Art and Culture — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions

The first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music training school, was set up in 1901 by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabharata'?

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO :

a: Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023 ?

Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO ?

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements：

1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in the Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:
Literary work | Author

1. Devichandragupta | Bilhana

2. Hammira-Mahakavya | Nayachandra Suri

3. Milinda-panha | Nagarjuna

4. Nitivakyamrita | Somadeva Suri

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:
Site
Well known for

1. Besnagar
Shaivite cave shrine

2. Bhaja
Buddhist cave shrine

3. Sittanavasal
Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

Which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla, and Kshemeshvara were famous

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas'?

Building ‘Kalyana Mandapas' was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

Consider the following statements:1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :
White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi
Darwaza at Lucknow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
   Which of the statements given above are correct ?

Consider the following pairs :
Craft Heritage of

1. Puthukkuli shawls - Tamil Nadu
2. Sujni embroidery - Maharashtra
3. Uppada Jamdani saris - Karnataka
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

Consider the following pairs :
Tradition - State

1. Chapchar Kut festival - Mizoram
2. Khongiom Parba ballad - Manipur
3. Thang-Ta dance - Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements :

1. It is a song and dance performance.
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at

Consider the following pairs :
Traditions - Communities

1. Chaliha Sahib Festival - Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra - Gonds
3. Wari-Warkari - Santhals
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

In the cultural history of India, the profession of memorizing chronicles, dynastic histories, and epic tales was held by which of the following?

Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?