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.
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.
For Prelims 2025, in examcg.com 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 |