Buddhism and Jainism: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Art and Culture)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–1 of 1 question
UPSC 2001Art and Culture · Buddhism and Jainism
Q1. Who among the following presided over the Buddhist Council held during the reign of Kanishka at Kashmir?
Explanation
The Buddhist Councils were pivotal in preserving and organizing the Buddha’s teachings. The First Council (483 BCE), held under King Ajatasatru, aimed to preserve the Buddha’s teachings, with Mahakassapa presiding. The Second Council (383 BCE) under King Kalasoka led to the split into Early Theravada and Early Mahayana. The Third Council (250 BCE), presided by Mogaliputta Tissa under Emperor Ashoka, focused on purifying Buddhism and compiling the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Fourth Council (1st century AD) under King Kanishka in Kashmir formalized the division into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.
Option (d) is correct: The Fourth Buddhist Council was convened during the reign of Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty around the 1st century CE in Kundalvana (modern-day Kashmir). The council was presided over by the scholar-monk Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosha serving as his deputy. This council had a significant influence on the development and spread of Mahayana Buddhism.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2001
(d) Vasumitra
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Buddhism and Jainism?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture), asked from 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Buddhism and Jainism?
Questions on Buddhism and Jainism (Art and Culture) are available for 20 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
