1] The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the, teachings of Ramanuja? [2022]
a) The best means of salvation was devotion
b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative
c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss
d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation
Show Answer
Ans: a) The best means of salvation was devotion
2] With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: [2022]
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts?|
a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 and 4 only
3] With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: [2022]
| Historical person | Known as |
| Aryadeva | Jaina Scholar |
| Dignaga | Buddhist Scholar |
| Nathamuni | Vaishnava scholar |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) None of the pairs
b) Only one pair
c) Only two pairs
d) All three pairs
Show Answer
Ans: c) Only two pairs
4] With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2021]
1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3
d) 3 only
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 only
5] With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’? [2020]
a) The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
b) Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
c) Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
d) Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India
Show Answer
Ans: c) Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
6] With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: [2020]
1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism
2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 and 3 only
7] With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: [2020]
1. Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana — Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: b) 1 and 3 only
8] Consider the following: [2019]
1) Deification of the Buddha
2) Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3) Image worship and rituals
Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: d) 1, 2 and 3
9] With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to: [2018]
a) Buddhism
b) Jainism
c) Vaishnavism
d) Shaivism
Show Answer
Ans: b) Jainism
10] With reference to the Indian History, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world? [2018]
a) Avalokiteshvara
b) Lokesvara
c) Maitreya
d) Padmapani
Show Answer
Ans: c) Maitreya
11] With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: [2017]
1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 only
12] With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: [2016]
1) The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism
2) Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment
3) Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 and 3 only
13] With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of who of the following? [2016]
a) Shramana
b) Parivraajaka
c) Agrahaarika
d) Maagadha
Show Answer
Ans: d) Maagadha
14] Consider the following statements: [2014]
1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: d) Neither 1 nor 2
15] Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy? [2014]
a) Mimamsa and Vedanta
b) Nyaya and Vaisheshika
c) Lokayata and Kapalika
d) Sankhya and Yoga
Show Answer
Ans: c) Lokayata and Kapalika
16] With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school? [2013]
1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.
Which of the statements are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 only
17] Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism? [2013]
a) The extinction of the flame of desire
b) The complete annihilation of self
c) A state of Bliss and rest
d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension
Show Answer
Ans: a) The extinction of the flame of desire
18] Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine? [2013]
1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance
2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: d) 1, 2 and 3
We’re in the process of posting all the questions from 1995-2023. The tentative date of completion is 16 Dec 2023. We highly recommend purchasing our UPSC Prelims PYQ Book (2024 Edition) to access all questions in a single PDF.
UPSC Prelims PYQ Book (2024 Edition)
- Last 29 year questions (1995-2023)
- All answers according to UPSC Official Answer Key
- Subject-wise distribution of questions
- Topic-wise classification of each subject PYQs
- Graphs and tables to illustrate subject and topic-wise weightage
- More than 3200 questions across all subjects
- At a price that is affordable for all