Prelims 2013 · archive
MediumIn the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favorite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved
Tribhanga means 'three bends': the body is bent at the neck, waist and knee, with weight on one leg, giving an S-like curve. It is common in Odissi and in sculpture and painting.
- ✓ (a) One leg is bent and the body curves slightly in opposite directions, giving three bends.
- ✗ (b) Combining expression, gesture and make-up describes abhinaya, not a pose.
- ✗ (c) This is a general description of expressive movement.
Remember · Tribhanga = three bends (neck, waist, knee); signature pose of Odissi and of Indian sculpture.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 4 “Figures are slender, have a lot of movement, bodies are shown with three bents (i.e. tribhanga), and the sculptural composition is more complex than at Sanchi.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2013: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·