UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian Art & Culture Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for Indian Art & Culture in UPSC CSE Prelims in English & Hindi Medium.
Chapter Breakdown: Scroll →
With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
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
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Maitreya | Future Buddha who will appear in the future to teach dharma; currently resides in Tushita heaven |
| Avalokiteshvara | Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism; embodies the compassion of all Buddhas |
| Lokesvara | Another name for Avalokiteshvara, meaning "Lord of the World" |
| Padmapani | Form of Avalokiteshvara holding a lotus (padma); depicted in Ajanta Cave paintings |
| Gautama Buddha | Historical Buddha of the current age; achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya |
The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the
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
| School | Period | Key Features | Famous Works/Themes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kishangarh | 18th century | Elongated eyes and faces, graceful elegance, romantic themes, Radha-Krishna devotion | Bani Thani, Radha-Krishna series |
| Bundi | 17th-18th century | Bold colors, hunting scenes, royal life, lush vegetation, dynamic compositions | Ragamala series, Chaugan Players |
| Jaipur | 18th-19th century | Mughal influence, portraits, court scenes, vibrant colors | Gita Govinda series, royal portraits |
| Kangra | 18th-19th century | Soft colors, lyrical themes, delicate features, naturalistic landscapes, Pahari style | Gita Govinda, Bhagavata Purana, Nayika Bheda |
- 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.
Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
- Arasavalli
- Amarakantak
- Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 only
Among the given options, only Arasavalli is famous for its Sun temple. The Suryanarayana Temple at Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh is a renowned 7th-century Sun temple built by the Eastern Ganga Dynasty, architecturally designed so that sun rays fall on the deity's feet twice annually.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Arasavalli in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, is home to the famous 7th-century Suryanarayana Sun Temple built by King Devendra Varma of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Amarakantak in Madhya Pradesh is known as the source of Narmada River and houses Kalachuri dynasty temples, but is not famous for a Sun temple.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a Shaivite pilgrimage center, not known for a Sun temple.
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With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:
- It is a song and dance performance.
- Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
- It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 3 only
Manipuri Sankirtana is a traditional performance art form from Manipur that combines singing, drumming, and dancing to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna. It uses multiple musical instruments, not just cymbals.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Manipuri Sankirtana is indeed a song and dance performance that combines singing, dancing, and drumming as an integral part of Vaishnavite traditions in Manipur.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Besides cymbals (Kartal), Manipuri Sankirtana uses several other instruments including the Pung (barrel-shaped drum), which is the primary percussion instrument, along with Harmonium and other instruments.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The performance is primarily dedicated to narrating the life, deeds, and leelas (divine plays) of Lord Krishna, forming a core aspect of Manipuri Vaishnavism and religious congregation.
Additional Information: Manipuri Sankirtana was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, recognizing its significance as a living tradition that encompasses ritual singing, drumming and dancing performed in temples and domestic spaces in Manipur.
The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at -
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Ajanta
The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most celebrated masterpieces of Indian art, located in Cave 1 of the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra. This exquisite mural depicts the compassionate Bodhisattva holding a lotus (padma), showcasing exceptional artistic skill, graceful composition, and spiritual depth that exemplifies the zenith of Buddhist cave art (5th-6th century CE).
Why other options are incorrect:
Badami: Known for rock-cut Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples built by the Chalukyas (6th-8th century CE), but not famous for the Padmapani painting.
Bagh: These caves in Madhya Pradesh have Buddhist paintings similar in style to Ajanta, but the iconic Padmapani is specifically at Ajanta.
Ellora: Famous for rock-cut temples of three religions and the monolithic Kailasa temple, but the Padmapani painting is not found here.
Consider the following pairs:
| Tradition | 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?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 only
This question tests the correct matching of cultural traditions with their associated communities. Only the first pair is correctly matched, as Chaliha Sahib is indeed a Sindhi Hindu festival, while the other two pairs incorrectly associate traditions with communities.
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Chaliha Sahib (also called Chalio or Chaliho) is a forty-day-long festival celebrated by the Hindu Sindhi community, observed in honor of Jhulelal (Uderolal), the patron saint of Sindhis.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra is a pilgrimage festival associated with the people of Uttarakhand (particularly the Garhwal region), not the Gond community, which is an indigenous tribe of central India.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Wari-Warkari is a pilgrimage tradition associated with devotees of Lord Vitthal (Vithoba) in Maharashtra, primarily involving the Marathi-speaking community, not the Santhals, who are an indigenous tribe of eastern India.
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
This question tests knowledge of Buddhist philosophical schools, not Jainism or theatre. Statement 1 incorrectly identifies Sautrantika and Sammitiya as Jain sects when they were actually Buddhist schools. Statement 2 correctly describes the Sarvastivada doctrine of permanent existence of dharmas across past, present, and future.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Sautrantika and Sammitiya were Buddhist philosophical schools, not Jain sects; Sautrantika emphasized sutras over Abhidharma, while Sammitiya upheld the existence of a self (pudgala).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Sarvastivadins held the doctrine "sarvam asti" (everything exists), believing that dharmas (constituents of phenomena) existed permanently in latent form across all three times rather than being wholly momentary.
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
- Both were built in the same period.
- Both belong to the same religious denomination.
- Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Ajanta caves were built between 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE (primarily under Vakataka and Gupta periods), while Mahabalipuram monuments were constructed in 7th-8th centuries CE under the Pallava dynasty. They belong to different periods separated by at least a century.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Ajanta caves are Buddhist monuments serving as monasteries and prayer halls (chaityas and viharas), whereas Mahabalipuram monuments are predominantly Hindu, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu with structures like Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Both sites feature rock-cut architecture. Ajanta has 30 rock-cut cave temples carved into basalt cliffs, while Mahabalipuram showcases rock-cut monuments including rathas, mandapas, and relief sculptures carved from granite monoliths.
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :
- The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
- Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
- 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?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana Buddhism, not Hinayana (Theravada). Hinayana emphasizes the Arhat ideal—one who achieves personal liberation (Nirvana). Mahayana, in contrast, celebrates the Bodhisattva path of compassionate service to all beings.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: A Bodhisattva is a being who has developed enlightenment qualities but is characterized by boundless compassion. They are on the path to full Buddhahood while actively working for the welfare of all sentient beings.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The defining feature of a Bodhisattva is the vow to delay entering final Nirvana until all sentient beings are liberated. This selfless commitment distinguishes the Bodhisattva ideal from the Arhat ideal, making it the cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism.
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Malavikagnimitra
Malavikagnimitra is a classical Sanskrit play written by the renowned poet Kalidasa. It narrates the romantic love story of King Agnimitra, who was the son of Pushyamitra Shunga, the founder of the Sunga dynasty (circa 185 BCE). The play revolves around Agnimitra's love for Malavika, a beautiful maiden in the royal household. Swapnavasavadatta by Bhasa tells the story of King Udayana and Queen Vasavadatta, unrelated to the Sunga dynasty. Meghadoota is Kalidasa's lyrical poem about a Yaksha sending messages through a cloud to his beloved wife. Ratnavali by Harsha is a romantic comedy about King Udayana and Princess Ratnavali, with no connection to the Sungas.
With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:
- Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
- Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil Nadu were part of a monotheistic devotional movement that emerged during medieval India. They believed in a formless supreme reality and strongly opposed idol worship, ritualism, and temple-centric practices. Their philosophy emphasized direct spiritual experience over external religious symbols.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Lingayat movement, founded by Basavanna in 12th-century Karnataka, was a radical social-religious reform movement. Lingayats rejected the theory of rebirth and the associated karmic cycle that perpetuated caste hierarchy. They advocated social equality, opposed Brahmanical dominance, and rejected caste-based discrimination. They believed in liberation (aikya) immediately upon death rather than through cycles of rebirth.
A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — S. Ramanujan
The 2015 biographical film The Man Who Knew Infinity depicts the life of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and his collaboration with G.H. Hardy at Cambridge University during 1914-1919.
The film is based on Robert Kanigel's 1991 biography of the same name, chronicling Ramanujan's journey from poverty in Madras to becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of Buddha?
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kosala
- Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 (Avanti) – Incorrect: Avanti kingdom (capital Ujjain) had no direct association with Buddha's life; Buddhism spread here later during Mauryan period.
❌ Statement 2 (Gandhara) – Incorrect: Gandhara became a Buddhist art centre under Kushanas (1st-2nd century CE), centuries after Buddha's time; no connection to his life events.
✅ Statement 3 (Kosala) – Correct: Kosala kingdom included Kapilavastu (Buddha's birthplace, though Lumbini technically in Shakya territory) and Sravasti where Buddha spent many rainy seasons (vassas) teaching.
✅ Statement 4 (Magadha) – Correct: Magadha was central to Buddha's ministry; he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave first sermon at Sarnath (near Magadha), spent years in Rajgriha under King Bimbisara's patronage, and attained Parinirvana at Kushinagar.
With reference to art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
Detailed Explanation:
Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli was created during the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE (c. 260 BCE), making it the earliest monument among the options.
Varaha Image at Udayagiri dates to the Gupta period (c. 401-402 CE), Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram were built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th-8th centuries CE, and Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar was constructed in the 11th century CE.
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
Detailed Explanation:
Odia was granted Classical Language status in February 2014, making it the 6th classical language of India and the most recent addition at the time this question was asked.
Classical Languages of India (up to 2014): Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Konkani, Bhojpuri, and Assamese did not have classical status in 2014-15.
Note: In October 2024, five more languages—Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese—were added to the list.