UPSC Mains 2025 · GS IV · Q4(b) · 10 marks · 150 words

What are the major teachings of Mahavir ? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

हिन्दी में

महावीर की प्रमुख शिक्षाएँ क्या हैं ? समकालीन विश्व में उनकी प्रासंगिकता स्पष्ट कीजिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What teachings of Mahavira are most relevant today and why? Discuss.”

Gaurav KumarAIR 34 · CSE 2017 · 139 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Mahavira was the last 'tirthankar', who attained 'Kaivalya', & controlled his life's inner constraints.

Body · points

Teachings

  1. Anekantvad: various perspectives are true of an object, process. So relevant as tolerance as virtue.

  2. Aparigraha: Non accumulation will leave enough for everyone's need. Relevance: Carbon budget (paris principle)

  3. Maitreyi: fraternity for cohesive social capital & peace dividend

  4. Brahmacharya: to reduce profanity, voyeurism & gender based violence relevance: ~90 rapes/day (NCRB)

(6) Extreme penance for kaivalya: so today we can go for extreme hard work, scientific pursuit, rational thinking

(7) Simple living, austere measures to fight against ritualism of Brahmanism

(8) Biocentrism: every living being has Atma so no harm relevance: save our glaciers, wetlands etc

(9) Non stealing, non lying: value

Close

education to reduce corruption in governance (embezzlement of money)

He is very relevant today Kaivalya is everyones dream

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper IV, Q4(b). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.