APPSC Paper I · Executive Officer Paper II · Topic 8

8 APPSC Paper I Philosophies, Cults and Gurus questions with answers

19 questions from APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II question paper with answers and APPSC EO Paper II Mock 1 with answers. Try each one, then tap Show answer.

Previous-paper questions are as in the original paper. Medha AI wrote the answers and explanations.

8.1Acharyas: Sankara, Ramanuja, MadhvaNotes

  1. Q1 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q67

    Which philosophical school is associated with Adi Shankaracharya and what is its core teaching ?

    1. ADvaita – Dualism between soul and God
    2. BAdvaita – Non-dualism, Atman and Brahman are one
    3. CVishishtadvaita – Qualified non-dualism
    4. DAchintya Bheda Abheda – Inconceivable oneness and difference
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Advaita – Non-dualism, Atman and Brahman are one

    Adi Shankara expounded Advaita Vedanta: Brahman alone is real and the individual self (Atman) is not different from it.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q68, final key

  2. Q2 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q90

    Who was the guru of Shankara Bhagavatpada ?

    1. AGaudapada
    2. BGovindabhagavatpada
    3. CUvvatacharya
    4. DYamunacharya
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Govindabhagavatpada

    Adi Shankara was initiated into sannyasa by Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada; Gaudapada was Govinda's guru.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q92, final key

  3. Q3 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q94

    Who wrote the book Prashnottaramalika ?

    1. ARamanujacharya
    2. BShankaracharya
    3. CMadhvacharya
    4. DVikhanas
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Shankaracharya

    Prashnottara Ratna Malika, a short work of questions and answers on spiritual life, is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q97, final key

  4. Q4 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q95

    Who is the founder of Chaturamnaya Peethas ?

    1. AVidyaranya
    2. BShankaracharya
    3. CRamanujacharya
    4. DRaghavendra Swami
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Shankaracharya

    Adi Shankaracharya founded the four amnaya mathas: Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Jyotirmath.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q98, final key

  5. Q5 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q99

    Sankara explains the world as an apparent appearance of Brahman, like a snake seen in a rope. This view of causation is called:

    1. AParinamavada
    2. BVivartavada
    3. CArambhavada
    4. DAsatkaryavada
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Vivartavada

    The rope-snake example shows Sankara's point that the world is superimposed on Brahman without changing it.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)

  6. Q6 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q102

    Which sage is credited with composing the Brahma Sutras (Vedanta Sutras)?

    1. ABadarayana
    2. BJaimini
    3. CKanada
    4. DGautama
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Badarayana

    The Brahma Sutras (Vedanta Sutras) summarise the Upanishads in short aphorisms.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)

  7. Q7 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q105

    Madhva's Pancha bhedas are five eternal differences among:

    1. AGod, souls and matter
    2. BThe four Vedas and the Agamas
    3. CThe four varnas and the Panchamas
    4. DThe three gunas of Prakriti
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. God, souls and matter

    The five bhedas are jiva–Iswara, jada–Iswara, jiva–jada, jiva–jiva and jada–jada: eternal differences between God, souls and matter. EO 2026 asked this as Dvaita's key difference.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

8.1Alwars, Nayanars and BasavaNotes

  1. Q8 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q68

    Ramanujacharya’s concept of “Vishishtadvaita” differs from Shankaracharya’s Advaita mainly in that

    1. AIt denies the existence of Brahman
    2. BIt sees the world as entirely unreal
    3. CIt accepts a qualified non-dualism, where Atman and Brahman are distinct yet inseparable
    4. DIt proposes a purely dualistic view of God and Soul
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. It accepts a qualified non-dualism, where Atman and Brahman are distinct yet inseparable

    For Ramanuja, souls and matter are real attributes forming the body of Brahman: distinct from it yet inseparable, unlike Advaita's pure identity.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q69, final key

  2. Q9 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q69

    What is a key difference in Madhvacharya’s Dvaita philosophy compared to other Vedanta schools ?

    1. AIt claims all deities are equal and non-distinct
    2. BIt asserts complete identity between Atman and Brahman
    3. CIt proposes an eternal difference between God, Souls and Matter
    4. DIt denies the authority of the Vedas
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. It proposes an eternal difference between God, Souls and Matter

    Madhva's Dvaita teaches five eternal differences (pancha bheda) among God, souls and matter, with Vishnu as the independent reality.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q70, final key

  3. Q10 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q70

    Which of the following Vaishnavite gurus propagated the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita and emphasized surrender (prapatti) to Lord Vishnu for liberation ?

    1. AMadhvacharya
    2. BAdi Shankaracharya
    3. CRamanujacharya
    4. DChaitanya Mahaprabhu
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Ramanujacharya

    Ramanujacharya systematised Vishishtadvaita and taught prapatti, total surrender to Narayana, as a path to moksha.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q71, final key

  4. Q11 EO Gr III 2026 Paper II, Q83

    Who wrote the commentary on the Brahma Sutras called Aṇubhāṣya ?

    1. AThe Ramanujacharya
    2. BThe Madhwacharya
    3. CThe Shankaracharya
    4. DThe Raghavendratirtha
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. The Madhwacharya

    Madhvacharya wrote the Anubhashya, a brief verse summary of the Brahma Sutras, besides his main Brahma Sutra Bhashya and Anuvyakhyana.

    Source: APPSC EO Gr III 2026 Paper II (Notification 10/2025), Q85, final key

  5. Q12 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q100

    The Andhra form of Veerashaivism, which blended bhakti with Vedic custom, is called:

    1. ASiddha Shaivam
    2. BTantra Shaivam
    3. CAradhya Shaivam
    4. DPashupata Shaivam
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Aradhya Shaivam

    In Andhra, Mallikarjuna Panditaradhya and others did not adopt all of Basava's reforms and joined bhakti with Vedic tradition; this is Aradhya Shaivam.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

  6. Q13 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q103

    The 'Shathagopam' placed on devotees' heads in Vishnu temples is named after:

    1. AMadhurakavi Alwar
    2. BRamanuja
    3. CNammalwar
    4. DKulasekhara Alwar
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Nammalwar

    The crown bearing the Lord's feet, set on devotees' heads in Vishnu temples, is called Shathagopam (Shatari) after Nammalwar, who is regarded as the Lord's feet.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

  7. Q14 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q106

    Basaveshwara is best known as the leading propagator of:

    1. APashupata Shaivam
    2. BVeerashaivam
    3. CSiddha Shaivam
    4. DKalamukha Shaivam
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Veerashaivam

    Basava is the great leader of Veerashaivam, the anti-caste Shaiva movement of 12th-century Karnataka.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

8.1Darshanas and Vedanta schoolsNotes

  1. Q15 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q97

    Which of the following is NOT one of Madhva's classes of jiva?

    1. AMuktiyogya
    2. BNityasamsari
    3. CNityasuri
    4. DTamoyogya
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Nityasuri

    Madhva divides jivas into Muktiyogya, Nityasamsari and Tamoyogya; Nitya (Nityasuri), Mukta and Baddha is Ramanuja's division.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)

  2. Q16 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q98

    Match the darshana (List I) with its founder (List II):

    List I

    a. Nyaya

    b. Vaisheshika

    c. Samkhya

    d. Yoga

    List II

    I. Kapila

    II. Patanjali

    III. Gautama

    IV. Kanada

    1. Aa-IV, b-III, c-I, d-II
    2. Ba-III, b-IV, c-II, d-I
    3. Ca-III, b-IV, c-I, d-II
    4. Da-I, b-IV, c-III, d-II
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. a-III, b-IV, c-I, d-II

    Nyaya - Gautama, Vaisheshika - Kanada, Samkhya - Kapila, Yoga - Patanjali.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)

  3. Q17 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q101

    The doctrine of Achintya Bhedabheda is associated with:

    1. AChaitanya Mahaprabhu
    2. BNimbarkacharya
    3. CVallabhacharya
    4. DMadhvacharya
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

    Achintya Bhedabheda: the soul is inconceivably one with and different from Krishna.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC EO Grade III Paper II syllabus (23/2026)

  4. Q18 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q104

    'Brahma satyam jaganmithya' sums up the teaching of which school?

    1. AVishishtadvaita
    2. BAdvaita
    3. CDvaita
    4. DSankhya
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Advaita

    'Brahman is real, the world is unreal' is the essence of Sankara's Advaita, which gives priority to jnana.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

  5. Q19 EO Paper II Mock 1, Q107

    Purva Mimamsa chiefly explains which part of the Vedas?

    1. AJnana-kanda (Upanishads)
    2. BThe Upavedas
    3. CThe Vedangas
    4. DKarma-kanda (rites and yajnas)
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Karma-kanda (rites and yajnas)

    Purva Mimamsa mainly explains the karma-kanda of the Vedas: yajnas, yagas, Vedic duties and dharmic acts. The Upanishadic jnana-kanda is left to Uttara Mimamsa.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the EO Paper II course book (Mr.Competitive)

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