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Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

Consider the following statements about Indian value concepts: I. 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) is a concept found in the Maha Upanishad II. 'Sarva Dharma Sambhava' (equal respect for all religions) is a concept explicitly stated in the Rigveda III. 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' (non-violence is the supreme duty) appears as a concept in Mahabharata Which of the above statements are correct?

Correct answer: (B) I and III only.

Only statements I and III are correct. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is found in the Maha Upanishad, and Ahimsa Paramo Dharma appears in the Mahabharata; statement II is incorrect because Sarva Dharma Samabhava is not explicitly stated in the Rigveda.

  1. (A)

    I and II only

  2. (B)

    I and III only

  3. (C)

    II and III only

  4. (D)

    I, II and III

Explanation

The question asks whether each phrase associated with Indian values is correctly matched with its textual source. Statement I is correct. According to the Prime Minister of India, the theme of India's G20 presidency, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", rendered as "One Earth, One Family, One Future", is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. The phrase is associated with Maha Upanishad 6.71 and expresses the idea of the world as one family. Statement III is also correct because "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma" appears in the Mahabharata, including the Adi Parva and the Anushasan Parva. Statement II is incorrect. "Sarva Dharma Samabhava" is not stated verbatim in the Rigveda; it is a modern phrase popularised by Mahatma Gandhi and draws on a broader Rigvedic spirit.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Option A includes statement II, which is incorrect because Sarva Dharma Samabhava is not explicitly stated in the Rigveda; it also omits the correct statement III.
  • (C) Option C omits statement I even though the Prime Minister of India identifies Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam with the Maha Upanishad; it also includes statement II, although Sarva Dharma Samabhava is not explicitly stated in the Rigveda.
  • (D) Option D treats all three statements as correct, but statement II is incorrect because Sarva Dharma Samabhava is not found verbatim in the Rigveda and is a modern formulation.

Concept

This tests the ability to identify the textual sources of Indian ethical and civilisational value concepts. In RAS, fact-based matching questions on ancient Indian history and culture often pair a familiar phrase with the wrong text, so you must distinguish what is scriptural, what comes from a later tradition, and what is a modern formulation.

Source

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