1. Which among the following Sikh Gurus introduced the Gurmukhi Script?
[A] Guru Angad
[B] Guru Gobind Singh
[C] Guru Arjun Singh
[D] Guru Harrai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Angad]
Notes:
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak appointed Guru Angad (Lehna) as his successor and he was the second Guru of sikhs.
Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Guru Nanak, to which he added his own in a new script known as Gurmukhi.
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. Who among the following was the poets composed Sur Sagar?
[A] Surdas
[B] Mira Bai
[C] Jagjivan Das
[D] Kabir Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Surdas]
Notes:
Saint Surdas ji was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and Radha, known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. He composed Sur Sagar (Ocean of Melody), Sur Saravali and Sahitya Ratna. He was blind from birth belong to saguna school of Bhakti Kal.
4. Who among the following authors wrote “Chandayan”?
[A] Abdul Qadir Badyuni
[B] Mulla Daud
[C] Kamgar Khan
[D] Mutamid Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mulla Daud]
Notes:
Mulla Daud was the first poet in the ideology of Sufism belonged to Dalmau (Raebareli). His famous poem “Laur Chanda”( or Chandayan) was composed in Avadhi language in 14th century AD. It’s a love story of Norak and Chanda. He presented his work to his patron Jaunashah, who was a noble of Firoj Shah Tughlaq.
5. 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)
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(Instrument)
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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 (UPSC Prelims 1990)
[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”.
6. Who wrote the national anthem of India?
[A] Bankimchandra Chatterjee
[B] Rabindranath Tagore
[C] Jawaharlal Nehru
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rabindranath Tagore]
Notes:
The national anthem of India is called “Jana Gana Mana.” It was written by Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet and philosopher who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. The anthem was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on December 27, 1911. The lyrics of “Jana Gana Mana” are written in Bengali, and they pay tribute to the divine spirit that resides within all people and to the nation of India. The song has been translated into English, and it is widely sung and played at public events and ceremonies in India.
7. What is the national bird of India?
[A] Sparrow
[B] Cuckoo
[C] Peacock
[D] Hornbill
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Peacock]
Notes:
The national bird of India is the Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus), which is a brightly colored bird known for its elaborate plumage and distinctive call. The bird is sacred in Hinduism and is often associated with the god Krishna. It is also the national bird of several other countries, including Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
8. Which of the following writers have received the Jnanpith Award for Sanskrit literature?
[A] Satya Vrat Shastri
[B] Amarkant
[C] Sri Lal Sukla
[D] Pratibha Ray
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Satya Vrat Shastri ]
Notes:
Satya Vrat Shastri eceived the Jnanpith Award for Sanskrit literature in 2006. His notable works include Ramakirtimahakavyam, Brahattaram Bharatam, Sribodhisattvacharitam, Vaidika Vyakarana and Sarmanyadesah Sutram Vibhati.
9. By what other names has Advaita Vedanta historically been referred to?
[A] Abheda-darshana
[B] Dvaita-vada-pratisedha
[C] Kevala-dvaita
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [All of the above ]
Notes:
Vedanta literally means “the end of the Vedas” or “the ultimate knowledge of the Vedas”. The Advaita (Non-dualism) Vedanta philosophy has been referred to by various names, such as Advaita-vada (speaker of Advaita), Abheda-darshan (view of non-difference), Dvaita-vada-pratisedha (denial of dual distinctions), and Kevala-dvaita (non-dualism of the isolated).
10. Which poet is known as Kalidas of Bihar?
[A] Nagarjun
[B] Bhikhari Thakur
[C] Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
[D] Ramesh Chandra Jha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhikhari Thakur]
Notes:
Bhikhari Thakur is known as Kalidas of Bihar. Bhikari Thakur was an Indian Bhojpuri language poet, playwright, lyricist, actor, folk dancer, folk singer and social activist. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the Bhojpuri Langauage and most popular folk writer of Purvanchal and Bihar. He is also called as “Shakespeare of Bhojpuri” and “Rai Bahadur”.