Art & Culture MCQs – Set 10: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which classical dance is known for its Lasya (graceful feminine movements)?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Kuchipudi
    (C) Odissi
    (D) Mohiniyattam
    Answer: (D)
  2. The Ajanta cave paintings primarily depict the stories of –
    (A) Hindu mythology
    (B) Jain Tirthankaras
    (C) Buddha and Jataka tales
    (D) Mughal court
    Answer: (C)
  3. The famous literary figure Bhasa was a playwright in –
    (A) Prakrit
    (B) Tamil
    (C) Sanskrit
    (D) Pali
    Answer: (C)
  4. ‘Gavari’ is a tribal theatre form of which state?
    (A) Chhattisgarh
    (B) Odisha
    (C) Rajasthan
    (D) Gujarat
    Answer: (C)
  5. The art of decorating fabric by tying and dyeing is called –
    (A) Ikat
    (B) Kalamkari
    (C) Bandhani
    (D) Batik
    Answer: (C)
  6. Which Veda is primarily associated with melodies and chants?
    (A) Rigveda
    (B) Samaveda
    (C) Atharvaveda
    (D) Yajurveda
    Answer: (B)
  7. Which of these temples is located in Tamil Nadu and is part of the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’?
    (A) Kailasa Temple
    (B) Brihadeeswarar Temple
    (C) Jagannath Temple
    (D) Sun Temple
    Answer: (B)
  8. Which of the following instruments is used in Hindustani but not in Carnatic music?
    (A) Tabla
    (B) Veena
    (C) Mridangam
    (D) Nadaswaram
    Answer: (A)
  9. Which region is known for the ‘Phulkari’ embroidery?
    (A) Rajasthan
    (B) Gujarat
    (C) Punjab
    (D) Himachal Pradesh
    Answer: (C)
  10. Who was the legendary poet of the ‘Bhagavata Mela’ tradition?
    (A) Tulsidas
    (B) Jayadeva
    (C) Narayana Teertha
    (D) Tyagaraja
    Answer: (C)
  11. The deity Meenakshi is considered an incarnation of –
    (A) Lakshmi
    (B) Saraswati
    (C) Durga
    (D) Parvati
    Answer: (D)
  12. The Bishnoi community, known for nature conservation, primarily hails from –
    (A) Rajasthan
    (B) Gujarat
    (C) Uttar Pradesh
    (D) Himachal Pradesh
    Answer: (A)
  13. Which of these musicians was a pioneer of fusion music in India?
    (A) Zakir Hussain
    (B) Ravi Shankar
    (C) A.R. Rahman
    (D) Hariprasad Chaurasia
    Answer: (B)
  14. Which Indian festival includes the performance of Ram Lila?
    (A) Holi
    (B) Diwali
    (C) Navratri
    (D) Dussehra
    Answer: (D)
  15. Which of these is a folk instrument of Rajasthan made from bamboo?
    (A) Shehnai
    (B) Algoza
    (C) Sarangi
    (D) Veena
    Answer: (B)
  16. The ancient university of Nalanda was a major center of learning in which religion?
    (A) Hinduism
    (B) Jainism
    (C) Buddhism
    (D) Zoroastrianism
    Answer: (C)
  17. Which musical tradition is most associated with Tansen?
    (A) Dhrupad
    (B) Thumri
    (C) Bhajan
    (D) Qawwali
    Answer: (A)
  18. Which state is the origin of the Baiga tribe known for body tattoo art and forest-based lifestyle?
    (A) Maharashtra
    (B) Chhattisgarh
    (C) Odisha
    (D) Jharkhand
    Answer: (B)
  19. The art form of ‘Santhal’ painting originates from –
    (A) West Bengal
    (B) Bihar
    (C) Jharkhand
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  20. Which festival involves kite flying and is celebrated on Makar Sankranti in Gujarat?
    (A) Uttarayan
    (B) Pongal
    (C) Lohri
    (D) Baisakhi
    Answer: (A)
  21. The paintings of Nainsukh and Manaku are associated with which school?
    (A) Kangra
    (B) Mughal
    (C) Pahari
    (D) Tanjore
    Answer: (C)
  22. The traditional attire ‘Puan’ is associated with which northeastern state?
    (A) Mizoram
    (B) Nagaland
    (C) Manipur
    (D) Arunachal Pradesh
    Answer: (A)
  23. Which Indian city is known for its intricate ivory carving work?
    (A) Varanasi
    (B) Jaipur
    (C) Mysore
    (D) Agra
    Answer: (D)
  24. Which saint composed the Tamil devotional hymns called ‘Tevaram’?
    (A) Appar
    (B) Tulsidas
    (C) Kabir
    (D) Jayadeva
    Answer: (A)
  25. Who is considered the father of modern Indian art education?
    (A) Rabindranath Tagore
    (B) Abanindranath Tagore
    (C) Nandalal Bose
    (D) E. B. Havell
    Answer: (D)
  26. Which traditional form of theatre uses large, colorful masks in eastern India?
    (A) Jatra
    (B) Chhau
    (C) Bhavai
    (D) Dashavatara
    Answer: (B)
  27. In Buddhist iconography, what does the mudra of Buddha touching the earth represent?
    (A) Enlightenment
    (B) Fearlessness
    (C) Teaching
    (D) Meditation
    Answer: (A)
  28. Which textile is woven in bright colors and geometric patterns by Nagaland tribes?
    (A) Puan
    (B) Mekhela
    (C) Naga shawl
    (D) Risa
    Answer: (C)
  29. The Mahari tradition was a group of temple dancers in –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Odisha
    (C) Assam
    (D) Karnataka
    Answer: (B)
  30. The ‘Ravan Chhaya’ shadow puppetry belongs to –
    (A) Odisha
    (B) Maharashtra
    (C) Telangana
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (A)
  31. The Bhil tribe is primarily found in –
    (A) Himachal Pradesh
    (B) Madhya Pradesh
    (C) Odisha
    (D) Nagaland
    Answer: (B)
  32. Which Indian festival is known for Bonfires and is celebrated in Punjab?
    (A) Baisakhi
    (B) Teej
    (C) Lohri
    (D) Pongal
    Answer: (C)
  33. The term ‘Shruti’ in Indian classical music refers to –
    (A) Instrument tuning
    (B) Microtones
    (C) Rhythm cycles
    (D) Note sequences
    Answer: (B)
  34. Which language is predominantly used in Hindustani classical compositions?
    (A) Sanskrit
    (B) Hindi
    (C) Urdu
    (D) Braj Bhasha
    Answer: (D)
  35. The Buddhist ‘Chaitya’ halls at Karla and Bhaja are located in –
    (A) Karnataka
    (B) Maharashtra
    (C) Madhya Pradesh
    (D) Bihar
    Answer: (B)
  36. Which Indian temple is designed in the form of a giant chariot?
    (A) Lingaraj Temple
    (B) Jagannath Temple
    (C) Konark Sun Temple
    (D) Mahakaleshwar Temple
    Answer: (C)
  37. The tradition of ‘Puppetry’ in Andhra Pradesh is called –
    (A) Kathputli
    (B) Bommalattam
    (C) Tholu Bommalata
    (D) Bhavai
    Answer: (C)
  38. ‘Gharana’ in Indian music refers to –
    (A) Musical schools/styles
    (B) Instruments
    (C) Dancers
    (D) Hymns
    Answer: (A)
  39. Which musical form is known for romantic and devotional expressions, usually sung in a soft tone?
    (A) Dhrupad
    (B) Thumri
    (C) Ghazal
    (D) Qawwali
    Answer: (B)
  40. The ‘Kalam’ in Kalamkari means –
    (A) Cloth
    (B) Color
    (C) Pen
    (D) Design
    Answer: (C)
  41. The only Indian classical dance performed on a brass plate is –
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Bharatanatyam
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) Odissi
    Answer: (C)
  42. Which temple features erotic sculptures as symbolic elements of life and spirituality?
    (A) Meenakshi Temple
    (B) Khajuraho Temples
    (C) Lingaraja Temple
    (D) Konark Sun Temple
    Answer: (B)
  43. The Indian art of storytelling through songs and dance based on Ramayana is –
    (A) Bhavai
    (B) Bhagavata Mela
    (C) Yakshagana
    (D) Burrakatha
    Answer: (B)
  44. ‘Vichitra Veena’ is played with –
    (A) Fingers
    (B) Bow
    (C) Slide and plectrum
    (D) Hammer sticks
    Answer: (C)
  45. Which folk dance is also known as the ‘dance of warriors’?
    (A) Bhangra
    (B) Chhau
    (C) Garba
    (D) Giddha
    Answer: (B)
  46. Which famous dance drama of Tamil Nadu narrates stories from epics with music and dance?
    (A) Kathakali
    (B) Bhagavata Mela
    (C) Sattriya
    (D) Yakshagana
    Answer: (B)
  47. Which is the oldest Indian classical dance form recorded in temples?
    (A) Odissi
    (B) Mohiniyattam
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Kathak
    Answer: (C)
  48. Which festival includes swinging the idol of Lord Krishna in decorated swings?
    (A) Janmashtami
    (B) Holi
    (C) Jhulan Yatra
    (D) Diwali
    Answer: (C)
  49. The art of decorating walls and ceilings with mirrors is called –
    (A) Zardozi
    (B) Jaali
    (C) Sheesh Mahal work
    (D) Bandhani
    Answer: (C)
  50. Which dance form includes dramatic footwork and spinning movements?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Mohiniyattam
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) Manipuri
    Answer: (A)

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