1. Which among the following Kings built the Kailashnath Temple of Ellora ?
[A] Rashtrakuta king Krishna I
[B] Narasimhavarman II
[C] Rashtrakuta king Krishna II
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rashtrakuta king Krishna I]
Notes:
Rashtrakuta king, krishna-1 had built the kailash temple of ellora. It is considered as the wonder of rock-out architecture. Kailasanath Temple is a famous temple, one of the 34 monasteries and temples, known collectively as the Ellora Caves, extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India.
2. Which among the following is incorrectly matched?
[A] Thyagaraja Festival – Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu
[B] Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh
[C] Pooram – Kerala
[D] Teej- Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Mahamastakabhisheka holds in Karnataka only and holds for once in 12 years
3. “Matrimandir” is located in:
[A] Pondicherry
[B] Chennai
[C] Panaji
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pondicherry]
Notes:
Matrimandir is a spiritual center located in Auroville, in the Union Territory of Puducherry, which is also known as Pondicherry. It is situated in the southern part of India, about 160 kilometers south of Chennai. Auroville was founded in 1968 as an experiment in human unity and international understanding, and it is home to people from over 50 different countries. The Matrimandir is a central feature of Auroville and is considered a symbol of the town’s spiritual and philosophical ideals.
4. Today’s Gurmukhi, Dogri and Sindhi scripts have developed from which among the following scripts?
[A] Brahmi Script
[B] Śāradā script
[C] Tankari Script
[D] Kushana Script
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Śāradā script]
Notes:
Śāradā is a script of the Brahmic family of scripts, developed around the 8th century. It was used for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri. The Gurmukhī script was developed from Śāradā by Guru Angad. Originally more widespread, its use became later restricted to Kashmir, and it is now rarely used except by the Kashmiri Pandit community for ceremonial purposes. There are several variants of Śāradā Scripts such as Takkari or Tankari which is the parent of the Dogri script, Kului script (Kullu in Himachal Pradesh), Chameali Script (in Chamba Himachal Pradesh), Sindhi, Bania of Punjab etc.
5. With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is “Huyen Langlon”?
[A] It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India
[B] It is an Indian martial art from Manipur
[C] It is a stick dance native to Andhra Pradesh
[D] It is a Clay relief work, a unique form of art practiced by tribal women in the Kutch area
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [It is an Indian martial art from Manipur]
Notes:Huyen Langlon is an Indian martial art that originated in Manipur. The name comes from the Meitei language, where “huyen” means “war” and “langlon” means “knowledge” or “art”.
There are two main components to the sport:
- Thang-ta: Armed combat
- Sarit sarak: Unarmed fighting
The primary weapons used in Huyen Langlon are the thang (sword) and ta (spear). Other weapons include the shield and the axe. According to local legends, the art form originated from Tin Sidaba, the creator of the Meitei people. The British banned the art during the Anglo-Manipur War in 1891, but it was reintroduced by Maharaja Churachand in 1934.
6. For the first time, Indian Music genres were divided into Marga Sangeet (Classical Music) and Desi Sangeet (Folk Music) by __?
[A] Natyashashtra
[B] Brihaddeshi
[C] Sangeet Ratnakara
[D] Sangeet Martand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brihaddeshi]
Notes:
In post Gupta period, a great treatise only after Natya Shastra was composed in Sanskrit as Brihaddeshi by Matanga Muni. Brihaddeshi is the first text that speaks about raga and distinguishes the music genres into Marga Sangeet (Classical Music) and Desi Sangeet (Folk Music). Brihaddeshi was also the important work on Indian music before the Islam came and influenced the Indian music. Brihaddeshi was based upon the Natya Shastra itself and has clarified many things which were unclear in the Bharata’s text.
7. In context to Buddhist Architecture, a harmika is:
[A] the top railing of a stupa
[B] a square base or foundation corresponding to earth
[C] is a monumental tower at the entrance of a vihara
[D] circular basal rings over which stupa is constructed
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ the top railing of a stupa]
Notes:
First option is the correct answer. The harmika is the top railing of stupa.
8. Who among the following is a famous santoor player?
[A] Hari Prasad Chaurasia
[B] Ravi Shankar
[C] ZakirHussain
[D] ShivKumar Sharma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ShivKumar Sharma]
Notes:
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is an Indian music composer and santoor player from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The santoor is a folk instrument. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is a very famous classical musician who has acquired international fame by playing the classical instrument, Santoor.
9. Which of the following presents the most significant features of Indus Valley Civilization?
[A] Buildings with perfect arches
[B] Use of burnt mud bricks
[C] Use of sun dried mud bricks
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Use of burnt mud bricks]
Notes:
The main towns of Indus valley civilization were Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan, Lothal. The significant features of Indus Valley civilization are personal cleanliness, town planning, construction of burnt-brick houses, ceramics, casting, forging of metals, manufacturing of cotton and woolen textiles.
10. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below them:
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List I
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List II
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(Artiste)
|
(Instrument)
|
|
A. Sadiq Ali Khan
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1. Veena
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B. V. G. Jog
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2. Sarod
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C. Ali Akbar Khan
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3. Flute
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D. Pannalal Ghosh
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4. Violin
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A B C D
[A] 1 4 2 3
[B] 2 1 3 4
[C] 4 3 1 2
[D] 1 3 2 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 4 2 3]
Notes:
• Sadiq Ali Khan was a renowned Veena player. He was born in Jaipur. He died in Rampur on July 17, 1964.
• Vishnu Govind Jog was better known as V. G. Jog. He was an Indian violinist. He was the foremost exponent of the violin in the Hindustani music tradition in the 20th century, and is credited for introducing this instrument into Hindustani music.
• Ali Akbar Khan was an Indian Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana. He was known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod. Trained as a classical musician and instrumentalist by his father, Allauddin Khan, he also composed numerous classical ragas and film scores.
• Pannalal Ghosh was also known as AmalJyoti Ghosh. He was an Indian flute player and composer. He was a disciple of Allauddin Khan, and is credited with popularizing the flute as a concert instrument in Hindustani classical music and also the “Pioneer of Indian Classical Flute”.