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

Raga Dheera Shankarabharanam (Option D) is the correct answer. In the 72 Melakarta (parent raga) system of Carnatic music, Dheera Shankarabharanam is the 29th raga. It is structurally equivalent to the Bilawal Thaat (and Raga Bilawal) in the Hindustani classical tradition. Both scales are heptatonic (sampoorna) and utilize all natural or pure notes (Shuddha Svaras) in their ascent and descent. The notes in Hindustani music are Shuddha Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, and Ni, which correspond in Carnatic nomenclature to Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Shuddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatam, and Kakali Nishadam.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• Nat Bhairavi: This is the 20th Melakarta raga in the Carnatic system. Its Hindustani equivalent is the Asavari Thaat, not Bilawal, as it uses flat (komal) intervals for Ga, Dha, and Ni.
• Kamavardhini: Also widely known as Pantuvarali, this is the 51st Melakarta raga. In Hindustani music, its scale structurally corresponds to the Poorvi Thaat and Raga Puriya Dhanashree.
• Hanumatodi: Commonly referred to as Todi in Carnatic music, it is the 8th Melakarta raga. Despite its name, its Hindustani equivalent is the Bhairavi Thaat, whereas the Hindustani Todi actually equates to the Carnatic Shubhapantuvarali.

Takeaway: For UPSC Art & Culture questions on classical music, memorize the foundational cross-tradition scales. A helpful mnemonic for the all-natural note scale is "BS": Bilawal (Hindustani) = Shankarabharanam (Carnatic). Other vital equivalents include Kalyan = Kalyani, Bhairav = Mayamalavagowla, and Kafi = Kharaharapriya.