Class 11 GS I 11 h reading Essential 12
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I
Indian art from rock paintings to temples, bronzes and Indo-Islamic buildings, with many photographs.
Why read it
The NCERT base for Art & Culture. Temples and post-Mauryan art (stupas, Gandhara, Mathura) are the most-asked parts.
Chapters (open on phones)
- Ch 1 Prehistoric Rock Paintings 9 pages · 6.7 MB
- Ch 2 Arts of the Indus Valley 10 pages · 9.8 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
- Ch 3 Arts of the Mauryan Period 8 pages · 18 MB
- Ch 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture 34 pages · 58 MB 3 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
- Ch 5 Later Mural Traditions 7 pages · 6.3 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
- Ch 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture 35 pages · 61 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
- Ch 7 Indian Bronze Sculpture 6 pages · 7.3 MB
- Ch 8 Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture 24 pages · 24 MB
NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 200 MB · Saves as kefa1dd.zip Large file (203 MB). On mobile data, download chapter by chapter.
What's inside the ZIP
NCERT names its files by code, not by chapter. Match each file to what it contains:
| kefa1ps.pdf | Opening pages: title, foreword, contents |
| kefa101.pdf | Ch 1 · Prehistoric Rock Paintings |
| kefa102.pdf | Ch 2 · Arts of the Indus Valley |
| kefa103.pdf | Ch 3 · Arts of the Mauryan Period |
| kefa104.pdf | Ch 4 · Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture |
| kefa105.pdf | Ch 5 · Later Mural Traditions |
| kefa106.pdf | Ch 6 · Temple Architecture and Sculpture |
| kefa107.pdf | Ch 7 · Indian Bronze Sculpture |
| kefa108.pdf | Ch 8 · Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture |
UPSC Prelims 2016–2026
7 questions could be answered from this book
2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.
Test yourself (7 questions) →Where it helps
- Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement
- GS I: Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
Edition: First published 2012; this print 2026-27