Indian Culture— Concepts, Formulas & Shortcuts
- Classical dances: Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (North India), Kathakali and Mohiniyattam (Kerala).
- Odissi (Odisha), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Manipuri (Manipur), Sattriya (Assam).
- National anthem: Jana Gana Mana by Rabindranath Tagore; national song: Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
- The Taj Mahal at Agra was built by Shah Jahan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The national emblem is adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
- Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union under Article 343.
Indian Culture Practice Questions with Answers
Attempt each question first, then open the explanation. All 10 questions below are free to read and require no signup.
Q1.Bharatanatyam is the classical dance of which state?
Easy- AKerala
- BTamil Nadu
- COdisha
- DManipur
Indian Culture question 1 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Bharatanatyam originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
Q2.Kathakali is the classical dance form of:
Easy- AKarnataka
- BKerala
- CAndhra Pradesh
- DWest Bengal
Indian Culture question 2 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Kerala
Explanation: Kathakali, known for its elaborate make-up and costume, comes from Kerala.
Q3.Odissi dance originated in:
Easy- AAssam
- BOdisha
- CBihar
- DJharkhand
Indian Culture question 3 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Odisha
Explanation: Odissi developed in the temples of Odisha.
Q4.The national anthem of India was written by:
Easy- ABankim Chandra Chatterjee
- BRabindranath Tagore
- CSarojini Naidu
- DMuhammad Iqbal
Indian Culture question 4 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore composed Jana Gana Mana, adopted as the national anthem in 1950.
Q5.The national song Vande Mataram was written by:
Moderate- ARabindranath Tagore
- BBankim Chandra Chatterjee
- CSarojini Naidu
- DSubramania Bharati
Indian Culture question 5 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Explanation: It appears in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel Anandamath.
Q6.Kuchipudi is the classical dance of:
Moderate- AAndhra Pradesh
- BTamil Nadu
- CKerala
- DKarnataka
Indian Culture question 6 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A. Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Kuchipudi takes its name from a village in Andhra Pradesh.
Q7.The Indian national emblem is adapted from the Lion Capital at:
Moderate- ABodh Gaya
- BSarnath
- CSanchi
- DAjanta
Indian Culture question 7 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Sarnath
Explanation: It is taken from Ashoka's Lion Capital at Sarnath.
Q8.Manipuri is the classical dance form of which state?
Easy- AAssam
- BManipur
- CNagaland
- DTripura
Indian Culture question 8 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: B. Manipur
Explanation: Manipuri originated in Manipur and is closely tied to Vaishnavite tradition.
Q9.Sattriya, recognised as a classical dance form, belongs to:
Difficult- AAssam
- BOdisha
- CBihar
- DSikkim
Indian Culture question 9 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A. Assam
Explanation: Sattriya developed in the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam.
Q10.The Taj Mahal was built by:
Easy- AAkbar
- BJahangir
- CShah Jahan
- DAurangzeb
Indian Culture question 10 of 10+Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C. Shah Jahan
Explanation: Shah Jahan built it at Agra in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Indian Culture — Frequently Asked Questions
How many classical dance forms are officially recognised in India?+
Eight are commonly listed: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya.
Who wrote the national anthem and the national song?+
Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore, and Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Anandamath.
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