1. Which of the following bodies organizes the ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’?
[A] Indian Council for Cultural Relations
[B] Ministry of Culture
[C] National School of Drama
[D] Sahitya Academy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [National School of Drama]
Notes:
Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ was established in 1999 as an annual theatre festival of National School of Drama (NSD). Originally it was founded to show case, works of Indian theatre practitioners but later it got international fame and attracted international performers. Now it is acknowledged as the largest theatre festival of Asia.
National School of Drama (NSD) is India’s premier theatre training institute operating under the aegis of Union Ministry of Culture
2. Which among the following Kings built the Kailashnath Temple of Ellora ?
[A] Rashtrakuta king Krishna I
[B] Narasimhavarman II
[C] Rashtrakuta king Krishna II
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rashtrakuta king Krishna I]
Notes:
Rashtrakuta king, krishna-1 had built the kailash temple of ellora. It is considered as the wonder of rock-out architecture. Kailasanath Temple is a famous temple, one of the 34 monasteries and temples, known collectively as the Ellora Caves, extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India.
3. Husari and Bihunas are two main forms of dancing of which among the following states?
[A] Assam
[B] Bihar
[C] Orissa
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Assam]
Notes:
Husari and Bihunas belongs to Assam. Husari is carol singing. Bihu songs and dances invariably follow the main item of Husari singing.
4. Who among the following was India’s First photojournalist?
[A] Mira Chaudhuri
[B] Indira Dey
[C] Debalina Mazumadar
[D] Homai Vyarawalla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Homai Vyarawalla]
Notes:
Homai Vyarawalla was India’s first woman photojournalist. She began work in the late 1930s and retired in the early 1970s. In 2011, she was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
5. The best known of the compilations of the compositions of Kabir are known as ?
[A] Shatapadi
[B] Dohavali
[C] Bijak
[D] Kavitavali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bijak]
Notes:
Bijak is the compilations of the compositions of Kabir. Kabir Das was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti movement and his verses are found in Sikhism’s scripture Guru Granth Sahib.
6. Central Institute of Buddhist Studies is located at?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Sikkim
[C] Jammu & Kashmir
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu & Kashmir]
Notes:
Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) is located in Leh, Ladakh. CIBS is an institution dedicated to the study and promotion of Buddhist culture and philosophy.
7. Who was the second guru of Sikhs ?
[A] Guru Angad
[B] Guru Amardas
[C] Guru Ramdas
[D] Guru Arjun Dev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Angad]
Notes:
Guru Angad Dev ji (1504 -1552 AD) was the 2nd Guru of Sikhs, who popularised the use of simplified script, known as Gurmukhi script, by modifying the old Punjabi characters. It became the medium of writing the Punjabi language in which the hymns of the Gurus are expressed.
8. Mool Mantra was written by whom ?
[A] Guru Nanak
[B] Guru Gobind Singh
[C] Guru Teg Bahadur
[D] Guru Amar Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Nanak]
Notes:
The Mool Mantra was written by Guru Nanak dev ji, who was the founder of Sikhism. The Mool Mantar means ‘basic teaching’ and is found at the beginning of every section of the Guru Granth Sahib. It is repeated each day during early morning prayer. The first words of the Mool Mantar are ‘Ik Onkar’ (there is one God).
9. Who among the following poet was the author of the Tamil version of the Valmiki’s Ramayana known as “Ramavataram”?
[A] Kamban
[B] Arinjaya
[C] Uttamchola
[D] Kudal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kamban]
Notes:
Kamban was author of the Tamil version of the Valmiki’s Ramayana known as Kamba Ramayana (or Ramavataram).
10. Nadubhangi Nritya and Krishna Nritya are associated with which of the following dance forms?
[A] Bharatnatyam
[B] Kathakali
[C] Kuchipudi
[D] Sattariya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sattariya]
Notes:
Nadubhangi Nritya and Krishna Nritya are associated to Sattariya dance. Krishna Nritya portrays the activities of young Krishna. Nadubhangi Nritya covers the story of Lord Krishna defeating the poisonous snake “Kaliya”.