Bhakti and Sufi Movements – NDA History PYQs

NDA 2025-II

Q. 1. Who among the following Sikh Gurus laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth?

(a) Guru Nanak

(b) Guru Arjan

(c) Guru Hargobind

(d) Guru Gobind Singh

Answer: (d) Guru Gobind Singh

Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699. This step formalised a distinct martial and spiritual community. Guru Nanak, Arjan, and Hargobind served earlier in Sikh history. So option (d) Guru Gobind Singh is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Founder of the Khalsa Panth among the Sikh Gurus

NDA 2025-I

Q. 2. Which of the following statements about Srimanta Shankardeva is/are correct?

1. In the late fifteenth century Shankardeva emerged as one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam

2. He was the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism

3. His teachings are known as Bhagavati Dharma

4. He encouraged the establishment of satra and naam ghar

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation: Shankardeva did rise as a leading Assamese Vaishnavite in this period. So statement 1 correctly places him in the late fifteenth century. He actually founded Ekasarana Dharma, not Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Gaudiya Vaishnavism instead traces back to Chaitanya in Bengal. So statement 2 wrongly credits him with a separate tradition. His teachings are indeed also known as Bhagavati Dharma. He did encourage satra and naam ghar as community institutions. So statements 1, 3, and 4 together are accurate here. Concept Tested: Shankardeva’s tradition and institutions in Assam

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA often swaps in a similarly named but distinct movement, like Gaudiya Vaishnavism, to test precise attribution.

NDA 2025-I

Q. 3. Which one of the following terms is associated with the practice of Sufism?

(a) Jizya

(b) Ijma

(c) Muqaddam

(d) Murid

Answer: (d) Murid

Explanation: A murid is a disciple who follows a Sufi spiritual guide, or pir. This master-disciple bond is central to Sufi practice. Jizya, Ijma, and Muqaddam instead relate to tax and administration. So option (d) Murid is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Terminology specific to Sufi practice

NDA 2023-II

Q. 4. Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT correct?

(a) The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity

(b) In northern India, the Bhakti movement revolved around the worship of Rama and Krishna

(c) The Bhakti movement relied on the devotion of God, both with and without attributes

(d) While Tulsidas represented the tradition of devotion with attributes, Sant Kabir followed the path of devotion without attributes

Answer: (a) The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity

Explanation: The Bhakti movement is widely known for its remarkable diversity. Different regions, languages, and deities all found a place within it. So statement (a) wrongly claims it avoided diverse traditions. North Indian Bhakti did centre on Rama and Krishna worship. It did include both Saguna and Nirguna devotion together. Tulsidas followed Saguna bhakti, and Kabir followed Nirguna bhakti. These other statements about the movement are accurate. Concept Tested: Diversity and structure of the Bhakti movement

NDA 2023-II

Q. 5. Chandimangala, a sixteenth century text, was composed by

(a) Hema Saraswati

(b) Madhav Kandali

(c) Tukaram

(d) Mukundaram Chakrabarti

Answer: (d) Mukundaram Chakrabarti

Explanation: Mukundaram Chakrabarti composed the Bengali text Chandimangala. It belongs to the sixteenth-century mangalkavya tradition. Hema Saraswati and Madhav Kandali wrote separate Assamese works. So option (d) Mukundaram Chakrabarti is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Author of the regional Bhakti text Chandimangala

NDA 2021-I

Q. 6. Which of the following statements about Saguna bhakti traditions is/are correct?

1. Saguna bhakti traditions focus on the worship of specific deities such as Vishnu or his avatars.

2. In Saguna bhakti traditions, Gods and Goddesses are conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Saguna bhakti does centre on specific deities like Vishnu’s avatars. It also depicts gods and goddesses with human-like forms. Both statements together correctly describe Saguna bhakti. Concept Tested: Defining features of Saguna bhakti

NDA 2021-I

Q. 7. Which one of the following is the correct meaning of ziyarat?

(a) Pilgrimage to the tombs of sufi saints

(b) The practice of revenue farming

(c) The death anniversary of a sufi shaikh

(d) A form of Islamic divorce

Answer: (a) Pilgrimage to the tombs of sufi saints

Explanation: Ziyarat refers specifically to visiting a Sufi saint’s tomb. Devotees travel there seeking blessings and spiritual connection. The other options describe entirely unrelated administrative or ritual terms. So option (a) is the correct meaning of ziyarat. Concept Tested: Meaning of the Sufi practice of ziyarat

NDA 2021-I

Q. 8. Who among the following was considered to be the preceptor of Mirabai?

(a) Dadu

(b) Raidas

(c) Ramanand

(d) Surdas

Answer: (b) Raidas

Explanation: Raidas, a saint from a leather-worker background, taught Mirabai. Tradition credits him as her spiritual preceptor, or guru. Dadu, Ramanand, and Surdas belonged to separate bhakti lineages. So option (b) Raidas is the correct answer. Concept Tested: Mirabai’s spiritual preceptor

NDA 2019-II

Q. 9. Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition in Karnataka:

1. The Virashaiva movement was led by a Brahmana named Basavanna, a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler in the twelfth century.

2. The Virashaivas encouraged practices, approved by the Dharmashastras, like post-puberty marriages and remarriage of widows.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation: Basavanna, a Brahmana, did serve as minister under a Kalachuri king. He led the Virashaiva movement in twelfth-century Karnataka. So statement 1 accurately describes his background and role. Post-puberty marriage and widow remarriage were not Dharmashastra-approved. These practices were actually disapproved by orthodox Dharmashastra norms. So statement 2 wrongly claims scriptural approval for them. Only statement 1 is correct among the two. Concept Tested: Basavanna’s background and Virashaiva social practices

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA often flips “disapproved” into “approved” within an otherwise accurate statement. Read the exact wording carefully.

NDA 2018-II

Q. 10. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

(a) Shankara – Avadhuta

(b) Ramananda – Kevaladvaita

(c) Ramanuja – Vishishtadvaita

(d) Chaitanya – Advaita

Answer: (c) Ramanuja – Vishishtadvaita

Explanation: Ramanuja is closely linked to the Vishishtadvaita school of thought. Shankara is instead associated with Advaita, not Avadhuta. Ramananda followed Ramanuja’s tradition, not pure Kevaladvaita. Chaitanya’s own philosophy differs from strict Advaita as well. So option (c) is the only correctly matched pair. Concept Tested: Bhakti saints and their associated philosophies

NDA 2017-II

Q. 11. Which one of the following was not a Chishti Sufi saint?

(a) Khwaja Moinuddin

(b) Baba Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar

(c) Nizamuddin Auliya

(d) Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya

Answer: (d) Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya

Explanation: Khwaja Moinuddin, Fariduddin, and Nizamuddin all belonged to the Chishti order. Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya instead founded the separate Suhrawardi order. His centre of influence was based mainly in Multan. So option (d) is the saint who was not a Chishti. Concept Tested: Distinguishing Chishti saints from other Sufi orders

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: NDA often tests order membership by mixing in a genuine Sufi saint from a different order, like the Suhrawardis.

NDA 2016-I

Q. 12. Consider the following statements about Sufism in India:

1. Pilgrimage called ziyarat to tombs of Sufi saints is an important feature.

2. The most influential group of Sufis in India were the Chishtis.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Ziyarat, pilgrimage to Sufi tombs, is indeed a key practice. It lets devotees seek blessings at a saint’s resting place. The Chishti order was the most influential Sufi group in India. Both statements together are accurate here. Concept Tested: Core practices and groups within Indian Sufism

NDA 2014-II

Q. 13. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of appearance of the poet-saints of the Bhakti-Sufi tradition?

(a) Basavanna—Appar—Mira Bai—Lal Ded

(b) Appar—Mira Bai—Lal Ded—Basavanna

(c) Appar—Basavanna—Lal Ded—Mira Bai

(d) Basavanna—Mira Bai—Lal Ded—Appar

Answer: (c) Appar—Basavanna—Lal Ded—Mira Bai

Explanation: Appar, a Tamil Nayanar saint, lived around the seventh century. Basavanna led the Virashaiva movement in the twelfth century. Lal Ded, the Kashmiri mystic, followed in the fourteenth century. Mira Bai, the Krishna devotee, came later in the sixteenth century. This gives the order Appar, Basavanna, Lal Ded, Mira Bai. So option (c) correctly matches this chronological sequence. Concept Tested: Chronological order of major Bhakti-Sufi poet-saints

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