UPSC Prelims 2024 · GS Paper I
Question 58: History and Culture
Consider the following statements :
- 1.There are no parables in Upanishads.
- 2.Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Statement 1 is false: the Upanishads teach through dialogues, stories and parables, such as Uddalaka's lessons to his son Shvetaketu and the conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi. Statement 2 is true: the principal Upanishads belong to the late Vedic period, well before the Puranas, which took shape in the Gupta and later periods. Remember: Vedas, then Upanishads, then Puranas.
- 1. The Upanishads use parables and dialogues to teach.
- 2. The Upanishads are late Vedic and are older than the Puranas.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: The Upanishads use parables and dialogues to teach.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The Upanishads are late Vedic and are older than the Puranas.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Wrong: the Upanishads do contain parables and stories.
- (b) Right: the Upanishads are older than the Puranas, and they do use parables.
- (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 2 is correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.