1. Which of the following was the birth place of Guru Nanak ?
[A] Shakargarh
[B] Sultanpur
[C] Nankana Sahib
[D] Shahkot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nankana Sahib]
Notes:
Nankana Sahib was the birth place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion. He was born in 1469 in a khatri family. He had strong faith in worship of Nirakar Brahma.
2. Which of the following is considered the oldest language in the history of India?
[A] Sanskrit
[B] Telugu
[C] Hindi
[D] Tamil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tamil]
Notes:
Tamil language holds the title as the oldest language in India. It is about 5000 years old and is still widely used in parts of India and Sri Lanka. It is a part of the Dravidian language family, distinct from the Indo-European languages like Hindi and Sanskrit that largely influenced other languages in northern parts of India.
3. Vachaspati Puraskar is awarded by the K.K. Birla Foundation, for outstanding contribution to which of the following?
[A] Scientific research
[B] Sanskrit Literature
[C] Literary work in any Indian language
[D] Dance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sanskrit Literature]
Notes:
Vachaspati Puraskar, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1992, is given to honour a writer’s work in Sanskrit published during the last 10 years.
4. Which among the following is the correct description of Nagara , Dravida and Vesara?
[A] The three main racial groups
[B] Three Linguistic Divisions
[C] Three main styles of Indian temple architecture
[D] Musical Gharanas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Three main styles of Indian temple architecture]
Notes:
Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara are indeed the three main styles of Indian temple architecture. 1. Nagara: Predominantly found in northern India, characterized by curvilinear shikhara (tower) and intricate carvings. 2. Dravida: Common in southern India, featuring pyramid-shaped towers (vimanas) and extensive use of stone. 3. Vesara: A hybrid style combining elements of both Nagara and Dravida, seen in regions like Karnataka. These styles reflect the diverse cultural and religious influences across India, with temples serving as important architectural and spiritual landmarks.
5. Which state government in India presents the National Kishore Kumar Award?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Gujarat
[D] Chhattisgarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The National Kishore Kumar Award is conferred by the Madhya Pradesh Government in India. This prestigious award, named after the legendary Indian actor, playback singer, director, and music producer Kishore Kumar, honours exceptional contributions in the Indian film and music industry. It is part of their initiative to promote arts and culture.
6. Which among the following states leads in Handloom and Handicrafts clusters in India?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Maharastra
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The correct answer is Uttar Pradesh. It is a leading state in India for handloom and handicrafts, particularly known for its rich tradition of weaving, including the famous Banarasi sarees. Uttar Pradesh has numerous clusters, such as Varanasi for silk weaving and Bhadohi for carpets, contributing importantly to the state’s economy and cultural heritage. The state also supports artisans through various government initiatives and schemes aimed at preserving traditional crafts.
7. The collection of Meera Bai’s devotional songs or poems are known as ?
[A] Chand
[B] Padavali
[C] Avangas
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Padavali]
Notes:
Meera Bai was a Rajput Princess of Merta and daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga of Mewar. She was a great worshipper of Krishna and her collection of devotional songs or poems viz. Mere to Girdhar Gopal doosro na koi, etc. are known as Padavali.
8. Who among the following was the last Guru of Sikhs ?
[A] Guru Teg Bahadur
[B] Guru Har Kishan
[C] Guru Govind Singh
[D] Guru Angad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Guru Govind Singh]
Notes:
Guru Gobind Singh dev ji (1666-1708 AD) was the last and 10th guru of Sikhs, was born in Patna. He was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur (the 9th Sikh Guru) and Mata Gujri. At the end of his life, he passed the Guruship of the Sikhs to the Eleventh and Eternal Sikh Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
9. Who among the following authors wrote “Mintakhab-ul-Tawarikh”?
[A] Kamgar Khan
[B] Abdul Qadir Badyuni
[C] Khafi Khan
[D] Mutamid Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Abdul Qadir Badyuni]
Notes:
An Indo-Persian historian and translator, Mullah Abdul Qadir Badyuni composed Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh (Selection of Chronicles) or Tarikh-i-Bada’uni (Bada’uni’s History) in 1595 AD. The work is compiled in three volumes viz. the first volume contains an account of Babur and Humayun, the second volume exclusively deals with Akbar’s reign up to 1595 AD and the third volume describes the lives and works of Muslim religious figures,scholars, physicians and poets
10. With reference to Indian culture, what is Nabakalebara?
[A] An annual Hindu festival held in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram
[B] A festival observed in the Jagannath Temple at Puri.
[C] A festival held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti at Sagardwip Island near Kolkata.
[D] A festival observed once in six years at Ganga Ghats, of Varanasi.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A festival observed in the Jagannath Temple at Puri.]
Notes:
Nabakalebara is a festival observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri. It marks a symbolic recreation of wooden forms of the four deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana at Jagannath temple. The occasion occurs every 12th or 19th year of the previous Nabakalebara. The event was in news because Department of Economic Affairs says that coins minted in July 2015, have Lord Jagannath”s depiction incorrect, and calls for more designs.
