Art & Culture MCQs for UPSC Prelims — May 2026

Q1. Under which Chola monarch was the principal royal charter (the so-called 'Larger Leiden Plates'), restituted by the Leiden University Library to the Government of India in May 2026, physically executed?

  • A. Rajaraja I
  • B. Rajendra Chola I
  • C. Kulottunga Chola I
  • D. Vijayalaya Chola

Q2. With reference to Buddhism in Chola-period Tamil Nadu and the Chudamani vihara at Nagapattinam, consider the following statements: 1. The vihara is associated with the grant of the village of Anaimangalam recorded in Chola copper plates. 2. It was built by a Sailendra ruler of Srivijaya during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I. 3. The relevant copper-plate charters carry inscriptions in Tamil and Sanskrit. 4. The vihara was originally established by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the seventh century CE. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The vihara is associated with the grant of the village of Anaimangalam recorded in Chola copper plates.
  2. It was built by a Sailendra ruler of Srivijaya during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I.
  3. The relevant copper-plate charters carry inscriptions in Tamil and Sanskrit.
  4. The vihara was originally established by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the seventh century CE.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q3. With reference to the Chudamani (Chulamanivarma) vihara at Nagapattinam, as documented in the Chola copper-plate charters recently restituted to India by Leiden University Library, consider the following statements: 1. The vihara was constructed by a Sailendra king of Srivijaya with the patronage of Rajaraja Chola I. 2. The Chola charters record the grant of the village of Anaimangalam in favour of this vihara. 3. The inscriptions on the copper plates are in Tamil and Sanskrit. 4. The vihara was a Jain monastic establishment. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The vihara was constructed by a Sailendra king of Srivijaya with the patronage of Rajaraja Chola I.
  2. The Chola charters record the grant of the village of Anaimangalam in favour of this vihara.
  3. The inscriptions on the copper plates are in Tamil and Sanskrit.
  4. The vihara was a Jain monastic establishment.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. The Anaimangalam (Larger Leiden) copper-plate charter, restituted by Leiden University Library in May 2026, was issued under the reign of which Chola sovereign?

  • A. Vijayalaya Chola
  • B. Rajaraja I
  • C. Kulottunga I
  • D. Rajadhiraja II

Q5. In the context of Chola administration, the term 'tamra-sasana' (as exemplified by the Anaimangalam plates restituted from Leiden) refers to:

  • A. A royal order recording a grant of land or privileges, engraved on copper plates
  • B. A village assembly entrusted with the supervision of irrigation tanks
  • C. A periodic land-revenue assessment carried out by temple authorities
  • D. A guild of itinerant merchants conducting overseas trade with Srivijaya

Q6. In the bilingual Chola Copper Plates (Anaimangalam grant) restituted by the Leiden University Library, which language is used in the majority of the inscribed plates, recording the administrative and grant details?

  • A. Sanskrit
  • B. Tamil
  • C. Prakrit
  • D. Pali

Q7. The set of 11th-century Chola Copper Plates restituted to India by the Leiden University Library in May 2026 comprises how many large plates?

  • A. 16
  • B. 18
  • C. 21
  • D. 24

Q8. The Anaimangalam (Larger Leiden) copper plates, recently restituted by Leiden University to India, record a royal land grant made by which one of the following Chola rulers?

  • A. Vijayalaya Chola
  • B. Rajaraja Chola I
  • C. Rajendra Chola I
  • D. Kulottunga Chola I

Q9. With reference to the restitution of the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India in May 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The plates were formally restituted by the Leiden University Library of the Netherlands. 2. The handover took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. 3. The Archaeological Survey of India, under the Union Ministry of Culture, is the Indian receiving authority for the plates. 4. The plates record the grant of Anaimangalam village to a Jain matha at Kanchipuram. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The plates were formally restituted by the Leiden University Library of the Netherlands.
  2. The handover took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
  3. The Archaeological Survey of India, under the Union Ministry of Culture, is the Indian receiving authority for the plates.
  4. The plates record the grant of Anaimangalam village to a Jain matha at Kanchipuram.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. How many copper plates in total were restituted by the Leiden University Library to the Government of India in May 2026 as the so-called 'Chola Copper Plates' set?

  • A. 21
  • B. 24
  • C. 27
  • D. 32

Q11. Which of the following are recognised enterprise components of an Integrated Farming System (IFS) model as developed and promoted by ICAR-IIFSR? 1. Cropping system 2. Dairy and livestock 3. Aquaculture / fisheries 4. Contract manufacturing of synthetic agro-chemicals Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Cropping system
  2. Dairy and livestock
  3. Aquaculture / fisheries
  4. Contract manufacturing of synthetic agro-chemicals
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. In the context of ICAR's varietal development programmes referenced under initiatives such as SEHAT, the term 'biofortification' most precisely refers to:

  • A. Adding vitamins and minerals to staple foods during industrial post-harvest processing, such as fortifying wheat flour with iron premix at the miller's end.
  • B. Increasing the density of essential micronutrients in the edible portions of food crops through conventional plant breeding, agronomic management or modern biotechnology, so that the harvested grain itself is more nutrient-dense.
  • C. Spraying micronutrient solutions as foliar fertilisers on standing crops primarily to enhance grain yield and pest resistance rather than human nutrition.
  • D. Genetic engineering of livestock and poultry feed to produce animal-source foods (milk, eggs) enriched with vitamins and minerals for human consumption.

Q13. With reference to biofortification of crops in India as compared with conventional food fortification, consider the following statements: 1. Biofortification enhances the micronutrient content of staple crops through plant breeding, whereas conventional food fortification adds nutrients to foods during industrial processing. 2. Among the biofortified varieties released by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research during 2014-2024, more varieties of pulses were released than of millets. 3. HarvestPlus, an international initiative supporting biofortification, has collaborated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Department of Biotechnology in developing biofortified varieties in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Biofortification enhances the micronutrient content of staple crops through plant breeding, whereas conventional food fortification adds nutrients to foods during industrial processing.
  2. Among the biofortified varieties released by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research during 2014-2024, more varieties of pulses were released than of millets.
  3. HarvestPlus, an international initiative supporting biofortification, has collaborated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Department of Biotechnology in developing biofortified varieties in India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q14. With reference to the development and release of biofortified crop varieties in India, which one of the following is the apex national body that breeds and notifies such varieties, working in collaboration with the international initiative HarvestPlus?

  • A. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • B. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • C. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
  • D. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Q15. Which one of the following is the lead/nodal ICAR institute mandated to conduct research on cotton crop production, protection and fibre quality in India, and is among the key research bodies supporting the Mission for Cotton Productivity?

  • A. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai
  • B. ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur
  • C. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
  • D. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur

Q16. With reference to the institutional architecture supporting the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026-27 to 2030-31), consider the following statements: 1. The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra. 2. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, undertakes work on post-harvest processing and technology of cotton. 3. The research backbone of the Mission comprises ten institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 4. The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cotton centres associated with the Mission operate through State Agricultural Universities. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
  2. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, undertakes work on post-harvest processing and technology of cotton.
  3. The research backbone of the Mission comprises ten institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  4. The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cotton centres associated with the Mission operate through State Agricultural Universities.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q17. Which one of the following is the lead/nodal ICAR institute mandated to conduct research on cotton crop production, protection and fibre quality in India, and is among the key research bodies supporting the Mission for Cotton Productivity?

  • A. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai
  • B. ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur
  • C. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
  • D. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur

Q18. With reference to the institutional architecture supporting the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026-27 to 2030-31), consider the following statements: 1. The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra. 2. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, undertakes work on post-harvest processing and technology of cotton. 3. The research backbone of the Mission comprises ten institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 4. The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cotton centres associated with the Mission operate through State Agricultural Universities. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
  2. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, undertakes work on post-harvest processing and technology of cotton.
  3. The research backbone of the Mission comprises ten institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  4. The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cotton centres associated with the Mission operate through State Agricultural Universities.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
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