Static Quiz 12 February 2026 (Art & Culture)

Q1.With reference to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, consider the following pairs of site and state:

1. Dholavira — Gujarat
2. Ramappa Temple — Karnataka
3. Santiniketan — West Bengal

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

Q1. (B)
Explanation:

• Dholavira — Gujarat ✔
  • Located in Kutch district (Khadir Bet island).
  • One of the best-preserved Harappan urban settlements.
  • Inscribed in 2021.
  • Unique for advanced water management system (reservoirs, step-wells).
• Ramappa Temple — Karnataka ✖
  • Correct location: Telangana (Mulugu district).
  • Built under Kakatiya dynasty (13th century).
  • Known for sandbox foundation and lightweight “floating bricks.”
  • Inscribed in 2021.
• Santiniketan — West Bengal ✔
  • Founded by Rabindranath Tagore.
  • Cultural landscape representing alternative education philosophy.
  • Inscribed in 2023.
  • Focus on harmony with nature, art-based learning.

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Q2.UNESCO recognises some properties as serial sites where multiple geographically separate components together express Outstanding Universal Value.

Which of the following Indian World Heritage Sites are serial properties?

1. Mountain Railways of India
2. Western Ghats
3. Great Living Chola Temples
4. Rani-ki-Vav

Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. (B)
Explanation:

• Mountain Railways ✔
  • Serial property of three railways:
    • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999)
    • Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005)
    • Kalka–Shimla Railway (2008)
  • Recognised for colonial-era mountain engineering.
• Western Ghats ✔
  • Serial natural property.
  • 39 components across 6 states.
  • Global biodiversity hotspot.
  • High endemism in flora & fauna.
• Great Living Chola Temples ✔
  • Three temples:
    • Brihadeeswara (Thanjavur)
    • Gangaikondacholapuram
    • Darasuram
  • Dravidian temple architecture at its peak.
• Rani-ki-Vav ✖
  • Single monument at Patan, Gujarat.
  • Not a serial property.

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Q3.UNESCO classifies World Heritage Sites as Cultural, Natural, or Mixed.

Which of the following is the only Mixed World Heritage Site in India?
A. Sundarbans National Park
B. Khangchendzonga National Park
C. Valley of Flowers
D. Nanda Devi National Park

Q3. (B)
Explanation:

• Khangchendzonga NP ✔
  • Located in Sikkim.
  • Inscribed in 2016.
  • Mixed because:
    • Natural value: glaciers, biodiversity.
    • Cultural value: sacred landscape in Lepcha belief system.
  • Demonstrates link between nature and indigenous cosmology.
• Others:
  • Sundarbans — Natural
  • Valley of Flowers — Natural
  • Nanda Devi — Natural

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Q4. With reference to UNESCO World Heritage recognition in India, consider the following statements:

1. A site can be inscribed as both Cultural and Natural simultaneously under the “Mixed” category.
2. India has more Natural World Heritage Sites than Cultural ones.
3. Khangchendzonga is recognised for both natural and cultural significance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 3 only

Q4. (A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 ✔

A site can be both Cultural and Natural under “Mixed”.

• True — Mixed category exists for dual significance.
• Globally rare category.
• Tests conceptual clarity.

Statement 2 ✖

India has more Natural than Cultural sites.

• Incorrect.
• India: 36 Cultural, 7 Natural, 1 Mixed.

Statement 3 ✔

Khangchendzonga has natural + cultural value.

• True.
• Natural: glaciers, biodiversity.
• Cultural: sacred Lepcha landscape.
• India’s only Mixed WHS (very important fact).

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Q5.Which of the following Indian cities are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Cities?

1. Jaipur
2. Ahmedabad
3. Varanasi
4. Udaipur

Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. (A)
Explanation:

• Jaipur ✔
  • Inscribed in 2019.
  • Planned city with grid layout.
  • Fusion of Rajput & Mughal architecture.
• Ahmedabad ✔
  • Inscribed in 2017.
  • First Indian World Heritage City.
  • Pol housing, Indo-Islamic heritage.
• Varanasi ✖
  • Culturally important but not WH City.
• Udaipur ✖
  • Heritage value but no UNESCO city status.

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