Minimalist IAS
Sign up
Prelims 2013 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2013 · GS Paper I · Buddhism, Jainism & other schools

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper I — Buddhism, Jainism & other schools.

Prelims 2013

Buddhism, Jainism & other schools Easy

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) The extinction of the flame of desire

Nibbana (nirvana) literally means 'blowing out', like a flame going out. In Buddhism it is the extinguishing of desire, ego and hence suffering, not annihilation of the person.

  • ✓ (a) Nirvana is the blowing out of the fire of craving, ending rebirth and suffering.
  • ✗ (b) Buddhism denies a permanent self, but nirvana is not described as annihilating a being.
  • ✗ (c) Bliss and rest describe the result, not the defining concept.

Remember · Nirvana = extinguishing of desire and ego, the end of the cycle of suffering and rebirth.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)

Sources

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2013 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2013/q15

Timed · 2 hours Take the whole 2013 paper as a test UPSC's marking, an instant score, and every answer explained. Start the paper

More on Buddhism, Jainism & other schools

All Buddhism, Jainism & other schools questions →

Same topic in the Mains syllabus

Read it in NCERT