2011 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I

Question 77: History and Culture

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by

aUniversal Law
bUniversal Truth
cUniversal Faith
dUniversal Soul

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Jainism does not accept a creator God. It holds that the universe is eternal and uncreated, and runs on universal law: the working of karma and the nature of substances, not a divine soul or a creator. Each soul, or jiva, is responsible for its own liberation through right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. In this answer the world is therefore held to be maintained by Universal Law.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: Jainism rests on universal law, not on a creator.
  • (b) Universal Truth is not given as the force behind the world.
  • (c) Universal Faith is not a Jain idea of cosmic order.
  • (d) Jainism rejects a universal soul or creator.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.