What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian society?

Theme

T2 Vedic society & its legacy in today's society

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions trace change from Rig Vedic to Later Vedic society and economy, and ask which Vedic features still live on in Indian society.

What to cover

• Rig Vedic vs Later Vedic: pastoral to agrarian, tribe to territorial state, varna hardening, position of women
• Vedic religion: nature gods, yajna, rise of ritualism and Upanishadic reaction
• Surviving features: rituals, varna/caste, gotra, sanskaras, family structure

Writing the answer

• A two-column comparison (Rig vs Later Vedic) works well in 150 words
• For 'still prevailing' questions, give the feature, then a present example, then how it has changed

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 2 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.