Science and Technology in Ancient India
Scientific Progress in Ancient India | UPSC CSE
Statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct. Ancient Indians used surgical instruments by the 1st century AD, knew sine values by the 5th century, and understood cyclic quadrilaterals by the 7th century.
Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2012
Evidence Source
Link ↗With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct?
1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by 1st century AD.
2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of 3rd century AD.
3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.
4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Ancient Indian scholars made significant contributions to medicine (Ayurveda) and mathematics, often preceding similar discoveries in the West by several centuries.
Authentic Source Evidence
Sushruta Samhita describes over 120 surgical instruments. Aryabhatiya (5th c) contains trigonometric tables, and Brahmagupta (7th c) defined properties of cyclic quadrilaterals.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What is the 'Brahmagupta formula' in geometry?"
It provides the area of a cyclic quadrilateral given its four sides, a pioneering achievement in mathematics.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"While ancient Indians pioneered external surgeries and complex mathematics, it is important to avoid over-crediting them with modern technologies like internal organ transplants."
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