Art & Culture PYQ UPSC Prelims (2020 - 2024) - Art and Culture Questions in UPSC Prelims

Art and Culture form an integral part of General Studies Paper I in the UPSC Preliminary Examination. Analyzing Art and Culture questions in UPSC prelims reveals that they test a candidate’s awareness of India's rich heritage, historical continuity, and cultural diversity. The topics broadly cover Indian architecture, sculpture, painting, classical and folk dances, music, literature, religion, and cultural institutions. Over the years, Art and Culture UPSC prelims questions have leaned toward factual knowledge blended with contextual understanding. Questions often link static topics with current events, such as festivals, GI tags, or UNESCO heritage site updates. Solving Art and Culture PYQ UPSC prelims enhances retention of key facts and helps aspirants identify commonly tested themes. Therefore, consistent revision and practice of previous year questions on Art and Culture are vital to scoring well in this challenging yet rewarding section of the UPSC exam.
Download Free UPSC Ancient History Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF!

Art and Culture History Previous Year Questions in UPSC Prelims

Q1: With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

(a) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
(b) It is the only circular temple built in India.
(c) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
(d) Its design has influenced the Indian Parliament building.

Answer: (c) 1 and 4

Explanation: It was built by the Kachchhapaghatas, and its circular structure is believed to have influenced the Parliament building.

Q2: In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around:

(a) Women’s right to education
(b) Age of consent
(c) Restitution of conjugal rights
(d) Widow remarriage

Answer: (c) Restitution of conjugal rights

Explanation: It was a legal case involving a woman’s right to refuse marital cohabitation.

Q3: With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolor Indian National Flag here.
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement from this place.
(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society here.

Answer: (c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.

Explanation: He translated “Jana Gana Mana” while staying in Madanapalle in 1919.

Q4: In the context of cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:

Parivrajaka – Renunciant and Wanderer
Shramana – Priest with a high status
Upasaka – Lay follower of Buddhism

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Shramana were also renunciants, not priests with high status.

Q5: Consider the following pairs:

Chaliha Sahib Festival — Gujarat
Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra — Himachal Pradesh
Wari-Warkari — Maharashtra

Answer: (b) 3 only

Explanation: Wari-Warkari is a well-known pilgrimage tradition in Maharashtra.

Q6: With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:

Nettipakarana
Parishishtaparvan
Avadanashataka
Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Answer: (b) 2 and 4 only

Explanation: Parishishtaparvan and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana are important Jain texts.

Q7: In the context of Indian culture, the term "Panchayatan" refers to:

(a) An assembly of village elders
(b) A religious sect of Buddhism
(c) A style of temple construction
(d) A form of tribal governance

Answer: (c) A style of temple construction

Explanation: It involves a main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.

Q8: With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is “Kalaripayattu”?

(a) An ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site
(b) A traditional dance form of Tamil Nadu
(c) An ancient martial art form of Kerala
(d) A folk theatre form of Odisha

Answer: (c) An ancient martial art form of Kerala

Explanation: Kalaripayattu is among the oldest fighting systems still in practice.

Q9: Consider the following pairs:

Garba — Gujarat
Mohiniyattam — Odisha
Yakshagana — Karnataka

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Mohiniyattam is from Kerala, not Odisha.

Q10: With reference to Indian art and culture, what is ‘Pithora’?

(a) A style of temple architecture
(b) A form of tribal wall painting
(c) A ritual folk dance of Tamil Nadu
(d) A Vedic fire altar

Answer: (b) A form of tribal wall painting

Explanation: Pithora paintings are ritualistic and practiced by tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

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