UPSC Prelims 2022
Indian Art & Culture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 4 solved UPSC Prelims 2022 Indian Art & Culture questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical - Person Known as
- Aryadeva - Jaina scholar
- Dignaga - Buddhist scholar
- Nathamuni - Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Only two pairs
This question tests knowledge of historical Indian scholars and their philosophical traditions. Out of the three pairs given, two are correctly matched while one is incorrect.
❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Aryadeva was a Buddhist philosopher and Madhyamaka scholar, not a Jaina scholar. He was a disciple of Nagarjuna and associated with Nalanda monastery.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Dignaga was indeed a Buddhist scholar renowned for his pioneering work in Buddhist logic (Pramana) and epistemology, influencing later philosophers like Dharmakirti.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Nathamuni was a Vaishnava scholar who revived the Sri Vaishnava tradition and compiled the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of Tamil devotional hymns.
📝 Short Notes: Major Indian Philosophical Scholars
| Scholar | Tradition | Time Period | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aryadeva | Buddhist (Madhyamaka) | 2nd-3rd century CE | Disciple of Nagarjuna; wrote Catuhsataka (Four Hundred Verses); propagated Sunyavada |
| Dignaga | Buddhist (Yogacara) | 5th-6th century CE | Founder of Buddhist logic; wrote Pramanasamuccaya; established Pramana theory |
| Nathamuni | Vaishnava (Sri Vaishnava) | 9th-10th century CE | Revived Sri Vaishnava tradition; compiled Divya Prabandham; grandfather of Yamunacharya |
| Dharmakirti | Buddhist | 7th century CE | Developed Dignaga's logic; wrote Pramanavartika |
| Ramanuja | Vaishnava | 11th-12th century CE | Propounded Vishishtadvaita; systematized Sri Vaishnava philosophy |
Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts — Location in the State of
- Dhauli — Odisha
- Erragudi — Andhra Pradesh
- Jaugada — Madhya Pradesh
- Kalsi — Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Only two pairs
This question tests knowledge of the geographical locations of Ashoka's major rock edicts. Out of the four pairs given, only two are correctly matched: Dhauli (Odisha) and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh). The other two locations are incorrectly matched.
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Dhauli rock edicts are indeed located in Odisha (near Bhubaneswar).
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Erragudi (also spelled Yerragudi) rock edicts are located in Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool district).
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Jaugada rock edicts are located in Odisha (Ganjam district), not in Madhya Pradesh.
❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Kalsi rock edicts are located in Uttarakhand (Dehradun district), not in Karnataka.
📝 Short Notes: Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka
| Site | State/Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Dhauli | Odisha (near Bhubaneswar) | Contains special edicts about Kalinga; separate edicts on policy of Dhamma |
| Jaugada | Odisha (Ganjam district) | Similar to Dhauli; special Kalinga edicts |
| Erragudi/Yerragudi | Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool) | Contains 14 major rock edicts |
| Kalsi | Uttarakhand (Dehradun) | Contains 14 rock edicts; written in Brahmi script |
| Girnar | Gujarat (Junagadh) | One of the oldest and best preserved; 14 rock edicts |
| Shahbazgarhi | Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) | Written in Kharosthi script |
| Mansehra | Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) | Written in Kharosthi script |
With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:
- Nettipakarana
- Parishishtaparvan
- Avadanashataka
- Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts ?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 4 only
Among the given texts, only Parishishtaparvan and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana are Jaina texts. Nettipakarana is a Buddhist Theravada scripture, while Avadanashataka is a collection of Buddhist legends.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Nettipakarana is a Buddhist scripture from the Theravada tradition that serves as a guide for interpreting the Pali Canon.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Parishishtaparvan (Sthaviravalicharitra) is a 12th-century Jaina text written by Hemachandra, providing historical accounts of early Jaina teachers.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Avadanashataka is a Sanskrit collection of one hundred Buddhist legends (Avadanas) detailing past lives and deeds.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana (Mahapurana) is a major 9th-century Jaina text by Digambara monks Jinasena and Gunabhadra, detailing the lives of 63 Shalakapurushas.
📝 Short Notes: Religious Texts Classification
| Text | Religion | Author/Period | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nettipakarana | Buddhist (Theravada) | Post-canonical period | Guide to interpretation of Pali Canon |
| Parishishtaparvan | Jaina | Hemachandra (12th century) | Historical accounts of Jaina teachers; appendix to larger work |
| Avadanashataka | Buddhist | Sanskrit literature | Collection of 100 Buddhist legends (Avadanas) |
| Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana | Jaina (Digambara) | Jinasena & Gunabhadra (9th century) | Lives of 63 Shalakapurushas (Great Men) |
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The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
- Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
- A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
- Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only
This question tests knowledge about the historical and religious significance of Somnath Temple. Statement 3 is incorrect because the consecration was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, not Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Somnath Temple houses one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva, making it one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Hinduism.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Al-Biruni, the Persian scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni, documented the grandeur of Somnath Temple in his writings, describing it as a stone structure built around the 10th century and fortified by the sea on three sides.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of the reconstructed Somnath Temple in 1951 was performed by India's first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, not Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (who was the second President).
📝 Short Notes: Somnath Temple
- Location: Veraval (Prabhas Patan), Gujarat, on the western coast of India
- Religious Significance: One of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines, considered the first among them
- Historical Destruction: The temple was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times; most notably by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE
- Al-Biruni's Account: Described the temple's magnificent architecture and wealth, which attracted invasions
- Modern Reconstruction: Initiated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and K.M. Munshi in 1947; completed in 1951
- Consecration (1951): Performed by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on May 11, 1951
- Architectural Style: Present structure built in Chalukya style of temple architecture using sandstone
UPSC Prelims 2022 - Indian Art & Culture Chapter-wise Distribution
Indian Architecture
2 Qs (50%)Religions in India
2 Qs (50%)UPSC Prelims 2022 - Indian Art & Culture Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Indian Art & Culture questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2022?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Indian Art & Culture in UPSC Prelims 2022?
- Indian Architecture: 2 questions (50%)
- Religions in India: 2 questions (50%)