Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

Answer: (d) Susrutha

Of the four names, only Susruta is a medical author: his Samhita is the ancient treatise on surgery. Sudraka was a dramatist and Saumilla and Shaunaka are not known for medicine.

• ✓ (d) Susruta is the surgeon of the Ayurvedic tradition.
• ✗ (b) Sudraka wrote the play Mrcchakatikam.

Remember · Susruta = surgery; Caraka = internal medicine.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Ch 8 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1996, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1996: the answer shown is the generally accepted one, and the sources above explain the facts behind it. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error