Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?

Answer: (d) These are parts of architectural structures

Ashoka's pillars are free-standing, single-piece polished sandstone shafts that taper upward. They are not parts of larger buildings, so statement d is wrong.

• ✓ (d) The pillars stand alone and are not part of any structure.
• ✗ (a) They are renowned for their polish.
• ✗ (b) Each shaft was cut from a single stone.
• ✗ (c) The shaft tapers upwards.

Remember · Ashokan pillars: monolithic, polished, tapering, free-standing.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 5 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1997, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1997: 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