OPSC OAS 2023 PrelimsOdisha SpecificQuestion 1
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2023 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
One of the earliest mentions of Bharat_varsha is in
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (C) The Hathigumpha inscription
The Hathigumpha Inscription of King Kharavela of Kalinga (1st century BCE) is one of the earliest epigraphic mentions of the term "Bharatavarsha" in an Indian context.
About Hathigumpha Inscription
- Location: Udayagiri Hills, near Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Carved by: King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty
- Script: Brahmi
- Language: Prakrit
- Contains 17 lines describing Kharavela’s military conquests and achievements
- One of the most important non-Ashokan inscriptions of ancient India
Why other options are wrong
| Option | Reason |
|---|---|
| (A) Ptolemy | Greek geographer — used terms like "India" not Bharatavarsha |
| (B) Fa Hien | Chinese Buddhist pilgrim (5th century CE) — much later, used Chinese terminology |
| (D) Ajanta Caves | Buddhist art site — no specific mention of Bharatavarsha |
