This page lists 4 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Art and Culture in the UPSC 2024 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–4 of 4 questions
UPSC 2024Art and Culture · Culture in India
Q1. Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO: 1. Shantiniketan 2. Rani-ki-Vav 3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya How many of the above properties were included in 2023?
Explanation
Shantiniketan located in West Bengal is the home of Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati University. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for its cultural and educational significance. Santiniketan which means ‘abode of peace’ started taking shape in 1901, and it was this place Tagore later put up the foundations of Visva Bharati University. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas: The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas locatd in Karnataka, include the Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura. These temples were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for their exceptional architecture and artistry. The shrines are characterized by hyper-real sculptures and stone carvings that cover the entire architectural surface, a circumambulatory platform, a large-scale sculptural gallery, a multi-tiered frieze, and sculptures of the Sala legend. Other sites:
Rani-ki-Vav located in Gujarat is an 11th-century stepwell known for its intricate architecture and sculptures. These stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. It was included in UNESCO WHS list in 2014. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It was included in the UNESCO WHS list in 2002.
UPSC 2024Art and Culture · Literature
Q2. 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
Q3. 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.
UPSC 2024Art and Culture · Buddhism and Jainism
Q4. With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets? 1. Nayaputta 2. Shakyamuni 3.Tathagata Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Shakyamuni epithet is widely used in Buddhist texts such as the Lalitavistara Sutra and Mahayana scriptures for Gautama Buddha "Shakyamuni" means "Sage of the Shakya Clan." Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha in the Shakya clan which ruled the region of Kapilavastu (modern Nepal-India border). Tathagata means "The One Who Has Thus Gone (Tathagata) or Thus Come (Tatha-agata)," referring to Buddha’s enlightened state and transcendence over worldly existence. It is one of the most common epithets used by Gautama Buddha himself in Pali Canon texts like the Digha Nikaya and Majjhima Nikaya. "Nayaputta" is not an epithet of Gautama Buddha; rather, it refers to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2024
(b) Only two
2
2024
(c) Madhyama-vyayoga
3
2024
(c) Sarvastivada Vinaya
4
2024
(b) 2 and 3 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Art and Culture?
This page covers 4 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Art and Culture in the UPSC 2024 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 2024 Prelims are available for 26 years, from 1995 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
