With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1) Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2) Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3) The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is B (2 and 3 only). Statement 1 is wrong, and 2 and 3 are right.

• Statement 1 is false. Sthaviravadins were the conservative group that emerged from the schism at the Second Council (Vaishali). Their line, later called Theravada, is classed under Hinayana, not Mahayana. Mahayana grew out of the Mahasanghika tradition and later developments.
• Statement 2 is true. The Lokottaravadins were a branch of the Mahasanghikas. Their Mahavastu presents the Buddha as supramundane, which is why they carry that name.
• Statement 3 is true. The Mahasanghikas moved towards treating the Buddha as transcendent and elevated the Bodhisattva ideal. These doctrines prepared the ground for Mahayana theology, which is why the Mahasanghika lineage is treated as a precursor.

The core concept is the sectarian split after the Buddha's death and the doctrinal evolution from early Buddhism to Mahayana. This links to the Ancient History syllabus on Buddhism, and in Mains it helps with questions on how religious thought changed in response to social and political shifts.

Trap: Aspirants often treat Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika as the same kind of school, or assume every early sect belongs to Mahayana. Remember that Theravada (Sthaviravada) is the Hinayana-linked tradition.