UGC NTA NET/JRF Exam, INDIAN CULTURE, JUNE-2025

Total Questions: 58

11. Where can one find the first form of the doctrine of transmigration?

Correct Answer: 2. Brahadaranyaka upanishad
Solution:

The concept of transmigration of the soul-the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth-is central to Indian philosophy. The earliest reference to this doctrine appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the oldest and most important Upanishads. It discusses how the soul (atman) migrates to another body based on karma after death, laying the foundation for the theory of samsara and moksha.

12. What is the meaning of 'Munis'?

Correct Answer: 3. The Silent one
Solution:

The word 'Muni' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'mun', meaning to be silent. In Vedic and post-Vedic literature, Munis were ascetics or sages who observed deep silence and meditation, withdrawing from worldly life to attain spiritual wisdom. They are often described as possessing deep inner insight gained through contemplation, not verbal instruction.

13. Megasthenes called Patliputra as Palibothra (in Greek Language) what does it mean?

Correct Answer: 2. City with Gates
Solution:

When Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador at the Mauryan court, wrote about Pataliputra, he used the term Palibothra (Greek rendering). The city was well-known for its massive fortifications and numerous gates, which impressed foreign visitors. Hence, the meaning attributed to Palibothra is "City with Gates", highlighting its architectural and strategic design.

14. Which Inscription of Ashoka speaks of the success of his policy with the hunters and fishermen, who gave up killing animals and possibly took to a settled agricultural life?

Correct Answer: 1. The Kandhahar Inscription
Solution:

The Kandahar Inscription, also known as the Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription, is the one that specifically mentions the success of Ashoka's Dhamma policy with hunters and fishermen. Written in Greek and Aramaic, it reflects Ashoka's outreach to diverse linguistic and cultural groups on the empire's frontiers. The inscription highlights how his moral teachings influenced people to give up the killing of animals and adopt a settled, agricultural lifestyle, showcasing the civilizing influence of his nonviolent governance.

15. When did the first manuscript of Arthashastra come to light?

Correct Answer: 3. 1905
Solution:

The Arthashastra, authored by Kautilya (Chanakya), was lost for centuries until R. Shamasastry discovered the first manuscript in 1905 at the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore. He began publishing it in parts and later translated it into English, revealing a sophisticated treatise on statecraft, economics, military strategy, and administration from ancient India.

16. Which of the following inscription gives information about Ashoka's “dhammavijaya"?

Correct Answer: 4. Thirteenth Rock Edict
Solution:

The concept of "Dhammavijaya" (conquest through Dhamma or righteousness) as opposed to "Bherighosha" (conquest through war) is extensively discussed in Ashoka's Thirteenth Rock Edict. This edict reflects Ashoka's remorse after the Kalinga war and his determination to spread Dhamma, emphasizing moral conquest over military expansion.

17. Who invented a system of expressing numbers with the help of vowels and consonants based on decimal value principle?

Correct Answer: 4. Aryabhatta-I
Solution:

The correct answer is Aryabhatta-I, the 5thcentury Indian mathematician and astronomer, who developed an alphabetic numeral system for use in his astronomical and mathematical calculations.
In the Gîtika Padam chapter of his seminal work Aryabhatiya, he introduced a system where:
• Consonants represented digits from 1 to 9 and multiples of 10.
• Vowels represented place values (powers of ten: 1, 100, 10,000, etc.).
This combination allowed for large numbers to be encoded compactly using Sanskrit syllables, making them easier to memorize and transmit in verse form - an essential method for preserving scientific knowledge at the time.

18. Who has described 'Ayaskriti' as a method of preparing metallic oxides?

Correct Answer: 3. Sushruta
Solution:

The term 'Ayaskriti' refers to the Ayurvedic process of converting metals (especially iron, or Ayas) into a consumable medicinal form. This method is explicitly detailed in the Sushruta Samhita, one of the foundational texts of ancient Indian medicine.
Sushruta describes 'Ayaskriti' in three forms:
• Choorna (powder form)
• Avaleha (paste form)
• Sandhan (fermented syrup form)
This process allowed metallic oxides and powders to be used for internal medicinal purposes - a significant part of Rasa Shastra (alchemy and pharmacology).
While Charaka mentions a similar preparation called 'Louha Rasayana', it is Sushruta who explicitly uses the term 'Ayaskriti' and provides a detailed description of the procedure.

19. According to the Chinese traveler, I-Jing, what provision was made for the maintenance of Nalanda monastery?

Correct Answer: 1. The monastery was given more than 200 villages for its maintenance.
Solution:

According to I-Tsing (I-Jing), the 7th-century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Nalanda Monastery was supported through grants of more than 200 villages. These villages funded the monastery's functioning, allowing it to become one of the greatest centers of Buddhist learning in ancient India.

20. Who among the following Buddisht monks of Indian origin had travelled to Shri Lanka?

Correct Answer: 2. Buddhaghosha
Solution:

Buddhaghosha, an Indian Theravada Buddhist monk and scholar, travelled to Sri Lanka, where he translated and compiled several Buddhist texts into Pali. He is most famous for his work Visuddhimagga, a foundational text in Theravada Buddhism.