UPSC Prelims 2022 Q91: Ancient History – Ancient India
Consider the following pairs:
Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts : Location in the State of
1. Dhauli : Odisha
2. Erragudi : Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada : Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi : Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one pair
- (b) Only two pairs
- (c) Only three pairs
- (d) All four pairs
Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Explanation
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict sites
| Site | Given State | Actual State | Matched? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhauli | Odisha | Odisha (near Bhubaneswar) | Yes |
| Erragudi | Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool district) | Yes |
| Jaugada | Madhya Pradesh | Odisha (Ganjam district) | No |
| Kalsi | Karnataka | Uttarakhand (Dehradun district) | No |
Dhauli and Jaugada carry the Separate Kalinga Edicts, which replace Edicts XI-XIII with advice on treating the people of Kalinga.
Answer: (b) Only two pairs.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Both Dhauli (Odisha) and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh) are correct.
- (b) CORRECT. Dhauli and Erragudi match; Jaugada is in Odisha and Kalsi in Uttarakhand.
- (c) Incorrect. Jaugada is in Odisha, not Madhya Pradesh.
- (d) Incorrect. Kalsi is in Uttarakhand, not Karnataka.
Key point
Major Rock Edicts: Dhauli and Jaugada (Odisha, Kalinga edicts), Erragudi (AP), Kalsi (Uttarakhand), Girnar (Gujarat), Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra (Pakistan).
Remember
Dhauli and Jaugada = Odisha; Kalsi = Uttarakhand.
Common mistakes
- Placing Kalsi in Karnataka, confusing it with Karnataka's minor edict sites like Maski.
- Not knowing Jaugada, like Dhauli, is in Odisha and bears the Kalinga edicts.
- Mixing up Major and Minor Rock Edict sites.
Exam tip
Learn the Major Rock Edicts on a map: north-west (Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra), north (Kalsi), west (Girnar, Sopara), east (Dhauli, Jaugada), south (Erragudi).
Sources
- NCERT Class XII — Themes in Indian History I, Ch 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns)
- Archaeological Survey of India — Ashokan Edicts