UPSC Indian Culture
These questions have been sourced from GKToday’s “Target 2026 UPSC Prelims” App Exclusive Course in GKToday Android Application which provides more than 40K General Knowledge and General Studies questions with explanations asked in all Competitive Exams of India.
31. Which of the following pairs of tribes and respective states are matched correctly?
- Chakmas – Andhra Pradesh
- Dongria Kandha – Arunachal Pradesh
- Baiga – Madhya Pradesh
- Kyong – Nagaland
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 4
[D] 1, 2 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 3 & 4]
Notes:
- The Chakmas and Hajongs migrated from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh to Arunachal Pradesh. They were displaced by the Kaptai dam on the Karnaphuli River in the 1960s.
- Dongria Kandha inhabits the Niyamgiri hill ranges in Rayagada district, Orissa. They speak Kuvi.
- The Baiga are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
- The Lotha Nagas, also known as Kyong, are a major Naga ethnic group native to Wokha District in the Indian state of Nagaland.
32. Consider the following statements regarding “Atharvaveda”:
- Atharvaveda is a collection of magic spells and charms to ward off evil spirits and diseases.
- The Atharvaveda is considered the fourth Veda and is a late addition to the Vedic texts of Hinduism.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
Atharvaveda is a collection of magic spells and charms to ward off evil spirits and diseases. The Atharvaveda is considered the fourth Veda and is a late addition to the Vedic texts of Hinduism.
The Rigveda is a collection of 1,028 hymns divided into 10 mandalas. They are the earliest compositions and therefore depict the life of the early Vedic people in India.
The Samaveda is a collection of verses mostly taken from the Rigveda, but arranged in a poetic form to facilitate singing.
The Yajurveda is found in two versions, black and white, and is full of rituals performed in public or in person.
33. Which of the following initiatives are aimed at redeveloping heritage sites?
- ABADHA Scheme
- Swadesh Darshan Scheme
- PRASHAD Scheme
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
ABADHA Scheme focuses on Puri’s heritage site redevelopment. Swadesh Darshan Scheme develops theme-based circuits including heritage and pilgrimage sites. PRASHAD Scheme is dedicated to holistic development and infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage destinations. All three initiatives directly aim at redevelopment or enhancement of heritage sites.
34. Consider the following statements regarding the architectural features of certain Indian temples:
- They were fortified with three square concentric walls and had gates on all four sides.
- The front wall featured an entrance gateway at its center, known as a gopuram.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Both 1 and 2
[C] Only 2
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
Unlike Nagara temples, Dravida temples typically feature three square concentric enclosure walls with gates on all four sides. The central gateway in the front wall is called a gopuram, distinctive in Dravida style architecture. Thus, both statements are correct as per the tradition of South Indian temple construction.
35. Identify the phenomenon:
- It happens on winter solstice.
- It occurs in Negev Desert.
- It finds mention in the Bible.
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Burning Bush
[B] Fire Rainbows
[C] Ice Spikes
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Burning Bush]
Notes:
The burning bush, noted in Exodus 3, is a phenomenon observed on Mount Horeb during the winter solstice in the Negev Desert, Israel. Fire rainbows, or circumhorizon arcs, occur when sunlight shines through specific ice cloud formations. Ice spikes, known as penitentes, form at high altitudes where sunlight sublimates ice directly into water vapor.
36. Arrange the following temples from North to South:
- Vittala Temple
- Veerabhadra Temple
- Airavatesvara Temple
- Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple
Which of the following is the correct sequence?
Choose the answer using the codes given below:
[A] 4, 3, 2, 1
[B] 2, 1, 4, 3
[C] 4, 1, 2, 3
[D] 3, 4, 1, 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [4, 1, 2, 3]
Notes:
Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple, Uttar Pradesh, is the northernmost; followed by Vittala Temple in Hampi, Karnataka; Veerabhadra Temple in Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh; and Airavatesvara Temple in Tamil Nadu is the southernmost. Hence, the correct North to South order is 4, 1, 2, 3, aligning with their geographic locations in India.
37. Which of the following musical instruments is/are a string instruments?
- Mayil Yazh
- Kamaicha
- Apang
- Rabab
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 3
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3 & 4]
Notes:
Mayil Yazh is an arched harp resembling a peacock, made of wood and ivory, featured in ancient Tamil music and classical literature like Silapathikaram. Kamaicha, one of the oldest bowed instruments, is central to Rajasthani folk music, especially within the Manganiyar community in Barmer, Jaisalmer. The Apang, a stringed instrument from Rajasthan, is crafted from various materials and attributed to saint Ismail Nath Jogi. Rabab, made of wood, parchment, and steel, is a traditional instrument from Jammu and Kashmir, used in folk forms like ‘Chakkari’ and ‘Sufiyana Qalam’.
38. Which of the following pairs of banned traditional sports in India and their associated states is/are matched correctly?
- Karnataka – Kambala buffalo race
- Kerala – Kodipandem cockfight
- Punjab – Rural Olympics bullock cart race
- West Bengal – Bulbul bird fight
- Maharashtra – Bullock cart race
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 4
[B] Only 2, 4 & 5
[C] Only 1, 3 & 5
[D] Only 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 3 & 5]
Notes:
Karnataka is known for Kambala buffalo race, Punjab for Rural Olympics bullock cart race, and Maharashtra for bullock cart race. Kodipandem cockfight is associated with Andhra Pradesh, not Kerala. Bulbul bird fight is associated with Assam, not West Bengal. Thus, only pairs 1, 3, and 5 are matched correctly.
39. Consider the following statements:
- Champwine is a wine made from grapes grown in the Champhai district of Manipur.
- Judima, a home-made rice wine of Assam’s Dimasa tribe, is the first traditional brew in all of Northeast India to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
[A] Both 1 and 2
[B] Only 1
[C] Only 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
Champwine is indeed made from grapes cultivated in Champhai, Manipur, not rice. Judima, a rice wine from Assam’s Dimasa tribe, is recognized as the first traditional brew from Northeast India to obtain a GI tag. Therefore, both statements are correct based on recent recognitions and facts pertaining to regional beverages.
40. With reference to the ‘Narasinghapettai nagaswaram’, consider the following statements:
- It is a classical percussion instrument made by artisans near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
- It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2022.
- The instrument is crafted mainly from the Hardwickia binata (aacha) tree.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 and 3]
Notes:
The Narasinghapettai nagaswaram is a classical wind instrument (not percussion) crafted by artisans from a village near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. It was awarded the Geographical Indication tag in 2022, and artisans traditionally use wood from the Hardwickia binata (aacha) tree to make it. The first and third statements are therefore correct.
