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Relevance: Indian History & Culture; Science & Technology (Ancient DNA Studies) Source: ASI; AnSI; BSIP, 2026

1 · What happened

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made a fascinating discovery at Rakhigarhi, the largest known city of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. They unearthed eight human burials, including three fully intact skeletons, dating back roughly 5,000 years.
To learn more about who these people were, the ASI is teaming up with top scientists. Skeletons have been sent to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) in Kolkata, while DNA samples went to the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow. Their goal? To use modern DNA science and facial reconstruction to literally put a face to our ancestors.

2 · Why this matters

History isn’t just about finding old clay pots and beads anymore. Indian archaeology is shifting its focus to the people who made them. By combining historical digs with cutting-edge science, three major institutions are working together to tell the human story of Rakhigarhi.

The Science Team
ASI · AnSI · BSIP
ASI handles the digging. AnSI studies the bones to determine age, gender, and diseases, and will reconstruct their faces. BSIP acts as the genetic detective, decoding their ancient DNA (aDNA).
The Big Reveal
A Living Picture
Science will reveal their diet, health, and exactly what they looked like. Soil testing will even show us what their environment—like weather and plants—was like 5,000 years ago.
A Previous Breakthrough
The 2019 Discovery
In 2019, scientists mapped the first ancient genome from Rakhigarhi. It proved that these ancient people developed farming locally, without relying on massive migrations from the West.
The Quiet Damage
A Threat from Farming
Sadly, many graves lie just 15 cm below ground. Years of modern tractor ploughing have accidentally crushed ancient skulls, highlighting the urgent need to protect these historical sites.

  • A Massive City: Rakhigarhi (located in Haryana) spans over 550 hectares. It has now officially surpassed Mohenjo-daro as the largest known Indus Valley site.
  • A Continuous Story: The site offers a rare, unbroken timeline of human history, from early settlements (~4500 BCE) right through the civilization’s mysterious decline.
  • Future Plans: The government has named it one of five “Iconic Sites” to be developed into a world-class museum and tourism destination to share this history with the public.

Student Concept Guide
Rakhigarhi The largest known Indus Valley city, located in modern-day Haryana.
Indus Valley Civilisation One of the world’s earliest urban societies, famous for its incredible city planning and drainage systems.
ASI Archaeological Survey of India—the government body that protects and digs up ancient historical sites.
BSIP Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences—a top lab under the Department of Science & Technology that studies ancient DNA and plants.
Ancient DNA (aDNA) DNA carefully extracted from ancient bones and teeth to tell us who these people were and where they came from.
AMASR Act, 1958 The main law that protects ancient monuments in India, establishing “no-build” buffer zones around them.

Check Your Understanding
Q. With reference to Rakhigarhi and the institutions studying its remains, consider the following statements:

  1. Rakhigarhi, located in Haryana, has overtaken Mohenjo-daro as the largest known site of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
  2. The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Culture.
  3. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 is the statute under which the ASI protects monuments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 is Correct: Rakhigarhi, spanning over 550 hectares in Haryana, is now officially recognized as the largest known Indus Valley settlement.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect (The Trap): BSIP falls under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), not the Ministry of Culture. (The ASI and AnSI are under the Ministry of Culture).
  • Statement 3 is Correct: The AMASR Act of 1958 is the primary law used to protect these ancient historical sites from destruction.
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