Consider the following statements regarding the origin of the word 'India': 1. It was derived from the river Ganga. 2. The Iranians and Greeks were familiar with the Indus and called it Hindos or Indos. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT Class 6 History — Chapter 1: What, where, how and when?

mcqeasy

Consider the following statements regarding the origin of the word 'India':

It was derived from the river Ganga.
The Iranians and Greeks were familiar with the Indus and called it Hindos or Indos.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (b).

Explanation

The nomenclature of the Indian subcontinent is deeply rooted in its geographical features and historical interactions with neighboring civilizations, particularly regarding the river systems of the northwest.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The word 'India' was derived from the river Indus, not the Ganga. The river Indus is known as Sindhu in Sanskrit. The name 'India' is an etymological evolution resulting from foreign interactions with this specific river system.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Iranians and the Greeks, who arrived through the northwest approximately 2500 years ago, were familiar with the Indus river. Due to linguistic variations, they referred to it as the Hindos or the Indos. Consequently, the land lying to the east of this river came to be known as India.

Key Takeaway: The name 'India' originates from the river Indus (Sindhu), reflecting the geographical terminology used by ancient Iranians and Greeks to designate the land east of the river.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: What, where, how and when?

Consider the following statements regarding the development of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent: 1. The Garo hills to the north-east were one of the areas where agriculture developed. 2. Rice was first grown in the Sulaiman hills. 3. The earliest cities flourished in the Vindhyan region before the Indus valley. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Arrange the following events in chronological order (from earliest to latest): 1. Development of cities on the banks of the Ganga. 2. Beginning of agriculture in Sulaiman and Kirthar hills. 3. Flourishing of earliest cities on the Indus. 4. Composition of the Rigveda. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I | List II A. Sulaiman Hills | 1. First cities (4700 years ago) B. Indus River | 2. Cities about 2500 years ago C. Ganga Valley | 3. Rearing of animals and early crops D. Vindhyas | 4. Agriculture developed

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the shift of urbanization: 1. Urbanization first occurred in the Indus valley. 2. Cities in the Ganga valley developed before those in the Indus valley. 3. The gap between these two phases is less than 500 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

hard

With reference to the earliest human settlements in the Narmada valley, which of the following statements best describes the livelihood of the people?

easy

Keep practising Chapter 1: What, where, how and when?

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

Browse all NCERT Class 6 History chapters

The correct option is (b).

Explanation

Key Takeaway: The name 'India' originates from the river Indus (Sindhu), reflecting the geographical terminology used by ancient Iranians and Greeks to designate the land east of the river.