Art & Culture MCQs – Set 14: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which style of temple architecture is known for its beehive-shaped tower (shikhara)?
    (A) Dravidian
    (B) Nagara
    (C) Vesara
    (D) Indo-Islamic
    Answer: (B)
  2. Which of the following is a popular folk dance of the Bundelkhand region?
    (A) Rai
    (B) Bihu
    (C) Giddha
    (D) Garba
    Answer: (A)
  3. The Buddhist art of Ajanta belongs to which period?
    (A) Maurya
    (B) Gupta
    (C) Satavahana
    (D) Chola
    Answer: (C)
  4. Which classical music instrument is associated with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan?
    (A) Sarod
    (B) Sitar
    (C) Shehnai
    (D) Violin
    Answer: (A)
  5. ‘Pung Cholom’ is a classical Manipuri performance involving –
    (A) Flute
    (B) Drum dance
    (C) Sword play
    (D) Story narration
    Answer: (B)
  6. Which temple is known for its dancing hall (Natyamandapa)?
    (A) Sun Temple, Konark
    (B) Meenakshi Temple
    (C) Jagannath Temple
    (D) Kailasa Temple
    Answer: (A)
  7. Which city is known for its traditional wood inlay craft?
    (A) Mysuru
    (B) Varanasi
    (C) Srinagar
    (D) Pune
    Answer: (A)
  8. The ‘Puranas’ are texts primarily concerned with –
    (A) Philosophy
    (B) Law
    (C) Rituals and Myths
    (D) Medicine
    Answer: (C)
  9. Which classical dance form is known for its devotional expressiveness and sculpturesque poses?
    (A) Bharatanatyam
    (B) Kathak
    (C) Sattriya
    (D) Manipuri
    Answer: (A)
  10. Which art form uses masks made of wood and paper-mâché in Himachal Pradesh?
    (A) Swang
    (B) Chhau
    (C) Mask Dance of Kinnaur
    (D) Therukoothu
    Answer: (C)
  11. ‘Sattras’ in Assam are –
    (A) Buddhist monasteries
    (B) Vaishnavite monasteries
    (C) Jain mathas
    (D) Islamic seminaries
    Answer: (B)
  12. Who among the following was a prominent poet of the Sangam age?
    (A) Thiruvalluvar
    (B) Kamban
    (C) Ilango Adigal
    (D) Avvaiyar
    Answer: (D)
  13. Which musical instrument is typically used in Gurudwaras for kirtans?
    (A) Nadaswaram
    (B) Sarod
    (C) Harmonium
    (D) Mridangam
    Answer: (C)
  14. The Gita Govinda, composed by Jayadeva, belongs to which regional language tradition?
    (A) Sanskrit
    (B) Odia
    (C) Maithili
    (D) Bengali
    Answer: (A)
  15. The ‘Ratha Yatra’ at Puri is dedicated to which deity?
    (A) Vishnu
    (B) Rama
    (C) Jagannath
    (D) Krishna
    Answer: (C)
  16. The artistic motif of a tree with birds in Warli paintings represents –
    (A) Fertility
    (B) Divinity
    (C) Family
    (D) Freedom
    Answer: (A)
  17. Which Indian art form is performed using two puppeteers and live narration?
    (A) Tholu Bommalata
    (B) Kathputli
    (C) String puppetry of Orissa
    (D) Pavakoothu
    Answer: (B)
  18. ‘Kumbha Mela’ is associated with which cycle of the zodiac?
    (A) 6 years
    (B) 10 years
    (C) 12 years
    (D) 15 years
    Answer: (C)
  19. Which Indian river is considered the holiest and central to many religious rituals?
    (A) Godavari
    (B) Ganga
    (C) Yamuna
    (D) Saraswati
    Answer: (B)
  20. Which tribal community is famous for the Gaur dance performed during festivals?
    (A) Santhal
    (B) Bison Horn Maria
    (C) Bhil
    (D) Korku
    Answer: (B)
  21. The Sufi musical tradition in India is known as –
    (A) Ghazal
    (B) Dhrupad
    (C) Qawwali
    (D) Bhajan
    Answer: (C)
  22. The Lepakshi Temple is a masterpiece of which architectural style?
    (A) Dravidian
    (B) Nagara
    (C) Vesara
    (D) Indo-Saracenic
    Answer: (A)
  23. Which of the following is a traditional mask dance of Ladakh?
    (A) Yakshagana
    (B) Chham
    (C) Bhavai
    (D) Seraikela Chhau
    Answer: (B)
  24. Which Mughal emperor’s reign marked the peak of Mughal architecture?
    (A) Akbar
    (B) Jahangir
    (C) Shah Jahan
    (D) Aurangzeb
    Answer: (C)
  25. Which instrument is played by rotating a bow across strings and commonly used in Hindustani music?
    (A) Sarod
    (B) Santoor
    (C) Sarangi
    (D) Sitar
    Answer: (C)
  26. The ‘Pushkar Fair’ is known for –
    (A) Kumbh Mela
    (B) Camel trading and folk performances
    (C) River worship
    (D) Buddhist rituals
    Answer: (B)
  27. Which of the following is not a component of Natyashastra’s theatrical elements?
    (A) Nritta
    (B) Rasa
    (C) Kavya
    (D) Abhinaya
    Answer: (C)
  28. The ‘Dasiattam’ dance later evolved into –
    (A) Kuchipudi
    (B) Bharatanatyam
    (C) Mohiniyattam
    (D) Sattriya
    Answer: (B)
  29. The term ‘Kirtana’ in Indian music refers to –
    (A) A raga
    (B) A devotional song
    (C) A string instrument
    (D) A dance movement
    Answer: (B)
  30. Which traditional painting is known for its circular canvas format and mythological content?
    (A) Kalamkari
    (B) Pattachitra
    (C) Phad
    (D) Mandala
    Answer: (D)
  31. Which classical dance form extensively uses the “Tribhangi” posture?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) Mohiniyattam
    Answer: (B)
  32. ‘Vijayanagara’ empire contributed mainly to which type of architecture?
    (A) Indo-Islamic
    (B) Dravidian
    (C) Nagara
    (D) Buddhist rock-cut
    Answer: (B)
  33. Which classical Indian text refers to the theory of Rasa (aesthetic flavor)?
    (A) Natya Shastra
    (B) Arthashastra
    (C) Kama Sutra
    (D) Ramayana
    Answer: (A)
  34. Which Indian painting style often uses palm leaves as a medium?
    (A) Kalamkari
    (B) Pattachitra
    (C) Gond
    (D) Warli
    Answer: (B)
  35. Which is a tribal art form from Madhya Pradesh?
    (A) Madhubani
    (B) Bhil
    (C) Kalamkari
    (D) Pithora
    Answer: (D)
  36. Who composed devotional songs known as ‘Abhangas’?
    (A) Surdas
    (B) Namdev
    (C) Tulsidas
    (D) Ravidas
    Answer: (B)
  37. Which of the following instruments is a bowed instrument?
    (A) Veena
    (B) Sitar
    (C) Sarangi
    (D) Mridangam
    Answer: (C)
  38. Which Indian dance is known for dramatic eye movements and facial expressions?
    (A) Kathakali
    (B) Kuchipudi
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Mohiniyattam
    Answer: (A)
  39. Who introduced Persian miniatures in Indian art?
    (A) Akbar
    (B) Humayun
    (C) Babur
    (D) Jahangir
    Answer: (B)
  40. The ritualistic art form of Kerala where the performer becomes a deity is –
    (A) Kathakali
    (B) Mohiniyattam
    (C) Theyyam
    (D) Koodiyattam
    Answer: (C)
  41. Which Indian musical tradition focuses more on improvisation than composition?
    (A) Carnatic
    (B) Hindustani
    (C) Bhakti
    (D) Rabindra Sangeet
    Answer: (B)
  42. Which of these is not a type of tala in Indian music?
    (A) Teental
    (B) Rupak
    (C) Alap
    (D) Ektaal
    Answer: (C)
  43. ‘Ganjifa’ is a traditional form of –
    (A) Textile painting
    (B) Religious storytelling
    (C) Playing cards art
    (D) Wood carving
    Answer: (C)
  44. Which dance uses a circular formation and is popular during Navratri?
    (A) Lavani
    (B) Garba
    (C) Ghoomar
    (D) Dalkhai
    Answer: (B)
  45. Which poet-saint’s dohas are popular across both Sufi and Bhakti traditions?
    (A) Tulsidas
    (B) Kabir
    (C) Surdas
    (D) Tukaram
    Answer: (B)
  46. Which ancient South Indian dynasty extensively supported temple architecture?
    (A) Satavahana
    (B) Chalukya
    (C) Pallava
    (D) Rashtrakuta
    Answer: (C)
  47. The Raslila dance is most associated with which region of India?
    (A) Assam
    (B) Manipur
    (C) Gujarat
    (D) Uttar Pradesh
    Answer: (D)
  48. Which of the following is a festival of colors in India?
    (A) Diwali
    (B) Bihu
    (C) Holi
    (D) Pongal
    Answer: (C)
  49. ‘Tholu Bommalata’ is practiced in –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Karnataka
    (C) Andhra Pradesh
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (C)
  50. Which classical dance has a prominent role for storytelling through ‘Padams’ and ‘Varnams’?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Manipuri
    Answer: (C)

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