UPSC Prelims 2013·GS1·art-and-culture·architecture

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements: 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A1 only
  2. B2 and 3 only
  3. C3 onlyCorrect
  4. D1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are the Barabar Caves (3rd century BCE, Mauryan period), not the Badami caves, which date to the 6th century CE (Chalukyan period). Statement 2 is incorrect. The Barabar rock-cut caves were indeed made for Ajivikas, but they were commissioned by Emperor Ashoka (grandson of Chandragupta Maurya), not Chandragupta Maurya himself. Statement 3 is correct. The Ellora Caves complex includes rock-cut structures dedicated to three different faiths: Buddhism (caves 1-12), Hinduism (caves 13-29), and Jainism (caves 30-34), showcasing religious harmony. Therefore, only statement 3 is correct.
art-and-culture: With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements: 1. The caves at Badami
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