Question
Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
1
The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595–596).
2
In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.
3
The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.
A1 and 2 only
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3 — All correct
Each Statement — Verified with Sources
1
“The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595–596).”
What are the Mankani plates? A copper-plate charter issued by Taralasvamin in Kalachuri year 346 — which scholars convert to approximately AD 594–596 CE. It was found in Gujarat. The date is written using the decimal place-value system, making it the earliest confirmed epigraphic (inscription) use of this numeral system in India.
Mankani Plates, Gujarat (AD 595–596)
✓ CORRECT
Important nuance: The concept of place-value existed earlier in mathematical texts (Aryabhata’s Aryabhatiya, ~499 CE uses positional notation implicitly). But Mankani is the earliest in inscriptions (epigraphy) — a distinction UPSC is specifically testing. 📚 Source: SuperKalam UPSC 2026 key · Journal of Indian Research (ijarsct.co.in) — “A Study of Decimal Place Value System in Ancient Indian …” · Upinder Singh — History of Ancient India
2
“In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.”
The gap between concept and inscriptions: The decimal place-value system existed in mathematical literature much earlier. But it did not immediately spread to inscriptions. Throughout the 8th and 9th centuries, old Brahmi numerals and new decimal numerals were both used — sometimes in the same inscription.
Ninth Century — General in Inscriptions All Over India
✓ CORRECT
The landmark inscription: The Chaturbhuj Temple inscription, Gwalior (876 CE) — also called the “Temple of Zero” — contains the numeral “270” with a zero symbol, the oldest confirmed zero in Indian epigraphy. By this time (9th century), place-value notation had become the standard practice in inscriptions across India.
Transition point: Around 866 CE, a clear shift from old Brahmi to decimal place-value notation is seen in documents. 📚 Source: Wikipedia — Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior · ijarsct.co.in decimal study · UNESCO Gwalior Fort tentative list 2024 · SuperKalam UPSC 2026 key
3
“The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.”
The 683 CE Southeast Asian evidence: Two inscriptions dated to the 7th century CE are the key:
Sanskrit Inscriptions, Southeast Asia — Seventh Century
✓ CORRECT
1. Sambor Stele K-127 (683 CE) — Cambodia: A Khmer inscription in the Mekong region, deciphered by French archaeologist Georges Cœdès in 1931. It contains the date “605” in Śaka calendar (= 683 CE) using decimal place-value numerals with a zero symbol — possibly the world’s oldest inscribed zero.
2. Kedukan Bukit Stone (683 CE) — Sumatra, Indonesia: An Old Malay inscription of the Srivijaya kingdom, bearing the date “604” in Śaka numerals (= 683 CE). Also uses decimal place-value notation.
These are several centuries earlier than the Gwalior zero (876 CE) in India. Indian cultural influence spread decimal numerals to Southeast Asia through trade, Buddhism and Sanskrit scholarship. 📚 Source: Wikipedia — Khmer inscriptions (“decimal system in numbers first noticed in 7th century”) · MAA Mathematical Treasure — Cambodian Zero · Scientific American — “The Elusive Origin of Zero” · ijarsct.co.in study
Timeline — Place-Value System from India to the World
📅 Key Milestones — Decimal Place-Value System
~499 CE
Aryabhata — Aryabhatiya: First mathematical use of decimal positional notation in a text. No zero symbol yet — uses word “kha” for empty place. Literary evidence only — not epigraphic.
595–596 CE
Mankani Copper Plates — Gujarat: Earliest epigraphic use of place-value in India. Date written as Kalachuri year 346. First use in an inscription (epigraphy).
628 CE
Brahmagupta — Brahmasphutasiddhanta: First to formally define zero as a number and give rules for arithmetic with zero. Conceptual foundation solidified.
683 CE
Cambodia (K-127) + Sumatra (Kedukan Bukit): Earliest place-value inscriptions in Southeast Asia — 7th century CE. Both use decimal numerals with zero in Sanskrit-influenced inscriptions. Possibly world’s oldest inscribed zeros.
8th–9th c. CE
Transition period — India: Both old Brahmi numerals and new decimal place-value notation used simultaneously. Some documents show the shift happening around 866 CE.
876 CE
Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior (Temple of Zero): Contains the numeral “270” — oldest confirmed zero in Indian epigraphy. By now, 9th century, place-value is general across India in inscriptions.
825 CE
Al-Khwarizmi (Arabia): Writes book describing Indian numerals → they spread to the Islamic world as “Hindu-Arabic numerals” and later to Europe.
~1200 CE
Fibonacci — Europe: Popularises the Indian decimal place-value system in Europe through his Liber Abaci. The system we use globally today — born in India, spread eastward and westward.
Key Facts — Place-Value System
| Parameter | Detail |
| What is Place-Value? | A system where a digit’s value depends on its position — e.g. in “345”, the 3 means 300, not just 3. This is our modern number system. |
| Earliest Epigraphic Use (India) | Mankani Copper Plates, Gujarat — Kalachuri year 346 = AD 594–596 CE |
| Issuer of Mankani Plates | Taralasvamin — a Kalachuri-era chieftain of Gujarat |
| Earliest in SE Asia | 683 CE — Cambodia (K-127 stele) and Sumatra (Kedukan Bukit stone) — both 7th century |
| General in India (inscriptions) | 9th century CE — landmark: Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior (876 CE) contains “270” with zero |
| Gwalior Temple Called | “Temple of Zero” — Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh |
| Earliest Mathematical Use | Aryabhata ~499 CE (Aryabhatiya) — but in TEXT, not in inscription |
| Zero formally defined | Brahmagupta, 628 CE — Brahmasphutasiddhanta |
| Spread to Arabia | 825 CE — Al-Khwarizmi’s book; “Hindu-Arabic numerals” |
| UPSC Trap in this question | Students doubt Statement 3 (SE Asia in 7th century) thinking it is too early — but the Cambodia + Indonesia inscriptions of 683 CE confirm it is correct |
UPSC Prelims — Has This Topic Been Asked Before?
UPSC Prelims 1995
“Zero was invented by ___?” — Options: Aryabhata / Varahamihira / Bhaskara I / An unknown Indian. Testing the origin of zero concept in ancient India.
Answer: An unknown Indian — zero concept evolved gradually from Vedic shunya
UPSC Prelims (Various)
Questions on Aryabhata’s contributions — decimal system, positional notation, astronomical calculations. Frequently tested as part of ancient Indian science and mathematics.
Answer: Aryabhata (499 CE) — first systematic use of decimal positional system in texts
UPSC Prelims 2026 ← THIS QUESTION
First time UPSC directly tested the epigraphic history of the place-value system — Mankani plates (595 CE), 9th century generalisation, and 7th century Southeast Asian inscriptions. A new specificity level.
Answer: (D) All three — 1, 2 and 3 correct
Pattern Observation
UPSC is increasingly asking questions that link Indian mathematical history to epigraphy and Southeast Asian cultural connections. This question also connects to the broader theme of “India’s contribution to world civilisation” — a recurring UPSC theme.
Prepare: Aryabhata · Brahmagupta · Mankani plates · Gwalior inscription · SE Asia spread
Memory Trick — Never Forget This
🧠 Remember It This Way
Three anchors: 595 · 683 · 876
595 CE = Mankani plates (India, earliest inscription) · 683 CE = Cambodia + Sumatra (SE Asia, 7th century) · 876 CE = Gwalior Temple (India, 9th century, becomes general)
595 CE = Mankani plates (India, earliest inscription) · 683 CE = Cambodia + Sumatra (SE Asia, 7th century) · 876 CE = Gwalior Temple (India, 9th century, becomes general)
Text ≠ Inscription: Aryabhata used place-value in his text (499 CE). But the question asks about epigraphy (inscriptions) — that starts at Mankani (595 CE). Don’t confuse the two.
The UPSC trap: Students doubt Statement 3 thinking “how can Southeast Asia have it in 7th century when India’s Gwalior inscription is 876 CE?” — because Gwalior is the oldest confirmed zero symbol in India. The SE Asian inscriptions (683 CE) are older than Gwalior and came from Indian cultural influence.
Gwalior = “Temple of Zero”: Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, 876 CE. Contains “270” with an actual circular zero symbol — oldest in India. This = 9th century = general use in inscriptions across India.
The global journey: India → SE Asia (7th c.) → Arabia (825 CE, Al-Khwarizmi) → Europe (1200 CE, Fibonacci). The decimal place-value system born in India is the foundation of all modern mathematics.
