UPSC Prelims 2013–2026 — Art & Culture

Explanation: Correct option: (c) bronze. This mesmerizing sculpture, famously known as ‘The Dancing Girl,’ is one of the highest achievements of the artists of Mohenjodaro. The ‘Dancing Girl’ is a sculpture made of bronze.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) Only one. The Ajanta Caves, carved into a cliff above the Waghora River, consist of 30 caves (5 chaityagrihas and 25 viharas) linked by rock- cut stairways.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 and 2 only. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and was praised by Al-Biruni, attracting Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid in 1024. The Pran-Pratistha was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.. The Ajanta Caves, carved into a cliff above the Waghora River, consist of 30 caves (5 chaityagrihas and 25 viharas) linked by rock- cut stairways.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 and 2. The Ajanta Caves, carved into a cliff above the Waghora River, consist of 30 caves (5 chaityagrihas and 25 viharas) linked by rock- cut stairways.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Vijayanagara. ‘Kalyana Mandapams’ were a distinct feature of Vijayanagara temple architecture, used for symbolic divine marriage ceremonies.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 only. Shantiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas were recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Rani-ki-Vav and the Mahabodhi Temple Complex were not newly added.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and was praised by Al-Biruni, attracting Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid in 1024. The Pran-Pratistha was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 and 2 only. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and was praised by Al-Biruni, attracting Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid in 1024. The Pran-Pratistha was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli. The rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli in Odisha was created during Ashoka’s reign (3rd century BC) and is considered the earliest Buddhist sculpture in the state, showing only the foreparts of the animal.

Explanation: Correct option: (c) a style of temple construction. A Panchayatan temple denotes a Hindu temple style where the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the four corners, forming a quincunx layout.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 and 2 only. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and was praised by Al-Biruni, attracting Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid in 1024. The Pran-Pratistha was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and was praised by Al-Biruni, attracting Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid in 1024. The Pran-Pratistha was performed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks. A Chaitya is a rectangular hall of worship with polished walls, columned interiors, and a stupa at one end opposite the entrance. In contrast, Viharas served as monasteries for monks. Architecture and Sculpture- Explanation 1

Explanation: Correct option: (b) playwrights. Choice (b) is the right one: Bhavabhuti was an Indian dramatist, Playwriter and poet. His dramas were normally written in Sanskrit and noted for their suspense and vivid characterization. His plays are considered equal to the works of Kalidasa. He wrote famous dramas Malatimadhava and Mahaviracharita.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Malavikagnimitra. Sunga dynasty, Indian ruling house founded by Pushyamitra about 185 BCE, which replaced the Mauryan dynasty. Pushyamitra assassinated Brihadratha, the last Mauryan ruler, at a military parade and assumed royal power. Pushyamitra was a Brahman, yet Buddhism still flourished in many areas under his control. Choice (b) is the right one: The Malavikagnimitra is a Sanskrit play by Kalidas.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Mundaka Upanishad. Choice (d) is the right one: Satyamev Jayate is the national motto of India. It is inscribed in the Devanagari script at the base of the National Emblem, which is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The words Satyameva Jayate are taken from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 only. Devi-Chandraguptam is an Indian Sanskrit-language political drama attributed to Vishakhadatta. Hammira Mahakavya is a 15th-century Indian Sanskrit epic poem written by the Jain scholar Nayachandra Suri.

Explanation: Correct option: (c) Sarvastivada Vinaya. Choice (c) is the right one Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk who traveled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on Sarvastivada Vinaya. Option (a) is not correct: Prajnaparamita is a collection of ancient Mahayana Buddhist texts and their explanations. These texts, among the oldest in Mahayana Buddhism, significantly expanded the idea of ultimate emptiness, known as shunyata.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Only two. Choice (b) is the right one: Bhavabhuti was an Indian dramatist, Playwriter and poet. His dramas were normally written in Sanskrit and noted for their suspense and vivid characterization. His plays are considered equal to the works of Kalidasa. He wrote famous dramas Malatimadhava and Mahaviracharita.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 and 3 only. Saint Tyagaraja, an 18th-century Carnatic composer, is known for his devotional Telugu compositions dedicated to Lord Rama. He introduced several new ragas, enriching Carnatic music. Tyagaraja and the 15th-century saint-composer Annamacharya were not contemporaries. Annamacharya is regarded as the earliest known composer of Sankirtanas praising Lord Venkateshwara.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 1 and 2 only. Saint Tyagaraja, an 18th-century Carnatic composer, is known for his devotional Telugu compositions dedicated to Lord Rama. He introduced several new ragas, enriching Carnatic music. Tyagaraja and the 15th-century saint-composer Annamacharya were not contemporaries. Annamacharya is regarded as the earliest known composer of Sankirtanas praising Lord Venkateshwara.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) One leg is bent, and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck. Tribhanga is a three-bend standing pose used in Indian sculpture and classical dances like Odissi. The body bends at the neck, waist, and knee, forming a graceful “S” shape. Performing Arts: Dance, Theatre and Music-Explanation 3

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Lahore. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar founded the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore in 1901. The aim was to teach music to any aspirant without the necessity of being associated with a guru and gharana.

Explanation: Correct option: (c) Garba dance. Garba, a devotional folk dance from Gujarat performed during Navaratri to honour feminine energy or ‘Shakti’, was inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in December 2023.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 and 4 only. Manipuri Nat-Sankirtana was developed by King Bhagyachandra Singh in the 18th century. It is a temple-centered art form among Manipur’s Vaishnav community, narrating Krishna’s life through music and dance. Performances generally involve two drummers and around ten singer-dancers.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 1 and 3 only. Saint Tyagaraja, an 18th-century Carnatic composer, is known for his devotional Telugu compositions dedicated to Lord Rama. He introduced several new ragas, enriching Carnatic music. Tyagaraja and the 15th-century saint-composer Annamacharya were not contemporaries. Annamacharya is regarded as the earliest known composer of Sankirtanas praising Lord Venkateshwara.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. Kalamkari is a traditional hand-painted or block-printed cotton Visual Arts: Painting, ceramics and drawing-Explanation 4

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Kishangarh School. The Kishangarh province in Rajasthan is famous for Bani Thani paintings, characterized by exaggerated features like long necks, almond-shaped eyes, and long fingers. These paintings primarily depict Radha and Krishna’s divine love.Kishangarh miniature art peaked in the 18th century under Raja Sawant Singh, who, inspired by a slave girl named Bani Thani, had artists portray them as Krishna and Radha.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) Ajanta. Choice (a) is the right one: The famous painting of the bodhisattva, Padmapani in Ajanta caves, is one of the best paintings remaining from the prehistoric era when Buddhism was at its peak. The Ajanta caves in Maharashtra were built in two phases, the first group starting around the 2nd century BC, while the second group of caves built around 400–650 AD. Padmapani is a Sanskrit word, meaning “one who holds the lotus”.

Explanation: Correct option: (c) Lokayata and Kapalika. The Six Systems of Indian Philosophy are Nyaya (Gautama), Vaisheshika (Kanada), Sankhya (Kapila), Yoga (Patanjali), Mimamsa (Jaimini), and Vedanta.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 only. Parivrajaka denotes roaming ascetic in multiple Indian traditions. Shramana includes non-Vedic traditions like Buddhism and Jainism, not Brahmanical ones. Buddhist monks renounced caste and lived near villages, supported by lay followers (upasaka/ upasika). Indian Philosophy and Bhakti & Sufi Movements-Explanation 5

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. Choice (a) is the right one: Ramanuja tried to assimilate bhakti to the tradition of Vedas. He argued that in order to attain salvation, the grace of God was more significant than knowledge about him. He emphasised that the path of prapatti or total reliance or surrender to God was open to all, irrespective of caste.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Only one pair. Parivrajaka denotes roaming ascetic in multiple Indian traditions. Shramana includes non-Vedic traditions like Buddhism and Jainism, not Brahmanical ones. Buddhist monks renounced caste and lived near villages, supported by lay followers (upasaka/ upasika). Indian Philosophy and Bhakti & Sufi Movements-Explanation 5

Explanation: Correct option: (a) The best means of salvation was devotion.. Choice (a) is the right one: Ramanuja tried to assimilate bhakti to the tradition of Vedas. He argued that in order to attain salvation, the grace of God was more significant than knowledge about him. He emphasised that the path of prapatti or total reliance or surrender to God was open to all, irrespective of caste.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 and 2 only. Chaliha is a Sindhi festival dedicated to Jhulelal, involving a 40- day fast and the worship of a sacred jyot. Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival of Garhwali and Kumaoni people in Uttarakhand. Wari Warkari (Pandharpur Wari) is a Maharashtrian festival of the Varkari sect.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. Chaliha is a Sindhi festival dedicated to Jhulelal, involving a 40- day fast and the worship of a sacred jyot. Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival of Garhwali and Kumaoni people in Uttarakhand. Wari Warkari (Pandharpur Wari) is a Maharashtrian festival of the Varkari sect.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. Chaliha is a Sindhi festival dedicated to Jhulelal, involving a 40- day fast and the worship of a sacred jyot. Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival of Garhwali and Kumaoni people in Uttarakhand. Wari Warkari (Pandharpur Wari) is a Maharashtrian festival of the Varkari sect.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Gond and Korku. Hari Jiroti is a month-long monsoon festival celebrated by the Gond and Korku tribes of Madhya Pradesh’s Betul and Harda districts. Indian Traditions, Festivals, and Calendars-Explanation 6

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Musical tradition in North-West India. The Manganiyars are Muslim folk musicians from Western Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, Barmer, etc.). They perform for patron families in exchange for gifts like cattle or cash.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1 only. Chaliha is a Sindhi festival dedicated to Jhulelal, involving a 40- day fast and the worship of a sacred jyot. Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival of Garhwali and Kumaoni people in Uttarakhand. Wari Warkari (Pandharpur Wari) is a Maharashtrian festival of the Varkari sect.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India. Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest martial arts, is practiced in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It involves strikes, kicks, grappling, weaponry, and healing techniques.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 22nd March (or 21st March). The Saka Era national calendar, adopted on 22 March 1957, begins with Chaitra as the first month and has 365 days. 1st Chaitra corresponds to 22 March (21 March in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) 2 and 3 only. Choice (d) is the right one: Some of the popular languages spoken by the tribes of India are as follows: Bhatri, Bhilli, Halbi, Ho, Kui etc. Halabi is spoken by over 5.25 Lakh people in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It belongs to the group of Indo- Aryan Tribal languages. significant Dravidian Tribal languages are Kolami, Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Oraon/Kurukh, and Parji.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only. Pair 1 is correctly matched: Vidisha is an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is also the administrative capital of the district with the same name. It was called Besnagar in ancient times. During the Medieval period, Vidisha city was called Bhilsa.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) 1, 2 and 3. Choice (d) is the right one: Some of the popular languages spoken by the tribes of India are as follows: Bhatri, Bhilli, Halbi, Ho, Kui etc. Halabi is spoken by over 5.25 Lakh people in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It belongs to the group of Indo- Aryan Tribal languages. significant Dravidian Tribal languages are Kolami, Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Oraon/Kurukh, and Parji.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Sayyids. Choice (d) is the right one: The Sayyids claim descent from the Prophet through his daughter Fatima. The Sayyid put on a special pointed cap (Kulah) and they were known as Kulah-Daran.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) 2 and 3. Choice (d) is the right one: Some of the popular languages spoken by the tribes of India are as follows: Bhatri, Bhilli, Halbi, Ho, Kui etc. Halabi is spoken by over 5.25 Lakh people in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It belongs to the group of Indo- Aryan Tribal languages. significant Dravidian Tribal languages are Kolami, Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Oraon/Kurukh, and Parji.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) tribal languages. Choice (d) is the right one: Some of the popular languages spoken by the tribes of India are as follows: Bhatri, Bhilli, Halbi, Ho, Kui etc. Halabi is spoken by over 5.25 Lakh people in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It belongs to the group of Indo- Aryan Tribal languages. significant Dravidian Tribal languages are Kolami, Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Oraon/Kurukh, and Parji.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. Pair 1 is not correctly matched: Burzahom, in Kashmir Valley, is a Neolithic site known for underground pit dwellings plastered with mud, reflecting transitions from Neolithic to Early Historic periods. It is not famous for rock-cut shrines. Pair 2 is correctly matched: Archaeologist Rakhaldas Banerji, who discovered Mohenjodaro, found terracotta artifacts at Chandraketugarh in West Bengal and published his findings in 1920.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 1 and 4 only. Statement 1 is not correct: International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21 since 2000, was initiated by Bangladesh and approved by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) The meditation of the Buddha. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q2. In early Buddhist art—dating back to the pre-Christian era at sites like Sanchi Stupa and Bharhut—artists did not depict the Buddha in human form. Instead, they utilized aniconic (symbolic) markers to indicate his presence. The empty seat (or empty throne) typically symbolizes the Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and his ongoing state of meditation.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 1 and 3 only. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q4. Statement 1 is correct: The Amaravati Stupa (historically known as Dhanyakataka) was built in the lower Krishna river valley in modern Andhra Pradesh, thriving under the patronage of the Satavahanas and later the Ikshvakus. Statement 2 is not correct: When fully intact, the Amaravati Stupa was actually larger than the Sanchi Stupa. The Amaravati Stupa (Mahachaitya) was actually larger than the Sanchi Stupa.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q9. Mallikarjun Mansur was one of the most distinguished exponents of Hindustani classical music in the twentieth century. Born in Dharwad region of Karnataka, he became especially renowned for his mastery over rare ragas and complex khayal compositions. His music reflected the distinctive stylistic depth of the Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana, a tradition known for its intricate raga architecture and intellectual rigour.

Explanation: Correct option: (d) Dheera Shankarabharanam. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q11. Jana Gana Mana, the National Anthem of India, is set in the Carnatic raga Dheera Shankarabharanam, which corresponds to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani classical music. The name Shankarabharanam signifies “the jewel or ornament of Lord Shiva.” Regarded as a spiritually uplifting and therapeutic raga, it is believed to promote mental peace, vitality, and emotional wellness.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) 2 and 3. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q14. Option 1 is not correct. The Malegitti Shivalaya at Badami belongs to the southern architectural tradition. The temple consists of a sanctum, a pillared hall, and an entrance porch, and is surmounted by a Dravidian-style superstructure, reflecting the architectural preferences of the Early Chalukyas.

Explanation: Correct option: (b) Yaksha (demi-gods). Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q15. In Jain philosophy, rebirth is classified into four principal forms of existence (Gati) determined by an individual’s karma. These four Gatis are: Deva (heavenly beings) Manushya (human beings) Tiryancha (animals, birds, insects, and plants) Naraka (infernal beings) Choice (a) is the right one. Devas, or heavenly beings, constitute one of the four recognised forms of existence in Jainism.

Explanation: Correct option: (a) A joyous folk dance. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q16. The Hallisalasya painting of the Bagh Caves is particularly celebrated for its vibrant portrayal of festive folk dance scenes, reflecting the lively cultural traditions of ancient India. The caves are especially renowned for their exquisite fresco-style paintings, which display remarkable skill in colour composition, human expression, and narrative depiction.

Explanation: Correct option: (c) 3 only. Source: UPSC GS Paper I 2026, Q27. Statement 1 is incorrect. Moidams were not constructed as military fortresses or defensive structures. Their primary purpose was funerary and ceremonial rather than strategic or military.