UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I
Question 46: History and Culture
With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs :
| Literary work | Author | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Devichandragupta | Bilhana |
| 2. | Hammira-Mahakavya | Nayachandra Suri |
| 3. | Milinda-panha | Nagarjuna |
| 4. | Nitivakyamrita | Somadeva Suri |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Devichandragupta is a play by Vishakhadatta, who also wrote Mudrarakshasa; Bilhana wrote Vikramankadevacharita. Hammira-Mahakavya is by Nayachandra Suri about the Chahamana ruler Hammira of Ranthambore, and Nitivakyamrita is by the Jain monk Somadeva Suri. Milinda-panha is a Buddhist text recording the dialogue of king Menander and the monk Nagasena, not a work by Nagarjuna. So pairs 2 and 4 are correct.
- 1. Devichandragupta is by Vishakhadatta.
- 2. Hammira-Mahakavya is by Nayachandra Suri.
- 3. Milinda-panha records Menander and Nagasena; it is not by Nagarjuna.
- 4. Nitivakyamrita is by Somadeva Suri.
How you could have got this
No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.
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) Only one undercounts; pairs 2 and 4 are both right.
- (b) Correct: pairs 2 and 4 match.
- (c) Pairs 1 and 3 are wrong, so not three.
- (d) Two pairs are wrongly assigned, so not all four.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.