UPSC Mains Art & Culture
Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life. Elucidate.

Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian Gandhara elements in art.

Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment.

How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times?

Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.

Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.

Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature of South India.

Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.

Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.

Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.

Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.

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.

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.

Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.

"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.

How will you explain that medieval India temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?

Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.

The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.

Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.

Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.

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.

To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present-day urbanization? Discuss.

Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.

Examine the main aspects of Akbar's religious syncretism.

Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.

The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.

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.

Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.

Explain the role of geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India.

What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian society?

What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society?

Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture.

The ancient civilization 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 the present day. Comment.