1. Which among the following Sikh Gurus introduced the Gurmukhi Script?
[A] Guru Angad
[B] Guru Gobind Singh
[C] Guru Arjun Singh
[D] Guru Harrai
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Correct Answer: A [Guru Angad]
Notes:
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak appointed Guru Angad (Lehna) as his successor and he was the second Guru of sikhs.
Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Guru Nanak, to which he added his own in a new script known as Gurmukhi.
2. The famous Nabakalebara festival belongs to which of the following states?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Odisha
[C] Bihar
[D] Assam
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Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Nabakalebara festival is an ancient ritual that is observed in most of the Jaganath temples, Odisha. In this festival, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by new idols. Nabakalebara is usually comes in every twelve to nineteen years based on the auspicious two months of Ashadha as per the Hindu calendar.
3. At which of the following places a Farm Radio was established as a Joint venture between All India Radio and UNESCO in 1956 for the purpose of broadcasting programmes related to agriculture?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Nagpur
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Pune
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Pune]
Notes:
The correct answer is Pune. In 1956, a Farm Radio was established in Pune as a joint venture between All India Radio and UNESCO. This initiative aimed to disseminate agricultural knowledge and practices to farmers, enhancing rural development. Pune was chosen due to its proximity to agricultural research institutions, making it an ideal location for such educational broadcasts.
4. The annual “Royal Kathima Ceremony” is associated with which of the following religions?
[A] Jainism
[B] Buddhism
[C] Parsi
[D] Sikhism
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Correct Answer: B [Buddhism]
Notes:
The Royal Kathina Ceremony is observed every year by Buddhist. It is observed in only one Buddhist temple outside Thailand and this year the Namphake Buddhist temple of Assam was selected. Kathina offering is an ancient Buddhist Tradition of offering special robe and other necessities to monks who maintain strict discipline of retreat during the rainy season. The main purpose of the ceremony is not merely for religious belief but also to strengthen the relationship between Thailand and other countries.
5. The “Nayanars” from ancient times were primarily associated with which Hindu deity?
[A] Vishnu
[B] Shiva
[C] Hanuman
[D] Ganesh
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Correct Answer: B [Shiva]
Notes:
The Nayanars were a group of 63 saints specifically associated with Lord Shiva. They were notable figures in Tamil Nadu who propagated the Bhakti Movement with their devotional teachings, poetic expressions, and fervor for their deity. Their heartfelt verses are renowned in Tamil literature. This period marked a significant transition from ritualistic worship towards a more personal and emotional approach towards divinity, contributing significantly to the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tamil Nadu.
6. Who among the following Sikh Gurus struggled against Sati system and Pardah System ?
[A] Guru Nanak
[B] Guru Amardas
[C] Guru Hargovind
[D] Guru Teg Bahadur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guru Amardas]
Notes:
Guru Amar Das ji, the 3rd guru of Sikhs, raised the status of women and gave them equality with men. Excerpts of the works contributed by him for the society are as follows:
a) Strictly prohibited the practice of Sati system and Pardah System.
b) Started the langar ( or community kitchen) to abolish caste system.
c) Started the Manji and Piri system by appointing 94 men as Manji and 52 women as Piris to spread Sikhism.
d) Composed Anand Sahib, a part of the Nitnem (daily prayers).
7. Which among the following ancient Indian scriptures are characterized by five characteristics or Pancha-Lakshana viz., history, cosmology (with various symbolical illustrations of philosophical principles), secondary creation, genealogy of kings and of Manvantaras?
[A] Itihasas
[B] Agamas
[C] Puranas
[D] Subhasitas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Puranas
]
Notes:
The Puranas are of the same class as the Itihasas. They have five characteristics (Pancha-Lakshana) viz., history, cosmology (with various symbolical illustrations of philosophical principles), secondary creation, genealogy of kings and of Manvantaras. All the Puranas belong to the class of Suhrit-Samhitas.
8. Odhra Magadha is the precursor to which Indian dance form?
[A] Kuchipudi
[B] Kathak
[C] Odissi
[D] Bharatnatyam
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Correct Answer: C [Odissi]
Notes:
Odissi is a dance of love and passion touching on the divine and the human, the sublime and the mundane. The Natya Shastra mentions many regional varieties, such as the south-eastern style known as the Odhra Magadha which can be identified as the earliest precursor of present day Odissi.
9. Jatra is a traditional theatre form of which of the following states of India?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Bihar
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Correct Answer: A [West Bengal]
Notes:
Jatra is a popular folk-theatre form of Bengali theatre, spread throughout most of Bengali speaking areas of the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Indian state of West Bengal.
10. Which of the following temples is named after the craftsman who built it?
[A] Lepakshi Temple, Andhra Pradesh
[B] Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna, Karnataka
[C] Ramappa Temple, Telangana
[D] Mukteshwar Temple, Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ramappa Temple, Telangana]
Notes:
Ramappa Temple is also known as the Ramalingeswara temple. The temple is named after the sculptor Ramappa, who built it and is perhaps the only temple in India to be named after a craftsman who built it rather than the king who commissioned it or its presiding deity. The temple is located in a valley at Palampet village,near Warangal, Telangana. An inscription in the temple dates it to the year 1213 AD, during the period of the Kakatiya Dynasty rule.