Create a custom practice set
Pick category, difficulty, number of questions, and time limit. Start instantly with your own quiz.
Generate QuizArt Culture – GK Questions
Free practice for SSC, UPSC, Banking & Railway exams. No login required.
Which portal, launched in 2025, provides free digital access to over 1 million digitized manuscripts from Indian libraries?
- Manuscript India
- Digital Granthalaya
- e-Pustakalaya
- Shastrarth
Answer: Manuscript India
Manuscript India (2025) aggregates digitized manuscripts from National Mission for Manuscripts, libraries, and temples. Features OCR search, multilingual metadata, and scholarly annotations for researchers worldwide.
The 'Lalit Kala Akademi', India's National Academy of Art, was established in the year _____.
- 1954
- 1952
- 1956
- 1960
Answer: 1954
Lalit Kala Akademi (1954) promotes visual arts through exhibitions, grants, and artist residencies. One of three national academies (with Sangeet Natak and Sahitya), it fosters contemporary and traditional art practices.
Both Nautanki (UP) and Jatra (Bengal) use open-air performance spaces, live music, and social satire to engage mass audiences.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Nautanki and Jatra are North/East Indian folk theatres featuring rhythmic dialogue, folk songs, minimal sets, and social commentary. Both historically addressed contemporary issues and preserved regional narratives.
Which traditional water harvesting structure, common in Rajasthan, captures rainwater using curved embankments to recharge groundwater?
- Johad
- Baoli
- Kund
- Tank
Answer: Johad
Johads are earthen check dams in Rajasthan that capture monsoon runoff, recharge aquifers, and support agriculture. Revived by community movements, they exemplify traditional climate-resilient water management.
The 'Sahitya Akademi Award' is conferred for outstanding literary work in any of the _____ languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution.
- 22
- 24
- 18
- 20
Answer: 22
Sahitya Akademi Award recognizes excellence in any of India's 22 scheduled languages. Instituted in 1954, it promotes multilingual literature and includes a cash prize, plaque, and shawl.
The 'Thirukkural' manuscript from Tamil Nadu was inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2024.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar (c. 1st-5th century CE) was inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2024. This ethical classic of 1,330 couplets is revered for universal wisdom on virtue, wealth, and love.
Which temple features a 'floating stone' legend and is built without mortar using interlocking granite blocks?
- Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
- Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
- Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
- Kailasa Temple, Ellora
Answer: Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Virupaksha Temple (Hampi) legend claims some stones 'float' during construction. Built with interlocking granite blocks without mortar, it exemplifies Vijayanagara engineering. Part of UNESCO-listed Hampi monuments.
In 2024, India and _____ signed a cultural exchange agreement to promote joint exhibitions, artist residencies, and heritage conservation projects.
- France
- Japan
- Australia
- Brazil
Answer: France
India-France Cultural Exchange Agreement (2024) facilitates collaborative exhibitions, artist exchanges, and conservation expertise sharing. Builds on historical ties and mutual appreciation of artistic heritage.
The concept of 'shruti' (microtones) in Indian classical music is mathematically derived from the harmonic series and frequency ratios.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Indian music theory defines 22 shrutis within an octave based on precise frequency ratios (e.g., 3:2 for perfect fifth). Ancient texts like Natya Shastra and Sangita Ratnakara document this mathematical foundation of melody.
Which scheme, launched in 2025, promotes heritage walks and experiential tourism at 50 ASI-protected monuments?
- Dekho Apna Desh
- Heritage Alive
- Monument Mitra
- Cultural Circuit
Answer: Heritage Alive
Heritage Alive (2025) develops immersive experiences at 50 monuments: augmented reality reconstructions, traditional craft demonstrations, and storytelling sessions. Aims to enhance visitor engagement and local livelihoods.
The 'Konark Sun Temple' in Odisha is designed in the shape of a colossal _____ with 24 wheels and seven horses.
- chariot
- lotus
- lion
- elephant
Answer: chariot
Konark Sun Temple (13th century) is shaped like Surya's chariot with 24 carved wheels (representing hours) and seven horses (days of week). A UNESCO World Heritage Site exemplifying Kalinga architecture.
Both Tamil Sangam literature and Sanskrit classical poetry employ sophisticated poetic devices like metaphor, alliteration, and meter.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Sangam poetry (Tamil, 300 BCE-300 CE) and Sanskrit kavya share advanced literary aesthetics: metaphor (upama), alliteration (anuprasa), and complex meters. Both traditions influenced pan-Indian literary culture.
Which digital initiative uses blockchain technology to authenticate and protect traditional handicrafts from counterfeiting?
- Craft Chain
- GI Verify
- Heritage Ledger
- Artisan Trust
Answer: GI Verify
GI Verify (2024) is a Ministry of Textiles blockchain platform that creates immutable digital certificates for GI-tagged handicrafts. Enhances consumer trust, protects artisan livelihoods, and combats imitation products.
The 'Brihadeeswarar Temple' in Thanjavur, built by Raja Raja Chola I, features the world's first granite _____ over 200 feet tall.
- vimana
- gopuram
- shikhara
- mandapa
Answer: vimana
Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur, 1010 CE) has a 216-foot granite vimana (tower) over the sanctum, the world's tallest for its time. A UNESCO World Heritage Site exemplifying Chola architectural mastery.
The 'Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Rashtriya Sanskriti Puraskar' provides monthly pension of ₹2,000 to eminent artists aged 60+ with limited income.
- True
- False
Answer: True
This Ministry of Culture scheme (revised 2025) supports veteran artists in music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. Applicants must demonstrate contribution to cultural preservation and financial need.
Which painting school is characterized by soft colors, lyrical themes, and naturalistic landscapes depicting Radha-Krishna?
- Kangra
- Bundi
- Kishangarh
- Mughal
Answer: Kangra
Kangra school (Pahari painting, 18th century) features soft pastel colors, lyrical Radha-Krishna themes, and lush natural landscapes. Influenced by Bhakti poetry and Gita Govinda, it represents the apex of Pahari art.
The 'Khajuraho Group of Monuments', famous for erotic sculptures, was built by the _____ dynasty.
- Chandela
- Chola
- Pallava
- Rashtrakuta
Answer: Chandela
Khajuraho temples (Madhya Pradesh, 950-1050 CE) were built by Chandela rulers. They exemplify Nagara architecture and symbolize spiritual union through sensuous sculptures. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
The 'Nasik inscription' of Gautami Balashri (2nd century CE) provides genealogical information about the Satavahana dynasty in Prakrit language.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Nasik cave inscription by Gautami Balashri, mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni, records Satavahana achievements in Prakrit using Brahmi script. It is a key source for Deccan history and early Indian epigraphy.
Which Indian element was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2024?
- Garba of Gujarat
- Dandiya Raas
- Navratri celebrations
- All of these
Answer: All of these
Garba (Gujarat) was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List in 2024, recognizing Navratri's communal dance, music, and cultural cohesion. It joins Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, and Yoga on India's Intangible Heritage list.
In 2025, the Ministry of Culture announced the '_____ Mission' to document and revive 100 endangered folk art forms across India.
- Lok Kala
- Jan Sanskriti
- Desaj Kala
- Parampara Suraksha
Answer: Lok Kala
Lok Kala Mission (2025) aims to document, train artists, and promote 100 endangered folk arts through digital archives, grants, and festival platforms. Focuses on intergenerational transmission and sustainable livelihoods.