2022 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I

Question 95: History and Culture

The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja ?

aThe best means of salvation was devotion.
bVedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
cLogical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.
dSalvation was to be obtained through meditation.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Ramanuja, the founder of Vishishtadvaita, taught that the soul and the world are real parts of Brahman, who is Vishnu, and that salvation comes through devotion (bhakti) and total surrender (prapatti) to him. The other options describe other schools: Mimamsa on the authority of the Vedas, Nyaya on logic and Yoga on meditation. His teaching is closest to option (a).

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Correct. Devotion is the best means of salvation for Ramanuja.
  • (b) The eternal, self-existent Vedas is a Mimamsa view.
  • (c) Logical argument as the means to bliss is not Ramanuja's teaching.
  • (d) Meditation as the path to salvation is not his central teaching.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.