Art & Culture MCQs – Set 37: Advanced Questions for UPSC/PSC/CGL Exam Prep

  1. Which instrument is typically used to keep rhythm in Indian classical dance performances?
    (A) Veena
    (B) Tabla
    (C) Mridangam
    (D) Nattuvangam
    Answer: (D)
  2. The ‘Koodiyattam’ dance-drama belongs to which Indian state?
    (A) Karnataka
    (B) Tamil Nadu
    (C) Kerala
    (D) Andhra Pradesh
    Answer: (C)
  3. Which tribal group of Madhya Pradesh is famous for its colorful folk paintings?
    (A) Bhil
    (B) Santhal
    (C) Garo
    (D) Munda
    Answer: (A)
  4. Which Indian river is associated with the origin of the Mahakumbh Mela?
    (A) Yamuna
    (B) Saraswati
    (C) Ganga
    (D) Narmada
    Answer: (C)
  5. Which traditional performance art in Tamil Nadu involves balancing pots and dancing to folk tunes?
    (A) Therukoothu
    (B) Karagattam
    (C) Kalaripayattu
    (D) Oyilattam
    Answer: (B)
  6. The ‘Vesara’ style of temple architecture flourished primarily in –
    (A) Northern India
    (B) Deccan region
    (C) Bengal
    (D) Gujarat
    Answer: (B)
  7. Which classical dance is known for its use of expressions and eye movements to narrate stories?
    (A) Mohiniyattam
    (B) Kathakali
    (C) Kuchipudi
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  8. The ‘Natyashastra’ recognizes how many classical rasas (emotions)?
    (A) 6
    (B) 8
    (C) 9
    (D) 10
    Answer: (C)
  9. Which folk art form is painted on walls by women during festivals in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh?
    (A) Mandana
    (B) Warli
    (C) Kalamkari
    (D) Bhil
    Answer: (A)
  10. The Raag ‘Megh Malhar’ is associated with –
    (A) Summer
    (B) Morning
    (C) Monsoon
    (D) Winter
    Answer: (C)
  11. Which Indian instrument is made of a resonating wooden box and is played with both hands?
    (A) Tabla
    (B) Santoor
    (C) Veena
    (D) Tanpura
    Answer: (B)
  12. The ‘Pithora’ painting tradition belongs to which tribal community?
    (A) Bhil
    (B) Santhal
    (C) Warli
    (D) Baiga
    Answer: (A)
  13. Which Indian saint was a key figure in the Lingayat movement?
    (A) Ramanuja
    (B) Basava
    (C) Kabir
    (D) Tukaram
    Answer: (B)
  14. Which traditional Manipuri art form combines martial arts and drums?
    (A) Pung Cholom
    (B) Lai Haraoba
    (C) Hojagiri
    (D) Thang-Ta
    Answer: (A)
  15. Which famous temple town is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River?
    (A) Hampi
    (B) Madurai
    (C) Srirangam
    (D) Tirupati
    Answer: (A)
  16. Which architectural style is characterized by beehive-shaped shikhara and absence of gopurams?
    (A) Dravidian
    (B) Nagara
    (C) Vesara
    (D) Indo-Islamic
    Answer: (B)
  17. The ‘Dashavatara’ theme is commonly seen in –
    (A) Miniature paintings
    (B) Temple sculptures
    (C) Tribal wall art
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  18. Who among the following wrote ‘Geet Govind’, which is central to many dance traditions?
    (A) Kalidasa
    (B) Jayadeva
    (C) Tulsidas
    (D) Andal
    Answer: (B)
  19. The traditional ‘Patachitra’ painting is made using which natural base?
    (A) Banana leaves
    (B) Silk cloth
    (C) Palm leaves and cloth
    (D) Rice paper
    Answer: (C)
  20. Which festival celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya?
    (A) Holi
    (B) Dussehra
    (C) Diwali
    (D) Ram Navami
    Answer: (C)
  21. Which Indian dance form is performed wearing brightly colored masks, especially in Odisha?
    (A) Sattriya
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Chhau
    (D) Kathakali
    Answer: (C)
  22. Which musical instrument is a double-reed wind instrument traditionally played at weddings?
    (A) Nadaswaram
    (B) Shehnai
    (C) Pungi
    (D) Been
    Answer: (B)
  23. The ancient ‘Silappadikaram’ text belongs to which language tradition?
    (A) Kannada
    (B) Sanskrit
    (C) Tamil
    (D) Telugu
    Answer: (C)
  24. Which state is famous for the worship of the goddess ‘Bonthu Jathara’?
    (A) Karnataka
    (B) Andhra Pradesh
    (C) Tamil Nadu
    (D) Telangana
    Answer: (D)
  25. The folk instrument ‘Tumbi’ is primarily used in –
    (A) Assam
    (B) Tamil Nadu
    (C) Punjab
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (C)
  26. Which painting style flourished under Akbar’s reign and shows Persian influence?
    (A) Kangra
    (B) Mughal Miniature
    (C) Pahari
    (D) Mysore
    Answer: (B)
  27. Which of the following is the main percussion instrument in Carnatic music?
    (A) Tabla
    (B) Dholak
    (C) Mridangam
    (D) Ghatam
    Answer: (C)
  28. Which art form is typically done on walls using cow dung, rice paste, and red mud?
    (A) Gond
    (B) Pattachitra
    (C) Mandana
    (D) Warli
    Answer: (D)
  29. Who introduced Persian elements into Indian classical music during the Delhi Sultanate period?
    (A) Amir Khusrau
    (B) Tansen
    (C) Alauddin Khilji
    (D) Ziauddin Barani
    Answer: (A)
  30. The festival of ‘Vasant Panchami’ is primarily associated with –
    (A) Goddess Kali
    (B) Lord Rama
    (C) Goddess Saraswati
    (D) Lord Ganesha
    Answer: (C)
  31. Which embroidery technique uses mirrors and colorful threads and is popular in Gujarat?
    (A) Kantha
    (B) Phulkari
    (C) Shisha
    (D) Chikankari
    Answer: (C)
  32. Which is the major festival celebrated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri?
    (A) Rath Yatra
    (B) Durga Puja
    (C) Chhath
    (D) Navratri
    Answer: (A)
  33. Which dance form is known for using a brass plate and balancing act as part of its routine?
    (A) Kuchipudi
    (B) Odissi
    (C) Bharatanatyam
    (D) Kathak
    Answer: (A)
  34. Which Mughal ruler’s court is considered the golden age of miniature painting?
    (A) Akbar
    (B) Humayun
    (C) Shah Jahan
    (D) Jahangir
    Answer: (D)
  35. The Manipuri Raas Leela focuses on the love story of –
    (A) Shiva and Parvati
    (B) Krishna and Radha
    (C) Rama and Sita
    (D) Vishnu and Lakshmi
    Answer: (B)
  36. The Indian drum that produces metallic sounds and is shaped like a clay pot is –
    (A) Mridangam
    (B) Dhol
    (C) Ghatam
    (D) Pakhawaj
    Answer: (C)
  37. The terracotta temples of Bishnupur are located in –
    (A) Jharkhand
    (B) West Bengal
    (C) Odisha
    (D) Assam
    Answer: (B)
  38. Which dance form uses a mix of folk and martial arts from Bengal?
    (A) Chhau
    (B) Kathak
    (C) Jhumur
    (D) Dandiya
    Answer: (A)
  39. The Tamil epic ‘Manimekalai’ is a sequel to –
    (A) Ramayana
    (B) Silappadikaram
    (C) Tirukkural
    (D) Bhagavad Gita
    Answer: (B)
  40. Which Indian musical instrument is played with a bow and held vertically?
    (A) Sarod
    (B) Sarangi
    (C) Veena
    (D) Santoor
    Answer: (B)
  41. Which tribal festival of Nagaland celebrates harvest and community bonding?
    (A) Losar
    (B) Hornbill
    (C) Chapchar Kut
    (D) Moatsu
    Answer: (B)
  42. Which festival is known as the ‘festival of lights’?
    (A) Holi
    (B) Diwali
    (C) Navratri
    (D) Lohri
    Answer: (B)
  43. The performing art ‘Yakshagana’ uses which type of makeup and costumes?
    (A) Subtle and minimalist
    (B) Natural and light
    (C) Loud and dramatic
    (D) Black and white only
    Answer: (C)
  44. Which Vedic chant is believed to bring rain and is associated with Raga Malhar?
    (A) Gayatri Mantra
    (B) Purusha Sukta
    (C) Varuna Stotra
    (D) Megha Mantra
    Answer: (D)
  45. Which instrument is primarily used in Bihu music?
    (A) Tumbi
    (B) Dhol
    (C) Khol
    (D) Pepa
    Answer: (D)
  46. The UNESCO-listed ‘Rani ki Vav’ stepwell is located in –
    (A) Gujarat
    (B) Rajasthan
    (C) Madhya Pradesh
    (D) Maharashtra
    Answer: (A)
  47. Which Indian painting style developed in the courts of Deccan sultanates?
    (A) Mysore
    (B) Tanjore
    (C) Deccani
    (D) Bundi
    Answer: (C)
  48. Which community performs the Dhamal dance in Haryana?
    (A) Brahmins
    (B) Rajputs
    (C) Sufi followers
    (D) Jats
    Answer: (D)
  49. Who was the female saint poet of the Bhakti movement known for her Krishna devotion?
    (A) Mirabai
    (B) Andal
    (C) Akka Mahadevi
    (D) All of the above
    Answer: (D)
  50. Which instrument has metal keys and produces a shimmering sound, often used in Kashmir?
    (A) Santoor
    (B) Sarod
    (C) Sitar
    (D) Mandolin
    Answer: (A)

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