geometric tools define the Mesolithic.

Answer: Madhya Pradesh. Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh.

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Prehistoric and Harappan India – UPSC GS1

Lessons in this module

1. Stone Age India: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Cultures

2. Harappan Civilisation: Sites, Town Planning and Phases

3. Harappan Economy, Religion, Art and Decline

Maps & infographics in this module

Frequently asked questions

What is covered in Prehistoric and Harappan India for UPSC GS1?

Which site gives the earliest evidence of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent?

Pit dwellings are a characteristic feature of the Neolithic site of:

Microliths are characteristic tools of the:

Bhimbetka rock shelters are located in:

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