UPSC CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

UPSC Prelims 2021— Question 61

2021General Studies Paper-IArt & CultureArt & CultureArchitecturedifficult
Q61

Question

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: 1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. 2. It is the only circular temple built in India. 3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region. 4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options

A
1 and 2 only
B
2 and 3 only
C
1 and 4✓ Correct Answer
D
2, 3 and 4
AnswerOption C

Explanation

The Chausath Yogini Temple near Morena is a circular temple associated with the Kachchhapaghata period. Its circular plan has often been compared with the later Parliament building, although the claim that it was the direct inspiration is a popular belief rather than established fact. It was associated with the Yogini tradition, not the Vaishnava cult. Therefore statements 1 and 4 are the accepted pair. The final answer-key position for Set C identifies option C as the correct option. Option A — 1 and 2 only — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option B — 2 and 3 only — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option C — 1 and 4 — is correct because it is the alternative that matches the constitutional, historical, geographical, scientific or economic principle established above. Option D — 2, 3 and 4 — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. For PYQ interpretation, the distinction between the correct alternative and merely related facts is important. UPSC often places plausible distractors beside the precise statement that matches the underlying rule, chronology, definition or empirical relationship. The answer should therefore be read against the exact wording of the question rather than against a broadly related fact.

Question Classification

SubjectArt & Culture
TopicArt & Culture
SubtopicArchitecture
Question TypeStatement-based
Difficultydifficult
VerificationVerified