Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Social And Political Life Chapter 6

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation from the new NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond takes students back to the Indus-Sarasvatī or Harappan civilisation. Students learn what makes a civilisation, how Harappan cities were planned, how people farmed, traded and made crafts, and what major sites like Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi reveal.

These CBSE important questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 cover town planning and drainage, upper and lower towns, trade and bead-making, agriculture and the plough, the role of rivers, Dholavira's reservoirs, the Great Bath, Harappan seals and the decline of the cities. Every question has a clear answer in simple English for practice and revision.

CBSE Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Q1. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
Harappan cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were planned with wide streets, drainage systems, and fortified areas. Cities were divided into upper and lower towns, showing a well-organised society.
1. Why was town planning important for Harappan cities?
2. How did the drainage system show the Harappans' focus on cleanliness?
3. What does the division into upper and lower towns tell us about Harappan society?

Answer: 1. Town planning made life easier and more organised. Wide streets let people, animals and carts move freely, and the careful layout of homes and public buildings helped everyone live comfortably. It also shows that the Harappans worked together to build their cities thoughtfully.
2. They built covered drains under the streets to carry waste and dirty water away from homes. This prevented pollution, kept the cities clean and shows their concern for hygiene.
3. It shows that Harappan society was well organised and possibly divided by function or status. The upper town (citadel) may have been used for important buildings and ceremonies, while the lower town was for homes and daily activities.

Q2. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Harappans were active traders, exchanging beads, cotton, and ornaments with other regions. They also developed crafts like pottery, metalwork, and bead-making, showing their advanced skills.
1. How did trade help connect the Harappans with other civilisations?
2. Why were crafts like bead-making important in the Harappan civilisation?
3. What can the trade items of the Harappans tell us about their daily life?

Answer: 1. Harappan traders exchanged goods like beads, cotton and ornaments with regions such as Mesopotamia. This built relationships, helped share ideas and made the Harappans part of an early trade network.
2. Bead-making showed the Harappans' skill and creativity. Beads were used for decoration, jewellery and trade, so they were valuable, and their high quality shows a developed culture with skilled artisans.
3. Beads and ornaments show that they valued beauty and creativity. Cotton goods show they were skilled at farming and weaving. Together these items show a hardworking society that valued art and trade.

Q3. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Harappans were skilled farmers. They grew crops like wheat, barley, and cotton, and they used tools like ploughs. They also fished and domesticated animals, which added variety to their diet.
1. How did agriculture support the growth of Harappan cities?
2. What does the use of ploughs tell us about Harappan farming techniques?
3. Why was fishing important for the Harappan diet?

Answer: 1. Farmers grew wheat, barley and cotton, which gave a steady food supply. This allowed people to live in one place and spend time on other work like building cities, trading and making art.
2. Ploughs made it easier to prepare the soil, so farmers could grow more crops. This shows that Harappan farming was advanced and that they used tools to work more efficiently.
3. Fishing added variety and an extra source of protein to their diet. Rivers and water bodies near their cities made fish easy to catch.

Q4. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation, also called the Harappan civilisation, developed around 2600 BCE in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. It is famous for its planned cities, trade, and unique writing system.
1. Why is the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation considered one of the earliest urban civilisations?
2. How did the rivers in this region help the civilisation thrive?
3. Why do we still call this civilisation 'Harappan'?

Answer: 1. It had well-planned cities with straight streets, drainage systems and large public buildings. People built brick houses and organised their communities, showing advanced knowledge of city life.
2. The Indus and Sarasvatī rivers provided water for farming, drinking and daily life. Their floods made the soil fertile for crops like wheat and barley, and the rivers were also used for trade.
3. Harappa was one of the first cities of this civilisation to be discovered by archaeologists. As more cities were found, the name 'Harappan Civilisation' came to stand for the whole culture.

Q5. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society. It includes features like government, cities, trade, writing, art, and agriculture. The Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation had all these features, making it one of the most advanced of its time.
1. Why is government important for the development of a civilisation?
2. How did urban planning in the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation reflect its advancement?
3. Which characteristic of a civilisation do you think is the most important, and why?

Answer: 1. Government organises people and maintains order. It makes rules, ensures safety and takes decisions for the community. In the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation, the government probably planned the cities and managed trade, helping it grow.
2. Its cities had straight streets, drainage systems and separate residential and public areas. This shows that the people were organised, valued cleanliness and cared about the quality of city life.
3. Agriculture is the most important, because it provides food and supports the growth of cities. Without farming, people would struggle to survive and trade or other activities would not develop. Crops like wheat and barley made everything else possible for the Harappans.

Q6. Why is Dholavira's water management system unique?
Assertion (A): Dholavira had large reservoirs for water storage.
Reason (R): Water was scarce in the region, requiring careful harvesting.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
Dholavira's reservoirs were essential for saving water in the dry Rann of Kutch, and they show advanced engineering skills.

Q7. Why were Harappan streets well-planned?
Assertion (A): Harappan streets were wide and aligned to cardinal directions.
Reason (R): They were designed for efficient movement and drainage.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
The streets were planned for organised city life, with wide roads for transport and drains to keep the city clean.

Q8. Why is the 'Great Bath' in Mohenjo-Daro significant?
Assertion (A): The 'Great Bath' was an elaborate tank having waterproofing materials and a drainage system to keep it clean.
Reason (R): Most houses in Mohenjo-Daro lacked private baths and used the 'Great Bath.'
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
Historians still debate whether the Great Bath was used for religious ceremonies or by important people, but it was not a public bathing place, as most homes had their own bathing areas.

Q9. Why are Harappan seals significant?
Assertion (A): Harappan seals were used for religious purposes.
Reason (R): They often show animal figures and writing symbols.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (d) A is wrong, but R is correct.
The seals were mainly used in trade to identify goods. They do show animal figures and script, but their purpose was not mainly religious.

Q10. What caused the decline of the Harappan cities?
Assertion (A): The Harappan cities declined due to invasions.
Reason (R): The Harappans did not have military and weapons.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (d) A is wrong, but R is correct.
The decline is linked to climate change and the drying of the Sarasvatī river, not invasions. There is no evidence of a strong Harappan army.

Q11. Imagine creating a colourful map highlighting the key settlements of the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation. Can you illustrate the locations of Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi on this map? Additionally, could you bring this map to life by detailing some of the most fascinating discoveries and excavations at each of these ancient sites?

Answer: • Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan): place it in the north-western part of the region. Show its grid-planned streets and the Great Granary, along with seals carrying the Indus script and figurines.
• Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan): place it south-west of Harappa, near the Indus river. Highlight the Great Bath, its wells and drains, and the bronze 'Dancing Girl' statuette.
• Dholavira (Gujarat, India): place it in the southern part of the civilisation, in the Rann of Kutch. Show its large water reservoirs, its unique city layout and its Indus script inscriptions.
• Rakhigarhi (Haryana, India): mark it in Haryana. Highlight its large planned settlement with residential and craft areas, its seals, and the fact that it is one of the largest Harappan sites.

Q12. How do modern methods of obtaining water, such as using pipes and taps, compare to the ways the Harappan people used rivers and wells? Identify one similarity and one difference between these two approaches.

Answer: Similarity: both aim to deliver water where it is needed. Modern pipes and taps, and Harappan channels and wells, both provide a reliable water supply for daily use and farming.
Difference: modern systems use advanced technology such as treatment plants, pumps, pipes and taps to distribute water efficiently. The Harappans relied on rivers and wells and built channels to move water, which involved much more manual labour and community-based management.

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