UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?

Explanation: 

Carnatic music and Hindustani classical music often have corresponding ragas with similar note structures though  they may differ in style and presentation. 

• The Hindustani Raga Bilawal corresponds to Dheera Shankarabharanam in Carnatic music. Both  are based on the natural major scale and use all seven shuddha (natural) notes: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni
• Dheera Shankarabharanam is the 29th Melakarta raga in Carnatic music and is one of the most important  and foundational ragas in the Carnatic tradition.  
• The other ragas mentioned correspond to different Hindustani ragas: 

• Nat Bhairavi resembles Asavari 
• Kamavardhini corresponds to Puriya Dhanashree 
• Hanumatodi corresponds to Todi
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.