Bhakti and Sufi Movement: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)
15 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on the Bhakti and Sufi movements are on this page, from 1996 to 2022. UPSC tests the sequence of saints, who was a contemporary of whom, which saints preached devotion without images and who first used Hindi. The explanations give dates and affiliations so that the choices can be ordered.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2002Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q11. Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?
Explanation
Ramananda, a 14th-century Bhakti saint, was the first to use Hindi and its dialects to spread devotional teachings, making Bhakti accessible to the common people. He focused on devotion to Lord Rama, rejected caste hierarchies, and advocated equality in worship. His followers, including Kabir, Ravidas, Tulsidas, and Dadu, further popularized Hindi, solidifying Ramananda’s role in using the vernacular for religious reform.
UPSC 2001Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q12. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Bhakti Saint)
List-II (Profession)
A. Namdev
1. Barber
B. Kabir
2. Weaver
C. Ravidas
3. Tailor
D. Sena
4. Cobbler
Explanation
Bhakti saints were spiritual reformers who emphasized devotion to a personal god, transcending caste and social hierarchies. They used vernacular languages like Hindi to spread their messages of love, equality, and devotion.
Option (b) is correct:
A is matched with 3: Namdev, from Maharashtra, was a tailor and emphasized devotion to Lord Vitthal. B is matched with 2: Kabir, a mystic poet and social reformer, was a weaver who criticized religious orthodoxy. C is matched with 4: Ravidas, a cobbler by profession, challenged caste discrimination and advocated spiritual equality. D is matched with 1: Sena, a barber, is remembered for his devotion to Lord Vishnu. These saints’ professions underline the Bhakti movement’s commitment to breaking caste barriers and highlighting the dignity of labor.
UPSC 1997Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q13. Assertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chisti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Reason (R): The Chisti order takes its name from a village Chisti in Ajmer. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Sufi orders, also known as tariqas, are mystical paths within Islam, characterized by a focus on spiritual purification, ritualism, and asceticism. These orders, such as the Naqshbandi, Qadiri, and Chishti, provide a framework for spiritual growth, emphasizing practices like dhikr (invocation), muraqaba (meditation), and sama (music and poetry) to attain spiritual stations and ultimately union with God. Assertion (A) is correct: Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti introduced the Chisti order in India in the 12th century. His teachings focused on love, humility, and devotion to God, and his dargah in Ajmer became a symbol of communal harmony. Reason (R) is incorrect: The Chisti order derives its name from Chisht, a village in present-day Afghanistan not Ajmer. The Chisti Sufis were instrumental in fostering spiritual and cultural exchanges in medieval India.
UPSC 1996Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q14. Nastaliq was:
Explanation
Nastaliq is a highly stylized Persian script, known for its fluid and elegant appearance. Introduced to India during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods, it was widely used in manuscripts, poetry, and royal decrees. This script reflects the cultural fusion of Persian and Indian traditions, particularly under the Mughal Empire. It remains a hallmark of Islamic calligraphy and is still used in Persian and Urdu writing today.
UPSC 1996Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q15. The sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was:
Explanation
Sufism is the mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes inner spiritual development, seeking a direct connection with God through meditation, poetry, and devotion. Sufis are often part of "orders" called tariqa, which are congregations centered around a grand master wali. These orders trace their teachings through a lineage of successive teachers, ultimately connecting back to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, founder of the Chishti Sufi order in India, emphasized the use of sama (devotional music) as a means of spiritual connection with God. He believed that music, when performed with pure devotion, could elevate the soul and foster closeness to the divine. This practice became central to Chishti gatherings, inspiring spiritual ecstasy. While Baba Farid and Sayyid Muhammad Gesudaraz focused more on spiritual teachings and community service, the tradition of sama continues today at Muin-ud-din Chisti’s dargah in Ajmer.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2002
(c) Ramananda
12
2001
(b) A-3; B-2; C-4; D-1
13
1997
(c) A is true but R is false
14
1996
(a) A persian script used in medieval India
15
1996
(a) Muin-ud-din Chisti
What UPSC has tested in Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Ramananda was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi to spread his message.
The correct chronological order of acharyas is Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Chaitanya.
Nagarjuna was not a proponent of the Bhakti cult.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is the most prominent figure of the Chishti order in India.
The philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Vallabhacharya; Bijak is associated with Kabir.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Bhakti and Sufi Movement?
This page covers 15 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Bhakti and Sufi Movement (Medieval History), asked from 1996 to 2022. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Who first used Hindi to spread Bhakti?
Ramananda, who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries, was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi, the language of ordinary people, rather than Sanskrit. His disciples included Kabir and Ravidas.
What is the Pushti Marg?
A Vaishnava devotional path founded by Vallabhacharya in the 16th century, centred on the worship of Krishna as Srinathji. “Pushti” means grace. It should not be confused with Bijak, a collection of Kabir’s teachings.
Who was the most prominent figure of the Chishti order in India?
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who settled at Ajmer in the 12th century. The order later spread through Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi and is known for its openness to music, or sama, as a path to God.
