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Q1History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2026
Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?
1. They acted as army fortresses.
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- A1 only
- B1 and 3
- C3 onlyCorrect
- D2 and 4
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Moidams are funerary monuments, not army fortresses. Their mound-covered chambers and grave goods belong to Tai-Ahom burial traditions, so their function should be identified through mortuary architecture rather than military defence.
- Option B
Statement 3 correctly recognises the burial function, but statement 1 incorrectly adds fortresses. UNESCO describes the Charaideo property as a royal necropolis containing the remains of Ahom royalty and associated grave goods.
- Option D
Neither recreation nor battle training describes the function of these structures. The presence of monumental mounds and royal associations should not be confused with palaces or military establishments: this is a funerary landscape.
Q2History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2024
Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?
- AChhau dance
- BDurga Puja
- CGarba danceCorrect
- DKumbh Mela
Explanation
Correct. Garba of Gujarat was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023, making it the latest inclusion among the four options. Chhau was inscribed in 2010, Kumbh Mela in 2017, and Durga Puja in 2021.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Chhau dance was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010, making it the earliest among the given options.
- Option B
Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed in 2021, which is earlier than Garba's inscription.
- Option D
Kumbh Mela was inscribed in 2017, which predates both Durga Puja (2021) and Garba (2023).
Q3History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2024
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?
- AOnly one
- BOnly twoCorrect
- COnly three
- DAll four
Explanation
Correct. Shantiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas were both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. Rani-ki-Vav was inscribed in 2014, and the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya was inscribed in 2002.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Two properties were added in 2023, not just one.
- Option C
Only two of the four listed properties were added in 2023. Rani-ki-Vav (2014) and Mahabodhi Temple (2002) were inscribed much earlier.
- Option D
Rani-ki-Vav and Mahabodhi Temple were inscribed years before 2023.
Q4History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2016
Consider the following pairs:
Famous place — Region
1. Bodhgaya — Baghelkhand
2. Khajuraho — Bundelkhand
3. Shirdi — Vidarbha
4. Nasik (Nashik) — Malwa
5. Tirupati — Rayalaseema
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- A1, 2 and 4
- B2, 3, 4 and 5
- C2 and 5 onlyCorrect
- D1, 3, 4 and 5
Explanation
Correct. Khajuraho is in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh (pair 2) and Tirupati is in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh (pair 5). Bodhgaya is in Magadh (not Baghelkhand), Shirdi is in western Maharashtra (not Vidarbha), and Nashik is not in Malwa.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Bodhgaya is in Magadh region of Bihar, not Baghelkhand, and Nashik is in the Nashik division of Maharashtra, not Malwa.
- Option B
Shirdi is in the Ahmednagar district (Western Maharashtra/Desh region), not Vidarbha, and Nashik is not in Malwa.
- Option D
Both Bodhgaya-Baghelkhand and Shirdi-Vidarbha pairings are incorrect.
Q5History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2014
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
- A22 March or 21st MarchCorrect
- B15th May or 16th May
- C31st March or 30th March
- D21st April or 20th April
Explanation
Correct. In the Indian national calendar (Saka calendar), Chaitra 1 corresponds to March 22 in a normal year and March 21 in a leap year. The Saka calendar was adopted as India's national civil calendar alongside the Gregorian calendar in 1957.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
May 15 or 16 corresponds to the month of Vaishakha in the Saka calendar, not the beginning of Chaitra.
- Option C
March 31 or 30 falls within the month of Chaitra but is not its starting date.
- Option D
April 21 or 20 corresponds to the end of Chaitra or beginning of Vaishakha in the Saka calendar.
Q6History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2014
With reference to the 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements:
1. They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool.
3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. The Changpa are semi-nomadic pastoralists of Ladakh's Changthang region (not Uttarakhand). They rear Changthangi goats that produce the prized Pashmina wool (statement 2). They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe (statement 3).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Changpa live primarily in the Changthang plateau of Ladakh, not Uttarakhand.
- Option C
While statement 3 is correct, statement 2 is also correct. The Changpa are indeed renowned for rearing Pashmina-producing goats.
- Option D
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Changpa inhabit Ladakh, not Uttarakhand.
Q7History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2009
Consider the following pairs:
Tradition — State
1. Gatka, a traditional martial art — Kerala
2. Madhubani, a traditional painting — Bihar
3. Singhey Khababs Sindhu Darshan Festival — Jammu and Kashmir
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Madhubani painting is indeed a traditional art form of the Mithila region in Bihar (pair 2). The Sindhu Darshan Festival was held in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir (pair 3). Gatka is from Punjab, not Kerala (pair 1 is wrong).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Pair 1 is incorrect because Gatka is a Sikh martial art from Punjab, not Kerala. Kerala's martial art is Kalaripayattu.
- Option B
While pair 3 is correct, pair 2 (Madhubani-Bihar) is also correct, making this option incomplete.
- Option D
Pair 1 is incorrect. Gatka is a martial art of the Sikh tradition originating in Punjab, not Kerala.
Q8History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2009
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.
List I (Famous Person) — List II (Well-known for)
A. Mandakini Amte — 1. Theatre direction
B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry — 2. Social service and community leadership
C. Romila Thapar — 3. Dance
D. Vanashree Rao — 4. History writing
- AA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3Correct
- BA-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- CA-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- DA-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Explanation
Correct. Mandakini Amte is known for social service and community leadership (2), Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry is an acclaimed theatre director from Punjab (1), Romila Thapar is one of India's foremost historians (4), and Vanashree Rao is a noted dancer (3).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
This incorrectly assigns theatre direction to Romila Thapar and history writing to Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry.
- Option C
This incorrectly identifies Mandakini Amte as a dancer and Vanashree Rao as a social worker.
- Option D
This incorrectly assigns dance to Mandakini Amte and history writing to Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry.
Q9History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2009
Among the following, who are the Agaria community?
- ATraditional toddy tappers of Andhra Pradesh
- BTraditional fishing community of Maharashtra
- CTraditional silk-weaving community of Karnataka
- DTraditional salt pan workers of GujaratCorrect
Explanation
Correct. The Agaria community is traditionally associated with salt pan work in Gujarat. They have been historically linked to the salt-producing regions of the Rann of Kutch.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Toddy tapping in Andhra Pradesh is associated with communities like the Goud, not the Agaria.
- Option B
Fishing communities in Maharashtra include the Koli, not the Agaria.
- Option C
Silk weaving in Karnataka is associated with communities in Mysore and other centres, not the Agaria.
Q10History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2009
In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found?
- ANilgiri Hills
- BNicobar IslandsCorrect
- CSpiti Valley
- DLakshadweep Islands
Explanation
Correct. The Shompen are an indigenous tribal group inhabiting the interior forests of Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are one of India's most isolated Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The Nilgiri Hills are home to the Toda, Kota, Irula and Kurumba tribes, not the Shompen.
- Option C
Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is home to Tibetan Buddhist communities, not the Shompen.
- Option D
Lakshadweep's population is predominantly Malayali Muslim and does not include the Shompen tribe.
Q11History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2009
Consider the following statements:
1. The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
2. The highest honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer is by electing him its Fellow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The National School of Drama (NSD) was indeed established in 1959 under the aegis of the Sangeet Natak Akademi before becoming an autonomous body in 1975. The Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is the highest honour the institution bestows, limited to 21 living members at any time.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
While statement 1 is correct, statement 2 is also correct, so selecting only 1 is incomplete.
- Option B
While statement 2 is correct, statement 1 is also correct, so selecting only 2 is incomplete.
- Option D
Both statements are factually correct. The NSD's founding under Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship system are well-documented facts.
Q12History & Culture·UNESCO, Heritage and Cultural InstitutionsPYQ 2008
What is the number of spokes in the Dharma Chakra in the National Flag of India?
Explanation
Correct. The Ashoka Chakra (Dharma Chakra) at the centre of the Indian national flag has 24 spokes. It is derived from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, a UNESCO-significant monument. The 24 spokes represent the 24 hours of the day, symbolising continuous progress.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
16 spokes do not correspond to the Ashoka Chakra in the Indian national flag.
- Option B
18 is the number of chapters in the Bhagavad Gita, not the number of spokes in the national flag's wheel.
- Option C
22 is the number of major languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, not the number of spokes.