UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I
Question 96: History and Culture
The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple ?
- 1.Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
- 2.A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
- 3.Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Somnath, on the Gujarat coast, is counted among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, so statement 1 is true. Al-Biruni described the temple in his account of India, so statement 2 is true. The present temple was rebuilt after Independence and its Pran Pratishtha was done in 1951 by President Rajendra Prasad, not S. Radhakrishnan, so statement 3 is false.
- 1. Somnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines.
- 2. Al-Biruni described the temple in his account.
- 3. President Rajendra Prasad performed the Pran Pratishtha in 1951.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: President Rajendra Prasad performed the Pran Pratishtha in 1951.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 2.
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) Correct. Jyotirlinga and Al-Biruni's description.
- (b) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 3 is false and statement 2 is missing.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.