Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. Culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities. A country as diverse as India is symbolized by the plurality of its INDIAN ART AND CULTURE.

Indian culture covers the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

India has one of the world’s largest collections of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings and writings that are known, as the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH) of humanity. In order to preserve these elements, the Ministry of Culture implements a number of schemes and programmes aimed at providing financial support to individuals, groups and cultural organizations engaged in performing, visual and literary arts etc.

Indian Heritage & Culture

Indian culture and heritage is a hot topic for UPSC Civil Services Prelims as well as Mains. Once you get a basic idea regarding what to study and what not to study in Indian culture, this topic would be very easy.

What does UPSC syllabus mention about Indian Culture?

Indian Culture based questions can be asked in Civil Services Exam – prelims and mains. Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

UPSC Syllabus Covers following parts of Indian Culture and Heritage

Indian Art – Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts

Art can be further classified into three –

1. Performing Arts
2. Visual Arts
3. Literary Arts

Performing Arts – Dance, Music, Theater and Puppets

1. Dances of India – Classical, Regional

Classical Dances –

1. Bharatnatyam
2. Kathakali
3. Kathak
4. Manipuri
5. Odissi
6. Kuchipudi
7. Sattriya

Also, learn the Regional Dances of India.

2. Music of India – Hindustani, Carnatic, and Regional Music

1. Hindustani Classical Music
2. Carnatic Classical Music
3. Regional Music

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

(i) The Tata Vadya or Chordophones – Stringed instruments
(ii) The Sushira Vadya or Aerophones – Wind instruments
(iii) The Avanaddha Vadya or Membranophones – Percussion instruments
(iv) The Ghana Vadya or Idiophones – Solid instruments which do not require tuning.

3. Theatre Forms of India

1. Traditional
2. Modern

Also, learn the Puppet Forms of India – String Puppets, Shadow Puppets, Rod Puppets and Glove Puppets.

Visual Arts – Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting

1. Indian Architecture

• Pre-historic
• Indus Civilization
• Buddhist Architecture
• Temple Architecture
• Indo-Islamic Architecture
• Modern Architecture

2. Indian Sculpture

• Pre-historic
• Indus Civilization
• Buddhist Sculpture
• Gupta Sculpture
• Medieval School of Sculpture
• Modern Indian Sculpture

3. Indian Painting

• Wall Paintings of India
• Miniature Painting
• Modern Indian Painting

Literary Arts

• Ancient Indian Literature
• The Purana
• Classical Sanskrit Literature
• Literature in Pali and Prakrit
• Early Dravidian Literature
• Medieval Literature
• Women Poets of Bhakti
• Other Trends in Medieval Literature
• Modern Indian Literature
• The Emergence of Nationalism
• The Literature of Nationalism, Reformism, and Revivalism
• Indian Romanticism
• The Advent of Mahatma Gandhi
• Progressive Literature
• Making of Modern Theatre
• Search for Modernity
• The Indian Literary Scene After Independence
• Dalit Literature
• Use of Mythology
• Contemporary Literature

This section offers comprehensive nios notes of Art and Culture which is useful for UPSC CSE and State PCS Exams as well as other Government Examination.

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