Civics Polity · History

Indian Philosophical Concepts

3,610 Questions

Delve into questions assessing core Indian philosophical concepts, ancient schools of thought, and related global philosophies. The topics cover the Bhagavad Gita, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Karma, and the pursuit of Moksha. This content is highly suitable for UPSC civil services preparation and other liberal arts entrance examinations.

Schools of philosophyVedic traditionsConcepts of KarmaPaths to Moksha

Indian Philosophical Concepts Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge

Goal of Yoga

  1. Improving health

  2. Moksha

  3. Suspending breath

  4. Loosing conscious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B Correct answer
Explanation

Yoga has multiple goals. The ultimate spiritual aim is Moksha (liberation from suffering), the highest goal. Physical and mental health benefits (improving health) are secondary but widely recognized goals. Suspending breath (Pranayama) is a technique, not a goal. 'Loosing conscious' is garbled and incorrect - yoga aims to expand consciousness, not lose it.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture

What does a Hindu achieve through Sanyas?

  1. More money & popularity

  2. Moksha aims at giving up desires & attachments, whatever one needs to do to achieve this aim is Sanyas

  3. Free from ordinary life responsibility & burden

  4. Just to get a change
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sanyas in Hindu philosophy is the path of renunciation undertaken to achieve Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth). It involves giving up worldly desires and attachments. Option A contradicts the very essence of Sanyas, while C and D are superficial understandings.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture

What are the Objectives of the book?

  1. ??????? ?????????????? ???????????????, (Truth will punish the irresponsible erring king)

  2. ??????? ????????? ?????????? ????????, (A women with great morals will be praised by intellects)

  3. ????? ???????????? ????? ??????????(If heaven its watery treasures ceases to dispense,Through the wide world cease gifts, and deeds of ‘penitence’)

  4. ??????? ??????? ??????????? ????????, (one has to pay for his acts)(past and present acts of one, will certainly yield its results on him)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B,D Correct answer
Multiple choice general knowledge history

Which of the following, according to Gandhiji, is an essential principle of satyagraha?

  1. Infinite capacity for suffering

  2. Non violence

  3. Truth

  4. All of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Gandhiji's satyagraha was founded on multiple interconnected principles: truth (satya), non-violence (ahimsa), and the willingness to suffer without retaliation. All three were essential - none could be practiced without the others in his philosophy.

Multiple choice general knowledge history

"Sarva dharman parithyajya mam ekam sharanam vraja .. Aham tvaa sarva paapebhyo mokshaishyami maa shucha " is again an oft quoted text from gita and its equivalent appears in BIBLE and QURAN. It means

  1. sacrifice all your karmas and dharmas to almighty

  2. surrender unto almighty all thy deeds

  3. surrender all your actions and take refuge in almighty alone and you shall be liberated from all your sins

  4. thou shall surrender to me alone and thee shall be given the best results

  5. anyone who is fully devoted to me shall never be let down by me
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This famous verse from Chapter 18 (verse 66) is Krishna's ultimate assurance - abandon all dharmas and surrender completely to Him alone, and He will liberate one from all sins. This is the essence of complete surrender (prapatti).

Multiple choice general knowledge history

The oft quoted sloka from gita starts with "Karmanyeva adhikaarasthe maa phaleshu kadhachana .." It means

  1. surrender all your actions to god

  2. keep performing your duties but expect not the results for the same

  3. surrender all your duties and results to god

  4. if you surrender your karma to god the result will automatically be good.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This verse from Chapter 2 (verse 47) is one of the most quoted from the Gita - you have the right to perform your duties, but not to claim the results. Focus on action itself, not the fruits of action.

Multiple choice general knowledge history

The oft quoted sloka from gita starts with "Karmanyeva adhikaarasthe maa phaleshu kadhachana .." It means

  1. surrender all your actions to god

  2. keep performing your duties but expect not the results for the same

  3. surrender all your duties and results to god

  4. if you surrender your karma to god the result will automatically be good.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This verse from Chapter 2, Karma Yoga, teaches that you have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. It emphasizes focusing on action itself rather than being attached to outcomes. Options A, C, and D incorrectly emphasize surrender to God rather than karma yoga philosophy.

Multiple choice general knowledge history

Sarva dharman parithyajya mam ekam sharanam vraja .. Aham tvaa sarva paapebhyo mokshaishyami maa shucha -- is again an oft quoted text from gita and its equivalent appears in BIBLE and QURAN. It means

  1. sacrifice all your karmas and dharmas to almighty

  2. surrender unto almighty all thy deeds

  3. surrender all your actions and take refuge in almighty alone and you shall be liberated from all your sins

  4. thou shall surrender to me alone and thee shall be given the best results
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This verse from Chapter 18, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, is the essence of the Gita's message. Krishna tells Arjuna to abandon all varieties of dharma and surrender exclusively to Him, promising liberation from all sins. It parallels concepts of surrender in both the Bible and Quran. Options A, B, and D miss the complete meaning of refuge and liberation.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

bereaved

  1. in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

  2. deprived of (someone beloved through death)

  3. decorate with needlework

  4. Christian religious ceremony
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Bereaved' refers to someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one through death - literally 'deprived of someone beloved through death'. This matches option B. Option A describes 'nirvana' (Buddhist concept), option C means 'embroider', and option D refers to ceremonies like baptism.

Multiple choice

The aim of Sarvodaya is

  1. upliftment of women

  2. total development of all

  3. oneness of all

  4. welfare of all
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sarvodaya is a term meaning 'universal uplift' or 'progress of all'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

Some of the profoundest ideas relating to the philosophy of work are to be found in the Bhagvad-Gita. It is unique in its stress on work-ethics. Among the great religious books of the past, this is the only book whose central theme is work, man at work, and man achieving from work a double benefit, namely, social welfare outside, and spiritual growth within. All other religious books deal with man at worship, at prayer, at meditation, at ritual. But Gita deals primarily with man at work, and presents worship, prayer, meditation and ritual as means for man`s spiritual growth, development and realization on one hand and for increasing his work-efficiency, leading to social welfare, on the other. This is yoga.

What is the underlying idea of the passage?

  1. To highlight the importance of Bhagvad-Gita, the scripture

  2. To demonstrate superiority of the Bhagvad-Gita over other scriptures

  3. To show that Bhagvad-Gita is more concerned with work than with prayers and worships

  4. To throw light on the benefits of yoga

  5. To discount the aspect of spiritual growth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The writer wants to show that by laying more stress on work than on prayers and worships, the Bhagvad-gita serves a greater cause of society.