Indian Art and Culture-Nitin Singhania For Civil Services UPSC Book McGrawHill

Indian Art and Culture-Nitin Singhania For Civil Services UPSC Book McGrawHill

PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION

I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my readers for their constructive feedback and continued tret in the previous editions of this book. It is their encouragement that has inspired nw to present this Sixth Edition of Courseware on Indian Art & Culture, enriched with new concepts, facts, and pedagogical tools to offer an integrated and engaging learning experience

Given the vastness of India’s cultural diversity, selecting what to include or omit has always been a thoughtful challenge. Yet, 1 have endeavoured to make this edition a comprehensive one-stop solution for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination and other competitive exams. This edition combines the scholarly depth of earlier versions with updated, exam-focused content aligned to the latest UPSC requirements.

The Courseware now comprises 31 chapters across five sections, carefully designed to provide extensive coverage of India’s art, architecture, literature, music, science and technology, and cultural heritage. It includes more than 13 years of PYQs (of Civil Services, CAPF, CDS and NDA entrance examinations conducted by UPSC) up to 2025, supported by a detachable glossary chart for quick revision.

Enhanced with rich visuals, infographics, maps, flowcharts, and diagrams, it integrates learning features like Exam Exvential, Did You Know, Culture Capsule, Heritage Recall, Video besights, and Beyond the Book ensuring both clarity and engagement.

This edition further includes 50+ author-curated conceptual videos, 400+ PYQs (Including 2025), 500+ CBT-based practice questions, Annual current affairs, and a full-colour eBook for seamless access making it the most exhaustive and reliable edition yet. A revised detachable glossary has also been added to aid holistic and quick revision.

As a part of acknowledgment, I express my heartfelt gratitude to scholars, researchers, and various Government and online sources whose works enriched my understanding. My experiences while serving with the Government of West Bengal and the Government of India have also been instrumental in shaping the content of this work.

My deepest respect goes to my parents for their constant inspiration. I am no one without them. I also owe special thanks to my wife Sudipta Singhania, for her contribution in content development, editing, and research, and to my siblings Nancy, Noyal, and my sons Namit and Namay for their patience, love, and support.

I gratefully acknowledge the encouragement of Shri R.S. Agrawal Sir, Vajiram & Ravi Institute, ALS Institute, and Vision LAS, and extend my thanks to Shri Sushil Kumar, Ms Athira, Ms Gayathri. Shri Murari Poddar, Ms. Isita, Shri Arka Adhikari, Shri Chandan Jha, and several others for their assistance and insights.

My sincere appreciation also goes to Shri Lalit Singh, Janab Tanweer Ahmad, Shri Nikhil Wadhera, Smt. Anjali Nair, Shri Rahul Banerjee, Smt. Somya Sweta, and the entire McGraw Hill Education India team for their invaluable support in bringing this edition to life.

I sincerely hope that readers will find this sixth edition much more valuable and engaging. I welcome their kind suggestions and feedback through email to make future editions even more meaningful.

With sincere regards and prayers for the well-being of all readers. November 2025

Profound Regards,

NITIN SINGHANIA

nitinsinghania.ca@gmail.com

Available at Ksagar Book Centre

www. ksagaronline.com or call on 9545567862 / 02024453065