UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 3 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Vitasta Asikni Parushni Yavyavati
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectAncient History
- TopicVedic Period
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeMatch
Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched?
1. Vitasta : Chenab
2. Asikni : Jhelum
3. Parushni : Ravi
4. Yavyavati : Beas
Select the answer using the code given below:
Show answer
Answer: C. 3 only
Analysis
The Nadistuti Sukta of the Rigveda, the hymn in praise of rivers, mentions rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sutudri (Sutlej), Parushni (Ravi), Asikni (Chenab), Vitasta (Jhelum), Vipasha (Beas), Kubha (Kabul), Suwastu (Swat), Sindhu (Indus) and Drishadvati (Ghaggar).
Only pair 3 is correctly matched, so the answer is Option (c).
Statement by statement
Pair 1 is not correctly matched: Vitasta is the ancient name for the Jhelum river, not the Chenab.
Pair 2 is not correctly matched: Asikni (Askini) is the ancient Vedic name for the Chenab river, not the Jhelum.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Ravi river was known as Parushni in ancient texts such as the Rigveda.
Pair 4 is not correctly matched: The ancient name for the Beas river is Vipasa (Vipasha). Yavyavati refers either to the modern Zhob River in northern Balochistan or to a tributary of the Vedic Saraswati, often linked to the Drishadvati/Chautang river.