1. Who among the following was propounder of the Madhyamika Philosophy?
[A] Bhadrabahu
[B] Parshwanath
[C] Sheelbhadra
[D] Nagarjuna
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Nagarjuna ]
Notes:
Nagarjuna (ca. 2nd or 3rd century) was a patriarch of Mahayana and the founder of Madhyamika School.
2. The first novel written by Sunil Gangopadhyay is :
[A] Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation)
[B] Pratham Alo (First Light)
[C] Purba Pachim (East and West)
[D] Shei Shomay (Those Days)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation)]
Notes:
Starting off his six-decade literary career as a bohemian poet and editor of Kritibas, a monthly poetry magazine, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote his first novel, Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation), at the behest of the editor of the hugely popular periodical Desh for its special Durga Puja edition. Two of the most critically acclaimed films of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray — Pratidwandi and Aranyer Din Ratri — were based on novels written by him.
3. Dr M Balmuralikrishna was a renowned artist of ______?
[A] Hindustani Vocal
[B] Carnatic Vocal
[C] Dhrupad Style
[D] Carnatic Instrumental
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Carnatic Vocal]
Notes:
Dr M Balmuralikrishna was a famous Carnatic vocalist. He belongs to Tamil Nadu. He died in 2016.
4. Which among the following material was used in Mathura School of Art?
[A] Granite
[B] White marble
[C] Slate
[D] Red Sandstone
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Red Sandstone]
Notes:
Red Sandstone is the material used in Mathura School of Art. The Gandhara School of art is made of grey sandstone.
5. Navalinga Temples, the nine temples cluster of the 9th century built by the Amoghavarsha I of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty was located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharastra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
The Navalinga temple cluster is located in Kukkanur town of Karnataka. This 9th century complex was built during the reign of King Amoghavarsha I or his son Krishna II of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. They are build in Dravidian style.
6. ‘BHAGORIA’ is the traditional folk dance of which tribe?
[A] Bhil
[B] Gond
[C] Korku
[D] Baiga
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bhil]
Notes:
Tribal dance forms are Karma and Saili (Gonds), Bhagoria (Bhils), Lehangi (Saharias) and Thaapti (Kokru), Pardhauni (Baiga).
7. Who among the following wrote first Novel in Telugu?
[A] Veeresalingam
[B] Venkataratnam Pantulu
[C] Gurazada Apparao
[D] Srisri
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Veeresalingam]
Notes:
Rajasekhara Chairtram was the first novel in Telugu. It was written by Veeresalingam.
8. Which of the following Sikh guru established Akal Takht ?
[A] Guru Hargovind
[B] Guru Nanak
[C] Guru Govind Singh
[D] Guru Arjun Dev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Hargovind]
Notes:
The Akal Takht ((the throne of the timeless God) was built by the 6th Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji as a symbol of political sovereignty and where spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh people could be addressed.
9. Which of the following festivals in also known as Kumbh of the Himalayas?
[A] Naropa Festival
[B] Losar Festival
[C] Nawala Festival
[D] Huri-Atham Festival
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Naropa Festival]
Notes:
Naropa festival is a celebration of the 1,000th birth anniversary of the great Indian saint Naropa. It is celebrated in the Hemis monastery of Drukpa lineage. More than 200,000 devotees, mainly from Ladakh, Bhutan and Nepal, attend the week-long celebrations. It is called Kumbh of the Himalayas because this opportunity comes only once in 12 years.
10. Shahtoosh is the name given to a specific kind of shawl, made from hair of __:
[A] Tibetan Antelope
[B] Snow Leopard
[C] Himalayan Wild Yak
[D] Black Bear
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Tibetan Antelope]
Notes:
Shahtoosh is the name given to a specific kind of shawl, which is woven with the down hair of the Tibetan antelope (chiru), by master weavers of Kashmir. The Shahtoosh shawl is now a banned item with possession and sale being illegal in most countries for the Chiru is an endangered species under CITES.
