1. Shaphee Lanphee, a traditional textile fabric, is a GI product from which of the following states?
[A] Assam
[B] Manipur
[C] Jammu & Kashmir
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Manipur]
Notes:
Shaphee Lanphee is a traditional textile fabric woven and embroidered by Meitei women of Manipur. The fabric was, in the past, presented as a gift of honour (Mana Phee) to the soldiers for their bravery in a successful war, and to the praise-worthy chiefs of the Nagas of Manipur by the king of Manipur.
2. Which among the following was India’s first indigenously made color film.?
[A] Mughal-e-Azam
[B] Kisan Kanya
[C] Devdas
[D] Daulat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kisan Kanya]
Notes:
Kisan Kanya written by saadat Hassan manto and produced by Ardeshir Irani
3. In which of the following fields Moortidevi Award is conferred?
[A] Science & Technology
[B] Law
[C] Literature
[D] Social Services
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Literature]
Notes:
Moortidevi Award is given by Bharatiya Jnanpith to Indian writers writing in 22 Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution and English. It was instituted in 1961 but was first given in 1983. The first recipient of the award was the Kannada writer C. K. Nagaraja Rao (1983) for his novel, Pattamahadevi Shantala Devi.
4. The holy text of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is written in which script?
[A] Urdu
[B] Bihari
[C] Gurmukhi
[D] Farsi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gurmukhi]
Notes:
The Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi and has 1,430 pages. It contains 5,894 hymns arranged into 31 musical groupings.The fifth Gurus of Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev ji laid the foundation of holy book of Sikhs , Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi granth). It is a compilation of teachings and writings by Guru Nanak dev ji and other Sikh Gurus in addition to the Hindu and Muslim saints.
5. With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is Kayotsarga?
[A] Meditation technique
[B] Martial art
[C] Buddhist festival
[D] Style of temple architecture in India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Meditation technique]
Notes:
Kayotsarga is a yogic posture or meditation technique which is an important part of the Jain meditation. Kayotsarga means to give up one's physical comfort and body movements, thus staying steady, either in a standing or other posture, and concentrating upon the true nature of the soul.
6. Which of the following musical instruments is NOT of foreign origin?
[A] Flute
[B] Sitar
[C] Violin
[D] Tabla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Flute]
Notes:
A bansuri is a side blown flute originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is an aerophone produced from bamboo.It is one of the most common instruments in the North Indian or Hindustani classical music.
7. In which of these places, is the Kumbh Mela celebrated?
[A] Haridwar
[B] Bhopal
[C] Surat
[D] Thiruvananthapuram
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Haridwar]
Notes:
The Kumbh Mela at Haridwar is a mela held every 12 years at Haridwar, India. The exact date is determined according to Hindu astrology: the Mela is held when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the sun enters Aries. An Ardh Kumbh Mela is held six years after a Kumbh Mela.
8. Who among the following built the Konark’s Sun Temple?
[A] Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva
[B] Narasimhadeva I
[C] Kapilendra Deva Routaray
[D] Purushottam Dev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Narasimhadeva I]
Notes:
Based on Brahmin beliefs, Konark’s Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (1238-1250 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty and dedicated to Sun God Surya.
9. Consider the following pairs:
- Yamini Krishna Murthy : Vocalist
- M.S Subbulakshmi : Musician
- Vishnu Diganbar paluskar : Bharatnatyam
- Pt. Shivkumar Sharma : Santoor
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[A] 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
[B] 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a
[C] 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c
[D] 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d]
Notes:
- Yamini Krishna Murthy is renowned for Bharatnatyam, a classical Indian dance form, so she is incorrectly matched with ‘Vocalist’ but correctly matched with ‘Bharatnatyam’.
- M.S. Subbulakshmi is celebrated as a vocalist; therefore, she is incorrectly matched with ‘Musician’ but correctly matched with ‘Vocalist’.
- Vishnu Digambar Paluskar is a pivotal musician and educator in Hindustani classical music; therefore, he is incorrectly matched with ‘Bharatnatyam’ but correctly matched with ‘Musician’.
- Pt. Shivkumar Sharma is a master of the santoor, so he is correctly matched.
10. Jainism differed from Buddhism in which of the following aspects? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Faith in Karma
[B] Doctrine of Ahimsa
[C] Belief in fasting
[D] Rejection of Yagna
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Belief in fasting]
Notes:
According to Buddhist Sangha is proper for attainment of Moksha and they hate self-mortifications and severe penances. Jainism believes in fasts and severest penances. Buddhists do not believe in the existence of soul whereas Jainism believes the existence of soul in every living being.
