Art & Culture MCQs – Set 25: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which tribal festival is known for the worship of pen deities in Chhattisgarh?
    (A) Madai
    (B) Garia
    (C) Sarhul
    (D) Karma
    Answer: (A)
  2. The ‘Surabhi Theatre’ tradition is associated with which Indian state?
    (A) Andhra Pradesh
    (B) Rajasthan
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Maharashtra
    Answer: (A)
  3. Which is the only classical dance form performed exclusively by men in temples?
    (A) Kathakali
    (B) Sattriya
    (C) Odissi
    (D) Gotipua
    Answer: (B)
  4. Which painting style features mythological narratives on cloth scrolls in Andhra Pradesh?
    (A) Gond
    (B) Madhubani
    (C) Kalamkari
    (D) Bhil
    Answer: (C)
  5. In which state is the ‘Bhavai’ folk theatre form popular?
    (A) Gujarat
    (B) Punjab
    (C) Odisha
    (D) Bihar
    Answer: (A)
  6. Which of these is not a percussion instrument?
    (A) Dhol
    (B) Mridangam
    (C) Tabla
    (D) Sarangi
    Answer: (D)
  7. The traditional ‘Bandhej’ or tie-dye technique is famous in –
    (A) Assam and Meghalaya
    (B) Gujarat and Rajasthan
    (C) Odisha and Jharkhand
    (D) Tamil Nadu and Kerala
    Answer: (B)
  8. The deity Nataraja is always depicted in the posture of –
    (A) Playing flute
    (B) Destroying a demon
    (C) Cosmic dance
    (D) Seated meditation
    Answer: (C)
  9. The ‘Garba’ dance is performed in honor of –
    (A) Saraswati
    (B) Lakshmi
    (C) Durga
    (D) Krishna
    Answer: (C)
  10. ‘Mizhavu’ is a percussion instrument used in –
    (A) Mohiniyattam
    (B) Yakshagana
    (C) Koodiyattam
    (D) Bhangra
    Answer: (C)
  11. Which Mughal emperor commissioned the ‘Diwan-i-Khas’ in the Red Fort?
    (A) Humayun
    (B) Shah Jahan
    (C) Akbar
    (D) Jahangir
    Answer: (B)
  12. Which school of miniature painting originated in the Himalayan foothills?
    (A) Pahari
    (B) Mughal
    (C) Deccan
    (D) Maratha
    Answer: (A)
  13. ‘Mahari’ dancers were traditionally associated with –
    (A) Bharatanatyam
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) Kathak
    Answer: (B)
  14. Which art form is commonly created during Diwali using colors and flower petals?
    (A) Mandana
    (B) Kolam
    (C) Rangoli
    (D) Warli
    Answer: (C)
  15. Which musical instrument is made using a pumpkin as its resonator?
    (A) Tabla
    (B) Tanpura
    (C) Santoor
    (D) Pakhawaj
    Answer: (B)
  16. Which of the following cities is not associated with a classical Gharana in music?
    (A) Jaipur
    (B) Lucknow
    (C) Gaya
    (D) Benaras
    Answer: (C)
  17. Which poet’s verses are known for the phrase “Ram naam satya hai”?
    (A) Tulsidas
    (B) Kabir
    (C) Surdas
    (D) Namdev
    Answer: (B)
  18. ‘Pulikali’ or Tiger Dance is a folk art form from –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Kerala
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (B)
  19. Who is considered the first female Indian painter in the modern era?
    (A) Amrita Sher-Gil
    (B) Anjolie Ela Menon
    (C) Gogi Saroj Pal
    (D) Meera Mukherjee
    Answer: (A)
  20. Which Bhakti saint was associated with the Maratha Bhakti movement and wrote in Abhang form?
    (A) Dnyaneshwar
    (B) Tukaram
    (C) Namdev
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  21. Which Indian temple has musical pillars that produce different notes when struck?
    (A) Brihadeeswarar Temple
    (B) Vitthala Temple, Hampi
    (C) Jagannath Temple
    (D) Sun Temple, Konark
    Answer: (B)
  22. ‘Sopana Sangeetham’ is a style of classical music from –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Kerala
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (B)
  23. Which form of folk art is traditionally painted on the walls of houses in Jharkhand during Sohrai?
    (A) Mandana
    (B) Pithora
    (C) Sohrai
    (D) Alpana
    Answer: (C)
  24. Which Mughal emperor discouraged painting and music at his court?
    (A) Akbar
    (B) Jahangir
    (C) Shah Jahan
    (D) Aurangzeb
    Answer: (D)
  25. The flute-playing child Krishna is a central theme in which classical dance?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Kuchipudi
    Answer: (B)
  26. Who is the author of the Sanskrit drama ‘Malavikagnimitram’?
    (A) Kalidasa
    (B) Bhasa
    (C) Vishakhadatta
    (D) Banabhatta
    Answer: (A)
  27. The art of storytelling through music and dance in Andhra Pradesh is called –
    (A) Harikatha
    (B) Yakshagana
    (C) Lavani
    (D) Bhavai
    Answer: (A)
  28. The ‘Chakyar Koothu’ is a solo performance art of –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Kerala
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (B)
  29. Which dance is known as the “Dance of the Enchantress”?
    (A) Odissi
    (B) Mohiniyattam
    (C) Sattriya
    (D) Kuchipudi
    Answer: (B)
  30. Which language was predominantly used in Bhakti poetry in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Sanskrit
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Tamil
    Answer: (D)
  31. Which art form is practiced by the Rajwar community of Chhattisgarh?
    (A) Lippan
    (B) Sujni
    (C) Lipai
    (D) Lipai-Chitra
    Answer: (D)
  32. Which Indian classical vocalist was known as ‘Swar Samrat’?
    (A) Bhimsen Joshi
    (B) Kumar Gandharva
    (C) M. Balamuralikrishna
    (D) Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan
    Answer: (D)
  33. Which is the primary text associated with classical Indian dance and drama?
    (A) Sangita Ratnakara
    (B) Natyashastra
    (C) Abhinaya Darpana
    (D) Kalpa Sutra
    Answer: (B)
  34. Which architectural element is a stepped tank found in ancient Indian temples?
    (A) Gopuram
    (B) Pushkarni
    (C) Vimana
    (D) Mandapa
    Answer: (B)
  35. Which tribal community celebrates the ‘Hornbill Festival’?
    (A) Ao
    (B) Konyak
    (C) Angami
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  36. Which of the following is not a style of painting?
    (A) Kangra
    (B) Mysore
    (C) Bikaner
    (D) Golconda
    Answer: (D)
  37. The folk art ‘Kalamezhuthu’ involves –
    (A) Textile weaving
    (B) Temple floor art with colored powders
    (C) Wood carving
    (D) Clay modeling
    Answer: (B)
  38. Which state is known for ‘Patachitra’ scroll paintings?
    (A) Gujarat
    (B) Odisha
    (C) Bihar
    (D) Himachal Pradesh
    Answer: (B)
  39. Which Bhakti poetess was born in a royal Rajput family?
    (A) Andal
    (B) Akka Mahadevi
    (C) Meera Bai
    (D) Avvaiyar
    Answer: (C)
  40. The Manipuri dance is distinguished by its –
    (A) Bell-adorned ankle movements
    (B) Sudden foot stamping
    (C) Smooth, graceful movements and hand gestures
    (D) Martial stances
    Answer: (C)
  41. Which architectural marvel was constructed during the Vijayanagara Empire?
    (A) Qutub Minar
    (B) Vitthala Temple, Hampi
    (C) Konark Sun Temple
    (D) Kailasa Temple
    Answer: (B)
  42. Which traditional Indian music form is composed in praise of Shiva?
    (A) Vachanas
    (B) Abhang
    (C) Thiruppugazh
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  43. Which artist founded the Bengal School of Art?
    (A) Nandalal Bose
    (B) Abanindranath Tagore
    (C) Jamini Roy
    (D) Raja Ravi Varma
    Answer: (B)
  44. The ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ program encourages –
    (A) Inter-cultural unity
    (B) Economic exchange
    (C) Digital literacy
    (D) Women empowerment
    Answer: (A)
  45. Which traditional Indian theatre uses hand gestures, facial expressions, and storytelling in open-air settings?
    (A) Kathakali
    (B) Nautanki
    (C) Therukoothu
    (D) Chhau
    Answer: (C)
  46. Which craft is known for intricate silver filigree work in Odisha?
    (A) Pattachitra
    (B) Tarakashi
    (C) Bidriware
    (D) Dhokra
    Answer: (B)
  47. ‘Ganjifa’ is an ancient Indian –
    (A) Board game
    (B) Card game
    (C) Dance
    (D) Painting style
    Answer: (B)
  48. The ritual performance ‘Theyyam’ is practiced in –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Kerala
    (C) Andhra Pradesh
    (D) Karnataka
    Answer: (B)
  49. Which dance is known for its face masks and vigorous, martial style movements?
    (A) Chhau
    (B) Mohiniyattam
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Manipuri
    Answer: (A)
  50. The ‘Pung Cholom’ is a drum dance from –
    (A) Nagaland
    (B) Manipur
    (C) Assam
    (D) Mizoram
    Answer: (B)

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