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Q30·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2020

Ashoka's Inscriptions on Religious Tolerance

HistoryAncient India (general)Factual singleEasyStatic

Question

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

Options

a

Ashoka

Answer
b

Samudragupta

c

Harshavardhana

d

Krishnadeva Raya

Explanation

This quote is a direct translation from Major Rock Edict XII of Emperor Ashoka. In this edict, Ashoka appeals for tolerance among all religious sects, stating that honoring other sects essentially brings honor to one's own, while criticizing them harms one's own sect. > One-line conceptual takeaway: Ashoka's Dhamma heavily emphasized mutual respect and religious tolerance as state policy. Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2020

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q30

Subject

History

Sub-topic

Ancient India (general)

Type

Factual single

Difficulty

Easy

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT Ancient India / Rock Edict XII

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