Indian Culture · UPPCS (Uttar Pradesh)

What the official syllabus says

UPPCS Preliminary Examination, Paper I: General Studies-I:

Indian Polity and governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues etc.
Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.: In Indian Polity, Economic and Culture, questions will test knowledge of country's political system including Panchayati Raj and Community Development, broad features of Economic policy in India and Indian Culture.
Note: Candidates are expected to have general awareness about the above subjects with special reference to Uttar Pradesh.

The official explanation of the polity line says the questions will also test knowledge of Indian Culture. This page covers that part.

Topics in detail

Architecture

Harappan town planning; Mauryan pillars and stupas; the stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut; the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath (Gupta period)
Rock-cut architecture: Barabar caves, Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Mahabalipuram
Temple architecture: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara styles; Gupta temples (Deogarh); Khajuraho, Konark, Brihadeshwara
Indo-Islamic architecture: Sultanate monuments, provincial styles (Jaunpur), Mughal buildings (Humayun's Tomb, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal)
Awadh architecture: the Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza of Lucknow; colonial and Indo-Saracenic buildings

Sculpture and painting

Schools of sculpture: Gandhara, Mathura, Amaravati, Gupta (Sarnath)
Mural painting: Ajanta, Bagh; miniature painting: Pala, Mughal, Rajput (Rajasthani), Pahari, Deccani
Folk and tribal painting: Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond, Phad; Sanjhi of Mathura

Performing arts

Classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya; Kathak's Lucknow and Banaras gharanas
Hindustani and Carnatic music: forms (dhrupad, khayal, thumri, dadra, kriti), gharanas, instruments and their exponents
Folk dances and theatre of the states; Ramlila and Raslila; Nautanki
Puppetry forms; musical instruments by type (string, wind, percussion, solid)
Martial arts of India in outline

Literature, religion and philosophy

Sanskrit literature: Vedas, epics, Puranas, classical drama and poetry
Pali, Prakrit and Tamil Sangam literature; medieval Hindi (Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas, Jayasi), Urdu and Persian literature
Six schools of Indian philosophy; Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism; Bhakti and Sufi traditions
Festivals, fairs and pilgrimages: the Kumbh Mela (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik); Char Dham and Jyotirlingas (Kashi Vishwanath at Varanasi)
Indian calendars and eras (Vikram Samvat, Saka era); the national calendar

Heritage and institutions

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (in Uttar Pradesh: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri)
Intangible cultural heritage of India on the UNESCO list (for example Vedic chanting, Ramlila, Kumbh Mela, Yoga)
Geographical Indication (GI) tags for crafts and products
Archaeological Survey of India; Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi; national awards for culture

Overlaps

The culture of the state is on Uttar Pradesh: History and Culture; art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times are in Mains General Studies I.