FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION – 2026
FOR RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BS-17
UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MAJOR RELIGIONS (FOR NON MUSLIMS)
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
PART-I(MCQS): MAXIMUM 30 MINUTES
PART-I (MCQS) MAXIMUM MARKS = 20
PART-I (MCQs) (COMPULSORY)
Q.1. (i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet. (20×1=20)
(ii) Answers given anywhere else, other than OMR Answer Sheet, will not be considered.
Q.1. (i) Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate Box on the OMR Answer Sheet. (20×1=20)
(ii) Answers given anywhere, other than OMR Answer Sheet, shall not be considered.
1. Which of the following scholars is most widely recognized as playing a foundational role in establishing the scientific and comparative study of religion in the 19th century?
(A) Friedrich Schleiermacher (B) Max Müller (C) Émile Durkheim (D) None of these
2. Which feature is understood as a central characteristic of Brahmanism in early Indian religious tradition?
(A) Exclusive rejection of the Vedas as a source of authority
(B) Emphasis on ritual sacrifice (yajña) supervised by Brahmin priests
(C) Complete denial of the role of priesthood in religious life
(D) None of these
3. Which Hindu god is traditionally associated with the preservation of the universe within the classical Trimurti?
(A) Brahma (B) Shiva (C) Krishna (D) None of these
4. According to the classical understanding of Karma Marga, which principle is essential for ensuring that action does not create binding karma?
(A) Performing rituals only during specific lunar phases
(B) Acting without personal desire for the fruits of one’s actions
(C) Renouncing all forms of physical work
(D) None of these
5. One major source of tension between Brahmanism and early Buddhism was:
(A) The rejection of Vedic authority and caste hierarchy by Buddhism
(B) Buddhism’s insistence on performing elaborate Vedic sacrifices
(C) Brahmanism’s focus on meditation and renunciation, which contradicted Buddhist rituals
(D) None of these
6. Which of the following is true about the early life of Gautama Buddha?
(A) He was born into a warrior caste family in Kapilavastu.
(B) He spent his early life as a wandering ascetic without any royal upbringing.
(C) He was born in Varanasi and immediately renounced worldly life.
(D) None of these
7. Which statement best captures the essence of the Four Noble Truths?
(A) Life is inherently pleasurable and free from moral responsibility
(B) Only external rituals and sacrifices can remove suffering
(C) Suffering is a fundamental aspect of existence, and ethical living and mindfulness can overcome it
(D) None of these
8. Which ritual is central to the celebration of Pesach?
(A) Lighting the menorah for eight nights
(B) Holding a Seder meal with symbolic foods and recounting the Exodus story
(C) Fasting for 25 hours without food or drink
(D) None of these
9. Which principle underlies the observance of Sabbath in Judaism according to classical Jewish law?
(A) Observing a day of rest to imitate God’s cessation of creation and sanctify time
(B) Refraining from work as an expression of human freedom from divine authority
(C) Fasting and performing exclusively sacrificial rituals to earn divine favor
(D) None of these
10. Which of the following best describes the main focus of Kabbalah in Jewish tradition?
(A) Strict legal interpretations of the Torah and Halakhic rulings
(B) Political and social organization of Jewish communities in medieval Europe
(C) Mystical exploration of God, creation, and the hidden aspects of the universe
(D) None of these
11. What is the primary purpose of Advent in the Christian liturgical calendar?
(A) To commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ
(B) To mark the beginning of the Easter season
(C) To prepare spiritually for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas
(D) None of these
12. Who are the Anglicans?
(A) Followers of the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe
(B) Members of the Church of England and churches in communion with it worldwide
(C) Members of the Roman Catholic Church in England only
(D) None of these
13. Why do Shariah rulings vary despite being based on the same Qur’an and Hadith?
(A) Because jurists apply ijtihad, adapt to contexts, and prioritize principles differently across madhahib
(B) Because the texts themselves are different
(C) Because differences are only symbolic with no practical impact
(D) None of these
14. Why does the Qur’an stress belief in previous holy scriptures?
(A) Because Muslims must follow all previous laws
(B) Because recognizing earlier revelations affirms continuity of God’s message, validates Prophethood
(C) Because only historical knowledge is emphasized, not faith
(D) None of these
15. Which broad intellectual development is most widely accepted as creating the conceptual conditions for treating religion as an object of neutral, scholarly investigation rather than as a domain of exclusively revealed truth?
(A) The Protestant Reformation’s emphasis on individual access to scripture
(B) The rise of early modern nation-states and their administrative bureaucracies
(C) The Enlightenment reorientation toward human reason, cross-cultural comparison, and the view that religious beliefs could be examined like other human phenomena
(D) None of these
16. Which of the following best defines the Tripitaka in Buddhism?
(A) The threefold collection of Buddha’s teachings, monastic rules, and philosophical analyses
(B) A philosophical treatise written by later Buddhist kings
(C) A devotional hymn book used in Mahayana rituals
(D) None of these
17. Which event is considered pivotal in prompting Buddha to leave his palace life?
(A) The study of Vedic scriptures under Brahmin teachers
(B) Witnessing old age, sickness, and death outside the palace
(C) Being crowned king of Kapilavastu
(D) None of these
18. What is the primary focus of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
(A) Establishing social hierarchy and caste duties
(B) Understanding the nature of suffering, its cause, cessation, and the path to liberation
(C) Prescribing ritual sacrifices to achieve spiritual merit
(D) None of these
19. Which of the following best describes the significance of Pesach (Passover) in Judaism?
(A) It commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
(B) It celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
(C) It marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year
(D) None of these
20. Which text is most closely associated with the teachings of Kabbalah?
(A) Zohar (B) Talmud (C) Mishnah (D) None of these
PART-II MAXIMUM MARKS = 80
NOTE: (i) Part-II is to be attempted on the separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks.
(iii) All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places.
(iv) Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q. Paper.
(v) No Page/Space be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of Answer Book must be crossed.
(vi) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.
PART-II
Q. No. 2. How did the intellectual shifts of the Enlightenment and the rise of modern scientific inquiry contribute to the emergence of the study of religion as an independent academic discipline? Critically analyze the key factors that separated it from theology. (20)
Q. No. 3. How did 19th century Hindu reform movements reinterpret traditional beliefs in response to colonial and Enlightenment influences? Critically assess their impact on modern Hindu identity. (20)
Q. No. 4. What are the main doctrinal and practical differences between Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhism? Critically analyze how these differences shape the religious life of their followers. (20)
Q. No. 5. What were the causes and consequences of the destruction of Jerusalem for the Jewish people? Critically analyze its impact on religious, social, and political life. (20)
Q. No. 6. What are the key features of modern theological trends in Christianity, such as Liberal Theology and Neo-Orthodoxy? Critically evaluate their impact on traditional beliefs and practices. (20)
Q. No. 7. How do the Quran and Hadith define and guide social justice? Critically analyse their relevance in addressing contemporary social and economic issue. (20)
Q. No. 8. Write short notes on any two of the following: (10 each) (20)
(a) Importance of the academic Study of Religion (b) Jana Marga (c) Jihad in Islam.
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