1. The famous “Ganga Sagar Mela”, an annual fair is held in which state of India?
[A] Bihar
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [West Bengal]
Notes:
The Ganga Sagar Mela is a religious festival and second biggest fair of India after Kumbha Mela of India celebrated on Sagardwip (Sagar Island) in West Bengal state of India. The fair is a six-day fair held in the month of January and on the day of Makar Sankranti, a ritual of pilgrims taking bath in holy water and visiting nearby famous Kapil Muni Temple is performed.
2. Jagdish Khebudkar was a renowned poet and lyricist of which among the following languages?
[A] Marathi
[B] Konkani
[C] Kanada
[D] Gujarathi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Marathi]
Notes:
Jagdish Khebudkar was a Marathi poet and lyricist. He is known known for his songs in films like Pinjra, Sadhi Manse, Samna, Chandra Hota Sakshila and Ashtavinayak.
3. Which of the following is considered the oldest language in the history of India?
[A] Sanskrit
[B] Telugu
[C] Hindi
[D] Tamil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tamil]
Notes:
Tamil language holds the title as the oldest language in India. It is about 5000 years old and is still widely used in parts of India and Sri Lanka. It is a part of the Dravidian language family, distinct from the Indo-European languages like Hindi and Sanskrit that largely influenced other languages in northern parts of India.
4. Who among the following has written the famous Bangla book “Agni Vina”?
[A] Rabindra Nath Tagore
[B] Kazi Nazrul Islam
[C] Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
[D] Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kazi Nazrul Islam]
Notes:
Kazi Nazrul Islam was a famous Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works invoking powerful spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. Accomplishing a plethora of highly praised works through his life, Nazrul is officially known as the ‘National poet of Bangladesh’ and celebrated in India.
5. Chorten is a term related to which of the following religion?
[A] Buddhism
[B] Jewism
[C] Judaism
[D] Jainism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Buddhism]
Notes:
Buddhism stupa are called Chorten in North east India and Tibet
6. Who among the following produced India’s first dubbed film, Harischandra, in 1944?
[A] A. V. Meiyappan
[B] S. S. Vasan
[C] L V Prasad
[D] Kadaru Nagabhushanam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A. V. Meiyappan]
Notes:
A.V.Meiyappan is India’s first dubbed film Harischandra in 1944. It was dubbed in Tamil.
7. Nirmal Hridaya is located in:
[A] Bangalore
[B] Chennai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kolkata]
Notes:
Nirmal Hriday is Mother Teresa`s first home for the dying, located next to the famous Kali Temple in Kalighat, is now one of 300 affiliated organizations all over the world, set up by her. A very small building, it is characterized by neo-Mughal style mini domes on the roof.
8. The word Chenrezig in the Tibetan Buddhism refers to which among the following Bodhisatvas ?
[A] Avalokiteshwara
[B] Maitreya
[C] Mahasthamaprapta
[D] Akasagarbha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Avalokiteshwara]
Notes:
Chenrezig in the Tibetan Buddhism refers to Avalokiteshwara. Avalokiteshwara is a combination of Ava meaning down, Lokita meaning to behold or observe the world and Eshwara meaning sovereign, master or ruler. Hence Avalokiteshwara implies ‘The lord who gazes down at the world’.
9. Who among the following Sikh Gurus struggled against Sati system and Pardah System ?
[A] Guru Nanak
[B] Guru Amardas
[C] Guru Hargovind
[D] Guru Teg Bahadur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guru Amardas]
Notes:
Guru Amar Das ji, the 3rd guru of Sikhs, raised the status of women and gave them equality with men. Excerpts of the works contributed by him for the society are as follows:
a) Strictly prohibited the practice of Sati system and Pardah System.
b) Started the langar ( or community kitchen) to abolish caste system.
c) Started the Manji and Piri system by appointing 94 men as Manji and 52 women as Piris to spread Sikhism.
d) Composed Anand Sahib, a part of the Nitnem (daily prayers).
10. Which of the following is / are examples of Indian martial arts?
- Thang-Ta
- Kalaripayattu
- Silambam
- Mudiyettu
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Thang-ta
Thang-ta is a weapon-based Indian martial art created by the Meitei of Manipur. In the Manipuri language, thang means sword and ta means spear, referring to the art’s primary weapons. Thang Ta is also a popular form in Manipuri dance.
Silambam
Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art from Tamil Nadu, but also traditionally practised by the Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It is closely related to Keralan kalaripayat and Sri Lankan angampora.
Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art from Kerala. It is one of the most ancient fighting systems that are even practiced today. It was originally practised in Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Today it is practiced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu as well as Karnataka and some parts of Shri Lanka.
Mudiyettu
Mudiyettu is the name of a dance drama of Kerala, which is based upon the mythological tale of battle, depicting glory and triumph of Bhagavathy over the demon Darika. This along with Koodiyattam, Ram Lila and Vedic Chanting have been recognized by the UNESCO as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.