To address the declining number of traditional puppeteers and promote the art form, a recent focus has been on:
A Establishing large-scale commercial puppet production units for export.
B Organizing national and international puppetry festivals and workshops for skill transfer.
C Shifting all traditional puppetry performances to virtual reality platforms.
D Replacing live puppetry with animated films based on puppet stories.
Answer: B
To counter the decline in traditional puppetry, a key strategy involves creating platforms for exposure and skill transfer. National and international puppetry festivals provide opportunities for artists to perform, gain recognition, and interact. Workshops are crucial for training younger generations and ensuring the continuity of traditional techniques. The other options do not directly address the core issue of preserving the traditional art form and its practitioners.
162.
In 2026, which of the following ongoing initiatives by the Sangeet Natak Akademi continues to play a vital role in promoting and preserving traditional Indian puppetry forms?
A The 'National Puppetry Revival Grant' scheme, offering financial aid for training and performances.
B Exclusive establishment of a 'Digital Puppetry Museum' without live performances.
C Mandatory inclusion of puppetry as a core subject in all primary school curricula.
D A scheme to replace traditional puppet materials with synthetic alternatives.
Answer: A
The Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, consistently supports traditional performing arts, including puppetry, through various schemes. The 'National Puppetry Revival Grant' (or similar grant schemes for traditional arts) provides crucial financial assistance for training new artists, organizing performances, and documenting traditional forms, ensuring their continuity and promotion. The other options are either not primary initiatives or are counterproductive to traditional preservation.
163.
Beyond natural degradation, what emerging threat is increasingly impacting ancient rock art sites in Central India, necessitating new preservation strategies?
A Increased local community engagement in conservation efforts
B Rapid urbanization and industrial pollution in surrounding areas
C Discovery of new, more resilient rock art materials
D Decline in archaeological research and funding
Answer: B
While local community engagement is beneficial, rapid urbanization and industrial pollution are significant emerging threats. The expansion of human settlements, mining activities, and industrial emissions in areas surrounding rock art sites can lead to air pollution, acid rain, and physical damage, accelerating the degradation of these fragile artworks. New preservation strategies often focus on buffer zone management and environmental impact assessments.
164.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plays a crucial role in preserving rock art sites. Which of the following methods is commonly employed by ASI for their conservation and documentation?
A Chemical cleaning, digital mapping, and micro-climatic monitoring
B Complete repainting of the faded artworks by modern artists
C Relocation of entire rock panels to climate-controlled museums
D Covering all rock art with transparent protective glass enclosures
Answer: A
ASI employs scientific methods for conservation, which include careful chemical cleaning to remove biological growth and pollutants, digital mapping and 3D scanning for accurate documentation, and micro-climatic monitoring to understand environmental impacts. Repainting or relocating entire panels are generally avoided as they can damage the original art or its context. Covering all art with glass is impractical and can create adverse micro-climates.
165.
Which of the following is a primary challenge in the preservation of ancient rock art sites like Bhimbetka in Central India?
A Lack of tourist interest and visitation
B Excessive government funding leading to over-development
C Natural weathering, biological growth, and anthropogenic damage
D Absence of legal protection and heritage status
Answer: C
Ancient rock art sites like Bhimbetka face significant threats from natural processes such as weathering, erosion, and biological growth (lichens, mosses). Additionally, human activities including vandalism, uncontrolled tourism, and encroachment pose serious anthropogenic damage challenges to their long-term preservation. Legal protection and heritage status are generally in place for major sites, and funding, while sometimes insufficient, is not typically 'excessive'.
166.
Which of the following is a key component of the government's effort to promote traditional performing arts?
A Organizing national-level festivals and cultural exchange programs
B Taxing all traditional performances
C Banning the use of traditional musical instruments
D Privatizing all government-run cultural centers
Answer: A
The government promotes traditional arts by organizing festivals, workshops, and cultural exchange programs to provide platforms for artists.
167.
Under the government's promotion schemes for performing arts, what is the primary focus regarding 'Guru-Shishya Parampara'?
A To replace traditional teachers with digital AI tutors
B To provide financial support for training students in traditional art forms
C To restrict the teaching of arts to specific families only
D To convert all Gurukuls into modern universities
Answer: B
The government supports the Guru-Shishya Parampara to ensure the transmission of traditional knowledge and skills from masters to the younger generation.
168.
The 'Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana' (KSVY) is a scheme launched by the Government of India to promote:
A Modern digital art and animation
B Traditional Indian performing and visual arts
C International trade of handicrafts
D Scientific research in ancient architecture
Answer: B
KSVY is an umbrella scheme under the Ministry of Culture that provides financial assistance to promote and preserve traditional performing and visual arts.
169.
Which institution acts as the nodal agency for the digital archiving of cultural and linguistic resources in India?
A Sahitya Akademi
B Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
C Archaeological Survey of India
D National Archives of India
Answer: B
IGNCA is the primary nodal agency under the Ministry of Culture tasked with the digital preservation of India's cultural and linguistic heritage.
170.
What is the primary objective of the digital archiving initiative for endangered languages?
A To promote commercial use of regional dialects
B To preserve and document oral traditions and linguistic heritage
C To replace regional languages with a single national language
D To mandate the use of regional languages in judicial proceedings
Answer: B
The initiative aims to safeguard linguistic diversity by documenting oral traditions, folk tales, and dialects that are at risk of extinction.
