Architecture (Art & Culture).
Syllabus: UPSC Mains GS1: Indian culture - art forms, literature, architecture
Temple architecture for UPSC: garbhagriha to shikhara, Nagara sub-styles, Dravida vimana and gopuram, Vesara of the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, examples and PYQs.
Vijayanagara Empire for UPSC: four dynasties, Krishnadevaraya, nayankara and ayagar systems, foreign travellers, Hampi architecture, Talikota and real PYQs.
Somnath, at Prabhas Patan on Gujarat's Saurashtra coast, is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. On 11 May 2026 it marked 75 years since the rebuilt temple was consecrated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv also marks 1,000 years since the first recorded attack in January 1026.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Somnath history.
8 May 2026
Protecting monuments often clashes with building around them, and ASI sits in the middle.
UPSC angle: Prelims: AMASR zones.
18 Apr 2026