Q. Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council, expelling 60,000 monks during the reign of Emperor Ashoka?
Answer: Moggaliputtatissa
Notes: Moggaliputtatissa, a prominent Buddhist monk from Pataliputra, led the Third Buddhist Council under Ashoka. He expelled heretical monks, compiled the Kathāvatthu, and helped establish the Theravāda tradition. His actions shaped early Buddhist doctrine and missionary activity, notably influencing Buddhism’s spread to Sri Lanka.