Prehistory & Indus Valley (Ancient & Medieval History).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1 History; Mains GS1 (culture)
Indus Valley Civilisation for UPSC: phases, major sites and finds, town planning, trade, seals, religion, script, decline theories and real Prelims PYQs.
A pollen study by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences links the shrinking of the Harappan Civilization to a weak Indian Summer Monsoon between about 5100 and 4000 years before present, the Science Ministry said on 29 July 2026. Sediments from Deoria Tal in the Garhwal Himalaya show an abrupt dry spell, the "4.2 ka event".
UPSC angle: Prelims: IVC decline theories.
29 Jul 2026