Indian Culture MCQs

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Saraswati Samman is awarded for outstanding literary works in any Indian language included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This schedule recognizes 22 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and others, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity. Established in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation, the award aims to promote and honor literary excellence across various Indian languages.

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The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi is a Hindu temple that is the only Swaminarayan temple in Pakistan. Karachi is the capital of Sindh province of Pakistan.

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A.V.Meiyappan is India’s first dubbed film Harischandra in 1944. It was dubbed in Tamil.

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The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as the “Vailankanni Shrine,” is a famous Catholic pilgrimage site located in Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is renowned for its healing miracles and religious significance.

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As of October 2024, India recognizes eleven classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), and, more recently, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali (all in 2024). These languages are esteemed for their antiquity, rich literary heritage, and significant cultural contributions. The designation aims to preserve and promote India’s diverse linguistic legacy.

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The Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Avalokiteśvara is the patron saint of Tibet and embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who lives in exile in India.
According to Tibetan Buddhism, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is a key belief. When a Dalai Lama dies, they believe that their spirit is reincarnated in the body of their successor, who is born at the moment of their death. Search parties are sent across Tibet to find children who are “special” and born within a year of the Dalai Lama’s death.

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Rumtek Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Indian state of Sikkim, near the capital city of Gangtok. It is the largest monastery in Sikkim and one of the most important centers of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is known for its traditional Tibetan architecture and art, and for its collection of sacred texts and artifacts. It is also the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu sect.