Art & Culture PYQ (2011-2024)

2024

Question 1

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?

(a) Kavyalankara

(b) Natyashastra

(d) Mahabhashya

Question 2

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

1. Shantiniketan

2. Rani-ki-Vav

3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Question 3

Consider the following statements:

1. There are no parables in Upanishads.

2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2023

Question 1

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:
1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.
2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Question 2

Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?
(a) Kings employing women bodyguards
(b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
(c) Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals
(d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death

Question 3

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:
Literary work Author
1. Devichandragupta : Bilhana
2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna
4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Question 4

Consider the following pairs:
Site Well known for
1. Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Question 2

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?

1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga

2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.

3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 3

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

(a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.

(b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.

(d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.

Question 4

“Yoga Vasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:

(a) Akbar

(b) Humayun

(d) Aurangzeb

Question 5

With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:

Nettipakarana
Parishishta Parvan
Avadanasataka
Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina texts?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 4 only

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Question 6

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

Historical person	Known as
1. Aryadeva	Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga	Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni	Vaishnav a scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) None of the pairs

(b) Only one pair

(d) All three pairs

2021

Question 1

Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora river.

(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of the Chambal river.

(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of the Godavari river.

Question 2

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

It is a circular temple built during the reign of the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
It is the only circular temple built in India.
It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Question 3

With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to:

(a) Dance forms of Northwest India

(b) Musical instruments

(d) Tribal languages

2020

Question 1

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term Paramitas?

(a) The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style.

(b) Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas.

(d) Powerful merchant guilds of early Medieval South India.

Question 2

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana

2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.

3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 3

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Famous Place	Present State
1. Bhilsa	Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra	Maharashtra
3. Girinagar	Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara	Uttar Pradesh

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

Question 4

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:

Parivrajaka : Renunciant and Wanderer
Shramana : Priest with a high status
Upasaka : Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

2019

Question 1

Building ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

(a) Chalukya

(b) Chandela

(d) Vijayanagara

Question 2

Consider the following statements:

Deification of the Buddha
Trading the path of Bodhisattvas
Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the features/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

2018

Question 1

The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the

(a) Bundi school

(b) Jaipur school

(d) Kishangarh school

Question 2

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
Annamacharya Keertanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Question 3

Consider the following pairs:

Tradition	State
1. Chapchar Kut festival	Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad	Manipur
3. Thang-Ta dance	Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2

(d) 2 and 3

Question 4

Which reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to

(a) Buddhism

(b) Jainism

(d) Shaivism

Question 5

Which reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?

(a) Avalokiteshvara

(b) Lokesvara

(d) Padmapani

2017

Question 1

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?

Arasavalli Amarkantak
Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 2

The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous for illustrated paintings at:

(a) Ajanta

(b) Badami

(d) Ellora

Question 3

With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:

It is a song and dance performance.
Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1 only

Question 4

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of
Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 5

Consider the following pairs:

Traditions	Communities
1. Chaliha Sahib Festival	Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra	Gonds
3. Wari -Warkari	Santhals

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) None of the above

2016

Question 1

What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

Both were built in the same
Both belong to the same religious
Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Question 2

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 3

Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of the Shunga dynasty?

(a) Swapnavasavadatta

(b) Malavikagnimitra

(d) Ratnavali

2015

Question 1

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar

(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli

(d) Varaha Image at Udayagiri

Question 2

Kalamkari painting refers to:

(a) A hand-painted cotton textile in South India

(b) A handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in NorthEast India

(d) A hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North- Western India

Question 3

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

Avanti
Gandhara
Kosala
Magadha

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

2014

Question 1

Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was:

(a) The mosque for the use of Royal Family

(b) Akbar’s private prayer chamber.

(d) The room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs.

Question 2

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to:

(a) An assembly of village elders

(b) A religious sect

(d) An administrative functionary

Question 3

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs.

Famous works of sculpture	Site
1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below	Ajanta
2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on the rock	Mount Abu
3. “Arjuna’s Penance”/“Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders	Mamallapuram

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 4

With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:

Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 5

Consider the following pairs:

Garba : Gujarat
Mohiniattam : Odisha
Yakshagana : Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 6

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

Avanti
Gandhara
Kosala
Magadha

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

Question 7

In Medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for

(a) Military officers

(b) Village headmen

(d) Chiefs of craft guilds

Question 8

Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/ tribes?

(a) Bhutia and Lepcha

(b) Gond and Korku

(d) Sahariya and Agariya

Question 9

Chaitra, one of the national calendars based on the Saka Era, corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

(a) 22nd March (or 21st March)

(b) 15th May (or 16th May)

(d) 21st April (or 20th April)

Question10

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:

Famous Shrine	Location
1. Tabo monastery and temple complex	Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang	Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi Temple Complex	Ladakh

Which of the above pairs given is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 11

Consider the following statements:

‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
The Philosophy of PushtiMarg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 12

A community of people called Manganiyars is well- known for their

(a) Martial arts in North-East India

(b) Musical tradition in North-West

(d) Pietra dura tradition in Central India

Question 13

Consider the following languages:

Gujarati
Kannada
Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language/Languages’ by the Government?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 14

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

(a) Mimamsa and Vedanta

(b) Nyaya and Vaisheshika

(d) Sankhya and Yoga

Question 15

The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:

(a) Katha Upanishad

(b) Chandogya Upanishad

(d) Mundaka Upanishad

Question 16

With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?

(a) It is an ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism still prevalent in some parts of South India.

(b) It is an ancient style bronze and brass work still found in the southern part of the Coromandel

(d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India.

2013

Question 1

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock- cut caves in India.

2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 2

Consider the following historical places:

Ajanta Caves Lepakshi Temple
Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) None

Question 3

In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

(a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at the waist and neck

(b) Facial expressions, hand gestures and make-up are combined to symbolize certain epic or historic characters

(d) A little smile, slightly curved waist and certain hand gestures are emphasized to express the feelings of love or eroticism

Question 4

Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

Dadu Dayal
Guru Nanak
Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 only

(d) 1 and 2

Question 5

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school:

Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul.
Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 6

Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

(a) Vihara is a place of worship, while Chaitya is the dwelling place of the monks.

(b) Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks.

(d) There is no material difference between the two.

Question 7

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

(a) The extinction of the flame of desire

(b) The complete annihilation of self

(d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension

Question 8.

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?

The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practise penance.
Every object, even the smallest particle, has a soul.
Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

2012

Question 1

The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the:

(a) Three main racial groups of the Indian subcontinent

(b) Three main linguistic divisions into which the languages of India can be classified.

(d) Three main musical gharanas were prevalent in India.

Question 2

With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, Which of the following statements are correct?

Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal period
Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music
Dhrupad alap uses Sanskrit syllables from

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) None of the above is correct.

Question 3

How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?

Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatnatyam
Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatnatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 or 2

Question 4

With reference to the history of Ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism?

Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment
Indifference to the authority of Vedas
Denial of the efficacy of rituals

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 5

Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called “Bhumisparsha mudra”. It symbolises:

(a) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation.

(b) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara.

(c) Buddha’s reminder to his followers that they all arise from Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth, and thus this life is transitory.

(d) Both statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context.

2011

Question 1

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by:

(a) Universal law

(b) Universal Truth

(d) Universal Soul

Art & Culture PYQ (2011-2024)

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