Q. The irrigation device called ‘Araghatta’ was
(a) a water bag made of leather pulled over a pulley
(b) a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes
(c) a larger earthen pot driven by bullocks
(d) a large water bucket pulled up by rope directly by hand
Correct Answer: (b) a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes
UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper's Solution
Explanation :
The irrigation device called ‘Araghatta’ was a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes. Also known as a Persian wheel, it was a mechanical device primarily used for lifting water from open wells for irrigation. The term ‘ara-ghatta’ is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘ara’ (spoke) and ‘ghatta’ (pot), which describes its structure. This device was typically operated by draught animals such as bullocks, buffaloes, or camel.
