11 questions

UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture PYQ

Visual Arts — Painting, Ceramics & Drawing UPSC PYQ

Indian painting schools, ceramic traditions, and drawing styles across regions and periods.

11 Questions · 1995–2025
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All 11 Visual Arts — Painting, Ceramics & Drawing questions attempted!

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  1. 1 2018

    The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

    1. ABundi School
    2. BJaipur School
    3. CKangra School
    4. DKishangarh School
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. Kishangarh School

    Explanation

    The Kishangarh province in Rajasthan is famous for Bani Thani paintings, characterized by exaggerated features like long necks, almond-shaped eyes, and long fingers. These paintings mainly depict Radha and Krishna's divine love.

  2. 2 2017

    The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at

    1. AAjanta
    2. BBadami
    3. CBagh
    4. DEllora
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. Ajanta

    Explanation

    Option (a) is correct: The famous painting of the bodhisattva, Padmapani in Ajanta caves, is one of the best paintings remaining from the prehistoric era when Buddhism was at its peak.

  3. 3 2015

    Kalamkari painting refers to

    1. Aa hand-painted cotton textile in South India.
    2. Ba handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India.
    3. Ca block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India.
    4. Da hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India.
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. a hand-painted cotton textile in South India.

    Explanation

    Kalamkari is a traditional hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile art from Andhra Pradesh. The name combines Persian words Qalam (pen) and Kari (craftsmanship).

  4. 4 2013

    Consider the following historical places :
    1. Ajanta Caves
    2. Lepakshi Temple
    3. Sanchi Stupa
    Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2 only
    3. C1, 2 and 3
    4. DNone
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: B. 1 and 2 only

    Explanation

    Ajanta caves and Lepakshi temple are both renowned for their mural paintings, while Sanchi Stupa is known primarily for its sculpted gateways (toranas) rather than murals.

  5. 5 2010

    There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

    1. ABagh caves
    2. BEllora caves
    3. CLomas Rishi cave
    4. DNasik caves
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. Bagh caves

    Explanation

    Besides the Ajanta caves, the only other surviving example of Gupta-period cave paintings in India is found at the Bagh caves in Madhya Pradesh.

  6. 6 2009

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
    List I (Famous person)
    A. Amrita Sher-Gil
    B. Bhimsen Joshi
    C. Rukmini Devi Arundale
    D. Suryakant Tripathi Nirala
    List II (Well-known as)
    1. Dancer
    2. Painter
    3. Poet
    4. Singer

    1. AA-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
    2. BA-2 B-4 C-1 D-3
    3. CA-3 B-1 C-4 D-2
    4. DA-3 B-4 C-1 D-2
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: B. A-2 B-4 C-1 D-3

    Explanation

    Amrita Sher-Gil was a painter, Bhimsen Joshi a singer, Rukmini Devi Arundale a dancer, and Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' a poet — matching code A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3.

  7. 7 2009

    Consider the following famous names:
    1. Amrita Sher-Gil
    2. Bikash Bhattacharjee
    3. N. S. Bendre
    4. Subodh Gupta
    Who of the above is/are well known as artist(s)?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 4 only
    3. C2, 3 and 4 only
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

    Explanation

    All four — Amrita Sher-Gil, Bikash Bhattacharjee, N. S. Bendre, and Subodh Gupta — are well-known Indian painters/visual artists across different generations.

  8. 8 2007

    Raghu Rai is well known for which one of the following areas?

    1. AEnvironment protection
    2. BOlympic Games
    3. CJournalism
    4. DCivil aviation
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. Journalism

    Explanation

    Raghu Rai is a celebrated Indian photojournalist, known for his work in journalism and documentary photography.

  9. 9 1999

    The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as

    1. Arealistic
    2. Bsocialistic
    3. Crevivalistic
    4. Dimpressionistic
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. revivalistic

    Explanation

    Abanindranath Tagore, founder of the Bengal School of Art, is credited with a 'revivalistic' style that consciously drew on traditional Indian and Mughal/Rajput artistic idioms in reaction to Western academic realism.

  10. 10 1996

    Mughal painting reached its zenith under

    1. AHumayun
    2. BAkbar
    3. CJahangir
    4. DShahjahan
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. Jahangir

    Explanation

    Mughal painting is generally considered to have reached its artistic peak under Emperor Jahangir, known for his patronage of naturalistic portraiture and studies of flora and fauna.

  11. 11 1995

    The Mughal School of Painting formed the spinal column of the various schools of Indian miniature art. Which one of the following painting styles was not affected by Mughal painting?

    1. APahari
    2. BRajasthani
    3. CKangra
    4. DKalighata
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. Kalighata

    Explanation

    The Kalighat style of painting, which developed in 19th-century Bengal around the Kalighat temple, drew on folk and bazaar art traditions rather than being shaped by Mughal painting, unlike the Pahari, Rajasthani, and Kangra schools.

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