2005 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2005 · General Studies
Question 22: History and Culture
Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?
aBimbisara
bGautama Buddha
cMilinda
dPrasenjit
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Bimbisara of Magadha, Prasenjit of Kosala and Gautama Buddha lived in the sixth to fifth century BCE and were contemporaries. Milinda is the Indo-Greek king Menander, who ruled in north-west India in the second century BCE, about three centuries later; the Buddhist text Milindapanha records his questions to the monk Nagasena.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Bimbisara, king of Magadha, was a contemporary of the Buddha.
- (b) The Buddha lived in the sixth to fifth century BCE.
- (c) Correct: Milinda (Menander) ruled in the second century BCE.
- (d) Prasenjit, king of Kosala, was a contemporary of the Buddha.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2005, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.