Indian Culture

What the official syllabus says

HCS Preliminary Examination, Paper I: General Studies:

Indian Culture, Indian Polity and Indian Economy.

Topics in detail

The Prelims syllabus names Indian Culture without a scope note. The areas below are the standard parts of the subject: art forms, architecture, literature, religion and philosophy, and the performing arts, each from ancient to modern times.

Architecture

• Harappan town planning; Mauryan pillars and stupas; rock-cut caves (Barabar, Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Karle)
• Buddhist architecture: stupa, chaitya and vihara (Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati)
• Temple architecture: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara styles; examples (Khajuraho, Konark, Brihadeeswara at Thanjavur, Pattadakal, Mahabalipuram)
• Indo-Islamic architecture: Sultanate (Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza) and Mughal (Humayun's Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Red Fort)
• Colonial architecture and modern architecture (New Delhi, Chandigarh)
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

Sculpture and painting

• Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati schools of sculpture; Gupta sculpture; Chola bronzes
• Mural painting: Ajanta, Bagh, Sittanavasal
• Miniature painting: Mughal, Rajasthani (Mewar, Kishangarh, Bundi), Pahari (Basohli, Kangra) and Deccani schools
• Folk painting: Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Phad, Gond
• Modern painting: Raja Ravi Varma, the Bengal School (Abanindranath Tagore), Amrita Sher-Gil

Performing arts

• Classical music: Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, gharanas, ragas in outline, important instruments
• Classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya; their states and features
• Folk dances and folk theatre of different states (Yakshagana, Tamasha, Nautanki, Jatra, Bhavai, Swang)
• Puppetry traditions

Literature and languages

• Vedic and Sanskrit literature: the Vedas, Upanishads, epics, Puranas; Kalidasa and classical Sanskrit works
• Buddhist and Jain literature in Pali and Prakrit
• Sangam literature in Tamil
• Medieval literature: Persian works, Bhakti poetry in regional languages
• Modern Indian literature in outline; languages in the Eighth Schedule and classical languages

Religion and philosophy

• The six schools of Indian philosophy (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta) and the heterodox schools (Charvaka, Buddhism, Jainism)
• Bhakti and Sufi traditions; Sikhism
• Major religious places and pilgrimages

Science and learning in ancient India

• Mathematics and astronomy: Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara; the decimal system and zero
• Medicine: Charaka and Sushruta, Ayurveda; metallurgy (the Iron Pillar at Delhi)
• Centres of learning: Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi

Festivals, crafts and cultural institutions

• Major festivals and fairs (Kumbh Mela and others) and their regions
• Handicrafts, handlooms and Geographical Indication tags in outline
• Cultural bodies: Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Archaeological Survey of India
• UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as it applies to India

Overlaps

• "Salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times" are the first line of Mains General Studies I.
• Haryana's folk culture, crafts and monuments are on Haryana: Society, Culture and Language.