Sangeet Natak Akademi — Set 1

Correct Answer: A. 1953

• **1953** = The Sangeet Natak Akademi was officially set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Education. • **1953** — Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, inaugurated it. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: '1952': Incorrect year of establishment; '1950': Incorrect year of establishment; '1955': Incorrect year of establishment.

Correct Answer: A. P.V. Rajamannar

• **P.V. Rajamannar** = He served as the first Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. • **Five years** — The Chairman is appointed by the President of India for this term. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Dr. S. Radhakrishnan': He was the second President of India, not the first Chairman; 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad': He was the first Education Minister, not the Chairman; 'Humayun Kabir': He was also an education minister but not the first Chairman.

Correct Answer: D. New Delhi

• **New Delhi** = The headquarters of the Sangeet Natak Akademi is located in Rabindra Bhavan. • **Rabindra Bhavan** — This building also houses the Sahitya Akademi and the Lalit Kala Akademi. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Mumbai': Incorrect location for the headquarters; 'Kolkata': Incorrect location for the headquarters; 'Chennai': Incorrect location for the headquarters.

Correct Answer: A. Akademi Ratna

• **Akademi Ratna** = This, also known as Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, is the most prestigious award. • **40** — This honor is restricted to only this many living individuals at any given time. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Akademi Puraskar': This is a regular award, not the highest honor; 'Yuva Puraskar': This award is for young artists, not the highest honor; 'Tagore Ratna': This was a special, one-time award, not the highest regular honor.

Correct Answer: D. Kathak Kendra

• **Kathak Kendra** = This is a constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi dedicated to Kathak dance. • **New Delhi** — Kathak Kendra is located here and provides advanced training and research opportunities. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Sattriya Kendra': This is dedicated to Sattriya dance; 'Kutiyattam Kendra': This is dedicated to Kutiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre form; 'Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy': This is dedicated to Manipuri dance.

Correct Answer: A. 40 years

• **40 years** = The 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' is awarded to artists below this age. • **2006** — This award was introduced in this year to encourage young talent in performing arts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: '35 years': This is not the specified age limit for the award; '45 years': This is not the specified age limit for the award; '30 years': This is not the specified age limit for the award.

Correct Answer: D. Preserving performing arts

• **Preserving performing arts** = This is the primary objective of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. • **Music, dance, and drama** — The Akademi works towards the promotion and preservation of India's diverse traditions in these art forms. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Promoting sports': This is handled by sports authorities, not the Akademi; 'Teaching literature': This is the domain of the Sahitya Akademi; 'Regulating cinema': This is handled by the Central Board of Film Certification and related bodies.

Correct Answer: A. Ministry of Culture

• **Ministry of Culture** = This ministry provides functional and financial support to the Sangeet Natak Akademi. • **Autonomous body** — The Sangeet Natak Akademi functions as an autonomous body under this ministry. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Ministry of Education': While initially set up under it, it now falls under the Ministry of Culture; 'Ministry of Home Affairs': This ministry handles internal security and administration, not culture; 'Ministry of Information and Broadcasting': This ministry deals with media and broadcasting, not performing arts directly.

Correct Answer: D. 8

• **8** = This is the number of classical dance categories initially recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. • **Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, and Sattriya** — These are the eight officially recognized classical dance forms. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: '6': This is fewer than the officially recognized number; '7': This is fewer than the officially recognized number; '9': While Chhau is sometimes considered, the initial and core list maintained by the Akademi is eight.

Correct Answer: A. Kutiyattam Kendra

• **Kutiyattam Kendra** = This specialized research unit of the Akademi is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. • **Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala** — This Kendra was established here to preserve and promote the ancient Sanskrit theatre of the state. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 'Kathak Kendra': Located in New Delhi, for Kathak dance; 'Sattriya Kendra': Located in Guwahati, Assam, for Sattriya dance; 'Chhau Kendra': Located in Baripada, Mayurbhanj, for Chhau dance.