UPSC Civil Services Model Paper 5

6th century BCE marks the beginning of new religious and social movements in the Gangetic valley in the form of Buddhism and Jainism which were part of the shraman tradition .
Magadha emerged as a powerful kingdom and consolidated its control over the other regions. By the fourth century BCE, the Mauryas established their power and by the third century BCE, a large part of India was under Mauryan control.
Ashoka emerged as the most powerful king of the Mauryan dynasty who patronised the shraman tradition in the third century BCE .
Hence, statement 1 is correct.