Brief Theory Overview

Indian Art & Culture is a high-yield topic in every Railway exam. It covers classical dances, folk traditions, painting schools, musical instruments, UNESCO-listed heritage, and festivals. Roughly 4-6 questions appear every year, often factual and image-based. Focus on states, origin, costume, exponents, and UNESCO tags; these are the favourite areas of RRB paper-setters.

Second, build micro-notes: one table for dances (state, costume, gharana, exponent), another for paintings (origin, medium, theme), and a third for festivals (season, state, uniqueness). Revise them thrice—before sleep, on waking up, and during commutes. This spaced repetition converts scattered facts into long-term memory, giving you 30-40 extra marks in General Awareness.

Practice MCQs

Easy

1. Which classical dance is associated with the state of Kerala?
   A. Bharatanatyam
   B. Kathakali
   C. Odissi
   D. Kuchipudi

2. Who among the following is known as the “Father of Indian Carnatic Music”?
   A. Tansen
   B. Purandaradasa
   C. Amir Khusrau
   D. Bhimsen Joshi

3. The paintings of Ajanta caves mainly depict scenes from which religion?
   A. Hinduism
   B. Jainism
   C. Buddhism
   D. Sikhism

4. Which musical instrument is played by blowing air and has finger holes like a flute?
   A. Tabla
   B. Shehnai
   C. Harmonium
   D. Mridangam

5. “Bihu” is a folk dance of which state?
   A. West Bengal
   B. Assam
   C. Odisha
   D. Maharashtra

6. Which UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its erotic sculptures?
   A. Hampi
   B. Khajuraho
   C. Konark
   D. Mahabalipuram

7. The “Pattachitra” painting belongs to which state?
   A. Rajasthan
   B. Odisha
   C. Karnataka
   D. Gujarat

8. Which city hosts the “Kumbh Mela” at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna & Saraswati?
   A. Nasik
   B. Ujjain
   C. Allahabad (Prayagraj)
   D. Haridwar

9. “Rouff” is a traditional dance form of which Indian region?
   A. Kashmir
   B. Goa
   C. Manipur
   D. Sikkim

10. Which of the following is a stringed instrument?
    A. Pakhawaj
    B. Ghatam
    C. Sarod
    D. Kanjira

Medium

11. “Mohiniyattam” dance is characterized by:
    A. Heavy drums & acrobatics
    B. White & gold kasavu saree, lasya movements
    C. Masked facial expressions
    D. Stick movements

12. Match the painting with its region:
    1. Madhubani 2. Phad 3. Warli 4. Pithora
       P. Maharashtra Q. Bihar R. Rajasthan S. Gujarat
       A. 1-Q, 2-R, 3-P, 4-S
       B. 1-R, 2-Q, 3-S, 4-P
       C. 1-Q, 2-S, 3-R, 4-P
       D. 1-P, 2-R, 3-Q, 4-S

13. Which of the following is NOT a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage from India?
    A. Kumbh Mela
    B. Yoga
    C. Durga Puja
    D. Garba

14. “Dhrupad” is the oldest form of:
    A. Hindustani vocal music
    B. Carnatic instrumental
    C. Rabindra Sangeet
    D. Sufi music

15. The bronze “Nataraja” sculptures reached their zenith under which dynasty?
    A. Gupta
    B. Chola
    C. Maurya
    D. Vijayanagara

16. “Ghumura” dance, often depicted in Odisha’s Kalahandi caves, is classified as:
    A. Martial dance
    B. Devotional dance
    C. Harvest dance
    D. Court dance

17. “Kutiyattam” Sanskrit theatre, recognised by UNESCO, is preserved in which state?
    A. Kerala
    B. Tamil Nadu
    C. Andhra Pradesh
    D. Karnataka

18. The miniature painting school that uses “Pahari” in its name flourished in:
    A. Himalayan foothills
    B. Thar desert
    C. Deccan plateau
    D. Konkan coast

19. “Sattriya” dance was introduced by which Vaishnavite saint?
    A. Ramanuja
    B. Vallabhacharya
    C. Srimanta Sankaradeva
    D. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

20. Which of the following pairs is wrongly matched?
    A. Kalbelia – Rajasthan – Snake charmer community
    B. Chhau – West Bengal – Martial & mask dance
    C. Thang-Ta – Manipur – Sword & spear
    D. Bhagoria – Odisha – Haat festival

Hard

21. Identify the raga that is traditionally the first to be taught in Carnatic syllabus but is NOT the same as Raga Bhairav of Hindustani.
    A. Mayamalavagowla
    B. Kalyani
    C. Sankarabharanam
    D. Kharaharapriya

22. The “Chola” bronze of ‘Shiva as Chandrashekhar’ is distinguishable because:
    A. Shiva has a moustache & holds a trident only
    B. Moon is placed vertically in jata & missing damaru
    C. Both damaru & trident are absent
    D. Shiva is shown without Ganga in jata

23. “Phulkari” embroidery, now in UNESCO list, uses:
    A. Silk threads on cotton from back side only (darning stitch)
    B. Gold zari on muslin
    C. Mirror work on wool
    D. Appliqué on satin

24. The treatise “Silappadikaram” gives elaborate details of which musical instrument?
    A. Yazh
    B. Rudra veena
    C. Swarabat
    D. Sarangi

25. Which of the following combinations is/are correct about Indian classical dances?
    1. Kuchipudi – Solo & group – Yakshagana tradition – Andhra
    2. Bharatanatyam – Nritta, Nritya, Natya – Carnatic music – Tamil Nadu
    3. Kathak – Jaipur, Lucknow gharanas – Temple origin – North India
    4. Manipuri – Rasleela – Pung chol drum – Northeast
       A. 1, 2 & 4 only
       B. 2 & 3 only
       C. 1, 2, 3 & 4
       D. 2, 3 & 4 only

Shortcuts & Tips

1. Dance-State Mnemonic:
   BBO KKO MKS C K S
   B-Bharat-TN, B-Bihu-Assam, O-Odissi-Odisha … K-Kathak-North, K-Kathakali-Kerala, O-Mohini-again-Kerala … M-Manipur, K-Kuchipudi-AP, S-Sattriya-Assam, C-Chhau-WB/JH/OD, K-Kalbelia-Raj, S-Santhal-JH.

2. UNESCO ICH 2023 quick count: Kumbh, Durga Puja, Yoga, Kutiyattam, Ramlila, Vedic chanting, Kalbelia, Chhau, Mudiyettu, Sankirtana, Nowruz, Phulkari (2023) → 13 items. Recall: “KuDu Yoga-Ra-Cha-Ka-Mu-Sa-No-Ph”.

3. Painting medium:
   Wall → Madhubani, Warli; Cloth → Pattachitra, Phad; Paper → Kangra, Basohli; Palm leaf → Odisha & Kerala.

4. Musical Instrument classification:
   Tata=string (Sarod, Sitar), Avanaddha=percussion (Tabla, Mridangam), Ghana=solid (Ghatam), Sushir=wind (Bansuri, Shehnai).

5. Guessing rule: If “Amir Khusrau” appears in music question, 90 % Sufi/Qawwali; if “Tansen”, choose Dhrupad/Raga; if “Purandaradasa”, pick Carnatic/basics.

Revise these micro-lists twice a week; attempt 25 Q sets daily. Your 4-6 sure-shot GK marks are locked!