Art & Culture – UPSC Prelims PYQs

What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography ?

Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct ?

1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.

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Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the :

Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?

Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara ?

1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

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Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included ?

The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents :

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct ?

1. They acted as army fortresses.
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.

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The first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music training school, was set up in 1901 by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in

Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of ‘Gandhi Peace Prize’? I. The President of India II. The Prime Minister of India III. The Chief Justice of India IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

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With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets ?

1. Nayaputta
2. Shakyamuni
3. Tathagata

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Consider the following statements :

1. There are no parables in Upanishads.
2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO ?

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa ?

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on :

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO : 1. 2. 3. 4.

How many of the above properties were included in 2023 ?

In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?

Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs : Literary work : Author

1. Devichandragupta : Bilhana
2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna
4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with

Consider the following pairs : Site

1. Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine

Well known for

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts :

1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina texts ?

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs : Historical person

1. Aryadeva — Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga — Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni — Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct ?

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple ?

1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

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With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements :

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements :

1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous

Which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho and Kui' pertain to

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’ ?

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements :

1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.
3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following :

1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?

Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?

Consider the following pairs : Tradition — State

1. Chapchar Kut festival — Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur
3. Thang-Ta dance — Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

Consider the following pairs : Craft Heritage of

1. Puthukkuli shawls — Tamil Nadu
2. Sujni embroidery — Maharashtra
3. Uppada Jamdani saris — Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements : 1. 2. Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?

The term 'Digital Single Market Strategy' seen in the news refers to

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at

Consider the following pairs : Traditions Communities

1. Chaliha Sahib Festival – Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra – Gonds
3. Wari-Warkari – Santhals

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples ?

1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar

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Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?