Question

There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided below:
Assertion (A): Examinations had a different form in the ancient Indian education system.
Reason (R): Sometimes advanced students were often called upon to teach beginners and written exams were conducted at the end of the session.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, (R) is true.

Hint:

Ancient education focused on internalizing knowledge through dialogue and oral traditions, not formal written exams.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In the ancient Indian education system, examinations did exist but in forms quite different from today’s written formats. Assessment was more holistic, oral, and continuous in nature. Students were evaluated based on their comprehension, recitation, debate skills (śāstrārtha), behavior, and application of knowledge. The guru often assessed students informally and continuously rather than through timed or final written tests. Thus, Assertion (A) is true.
The Reason (R) makes two claims: 1. Advanced students sometimes taught beginners — this is indeed true and reflects the peer-learning or mentoring system in Gurukulas. 2. Written exams were conducted at the end of the session — this is historically inaccurate. Written exams were not a standard practice in ancient Indian education; emphasis was placed on memorization, oral transmission, and dialogue.
Since the second part of the Reason is incorrect, Reason (R) as a whole is considered false. Therefore, the correct answer is that Assertion is true, but Reason is false — making Option (C) the correct choice.