Mains Master Program 2024: Art and Culture (GS1)

Handout 1

PYQs
11 Years, 27 Questions

• 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.
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.

2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005
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 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.
o Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture.
Discuss.

2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005
Ph: 08045248491, 7041021151 | Email: students@levelupias.com
 Question Era Typology
Explain the geographical factors towards the development of
Overall Interpretative
Ancient India.
What were the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you Descriptive +
Ancient
think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian society? Interpretative
What were the major technological changes introduced during the
Sultanate period? How did these technological changes influence Medieval Interpretative
Indian society?
How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures
Medieval Interpretative
represent the social life of those days.
Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period Ancient +
Descriptive
to Indian heritage and culture. Medieval
Discuss the significance of lion and bull figures in Indian
Overall Interpretative
mythology, art and architecture.
Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to
Overall Interpretative
Indian culture.
The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important
Ancient Interpretative
sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.
Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism
Medieval Descriptive
in India. Enumerate
Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in
conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Ancient Interpretative
Discuss.
Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the
Medieval Interpretive
age. Comment.
Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in
Ancient Descriptive
Gandhara art.
Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment.
Overall Miscellaneous
Discuss.
Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab
Overall Interpretative
travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.
The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with
Medieval Descriptive
the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.
How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta
Ancient Interpretative
numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times?
Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives
Ancient Interpretative
successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an
accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of Medieval Descriptive
learning and literature. Discuss.
The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those
of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and
Overall Interpretative
traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the
present day. Comment.
Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the
cultural life of the times but also a tine aesthetic sense comparable Ancient Interpretative
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 Ancient Interpretative
urbanization? Discuss.

2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005
Ph: 08045248491, 7041021151 | Email: students@levelupias.com
Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the
Ancient Descriptive
Greeks. Explain.
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 Ancient Interpretative
its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a
university in the modern sense. Discuss.
Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the
Medieval
religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Interpretative
Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected
political history of South India, the Sangam literature portrays the Ancient
Interpretative
social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable
vividness. Comment.
Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian Ancient
Descriptive
inscriptions.
Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution
Medieval Descriptive
of temple architecture. Discuss.

2nd Floor, 45 Pusa Road, Opp. Metro Pillar 128, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005
Ph: 08045248491, 7041021151 | Email: students@levelupias.com