The ancient Nalanda Mahavihara University was established during the reign of which Gupta emperor? प्राचीन नालंदा महाविहार विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना किस गुप्त सम्राट के शासनकाल में हुई थी?

The ancient Nalanda Mahavihara University was established during the reign of which Gupta emperor?

BPSC 5-Option Format

प्राचीन नालंदा महाविहार विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना किस गुप्त सम्राट के शासनकाल में हुई थी?

AChandragupta II (Vikramaditya) / चंद्रगुप्त द्वितीय

BKumaragupta I / कुमारगुप्त प्रथम

Correct Answer

CSkandagupta / स्कंदगुप्त

DMore than one of the above / उपर्युक्त में से एक से अधिक

ENone of the above / उपर्युक्त में से कोई नहीं

Verified Correct Answer: Option (B)

Kumaragupta I / कुमारगुप्त प्रथम

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Detailed Solution & Educational Explanation

Clear, student-friendly explanation of why the answer is correct

Nalanda University was established during the 5th century AD under the patronage of Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I (also known as Shakraditya).

नालंदा विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना 5वीं शताब्दी ईस्वी में गुप्त सम्राट कुमारगुप्त प्रथम (शक्रादित्य) के शासनकाल में हुई थी।

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Option-by-Option In-Depth Analysis

Dissection of why each option is correct or incorrect

Option	Status	Critical Educational Reasoning
(A) Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) /...	Incorrect	Incorrect. Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) was Kumaragupta I's father, renowned for his Navaratnas at Ujjain, but not the founder of Nalanda.
(B) Kumaragupta I / कुमारगुप्त प्रथम	Correct	Correct. Kumaragupta I (reigned c. 415–455 AD) established the original Buddhist monastery and mahavihara, as corroborated by seals recovered at Nalanda bearing his title 'Shakraditya'.
(C) Skandagupta / स्कंदगुप्त	Incorrect	Incorrect. Skandagupta was Kumaragupta I's successor who repelled the Huna invasions.
(D) More than one of the above / उपर...	Incorrect	Incorrect. Foundation is attributed specifically to Kumaragupta I.
(E) None of the above / उपर्युक्त मे...	Incorrect	Incorrect. Option B is historically verified.

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Underlying Concept & Subject Background

Master the topic deeply rather than simply memorizing the answer

Nalanda Mahavihara flourished in the ancient kingdom of Magadha near modern Rajgir. It accommodated over 10,000 international students and 2,000 teachers from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Sumatra. Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) and Yijing studied at Nalanda during the reign of King Harshavardhana. Nalanda was later sacked and burned around 1193 AD by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a military general of Qutb al-Din Aibak.

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Important Facts to Remember

High-yield revision points frequently tested in BPSC TRE examinations

The massive library of Nalanda was called 'Dharmaganja' and comprised three nine-story buildings: Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi, and Ratnaranjaka.
The great Buddhist scholar Acharya Shilabhadra was the head of Nalanda when Xuanzang visited.
UNESCO inscribed the archaeological ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara as a World Heritage Site in 2016.

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Common Candidate Misconceptions

Avoid common traps and confusing options in this topic

Students sometimes attribute Nalanda to Harsha or Ashoka because they patronized it lavishly later, but the archaeological foundation was laid by the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I.

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Verified Sources & Academic Citations

Authoritative books, official notifications, and standard reference materials

Official BPSC TRE 1.0 (Class 9-10 General Studies) Question Paper & Answer Key
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Excavation Reports: Nalanda
Romila Thapar: The Penguin History of Early India

Primary Exam Reference: Official BPSC TRE 1.0 Question Paper & Final Answer Key

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