UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I
Question 44: History and Culture
With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :
- 1.Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
- 2.Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
- 3.Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
- 4.Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Tyagaraja (1767-1847), one of the Carnatic music trinity, composed mostly in praise of Rama, not Krishna, and also created several new ragas. Annamacharya lived in the 15th century, about three centuries earlier, so the two were not contemporaries. Annamacharya's kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati. So only statements 2 and 4 are correct.
- 1. Most of Tyagaraja's kritis praise Lord Rama.
- 2. He created several new ragas.
- 3. Annamacharya lived in the 15th century, Tyagaraja in 1767-1847.
- 4. Annamacharya's kirtanas praise Lord Venkateshwara.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Annamacharya lived in the 15th century, Tyagaraja in 1767-1847.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 4.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: the kritis mainly praise Rama, and the two composers lived in different centuries.
- (b) Right: statements 2 and 4.
- (c) Wrong: statements 1 and 3 are false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.