Answer:
Indian classical music has two foundational elements, raga and tala. The raga, based on a varied repertoire of swara (notes including microtones), forms the fabric of a deeply intricate melodic structure, while the tala measures the time cycle.
There are three basic layers to the texture of Indian Classical Music: MELODY (Voice, Sitar, Sarangi, Bansuri, Esraj or Sarod performing the melodic form of the Raga); DRONE (Tanpura or Harmonium performing long sustained noted); RHYTHM (Tabla performing the rhythmic Tala)
The raga/raag/ragam is the essential melodic element in Indian classical music. A raga is a series of pitches similar to a European idea of a scale.
