Many of the Greeks, Kushanas, and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because:

Answer: (c) Caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them

Brahmanical society placed foreign rulers outside the varna order as mlechchhas, while Buddhism did not insist on caste, so many foreigners found it more welcoming.

• ✓ (c) The caste order of Brahmanical society offered foreigners no respectable place; Buddhism did not rest on birth.
• ✗ (d) Easier access is the effect rather than the stated reason, and is the tempting alternative.

Remember · Brahmanas called the Shakas and other foreigners mlechchhas; caste-free Buddhism welcomed them.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1998, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1998: 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