Subject Details

Handicrafts, arts and architecture are still today a vibrant aspect of Indian culture and society. Crafts have been interwoven with the culture of the people in India from the beginning of human history. The variety of crafts and craft skills available in India and their continuous development throughout the centuries make India a unique country, unlike any other in the world. Ours is one of the few countries in the world where crafts are practised throughout the land and by many people. Crafts have been an integral part of daily life in villages, towns, courts and religious establishments.

Index

Chapter 1: Prehistoric Rock Paintings – Discusses about the excavation at Old Stone Age or the Palaeolithic Age about old tools, pottery, habitats, bones of ancient human beings and animals, and drawings on cave walls.

Chapter 2: Arts of the Indus Valley – Discusses about the arts of the Indus Valley Civilisation and the forms of art found from various sites of the civilization include sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery, terracotta figures, etc.

Chapter 3: Arts of the Mauryan Period – Discusses about the architecture during the Mauryan empire such as Pillars, Sculptures and Rock-cut Architecture along with Buddhist architecture.

UPSC 2013: Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

(a) Vihara is a place of worship, while Chaitya is the dwelling place of the monks

(b) Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks

(c) Chaitya is the stupa at the far end of the cave, while Vihara is the hall axial to it

(d) There is no material difference between the two

Ans: b

 
Chapter 4: Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture – Discusses about the architecture during the Shungas, Kanvas, Kushanas and Guptas in the north and parts of central India and Satvahanas, Ikshavakus, Abhiras, Vakataks in southern and western India.

Chapter 5: Later Mural Traditions -  Discusses about the tradition of paintings found in cave excavations at Badami, under the Pallava, Pandava and Chola Kings, Vijayanagara Murals and Kerala Murals.

UPSC 2013: With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

1.   The caves at Badami are the 'oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.

2.   The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

3.   At Ellora, eaves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a)  1 only    

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c)  3 only     

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: c

UPSC 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?

(a) 1 only     

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d)  None

Ans: b

Chapter 6: Temple Architecture and Sculpture – Discusses about the religious art and architectural remains that survive from Ancient and Medieval India and also discusses about the types of temples developed in different parts of India.

UPSC 2015: With reference to the art and archeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar

(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli

(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram

(d) Varaha Image at Udayagiri

Ans: b

UPSC 2014: With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to

(a) an assembly of village elders

(b)  a religious sect

(c)  a style of temple construction

(d)  an administrative functionary

Ans: c

UPSC 2014: With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:

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

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: c

 
Chapter 7: Indian Bronze Sculpture – Discusses the sculptures found since ancient Indian formed through the ‘lost-wax’ process and also discusses the process of making alloy of metals by mixing copper, zinc and tin which is called bronze.

Chapter 8: Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture – Discusses different features of Islamic architecture in form of large-scale building activity begun under the Delhi Sultanate, established after the Turkish conquest of northern India.