Philosophy Optional · Paper I · Indian Philosophy
Sri Aurobindo Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Sri Aurobindo, Unit 20 of Paper I, Section B: the official syllabus, 5 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 18 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
5
Free notes
18
Questions listed
14
Asked since 2013
2000–2026
Years covered
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Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Philosophy units
Official UPSC syllabus
Sri Aurobindo: syllabus
The syllabus text for this unit in Paper I, Section B (Indian Philosophy) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.
Paper I · Section B · Unit 20
Sri Aurobindo notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order, written for UPSC Mains in plain language, with diagrams and the previous year questions on each topic.
Free notes
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Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Advaita: the Materialist Denial and the Refusal of the Ascetic, Saccidānanda, Being and Becoming, Cit-Śakti, Māyā and Līlā, and Śaṅkara Compared
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Involution and Evolution in Sri Aurobindo: the Chain of Being, Involution as the Precondition of Evolution, the Triple Process, and Aurobindo against Darwin, Bergson and Sāṃkhya
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The Supermind in Sri Aurobindo: Real-Idea and Truth-Consciousness, the Link between the Two Hemispheres, the Ladder from Mind to Overmind, and Its Role in Evolution
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Triple Transformation, the Psychic Being and the Gnostic Being: Is the Gnostic Being a Jīvanmukta?, Cosmic Salvation, and the Life Divine as Possibility and Inevitability
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Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga (Pūrṇa Yoga): Synthesis of the Yogas, the Double Movement of Ascent and Descent, Aspiration–Rejection–Surrender, and Integral Yoga vs Patañjali
Free practice
Previous year questions: Sri Aurobindo
All 18 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 2000 and 2026, grouped by sub-topic with the most-asked first, newest first within each. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.
How often UPSC asks each sub-topic
| Sub-topic | Questions | Since 2013 | Last asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integral Yoga | 4 | 4 | 2026 |
| Evolution and Involution | 4 | 1 | 2016 |
| Supermind | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Triple Transformation | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Two Negations | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Psychic Being | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Life Divine | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Integral vs Patanjala Yoga | 1 | 1 | 2014 |
| Cosmic Salvation | 1 | 1 | 2013 |
Integral Yoga
4 questions · 4 since 2013 · last asked 2026
Asked since 2013 · 4
2026Explain the basic characteristics of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga for the realization of supramental consciousness through triple transformation. (15 marks)2024“Our Yoga is a double movement of ascent and descent.” Discuss the above statement in the context of Sri Aurobindo’s conception of Integral Yoga. (15 marks)2017How does Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga help in the realization of supramental consciousness? Discuss. (15 marks)2015Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga (10 marks)
Evolution and Involution
4 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2016
Asked since 2013 · 1
2016Discuss Aurobindo’s views on ‘Evolution’ and ‘Involution’. How do they differ from traditional Yoga philosophy? (20 marks)
Show 3 earlier questions (before 2013)
2008–2012 · 3 questions
2012‘Involution is the precondition of Evolution’. Explain the role of involution in the world process (15 marks)2010How are evolution and involution related in Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy? (15 marks)2008Sri Aurobindo’s conception of evolution and involution. (20 marks)
Supermind
3 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Asked since 2013 · 2
2023Explain the nature and role of Supermind in evolution as per Aurobindo’s philosophy. (10 marks)2019Explain the unique position of the super mind in the metaphysical scheme of Aurobindo’s philosophy. (15 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2000 · 1 question
2000Sri Aurobindo on the Supermind (20 marks)
Triple Transformation
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 2
2022Explain and evaluate the role of integral yoga in the process of triple transformation for individual evolution as expounded by Sri Aurobindo. (15 marks)2018What is Evolution according to Sri Aurobindo? Describe the process of triple transformation and the nature of gnostic being in his philosophy. (15 marks)
The Two Negations
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Asked since 2013 · 1
2025‘Both Ascetic and materialist are partial in their negation of each other’. Explain Sri Aurobindo’s integral philosophy in the light of the above statement. (15 marks)
Psychic Being
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2021
Asked since 2013 · 1
2021According to Shri Aurobindo, “the awakening of the psychic being and its gradual prominence over all other parts of the being is the first step in the conscious evolution of man’. Explain and examine. (20 marks)
Life Divine
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2020
Asked since 2013 · 1
2020What does Aurobindo mean by lite divine as a possibility and inevitability? (20 marks)
Integral vs Patanjala Yoga
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2014
Asked since 2013 · 1
2014How is Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga an advancement over Patanjala yoga ? Discuss. (15 marks)
Cosmic Salvation
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2013
Asked since 2013 · 1
2013Explain Sri Aurobindo’s conception of cosmic salvation through spiritual evolution of the individual. (10 marks)
Year-wise question papers
All question papers Topic-wise PYQ bank (both papers) 2026 paper 2025 paper 2024 paper 2023 paper
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