1. Where is Largest Monastery in India?
[A] Jetavana
[B] Kardang Monastery
[C] Tawang Monasatery
[D] Zang Dhok Palri Phodang
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tawang Monasatery]
Notes:
Tawang monastery is the largest of its kind in the country and is one of the largest monasteries in Asia. It is said to be one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries in the world outside of Lhasa, Tibet. It is also known by another Tibetan name, ‘Galden Namgey Lhatse’, which means ‘celestial paradise in a clear night’.
2. To which of the following parvas of Mahabharata, Bhagvatgita Belongs?
[A] Vana parva
[B] Bhishma parva
[C] Drone Parva
[D] Shanti parva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhishma parva]
Notes:
Bhagvatgita belongs to Bhishma parva. There are total in 18 parvas in Mahabharata.
3. Famous Mukheshawar Temple & Ananta Basudeva temple is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Odisha]
Notes:
Famous Mukheshawar Temple & Ananta Basudeva temple is located in Odisha. Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, India. The Mukteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the temple city of Bhubaneswar, is a delightful expression of Odiyan architecture.
4. Ashtadhyayi, Mahabhasya & Nirkuta are related to which of the following?
[A] Music
[B] Grammar
[C] Philosophy
[D] Music
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Grammar]
Notes:
Ashtadhyayi is a sanskrit treatise on grammar. It was written in the 6th to 5th century bce by the Indian grammarian Panini.
The Mahābhāsya is attributed to Patañjali, is a commentary on selected rules of Sanskrit grammar from Paṇini’s treatise. It is dated to the 2nd century BCE.
Nirukta means “explained, interpreted” and refers to one of the six ancient Vedangas. Nirukta covers etymology, and is the study concerned with correct interpretation of Sanskrit words in the Vedas.
5. 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.
6. With reference to Indian culture, what is Nabakalebara?
[A] An annual Hindu festival held in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram
[B] A festival observed in the Jagannath Temple at Puri.
[C] A festival held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti at Sagardwip Island near Kolkata.
[D] A festival observed once in six years at Ganga Ghats, of Varanasi.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A festival observed in the Jagannath Temple at Puri.]
Notes:
Nabakalebara is a festival observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri. It marks a symbolic recreation of wooden forms of the four deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana at Jagannath temple. The occasion occurs every 12th or 19th year of the previous Nabakalebara. The event was in news because Department of Economic Affairs says that coins minted in July 2015, have Lord Jagannath”s depiction incorrect, and calls for more designs.
7. Which of the following is not a colour code of heritage sites/monuments to be adopted by “monument mitras” under “Adopt a Heritage Project” launched by the Ministry of Tourism?
[A] Blue
[B] Green
[C] Red
[D] Orange
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Red]
Notes:
Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has launched “Adopt a Heritage Project” to provide world-class tourist facilities at the various natural/cultural heritage sites, monuments and other tourist sites in the country. The programme aims to make the sites tourist friendly, enhance their tourist potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner across the country. The heritage sites/monuments enlisted are categorized as green, blue and orange on the basis of tourist footfall and visibility. As a part of project guidelines, it is mandatory for Monument Mitra, who is opting for a monument from green category to choose at least one site from either orange or blue category.
8. In which of the following areas, “Garba” dance form is common?
[A] Punjab
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Gujarat]
Notes:
Garba is a form of dance which originated in the state of Gujarat in India. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term Garbha and Deep. Many traditional garbas are performed around centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti.
9. Gandhara art is a combination of which of the following styles?
[A] Indian Style + Kushan Style
[B] Greek Style + Kushan Style
[C] Indian Style + Greek Style
[D] Indian Style + Persian Style
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Style + Kushan Style]
Notes:
Gandhara art, style of Buddhist visual art that developed in what is now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century bce and the 7th century bce. It is a combination of Indian style and Kushan style.
10. Sishu is the literary work of which of the following Indian authors?
[A] Arundhati Roy
[B] Vikram Seth
[C] Rabindranath Tagore
[D] Jawaharlal Nehru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rabindranath Tagore]
Notes:
Rabindranath Tagore FRAS, also known by his sobriquets Gurudev, Kabiguru, and Biswakabi, was a Bengali polymath, poet, musician, and artist from the Indian subcontinent. He was the author of the literary work ‘Sishu’.