Art & Culture MCQs for UPSC Prelims

Q1. Consider the following statements about Ayurveda and its classical texts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Charaka Samhita is a foundational treatise chiefly on internal medicine.
  2. The Sushruta Samhita is a principal ancient source of knowledge on surgery.
  3. The word 'Ayurveda' means 'science of life'.
  4. The Sushruta Samhita is primarily a treatise on statecraft and administration.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The classical Ayurvedic treatise Charaka Samhita, dealing chiefly with internal medicine, is organised into how many sthanas (sections)?

  • A. Eight
  • B. Six
  • C. Ten
  • D. Four

Q3. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)?

  • A. It is a department within the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (created in 1973) that provides the government interface for ICAR and handles international cooperation in agricultural research and education
  • B. It is an autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, headquartered at Pusa, New Delhi
  • C. It is the apex research council that directly runs 113 institutes and 74 agricultural universities
  • D. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations coordinating global agricultural research

Q4. ICAR functions as an autonomous body under which of the following, which provides its government interface?

  • A. Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • C. Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Q5. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) directly administers a nationwide network of research institutes and national research centres. As per ICAR, approximately how many such institutes does it comprise?

  • A. 63
  • B. 88
  • C. 113
  • D. 141

Q6. The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, part of the UNESCO 'Great Living Chola Temples' World Heritage Site, was commissioned by which ruler?

  • A. Raja Raja Chola I
  • B. Rajendra Chola I
  • C. Rajaraja Chola II
  • D. Kulottunga Chola I

Q7. Among the manuscripts held at the Saraswathi Mahal Library, the largest share by language is in which language?

  • A. Sanskrit
  • B. Tamil
  • C. Telugu
  • D. Marathi

Q8. In which year was the maintenance of the Thanjavur Palace transferred to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, following a report on its weak structural condition?

  • A. 1955
  • B. 1966
  • C. 1972
  • D. 1987

Q9. The large-scale enrichment of the Saraswathi Mahal Library, through the collection and copying of a vast number of manuscripts, is most closely associated with which ruler?

  • A. Serfoji II, the Maratha scholar-king (1798–1832)
  • B. Sevappa Nayak, who single-handedly assembled the entire collection
  • C. Ekoji I, the first Maratha ruler of Thanjavur
  • D. Raja Raja Chola I, patron of the Brihadeeswarar Temple

Q10. The Saraswathi Mahal Library, housed within the Thanjavur Palace, holds a manuscript and book collection of approximately how many volumes?

  • A. About 3,500 volumes
  • B. About 39,300 volumes
  • C. About 49,000 volumes
  • D. About 5,000 volumes

Q11. With reference to the building history of the Thanjavur Palace, consider the following statements: 1. Construction of the palace was begun during Nayak rule in the 16th century. 2. After 1674, the Thanjavur Marathas expanded the palace over roughly two centuries. 3. The palace was originally built by the Maratha ruler Ekoji I and only later expanded by the Nayaks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Construction of the palace was begun during Nayak rule in the 16th century.
  2. After 1674, the Thanjavur Marathas expanded the palace over roughly two centuries.
  3. The palace was originally built by the Maratha ruler Ekoji I and only later expanded by the Nayaks.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. The architectural character of the Thanjavur Palace is often described as a 'Nayak–Maratha fusion.' Which one of the following best describes what this term denotes?

  • A. A Dravidian Nayak substructure of the 16th century later expanded with Maratha architectural elements
  • B. A structure built entirely by the Bhonsle Marathas with no earlier Nayak core
  • C. An Indo-Saracenic complex introduced by the British after their capture of Thanjavur
  • D. A Chola-period temple complex subsequently converted into a royal palace by the Nayaks

Q13. Under the Centrally Sponsored PMKSY-PDMC component, in what ratio are funds shared between the Centre and the State for general (non-North-Eastern, non-Himalayan) States?

  • A. 50:50
  • B. 60:40
  • C. 75:25
  • D. 90:10

Q14. The Economic Survey 2024-25 noted that 'irrigation intensity' rose from 144.2 per cent to 154.5 per cent. In this context, 'irrigation intensity' refers to:

  • A. the ratio of gross irrigated area to net irrigated area, expressed as a percentage
  • B. the ratio of gross irrigated area to gross cropped area, expressed as a percentage
  • C. the ratio of net irrigated area to total geographical area, expressed as a percentage
  • D. the ratio of area under micro-irrigation to total cultivable area, expressed as a percentage

Q15. Consider the following statements regarding PMKSY's financial parameters: 1. PMKSY for the 2021-26 cycle was approved with a total outlay of Rs.93,068 crore. 2. Within this, the central support component to States is Rs.37,454 crore. 3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs.6,587 crore to PMKSY. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMKSY for the 2021-26 cycle was approved with a total outlay of Rs.93,068 crore.
  2. Within this, the central support component to States is Rs.37,454 crore.
  3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs.6,587 crore to PMKSY.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q16. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), now a component of PMKSY, was originally launched by the Government of India in which year to provide central assistance for major and medium irrigation projects?

  • A. 1991-92
  • B. 1996-97
  • C. 2004-05
  • D. 2015-16

Q17. In the context of PMKSY, the description of the scheme as an 'umbrella' Centrally Sponsored Scheme most precisely means that it:

  • A. converged and consolidated several pre-existing irrigation programmes (such as AIBP) under a single integrated framework
  • B. is funded entirely by the Central Government with no State contribution
  • C. is confined exclusively to micro-irrigation through drip and sprinkler systems
  • D. provides crop insurance coverage against irrigation failure

Q18. In which year was the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) launched as an umbrella scheme converging pre-existing irrigation programmes?

  • A. 2014-15
  • B. 2015-16
  • C. 2016-17
  • D. 2019-20

Q19. The dedicated fund created to enable States to mobilise resources for providing top-up incentives to farmers for micro-irrigation beyond PMKSY-PDMC provisions was set up with which one of the following institutions?

  • A. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
  • B. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
  • C. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  • D. National Water Development Agency (NWDA)

Q20. With reference to the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component and micro-irrigation under PMKSY, consider the following: 1. PDMC promotes water-use efficiency mainly through drip and sprinkler irrigation. 2. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs.5,000 crore has been created under NABARD. 3. The Government of India provides a 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Governments under the MIF. 4. PDMC is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. PDMC promotes water-use efficiency mainly through drip and sprinkler irrigation.
  2. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs.5,000 crore has been created under NABARD.
  3. The Government of India provides a 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Governments under the MIF.
  4. PDMC is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q21. The 'Per Drop More Crop' (PDMC) component of PMKSY, focused on enhancing water-use efficiency through micro-irrigation, is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Department of Land Resources
  • D. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Q22. The 'Har Khet Ko Pani' (HKKP) component of PMKSY, implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, comprises how many sub-components?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Six

Q23. Consider the following statements about CARTMAN, the body associated with the bullock-cart redesign project. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. CARTMAN expands to Centre for Action Research and Technology for Man, Animal and Nature.
  2. It is based in Bangalore.
  3. Its bullock-cart redesign project was funded by the ICAR.
  4. It was founded by Verghese Kurien.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q24. The two-year project begun in April 2001 to redesign six bullock-cart variants for difficult rural terrain was funded by which one of the following?

  • A. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • C. Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • D. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Q25. Which one of the following was the first language to be granted classical-language status by the Government of India?

  • A. Sanskrit
  • B. Tamil
  • C. Telugu
  • D. Kannada

Q26. Which mango variety became the first to be commercially exported from India to Singapore by sea route under the ICAR-CISH protocol?

  • A. Alphonso
  • B. Kesar
  • C. Banganapalli
  • D. Dasheri

Q27. In the context of mango sea exports, a 'reefer container' is best described as:

  • A. A refrigerated shipping container with controlled temperature and atmosphere for transporting perishables
  • B. An air-cargo unit load device fitted with ethylene scrubbers
  • C. A bonded warehouse maintained at ambient temperature near the port
  • D. A fumigation chamber used to disinfest fruit before loading

Q28. The statutory authority that, in collaboration with ICAR-CISH, facilitated the cost-cutting commercial sea shipment of mangoes is:

  • A. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
  • B. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
  • C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
  • D. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Q29. The scientific sea-shipment protocol developed by ICAR-CISH and APEDA extends the shelf life of fresh mangoes to up to how many days?

  • A. 15 days
  • B. 30 days
  • C. 45 days
  • D. 60 days

Q30. In the context of the ICAR-CISH sea-shipment protocol for mangoes, what is 'CISH-Met Wash'?

  • A. An ICAR-CISH-developed post-harvest treatment that enhances shelf life and minimises disease incidence during long-distance transport
  • B. A controlled-atmosphere reefer container that regulates ethylene levels in transit
  • C. A vapour-heat disinfestation method targeting fruit-fly larvae for quarantine clearance
  • D. An edible wax coating applied to obtain Geographical Indication certification
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