We will be going through the UPSC Mains Topic-Wise PYQs – Indian Culture. The official UPSC Syllabus reads – Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
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| Question | Subject | Year | Marks | Sub-theme |
| Explain the role of geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India. | Art and Culture | 2023 | 10 | Geographical factors in Ancient India development |
| What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian society? | Art and Culture | 2023 | 15 | Vedic society and religion- Main features and elements of continuity |
| What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society? | Art and Culture | 2023 | 15 | Sultanate period- Major technological changes and their influence on Indian society |
| How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days? | Art and Culture | 2022 | 10 | Temple sculptures of medieval India |
| Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture. | Art and Culture | 2022 | 15 | Gupta and chola- Contribution to Indian heritage and culture |
| Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture. | Art and Culture | 2022 | 15 | Lion and bull figures- Significance in mythology, art and architecture |
| Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. | Art and Culture | 2021 | 10 | Bhakti literature- Nature and contribution to Indian culture |
| The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2020 | 10 | Rock-cut architecture- Source of Indian Art and history |
| Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. | Art and Culture | 2020 | 10 | Pala period- Contribution in promoting Buddhism |
| Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2020 | 15 | Impact of Indian Philosophy- In Ancient, Medieval and modern India |
| Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. | Art and Culture | 2020 | 15 | Persian literary sources of medieval India |
| Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art. | Art and Culture | 2019 | 10 | Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art |
| Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.(15m,250 words) | Art and Culture | 2019 | 15 | cultural pockets of small India across the nation |
| Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2018 | 10 | Indian art heritage- Need to safeguard and government steps |
| Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. | Art and Culture | 2018 | 10 | Chinese and Arab travellers’ account |
| The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2018 | 15 | Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Bhakti movement |
| How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times? | Art and Culture | 2017 | 10 | Gupta numismatic art- comparison with later times |
| Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. | Art and Culture | 2016 | 12.5 | Early Buddhist Stupa-art |
| Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2016 | 12.5 | Krishnadeva Raya- As Eminent scholar and as great patron of learning and literature |
| 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. | Art and Culture | 2015 | 12.5 | Reasons for continuity of elements of culture and traditions of ancient civilization, unlike in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece |
| Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment. | Art and Culture | 2015 | 12.5 | Mesolithic rock cut architecture- Reflecting cultural life of that times and comparable to modern painting |
| Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. | Art and Culture | 2014 | 10 | Roman and Greeks element in Gandhara sculpture |
| 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. | Art and Culture | 2014 | 10 | Challenges faced by Sufis and medieval mystic saints |
| 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. | Art and Culture | 2013 | 10 | (Economic) and (Social) life of south India portrayed by (Sangam literature) |
| Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2013 | 10 | Evolution of temple architecture by Cholas |
| 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. | Art and Culture | 2014 | 10 | Taxila University- its renowned disciples and comparison with Nalanda |
| To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. | Art and Culture | 2014 | 10 | Indus valley civilization- Urban planning & culture and element of continuity in present day Urbanization |
| Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. | Art and Culture | 2013 | 10 | Tandava dance |
Read More – Complete UPSC Mains Topic-Wise PYQs (2013-2023)
