2014 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 91: History and Culture
A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their
amartial arts in North-East India
bmusical tradition in North-West India
cclassical vocal music in South India
dpietra dura tradition in Central India
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The Manganiyars are a community of hereditary Muslim folk musicians of the Thar desert in Rajasthan, in north-west India, mainly around Jaisalmer and Barmer. Their songs, sung with instruments such as the kamaicha and khartal, were traditionally performed for their patron families. They are not martial artists of the north-east, classical vocalists of the south or pietra dura craftsmen.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Manganiyars are musicians, not martial artists of the north-east.
- (b) Right. They are known for their musical tradition in Rajasthan, in north-west India.
- (c) Wrong. They are folk, not classical, musicians, and not from the south.
- (d) Wrong. Pietra dura is an inlay craft, not their tradition.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.