UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 42

This question tests sthaviravada, lokottaravada and mahayana. The key concept is: Sthaviravadin traditions are associated with early Buddhist schools and are not a Mahayana sect. Lokottaravada emerged from the Mahasanghika tradition, and Mahasanghika developments emphasizing supramundane qualities of the Buddha contributed to later Mahayana thought. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option B. Option A — 1 and 2 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Sthaviravadin traditions are associated with early Buddhist schools and are not a Mahayana sect. Lokottaravada emerged from the Mahasanghika tradition, and Mahasanghika developments emphasizing supramundane qualities of the Buddha contributed to later Mahayana thought. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — 2 and 3 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Sthaviravadin traditions are associated with early Buddhist schools and are not a Mahayana sect. Lokottaravada emerged from the Mahasanghika tradition, and Mahasanghika developments emphasizing supramundane qualities of the Buddha contributed to later Mahayana thought. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option C — 3 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Sthaviravadin traditions are associated with early Buddhist schools and are not a Mahayana sect. Lokottaravada emerged from the Mahasanghika tradition, and Mahasanghika developments emphasizing supramundane qualities of the Buddha contributed to later Mahayana thought. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — 1,2 and 3: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Sthaviravadin traditions are associated with early Buddhist schools and are not a Mahayana sect. Lokottaravada emerged from the Mahasanghika tradition, and Mahasanghika developments emphasizing supramundane qualities of the Buddha contributed to later Mahayana thought. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct. 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 B is the verified answer.