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Q88 (IAS/2016) History & Culture › Medieval India › Medieval Indian economy Official Key

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

In Sanskrit, the word Araghatta has been used in the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel.[2] The Persian Wheel is a traditional waterwheel mechanism used for irrigation purposes, consisting of a large wheel with buckets or pots attached to its rim. When operated (usually by animals), the wheel rotates and lifts water from a well or water source, pouring it into irrigation channels to water agricultural fields. This device was an important technological innovation in medieval Indian agriculture, enabling farmers to irrigate their lands more efficiently, particularly in regions where groundwater needed to be lifted for cultivation.

Option A (bonded labour) is incorrect as this concept was referred to by different terms in medieval economic vocabulary. Option B (land grants to military officers) relates to the iqta or jagir system. Option D (wasteland converted to cultivated land) does not correspond to the term Araghatta, which specifically denotes an irrigation device rather than a type of land classification.

Sources
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to [A] bonded labour [B] land grants made to mili…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10

This is a classic 'Terminologies in History' question. While the skeleton flags it as web-sourced, this is actually a static fact found in standard Old NCERTs (Satish Chandra) under chapters on 'Economic Life'. It tests the history of technology, specifically irrigation.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In the economic history of medieval India, what did the term "Araghatta" refer to?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In Sanskrit the word Araghatta has been used in the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the Sanskrit term 'Araghatta' was used to describe the Persian Wheel.
  • Explains etymology ('ara' = spoke, 'ghatta' = pot) and its use for lifting water from open wells.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In Sanskrit the word Araghatta has been used in the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel."
Why this source?
  • Repeats that 'Araghatta' describes the Persian Wheel and gives the same etymological explanation.
  • Links the device to use in Persia and India, explaining why it is called the Persian wheel.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > People's Lives > p. 55
Strength: 4/5
“Despite shifting political powers between the 13th and 17th centuries, India witnessed vibrant economic activity, thanks to its agrarian foundations, thriving artisanal industries, community-based and temple-based economies, and extensive trade networks. Building on decentralised economic and social systems — such as śhreṇis (guilds), jātis (professionally defined communities), and systems for credit — the Subcontinent remained one of the wealthiest regions in the world. The Sultanate period saw some progress in infrastructural works, especially roads in north India, bridges, a few canals and other irrigation works, apart from the creation of new cities, all of which expanded considerably during the Mughal period.”
Why relevant

Mentions thriving artisanal industries, guilds (śhreṇis) and community-based economic organization — showing that specialized technical and institutional terms appear in medieval economic contexts.

How to extend

A student could check works on medieval artisanal production and guild records to see if 'Araghatta' is a technical term for a craft tool, workshop type, or organization.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT > p. 66
Strength: 4/5
“During the Mughal period, the economy was village-based, though under Muslim rule for over 500 years, the society continued to be organised according to Hindu traditions. Caste system was intact. The social disparity often added another dimension to economic exploitation. While the Jajmani System ensured social security, the caste system ensured social immobility. During the medieval period of Indian history, there is historical evidence to indicate that there were food surplus and deficit regions, as trade in food-grains between regions took place. Indian village was highly segmented both socially and economically. There was significant inequality in distribution of farm land.”
Why relevant

Notes infrastructural works in the Sultanate and Mughal periods, especially canals and irrigation — indicating medieval sources record technical terms for water-related devices and works.

How to extend

Using basic knowledge that many water-powered devices (mills, wheels) were part of irrigation/industry, a student might suspect 'Araghatta' refers to a water or grinding device and then check regional technical vocabularies.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Trade and Urbanization > p. 150
Strength: 3/5
“The establishment of the Delhi Sultanate revived internal trade, stimulated by the insatiable demand for luxury goods by the sultans and nobles. Gold coins, rarely issued in India after the collapse of the Gupta Empire, began to appear once again, indicating the revival of Indian economy. However, there is no evidence of the existence of trade guilds, which had played a crucial role in the economy in the classical age.”
Why relevant

Discusses revival of internal trade and urbanization and references the role (or absence) of guilds in different periods — highlighting that economic vocabulary (names of instruments, institutions) is used in trade/urban studies.

How to extend

A student could consult trade and urbanisation studies (listed references) to locate occurrences of the term 'Araghatta' in merchant or urban contexts to infer its economic function.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > REFERENCE BOOKS > p. 102
Strength: 3/5
“• 1. R.Champakalakshmi, Trade, Ideology and Urbanization in South India 300 BC to 1300, Oxford University Press, 1996 • 2. Kulke Herman (ed), The State in India (1000-1700), Oxford University Press, 1997. • 3. Romila Thapar, A History of India, Vol. I, Penguin, 1980. • 4. Romila Thapar, Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300 (Penguin Paperback), 2003. • 5. Upinder Singh, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Pearson, 2009”
Why relevant

Lists specialist scholarship on trade, ideology and urbanization in South India (e.g., R. Champakalakshmi) where region-specific technical/vernacular economic terms are documented.

How to extend

Knowing these works focus on South India, a student might look there first to see if 'Araghatta' is a South Indian term (e.g., for a mill or workshop) and compare with a map of regional terminology.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC has shifted focus from political chronology to 'History of Everyday Life'. Questions on tools, coinage, trade terms, and revenue systems are now more probable than questions on specific battles.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly available in Old NCERT Medieval India (Satish Chandra) or RS Sharma (Ancient India) in sections discussing agriculture and technology.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The theme of 'Technological Evolution in Agriculture'—specifically how irrigation methods changed from Ancient to Medieval times.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize sibling irrigation terms: *Ghatiyantra* (Pot-garland), *Saqiya* (Persian Wheel with gears), *Charas* (Leather bucket), *Dhenkli* (Lever system), and *Vapi* (Stepwell).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop reading History only for Kings and Wars. Create a dedicated 'Glossary of Terms' for: 1) Taxes (*Vishti*, *Bali*), 2) Land (*Khila*, *Brahmadeya*), and 3) Tools (*Araghatta*).
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Village-based economy and agrarian foundations
💡 The insight

Medieval Indian economic life is described in the references as village-centred with agrarian foundations and regional surpluses/deficits.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask about agrarian structures, rural economy and their continuity/change across periods. Understanding village-based organisation links to land revenue systems, social structure (caste/Jajmani) and economic consequences of political change. Prepare by comparing sources describing village economy in Sultanate and Mughal contexts and practising structured answers on continuity vs change.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT > p. 66
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > People's Lives > p. 55
🔗 Anchor: "In the economic history of medieval India, what did the term "Araghatta" refer t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Role of guilds (śhreṇis), jātis and community institutions
💡 The insight

References highlight śhreṇis, jātis and systems for credit as key decentralised economic/social institutions in medieval India.

Frequently tested in mains and prelims: guilds and occupational communities explain urban artisanal production, credit mechanisms and social regulation of economy. Master by mapping functions of śhreṇis/jātis, contrasting classical and medieval evidence, and using source-based passages to illustrate answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > People's Lives > p. 55
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Trade and Urbanization > p. 150
🔗 Anchor: "In the economic history of medieval India, what did the term "Araghatta" refer t..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Revival of trade and coinage under Sultanate/Mughal periods
💡 The insight

Evidence points to revived internal trade, increased demand for luxury goods, and reappearance of gold coins during the Sultanate, with infrastructural works expanding under the Mughals.

Important for questions on economic revival, monetisation and urbanisation in medieval India. It connects economic policy, state demand, and commercial networks. Study by linking numismatic evidence, trade patterns and state patronage; practise essays and source-based answers on trade/monetary developments.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Trade and Urbanization > p. 150
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > People's Lives > p. 55
🔗 Anchor: "In the economic history of medieval India, what did the term "Araghatta" refer t..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Pin-Drum Gearing' mechanism. While 'Araghatta' (pot-garland) existed in ancient India, the true 'Persian Wheel' (Saqiya) with a gear system was introduced by the Turks. A future question may ask to distinguish between the two based on the gearing mechanism.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Etymology Hack: Break the word. 'Ara' = Spoke (like in Ashoka Chakra), 'Ghatta' = Pot (Ghat). 'Spoke-Pot' implies a mechanical device with pots attached to a wheel. Options A (Labor), B (Grant), and D (Land) are abstract concepts, whereas C is a physical device matching the name.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-1 (Geography/Society): The introduction of the Persian Wheel increased water-lifting efficiency by 6x, allowing agriculture to expand into the semi-arid Punjab/Haryana regions. This fueled the rise of the Jat peasantry—a direct link between Technology, Geography, and Social Mobility.

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