Sangeet Natak Akademi — Set 3

Correct Answer: A. National School of Drama

• **National School of Drama** = This autonomous institution, originally a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi established in 1959, became independent in 1975. • **India's premier theatre training institute** — NSD, after becoming autonomous, remains India's premier theatre training institute under the Ministry of Culture. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kathak Kendra]: This remains a constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi; [Kutiyattam Kendra]: This is a project or center under the Akademi, not an independent institution; [Kalakshetra]: This is an independent arts academy founded in 1936, not a former unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Correct Answer: B. 40

• **40** = The maximum number of Sangeet Natak Akademi 'Fellows' (Ratnas) at any given point in time is strictly limited to 40. • **Highly exclusive and prestigious** — New fellows are elected only when there is a vacancy due to the passing of an existing fellow, making the title highly exclusive and prestigious. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [30]: This is not the specified limit for the Akademi Fellows; [50]: This is not the specified limit for the Akademi Fellows; [60]: This is not the specified limit for the Akademi Fellows.

Correct Answer: A. Gwahati

• **Guwahati** = This city hosts the 'Sattriya Kendra', a constituent unit of the Akademi established to promote and preserve the Sattriya dance of Assam. • **2000** — Sattriya was recognized as a classical dance in this year, leading to the establishment of the Kendra which focuses on Saint Srimanta Sankardev's traditions. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [New Delhi]: While the Akademi's headquarters are here, Sattriya Kendra is specifically located in Guwahati; [Kolkata]: This city is not the location of the Sattriya Kendra; [Shantiniketan]: This city is known for Rabindranath Tagore's cultural institutions, not the Sattriya Kendra.

Correct Answer: B. Scholarship in Performing Arts

• **Scholarship in Performing Arts** = The Akademi confers awards in this non-performing category, recognizing the work of historians, critics, and theorists who document Indian heritage. • **Academic study** — This award encourages academic study alongside practical performance, acknowledging intellectual contributions to performing arts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Visual Arts]: Awards for visual arts are given by the Lalit Kala Akademi; [Architectural Design]: This is not a category for awards conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi; [Novel writing]: Awards for novel writing are given by the Sahitya Akademi.

Correct Answer: B. Akademi Puraskar

• **Akademi Puraskar** = The Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar has a dedicated category that specifically recognizes contributions to folk, tribal, and traditional arts. • **Rural and indigenous traditions** — This category ensures national recognition for rural and indigenous traditions, including martial arts, folk music, and traditional theatre forms like Yakshagana. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kailash Satyarthi Award]: This award is related to child rights, not folk and tribal arts; [Bharat Ratna]: This is India's highest civilian award, not specific to folk and tribal arts; [Kalidas Samman]: This is an award by the Madhya Pradesh government, not from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for this specific category.

Correct Answer: D. Sahitya Akademi Fellowship

• **Sahitya Akademi Fellowship** = The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship is the highest honor in performing arts, equivalent in status to the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in literature. • **Ultimate validation** — Both are peer-elected honors given to the most distinguished masters, representing the ultimate validation by the artistic community. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Padma Shri]: This is a civilian award, but of a lower status than an Akademi Fellowship; [Padma Vibhushan]: This is a high civilian award, but not a peer-elected fellowship; [Bharat Ratna]: This is India's highest civilian honor, distinct from an Akademi fellowship.

Correct Answer: C. 2000

• **2000** = The Sangeet Natak Akademi officially recognized 'Sattriya' as a classical dance of India in this year. • **500-year-old Vaishnavite tradition** — This recognition was a historic move, acknowledging the ancient 500-year-old Vaishnavite tradition of Assam and making it eligible for classical dance festivals. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [1995]: Sattriya was not granted classical status in this year; [1998]: Sattriya was not granted classical status in this year; [2002]: Sattriya was recognized two years prior to this date.

Correct Answer: B. Seraikella

• **Seraikella** = The 'Centre for Chhau Dance' managed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi is located in Seraikella, Jharkhand. • **Martial origins** — Chhau is a semi-classical dance form with martial origins, practiced across Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, for which the Akademi provides support. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Purulia]: Purulia is one of the distinct styles of Chhau dance, not the location of the Akademi's centre; [Baripada]: Baripada is another distinct style of Chhau dance, not the location of the Akademi's centre; [Bhubaneswar]: This is a major city in Odisha, but the Akademi's specific Chhau Centre is in Seraikella.

Correct Answer: B. Performing Arts Library

• **Performing Arts Library** = The Sangeet Natak Akademi's specialized library in New Delhi is famously known as the Performing Arts Library. • **Major repository** — It serves as a major repository of thousands of rare books, manuscripts, and periodicals on music, dance, and drama for global research scholars. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Arts Library]: This is too general and not its specific famous designation; [Sangeet Pustakalaya]: This translates to 'Music Library' and is not the official or famous name for the entire collection; [Akademi Library]: This is a generic description, not its specific famous designation.

Correct Answer: B. Artiste Assistance Scheme

• **Artiste Assistance Scheme** = This is a scheme of the Akademi that provides financial help to artists, especially those in indigent circumstances or old age. • **Veteran artists** — It particularly targets veteran artists who have dedicated their lives to traditional forms, ensuring a basic livelihood for practitioners lacking modern social security. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Pension Scheme]: While it provides assistance, 'Artiste Assistance Scheme' is the official and more specific term for the Akademi's program; [Akademi Sahayata]: This is a generic term for 'Akademi support' and not the official name of the scheme; [Guru Shishya Parampara]: This refers to a traditional teaching method, not a financial assistance scheme.