UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 10: Indian Music – Hindustani and Carnatic (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Art and Culture – Chapter 10: Indian Music – Hindustani and Carnatic (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The text that first defined the term raga is:

Correct Answer: D [Brihaddeshi]

Explanation:

Matanga's Brihaddeshi is regarded as the first text to define the term raga.

2.  

The Sangita Ratnakara was written by:

Correct Answer: D [Sarangadeva]

Explanation:

Sarangadeva wrote the Sangita Ratnakara in the 13th century, the last major text before the two systems separated.

3.  

The 72 melakarta system of Carnatic music was set out by:

Correct Answer: A [Venkatamakhin]

Explanation:

Venkatamakhin set out the 72 melakarta scheme of parent scales in his 17th-century Chaturdandi Prakasika.

4.  

The oldest surviving form of Hindustani vocal music is:

Correct Answer: A [dhrupad]

Explanation:

Dhrupad, grave and austere and patronised by Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior, is the oldest surviving Hindustani vocal form.

5.  

Thumri developed mainly at the court of:

Correct Answer: B [Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow]

Explanation:

Thumri, a romantic light-classical form, flourished at Lucknow under Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in the 19th century.

6.  

Tansen was a disciple of:

Correct Answer: C [Swami Haridas]

Explanation:

Tansen trained under Swami Haridas before joining Akbar's court as one of its nine gems.

7.  

Bhimsen Joshi belonged to the:

Correct Answer: A [Kirana gharana]

Explanation:

Bhimsen Joshi belonged to the Kirana gharana of Abdul Karim Khan, which also produced Gangubai Hangal.

8.  

Purandara Dasa is called the:

Correct Answer: D [Pitamaha of Carnatic music]

Explanation:

Purandara Dasa framed the graded beginner lessons still used to teach Carnatic music, earning the title Pitamaha.

9.  

Muthuswami Dikshitar composed mainly in:

Correct Answer: C [Sanskrit]

Explanation:

Dikshitar composed his kritis, including the Navavarana kritis, mainly in Sanskrit on many deities.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Syama Sastri composed many songs in praise of the goddess Kamakshi.
2. All three members of the Carnatic Trinity were born at Tiruvarur.
3. Swathi Thirunal was a ruler of Mysore.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Syama Sastri sang mainly of goddess Kamakshi and all three Trinity composers were born at Tiruvarur; Swathi Thirunal ruled Travancore.

11.  

Assertion (A): V. D. Paluskar set up the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 1901.

Reason (R): He wanted music to be taught to any learner, outside the closed guru–gharana system.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Paluskar founded the Lahore school in 1901 precisely to open music teaching to any learner beyond the guru–gharana system.

12.  

In the traditional classification, the flute and the shehnai are:

Correct Answer: D [sushira vadya]

Explanation:

Sushira vadya are wind instruments sounded by blowing air, such as the flute, shehnai and nadaswaram.

13.  

The ghatam, a clay pot used in Carnatic concerts, is a:

Correct Answer: C [ghana vadya]

Explanation:

The ghatam is a solid clay pot struck by the hands, so it is a ghana (solid, struck) instrument.

14.  

The ten-thaat classification of Hindustani ragas was set out by:

Correct Answer: A [V. N. Bhatkhande]

Explanation:

V. N. Bhatkhande classified Hindustani ragas into ten parent scales called thaats and developed a notation system.

15.  

Tappa, a fast light-classical form, is linked with:

Correct Answer: B [Shori Mian]

Explanation:

Shori Mian shaped tappa from the songs of Punjabi camel drivers into a fast light-classical form.

16.  

The first musician to receive the Bharat Ratna was:

Correct Answer: D [M. S. Subbulakshmi]

Explanation:

(d) Correct (1998).

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Sangita Ratnakara
2. Gandharva Mahavidyalaya at Lahore
3. Tansen at Akbar's court
4. Natya Shastra

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [4-1-3-2]

Explanation:

ancient, 13th century, 16th century, 1901.

18.  

The Dagar family is associated with:

Correct Answer: C [dhrupad]

Explanation:

The Dagar family has kept the dhrupad tradition alive over many generations.

19.  

The Music Academy in Madras was founded in:

Correct Answer: B [1928]

Explanation:

The Music Academy, Madras, was founded in 1928 and hosts the famous December music season.

20.  

Which of the following is NOT one of the Trinity of Carnatic music?

Correct Answer: C [Purandara Dasa]

Explanation:

Purandara Dasa (1484–1564), called the "Pitamaha" of Carnatic music, lived about two centuries before the Trinity.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2025

The first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music training school, was set up in 1901 by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in

Correct Answer: D [Lahore]

Explanation:

Vishnu Digambar Paluskar opened the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya at Lahore in 1901 to teach music to all learners.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in Praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya keertanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: B [2 and 4 only]

Explanation:

Tyagaraja's kritis mostly praise Rama, and the two composers lived centuries apart.

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