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Art and Culture Notes

This page delivers free Art and Culture study notes for UPSC Prelims 2025. Art And Culture is an Integral Part of the UPSC Syllabus of GS1 Paper in Preliminary Examination 2025 and GS1 Paper of UPSC Mains Examination 2025. For most applicants, studying Indian culture and heritage for the UPSC Civil Services Exam is a difficult endeavor.

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Every nation's progress is influenced by its culture. Culture denotes a collection of common beliefs, values, objectives, and activities. Culture and creativity may be found in nearly every economic, social, and other activity. The diversity of India's culture symbolizes the country's diversity. India possesses one of the world's greatest collections of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of humanity, which includes songs, music, dance, theatre, folk customs, performing arts, rites & rituals, paintings, and books.

Despite the fact that questions about art, culture, literature, and architecture are expected to appear in both the UPSC Prelims and the IAS Mains, there is a shortage of succinct study material. There are, of course, reputable study material sources such as NCERT books, CCRT material, NIOS material, and Nitin Singhania's Indian Art and Culture.

For Prelims 2025, in Prepp.in Art and culture notes we have covered each and every aspect of the Art and Culture syllabus. These notes are designed for UPSC Aspirants specifically. Besides, these notes are also useful for other government Examinations like State PSCs examinations, SSC’s and other departmental Examinations.

Visual Arts Indian Architecture Indian Sculpture
Indian Pottery Harappan Art and Architecture Architecture in Harappan Civilization
Sculptures of Harappan Civilization Art of Indus valley civilization Mauryan Art and Architecture
Mauryan Pillars Mauryan Sculpture Rock-cut architecture
Stupas Sanchi Stupa Chaityas
Viharas Post Mauryan Art Bharhut stupa
Schools of Art in Ancient India - Mathura, Sarnath and Gandhara Schools Mathura school of art Sarnath school of art
Gandhara school of art Amravati school of art Gandhara and Mathura School of Art - Major Differences
Early temples Buddhist Monuments of South India Mudras of buddha
Dharmachakra Mudra Bhumisparsha Mudra Varada Mudra
Dhyana Mudra Abhaya Mudra Vajra Mudra
Vitarka Mudra Jnana Mudra Karana Mudra
Uttarabodhi Mudra Anjali Mudra Gupta Architecture
Cave Architecture Ajanta and Ellora caves Elephanta caves
Bhaja Caves Barabar Caves Amarnath cave
Badami caves Bagh Caves Belum Caves
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters Borra Caves Dungeshwari Cave
Edakkal cave Karla Caves Khambhalida Caves
Krem Mawmluh cave Mahakali Caves Kanheri Caves
Mawsmai Cave Pandavleni Caves Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave
Sittanavasal Caves Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Varaha cave temple
Temple Architecture Style of Temple Architecture Dravidian Architecture / South Indian Temple Style
Nagara Architecture / North Indian Temple Style Dravidian Architecture and Nagara Architecture - Major Differences Vesara Style of architecture
Features of the Hindu Temples Central India Temples Western Indian Temples
Eastern Indian temples Hill Temples Deccan Architecture
Buddhist Architectural Developments Jain Architectural Developments Buddhist Architecture and Jain Architecture - Major Differences
Important ancient Inscriptions and Edicts Junagarh Rock inscription Mahrauli Inscription / Garuda Pillar
Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prasasti) Nasik Inscription Nanaghat Inscription
Mandsaur Inscription Famous Universities of Ancient India Odantapuri
Vikramshila Jaggadala Valabhi
Nalanda Takshila Malkhed fort
Pushpagiri, Odisha Sharada Peeth Nagarjunakonda
Buddhism Buddhist Places in India Buddhist Temples in India
Bodh Gaya, Bihar Kapilvastu, Uttar Pradesh Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
Rajgir, Bihar Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh
Jain temples in India Origin of Jainism Tenets of Jainism
Sects/ School of Jainism Spread of Jainism Jain Literature/Texts
Contribution of Jainism Architecture in Medieval India Indo-Islamic Architecture
Mughal architecture Deccani style (Bijapur and Golconda) Humayun tomb
Deccani painting Modern Indian Architecture Indian Paintings
Tribal painting of India Pre-historic Paintings Mural Paintings in India
Miniature Paintings in India Rajasthani School of Painting Pahari School of Painting
Ragamala Paintings Modern Indian Painting Folk Paintings
Warli painting Madhubani painting Indian Handicrafts
Glassware Tie and Dye Embroidery Crafts
Silver Crafts Clay and Pottery Work Metal Crafts
UNESCO'S List World Heritage Sites in India Cultural Sites - UNESCO'S List of World Heritage Sites Natural Sites - UNESCO'S List of World Heritage Sites
Performing Arts Indian Music History of Indian Music
Anatomy of Indian Music Classification of Indian Music Hindustani Music
Carnatic Music Folk Music Fusion of Classical and Folk
Musical instruments Modern Development in Music Modern music
Music community Indian Dance Forms Indian Classical Dance Forms
Bharatnatyam Kuchipudi Kathakali
Mohiniyattam Odissi Manipuri
Sattriya Kathak Indian folk dances
Chhau Garba Dandiya Raas
Tarangamel Ghoomar or Gangore Matki
Alkap Biraha Paika
Bagurumba Jat-Jatin Jhumair
Danda-Jatra Bihu Thang Ta
Rangma Singhi Chham Kummi
Mayilattam Butta Bommalu Kaikottikali
Padayani Kolkali-Parichakali Pata Kunitha
Chakyar Koothu Karma Naach Raut Naach
Dumhal Fugdi Cheraw
Dalkhai Hulivesha Tippani
Garadi Hojagiri Yakshagana
Indian Theatre Sanskrit Theatre Folk Theatre
Modern Indian Theatre Indian Puppetry String Puppets
Shadow Puppets Glove Puppets Rod Puppets
Indian Circus Martial Arts in India Kalaripayattu
Silambam Thang-ta and Sarit Sarak Cheibi Gad-ga
Thoda martial art Gatka Mardani Khel
Lathi Khela Inbuan Wrestling Kuttu Varisai
Musti Yuddha UNESCO'S List of Intangible Cultural heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Koodiyattam Ramlila Tradition in Vedic Chanting
Ramman Chhau Mudiyettu
Kalbelia Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh Sankirtana
Traditional Brass and Copper Craft of Utensils -Thathera Community, Punjab Nowruz Yoga
Kumbh Mela Durga puja Languages of India
Classical languages in India Indo-Aryan Group of Languages Dravidian Group
Sino-Tibetan Group Austria Official Languages of India
Status of Classical Language Ancient Scripts of India Brahmi Script
Kharosthi Script Devanagari Script Gupta Script
Urdu Script Religion in India Hinduism
Difference between Buddhism and Hinduism Shramana Islam
Sufism Christianity Sikhism
Zoroastrianism Judaism Buddhism and Jainism
Buddhist Literature Secularism in India Early Buddhist Schools in India
Concepts and Philosophy under Buddhism Hinayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism
Boddhisatva in Buddhism Theravada Buddhism Vajrayana Buddhism
Places Associated with Buddha's Life 16 Arhats of Buddha Other prominent personalities Associated with Buddhism
Navayana Buddhism Jain Teachings and Philosophy Two Major Schools or Sects under Jainism
Popular Practices under Jainism Jain Flag Indian Literature
Hindu Literature in Ancient India Vedic literature Pali and Prakrit literature
Sikh Literature Dravidian Literature Medieval Literature
Modern Literature Indian Schools of Ancient Philosophy Orthodox Schools
Heterodox Schools Samkhya School Yoga School
Nyaya School Vaisheshika School Mimamsa School
Vedanta School Charvaka School or Lokayata Philosophy Indian Cinema
South Indian Cinema Indian Cinematography Act of 1952 Central Board of Film Certification
Calendars in India National calendar of India Indian Festivals
Muslim Festivals Christian Festivals Sikh Festivals
Jain Festivals Buddhist Festivals Sindhi Festivals
Parsi or Zoroastrian Festivals Secular Festivals Festivals of North-East India
Kumbh Mela Awards and Honours in India Bharat Ratna
Padma Awards National Film Awards Dadasaheb Phalke Awards
Sahitya Akademi Award Other Literary Honours in India Indian constitution day
Cultural Institutions in India Archaeological Surevy of india Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
All India Radio Nehru Memorial museum and Library Centre for Cultural Resources and Training
National Archives of India Indian Council for Cultural Relations Indian Council of Historical Research
Indian National trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Sahitya Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi
Lalit Kala Akademi Coins in Ancient and Medieval India Punch Marked Coins
Indo-Greek Coins Coins By Satavahanas Coins Issues in Gupta Age
Mughal Coinage India through the eyes of Foreign Travellers Megasthenes
Fa-Hien Hiuen Tsang Al-Masudi
Indica SI-YU-KI Muruj-Ul-Zehab
Al-Biruni Marco Polo Ibn Battuta
Nicolo De Conti Abdur razzaq Kitab-Ul-Hind
The Book of Sir Marco Polo Rihla Matla-Us-Sadain-Wa-Majma-Ul-Bahrain
Domingo Paes William Hawkins (1608-1611 AD) Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619 AD)
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1638-1643 AD) Francois Bernier Travels in the Mughal Empire
Delhi - A City of Seven Sisters Bhakti Movement Difference Between Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Saguna School Nirguna School Prominent Bhakti Saints
Adi Shankara Ramanuja Madhavacharya
Nimbarka Ramananda Vallabhacharya
Kabir Guru Nanak Narsinh Mehta
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Sankardev Surdas
Meerabai Dadu Dayal Dnyaneshwar
Namdev Eknath Tukaram
Samarth Ramdas Guru Ghasi Das Different Sufi orders in India
Chishti Silsilah Suhrawardi Silsilah Qadariya Silsilah
Naqshbandi Silsilah Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Famous personalities of India
Chanakya - The King Maker Ashoka The Great - An epitome of Buddhist Architecture Samudragupta - The Man of Culture
Kalidasa - The Master of Romantic Plays Shashanka - A Great Patron of Hinduism Harshavardhan - A Great Patron of Mahayana Buddhism
Dharma Pala - A Patron of Buddhist Teachings Gorakhnath Amir Khusrow - An epitome of Classical Music
Marco Polo - A famous Italian Traveler to South India Rudrama Devi - A Courageous Women Monarch Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Mahmud Begada (Begarha) Eknath Akbar the Great
Ahilyabai Holkar Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Swami Vivekananda
Geographical Indications Prasad Scheme Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Statue of unity Ramanuja - Statue of Equality Makaravilakku
Attukal Pongala Bathukamma Behdienkhlam Festival
India's national War Memorial Chaukhandi Stupa Charminar
Stucco Sculpture 37th UNESCO World Heritage Site of India -
Recent Geographical Indications Indian Art and Culture (Current Affairs) Bharatanatyam
Prehistoric Rock Paintings Arts of the Indus Valley Arts of the Mauryan Period
Lion Capital & Sanchi Stupa Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture – Part I Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture – Part II
Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture – Part III Temple Architecture and Sculpture – Part I Temple Architecture and Sculpture – Part III
Temple Architecture and Sculpture – Part IV Difference between Gandhara and Mathura School of art Vedic Literature
Types of Vedas Thangka Paintings Tribal Paintings of India
Yoga Difference between Buddhism and Hinduism Warli Painting
Styles Of Bharatanatyam Yakshagana Role of Indian Culture in UPSC Exams

FAQs

Ques. What do you study in Art and Culture for UPSC?

Ans. Studying NCERT Textbooks for the Art and Culture for UPSC Preparation is enough. Moreover, after covering the NCERT, the aspirants can refer to the notes provided here.

Ques. How important is Art and Culture in UPSC?

Ans. Art and Culture is one of the most inseparable parts of India. It is highly important from the UPSC Exam Preparation point of view and every aspirant must not skip it.

Ques. What topic comes under Art and Culture?

Ans. Art and Culture topics are wide in range due to the diversity of India and its culture. Here, the aspirants can find a complete list of the topics that are included under the Arts and Culture for the UPSC Exam Preparation. y

Ques. Is Art and Culture part of UPSC Prelims?

Ans. Yes, Art and Culture is a part of UPSC Prelims and Mains as well. It is a part of the General Studies paper and the serious aspirants must cover it as questions are asked every year from this section.

Ques. Which NCERT is good for Art and Culture?

Ans. NCERT Textbook of Class XI Art and Culture is enough for the UPSC Preparation. Moreover, the aspirants can also refer to other books after covering it.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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