Home / Event / Bhakti Movement
Event Bhakti Movement
Asked 4 times across 3 UPSC exams over 3 years (2020–2023), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 2 of 4 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 3 years (2020–2023)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CAPF 2020 → NDA 2021 → CDS 2023
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (4 of 4) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2023
Which one of the following pairs denoting various forms of 'Bhakti' is not correctly matched?
- A Saguna : Belief in Gods with attributes
- B Nirguna : Belief in Gods without attributes
- C Alvars : Believed in devotion of Shakti ✓
- D Nayanars : Believed in devotion of Shiva
✓ Correct answer: (C)
History › Medieval India
NDA2023
Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT correct ?
- A The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity ✓
- B In northern India, the Bhakti movement revolved around the worship of Rama and Krishna
- C The Bhakti movement relied on the devotion of God, both with and without attributes
- D While Tulsidas represented the tradition of devotion with attributes, Sant Kabir followed the path of devotion without attributes
✓ Correct answer: (A)
History › Medieval India
NDA2021
Which of the following statements about Saguna bhakti traditions is/are correct ?
- Saguna bhakti traditions focus on the worship of specific deities such as Vishnu or his avatars
- In Saguna bhakti traditions, Gods and Goddesses are conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Art & Culture › Religion & Philosophy
Study how UPSC repeats — not just the papers
₹199 / 1 year · Founding Member
Full access unlocks the three things no PYQ PDF gives you:
① Cross-exam learning — see the same idea recur across CSE, CAPF, CDS and NDA.
② Topic evolution — how each idea is framed, year by year.
③ Question intelligence — every PYQ + answer, linked to related concepts and similar questions.
e.g. Round Table Conference: CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → … → CAPF 2024
15 days free, no card required — then ₹199 for 1 year.
Start your 15-day free trial →