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153 UPSC previous-year questions in Art Culture, with answers and concise explanations, grouped by topic. Showing the 120 most recent — open a topic for the rest.
Read the Art Culture notesThe first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music training school, was set up in 1901 by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in:
Why
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar established the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore in 1901 to popularise Hindustani classical music.
With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Why
The title 'Tansen' was given to him by his guru Raja Ram Chandra Singh of Rewa, not by Emperor Akbar, Akbar appointed him as one of the Navaratnas of his court.
With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Tyagaraja composed kritis in praise of Lord Rama and did create new ragas, while Annamacharya's kirtanas praise Lord Venkateswara; they lived centuries apart, so statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Manipuri Sankirtana is both a song-and-dance form narrating Krishna's life, but it uses multiple instruments including drums (pung), not cymbals alone.
A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their:
Why
The Manganiyars are a hereditary musician community from Rajasthan (North-West India) known for their rich folk and devotional music tradition.
With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the following statements are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
Why
Dhrupad developed in the Mughal court (not Rajput kingdoms), so statement 1 is wrong; it is indeed devotional and its alap uses Sanskrit mantra syllables (nom-tom).
The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are:
Why
The Gundecha brothers are celebrated Dhrupad vocalists who have received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for their contribution to this ancient classical tradition.
Who among the following is a Hindustani classical singer?
Why
Gangubai Hangal was a celebrated Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana gharana; the others are Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi dancers.
Who among the following is well known as an exponent of flute?
Why
Ronu Mazumdar is a celebrated bansuri (flute) player; Debu Choudhuri plays sitar, Madhup Mudgal is a vocalist, and Shafaat Ahmad is a tabla player.
Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of 'Gandhi Peace Prize'? I. The President of India II. The Prime Minister of India III. The Chief Justice of India IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Why
The Gandhi Peace Prize jury comprises the Prime Minister (chairperson), the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and two eminent persons nominated by the PM, the President of India is not a member.
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards: 1) Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. 2) Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. 3) The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. Which of the above statements are not correct?
Why
All three statements are incorrect: Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are expressly not titles under Article 18(1); Padma Awards were suspended twice (1977 and 1992); and there is no cap of five Bharat Ratna awards per year (the limit is three).
Who among the following was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna Award, 2005 for her lifetime achievement in dance?
Why
Yamini Krishnamurthy, the iconic Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna (Tagore Ratna) Award in 2005.
Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?
Why
Garba dance of Gujarat was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2023, making it the most recent addition among the options.
With reference to the 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Changpa are a nomadic community of Ladakh (not Uttarakhand) who rear Changthangi (Pashmina) goats and are listed as a Scheduled Tribe, making statements 2 and 3 correct.
The national motto of India, 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:
Why
'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth alone triumphs) is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad and is inscribed below the Lion Capital of Ashoka adopted as India's national emblem.
Consider the following pairs: Tribes — State
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Why
The Limbu (Limbo) tribe is indigenous to Sikkim and the Dongaria Kondh live in Odisha's Niyamgiri hills; Karbi are from Assam (not Himachal Pradesh) and Bonda are from Odisha (not Tamil Nadu).
Among the following, who are the Agaria community?
Why
The Agaria are a Scheduled Tribe community traditionally associated with salt-pan work in the Rann of Kutch region of Gujarat.
In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found?
Why
The Shompen are a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) living in the interior forests of Great Nicobar Island in the Nicobar Islands.
What is the number of spokes in the Dharma chakra in the National Flag of India?
Why
The Ashoka Chakra (Dharma chakra) in the centre of the Indian National Flag has 24 spokes, representing the 24 hours of the day and the ceaseless motion of dharma.
Which one of the following statements is incorrect?
Why
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankimchandra Chatterji in Sanskrit (with Bengali mixed in), not originally in Bengali, making that statement incorrect.
Which one of the following pairs of primitive tribes and places of their inhabitation is not correctly matched?
Why
The Korba tribe inhabits the Korba district of Chhattisgarh, not Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka, making this pair incorrectly matched.
Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:
How many of the above properties were included in 2023?
Why
In 2023, UNESCO added Shantiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas to the World Heritage List; Rani-ki-Vav and Mahabodhi Temple were inscribed earlier.
Consider the following sites/monuments:
Which of the above are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO?
Why
All four, Champaner-Pavagadh, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mamallapuram (Group of Monuments), and Konark Sun Temple, are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa? a) Kavyalankara b) Natyashastra c) Madhyama-vyayoga d) Mahabhashya
Why
Madhyama-vyayoga is one of the thirteen plays attributed to the ancient Sanskrit playwright Bhasa.
Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirutal' as mentioned in the Sangam poems? a) Kings employing women bodyguards b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters. c) Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals. d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death.
Why
'Vattakirutal' in Sangam literature refers to the practice of a defeated king voluntarily starving himself to death as a ritual act of honour.
With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs: Literary Work : Author
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? a) Only one b) Only two c) Only three d) All four
Why
Pairs 2 (Hammira-Mahakavya by Nayachandra Suri) and 4 (Nitivakyamrita by Somadeva Suri) are correctly matched; Devichandragupta was by Visakhadatta, not Bilhana, and Milinda-panha was by Nagasena, not Nagarjuna.
Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct? a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets c) Sangam poems have no references to warrior ethic d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational
Why
Sangam literature does reference the Varna system, showing awareness of brahmanical social classification alongside the indigenous tinai system.
Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian Religious lyrics in English?
Why
Mahatma Gandhi translated ancient Indian religious lyrics into English under the title 'Songs from Prison' while imprisoned by British authorities.
With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?
Why
Rabindranath Tagore visited Madanapalle in 1919 and translated 'Jana Gana Mana' from Bengali into English there.
With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous: a) Jain monks b) Playwrights c) Temple architects d) Philosophers
Why
Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla, and Kshemeshvara were all celebrated Sanskrit playwrights in ancient and medieval India.
With reference to the book 'Desher Katha' written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
'Desher Katha' warned of colonial mental conquest and inspired swadeshi performances, but 'desh' was used in the broader sense of the entire country, not just Bengal.
With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
Why
Kalidasa is traditionally associated with the court of Chandragupta II; Panini predates Pushyamitra and Amarasimha belongs to the Gupta court, not Harsha's.
He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for sometime; and was elected to the Central Assembly. He was:
Why
Lala Lajpat Rai authored biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna, lived in the USA during his exile, and was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly.
Which among the following events happened earliest?
Why
Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan in 1858–59, which predates Arya Samaj (1875), Anandmath (1882), and Satyendranath Tagore's ICS success (1863).
Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about Diamonds and diamond mines in India? a) Francois Bernier b) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier c) Jean de Thevenot d) Abbe Barthelemy Carre
Why
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveller, gave detailed accounts of Indian diamond mines, especially the Golconda mines.
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty? a) Swapnavasavadatta b) Malavikagnimitra c) Meghadoota d) Ratnavali
Why
Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa narrates the love story of Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga, the founder of the Sunga dynasty.
The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below. a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
Why
Hiuen Tsang noted that roads were NOT completely safe from robbery, but he did record trial by ordeal and duties at ferries/checkpoints, making statements 2 and 3 correct.
Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled, 'Unto this Last' and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi?
Why
John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' argued that individual well-being is inseparable from collective well-being, a message Gandhi summarised and translated as 'Sarvodaya'.
Who of the following is the author of a collection of poems called "Golden Threshold"?
Why
'Golden Threshold' (1905) was the first published poetry collection of Sarojini Naidu, the 'Nightingale of India'.
Who among the following translated the Autobiography of Madam Curie in Hindi?
Why
Lal Bahadur Shastri translated the autobiography of Marie Curie into Hindi, demonstrating his literary interests alongside his political career.
Match List-I (Author) with List-II (Work) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I: A. Bankimchandra B. Dinabandhu Mitra C. Premchandra List-II:
Why
Bankimchandra wrote Debi Chaudhurani (2), Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Nil-Darpan (3), and Premchandra wrote Shatranj ke Khilari (1).
Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
Why
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad founded and edited the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal in 1912 to mobilise Muslim opinion in favour of the nationalist movement.
Who among the following started the newspaper — Shome Prakash?
Why
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Bengali weekly Som Prakash in 1858, which was an important platform for social reform debates.
The song 'Amar Sonar Bangla' written during the Swadeshi Movement of India inspired the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. Who wrote this song?
Why
Rabindranath Tagore composed 'Amar Sonar Bangla' in 1905 during the Swadeshi Movement; it later became the national anthem of Bangladesh.
Who among the following wrote the book Babuvivah?
Why
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar wrote 'Bahuvivah' (Babuvivah) in 1871 to campaign against the practice of polygamy among Brahmin men.
Which one of the following revolts was made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Anand Math?
Why
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's 'Anandmath' (1882) fictionalised the Sanyasi Rebellion of the late 18th century against British rule.
'Mrichchhakatika' an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with: a) The love affair of a rich merchant with the daughter of a courtesan b) The victory of Chandragupta II over the Shaka Kshat-rapas of western India c) The military expeditions and exploits of Samudragupta d) The love affair between a Gupta King and a princess of Kamarupa
Why
Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) by Shudraka is a Sanskrit play depicting the romance between the poor brahmin Charudatta and the beautiful courtesan Vasantasena.
Who amongst the following Englishmen, first translated Bhagavad Gita into English?
Why
Charles Wilkins produced the first English translation of the Bhagavad Gita in 1785, with a preface by Warren Hastings.
Consider the following information: Archaeological Site – State – Description
In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Why
Inamgaon in Maharashtra is indeed a Chalcolithic site, and Mangadu in Kerala is associated with megalithic remains; the other pairings contain errors.
Consider the following pairs: Site : Well known for
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Why
Bhaja is a Buddhist cave shrine and Sittanavasal is a Jain cave shrine; Besnagar is known for the Heliodorus pillar (Vaishnavite), not a Shaivite cave shrine.
With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A.H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with?
Why
All five, Rea, Longhurst, Sewell, Burgess, and Elliot, were prominent archaeologists who contributed to the excavation and documentation of ancient Indian sites.
With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Statements 2 and 3 are correct; the stupa concept predates Buddhism and is not exclusively Buddhist in origin, making statement 1 incorrect.
The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Somnath is the first Jyotirlinga and Al-Biruni described it in his 11th-century account; the Pran Pratishtha of the rebuilt temple was performed by President Rajendra Prasad, not Radhakrishnan.
Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts – Location
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Why
Dhauli (Odisha) and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh) are correctly matched; Jaugada is in Odisha (not Madhya Pradesh) and Kalsi is in Uttarakhand (not Karnataka).
With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: 1) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. 2) It is the only circular temple built in India. 3) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region. 4) Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
The Chausath Yogini temple near Morena was indeed built by the Kachchhapaghata dynasty and its circular design is widely cited as a possible inspiration for the Indian Parliament; it is not the only circular temple and it is dedicated to Yogini/Shakti, not Vaishnavism.
Which one of the following statements is correct?
Why
The Ajanta Caves are carved into the horseshoe-shaped gorge of the Waghora river in Maharashtra.
Building Kalyaana Mandapas was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of:
Why
The Kalyana Mandapa (marriage hall) is a distinctive element of Vijayanagara temple architecture, used for conducting divine wedding ceremonies and large religious congregations.
Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh has the famous Suryanarayana (Sun) temple; Amarakantak and Omkareshwar are associated with Shiva, not Sun worship.
The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at:
Why
The iconic Bodhisattva Padmapani fresco is located in Cave 1 at Ajanta, one of the finest examples of ancient Indian painting.
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Both Ajanta and Mahabalipuram have rock-cut monuments; Ajanta is Buddhist while Mahabalipuram is predominantly Hindu, and they belong to different periods.
With reference to art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
Why
The rock-cut elephant at Dhauli dates to the Mauryan period (circa 3rd century BCE), making it older than the Udayagiri Varaha (Gupta era), the Mahabalipuram monuments (7th century CE), and the Lingaraja Temple (11th century CE).
With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs: Famous Shrine – Location
Which of the above pairs given is/are correctly matched?
Why
Tabo monastery is in Spiti Valley and Alchi is in Ladakh; Lhotsava Lhakhang is actually located in Ladakh (not Zanskar Valley), making pair 2 incorrect.
With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: Famous work of sculpture – Site
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
The Mahaparinirvana image is at Ajanta and Arjuna's Penance is at Mamallapuram; the Varaha image is at Udayagiri in Madhya Pradesh, not Mount Abu.
With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to:
Why
Panchayatan refers to a temple-construction style in which a central shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the corners of the platform.
Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?
Why
A Chaitya is a Buddhist prayer hall or assembly hall for worship, while a Vihara is a residential monastery for monks.
Consider the following historical places:
Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?
Why
Ajanta is famous for its Buddhist murals and Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh has notable Vijayanagara-period mural paintings; Sanchi is known for sculpture and carvings, not murals.
With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Only statement 3 is correct; Ellora has Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain caves. The Barabar caves were made for Ajivikas by Ashoka (not Chandragupta), and the oldest rock-cut caves are at Barabar, not Badami.
The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the:
Why
Nagara (north India), Dravida (south India), and Vesara (hybrid/Deccan) are the three classical styles of Indian temple architecture.
There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta Caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?
Why
The Bagh Caves in Madhya Pradesh contain the other surviving example of Gupta-period cave paintings, similar in style to those at Ajanta.
Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located?
Why
The Virupaksha temple, dedicated to Shiva and one of the oldest functioning temples in India, is located at Hampi in Karnataka.
Near which one of the following cities are Palitana Temples located?
Why
The Palitana temples, a major Jain pilgrimage site on Shatrunjaya Hill, are located near Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?
Why
Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 CE, is located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh and is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in India.
Match List I (Famous Temple) with List II (State): A. Vidyashankara –
Why
Vidyashankara is in Karnataka, Rajarani Temple is in Orissa, Kandariya Mahadeo is in Madhya Pradesh, and Bhimeswara temple is in Andhra Pradesh.
Where is the famous Vijaya Vitala temple having its 56 carved pillars emitting musical notes located?
Why
The Vittala (Vijaya Vitala) temple with its famous musical pillars is located at Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, in Karnataka.
The initial design and construction of which massive temple took place during the reign of Suryavarman II?
Why
Angkor Wat in Cambodia was built by the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu.
Indian Airlines (new name: Indian) have redesigned their logo, which is a graphic wheel. This logo has been inspired by which one of the following?
Why
The Indian Airlines redesigned logo is inspired by the stone chariot wheel of the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha.
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? Monastery – State
Why
Kye (Key) Monastery is located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, not in Arunachal Pradesh, making this the incorrectly matched pair.
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Why
The Amaravati Buddhist Stupa is located in Andhra Pradesh; Vikramshila is in Bihar, Hemkund Sahib is in Uttarakhand, and Udayagiri Caves are in Madhya Pradesh.
Match List I (Place of archaeological Monument) with List II (State): A. Sisupalgarh –
Why
Sisupalgarh is in Orissa, Piprahwa is in Uttar Pradesh, Goalpara is in Assam, and Bishnupur is in Manipur (West Bengal is the more common reference, but based on the given answer).
The Archaeological Survey of India is an attached office of the Department / Ministry of:
Why
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions as an attached office under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Which one of the following statements is not correct?
Why
Gomateshwara (Bahubali) was not a Tirthankara; he was the son of Rishabhadeva (the first Tirthankara), making this statement incorrect.
In which one of the following cities is the Lingaraja Temple located?
Why
The Lingaraja Temple, one of the largest temples in Odisha dedicated to Shiva, is located in Bhubaneswar.
The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
Why
Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita philosophy centred on bhakti (devotion) to Vishnu as the primary path to moksha.
With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical person — Known as Aryadeva — Jaina Scholar Dignaga — Buddhist Scholar Nathamuni — Vaishnava scholar How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Why
Dignaga was a Buddhist logician and Nathamuni was a Vaishnava scholar, but Aryadeva was a Buddhist (Madhyamaka) philosopher, not a Jain, so only two pairs are correct.
With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Why
Only statement 2 is correct: Mitakshara grants sons coparcenary rights during the father's lifetime, while Dayabhaga rights accrue only after the father's death; the caste distinction and gender-scope claims in statements 1 and 3 are incorrect.
Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?
Why
The six orthodox (Astika) systems are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta; Lokayata (Charvaka) is a heterodox materialist school and Kapalika is a Shaiva sect, neither forming part of the six darshanas.
With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school:
Which of the statements are correct?
Why
Sankhya does accept transmigration of the soul, making statement 1 incorrect; statement 2 is correct, in Sankhya, liberation (moksha) comes through discriminative knowledge (viveka) of Purusha and Prakriti, with no role for a God.
Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order?
Why
Shankaracharya (8th century), Ramanuja (11th–12th century), and Chaitanya (15th–16th century) follow this chronological order, which is option a.
In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to?
Why
Fanam was a small gold or silver coin widely used in peninsular India during the medieval period, especially in the Vijayanagara and Deccan kingdoms.
With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi Ho' and 'Kui' pertain to
Why
Halbi Ho and Kui are tribal languages spoken by Scheduled Tribe communities in central and eastern India.
Consider the following statements: 1) 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF. 2) The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Why
International Mother Language Day was declared by UNESCO (not UNICEF), making statement 1 wrong; the demand to recognise Bangla was indeed raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, making statement 2 correct.
Consider the following languages:
Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language/Languages' by the Government?
Why
As of 2014, Kannada (2008) and Telugu (2008) had been granted Classical Language status by the Government of India; Gujarati had not been accorded that status at the time of this question.
Among the Indian languages, which one is spoken maximum in the world after Hindi?
Why
Bengali is the second most widely spoken Indian language globally (after Hindi), with a very large number of speakers in Bangladesh as well as West Bengal and other parts of India.
Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
Why
Jahangir had a keen personal interest in portraiture and nature painting, and under his reign Mughal art shifted from illustrating narrative manuscripts toward individual portraits and detailed naturalistic studies collected in albums.
The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the:
Why
Bani Thani, often called the Mona Lisa of India, is a celebrated painting of the Kishangarh School of Rajput miniature painting.
Kalamkari painting refers to:
Why
Kalamkari is the art of hand-painting or block-printing on cotton fabric using natural dyes, practised mainly in Andhra Pradesh in South India.
Consider the following famous names:
Who of the above is/are well known as artist(s)?
Why
All four, Amrita Sher-Gil, Bikash Bhattacharjee, N. S. Bendre, and Subodh Gupta, are well-known Indian visual artists.
Consider the following pairs: Tradition — State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
Madhubani painting belongs to Bihar and Singhey Khababs Sindhu Darshan Festival to Jammu & Kashmir; Gatka is a martial art of Punjab, not Kerala.
Consider the following pairs: Tradition — State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
Why
Chapchar Kut is a spring festival of Mizoram and Khongjom Parba is a ballad tradition of Manipur; Thang-Ta martial art belongs to Manipur, not Sikkim.
Consider the following pairs: Traditions — Communities
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
Only pair 1 is correct, Chaliha Sahib is a 40-day festival of the Sindhi community; Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra is associated with Uttarakhand's Garhwali people (not Gonds), and Wari-Warkari is a Maharashtra pilgrimage tradition (not Santhals).
Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant samplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?
Why
The Gond and Korku tribal communities of central India observe the tradition of planting fruit-bearing tree saplings as part of their month-long ecological festival.
Chapchar Kut is a festival celebrated in the state of:
Why
Chapchar Kut is the most important spring festival of Mizoram, celebrated after the completion of the most arduous task of Jhum operation (jungle clearing).
Consider the following pairs: Craft — Heritage of
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
Why
Puthukkuli Shawls are indeed from Tamil Nadu; Sujni Embroidery belongs to Bihar, and Uppada Jamdani Saris are from Andhra Pradesh.
Consider the following towns of India:
Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?
Why
Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu are renowned for their traditional silk sarees; Bhadrachalam and Karnal are not known for traditional fabric production.
Match List I with List II: Centre of Handicrafts — State A. Mon —
Select the correct answer:
Why
Mon is in Nagaland, Nalbari in Assam, Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, and Tura in Meghalaya.
Consider the following pairs:
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
Garba belongs to Gujarat and Yakshagana to Karnataka, but Mohiniattam is a classical dance of Kerala, not Odisha.
With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Sattriya is a Vaishnava dance-drama tradition of Assam combining music, dance and drama, but its devotional songs are composed by the Assamese saint Srimanta Sankardeva, not Tulsidas, Kabir or Mirabai.
In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
Why
Tribhanga (triple bend) is a classical Indian posture where the body bends in three parts, at the neck, waist and knee, creating an S-shaped stance.
How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Speaking dialogues is indeed unique to Kuchipudi; however, dancing on a brass plate (tarangam) is a feature of Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam, making statement 2 incorrect.
Match List I with List II: (Famous person) — (Well-known as) A. Amrita Sher-Gil —
Select the correct answer:
Why
Amrita Sher-Gil was a painter, Bhimsen Joshi a Hindustani vocalist (singer), Rukmini Devi Arundale a Bharatanatyam dancer, and Suryakant Tripathi Nirala a Hindi poet.
Match List I with List II: List I (Famous Person) — List II (Well-known for) A. Mandakini Amte B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry C. Romila Thapar D. Vanashree Rao
Select the correct answer:
Why
Mandakini Amte is known for social service, Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry for theatre direction, Romila Thapar for history writing, and Vanashree Rao for dance.
Bimbavati Devi is a well-known dancer of which type of dance?
Why
Bimbavati Devi is a renowned exponent of Manipuri classical dance from Manipur.
Match List I with List II: List I (Person) — List II (known as) A. Bhajan Sopori —
Select the correct answer:
Why
Bhajan Sopori is a Santoor maestro, Birju Maharaj is the legendary Kathak dancer, Priyadarsini Govind is a Bharatanatyam dancer, and T. V. Gopalakrishnan is a Mridangam maestro.
Consider the following statements regarding the Chakiarkoothu form of dance: I. It is performed by Chakiar caste. II. It cannot be traditionally witnessed by the higher caste Hindus. III. Mizhavu is the accompanying instrument. IV. Its theatre form is called koothambalam. Which of these statements are correct?
Why
Chakiarkoothu is performed by the Chakiar caste in koothambalam theatres with Mizhavu percussion; traditionally lower-caste Hindus (not higher-caste) were excluded, making statement II incorrect.
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
Why
Chaitra 1 of the Saka-based National Calendar of India falls on 22 March in a normal year and 21 March in a leap year.
With reference to India's culture and tradition, what is 'Kalaripayattu'?
Why
Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest fighting systems in existence, originating in Kerala and considered an ancient martial art of South India.
With reference to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
BNHS is an independent (non-governmental) conservation organisation, not an autonomous body under any Ministry, so statement 1 is wrong; statements 2 and 3 correctly describe its conservation and public engagement activities.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The National School of Drama was indeed established in 1959 under the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Fellowship is the highest honour of the Sahitya Akademi.
With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Why
Sushruta's surgical instruments (1st century AD), Aryabhata's trigonometry/sine (5th century AD), and Brahmagupta's cyclic quadrilaterals (7th century AD) are historically documented; organ transplantation in the 3rd century AD is not established fact.
What does Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sautra) related to?
Why
The Baudhayan Sulva Sutra contains an early statement of the Pythagorean theorem, describing the relationship between the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle.