Prelims GS I · 67 questions · 2011–2026
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 Prelims 2014: 13 questions
All years →- Q8 · Literature, philosophy & religionConsider the following languages: Gujarati Kannada Telugu…
- Q26 · Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellanyEvery year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tri…
- Q39 · Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellanyWith reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statements: They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool. They are kept in the…
- Q44 · Architecture & sculptureWith reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to:…
- Q47 · Literature, philosophy & religionWhich one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?…
- Q54 · Literature, philosophy & religionThe national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:…
- Q76 · Painting, crafts & GI heritageConsider the following towns of India: Bhadrachalam Chanderi Kancheepuram Karnal…
- Q83 · Music, dance & theatreWith reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama. It is a centuries old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam. It …
- Q84 · Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellanyChaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?…
- Q85 · Architecture & sculptureWith reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of hi…
- Q87 · Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellanyWith reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?…
- Q88 · Music, dance & theatreConsider the following pairs: Garba: Gujarat Mohiniattam: Odisha Yakshagana: Karnataka…
- Q91 · Music, dance & theatreA community of people called Manganiyars is well- known for their…
Art & culture in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 67 questions on Art & culture in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 4 a year, the most in 2014 (13). The most-asked topic is Literature, philosophy & religion (18 questions).
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- Literature, philosophy & religion18 questions · asked in 12 of 16 years
- Architecture & sculpture16 questions · asked in 12 of 16 years
- Music, dance & theatre12 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
- Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellany12 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
- Painting, crafts & GI heritage9 questions · asked in 7 of 16 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 2011 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 2011 to 2026?
67 questions in GS Paper I — about 4 a year, the most in 2014 (13). 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?
Literature, philosophy & religion: 18 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 12 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; 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.
