Indian Music: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Art and Culture)
This page lists 2 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Indian Music (Art and Culture), asked between 2012 to 2018. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2018Art and Culture · Indian Music
Q1. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. 2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. 3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. 4. Annamacharya Keertanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Carnatic music is a classical music tradition of South India, characterized by its intricate ragas (melodies) and talas (rhythms), with a strong emphasis on vocal performance and improvisation. Prominent early singers include Muthuswami Dikshitar, Syama Sastri, and Tyagaraja, who significantly contributed to its development through their compositions and performances.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Tyagaraja is known for his devotional songs (Kritis) to Lord Rama and not Lord Krishna.
Statement 2 is correct: He innovated the technique of structural variations of musical lines and created new Ragas.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Annamacharya belonged to the 15th century whereas Tyagaraja belonged to the 18th century and so they are non-contemporary.
Statement 4 is correct: Annamacharya is renowned for his keertanas (devotional songs), most of which are dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, the deity of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.
UPSC 2012Art and Culture · Indian Music
Q2. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, Which of the following statements are correct? 1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal period 2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music 3. Dhrupad alap uses Sanskrit syllables from Mantras. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Dhrupad is derived from ‘Dhruva’ (fixed star) and ‘Pada’ (song), is an ancient form of classical music that emerged from early vocal traditions. It is performed with tanpura and pakhawaj, its lyrics in Braj Bhasha often reflect devotion and heroism, expressing emotions like veera and sringar. Key gharanas include Dagarvani, Bishnupur, Darbhanga, and Mallik.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Dhrupad traces its roots back to the ancient text Sama Veda. Its modern form evolved during the 15th and 16th centuries particularly in the courts of the Rajput kingdoms and the Mughal emperors. The Rajput kings such as Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior were great patrons of Dhrupad. Dhrupad flourished under the patronage of emperors like Akbar, who admired musicians like Tansen.
Statement 2 is correct: Dhrupad is deeply rooted in spirituality and devotion. It often incorporates themes from Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas, and is traditionally performed in temples and royal courts. The lyrics of Dhrupad compositions (called prabandhas) are usually in praise of deities like Vishnu, Shiva, and Durga.
Statement 3 is correct: The Dhrupad alap, which is the slow, improvisational opening section of a performance, often uses Sanskrit syllables from mantras and is rooted in spiritual tradition. These syllables, known as "Bol Alap", are often derived from ancient Vedic chants and mantras.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(b) 2 and 4 only
2
2012
(b) 2 and 3 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian Music?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Indian Music (Art and Culture), asked between 2012 to 2018. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Indian Music?
Questions on Indian Music (Art and Culture) are available for 2 years, from 2012 to 2018. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
