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Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions. We covered all the Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions in this post for free so that you can practice well for the exam.
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Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Objective Questions for Students
Quick Quiz
Which city in Uttar Pradesh is known for its traditional wood carving industry?
(a) Gorakhpur
(b) Saharanpur
(c) Meerut
(d) Kanpur
Option b – Saharanpur
Which place in Bihar is renowned for silk textile production?
(a) Motipur
(b) Bajari
(c) Bhagalpur
(d) Dalmianagar
Option c – Bhagalpur
Which species of bamboo is commonly found in Chhattisgarh?
(a) Dendrocalamus strictus
(b) Bambusa arundinacea
(c) Bambusa nutans
(d) Bambusa burmanica
Option a – Dendrocalamus strictus
Which of these ornaments is typically worn around the neck?
(a) Aiethi
(b) Nangmori
(c) Sutiya
(d) Tarki
Option c – Sutiya
The well-known Meenakari art known as ‘Theva Kala’ is connected with which place?
(a) Bikaner
(b) Jaipur
(c) Banswara
(d) Pratapgarh
Option d – Pratapgarh
Sylhet, a region in Bengal, was historically famous for producing which of the following?
(a) Silk cloth
(b) Cotton
(c) Paintings
(d) Muslin cloth
Option d – Muslin cloth
In which book did Abul Fazl describe aspects such as clothing, metalwork, architecture, and religious practices?
(a) Futuhat-i-Firozshahi
(b) Ain-i-Akbari
(c) Nuskha-e-Dilkusha
(d) Nun Siphar
Option b – Ain-i-Akbari
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(a) Kimkhab involves weaving gold and silver threads with silk yarn.
(b) Koftgari refers to the inlaying of gold or silver on metals like steel.
(c) Minakari is the craft of enameling on metal surfaces.
(d) All of the above
Option d – All of the above
Kalamkari painting is best described as
(a) a hand-painted cotton fabric from South India.
(b) hand-drawn bamboo artwork from North-East India.
(c) block-printed woolen textiles from the Western Himalayas.
(d) hand-painted silk fabric from North-Western India.
Option a – a hand-painted cotton fabric from South India.
Which of the following statements about pottery in India is incorrect?
(a) Thin, biscuit-colored pottery represents glazed pottery.
(b) Kangra in Himachal Pradesh is famous for its blue pottery.
(c) Delhi, Khurja, and Jaipur are famous for their black pottery.
(d) All of the above
Option d – All of the above
Which statement about Indian handicrafts is not correct?
(a) Dhokra craft, known for its simplicity, began in Madhya Pradesh.
(b) Craftsmen working with brass are called Kansaris.
(c) Pottery dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
(d) The major paper handicraft centers are in Tamil Nadu.
Option d – The major paper handicraft centers are in Tamil Nadu.
In which Indian state is the ‘Kashida’ style of embroidery especially popular?
(a) Punjab
(b) West Bengal
(c) Jammu and Kashmir
(d) Rajasthan
Option c – Jammu and Kashmir
The Japanese art form ‘Ikebana’ is associated with which of the following?
(a) Paper folding
(b) Flower arrangement
(c) Tree trimming
(d) Sand art
Option b – Flower arrangement
The vibrant Nandana block print, known for its elegant motif designs, is practiced in which village?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Odisha
(d) Maharashtra
Option b – Madhya Pradesh
Where is the first Deendayal Handicraft Sankul trade center located?
(a) Agra
(b) Varanasi
(c) Kanpur
(d) Gorakhpur
Option b – Varanasi
Which city is widely known for its traditional ‘Chikankari’ embroidery work?
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Jaipur
(c) Bhopal
(d) Lucknow
Option d – Lucknow
Who was Arjun’s grandfather in the Mahabharata?
(a) Vichitravirya
(b) Shantanu
(c) Chitrangad
(d) Devadutt
Option a – Vichitravirya
What does ‘Kaaba’ refer to?
(a) Hindu shrine
(b) Jewish shrine
(c) Muslim shrine
(d) None of the above
Option c – Muslim shrine
What is the name of the Jewish place of worship?
(a) Church
(b) Synagogue
(c) Mosque
(d) None of these
Option b – Synagogue
Where was the first Sanskrit University Chair established?
(a) England
(b) France
(c) Germany
(d) Russia
Option b – France
Where is the earliest mention of the magnetic compass found?
(a) Miftahul Fuzala
(b) Chachnama
(c) Ranazatu’s Safar
(d) Jawamiul Hikayat
Option d – Jawamiul Hikayat
Adi Shankaracharya established four mathas at which of the following locations?
(a) Joshimath, Dwarka, Puri, Sringeri
(b) Sringeri, Dwarka, Joshimath, Prayag
(c) Dwarka, Joshimath, Prayag, Kanchi
(d) Puri, Sringeri, Dwarka, Varanasi
Option a – Joshimath, Dwarka, Puri, Sringeri
Srisailam, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga pilgrimage sites in India, is located where?
(a) Tapovan in Uttaranchal
(b) Tamil Nadu near Arunachal
(c) Andhra Pradesh near Kurnool
(d) Kerala near Kaladi
Option c – Andhra Pradesh near Kurnool
In which state is the Tabo Monastery, a significant Buddhist site, situated?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Uttarakhand
Option b – Himachal Pradesh
The Losoong festival is mainly celebrated in which region?
(a) Tibet
(b) Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Kerala
Option c – Sikkim
Chapchar Kut is a traditional festival celebrated in which Indian state?
(A) Arunachal Pradesh
(B) Assam
(C) Mizoram
(D) Sikkim
Option c – Mizoram
The Ijtima Festival (Mela) is organized in which of the following cities?
(A) Indore
(B) Bhopal
(C) Jabalpur
(D) Raipur
Option b – Bhopal
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II constructed the Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur in which year?
(a) 1734
(b) 1800
(c) 1780
(d) 1805
Option a – 1734
The Gol Gumbad (Gumbaz), which is the resting place of Muhammad Adil Shah, is located in which city?
(a) Allahabad
(b) Agra
(c) Bijapur
(d) Delhi
Option c – Bijapur
The construction of ‘Kalyana Mandapas’ was a distinct architectural feature of which kingdom?
(a) Chalukya
(b) Chandela
(c) Rashtrakuta
(d) Vijayanagara
Option d – Vijayanagara
Which of the following is considered the finest example of Vijayanagara architectural style?
(a) Hampi
(b) Pattadakal
(c) Amravati
(d) Khajuraho
Option a – Hampi
Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
(a) Ajmer – Quwwat-ul-Islam
(b) Jaunpur – Atala Masjid
(c) Malwa – Jahaz Mahal
(d) Gulbarga – Jamia Masjid
Option a – Ajmer – Quwwat-ul-Islam
Which structure is recognized as the first tomb in India built in the Indo-Islamic style?
(a) Humayun’s Tomb
(b) Balban’s Tomb
(c) Aibak’s Tomb
(d) Alauddin’s Tomb
Option b – Balban’s Tomb
Which of the following tombs is octagonal in shape?
(a) Tomb of Sikandar Lodi
(b) Tomb of Balban
(c) Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(d) Tomb of Firuz Shah Tughlaq
Option a – Tomb of Sikandar Lodi
The ‘Kirti Stambh’ located at Chittorgarh was constructed during the reign of which ruler?
(a) Rana Kumbha
(b) Rana Hammir
(c) Rana Ratan Singh
(d) Rana Sangram Singh
Option a – Rana Kumbha
Which tomb, located at the center of a large garden, is considered a design forerunner of the Taj Mahal?
(a) Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra
(b) Itmad-ud-Daula’s tomb at Agra
(c) Shershah’s tomb at Sasaram
(d) Humayun’s tomb at Delhi
Option d – Humayun’s tomb at Delhi
Who constructed the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?
(a) Shah Jahan
(b) Aurangzeb
(c) Akbar
(d) Jahangir
Option c – Akbar
Which Mughal structure is known for having identical length and width measurements?
(a) Agra Fort
(b) Red Fort
(c) Buland Darwaza
(d) Taj Mahal
Option d – Taj Mahal
Among the capital of Akbar’s empire, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, and Akbar’s Mausoleum, which ones are located at the same site?
(a) Panch Mahal and Akbar’s Mausoleum
(b) Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, and Akbar’s Mausoleum
(c) Capital of Akbar’s Kingdom, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal
(d) None of the above
Option c – Capital of Akbar’s Kingdom, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal
Which statement regarding Fatehpur Sikri is incorrect?
(a) It was located on the main route to Ajmer.
(b) Akbar ordered the construction of a marble tomb for Sheikh Salim Chisti near the Friday mosque.
(c) The Buland Darwaza was built to commemorate the Mughal victory in Gujarat.
(d) The Mughal capital was moved from Fatehpur Sikri to Delhi in 1585.
Option d – The Mughal capital was moved from Fatehpur Sikri to Delhi in 1585.
Who commissioned the mosque Khair-ul-manzil located opposite the Purana Qila in Delhi?
(a) Hamida Banu Begum
(b) Salima Sultan
(c) Jiji Anga
(d) Maham Anga
Option d – Maham Anga
Jahangir Mahal is situated within which of the following forts?
(a) Lahore Fort
(b) Agra Fort
(c) Red Fort
(d) Allahabad Fort
Option b – Agra Fort
Sawai Jai Singh established an observatory at which of the following locations?
(a) Agra
(b) Indore
(c) Ujjain
(d) Jodhpur
Option c – Ujjain
The famous Rath temples in Mahabalipuram were constructed by rulers from which dynasty?
(a) Cholas
(b) Pallavas
(c) Chedis
(d) Chalukyas
Option b – Pallavas
The Biraja Temple, the Rajarani Temple, and the Samaleswari Temple are all located in which Indian state?
(a) Odisha
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Assam
(d) Kerala
Option a – Odisha
In South Indian temple architecture, what are the massive entrance towers called?
(a) Shikhars
(b) Gopuram
(c) Devalayas
(d) Mandaps
Option b – Gopuram
The Sun Temple at Modhera is found in which Indian state?
(a) Bihar
(b) Gujarat
(c) Odisha
(d) Bengal
Option b – Gujarat
Which of the following is the largest and tallest surviving temple in Odisha?
(a) Brahmesvara Temple
(b) Jagannath Temple
(c) Lingaraj Temple
(d) Rajarani Temple
Option c – Lingaraj Temple
Which temple in Odisha features a shikhara built in the Dravidian architectural style? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Jagannath
(b) Lingaraj
(c) Rajarani
(d) Vaital Deul
Option d – Vaital Deul
The Brihadishvara Temple at Thanjavur was constructed during the reign of which Chola ruler? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Rajendra I
(b) Kulottunga I
(c) Rajaraja I
(d) Rajadhiraj I
Option c – Rajaraja I
Aihole, known as the birthplace of Indian temple architecture, is associated with which dynasty? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Chalukyas
(b) Cholas
(c) Chera
(d) Pandya
Option a – Chalukyas
The rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram were constructed by rulers of which dynasty?
(a) Pallavas
(b) Cholas
(c) Chalukyas
(d) Rashtrakutas
Option a – Pallavas
Which inscription confirms Chandragupta’s control over the western region of India?
(a) Kalinga Rock Edict
(b) Girnar Rock Edict of Ashoka
(c) Junagarh Rock Edict of Rudradaman
(d) Sopara Rock Edict of Ashoka
Option c – Junagarh Rock Edict of Rudradaman
Which foreign culture influenced the rock-cut architectural style in India? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Arabic
(b) Persian
(c) Indo-European
(d) Greek
Option b – Persian
The art and architecture of Amravati, Aihole, Thanjavur, and Halebidu are linked with which dynasties respectively?
(a) Satavahana, Chalukyas, Cholas, Hoysalas
(b) Cholas, Hoysalas, Satavahana, Chalukyas
(c) Cholas, Hoysalas, Chalukyas, Satavahana
(d) Hoysalas, Chalukyas, Cholas, Satavahana
Option a – Satavahana, Chalukyas, Cholas, Hoysalas
Considering India’s art and archaeological history, which among the following was created first?
(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
(d) Varaha Image of Udayagiri
Option b – Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty is associated with which monument? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Shiva temple at Ellora
(b) Ajanta caves
(c) Khajuraho temples
(d) Rathas of Mahabalipuram
Option a – Shiva temple at Ellora
The cave complex famous for the ‘Trimurti’ sculpture is located at which site?
(a) Ajanta
(b) Bhaja
(c) Elephanta
(d) Ellora
Option c – Elephanta
Which statement correctly describes Elephanta Island? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) The British named it after discovering a large elephant statue there.
(b) The site contains a single prominent cave.
(c) It is famous for intricate carvings of Vishnu based on the Vishnudharmottara Purana.
(d) It is linked with the Pashupata sect.
Option b – The site contains a single prominent cave.
Rock-cut caves dedicated to Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions are found together at which location?
(a) Ajanta
(b) Elephanta
(c) Ellora
(d) Karle
Option c – Ellora
The Ajanta and Ellora caves are situated near which city? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Nasik
(b) Mumbai
(c) Aurangabad
(d) Pune
Option c – Aurangabad
The art of the Ajanta caves was primarily supported by which dynasty?
(a) Chalukyas
(b) Pallavas
(c) Vakatakas
(d) Gangas
Option c – Vakatakas
The Ajanta caves are mainly associated with which stories? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Ramayana
(b) Mahabharata
(c) Jataka stories
(d) Panchatantra stories
Option c – Jataka stories
The Konark Sun Temple was built under the rule of which king?
(a) Narasimhadeva Varman
(b) Rajendra Chola
(c) Ashoka
(d) Krishnadevaraya
Option a – Narasimhadeva Varman
The ‘Great Bath’ was discovered at which ancient site? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Ropar
(b) Harappa
(c) Mohenjodaro
(d) Kalibangan
Option c – Mohenjodaro
Evidence of rock-cut structures related to the Harappan civilization was found at which location?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Dholavira
(c) Kot Diji
(d) Amri
Option c – Kot Diji
Which material was predominantly used in constructing royal buildings during the Mauryan era? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Wood
(b) Mud and Lime
(c) Burnt Brick
(d) Sandstone
Option a – Wood
Which of the following is not a text on architecture?
(a) Manasara
(b) Samarangana Sutradhara
(c) Mahavastu
(d) Mayamata
Option c – Mahavastu
Consider the following historical sources: ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
- The travel accounts of Ibn Battuta
- The Srirangam copper plates of Devaraya II
- Manucharitam by Allasani Peddanna
- Maduravijayam by Gangadevi
How many of these are useful for studying the Vijayanagar Empire?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Option d – All four
The conflicts between the Vijayanagar Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate were mainly over which of the following?
- Control of the area between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers
- Control over Krishna and Godavari river basins
- Authority over the Konkan and Marathwada regions
- Religious differences between Hindus and Muslims
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Option b – 1, 2 and 3
Regarding regional kingdoms in medieval India, consider the following:
- The Sharqi dynasty ruled over Awadh and a large part of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.
- After Balban’s reign, Bengal always remained under the Delhi Sultanate’s direct control.
- Alauddin Khalji was the first to annex Gujarat into the Delhi Sultanate.
How many statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Option b – Only two
Who founded a new city on the southern bank of a tributary of the Krishna River and declared himself the agent of a deity believed to own all land south of the Krishna? ( Art and Culture UPSC Prelims Questions )
(a) Amoghavarsha I
(b) Ballala II
(c) Harihara I
(d) Prataparudra II
Option c – Harihara I
In the Vijayanagar administrative system, which of the following is true?
(a) Nadu was the largest unit, divided into mandalams and then into sthalas.
(b) Local governing bodies had significant administrative powers under Vijayanagar rulers.
(c) Village self-governance systems from the Chola period were further developed by Vijayanagar rulers.
(d) Taxes were imposed on very few products as the empire focused mostly on military activities.
Option b – Local governing bodies had significant administrative powers under Vijayanagar rulers.
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