1. Raut Nacha is folk dance performed mainly by the tribal communities of which state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Jammu & Kashmir
[C] Assam
[D] Chhattisgarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
Raut Nacha is a ceremonial dance performed mainly by the tribal community of Chhattisgarh. It is performed during the “dev udhni ekadashi”, after the Diwali festival. It is mainly performed by Yaduvanshis. The dance form carries with itself sacred mythological and religious traditions.
2. Which of the following religions “Tower of Silence ” is related to in India?
[A] Zoroastrians
[B] Christians
[C] Jews
[D] Muslims
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Zoroastrians]
Notes:
“Tower of Silence ” is related to Zorastrians. It is a circular, raised structure built by Zoroastrians for excarnation – that is, for dead bodies to be exposed to carrion birds, usually vultures.
3. Famous Mukheshawar Temple & Ananta Basudeva temple is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Odisha]
Notes:
Famous Mukheshawar Temple & Ananta Basudeva temple is located in Odisha. Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, India. The Mukteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the temple city of Bhubaneswar, is a delightful expression of Odiyan architecture.
4. Which among the following is correct about “My Dear Kuttichathan”?
[A] It was First Malayalam Movie of India
[B] It was First 3-D Movie of India
[C] It was first technicolor movie of India
[D] It was first film in 70 mm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [It was First 3-D Movie of India]
Notes:
My Dear Kuttichathan is a 1984 Malayalam-language film directed by Jijo Punnoose and produced by his father Navodaya Appachan. It was the first Indian film to be filmed in 3D format.
5. Which among the following is the keystone of the philosophy and thought of the Upanishads?
[A] Universal Truth
[B] Universal Knowledge
[C] Universal Soul
[D] Universal God
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Universal Soul]
Notes:
Universal soul is one of the main Keystone of the philosophy and the thought of the Upanishad. Brahma satyam Jagat Mitya Jeevo Bramanah Parah talks about the impermenance of the body and its existence.
6. Consider the following statements regarding Safdar Hashmi:
- He had Marxist affiliations.
- He wrote children’s poems.
- He was a street-play artiste.
- He was a well-known classical singer.
Of these statements (UPSC Prelims 1990)
[A] 1, 2 and 3 are correct
[B] 1, 2 and 4 are correct
[C] 1, 3 and 4 are correct
[D] 2, 3 and 4 are correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 3 are correct]
Notes:
Safdar Hashmi was a communist playwright and director. He was best known for his work with street theatre in India. He was also an actor, lyricist, and theorist, and he is still considered an important voice in Indian political theatre. He was an activist of the Students’ Federation of India.
7. Vande Mataram is composed in which language?
[A] Bengali
[B] Sanskrit
[C] Hindi
[D] Pali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sanskrit]
Notes:
Vande Mataram was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterjee, which inspired freedom fighters during the British rule.
8. Who was the first woman in India to get Ashok Chakra?
[A] Durga Banerjee
[B] Santhosh Yadhav
[C] Nirja Bhanot
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nirja Bhanot]
Notes:
Nirja Bhanot was the first woman in India to get Ashok Chakra and also the youngest person to receive the award.
9. Which one of the following dialect is similar to the old Maithili language?
[A] Bhojpuri
[B] Magahi
[C] Bajjika
[D] Angika
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Angika]
Notes:
Angika dialect is similar to the old Maithili language. Angika is the main language of the Bhagalpur district It is also called “Bhagalpuri”.
10. Consider the following Bengal playwrights:
- Michael Madhusudan Dutt
- Bankimchandra Chatterjee
- Rabindranath Tagore
- Saratchandra Chattopadhyaya
Which among the following is a correct set of their works respectively?
[A] Kapalkundala, Bou Thakuranir Hat, Datta, Meghanathabad Kavya
[B] Kapalkundala, Meghanathabad Kavya, Bou Thakuranir Hat, Datta
[C] Meghanathabad Kavya, Bou Thakuranir Hat, Datta,Kapalkundala,
[D] Meghanathabad Kavya, Kapalkundala, Bou Thakuranir Hat, Datta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Meghanathabad Kavya, Kapalkundala, Bou Thakuranir Hat, Datta]
Notes:
- Michael Madhusudan Dutt: He was known for developing Amritakshar Channde which is a meter. He is also known for developing his own Bengali, in which he borrowed difficult works from Sanskrit. The most famous epic of Bengali is Meghanadabad kavya and it was written by him. His long English poem the Captive Lady is also famous.
- Bankimchandra Chatterjee Rajmohan’s wife was his first fiction that appeared in print. This was in English. Durgeshnandini was his first Bengali novel which was a romantic treatise. Kapalkundala was his second and one of the best romance novels.
- Rabindranath Tagore Bou Thakuranir Hat means Daughter-in-laws market. It was the first full-fledged novel of Rabindranath Tagore, written in 1883.
- Saratchandra Chattopadhyaya Datta is a novel written by Saratchandra. This story depicts the story of a girl whose father promised her hand to a friend’s son, when both the boy and girl were not even born by that time. 2011 film Aalo Chhaya is based upon its story.
