Art & Culture MCQs - 2026-09-09

The Ministry of Culture is primarily responsible for the promotion and preservation of arts and culture in India, including folk arts. It often collaborates with other ministries and organizations to implement such initiatives.

While Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Thanjavur painting are significant art forms, they are generally well-established and promoted. Specific traditional crafts and needlework, like that of certain minority communities, often face greater risks of extinction and are targeted by such preservation initiatives.

The initiative's core aim is to safeguard India's rich intangible cultural heritage by supporting the practitioners of endangered folk arts through grants, training, and documentation, ensuring their continuity.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of the national cultural heritage of India. This includes conducting excavations, maintaining monuments, and promoting awareness.

While black-slipped pottery, punch-marked coins, and terracotta figurines are commonly found in Mauryan sites, iron pillar inscriptions are more characteristic of the Gupta period, such as the famous Iron Pillar of Delhi.

Recent ASI findings in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, have revealed artifacts that scholars believe could be linked to the Mauryan era, offering new insights into the period's material culture and trade networks.