Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 18, 2025

Answer: C [Pataliputra]
Explanation:

The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra (present-day Patna, India) under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka. It was presided over by the monk Moggaliputta Tissa with the aim of purifying the Buddhist movement, particularly from opportunistic factions that had joined the order because of its royal patronage.

Answer: D [Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct]
Explanation:

Statement-1 is incorrect: Kanishka was a ruler of the Kushana dynasty, known for his patronage of Buddhism, not Shaivism (though he showed tolerance toward multiple faiths). He is credited with starting the Shaka Era, but it began in 78 CE (Common Era) — not 78 BCE.

Statement-2 is correct: The Shaka Era, which marks the beginning of Kanishka’s reign, is used by the Government of India as the basis for the Indian National Calendar (official calendar), adopted in 1957.

Answer: C [1 and 3 only]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Kushanas’ control over key sections of the Silk Road allowed them to levy tolls, which became a substantial source of revenue for their empire. This facilitated trade and enriched the Kushana treasury.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While medicinal plants, textiles (especially cotton and silk), spices (like pepper), and ivory were major exports from India to the Roman world, horses were not. India was a prominent importer of high-quality war horses, primarily from Central Asia and Arabia, as indigenous breeds were not considered as suitable for cavalry warfare.

Statement 3 is correct: Pliny the Elder, in his “Natural History,” explicitly lamented the outflow of Roman gold to India in exchange for luxury goods, highlighting the trade imbalance between the two empires.

Statement 4 is incorrect: While there might have been some initial disruption following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, maritime trade with Southeast Asia continued and even flourished under subsequent dynasties like the Satavahanas, who actively engaged in this trade network.

Answer: D [All of the above]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Indo-Parthian Kingdom was largely confined to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, overlapping significantly with modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Statement 2 is correct. Arachosia (Kandahar region), Drangiana (Helmand River valley), and Gandhara (Peshawar valley) were key regions under Indo-Parthian control, demonstrating their influence over the eastern Iranian plateau and its connections to the Indian subcontinent.

Statement 3 is correct. Numismatic evidence, specifically coins issued by Gondophernes found in cities like Kabul and Taxila, confirms his reign and the extent of his authority within the Indo-Parthian kingdom.

Answer: B [Only two]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Fourth Buddhist Council was convened under the patronage of King Kanishka of the Kushana Empire.

Statement 2 is correct: Vasumitra presided over the council, and Asvaghosha, a renowned philosopher and poet, served as his deputy.

Statement 3 is incorrect: While the Fourth Buddhist Council played a crucial role in the development of Mahayana Buddhism and highlighted the differences that would eventually lead to the formal distinction between Mahayana and Hinayana, the council itself did not formally establish these sects as separate schools. The division emerged gradually over subsequent centuries.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalavana in Kashmir, not Mathura. Mathura was a significant center of Buddhism during the Kushana period but not the location of this particular council.