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Prelims 2019 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I · Question 16 · Music, dance & theatre

मियाँ तानसेन के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा कथन सही नहीं है?

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Question 16 — Music, dance & theatre.

Prelims 2019 · Q16

Music, dance & theatre Medium

मियाँ तानसेन के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा कथन सही नहीं है?

Read this question in English

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

(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar. · (b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses. · (c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons. · (d) Tansen invented many Ragas.

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (a) सम्राट अकबर द्वारा इन्हें दी गई उपाधि तानसेन थी।

The musician born Ramtanu Pandey was already famous as Tansen, and a mature musician, when he reached Akbar's court; what Akbar gave him was an honorific title, the 'Mian' of 'Mian Tansen'. So statement (a) is the incorrect one; the other three describe his work accurately.

  • ✓ (a) This is the wrong statement. The child known as Ramtanu became famous as Tansen through his musical training, before he reached Akbar's court; what Akbar gave was an honorific title, the 'Mian' in 'Mian Tansen'.
  • ✗ (b) This statement is true: Tansen was a dhrupad composer, and NCERT notes that he continued to compose in praise of Krishna and Shiva, besides compositions showing a Sufi influence. NIOS also says his dhrupads ranged from praise of deities to technical terms of music.
  • ✗ (c) This statement is true: the National Institute of Open Schooling notes that Tansen wrote several dhrupads in praise of Ramchandra Vaghela, his patron at Bandhavgarh, and of the emperor Akbar.
  • ✗ (d) This statement is true: several ragas bearing the prefix 'Miyan' (Miyan ki Sarang, Miyan Malhar, Miyan ki Todi) are associated with him, and he is believed to have popularised Darbari Kanhada.

Remember · Ramtanu Pandey → 'Tansen' (known by that name before Akbar); Akbar made him one of his navratnas and honoured him with the title 'Mian'. Dhrupad composer; Miyan ki Todi, Miyan Malhar, Miyan ki Sarang; popularised Darbari Kanhada.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 8 (practise this chapter) · Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 8 (practise this chapter)

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2019, Q16 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2019/q16

In the UPSC syllabus: Music, dance & theatre › Classical music: Hindustani & Carnatic See it and tick it covered →

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