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REET L2 · Social Studies

Indus Valley Civilization — REET Notes (Social Studies)

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The Indus Valley Civilization (the Harappan Civilization) was the Indian subcontinent's oldest urban civilization, and its planned town layouts still astonish us today. REET digs deep into this topic — the distinctive structures of individual archaeological sites, who discovered them, and statement-based true/false questions.

  • 3 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 6 level
  • 10 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: Wikipedia — Sutkagan Dor

How REET asks this topic

REET 2024 matched sites to their distinctive structures (Banawali-Kalibangan-Shortughai-Dholavira), asked who discovered a particular site (Kalibangan — Amalananda Ghosh), and included multi-statement true/false questions, one of which deliberately created confusion over the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India. In other words, preparation here needs to go well beyond the basic 'which site is where' — it needs to cover who discovered it, when, and the fine structural detail specific to each site. This topic appears in the earliest chapters of the Class 6 textbook, so a solid foundation here also matters for understanding the history chapters that follow it.

Basic facts about the civilization

Alternative name
The Harappan Civilization — because Harappa (in Punjab, Pakistan) was the very first site discovered, in 1921, by Dayaram Sahni.
Second major site
Mohenjodaro (in Sindh, Pakistan) — discovered in 1922 by R.D. Banerjee.
Chronology
The mature phase of the Harappan civilization is generally dated to roughly 2600–1900 BCE.
Script
A pictographic script that remains undeciphered to this day — it is found written in the 'boustrophedon' style, alternating between right-to-left and left-to-right.
Seals
Mostly made of steatite (soapstone), engraved with animal figures — of which the 'unicorn' (single-horned animal) motif is by far the most common.
Weights and measures
A standardised system of weights based on multiples of 16, reflecting a degree of uniformity in trade.
Town planning
Cities laid out on a grid pattern, with covered drainage systems and extensive use of baked bricks — a level of urban planning that was without parallel anywhere else in the world at that time.
Metal and tools
Tools and vessels of copper and bronze (copper alloyed with tin) were common; there is no evidence of iron use in this civilization.

Geographic extent of the civilization

In the north
Manda (Jammu and Kashmir)
In the south
Daimabad (Maharashtra)
In the west
Sutkagan Dor (Balochistan, Pakistan)
In the east
Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh)

Major sites and their distinguishing feature

SitePresent-day locationDistinguishing feature
HarappaPunjab (Pakistan)The granary; the first site to be discovered
MohenjodaroSindh (Pakistan)The Great Bath; a large granary
LothalGujaratA dockyard; a bead-making industry
DholaviraGujaratVast water-storage reservoirs; a unique three-tier town division
KalibanganRajasthan (Hanumangarh)Evidence of a ploughed field; fire altars
BanawaliHaryanaA toy/model plough made of clay
ShortughaiAfghanistanRemains of irrigation canals; a trading outpost

REET 2024 asked its match-the-site question — Banawali, Kalibangan, Shortughai, Dholavira — from exactly this table.

Evidence of the Indus Valley in Rajasthan

Kalibangan, in Hanumangarh district, sits on the dried-up bank of the Ghaggar river (identified with the ancient Saraswati), and it is Rajasthan's most important Harappan-era site. It was first reported in 1952 by Amalananda Ghosh, after which B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar carried out detailed excavations here between 1961 and 1969. Evidence of a field ploughed with a plough, along with fire-worship altars, has been found here — features that set Kalibangan apart from other Harappan sites.

Beyond Kalibangan, sites such as Balathal (Udaipur) and Ganeshwar (Sikar) are also significant within Rajasthan. The large quantity of copper tools recovered from Ganeshwar suggests this region was a major centre supplying copper to the Harappan civilization — this is exactly why the culture is also called the 'Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture'.

Society, economy and religion

The Indus Valley Civilization's economy rested on agriculture, animal husbandry, crafts (bead-making, seal-making, cloth weaving) and trade. Evidence from seals and other artefacts points to trading links, by both sea and land routes, with Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). A standardised system of weights and measures, together with well-planned town layouts, suggests some organised authority must have overseen trade and administration — although no clear evidence of a palace or royal building has been found, which is exactly why scholars continue to debate the nature of this civilization's governance.

What we know of its religious life comes mainly from its seals and figurines — evidence points to the worship of a mother-goddess, tree worship, animal worship (especially of the bull), and the depiction of a Pashupati-like deity seated in a yogic posture, which some scholars connect to an early form of Shiva. Burial practices found at Harappa also hint that this civilization held some belief in an afterlife.

A few common points of confusion, clarified

The first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was Alexander Cunningham (from 1861), not John Marshall — Marshall became Director-General only in 1902, and it was during his tenure that the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro was announced to the world, in 1924. A second common point of confusion concerns the word 'Meluhha', found in Mesopotamian texts — this is believed to be the name used for the Indus region, described in those Mesopotamian records as a land of sailors/sea-traders, not as 'a land of the gods'.

How to teach children

Classroom activity (Class 6)

Have students shape a seal-like form out of clay or soap and carve a simple animal figure on it — this gives children a hands-on feel for the concept behind Indus Valley seals.

Teaching aid

Mark Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Lothal, Dholavira and Kalibangan on a map of India to give the civilization's extent a visual form.

Common misconception

Children often assume the Indus Valley script has already been deciphered — whereas it remains undeciphered to this day. Clarifying this helps children understand the difference between established fact and scholarly inference.

Assessment idea

Build a 'match the site to its feature' table and have students pair up Lothal-dockyard, Dholavira-reservoir, Kalibangan-ploughed field, and so on — a quick and effective assessment method, followed usefully by reading the correct answers aloud together as a class.

Memory trick

Build short codes to remember site-feature pairs — 'Mo-Bath' (Mohenjodaro-Great Bath), 'Lo-Dock' (Lothal-Dockyard), 'Dho-Res' (Dholavira-Reservoir), 'Ka-Field' (Kalibangan-Ploughed field). And to remember the geographic extent, rotate through the directions like a compass: 'Manda in the north, Daimabad in the south, Sutkagan Dor in the west, Alamgirpur in the east' — four sites at four compass points.

REET 2024 questions asked (with solutions)

Question 119

Match the List – I with List – II : List – I (Archaeological Site) – List – II (Structure) 1. Banawali – i. Traces of canals 2. Kalibanga – ii. Terracotta models of the plough 3. Shortughai – iii. Ploughed field 4. Dholavira – iv. Use of reservoirs Select the correct answer using the code given below : 1 2 3 4

  1. Ai ii iii iv
  2. Biv iii ii i
  3. Cii iii iv i
  4. Dii iii i iv

Explanation

बनावली (हरियाणा) से मिट्टी के हल का खिलौना/प्रतिरूप मिला है (1-ii)। कालीबंगा (राजस्थान) से जुते हुए खेत के साक्ष्य मिले हैं (2-iii)। शोर्तुघई (अफगानिस्तान) से सिंचाई नहरों के अवशेष मिले हैं (3-i) और धौलावीरा (गुजरात) अपनी जल-प्रबंधन प्रणाली और जलाशयों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है (4-iv)। अतः सही कूट (D) ii, iii, i, iv है।

Question 129

Who was first to report Kalibanga Civilization ?

  1. Aअमलानन्द घोष
  2. Bअक्षयकीर्ति व्यास
  3. Cरतन चन्द्र अग्रवाल
  4. Dविजय कुमार

Explanation

कालीबंगा (हनुमानगढ़, राजस्थान) की सबसे पहले जानकारी/खोज 1952 में अमलानन्द घोष ने दी थी। बाद में 1961-69 के बीच बी.बी. लाल और बी.के. थापर ने यहाँ विस्तृत उत्खनन किया। अतः सही उत्तर अमलानन्द घोष है।

Question 112

Consider the following statements about Indus valley civilization : 1. Harappa was the first site to be discovered in this civilization. 2. The first director of the Archaeological Survey of India was John Marshall. 3. Mesopotamian texts call meluhha the land of the Gods. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. Aकेवल 2
  2. B1, 2, 3
  3. Cकेवल 1
  4. D1, 3

Explanation

कथन 1 सही है: 1921 में दयाराम साहनी द्वारा खोजा गया हड़प्पा इस सभ्यता का सबसे पहले खोजा गया स्थल है, इसीलिए इसे हड़प्पा सभ्यता भी कहते हैं। कथन 2 गलत है: भारतीय पुरातत्व सर्वेक्षण (ASI) के पहले डायरेक्टर जनरल अलेक्ज़ेंडर कनिंघम थे; जॉन मार्शल बाद में (1902 से) महानिदेशक बने। कथन 3 गलत है: मेसोपोटामिया के लेखों में मेलुहा (संभवतः हड़प्पा क्षेत्र) को नाविकों/समुद्री व्यापारियों का देश बताया गया है, देवताओं का देश नहीं। अतः केवल कथन 1 सही है।

Practice questions

Question 1

Why is the Indus Valley Civilization also called the 'Harappan Civilization'?

  1. Aक्योंकि हड़प्पा सबसे बड़ा स्थल है
  2. Bक्योंकि हड़प्पा सबसे पहले खोजा गया स्थल था
  3. Cक्योंकि हड़प्पा राजधानी थी
  4. Dक्योंकि हड़प्पा से लिपि पढ़ी गई

Explanation

Harappa, discovered by Dayaram Sahni in 1921, was this civilization's first-discovered site — this is exactly why archaeologists also call it the 'Harappan Civilization'.

Question 2

The 'Great Bath' at Mohenjodaro is believed to be associated with which purpose?

  1. Aव्यापारिक लेन-देन
  2. Bधार्मिक/सामुदायिक स्नान अनुष्ठान
  3. Cअन्न भण्डारण
  4. Dसैन्य प्रशिक्षण

Explanation

Mohenjodaro's Great Bath, built of baked bricks with a watertight lining, is a large reservoir that scholars believe was connected to a religious or communal bathing ritual, rather than everyday bathing.

Question 3

Which Indus Valley Civilization site is famous for its dockyard?

  1. Aकालीबंगा
  2. Bबनावली
  3. Cलोथल
  4. Dहड़प्पा

Explanation

Lothal, located in Gujarat, is famous for its dockyard, which offers evidence of maritime trade. It is also known for its bead-making industry.

Question 4

Rajasthan's Kalibangan site is situated on the banks of which river?

  1. Aलूनी
  2. Bघग्गर (प्राचीन सरस्वती)
  3. Cबनास
  4. Dचम्बल

Explanation

Kalibangan (Hanumangarh) is located on the dried-up bank of the Ghaggar river, identified with the ancient Saraswati. Evidence of a ploughed field and fire-worship altars has been found here.

Question 5

Which site is considered the eastern-most extent of the Indus Valley Civilization?

  1. Aमांडा
  2. Bदाइमाबाद
  3. Cआलमगीरपुर
  4. Dसुत्कागेनडोर

Explanation

Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) is considered the eastern edge of the Indus Valley Civilization. Manda marks the northern edge, Daimabad the southern edge, and Sutkagan Dor the western edge.

Question 6

Which animal is depicted most frequently on the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization?

  1. Aहाथी
  2. Bबैल
  3. Cएकश्रृंगी पशु (unicorn)
  4. Dबाघ

Explanation

The 'unicorn' (a single-horned animal figure) is by far the most frequently depicted animal on Indus Valley seals, and is this civilization's most distinctive artistic signature.

Question 7

Who was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)?

  1. Aजॉन मार्शल
  2. Bअलेक्ज़ेंडर कनिंघम
  3. Cआर.डी. बनर्जी
  4. Dमॉर्टिमर व्हीलर

Explanation

Alexander Cunningham was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), from 1861. John Marshall became Director-General later, in 1902, and it was during his tenure that the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro was announced to the world.

Question 8

While teaching the Indus Valley Civilization in Class 6, a teacher has children shape a clay disc like a seal and engrave an animal figure on it. What is this activity suited for?

  1. Aकेवल कला अभ्यास के लिए
  2. Bअमूर्त ऐतिहासिक अवधारणा को अनुभव द्वारा समझाने के लिए
  3. Cपरीक्षा से बचने के लिए
  4. Dसमय व्यतीत करने के लिए

Explanation

Hands-on activities turn abstract historical concepts — such as the use of ancient seals — into a concrete experience for children, which makes their understanding deeper and longer-lasting.

Question 9

In which state is Dholavira located, and for what feature is it famous?

  1. Aराजस्थान — जुता हुआ खेत
  2. Bगुजरात — जल-संग्रहण के विशाल जलाशय
  3. Cहरियाणा — मिट्टी का हल
  4. Dपंजाब — अन्न भण्डार

Explanation

Dholavira is located in Gujarat, and is famous for its water-management system and vast reservoirs, as well as its unique three-tier town division.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the Indus Valley Civilization's script is correct?

  1. Aयह लिपि पूरी तरह पढ़ी जा चुकी है
  2. Bयह लिपि संस्कृत भाषा में है
  3. Cयह लिपि आज तक अपठित है
  4. Dयह लिपि ब्राह्मी लिपि से मिलती-जुलती है

Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization's pictographic script remains undeciphered to this day. Because of this, our knowledge of the civilization's language, religion and governance rests mainly on archaeological evidence.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions come from the Indus Valley Civilization in REET?+

REET 2024 carried 3 questions on this topic. As the first, foundational topic in the ancient-India chapters, it is asked in nearly every year's paper.

Why is the Indus Valley Civilization also called the Harappan Civilization?+

Because Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan), discovered in 1921, was this civilization's first-discovered site — archaeologists therefore often refer to it as the 'Harappan Civilization' as well.

Which site in Rajasthan is linked to the Indus Valley Civilization?+

Rajasthan's Kalibangan (Hanumangarh) is the most important Harappan-era site, known for evidence of a ploughed field and fire-worship altars.

Has the Indus Valley script been deciphered?+

No, the Indus Valley's pictographic script remains undeciphered to this day, which is why our knowledge of this civilization's religion and governance rests mainly on archaeological evidence.

What does the word 'Meluhha' mean?+

Meluhha is a name used in the ancient records of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), believed to refer to the Indus region, and described there as a land of sailors/sea-traders.

Which deities did the people of the Indus Valley Civilization worship?+

Evidence from seals and figurines points to the worship of a mother-goddess, tree worship, animal worship (especially the bull), and a Pashupati-like deity seated in a yogic posture, which some scholars connect to an early form of Shiva.

Read next

The Vedic Age

The chapter that follows the Indus Valley Civilization.

The Mahajanapadas

The 16 Mahajanapadas that came after the Vedic Age.

REET Syllabus

The complete REET Level 1 and Level 2 syllabus in one place.

REET 2024 Solved Paper

All of REET 2024's solved questions, by subject.

Official Sources

  1. Wikipedia — Sutkagan Dor

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked