Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period:I.Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.II.Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells. Which of the following information support/supports the above statements?1.There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.2.Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).3.There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts

1. A

   1 and 2 only

   1 and 2 only claims that statements 1 and 2 support the given propositions. While statement 1 is correct regarding the Rigvedic terminology for drawing water, statement 2 refers to agricultural implements like axes and sickles which do not specifically explain irrigation from wells or draught-animal power used for water lifting, making this option incorrect.

2. B

   1, 2 and 3

   1, 2 and 3 claims all three statements support the propositions. Since statement 2 details general agricultural tools rather than well irrigation or animal-powered water lifting mechanisms, this comprehensive combination is rendered incorrect.

3. C

   1 and 3 only

   1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is supported by Rigvedic references to ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) used for drawing water. Statement 3 is supported by the historical continuity of utilizing oxen for pulling carts and ploughing the land, which aligns with draught-animal power applications. Hence, both statements directly support the given propositions.

4. D

   3 only

   3 only claims that only statement 3 supports the propositions. This ignores statement 1, which provides direct textual evidence from the Rigveda regarding well-irrigation implements like the stone pulley wheel, making this option incomplete and incorrect.

Summary. Official key is (c). The question examines material life and technology in the Rigvedic period, supported by textual evidence of well-irrigation devices like the stone pulley and the continuous use of draught animals for agricultural operations, while excluding unrelated tools like general axes and sickles from the irrigation mechanism proof.