Question

UPSC Prelims 2016 Question:

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to

1. bonded labour
2. land grant made to military officers
3. waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
4. wasteland converted to cultivated land

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3: waterwheel used in the irrigation of land

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The term Araghatta originates from the mixture of the words 'ara' denoting spoke and 'ghatta' denoting pot. It refers to a Persian wheel which is a mechanical water lifting device operated usually by draught animals like bullocks, buffaloes or camels. It is used to lift water from water sources typically open wells.
Some historians point to its introduction to the early days of the Delhi Sultanate; others pin it on Babur's entry into India. One of the earliest mentions of the Persian Wheel occurs in Babur's memoirs, the Babur Nama (1526-30).

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Mughal Empire

Latest UPSC Exam 2027 Updates

Last updated on Sep, 2026

→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.

→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026

→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.

→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Tags: factual UPSC Prelims 2016 UPSC Prelims 2016 Question

Abhishek Singh

Abhishek Singh is an SEO Specialist and content strategist with over 4.5 years of experience in driving organic growth across education and service-based industries. He specializes in on-page SEO, technical SEO, content optimization, and data-driven strategies that improve search visibility and organic traffic. His work focuses on creating accurate, well-researched, and search-optimized content that helps students, professionals, and online audiences find reliable information. By combining SEO expertise with a strong understanding of search intent and evolving search technologies, he works to build content that delivers visibility, engagement, and long-term trust.