Art & Culture Previous Year Questions (PYQ) with Answers

The correct answer is B, A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv. Nihalchand was the master painter of Kishangarh in the 18th century under Raja Sawant Singh, the poet-king known as Nagaridas; his 'Bani Thani', with its long nose, arched eyebrows and lotus-shaped eyes, is often called the Mona Lisa of India. Ustad Ali Raza, a painter who came from Delhi, worked at Bikaner in the 17th century under Maharaja Karan Singh, which is why Bikaner painting shows a strong Mughal touch. Sahibdin was the leading painter of Mewar under Maharana Jagat Singh I; his Ragamala of 1628 and his Ramayana paintings shaped the Udaipur style. Shivdas is counted among the painters of the Marwar, or Jodhpur, school. Option A is wrong because it gives Shivdas to Bikaner and Ali Raza to Marwar. Option C is wrong because it gives Shivdas to Mewar and Sahibdin to Marwar. Option D is wrong because it links Sahibdin with Bikaner and Ali Raza with Mewar. Exam tip: Bani Thani–Nihalchand–Kishangarh; Ragamala–Sahibdin–Mewar; Ali Raza–Bikaner; Shivdas–Marwar.

The correct answer is B, Bharia. Patalkot is a deep, horseshoe-shaped valley in the Tamia area of Chhindwara district, and most of its villages are home to the Bharia tribe. The valley floor lies more than a thousand feet below the surrounding Satpura plateau, so for a long time the Bharias lived almost cut off from the outside world, depending on the forest for food and herbal medicine. The Bharias of Patalkot are one of the three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Madhya Pradesh, along with the Baiga and the Sahariya. Option A is wrong because the Bhil, the largest tribe of the state, live mainly in western districts such as Jhabua, Alirajpur and Dhar. Option C is wrong because the Khairwar are a separate tribe and not the main community of Patalkot. Option D is wrong because the Oraon belong mainly to the Chhotanagpur region of Jharkhand. Exam tip: Patalkot, Chhindwara, Bharia tribe, one of the three PVTGs of Madhya Pradesh with the Baiga and Sahariya.

The correct answer is C, Jhumar. The Jhumar dance of Haryana takes its name from the jhumar, an ornament that married women wear on the forehead. It is danced mainly by young married women, often in a circle, with clapping and folk songs to the beat of the dholak and the thali, a brass plate used as a rhythm instrument. It is especially popular in the Bagar region of western Haryana. Because it is a lively women's dance like the Gidda of Punjab, Jhumar is also known as the Haryanvi Gidda, a name that has itself been asked in HSSC papers. Option A is wrong because Ghoomar takes its name from the swirling movement of the dancers, not from an ornament; it is famous in Rajasthan and is also danced in southern Haryana. Option B is wrong because Loor is a dance of girls, performed in the month of Phagun to welcome spring. Option D is wrong because the Gugga dance is performed by men in honour of Gugga Pir, especially around Gugga Navami. Exam tip: Jhumar means a forehead ornament and is called the Haryanvi Gidda; Loor is the girls' spring dance of Phagun.

The correct answer is C, Assam. Sattriya was developed in the sattras, the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam, by the saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev in the 15th century. He created it as part of his one-act plays called 'Ankia Naat' to spread devotion to Lord Krishna, and for centuries it was performed only by male monks, the bhokots, inside the sattras. The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognised Sattriya as a classical dance of India in the year 2000. It is still closely tied to the sattras of Majuli, the river island in the Brahmaputra. A is wrong because West Bengal is known for folk forms such as the Purulia Chhau, not Sattriya. B is wrong because the monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh, such as Tawang, are Buddhist and have masked dances, not Sattriya. D is wrong because Sikkim's monasteries are also Buddhist and are known for the Cham masked dance. Exam tip: Sattriya, Assam, Srimanta Sankardev, the sattras, and classical status in 2000.

The correct answer is B, Kuchipudi. The dance takes its name from its birthplace, the village of Kuchipudi, earlier called Kuchelapuram, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It grew as a dance-drama tradition performed by Brahmin men, and the 17th-century saint Siddhendra Yogi gave it its classic form with the dance-drama 'Bhama Kalapam'. A famous item is the Tarangam, in which the dancer performs on the rim of a brass plate, sometimes with a pot of water on the head. Today it is performed by both women and men as a solo art. A is wrong because Kathakali is from Kerala and is known for its heavy make-up and colourful costumes. C is wrong because Kathak developed in north India, in the courts and temples of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. D is wrong because Mohiniattam is a graceful solo dance performed by women in Kerala. Exam tip: Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh, Krishna district, Siddhendra Yogi, and dancing on a brass plate in Tarangam.

The correct answer is C, Gol Gumbaz. Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of Muhammad Adil Shah, carries the dome long described as the second largest in the world after St Peter's Basilica in Rome. It stands at Vijayapura, the old Bijapur, in Karnataka and was completed in 1656 for the seventh ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty of the Deccan. The dome is about 44 metres across and rests on intersecting arches, so the hall below it needs no pillars and is one of the largest single chambers under one roof anywhere. A gallery running inside the drum, the Whispering Gallery, carries even a soft sound around the ring, and the building is as famous for that echo as for its size. Option A is wrong because GlampEco is not a monument. Option B is wrong because Teela names no such dome. Option D is wrong because the Calico Dome was a modern structure in Ahmedabad, not a historic tomb. Exam tip: Gol Gumbaz means Vijayapura, the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Whispering Gallery.

The correct answer is A, Buddhism. The Great Stupa at Sanchi, in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in India. It was first built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE as a brick mound over relics of the Buddha, and was later enlarged with a stone casing. Four richly carved gateways, or toranas, were added around the 1st century BCE; they show Jataka tales and scenes from the Buddha's life, in which the Buddha himself appears only through symbols such as the Bodhi tree, a wheel or footprints. The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. B is wrong because the stupa is not a Hindu shrine; famous Hindu temple sites include Khajuraho and Konark. C is wrong because famous Jain sites include Dilwara and Shravanabelagola. D is wrong because famous Islamic monuments include the Qutub Minar and the Jama Masjid. Exam tip: Sanchi stupa = Ashoka = Buddhism = Madhya Pradesh = UNESCO 1989.

The correct answer is A, Bihu - Assam. Bihu is the chief festival and folk dance of Assam. The dance is performed by young men and women in groups to the beat of the dhol and the pepa, a pipe made of buffalo horn, with quick steps and graceful hand movements. Assam celebrates three Bihus: Rongali or Bohag Bihu in April at the Assamese New Year and the start of sowing, Kongali or Kati Bihu in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January after the harvest. The Bihu dance belongs mainly to Rongali Bihu. B is wrong because Lavani is a folk dance of Maharashtra, not Tamil Nadu. C is wrong because Bharatanatyam belongs to Tamil Nadu, while the classical dance of Odisha is Odissi. D is wrong because Kathak grew up in north India, especially Uttar Pradesh, while Karnataka is known for Yakshagana. Exam tip: Bihu, Assam; Lavani, Maharashtra; Bharatanatyam, Tamil Nadu; Odissi, Odisha; Kathak, Uttar Pradesh; Yakshagana, Karnataka.

The correct answer is B, Telangana. Pochampalli, also written Pochampally, is a weaving town in the Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana, not far from Hyderabad. It is famous for ikat sarees, in which the threads are tied and dyed before weaving, so the pattern appears as the cloth is woven. The result is bright, geometric designs with softly blurred edges. Pochampalli ikat carries a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which protects the name for weavers of this region. The town is also known as Bhoodan Pochampally, because Vinoba Bhave began the Bhoodan, or land-gift, movement here in 1951. A is wrong because Maharashtra is known for Paithani sarees, not Pochampalli. C is wrong because Tamil Nadu is famous for Kanjeevaram silk sarees. D is wrong because Karnataka is known for Mysore silk and Ilkal sarees. Exam tip: Pochampalli ikat, Telangana; Paithani, Maharashtra; Kanjeevaram, Tamil Nadu; Patola, Gujarat; Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh.

The correct answer is D, Mallika Sarabhai. She won the best actress award in 1975 for her role in the Gujarati film Meena Gurjari, early in a career that moved between cinema, theatre and dance. Trained by her mother Mrinalini Sarabhai in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, she is also known for playing Draupadi in Peter Brook's stage and screen production of The Mahabharata, and she runs the Darpana Academy in Ahmedabad. Option A is wrong because Sonal Mansingh is an Odissi and Bharatanatyam exponent honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, not a film actress. Option B is wrong because Sitara Devi was the Kathak dancer whom Rabindranath Tagore called Nritya Samragini, and her film work came in the 1940s. Option C is wrong because Shovana Narayan is a Kathak dancer who also served as an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. Exam tip: link Mallika Sarabhai with Darpana Academy and her mother Mrinalini Sarabhai.

The correct answer is D, a - iv, b - i, c - ii, d - iii. The Champakkulam Moolam boat race is held on the Pampa river in Alappuzha, Kerala, and is the oldest snake-boat race in the state. The Somnath fair is held at the Somnath temple in Gujarat on Kartik Purnima, where pilgrims gather at the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The Surajkund crafts fair takes place every February at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana, and brings craftspeople from India and abroad together under a theme state each year. The Baneshwar fair is a tribal fair of the Bhils held at Dungarpur in Rajasthan, where the Som and Mahi rivers meet. Option A is wrong because it sends the Somnath fair to Rajasthan and the Baneshwar fair to Haryana. Option B is wrong because it places the boat race in Rajasthan. Option C is wrong because it moves the Somnath fair to Haryana and Surajkund to Gujarat. Exam tip: Champakkulam - Kerala, Somnath - Gujarat, Surajkund - Haryana, Baneshwar - Rajasthan.

The correct answer is D, Golconda Fort. Golconda in Hyderabad was the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which ruled the Golconda Sultanate from 1518, when Quli Qutb Shah broke away from the Bahmani kingdom. The fort stands on a granite hill and is famous for its acoustics, since a clap at the Fateh Darwaza can be heard at the pavilion on top, and for the diamond trade that passed through it, including the Koh-i-Noor. In 1591 Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad and built the Charminar, moving the capital there; Aurangzeb finally took Golconda in 1687. Option A is wrong because Chiktan Fort stands in Ladakh. Option B is wrong because Rajgad in Maharashtra was an early capital fort of Shivaji. Option C is wrong because the Red Fort was built by Shah Jahan in Delhi. Exam tip: Qutb Shahi rulers held Golconda and then Hyderabad; the Charminar was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591.

The correct answer is D, Lord Shiva. The Ramappa temple is dedicated to Shiva, worshipped there as Ramalingeswara. It stands at Palampet in the Mulugu district of Telangana and was built in the thirteenth century under the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva by his general Recharla Rudra. The temple is unusual in being named after its sculptor, Ramappa. It is raised on a star shaped platform of sandstone, its tower uses bricks so light and porous that they are said to float on water, and its polished black basalt pillars and bracket figures of dancers are finely carved. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List in 2021 as the Kakatiya Rudreshwara temple. Option A is wrong because Rama is worshipped at temples such as Bhadrachalam, not here. Option B is wrong because the great Vishnu temples of the region are Tirupati and Simhachalam. Option C is wrong because temples dedicated to Indra are almost unknown in India. Exam tip: link Ramappa temple with Palampet, the Kakatiya dynasty, floating bricks and the 2021 UNESCO listing.

The correct answer is B, Sitar. Ustad Ilyas Khan was a sitar player. He was born in Lucknow in 1924 into a family of musicians and belonged to the Etawah or Imdadkhani gharana, the school built up by Imdad Khan and carried forward by Enayat Khan and Vilayat Khan. He played for decades on All India Radio, performed across the country and trained many students of the instrument. The sitar itself is a long-necked plucked instrument with movable frets and extra sympathetic strings that give it its ringing tone, and Ravi Shankar and Vilayat Khan carried it to audiences around the world. Option A is wrong because the tabla is a pair of drums, its famous names being Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain. Option C is wrong because the veena is the plucked instrument of Carnatic music, linked with the goddess Saraswati. Option D is wrong because the mridangam is the barrel drum that keeps time in Carnatic concerts. Exam tip: the Etawah gharana means sitar, while Lucknow also has well known gharanas of kathak and tabla.

The correct answer is D, Sarangi. Pandit Ram Narayan was the musician who lifted the sarangi from an accompanying instrument to a solo concert instrument in Hindustani music. Born at Udaipur in Rajasthan in 1927, he played for All India Radio, accompanied singers for years, and from the mid-1950s began giving solo recitals in India and abroad. He was honoured with the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and, in 2005, the Padma Vibhushan. The sarangi is a short-necked bowed instrument carved from a single block of wood, with three main gut strings and about thirty-five sympathetic strings, and its tone is said to come closest to the human voice. Option A is wrong because the ghatam, a clay pot, is a Carnatic percussion instrument played by Vikku Vinayakram. Option B is wrong because the tabla is linked with Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain. Option C is wrong because the bansuri, the bamboo flute, belongs to Pannalal Ghosh and Hariprasad Chaurasia. Exam tip: sarangi — Ram Narayan; sarod — Amjad Ali Khan; santoor — Shivkumar Sharma.

The correct answer is A, Sarangi. Pandit Ram Narayan, born in Udaipur in 1927, lifted the sarangi from an instrument that only accompanied singers to a solo concert instrument, and he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. Ustad Sultan Khan, born in Sikar district, was a sarangi master and singer known around the world for his work with other musicians, and he received the Padma Bhushan. The sarangi is a bowed string instrument carved from a single block of wood, with three main gut strings played with a bow and many sympathetic strings that ring along; its sound is said to come closest to the human voice. Option B is wrong because the kamaycha is a bowed folk instrument of the Manganiyar musicians of Jaisalmer and Barmer, not the instrument of these two classical masters. Option C is wrong because the tabla is a pair of drums, not a string instrument. Option D is wrong because the sitar is a plucked instrument, made world-famous by Pandit Ravi Shankar. Exam tip: Rajasthan's sarangi masters are Ram Narayan (Udaipur) and Sultan Khan (Sikar).

The correct answer is C, Jasnathi Siddha. The fire dance of Rajasthan is performed by men of the Jasnathi Siddha sect, who dance barefoot on a bed of glowing embers to the beat of drums, calling out 'fatai, fatai'. It is performed mostly at night during their religious gatherings, and its main centre is Katariyasar in Bikaner district, the seat of the sect's founder. The sect was founded by Jasnath ji in the late 15th century, and his followers live by a set of 36 rules. The dancers leap through and even lift the embers, yet the performance is treated as an act of faith, not a show. Option A is wrong because the Bishnoi sect, founded by Jambhoji, is known for protecting trees and blackbuck, not for a fire dance. Option B is wrong because the Ramsnehi sect is a devotional sect of Rama worship with centres such as Shahpura, and it has no fire dance. Option D is wrong because the Dadupanth, founded by Dadu Dayal and centred at Naraina, is also not linked with this dance. Exam tip: Agni nritya – Jasnathi Siddhas – Katariyasar (Bikaner).

The correct answer is B, Jainism. Jainism holds that souls (jiva) live not only in humans, animals and plants but also in earth, water, fire and air. Jain thought ranks living beings by the number of senses they have. The lowest group, the one-sensed beings, includes earth-bodies, water-bodies, fire-bodies, air-bodies and plants, so even a stone or running water has a soul. This is why Jain monks practise ahimsa so strictly, sweeping the path and straining water so that they harm as few beings as possible. Mahavira taught that each jiva is bound by karma and is freed only through right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, the three jewels. Option A is wrong because Buddhism denies a permanent soul through its doctrine of anatta. Option C is wrong because Shaivism centres on devotion to Shiva and does not give souls to rocks. Option D is wrong because Vaishnavism centres on devotion to Vishnu and his avatars. Exam tip: souls in stones and water with the strictest ahimsa means Jainism; no soul (anatta) means Buddhism.

The correct answer is B, Only two. Bhaja is a Buddhist cave site and Sittanavasal a Jain one, but Besnagar has no Shaivite cave shrine. Besnagar, near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, is known for the Heliodorus pillar of about 113 BCE, a Garuda pillar set up by a Greek envoy who called himself a devotee of Vasudeva, so its link is Vaishnava. Bhaja, near Lonavala in Maharashtra, has some of the earliest Buddhist rock-cut chaityas and viharas, from about the second century BCE. Sittanavasal, near Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, is a Jain cave, the Arivar Koil, famous for its paintings of a lotus pond. So pair 1 is wrong and pairs 2 and 3 are right. Option A is wrong because two pairs match, not one. Option C is wrong because Besnagar is not a Shaivite cave site. Option D is wrong because Bhaja and Sittanavasal are correctly matched. Exam tip: Besnagar means Heliodorus and Vasudeva; Bhaja is Buddhist, Sittanavasal is Jain.

The correct answer is A, Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam grew out of Sadir Attam, also called Dasiattam, the temple dance performed by devadasis in Tamil Nadu. In the early 19th century the Tanjore Quartet, four brothers at the Thanjavur court, arranged its items into the order still followed in a recital. In the 1930s the dance was revived and renamed Bharatanatyam, with E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale, who founded Kalakshetra in Chennai in 1936, leading the change. It is known for its half-sitting stance called aramandi and is linked with the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni. B is wrong because Kuchipudi comes from the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh and was shaped by Siddhendra Yogi. C is wrong because Mohiniyattam, the dance of the enchantress, is a graceful solo dance of Kerala. D is wrong because Kathakali is Kerala's dance-drama with heavy make-up and costumes, which grew out of Ramanattam and Krishnanattam. Exam tip: Sadir or Dasiattam became Bharatanatyam; Rukmini Devi and Kalakshetra are the names tied to its revival.