1. Which among the following is the most famous Bronze Image of Chola Period?
[A] Murugan
[B] Nataraja
[C] Venkateshwar
[D] Vishunu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nataraja]
Notes:
Chola art: The most famous of all the bronze icons is that of Nataraja, the Divine Dancer. The symbolism presents Siva as lord of the cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
2. Famous monument Rumi Darwaja is located in which city?
[A] Bulandshahar
[B] Bhopal
[C] Lucknow
[D] Murshidabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Lucknow]
Notes:
The Rumi Darwaza was built under the patronage of Nawab Asaf-Ud-daula in 1784 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is an example of Awadhi architecture.
3. Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (sky) these are the panchtatvas (5 elements) and when they combine they give rise to new objects. This is a principle of which of the Vedic philosophies?
[A] Sankhya
[B] Yoga
[C] Vaisheshika
[D] Advita
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vaisheshika]
Notes:
Vaisheshika is one of the six schools of Indian philosophy from ancient India. It is the theory of logic. In its early stages, the Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology.
4. 1996 was UN’s fiftieth anniversary year and this year was declared by United nations as “Year for Tolerance”. The same time frame also coincided with 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In this connection, UNESCO had established a new award in the name of an Indian philanthropist for Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence. Who is this Indian philanthropist?
[A] Aga Khan III
[B] Dinshah Irani
[C] Ghanshyam Das Birla
[D] Madanjeet Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madanjeet Singh]
Notes:
The correct answer is Madanjeet Singh. In 1995, UNESCO established the “Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence” to honor his contributions to peace and tolerance. Singh was an Indian diplomat and a prominent advocate for non-violence, aligning with the UN’s declaration of 1995 as the “Year for Tolerance” and the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who is renowned for his philosophy of non-violence.
5. Who among the following is known to compose ‘Veeron Ka Kaisa Ho Basant’?
[A] Subhadra Kumari chauhan
[B] Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi
[C] Harishankar Parsai
[D] Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Subhadra Kumari chauhan ]
Notes:
‘Subhadra kumari chauhan’ was an Indian poet famous for Hindi poems composed primarily in Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras.Her most famous composition is Jhansi Ki Rani, an emotionally charged poem describing the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai. The poem is one of the most recited and sung poems in Hindi literature.
6. Who among the following was the author of ‘Harivilasam’ ?
[A] Srinatha
[B] Potana
[C] Redas
[D] Tiruvallar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Srinatha]
Notes:
Srinatha was the author of ‘Harivilasam’. He was a well-known 15th-century Telugu poet and was respected as Kavi Sarvabhouma (King of poets) wrote many on the subjects of history and mythology.
7. Which of the following is not a correct statement about Buddhist Canonical literature?
[A] Abhidhamma Pitaka was compiled in third Buddhist Council
[B] Digha Nikaya is a part of the Sutta Pitaka
[C] Vinaya Pitaka primarily deals with monastic rules for monks and nuns
[D] Sutta Pitaka deals with philosophy and psychology and lays down methods for training the mind.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Sutta Pitaka deals with philosophy and psychology and lays down methods for training the mind. ]
Notes:
Abhidhamma Pitaka is the third and latest of the Pali canonical texts recognized in the early Buddhist Theravāda tradition. Its compilation is dated to the third Buddhist Council, held during the reign of the Mauryan emperor Asoka, that is, c. third century BCE. The text focuses on philosophy and psychology and lays down methods for training the mind.
8. Gudiya Govarhar, Khandar, Dagar & Nauhar are four distinct gharanas of _?
[A] Dhrupad
[B] Thumri
[C] Khayal
[D] Dhamar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Dhrupad]
Notes:
Dhrupad was developed as a part of worship in temples and various rituals such as yajnas. Gudiya Govarhar, Khandar, Dagar & Nauhar are four distinct gharanas of Dhrupad.
9. The famous Kolayat Fair is celebrated in which state of India?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Rajasthan]
Notes:
Kolayat fair is annually held on Kartik Purnima tithi, or the full moon day, in Kartik month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar in Rajasthan. The fair is held on the banks of a lake located at Kolayat near Bikaner in Rajasthan.
10. Who among the following is associated with a film on Mahatma Gandhi? (UPSC Prelims 1982)
[A] Richard Attenborough
[B] Satyajit Ray
[C] George Baker
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Richard Attenborough]
Notes:
The film on Mahatama Gandhi was written by John Briley and produced and directed by Richard Attenborough. It stars Ben Kingsley in the title role of Gandhiji.
