UPSC Prelims PYQ: Art and Culture (2014–2026)

Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?

Consider the following statements:
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following?
1. Emergence of urban life
2. Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?
1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
Select the answer using the code given below:

The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:

Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:
1. The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595–596).
2. In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.
3. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?

Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct?
1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the:

Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?
1. They acted as army fortresses.
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?
1. It is the largest desert lake in the world.
2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert.
3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements with regard to the film 'Boong':
1. The film has recently won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award in the Children's and Family Film category.
2. The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.
3. This is the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children's and Family Film category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was

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

Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of 'Gandhi Peace Prize'?
I. The President of India
II. The Prime Minister of India
III. The Chief Justice of India
IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:
1. 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?

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 Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs with regard to sports awards:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to:

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently.
Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval.
Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:
1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho and Kui' pertain to

Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:
1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.
3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?

Consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to

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:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:
1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.
Which of the statements 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:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
1. Arasavalli
2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

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.

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which one of the following?

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

Kalamkari painting refers to

Which of the following has/have been accorded 'Geographical Indication' status?
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following languages:
1. Gujarati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language/Languages' by the Government?

Every year, a monthlong ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees.
Which of the following are such communities/tribes?

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

The national motto of India, 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from

Consider the following towns of India:
1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal
Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees / fabric?

With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to India's culture and tradition, what is 'Kalaripayattu'?

Consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their