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 2026: 8 questions
All years →- Q1 · Music, dance & theatreWhich one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?…
- Q4 · Architecture & sculptureWhich of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara? Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal…
- Q6 · Painting, crafts & GI heritageThe Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:…
- Q7 · Literature, philosophy & religionConsider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India: The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD…
- Q12 · Architecture & sculptureWhat does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?…
- Q14 · Architecture & sculptureWhich of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct? It was located in the lower Krishna valley. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size. Th…
- Q19 · Music, dance & theatrePandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the:…
- Q37 · Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellanyWhich one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct? They acted as army fortresses. They we…
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.
