1. The famous World Heritage Site “Basilica of Bom Jesus” is located in which among the following places in India?
[A] Pondichery
[B] Mahe
[C] Daman
[D] Goa
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Correct Answer: D [Goa]
Notes:
The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier and is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Goa. It is a part of the Churches and convents of Goa UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. In which state is Darbhanga Castle located?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] West Bengal
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Darbhanga Castle is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in Prayagraj, next to Allahabad University. Interestingly, despite its name which might suggest a connection to Darbhanga in Bihar, it is in fact based in Uttar Pradesh. This castle illustrates the rich and diverse architectural history of India, with its stylistic influences drawn from a range of periods and locations.
3. Who among the following is known to compose ‘Veeron Ka Kaisa Ho Basant’?
[A] Subhadra Kumari chauhan
[B] Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi
[C] Harishankar Parsai
[D] Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Subhadra Kumari chauhan ]
Notes:
‘Subhadra kumari chauhan’ was an Indian poet famous for Hindi poems composed primarily in Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras.Her most famous composition is Jhansi Ki Rani, an emotionally charged poem describing the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai. The poem is one of the most recited and sung poems in Hindi literature.
4. “Pari-khanda” is a martial art created by Rajputs. This art is most commonly practised in which state of India?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bihar]
Notes:
"Pari-khanda" is a fighting form created by Rajputs and is still practised in many parts of Bihar. "Pari" means shield and "khanda" means sword.
5. The Kuthiyottam ritual, which was recently making news, is usually performed every year during which of the following festivals?
[A] Pongala
[B] Onam
[C] Nabakalebar
[D] Mahamaham
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pongala]
Notes:
Kuthiyottam ritual is usually performed during the Pongala festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Pongala festival is celebrated at some Hindu temples in Kerala dedicated to Bhadrakali or Durga, a warrior goddess. The Kuthiyottam ritual is a youth dance and sometimes includes a mock blood sacrifice. The ritual is performed by young boys who are made to undergo penance.
6. Who among the following wrote the national anthem of India?
[A] Mahatma Gandhi
[B] Jawarharlal Nehru
[C] Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
[D] Rabindranath Tagore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rabindranath Tagore]
Notes:
The song is called “Jana gana mana…”. Only the first stanza (out of the five stanzas) forms the National Anthem; its playing time is 52 seconds. It was first sung on 27 December, 1911. It waswritten by Rabindranath Tagore.
7. The Muslims march seven times round the Kaaba as path of their Haj pilgrimage .At which of the following places they march? (UPSC Prelims 1980).
[A] Riyadh
[B] Mecca
[C] Rabat
[D] Jeddah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mecca]
Notes:
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest city of Muslims. It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.
8. Which of the following can be regarded as the chief contribution of Buddhism to India? (UPSC Prelims 1985)
[A] Art and literature
[B] Architecture
[C] Ahimsa and self-purification
[D] Rituals
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ahimsa and self-purification]
Notes:
Buddhism laid too much emphasis on the principle of Ahimsa, which greatly affected the character of the people. Buddhism laid emphasis on non-violence and the sanctity of animal life. The Hindus were originally meat eaters but due to the influence of Buddhism became vegetarian. Thus, Buddhism exercised a tremendous influence on India culture. It enriched religion, art, sculpture, language and literature of India.
9. On which of the following principles the Brahmo Samaj is based ? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Monotheism
[B] Polytheism
[C] Atheism
[D] Monism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Monotheism]
Notes:
The founder of the Brahmo movement had been the great Raja Rammohan. Islam influenced him, to a great extent, in the formulation of his monotheistic doctrines.
10. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left? (UPSC Prelims 1997)
[A] Brahmi
[B] Nandnagari
[C] Sharada
[D] Kharoshti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kharoshti]
Notes:
The Kharoshi script is an ancient script used by the ancient Gandhara culture of South Asia primarily in modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan to write the Gandhari language (a dialect of Prakrit) and the Sanskrit language.