Prelims 1997 · archive
EasyAssertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chisti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
Reason (R): The Chisti order takes its name from a village Chisti in Ajmer.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
A is true: Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer is the best-known figure of the Chishti silsila in India. R is false: the order is named after Chisht, a town in central Afghanistan, not a village in Ajmer.
- ✓ A Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, whose dargah is at Ajmer, is the most prominent Chishti teacher in the subcontinent.
- ✗ R The name comes from the town of Chisht in central Afghanistan; Ajmer is only the location of the dargah.
Remember · The Chishti order is named after Chisht in Afghanistan; Muinuddin Chishti's dargah is at Ajmer.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Ch 2 (practise this chapter) · Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Ch 2 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part II, Chapter 2 “some like the Chishti order, were named after their place of origin, in this case the town of Chisht in central Afghanistan”
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part II, Chapter 2 “Shaikh Muinuddin Sijzi 1235 Ajmer (Rajasthan)”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1997, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1997: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·