UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains

UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains. We covered all the UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains in this post for free so that you can practice well for the exam.

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UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains for Students

Which of these statements regarding Indian painting is/are correct?

1. The fresco and tempera are techniques of miniature painting developed during the medieval era in India.
2. The fresco paintings are done when the surface wall is still wet so that the pigments go deep inside the wall surface.
3. Unlike fresco painting, tempera paints have a glossy finish and do not remain stable for long periods of time.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only

Show Answer

Arrange the following monuments in a correct chronological order of their formation: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. Lauria-nandangarh pillar
2. Mehrauli iron pillar
3. Panch-ratha at Mahabalipuram
4. Brihedeshwara temple of Thanjavur

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1-2-3-4
(b) 1-2-4-3
(c) 2-1-3-4
(d) 1-3-2-4

Show Answer

Consider the following statements about Rajasthani and Pahari School of miniature paintings:

1. ‘Tamasha’ paintings that showcased court ceremonies were associated with the Bundi School of Rajasthani Paintings.
2. ‘Barahmasa’ and ‘Bani Thani’ are popular themes of the Mewar school of Rajasthani paintings.
3. The themes of Basohli paintings were based on the book titled ‘Rasamanjari’.
4. The Kangra school of paintings developed much earlier than the Mughal period in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Show Answer

Which of the following best denotes the terms ‘Latina’ and ‘Phamsana’?

(a) Types of Stupas
(b) Types of Shikharas
(c) Parts of Dravida style of Temple
(d) Parts of Hoysala style of Temple

Show Answer

Consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

The striking feature(s) of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin include(s):

1. Turret
2. Similarity with Buddhist pagodas
3. Persian style

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

Show Answer

What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination
3. Both have rock-cut monuments

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Show Answer

With reference to Indus Valley Civilisation art, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. All the seals of the Indus Valley civilisation were square in shape, which represents their cultural uniformity.
2. The bronze statues of this period were made using the lost wax technique.
3. All the potteries of this period were handmade as Harappans were unaware of the use of wheels.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Show Answer

With reference to the Sarnath School of Sculpture, consider the following statements:

1. It was developed in the post-Mauryan period between the first and third centuries A.D.
2. Sultanganj Buddha is an example of the Sarnath School of Sculpture and belongs to the Gupta-Pala transitional period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer

Consider the following statements about mural paintings in India: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. The Ajanta cave paintings mainly belong to the post-Gupta period.
2. Paintings of Ellora caves are related to Buddhist, Jain, and Brahmanical religious themes.
3. The Bagh cave paintings have more secular themes than the Ajanta paintings.
4. The Sittanavasala paintings belong to the Vijaynagar period and are mainly themed on Jainism.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Show Answer

“This mudra means supreme enlightenment. Holding both hands at the level of the chest, intertwining all the fingers except index fingers, extending index fingers straight up and touching each other, etc. are part of this Mudra. This Mudra is known for charging one with energy. It symbolizes perfection.”

The above description is related to which of the following Buddhist mudra?

(a) Dhyana Mudra
(b) Dharmachakra Mudra
(c) Uttarabodhi Mudra
(d) Vitarka Mudra

Show Answer

With respect to the architecture during the Delhi Sultanate period, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. Quwat-ul-Islam mosque was the only monument during the period of the Slave Dynasty that was not converted from a Hindu temple.
2. During the Khilji dynasty, the use of red sandstone in construction activities increased.
3. Architectural development during the Delhi Sultanate reached its climax under the Tughlaq Dynasty.
4. Only tombs were commissioned during the period of the Lodi Dynasty.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Show Answer

Consider the following statements about temple architecture in different regions of India during the early medieval period:

1. The terracotta bricks were the principal building material used in temples of the Bengal region.
2. The Odisha style of temple architecture usually has heavily decorated interior walls and is devoid of any boundary walls.
3. A straight-edged pyramidal roof and enclosed courtyard are the main features of the Kashmiri style of temple architecture.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

With reference to early miniature paintings in India, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. The most common theme of the Pala School of Art was Buddhist iconography.
2. The Apabhramsa School of Art, which was based on Jain themes, originated in Eastern India.
3. Ragamala paintings originated under the Gupta ruler Chandragupta II in the 4th century CE.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favorite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

(a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck
(b) Facial expressions, hand gestures, and make-up combined to symbolize certain epic or historic characters
(c) Movements of body, face, and hands are used to express oneself or to tell a story
(d) A little smile, slightly curved waist, and certain hand gestures are emphasized to express the feelings of love or eroticism

Show Answer

With respect to Mauryan architecture, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. Fire-baked brick was the principal building material used in the Mauryan palaces at Kumrahar.
2. Pillars during the time of Ashoka were usually made of Chunar sandstone.
3. Stupas were burial mounds prevalent in India from the Vedic period, and during the Mauryan period, the art of making stupas was popularized to a large extent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 only

Show Answer

With respect to the stages in the development of temple architecture, consider the following statements:

1. A covered ambulatory passageway around the sanctum sanctorum was the key feature of the first stage of temple architecture development in Northern India.
2. In the Panchayatan style of temple making, there were four subsidiary shrines along with the temple of the principal deity.
3. Water tanks or reservoirs in the temple premises were the characteristic feature of the Nagara style of temple architecture.

How many of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Show Answer

With reference to different schools of Miniature painting, consider the following statements:

1. The early Malwa school of paintings was influenced by the Shirazi school, while the early Mughal paintings initially followed the Bihzad school.
2. The art of the Malwa school was strongly influenced by the Rajput school of painting due to its geographical proximity to Rajasthan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer

With respect to ancient schools of sculpture, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. The Gandhara school excelled in the beautiful portrayal of human figures with distinguished muscles of the body.
2. The Mathura School developed during the Gupta period and was influenced by the stories of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
3. The Amaravati School has mainly Buddhist influence and generally depicts the Jataka stories.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Show Answer

With reference to religious structures in ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. Mahanavami Dibba was a beautiful stone platform where the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire used to celebrate the festival of Dussehra.
2. Rekha Deula and Pidha Deula were types of intricate gopurams or gateways built in the Kalinga school of temple architecture.
3. In the Dravida style, images of river goddesses can be seen as temple guards, whereas in the Nagara style, sculptures of Dwarapalas can be seen as temple guards.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Recently, the stepwells of the Qutb Shahi necropolis at Golconda were awarded UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2022. Consider the following statements regarding Qutub Shahi architecture:

1. The dominant material used for constructing Qutb Shahi tombs was white marble decorated with stucco ornamentation.
2. Charminar was the first monument in the world constructed using lime mortar and granite, and it was only after its construction that architects throughout the world recognized the strength of lime mortar in raising huge structures.
3. The Qutub Shahi architectural style reached its zenith during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Which one of the following statements is not correct with reference to the Ancient Indian schools of Art?

(a) In the Mathura School of art, Buddha’s images were predominantly carved in Abhaya mudra.
(b) In the Gandhara School, depictions of Buddha had Hellenistic features, whereas in the Mathura school Buddha was modeled on earlier Yaksha images.
(c) The Sarnath School developed out of the Mathura school of architecture in Eastern India.
(d) Blue-grey mica schist was the dominant material used in the Amravati school as it was easily available in the region around Amravati.

Show Answer

Which of the following statements is not correct regarding the developments in art and culture in 19th century India?

(a) Artistic works like paintings were being produced mostly for the open market.
(b) This period marked the introduction of easel painting and oil paints to India.
(c) During this phase, gradually the artist (Shilpi) became distinct from the artisan (Karigar).
(d) Photography reached India in the nineteenth century, soon after its invention in Europe.

Show Answer

With reference to Central Vista, consider the following statements: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. Rajpath, which extends from the Rashtrapati Bhawan to the India Gate, has been renamed as Kartavya Path.
2. After the transfer of capital to Delhi in 1911, the government buildings in Delhi were made in Indo-Gothic style.
3. The Neo-Roman style of colonial architecture was marked by circular buildings and upturned domes.
4. The statue of Subhas Chandra Bose has been installed under the grand canopy at India Gate in front of the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, and 4 only
(d) 2, 3, and 4 only

Show Answer

Consider the following Medieval Architecture: ( UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains )

1. Panch Mahal
2. Hawa Mahal
3. Rang Mahal
4. Hindola Mahal

If a tourist wants to visit the above medieval architecture, which of the following will be the correct sequence of his visit moving from north to south?

(a) 1-2-3-4
(b) 2-3-4-1
(c) 3-1-2-4
(d) 4-1-2-3

Show Answer

With reference to Indian painting and sculpture-making tradition, consider the following statements:

1. While tempera paintings are done on wet plaster, frescoes are mostly done on dry plaster.
2. Nimat Nama is one of the finest examples of illustrated manuscripts of the Mughal period.
3. The ‘lost wax’ method of sculpture-making, which is considered to be as old as the Indus Valley civilization, was also used in the famous Nataraja sculpture of the Chola period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Show Answer

Which one among these created the famous ‘Bharat Mata’ painting?

(a) Nandlal Bose
(b) Abanindranath Tagore
(c) Raja Ravi Verma
(d) Amrita Shergill

Show Answer

The ‘Shalabhanjikas’ have been depicted in ancient Indian sculpture in various poses. With reference to the ‘Shalabhanjika’, consider the following statements:

1. The image is usually of a woman in sculpture standing near the tree having stylized feminine features and holding a branch.
2. ‘Shalabhanjikas’ sculpture can be found on the toranas (gateway) of the Sanchi Stupa.
3. Unlike other images of ancient India which are depicted in tribhanga pose, Shalabhanjikas images are mostly depicted in abhanga pose.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Show Answer

We covered all the UPSC Art and Culture Previous Year Questions Mains above in this post for free so that you can practice well for the exam.

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• Old NCERT Ancient India PDF
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