Indian Culture General Studies MCQs
11. Sanjhi Art is associated to which of the following states of India?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Rajasthan
[C] West Bengal
[D] Uttar Pradesh
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Correct Answer: D [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Sanjhi is the ancient art of paper stencilling practised across Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. It was traditionally used to make ritualistic and ceremonial rangolis in temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The term Sanjhi is derived from Sanjh or dusk.
12. Bumchu is a unique cultural festival celebrated in which Indian state?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Assam
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
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Correct Answer: A [Sikkim]
Notes:
The Bumchu festival is celebrated at Tashiding Monastery on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar. Bumchu or the opening of the vessel containing the holy water is one of the holiest festivals in Sikkim. The level of water in this vessel is believed to be a sign of the fortunes of the coming year.
13. The name of the great maestro of Indian Music “Ustad Bismillah Khan” is related to which instrument?
[A] Shehnai
[B] Flute
[C] Tabla
[D] Sarod
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Correct Answer: A [Shehnai]
Notes:
Bismillah Khan was credited with popularizing the shehnai, a sub-continental wind instrument of the above class. He was awarded, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the Third classical musician after M. S. Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be accorded this distinction.
14. Chakri is a type of traditional music that is popular in which Indian state?
[A] Punjab
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
Chakri is one of the most popular types of traditional music played in Jammu & Kashmir. It is a responsorial song form with instrumental parts, and it is played with instruments like the harmonium, rubab, sarangi, nout, geger, tumbaknaer and chimta. It is performed in folk and religious spheres, by the Muslim and Hindu Kashmiris.
15. Where do the striptease artists work?
[A] Cabarets
[B] Films
[C] Circus
[D] Plays
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Correct Answer: A [Cabarets]
Notes:
Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring music, comedy, song, dance, recitation or drama. It is mainly distinguished by the performance venue (also called a cabaret), such as in a restaurant, pub or nightclub with a stage for performances. It involves striptease which is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner.
16. Which of the following is a famous Assamese festival?
[A] Rongali Bihu
[B] Makar Sakranti
[C] Yugadi
[D] Onam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rongali Bihu]
Notes:
Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam. In a year there are three Bihu festivals in Assam– in the months of Bohaag (Baisakh, the middle of April), Maagh (the middle of January), and Kaati (Kartik, the middle of October). The most important and colourful of the three Bihu festival is the Spring festival “Bohag Bihu” or Rongali Bihu celebrated in the middle of April. This is also the beginning of the agricultural season.
17. What is the traditional musical instrument of the Limboo community of Sikkim?
[A] Jeurum Silly
[B] Chayap-Brung
[C] Chutkay
[D] Naumati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chayap-Brung]
Notes:
Chyap-Brung is the traditional musical instru-ment of the Limboo comm-unity. It is like a Dholak in shape but much bigger in size. During the course of group dance, male dancers hang the instrument around their necks with the help of a rope and beat the drum with an open palm on one side and a stick on the other.
18. Which of the following places is famous for Chikankari embroidery?
[A] Indore
[B] Chennai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Lucknow
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Correct Answer: D [Lucknow]
Notes:
Chikan is a traditional embroidery style from Lucknow, U.P. Literally translated, the word means embroidery, and it is one of Lucknow’s best known textile decoration styles. The market for local chikan is mainly in Chowk, Lucknow.
19. Which of the following language has been given the status of classical language by Central Government?
[A] Tamil
[B] Marathi
[C] Gujarati
[D] Malayalam
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Correct Answer: A [Tamil]
Notes:
In 2004, the Government of India declared that languages that met certain requirements could be accorded the status of a “Classical Language in India”. Languages so far declared to be Classical are Tamil (in 2004), Sanskrit (in 2005), Kannada and Telugu (in 2008), Malayalam (20B) and Odia (2014).
20. In which state Malwa painting style developed?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Malwa painting style developed in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, hence it is known as the Malwa style. It is a part of Rajput style in a way because in this also the main theme of the painting is king, war, etc. The main examples of Malwa style are the series of Rasik Priya (1634), ‘Amrushtak’ (1652), and series of Ragamala (1680) painted by Madhodas, etc.
