1. Who built a temple of Augustus at Muzris?
[A] Romans
[B] Cholas
[C] Pandyas
[D] Cheras
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Romans ]
Notes:
Muzris was an ancient port city in what is now the modern state of Kerala. It was an important trading center in antiquity. There are indications that there may have been a temple dedicated to the Roman emperor Augustus built at Muzris during his reign, reflecting the trade connections between Rome and southern India at that time. However, the exact details and nature of this temple are not well attested in the available historical sources.
2. Who among the following got the Mahabharata translated into Persian and named it as ‘Razmnama’ ?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Akbar]
Notes:
The Mahabharata was translated into Persian at Akbar’s orders, by Faizi and `Abd al-Qadir Bada’uni (c. 1540 – 1615) and named Razmnameh.
3. After a defeat in prolonged debate on Vedic philosophies, who among the following is known to have become disciple of Adi Sankara and later became first head of Sringeri Mutt?
[A] Hastamalaka
[B] Totakacharya
[C] Padmapada
[D] Madana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madana]
Notes:
Madana Misra was defeated in a debate by his contemporary ,Adi Shankara. He is said to have become a disciple of Adi Sankara. Maṇḍana Miśra’s wife was Ubhaya Bharati.
4. The terms Udara, Mudara and Tara are related to which among the following as per the ancient Indian texts?
[A] Medicines
[B] Gods
[C] Music
[D] Millitary science
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Music]
Notes:
The terms Udara, Mudara and Tara are related to Music as per the ancient Indian Texts. They are the important terms related to the music connotations.
5. Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu were teachers and composers related to which of the following dance in India?
[A] Kathakali
[B] Bharatnatyam
[C] Mohiniattam
[D] Kuchipudi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharatnatyam]
Notes:
Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu were teachers and composers of Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is composed by Bharata Muni. It has Bhavam Ragam and Talam.
6. Consider the following matches:
- Khudabaksh Oriental Library
- Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
- Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya
The states in which the above are located are as follows:
[A] Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[C] Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[D] Bihar, Sikkim, Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Khudabaksh Oriental Library – Patna,
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives-Dharamsala,
Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya – Bhopal
7. How many Indian languages are recognized by the Sahitya Akademi for its awards?
[A] 16
[B] 22
[C] 24
[D] 25
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [24]
Notes:
The Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, awards literary prizes in 24 languages recognized by the Academy. These languages are: Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Bishnupriya Manipuri.
8. The Muslim festival ‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to which among the following events of life of Prophet Mohammad?
[A] Birth of Prophet Mohammad
[B] Marriage of Prohet Mohammad
[C] Prophet Mohamad’s travel from Mecca to Medina
[D] Farewell Pilgrimage of Prophet Mohammad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Birth of Prophet Mohammad]
Notes:
‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to the birth of prophet Mohammad.
9. Which of the following is not a vedanga?
[A] Vyakarana
[B] Niruktas
[C] Jyotisa
[D] Brahmana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Brahmana]
Notes:
In Vedic literature the six Vedangas are: Siksa, Vyakarana, Chandas, Niruktas, Jyotisa and Kalpa. Brahmana is not a vedanga.
10. Which of the following are correctly matched?
1. Medha Patkar Environment Activist
2. Jamini Roy Painter
3. Bhuvaneshvari Kumari Squash player
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below: (UPSC Prelims 1992)
[A] 1 and 2
[B] 1 and 3
[C] 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
• Medha Patkar is an Indian social activist working on various crucial political and economical issues raised by tribals, dalits, farmers, labourers and women facing injustice in India. She is an alumnus of TISS, a premier institute of social science research in India.
• Jamini Roy was an Indian painter. He was honoured with the State award of Padma Bhushan in 1954.He was one of the most famous pupils of Rabindranath Tagore, whose artistic originality and contribution to the emergence of modern art in India remains unquestionable.
• Bhuvneshwari Kumari is a former women’s squash champion from India.
