Q. Which of the following manuscripts contains the earliest known Indian use of a zero symbol?
Answer: Bakhshali
Notes: The Bakhshali manuscript, discovered in 1881, is the oldest known Indian manuscript featuring the zero symbol, dating to the 3rd or 4th century. This predates previous beliefs about the origin of zero by nearly 500 years. The manuscript serves as a handbook for arithmetic and algebra, though only parts have been restored. Zero was also used as a placeholder in ancient cultures like the Mayans and Babylonians. Prior to recent findings, a 9th-century inscription in Gwalior was considered the oldest Indian use of the zero symbol.