UPSC CSE mains PYQs  General Studies - l , Art & Culture :

Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society.

Art & Culture :

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Q.1) The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of
early Indian art and history. Discuss. [ 150 Words] [10 Marks] [2020]

Q.2) Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India, Enumerate. [150
Words] [10 Marks] [2020]

Q.3) Persian Literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. [250 words]
[15 marks] [2020]

Q.4) Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the
monuments and their art in India. Discuss. [250 words] [15 Marks] [2020]

Q.5) Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2019]

Q.6) Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2018]

Q.7) Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction
of the history of India. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2018]

Q.8) The Bhakti Movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu. Discuss. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2018]

Q.9) How do you justify the view that the level of the excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not
at all noticeable in later times? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2017]

Q.10) The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very
early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate. [250 Words] [15 Marks]
[2017]

Q.11) Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds
Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

Q.12) Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but
was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

Q.13) The ancient civilisation in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to present day. Comment. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]

Q.14) Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also
a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]

Q.15) To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided
inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014]

Q.16) Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. [150 Words] [10
Marks] [2014]

Q.17) Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014]

Q.18) The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014]

Q.19) Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014]

Q.20) Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India ,
the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable
vividness. Comment. [200 Words] [10 Marks][2013]

Q.21) Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. [100 Words] [5Marks] [2013]

Q.22) Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture.
Discuss. [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013]