UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I
Question 1: History and Culture
Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
Dheera Shankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta, uses the same seven notes as the Hindustani Bilawal thaat: all shuddha swaras, the equivalent of the Western major scale. For revision, pair thaats with melakartas: Bilawal with Sankarabharanam, Asavari with Natabhairavi, Bhairavi with Hanumatodi, Poorvi with Kamavardhini. Option (d) is the full name of the raga usually shortened to Sankarabharanam.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: Natabhairavi has a flat Ga, Dha and Ni, matching the Hindustani Asavari thaat, not Bilawal.
- (b) Wrong: Kamavardhini has a flat Re, sharp Ma and flat Dha, matching the Poorvi thaat.
- (c) Wrong: Hanumatodi has flat Re, Ga, Dha and Ni, matching the Bhairavi thaat.
- (d) Right: all shuddha swaras, the same scale as Bilawal.
Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.