UPSC Prelims 2004 · General Studies
Question 24: History and Culture
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
- 2.The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.
Which of these statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Both statements are false. Kanishka's Buddhist council took place in the first or second century CE, centuries before Fa-Hien, who came to India in the Gupta period, about 399-414 CE, in the reign of Chandragupta II. Hiuen-Tsang (7th century) met Harsha and found him a patron of Buddhism, who held great assemblies at Kannauj and Prayag, not an opponent.
- 1. Fa-Hien visited in the Gupta age, long after Kanishka's council.
- 2. Hiuen-Tsang found Harsha supportive of Buddhism.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Fa-Hien visited in the Gupta age, long after Kanishka's council.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: Hiuen-Tsang found Harsha supportive of Buddhism.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Fa-Hien came centuries after Kanishka, so he could not have attended.
- (b) Harsha was a patron of Buddhism, not antagonistic to it.
- (c) Both statements are false.
- (d) Correct: neither statement is right.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2004, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.