Literature: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Art and Culture)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Literature (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 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2024Art and Culture · Literature
Q1. Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?
Explanation
Madhyama-vyayoga is one of the thirteen plays attributed to Bhasa. It is a one-act play (Prakarana) that revolves around a family reunion and is based on an episode from the Mahabharata. The play is notable for its dramatic structure, emotional depth, and adherence to classical Sanskrit theatrical conventions. The story unfolds with themes of valor, familial bonds, and moral dilemmas, culminating in a reunion that highlights Bhsa’s skill in dramatizing epic tales.
Additional insight:
Kavyalankara is a work on poetics and literary criticism attributed to Bhamaha, a 7th-century Sanskrit scholar. It is one of the earliest texts on Sanskrit poetics and discusses figures of speech (alankaras) and the nature of poetry. Natyashastra is a foundational text on Indian performing arts, including drama, dance, and music attributed to Bharata Muni. It is often referred to as the "fifth Veda" and provides detailed guidelines for theatrical performance, stagecraft, and aesthetics. The Mahabhashya is a commentary on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, the foundational text of Sanskrit grammar. It is attributed to Patanjali and not Bhasa.
UPSC 2024Art and Culture · Literature
Q2. Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on:
Explanation
Sanghabhuti was an Indian Buddhist monk from Kashmir who traveled to China towards the end of the 4th century AD. Sanghabhuti is primarily associated with the Sarvastivada Vinaya, a text that outlines the monastic rules and discipline for Buddhist monks and nuns. He traveled to China and collaborated with Chinese scholars to translate and comment on this text, which was crucial for the establishment of Buddhist monastic practices in China.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2024
(c) Madhyama-vyayoga
2
2024
(c) Sarvastivada Vinaya
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Literature?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Literature (Art and Culture), asked from 1996 to 2024. 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 Literature?
Questions on Literature (Art and Culture) are available for 8 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
