Q170. Which archaeologist recognised the prehistoric importance of the rock paintings of Bhimbetka?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims – 2020]
(A) M. S. Vats
(B) H. D. Sankalia
(C) V. S. Wakankar
(D) V. N. Mishra
Answer: (C) V. S. Wakankar
Explanation: Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar identified the prehistoric importance of Bhimbetka’s rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh. Their paintings depict hunting, dancing, animals and social life and illuminate long histories of subcontinental visual expression.
Q169. Lavani is a popular folk dance and song tradition of which state?
[SSC GD Constable – 2019]
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Gujarat
(D) Bihar
Answer: (A) Maharashtra
Explanation: Lavani is a vigorous musical-dance genre of Maharashtra, frequently performed to the rhythms of dholki. Its expressive songs, swift tempo and nine-yard sari costume are prominent in Maharashtra’s folk performance heritage, including tamasha theatre.
Q168. Which site among Konark, Bodh Gaya, Akshardham and Hampi exemplifies Dravidian temple architecture?
[SSC GD Constable – 2019]
(A) Konark
(B) Bodh Gaya
(C) Akshardham
(D) Hampi
Answer: (D) Hampi
Explanation: Hampi’s Vijayanagara temples, including Virupaksha and Vittala, display features of southern Dravidian architecture such as gateway towers and ornate pillared halls. Konark belongs to Kalinga architecture and Bodh Gaya is a major Buddhist shrine.
Q167. What is the innermost and most sacred chamber of a Hindu temple called?
[SSC GD Constable – 2019]
(A) Gopuram
(B) Mandapam
(C) Pradakshina patha
(D) Garbhagriha
Answer: (D) Garbhagriha
Explanation: The garbhagriha houses the principal image or symbol of the deity and is the central sacred focus of a Hindu temple. A mandapa is a hall, a gopuram an entrance gateway tower and pradakshina patha a circumambulatory passage.
Q166. Which state holds the Hornbill Festival, popularly called the Festival of Festivals?
[RRB ALP CBT II – 2019]
(A) Nagaland
(B) Sikkim
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: (A) Nagaland
Explanation: Nagaland celebrates the Hornbill Festival at Kisama near Kohima. It showcases the music, dances, attire, crafts and food traditions of its many Naga communities, bringing diverse cultural expressions together at a single annual gathering.
Q165. Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of which state?
[RRB JE CBT I – 2019]
(A) Gujarat
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Kerala
(D) Sikkim
Answer: (B) Rajasthan
Explanation: Ghoomar is a well-known women’s group dance of Rajasthan. Its characteristic circular movement makes the long, colourful ghaghras flare outward. The dance appears during weddings, festivals and other family celebrations, especially in Rajput cultural contexts.
Q164. Which musician is associated with the courts of Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat?
[UPSC CAPF AC – 2019]
(A) Baiju Bawra
(B) Tansen
(C) Lal Kalawant
(D) Rang Khan Kalawant
Answer: (A) Baiju Bawra
Explanation: Baiju Bawra, traditionally identified as Baiju Nayak, is linked with the musical court of Raja Man Singh Tomar at Gwalior and later Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Accounts connect him to the dhrupad singing tradition and regional musical legend.
Q163. Which ancient Indian script was normally written from right to left?
[BPSC 65th Prelims – 2019]
(A) Brahmi
(B) Sharada
(C) Kharosthi
(D) Nandinagari
Answer: (C) Kharosthi
Explanation: Kharosthi was used especially in Gandhara and northwestern parts of the subcontinent. Derived in part from the Aramaic writing tradition, it was normally written from right to left, whereas Brahmi and many descendant scripts run left to right.
Q162. The sixteenth-century literary work Chandimangala was composed in which language?
[UPSC CDS II – 2019]
(A) Sanskrit
(B) Tamil
(C) Bengali
(D) Odia
Answer: (C) Bengali
Explanation: Chandimangala belongs to Bengal’s Mangal-kavya literary tradition and celebrates the goddess Chandi. Mukundarama Chakravarti is among its best-known authors. Such vernacular devotional poetry illustrates the development of regional Indian language and performance cultures.
Q161. Which Mughal emperor emphasised individual portraits and paintings collected in albums over large illustrated manuscripts?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2019]
(A) Humayun
(B) Akbar
(C) Jahangir
(D) Shah Jahan
Answer: (C) Jahangir
Explanation: Jahangir’s court encouraged detailed portraiture, natural history paintings and works collected in muraqqa albums. His refined aesthetic differed from the huge illustrated narrative manuscript projects that had characterised Akbar’s workshop. Artists such as Ustad Mansur flourished under his patronage.
