UPSC Prelims 2018
Indian Art & Culture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Kishangarh school

"Bani Thani" is an iconic 18th-century painting from the Kishangarh school of Rajasthan, often referred to as the Indian 'Mona Lisa'. It depicts a woman with elongated features and graceful elegance, believed to be a representation of the divine lover Radha or the poet-singer Bani Thani herself. This painting epitomizes the romantic and devotional themes characteristic of Kishangarh art under the patronage of Raja Sawant Singh.

📝 Short Notes: Rajasthani Schools of Miniature Painting

• Mewar School: One of the earliest Rajasthani schools, known for bold colors and religious themes like Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana illustrations.
• Marwar (Jodhpur) School: Known for portraits of rulers, bold outlines, and folk art influences.
• Bikaner School: Strong Mughal influence, fine detailing, and court scenes.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Maitreya

Maitreya is recognized in Buddhist tradition as the future Buddha who will appear on Earth to teach the pure dharma when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been completely forgotten. Avalokiteshvara (also known as Lokesvara or Padmapani) is a compassionate bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism but is not considered a future Buddha destined to save the world.

📝 Short Notes: Key Buddhist Figures

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

This question tests knowledge of traditional Indian crafts and their geographical origins. Only the first pair is correctly matched, while the other two pairs incorrectly associate crafts with the wrong states.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Puthukkuli shawls are indeed embroidered textiles traditionally crafted by the Toda tribe in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Sujni embroidery is a traditional craft from Bihar (particularly Bhusura village), not Maharashtra.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Uppada Jamdani saris are famous silk saris from Uppada in Andhra Pradesh, not Karnataka.

📝 Short Notes: Traditional Indian Crafts and Their States

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — None

Both statements are incorrect regarding the materials used in the construction of these historical monuments.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri were primarily constructed using red sandstone, not white marble. While some decorative elements might feature white marble inlay work, the dominant material is red sandstone characteristic of Mughal architecture at Fatehpur Sikri.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Bara Imambara in Lucknow is primarily constructed using lakhauri bricks with lime mortar and stucco plaster, not red sandstone and marble. Rumi Darwaza is similarly built with bricks and lime plaster. These structures exemplify the Awadhi architectural style which relied on brick construction rather than stone.

📝 Short Notes: Mughal and Awadhi Architecture Materials

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Jainism

The Sthanakvasi sect is a reformist subsect within Jainism that emerged in the 17th century as a protest against idol worship and temple rituals. The name 'Sthanakvasi' literally means 'those who dwell in halls' (sthanak), referring to their practice of worshipping in simple prayer halls rather than ornate temples. This sect emphasizes ascetic practices, scriptural study, and spiritual discipline over ritualistic worship.

📝 Short Notes: Major Jain Sects

• The Sthanakvasi movement was founded by a merchant named Lavaji in Gujarat as a protest against the murtipujak (idol-worshipping) tradition.
• Both Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi sects focus on inner spirituality rather than external ritualism.
• These reformist movements emphasize the original teachings of Mahavira and strict adherence to Jain principles.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 2

This question tests knowledge of traditional cultural practices and their associated states in Northeast India. Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, while Pair 3 incorrectly attributes Thang-Ta to Sikkim instead of Manipur.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Chapchar Kut is a vibrant spring festival celebrated by the Mizo people of Mizoram, marking the completion of jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn farming).

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Khongjom Parba is a ritualistic ballad performance commemorating the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891, specifically the Battle of Khongjom where Manipuri soldiers fought against British forces.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Thang-Ta is a traditional martial art form of Manipur, not Sikkim. It combines armed ('Thang' - sword/spear) and unarmed ('Ta' - hand-to-hand) combat techniques and is an integral part of Manipuri culture.

📝 Short Notes: Cultural Traditions of Northeast India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 4 only

This question tests knowledge of two prominent Carnatic music composers and their contributions. Only statements 2 and 4 are factually correct regarding Tyagaraja's compositional innovations and Annamacharya's devotional focus.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Most of Tyagaraja's kritis are devotional compositions in praise of Lord Rama, not Lord Krishna.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Tyagaraja is credited with creating several new ragas and enriching Carnatic music with his innovative compositions.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Annamacharya (1408-1503 CE) and Tyagaraja (1767-1847 CE) were not contemporaries; they lived approximately three centuries apart.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Annamacharya's kirtanas are devotional songs primarily in praise of Lord Venkateshwara (Balaji) of Tirupati.

📝 Short Notes: Saint Composers of Carnatic Music