Importance of NCERT’s
• When should you read?
• Why read NCERT’s?
• Annotations of NCERT
When should you read
NCERT?
Why read NCERTS?
• Simple language
• Help to build basic foundational
understanding
• Level playing eld
• MOST IMPORTANT..
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UPSC asks questions: PYQ’s
UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:
In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which ourished as a prominent Buddhist centre
under the Mahasanghikas, located?
a) Andhra
b) Gandhara
c) Kalinga
d) Magadha
Correct Answer: Option a) Andhra
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• UPSC Prelims 2022
• Consider the following pairs:
How many pairs given are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Ans: (b)
Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts Location in the State of
1 Dhauli — Odisha
2 Erragudi — Andhra Pradesh
3 Jaugada — Madhya Pradesh
4 Kalsi — Karnataka
• UPSC PYQ 2013
Q: Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in
Buddhism?
a) The extinction of the ame of desire
b) The complete annihilation of self
c) A state of bliss and rest
d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension
Correct Answer: Option (a)
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• UPSC Prelims 2000
Assertion (A) The emphasis of Jainism on De non-violence (Ahimsa) prevented
agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.
Reason (R) Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests. (2000)
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are explanation of A. but R is not the correct
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Ans. (a
UPSC PYQ 2013
Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jaina Doctrine? (2013)
1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) All of these
Ans. (d)
• UPSC PYQ 2023
“Souls are not only the property of a animal and plant life, but also of rocks,
running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other
religious sects.” The above statement re ects one of the core beliefs of which
one of the following religious sects of ancient India? (2023)
(a) Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Shaivism
(d) Vaishnavism
Ans. (b)
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• UPSC PYQ 2014
With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following
pairs:
Famous work of sculpture Site
a) A grand image of Buddha’s
Mahaparinirvana with numerous : Ajanta
celestial musicians above and
the sorrowful gures of his
followers below
b) A huge image of Varaha : Mount Abu
Avatar (boar incarnation. of Vishnu,
as he rescues Goddess Earth from
the deep and chaotic waters,
sculpted on rock
c) “Arjuna’s Penance” / : Mamallapuram
”Descent of Ganga” sculpted
on the surface of huge boulders
Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly
matched?
The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.
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• UPSC PYQ 2019
Consider the following. (2019)
1. Dei cation of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals
Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (d)
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• UPSC PYQ 2016
• Who of the following had rst
deciphered the edicts of emperor
Ashoka? (2016)
• (a) George Buhler
• (b) James Princep
• (c) Max Muller
• (d) Willaim Jones
• Ans. (b)
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• UPSC PYQ 2020 • (c) Harshavardhana
• (d) Krishnadeva Raya
• Who among the following rulers • Ans. (a)
advised his subjects through this
inscription? “Whosoever praises his
religious sect or blames other sects
out of excessive devotion to his
own sect, with the view of glorifying
his own sect, he rather injures his
own sect very severely.” (2020)
• (a) Ashoka
• (b) Samudragupta
• UPSC PYQ 1995
• In Sanskrit plays written during the
Gupta period women and Sudras
speak (1995)
• (a) Sanskrit
• (b) Prakrit
• (c) Pali
• (d) Sauraseni
• Ans. (b)
How to read the annoted
NCERT?
• Green highlights: PYQ’s asked
• PYQ mentioned
• Blue highlights: Important areas
from where questions could be
possibly asked
• Pink highlights: pure factual dates,
only needs an understanding
• Peach highlights: historical terms
•
• Yellow highlights: extreme
statements
Thank you!
