Q1(a). Evaluate the Indus Valley Civilization in the light of town planning, social and economic development.

“The Indus Valley was not merely a civilisation, it was an IDEA of urban excellence.” - Mortimer Wheeler

The Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) represents South Asia’s earliest urban revolution. Excavations at Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi (Haryana) highlight remarkable achievements in planning, social organisation, craft production and trade.

Town Planning: A Hallmark of IVC

• Grid Pattern: Streets intersected at right angles; cities were divided into citadel and lower town.
• Advanced Drainage System: Covered drains with inspection holes indicate strong municipal governance; Mohenjo-daro’s drainage is cited by UNESCO as the most sophisticated of ancient world.
• Standardised Bricks: Use of ratio 1:2:4 shows centralised control.
• Water Management: Dholavira’s reservoirs, step-wells and rainwater harvesting show hydraulic engineering.
• Largest Site–Rakhigarhi (Haryana): Reveals elaborate planning, streets and craft zones.

Social Development

• Social Equality: Uniform housing materials and absence of ostentatious palaces suggest a relatively egalitarian society.
• Organised Administration: Standardised weights & measures (16-based system) show strong central authority.
• Cultural Practices: Seals, terracotta figurines, and evidence of proto-Shiva worship indicate rich cultural life.

Economic Development

• Agriculture: Wheat, barley, peas; evidence of rice at Lothal and millets at Rakhigarhi.
• Craft Specialisation: Bead-making (Chanhudaro), metallurgy, pottery, shell-work demonstrate skilled artisanship.
• Long-distance Trade: Mesopotamian texts refer to Meluha (IVC). Dockyard at Lothal shows maritime commerce.

Town planning, efficient governance, diversified crafts, and global trade make IVC one of the world’s earliest and most advanced urban civilisations.