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Prelims GS PYQs English - 1
Prelims GS PYQs English - 1
20
Art & Culture
15 16
10
5 6
5 5 5
4
3 3 3
2
0 1
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
* Question count may vary due to subjectivity
Sr. No Topic 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Total
1 Indian Architecture 2 1 1 1 2 1 8
2 Temple Architecture 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
3 Indian Paintings 1 1 1 1 4
4 Indian Music 1 1 2
Culture In India/
7 Philosophies/Jainism 4 1 4 1 2 2 2 1 10 5 2 1 35
& Buddhism
Total 6 3 4 2 5 5 3 3 16 8 5 1 61
(a) 1 and 2 only
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
(b) 3 only
1. Consider the following pairs: (2022) (c) 1 and 3 only
Site of Ashoka’s Location in the (d) None of the statements given above is correct
major rock edicts State of 6. With reference to the Indian history of art and culture,
Dhauli Odisha consider the following pairs. (2014)
Erragudi Andhra Pradesh Famous works of sculpture Site
Jaugada Madhya Pradesh A grand image of Buddha’s
Kalsi Arnataka Mahaparinirvana with
How many pairs given above are correctly matched? numerous celestial musicians Ajanta
(a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs above and the sorrowful
(c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs figures of his followers below
2. The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new A huge image of Varaha Avatar
Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which (boar incarnation) of Vishnu,
of the following statements are correct regarding as he rescues Goddess Earth Mount Abu
Somnath Temple? (2022) from the deep and chaotic
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines. waters, sculpted on the rock
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by “Arjuna’s Penance”/“Descent of
Al-Biruni. Ganga” sculpted on the surface Mamallapuram
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of huge boulders
of the present day temple) was done by President
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly
S. Radhakrishnan.
matched?
Select the correct answer using the code given
(a) 1 and 2 only
below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 only
3. Which one of the following statements is correct? (d) 1, 2 and 3
(2021) 7. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was: (2014)
(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora river. (a) The mosque for the use of Royal Family
(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of the Chambal river.
(b) Akbar’s private prayer chamber.
(c) Pandu-Lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of the
(c) The hall in which Akbar held discussions with
Narmada river.
scholars of various religions.
(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of the Godavari
river. (d) The room in which the nobles belonging to
different religions gathered to discuss religious
4. With reference to the cultural history of India,
consider the following statements: (2018) affairs.
1. White marble was used in making Buland 8. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut
Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. architecture, consider the following statements:
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making (2013)
Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow. 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? cut caves in India.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
5. What is/are common to the two historical places 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? (2016)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. Both were built in the same period.
(a) 1 only
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
(b) 2 and 3 only
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.
(c) 3 only
Select the correct answer using the code given
below. (d) 1, 2 and 3
33. With reference to the cultural history of India, 3. Wari -Warkari : Santhals
consider the following pairs: (2020) Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly
matched?
1. Parivrajaka : Renunciant and Wanderer
(a) 1 only
2. Shramana : Priest with a high status
(b) 2 and 3 only
3. Upasaka : Lay follower of Buddhism
(c) 1 and 3 only
Which of the pairs given above are correctly
(d) None of the above
matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only 40. With reference to the religious history of India,
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 consider the following statements: (2016)
1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the
34. Consider the following statements: (2019)
Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to
2. Trading the path of Bodhisattvas enlightenment.
3. Image worship and rituals 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation
Which of the above is/are the features/features of to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Mahayana Buddhism? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer Key
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (c)
11. (d) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (c) 15. (d) 16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (b) 19. (b) 20. (b)
21. (b) 22. (b) 23. (c) 24. (a) 25. (a) 26. (d) 27. (b) 28. (a) 29. (d) 30. (c)
31. (b) 32. (a) 33. (b) 34. (d) 35. (b) 36. (b) 37. (c) 38. (b) 39. (a) 40. (b)
41. (b) 42. (d) 43. (b) 44. (b) 45. (a) 46. (c) 47. (d) 48. (b) 49. (c) 50. (c)
51. (d) 52. (b) 53. (b) 54. (b) 55. (a) 56. (d) 57. (b) 58. (a) 59. (b) 60. (b)
61. (c)
NOTE: This question was a direct hit from NOTE: Reading pages no 54-55 from Fine
Fine Art NCERT. It is also mentioned in Art NCERT will help you to solve this
the glossary of the same NCERT. Temple question. Also, details of Ajanta has already
architectural styles are always important been discussed in earlier PYQs, where the
from prelims perspective. There were question was on Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
repeated questions on circular temples, 17. (a) Sub-Theme: Indian Painting Schools
Nagara style, Dravida style, Vesara style and Correct answer is Option (a):
Panchayatana. Kalamkari:
15. (d) Sub-Theme: Indian Painting Schools z This particular cotton textile is made in
Correct answer is Option (d): Bani Thani Andhra Pradesh and is either hand-
painting belongs to the Kishangarh school of painted or block-printed.
paintings. z In this style, the kalam(pen) is used for
freehand drawing of the subject and filling
in the colours and is entirely done by hand.
z The present states of Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh are where kalamkari first
appeared.
z Kalamkari was first used to depict scenes
from sacred texts such as the Mahabharata,
Ramayana and Bhagavatam.
z It was painted by an artist named Nihal 18. (b) Sub-Theme: Mural Paintings
Chand. Option 1 is correct: The paintings on the caves
z Bani Thani was a singer and a poetess in of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta are truly
the court of Raja Samant Singh (1748-1764). magnificent.
z It is frequently said that the small portrait Option 2 is correct: Lepakshi temple is in
is as beautiful as the Mona Lisa. Andhra Pradesh. It is a good repository of
mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings. A
NOTE: This school of painting was in the tableau on Lepakshi temple has been selected
news as the Kishangarh airport displayed for the Republic Day parade to be held in
the Bani-Thani paintings in the galleries New Delhi, representing Andhra Pradesh. The
and halls to welcome passengers. Hence, tableau showcases the rich, monolithic rock
reading the newspaper is very important. architecture of the Lepakshi temple.
Purva Mimansha Rishi Jamini Emphasis on the power of yajnas and mantras.
Vyasa Advaita by Shankara Monistic school of philosophy that believes the world
Vishishtadvaita by Ramanuja is unreal and the only reality is Brahman
Vedanta Dvaita by Madhvacharya
(Uttara Mimansa) Dvaitadvaita by nimbarka
Shuddhadvaita by
Vallabhacharya
51. (d) Sub-Theme: Indian School of Philosophy 52. (b) Sub-Theme: Bhakti Movement
Option (d) is correct: Satyameva Jayate Option (b) is correct: Guru Nanak was
means “Truth alone Triumphs”. It is taken preaching during the time when the Lodi
from Mundaka Upanishad. Mundaka Upanishad dynasty fell and Babur took over. Tyagaraja, on
is listed as no. 5 in the list of 108 Upanishads the other hand, lived in the 18th-19th century,
of Hinduism. much later than the fall of the Lodi dynasty.
z Satyameva Jayate means “Truth alone z Guru Nanak was born in 1469. Babur
Triumphs”. It is taken from Mundaka defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First battle
Upanishad. Mundaka Upanishad is listed of Panipat in 1526.
as no. 5 in the list of 108 Upanishads of
z So when Babur was strengthening the
Hinduism.
Mughal dynasty in India Guru Nanak was
z The Mundaka Upanishad is a collection preaching Sikhism in India.
of philosophical poems used to teach
z Tyagaraja, a Carnatic music composer was
meditation and spiritual knowledge
born in 1767.
regarding the true nature of Brahma and
the Self (Atman). z Daddu Dayal was a poet-saint of Gujrat
born in 1544.
z It is composed of the three main parts
(Mundaka): Guru Nanak:
1. The first part expounds on the science z Guru Nanak was born in Talwandi near
of higher and lower knowledge. Lahore.
2. The second part describes the true z Sikhs commemorate Guru Nanak’s birth
nature of the Self (Atman) and Brahman. anniversary with Guru Nanak Gurpurab.
3. The third part further builds on the z He went on spiritual trips through India,
previous two parts and attempts to Tibet, and Arabia for nearly 30 years.
describe the state of knowing Brahman, z Guru Nanak spent his final years in Kartarpur,
which is one of bliss and fearlessness. Punjab, where he taught his pupils.
v v v