1. Where is the Tagore Centre for the Study of Culture and Civilization ?
[A] Shimla
[B] Kolkata
[C] Chennai
[D] Dehrdun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Shimla]
Notes:
To pay a befitting tribute to the man of letters, Nobel Laureate, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, on his 150th birth anniversary, the Government of India has set up a ‘Tagore Centre for the Study of Culture and Civilization’ (TCSCC) at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. The objectives of the Centre include: to encourage the study of Tagore’s work; support translations of Tagore’s work into other Indian languages; promote comparative study of his work with poets, artists and writers in other parts of India and the world; study the elements of his Humanist philosophy and his cosmopolitanism; and explore his concerns regarding the relationship between science and society.
2. Famous monument Rumi Darwaja is located in which city?
[A] Bulandshahar
[B] Bhopal
[C] Lucknow
[D] Murshidabad
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Correct Answer: C [Lucknow]
Notes:
The Rumi Darwaza was built under the patronage of Nawab Asaf-Ud-daula in 1784 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is an example of Awadhi architecture.
3. Where are the headquarters of the North East Zone Cultural Centre located?
[A] Guwahati
[B] Itanagar
[C] Aizawl
[D] Dimapur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dimapur]
Notes:
The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), one of the seven zonal centres established by the Indian government, is situated in Dimapur in Nagaland. These cultural centres were designed to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of India. NEZCC includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
4. Which among the following philosophy deals with Logic?
[A] Yoga
[B] Samkhya
[C] Nyaya
[D] None of the above
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Correct Answer: C [Nyaya]
Notes:
Nyāya is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hinduism.The school’s most significant contributions to Indian philosophy was systematic development of the theory of logic, methodology, and its treatises on epistemology.
5. How Kumbh mela is organised in India?
[A] Every 4 years at 3 location
[B] Every 12 years at 4 locations
[C] Every 3 years at 4 locations
[D] Every 4 years at 4 locations
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Every 12 years at 4 locations]
Notes:Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations of India:
- Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
- Haridwar (in the state of Uttarakhand) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
- Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river, and
- Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.
The pilgrimage occurs four times every twelve years, once at each of the four locations. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbh Mela at Prayag, attended by millions of people, making it the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world.
6. 1996 was UN’s fiftieth anniversary year and this year was declared by United nations as “Year for Tolerance”. The same time frame also coincided with 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In this connection, UNESCO had established a new award in the name of an Indian philanthropist for Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence. Who is this Indian philanthropist?
[A] Aga Khan III
[B] Dinshah Irani
[C] Ghanshyam Das Birla
[D] Madanjeet Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madanjeet Singh]
Notes:
The correct answer is Madanjeet Singh. In 1995, UNESCO established the “Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence” to honor his contributions to peace and tolerance. Singh was an Indian diplomat and a prominent advocate for non-violence, aligning with the UN’s declaration of 1995 as the “Year for Tolerance” and the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who is renowned for his philosophy of non-violence.
7. Which among the following states leads in Handloom and Handicrafts clusters in India?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Maharastra
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The correct answer is Uttar Pradesh. It is a leading state in India for handloom and handicrafts, particularly known for its rich tradition of weaving, including the famous Banarasi sarees. Uttar Pradesh has numerous clusters, such as Varanasi for silk weaving and Bhadohi for carpets, contributing importantly to the state’s economy and cultural heritage. The state also supports artisans through various government initiatives and schemes aimed at preserving traditional crafts.
8. Who is the author of the celebrated literary work, Gita Govinda?
[A] Jayadeva
[B] Bhavabhuti
[C] Kalidasa
[D] Manu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jayadeva]
Notes:
The Gita Govinda, a 12th-century work that expresses the divine love of the Hindu deity Krishna and his consort Radha, was composed by the renowned poet Jayadeva. Jayadeva was a prominent poet of Bengal, revered as one of the five gems in the court of Lakshman Sen, the ruler of the Sena dynasty. His lyrical compositions significantly influenced the Bhakti movement, promoting devotion to deity through song.
9. 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.
10. Which of the following was the first language to be included in the list of Classical Languages of India?
[A] Tamil
[B] Sanskrit
[C] Telugu
[D] Pali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Tamil]
Notes:
Tamil was the first Classical Language of India. The government declared Tamil (in 2004) & Sanskrit (in 2005). Later the government declared Kannada and Telugu (in 2008) as classical languages of India. In 2013, Malayalam was also given status of classical language. In 2014, Odiya was also given the status of Classical language.