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 2015Art and Culture · Indian Painting
Q1. Kalamkari painting refers to:
Explanation
Indian folk paintings are traditional art forms rooted in local culture, depicting daily life, nature, and religious themes using vibrant colors and symbolic motifs. Examples include Madhubani from Bihar, known for its intricate patterns and mythological themes, Warli art from Maharashtra, which features tribal life and nature, and Pattachitra from Odisha.
Option (a) is correct: Kalamkari cotton textile is made in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is either hand-painted or block-printed. The kalam (pen) is used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colors is entirely done by hand. Kalamkari was first used to depict scenes from sacred texts such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavatam. It is practiced in two distinct styles: Srikalahasti (freehand drawing) and Machilipatnam (block-printing). The Srikalahasti style is more intricate and involves hand-painting while the Machilipatnam style uses wooden blocks for printing. Artists use natural dyes derived from plants, minerals, and other organic sources. The process involves multiple steps including dyeing, washing, and painting.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2015
(a) A hand-painted cotton textile in South India
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.
