QUESTION 1
GS1
10 marks
Analyze the importance of Ashokan inscriptions for reconstructing Mauryan history.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Assess why Ashokan inscriptions are unusually valuable primary evidence for Mauryan reconstruction while recognizing their ruler-centric limits.
AnalyzeBreak it into parts, show how the parts connect, and judge which matter most.
Demand-wise check
- 1What inscriptions reveal about political geography, administration, dhamma, communication and imperial reach≈35 words
- 2Why their datable, distributed and multilingual character matters to historians≈35 words
- 3Why inscriptional claims still need corroboration from archaeology and other sources≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Source valueSpecific historical inferencesSpatial/linguistic evidenceLimitations/corroboration
Where marks usually go
- Listing edicts without stating what historians infer from them
- Treating royal proclamations as a complete picture of Mauryan society
Value addition
- India map of inscription zones or source→inference table
→ Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.
Verified value additions
These are verified official-source additions selected for this exact PYQ. Use only the point that strengthens your argument.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.