Buddhism

BPSC PYQs (1–20)

Where was Gautam Buddha born?
a) Kapilvastu
b) Vaishali
c) Lumbini
d) Bodh Gaya
✅ Answer: c) Lumbini
🔹 Buddha was born at Lumbini in present-day Nepal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where did Buddha attain enlightenment?
a) Sarnath
b) Lumbini
c) Kushinagar
d) Bodh Gaya
✅ Answer: d) Bodh Gaya
🔹 Under the Bodhi Tree in Gaya district, Bihar.
Language of early Buddhist texts?
a) Sanskrit
b) Prakrit
c) Pali
d) Tamil
✅ Answer: c) Pali
🔹 The earliest Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka) were written in Pali.
Where did Buddha deliver his first sermon?
a) Vaishali
b) Bodh Gaya
c) Kushinagar
d) Sarnath
✅ Answer: d) Sarnath
🔹 Called "Dharmachakra Pravartana", delivered to 5 disciples.
Where did Buddha die?
a) Rajgir
b) Kushinagar
c) Bodh Gaya
d) Vaishali
✅ Answer: b) Kushinagar
🔹 Mahaparinirvana occurred at Kushinagar, UP.
The Eightfold Path is associated with:
a) Jainism
b) Hinduism
c) Buddhism
d) Sikhism
✅ Answer: c) Buddhism
🔹 It outlines the path to end suffering and attain Nirvana.
Who presided over the First Buddhist Council?
a) Mahakassapa
b) Upali
c) Vasumitra
d) Ashoka
✅ Answer: a) Mahakassapa
🔹 Held at Rajgir after Buddha’s death under Ajatashatru’s patronage.
The Third Council was held under:
a) Ajatashatru
b) Bimbisara
c) Ashoka
d) Harsha
✅ Answer: c) Ashoka
🔹 Held at Pataliputra and compiled Kathavatthu.
Which sect worshipped Buddha's idols?
a) Theravada
b) Hinayana
c) Mahayana
d) Vajrayana
✅ Answer: c) Mahayana
🔹 Mahayana introduced idol worship and Bodhisattva ideals.
Bodh Gaya is in which district?
a) Nalanda
b) Gaya
c) Patna
d) Saran
✅ Answer: b) Gaya
🔹 One of the four key sites in Buddhist pilgrimage.
Buddha's father was:
a) Bimbisara
b) Shuddhodana
c) Chandragupta
d) Bindusara
✅ Answer: b) Shuddhodana
🔹 A ruler of the Shakya clan of Kapilvastu.
Buddha belonged to which clan?
a) Maurya
b) Gupta
c) Shakya
d) Lichchhavi
✅ Answer: c) Shakya
🔹 Hence he is also called “Shakyamuni”.
Buddha’s wife was:
a) Mahamaya
b) Yashodhara
c) Gautami
d) Trishala
✅ Answer: b) Yashodhara
🔹 Mother of his son Rahul.
Buddha’s son was:
a) Devadatta
b) Rāma
c) Rahul
d) Ananda
✅ Answer: c) Rahul
🔹 He became a monk later.
Jataka tales are stories of:
a) Kings
b) Saints
c) Buddha's past lives
d) Vedic rishis
✅ Answer: c) Buddha's past lives
🔹 Jatakas teach moral lessons through Buddha’s earlier births.
Fourth Buddhist Council was held in:
a) Rajgir
b) Vaishali
c) Pataliputra
d) Kashmir
✅ Answer: d) Kashmir
🔹 Held under Kanishka, presided by Vasumitra.
Nirvana in Buddhism means:
a) Heaven
b) Salvation
c) Moksha
d) Liberation from rebirth
✅ Answer: d) Liberation from rebirth
🔹 End of suffering and cycle of birth-death.
Number of Pitakas in Tripitaka:
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
✅ Answer: c) Three
🔹 Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma Pitakas.
First sermon was called:
a) Mahaparinirvana
b) Jatakas
c) Dharmachakra Pravartana
d) Vinaya
✅ Answer: c) Dharmachakra Pravartana
🔹 Means “Turning the Wheel of Dharma”.
Buddha gave his first sermon to:
a) Bimbisara
b) 5 ascetics
c) Yashodhara
d) Mahaprajapati
✅ Answer: b) 5 ascetics
🔹 At Deer Park, Sarnath.

NCERT-Based MCQs (21–35)

‘Tathagata’ means:
a) One who conquers desire
b) One who has come thus
c) One who performs yajna
d) One who returns
✅ Answer: b) One who has come thus
🔹 A title Buddha used for himself.
Sacred tree of Buddhism:
a) Neem
b) Sal
c) Peepal
d) Banyan
✅ Answer: c) Peepal
🔹 Also called the Bodhi Tree.
Triratna of Buddhism includes:
a) Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
b) Dharma, Artha, Kama
c) Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
d) Karma, Jnana, Bhakti
✅ Answer: c) Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
🔹 The Three Jewels of Buddhism.
Buddhist text in dialogue form:
a) Tripitaka
b) Milinda Panha
c) Vinaya Pitaka
d) Dhammapada
✅ Answer: b) Milinda Panha
🔹 Dialogue between King Menander and Nagasena.
Age at which Buddha renounced world:
a) 21
b) 25
c) 29
d) 35
✅ Answer: c) 29
🔹 He left behind palace life seeking truth.
Buddha’s foster mother was:
a) Yashodhara
b) Mahamaya
c) Gautami
d) Trishala
✅ Answer: c) Gautami
🔹 Also known as Mahaprajapati.
Abhidhamma Pitaka deals with:
a) Discipline
b) Stories
c) Philosophy
d) Magic
✅ Answer: c) Philosophy
🔹 Metaphysical and psychological teachings.
Vinaya Pitaka deals with:
a) Meditation
b) Monastic rules
c) Sermons
d) Morality
✅ Answer: b) Monastic rules
Buddhist monastic order is called:
a) Triratna
b) Bodhisattva
c) Sangha
d) Dhamma
✅ Answer: c) Sangha
🔹 Community of monks and nuns.
Sutta Pitaka contains:
a) Rituals
b) Rules
c) Philosophical discourses
d) Kings’ biographies
✅ Answer: c) Philosophical discourses
Most sermons of Buddha were delivered at:
a) Bodh Gaya
b) Rajgir
c) Sravasti
d) Sarnath
✅ Answer: c) Sravasti
🔹 Jetavana monastery was located here.
Buddha’s teachings are called:
a) Karma
b) Ahimsa
c) Dhamma
d) Moksha
✅ Answer: c) Dhamma
The Buddhist council that led to the split:
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth
✅ Answer: d) Fourth
🔹 Split into Mahayana and Hinayana.
Which council was held at Vaishali?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth
✅ Answer: b) Second
🔹 100 years after Buddha’s death.
Who invited Buddha to Rajgir?
a) Ajatashatru
b) Ashoka
c) Bimbisara
d) Kanishka
✅ Answer: c) Bimbisara

Predicted MCQs (36–50)

Who founded Nalanda University?
a) Ashoka
b) Harsha
c) Kanishka
d) Kumaragupta I
✅ Answer: d) Kumaragupta I
🔹 Established in 5th century CE during Gupta period.
Theravada Buddhism spread to:
a) China
b) Japan
c) Sri Lanka
d) Korea
✅ Answer: c) Sri Lanka
Mahayana Buddhism introduced the idea of:
a) Moksha
b) Idol worship
c) Non-violence
d) Caste system
✅ Answer: b) Idol worship
Bodhisattva is:
a) One who attains Nirvana
b) A teacher
c) A follower
d) One who postpones Nirvana
✅ Answer: d) One who postpones Nirvana
🔹 To help others attain salvation.
Vajrayana Buddhism developed in:
a) India
b) Nepal
c) Tibet
d) Burma
✅ Answer: c) Tibet
Who sent Mahendra and Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka?
a) Chandragupta
b) Ashoka
c) Harsha
d) Kanishka
✅ Answer: b) Ashoka
River flowing near Bodh Gaya:
a) Ganga
b) Yamuna
c) Phalgu (Niranjana)
d) Gandak
✅ Answer: c) Phalgu (Niranjana)
Dhamma Chakra symbol represents:
a) War
b) Dharma
c) Sermon
d) Salvation
✅ Answer: c) Sermon
Buddha is also known as:
a) Arhat
b) Sakyamuni
c) Mahavira
d) Jina
✅ Answer: b) Sakyamuni
🔹 Sage of the Shakyas.
Council held under Ashoka's patronage:
a) 1st
b) 2nd
c) 3rd
d) 4th
✅ Answer: c) 3rd
Which text records Buddha’s sayings?
a) Bhagavad Gita
b) Dhammapada
c) Vinaya Pitaka
d) Arthashastra
✅ Answer: b) Dhammapada
Kanishka patronized which sect?
a) Theravada
b) Hinayana
c) Mahayana
d) Jainism
✅ Answer: c) Mahayana
Buddhist doctrine of ‘no-soul’ is called:
a) Karma
b) Anatma
c) Ahimsa
d) Nirvana
✅ Answer: b) Anatma
Who was Ashvaghosha?
a) Poet
b) Philosopher
c) Dramatist
d) All of the above
✅ Answer: d) All of the above
🔹 Author of Buddhacharita.
Who built Sanchi Stupa?
a) Harsha
b) Ashoka
c) Chandragupta
d) Samudragupta
✅ Answer: b) Ashoka