Schools of Philosophy — UPSC Prelims Practice Quiz
Answer all questions carefully. Each question has exactly one correct answer.
hard•12 questions•~15 min
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Question 01
hard
Consider the following statements about the Samkhya School of Philosophy:
1. It is the oldest school of Indian philosophy, founded by Kapil Muni.
2. It believes in dualism (dvaitavada) — the soul and matter are separate entities.
3. It denies the existence of God but accepts the theory of rebirth and transmigration of soul.
4. Salvation in Samkhya is attained through performing Vedic rituals.
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 02
medium
Which one of the following pairs does NOT form part of the six systems (Shada Darshana) of Indian Orthodox Philosophy?
Question 03
medium
Consider the following pairs — School of Philosophy and its founder:
1. Samkhya — Kapil Muni
2. Vaisheshika — Kanada
3. Mimamsa — Shankaracharya
4. Nyaya — Gautama
Which of the above are CORRECTLY matched?
Question 04
hard
Consider the following statements about the Vedanta School:
1. The oldest text of Vedanta philosophy is the Brahmasutra, composed by Badrayana in the 2nd century BCE.
2. Shankaracharya considered Brahma to be without attributes and held knowledge (jnana) as the means to salvation.
3. Ramanuja considered Brahma to possess certain attributes and held devotion (bhakti) as the path to salvation.
4. Both Shankaracharya and Ramanuja belonged to the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 05
hard
Which of the following CORRECTLY distinguishes the Vaisheshika school from the Charvaka school of philosophy?
Question 06
hard
Consider the following statements about the Yoga School of Philosophy:
1. The Yogasutra of Patanjali is the foundational text, attributed to the 2nd century BCE.
2. The Yoga school, like the Samkhya school, denies the existence of God.
3. Salvation in the Yoga school is achieved by releasing Purusha from Prakriti through meditation and physical yoga.
4. Samadhi is described as the merging of the mind and the object, leading to the final dissolution of self.
Which of the above are CORRECT?
Question 07
hard
Consider the following pairs — Buddhist Pitaka and the disciple who compiled it:
1. Vinaya Pitaka — Upali
2. Sutta Pitaka — Mahakashyap
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka — Ananda
Which of the above are CORRECTLY matched?
Question 08
medium
The Mimamsa School of philosophy is BEST described as:
Question 09
medium
Which of the following statements about the Charvaka/Lokayata school of philosophy is/are CORRECT?
1. It was founded by Brihaspati and finds mention in the Vedas and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
2. It holds that the universe consists of only four elements — fire, earth, water, and air — excluding ether.
3. It denies the existence of God, Brahma, afterlife, and salvation.
4. The word 'Lokayata' means a philosophy derived from logical analysis of the material world.
Question 10
hard
Consider the following statements about the Jain philosophical concept of existence:
1. Astikaya refers to things that have a physical shape, such as the body.
2. Anastakiya refers to things that have no physical shape, such as time.
3. The seven fundamental elements of Jain philosophy include jiva, ajiva, asrava, bandha, samvara, nirjara, and moksha.
4. In Jain philosophy, substance (dharma) is eternal and unchangeable, while its attributes/qualities keep changing.
How many of the above statements are CORRECT?
Question 11
medium
With reference to the Nyaya School of philosophy, which of the following is CORRECT?
Question 12
hard
Consider the following statements about Buddhist and Jain philosophies and their differences:
1. Both Buddhism and Jainism reject the authority of the Vedas.
2. Buddhism rejects the existence of the soul (atman); Jainism accepts the existence of the soul.
3. Both Buddhism and Jainism consider Brahmacharya (celibacy) as essential for liberation.
4. The first Tirthankara of Jainism was Mahavira, also the 24th Tirthankara.
Which of the above are CORRECT?