UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper I · Q19 of 98 History hard

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the :

  1. (a) Agra Gharana
  2. (b) Gwalior Gharana
  3. (c) Patiala Gharana
  4. (d) Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur (1910–1992) of Dharwad, Karnataka, was a Hindustani khayal vocalist and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan.

• He trained first in the Gwalior style under Neelkanth Bua but became the foremost exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana as a disciple of Manji Khan and Bhurji Khan, sons of Ustad Alladiya Khan.

• The Jaipur-Atrauli gharana is known for complex, rare (aprachalit) ragas and intricate laya work, which became Mansur's hallmark.

• The Agra, Gwalior and Patiala gharanas are separate lineages; Mansur is not identified with them.

• Hence option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Agra Gharana
The Agra gharana (Faiyaz Khan) is a different lineage.
(b) Gwalior Gharana
Mansur had early Gwalior training but is identified with Jaipur-Atrauli.
(c) Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana (Bade Ghulam Ali Khan) is a different lineage.

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.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

Practise this paper free