PYQ Vault
Archive · 150 questions · 21 papers
Art & culture: UPSC Prelims 1995–2015
Every older Prelims question on Indian art and culture, with the answer, a plain explanation and its sources. UPSC published no answer keys for these years, so each answer is the one the cited sources support.
For 2016 onwards, see the Prelims question bank.
Buddhism & Jainism · 22 questions
- 2014 · With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:
- 2014 · Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
- 2014 · With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:
- 2013 · Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
- 2013 · Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?
- 2012 · With reference to the history of Ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and…
- 2011 · The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by:
- 2010 · Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times?
- 2009 · Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?
- 2009 · In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?
- 2009 · Mahamastakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?
- 2006 · Consider the following statements: The Ikshvaku rulers of Southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
- 2006 · Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- 2003 · Consider the following statements: Vardhaman Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka
- 2002 · In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the
- 2001 · Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.
- 2001 · Who among the following presided over the Buddhist Council held during the reign of Kanishka at Kashmir?
- 1998 · Many of the Greeks, Kushanas, and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because:
- 1998 · The concept of the Eightfold Path forms the theme of:
- 1997 · Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the King Menander and Buddhist monk:
- 1997 · In Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was also known as:
- 1995 · The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by:
Literature, languages & scripts · 29 questions
- 2015 · Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
- 2014 · Consider the following languages:
- 2014 · The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:
- 2008 · Among the Indian languages, which one is spoken maximum in the world after Hindi?
- 2006 · The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following?
- 2006 · In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori?
- 2006 · Which one of the following is not correctly matched? Prominent Indian Writer: Language
- 2004 · Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?
- 2003 · Consider the following statements: Kitab-i-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and…
- 2003 · ‘Mrichchhakatika’ an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with
- 2002 · The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on
- 2000 · Match List I (Books) with List II (Authors) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the…
- 1999 · The first writer to use Urdu as the medium of poetic expression was:
- 1998 · The Ashoka major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts:
- 1998 · Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food grains to be…
- 1998 · Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
- 1998 · Which one of the following languages belongs to the Austric group?
- 1997 · Which one of the following pairs of composers in different languages and their works on the Mahabharata…
- 1997 · Match List-I (Author) with List-II (Text) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
- 1997 · Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?
- 1997 · The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the:
- 1996 · The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is:
- 1996 · Nastaliq was:
- 1996 · The term ‘Apabhramsa’ was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote:
- 1996 · Which one of the following is an important historical novel written during the latter half of the nineteenth…
- 1996 · Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?
- 1996 · Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:
- 1995 · Who among the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?
- 1995 · In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period, women and Sudras speak:
Heritage, festivals, calendars & coins · 19 questions
- 2014 · Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain…
- 2014 · Chaitra, one of the national calendars based on the Saka Era, corresponds to which one of the following…
- 2013 · The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and…
- 2009 · Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
- 2009 · Consider the following statements: The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
- 2009 · For outstanding contribution to which one of the following fields is Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize given.
- 2009 · Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
- 2009 · Consider the following pairs: Gatka, a traditional martial art: Kerala
- 2009 · Recently, which one of the following was included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list?
- 2008 · What does the Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayana Sulva Sutras) relate to?
- 2008 · Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of World…
- 2006 · Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued a new gold coin which was called Dinar by Ibn Batutah. Reason…
- 2006 · Match List-I (Person) with List-II (Area of Work) and select the correct answer using the codes given below…
- 2005 · Consider the following sites /monuments:
- 2004 · Consider the following statements: The Islamic Calendar is twelve days shorter than the Gregorian Calendar.
- 2002 · Chapchar Kut is a festival celebrated in the state of:
- 1997 · The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called:
- 1997 · The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in…
- 1996 · Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?
Music, dance, theatre & martial arts · 13 questions
- 2014 · With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements: Sattriya is a combination of…
- 2014 · Consider the following pairs: Garba: Gujarat
- 2014 · With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?
- 2013 · In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a…
- 2012 · With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries,…
- 2012 · How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?
- 2008 · Ebraham Alkazi is an eminent personality in which one of the following areas?
- 2008 · Bimbavati Devi is a well-known dancer of which type of dance?
- 2007 · Match List-I (Person) with List-II (Known As) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the…
- 2006 · Who among the following was presented with the Sangeet Natak Academic Ratna Award, 2005 for her lifetime…
- 2000 · The Raga which is sung early in the morning is:
- 2000 · Consider the following statements regarding the Chakiarkoothu form of dance:
- 1997 · Which one of the following dances involves solo performance?
Administration & society: terms, titles, taxes · 8 questions
- 2015 · With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal…
- 2012 · With reference to the Guilds (Shrenis) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s…
- 1999 · The term ‘Aryan’ denotes:
- 1999 · Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty…
- 1998 · Fawazil in the Sultanate period meant:
- 1997 · Head of the military department under the recognised central machinery of administration during Akbar’s…
- 1996 · In the context of Indian society, which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of other…
- 1996 · In medieval India, Mansabdari system was introduced for:
Temple architecture · 12 questions
- 2015 · With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made…
- 2014 · With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to:
- 2012 · The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the
- 2009 · Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located?
- 2009 · Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
- 2008 · Near which one of the following cities are Palitana Temples located?
- 2007 · Where is the famous Vijaya Vittala temple having its 56 carved pillars emitting musical notes located?
- 2006 · The initial design and construction of which massive temple took place during the reign of Suryavarman II?
- 2006 · Indian Airlines have redesigned their logo which is a graphic wheel. This logo has been inspired from which…
- 2001 · Hoysala monuments are found in:
- 2001 · In which one of the following cities is the Lingaraja Temple located?
- 1996 · Which one of the following temples figured in the news regarding the institution of the Devadasi?
Painting & crafts · 6 questions
- 2015 · Kalamkari painting refers to
- 2015 · Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?
- 2013 · Consider the following historical places:
- 2010 · There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is…
- 1999 · The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as:
- 1996 · Mughal painting reached its zenith under:
Harappan, Mauryan, stupas & caves · 7 questions
- 2013 · Which of the following characterise/characterize the people of the Indus Civilization?
- 2013 · With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
- 2013 · Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the…
- 2011 · Regarding the Indus valley civilization, consider the following statements:
- 2006 · Match List-I (Place of Archaeological Monument) with List-II (State) and select the correct answer using the…
- 1998 · Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
- 1997 · Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?
Bhakti & Sufi · 11 questions
- 2014 · Consider the following statements: ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
- 2014 · Consider the following statements: ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
- 2013 · Consider the following Bhakti Saints:
- 2013 · Consider the following Bhakti Saints:
- 2012 · With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of…
- 2010 · Among the following, who was not a proponent of the Bhakti cult?
- 2002 · With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements: Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi was a…
- 2002 · Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?
- 2001 · Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
- 1997 · Assertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chisti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja…
- 1996 · The sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was:
Tribes, communities & living traditions · 8 questions
- 2014 · With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statements: They live mainly in the…
- 2013 · Consider the following pairs: Limboo (Limbu) — Sikkim
- 2009 · Among the following, who are the Agaria community?
- 2005 · Where do the Sahariya tribals, who were recently in the news, live?
- 2004 · In which one of the following Union Territories, do people of the Onge tribe live?
- 1999 · Which one of the following pairs of states and tribes is not correctly matched?
- 1997 · The tribal population in Andaman and Nicobar islands belongs to the:
- 1996 · In the Indian context the term ‘De-notified tribes’ refers to:
Sculpture & bronzes · 5 questions
- 2014 · With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs.
- 2012 · Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes
- 2001 · Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- 1996 · Which one of the following Sculptures invariably used green schist as the medium?
- 1995 · Bronze icons of Nataraja cast during the Chola period invariably show the deity with:
Philosophy & religious traditions · 6 questions
- 2014 · Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?
- 2013 · With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding…
- 2012 · The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of:
- 2011 · The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context,…
- 1996 · According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas, the sequential order of the cycle of four yugas is:
- 1995 · According to Mimamsa system of philosophy, liberation is possible by means of: