1. The famous Nabakalebara festival belongs to which of the following states?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Odisha
[C] Bihar
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Nabakalebara festival is an ancient ritual that is observed in most of the Jaganath temples, Odisha. In this festival, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by new idols. Nabakalebara is usually comes in every twelve to nineteen years based on the auspicious two months of Ashadha as per the Hindu calendar.
2. Consider the following matches:
- Khudabaksh Oriental Library
- Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
- Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya
The states in which the above are located are as follows:
[A] Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[C] Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[D] Bihar, Sikkim, Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Khudabaksh Oriental Library – Patna,
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives-Dharamsala,
Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya – Bhopal
3. The temple architecture of which among the following has shown a transition from the Rock Cut Architecture to the Stone built temples?
[A] Cholas
[B] Cheras
[C] Chalukyas
[D] Pallavas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Pallavas]
Notes:
The Pallava architecture shows the transition from the Rock Cut Architecture to the Stone built temples. § The earliest examples of the Pallava art are the rock cut temples of the 7th century AD, while the later examples are of structural temples built in 8th and 9th century. § The rock cut reliefs of the Pallavas are the earliest surviving royal portraits after the Kushana images. § At the end of 6th century, King Harsha ruled in the North and he patronized the Buddhist Institutions. In South, Pallavas expanded themselves from the much of the Andhra Pradesh of today to much of Tamil Nadu. The Pallava Kings are known to be one of the greatest patrons of the art, music, architecture, dance and literature. King Mahendravarman was a poet and a playwright who wrote a satire on contemporary life titled “Mattavilasa Prahasana”. Another King of Pallava Dynasty named Rajsimha (Narsimhamvaraman) was such a great lover of art that he used the title “Kalasamudra” for himself.
4. Natwari Nritya is associated to which of the following classical dance forms?
[A] Kathak
[B] Kathakali
[C] Kuchipudi
[D] Bharatanatyam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Kathak]
Notes:
"Natwari Nritya" is also known as the dance of Krishna. Natwar is another name for Krishna.
5. Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula are three distinct types of temples associated to _?
[A] Pallava architecture
[B] Kalinga architecture
[C] Chola architecture
[D] Chalukyan architecture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kalinga architecture]
Notes:
Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula are three distinct types of temples associated to Kalinga architecture.
6. N Gopalaswami committee has been to set up for the promotion of which language?
[A] Sakskrit
[B] Urdu
[C] Sindhi
[D] Tamil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sakskrit]
Notes:
The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has set up a 13-member expert committee exclusively for promotion of the Sanskrit language. The committee is headed by N Gopalaswami, the former chief election commissioner (CEC) and now Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Tirupati. Other members of the panel include Bibek Debroy (NITI Aayog member), V V Bhat (former government of India secretary), Dr Ramadorai (Chairman of National Skill Development Corporation), Ramesh Bharadwaj (professor at Delhi University), Ved Prakash (UGC Chairman) and Chamu Krishna Shastri of the RSS-affiliated Samskrita Bharti. The committee will recommend measures to integrate the study of the Sanskrit language with other disciplines such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, medical science and law, and suggest changes in Sanskrit education in schools and universities and recommend ways to impart Sanskrit education through modern tools. The committee is also tasked with draw an action plan to develop the Sanskrit language in the next 10 years.
7. Bidriware derives its name from the town of Bidar. In which state is Bidar located?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
Bidriware is one of the most remarkable and intricate metal handicraft that is manufactured in the Bidar district of Karnataka. It was developed in the 14th century C.E. during the rule of the Bahamani Sultans. The term ‘Bidriware’ originates from the township of Bidar, which is still the chief centre for the manufacture of the unique metalware.
8. In which city can you find the mausoleum of Arjumand Banu Begum?
[A] Aurangabad
[B] Delhi
[C] Ujjain
[D] Agra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Agra]
Notes:
The Taj Mahal in Agra which was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628-58) for his favourite wife Arjumand Banu Begum upon her death in 1631. Mausoleum of Arjumand Banu Begum is in the central chamber of the tomb and decorated with peitra dura.
9. “Females are inferior to males,” said Aristotle. Actually, it is not true. The true statement would be that females are different from males. More research is required in this regard. What conclusions can be obtained from the above lines?
[A] Aristotle was a male chauvinist
[B] Females may be inferior to males
[C] Nothing can be said about the superiority of males unless research is done
[D] Research is required to clearly tell the differences between the males and the females
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Research is required to clearly tell the differences between the males and the females]
Notes:
In his Politics, Aristotle saw women as subject to men, but as higher than slaves, and lacking authority; he believed the husband should exert political rule over the wife. Among women’s differences from men were that they were, in his view, more impulsive, more compassionate, more complaining, and more deceptive. He gave the same weight to women’s happiness as to men’s, and in his Rhetoric stated that society could not be happy unless women were happy too. Whereas Plato was open to the potential equality of men and women, stating both that women were not equal to men in terms of strength and virtue, but were equal to men in terms of rational and occupational capacity, and hence in the ideal Republic should be educated and allowed to work alongside men without differentiation, Aristotle appears to have disagreed.
10. Which one of the following does not indicate the difference between Mahayanism and Hinayanism?
[A] Belief in the Bodhisattvas
[B] Worship of the image of Buddha
[C] Use of the Sanskrit language
[D] Admission of women into the monasteries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Admission of women into the monasteries]
Notes:Hinayana Buddhism
1. Followed as a teaching or Philosophy not as a religion. No idol worship.
2. Followed mostly Ceylon (Sri-Lanka).
3. Early work written in Pali language.
4. Buddha is followed like a human because they think The Buddha was simply a man who found a way to Nirvana. As per their believe Siddhartha Gautama (actual name of Buddha) didn’t know how to meditate in his early life and he learn that and master himself in it and so couldn’t have been a God.
Mahayana Buddhism
1-Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion. Idol worship.
2-Followed mostly in the North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet, India, Thailand.
3-Early texts were in Sanskrit like Karma, Dharma.
4. Buddha is worship like a God because they think that the Buddha came down to earth to help people cross the sea of life. So the Buddha can be worshipped as a God because he is eternal and a leader.
