UPSC PRELIMS 2023

History - Art & Culture + Ancient History + Medieval History

All Repeated Themes & Repeated Topics
(2013 - 2022)

Art & Culture

Repeated Themes Repeated Topics PYQs

Indian Architecture ● ROCK CUT

ARCHITECTURE - AJANTA
ELLORA (2013, 2014)

● ROCK CUT TEMPLES &

ARCHITECTURE - Ajanta
vs. Mahabalipuram

● Panchayatan style (2014)

● Mughal ARCHITECTURE -
Ibadat khana use (2014)

● BUDDHIST SHRINES &

Monasteries (2014)

● ROCK CUT TEMPLES +

ASHOKAN EDICTS (2015)

● Sun temples-Examples
(2017)

● Bodhisattva Painting -
Pdampani (2017) - Ajanta /
Ellora Caves

● TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
-Vijayanagara (2019)

● Chausath Yogini Temple

(2021)

● Caves & Rivers (2021)

● ASHOKAN EDICTS &
Location (2022)

● Somnath Temple (2022) -

Current Affairs
Indian Painting ● Paintings - (Murals) Ajanta
Caves , Sanchi Stupa &
Lepakshi Temple (2013)

● Kalamkari Painting (2015)

● Bani Thani (2018)

Philosophies ● Sankhya philosophy (2013)

● Six Philosophies (2014)

Indian Dance ● Tribhanga Dance Postures
(2013) (Associated with
Odissi Dance)

● Sattariya-Specifications
(2014)

● DANCES & Region (Garba,

Mohiniattam, Yakshagana)
(2014)

Martial Arts ● Kalaripayattu (2014)

Indian Music ● Sankirtana (2017)

● Music Scholar-Tyagaraja
(2018)

Festivals ● Traditions & COMMUNITIES

(2017, 2018)
Ancient History

Repeated Themes Repeated Questions PYQs

Buddhism & Jainism ● Chaitya vs Vihar

(2013)

● Concept of Nirvana
(2013)

● JAIN Doctrine (2012,

2013)

● Kingdoms
Associated with Life
of Buddha (2014,
2015)

● Decipher Edicts Of
Ashoka (2016)

● Concept of
Bodhisattva (2016)

● Sects of Jainism &

Buddhism (2017,
2018, 2020)

● Future Buddha
(2018)

● Ashoka Inscriptions
(2019 Q-8)

● Mahayana Buddhism
(2019)

● Ashoka - Inscriptions
(2020)

● Jain Texts (2022)

● Buddhism & Jainism

Scholars (2022)
Foreign Travellers ● Hiuen Tsang (2013)

IVC ● Characteristic -
Horse Chariot ,
Deities, Temples
(2013)

● Rig Vedic Culture vs

IVC (2017)

● Sites (2019 Q - 7 ,
2021)
Vedic Age Satyamev Jayate -
Upanishad (2014)

Ancient India Dynasty ● Vijaynagar Empire

Taxation (2016)
(Regional Powers)
● Women In
Vijaynagar Empire
Expert in 2021)

● Rulers & Associated

Scholars (2020)

● Chronology of
Regional Powers
(2020, 2021)

● Kautilya's
Arthashastra - Slave
(2022)
 ● King and their
Dynasty (2022)

Keywords ● Eripatti,Taniyurs,
Ghtikas (2016)
(Important - Gupta Period) ● Araghatta (2016)
● Vishti (2019)
● Hundi (2020)
● Kulyavapa &
Dronvapa (2020)
● Paramitas (2020)
● Ghantasala, Kadura,
Chaul (2020)
Miscellaneous ● Mitakshara &
Dayabhaga (2021)
(Sangam Age , Bhakti
Movement )
● Bhavabhuti ,
Hastimalla etc
(2021)

● Sangam Literature
(2022)

● Ramanuja (2022)
Medieval History

Repeated Themes Repeated Topics PYQs

Mughal Period ● Bhakti Saints During

Babur Reign (2013)

● Arrival Of Babur
(2015)

● Jagirdar vs.
Zamindars (2019)

● Akbar Navratan -
Tansen (2019)
●
● Mughal Paintings -
Individual Portrait
(2019)
●
● Pargana-Sarkar-Sub
a (2021)

● Literature Translation
- Yogavasistha

Delhi Sultanate ● Terms related to

Delhi Sultanate -
Amil, Mir Bakshi, Iqta
System (2019)
●
● Iltutmish, Tughlaq
Reign (2021) -
Foreign Visit
●
● Foreign Invasion
(2022)
Keywords ● Mahattara &
Pattakila (2014)

● Banjaras (2016)

● Aurang, Banian,
Mirasidar (2020)

● Fanam (2022)

● Kulah-Daran (2022)

Miscellaneous ● Medieval Indian

State and Present
Day region (2015)

● Element of Feudal
System (2015)

● Seaport Of Kakatiya
Kingdom