Ancient Indian History is a crucial segment of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, covering the evolution of Indian civilization from prehistoric times to the early medieval period. It provides insights into the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural foundations of India. A systematic understanding begins with the prehistoric phase, which includes the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages. During the Paleolithic Age, humans were hunter-gatherers who used crude stone tools. The Mesolithic Age saw microlithic tools and early domestication of animals. The Neolithic Age marked a major transformation with the beginning of agriculture, permanent settlements, pottery, and polished stone tools. Sites such as Mehrgarh indicate early farming communities. The first urban civilization in India was the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE), also known as the Harappan Civilization. Major sites include Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Lothal, and Kalibangan. ...