Q280. Meenakshi Chitharanjan received a Sangeet Natak Akademi award for which dance?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2023]
(A) Bharatanatyam
(B) Odissi
(C) Manipuri
(D) Kuchipudi
Answer: (A) Bharatanatyam
Explanation: Meenakshi Chitharanjan received recognition for her contribution to Bharatanatyam. Her teaching and performances represent the Tamil classical dance tradition, known for geometric movement, expressive abhinaya and rhythmic precision.
Q279. Neena Prasad was given a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for contributions to which classical dance?
[SSC CHSL Tier I – 2023]
(A) Bharatanatyam
(B) Mohiniyattam
(C) Kuchipudi
(D) Odissi
Answer: (B) Mohiniyattam
Explanation: Neena Prasad is a noted Mohiniyattam exponent whose choreography and training have supported the Kerala dance tradition. Her Akademi recognition acknowledges sustained work in a style distinguished by graceful circular movement and expressive storytelling.
Q278. Raja and Radha Reddy were honoured with a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for which form?
[SSC Selection Post HSC – 2023]
(A) Sattriya
(B) Kathak
(C) Kathakali
(D) Kuchipudi
Answer: (D) Kuchipudi
Explanation: Raja and Radha Reddy are distinguished Kuchipudi dancers and choreographers associated with Andhra Pradesh’s classical dance heritage. Their performances have promoted the style internationally and won several major cultural distinctions.
Q277. Sujata Mahapatra won a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for which dance?
[SSC GD Constable – 2023]
(A) Odissi
(B) Kathak
(C) Fusion dance
(D) Modern dance
Answer: (A) Odissi
Explanation: Sujata Mohapatra is an acclaimed Odissi dancer noted for lyrical movement and abhinaya. Her national award recognises artistic contributions to the classical dance tradition of Odisha and its transmission through teaching and performances.
Q276. Gopika Varma won a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for achievement in which classical dance?
[SSC CPO Paper I – 2023]
(A) Kathak
(B) Bharatanatyam
(C) Mohiniyattam
(D) Kuchipudi
Answer: (C) Mohiniyattam
Explanation: Gopika Varma is a distinguished exponent of Kerala’s Mohiniyattam. Her work as a dancer and teacher has promoted a graceful form noted for flowing steps, nuanced expression and carefully coordinated hand gestures.
Q275. Ratikant Mohapatra received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for which dance style?
[SSC Selection Post Matric – 2023]
(A) Odissi
(B) Manipuri
(C) Kathak
(D) Kathakali
Answer: (A) Odissi
Explanation: Ratikant Mohapatra is an Odissi dancer, choreographer and teacher from Odisha. His artistry belongs to a classical tradition that uses tribhanga postures, sculptural poses and expressive abhinaya to communicate devotional and literary themes.
Q274. Laxmipriya Mohapatra is identified with which Indian classical dance?
[SSC CPO – 2022]
(A) Sattriya
(B) Kathakali
(C) Odissi
(D) Bharatanatyam
Answer: (C) Odissi
Explanation: Laxmipriya Mohapatra was an early female exponent of the revived Odissi dance tradition and wife of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Her performances supported the movement to establish Odissi as a major classical dance.
Q273. The Sun Temple of Konark is popularly known by what nickname?
[RRB NTPC – 2022]
(A) White Pagoda
(B) Black Pagoda
(C) Golden Pagoda
(D) Bronze Pagoda
Answer: (B) Black Pagoda
Explanation: The thirteenth-century Konark Sun Temple is known as the Black Pagoda, a name used by sailors for its striking dark silhouette. It embodies the chariot of the Sun god with carved wheels and horses.
Q272. India Gate was originally named what?
[DSSSB Patwari – 2022]
(A) Anglo-Afghan War Memorial
(B) All-India War Memorial
(C) Archway of Delhi
(D) All British Soldiers Memorial
Answer: (B) All-India War Memorial
Explanation: India Gate in New Delhi was conceived as the All-India War Memorial to commemorate soldiers of the British Indian Army killed in World War I and other campaigns. Edwin Lutyens designed the monumental arch.
Q271. Which symbols were used by early Buddhist artists to represent the Buddha without showing a human image?
[UPSC NDA I – 2022]
(A) Empty throne and stupa only
(B) Wheel and tree only
(C) Wheel, tree and stupa only
(D) Empty throne, wheel, tree and stupa
Answer: (D) Empty throne, wheel, tree and stupa
Explanation: Early aniconic Buddhist reliefs represented the Buddha through symbols including the throne, dharma wheel, Bodhi tree, footprints and stupa. Such imagery appears at monuments like Sanchi and Bharhut before anthropomorphic Buddha statues became widely established.
