UPSC Prelims 2014 GS Paper I · Q54 of 100 History easy

The national motto of India, 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

  1. (a) Katha Upanishad
  2. (b) Chandogya Upanishad
  3. (c) Aitareya Upanishad
  4. (d) Mundaka Upanishad ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• 'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth alone triumphs) is from the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6) of the Atharvaveda; it was adopted as the national motto with the State Emblem in 1950, popularised earlier by Madan Mohan Malaviya — option (d).

• The Katha (a), Chandogya (b) and Aitareya (c) Upanishads contain other famous passages but not this one.

• Hence option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Katha Upanishad
The Katha Upanishad does not contain this motto.
(b) Chandogya Upanishad
The Chandogya Upanishad does not contain it.
(c) Aitareya Upanishad
The Aitareya Upanishad does not contain it.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

Practise this paper free