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UGC NET Indian Culture study materials
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UGC NET Indian Culture practice questions

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Question 1Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) was launched by the Government of India primarily to build a national database of which of the following?

  1. Protected monuments and antiquities Correct answer.
  2. Classical music gharanas
  3. Handloom weaving clusters
  4. Folk dance troupes

Explanation

NMMA was launched in 2007 by the Archaeological Survey of India to document and create a national register of built heritage and movable antiquities across the country. Its core deliverable is a searchable database of monuments and antiquities, not performing-arts or craft traditions, which are handled by other bodies such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Question 2Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In the context of Indian classical dance, the term 'abhinaya' in the Natyashastra tradition refers to which aspect of performance?

  1. Rhythmic footwork
  2. Stage geometry
  3. Expressive communication of meaning Correct answer.
  4. Melodic improvisation

Explanation

Abhinaya denotes the expressive dimension of performance through which a dancer conveys emotion and narrative to the audience. The Natyashastra classifies it into four types: angika (body), vachika (speech), aharya (costume) and sattvika (inner states). Footwork, melody and stage layout belong to other performance components such as nritta and tala.

Question 3Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Ajanta caves are best described as which type of ancient Indian architecture?

  1. Stambha pillars
  2. Rock-cut Buddhist caves Correct answer.
  3. Stepwells
  4. Structural temples

Explanation

The Ajanta caves in Maharashtra are rock-cut Buddhist chaityas and viharas excavated between roughly the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE. They are celebrated for their murals, which represent the finest surviving examples of classical Indian painting. Structural temples, free-standing pillars and stepwells belong to different architectural categories.

Question 4Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

Which classical dance form of Kerala is traditionally performed by male actors wearing elaborate green makeup and large headgear?

  1. Mohiniyattam
  2. Bharatanatyam
  3. Kathakali Correct answer.
  4. Kuchipudi

Explanation

Kathakali is a dance-drama tradition of Kerala in which male performers enact episodes from the epics using codified gestures, vigorous movement and the distinctive chutti makeup with green facial pigment. Mohiniyattam, by contrast, is a solo feminine form of the same state, while Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam belong to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively.

Question 5Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Sangeet Natak Akademi, one of India's national academies of letters, arts and sciences, is chiefly concerned with which field?

  1. Performing arts Correct answer.
  2. Films
  3. Literature
  4. Fine arts

Explanation

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India's national academy for music, dance and drama, established in 1952, and it confers the Akademi Awards and the Akademi Ratna fellowships in these fields. Literature is the domain of the Sahitya Akademi, visual arts of the Lalit Kala Akademi, and cinema of the National Film Development Corporation and the National Film Awards framework.

Question 6Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In the classification of Indian musical instruments, the sitar and the veena are grouped together because they are plucked instruments of which category?

  1. Ghana
  2. Sushira
  3. Tata Correct answer.
  4. Avanaddha

Explanation

The classical fourfold classification of Indian instruments groups stringed instruments under tata vadya, which includes the sitar, veena, sarod and sarangi family of chordophones. Avanaddha covers membranophones such as the tabla, sushira covers wind instruments such as the flute, and ghana covers idiophones such as cymbals.

Question 7Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Pongal festival, celebrated over four days in Tamil Nadu, is primarily associated with which activity?

  1. Victory in war
  2. Harvest thanksgiving Correct answer.
  3. Spring equinox
  4. Monsoon arrival

Explanation

Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival dedicated to the sun god Surya, marking the end of the winter solstice season and the new agricultural year. The four days are Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Maattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal, each with distinct observances. It is not tied to monsoon onset, equinoxes or martial commemoration.

Question 8Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Gandhara school' of ancient Indian art is distinguished by its use of which stylistic convention in sculpture?

  1. Hellenistic drapery and physiognomy Correct answer.
  2. Dravidian gopuram motifs
  3. Bronze lost-wax casting
  4. Terracotta relief panels

Explanation

The Gandhara school, centred in the north-west around Peshawar and Taxila, blended Buddhist subject matter with Graeco-Roman sculptural conventions, notably naturalistic facial features and heavy, flowing drapery resembling a Roman toga. It flourished under the Kushanas and is best known for its schist reliefs of the Buddha. The other options describe distinct regional or technical traditions.

Question 9Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Charyapada' are significant in the study of Indian culture because they represent which of the following?

  1. Tamil Sangam anthologies
  2. Sanskrit drama of the Gupta period
  3. Court poetry of the Mughal emperors
  4. Earliest known Bengali-Assamese-Odia mystical songs Correct answer.

Explanation

The Charyapada is a collection of esoteric Buddhist songs composed in an early eastern Indo-Aryan language, generally dated between the 8th and 12th centuries, and is regarded as the earliest specimen of Bengali, Assamese and Odia literature. The manuscript was rediscovered in Nepal by Haraprasad Shastri in 1907. It is neither Mughal court verse nor classical Sanskrit drama.

Question 10Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A researcher wishes to study the earliest surviving examples of Indian rock-cut chaitya halls with a horseshoe-shaped facade. Which site should be prioritised?

  1. Hampi
  2. Ellora
  3. Khajuraho
  4. Karlé Correct answer.

Explanation

The Great Chaitya at Karlé in Maharashtra, cut in the 1st century CE, is the largest and best-preserved example of a rock-cut chaitya hall with a horseshoe-shaped sun-window facade and a stupa at its apse. Ellora is celebrated for its later multi-religious caves including Kailasa temple, while Khajuraho and Hampi are structural temple complexes.

Question 11Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The term 'Sthapatya Veda' in traditional Indian knowledge refers to which domain?

  1. Architecture and construction Correct answer.
  2. Ayurvedic medicine
  3. Astronomy
  4. Statecraft

Explanation

Sthapatya Veda is the traditional Indian science of architecture, town planning and construction, treated as an upaveda associated with the Yajur Veda. Texts such as the Manasara and Mayamata elaborate its principles of site selection, orientation and proportion. Ayurveda corresponds to medicine, Jyotisha to astronomy and Arthashastra to statecraft.

Question 12Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Yakshagana performance tradition is geographically centred in which part of India?

  1. Punjab
  2. Bengal
  3. Coastal Karnataka Correct answer.
  4. Gujarat

Explanation

Yakshagana is a night-long dance-drama form of coastal Karnataka, combining elaborate costumes, chande drumming and improvised dialogue drawn from the epics and Puranas. Its regional neighbours include Kathakali in Kerala and Therukoothu in Tamil Nadu. Bengal, Punjab and Gujarat have their own distinct folk theatre forms such as Jatra, Swang and Bhavai.

Question 13Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A museum curator is asked to identify a painting that uses natural mineral pigments on cloth and depicts episodes from the life of Krishna in a regional style with bold outlines. Which style is most consistent with this description?

  1. Pahari painting
  2. Kalighat painting
  3. Pattachitra of Odisha Correct answer.
  4. Mughal miniature painting

Explanation

Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting of Odisha, executed with natural colours and depicting Jagannath, Krishna and Vaishnava narratives within a bold linear framework. Mughal miniatures are courtly and naturalistic, Pahari works are miniature paintings on paper, and Kalighat paintings are Calcutta watercolours with a distinct satirical flavour.

Question 14Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Dhrupad' form of Hindustani music is traditionally characterised by which of the following?

  1. Austerity with slow elaboration of raga Correct answer.
  2. Improvised romantic thumri lyrics
  3. Call-and-response folk singing
  4. Fast rhythmic ornamentation with tihais

Explanation

Dhrupad is the oldest surviving form of Hindustani vocal music, marked by a solemn, devotional character, slow and systematic raga elaboration and the four-part structure of sthayi, antara, sanchari and abhog. It is accompanied traditionally by the pakhawaj and tanpura. Thumri, by contrast, is a lighter romantic form, and fast ornamented playing belongs to khayal and instrumental styles.

Question 15Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Ellora caves are often cited as evidence of Indian composite culture because they contain which combination?

  1. Only Jain temples
  2. Only Buddhist monasteries
  3. Only Hindu temples
  4. Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples Correct answer.

Explanation

Ellora comprises 34 caves spanning Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions, excavated between roughly the 6th and 10th centuries, and thus exemplifies the coexistence of multiple religious traditions in one site. The Kailasa temple, a monolithic rock-cut structure, is its most celebrated Hindu monument. The other options deny the site's well-documented plural character.

Question 16Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In the Natyashastra, the concept of 'rasa' is produced by the combination of which elements?

  1. Tala, laya and matra
  2. Swara, raga and tala
  3. Pada, kala and laya
  4. Vibhava, anubhava and vyabhichari bhava Correct answer.

Explanation

Bharata's Natyashastra explains rasa as arising from the combination of vibhava (determinants), anubhava (consequents) and vyabhichari bhava (transitory emotions), which together produce aesthetic relish in the spectator. The remaining options list musical rather than aesthetic categories such as rhythm, tempo and melodic frameworks.

Question 17Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A student comparing the 'Nagara' and 'Dravida' temple styles should note that the Nagara style is generally distinguished by which feature?

  1. A stepped tank at the entrance
  2. A flat-roofed pillared hall
  3. A curvilinear shikhara over the sanctum Correct answer.
  4. A pyramidal vimana with a boundary wall

Explanation

Nagara temples, found largely in northern and central India, are characterised by a curvilinear shikhara above the garbhagriha, often accompanied by an amalaka and kalasha. Dravida temples of the south have a pyramidal vimana and are typically enclosed within a compound wall with gopurams. The other options describe features that are either Dravida elements or generic tank and hall features.

Question 18Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Kalamandalam' institution, founded in 1930, is associated with the revival of which art tradition?

  1. Kathakali and Kerala performing arts Correct answer.
  2. Odissi music
  3. Chhau dance
  4. Manipuri dance

Explanation

Kerala Kalamandalam was established by Vallathol Narayana Menon at Cheruthuruthy to revive and systematically teach Kathakali and other Kerala performing arts. It later expanded to Mohiniyattam, Kutiyattam and percussion traditions. Manipuri, Chhau and Odissi traditions have their own distinct regional institutions and lineages.

Question 19Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

Which of the following best explains why the 'Sarnath' Buddha image is treated as a landmark in Indian art history?

  1. It is the largest rock-cut Buddha figure in India
  2. It is the first known anthropomorphic Buddha image with a documented sermon gesture Correct answer.
  3. It is the only Buddha image made of ivory
  4. It is the earliest known painting of the Buddha

Explanation

The Sarnath Buddha of the Gupta period is celebrated as an early and canonical anthropomorphic image showing the dharma-chakra-pravartana mudra, marking the Buddha's first sermon. Its refined modelling and serene expression set a standard for later Buddhist sculpture across Asia. It is neither the largest rock-cut Buddha nor a painting, and ivory is not its medium.

Question 20Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Bihu' festival of Assam is most closely connected with which combination of concerns?

  1. Winter, weaving and metalwork
  2. Monsoon, fishing and boat races
  3. Spring, agriculture and courtship Correct answer.
  4. Autumn, hunting and warfare

Explanation

Bihu is celebrated three times a year, with the springtime Bohag Bihu being the most prominent, marking the Assamese new year and the agricultural cycle. It is associated with youthful courtship, the Bihu dance and communal feasting. Boat races, weaving contests and martial sports belong to other regional festivals.

Question 21Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A scholar argues that the 'Chola bronzes' represent a technical and aesthetic peak in Indian metalwork. Which evidence best supports this claim?

  1. They were carved from single blocks of granite
  2. They were moulded in terracotta and fired
  3. They were painted on cloth using mineral pigments
  4. They were cast using the lost-wax process with precise iconometric proportions Correct answer.

Explanation

Chola bronzes such as the Nataraja images were produced by the cire perdue (lost-wax) method, allowing fine detail and hollow casting, and they follow strict iconometric canons prescribed in the Shilpa texts. This combination of technical mastery and codified proportion underlies their reputation. Granite carving, cloth painting and terracotta firing describe other media entirely.

Question 22Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In Hindustani music, the 'gharana' system is best understood as which of the following?

  1. A type of percussion instrument
  2. A seasonal cycle of performance festivals
  3. A lineage of musicians transmitting a distinctive stylistic tradition Correct answer.
  4. A fixed catalogue of ragas authorised by courts

Explanation

A gharana is a school or lineage of musicians, often tracing descent from a founding master, that transmits a recognisable style of raga treatment, ornamentation and repertoire. Major gharanas include Gwalior, Kirana, Agra, Jaipur-Atrauli and Patiala. It is neither a canonical list of ragas nor an instrument or festival cycle.

Question 23Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Kutiyattam' tradition of Kerala is significant in world cultural history chiefly because of which recognition?

  1. Inclusion in the World Heritage list of monuments
  2. UNESCO recognition as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Correct answer.
  3. Designation as a classical language
  4. Award of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Explanation

Kutiyattam, the ancient Sanskrit theatre of Kerala performed in temple theatres called kuttambalams, was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This recognition highlighted its status as one of the oldest continuously performed theatrical traditions. It is not a monument listing, a film award or a language designation.

Question 24Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A comparative study of the 'Pahari' and 'Rajasthani' schools of miniature painting would most likely conclude that they share which feature while differing in subject emphasis?

  1. Both use miniature formats with fine brushwork and courtly patronage Correct answer.
  2. Both use oil paint on canvas
  3. Both are mural traditions painted on temple walls
  4. Both are exclusively Buddhist in subject matter

Explanation

Pahari and Rajasthani paintings are both miniature traditions executed with fine brushwork on paper or cloth under royal and aristocratic patronage, sharing techniques and materials. They differ in emphasis, with Rajasthani schools favouring courtly, devotional and Barahmasa themes and Pahari schools excelling in lyrical Krishna and nayika subjects. Murals, exclusive Buddhist content and oil on canvas do not describe either school.

Question 25Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Performing Arts Grants Scheme' and the 'Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage' are administered in India mainly through which ministry?

  1. Ministry of Education
  2. Ministry of Rural Development
  3. Ministry of Culture Correct answer.
  4. Ministry of Tourism

Explanation

The Ministry of Culture administers schemes for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and for supporting performing arts, often through its autonomous bodies and the Sangeet Natak Akademi. These schemes fund documentation, training and transmission of endangered traditions. Education, tourism and rural development ministries have different mandates and do not run these cultural heritage schemes.

Question 26Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The Ajanta caves are primarily significant in the study of Indian culture because they contain which of the following?

  1. Free-standing stone pillars inscribed with Ashokan edicts
  2. Buddhist paintings and sculpture executed over several centuries Correct answer.
  3. Jain temple complexes built by the Rashtrakutas
  4. Rock-cut mosques of the Sultanate period

Explanation

Ajanta is a series of Buddhist rock-cut monasteries and prayer halls in Maharashtra, decorated with murals and sculpture from roughly the 2nd century BCE to the 5th–6th century CE. The paintings are the earliest substantial surviving body of Indian mural art and depict Jataka narratives and Bodhisattvas.

Question 27Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The classical dance form 'Kathakali' is traditionally performed using which distinctive mode of expression?

  1. Spoken dialogue delivered directly by the dancer
  2. Elaborate painted make-up and codified gesture accompanying sung narrative Correct answer.
  3. Puppetry manipulated by strings above a screen
  4. Masked procession without narrative content

Explanation

Kathakali, from Kerala, combines highly stylised green-and-red facial make-up, large headgear and a vocabulary of hand gestures (mudras) with a sung libretto and drum accompaniment. The dancers do not speak; the story is conveyed through gesture and expression while singers render the text.

Question 28Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Sangeet Natak Akademi' is best described as which type of institution in India's cultural landscape?

  1. An archaeological body responsible for monument conservation
  2. A university granting degrees in engineering and technology
  3. A museum devoted exclusively to miniature painting
  4. A national academy for the performing arts that confers awards and supports practitioners Correct answer.

Explanation

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India's national academy for music, dance and drama, established in 1952, and it confers the Akademi Awards and the Akademi Ratna fellowships. It functions as a apex body for the performing arts rather than for archaeology or visual-arts museums.

Question 29Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Bharatanatyam' tradition, as codified in the twentieth century, is most closely associated with which region?

  1. Tamil Nadu Correct answer.
  2. Punjab
  3. Gujarat
  4. Bengal

Explanation

Bharatanatyam developed in the temples and courts of Tamil Nadu and was revived and re-codified in the twentieth century. Its repertoire of alarippu, jatiswaram, varnam and padam is tied to Carnatic music, which is itself centred in South India.

Question 30Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Kumbh Mela' is best understood in cultural terms as which of the following?

  1. An annual harvest fair held only in one fixed town
  2. A monastic debate assembly restricted to Buddhist scholars
  3. A recurring mass pilgrimage at four river-bank sites rotating by astrological calculation Correct answer.
  4. A trade fair for handicrafts organised by state governments

Explanation

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage that rotates among Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain according to a traditional astrological cycle, with the largest gatherings at Prayagraj. It was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017.

Question 31Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Madhubani' painting tradition is associated with which state?

  1. Odisha
  2. Bihar Correct answer.
  3. Kerala
  4. Rajasthan

Explanation

Madhubani painting, also called Mithila painting, comes from the Mithila region of Bihar and is traditionally done by women on walls and paper using natural pigments. Its characteristic features include double outlines, dense filling of space and motifs drawn from mythology and nature.

Question 32Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Chhau' dance tradition is performed in which set of regions?

  1. Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal Correct answer.
  2. Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh
  3. Assam, Manipur and Tripura
  4. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Explanation

Chhau dance has three regional styles - Seraikella in Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj in Odisha and Purulia in West Bengal. It combines martial elements with dance and, in Seraikella and Purulia, uses elaborate masks. UNESCO inscribed Chhau on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010.

Question 33Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Ramlila' performance tradition is significant in Indian cultural studies chiefly because it demonstrates which of the following?

  1. The decline of oral storytelling in northern India
  2. The use of written Sanskrit drama exclusively in royal courts
  3. The separation of religious ritual from theatrical form
  4. The transmission of an epic narrative through participatory, community-based annual performance Correct answer.

Explanation

Ramlila is an annual enactment of the Ramayana in which entire communities participate as performers, organisers and audience, transmitting the epic across generations. UNESCO recognised Ramlila as intangible cultural heritage in 2008, noting its role in community cohesion and oral transmission.

Question 34Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A researcher examining the 'Natyashastra' wishes to identify its author and approximate period. Which pairing is correct?

  1. Bharata, with the text reaching its present form in the early centuries CE Correct answer.
  2. Kalidasa, composed in the eighteenth century
  3. Abhinavagupta, written in the twelfth century as an original treatise
  4. Jayadeva, composed in the sixteenth century

Explanation

The Natyashastra is attributed to Bharata and is generally dated to roughly the 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE, with later additions. It is the foundational Sanskrit treatise on dramaturgy, covering acting, gesture, music, stagecraft and rasa theory.

Question 35Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A student comparing Indian folk theatre forms should note that 'Bhavai' is associated with which state?

  1. Maharashtra
  2. Assam
  3. Odisha
  4. Gujarat Correct answer.

Explanation

Bhavai is a Gujarati folk theatre form performed in village squares, characterised by satirical sketches, stock characters and the use of the bhungal and other instruments. Its performers traditionally belonged to communities that travelled between villages.

Question 36Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In the study of Indian temple architecture, the 'garbhagriha' refers to which component?

  1. The gateway tower of a South Indian temple complex
  2. The innermost sanctum housing the principal deity Correct answer.
  3. The raised platform on which the whole temple stands
  4. The pillared assembly hall for devotees

Explanation

The garbhagriha, literally the 'womb chamber', is the small unlit shrine at the centre of a temple containing the main image. The mandapa is the hall, the gopuram the gateway tower, and the adhisthana the plinth.

Question 37Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A curator is asked to explain why the 'Pattachitra' tradition of Odisha is notable. Which description is most accurate?

  1. Mughal court portraiture in opaque watercolour
  2. Cloth-based scroll painting using natural colours, often depicting Jagannath and Vaishnava themes Correct answer.
  3. Wall painting executed only on cave ceilings
  4. Palm-leaf manuscript illustration in monochrome ink

Explanation

Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting from Odisha, prepared by treating cloth with chalk and gum before painting with natural pigments. Its subjects centre on Jagannath, Vaishnava mythology and the Gita Govinda, and it is closely linked to temple ritual.

Question 38Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Sattriya' dance tradition, recognised as a classical form in 2000, originated in which context?

  1. Vaishnava monastic institutions of Assam established by Srimanta Sankardeva Correct answer.
  2. Shaiva temples of Tamil Nadu
  3. Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh
  4. Sufi khanqahs of the Deccan

Explanation

Sattriya developed in the sattras, the Vaishnava monasteries of Assam founded in the wake of Sankardeva's devotional movement. It was performed by celibate monks and only later moved to the public stage, receiving classical status from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.

Question 39Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A scholar arguing that Indian miniature painting absorbed Persian conventions would cite which feature as evidence?

  1. Adoption of oil paint on stretched canvas
  2. Exclusive use of fresco on plaster walls
  3. Use of the stylised profile-and-full-face composite in court portraiture Correct answer.
  4. Rejection of all narrative subject matter

Explanation

Mughal and later Rajput miniatures often use a composite view in which the head is turned in profile while the eye and shoulders are shown frontally, a convention carried over from Persian painting. This, along with album formats and calligraphic borders, shows Persianate influence.

Question 40Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Thumri' genre within Hindustani music is best characterised by which of the following?

  1. A light-classical vocal form emphasising lyrical expression and romantic or devotional sentiment Correct answer.
  2. A South Indian form structured around composed varnams
  3. A form of temple chant with no instrumental accompaniment
  4. A strict unaccompanied percussion solo

Explanation

Thumri is a light-classical Hindustani vocal genre in which textual expression and emotive inflection take precedence over strict raga elaboration. It is associated particularly with the Banaras and Lucknow traditions and often sets Braj-language poetry.

Question 41Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

Which statement correctly identifies the 'Carnatic' and 'Hindustani' systems as branches of Indian music?

  1. They are the two principal systems of Indian classical music, the former predominant in the south and the latter in the north Correct answer.
  2. They are two names for the same system used in different languages
  3. They are folk traditions confined to tribal communities
  4. They are percussion traditions with no melodic component

Explanation

Indian classical music is conventionally divided into the Carnatic system of South India and the Hindustani system of North India, the latter shaped by Persianate and Central Asian influences. Both share concepts of raga and tala but differ in repertoire, instruments and performance practice.

Question 42Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A researcher studying the 'Sangam' corpus would be examining which kind of material?

  1. Classical Tamil poetry anthologised in works such as the Ettuthogai Correct answer.
  2. Pali chronicles of Sri Lankan kingship
  3. Sanskrit ritual manuals for domestic sacrifice
  4. Persian court histories of the Mughal empire

Explanation

The Sangam corpus is a body of classical Tamil poetry, traditionally dated to the early centuries CE, anthologised in the Ettuthogai and Pattuppattu. It is a key source for early south Indian society, trade, kingship and literary conventions.

Question 43Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Khajuraho' group of temples is best described as an example of which architectural tradition?

  1. Nagara-style temples with curvilinear shikharas built by the Chandela dynasty Correct answer.
  2. Indo-Saracenic buildings combining arches and domes
  3. Rock-cut Buddhist chaityas carved into basalt cliffs
  4. Dravida-style temples with gateway gopurams built by the Cholas

Explanation

The Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh were built by the Chandela rulers between roughly the 10th and 12th centuries and are classic Nagara-style structures with curvilinear shikharas. They are renowned for their sculptural programme, including depictions of deities, courtly life and mithuna panels.

Question 44Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A student of Indian aesthetics argues that the concept of 'dhvani' in Anandavardhana's work altered literary theory. Which claim best captures his contribution?

  1. He held that grammar alone determines literary value
  2. He restricted poetry to the description of royal genealogies
  3. He argued that suggestion, rather than direct statement, is the central source of poetic meaning Correct answer.
  4. He rejected rasa theory as irrelevant to poetry

Explanation

Anandavardhana's Dhvanyaloka, composed in the ninth century, advanced the theory that dhvani or suggestion is the soul of poetry, with rasa realised through suggested meaning. This built on and refined earlier rasa theory rather than discarding it, and it was later defended by Abhinavagupta.

Question 45Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

The 'Gita Govinda' occupies a distinctive place in Indian culture because of which combination of features?

  1. A treatise on temple construction with detailed measurements
  2. A Sanskrit devotional poem by Jayadeva combining erotic and mystical imagery, widely adapted in painting, music and dance Correct answer.
  3. A collection of Buddhist monastic rules
  4. A Persian chronicle of Sultanate administration

Explanation

Jayadeva's Gita Govinda, composed in the twelfth century, is a Sanskrit poem on the love of Radha and Krishna read as a mystical allegory. It became a major source for painting, Odissi and other performance traditions, and for devotional music across eastern India.

Question 46Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A policy analyst notes that the 'National Mission for Manuscripts' was established to address which problem?

  1. The physical deterioration and inaccessibility of India's manuscript heritage Correct answer.
  2. The decline of ticket sales for folk theatre
  3. The shortage of trained classical musicians
  4. The absence of a national museum building

Explanation

The National Mission for Manuscripts, launched in 2003 under the Ministry of Culture, aims to survey, conserve, digitise and make accessible manuscripts held in institutions and private collections across India. It addresses the twin problems of physical decay and lack of scholarly access.

Question 47Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A scholar comparing the 'Tanjore' and 'Mysore' schools of painting would most plausibly conclude which of the following?

  1. Both are Mughal court ateliers founded by Akbar
  2. Both are wall-painting traditions found only in caves
  3. Both are South Indian traditions using gesso and gold leaf, differing in degree of ornamentation and stylisation Correct answer.
  4. Both reject religious subject matter in favour of portraiture alone

Explanation

Tanjore and Mysore painting are related South Indian traditions depicting Hindu deities, both using gesso work and gold leaf on cloth or wood. Tanjore is more heavily ornamented with applied relief and gold, while Mysore is generally more restrained and delicate in finish.

Question 48Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

In the history of Indian theatre, the 'Ankiya Naat' form is historically significant because it demonstrates which process?

  1. The separation of dance from narrative performance
  2. The adoption of European proscenium conventions in the sixteenth century
  3. The survival of Sanskrit court drama unchanged into the colonial period
  4. The deliberate creation of a vernacular theatre as an instrument of Vaishnava devotional reform Correct answer.

Explanation

Srimanta Sankardeva created Ankiya Naat in sixteenth-century Assam as a vernacular play form to propagate Vaishnava bhakti, performed in the sattras. It shows how theatre was consciously designed as a vehicle of religious and social reform rather than as courtly entertainment.

Question 49Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A cultural historian argues that the 'Chola' period marked a shift in the scale of temple patronage. Which evidence most directly supports this claim?

  1. The painting of the Ajanta caves under Vakataka patronage
  2. The rock-cut chaityas at Karle with wooden facade remains
  3. The building of the Qutb Minar in the thirteenth century
  4. The construction of the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur with a monumental vimana and extensive endowments Correct answer.

Explanation

Rajaraja I's Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur, completed around 1010 CE, is a Dravida temple of unprecedented scale, with a towering vimana and records of extensive land and wealth endowments. It illustrates the Chola use of temple building as an expression of imperial power and administrative integration.

Question 50Paper-I (general/teaching-research aptitude) - official subject-wise breakdown not enumerated in source

A researcher comparing the 'Sramana' and 'Vedic' streams of early Indian thought would identify which contrast as central?

  1. Use of Sanskrit versus use of Persian as liturgical language
  2. Urban mercantile organisation versus rural agrarian organisation alone
  3. Monotheism versus polytheism as the only distinguishing feature
  4. Ascetic renunciation and non-Vedic authority versus ritual sacrifice and Vedic authority Correct answer.

Explanation

The Sramana streams, including Buddhism and Jainism, emphasised renunciation, monastic discipline and teachings that did not derive authority from the Vedas. The Vedic stream centred on sacrificial ritual performed by hereditary priests and on the authority of Vedic revelation, though the two interacted extensively.