CSS Comparative Study MCQs

This carefully curated collection of MCQs on the Comparative Study of Major Religions for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is designed to equip candidates with a nuanced understanding of the world’s major religious traditions. Covering essential topics such as beliefs, practices, historical developments, and inter-religious dynamics, these questions aim to foster a comprehensive knowledge base that is crucial for success in the CSS exams.

Who Should Practice Comparative Study of Major Religions MCQs?

CSS aspirants: Ideal for candidates preparing for the CSS examination who wish to excel in the Comparative Study of Major Religions section.
Students of religious studies and social sciences: Beneficial for individuals pursuing academic interests in religion, culture, and societal impacts.
Job seekers in public service: Perfect for those aiming for positions in government where understanding diverse religious perspectives is essential.
Individuals interested in interfaith dialogue: Suitable for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of various religious traditions and promote tolerance and respect among different faiths.

1. What is the definition of religion?

A) A belief in a higher power
B) A system of beliefs and practices
C) A cultural system
D) All of the above

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2. Which discipline studies religion academically?

A) Sociology
B) Theology
C) Anthropology
D) All of the above

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3. What is the primary focus of the theological study of religion?

A) Rituals and practices
B) Sacred texts
C) Beliefs about the divine
D) Historical developments

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4. Which of the following is considered a major world religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Jainism
C) Zoroastrianism
D) All of the above

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5. Hinduism primarily emerged from which ancient civilization?

A) Mesopotamian
B) Indus Valley
C) Egyptian
D) Chinese

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6. The Vedic Dharma is associated with which phase of Hinduism?

A) Prehistoric
B) Ancient
C) Medieval
D) Modern

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7. Which scripture is considered Sruti in Hinduism?

A) Mahabharata
B) Vedas
C) Manu Smirti
D) Puranas

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8. What does the term ‘Moksha’ refer to in Hindu beliefs?

A) Rebirth
B) Liberation
C) Karma
D) Dharma

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9. The three paths to liberation in Hinduism are Karma, Jnana, and what?

A) Bhakti
B) Dhyana
C) Artha
D) Shakti

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10. Who is considered the creator god in Hinduism?

A) Vishnu
B) Shiva
C) Brahma
D) Ganesh

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11. Which sect of Hinduism emphasizes the worship of Vishnu?

A) Saivism
B) Shaktism
C) Vaishnavism
D) Jainism

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12. What social structure is integral to Hindu society?

A) Class system
B) Caste system
C) Feudal system
D) Clan system

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13. Which of the following is a major Buddhist text?

A) Vedas
B) Tripitaka
C) Quran
D) Bible

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14. The Four Noble Truths are central to which religion?

A) Hinduism
B) Buddhism
C) Judaism
D) Islam

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15. What is the term for the community of monks in Buddhism?

A) Sangha
B) Dhamma
C) Buddha
D) Vihara

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16. Which of the following represents a key teaching of Buddhism?

A) Karma
B) Reincarnation
C) The Eightfold Path
D) Moksha

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17. What is the Jewish holy text called?

A) Bible
B) Tanakh
C) Quran
D) Bhagavad Gita

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18. Who is considered the father of Judaism?

A) Jesus
B) Muhammad
C) Abraham
D) Moses

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19. What is the significance of Yom Kippur in Judaism?

A) Celebration of freedom
B) Day of atonement
C) Festival of lights
D) Harvest festival

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20. Which of the following is a Christian sacrament?

A) Baptism
B) Bar Mitzvah
C) Puja
D) Ashram

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21. Who is the central figure of Christianity?

A) Moses
B) Buddha
C) Jesus Christ
D) Muhammad

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22. What is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus called?

A) Advent
B) Christmas
C) Easter
D) Pentecost

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23. The doctrine of the Trinity is unique to which religion?

A) Judaism
B) Buddhism
C) Christianity
D) Hinduism

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24. What does ‘Tawhid’ refer to in Islam?

A) The Holy Book
B) The Oneness of God
C) The Prophets
D) The Community

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25. Which pillar of Islam involves fasting during Ramadan?

A) Salah
B) Zakah
C) Sawm
D) Hajj

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26. Who is regarded as the last prophet in Islam?

A) Jesus
B) Moses
C) Muhammad
D) Abraham

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27. The Hadith refers to what in Islam?

A) Islamic law
B) Sayings of the Prophet
C) The holy city
D) Sacred prayers

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28. Which of the following is a primary Jewish festival?

A) Eid al-Fitr
B) Passover
C) Diwali
D) Christmas

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29. Which religion emphasizes meditation as a key practice?

A) Christianity
B) Buddhism
C) Judaism
D) Islam

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30. In Hinduism, what is ‘Dharma’?

A) Fate
B) Duty
C) Knowledge
D) Liberation

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31. The term ‘Moksha’ is often associated with what concept in Hinduism?

A) Enlightenment
B) Liberation from the cycle of birth
C) Rituals
D) Ethical living

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32. Which Buddhist sect is known as the “Greater Vehicle”?

A) Theravada
B) Mahayana
C) Zen
D) Vajrayana

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33. What is the significance of the Talmud in Judaism?

A) Sacred text
B) Code of ethics
C) Interpretation of the Torah
D) All of the above

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34. Which Christian denomination is known for its emphasis on tradition?

A) Protestantism
B) Eastern Orthodoxy
C) Anglicanism
D) Evangelicalism

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35. The Jewish New Year is called what?

A) Yom Kippur
B) Rosh Hashanah
C) Passover
D) Sukkot

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36. What do Christians celebrate during Advent?

A) Jesus’ resurrection
B) The birth of Jesus
C) The Ascension
D) The Epiphany

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37. The concept of Karma is primarily associated with which religions?

A) Christianity and Judaism
B) Hinduism and Buddhism
C) Islam and Christianity
D) Jainism and Sikhism

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38. The Ashramas in Hinduism refer to what?

A) Stages of life
B) Types of worship
C) Sacred texts
D) Forms of meditation

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39. What is the main focus of the Christian practice of Eucharist?

A) Prayer
B) Community
C) Remembering the Last Supper
D) Worship of Mary

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40. The First Council of Nicaea is significant for which religion?

A) Judaism
B) Buddhism
C) Christianity
D) Islam

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41. What does the term ‘Halakha’ refer to in Judaism?

A) Ritual prayer
B) Jewish law
C) Religious music
D) Sacred text

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42. Which Hindu text discusses the moral and philosophical aspects of life?

A) Vedas
B) Upanishads
C) Ramayana
D) Bhagavad Gita

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43. Who is the founder of Buddhism?

A) Mahavira
B) Gautama Buddha
C) Confucius
D) Laozi

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44. What is a key teaching of Judaism regarding the nature of God?

A) Polytheism
B) Monotheism
C) Pantheism
D) Atheism

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45. The concept of ‘Original Sin’ is associated with which religion?

A) Judaism
B) Islam
C) Christianity
D) Hinduism

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46. What is the primary sacred text of Islam?

A) The Bible
B) The Vedas
C) The Quran
D) The Tripitaka

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47. In which religion is the concept of ‘Nirvana’ found?

A) Hinduism
B) Buddhism
C) Islam
D) Christianity

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48. The Jewish festival of Sukkot celebrates what?

A) The Exodus
B) The harvest
C) The Day of Atonement
D) The New Year

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49. Which of the following is NOT one of the Five Pillars of Islam?

A) Shahadah
B) Hajj
C) Zakah
D) Jihad

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50. What do the followers of Jainism believe in strongly?

A) Reincarnation
B) Monotheism
C) Atman
D) The Trinity

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51. What is a major belief in Hindu philosophy regarding the soul?

A) The soul is permanent and unchanging
B) The soul is a temporary illusion
C) The soul is reincarnated based on karma
D) The soul does not exist

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52. The religious authority in Orthodox Judaism is primarily held by whom?

A) Rabbi
B) Priest
C) Imam
D) Monk

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53. What is the central theme of the Mahabharata?

A) The creation of the universe
B) The battle for dharma
C) The life of Buddha
D) The stories of the prophets

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54. Which of the following is a sacred site for Christians?

A) Ganges River
B) Mount Sinai
C) Mecca
D) Bethlehem

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55. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates what event?

A) The Exodus
B) The Maccabean Revolt
C) The Day of Atonement
D) The New Year

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56. Which of the following religions is known for its teachings on non-violence?

A) Christianity
B) Buddhism
C) Hinduism
D) Islam

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57. In Islam, who is recognized as the first prophet?

A) Noah
B) Ibrahim (Abraham)
C) Musa (Moses)
D) Muhammad

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58. The term ‘Zakah’ refers to what in Islam?

A) Pilgrimage
B) Fasting
C) Almsgiving
D) Prayer

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59. What is the primary focus of the Upanishads in Hinduism?

A) Ritual practices
B) Philosophical concepts
C) Historical narratives
D) Laws of conduct

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60. Which of the following is a common characteristic of monotheistic religions?

A) Belief in multiple gods
B) Sacred texts
C) Focus on rituals
D) Belief in a single deity

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61. The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader in which religion?

A) Hinduism
B) Buddhism
C) Christianity
D) Islam

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62. The Ten Commandments are associated with which religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Hinduism
C) Christianity
D) Judaism

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63. Which festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ?

A) Easter
B) Christmas
C) Hanukkah
D) Ramadan

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64. The concept of ‘Ahimsa’ refers to what in Hinduism?

A) Non-violence
B) Truthfulness
C) Charity
D) Forgiveness

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65. What does ‘Buddhism’ literally mean?

A) The path of the wise
B) The teachings of Buddha
C) The religion of the enlightened
D) The way of awakening

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66. In Judaism, what does the term ‘Messiah’ refer to?

A) A prophet
B) A king
C) A savior
D) A teacher

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67. Which Christian denomination is known for its emphasis on faith alone?

A) Catholicism
B) Protestantism
C) Orthodoxy
D) Anglicanism

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68. The Kabbalah is a form of mystical thought in which religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Islam
C) Christianity
D) Judaism

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69. Which of the following texts contains the teachings of Jesus?

A) The Quran
B) The Bible
C) The Upanishads
D) The Tripitaka

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70. What is the significance of the Wailing Wall in Judaism?

A) Place of prayer
B) Sacred text location
C) Site of the Last Supper
D) Birthplace of Abraham

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71. In Islam, what does ‘Jihad’ primarily mean?

A) Holy war
B) Struggle or effort
C) Religious pilgrimage
D) Fasting

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72. The concept of ‘Tzimtzum’ in Kabbalistic thought refers to what?

A) Creation
B) God’s withdrawal
C) Redemption
D) Prayer

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73. Which Hindu festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness?

A) Holi
B) Diwali
C) Makar Sankranti
D) Pongal

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74. The followers of which religion practice ‘samsara’?

A) Judaism
B) Buddhism
C) Hinduism
D) Both B and C

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75. Which of the following is NOT one of the Five Pillars of Islam?

A) Hajj
B) Zakah
C) Sawm
D) Jihad

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76. In Christianity, the concept of ‘Salvation’ refers to what?

A) Eternal life
B) Rebirth
C) Enlightenment
D) Spiritual growth

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77. The Upanishads are primarily concerned with what type of knowledge?

A) Historical
B) Ritual
C) Philosophical
D) Mythological

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78. The Sufism movement is associated with which religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Islam
C) Christianity
D) Judaism

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79. Which religious tradition is known for its dietary laws called Kashrut?

A) Islam
B) Buddhism
C) Hinduism
D) Judaism

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80. The term ‘Puja’ refers to what practice in Hinduism?

A) Meditation
B) Prayer and worship
C) Fasting
D) Study of scriptures

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81. In Buddhism, the term ‘Sangha’ refers to what?

A) The community of monks
B) The teachings of Buddha
C) The path to enlightenment
D) The ethical code

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82. Which of the following religions has a sacred text called the Quran?

A) Christianity
B) Judaism
C) Islam
D) Hinduism

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83. What does the term ‘Sharia’ refer to in Islam?

A) Tradition
B) Sacred law
C) Ethics
D) Worship

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84. The term ‘Apostle’ is primarily associated with which religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Hinduism
C) Christianity
D) Judaism

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85. What is the main purpose of meditation in Buddhism?

A) To gain knowledge
B) To achieve enlightenment
C) To perform rituals
D) To seek community

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86. Which concept refers to the moral law of cause and effect in Buddhism and Hinduism?

A) Dharma
B) Karma
C) Moksha
D) Samsara

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87. The Ark of the Covenant is significant in which religion?

A) Buddhism
B) Hinduism
C) Judaism
D) Islam

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88. The doctrine of reincarnation is primarily associated with which religions?

A) Judaism and Christianity
B) Buddhism and Hinduism
C) Islam and Christianity
D) Sikhism and Jainism

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89. What is the role of a Rabbi in Judaism?

A) Spiritual leader
B) Teacher of Torah
C) Community leader
D) All of the above

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90. The term ‘Hajj’ refers to what in Islam?

A) Fasting
B) Prayer
C) Pilgrimage to Mecca
D) Almsgiving

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91. Which of the following is a teaching of Confucianism, not a major religion?

A) Respect for elders
B) The Golden Rule
C) The Four Noble Truths
D) The Ten Commandments

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92. Which Christian denomination recognizes seven sacraments?

A) Protestantism
B) Eastern Orthodoxy
C) Anglicanism
D) All of the above

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93. The Great Schism divided which two branches of Christianity?

A) Catholicism and Protestantism
B) Catholicism and Orthodoxy
C) Anglicanism and Orthodoxy
D) Evangelicalism and Catholicism

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94. Which of the following concepts is unique to Hinduism?

A) The Trinity
B) Karma
C) Covenant
D) Original Sin

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95. The Jewish festival of Purim commemorates what event?

A) The Exodus
B) The saving of the Jewish people
C) The destruction of the temple
D) The Day of Atonement

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96. The Christian term for God’s unconditional love is called what?

A) Agape
B) Eros
C) Storge
D) Phileo

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97. Which of the following is NOT a key teaching of Buddhism?

A) The Middle Way
B) The Four Noble Truths
C) The Trinity
D) The Eightfold Path

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98. In Islam, what is the term for the community of believers?

A) Ummah
B) Sangha
C) Church
D) Temple

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99. The term ‘Bhakti’ refers to what in Hinduism?

A) Knowledge
B) Devotion
C) Rituals
D) Charity

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100. What is the primary focus of the Five Pillars of Islam?

A) Social justice
B) Acts of worship and belief
C) Moral law
D) Community service

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