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Home / IAS Preparation / UPSC Art And Culture Preparation Tips

How To Prepare Art And Culture For UPSC?

Last Updated on Nov 05, 2024
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How To Prepare Art And Culture For UPSC is important in view of getting good marks in topics related to art and culture. The UPSC syllabus for Art & Culture is very vast but there are some topics such as Buddhism, Jainism, and architecture under the Ashoka period that are important topics because they are almost asked every year in the UPSC IAS exam. To get good marks in art and culture in both prelims and mains paper, in-depth knowledge is not required as UPSC tests the conceptual clarity and understanding of the subject.

Therefore Art & culture preparation strategy acquires an important place because it carries a good amount of weightage and every year questions from this topic are asked in both the UPSC prelims and Mains examination. In this article, we shall study How To Prepare for Art And Culture For UPSC so that students can score good marks in both UPSC prelims and mains examinations.

Also, check how to prepare for UPSC from zero level on the linked article!

Art and Culture Preparation For UPSC

Art and Culture Preparation For UPSC involves a foundational knowledge and understanding of the topic. However, candidates should be well-versed in the Art & Culture UPSC syllabus. Every aspirant should adopt a sound strategy and approach. A good strategy includes gathering the Art & Culture UPSC syllabus, examining the UPSC pattern, gathering the key themes and the weighted average of questions from those topics, making notes, and revising those notes. The sections of the article given below will cover each of these important aspects in detail.

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What Do You Need For UPSC Art & Culture Preparation?

For Art and Culture preparation for UPSC, there are important books that are designed according to the syllabus of UPSC. The list of books is given below.

List of Important UPSC Art & Culture Study Material

How To Prepare Art and Culture For UPSC?

There are various strategies that an aspirant can devise to score good marks in art and culture subjects. The preparation strategies for both the prelims and mains are different because the mains exam assesses analysis and conceptual understanding whereas the prelims test involves the application of the concepts studied. The following sections will give aspirants an insight into how to prepare art and culture for UPSC.

Art and Culture Preparation Strategy For UPSC Prelims

There should be a proper Art and Culture strategy for UPSC in order to clear the exam. The art and culture UPSC preparation strategy is discussed below.

  • First Step: Analyzing the last 10 years’ previous year’s papers and making notes of the repeated topics asked in the prelims exam is the first step in the preparation strategy for prelims.
  • Second Step: An aspirant can read the NCERTs and required textbook (given above in the section) to understand the subject after analyzing the papers from the previous year.
    • It is important to read the textbook and NCERTs while keeping in mind the questions asked/topics/themes from previous years.
    • An aspirant should also highlight the same topics/themes in the textbook or make notes for later revision.
  • Third Step: There are some specific topics that require more attention such as the art and architecture of the Vijayanagara empire in ancient history.
    • It is in some form or another asked in the preliminary test practically every year. Consequently, it is crucial to discuss this subject from a UPSC perspective.
  • Last & Most Important Step: The best strategy to prepare for art and culture is multiple times revisions but the question is how do you revise art and culture? Let’s answer this question from the UPSC prelims perspective.
    • An aspirant should select any one primary source and one secondary source. The sources studied should be revised multiple times before the exam. It is also important to practice UPSC Mock Tests/ Test Series to get hold of the subject.
    • For example, if an aspirant has to revise the topic of cave architecture in India. Then, until you get 90% accuracy, try as many of the previous year’s papers and mock practice questions as you can.

You should also check UPSC Prelims Syllabus here!

Art and Culture Preparation Strategy For UPSC Mains

To score good marks in art and culture subjects in the mains examination an aspirant needs confidence and that confidence comes from a good strategy and regular implementation of that strategy. Let’s discuss the Art and Culture Preparation Strategy For UPSC Mains.

  • Identify and analyze the previous year’s questions.
  • Note down the important topics that are consistently asked in the previous years. Prepare 250-word notes for those topics and revise them before the exam as much as you can.
  • You can prepare the notes by reading textbooks and NCERTs. Try to make a note or bookmark a previous year’s question next to the topic as you go through textbooks so that it becomes easy in terms of revision.
  • Practice answer writing (same as UPSC mains exam) to get a clear understanding of that topic.
  • There are some important topics such as the List of Historical Monuments in India, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages in India, and, Art and Culture under the Delhi Sultanate that can be studied with the linked article.
  • Identify current affairs-related questions and try to answer them by referring to newspapers and magazines.

How to Write UPSC Mains Answers for Art and Culture

Mains answer writing is a very significant part of UPSC mains. Let’s discuss how to write good and quality answers for topics related to art and culture to get good marks in the UPSC main examination.

  • The answers to art and culture subject should include three main focus areas-
    • Introduction,
    • Body, and
    • Conclusion.
  • For example in 2022 a question was asked “How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?”
    • In the above question, the keyword in the question is medieval Indian temple sculptures.
    • Here we write an answer which should include a brief history of Indian temples from the Middle Ages in the Introduction. Give some temple examples as well.
    • The explanation of the sculptures found in Indian medieval temples and how they portrayed medieval society should be included in the body of the answer.
  • The conclusion for a topic on art and culture should be written with keywords in mind.
  • The conclusion section can contain a general overview of the answer.

You should also check UPSC Mains Syllabus here!

Art & Culture Weightage in UPSC

The art and culture section in UPSC has significant weightage. The below table shows the number of art and culture questions asked in UPSC prelims and mains over the last 10 years.

Last 10 Years Art & Culture Weightage in UPSC Prelims and Mains
Year No. of Questions in UPSC Prelims No. of Questions in UPSC Mains
2022 4 3
2021 5 1
2020 4 4
2019 3 1
2018 7 3
2017 5 2
2016 3 2
2015 3 2
2014 10 4
2013 9 3

Check out the article on IAS Prelims Subject Wise Questions Weightage with this link!

Important Topics To Prepare Art & Culture For UPSC

The art and culture syllabus for the UPSC exam is vast and scattered. Let’s discuss some of the important topics of Art & Culture.

Under the UPSC Art and Culture syllabus, the important topics can be divided into three categories-

  • Performing Arts,
  • Visual Arts, and
  • Literary Arts.
Performing Arts – Music, Dance, Puppets, and Theatre
Performing Arts Topics Name of Topics Covered
Music of India (Hindustani, Carnatic, and Regional Music) The Tata Vadya (Chordophones)

 

The Ghana Vadya (Idiophones)

The Sushira Vadya (Aerophones)

The Avanaddha Vadya (Membranophones)
Dances of India (Classical and Regional) Classical Dance Form: Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Sattriya, Kathak and Odissi

 

Regional Dance Forms such as Chhau, Bihu, Garba, Lavani, Dumhal, etc.
Folk Theatre in India Traditional and Modern theatres
Puppetry in India Various types of puppets

 

String puppets

Glove puppets

Rod puppets

Shadow puppets

Literary Arts

Some of the important topics covered under literary are listed below.

  • Ancient Indian Literature
  • Sangam Literature
  • Literature in Pali and Prakrit
  • Classical Sanskrit Literature
  • Medieval Literature
  • Women Bhakti Poets
  • The Emergence of Nationalism
  • Modern Indian Literature
  • Making of Modern Theatre

Visual Arts - Painting, Architecture, and Sculpture

Some of the important topics under visual arts are listed below.

Visual Arts Topics Important Topics
Indian Painting
Indian Architecture
Indian Sculpture

Art & Culture Previous Year Questions

Going through the UPSC previous year papers helps in analysing the types of questions asked from the Art & Culture section. We have listed UPSC Prelims and mains art & culture questions asked in 2020-2022.

Art & Culture 2022 Prelims Questions

Q 1. Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

  1. Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
  2. The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
  3. Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
  4. Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.

Q 2. The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?

  1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
  2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
  3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1,2 and 3

Art & Culture 2022 Mains Questions

Q1. How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?

Q2. Discuss the significance of the lion and Bull figures in Indian Mythology art and architecture.

Art & Culture 2021 Prelims Questions

Q1. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
  2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
  3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
  4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 4
  4. 2, 3 and 4

Q 2. Consider the following pairs:

Historical place Well-known for

  1. Burzahom Rock-cut shrines
  2. Chandraketugarh Terracotta art
  3. Ganeshwar Copper artifacts

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2
  3. 3 only
  4. 2 and 3

Art & Culture 2021 Mains Questions

Q1. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Movement and its contribution to Indian culture.

Art & Culture 2020 Prelims Question

Q 1. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct

description of the term ‘paramitas’?

  1. The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
  2. Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
  3. Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
  4. Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India

Q 2. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?

”Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

  1. Ashoka
  2. Samudragupta
  3. Harshavardhana
  4. Krishnadeva Raya

Art & Culture 2020 Mains Questions

Q 1. The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.

Q 2. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.

Q 3. Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.

Q 4. Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.

Prepare Art & Culture With Testbook SuperCoaching

The UPSC aspirants can also take the help of Testbook’s UPSC CSE Coaching to boost their exam preparation! You can also study art and culture topics related to UPSC IAS Exams with Testbook. Testbook Super Coaching is a complete package for UPSC Preparation. Testbook Super Coaching also provides UPSC Coaching for Hindi Medium students. Some of the features of Testbook SuperCoaching are listed below.

  • In-depth analysis of previous years’ question papers
  • Daily interacted live classes on important topics of art and culture
  • Mains answer writing on topics related to art and culture
  • Art and Culture PDF notes

Also, check out - IGNOU UPSC Coaching

Conclusion

If an aspirant has understood the motive of how to prepare Art And Culture for UPSC it is easy to score good marks in the UPSC exam and clear the exam.

We hope this article on Art and Culture Preparation Tips for UPSC will help you well in your exam preparation. Testbook provides a set of comprehensive notes for UPSC preparation. To study more topics for UPSC, download the Testbook App now.

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UPSC Art & Culture Preparation - FAQs

Class 11 Art and culture is mandatory to study and additionally some topics of class 12 also need to be studied.

The Art and culture book by Nitin Singhania should be read line by line and proper notes should be made. Other NCERTs and CCRT notes should also be consulted for further value addition.

Yes, Art and culture constitute an important part of the UPSC prelims syllabus and they should be studied thoroughly to clear the cut-off of the UPSC prelims exam.

There are 3 NCERTs that are best for art and culture preparation: NCERT Class 11 – Living Crafts Traditions of India, NCERT Class 11 – An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I, and NCERT Class 12 – Craft Traditions of India.

The time duration depends upon the capacity and subject interest of the candidate. It might take 2-3 months also and 3-4 months to complete the whole syllabus.
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