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General Studies (Paper 1) from JKPSC JKAS 2023 Prelims
Subject: General Studies (Paper 1) Medieval India Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission Last updated May 9, 2026
JKPSC Prelims 2023 General Studies (Paper 1)

Consider the following statements regarding important Bhakti saints Sankara from Kerala and Ramanuja from Tamilnadu.

1. Both Sankara and Ramanuja are contemporaries and they believed in Non-Dualism, that is, the God and created world is one.
2. Sankara argued that the way forward to salvation was strengthened by knowledge
3. Ramanuja argued that the grace of God is more important than the knowledge about him in order to attain salvation.
4. Sankara upheld the Vedas as the fountain-head of true knowledge and Ramanuja believed the path of Bhakti was open to all, irrespective of caste.

Choose the correct answer:

Answer & Explanation

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Correct Answer: Option B — 2,3 and 4 only
Chronology and Philosophy (Statement 1 is Incorrect)
Contemporaries? No. Adi Shankara lived in the 8th century CE, while Ramanuja lived much later, in the 11th–12th century CE.

Non-Dualism? Only Shankara believed in absolute Non-Dualism (Advaita). Ramanuja proposed Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-Dualism), arguing that while the soul and God are related, they are not identical.

2. Knowledge vs. Salvation (Statement 2 is Correct)
Shankara emphasized Jnana Marga (the path of knowledge). He taught that the world is Maya (illusion) and that realizing the oneness of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman) through knowledge is the only way to attain Moksha (salvation).

3. Grace of God (Statement 3 is Correct)
Ramanuja emphasized Bhakti Marga (the path of devotion). He argued that while knowledge is useful, it is the intense devotion to and the grace (Prasada) of Lord Vishnu that ultimately grants salvation. He viewed God as a personal being full of love.

4. Vedas and Caste (Statement 4 is Correct)
Shankara: Consistently upheld the Vedas and Upanishads as the supreme authority and the source of true knowledge.

Ramanuja: Though a Brahmana, he was socially revolutionary for his time. He believed that the path of Prapatti (total surrender to God) was open to everyone, including Shudras and the outcastes, whom he referred to as Thirukulattar (people of noble descent).
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
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JKPSC JKAS 2023 Prelims

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Exam JKPSC
Recruitment JKAS
Stage Prelims
Year 2023
Subject General Studies (Paper 1)
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