1. Bobbili veena, also known as Saraswathi Veena or the Ekanda Veena, is a large plucked string instrument used in Carnatic classical music. It is made from which of the following trees?
[A] Sandalwood
[B] Jackwood
[C] Bamboo
[D] Rosewood
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jackwood]
Notes:
Bobbili veena, also known as Saraswathi Veena or the Ekanda Veena, is a large plucked string instrument used in Carnatic classical music. It is carved from a single piece of Jackwood. Jackwood is a rainforest tree.
2. Which among the following Hindu Painters was sent by Jahangir to portrait Shah Abbas-I of Persia ?
[A] Basawan
[B] Bishan Das
[C] Dasarath
[D] Manohar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bishan Das]
Notes:
Bishandas was a 17th-century portrait painter at the court of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Jahangir praised him as “unrivalled in the art of portraiture”. Though little is known of Bishandas’ life, his name can indicate that he was a Hindu. In 1613 he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Persia, to paint the Shah’s portrait. Here he was so successful that he remained until 1620, when he returned with the gift of an elephant.
3. Vachaspati Puraskar is awarded by the K.K. Birla Foundation, for outstanding contribution to which of the following?
[A] Scientific research
[B] Sanskrit Literature
[C] Literary work in any Indian language
[D] Dance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sanskrit Literature]
Notes:
Vachaspati Puraskar, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1992, is given to honour a writer’s work in Sanskrit published during the last 10 years.
4. Nirmal Hridaya is located in:
[A] Bangalore
[B] Chennai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Kolkata
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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.
5. Sant Kabir Award has been instituted to honor which of the following?
[A] Weavers
[B] Hindi Writers
[C] Mystic poets
[D] Hindi teachers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Weavers]
Notes:
The Sant Kabir Award was established in 2009 to honor textile craftspeople for their contributions to the revival of Indian handloom traditions. The award is presented by the President of India.
The award includes a grant of 6 lakh rupees to each recipient to create 10 new products of high quality and aesthetic value. The recipient has one year to complete the project.
The award was established along with the Shilp Guru Awards and National Awards to Master Craftspersons and master weavers, which were introduced in 1965.
6. ‘Gwalior Gharana’ is one of the oldest Gharana based on which form of Hindustani classical music?
[A] Dhrupad
[B] Khayal
[C] Thumri
[D] Tarana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Khayal]
Notes:
Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas of Hindustani classical music. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar.The favorite singers of this patron of the arts, such as Miyan Tansen, first amongst the vocalists at the court, came from the town of Gwalior.
7. Which of the following Sikh Guru composed Adi Granth ?
[A] Guru Nanak
[B] Guru Govind Singh
[C] Guru Arjun Dev
[D] Guru Hargovind
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Guru Arjun Dev]
Notes:
Guru Arjun Dev ji, the 5th Guru of Sikhs composed and collected the hymns of the previous Sikh gurus and laid the foundation of holy book of Sikhs known as Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi granth).
8. In which of the following paintings, artists use distinct symbols like fish to represent good luck and serpents as symbol for protection against illness, accidents and evil forces?
[A] Patachitra
[B] Kangra
[C] Madhubani
[D] Phad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhubani]
Notes:
Madhubani painting is practiced in the Mithila state of Nepal and in the Bihar state of India. The artists of these paintings use distinct symbols like fish to represent good luck and serpents as symbol for protection against illness, accidents and evil forces.
9. Who composed music for the 1969 film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne?
[A] Satyajit Ray
[B] Ravi Shankar
[C] Shiv-Hari
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Satyajit Ray]
Notes:
Satyajit Ray was an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, music composer, graphic artist, lyricist and author, widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century. Ray was born in Calcutta into a Bengali Kayastha family which was prominent in the field of arts and literature.
10. The Nagara style of temple architecture is associated with which of the following? (UPSC Prelims 1986)
[A] North India
[B] South India
[C] East India
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [North India]
Notes:
Nagara is the style of temple architecture which became popular in Northern India. It is common here to build an entire temple on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Earliest temples had only one shikhara (tower), but in the later periods multiple shikharas came.
