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An Introduction to Indian Art, Part II

Class 12 · Art & Culture

Ch 1 · The Manuscript Painting Tradition

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Prelims 2020 · Q31

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term 'paramitas'?

(a)The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
(b)Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
(c)Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
(d)Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India

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UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part II, Ch 1 (The Manuscript Painting Tradition).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 An Introduction to Indian Art II, ch 1, translates 'Prajnaparamita' as 'Perfection of Wisdom', so 'paramita' means 'perfection'. Only option (c) is about perfections. Answer (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2020), question 31 ↗

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