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Art & culture

Prelims · Art & culture · 9 questions

Music, dance & theatre

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Music, dance & theatre questions per year: 2016: 0, 2017: 1, 2018: 1, 2019: 1, 2020: 0, 2021: 0, 2022: 0, 2023: 0, 2024: 0, 2025: 1, 2026: 2 Asked in 5 of 11 years · most in 2026 (2)

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मणिपुरी संकीर्तन के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.यह गीत और नृत्य का प्रदर्शन है ।
  2. 2.केवल करताल (सिम्बॅल) ही वह एकमात्र वाद्ययंत्र है जो इस प्रदर्शन में प्रयुक्त होता है ।
  3. 3.यह भगवान कृष्ण के जीवन और लीलाओं को वर्णित करने के लिए प्रदर्शित किया जाता है ।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं ?

Read this question in English

With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:

1. It is a song and dance performance.

2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.

3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 · (b) 1 and 3 only · (c) 2 and 3 only · (d) 1 only

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) केवल 1 और 3

Sankirtana, inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, is the ritual singing, drumming and dancing of the Vaishnava people of the Manipur plains. Performers tell the life and deeds of Krishna through song and dance, and drums are central to it, so cymbals are not the only instruments.

  • ✓ 1. It combines singing and dancing, performed in a temple hall or courtyard with devotees seated around the performers.
  • ✗ 2. UNESCO describes a typical performance as two drummers with about ten singer-dancers, and its very title reads 'singing, drumming and dancing'; so drums are as central as cymbals.
  • ✓ 3. UNESCO describes performers narrating the lives and deeds of Krishna through song and dance.

Remember · Sankirtana (Manipur): Vaishnava ritual singing, drumming and dancing that narrates Krishna's life; on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2013.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

The Syllabus X-Ray of this topic

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0 Core · 1 High · 1 Steady · 4 Rare

  • HighClassical music: Hindustani & Carnatic · 5 questions

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