1. Which among the following ancient authors has complained of the drain of gold to India (due to trade hegemony of ancient India)?
[A] Ptolemy
[B] Nero
[C] Strabo
[D] Pliny
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Pliny]
Notes:
The lamentation of the Roman writer Pliny in the 1st century A.D refers to heavy drain of Gold from Roman into India in payment of her imports from India. He writes that the drain of Gold is in return for unproductive luxuries. The Roman gold and silver were steadily drained into South India in exchange not only for spices, but also muslin, silk and other costly luxuries.
2. Ramman is a religious festival and ritual theatre of ____?
[A] Uttarkhand
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] West Bengal
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttarkhand ]
Notes:
Ramman is a religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal region, Uttarkhand. It is a festival of the Hindu community in the Saloor Dungra village in the Chamoli district of Uttarkhand. The festival and the eponymous art form are conducted as an offering to the village deity, Bhumiyal Devta.
3. Which among the following philosophy deals with Logic?
[A] Yoga
[B] Samkhya
[C] Nyaya
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nyaya]
Notes:
Nyāya is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hinduism.The school’s most significant contributions to Indian philosophy was systematic development of the theory of logic, methodology, and its treatises on epistemology.
4. Which among the following are called Dharamchakra ?
[A] The chakra which is a weapon of lord Vishnu in Hindu Mythology
[B] The first sermon of Mahavira Jain
[C] The chakra which has 24 spokes in the central white band in Indian Flag
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The chakra which has 24 spokes in the central white band in Indian Flag]
Notes:
The Ashoka Chakra is a depiction of the Dharma Chakra which has 24 spokes in the central white band in Indian Flag. The circular Ashoka Chakra represents the progressiveness of the country.
5. Sidi Bashir Mosque is located at:
[A] Ahmedabad
[B] Delhi
[C] Jaipur
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ahmedabad]
Notes:
The mosque is also called Jhulta Minar or Shaking Minarets.
6. The oldest recorded Indian Music dates back to 1902 when India’s first disc featured a khayal in Raag Jogiya by one of these singers. Identify the singer:
[A] Abdul Wahid Khan
[B] Govindrao Tembe
[C] Gauhar Jan
[D] Abdul Karim Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gauhar Jan]
Notes:
Gauhar Jan, born as Angelina Yeoward, was of the foremost musicians in the Hindustani classical music tradition during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in India. She is known especially for her ghazal style and singing in several languages such as Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, and more. A critical performer in khyal style music, she was notable enough to perform in the first recording sessions held in India circa 1902.
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. Which museum was designed by George Witter and was formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum?
[A] Dr. Ambedkar Sanghralaya
[B] Mahatma Gandhi Sanghralaya
[C] Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya
[D] Veermata Sanghralaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya]
Notes:
The foundation for Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya museum was laid by the Prince of Wales in 1905 and the building was completed in 1914. It also served as a Military Hospital for a short while during the First World War. The museum has an impressive collection of Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 B.C. and Tibetan and Nepali art.
9. The world’s tallest statue of Mahatma Gandhi is in which of the following cities?
[A] Champaran
[B] Patna
[C] Lucknow
[D] Rajkot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Patna]
Notes:
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi Maidan, Patna, is a public monument of India’s father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi. The statue is the world’s tallest bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
10. Who among the following introduced the famous Persian Festival of NAUROJ in India? (UPSC Prelims 1993)
[A] Balban
[B] Iltutmish
[C] Firuz Tughlaq
[D] Ala-ud-din Khilji
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Balban]
Notes:
Balban introduced festival of Nauroz – Art & Culture. Balban also introduced the Persian festival of Nauroz to impress the nobles and people with his wealth and power.
