With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs: Territorial Region River flowing in the region I. Asmaka : Godavari II. Kamboja : Vipas III. Avanti : Mahanadi IV. Kosala : Sarayu How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. Only three
4. D. All the four

Answer: B

Explanation

Pair I: Asmaka was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, uniquely located in South India on the banks of the Godavari river. This pair is correctly matched. Pair II: Kamboja was situated in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Vipas river (modern Beas) flows through the Punjab region. While both are in the broader northwest, Kamboja’s core was generally further west than the main course of the Vipas. This pair is not correctly matched. Pair III: Avanti was located in West-Central India, with its capital Ujjain in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The Mahanadi river flows through Central and Eastern India (Chhattisgarh and Odisha). This pair is not correctly matched. Pair IV: Kosala was located in the Awadh region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, and the Sarayu river flows through this region, notably past Ayodhya. This pair is correctly matched. Therefore, only two pairs (Asmaka: Godavari and Kosala: Sarayu) are correctly matched. Knowledge of ancient Indian geography, including Mahajanapadas and associated rivers, is fundamental for UPSC Ancient History.