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Q1Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in NewsPYQ 2015
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
- AOdiaCorrect
- BKonkani
- CBhojpuri
- DAssamese
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Konkani is a Scheduled Language but has not been granted classical language status.
- Option C
Bhojpuri is not even a Scheduled Language and has no classical language status.
- Option D
Assamese is a Scheduled Language but has not been granted classical language status.
Q2Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in NewsPYQ 2014
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as 'Arab Spring' originally started from:
- AEgypt
- BLebanon
- CSyria
- DTunisiaCorrect
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Egypt witnessed major protests after Tunisia, but the Arab Spring did not originate there.
- Option B
Lebanon was not the starting point of the Arab Spring movement.
- Option C
Syria's civil war was a consequence of the broader Arab Spring wave, not its origin.
Q3Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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:
- AJaipur
- BVadodaraCorrect
- CMysuru
- DHyderabad
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Jaipur has its own art museums but not the Maharaja Sayajirao University Gallery.
- Option C
Mysuru has the Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery, not the MSU gallery.
- Option D
Hyderabad has the Salar Jung Museum, not the MSU gallery.
Q4Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct; Santiniketan was established by Rabindranath Tagore as a centre for art and learning.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct; Santiniketan was inscribed as a Cultural Landscape on the World Heritage List in 2023.
- Option D
Both statements are factually accurate.
Q5Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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?
- A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- B1 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is also correct; the NMA handles construction permission requests.
- Option C
Statement 1 is also correct. Statement 3 is wrong; NMA functions under the Ministry of Culture directly, not under ASI.
- Option D
Statement 3 is incorrect; NMA is an independent body under the Ministry of Culture.
Q6Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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?
- A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Channapatna Toys are from Karnataka and Blue Pottery (Jaipur Blue Pottery) is from Rajasthan. Kauna Reed Craft is from Manipur, not Tripura.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Pair 1 is also correct. Pair 3 is wrong; Kauna Reed Craft belongs to Manipur.
- Option C
Pair 2 is also correctly matched.
- Option D
Pair 3 is incorrect; Kauna Reed Craft is associated with Manipur, not Tripura.
Q7Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
Which of the following is the correct description of 'Aranmula Kannadi', a GI-tagged product from Kerala?
- AA handloom silk saree woven with golden thread
- BA metal mirror made of a special copper-tin alloyCorrect
- CA type of mural painting on temple walls
- DA traditional wooden boat used in snake boat races
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Aranmula Kannadi is not a textile; it is a reflective metal product.
- Option C
Aranmula Kannadi refers to a mirror, not a mural painting tradition.
- Option D
The Aranmula region is also known for boat races, but the Kannadi (mirror) is a distinct GI product.
Q8Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
The 'Thrissur Pooram', one of India's largest temple festivals, takes place in which state?
- ATamil Nadu
- BKeralaCorrect
- CKarnataka
- DAndhra Pradesh
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Thrissur is a city in Kerala, not Tamil Nadu.
- Option C
The festival is specific to Kerala, not Karnataka.
- Option D
Andhra Pradesh does not host Thrissur Pooram.
Q9Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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:
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Items 2 and 3 have also been repatriated from the US in recent years.
- Option B
Item 3 has also been returned; several Buddhist artefacts have been repatriated.
- Option C
Item 1 is also correct; Nataraja bronzes have been among the most prominent returns.
Q10Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
In 2024, the Government of India granted classical language status to five additional languages. Which of the following was NOT among them?
- AMarathi
- BBengali
- CPali
- DBhojpuriCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Bhojpuri was not granted classical language status. The five languages added in 2024 were Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit and Assamese.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Marathi was one of the five languages granted classical status in October 2024.
- Option B
Bengali was one of the five languages granted classical status in October 2024.
- Option C
Pali was one of the five languages granted classical status in October 2024.
Q11Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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?
- A1 and 3 onlyCorrect
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Banarasi Saree is a brocade-woven textile and Kantha is a running-stitch embroidery tradition. Chikankari is hand embroidery, not block printing.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Pair 2 is incorrect; Chikankari is hand embroidery using needle and thread, not block printing.
- Option C
Pair 1 is also correctly matched. Pair 2 is wrong; Chikankari is embroidery, not block printing.
- Option D
Pair 2 is incorrect; Chikankari of Lucknow is a hand-embroidery technique, not block printing.
Q12Current Affairs·Art, Culture and Heritage in News
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?
- AMumbai
- BKochi
- CVisakhapatnamCorrect
- DChennai
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Mumbai did not host the most recent Indian International Fleet Review.
- Option B
Kochi is a major naval base but did not host it.
- Option D
Chennai did not host the International Fleet Review.