Current Affairs chapter practice
Practise 80+ Art, Culture and Heritage in News MCQs for UPSC Prelims in Current Affairs, including 2+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.
12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
Explanation
Correct. Odia was accorded classical language status in 2014, making it the sixth language to receive this designation after Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as 'Arab Spring' originally started from:
Explanation
Correct. The Arab Spring began in Tunisia in December 2010 with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, triggering protests that spread across the Arab world.
The 'Maharaja Sayajirao University Art Gallery', which has one of the finest collections of Mughal miniatures and European oil paintings in India, is located in:
Explanation
Correct. The art gallery at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara (formerly Baroda) houses an important collection including works by European masters and Mughal miniatures.
Consider the following statements about the 'Santiniketan' UNESCO World Heritage inscription: 1. It was inscribed as a Cultural Landscape. 2. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Santiniketan was inscribed in 2023 as a Cultural Landscape reflecting Tagore's vision of internationalism and his rejection of colonial British educational models.
Consider the following statements about the 'National Monuments Authority (NMA)': 1. It was constituted under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010. 2. It is responsible for granting permissions for construction activities in the regulated and prohibited areas around centrally protected monuments. 3. It functions under the Archaeological Survey of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. The NMA was constituted under the 2010 Amendment Act and grants permissions for construction in regulated areas around protected monuments. It functions under the Ministry of Culture, not under ASI.
Consider the following pairs: GI-Tagged Craft — State 1. Channapatna Toys — Karnataka 2. Blue Pottery — Rajasthan 3. Kauna Reed Craft — Tripura Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct. Channapatna Toys are from Karnataka and Blue Pottery (Jaipur Blue Pottery) is from Rajasthan. Kauna Reed Craft is from Manipur, not Tripura.
Which of the following is the correct description of 'Aranmula Kannadi', a GI-tagged product from Kerala?
Explanation
Correct. Aranmula Kannadi is a unique metal mirror from Aranmula, Kerala, made by hand from a special copper-tin alloy. The exact composition is a closely guarded family secret.
The 'Thrissur Pooram', one of India's largest temple festivals, takes place in which state?
Explanation
Correct. Thrissur Pooram is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. It features a spectacular display of caparisoned elephants, percussion orchestras and fireworks.
Which of the following Indian items was successfully repatriated from the United States in recent years after being identified as a stolen antiquity? 1. Bronze Nataraja idol 2. Annapurna idol 3. Seated Buddha sculpture Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Correct. All three types of artefacts — Nataraja bronzes, the Annapurna idol (returned from Canada) and Buddhist sculptures — have been successfully repatriated in India's recent antiquities recovery efforts.
In 2024, the Government of India granted classical language status to five additional languages. Which of the following was NOT among them?
Explanation
Correct. Bhojpuri was not granted classical language status. The five languages added in 2024 were Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit and Assamese.
Consider the following pairs: GI-Tagged Textile — Technique 1. Banarasi Saree — Brocade weaving 2. Chikankari — Block printing 3. Kantha — Embroidery Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct. Banarasi Saree is a brocade-woven textile and Kantha is a running-stitch embroidery tradition. Chikankari is hand embroidery, not block printing.
The 'International Fleet Review', which India hosted, showcased elements of India's maritime heritage. Which city hosted the most recent International Fleet Review conducted by India?
Explanation
Correct. India hosted the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016, where President Pranab Mukherjee reviewed the fleet, showcasing India's maritime strength and heritage.
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