Rajasthan History, Art and Culture: RAS Prelims MCQs
1767 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on the history, art, culture, literature and heritage of Rajasthan are on this page, in 17 chapters. They run from prehistoric sites and inscriptions through the Rajput dynasties, the Mughal and British periods and the integration of Rajasthan, then move to forts, painting, folk arts, language, saints, fairs and leading personalities. Questions come as plain facts, statement sets, match-the-list tables and assertion-reason items, each with an answer and an explanation.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1301–1310 of 1767 questions
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RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1301. Consider the following statements regarding the Walar dance: I. It is famously performed by the Garasiya tribe. II. It is unique because it is performed without any musical instruments. III. It involves two concentric circles of men and women. IV. It is characterized by rapid, violent, and highly aggressive movements. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Walar dance is a graceful performance by the Garasiya tribe, unique for being performed without any musical instruments. It involves two concentric circles of men and women who maintain the rhythm through synchronized clapping and footsteps. Unlike many high-energy tribal dances, Walar is known for its slow, dignified, and measured movements, rather than rapid or aggressive physical actions.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1302. Identify the incorrect pair regarding tribal dances of Rajasthan.
Explanation
The Gavari dance-drama is a major cultural tradition of the Bhil tribe, not the Meena tribe. It is a ritualistic performance dedicated to Goddess Gauri and lasts for forty days during the monsoon. Other pairings, such as Walar with the Garasiya, Gair with the Bhil, and Chari with the Gujjar, are culturally accurate and represent the diverse folk heritage of various communities.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1303. The Gair dance is most fervently performed during the celebration of which major Indian festival?
Explanation
The Gair dance is most fervently performed during the celebration of Holi, the festival of colors. It is a time for communal joy and the renewal of social ties within the Bhil community. The rhythmic beating of sticks and the circular movements of the dancers in their traditional attire are a staple of the festive atmosphere in rural Rajasthan during spring.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1304. Read the following statements regarding the Walar dance and select the correct option. Statement I: The Walar dance is a slow-paced dance where the rhythm is maintained purely by the clapping of hands and the footsteps of the dancers. Statement II: The Walar dance begins with a man holding an umbrella or sword in the center of the dancing circles.
Explanation
Walar is a slow-paced dance where the Garasiya performers maintain the rhythm purely through their footsteps and hand clapping, without instrumental aid. A distinctive feature is the start of the dance, where a man stands in the center of the circles holding an umbrella or a sword, signaling the commencement of the rhythmic movement. This highlights the ceremonial nature of the tradition.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1305. Match List I with List II regarding variants of Gair dance and their specific regions.
Variant of Gair Dance
Region in Rajasthan
A. Dandi Gair
i. Barmer
B. Geendad (similar to Gair)
ii. Mewar
C. Kanaana Gair
iii. Shekhawati
D. Mewari Gair
iv. Marwar
Explanation
Gair dance has several regional variants across Rajasthan. Dandi Gair is popular in Marwar, while Geendad, which shares similarities with Gair, is characteristic of Shekhawati. Kanaana Gair is a famous specific tradition in the Barmer region, and Mewari Gair represents the style practiced in the Mewar region. These variants differ in their costume, stick length, and specific rhythmic patterns.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1306. Which of the following dances is the odd one out because it is traditionally performed by women only, unlike the others which involve men?
Explanation
Ghoomar is traditionally a female-only dance performed on auspicious occasions and festivals like Gangaur. In contrast, dances like Gair and Geendad are predominantly performed by men, and Walar involves both men and women in concentric circles. Ghoomar’s status as a quintessentially feminine expression of Rajasthani culture makes it the odd one out among these forms which involve male participation.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1307. The traditional string puppet theatre of Rajasthan is universally known by which of the following names?
Explanation
Kathputli is the world-famous traditional string puppet theatre of Rajasthan. The name is derived from ‘Kath’ (wood) and ‘Putli’ (doll). This art form is a significant part of the state’s cultural identity, used for centuries to narrate historical legends, myths, and social stories. Unlike shadow or glove puppets, Kathputli uses a unique string manipulation technique to animate wooden figures.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1308. Consider the following characteristics of the Kathputli tradition: I. The puppets are carved from a single piece of mango or fig wood. II. The puppets typically do not have lower limbs or legs. III. The puppeteer uses a sophisticated 15-string mechanism to control the puppet. IV. The play is accompanied by a screeching sound made by a bamboo instrument called ‘Boli’. V. The Bhat community is primarily associated with this art form. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Kathputli puppets are carved from wood, lack lower limbs, and are narrated with the help of a ‘Boli’ whistle by the Bhat community. However, they do not use a complex fifteen-string mechanism. Instead, they are traditionally controlled by a very simple system of just two or three strings attached to the hands and head, demonstrating the puppeteer’s incredible skill.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1309. The decline in the traditional patronage of the Kathputli art form during the late 19th and 20th centuries was primarily an effect of which cause?
Explanation
The decline in traditional patronage for Kathputli during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries was largely driven by the emergence of modern entertainment like cinema and television. These new media forms provided faster-paced and more diverse content, drawing audiences away from traditional village puppet shows. As a result, many Bhat families lost their hereditary patrons and sought alternative livelihoods.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Performing Arts of Rajasthan
Q1310. Match List I with List II regarding Kathputli theatre elements.
Kathputli Character/Element
Role/Description
A. Sutradhar
i. The most famous historical hero depicted in plays
B. Boli
ii. The percussion instrument setting the rhythm
C. Amar Singh Rathore
iii. The lead puppeteer and narrator
D. Dholak
iv. The bamboo reed whistle used for puppet voices
Explanation
In Kathputli theatre, the Sutradhar is the lead puppeteer and narrator who controls the action. The Boli is a small bamboo reed whistle used to produce the high-pitched voices of the puppets. Amar Singh Rathore is the most iconic historical hero featured in these plays, and the dholak is the essential percussion instrument that sets the rhythmic pace.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
1301
(a) I, II, and III
1302
(c) Gavari - Meena tribe
1303
(c) Holi
1304
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
1305
(a) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii
1306
(a) Ghoomar
1307
(c) Kathputli
1308
(a) III only
1309
(b) Emergence of modern media like cinema and television.
1310
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
Key facts from Rajasthan History, Art and Culture
Rajasthan history questions are fact-dense: sites with their districts, rulers with their forts, inscriptions with their dates.
The integration of Rajasthan came in stages: the Matsya Union on 18 March 1948, the Rajasthan Union on 25 March 1948 and the United State of Rajasthan on 18 April 1948.
Culture chapters reward pairs: a dance with its community, a painting school with its subject, a fair with its month.
Statement-based and match-the-list items appear in every chapter, so partial knowledge is not enough; learn each fact with its context.
Fort and monument questions often turn on one detail, such as the Jaivana cannon at Jaigarh or the 1,444 pillars of Ranakpur.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Rajasthan History, Art and Culture?
This page has 1767 practice MCQs on Rajasthan History, Art and Culture. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Rajasthan history, art and culture set cover?
Seventeen chapters: prehistoric Rajasthan, sources of history, ancient society, major dynasties, resistance and cooperation with central power, administration and revenue, the 18th and 19th centuries, peasant and tribal movements, integration, temples and forts, water heritage, painting, performing arts, language, religious life, social life and leading personalities.
What types of questions are included?
Plain one-fact questions, statement sets (I, II, III), match-the-list tables, assertion-reason items, chronological-order questions and odd-one-out questions. The answer options use the same four-option format as the exam, so you can practise the pattern as well as the facts.
How should I revise Rajasthan history with these questions?
Take one chapter at a time. Attempt every question before opening the answer, read the explanation for the ones you got wrong and note each fact in a running list of places, rulers and dates. Return to the chapter after a few days and attempt it again.
