Mains Master Program (MMP) 2025

Art and Culture (GS1): Handout 1

List of PYQs

“Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.”

Classification A: PYQs of 12 Years, 30 Questions

• 2024
o Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to
the later Vedic period.
o Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and
literature of South India.
o "Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with
great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and
architecture." Comment.
• 2023
o Explain the geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India.
o What were the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of
the features are still prevailing in Indian society?
o What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate
period? How did these technological changes influence Indian society?
• 2022
o How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social
life of those days.
o Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage
and culture.
o Discuss the significance of lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and
architecture.
• 2021
o Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.
• 2020
o The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our
knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.
o Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India.
Enumerate.
o Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping
the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.

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 o Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.
• 2019
o Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.
• 2018
o Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss.
o Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the
reconstruction of the history of India.
o The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.
• 2017
o How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art
is not at all noticeable in later times?
• 2016
o Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully
expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
o Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar
himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
• 2015
o The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt,
Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved
without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.
o Mesolithic rock-cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the
times but also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically
evaluate this comment.
• 2014
o To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization
provided inputs to the present-day urbanization? Discuss.
o Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
o Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were
associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its
strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not
considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
o Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and
practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable
extent. Comment.
• 2013
o Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of
South India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of
its time with remarkable vividness. Comment.
o Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.

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 o Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple
architecture. Discuss.

Classification B: Chronological Arrangement

• Generic
o Explain the geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India.
• Pre-Historic/Proto Historic
o Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the
times but also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically
evaluate this comment.
o To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization
provided inputs to the present-day urbanization? Discuss.
• Ancient India
o Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to
the later Vedic period.
o What were the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of
the features are still prevailing in Indian society?
o The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our
knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.
o Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping
the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.
o Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully
expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
o Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.
o Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
o Discuss the significance of lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and
architecture.
o Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of
South India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of
its time with remarkable vividness. Comment.
o How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art
is not at all noticeable in later times?
o Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and
literature of South India.
• Early Medieval Era
o Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India.
Enumerate
o "Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with
great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and
architecture." Comment.

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History Optional Channel: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryoptional, GS History and Culture: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryculture
90688069**
 o Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple
architecture. Discuss.
o Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage
and culture.
o How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social
life of those days.
o Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the
reconstruction of the history of India.
o Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were
associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its
strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not
considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
• Medieval Era
o What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate
period? How did these technological changes influence Indian society?
o Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.
o Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar
himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
o Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.
o The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.
o Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and
practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable
extent. Comment.
• Miscellaneous
o The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt,
Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved
without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.
o Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss.
o Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.

LevelUp IAS: Ph: 08062961200, 08062961201| Email: students@levelupias.com

History Optional Channel: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryoptional, GS History and Culture: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryculture
90688069**
 Classification C: Descriptive and Interpretative

Descriptive Type Questions

• Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later
Vedic period.
• Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.
• Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
• Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature
of South India.
• "Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride
because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture." Comment.
• Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture.
Discuss.
• Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and
culture.
• Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.
• The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.
• Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself
but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
• Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.
• Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss.

Interpretative Type Questions

• Explain the geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India.

• Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but
also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically evaluate this
comment.
• To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided
inputs to the present-day urbanization? Discuss.
• What were the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the
features are still prevailing in Indian society? (second half)
• Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the
monuments and their art in India. Discuss.
• The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge
of early Indian art and history. Discuss.
• Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds
Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
• Discuss the significance of lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.

LevelUp IAS: Ph: 08062961200, 08062961201| Email: students@levelupias.com

History Optional Channel: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryoptional, GS History and Culture: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryculture
90688069**
• How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of
those days.
• Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South
India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with
remarkable vividness. Comment.
• How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at
all noticeable in later times?
• Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the
reconstruction of the history of India.
• Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were
associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its
strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a
university in the modern sense. Discuss.
• What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How
did these technological changes influence Indian society?
• Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.
• Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.
• Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices
or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
• The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt,
Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without
a breakdown to the present day. Comment.

LevelUp IAS: Ph: 08062961200, 08062961201| Email: students@levelupias.com

History Optional Channel: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryoptional, GS History and Culture: https://t.me/nikhilhistoryculture