With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the statements given above are correct?

Option (b) is correct because while stupas functioned as repositories for relics (Statement 2) and served as votive or commemorative structures (Statement 3), the concept itself is not Buddhist in origin. Statement 1 is incorrect because the practice of raising mounds over the dead dates back to the Vedic period, meaning Buddhism adopted and refined an existing tradition rather than inventing it. The core concept tested is the historical evolution and architectural significance of the stupa in ancient Indian religious traditions.