Prelims GS I · 38 questions · 2016–2026
Art & culture: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Art & culture in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 38 questions on Art & culture in GS Paper I from 2016 to 2026 — about 3 a year, the most in 2026 (8). The most-asked topic is Architecture & sculpture (11 questions).
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 16 Oct 2026.
- Architecture & sculpture11 questions · asked in 8 of 11 years
- Literature, philosophy & religion10 questions · asked in 7 of 11 years
- Music, dance & theatre6 questions · asked in 5 of 11 years
- Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellany6 questions · asked in 5 of 11 years
- Painting, crafts & GI heritage5 questions · asked in 4 of 11 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q1 · Music, dance & theatreWhich one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?…
- 2026 · Q4 · Architecture & sculptureWhich of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?…
- 2026 · Q6 · Painting, crafts & GI heritageThe Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:…
- 2026 · Q7 · Literature, philosophy & religionConsider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:…
- 2026 · Q12 · Architecture & sculptureWhat does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Art & culture. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Art & culture PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Art & culture question from 2016 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 28 pages. Free; sign up once.
Art & culture PYQs: quick answers
How many Art & culture questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2016 to 2026?
38 questions in GS Paper I — about 3 a year, the most in 2026 (8). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Art & culture topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
Architecture & sculpture: 11 questions between 2016 and 2026, asked in 8 of 11 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
Yes. Every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Art & culture PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Art & culture question with answers and explanations (28 pages, 0.8 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.