1. The Nuakhai festival is predominantly observed in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Karnataka
[D] Sikkim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Odisha ]
Notes:
It is the most important festival of western Odisha and it takes place in the bright half of the month of Bhadrab on an auspicious day fixed by the astrologers. Though the festival is intended for eating new rice of the year, it is observed as a general festival. On this occasion the new rice is cooked with milk and sugar (Kshiri) and then offered as Bhog to Goddess Laxmi.
2. Which of the following bodies organizes the ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’?
[A] Indian Council for Cultural Relations
[B] Ministry of Culture
[C] National School of Drama
[D] Sahitya Academy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [National School of Drama]
Notes:
Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ was established in 1999 as an annual theatre festival of National School of Drama (NSD). Originally it was founded to show case, works of Indian theatre practitioners but later it got international fame and attracted international performers. Now it is acknowledged as the largest theatre festival of Asia.
National School of Drama (NSD) is India’s premier theatre training institute operating under the aegis of Union Ministry of Culture
3. The first novel written by Sunil Gangopadhyay is :
[A] Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation)
[B] Pratham Alo (First Light)
[C] Purba Pachim (East and West)
[D] Shei Shomay (Those Days)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation)]
Notes:
Starting off his six-decade literary career as a bohemian poet and editor of Kritibas, a monthly poetry magazine, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote his first novel, Athmo Prakash (Self-Revelation), at the behest of the editor of the hugely popular periodical Desh for its special Durga Puja edition. Two of the most critically acclaimed films of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray — Pratidwandi and Aranyer Din Ratri — were based on novels written by him.
4. Thaipusam festival is celebrated by which of the following communities?
[A] Tamil
[B] Telugu
[C] Marathi
[D] Malayalam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamil]
Notes:
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the month of January. It is mainly observe in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.
5. Which among the following Indian classical dance form was developed by Siddhendra Yogi from Bhamakalapam dance drama ?
[A] Kuchipudi
[B] Odissi
[C] Yakshagana
[D] Kathkali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kuchipudi]
Notes:
Siddhendra Yogi from Bhamakalapam dance drama developed the classical dance of Kuchpudi. The play Bhamakalpam deals with the Hindu God, Lord Krishna and his companions Satyabhama and Rukmini.
6. Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (sky) these are the panchtatvas (5 elements) and when they combine they give rise to new objects. This is a principle of which of the Vedic philosophies?
[A] Sankhya
[B] Yoga
[C] Vaisheshika
[D] Advita
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vaisheshika]
Notes:
Vaisheshika is one of the six schools of Indian philosophy from ancient India. It is the theory of logic. In its early stages, the Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology.
7. Which of the following religions “Tower of Silence ” is related to in India?
[A] Zoroastrians
[B] Christians
[C] Jews
[D] Muslims
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Zoroastrians]
Notes:
“Tower of Silence ” is related to Zorastrians. It is a circular, raised structure built by Zoroastrians for excarnation – that is, for dead bodies to be exposed to carrion birds, usually vultures.
8. Which among the following sub-school of Vedanta is followed by ISCON?
[A] Shuddhādvaita
[B] Achintya Bhedābheda
[C] Purnādvaita or Integral Advaita
[D] Modern Vedānta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Achintya Bhedābheda]
Notes:
The correct answer is Achintya Bhedābheda. This sub-school of Vedanta, founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 16th century, emphasizes the simultaneous oneness and difference between the individual soul (jiva) and the Supreme (Brahman). ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) follows this philosophy, promoting devotion (bhakti) to Lord Krishna while acknowledging the unique relationship between the divine and the individual. This approach is distinct from other Vedantic schools, which may emphasize either non-dualism or dualism more strictly.
9. Which among the following was the work field of Jibanananda Das , a Bengal Icon?
[A] Social Service
[B] Literature
[C] Science and Technology
[D] Journalism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Literature]
Notes:
Jibanananda Das was a Bengali poet, writer, novelist and essayist and was popularly known as Rupashi Banglar Kabi. He was most read poet after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam.
10. The Muslim festival ‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to which among the following events of life of Prophet Mohammad?
[A] Birth of Prophet Mohammad
[B] Marriage of Prohet Mohammad
[C] Prophet Mohamad’s travel from Mecca to Medina
[D] Farewell Pilgrimage of Prophet Mohammad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Birth of Prophet Mohammad]
Notes:
‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to the birth of prophet Mohammad.
