💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship - June Batch Starts

Q. 1) Paintings in India has been an ever evolving art form depicting not just political scenario of India but also reflecting socio-cultural life of the period. Comment. (10 Marks)

 

“Mentor’s Comment”

In introduction talk about the evolution of paintings by giving Examples from Ancient to Modern age like Ajanta and Bagh Caves paintings, Mughal and Rajput paintings and Modern paintings like Bengal School of art

In body- divide your answer in two parts
Political scenario:- Idea about political situation we get from paintings putting special focus medieval and modern times

Socio-cultural life:- in this section talk about scenes of daily lives from ajanta, religious Outlook like radha krishna themes, rising nationalism depicted by BharatMata of Abanindranath Tagore etc

Conclude your answer with remarks in favour of the statement given in the question

 

 

Comments

85 responses to “Q. 1) Paintings in India has been an ever evolving art form depicting not just political scenario of India but also reflecting socio-cultural life of the period. Comment. (10 Marks)”

  1. AABHA RANI Avatar
    AABHA RANI

    Please review my answer

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      AABHA,
      pls upload your answer again as these pics are not clear.
      tag me once you upload it again.

  2. Naresh Venkat Saragadam Avatar
    Naresh Venkat Saragadam

    REF ID: #0000422921
    Please review

    1. Vishal Nagle Avatar
      Vishal Nagle

      Not able to attach file, please help

    2. Naresh Venkat Saragadam Avatar
      Naresh Venkat Saragadam

      just check the lower right corner of the comment box, you can see a paper clip symbol, click on it and upload your file.

    3. Snehal Thakre Avatar
      Snehal Thakre

      No symbol can be seen

    4. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
      Devashish Jhawar

      Refresh the page and check.

    5. Deepanshu Singh Avatar
      Deepanshu Singh

      Neither am I

    6. Akshay Sharma Avatar
      Akshay Sharma

      Same here. Can anyone help.

    7. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
      Devashish Jhawar

      please check now.

    8. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Going by your answer it seems you have
      good knowledge of the topic, yet you are not able to justified the demand of the question.
      your introduction is good but try to make it short
      you need to work upon your structure
      Rather than dividing periodically divide your body into two part Political and socio-cultural sections this will bring more clarity to your arguments.
      conclusion is good.

      overall it was a fine attempt but there is a lot of scope for improvement, keep writing. Best wishes

  3. subhashree mallick Avatar
    subhashree mallick

    paymnt id-HH1EGxOD3EGEhl

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      your Introduction is good but you can make it short.
      But it seems you failed to understand the demand of the question, pls read question carefully.

      Question is not about paintings only so rather than talkin about specific examples and what they represent you should have talked about political scenario and social-cultural life separately and than using examples to justify your arguments.
      pls go thorough the Mentor’s comments

      You have a good way of expression but please be more careful to understand the demand of the question.

      keep writing we’ll improve together, Best wishes

  4. Tanushree Choudhary Avatar
    Tanushree Choudhary

    #416440

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      4.5/10
      Your Intro is good (but Conclusion, as into, expressing SAME idea, that is importance of paintings, you can be more specific in your concluding remarks.

      Main body of the answer is good specially political scenario, yet still you can refine your sub headings (religious outlook of state, External influence and add more important subheadings like Rise of regional kingdoms ( idea we get from Rajput and Pahari paintings), foreign relations ( Mughal’s with Persian sultans) etc
      you can divide Socio-cultural section also in subheadings.

      overall good attempt, Keep writing 🙂

  5. Vishnu Agrawal Avatar
    Vishnu Agrawal

    Order id: 0000422561

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      2/10

      Your introduction is fine but still can be refined.

      In your main body section you talked primarily talked about “What is there in various paintings” rather you had to talk about what ideas we can deduct from paintings.
      you totally missed the political and socio-cultural aspect except when you talked about freedom movement.

      You need to improve your structure, try to write in short paragraphs, used headings and subheadings.
      So please read the question properly, and you can also take help from Mentor’s comments.

      You have potential just keep writing dedicatedly, we’ll improve together 🙂

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Also pls avoid committing factual mistakes in the answer.
      Humayun brought Persian painters, Jahangir was the painter.

  6. Kartikey Singh Avatar
    Kartikey Singh

    Payment Id – pay_HHogiMPYpQ87sC
    Please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Kartikey,
      Your introduction is good,
      Socio-cultural section is very generic try to be more specific.
      you can give better headings than substantiate with Examples like Dominance of religious themes, patronage to art by rulers rising nationalism, scenes of Bazars, conditions of women (paintings of Raja Ravi Verma) etc
      Your political section is good here you can add more points like Rise of regional kingdom, religious outlook of the state etc.
      Conclusion is missing, always conclude your answer

  7. Santosh kharat Avatar
    Santosh kharat

    Payment I’d 115009045817

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Santosh,
      you have written a very generic answer.
      structure of the answer is fine but you need to be more specific in every section of the question.
      Give arguments separately than substantiate with examples.
      Like Political Scenario can we discussed in subheadings like: rise of regional power center as depicted from Rajput and Pahari paintings, Idea of kingship- king being divine, halo around the paintings of Mughal rulers etc
      same breaking into subheadings can be done socio-cultural sections.

      You’re going good. Keep writing 🙂

  8. Sakshi Jain Avatar
    Sakshi Jain

    ID – 0000416382

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sakshi
      You have written a good answer.
      your structure of the answer is also good just try to be more neat.
      but rather writing painting first try to write your arguments and than mention paintings as examples.
      you can also add subheadings like religious outlook of the state ( use of Hindu religious symbol in paintings During Akbar’s rule- Secular outlook, ban on depiction of livings by Aurangzeb- orthodox outlook), State patronage, Idea of Kingship etc.
      you can be more specific in Socio-cultural section: idea about quality of life, scenes of bazar, condition of women etc.
      conclusion was fine until you stretched it to make the same point that you made in intro.

      Keep writing 🙂
      4.5/10

    2. Sakshi Jain Avatar
      Sakshi Jain

      Thanks Sir!

  9. Akshay Sharma Avatar
    Akshay Sharma

    Not able to attach files in comments
    @Swatantra sir..

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sorry for the delayed response, pls try to use different browser you are currently using.
      still problem persists do let me know.

  10. Snehal Thakre Avatar
    Snehal Thakre

    Sir unable to attach files in comment section. Please Help @Swatantra sir

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sorry for the delayed response, pls try to use different browser you are currently using.
      still problem persists do let me know.

  11. Arpit Singh Avatar
    Arpit Singh

    Payment id HHU8LODcXby9Db

    1. Snehal Thakre Avatar
      Snehal Thakre

      Can you help bcz there I can’t see any attachment symbol

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Arpit,
      your introduction and conclusion is good.way of expression is also good.
      but pls read question carefully and try to understand the demand of the question you missed a whole section (Political scenario).
      also the core demand of the question is not what in the paintings but what idea we deduct from the paintings so these ideas must be your subheadings than use name or type of paintings t0 support your arguments.

      keep writing, we’ll improve it together 🙂

  12. Utkarsha Yadav Avatar
    Utkarsha Yadav

    Please review
    Reference ID/ order ID #0000422550

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Utkarsha,
      please try to read the question properly. these are practice questions so take your time and do multiple reading if necessary.
      you have knowledge about the paintings and what they contains as you have written only about that in the first page, but that is not asked in the question. (take the help of mentor’s comment)

      Second part of the answer should be your main body of the answer and you should have used examples to expand this part.

      However don’t get dishearten it’s just Day one we have a long way to go. keep writing and reading other good answers.
      we’ll improve 🙂

    2. Utkarsha Yadav Avatar
      Utkarsha Yadav

      Thank you Sir, will surely work upon it.

  13. Deepali Rajan Avatar
    Deepali Rajan

    please review
    ref id: 0000420326

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Deepali,
      first of all be mindful of the fact that you’ll get two pages to write a 10 marker question so pls write answer in that space.
      Introduction must be related to the question so try to write introduction as close as possible to the question.
      Write ans into small paragraphs it will enhance visibility of your answer.

      In main body part try to address both part Political and Socio-cultural separately.
      you have enough factual knowledge about the paintings use it justify your arguemts.
      pls go through some good answers written by fellow aspirants and read Mentor’s comments.

      Keep writing, I’m sure you’ll improve 🙂

    2. Deepali Rajan Avatar
      Deepali Rajan

      Thank you sir!

  14. Siddharth Kaushal Avatar
    Siddharth Kaushal

    Plz review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Siddarth,
      pls read question carefully, you committed the same mistake as done by other also.
      you missed a whole part i.e. political scenario.
      also question is not about the aesthetics and content of the paintings rather what idea of history we get from them.

      pls go through mentor’s comments and read good ans above.

      keep writing 🙂

  15. Siddharth Kaushal Avatar
    Siddharth Kaushal

    Sir plz review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      upload it on paper 4 question page.

  16. Rupesh Kumar Pandey Avatar
    Rupesh Kumar Pandey

    REF ID #0000416426
    Please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Rupesh,
      your introduction is good but it’s very long, shorten it. also We do not have any evidence of Murals from Mauryan (Ashoka) age so try to avoid such factual error especially in the introduction. Avoid drawing such rough sketches it doesn’t look good also out of demand of the question.

      You have made some good point in body part like evidence of migration of artist, this can also be cited as an evidence of rise of regional power centers. add more points to it like royal patronage, nature of state’s religious policy (secularism under akbar, orthodox outlook of Aurangzeb) etc.

      But try to maintain periodical hierarchy (you have written Mughal before Palas)

      In socio-culture part also you made few good points (situation of women) but try to add more points in this section also.

      Your conclusion is very good.

      structure of the ans can be improved like use of subheadings.

      read other’s answer as well.
      over all fine attempt, keep writing 🙂

  17. Mradul sharma Avatar
    Mradul sharma

    Payment id

  18. yash lahane Avatar
    yash lahane

    Please review
    #0000422529

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Yash,
      your introduction and conclusion is fine.
      structure of the answer is also good.

      but content of the answer is rather generic, for getting good marks in paper 1 you have to be more specific. pls try to do that.
      subheadings and content needs to be exchanged with each other, as question demands you to write about the idea of political and socio-cultural history that get from the paintings. so use name of the paintings to substantiate your ideas rather using them as headings.

      read above answer for good points to add in your answer,

      It’s just a start, we’ll improve together, keep writing 🙂

    2. yash lahane Avatar
      yash lahane

      thank you sir, will try to improve

  19. Mradul sharma Avatar
    Mradul sharma

    payment id: pay_HHTYIOTaIPFYOK . unable to attach files @swatantra sir.

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sorry for the delayed response, pls try to use different browser you are currently using.
      still problem persists do let me know.

  20. vamsidhar namburi Avatar
    vamsidhar namburi

    ID- 0000422551
    sir, unable to attach the file ( no attachment option can be seen)

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sorry for the delayed response.
      Icon must be seen in bottom right corner below the comment box, if still can’t locate it pls try to use different browser you are currently using.
      still problem persists do let me know.

    2. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
      Devashish Jhawar

      Check now

  21. Anupam Singh Avatar
    Anupam Singh

    There is no clip icon to attach files
    I tried 2 browser but problem persists
    Please help @Swatantra Sir

    1. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
      Devashish Jhawar

      @anupamsingh refresh the page and check.

  22. Anupam Singh Avatar
    Anupam Singh

    Ref# 0000422544

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Anupam
      your introduction and conclusion is really good.

      Be mindful of the fact that you’ll get two pages for a 10 marker que so use proper space from now on, it’ll help you in space management in Mains Exam.

      Your factual knowledge is fine but it doesn’t fulfill the demand of the question.
      question is not just about the paintings in various eras but also about ideas of those eras we get from the paintings.
      you need to write about the political scenario and socio-cultural life as depicted by paintings separately, so you must had divide your answer in those two sections.

      Go through the mentor’s comments for help and read fellow aspirants answer, it’ll help you in improving fast.
      Best wishes, Keep writing 🙂

  23. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
    Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

    Reference no 0000420120
    Kindly review

  24. Vishal Nagle Avatar
    Vishal Nagle

    Ref id 422329
    @SWATANTRA sir, there was some technical issue in my this account , so please review my answer

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vishal,
      it seems you fail to understand the demand of the question.
      you have written only “what is in the paintings” but the demand of the question is to write what idea of history you get from the paintings vis-a-vis political scenario and socio-cultural life.

      but its fine this is the mistake committed by many aspirants.
      in your body part you should have divide your answer into two sections political and socio-cultural than write ideas of history using various examples (you have enough knowledge just need to analyse a bit more)
      Also There is scope of improvement in conclusion and intro.

      I appreciate your efforts, don’t worry just keep writing we’ll improve with time 🙂

  25. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
    Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

    Review my answer
    Ref no 0000420120

    1. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
      Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

      @SWATANTRA SIR.KINDLY REVIEW

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Rajlaxmi,
      timeline to review an answer is 72 hours but we try to do it as soon as possible, so pls avoid multiple posts, your answer will get reviewed with single post as well so don’t worry.

      Now coming to your answer,
      firstly, pls try to write your ans on a A4 size sheet so to get real UPSC space experience.

      your introduction and conclusion are really good.

      But you need to organize main body section of your answer.
      Medieval age starts in India after reign of Harsha (7th-8th Cen. AD) so Ajnata. ellora bagh paintings comes essentially in Ancient age ( try to avoid such factual errors).

      your ans is full of factual information so knowledge is not an issue for you but rather then just mentioning points under political or socio-cultural aspects try to deduct idea of history from paintings. For example paintings like Ajanta Bagh shows royal patronage,
      Rajput paintings gives idea about rising regional power centers etc.

      Same deduction of historical ideas from paintings can be applied in Socio-cultural section.

      Go through others’ answers as well also read mentor’s comments it’ll help in improving your understanding.

      Keep writing 🙂

    3. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
      Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

      Thank you Sir.

  26. Mradul sharma Avatar
    Mradul sharma

    thank you for your response @swatantra sir, please consider my yesterday’s answer.
    ref id- #0000422539

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Mradul,
      Your introduction is Good. but you have given too much space to evolution aspect, which is not the core part of the question so give less space to fringe part and focus more on core demand of the question.
      structure of the ans is fine.
      No need to explain figure which is self-explanatory, just label it (fig: label)
      good points written in Political scenario and socio-cultural section just add more points like Rise of regional power centers, Religious outlook of the state etc.

      Overall very good attempt. Keep writing 🙂

    2. Mradul sharma Avatar
      Mradul sharma

      thank you sir 🙂 will improve.

  27. Shikhar Lohia Avatar
    Shikhar Lohia

    Payment ID – pay_HHRDszyfOKKRDw

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Shikhar,
      your Introduction and conclusion are really very good.

      Try to cover all the possible aspects of the question, you missed political scenario (read question carefully).
      You have covered socio-cultural aspect very well but you should have made various ideas of social and cultural life your heading than substantiating your arguments with examples of paintings you have given.
      read fellow aspirants answers it’ll give you more points.

      keep writing 🙂

  28. Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi. Avatar
    Fun Learning with Rajlaxmi.

    Kindly review
    Ref no# 0000420120

  29. Deepanshu Singh Avatar
    Deepanshu Singh

    Razorpayment ID: pay_HH1ukgfngo01Dy
    @Swatantra Please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Deepanshu,
      your introduction is fine.
      But you failed to understand the demand of the question.
      Question doesn’t ask you to write about various paintings in India rather it is asking to write about the historical idea that we get from paintings in Political and socio-cultural life of india.

      Give more focus on analysis part and use your factual knowledge to prove your points.

      Read Mentor’s Comments and answers of fellow aspirants it’ll help you in improvement.

      Keep Writing 🙂

  30. Rohan Sinha Avatar
    Rohan Sinha

    @swatantra not able to see the clip symbol… refreshed twice, checked with different browser also

    1. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
      Devashish Jhawar

      @Rohan refresh the page and check.

  31. Rohan Sinha Avatar
    Rohan Sinha

    order ID #0000420396
    clip symbol is not visible, tried refreshing and other browsers also. Please look into it.

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      I asked the technical team to look into it. they will get back to you soon.

  32. Akshay Sharma Avatar
    Akshay Sharma

    Payment ID : #0000416290

    Please review my answer

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Akash
      You have written a very long introduction, try to shorten it, always write smaller paragraphs.
      Be mindful of the fact that you’ll get two pages for a 10 marker que so use proper space from now on, it’ll help you in space management in Mains Exam.

      Try to divide main body of the answer in headings (political scenario and Socio-cultural life) so to enhance the visibility of your answer.

      you have enough factual knowledge just try to give analysis of historical ideas that we get from these paintings under headings rather than just writing what paintings contains.

      read other aspirants answers it’ll help you to improve.

      Keep Writing 🙂

  33. AABHA RANI Avatar
    AABHA RANI

    @ SWATANTRA sir please review my answer
    Razor payment id:- HHOoNABVzCCLcD

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Aabha,
      Your introduction and conclusion are fine.
      you also covered all the aspects of the questions but arguments are very limited. Write in smaller paragraphs also try to divide your answer into headings and sub headings it’ll improve visibility of the answer also will help you multiple arguments.
      Give examples with each arguments.
      It seems you have good knowledge of the topic just need to work upon your arguments.

      you’ll improve just Keep writing:)

  34. vamsidhar namburi Avatar
    vamsidhar namburi

    #0000422551
    Please review @Swatantra sir

  35. Devashish Jhawar Avatar
    Devashish Jhawar

    @avishkaranand01 check now

  36. shivanshu pandey Avatar
    shivanshu pandey

    pay_HH4AoVE2qPd386 please review @swatantra

  37. Prashant Chaudhary Avatar
    Prashant Chaudhary

    Please review@Swatantra sir
    Payment id #0000430297

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