Studies in Indian painting have come a long way since 1916, and the term ‘Rajput Schools’ is now obsolete. Which specific categories are employed in its place?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Rajasthani and Pahari
Option (1) Rajasthani and Pahari — Correct. The obsolete term has given way to specific categories, such as Rajasthani and Pahari.
Option (2) Rajasthani and Malwa — Incorrect. Malwa is not one of the two categories now used. Along with the Pahari Schools, it was once placed in the ambit of Rajput Schools.
Option (3) Malwa and Deccani — Incorrect. Malwa is one of the kingdoms listed under the Rajasthani Schools, not one of the two categories now used. The Deccani School flourished in centres such as Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Hyderabad.
Option (4) Malwa and Pahari — Incorrect. Pahari is one of the two categories, but Malwa is not the other. Malwa is counted among the Rajasthani kingdoms.
Note: This topic was not named in the CUET 2026 syllabus, but it was part of the NCERT chapter. In 2025 and 2026, NTA also asked questions on topics in NCERT that the CUET syllabus did not name. So our mocks have questions from every part of the NCERT chapter, to give you enough practice. Read the whole chapter, not only the sub-topics named in the syllabus.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Rajasthani Schools of Painting …Scholar Anand Coomaraswamy in 1916 coined the term ‘Rajput Paintings’ to refer to these as most rulers and patrons of these kingdoms were Rajputs. …Therefore, Malwa, comprising princedoms of Central India, and the Pahari Schools that comprises the pahari or mountainous Himalayan region of north-western India was also in the ambit of Rajput Schools. …Studies in Indian paintings have come a long way since then and the term ‘Rajput Schools’ is obsolete. Instead, specific categories, such as Rajasthani and Pahari are employed.” |