Art & Culture – UPSC Prelims PYQs

What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

Kalamkari painting refers to

Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?

1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following languages :

1. Gujarati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language/Languages' by the Government?

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

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

Consider the following towns of India :

1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal

Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?

With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements :

1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs : Famous work of sculpture

1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below : Ajanta
2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock : Mount Abu
3. “Arjuna’s Penance”/“Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders : Mamallapuram

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

With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?

Consider the following pairs :

1. Garba : Gujarat
2. Mohiniattam : Odisha
3. Yakshagana : Karnataka

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

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs : Famous shrine

1. Tabo monastery and temple complex : Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako : Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complex : Ladakh

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

Consider the following statements :

1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?

1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle, has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following historical places :

1. Ajanta Caves
2. Lepakshi Temple
3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school :

1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following pairs: Tribe State

1. Limboo (Limbu) : Sikkim
2. Karbi : Himachal Pradesh
3. Dongaria Kondh : Odisha
4. Bonda : Tamil Nadu

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today.

Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the

With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the following statements are correct?

1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal period.
2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music.
3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from Mantras.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?

1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam.
2. Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by

There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult ?

The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

1. Theatre direction
2. Social service and community leadership
3. Dance
4. History writing

List I (Famous person) A. Mandakini Amte B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry C. Romila Thapar D. Vanashree Rao

List II (Well-known for)

In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?

Mahamasthakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?

Consider the following pairs: Tradition — State

1. Gatka, a traditional martial art : Kerala
2. Madhubani, a traditional painting : Bihar
3. Singhye Khababs Sindhu Darshan Festival : Jammu and Kashmir

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

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

1. Dancer
2. Painter
3. Poet
4. Singer

List I (Famous person) A. Amrita Sher-Gil B. Bhimsen Joshi C. Rukmini Devi Arundale D. Suryakant Tripathi Nirala

List II (Well-known as)

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

1. Amartya Sen
2. Amitav Ghosh
3. Anita Desai
4. Jhumpa Lahiri

List I (Book) A. In Custody B. Sea of Poppies C. The Argumentative Indian D. Unaccustomed Earth

List II (Author)

Among the following, who are the Agaria community ?

Recently,

which one of the following was included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list ?

Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located ?

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

1. Andhra Pradesh B. Rajarani temple
2. Karnataka C. Kandariya Mahadeo temple
3. Madhya Pradesh D. Bhimesvara temple
4. Orissa

List I (Famous Temple) List II (State) A. Vidyashankara temple

Code : A B C D

Who of the following is the author of a collection of poems called “Golden Threshold”?

Anekāntavāda is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?

Consider the following statements :

1. The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
2. The highest honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer is by electing him its Fellow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following houses:

1. Christie's
2. Osian's
3. Sotheby's

Which of the above is/are auctioneer/auctioneers ?