Pariksha SaathiGeneral Studies
Indian Art and Culture: Practice Questions with Answers
234 practice questions on Indian Art and Culture, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.
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Q.51
Which of the following forts is NOT part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Hill Forts of Rajasthan' (2013)?
- A Kumbhalgarh
- B Gagron
- C Jaisalmer
- D Mehrangarh
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Mehrangarh
The six Hill Forts of Rajasthan are Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amber and Jaisalmer. Mehrangarh at Jodhpur, though famous, is not included.
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Q.52
Jivya Soma Mashe, awarded the Padma Shri, brought international recognition to which tribal painting tradition?
- A Warli
- B Gond
- C Saura
- D Pithora
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Warli
Jivya Soma Mashe of Maharashtra's Thane-Palghar belt turned Warli painting, made with white rice paste on mud walls using circles, triangles and lines, into a celebrated art. Gond art is from Madhya Pradesh and Saura from Odisha.
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Q.53
The highly polished Mauryan pillars were mostly carved from sandstone quarried at which place?
- A Chunar
- B Makrana
- C Sikri
- D Dholpur
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Chunar
Mauryan pillars and capitals were cut from the buff sandstone of Chunar near Varanasi and given a mirror-like polish. Makrana is famous for the white marble of the Taj Mahal.
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Q.54
Which Mughal monument is regarded as the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent built in the Persian 'Charbagh' (four-part garden) layout?
- A Taj Mahal
- B Humayun's Tomb
- C Akbar's tomb at Sikandra
- D Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb in Delhi (completed around 1570), commissioned by his widow Bega Begum and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, was the first charbagh garden-tomb and the model for the later Taj Mahal.
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Q.55
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was founded in 1861. Who was its first Director General, often called the father of Indian archaeology?
- A James Prinsep
- B John Marshall
- C Mortimer Wheeler
- D Alexander Cunningham
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Alexander Cunningham
Alexander Cunningham founded the ASI in 1861 and served as its first Director General. James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi script, John Marshall oversaw the Harappan excavations in the 1920s, and Mortimer Wheeler was DG in the 1940s.
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Q.56
Which of the following folk painting and state pairs is NOT correctly matched?
- A Warli - Maharashtra
- B Phad - Rajasthan
- C Cheriyal scroll - Telangana
- D Gond - Odisha
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Gond - Odisha
Gond painting belongs to the Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh, popularised by Jangarh Singh Shyam. Odisha's folk painting is Pattachitra. Warli, Phad and Cheriyal are correctly matched.
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Q.57
Which folk dance of the Kashmir valley is performed by men of the Wattal community wearing long colourful robes and tall conical caps?
- A Rouf
- B Dumhal
- C Bhand Pather
- D Hafiza
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Dumhal
Dumhal is performed by men of the Wattal community of Kashmir in tall conical caps, with a banner planted in the ground. Rouf is a dance of Kashmiri women, and Bhand Pather is a folk theatre form.
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Q.58
The painting 'Bharat Mata' (1905), which became an icon of the Swadeshi movement, was painted by which artist?
- A Raja Ravi Varma
- B Nandalal Bose
- C Abanindranath Tagore
- D Jamini Roy
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore, founder of the Bengal School of Art, painted Bharat Mata as a four-armed saffron-clad goddess. Nandalal Bose was his student, and Raja Ravi Varma worked in a European academic style.
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Q.59
Sattriya, which was recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in the year 2000, belongs to which state?
- A Manipur
- B Assam
- C Odisha
- D West Bengal
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Assam
Sattriya originated in the Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras) of Assam, where it was introduced by the saint Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. It is the most recently recognised of the eight classical dances.
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Q.60
Which Sikh Guru declared the Guru Granth Sahib to be the eternal Guru of the Sikhs?
- A Guru Tegh Bahadur
- B Guru Har Krishan
- C Guru Gobind Singh
- D Guru Hargobind
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Guru Gobind Singh
Before his death at Nanded in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, ended the line of human Gurus and conferred Guruship on the Granth. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was the ninth Guru.
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Q.61
Which of the following pairs of colonial building and architect is correctly matched?
- A Gateway of India, Mumbai - William Emerson
- B Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai - F. W. Stevens
- C Madras High Court - Le Corbusier
- D Mysore Palace - Edwin Lutyens
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai - F. W. Stevens
Frederick William Stevens designed Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), completed in 1888. The Gateway of India is by George Wittet and the Mysore Palace by Henry Irwin.
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Q.62
The traditional brass and copper utensil-making craft inscribed by UNESCO in 2014 is practised by which community at Jandiala Guru in Punjab?
- A Thatheras
- B Tamtas
- C Kumhars
- D Lohars
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Thatheras
The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, near Amritsar, hammer heated brass and copper sheets into utensils, a craft UNESCO recognised in 2014. Kumhars are traditionally potters and Lohars blacksmiths.
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Q.63
Consider the following statements about India's elements on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list: 1. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana, is on the list. 2. Yoga was inscribed on the list in 2016. Which of these statements is/are correct?
- A Only 1
- B Only 2
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Ramlila was proclaimed a Masterpiece by UNESCO in 2005 and incorporated into the Representative List in 2008, and Yoga was inscribed in 2016.
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Q.64
Ain-i-Akbari, the detailed account of Akbar's administration written by Abul Fazl, forms the final part of which larger work?
- A Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
- B Tabaqat-i-Akbari
- C Akbarnama
- D Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Akbarnama
Ain-i-Akbari is the third volume of Abul Fazl's Akbarnama. Tabaqat-i-Akbari was written by Nizamuddin Ahmad, Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh by Badauni, and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri is Jahangir's own memoir.
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Q.65
Which Pahari school of miniature painting is known for bold primary colours, strong outlines and the use of shiny beetle-wing cases to show emeralds in jewellery?
- A Kangra
- B Basohli
- C Guler
- D Chamba
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Basohli
Basohli painting, from the hill state of Basohli in present-day Jammu and Kashmir, flourished in the late 17th century and is among the earliest Pahari styles. The later Kangra and Guler styles are softer and more naturalistic.
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Q.66
The ghatam, a percussion instrument used in Carnatic music concerts, is essentially which of the following?
- A A clay (earthenware) pot
- B A double-headed wooden drum
- C A small frame drum
- D A pair of metal cymbals
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) A clay (earthenware) pot
The ghatam is a narrow-mouthed earthenware pot played with the fingers, palms and thumbs. The mridangam is a double-headed wooden drum and the kanjira a small frame drum.
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Q.67
The monolithic statue of Gomateshwara (Bahubali) at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka was commissioned around 983 CE by whom?
- A Vishnuvardhana
- B Amoghavarsha I
- C Chamundaraya
- D Pulakeshin II
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Chamundaraya
Chamundaraya, a minister and general of the Western Ganga kings, had the giant Jain statue carved on Vindhyagiri hill. The Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony is held there about once every twelve years.
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Q.68
The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah at Agra, a white marble building decorated with pietra dura inlay, was built by whom?
- A Nur Jahan
- B Jahangir
- C Shah Jahan
- D Mumtaz Mahal
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan built the tomb between 1622 and 1628 for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, who held the title Itimad-ud-Daulah. Its fine inlay work anticipates the Taj Mahal, built later by Shah Jahan.
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Q.69
In the traditional four-fold classification of Indian musical instruments, what does 'sushira vadya' refer to?
- A Stringed instruments such as the veena
- B Wind instruments such as the flute and shehnai
- C Membrane drums such as the tabla
- D Solid struck instruments such as cymbals
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Wind instruments such as the flute and shehnai
The Natya Shastra groups instruments as tata (stringed), sushira (wind), avanaddha (membrane-covered drums) and ghana (solid instruments such as cymbals and bells). The flute and the shehnai are therefore sushira vadya.
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Q.70
Chholiya, a sword dance traditionally performed in wedding processions, is a folk dance of which state?
- A Himachal Pradesh
- B Haryana
- C Sikkim
- D Uttarakhand
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Uttarakhand
Chholiya is a martial dance of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, in which dancers with swords and shields accompany the bridegroom's procession. Nati is a folk dance of Himachal Pradesh.
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Q.71
Arrange the following temples in chronological order of construction, earliest first: 1. Brihadeeswara temple, Thanjavur 2. Kailasa temple, Ellora 3. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram 4. Sun Temple, Konark
- A 3-2-1-4
- B 2-3-1-4
- C 3-1-2-4
- D 2-3-4-1
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 3-2-1-4
The Shore Temple dates to the early 8th century (Pallava), the Kailasa temple to the later 8th century (Rashtrakuta Krishna I), Brihadeeswara was completed around 1010 (Rajaraja Chola I) and Konark belongs to the mid-13th century (Eastern Ganga).
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Q.72
Yakshagana, a traditional theatre form that combines dance, music, dialogue and elaborate costumes, is associated with the coastal districts of which state?
- A Andhra Pradesh
- B Kerala
- C Tamil Nadu
- D Karnataka
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Karnataka
Yakshagana is performed in the coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka (Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada), usually through the night, with stories from the epics.
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Q.73
Madhubani painting, traditionally made by women on the walls and floors of homes, belongs to which cultural region?
- A Bundelkhand
- B Awadh
- C Malwa
- D Mithila
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Mithila
Madhubani or Mithila painting comes from the Mithila region of north Bihar (and adjoining Nepal) and has a GI tag. Artists such as Sita Devi and Ganga Devi took it to wider audiences.
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Q.74
In the Nagara style of temple architecture, what is the curvilinear tower rising above the sanctum called?
- A Shikhara
- B Gopuram
- C Mandapa
- D Jagati
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Shikhara
In north Indian Nagara temples the tower over the garbhagriha is the shikhara, while in Dravida temples the tower over the sanctum is called the vimana. A gopuram is the gateway tower of Dravida temples and the jagati is the raised platform.
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Q.75
Rajatarangini, a 12th-century Sanskrit chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, was written by whom?
- A Bilhana
- B Jonaraja
- C Banabhatta
- D Kalhana
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Correct answer: (D) Kalhana
Kalhana completed the Rajatarangini around the middle of the 12th century, and it is valued as an early work of Indian historical writing. Jonaraja later continued the chronicle, and Banabhatta wrote the Harshacharita.
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Q.76
Chhau dance has three main styles. Which of them is performed WITHOUT masks?
- A Seraikela Chhau
- B Purulia Chhau
- C Mayurbhanj Chhau
- D All three styles use masks
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Mayurbhanj Chhau
Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha is performed without masks, whereas Seraikela Chhau (Jharkhand) and Purulia Chhau (West Bengal) use elaborate masks.
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Q.77
The Gateway of India in Mumbai was built to commemorate the landing of whom at Apollo Bunder in 1911?
- A Queen Victoria
- B Lord Curzon
- C King George V and Queen Mary
- D Edward, Prince of Wales
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) King George V and Queen Mary
The arch, designed by George Wittet and completed in 1924, marks the visit of King-Emperor George V and Queen Mary in December 1911. Queen Victoria never visited India.
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Q.78
At each of its four venues, the Kumbh Mela (Purna Kumbh) returns once in how many years?
- A 4
- B 6
- C 12
- D 15
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) 12
The Kumbh rotates among Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain and returns to each site about every 12 years, according to the position of Jupiter (Brihaspati). An Ardh Kumbh is held at Prayagraj and Haridwar about six years after the Kumbh.
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Q.79
The tomb of Sher Shah Suri, which stands on a raised platform in the middle of an artificial lake, is located at which place?
- A Sasaram
- B Chunar
- C Delhi
- D Agra
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Sasaram
Sher Shah's tomb at Sasaram in Bihar's Rohtas district was built in the 1540s as an octagonal red sandstone mausoleum rising from a tank. Chunar fort was one of his early strongholds.
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Q.80
The Dhamek Stupa stands at which place, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon?
- A Kushinagar
- B Bodh Gaya
- C Rajgir
- D Sarnath
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Sarnath
The Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath near Varanasi marks the Deer Park where the Buddha preached his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana). Bodh Gaya is where he attained enlightenment and Kushinagar where he attained mahaparinirvana.
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Q.81
Which two Persian painters, who entered Humayun's service, laid the foundation of the Mughal school of painting?
- A Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad
- B Daswanth and Basawan
- C Abul Hasan and Bishandas
- D Bihzad and Manohar
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad
Humayun took Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad into his service during his exile and they came with him to India; they trained Akbar's painters, including Daswanth and Basawan. Abul Hasan and Bishandas worked for Jahangir.
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Q.82
In 2012, UNESCO inscribed the chanting of sacred Buddhist texts by lamas of which region of India on its intangible cultural heritage list?
- A Sikkim
- B Ladakh
- C Arunachal Pradesh
- D Himachal Pradesh
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Ladakh
'Buddhist chanting of Ladakh' covers the recitation of sacred texts in the monasteries and villages of the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region. It was inscribed when Ladakh was part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir; it became a Union Territory in 2019.
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Q.83
Kangra painting, known for lyrical scenes from the Gita Govinda and the Bhagavata Purana, reached its peak under the patronage of which ruler?
- A Raja Sansar Chand
- B Raja Kirpal Pal
- C Raja Savant Singh
- D Raja Balwant Singh
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Raja Sansar Chand
Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra (late 18th to early 19th century) was the great patron of this Pahari school. Kirpal Pal is linked with Basohli and Savant Singh with Kishangarh.
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Q.84
Which group is credited with systematising the margam, the concert repertoire of Bharatanatyam, at the Thanjavur court in the early 19th century?
- A Tanjore Quartet
- B Carnatic Trinity
- C Dagar Brothers
- D Ashtachhap poets
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Tanjore Quartet
The Tanjore Quartet, the brothers Chinnaiah, Ponnaiah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu, served the Maratha ruler Serfoji II and arranged the sequence of items such as alarippu, jatiswaram, varnam and tillana. The Carnatic Trinity were composers of kritis, and the Dagar family is known for dhrupad.
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Q.85
Godaan, the Hindi novel about the struggles of the poor peasant Hori, was written by whom?
- A Jaishankar Prasad
- B Premchand
- C Yashpal
- D Phanishwar Nath 'Renu'
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Premchand
Godaan (1936) was Premchand's last completed novel and depicts rural poverty, debt and exploitation. Yashpal is known for Jhootha Sach, a novel on the Partition.
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Q.86
The abacus of Ashoka's Sarnath Lion Capital carries four animals separated by wheels (chakras). Which of the following is NOT one of them?
- A Elephant
- B Bull
- C Horse
- D Tiger
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Tiger
The four animals on the abacus are an elephant, a bull, a horse and a lion, separated by 24-spoked wheels. The capital, crowned by four back-to-back lions, was adopted as India's State Emblem.
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Q.87
Which Indian site is inscribed by UNESCO as a 'mixed' World Heritage Site, recognised for both natural and cultural values?
- A Kaziranga National Park
- B Sundarbans National Park
- C Western Ghats
- D Khangchendzonga National Park
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Khangchendzonga National Park
Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim, inscribed in 2016, is India's only mixed World Heritage Site, valued for its biodiversity and for the sacred significance of Mount Khangchendzonga to local communities. The others are natural sites.
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Q.88
Kutiyattam, the ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage, belongs to which state?
- A Karnataka
- B Kerala
- C Tamil Nadu
- D Andhra Pradesh
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Kerala
Kutiyattam of Kerala, performed in temple theatres called Koothambalams with the Mizhavu drum, is among the oldest living theatre traditions and was the first Indian form recognised by UNESCO (2001).
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Q.89
Padmavat (1540), the Awadhi epic poem narrating the story of Rani Padmini of Chittor and Alauddin Khalji, was written by whom?
- A Amir Khusrau
- B Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana
- C Raskhan
- D Malik Muhammad Jayasi
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Malik Muhammad Jayasi
Malik Muhammad Jayasi, a Sufi poet of Jais in Awadh, composed Padmavat in Awadhi. Amir Khusrau wrote in Persian and Hindavi in the Khalji-Tughlaq era, and Rahim and Raskhan were poets of Akbar's time.
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Q.90
Hojagiri, a dance in which women balance on earthen pitchers while carrying a bottle and a lamp on the head, is performed by the Reang community of which state?
- A Tripura
- B Sikkim
- C Assam
- D Meghalaya
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Tripura
Hojagiri is a celebrated dance of the Reang (Bru) community of Tripura. It is admired for the remarkable balancing skill of its women dancers.
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Q.91
The Gandhara school of art, which produced Buddha images with wavy hair and draped robes, shows a strong influence of which foreign style?
- A Greco-Roman (Hellenistic)
- B Persian (Achaemenid)
- C Chinese
- D Egyptian
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Greco-Roman (Hellenistic)
The Gandhara school (around Peshawar and Taxila) flourished under the Kushanas and blended Greek and Roman sculptural techniques with Buddhist themes, which is why it is also called Indo-Greek art.
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Q.92
Nuakhai, the agricultural festival at which the first rice of the season is offered to the deity before being eaten, is mainly celebrated in which state?
- A Odisha
- B West Bengal
- C Bihar
- D Assam
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Odisha
Nuakhai (nua = new, khai = eat) is a major festival of western Odisha, especially around Sambalpur, where the new rice is first offered to Goddess Samaleswari. Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam.
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Q.93
Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, the 19th-century composer of Carnatic music and patron of Mohiniyattam, ruled which princely state?
- A Mysore
- B Cochin
- C Travancore
- D Pudukkottai
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Travancore
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma ruled Travancore in the first half of the 19th century, composed many kritis in several languages and supported Mohiniyattam at his court. Cochin was a separate princely state to the north of Travancore.
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Q.94
The Sanskrit drama 'Mrichchhakatika' (The Little Clay Cart), the story of the merchant Charudatta and the courtesan Vasantasena, was written by whom?
- A Kalidasa
- B Bhasa
- C Shudraka
- D Vishakhadatta
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Shudraka
Mrichchhakatika is attributed to Shudraka. Bhasa wrote Swapnavasavadatta, and Vishakhadatta wrote Mudrarakshasa, which deals with Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya.
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Q.95
Which is considered the oldest gharana of Khayal singing in Hindustani classical music?
- A Gwalior gharana
- B Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
- C Kirana gharana
- D Agra gharana
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior gharana is regarded as the oldest and the parent of all khayal gharanas. Most other gharanas, such as Agra and Jaipur-Atrauli, branched off later.
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Q.96
Hindi Diwas is observed every year on which date, marking the day in 1949 when the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union?
- A 21 February
- B 10 January
- C 14 September
- D 26 November
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) 14 September
On 14 September 1949 the Constituent Assembly adopted the provisions that became Article 343, making Hindi in Devanagari the official language of the Union. 10 January is observed as World Hindi Day and 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
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Q.97
Which of the following martial art and state pairs is correctly matched?
- A Silambam - Kerala
- B Gatka - Punjab
- C Mardani Khel - Tamil Nadu
- D Kalaripayattu - Maharashtra
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Gatka - Punjab
Gatka is the stick-and-sword martial art of the Sikhs of Punjab. Silambam (staff fighting) is from Tamil Nadu, Mardani Khel from Maharashtra (Kolhapur) and Kalaripayattu from Kerala.
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Q.98
Chand Baori, a stepwell with thousands of narrow steps arranged in a criss-cross pattern on three sides, is at Abhaneri in which state?
- A Gujarat
- B Madhya Pradesh
- C Haryana
- D Rajasthan
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Rajasthan
Chand Baori at Abhaneri in Dausa district of Rajasthan was built around the 9th century and is traditionally linked to a king named Chanda (Raja Chand). Gujarat's well-known stepwells include Rani-ki-Vav and Adalaj.
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Q.99
In early Buddhist architecture, what was a vihara mainly used for?
- A A prayer hall containing a stupa
- B A residence for monks
- C A gateway to a stupa
- D A pillar bearing royal edicts
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) A residence for monks
A vihara was a monastery with cells for monks around a central hall, whereas a chaitya was a prayer hall with a stupa at its apsidal end. Ajanta and Ellora have both types.
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Q.100
Which of the following is NOT a work of Kalidasa?
- A Meghadutam
- B Kumarasambhavam
- C Mudrarakshasa
- D Raghuvamsham
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Mudrarakshasa
Mudrarakshasa is a political play by Vishakhadatta. Kalidasa's works include the plays Abhijnanashakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram and Vikramorvashiyam, the epics Raghuvamsham and Kumarasambhavam, and the lyrics Meghadutam and Ritusamhara.
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How these questions were made
Authored by an AI assistant (Claude) from its own general knowledge of stable, well-established facts (no live lookup) - not reviewed by a subject-matter expert; verify against an official source before relying on any fact.