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Civil Services Mains Examination Indian Heritage & Culture - GS Paper I

Indian Heritage and Culture


Question. Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. (CSE 2018)

Question. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss (CSE 2018)

Question. The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (CSE 2018)

Question. Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to other colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there? (CSE 2018)

Question. 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 (CSE 2015)

Question. Taxila university was one of the oldest university 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 university in the modern sense. Discuss. (CSE 2014)

Question. 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 (CSE 2014)

Question. Comment on the significance of Rasarnava in studying the history of Indian Chemistry. (CSE 2012)

Question. Comment on the significance of fire in Zoroastrianism. (CSE 2012)

Question. Distinguish either between the ‘Moatsu’ and ‘Yemshe’ festivals of Nagaland or the ‘Losar’ and ‘Khan’ festivals of Arunachal Pradesh. (CSE 2011)

Question. Write on Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage (CSE 2003)


Art Forms


Question. How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times? (CSE 2017)

Question. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. (CSE 2014)

Question. Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. (CSE 2013)

Question. The ‘flute-playing Krishna’ theme is very popular in Indian art. Discuss. (CSE 2012)

Question. What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been classified? (CSE 2012)

Question. Illustrate about Bagurumba folk dance. (CSE 2012)

Question. Write a sentence each on any five of the following traditional theatre forms: (CSE 2011)

  1. Bhand Pather
  2. Swang
  3. Maach
  4. Bhaona
  5. Mudiyettu
  6. Dashavatar

Question. What are the major different styles of unglazed pottery making in India? (CSE 2011)

Question. List the classical dance forms of India as per the Sangeet Natak Akademy. (CSE 2011)

Question. While bringing out their salient features, distinguish between either ‘Madhubani’ Art and ‘Manjusha’ Art or ‘Rajasthani’ schools of painting and the ‘Pahari’ school of painting. (CSE 2010)

Question. List the salient features of the important folk dances of either Central India or Northern Eastern India. (CSE 2009)

Question. What are the important similarities and difference between the Hindustani and the Carnatic Styles of Classical music? (CSE 2009)


Architecture


Question. Early Buddhist Stupa art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. (CSE 2016)

Question. Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically evaluate this comment. (CSE 2015)

Question. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilisation provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (CSE 2014)

Question. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss (CSE 2013)

Question. Why is Lauric Baker called ‘the conscience keeper of Indian architecture’? (CSE 2013)


Literature


Question. Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss. (CSE 2016)

Question. 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 (CSE 2013)

Question. Distinguish between the following four literary awards: (CSE 2010)

  1. Jnanpith Award
  2. Sahitya Akademi Award
  3. Vyas Samman
  4. Saraswati Samman