UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 54: History and Culture

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

aLingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar

bRock-cut Elephant at Dhauli

cRock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram

dVaraha Image at Udayagiri

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The rock-cut elephant at Dhauli, in Odisha, dates from the time of Ashoka in the third century BCE, near his rock edicts, and is the earliest of the four. The Varaha image at Udayagiri is Gupta, around the fifth century CE. The rock-cut monuments at Mahabalipuram are Pallava work of the seventh century CE. The Lingaraja Temple was built in the eleventh century.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) The Lingaraja Temple is the latest of the four, built around the eleventh century CE.
(b) Correct: the Dhauli elephant dates from the Mauryan period, the third century BCE.
(c) Mahabalipuram's rock-cut monuments are Pallava, around the seventh century CE.
(d) The Udayagiri Varaha image is Gupta, around the fifth century CE.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.