2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 141: History and Culture

Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times ?

  1. 1.Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism.
  2. 2.The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.
  3. 3.The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b1 and 3 only
c2 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (a).

In the early medieval period Buddhism lost ground partly because the Buddha came to be regarded as one of the avatars of Vishnu, so Buddhism was absorbed into Vaishnavism and lost its separate identity; this is statement 1. Statement 2 is wrong: the invaders from Central Asia are not known to have all adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists (some patronised Buddhism). Statement 3 is wrong: the Gupta kings were mostly Vaishnava but tolerant, and Buddhist centres such as Nalanda flourished under them.

  • 1. The Buddha was absorbed as an avatar of Vishnu, blurring Buddhism into Vaishnavism.
  • 2. Central Asian invaders did not all adopt Hinduism or persecute Buddhists.
  • 3. The Guptas were tolerant, and Buddhist centres such as Nalanda flourished.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.

    What you needed to know: The Guptas were tolerant, and Buddhist centres such as Nalanda flourished.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 2.

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) Right: only statement 1 is correct.
  • (b) Statement 3 is wrong: the Guptas were not opposed to Buddhism.
  • (c) Statements 2 and 3 are both wrong.
  • (d) Statements 2 and 3 are wrong, so all three fail.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.