Q390. In the Jawa festival of Jharkhand, what is represented by girls offering green melons?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Long life and prosperity
(B) Abundant monsoon rainfall
(C) Fertility and blessings for a male child
(D) Marriage ceremonies
Answer: (C) Fertility and blessings for a male child
Explanation: The Jawa observance is linked to fertility, agricultural abundance and family aspirations in communities of Jharkhand. Symbolic offerings express wishes for reproduction and well-being. The imagery forms part of a wider regional tradition combining seasonal cycles and community ritual.
Q389. Dollu Kunitha, performed with large drums, belongs to which state?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Andhra Pradesh
(B) Telangana
(C) Karnataka
(D) Kerala
Answer: (C) Karnataka
Explanation: Dollu Kunitha is a vigorous group dance of Karnataka, traditionally associated with the Kuruba community and worship of Beereshwara. Dancers strap large drums to their bodies and execute synchronised movements, making powerful percussion central to the performance.
Q388. A raga containing six distinct notes is placed in which jaati?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Audav
(B) Sampoorna
(C) Shadav
(D) Chatushra
Answer: (C) Shadav
Explanation: In Indian classical music, ragas are classified by the number of notes in their ascent or descent. Audav uses five, Shadav uses six, and Sampoorna uses seven. These categories are foundational for understanding melodic structures.
Q387. What is a fixed melodic composition called in Hindustani classical music?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Kriti
(B) Bandish
(C) Alap
(D) Shruti
Answer: (B) Bandish
Explanation: A bandish is a composed melodic piece set to a raga and tala, providing the framework for a Hindustani performance. Alap is free-rhythm melodic exploration, shruti denotes fine pitch divisions, and kriti is especially associated with Carnatic compositions.
Q386. At which matra is the khali of the ten-beat Jhaptaal marked?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) First
(B) Sixth
(C) Ninth
(D) Eleventh
Answer: (B) Sixth
Explanation: Jhaptaal contains ten matras arranged in groups of two, three, two and three. The sixth matra begins the empty or khali division, normally marked with a wave rather than a clap. Recognising vibhags helps performers maintain rhythmic orientation.
Q385. Which order of historical emergence was given for these classical dances:
1. Kathak,
2. Manipuri,
3. Bharatanatyam,
4. Mohiniyattam?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) 3-1-4-2
(B) 3-4-1-2
(C) 3-1-2-4
(D) 1-3-2-4
Answer: (C) 3-1-2-4
Explanation: In the keyed ordering, Bharatanatyam precedes Kathak, followed by Manipuri and Mohiniyattam. This type of comparison concerns the historical development of traditions, not the year in which the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognised each as classical.
Q384. Which temple roof term correctly corresponds to a wagon-vaulted shape?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Phamsana—flat slope
(B) Valabhi—wagon vault
(C) Latina—stepped pyramid
(D) Phamsana—curvilinear peak
Answer: (B) Valabhi—wagon vault
Explanation: Valabhi refers to a rectangular shrine crowned by a barrel- or wagon-vaulted roof. Latina denotes the simple curvilinear Nagara shikhara, while phamsana roofs are typically broader, with tiers rising toward the centre. These distinctions feature in temple terminology.
Q383. Thang-Ta, involving sword and spear techniques, originated in which state?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Assam
(B) Nagaland
(C) Manipur
(D) Tripura
Answer: (C) Manipur
Explanation: Thang-Ta is the traditional martial art of Manipur, its name referring to sword and spear. It preserves combat techniques, ritual movement and performance elements of the Meitei cultural sphere, and may be presented in choreographed martial demonstrations.
Q382. The Koli folk dance is most closely associated with which community?
[SSC CGL Tier I – 2025]
(A) Fishing community
(B) Farmers
(C) Shepherds
(D) Weavers
Answer: (A) Fishing community
Explanation: Koli dance belongs to the fishing communities of coastal Maharashtra. Its formations and gestures often imitate rowing, casting nets and the movement of boats. The performance is accompanied by energetic group rhythm and celebrates the everyday working lives of fisherfolk.
Q381. In which city was the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya founded by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in 1901?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2025]
(A) Delhi
(B) Gwalior
(C) Ujjain
(D) Lahore
Answer: (D) Lahore
Explanation: Vishnu Digambar Paluskar established Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore in 1901 to broaden access to systematic classical music education. The institution helped move musical training beyond exclusive hereditary traditions and contributed to the modern revival of Hindustani music.
