Mahajanapadas and Rivers flowing through them: UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 PYQ Solved

With reference to ancient India (600–322 BCE), 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?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

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🧩 Step-by-Step Analysis of Mahajanapadas and their rivers

Pair I – Asmaka : Godavari ✅ Correct

• Asmaka (or Assaka) was one of the Sixteen Mahajanapadas.
• It was the only Mahajanapada located south of the Vindhyas, in modern-day Maharashtra near Nanded.
• The kingdom lay between the Godavari and Manjira rivers.
• Its capital was Potana/Podana (modern Bodhan).
• Buddhist texts (like the Anguttara Nikaya and Jatakas) place Assaka on the banks of the Godavari.

✅ Hence, Pair I is correctly matched.

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Pair II – Kamboja : Vipas ❌ Incorrect

• Kamboja was located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent.
• It roughly corresponds to Rajaori and Hazara districts (in present-day Pakistan) and parts of Afghanistan.
• Ancient texts associate Kamboja with the Vitasta (Jhelum) River, not with the Vipas (Beas).
• The Vipas flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, much further east than the Kamboja region.

❌ Hence, Pair II is not correctly matched.

Pair III – Avanti : Mahanadi ❌ Incorrect

• Avanti was situated in West-Central India, corresponding to the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.
• It had two capitals:
  • Ujjayini (Ujjain) in the north
  • Mahishmati (Mandhata) in the south.
• Major rivers associated with Avanti were Shipra (Sipra) and Narmada, not Mahanadi.
• The Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, far east of the Avanti region.

❌ Hence, Pair III is not correctly matched.

Pair IV – Kosala : Sarayu ✅ Correct

• Kosala was located in the Awadh region of present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• Its capital cities were Ayodhya and Sravasti.
• The Sarayu River flows through this region and passes by Ayodhya.
• The kingdom also included Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
• It was bounded by:
  • Sadanira (Gandak) on the east,
  • Gomati on the west,
  • Sai (Sarpika/Syandika) on the south, and
  • Nepal hills on the north.

✅ Hence, Pair IV is correctly matched.

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🧾 Summary Table

✅ Final Answer:

(b) Only two

Correct pairs: I and IV

💡 Exam Connect (UPSC Pointers) on Mahajanapadas

• Asmaka was the only Mahajanapada located south of the Vindhyas, making it unique among the sixteen.
• Kamboja is often grouped with Gandhara, as both were northwestern kingdoms with strong Iranian and Central Asian influence.
• Avanti later became part of Magadha under Shishunaga dynasty.
• Kosala and Magadha were major powers during the Buddha’s time, with frequent conflicts recorded in Pali texts.

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Mahajanapadas: Capitals and River Flowing through them

⚙️ Bonus UPSC Question on Mahajanapadas

Q. Which one of the following Mahajanapadas was situated south of the Vindhyas?
(a) Avanti
(b) Asmaka
(c) Kosala
(d) Kamboja

✅ Answer: (b) Asmaka

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Sources

Map of Mahajanapadas

• R. S. Sharma, Ancient India
• Buddhist and Jaina texts (Jatakas)
• Poonam Dalal Dahiya, Unit 13, Mahajanapadas of the Indo-Gangetic Plain

About The Author

Varun Jain

Varun Jain is an Assistant Professor of Political Science with a strong academic background, holding both a B.A. and an M.A. in Political Science. Alongside his teaching career, he has appeared in the UPSC Civil Services Examination and cleared the Mains stage three times, with Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) as his optional subject. This unique blend of academic expertise and UPSC experience makes him fluent in the subject matter as well as exam-oriented preparation. He now shares his insights by providing high-quality model answers in UPSC PSIR, helping aspirants strengthen their conceptual clarity and answer-writing skills.

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