Indian Culture MCQs (English Medium)

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1. Which Veda is known as the "Book of Hymns"?

a. Samaveda

b. Yajurveda

c. Rigveda

d. Atharvaveda

2. The author of the Mahabharata is:

a. Valmiki

b. Panini

c. Kalidasa

d. Ved Vyasa

3. Which classical dance form originated in Kerala?

a. Kathak

b. Kathakali

c. Odissi

d. Manipuri

4. The famous Sun Temple is located at:

a. Khajuraho

b. Konark

c. Madurai

d. Hampi

5. Which Indian classical dance is associated with Andhra Pradesh?

a. Bharatanatyam

b. Kathak

c. Kuchipudi

d. Mohiniyattam

6. Ajanta Caves are mainly associated with:

a. Jainism

b. Buddhism

c. Sikhism

d. Islam

7. Who wrote the Sanskrit play "Abhijnanasakuntalam"?

a. Banabhatta

b. Kalidasa

c. Bhavabhuti

d. Panini

8. The Natyashastra was written by:

a. Patanjali

b. Kalidasa

c. Bharata Muni

d. Panini

9. Which dance form is known as the "poetry in motion"?

a. Kathak

b. Odissi

c. Bharatanatyam

d. Manipuri

10. The Brihadeeswara Temple was built by:

a. Pallavas

b. Cholas

c. Pandyas

d. Cheras

11. Khajuraho Temples were built by:

a. Chandelas

b. Guptas

c. Mauryas

d. Cholas

12. The Sanchi Stupa was originally commissioned by:

a. Ashoka

b. Kanishka

c. Chandragupta Maurya

d. Harsha

13. Which musical instrument is associated with Ustad Bismillah Khan?

a. Sitar

b. Tabla

c. Shehnai

d. Sarod

14. Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of:

a. Kerala

b. Karnataka

c. Odisha

d. Gujarat

15. Which classical dance form is associated with Manipur?

a. Manipuri

b. Kathak

c. Odissi

d. Sattriya

16. The famous Dilwara Temples are associated with:

a. Buddhism

b. Hinduism

c. Jainism

d. Sikhism

17. The art of miniature painting flourished during:

a. Maurya Period

b. Mughal Period

c. Gupta Period

d. Vedic Period

18. Which classical dance form was developed in the temples of Tamil Nadu?

a. Kathak

b. Bharatanatyam

c. Manipuri

d. Odissi

19. The "Gita Govinda" was composed by:

a. Kalidasa

b. Jayadeva

c. Banabhatta

d. Tulsidas

20. Which language was used in most Ashokan inscriptions?

a. Sanskrit

b. Pali

c. Prakrit

d. Tamil

21. The famous "Ragmala" paintings depict:

a. Kings

b. Seasons

c. Musical Ragas

d. Battles

22. Which temple is known as the "Black Pagoda"?

a. Jagannath Temple

b. Konark Sun Temple

c. Meenakshi Temple

d. Lingaraja Temple

23. Sattriya dance belongs to:

a. Assam

b. Odisha

c. Bihar

d. Bengal

24. The classical music tradition of North India is called:

a. Carnatic Music

b. Hindustani Music

c. Folk Music

d. Tribal Music

25. Who is known as the father of Carnatic Music?

a. Tyagaraja

b. Purandara Dasa

c. Muthuswami Dikshitar

d. Syama Sastri

26. The famous rock-cut Kailasa Temple is situated at:

a. Ajanta

b. Ellora

c. Elephanta

d. Badami

27. Which Indian classical dance uses elaborate masks?

a. Kathak

b. Kathakali

c. Bharatanatyam

d. Mohiniyattam

28. The Elephanta Caves are dedicated mainly to:

a. Vishnu

b. Buddha

c. Shiva

d. Mahavira

29. Which Gupta ruler is known for patronizing art and culture?

a. Samudragupta

b. Chandragupta I

c. Chandragupta II Vikramaditya

d. Kumaragupta

30. The "Natya Shastra" primarily deals with:

a. Architecture

b. Music and Dance

c. Grammar

d. Astronomy

31. The Virupaksha Temple is located at:

a. Pattadakal

b. Hampi

c. Belur

d. Halebidu

32. Which school of painting is associated with Basohli?

a. Mughal

b. Pahari

c. Deccan

d. Rajput

33. The Meenakshi Temple is situated in:

a. Kanchipuram

b. Madurai

c. Thanjavur

d. Mysuru

34. The ancient university of Nalanda was primarily a center of:

a. Jain Learning

b. Buddhist Learning

c. Vedic Learning

d. Islamic Learning

35. Which ruler built the famous Vijay Stambha at Chittorgarh?

a. Rana Sanga

b. Rana Kumbha

c. Bappa Rawal

d. Rana Pratap

36. The famous sculptural work "Descent of the Ganga" is located at:

a. Badami

b. Mahabalipuram

c. Ellora

d. Pattadakal

37. Which classical dance form is characterized by graceful feminine movements and white costume with golden border?

a. Bharatanatyam

b. Kathak

c. Mohiniyattam

d. Odissi

38. The "Amaravati School" is famous for:

a. Temple Architecture

b. Buddhist Sculptures

c. Miniature Paintings

d. Bronze Casting

39. The famous bronze image of Nataraja belongs to:

a. Maurya Period

b. Gupta Period

c. Chola Period

d. Kushana Period

40. Which text is regarded as the oldest grammar of Sanskrit?

a. Ashtadhyayi

b. Mahabhashya

c. Amarakosha

d. Mitakshara

41. The famous Dilwara Temples are located at:

a. Udaipur

b. Jodhpur

c. Mount Abu

d. Jaipur

42. The "Veena" is traditionally associated with:

a. Percussion

b. String Instrument

c. Wind Instrument

d. Brass Instrument

43. Which style of temple architecture is predominantly found in South India?

a. Nagara

b. Vesara

c. Dravida

d. Gandhara

44. The author of "Kadambari" was:

a. Kalidasa

b. Banabhatta

c. Bhavabhuti

d. Dandin

45. Which folk theatre form is associated with Uttar Pradesh?

a. Tamasha

b. Nautanki

c. Yakshagana

d. Jatra

46. The Khajuraho temples are mainly dedicated to:

a. Buddhism

b. Jainism only

c. Hinduism and Jainism

d. Sikhism

47. The famous "Sangeet Ratnakara" was written by:

a. Bharata

b. Sharangadeva

c. Kalhana

d. Tansen

48. Which city is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka?

a. Bengaluru

b. Hubli

c. Mysuru

d. Mangaluru

49. The "Ras Lila" dance-drama is primarily associated with:

a. Gujarat

b. Rajasthan

c. Uttar Pradesh

d. Punjab

50. The famous Shore Temple is situated at:

a. Kanchipuram

b. Mahabalipuram

c. Chidambaram

d. Madurai

51. Which ruler patronized the scholar Kalidasa?

a. Ashoka

b. Harsha

c. Chandragupta II

d. Pulakesin II

52. The traditional theatre form "Jatra" belongs to:

a. Maharashtra

b. West Bengal

c. Odisha

d. Assam

53. The Lingaraja Temple is located in:

a. Puri

b. Bhubaneswar

c. Konark

d. Cuttack

54. Which painting style developed under the patronage of the Rajput rulers?

a. Mughal Painting

b. Pahari Painting

c. Rajput Painting

d. Deccan Painting

55. The "Ghoomar" dance is associated with:

a. Gujarat

b. Rajasthan

c. Haryana

d. Punjab

56. The famous Hoysaleswara Temple is situated at:

a. Belur

b. Halebidu

c. Badami

d. Aihole

57. The author of "Rajatarangini" was:

a. Kalhana

b. Bilhana

c. Bana

d. Somadeva

58. Which classical dance form includes the "Lasya" style predominantly?

a. Kathakali

b. Mohiniyattam

c. Chhau

d. Sattriya

59. The Sun Temple of Modhera is located in:

a. Rajasthan

b. Gujarat

c. Madhya Pradesh

d. Maharashtra

60. The famous musical trinity of Carnatic music does NOT include:

a. Tyagaraja

b. Muthuswami Dikshitar

c. Syama Sastri

d. Tansen

61. The famous Chennakesava Temple is located at:

a. Halebidu

b. Belur

c. Hampi

d. Pattadakal

62. Which ruler built the Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram?

a. Cholas

b. Pandyas

c. Pallavas

d. Rashtrakutas

63. The dance form "Chhau" is mainly associated with:

a. Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal

b. Gujarat and Rajasthan

c. Punjab and Haryana

d. Kerala and Tamil Nadu

64. The ancient treatise "Arthashastra" was written by:

a. Panini

b. Kautilya

c. Patanjali

d. Kalidasa

65. Which style of painting is associated with the hills of Himachal Pradesh?

a. Mughal

b. Pahari

c. Deccani

d. Tanjore

66. The Tanjore School of Painting originated in:

a. Karnataka

b. Andhra Pradesh

c. Tamil Nadu

d. Kerala

67. The famous Rani ki Vav is located in:

a. Gujarat

b. Rajasthan

c. Madhya Pradesh

d. Maharashtra

68. The "Bhagavata Mela" dance-drama tradition belongs to:

a. Tamil Nadu

b. Kerala

c. Karnataka

d. Odisha

69. Which temple is known for its erotic sculptures besides Khajuraho?

a. Konark Sun Temple

b. Brihadeeswara Temple

c. Jagannath Temple

d. Shore Temple

70. The author of "Gita Govinda" belonged to:

a. Bengal

b. Odisha

c. Gujarat

d. Kashmir

71. The traditional puppet theatre "Kathputli" belongs to:

a. Gujarat

b. Rajasthan

c. Maharashtra

d. Punjab

72. The famous Buddhist site Sarnath is associated with:

a. Birth of Buddha

b. Enlightenment of Buddha

c. First Sermon of Buddha

d. Death of Buddha

73. The "Vesara" style of temple architecture is a blend of:

a. Gandhara and Mathura

b. Nagara and Dravida

c. Mughal and Rajput

d. Hindu and Islamic

74. Which musical instrument is associated with Pandit Ravi Shankar?

a. Tabla

b. Santoor

c. Sarod

d. Sitar

75. The famous Jain temple complex at Ranakpur is located in:

a. Gujarat

b. Rajasthan

c. Madhya Pradesh

d. Bihar

76. The classical language Tamil is associated with which literary tradition?

a. Sangam Literature

b. Prakrit Literature

c. Pali Literature

d. Apabhramsha Literature

77. The traditional theatre form "Tamasha" belongs to:

a. Gujarat

b. Maharashtra

c. Karnataka

d. Goa

78. The famous rock-cut caves of Elephanta are situated near:

a. Chennai

b. Kochi

c. Mumbai

d. Visakhapatnam

79. The author of "Harshacharita" was:

a. Kalhana

b. Banabhatta

c. Dandin

d. Bhavabhuti

80. Which dance form is performed mainly by male artists wearing colorful masks?

a. Chhau

b. Odissi

c. Kathak

d. Manipuri

81. The famous Jagannath Temple is located at:

a. Bhubaneswar

b. Konark

c. Puri

d. Cuttack

82. The "Bani Thani" painting belongs to:

a. Kishangarh School

b. Kangra School

c. Bundi School

d. Jaipur School

83. The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are:

a. Ajanta Caves

b. Ellora Caves

c. Barabar Caves

d. Elephanta Caves

84. Which saint is associated with the composition of "Abhangas"?

a. Tulsidas

b. Namdev

c. Tukaram

d. Chaitanya

85. The famous "Madhubani" painting style originated in:

a. Uttar Pradesh

b. Bihar

c. Jharkhand

d. Odisha

86. The classical dance form Sattriya was introduced by:

a. Sankardeva

b. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

c. Ramanuja

d. Vallabhacharya

87. Which temple is known as the "Big Temple"?

a. Meenakshi Temple

b. Brihadeeswara Temple

c. Lingaraja Temple

d. Jagannath Temple

88. The famous musical instrument Santoor is traditionally associated with:

a. Punjab

b. Rajasthan

c. Kashmir

d. Assam

89. The "Gurjara-Pratihara" style influenced the development of:

a. Nagara Architecture

b. Dravida Architecture

c. Vesara Architecture

d. Indo-Islamic Architecture

90. Which UNESCO-recognized classical dance form originated in Assam?

a. Manipuri

b. Sattriya

c. Kathak

d. Chhau

91. The famous Buddhist monastic university Vikramashila was established by:

a. Dharmapala

b. Devapala

c. Gopala

d. Mahipala

92. Which temple complex is known as the "Group of Monuments at Pattadakal"?

a. Pallava Temples

b. Chalukya Temples

c. Chola Temples

d. Hoysala Temples

93. The Kangra School of painting is especially known for illustrations of:

a. Ramayana

b. Mahabharata

c. Gita Govinda

d. Arthashastra

94. Which Indian philosopher propounded the Advaita Vedanta doctrine?

a. Ramanuja

b. Madhvacharya

c. Shankaracharya

d. Vallabhacharya

95. The famous cave paintings of Bagh are located in:

a. Maharashtra

b. Madhya Pradesh

c. Gujarat

d. Rajasthan

96. The architectural treatise "Manasara" is related to:

a. Music

b. Dance

c. Architecture

d. Medicine

97. The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal was built by:

a. Lokamahadevi

b. Rudramadevi

c. Didda

d. Prabhavati Gupta

98. Which school of miniature painting flourished under Raja Sansar Chand?

a. Bundi School

b. Kangra School

c. Kishangarh School

d. Jaipur School

99. The "Ankiya Naat" tradition is associated with:

a. Assam

b. Odisha

c. Gujarat

d. Punjab

100. Which ancient text contains the earliest reference to the four Ashramas?

a. Rigveda

b. Jabala Upanishad

c. Arthashastra

d. Manusmriti

101. The famous Jain scholar Hemachandra was associated with:

a. Cholas

b. Palas

c. Solankis

d. Chandelas

102. The Bhakti saint who founded the Lingayat movement was:

a. Ramananda

b. Basavanna

c. Namdev

d. Eknath

103. The Lepakshi Temple is located in:

a. Telangana

b. Andhra Pradesh

c. Karnataka

d. Tamil Nadu

104. Which style of painting is associated with Bijapur and Golconda?

a. Mughal

b. Rajput

c. Deccani

d. Pahari

105. The "Raslila" tradition is closely associated with:

a. Krishna Bhakti

b. Rama Bhakti

c. Shaivism

d. Jainism

106. The author of "Natyadarpana" was:

a. Nandikeshvara

b. Dhananjaya

c. Ramachandra

d. Abhinavagupta

107. The famous Sun Temple at Martand is located in:

a. Himachal Pradesh

b. Uttarakhand

c. Jammu & Kashmir

d. Ladakh

108. Which ruler commissioned the translation of the Mahabharata into Persian as Razmnama?

a. Babur

b. Humayun

c. Akbar

d. Jahangir

109. The "Koodiyattam" theatre tradition belongs to:

a. Karnataka

b. Tamil Nadu

c. Kerala

d. Andhra Pradesh

110. The earliest specimens of Indian miniature paintings are found in:

a. Mughal Manuscripts

b. Jain Manuscripts

c. Rajput Paintings

d. Pahari Paintings

111. The famous saint-poet Andal belonged to:

a. Alvar Tradition

b. Nayanar Tradition

c. Lingayat Tradition

d. Sufi Tradition

112. Which temple is regarded as a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture?

a. Brihadeeswara Temple

b. Chennakesava Temple

c. Kailasa Temple

d. Shore Temple

113. The "Charaka Samhita" is primarily related to:

a. Astronomy

b. Medicine

c. Architecture

d. Music

114. The famous folk painting "Pattachitra" is associated with:

a. Bihar

b. Odisha

c. Gujarat

d. Punjab

115. Which ruler authored the Sanskrit work "Amuktamalyada"?

a. Krishnadevaraya

b. Harihara I

c. Bukka Raya

d. Devaraya II

116. The "Gommateshwara" monolithic statue is located at:

a. Belur

b. Shravanabelagola

c. Halebidu

d. Badami

117. The Buddhist text "Milindapanho" records the dialogue between:

a. Ashoka and Moggaliputta Tissa

b. Menander and Nagasena

c. Kanishka and Vasumitra

d. Harsha and Xuanzang

118. Which classical dance form incorporates elements of martial arts and acrobatics?

a. Bharatanatyam

b. Kathak

c. Chhau

d. Mohiniyattam

119. The famous "Phad" painting tradition belongs to:

a. Rajasthan

b. Gujarat

c. Madhya Pradesh

d. Uttar Pradesh

120. The commentary "Abhinavabharati" on Natyashastra was written by:

a. Bharata Muni

b. Kalidasa

c. Abhinavagupta

d. Dandin

121. The famous Sanskrit drama "Mrichchhakatika" was written by:

a. Kalidasa

b. Bhasa

c. Shudraka

d. Bhavabhuti

122. Which temple is known for its thousand-pillared hall and musical pillars?

a. Virupaksha Temple

b. Vittala Temple

c. Brihadeeswara Temple

d. Lingaraja Temple

123. The saint-poet Narsinh Mehta is associated with:

a. Rajasthan

b. Gujarat

c. Maharashtra

d. Punjab

124. The "Bharhut Stupa" is located in:

a. Uttar Pradesh

b. Madhya Pradesh

c. Bihar

d. Odisha

125. Which ancient Indian text is considered the earliest work on statecraft?

a. Manusmriti

b. Arthashastra

c. Mahabharata

d. Nitishataka

126. The famous bronze casting technique of South India is known as:

a. Fresco Technique

b. Lost-Wax Technique

c. Tempera Technique

d. Mural Technique

127. The "Sangam Age" is associated with the history of:

a. Bengal

b. Kashmir

c. Tamil Nadu

d. Gujarat

128. Which Bhakti saint propagated the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita?

a. Madhvacharya

b. Vallabhacharya

c. Ramanuja

d. Basavanna

129. The famous temple city of "Kanchipuram" is located in:

a. Karnataka

b. Andhra Pradesh

c. Tamil Nadu

d. Kerala

130. The traditional scroll painting known as "Cheriyal" belongs to:

a. Telangana

b. Odisha

c. Bihar

d. Rajasthan

131. The author of "Swapnavasavadatta" was:

a. Kalidasa

b. Bhasa

c. Banabhatta

d. Vishakhadatta

132. Which Indian musical instrument is associated with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan?

a. Sitar

b. Santoor

c. Sarod

d. Shehnai

133. The famous "Mahabodhi Temple" is situated at:

a. Sarnath

b. Kushinagar

c. Bodh Gaya

d. Rajgir

134. The "Dashavatara" theme is primarily related to:

a. Shiva

b. Vishnu

c. Brahma

d. Indra

135. The earliest surviving Hindu temples are generally attributed to:

a. Maurya Period

b. Gupta Period

c. Kushana Period

d. Satavahana Period

136. The folk theatre "Bhavai" is associated with:

a. Gujarat

b. Maharashtra

c. Haryana

d. Punjab

137. The famous scholar who wrote "Ashtadhyayi" was:

a. Patanjali

b. Panini

c. Katyayana

d. Bharata

138. The "Kalamkari" art form is primarily associated with:

a. Andhra Pradesh

b. Odisha

c. Rajasthan

d. Assam

139. Which ruler patronized the construction of the Mahabalipuram monuments?

a. Narasimhavarman I

b. Rajaraja I

c. Pulakesin II

d. Krishna I

140. The saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is associated with:

a. Shaivism

b. Vaishnavism

c. Jainism

d. Sikhism

141. The famous text "Nagananda" was written by:

a. Harsha

b. Kalidasa

c. Banabhatta

d. Dandin

142. Which Indian art form uses rice paste, natural colors and geometric patterns?

a. Madhubani

b. Warli

c. Alpana

d. Phad

143. The "Warli" tribal painting tradition belongs to:

a. Maharashtra

b. Gujarat

c. Odisha

d. Chhattisgarh

144. The ancient Indian medical system described in Charaka Samhita is:

a. Siddha

b. Ayurveda

c. Unani

d. Yoga

145. The famous "Hazara Rama Temple" is located at:

a. Belur

b. Hampi

c. Madurai

d. Kanchipuram

146. Which literary work was composed by Kalhana?

a. Rajatarangini

b. Harshacharita

c. Vikramankadevacharita

d. Kiratarjuniya

147. The "Panchatantra" is traditionally attributed to:

a. Vishnu Sharma

b. Banabhatta

c. Kalidasa

d. Dandin

148. The famous dance-drama "Krishnattam" originated in:

a. Kerala

b. Karnataka

c. Tamil Nadu

d. Odisha

149. The temple complex of Belur and Halebidu was built by the:

a. Cholas

b. Pallavas

c. Hoysalas

d. Rashtrakutas

150. Which UNESCO-recognized Vedic tradition is preserved through oral recitation?

a. Sangam Literature

b. Vedic Chanting

c. Kathakali

d. Chhau Dance

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