UPSC CSE Prelims
Buddhism Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Buddhism with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical - Person Known as
- Aryadeva - Jaina scholar
- Dignaga - Buddhist scholar
- Nathamuni - Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Only two pairs
This question tests knowledge of historical Indian scholars and their philosophical traditions. Out of the three pairs given, two are correctly matched while one is incorrect.
❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Aryadeva was a Buddhist philosopher and Madhyamaka scholar, not a Jaina scholar. He was a disciple of Nagarjuna and associated with Nalanda monastery.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Dignaga was indeed a Buddhist scholar renowned for his pioneering work in Buddhist logic (Pramana) and epistemology, influencing later philosophers like Dharmakirti.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Nathamuni was a Vaishnava scholar who revived the Sri Vaishnava tradition and compiled the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of Tamil devotional hymns.
📝 Short Notes: Major Indian Philosophical Scholars
| Scholar | Tradition | Time Period | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aryadeva | Buddhist (Madhyamaka) | 2nd-3rd century CE | Disciple of Nagarjuna; wrote Catuhsataka (Four Hundred Verses); propagated Sunyavada |
| Dignaga | Buddhist (Yogacara) | 5th-6th century CE | Founder of Buddhist logic; wrote Pramanasamuccaya; established Pramana theory |
| Nathamuni | Vaishnava (Sri Vaishnava) | 9th-10th century CE | Revived Sri Vaishnava tradition; compiled Divya Prabandham; grandfather of Yamunacharya |
| Dharmakirti | Buddhist | 7th century CE | Developed Dignaga's logic; wrote Pramanavartika |
| Ramanuja | Vaishnava | 11th-12th century CE | Propounded Vishishtadvaita; systematized Sri Vaishnava philosophy |
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- 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?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
This question tests knowledge of Buddhist philosophical schools, not Jainism or theatre. Statement 1 incorrectly identifies Sautrantika and Sammitiya as Jain sects when they were actually Buddhist schools. Statement 2 correctly describes the Sarvastivada doctrine of permanent existence of dharmas across past, present, and future.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Sautrantika and Sammitiya were Buddhist philosophical schools, not Jain sects; Sautrantika emphasized sutras over Abhidharma, while Sammitiya upheld the existence of a self (pudgala).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Sarvastivadins held the doctrine "sarvam asti" (everything exists), believing that dharmas (constituents of phenomena) existed permanently in latent form across all three times rather than being wholly momentary.
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :
- The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
- Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
- 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?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana Buddhism, not Hinayana (Theravada). Hinayana emphasizes the Arhat ideal—one who achieves personal liberation (Nirvana). Mahayana, in contrast, celebrates the Bodhisattva path of compassionate service to all beings.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: A Bodhisattva is a being who has developed enlightenment qualities but is characterized by boundless compassion. They are on the path to full Buddhahood while actively working for the welfare of all sentient beings.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The defining feature of a Bodhisattva is the vow to delay entering final Nirvana until all sentient beings are liberated. This selfless commitment distinguishes the Bodhisattva ideal from the Arhat ideal, making it the cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism.
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Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of Buddha?
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kosala
- Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 (Avanti) – Incorrect: Avanti kingdom (capital Ujjain) had no direct association with Buddha's life; Buddhism spread here later during Mauryan period.
❌ Statement 2 (Gandhara) – Incorrect: Gandhara became a Buddhist art centre under Kushanas (1st-2nd century CE), centuries after Buddha's time; no connection to his life events.
✅ Statement 3 (Kosala) – Correct: Kosala kingdom included Kapilavastu (Buddha's birthplace, though Lumbini technically in Shakya territory) and Sravasti where Buddha spent many rainy seasons (vassas) teaching.
✅ Statement 4 (Magadha) – Correct: Magadha was central to Buddha's ministry; he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave first sermon at Sarnath (near Magadha), spent years in Rajgriha under King Bimbisara's patronage, and attained Parinirvana at Kushinagar.
Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
Detailed Explanation:
Nirvana in Buddhism literally means "blowing out" or "extinguishing", referring to the extinction of the flame of desire (trishna), hatred, and ignorance.
It represents the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the end of the cycle of rebirth (samsara), achieved when all cravings and attachments are eliminated, not the annihilation of self or a mere blissful state.
With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism?
- Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment
- Indifference to the authority of the Vedas
- Denial of the efficacy of rituals
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Buddhism advocated the Middle Path (Madhyama Marga) avoiding extremes of luxury and penance, but Jainism emphasized extreme asceticism and severe penance for spiritual liberation.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Both Buddhism and Jainism rejected the authority of the Vedas and did not consider them as ultimate religious texts, marking them as heterodox (Nastika) traditions.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Both traditions denied the efficacy of Vedic rituals and sacrifices (yajnas), emphasizing instead personal ethical conduct, right knowledge, and mental discipline for attaining liberation.
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