UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies
Question 40: History and Culture
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Artist) I. Balamurali Krishna II. Mita Pandit III. Kanyakumari IV. Nikhil Bannerjee List II (Medium of music delivery) A) Hindustani vocal B) Ghatam C) Sitar D) Violin E) Carnatic vocal Codes:
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Balamurali Krishna is a Carnatic vocalist, Mita Pandit a Hindustani vocalist of the Gwalior gharana, and Nikhil Banerjee a sitar maestro. Option (a) is the only one that gets these three right. Kanyakumari is well known as a Carnatic violinist, so the ghatam pairing for her in the given code does not fit her.
- I. Balamurali Krishna: Carnatic vocal (E).
- II. Mita Pandit: Hindustani vocal (A).
- III. The given code pairs Kanyakumari with the ghatam (B), though she is known as a violinist.
- IV. Nikhil Banerjee: sitar (C).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Given answer: it gets Balamurali Krishna, Mita Pandit and Nikhil Banerjee right; only the pairing for Kanyakumari is open to question.
- (b) Wrong: Balamurali Krishna is a vocalist, not a violinist, and Nikhil Banerjee is not a Carnatic vocalist.
- (c) Wrong: Balamurali Krishna is not a sitarist, and Nikhil Banerjee is not a ghatam player.
- (d) Wrong: Mita Pandit is a Hindustani vocalist, not a violinist.
Worth knowing: Kanyakumari is a violinist, not a ghatam player, so item III looks wrong in every option; (a) is still the closest, with the other three items right.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2000, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.