Which one of the following is not true about the Barabar hill caves?

The correct answer is D. The Barabar caves in Jehanabad, Bihar, are Mauryan rock-cut caves, and the inscriptions on them date to around the 3rd century BC, in Ashoka's reign (c. 268-232 BC), not the 6th century BC.

• A is true: Barabar hill has four caves: Karna Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visva Jhopri.
• B is true: Ashokan inscriptions are carved on three of them: Karna Chaupar, Lomas Rishi and Sudama.
• C is true: The inscriptions record that these caves were dedicated by Ashoka to the Ajivika sect.
• D is false: The dating is wrong. The 6th century BC is too early for Ashoka, who ruled in the 3rd century BC.

The core concept is Mauryan rock-cut architecture, with its highly polished interior surfaces, and the Ashokan policy of patronising non-Buddhist sects. For Mains, this links to the idea of Dhamma as a tolerant, pluralistic ethic.

Trap: Aspirants often recall that Ashoka patronised Buddhism and assume the Barabar caves are Buddhist. The inscriptions tie them to the Ajivikas, and the date must be anchored to the Mauryan period.