UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 50

This question tests ashoka and religious tolerance. The key concept is: The quoted advice on respecting other religious sects is from Ashoka's inscriptions and reflects his emphasis on dhamma, restraint in speech and mutual respect among religious traditions. It illustrates the ethical and administrative dimension of Ashokan kingship. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option A. Option A — Ashoka: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because The quoted advice on respecting other religious sects is from Ashoka's inscriptions and reflects his emphasis on dhamma, restraint in speech and mutual respect among religious traditions. It illustrates the ethical and administrative dimension of Ashokan kingship. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option B — Samudragupta: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The quoted advice on respecting other religious sects is from Ashoka's inscriptions and reflects his emphasis on dhamma, restraint in speech and mutual respect among religious traditions. It illustrates the ethical and administrative dimension of Ashokan kingship. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — Harshavardhana: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The quoted advice on respecting other religious sects is from Ashoka's inscriptions and reflects his emphasis on dhamma, restraint in speech and mutual respect among religious traditions. It illustrates the ethical and administrative dimension of Ashokan kingship. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — Krishnadeva Raya: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The quoted advice on respecting other religious sects is from Ashoka's inscriptions and reflects his emphasis on dhamma, restraint in speech and mutual respect among religious traditions. It illustrates the ethical and administrative dimension of Ashokan kingship. 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 A is the verified answer.