Philosophy Optional · Paper II · Philosophy of Religion
Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation, Unit 14 of Paper II, Section B: the official syllabus, 8 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 44 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
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44
Questions listed
27
Asked since 2013
2000–2026
Years covered
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Official UPSC syllabus
Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation: syllabus
The syllabus text for this unit in Paper II, Section B (Philosophy of Religion) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Soul: Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
Paper II · Section B · Unit 14
Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation 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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The Soul: Meaning and Major Conceptions, Dualism, Hylomorphism, Materialism, No-Self and Advaita, the Indian Schools on Jīva, Indian Jīvātmā vs Plato’s Soul, and the Christian Soul vs the Gītā’s Ātman
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Immortality of the Soul I: Meaning and Kinds, Plato’s A Priori Proofs, the Simplicity Argument and Kant’s Paralogism
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Immortality of the Soul II: Kant’s Moral Postulate, Theistic, Teleological and Empirical Arguments, Psychical Research, and Immortality in the Hindu Tradition and the Gītā
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Immortality of the Soul III: Cārvāka, Buddhist, Hume’s and Analytic Critiques, Why Man Desires Immortality, Utopian or Realisable, and Is Immortality Necessary for Religion?
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Life after Death: Rebirth, Reincarnation and Resurrection, the Subtle Body, Hick’s Replica Theory, Disembodied Survival, and What Makes a Birth a Re-birth?
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Karma and Rebirth: Kinds of Karma, How Karma Works, Causes of Rebirth, Rebirth in Hinduism and the Gītā, Rebirth without a Soul, Non-theistic Religions, and Karma and Free Will
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Liberation I: Mokṣa, Nirvāṇa, Kaivalya and Apavarga, the Schools Compared, Advaita’s Jīvanmukti, and Liberation without a Real Agent — Advaita vs Viśiṣṭādvaita
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Liberation II: Jñāna, Karma and Bhakti, Grace and the Monkey and Cat Schools, Theological vs Non-theological Liberation, Religion and Salvation, and Does Liberation Need Immortality and Rebirth?
Free practice
Previous year questions: Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation
All 44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karma and Rebirth | 6 | 4 | 2023 |
| Immortality of Soul | 6 | 2 | 2021 |
| Concept of Liberation | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Immortality and Religion | 5 | 3 | 2020 |
| Paths to Liberation | 5 | 4 | 2020 |
| Advaita · Liberation | 4 | 2 | 2025 |
| Buddhism · Anatta and Rebirth | 4 | 3 | 2022 |
| Immortality and Rebirth | 2 | 1 | 2025 |
| Plato · Soul | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Advaita vs Vishishtadvaita | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nyaya · Apavarga | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jainism · Soul and Bondage | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jivanmukti | 1 | 0 | 2005 |
Karma and Rebirth
6 questions · 4 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Asked since 2013 · 4
2023Examine the significance of the concept of rebirth in the theory of Karma. (15 marks)2021Discuss and evaluate the doctrine of Karma as an essential postulate of Hinduism. (15 marks)2019State and explain the doctrines of Karma, Rebirth and Rebirth and Reincarnation in Hinduism. (20 marks)2018How far is it plausible to argue that the anti-theistic religions’ stand on the concept of rebirth is philosophically significant? (10 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2007–2010 · 2 questions
2010What sort of criteria can one provide for identifying rebirth as opposed to birth? Discuss (15 marks)2007Explain the doctrine of the law of karma. Is it compatible with the freedom of will? Discuss (60 marks)
Immortality of Soul
6 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2021
Asked since 2013 · 2
2021Discuss the concept of immortality of soul with special reference to Hindu tradition. (20 marks)2014What are the arguments given in favour of the immortality of the Soul? (10 marks)
Show 4 earlier questions (before 2013)
2000–2012 · 4 questions
2012Is the idea of immortality soul utopian or it is realizable? Discuss (20 marks)2009Explain why man has a desire for immortality (30 marks)2005Is Christian doctrine of the immortality of soul compatible with the Gita’s doctrine of atman? Discuss (60 marks)2000Immortality of Soul (20 marks)
Concept of Liberation
5 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Asked since 2013 · 3
2024Is it necessary to adhere to the notions of immortality of soul and rebirth in order to have a robust conception of liberation? Give reasons and justifications for your answer. (20 marks)2017Is there an essential difference between the concept of Liberation in theological and non-theological approaches to life? Discuss. (20 marks)2015“Immortality means absence of Karma and Rebirth.” Discuss. (15 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2008–2012 · 2 questions
2012Are rebirth and liberation analogous concepts? Explain (12.5 marks)2008Possibility of rational understanding of immortality and liberation. Critical notes (20 marks)
Immortality and Religion
5 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2020
Asked since 2013 · 3
2020The concept of ‘Immortality’ is a basic presupposition of religion. Elaborate your answer. (10 marks)2018Can one claim that there is an inter-relatedness between ‘religiosity’ and ‘immorality’? Discuss. (10 marks)2017Discuss whether the doctrine of immortality of soul is indispensable for a religion. (10 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2007–2011 · 2 questions
2011Is a belief in the immortality of the soul a necessary precondition for religion? Discuss (20 marks)2007Without some conception of immortality, religion has no meaning. Critically examine (20 marks)
Paths to Liberation
5 questions · 4 since 2013 · last asked 2020
Asked since 2013 · 4
2020Do you accept that knowledge, Action and Devotion are the means to attain liberation in Indian tradition? Discuss. (15 marks)2018Evaluate the concept of Bhakti (Devotion) as a pathway to attain liberation. (15 marks)2015What is liberation? Briefly discuss the ways to attain it as outlined in the systems of Vedanta. (15 marks)2013Is there anything else other than human efforts which may be conducive to attainment of liberation? (10 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2010 · 1 question
2010Why is grace of God needed for liberation? Discuss with an example (20 marks)
Advaita · Liberation
4 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Asked since 2013 · 2
2025Discuss the nature of embodied liberation (jivanmukti) with reference to Advaita Vedanta. (10 marks)2021Elucidate the concept of liberation according to Advaita Vedanta. Explain the role of knowledge in the attainment of liberation. (15 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2000–2010 · 2 questions
2010If ignorance is the cause of suffering, knowledge should remove suffering. What is the notion of knowledge which a liberated person acquires? Discuss (20 marks)2000Elaborate the nature of Liberation according to Advaita Vedanta. (60 marks)
Buddhism · Anatta and Rebirth
4 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 3
2022“Immortality of Soul is a necessary postulate for rebirth.” Critically examine with reference to Buddhism. (10 marks)2016Buddhism disbelieves in the immortality of soul, but accepts the phenomenon of rebirth. Examine. (10 marks)2014How do you justify rebirth’ with or without the Soul? (10 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2011 · 1 question
2011Can Buddhism, because of its doctrine of ‘anatta’, be regarded as a religion or not? Discuss (20 marks)
Immortality and Rebirth
2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Asked since 2013 · 1
2025Is the concept of immortality of soul a necessary condition for Rebirth? Discuss with reference to the Bhagavad Gita. (15 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2011 · 1 question
2011Is a belief in rebirth and reincarnation possible without a belief in the immortality of the soul? Discuss (20 marks)
Plato · Soul
2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Asked since 2013 · 1
2023Critically examine Plato’s apriori proofs for the immortality of the soul. (20 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2010 · 1 question
2010Distinguish between Indian concept of jivatma and Plato’s concept of soul (20 marks)
Advaita vs Vishishtadvaita
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 2
2022Is it possible to have an idea of Liberation without the conception of a real agent? In this context, discuss the difference between Advaita and Vishistadvaita systems of thought. (15 marks)2014Compare and contrast the concept of liberation according to ‘Advaita’ and ‘Vishistadvaita’. (15 marks)
Nyaya · Apavarga
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Asked since 2013 · 1
2024Discuss the concept of liberation (Apavarga) according to Nyaya-Vaisheshika. (10 marks)
Jainism · Soul and Bondage
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 1
2022Discuss the nature of Soul and Bondage according to Jainism. (15 marks)
Jivanmukti
1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2005
2005 · 1 question
2005What do you understand by liberation? Is it possible for one to be liberated in this very life? If it is, what are the characteristics of a liberated person? Discuss (60 marks)
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