Skip to content
Early access — you're among the first to try PYQLabs. Share feedback

UPSC 2016 Art & Culture PYQ Solved

4 Art & Culture questions from UPSC 2016 Prelims GS Paper 1 — solved with answers

4
Questions
50%
Trap Rate
Similar Sounding
Top Trap
Start Art & Culture Practice →
Q10moderateSimilar Sounding
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
(a) Swapnavasavadatta
(b) Malavikagnimitra
(c) Meghadoota
(d) Ratnavali
Answer: (b)
Trap: Similar Sounding
All four options are famous Sanskrit literary works. Swapnavasavadatta (by Bhasa) is about Udayana and could confuse students. Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa is about Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga.
Q65moderatePartial Truth
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? 1. Both were built in the same period. 2. Both belong to the same religious denomination. 3. Both have rock-cut monuments. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the statements given above is correct
Answer: (b)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 1 is tricky -- Ajanta spans 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE, while Mahabalipuram is primarily 7th century CE (Pallava period). They partly overlap but were not built in the 'same period'. Statement 2 is wrong -- Ajanta is Buddhist, Mahabalipuram is Hindu.
Q89hard
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?
(a) Shramana
(b) Parivraajaka
(c) Agrahaarika
(d) Maagadha
Answer: (d)
Q99easy
A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
(a) S. Ramanujan
(b) S. Chandrasekhar
(c) S. N. Bose
(d) C. V. Raman
Answer: (a)
Practice all 4 Art & Culture questions →
← All 2016 questionsAll years →