Q41. The famous miniature painting ‘Bani Thani’, often referred to as the Mona Lisa of India, was painted by Nihal Chand under the patronage of which Rajput ruler?
Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music: RAS Prelims MCQs
67 RAS Prelims MCQs on medieval art, architecture, literature and music cover the arcuate system, the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal and Rajput painting, Persian and vernacular literature, and Hindustani music. Each question links a building, painter, poet or raga to its patron, region and period.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 41–50 of 67 questions
Q42. Which of the following statements highlighting the contrast between Mughal and Rajput painting traditions is incorrect?
Explanation
Mughal painting was court-centred and realistic, and Rajput painting was poetic and often religious. Rajput painters did not abandon paper, so A is incorrect.
Q43. The acclaimed medieval Sanskrit text ‘Rajatarangini’, composed in the 12th century, is fundamentally focused on which of the following subjects?
Explanation
Rajatarangini, written by Kalhana in the 12th century, is a chronological history of the kings of Kashmir.
Q44. Consider the following statements regarding medieval Sanskrit literature:
Statement I: The medieval period saw a complete halt in the production of Sanskrit philosophical texts due to the rise of Persian as the court language.
Statement II: Important Sanskrit commentaries on ancient legal texts (Dharmashastras) continued to be composed in kingdoms like Vijayanagara and Mithila.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The medieval period saw a complete halt in the production of Sanskrit philosophical texts due to the rise of Persian as the court language.
Statement II: Important Sanskrit commentaries on ancient legal texts (Dharmashastras) continued to be composed in kingdoms like Vijayanagara and Mithila.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Sanskrit philosophical works did not stop in the medieval period, so Statement I is wrong. Commentaries on the Dharmashastras continued in Vijayanagara and Mithila, so Statement II is correct.
Q45. Match List I (Medieval Sanskrit Author) with
List II (Notable Work):
List I: (Medieval Sanskrit Author)
A. Jayadeva
B. Kalhana
C. Somadeva
D. Bilhana
List II: (Notable Work)
i. Rajatarangini
ii. Gita Govinda
iii. Vikramankadevacharita
iv. Kathasaritsagara
Select the correct code:
List II (Notable Work):
List I: (Medieval Sanskrit Author)
A. Jayadeva
B. Kalhana
C. Somadeva
D. Bilhana
List II: (Notable Work)
i. Rajatarangini
ii. Gita Govinda
iii. Vikramankadevacharita
iv. Kathasaritsagara
Select the correct code:
Explanation
Jayadeva wrote the Gita Govinda, Kalhana the Rajatarangini, Somadeva the Kathasaritsagara and Bilhana the Vikramankadevacharita. This gives A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii.
Q46. What was the primary effect of the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire on the status of Sanskrit literature?
Explanation
Under the Sultanate and the Mughals, Sanskrit stopped being the language of administration, but it continued to flourish in religion, philosophy and regional courts.
Q47. Which of the following is a correct statement regarding the Awadhi literary tradition during the medieval period?
Explanation
Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote the epic Padmavat in Awadhi, combining Sufi allegory with Rajput romance. Sufi poets did use Awadhi, so B is wrong.
Q48. The prominent medieval poet Surdas is celebrated for his unparalleled contribution to which specific vernacular literary tradition?
Explanation
Surdas is celebrated for his devotional poetry in Braj Bhasha.
Q49. Consider the following statements regarding vernacular literature in medieval India:
I. Chand Bardai’s Prithviraj Raso is an early and significant milestone in the Rajasthani- Hindi literary tradition.
II. Vidyapati wrote extensively in the Maithili language, focusing on the love of Radha and Krishna.
III. The Mangalkavyas were narrative poems written in Bengal to propagate the glory of indigenous local deities.
IV. The devotional works of the Alvars and Nayanars formed the foundation of medieval Awadhi literature.
Which of the combinations given above is incorrect?
I. Chand Bardai’s Prithviraj Raso is an early and significant milestone in the Rajasthani- Hindi literary tradition.
II. Vidyapati wrote extensively in the Maithili language, focusing on the love of Radha and Krishna.
III. The Mangalkavyas were narrative poems written in Bengal to propagate the glory of indigenous local deities.
IV. The devotional works of the Alvars and Nayanars formed the foundation of medieval Awadhi literature.
Which of the combinations given above is incorrect?
Explanation
Prithviraj Raso is a milestone in the Rajasthani-Hindi tradition, Vidyapati wrote in Maithili and the Mangalkavyas were Bengali narrative poems. The Alvars and Nayanars wrote in Tamil, not Awadhi, so IV is incorrect.
Q50. Identify the odd one out among the following medieval literary figures based on the primary language of their most famous devotional compositions:
Explanation
Tulsidas, Malik Muhammad Jayasi and Qutuban composed in Awadhi. Surdas composed in Braj Bhasha, so he is the odd one out.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (b) Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh |
| 42 | (a) Rajput painters completely abandoned paper and primarily used cloth for their miniatures, unlike the paper-reliant Mughal artists. |
| 43 | (c) A chronological history of the kings of Kashmir |
| 44 | (d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct |
| 45 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 46 | (d) It ceased being the primary imperial administrative language but thrived in religion, philosophy, and regional courts. |
| 47 | (a) Malik Muhammad Jayasi composed the epic Padmavat, a blend of Sufi allegory and Rajput romance, in the Awadhi language. |
| 48 | (c) Braj Bhasha |
| 49 | (c) IV only |
| 50 | (d) Surdas |
Key facts from Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
- The arcuate system uses load-bearing arches and domes with keystones; it was brought by Islamic builders.
- Akbar built the Buland Darwaza to mark the conquest of Gujarat; the Taj Mahal follows the Timurid hasht-bihisht plan with a double dome.
- Humayun brought the Persian painters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd al-Samad; the Tasvir Khana was set up under Akbar.
- The Bani Thani, called the Mona Lisa of India, was painted by Nihal Chand under Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh.
- Surdas wrote in Braj Bhasha, Jayasi in Awadhi and Kalhana composed the Rajatarangini on the kings of Kashmir.
- Qawwali was popularised by the Chishti Sufis; Dhrupad was patronised by Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music?
This page has 67 practice MCQs on Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music (Medieval Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the arcuate system of architecture?
A system of building with load-bearing arches and domes made with keystones. It was introduced by Islamic builders and replaced the older trabeate system of horizontal beams, though in the Sultanate period the two were often combined.
Why was the Buland Darwaza built?
Akbar built the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat in 1573. It is one of the tallest gateways in the world and is usually asked along with the other buildings of the complex.
Who painted the Bani Thani?
The painter Nihal Chand, under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh. Its elongated eyes and refined features made the Kishangarh school famous, and the portrait is called the Mona Lisa of India.