Q: निम्नलिखित में से किस उभार मूर्तिकला (रिलीफ स्कल्प्चर) शिलालेख में अशोक के प्रथम रूप ‘रण्यो अशोक’ (राजा अशोक) उत्कीर्ण है?
(a)कंगनहल्लि
(b)सांची
(c)शाहबाजगढ़ी
(d)सोहगौरा
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Sculpture & Iconography — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
9 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Sculpture & Iconography (Art & Culture). Spanning from 1995 to 2019. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
9
Questions
9
Years
5
Easy
3
Moderate
Year-wise Distribution
What UPSC Asks About Sculpture & Iconography
Based on 9 questions across 9 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of Sculpture & Iconography within the broader Art & Culture syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of Sculpture & Iconography. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Related Art & Culture Sub-topics
All Sculpture & Iconography Questions
Q: With reference to the art and archaeological 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
Q: With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: Famous work of sculpture — Site 1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below — Ajanta 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock — Mount Abu 3. “Arjuna’s Penance” / “Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders — Mamallapuram 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
Q: Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes
(a)Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Māra and to prevent Māra from disturbing his meditation
(b)Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Māra
(c)Buddha's reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth, and thus this life is transitory
(d)Both the statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context
Q: Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
(a)Harappan Civilisation … Painted Grey Ware
(b)The Kushans … Gandhara School of Art
(c)The Mughals … Ajanta Paintings
(d)The Marathas … Pahari School of Painting
Q: Assertion (A): The Gandhara School of art bears the mark of Hellenistic influence. Reason (R): Hinayana form was influenced by that art.
(a)Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c)A is true, but R is false
(d)A is false, but R is true
Q: In the Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was also known as
(a)Vajrapani
(b)Manjusri
(c)Padmapani
(d)Maitreya
Q: Which one of the following sculptures invariably used green schist as the medium?
(a)Maurya sculptures
(b)Mathura sculptures
(c)Bharhut sculptures
(d)Gandhara sculptures
Q: Bronze icons of Nataraja cast during the Chola period invariably show the deity with
(a)eight hands
(b)six hands
(c)four hands
(d)two hands
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Sculpture & Iconography?▼
UPSC has asked 9 questions on Sculpture & Iconography in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1995 and 2019. This sub-topic falls under Art & Culture.
In which years has UPSC asked about Sculpture & Iconography?▼
Questions on Sculpture & Iconography have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2019, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995. The topic has appeared in 9 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of Sculpture & Iconography questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 9 questions on Sculpture & Iconography: 5 are easy, 3 are moderate, and 1 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.