Prelims 2006 · archive
EasyConsider the following statements:
- 1.The Ikshvaku rulers of Southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
- 2.The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
The Ikshvakus, who ruled the Krishna valley (Nagarjunakonda, Amaravati) after the Satavahanas, supported Buddhism rather than opposing it. The Palas of Bengal and Bihar were among the great patrons of late Buddhism.
- ✗ 1. The Ikshvakus continued the Satavahana tradition of supporting Buddhist institutions at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda.
- ✓ 2. Dharmapala founded Vikramashila and Somapura monasteries and the Palas kept patronising Nalanda.
Remember · Ikshvakus (Nagarjunakonda) and Palas (Vikramashila, Nalanda) were Buddhist patrons.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- Britannica, Amaravati ↗ · reference work “After the decline of the Satavahanas, the Iksvaku dynasty (c. 3rd to 4th century ce ) continued to support the Buddhist institutions in Amaravati.”
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 3 “He became known as a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2006, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2006: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·