The correct answer is:
4. 2 only
Let's analyze each statement:
1. Many craft persons and merchants formed associations known as shrenis which provided training and procurement of raw material.
- This statement is correct. Shrenis were associations formed by artisans, craftsmen, and merchants in ancient India. These associations provided training, organized production, and facilitated procurement of raw materials.
2. The Northern black polished ware was a hard wheel, metallic looking ware with a shiny black surface. It was applied on pots to give them a mirror-like shine.
- This statement is incorrect. The Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) was a type of pottery produced in ancient India during the Iron Age (c. 700-200 BCE). It is characterized by its black color and polished surface achieved through a unique firing process, not by any application. It was not metallic looking, nor was it applied to pots to give them a shine.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 4: 2 only