Art & Culture MCQs – Set 12: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which Indian city is famous for its Chikankari embroidery work?
    (A) Varanasi
    (B) Lucknow
    (C) Bhopal
    (D) Jaipur
    Answer: (B)
  2. Which dance form originated in Mithila region and shares cultural roots with Madhubani painting?
    (A) Jhijhiya
    (B) Bidesiya
    (C) Jat-Jatin
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  3. Which Mughal emperor is considered the most culturally inclined and promoted fine arts extensively?
    (A) Babur
    (B) Akbar
    (C) Aurangzeb
    (D) Humayun
    Answer: (B)
  4. The stone chariot in the Vittala Temple complex is found in –
    (A) Hampi
    (B) Konark
    (C) Pattadakal
    (D) Badami
    Answer: (A)
  5. Which festival involves processions of elephants, fireworks, and percussion music in Kerala?
    (A) Pongal
    (B) Thrissur Pooram
    (C) Onam
    (D) Vishu
    Answer: (B)
  6. The ancient treatise ‘Sangita Ratnakara’ was written by –
    (A) Bharata
    (B) Matanga
    (C) Sarangadeva
    (D) Tansen
    Answer: (C)
  7. Which type of architecture is characterized by a Gopuram and Mandapam?
    (A) Nagara
    (B) Vesara
    (C) Dravidian
    (D) Indo-Islamic
    Answer: (C)
  8. The ‘Kumbha’ festival of Ujjain is celebrated on the banks of which river?
    (A) Ganga
    (B) Yamuna
    (C) Shipra
    (D) Godavari
    Answer: (C)
  9. Who among the following was a poetess of the Bhakti movement and a Rajput princess?
    (A) Akka Mahadevi
    (B) Andal
    (C) Meera Bai
    (D) Lalla Ded
    Answer: (C)
  10. Which style of painting is known for religious themes, bright colors, and intricate detailing in South India?
    (A) Mysore painting
    (B) Mughal painting
    (C) Warli painting
    (D) Pahari painting
    Answer: (A)
  11. The Buddhist site of Sarnath is located in which Indian state?
    (A) Bihar
    (B) Madhya Pradesh
    (C) Uttar Pradesh
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (C)
  12. The traditional drum used in Manipuri dance is –
    (A) Pung
    (B) Mridangam
    (C) Tabla
    (D) Dhol
    Answer: (A)
  13. Which Raga is traditionally associated with the monsoon season?
    (A) Bhairav
    (B) Malhar
    (C) Yaman
    (D) Desh
    Answer: (B)
  14. The famous Meenakshi Temple is located on the banks of which river?
    (A) Vaigai
    (B) Kaveri
    (C) Krishna
    (D) Godavari
    Answer: (A)
  15. Which of the following is not a type of classical vocal composition in Hindustani music?
    (A) Khayal
    (B) Thumri
    (C) Geet
    (D) Dhrupad
    Answer: (C)
  16. ‘Chettinad’ architecture is native to which Indian state?
    (A) Kerala
    (B) Tamil Nadu
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (B)
  17. Which ancient Indian text deals with architecture, sculpture, and iconography?
    (A) Arthashastra
    (B) Shilpa Shastra
    (C) Sangita Ratnakara
    (D) Natyashastra
    Answer: (B)
  18. Which traditional folk theatre from Maharashtra uses humor and satire?
    (A) Tamasha
    (B) Bhavai
    (C) Yakshagana
    (D) Dashavatara
    Answer: (A)
  19. The famous Buddhist cave complex of Ajanta is situated on the bank of –
    (A) Krishna River
    (B) Waghora River
    (C) Godavari River
    (D) Tapi River
    Answer: (B)
  20. Which traditional Indian art form is painted on the floor and is considered sacred and decorative?
    (A) Kalamkari
    (B) Madhubani
    (C) Rangoli
    (D) Tanjore
    Answer: (C)
  21. Which Mughal ruler built the Bibi Ka Maqbara in memory of his wife?
    (A) Babur
    (B) Akbar
    (C) Aurangzeb
    (D) Shah Jahan
    Answer: (C)
  22. Who was the legendary poet and devotee of Lord Vishnu from Tamil Nadu, author of ‘Tiruppavai’?
    (A) Andal
    (B) Meera Bai
    (C) Lalla Ded
    (D) Akka Mahadevi
    Answer: (A)
  23. Which classical music tradition includes ‘Tanpura’ as a drone instrument?
    (A) Hindustani
    (B) Carnatic
    (C) Both
    (D) Neither
    Answer: (C)
  24. The folk dance ‘Karma’ is associated with which Indian tribe?
    (A) Bhil
    (B) Gond
    (C) Oraon
    (D) Santhal
    Answer: (C)
  25. Which Indian dance style involves characters of good and evil using vivid facial paint?
    (A) Mohiniyattam
    (B) Bharatanatyam
    (C) Kathakali
    (D) Odissi
    Answer: (C)
  26. Which festival commemorates the birth of the Sikh Khalsa?
    (A) Baisakhi
    (B) Lohri
    (C) Guru Purab
    (D) Maghi
    Answer: (A)
  27. Which of these is a musical style of devotional songs in Bengal?
    (A) Borgeet
    (B) Baul
    (C) Shabad
    (D) Lavani
    Answer: (B)
  28. Which Indian city is renowned for making clay idols during Durga Puja?
    (A) Varanasi
    (B) Kolkata
    (C) Patna
    (D) Cuttack
    Answer: (B)
  29. The epic ‘Mahabharata’ was written by –
    (A) Valmiki
    (B) Vyasa
    (C) Kalidasa
    (D) Bhasa
    Answer: (B)
  30. The art form ‘Bhil painting’ is predominantly found in –
    (A) Gujarat
    (B) Madhya Pradesh
    (C) Odisha
    (D) Assam
    Answer: (B)
  31. Which of the following is a New Year festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Vishu
    (B) Bihu
    (C) Puthandu
    (D) Ugadi
    Answer: (C)
  32. Who composed the famous ‘Hanuman Chalisa’?
    (A) Surdas
    (B) Kabir
    (C) Tulsidas
    (D) Rahim
    Answer: (C)
  33. Which Indian art form uses black and red colors on cotton fabric with mythological themes?
    (A) Warli
    (B) Kalamkari
    (C) Tanjore
    (D) Gond
    Answer: (B)
  34. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Music” due to its Carnatic music tradition?
    (A) Chennai
    (B) Hyderabad
    (C) Bengaluru
    (D) Madurai
    Answer: (A)
  35. Who among the following is a Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned Carnatic vocalist?
    (A) Zakir Hussain
    (B) Aruna Sairam
    (C) Bhimsen Joshi
    (D) Kishori Amonkar
    Answer: (B)
  36. The folk theatre ‘Nautanki’ is traditionally performed in –
    (A) Bihar
    (B) Punjab
    (C) Uttar Pradesh
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (C)
  37. Which Indian temple is known for its erotic sculptures and UNESCO heritage status?
    (A) Meenakshi Temple
    (B) Lingaraj Temple
    (C) Khajuraho Temples
    (D) Somnath Temple
    Answer: (C)
  38. Which poet-saint composed devotional poetry in Marathi and promoted social reform?
    (A) Tukaram
    (B) Namdev
    (C) Dnyaneshwar
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  39. The musical instrument ‘Rudra Veena’ is traditionally associated with –
    (A) Dhrupad
    (B) Thumri
    (C) Ghazal
    (D) Qawwali
    Answer: (A)
  40. Which form of classical dance is also referred to as the “Dance of Enchantress”?
    (A) Odissi
    (B) Kuchipudi
    (C) Mohiniyattam
    (D) Bharatanatyam
    Answer: (C)
  41. The folk song tradition ‘Alha’ is popular in which region?
    (A) Maharashtra
    (B) Bengal
    (C) Uttar Pradesh
    (D) Gujarat
    Answer: (C)
  42. Who is considered the patron deity of classical music and dance in Hindu tradition?
    (A) Saraswati
    (B) Shiva (as Nataraja)
    (C) Krishna
    (D) Ganesha
    Answer: (B)
  43. The motif of fish is very prominent in which traditional painting style?
    (A) Madhubani
    (B) Warli
    (C) Tanjore
    (D) Gond
    Answer: (A)
  44. ‘Manimekalai’ is a classic Tamil epic of –
    (A) Buddhist origin
    (B) Hindu origin
    (C) Jain origin
    (D) Dravidian origin
    Answer: (A)
  45. The traditional Dhokra art uses which metal casting technique?
    (A) Lost-wax casting
    (B) Hammering
    (C) Inlay work
    (D) Engraving
    Answer: (A)
  46. Which famous Indian painter was also a parliamentarian?
    (A) M.F. Husain
    (B) S.H. Raza
    (C) Abanindranath Tagore
    (D) Satish Gujral
    Answer: (D)
  47. Which dance form is native to Andhra Pradesh and uses a balance of singing and storytelling?
    (A) Sattriya
    (B) Kuchipudi
    (C) Kathak
    (D) Manipuri
    Answer: (B)
  48. Which city is associated with ‘Chhau mask making’?
    (A) Seraikela
    (B) Bhubaneswar
    (C) Raipur
    (D) Nagpur
    Answer: (A)
  49. The art of shaping molten glass into decorative items is called –
    (A) Meenakari
    (B) Bidriware
    (C) Glass blowing
    (D) Enameling
    Answer: (C)
  50. Which classical dance uses the ‘Hasta Mudras’ described in Natyashastra?
    (A) Bharatanatyam
    (B) Kathak
    (C) Odissi
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)

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