2001 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2001 · General Studies

Question 24: Economy and Social Development

The largest number of Buddhists is found in

aBihar
bKarnataka
cMaharashtra
dUttar Pradesh

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Maharashtra has the largest number of Buddhists of any State, mainly because of the mass conversion of Dalits led by B. R. Ambedkar at Nagpur in 1956, which created the Neo-Buddhists. Buddhists are a small part of India's population, under 1 per cent. Bihar, where Buddhism began, and Uttar Pradesh, with Sarnath and Kushinagar, have far fewer Buddhists.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Bihar has Bodh Gaya but few Buddhists live there.
  • (b) Karnataka has Tibetan settlements but a small Buddhist population.
  • (c) Right: Ambedkar's conversion movement made Maharashtra the State with the most Buddhists.
  • (d) Uttar Pradesh has Sarnath and Kushinagar but few Buddhists.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2001, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.