DAY – 38 : Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2025 : ART & CULTURE

Solution: C

Pair 1 is incorrect: The Harmika is a square railing-like structure on top of the Anda, symbolizing the abode of gods. The relic chamber is typically within the Anda or at its base.

Pair 2 is correct: The Medhi is the raised circular platform or terrace around the base of the Anda, used for ritual circumambulation (pradakshina).

Pair 3 is correct: Toranas are the ornate ceremonial gateways, usually placed at the cardinal directions, providing access to the stupa precinct.

Pair 4 is correct: The Anda is the main hemispherical dome structure of the stupa, representing the mound of dirt covering the Buddha’s remains or the universe.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is incorrect: While Mahayana themes are prominent, Ajanta caves span different periods and include Hinayana phase caves as well (earlier Chaityas and Viharas). Caves 9, 10 (Chaityas) and 8, 12, 13, 15A (Viharas) belong to the earlier Hinayana phase.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Ajanta caves contain both Chaityas (prayer halls, e.g., Caves 19, 26) and Viharas (monasteries or dwelling caves, e.g., Caves 1, 2, 16, 17).

Statement 3 is correct: The paintings at Ajanta predominantly employ the tempera technique on a dry plaster surface, involving pigments mixed with a binding medium. Fresco technique (painting on wet plaster) is less characteristic of Ajanta.

Therefore, only statement 3 is correct.

Solution: A

Statement 1 is correct: Grey or bluish-grey schist/sandstone was the primary material used for sculptures in the Gandhara region.

Statement 2 is correct: The Gandhara school is renowned for its significant synthesis of Indian themes with Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) artistic styles and techniques, visible in drapery, anatomical realism, and facial features.

Statement 3 is incorrect: While the primary focus of Gandhara art was indeed Buddhist, depicting the Buddha and Bodhisattvas and scenes from Buddhist Jataka tales, there are instances of secular themes and even depictions of Greco-Roman deities and other figures.

Therefore, all three statements are correct.

Solution: B

Option (a) is incorrect: Vaisheshika school was founded by Kanada (Uluka). Kapila is associated with the Samkhya school.

Option (b) is correct: The Nyaya school of philosophy, focusing on logic and epistemology, was founded by Akshapada Gautama.

Option (c) is incorrect: Samkhya school was founded by Kapila. Kanada founded Vaisheshika.

Option (d) is incorrect: Yoga school was systematized by Patanjali. Jaimini is associated with the Purva Mimamsa school.

Therefore, only pair (b) is correctly matched.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is incorrect: While some strands of the Bhakti movement, particularly Nirguna bhakti, criticized excessive ritualism and idol worship, many Saguna bhakti traditions embraced devotional worship of deities through idols and rituals. It was not a universal rejection.

Statement 2 is correct: The Alvars (devotees of Vishnu) and Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) were Tamil poet-saints who spearheaded the early Bhakti movement in South India between the 6th and 9th centuries CE.

Statement 3 is correct: A central tenet across diverse Bhakti traditions was the emphasis on intense personal devotion (bhakti), love, and surrender to a chosen deity as the primary path to salvation, often accessible to all regardless of caste or gender.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Solution: C

Pair 1 is correct: Silappadikaram, authored by Ilango Adigal, is one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period or slightly later.

Pair 2 is correct: Gita Govinda, a lyrical poem depicting the relationship between Krishna and Radha, was composed by Jayadeva in Sanskrit in the 12th century CE.

Pair 3 is correct: Padmavat, an epic poem narrating the story of Padmini, was written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in the Awadhi dialect of Hindi during the 16th century CE.

Therefore, all three pairs are correctly matched.

Solution: B

Pietra Dura (Italian for “hard stone”) is an intricate inlay technique using precisely cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones (like lapis lazuli, onyx, jasper, agate) to create images or patterns, set into a stone base. This technique gained prominence in Mughal architecture, notably in the Taj Mahal and the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah.

(a) is incorrect; refers to painting styles.

(c) is incorrect; stucco is plaster decoration.

(d) is incorrect; refers to structural parts of South Indian temples.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct description.

Solution: D

Statement 1 is correct: Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama form that originated in the Kerala region of South India during the 17th century.

Statement 2 is correct: Traditionally, Kathakali narratives, known as ‘Attakatha’, are drawn heavily from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as the Puranas.

Statement 3 is correct: Kathakali relies heavily on elaborate facial expressions (Mukhabhinaya), codified hand gestures (Mudras), and body movements to convey the story and characters, often without spoken dialogue from the main performers.

Solution: C

Pair 1 is correct: Kalamkari is a traditional Indian art of hand-painting or block-printing on cotton textile, originating in Andhra Pradesh (specifically Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam styles).

Pair 2 is correct: Phulkari (‘flower work’) is a traditional embroidery technique native to the Punjab region (both India and Pakistan), characterized by vibrant floral patterns on coarse cotton cloth.

Pair 3 is correct: Chikankari is a delicate and intricate traditional embroidery style from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, typically done using white thread on fine fabrics like muslin or cotton.

Therefore, all three pairs are correctly matched.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is correct: The Ashtadhyayi is considered the foundational and most authoritative work on Sanskrit grammar, laying down comprehensive rules for the language.

Statement 2 is correct: It was composed by the ancient Indian grammarian Panini, likely around the 5th or 4th century BCE.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ashtadhyayi is focused solely on grammar and linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax) of Classical Sanskrit. It does not deal with Vedic rituals or sacrifices, which are the subject matter of texts like the Brahmanas and Shrautasutras.

Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Solution: A

• Tholu Bommalata is a form of shadow puppetry from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• These are known for life sized vibrant leather puppets.
• The puppets are usually made from animal’s skin including goat, deer or buffalo.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• The puppetry dates back to the 3rd or 4^th
• Its earliest mention appears in the 13th century Telugu text Panditaradhya Charitra.
• It was patronised by Pallavas, Chalukyas as well as Vijayanagara empires.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

• The narratives are often drawn from various Epics, featuring comedic interludes and character specific entry directions.
• Most of the themes include episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
• Silappathikaram is the earliest Tamil epic; it is a poem of about 5730 lines.

Hence statement 3 is incorrect

Solution: A

• Concept of origin of the universe is available from the Tenth mandala of the Rig Veda.
• The Nasadiya sukta hymn of the Rig Veda deals with origin of the universe.
• It is a significant hymn exploring the philosophical and cosmological ideas relating to the beginning of existence.

Hence pair 1 is correct

• The Chaturvarna or the four-fold division of the vedic society (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras) has been mentioned in the Purusashukta hymn present in the Tenth mandala of the Rig Veda.
• The hymn describes the origin of the four varnas from different parts of a cosmic being, Purusha

Hence pair 2 is incorrect

• The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is a Foundational text in Hinduism that primary deals with nature of reality atman (or the self) and the ultimate reality known as Brahman
• The text explores the concept of Brahman as the ultimate reality and provides that Brahman is beyond description, quality and is the ultimate truth.

Hence pair 3 is incorrect

Solution: B

• The first three-day international pashmina festival cum exhibition was organised by Nepal Pashmina Industries Association and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries.
• Nepal is one of the prominent producers of authentic Pashmina often branded as Chyangra Pashmina to emphasize its high quality and originality (named due to the Chyangra or Pashmina goat).
• The production involves traditional weaving methods passed down for generations.
• Genuine Pashmina is often branded as Chyangra pashmina with a government certified label in Nepal.
• During inauguration of the first ever Pashmina pair in Nepal the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies say that Nepali Pashmina has made its identity in the international arena competing with countries like China and Mongolia.
• Nepali Pashmina has a good market in countries including America and Japan and also in Europe.

Hence option B is correct

Solution: D

• The Khajuraho School developed in Central part of India under patronage of Chandela rulers; it was also known as Chandela School; these temples were made of sandstone.
• The Solanki school or the Maru-Gurjara style developed in North Western part of India in Gujarat and Rajasthan under patronage of Solanki rulers; these temples were built using variety of materials including sandstone, black salt and soft Marble.

Hence statement 1 is incorrect

• Under the Khajuraho School, the Panchayatan style of Temple making was followed; the temples are generally North or East facing.
• Most of the temples under the Solanki school are East facing; these temples are designed such that every year during the equinoxes, the sun rays fall directly onto the central shrine.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution: D

• Warli is a tribal art from Maharashtra.
• The name of the painting comes from the people who have been carrying out this painting tradition that goes back to 2500-3000 BC, called the Warlis- indigenous people of the Sahyadris that occupy mainly the Gujarat-Maharashtra border.
• Warli paintings are traditionally done on walls using basic graphic vocabulary including triangles circles and squares or dots and crooked lines.
• These ritualistic paintings have a central motif or a chauk which is surrounded by scenes including fishing, hunting, farming, dancing, animals and festivals.
• Drawing mandala at the centre is not a part of original Warli art.
• Warli is a tribal art while mandala is part of Hindu as well as Buddhist tradition.

Hence statement 1 is incorrect

• The base of Warli painting is made out of mixture of mud, branches and cow dung that make a red ochre background.
• For painting only white pigment is used which is made of mixture of gum and rice powder.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution: D

• Mohiniyattam, literally interpreted as the dance of Mohini, the celestial enchantress of Hindu mythology is a classical solo dance from Kerala.
• Mohini is an avatar of Lord Vishnu, not Lord Shiva.
• According to a Puranic story, Lord Vishnu took the disguise of a Mohini in front of the asuras during churning of the ocean as well as during killing of Bhasmasura.

Hence statement 1 is incorrect

• The earliest reference of Mohiniyattam can be found in the text Vyavaharamala written in 1709 by Mazhamagalam Narayan Namputiri and in Ghoshyatra written by Kunjan Nambiar.
• Mohiniattam as seeing today has evolved through a long process of evolution
• It’s origin to the temples of Kerala.
• This dance form of Kerala was structured into the present-day classical format by Travancore kings- Maharaja Kartika Tirunal and his successor Maharaja Swati Thirunal in the 18^th and 19^th centuries CE.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

• The performance of Mohiniyattam is accompanied by music and songs.
• The story is presented in the language called Manipravalam which is a mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam.

Hence statement 3 is correct

Solution: A

• Shulbasutra was written by
• It is the earliest book on mathematics that was written around 6th century BC
• The book has a mention of formula for the square root of 2 and even some concepts very similar to Pythagorean theorem
• It also contains Geometry related to construction of fire altars

Hence pair 1 is correct

• Aryabhatiya Bhasha is a commentatory on Aryabhatiya, composed by Kelallur Nilakantha Somayaji.
• Somayaji was a mathematician and astronomer associated with the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics; another noted work was the astronomical treatise Tantrasamgraha.

Hence pair 2 is incorrect

• Ganita Kaumudi (moonlight of mathematics) was written by Narayan Pandit in 1356.
• It deals with mathematical operations.
• Narayan Pandit was a medieval mathematician.
• Bhoja Parmar wrote a Sanskrit treatise, Yukti Kalpa Taru which deals with various techniques used in ship building during ancient times.

Hence pair 3 is incorrect

Solution: C

• Shamlaji Fair is celebrated by tribal community in Gujarat in the honour of Lord Shamlaji, who is thought to be the incarnation of Lord Krishna or Vishnu
• During the fair, devotees gather in large number to worship and take a holy bath in the adjoining Meshwo river.

Hence pair 1 is correct

• Baneshwar Fair is an annual trible fair held in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan.
• It is held in the month of January or February near the confluence of Som and Mahi rivers.
• It is a major fair in tribal culture and is often described as Kumbh Mela of the tribals.

Hence pair 2 is incorrect

• Kolayat fair is held in Rajasthan
• On the day of Kartik Purnima people come to take a dip in the holy Kolayat lake to get rid of their sins.
• The fair is named after Kapil Muni who undertook intense meditation for the benefit of humanity.
• A large cattle fair is also organised during this time.

Hence pair 3 is correct

• Gangasagar Fair is held in West Bengal.
• It is celebrated in the month of January- February at the mouth of Hooghly River (Southern tip of Sagar Island in West Bengal).
• Lakhs of pilgrims reach the site; the special attention is the presence of Naga Sadhus
• It is held at the Kapil Muni temple on the Sagar Island.

Hence pair 4 is correct

Solution: A

• The Tumaini festival is a cultural event held annually within the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, South East Africa.
• It is the only festival of its kind in the world that is held within a Refugee camp
• the festival is organised and managed by refugees and creates a platform for these people and promote cultural exchange
• it attracts tourists all over the world and features performances from all around the world
• it showcases various kinds of artistic expressions including music, dance, visual art, theaters and so on
• Recently in 2024, it received a Cultures of Resistance Award.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• The Prime Minister of India was honoured with the Global Peace Award for minority upliftment in 2024.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution: A

• The Sangameshwar temple is located at Nandyal district in Andhra Pradesh on the banks of river Krishna.
• It was built on the confluence of river Krishna and Bhavanshi and hence the name Sangameshwar.
• It gets submerged annually in the backwaters of the Srisailam dam.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• The temple was built by Chalukya Dynasty
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution: A

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Registrar General of India (RGI) functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), not the Ministry of Law and Justice. The RGI is also responsible for conducting the Census of India and overseeing the Civil Registration System (CRS).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Private hospitals are legally required to report births and deaths to the designated local registrars. While they don’t act as registrars themselves (unlike government hospitals), they are mandated data providers under the law.
• Statement 3 is correct: A significant reform under the 2023 amendment is the automatic synchronization of CRS records with key population and service databases—such as the National Population Register (NPR), ration card databases, and central scheme registries, enabling interoperability in governance.

Hence, only Statement 3 is correct, and the correct answer is (a) Only one.

Solution: D

Explanation:
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) are areas of the marine environment recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that require special protection due to:

• Ecological vulnerability
• Scientific value
• Socio-economic importance PSSAs help regulate maritime activities like shipping, oil drilling, or dumping, using area-based management tools.

Solution: D

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Mahatma Phule co-founded the Bombay Millhands Association with Narayan Meghaji Lokhande, not to campaign for temple entry but to organize urban labour and advocate workers’ rights—an early form of labour union activism.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Phule was a fierce critic of the Filtration Theory, which argued for education of elites first, expecting benefits to “trickle down”. Phule opposed this idea, instead promoting mass, universal, and practical education, especially for women and oppressed castes.
• Statement 3 is correct: In 1882, Phule made significant recommendations to the Hunter Commission, demanding free, compulsory education, agricultural instruction, and education that promoted social mobility for the depressed classes.

Therefore, only Statement 3 is correct, making (d) the right answer.

Solution: A

Explanation:
Both statements are correct. The BNSS, 2023 allows first-time offenders to be considered for bail after serving one-third of the maximum sentence, provided the case does not involve life imprisonment or the death penalty.

This reform is aimed at reducing India’s high undertrial population, which as per NCRB 2022, forms over 75% of total prison inmates. Delays in investigation and trial lead to prolonged incarceration without conviction, violating Article 21 (right to life and liberty).
Thus, the bail reform addresses prison overcrowding and promotes justice and rehabilitation, making Statement-II the correct explanation for Statement-I.
So, the right answer is (a).

Solution: B

Explanation:

• Mudflats Navigation: Mudskippers are unique fish that use their strong, muscular pectoral fins to “walk” across mudflats during low tide.
• Intertidal Zone Habitat: They thrive in intertidal zones (areas between high and low tide marks), where they can survive both in water and on land for extended periods.
• Transitional Organism: Mudskippers exhibit several amphibian-like adaptations:
  • Ability to breathe through skin and mouth lining (cutaneous respiration)
  • Modified gill chambers that retain water
  • Eyes adapted for aerial vision
  • These features make them important evolutionary models showing how fish might have transitioned to land vertebrates.

Solution: C

Justification:

The final line is the most helpful one in the whole complex passage. After providing so many details the author says that there is no difference between MP plants and seed-based plants, thus the influence of MP on yield level is nothing much. So, C should be the answer.

Solution: C

Justification:

Answer (C) 2nd, 24%

Let the amount invested in first bank be x

So, interest earned in 3 years = x*5*3/100 = 0.15x

Now amount invested in second scheme is 2x

So, the amount after 3 years would be

(1.03)³* 2x= 2.185x

So, the interest earned = 0.185x

Thus, the interest earned in second case is 24% more than the interest earned in first case.

Solution: D

Justification:

Answer D) 25%

Let Rajat lend the sum at x% rate to the second friend.

According to the question, 15% × 10000 + x% of 10000 = 20% of 20000

⇒ 15 × 100 + 100x = 20 × 200

⇒ 100x = 4000 – 1500

⇒ 100x = 2500

⇒ x = 25

Hence, the required rate of interest is 25% p.a.

Therefore, Option D is correct.

Solution: D

Justification:

Assuming the amount =P the rate of interest = R% and R/100 = a

For two years difference between compound and simple interest

= P(1+a)² -P-2Pa = Pa² =5400…..(1)

Now for three years, the difference = P(1+a)³ -P-3Pa = Pa³ +3Pa² =17820…..(2)

Putting the value of Pa² in (2),

we get 5400a+3*5400=17820

=> a=3/10

Now, on putting a=3/10 in (1),

we get P*9/100 = 5400

=> P =60000 Rs

Solution: B

Justification:

Answer: Option (B) Rs.2436

Explanation:

Bank A: 6% p.a. half yearly (CI)

Bank B: x% p.a (at Simple Interest)

Bank C: 2x% p.a (at Simple Interest)

Let Bharat invest Rs P in bank B for t years. Hence, Sandhya invests Rs 10,000 in bank C for 2t years.

Now.

P (x/100) t = P (1 + 3/100)² – P

(x/100) t = 1.0609 – 1

(x/100) t = 0.0609

We need to calculate

SI = 10000 x 2t x (2x/100) = 40000 (x/100) t

= 40000 x 0.0609 = Rs.2436