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UPSC CSE Prelims 1996 · GS paper · Philosophy & religious traditions

According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas, the sequential order of the cycle of four yugas is:

A question from UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies, explained with its sources.

Prelims 1996 · archive

Easy

According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas, the sequential order of the cycle of four yugas is:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali

The four yugas run Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, each shorter and morally poorer than the one before. Kali is the present age.

  • ✓ (c) Krita (perfection) first, then Treta, Dvapara and Kali.
  • ✗ (a) Starts with Dvapara, which is the third yuga.
  • ✗ (b) Swaps Treta and Dvapara.
  • ✗ (d) Starts with Treta and ends with Krita, reversing the cycle.

Remember · Order of yugas: Krita, Treta, Dvapara, Kali.

Sources

  • Yuga, Britannica ↗ · reference work “Four such yuga s (called Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali, after the throws of an Indian game of dice) make up the mahayuga”

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1996, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1996: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·

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