Art & Culture MCQs – Set 32: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which Indian dance form is most closely associated with temple sculpture poses?
    (A) Mohiniyattam
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Kathak
    (D) Sattriya
    Answer: (B)
  2. The ‘Sarangi’ is traditionally used to accompany –
    (A) Bhajans
    (B) Dhrupad
    (C) Qawwali
    (D) Thumri
    Answer: (D)
  3. Which traditional folk theatre from Maharashtra combines music, dance, and humor?
    (A) Nautanki
    (B) Yakshagana
    (C) Tamasha
    (D) Bhavai
    Answer: (C)
  4. The ancient mural paintings of Ajanta mainly depict stories from –
    (A) Mahabharata
    (B) Ramayana
    (C) Jataka Tales
    (D) Vedas
    Answer: (C)
  5. Which festival in Kerala marks the harvest season and features boat races?
    (A) Onam
    (B) Vishu
    (C) Pongal
    (D) Thrissur Pooram
    Answer: (A)
  6. ‘Sopana Sangeetham’ is a form of temple music in –
    (A) Tamil Nadu
    (B) Karnataka
    (C) Kerala
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (C)
  7. Which of the following is a North-East Indian martial dance form?
    (A) Thang-Ta
    (B) Chhau
    (C) Paika
    (D) Silambam
    Answer: (A)
  8. The term ‘Sangita’ in ancient India referred to –
    (A) Vocal music
    (B) Instrumental music
    (C) Dance
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  9. Which ruler built the famous ‘Hazara Rama Temple’ in Hampi?
    (A) Deva Raya II
    (B) Harihara
    (C) Krishnadevaraya
    (D) Bukka Raya
    Answer: (C)
  10. Which Bhakti saint from South India was known for composing ‘Pasurams’?
    (A) Tulsidas
    (B) Andal
    (C) Kabir
    (D) Namdev
    Answer: (B)
  11. Which of the following states is known for its ‘Cherial Scroll’ painting?
    (A) Odisha
    (B) West Bengal
    (C) Telangana
    (D) Assam
    Answer: (C)
  12. The tribal art form ‘Pithora’ is known for –
    (A) Dot painting
    (B) Geometric mandalas
    (C) Horses and ritual symbolism
    (D) Palm leaf etching
    Answer: (C)
  13. ‘Gita Govinda’ by Jayadeva is written in which language?
    (A) Prakrit
    (B) Sanskrit
    (C) Pali
    (D) Odia
    Answer: (B)
  14. The Buddhist site ‘Sanchi’ is located in –
    (A) Uttar Pradesh
    (B) Bihar
    (C) Madhya Pradesh
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (C)
  15. Which folk dance is performed with bamboo sticks in Mizoram?
    (A) Gaur Maria
    (B) Cheraw
    (C) Hojagiri
    (D) Bagurumba
    Answer: (B)
  16. Which Mughal painter was famous for naturalistic depictions of flora and fauna?
    (A) Basawan
    (B) Ustad Mansur
    (C) Farrukh Beg
    (D) Abul Hasan
    Answer: (B)
  17. Which Indian musical instrument is also called ‘Shatatantri Veena’?
    (A) Sarod
    (B) Sitar
    (C) Santoor
    (D) Veena
    Answer: (C)
  18. Which Bhakti saint emphasized ‘Nirguna’ worship and criticized idol worship?
    (A) Surdas
    (B) Tulsidas
    (C) Kabir
    (D) Meera Bai
    Answer: (C)
  19. Which classical dance has circular rhythmic patterns and graceful gestures?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Manipuri
    (D) Sattriya
    Answer: (C)
  20. Which Indian city is traditionally linked to Banarasi silk weaving?
    (A) Varanasi
    (B) Lucknow
    (C) Agra
    (D) Kanpur
    Answer: (A)
  21. ‘Kite Festival’ is celebrated grandly in which Indian state?
    (A) Maharashtra
    (B) Gujarat
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Tamil Nadu
    Answer: (B)
  22. ‘Sankirtana’ of Manipur is performed to express –
    (A) Mourning
    (B) Romantic love
    (C) Devotion to Lord Krishna
    (D) Courage and heroism
    Answer: (C)
  23. Which temple was called the “White Pagoda” by the Europeans?
    (A) Sun Temple, Konark
    (B) Jagannath Temple, Puri
    (C) Brihadeeswarar Temple
    (D) Kailasa Temple, Ellora
    Answer: (B)
  24. Who was a renowned vocalist and composer in the Carnatic Trinity?
    (A) M. S. Subbulakshmi
    (B) Tyagaraja
    (C) Lalgudi Jayaraman
    (D) Ariyakudi Ramanuja
    Answer: (B)
  25. Which Indian painting style developed under the patronage of Rajput rulers in Himachal?
    (A) Pahari
    (B) Bundi
    (C) Kangra
    (D) Kishangarh
    Answer: (C)
  26. ‘Kamsale’ is a devotional folk dance from –
    (A) Kerala
    (B) Andhra Pradesh
    (C) Karnataka
    (D) Maharashtra
    Answer: (C)
  27. Which Bhakti saint was also a philosopher and founder of Advaita Vedanta?
    (A) Ramanuja
    (B) Shankaracharya
    (C) Basava
    (D) Vallabhacharya
    Answer: (B)
  28. Which dance form traditionally uses red, black, and white face makeup?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Kathakali
    (C) Odissi
    (D) Yakshagana
    Answer: (B)
  29. Which instrument is played by blowing air into a double-reed pipe and used in weddings?
    (A) Sarangi
    (B) Nadaswaram
    (C) Shehnai
    (D) Been
    Answer: (C)
  30. Which folk theatre of Tamil Nadu is known for long dramatic performances and social satire?
    (A) Therukoothu
    (B) Yakshagana
    (C) Tamasha
    (D) Jatra
    Answer: (A)
  31. The Garba dance is performed in the form of –
    (A) Squares
    (B) Spirals
    (C) Circles
    (D) Semi-circles
    Answer: (C)
  32. Which of these is a sacred Buddhist dance performed in monasteries?
    (A) Dappu
    (B) Cham
    (C) Nati
    (D) Hojagiri
    Answer: (B)
  33. Which classical dance is usually performed solo by female dancers as a temple offering?
    (A) Kathak
    (B) Kuchipudi
    (C) Mohiniyattam
    (D) Sattriya
    Answer: (C)
  34. Which saint was closely associated with Vithoba worship in Pandharpur?
    (A) Ravidas
    (B) Tulsidas
    (C) Tukaram
    (D) Andal
    Answer: (C)
  35. Which musical instrument is associated with Baul singers of Bengal?
    (A) Ektara
    (B) Tanpura
    (C) Sarangi
    (D) Sitar
    Answer: (A)
  36. ‘Mahari’ tradition is the precursor to which classical dance form?
    (A) Bharatanatyam
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Kathakali
    (D) Sattriya
    Answer: (B)
  37. ‘Kamrupiya Dhulia’ is a traditional –
    (A) Dance
    (B) Puppet
    (C) Theatre form
    (D) Percussion performance
    Answer: (A)
  38. Which of these temples was built by the Hoysalas?
    (A) Meenakshi Temple
    (B) Lingaraj Temple
    (C) Chennakesava Temple
    (D) Sun Temple
    Answer: (C)
  39. The ‘Ghoomar’ dance is associated with which Indian state?
    (A) Madhya Pradesh
    (B) Haryana
    (C) Rajasthan
    (D) Gujarat
    Answer: (C)
  40. Which folk painting from Bihar is traditionally made by women using natural colors?
    (A) Mandana
    (B) Pithora
    (C) Madhubani
    (D) Warli
    Answer: (C)
  41. Which is a war dance performed by tribal men in Jharkhand?
    (A) Dalkhai
    (B) Chhau
    (C) Rouf
    (D) Hojagiri
    Answer: (B)
  42. Which classical dance includes storytelling through facial expressions and hand gestures, known as ‘Abhinaya’?
    (A) Bharatanatyam
    (B) Kathak
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  43. Which sacred text is recited during classical dance performances of Bharatanatyam?
    (A) Tirukkural
    (B) Vedas
    (C) Natya Shastra
    (D) Bhagavata Purana
    Answer: (C)
  44. Which of these folk traditions is performed with painted clay masks and fire torches?
    (A) Theyyam
    (B) Kalaripayattu
    (C) Koodiyattam
    (D) Kathakali
    Answer: (A)
  45. The ‘Manasa Mangal’ tradition belongs to which Indian state?
    (A) Odisha
    (B) Assam
    (C) West Bengal
    (D) Bihar
    Answer: (C)
  46. ‘Villu Paatu’ is a form of –
    (A) Bow dance
    (B) Bow-based musical storytelling
    (C) Archery competition
    (D) Martial arts demo
    Answer: (B)
  47. Which instrument is most used in Hindustani vocal performances for rhythm?
    (A) Mridangam
    (B) Tabla
    (C) Pakhawaj
    (D) Dholak
    Answer: (B)
  48. Which dance form includes a sacred enactment of the story of Radha and Krishna?
    (A) Mohiniyattam
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Manipuri
    (D) Kathakali
    Answer: (C)
  49. Which Bhakti saint’s works are compiled in ‘Bijak’?
    (A) Ravidas
    (B) Surdas
    (C) Kabir
    (D) Tulsidas
    Answer: (C)
  50. Which of the following is a famous heritage fair of Rajasthan?
    (A) Pushkar Fair
    (B) Hornbill Festival
    (C) Surajkund Mela
    (D) Bihu Festival
    Answer: (A)

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