This page lists 2 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Art and Culture in the UPSC 2000 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2000Art and Culture · Literature
Q1. Assertion (A): The Aham and Puram poems of the Padinen Kilukanakku group formed a continuation of the Sangam composition. Reason (R): They were included under the post-Sangam works as against the Sangam works proper.
Explanation
Sangam literature refers to the ancient Tamil literary corpus, composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE, which includes poems celebrating heroism, love, and ethics. Notable works include the Tolkappiyam, the earliest Tamil grammar text, and the Ettuthokai and Pattupattu, which offer insights into the socio-political and cultural life of Tamil kingdoms. A is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is a collection of 18 post-Sangam Tamil literary works, divided into Aham (love) and Puram (war) genres. These works are considered a continuation of the Sangam literature in terms of themes, style, and language. They reflect the same poetic traditions and cultural values as the Sangam compositions. R is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is classified as post-Sangam literature because it was composed after the Sangam period proper. While the Sangam works are the earliest Tamil literary compositions, the Padinen Kilukanakku texts were written later during the post-Sangam period (circa 300-600 CE). R is the correct explanation of A: The Padinen Kilkanakku texts though composed in the Post-Sangam period but carry forward the Aham and Puram poetic traditions of the Sangam era, thereby forming a continuation of the earlier compositions.
UPSC 2000Art and Culture · Buddhism and Jainism
Q2. Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism. Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.
Explanation
Assertion (A) is correct: Jainism emphasized ahimsa (non-violence) as its core principle. It not only prohibited violence against humans and animals but also extended non-violence to plants, insects, and microorganisms. Reason (R) is correct: Agriculturalists could not easily adopt Jainism because farming inherently involves plowing land, which kills many insects and small organisms. Jainism was largely adopted by traders, merchants, and urban elites rather than peasants and farmers. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Reason (R) explains that agricultural practices, which harm insects and pests, conflict with Jainism’s principle of non-violence (Ahimsa). This makes it difficult for agriculturalists to fully embrace Jainism.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2000
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2
2000
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Art and Culture?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Art and Culture in the UPSC 2000 Prelims, asked between 1995 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 Art and Culture?
Questions on Art and Culture in the UPSC 2000 Prelims are available for 26 years, from 1995 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
