2012 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 24: History and Culture
The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the
athree main racial groups of the Indian subcontinent
bthree main linguistic divisions into which the languages of India can be classified
cthree main styles of Indian temple architecture
dthree main musical Gharanas prevalent in India
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Nagara, Dravida and Vesara are the three main styles of Indian temple architecture. Nagara is the northern style, with a curvilinear tower (shikhara); Dravida is the southern style, with a pyramidal vimana and gateways (gopurams); Vesara is the hybrid style of the Deccan, mixing features of the two. They are not racial, linguistic or musical categories.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: these are not racial groups.
- (b) Wrong: these are not language divisions; Indian languages fall into families such as Indo-Aryan and Dravidian.
- (c) Correct: they are the three main styles of temple architecture.
- (d) Wrong: music gharanas are different, such as Gwalior or Agra.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.