1. In which of the following paintings, a paste made of Zinc Oxide and Arabic Gum called “gesso paste” is used?
[A] Tanjore painting
[B] Madhubani painting
[C] Pattachitra
[D] Mysore painting
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mysore painting
]
Notes:
Mysore painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting that originated in the town of Mysore in Karnataka. These paintings are known for their elegance, muted colours and attention to detail.
2. Mattur Village, whose inhabitants are known to speak Sanskrit Language is located in which among the following states of India?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
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Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
Mattur Village, located in Karnataka, is notable for its inhabitants who speak Sanskrit as their primary language. This unique linguistic tradition is a rare phenomenon in India, where most people speak regional languages. Karnataka has a rich cultural heritage, and Mattur is often referred to as a “Sanskrit village,” reflecting its commitment to preserving this ancient language. The village is also known for its educational institutions that promote Sanskrit learning.
3. 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.
4. Hymns composed by which among the following rulers have been incorporated in Guru Grantha sahib of Sikhs?
[A] Jaydev
[B] Swami Haridas
[C] Namdev
[D] Dhyaneshwar
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Correct Answer: A [Jaydev]
Notes:
Hymns composed by Jaydev have been incorporated in Guru Grantha sahib of Sikhs. The hymns are written in a mixture of Sanskrit and eastern Apabhramsha. There are records narrating how Jayadeva’s work had a profound influence on Guru Nanak during his visit to Puri.
5. Consider the following matches:
- Khudabaksh Oriental Library
- Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
- Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya
The states in which the above are located are as follows:
[A] Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[C] Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
[D] Bihar, Sikkim, Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Khudabaksh Oriental Library – Patna,
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives-Dharamsala,
Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav sangrahalaya – Bhopal
6. Who among the following is known for the famous quote “an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy.”?
[A] Jawahar Lal Nehru
[B] Mahatma Gandhi
[C] Leo Tolstoy
[D] Rabindranath Tagore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahatma Gandhi]
Notes:
The name of the autobiography of Gandhiji is “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”. It was published in 1927. In this book he wrote “In the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realised that the sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper press is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole countryside and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy”.
7. Today’s Gurmukhi, Dogri and Sindhi scripts have developed from which among the following scripts?
[A] Brahmi Script
[B] Śāradā script
[C] Tankari Script
[D] Kushana Script
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Śāradā script]
Notes:
Śāradā is a script of the Brahmic family of scripts, developed around the 8th century. It was used for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri. The Gurmukhī script was developed from Śāradā by Guru Angad. Originally more widespread, its use became later restricted to Kashmir, and it is now rarely used except by the Kashmiri Pandit community for ceremonial purposes. There are several variants of Śāradā Scripts such as Takkari or Tankari which is the parent of the Dogri script, Kului script (Kullu in Himachal Pradesh), Chameali Script (in Chamba Himachal Pradesh), Sindhi, Bania of Punjab etc.
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. Which of the following is indicated by the oval ring around the original figure of Shiva Nataraja?
[A] Universe
[B] Cosmic Fire
[C] Cycle of birth and death
[D] Cosmic rhythm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cosmic Fire]
Notes:
There is an oval ring around the original figure of Shiva Nataraja. It represents the cosmic fire he uses to destroy the universe as part of the cycle of destruction and creation. Each flame has three points. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, a round circle of fire with flames of five points became typical for the Shiva Nataraja image.
10. Which of the following films is India’s first talkie film?
[A] Alam Ara
[B] Pundlik
[C] Raja Harishchandra
[D] Nal Damayanti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Alam Ara]
Notes:
India’s first talkie film was Alam Ara which was release in 1931 and produced by Imperial Film Company. Ardeshir Irani directed this film. It was the first Indian sound film.The film was houseful for the next 8 weeks of its release. It was advertised with the tagline “All living. Breathing. 100 per cent talking”.