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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 2023
Religions & Philosophy
Question No. 31Interactive Test Mode
00:00
+2-0.66

Q31. Consider the following pairs: | Site | Well known for | | :--- | :--- | | 1. Besnagar | Shaivite cave shrine | | 2. Bhaja | Buddhist cave shrine | | 3. Sittanavasal | Jain cave shrine | How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:

SiteWell known for
1. BesnagarShaivite cave shrine
2. BhajaBuddhist cave shrine
3. SittanavasalJain cave shrine

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)
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Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2023 • Art and Culture

Correct Answer: Option (B) — Only two

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified
  • Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Besnagar (Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) is famous for the Heliodorus Pillar (Garuda Pillar) dedicated to the Bhagavata (Vaishnavite) sect of Lord Vasudeva, not a Shaivite cave shrine.
  • Pair 2 is correctly matched: Bhaja Caves (near Lonavala, Maharashtra) is an ancient 2nd century BCE rock-cut Buddhist cave complex featuring one of the oldest surviving apsidal chaitya halls and viharas.
  • Pair 3 is correctly matched: Sittanavasal (Tamil Nadu) is a renowned 2nd century BCE to 9th century CE rock-cut Jain cave complex and monastery famous for its exquisite Jain mural paintings depicting Samavasarana.
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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023 (Q31)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicArt and Culture → Religions & Philosophy
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — Only two

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2023 Q31

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper I Question 31 (Art and Culture)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2023 Art and Culture (Religions & Philosophy) question is Option (B): "Only two". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2023 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Art and Culture" and micro-topic "Religions & Philosophy". You can explore all repeated questions from Religions & Philosophy in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Religions & Philosophy UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve Religions & Philosophy questions in UPSC Prelims, identify extreme modifiers, verify core NCERT conceptual definitions, and eliminate mutually contradictory statement pairs before locking your final option.

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