Question

Select the CORRECT statements about Nalanda:
A. No fee was charged from students in Nalanda,
B. Chanakya and Panini first studied and later taught at Nalanda,
C. Nalanda is on the banks of Narmada river,
D. Nalanda had huge libraries and residence halls for teachers and scholars,
E. Taxila was the western campus of Naland
A.
Choose the correct answer:

• A. A and D only
• B. B, C, D and E only
• C. A, B, C and E only
• D. B and C only

Hint:

Always verify historical facts to ensure accuracy when dealing with ancient institutions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Concept
Nalanda was a renowned ancient university located in Bihar, India, during the Gupta period.

Step 2: Meaning
Nalanda was one of the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world, attracting scholars from across Asia.

Step 3: Analysis
[leftmargin=20pt, itemsep=3pt, topsep=4pt]
• A) No fee was charged from students — CORRECT. Nalanda operated on a donation-based system where students were provided education, lodging, and food free of charge.
• B) Chanakya and Panini first studied and later taught at Nalanda — INCORRECT. Both were contemporaries of the Mauryan Empire era, while Nalanda flourished primarily during the Gupta period (4th–7th century CE). Their association with Takshashila (Taxila), not Nalanda, is more historically supported.
• C) Nalanda is on the banks of Narmada river — INCORRECT. Nalanda was situated near Rajgir in Bihar, not on the Narmada River.
• D) Nalanda had huge libraries and residence halls for teachers and scholars — CORRECT. Historical accounts confirm Nalanda's extensive library complex and residential facilities for scholars.
• E) Taxila was the western campus of Nalanda — INCORRECT. Taxila (Takshashila) was a completely separate ancient institution located in northwest India (present-day Pakistan), not a campus of Nalanda.

Step 4: Conclusion
The correct statements about Nalanda are A and D only. Final Answer: (A)