SENAPREP
Languages of India Questions
Chapter: Culture & Society | Total Available: 46 Real Questions
The headquarters of National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) is located at
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) is a premier institution aimed at the conservation and preservation of India's rich cultural heritage. Established in 1976, its primary focus is on research and development for the preservation of artworks, artifacts, and other forms of cultural property.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- The NRLC conducts scientific research to develop conservation techniques.
- Lucknow was selected for its historical significance and proximity to cultural assets.
- The laboratory handles various artifacts, emphasizing the need for their conservation.
🔍 Option Analysis
- A: New Delhi - Capital city but does not host NRLC headquarters.
- C: Kolkata - Cultural hub, but NRLC is not located here.
- D: Bhopal - Known for other institutions, not NRLC.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember "Lucknow for Heritage" as a mnemonic to associate the city with cultural preservation.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against Ministry of Culture, Government of India publications on Cultural Property Conservation.
Match List I with List II and select the answerusing the code given below the Lists:
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The question focuses on important social reformers from Indian history and their contributions to societal change, particularly in the context of associations and texts that promoted progressive ideas.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- A. Vishnu Shastri Pundit - Known for contributions to Hindu philosophy, notably Vedic Physics: Scientific Origin of Hinduism.
- B. Karsondas Mulji - Active in the Widow Remarriage Association, advocating for women's rights.
- C. Debendranath Tagore - Associated with the Tattvabodhini Sabha, promoting rational thought and reform in society.
- D. Raja Ram Mohan Roy - A key figure in the socio-religious movement, known for Satya Prakash which argued against superstitions.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option A: Incorrect, as Vishnu Shastri Pundit is not linked to the Tattvabodhini Sabha.
- Option B: Incorrect, as Karsondas Mulji is primarily known for his role in the Widow Remarriage Association.
- Option D: Incorrect, Raja Ram Mohan Roy is recognized for his role in the liberal reform movement, particularly through Satya Prakash.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember the order of reformers and their contributions with the phrase: "Vicious Kind Debates Reign" for Vishnu Shastri, Karsondas, Debendranath, and Raja Ram Mohan.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against Spectrum for Modern History, focusing on Indian social reformers.
Who among the following founded the ‘Self-Respect Movement’?8
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Self-Respect Movement was initiated in Tamil Nadu in 1925 by E.V. Ramasamy Naicker, also known as Periyar. The movement sought to establish social equality and eliminate the caste system.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- 1925: Launch of the Self-Respect Movement aimed at promoting rationalism, gender equality, and social reform.
- Objectives: Combat Brahminical hegemony, advocate for the rights of non-Brahmin communities, and empower marginalized groups.
- Legacy: The movement catalyzed crucial social reforms in Tamil society, influencing political frameworks and educational policies.
🔍 Option Analysis
- A: Jyotiba Phule - An early social reformer who fought against caste discrimination but did not initiate the Self-Respect Movement.
- B: Swami Vivekananda - Promoted spirituality and nationalism, focused on social upliftment but was not involved in the Self-Respect Movement.
- D: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar - A key figure for Dalit rights and social justice, yet he was not the founder of the Self-Respect Movement.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember the acronym “PERIYAR” to recall E.V. Ramasamy's contributions: P for People’s rights, E for Equality, R for Rationalism, I for Inclusivity, Y for Youth empowerment, A for Advocacy, and R for Reform.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against "Modern Indian History" by Spectrum and "Revolutionary Ideas" by R. S. Sharma.
Which one of the following terms is associated with the practice of Sufism?
1. Correct Answer
Option D is correct. The term Murid is associated with the practice of Sufism.
📖 Short Explanation
In Sufism, a mystical Islamic belief system, a Murid is a person who is committed to a spiritual guide, or Sheikh, to undergo a journey of spiritual training.
💡 3. Why Correct Answer is Correct
❌ 4. Why Other Options are Wrong
- •Option A: Jizya is a tax historically levied on non-Muslim subjects in an Islamic state, unrelated to Sufism.
- •Option B: Ijma refers to a consensus decision among Islamic scholars or community on Islamic law issues, not specifically linked to Sufism.
- •Option C: Muqaddam often refers to a local leader or the person in a Sufi order given permission to lead prayers or initiate Murids, but is not as central a term as Murid in the Sufi context.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
Remember the term 'Murid' as the root for 'Muradiyyat', the quest for divine love and truth, central to the discipline of a Sufi's journey.
5. Key Learning Point
Understanding the master-disciple relationship through the concept of Murid is foundational to comprehending Sufi spiritual practices.
6. Visual Suggestion
Consider a flowchart showing the hierarchical relationship and spiritual path from a Murid to a Sufi Sheikh, highlighting practices like dhikr (remembrance). It can visually map the journey from novice to spiritual enlightenment.
Which of the following statements about Srimanta Shankardeva is/are correct?
1. In the late fifteenth century Shankardeva emerged as one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam.
2. He was the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
3. His teachings are known as BhagavatiDharma.
4. He encouraged the establishment of Satraand Namghar
.Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Correct Answer
Option C is correct. Statement 1, 3, and 4 about Srimanta Shankardeva are correct.
📖 Short Explanation
Srimanta Shankardeva was a prominent religious leader and a key proponent of Vaishnavism in Assam during the late 15th century. His teachings, known as Bhagavati Dharma, emphasized devotion to Lord Vishnu, and he played a significant role in establishing Satra and Namghar to promote religious and cultural activities.
💡 3. Why Correct Answer is Correct
Srimanta Shankardeva is widely recognized for his influential role in propagating Vaishnavism in Assam. Let's review each statement:
❌ 4. Why Other Options are Wrong
- •Option A: It incorrectly includes Statement 2, which is false regarding the origin of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
- •Option B: Includes only Statement 2 and 3, but Statement 2 is incorrect. It misses the correct Statements 1 and 4.
- •Option D: Includes all statements, but Statement 2 is incorrect regarding the founding of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
Remember: Shankardeva - Assam - 15th Century Vaishnavism (Satra & Namghar). Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Chaitanya (Bengal).
5. Key Learning Point
Srimanta Shankardeva's impact on Vaishnavism in Assam is marked by the introduction of Bhagavati Dharma and the establishment of Satra and Namghar for communal worship.
6. Visual Suggestion
Consider a timeline illustrating the spread of Vaishnavism from Srimanta Shankardeva's time, including notable figures like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, highlighting the establishment of Satra and Namghar in Assam and Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Bengal, respectively.
Which one of the following sculptures foundat Sanchi Stupa is NOT directly inspired by Buddhist ideas?
1. Correct Answer
Option B is correct. The Shalbhanjika is not directly inspired by Buddhist ideas.
📖 Short Explanation
While the Shalbhanjika appears in Buddhist sites, it is primarily a folk motif associated with pre-Buddhist traditions, representing fertility and nature worship.
💡 3. Why Correct Answer is Correct
❌ 4. Why Other Options are Wrong
- •Option A: The empty seat symbolizes the presence of the Buddha, even though he is not physically there, thus directly relating to Buddhist symbolism.
- •Option C: The tree represents the Bodhi tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and hence is central to Buddhist iconography.
- •Option D: The wheel, depicting the Dharma Chakra, symbolizes the Buddha's teachings and the path of enlightenment in Buddhism.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
To quickly ascertain whether a symbol is Buddhist, check its direct connection to Buddha's life events or teachings, such as enlightenment or the Dharma.
5. Key Learning Point
Recognizing symbols and motifs at Buddhist sites can reveal broader cultural syncretism, highlighting elements from various belief systems integrated into Buddhist art.
6. Visual Suggestion
A comparative diagram showing the evolution of symbols in Indian art, illustrating how pre-Buddhist fertility motifs like the Shalbhanjika were adopted into Buddhist iconography, distinguishing their non-Buddhist origins from symbols like the Dharma Wheel.
Which ministry has initiated the “Dhara“:a special initiative dedicated to Indian Knowledge System (IKS)?
1. Correct Answer
Option D is correct. The initiative is launched by the Ministry of Culture.
📖 Core Concept
"Dhara" is aimed at promoting the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) encompassing ancient wisdom across various disciplines.
💡 3. Explanation
❌ 4. Option Analysis
- •Option A: The Ministry of Education is not the initiator but collaborates on the initiative.
- •Option B: The Ministry of Home Affairs focuses on security, not cultural initiatives.
- •Option C: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting deals with media rather than cultural heritage.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
"Culture Unleashed" can be your mnemonic to quickly associate the "Dhara" initiative with the Ministry of Culture.
5. Key Takeaways
The "Dhara" initiative emphasizes the importance of reviving and promoting India's rich cultural legacy, underlining the role of the Ministry of Culture.
Which dance form of India has been inscribed into UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
1. Correct Answer
Option B is correct. Garba is inscribed into UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
📖 Core Concept
Garba is a traditional folk dance from Gujarat, reflecting cultural values and community spirit, prominently performed during Navratri.
💡 3. Explanation
❌ 4. Option Analysis
- •Option A (Kathakali): Significant but not recently recognized by UNESCO.
- •Option C (Bhangra): Celebrated in Punjab but lacks UNESCO recognition.
- •Option D (Odissi): A classical dance form, not currently inscribed by UNESCO.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
"Garba Graces Global Recognition" - helps remember that Garba is recognized by UNESCO.
5. Key Takeaways
Garba, a folk dance from Gujarat, symbolizes community and is recognized by UNESCO for its cultural heritage.
Gaja Dwar, Ashwa Dwar, Garuda Dwar, MakarDwar, Shardula Dwar and Hamsa Dwar arelocated in a building at
1. Correct Answer
Option A is correct. The gates are located in the new Parliament building in New Delhi.
📖 Core Concept
The gates of the new Parliament building are named after mythological creatures, each representing virtues that align with Indian democratic principles.
💡 3. Explanation
❌ 4. Option Analysis
- •Option B: Varanasi is known for its ghats and temples but not for these gates.
- •Option C: Aurangabad is not related to this architectural feature.
- •Option D: Thanjavur is recognized for its temples and heritage, not the gates.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
Remember the symbolic attributes of the gates for quick recall: Gaja (strength), Ashwa (speed), Garuda (wisdom), Makar (power), Shardula (agility), Hamsa (purity).
5. Key Takeaways
The six gates represent virtues central to Indian democracy and are located in the new Parliament building in New Delhi.
Directions:Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions from the given options, based solely on the passage.given options, based solely on the passage.Mark your answer on the Answer Sheetaccordingly.
An attempt to determine the number oflanguages in the world is affected by otherfactors. A new language do continue to bediscovered even these days, as unexploredregions of the world begin to be opened up.The discovery does not usually take placestraight away. Often there are similarities withan already known language which makesthe investigators assume that what they havefound is just a dialect of that language. Onlyafter a considerable period of contact does ittranspire that the speech is so different that ithas to be considered a different language. Ittakes a language survey to establish the facts,and there are still many countries where suchsurveys are incomplete or have not even begun.The people may be known, but the identityof their language may not be. Because manysuch people are bilingual or multilingual, andconverse with outsides in lingua franca, it maytake a while before linguists come to realisethat the there is an ethnic language there at all.
“The people may be known, but the identity of their language may not be“, means
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The phrase “The people may be known, but the identity of their language may not be” indicates the gap between recognizing a cultural group and understanding their unique linguistic identity.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- The passage highlights ongoing discoveries in linguistics, particularly in underexplored areas.
- It suggests that initial assessments may misclassify new languages as dialects due to similarities with known languages.
- Relying on language surveys is critical to correctly identify distinct languages, often taking considerable time.
- The intercultural interactions and use of lingua franca can obscure the distinctiveness of an ethnic language.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option A: Correctly reflects the situation where ethnic identity is recognized while linguistic identity remains uncertain.
- Option B: Incorrect as it insists both ethnic and language identities are recognized, which the passage denies.
- Option C: Incorrect; it wrongly asserts that not recognizing ethnic groups equates to ignoring languages.
- Option D: Incorrect; it misinterprets the passage, which discusses the recognition of ethnic groups, not their uniformity.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember "Ethnic but not linguistic" to connect the understanding of ethnic identity versus linguistic identity.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against linguistic surveys and sociolinguistic studies reflecting the complexities of language identification in diverse communities.