UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains GS I Previous Year Questions

Here we are provided subject-wise previous Year’s questions. This will help more understanding of the topic and exam pattern Art and

Culture Mains.

Provided questions from 2024 to 2013. 

Syllabus for Art and Culture

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

Last Updated on: 30-11-2024

2024 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period (Answer in 150 Words) 10 Mark

Q2. Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature os South India (Answer in 150 Words) 10 Mark

Q3. Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture.” Comment (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark

2023 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. What are the main features of Vedic Society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian Society? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark

Q2. What are the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian Society? (Answer in 250 Words) 15 Mark

Note: The second part of both questions are linked to the Sociology part of GS I: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. 

2022 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days? (Answer in 150 words) 10

Q2. Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art, and architecture.(Answer in 250 words) 15

Q1. Discuss the main contribution of Gupta Period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture. (Answer in 250 words) 15

2021 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

2020 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q2. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark 

Q3. Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Mark

Q4. Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Mark

2019 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

2018 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q2. Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q3. The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Mark

2017 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q2. Examine how the decline of the traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Mark

Here please note that Q2 is to be linked with modern history, medieval and ancient history.

2016 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark

Q2. Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark

2015 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. The ancient civilization in the Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark

Q2. Mesolithic rock-cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically evaluate this comment. (Answer in 200 words) 12 ½ Mark

2014 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q3. Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated with 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. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

Q4. 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. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Mark

2013 UPSC IAS Art and Culture Mains

Q1. 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. (Answer in 200 words) 10 Mark

Q2. (a) Discuss the ‘Tandava’ dance as recorded in early Indian inscriptions. (b) Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (Answer in 200 words) 10 Mark