Theme T2 · Heritage, Art & Culture

Vedic society & its legacy in today's society

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What UPSC asks

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

Prepare these

• 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

Answer writing

• 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

Directive words in these PYQs: Do you think (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L1 — Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

All 2 PYQs, newest first

1. GS1202410 marks · 150 wordsGS1-CUL-07-M2024-Q01

   Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.

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2. GS1202315 marks · 250 wordsGS1-CUL-07-M2023-Q11

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

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