UPSC Mains 2016 GS Paper 1 Q2: model answer
Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
What the question wants
Show Krishnadeva Raya both as a scholar-author and as a patron of learning and literature.
How to structure it
Discuss both halves: his own scholarship and his patronage.
- As a scholar
- Patron of Telugu literature
- Other languages
- Wider cultural patronage
How to think it through
The man ruled an empire, fought the Gajapatis and Bijapur, and still found time to write a long poem. Most of us cannot finish one answer in seven minutes. Keep two baskets: what he wrote (Amuktamalyada) and whom he supported (the Ashtadiggajas). Temple building is the bonus.
Model answer
Domingo Paes, the Portuguese visitor, wrote that Krishnadeva Raya was 'the most feared and perfect king that could possibly be'. The ruler he saw (r. 1509–1529) took Vijayanagara to its zenith with both sword and pen.
An accomplished scholar
- Author of Amuktamalyada in Telugu, on the Tamil saint Andal, which also contains advice on statecraft.
- Credited with Sanskrit works such as Jambavati Kalyanam.
Patron of learning
- His court hosted the Ashtadiggajas, eight great Telugu poets, including Allasani Peddana, author of Manucharitram.
- Titled Andhra Bhoja; Telugu prabandha literature had its golden age.
- Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit scholars also received support.
Wider culture
- Temple building at Hampi: additions to the Vitthala and Virupaksha temples, the Krishna temple, raya gopurams.
- The Portuguese visitor Domingo Paes praised his court and capital.
Statecraft
- Amuktamalyada advises kings to keep forts strong, develop ports and treat foreign traders well.
- He defeated the Gajapatis of Odisha and the Bijapur Sultan, recovering the Raichur doab in 1520 after a famous battle.
Assessment
- His scholarship was real, but patronage also served politics: it built loyalty among Telugu, Kannada and Tamil elites across a diverse and multilingual empire.
Krishnadeva Raya combined the sword with the pen. His reign shows how royal patronage could make an empire a centre of South Indian culture.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Amuktamalyada, Ashtadiggajas, Allasani Peddana, Andhra Bhoja, Domingo Paes.
Where most answers lose marks
- Writing only about his wars and administration.
Related Mains PYQs
- How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days? UPSC 2022 · GS-I
- Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture. UPSC 2022 · GS-I
- Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art, and architecture. UPSC 2022 · GS-I
- Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. UPSC 2021 · GS-I
Fresh examples from current affairs
Sirpur in Chhattisgarh enters UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites
Sirpur, an archaeological site in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district with Hindu, Buddhist and Jain remains from the 5th to the 12th century CE, has been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List. The ASI now has about a year to prepare a nomination dossier proving its Outstanding Universal Value. Sirpur was once the capital of Dakshina Kosala.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Sirpur location, Lakshmana Temple, dynasties, UNESCO process. · Mains GS-I: heritage conservation and composite culture.
20 Oct 2026
PM inaugurates five Ladakh projects: Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, Leh terminal, Hanu hydro
On 15 October 2026 the Prime Minister inaugurated, by video conference, five projects worth about ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh: a new passenger terminal at Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, the 298-km Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road built by BRO, the 9 MW Hanu small hydro project with a 66 kV line, India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat, and 40 water bodies under Project Him Sarovar.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Shinkun La, Zanskar, Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, BRO, petroglyphs, Him Sarovar. · Mains GS-III: border infrastructure and security; GS-I: heritage conservation.
15 Oct 2026
HAL, NCF and ASI sign MoA for Hampi, Taj Mahal and Bekal Fort
On 13 October 2026 HAL, the National Culture Fund and ASI signed an MoA for conservation and visitor works at Hampi, the Taj Mahal and Bekal Fort. HAL has approved about ₹23.60 crore in CSR support over three years; NCF facilitates the projects and ASI supervises them technically.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASI, NCF, Hampi (UNESCO), Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort. · Mains GS-I: heritage conservation and corporate CSR.
14 Oct 2026
Centres of Excellence approved for five newer classical languages
On 3 October 2026 the Ministry of Education approved five Centres of Excellence for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit, hosted by Tezpur University, Visva-Bharati, Deccan College Pune, Central University of Odisha and Central University of Gujarat. These five got classical status in October 2024, taking India's total to 11 classical languages.
UPSC angle: Prelims: match language with CoE institution; list of classical languages.
3 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
Want every PYQ in one place? See the Battle IAS PYQ Book.