UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 11

This question tests paramitas and bodhisattva path. The key concept is: Paramitas are perfections cultivated on the Bodhisattva path in Mahayana Buddhist thought, commonly including generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. The term is therefore associated with spiritual perfections rather than Dharmashastra texts, heterodox schools as such, or merchant guilds. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option C. Option A — The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Paramitas are perfections cultivated on the Bodhisattva path in Mahayana Buddhist thought, commonly including generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. The term is therefore associated with spiritual perfections rather than Dharmashastra texts, heterodox schools as such, or merchant guilds. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Paramitas are perfections cultivated on the Bodhisattva path in Mahayana Buddhist thought, commonly including generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. The term is therefore associated with spiritual perfections rather than Dharmashastra texts, heterodox schools as such, or merchant guilds. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Paramitas are perfections cultivated on the Bodhisattva path in Mahayana Buddhist thought, commonly including generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. The term is therefore associated with spiritual perfections rather than Dharmashastra texts, heterodox schools as such, or merchant guilds. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option D — Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Paramitas are perfections cultivated on the Bodhisattva path in Mahayana Buddhist thought, commonly including generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. The term is therefore associated with spiritual perfections rather than Dharmashastra texts, heterodox schools as such, or merchant guilds. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option C is the verified answer.