What characterized Indus Valley urban planning?

• A. Nomadic camps without planning.
• B. Rural villages with scattered huts.
• C. Advanced grid layouts, drainage systems, standardized bricks.
• D. Pyramids and monolithic temples.

Answer: (C)

Indus Valley urban planning is characterized by organized, grid-like layouts and advanced infrastructure. Cities such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were laid out on straight streets that form a grid, with uniform block sizes showing deliberate planning rather than haphazard growth. They also feature sophisticated drainage systems—covered gutters and drains running along streets and connecting to larger sewers—demonstrating a strong emphasis on sanitation. Buildings used standardized fired bricks of a uniform size, which reflects coordinated construction and production standards across the city. This combination of regular street grids, extensive drainage, and standardized bricks showcases the distinctive, planned urban design of the Indus Valley, unlike nomadic camps, irregular rural huts, or pyramid-style monuments found in other civilizations.