The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

The correct answer is D) Mundaka Upanishad. The motto comes from verse 3.1.6 of the Mundaka Upanishad: 'Satyameva Jayate Naanritam', meaning 'Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood'. The government adopted it along with the National Emblem on 26 January 1950, and it sits in Devanagari below the Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath.

Why the others are wrong:

• Katha Upanishad is the source of the Nachiketa episode and the call 'Uttistha jagrata' (Uttishthata jagrata), which is often quoted but is not the motto.
• Chandogya Upanishad gives the mahavakya 'Tat tvam asi', which candidates often confuse with the motto.
• Aitareya Upanishad is tied to the Rigveda and is not the source of this line.

Core concept: national symbols. The Emblem is adapted from the Sarnath capital, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 covers the Emblem and national symbols. For Mains (Ethics or Polity), the motto is a good hook for discussing how constitutional values draw on India's civilisational heritage.

Trap: aspirants pick the Chandogya Upanishad because it is the most famous source of quoted Upanishadic lines. Remember the specific verse, not the general fame of the text.