Which feature best characterizes Indus Valley urban planning?

• A. Nomadic camps without planning.
• B. Advanced grid layouts, drainage systems, standardized bricks.
• C. Pyramids and monolithic temples.
• D. Ritual gardens with limited infrastructure.

Answer: (B)

Indus Valley urban planning is defined by coordinated design and infrastructure that shows deliberate city planning. The hallmark features are grid-like street layouts, advanced drainage systems, and standardized bricks, all of which point to a high level of civic organization and engineering.

A grid layout means streets run at right angles, creating orderly blocks for homes and public spaces rather than haphazard sprawl. This reflects a planning mindset aimed at efficiency and easy navigation. The drainage systems are equally telling: brick-lined drains run along streets, connected to bigger networks that channel waste away from living areas, demonstrating a strong emphasis on sanitation and public works. Standardized bricks across different sites indicate uniform construction methods and quality control, suggesting centralized norms and skilled labor that support large, organized urban centers.

These elements align with what is known from sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, where such planning and infrastructure are well documented. In contrast, nomadic camps lack built-in infrastructure, pyramids and monolithic temples pertain to other civilizations, and ritual gardens with limited infrastructure don’t capture the full scope of urban organization seen in the Indus Valley.