1. Which ancient city in Uttar Pradesh was among the six prominent centers of early Buddhism and is frequently mentioned in the Vinaya Pitaka?
[A] Kaushambi
[B] Shravasti
[C] Sankisa
[D] Kushinagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Shravasti]
Notes:
Shravasti, capital of Kosala, hosted Jetavana monastery and is often noted in Vinaya Pitaka as a key site of Buddha’s teachings.
2. Why is Uttar Pradesh often called the “Cradle of Buddhism”?
[A] It is the birthplace of Buddha.
[B] The first Buddhist council was held here.
[C] It is home to the oldest Buddhist temple in India.
[D] Buddha spent much of his life and taught extensively in the region.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Buddha spent much of his life and taught extensively in the region.]
Notes:
Buddha delivered many sermons and spent significant time in Uttar Pradesh, including Sarnath and Kushinagar, making it pivotal in Buddhism’s early history.
3. Where was the ancient university Pandita Vihara, known for its association with Tantric Buddhism, located in present-day terms?
[A] India
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Pandita Vihara was an 8th-century Buddhist university located in eastern Bengal, now part of Bangladesh, known for Tantric Buddhism and scholars like Atiśa.
4. Which ancient city in Uttar Pradesh was renowned from the 2nd century BCE for pioneering devotional icons in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism?
[A] Mathura
[B] Varanasi
[C] Ayodhya
[D] Kanpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mathura]
Notes:
Mathura was a major artistic center from 2nd century BCE, known for early devotional icons across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, producing influential red sandstone sculptures.
5. Consider the following pairs:
| Sect | Doctrine |
| Ajivikas | Doctrine of Niyati (Fate) |
| Lokayatas | Materialism and denial of afterlife |
| Buddhism | Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
[A] Only One Pair
[B] Only Two Pairs
[C] All Three Pairs
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All Three Pairs]
Notes:
Ajivikas advocated complete determinism through the doctrine of Niyati (fate)—correct. Lokayatas (Charvakas) believed in materialism and denied afterlife—correct. Buddhism is based on Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path—correct. Therefore, all three pairs are correctly matched.
6. Consider the following statements regarding the fundamental teachings of Buddhism in ancient India:
- Buddhism emphasizes the doctrine of karma, linking rebirth with one’s actions.
- The concept of the Middle Path is central to Buddhist thought.
- Ritual sacrifices, such as Vedic yajnas, are an essential part of Buddhist practice.
- The Four Noble Truths form the core of the Buddha’s teachings.
Which of the above subjects constituted essential elements of Buddhist doctrine?
[A] 1, 2, and 3 only
[B] 2, 3, and 4 only
[C] 1, 2, and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3, and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1, 2, and 4 only]
Notes:
Buddhism recognizes the Karmic theory, the Middle Path avoiding extremes, and the Four Noble Truths as central doctrines. It explicitly rejects ritual sacrifices and Vedic yajnas, distancing itself from Brahmanical rituals. Thus, statements 1, 2, and 4 constitute essential subjects of Buddhism, while statement 3 does not align with Buddhist teachings.
7. At which location in Maharashtra did Dr. B. R. Ambedkar lead the historic mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism in 1956?
[A] Shirdi
[B] Nashik
[C] Pune
[D] Nagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Nagpur]
Notes:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the mass Buddhist conversion on 14 October 1956 at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This event marked a significant religious and social movement, making Maharashtra the state with the highest Buddhist population in India.
8. Who was the first woman to embrace Buddhism during B. R. Ambedkar’s conversion movement?
[A] Ramabai Ambedkar
[B] Vijaya Pawar
[C] Savita Ambedkar
[D] Shantabai Dani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Savita Ambedkar]
Notes:
Savita Ambedkar, wife of B. R. Ambedkar, was the first woman to accept Buddhism at the 1956 Deekshabhoomi mass conversion. An MBBS graduate and physician, she played a crucial role in Ambedkar’s life and the Buddhist revival movement in India.
9. Which saint led Dalit conversions to Buddhism in Maharashtra?
[A] Dnyaneshwar
[B] B.R. Ambedkar
[C] Tukaram
[D] Namdev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [B.R. Ambedkar]
Notes:
B.R. Ambedkar led mass Dalit conversions to Buddhism in Maharashtra in 1956, resulting in the state having India’s highest Buddhist population. Maharashtra’s 2011 census reports 5.81% Buddhists, with Ambedkar’s movement playing a key role in this demographic shift. Other noted Bhakti saints include Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, and Namdev.
10. Who led the mass conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in 1956?
[A] Jyotirao Phule
[B] Bal Gangadhar Tilak
[C] Gopal Krishna Gokhale
[D] Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dr. B.R. Ambedkar]
Notes:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led a mass conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, on 14 October 1956 with over 600,000 followers, significantly impacting the Dalit Buddhist movement in India. The event is commemorated annually as Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.
