UPSC Mains Notes Indian Culture, Art Forms, Literature And Architecture

Previous Year Questions Asked In Mains From This Topic

  • Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. [2021]
  • The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. [2020]
  • Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. [2020]
  • Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. [2020]
  • Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. [2020]
  • Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. [2019]
  • Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. [2018]
  • Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. [2018]
  • The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent Of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Discuss. [2018]
  • How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times ? [2017]
  • Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. [2016]
  • Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss. [2016]
  • 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. [2015]
  • 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. [2015]
  • To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization ? Discuss. [2014]
  • Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. [2014]
  • 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. [2014]
  • 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. [2014]
  • 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. [2013]
  • Discuss the ‘Tandava’ dance as recorded in early Indian inscriptions. [2013]
  • Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. [2013]