Art and culture are not just subjects to study for exams — they are the heartbeat of our history, our festivals, our traditions, and the way we see the world. When we talk about Indian art and culture, we are looking at thousands of years of creativity, wisdom, and inspiration. From the grand temples of South India to the colorful festivals of North India, from classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak to timeless music traditions, art, and culture form the soul of our society. For students preparing for competitive exams, knowing about these topics is important because they often appear in general awareness sections and help you stand out among other candidates.
These MCQs have been designed to help you understand the important aspects of Indian art and culture in an easy-to-understand and clear manner. They cover topics like heritage sites, dance forms, music traditions, famous personalities, painting styles, architecture, and literature. Practicing these questions will not only prepare you for SSC, JKSSB, UPSC, and other competitive exams but also give you a deeper appreciation of India’s rich cultural heritage. Read the questions carefully, think about the answers, and you will notice your confidence growing with every practice session.
MCQs on Art & Culture for SSC, JKSSB
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Which classical dance form is known as the “Dance of the Enchantress”?
(A) Mohiniyattam
(B) Kathakali
(C) Odissi
(D) Bharatanatyam
Answer: Mohiniyattam -
The famous Sun Temple at Konark is located in which state?
(A) Odisha
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Gujarat
(D) Rajasthan
Answer: Odisha -
Bharatanatyam originated in which Indian state?
(A) Kerala
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Karnataka
(D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Tamil Nadu -
Which Mughal ruler commissioned the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi?
(A) Akbar
(B) Shah Jahan
(C) Aurangzeb
(D) Jahangir
Answer: Shah Jahan -
Kathak dance is traditionally associated with which region of India?
(A) North India
(B) South India
(C) East India
(D) West India
Answer: North India -
The Ajanta Caves are famous for which type of art?
(A) Sculpture
(B) Rock-cut architecture
(C) Fresco paintings
(D) Wood carvings
Answer: Fresco paintings -
Who wrote the epic ‘Shakuntala’?
(A) Valmiki
(B) Kalidasa
(C) Bhasa
(D) Banabhatta
Answer: Kalidasa -
Which is the oldest classical dance form of India?
(A) Bharatanatyam
(B) Kathak
(C) Odissi
(D) Kuchipudi
Answer: Bharatanatyam -
The Brihadeeswara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in:
(A) Madurai
(B) Thanjavur
(C) Rameswaram
(D) Kanchipuram
Answer: Thanjavur -
Madhubani paintings originated in which state?
(A) Bihar
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Gujarat
Answer: Bihar -
The Sanchi Stupa was built during the reign of:
(A) Ashoka
(B) Chandragupta Maurya
(C) Harsha
(D) Kanishka
Answer: Ashoka -
Which festival is called the “Festival of Lights”?
(A) Holi
(B) Diwali
(C) Baisakhi
(D) Navratri
Answer: Diwali -
Yakshagana is a folk theatre form from which state?
(A) Karnataka
(B) Kerala
(C) Tamil Nadu
(D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Karnataka -
The famous Meenakshi Temple is dedicated to which goddess?
(A) Parvati
(B) Lakshmi
(C) Saraswati
(D) Durga
Answer: Parvati -
Who composed India’s national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”?
(A) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(B) Rabindranath Tagore
(C) Subramania Bharati
(D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore -
The Bihu dance is associated with which state?
(A) Manipur
(B) Assam
(C) Nagaland
(D) Meghalaya
Answer: Assam -
Kathakali dance is known for its:
(A) Facial expressions and elaborate costumes
(B) Footwork and spins
(C) Musical instruments
(D) Storytelling through puppets
Answer: Facial expressions and elaborate costumes -
Which book is considered the earliest known work on grammar in Sanskrit?
(A) Ramayana
(B) Mahabharata
(C) Ashtadhyayi
(D) Arthashastra
Answer: Ashtadhyayi -
The Golden Temple is located in:
(A) Amritsar
(B) Varanasi
(C) Patiala
(D) Ludhiana
Answer: Amritsar -
Ghoomar dance is performed in which state?
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Punjab
(C) Haryana
(D) Gujarat
Answer: Rajasthan -
Which Kashmiri handicraft is world-famous for its warmth and softness?
(A) Pashmina shawl
(B) Phulkari embroidery
(C) Bandhani fabric
(D) Chikankari work
Answer: Pashmina shawl -
“Sufiana Kalam” is a traditional music form of:
(A) Jammu & Kashmir
(B) Punjab
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: Jammu & Kashmir -
The classical dance Odissi comes from which state?
(A) Odisha
(B) Assam
(C) West Bengal
(D) Tripura
Answer: Odisha -
The Khajuraho temples are famous for:
(A) Buddhist paintings
(B) Erotic sculptures
(C) Wooden carvings
(D) Mughal frescoes
Answer: Erotic sculptures -
Which is the largest museum in India?
(A) Indian Museum, Kolkata
(B) Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
(C) National Museum, Delhi
(D) Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai
Answer: Indian Museum, Kolkata -
Pung Cholom is a traditional dance of which state?
(A) Manipur
(B) Nagaland
(C) Mizoram
(D) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: Manipur -
The Raghurajpur village in Odisha is famous for which art?
(A) Pattachitra painting
(B) Warli painting
(C) Phad painting
(D) Kalamkari
Answer: Pattachitra painting -
Which festival in Ladakh is celebrated with mask dances by monks?
(A) Hemis Festival
(B) Losar Festival
(C) Sindhu Darshan
(D) Dosmoche
Answer: Hemis Festival -
Who painted the famous “Bharat Mata” artwork?
(A) Abanindranath Tagore
(B) Nandalal Bose
(C) Raja Ravi Varma
(D) Jamini Roy
Answer: Abanindranath Tagore -
Warli painting is a tribal art from which state?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Chhattisgarh
(D) Jharkhand
Answer: Maharashtra -
Which dance form is known as the “manipulation of swords” in Jammu & Kashmir?
(A) Kud dance
(B) Roul dance
(C) Dumhal dance
(D) Bhand Pather
Answer: Dumhal dance -
Phulkari embroidery is most associated with which state?
(A) Punjab
(B) Haryana
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: Punjab -
Bharatnatyam is often performed to the music of which instrument?
(A) Mridangam
(B) Tabla
(C) Shehnai
(D) Pakhawaj
Answer: Mridangam -
Which is the largest classical music festival in India?
(A) Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav
(B) Tansen Samaroh
(C) Dover Lane Music Conference
(D) SPIC MACAY Convention
Answer: Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav -
The “Shikara” is a traditional boat found in which region?
(A) Kerala
(B) Kashmir
(C) Assam
(D) Goa
Answer: Kashmir