UGC-NET (NTA) Exam, BUDDHIST, JAINA, GANDHIAN AND PEACE STUDIES, June - 2025

Total Questions: 100

61. Identify the correct names of thinkers contemporary to Buddha.

A. Dharmakirti
B. Ajit Keshkambali
C. Asanga
D. Prakudha Katyayana
E. Nigantha nath putta
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, C only
2. В, С, E only
3. B, D, E only
4. A, B, D only

Correct Answer: 3. B, D, E only

Solution:

Thinkers contemporary to Buddha
A. Dharmakirti - 7th c. Buddhist logician, far later.
B. Ajit Keshkambali - Materialist philosopher, leader of Lokayata/Charvaka school, denied afterlife, contemporary.
C. Asanga - 4th c. CE Mahayana thinker, founder of Yogacara, much later.
D. Prakudha Katyayana – Ajivika teacher, denied karma and moral causation, contemporary.
E. Nigantha Nathputta - Mahavira (24th Tirthankara), contemporary.

62. Identify the types of Bondage:

A. Prakriti
B. Vikriti
C. Sthiti
D. Sruti
E. Anubhaga
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, D only
2. А, C, E only
3. В, C, E only
4. C, D, E only

Correct Answer: 2. А, C, E only

Solution:

Jainism classifies bondage (Bandha) into four types:
A. Prakriti Bandha - type/nature of karma that binds the soul.
C. Sthiti Bandha - duration (time period) of bondage.
E. Anubhaga Bandha - intensity of karmic fruition.

Pradesa Bandha - quantity of karmic particles binding the soul.

B Vikriti and D Sruti are not types of bondage.

63. Identify the obstructive (Ghatiya) Karmas.

A. Name Karma
B. Knowledge-obscuring karma
C. Conation-obscuring karma
D. Status determining karma
E. Deluding karma
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, C only
2. B, C, D only
3. C, D, E only
4. B, C, E only

Correct Answer: 4. B, C, E only

Solution:

Ghatiya karmas are those which obstruct the soul's true qualities:
B. Knowledge-obscuring karma (Jnanavarniya)
C. Conation-obscuring karma (Darshanavarniya)
E. Deluding karma (Mohaniya)
Obstructive karma (Antaraya) (not listed here) Non-ghatiya karmas include Nama, Ayu, Gotra, Vedaniya.

64. These writers wrote the texts in Sauraseni Prakrit language. Identify them:

A. Setubandha by Pravarasena
B. Bhagavati Aradhana by Sivarya
C. Tattvarthasutra by Umasvami (ti)
D. Pravacanasara by Kundakunda
E. Sammaisuttam by Siddhasena
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, D and E only
2. C, D and E only
3. A, C and D only
4. B, D and E only

Correct Answer: 4. B, D and E only

Solution:

Writers in Sauraseni Prakrit
B. Bhagavati Aradhana (Sivarya) - Written in Sauraseni Prakrit.
D. Pravacanasara (Kundakunda) - A classic Digambara text in Sauraseni Prakrit.
E. Sammaisuttam (Siddhasena) - Composed in Sauraseni Prakrit.
A. Setubandha (Pravarasena) - Written in Maharashtri Prakrit, not Sauraseni.
C. Tattvarthasutra (Umasvami) - Written in Sanskrit, not in Prakrit. Correct Answer: B, D and E only.

65. These texts are included in Pancaparmagamas of Acarya Kundakunda:

A. Astapahuda
B. Vittasara
C. Pancastikaya
D. Yogasara
E. Niyamasara
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. B, C and D only
2. А, В and D only
3. A, C and E only
4. B, D and E only

Correct Answer: 3. A, C and E only

Solution:

The Pañcaparamagamas (Five Supreme Texts) of Acarya Kundakunda are:
1. Samayasara (Essence of Doctrine)
2. Pravacanasara (Essence of Preaching/ Scripture)
3. Pañcastikaya (Five Constituents of Reality) (Option C)
4. Niyamasara (Essence of Discipline) (Option E)
5. Astapahuda (Eight Discourses) (Option A) Vittasara (B) and Yogasara (D) are not part of the Pañcaparamagamas.
Correct Answer: A, C and E only.

66. These are correct statements related to Jagannathasabha:

A. It is located at Ajanta
B. It has seating arrangement for one thousand persons.
C. It was built in B.C.E.
D. It is the oldest centre of Jain arts.
E. It was built by Vastupala-Tejapala
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. В, C and D only
2. B, D and E only
3. А, C and E only
4. C, D and E only
5. *

Correct Answer: 5. *

Solution:

"Jagannathasabha" is the Jain Cave 33 at Ellora (not Ajanta), dated to the 9th century CE; it is not the oldest Jain art centre (sites like Udayagiri-Khandagiri are 1st c. BCE), and it was not built by Vastupala-Tejapala (they patronised the Dilwara temples at Mt Abu in the 13th c.).
I also find no reliable source for a "seating arrangement for one thousand persons."

67. Read the following statements and identify the correct statement related to Idol of Sarasvati in Jain temples.

A. Idol, situated in the Ellora cave.
B. Idol broken & standing posture found from Kankali Tila, Mathura.
C. Idol, situated in Ladnun Jain Temple.
D. Idol, situated in the Shantinath temple of Khajuraho.
E. Idol in standing posture, situated in the 19th temple of Devagarh.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, D and E only
2. B, C and E only
3. B, C and D only
4. B, D and E only

Correct Answer: 2. B, C and E only

Solution:

Idol of Saraswati in Jain temples
B. Kankali Tila, Mathura → Excavations at Kankali Tila (Mathura) uncovered a broken standing idol of Saraswati, dated to the Kushan period (c. 132 CE). This is one of the earliest known Saraswati idols linked with Jainism.
C. Ladnun Jain Temple (Rajasthan) → The Bada Digambar Jain Mandir at Ladnun houses an idol of Saraswati Mata, which, according to local accounts, was miraculously discovered from the ground. This shows Saraswati's importance in Jain educational and literary traditions.
E. Devagarh (Uttar Pradesh)→ The 19th temple at Devagarh fort contains a rare standing idol of Saraswati, dated to around the 8th century CE, representing her role as the goddess of learning within Jain culture. Incorrect statements:
A. Ellora caves → Jain caves at Ellora (Caves 30-34) are rich in Tirthankara idols and carvings, but no major Saraswati idol is recorded here.
D. Shantinath temple, Khajuraho → This temple enshrines a massive idol of Lord Shantinath, but not Saraswati.
Correct set: B, C, Е.

68. Identify the correct statement in regard to Gandhi's Views on non-violence.

A. Non-violence is the supreme law.
B. Non-violence is most active force in the world.
C. Non-violence can 'seize' power.
D. Non-violence means meek submission to the will of the evid-doer.
E. Non-violence means conscious suffering.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below':

1. A, B, E only
2. B, D, E only
3. C, D, E only
4. A, D, E only

Correct Answer: 1. A, B, E only

Solution:

Gandhi's Views on Non-violence (Ahimsa)
A. Non-violence is the supreme law. Gandhi called it the law of our being. B. Non-violence is the most active force in the world. He stressed it requires greater courage than violence.
E. Non-violence means conscious suffering. Through Satyagraha, self-suffering purifies and appeals to the opponent's conscience.
C (seizing power) and D (meek submission) are against Gandhi's philosophy.

69. Identify the correct statement in regard to Gandhi's early life:

A. His parents were staunch Vaishnavas.
B. He learnt non-violence from the book Manusmriti.
C. He visited great exhibition at Paris in 1890.
D. He read the book The Song Celestial in England.
E. He did not make any experiments in dietetics while in England.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, C only
2. А, C, D only
3. B, D, E only
4. A, C, E only

Correct Answer: 2. А, C, D only

Solution:

Gandhi's Early Life - Evaluation of Statements
A. His parents were staunch Vaishnavas. Correct. Gandhi's family followed Vaishnavism, and his mother Putlibai was also influenced by Jain practices of ahimsa.
B. He learnt non-violence from Manusmriti. Incorrect. Gandhi's non-violence was inspired mainly by Jainism, the Gita, and Christian writers, not Manusmriti.
C. He visited the great exhibition at Paris in 1890. Correct. While studying in London, Gandhi visited Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Exhibition (1890).
D. He read The Song Celestial in England. Correct. Gandhi read Sir Edwin Arnold's translation of the Gita during his stay in London, which left a deep impression.
E. He did not make experiments in dietetics in England. Incorrect. Gandhi conducted many experiments in vegetarianism and dietetics in London, even joining the London Vegetarian Society.
Correct Set: A, C, D.

70. Identify the correct statements in regard to Gandhi's idea of freedom.

A. He saw freedom as absolute individualism.
B. He viewed freedom as a spiritual quest.
C. Freedom can be achieved by any means.
D. Freedom must be achieved through nonviolence.
E. Freedom is incomplete without uplifting the oppressed.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, D only
2. C, D, E only
3. B, D, E only
4. В, C, E only

Correct Answer: 3. B, D, E only

Solution:

Gandhi's Idea of Freedom - Evaluation of Statements
B. Freedom as a spiritual quest. Gandhi saw Swaraj not just as political independence but also as self-mastery, moral growth, and inner purification.
D. Freedom must be achieved through non-violence. For Gandhi, means and ends were inseparable. Only ahimsa and satyagraha could bring about true and lasting freedom.
E. Freedom is incomplete without uplifting the oppressed. Gandhi linked freedom with removal of untouchability, upliftment of the marginalized, and social justice for all.
Incorrect statements:
A. Freedom as absolute individualism. Gandhi rejected this as selfish and anarchic, stressing discipline and social duty.
C. Freedom can be achieved by any means. He insisted that unjust means cannot produce just ends.
Correct Set: B, D, Е.