Indian Painting: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Art and Culture)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on Indian Painting (Art and Culture). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–1 of 1 question
UPSC 2010Art and Culture · Indian Painting
Q1. There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?
Explanation
Indian cave paintings from the Gupta period (4th to 6th century CE) are notable for their refined artistry and spiritual themes, particularly Buddhist iconography. These paintings, found in caves like Ajanta, depict scenes from the life of the Buddha, Jataka tales, and celestial beings with vivid colors and graceful figures.
Option (a) is correct: The Bagh Caves in modern-day Madhya Pradesh are a significant site of ancient Indian art and architecture. Like the Ajanta Caves, these caves are known for their exquisite Gupta-period paintings dating back to the 4th to 6th centuries AD. The themes of the murals include Jataka tales, depictions of Bodhisattvas, and scenes of daily life.
Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:
The Ellora Caves were primarily created by the Rashtrakuta dynasty between the 5th and 10th centuries for religious purposes, with Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves coexisting at the site. The Lomas Rishi Caves, located in Bihar, were created by the Mauryan dynasty around the 3rd century BCE. The Nasik Caves, also known as the PandavLeni Caves, are a group of ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves located in Nashik, Maharashtra. Nasik Caves belong to the Western Kshatrapas and the Satavahanas.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(a) Bagh caves
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian Painting?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Indian Painting (Art and Culture), asked from 2010 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 Painting?
Questions on Indian Painting (Art and Culture) are available for 6 years, from 2010 to 2018. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
