Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?
- (a) Nat Bhairavi
- (b) Kamavardhini
- (c) Hanumatodi
- (d) Dheera Shankarabharanam ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Hindustani thaats have direct Carnatic melakarta equivalents; Bilawal (all shuddha swaras, like the Western major scale) corresponds to Dheera Shankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta.
• Nat Bhairavi (20th melakarta) is the Carnatic equivalent of Asavari thaat, not Bilawal.
• Kamavardhini (51st melakarta) corresponds to Poorvi thaat.
• Hanumatodi (8th melakarta) corresponds to Bhairavi thaat.
• Remember the pairing by scale: Bilawal and Shankarabharanam both use only natural notes, so they sound alike.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Nat Bhairavi
- Nat Bhairavi is the equivalent of Asavari thaat.
- (b) Kamavardhini
- Kamavardhini is the equivalent of Poorvi thaat.
- (c) Hanumatodi
- Hanumatodi is the equivalent of Bhairavi thaat.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.