MPPSC 2022 Prelims Paper-I · Question 70 of 100

Correct — C and D (both accepted). Ajanta (Maharashtra) and Bagh (Madhya Pradesh) are both famous rock-cut Buddhist cave complexes, so they are ruled out. Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) is celebrated for its Great Stupa and carved gateways (toranas) rather than excavated caves, so it correctly qualifies as a place where Buddhist caves are not found; Bulsar (Valsad, on the Gujarat coast) is likewise not a recognised Buddhist rock-cut cave site, and the official key extended grace credit to it as well.

• (a)Ajanta — Wrong to pick — Ajanta is precisely where Buddhist caves ARE found; its rock-cut chaitya halls and viharas (2nd century BCE–6th century CE) are world-famous.
• (b)Bagh — Wrong to pick — the Bagh Caves (Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh) are a well-known Buddhist rock-cut site, home to rare surviving Gupta-era murals.

Not every celebrated Buddhist heritage site in central-western India takes the form of caves — some, like Sanchi, are stupa-and-gateway complexes built on a hilltop platform rather than excavated cave shrines. Recognising this cave-vs-stupa distinction (rock-cut viharas & chaityas versus a solid, free-standing stupa) is central to this question.

MPPSC likes to test which sites among a cluster of famous Buddhist locations are actually caves versus a different monument type — the trap is assuming every well-known Buddhist site (Sanchi included) must be a cave site simply because it is grouped alongside Ajanta and Bagh.

• Ajanta (Maharashtra) and Bagh (Madhya Pradesh) are genuine Buddhist rock-cut cave complexes
• Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) is known for its Great Stupa and carved toranas, not excavated caves
• Bagh Caves preserve rare Gupta-period murals, alongside Ajanta's
• The official key accepted both Sanchi and Bulsar as correct for this 'NOT found' question

• Assuming Sanchi has caves because it is grouped with Ajanta and Bagh in the same MCQ
• Treating 'Buddhist site' and 'Buddhist cave' as always the same thing

MPPSC tests site-type recognition — memorise which famous Buddhist locations are caves (Ajanta, Bagh, Ellora) versus stupas/other monument types (Sanchi, Amaravati).

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Sanchi, in Madhya Pradesh, is primarily famous for which type of Buddhist monument?

  • (a)Rock-cut caves
  • (b)The Great Stupa and its carved gateways (toranas)
  • (c)A university/monastic complex
  • (d)Cave murals

  Answer(b) The Great Stupa and its toranas — Sanchi is a stupa site, not a cave site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Bagh Caves, known for rare surviving Gupta-period murals besides those at Ajanta, are located in which state?

  • (a)Maharashtra
  • (b)Madhya Pradesh
  • (c)Gujarat
  • (d)Odisha

  Answer(b) Madhya Pradesh (Dhar district).