GS Paper I · Art & Culture
Painting & Crafts Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper I)
From the syllabus: Indian culture: salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
Why it matters: Examiners evaluate knowledge of traditional art techniques and heritage crafts, focusing on stylistic distinctions, geographical origin, and contemporary efforts to preserve them.
In the news
July 2026
16 Jul 2026
Inclusion of Screwpine Art Song in Kerala CurriculumIn a bid to preserve the dying traditional craft of screwpine weaving, the Kerala state education department has integrated 'Thazhappattu' (a folk song dedicated to the craft) into the school curriculum. Screwpine art, once a thriving...
08 Jul 2026
Ancient Thai Gold Ring Reveals Early Trade Connections with IndiaArchaeologists in Thailand have discovered a 2,000-year-old gold ring featuring ancient engravings that trace back to Indian cultural influence. The discovery reinforces theories regarding active maritime trade networks and cultural...
Practise Painting & Crafts
5 of our latest questions on this topic.
Question 1 of 5
Screwpine art, a traditional craft of making sustainable green mats (thazhappas), was historically a thriving cottage industry in which specific locality of Kerala?
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.