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The Gyanvapi Masjid-Kashi Vishwanath Temple dispute holds a lot of importance for the UPSC exam due to its implications on historical, religious, and legal fronts. Originating in the Mughal era and resurfacing during the 1990s, the dispute also includes broader national debates surrounding the Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya and similar conflicts in Mathura.
The legal dimensions of the case, including the 2019 revival after the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict and subsequent surveys, raise questions about the interpretation and application of The Places of Worship Act, of 1991. The clash over the alleged discovery of a ‘Shivling’ and differing narratives between Hindu and Muslim parties further complicates the issue.
For UPSC, understanding this complex issue is important as it involves historical grievances, religious freedoms, and the delicate balance needed for cultural and communal harmony. The case presents an opportunity for aspirants to analyze constitutional provisions, legal precedents, and the role of state institutions in mediating such disputes, reflecting the broader challenge of managing religious diversity in India.
GK Quiz On The Gyanvapi Masjid Issue
When was the Gyanvapi mosque built?
A. 1669
B. 1936
C. 1991
D. 2019
Answer: A. 1669
Who was the Mughal Emperor during the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid?
A. Akbar
B. Shah Jahan
C. Aurangzeb
D. Babur
Answer: C. Aurangzeb
In which year did three Muslim petitioners demand the entire complex to be declared a mosque?
A. 1936
B. 1942
C. 1991
D. 2019
Answer: A. 1936
Which court dismissed the petition in 1942?
A. Varanasi Court
B. Supreme Court
C. Allahabad High Court
D. Ayodhya Court
Answer: C. Allahabad High Court
When did the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute gain momentum again?
A. 1936
B. 1990s
C. 2019
D. 2022
Answer: B. 1990s
What was claimed about the construction of Gyanvapi Mosque in the 1990s campaign?
A. It was built after demolishing a Hindu temple.
B. It was built on an empty plot.
C. It was a shared place of worship.
D. It was built by the Hindu community.
Answer: A. It was built after demolishing a Hindu temple.
In which year did local priests file a petition to remove Gyanvapi mosque?
A. 1991
B. 2000
C. 2019
D. 2022
Answer: A. 1991
What did the local priests demand in their petition regarding Gyanvapi mosque?
A. Renovation of the mosque
B. Removal of the mosque and land given to Hindus
C. Conversion of the mosque into a temple
D. No action
Answer: B. Removal of the mosque and land given to Hindus
When was the Gyanvapi case revived after the Ayodhya verdict in 2019?
A. 1991
B. 2019
C. 2021
D. 2022
Answer: B. 2019
What did the petitioners demand in 2019 regarding Gyanvapi mosque?
A. Archaeological survey
B. Reconstruction
C. Religious conversion
D. Cultural events
Answer: A. Archaeological survey
When did the Allahabad High Court stay the archaeological survey in Gyanvapi Masjid?
A. 2019
B. 2021
C. 2022
D. 2024
Answer: B. 2021
What did five Hindu women file a case about in April 2021?
A. Property dispute
B. Right to worship idols in Gyanvapi mosque
C. Environmental concerns
D. Employment rights
Answer: B. Right to worship idols in Gyanvapi mosque
When did a Varanasi court order a video survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex?
A. April 2021
B. May 2021
C. April 2022
D. May 2022
Answer: C. April 2022
Who opposed the video survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex?
A. Local priests
B. Gyanvapi mosque management committee
C. Allahabad High Court
D. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Answer: B. Gyanvapi mosque management committee
When was the Gyanvapi mosque survey concluded?
A. May 10, 2022
B. May 16, 2022
C. June 1, 2022
D. July 10, 2022
Answer: B. May 16, 2022
What did an advocate from the Hindu side claim was found during the survey?
A. Quran
B. Shivling
C. Fountain
D. Buddha statue
Answer: B. Shivling
How did the Muslim side respond to the claim of finding a ‘Shivling’?
A. Agreed with the claim
B. Dismissed it as a ‘fountain’
C. Demanded further investigation
D. Ignored the claim
Answer: B. Dismissed it as a ‘fountain’
What did the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) term the court order for videography?
A. Justified
B. Violation of The Places of Worship Act, 1991
C. Supported
D. Encouraged
Answer: B. Violation of The Places of Worship Act, 1991
According to the mosque committee, why were the fresh suits filed in 2021 “barred”?
A. Lack of evidence
B. Violation of religious norms
C. Barred by The Places of Worship Act, 1991
D. Political interference
Answer: C. Barred by The Places of Worship Act, 1991
When was the Gyanvapi mosque survey initially ordered to be submitted?
A. April 10, 2022
B. May 10, 2022
C. June 1, 2022
D. July 10, 2022
Answer: B. May 10, 2022
When was the Gyanvapi Mosque believed to have been built?
A. 1669
B. 1765
C. 1861
D. 1947
Answer: A. 1669
Who ordered the demolition of the existing Vishweshwar temple and the construction of the Gyanvapi Mosque?
A. Akbar
B. Shah Jahan
C. Aurangzeb
D. Babur
Answer: C. Aurangzeb
What is the Gyanvapi Mosque believed to have been built upon?
A. Demolished Hindu temple
B. Empty land
C. Ancient well
D. Christian church
Answer: A. Demolished Hindu temple
According to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, what is its aim?
A. Conversion of religious places
B. Protection of cultural heritage
C. Guarding fraternity and secularism
D. Building new places of worship
Answer: C. Guarding fraternity and secularism
What does the Places of Worship Act, 1991, prohibit regarding places of worship?
A. Renovation
B. Conversion
C. Relocation
D. Construction
Answer: B. Conversion
According to Section 5 of the Places of Worship Act, which case is exempt from its provisions?
A. Gyanvapi Mosque
B. Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case
C. Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid case
D. All cases are exempt
Answer: B. Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case
Why did the controversy around Gyanvapi Mosque erupt in 1991?
A. Construction of a new temple
B. Muslim petitioners demanding worship rights
C. Archaeological survey demand
D. Local priests seeking permission to worship
Answer: D. Local priests seeking permission to worship
What did the Varanasi district court order in 2023 regarding the Gyanvapi complex?
A. Demolition
B. Renovation
C. Archaeological survey
D. Religious conversion
Answer: C. Archaeological survey
Why did the Muslim side argue against the ASI survey?
A. It was invasive
B. It breached the Places of Worship Act
C. It was unnecessary
D. It favored the Hindu side
Answer: B. It breached the Places of Worship Act
According to the Supreme Court’s order, what methodology should the ASI use during the survey?
A. Invasive
B. Non-invasive
C. Destructive
D. Rapid
Answer: B. Non-invasive
What does the Gyanvapi Mosque management argue about the 2021 suits?
A. They are justified
B. They are barred by the Places of Worship Act
C. They support the Hindu side
D. They violate secularism
Answer: B. They are barred by the Places of Worship Act
Who allowed the ASI to go ahead with the survey, as mentioned in the news?
A. Varanasi District Judge
B. Supreme Court
C. Allahabad High Court
D. Prime Minister
Answer: B. Supreme Court
What is the primary purpose of the ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque?
A. Demolition
B. Maintenance
C. Investigation of its historical origin
D. Religious conversion
Answer: C. Investigation of its historical origin
What is the name of the well adjoining the Gyanvapi Mosque?
A. Well of Knowledge
B. Well of Wisdom
C. Well of Enlightenment
D. Well of Faith
Answer: A. Well of Knowledge
When was the present Kashi Vishwanath Temple built?
A. 11th century
B. 18th century
C. 17th century
D. 19th century
Answer: B. 18th century
Who constructed the present Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
A. Aurangzeb
B. Shah Jahan
C. Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
D. Akbar
Answer: C. Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
What is the main deity of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple known as?
A. Vishveshvara
B. Shiva Lingam
C. Vishvanatha
D. Hari Chandra
Answer: C. Vishvanatha
Who covered the two domes of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple with gold in 1839?
A. Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
B. Aurangzeb
C. AS Altekar
D. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
Answer: D. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
According to the 1937 book “History of Benares,” who ordered the demolition of the Vishweshwar temple?
A. AS Altekar
B. Aurangzeb
C. Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
D. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
Answer: B. Aurangzeb
What material from the destroyed temple was used to build the Gyanvapi Mosque?
A. Marble
B. Wood
C. Stone
D. Gold
Answer: C. Stone
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Places of Worship Act, 1991 Explained
The legislation, enacted in response to the Ram Janmabhoomi Rath Yatra aims to discourage such conflicts. Emphasizing the prevention of controversies, the government, during its introduction in Parliament, highlighted that the Act prohibits the conversion of places of worship under Section 3. Here we have stated some of the important sections of this act :
- Section 4(1) preserves the religious character of places of worship as of August 15, 1947.
- Section 4(2) bars new proceedings for changing religious character, abating pending cases, with exceptions outlined in Section 4(3).
- Section 5 excludes the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case from the Act’s purview.
- Section 6 imposes penalties for violating Section 3, including imprisonment of up to three years and fines.
For UPSC aspirants, understanding the Act’s provisions, objectives, and exceptions, especially its exclusion of specific cases, is important for a comprehensive knowledge of its implications on religious harmony and legal matters.
Gyanvapi Masjid Issue – What Judiciary Has To Say?
UPSC aspirants should be aware that the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act has been challenged in the Supreme Court through two pending petitions. The challenge primarily centers around the issue that the Act curtails judicial review, an important part of the Constitution’s basic structure. Petitioners argue violations of Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, and 29, deeming the August 15, 1947 cut-off date arbitrary.
The Supreme Court, in the 2019 Ayodhya Title dispute case, acknowledged the Act’s significance in upholding secularism under the Constitution. The court affirmed the non-retrogression principle and justified the cut-off date by emphasizing India’s secular identity post-independence. Understanding these legal and constitutional notions is very important for aspirants preparing for the UPSC exam.
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