54 practice questions on Theatre & Puppetry from the Art & Culture section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
54 come with a written explanation.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
13 Easy29 Medium12 Hard
Sample questions
Q1
hard
Match the traditional theatre/puppetry form with its home region:
A. Kutiyattam 1. Kerala
B. Tholu Bommalata 2. Andhra Pradesh
C. Yakshagana 3. Karnataka
D. Ankia Naat 4. Assam
Select the correct answer:
AA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
BA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
CA-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
DA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
Kutiyattam is the Sanskrit theatre of Kerala (a UNESCO intangible heritage). Tholu Bommalata is leather shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh. Yakshagana is the dance-drama of coastal Karnataka. Ankia Naat is the one-act Vaishnava play of Assam written by Sankaradeva.
Q2
medium
Consider the following pairs of traditional theatre forms and their home states:
1. Koodiyattam : Kerala
2. Bhavai : Gujarat
3. Yakshagana : Karnataka
How many pairs are correctly matched?
AOnly one
BOnly two
CAll three
DNone
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - All three
All three are correct. Koodiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre form inscribed by UNESCO, belongs to Kerala. Bhavai is the folk theatre of Gujarat (and parts of Rajasthan). Yakshagana, the vibrant night-long dance-drama, is from Karnataka, especially its coastal districts.
Q3
easy
Koodiyattam, recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, is a form of:
ASanskrit theatre traditionally staged in temple theatres (kuttampalams) of Kerala
BFolk shadow puppetry of Karnataka
CA martial dance-drama of Manipur
DA devotional ballad tradition of Rajasthan
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - Sanskrit theatre traditionally staged in temple theatres (kuttampalams) of Kerala
Koodiyattam is among the oldest surviving traditions of Sanskrit theatre, performed in dedicated temple theatres called kuttampalams in Kerala, with the Chakyar actors and Nangiar performers. It was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage in 2001. It is neither puppetry, a Manipuri martial form, nor a Rajasthani ballad.
Q4
medium
Consider the following pairs of glove-and-rod / shadow puppetry traditions and their associated regions:
1. Tholu Bommalata : Andhra Pradesh
2. Ravanachhaya : Odisha
3. Pavakathakali : Kerala
4. Kundhei : Rajasthan
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
AOnly one pair
BOnly two pairs
COnly three pairs
DAll four pairs
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Only three pairs
Tholu Bommalata is the leather shadow-puppet tradition of Andhra Pradesh (correct). Ravanachhaya is the shadow-puppet form of Odisha (correct). Pavakathakali is a glove-puppet form of Kerala that mimics Kathakali (correct). Kundhei is the string-puppet tradition of ODISHA, not Rajasthan; Rajasthan's string puppets are called Kathputli. Hence exactly three pairs are correct.
Q5
easy
Kathputli, the famous string-puppet tradition, is most strongly associated with which state?
ARajasthan
BOdisha
CManipur
DPunjab
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - Rajasthan
Kathputli is the wooden string-puppet (marionette) tradition associated with Rajasthan, performed to ballads of folk heroes. Odisha is better known for its own puppet forms (e.g., Sakhi Kandhei rod/string puppets) but the iconic Kathputli is Rajasthani. Manipur and Punjab are not the home of the Kathputli tradition.
Q6
hard
Match the puppetry tradition with its correct type and region:
A. Tholu Bommalata
B. Kathputli
C. Pavakathakali
D. Putul Nautch
1. String puppetry, Rajasthan
2. Leather shadow puppetry, Andhra Pradesh
3. Glove puppetry, Kerala
4. Rod puppetry, West Bengal
AA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
BA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
CA-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
DA-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
Tholu Bommalata is the leather shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh; Kathputli is the famous string puppetry of Rajasthan; Pavakathakali is the glove-puppet form of Kerala that mimics Kathakali; and Putul Nautch refers to the rod-puppet tradition of West Bengal. Each pairing here matches the established type and region.
Q7
medium
Which one of the following correctly describes the traditional theatre form 'Yakshagana'?
AA vibrant dance-drama of Karnataka combining music, dance, dialogue and elaborate costumes, often depicting episodes from the epics
BA shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh using translucent leather figures
CA martial dance-theatre of Kerala performed only by temple priests
DA satirical street theatre of Maharashtra performed during the monsoon
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - A vibrant dance-drama of Karnataka combining music, dance, dialogue and elaborate costumes, often depicting episodes from the epics
Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of coastal Karnataka that integrates music, dance, spoken dialogue, ornate costumes and vivid make-up to enact stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. The other options describe Tholu Bommalata (Andhra shadow puppetry), and fictionalised/incorrect descriptions; Kerala's ritual dance-drama is Kathakali, not the one described.
Q8
hard
Match the following traditional theatre/puppetry forms with their regions:
A. Tholu Bommalata 1. Andhra Pradesh
B. Kathputli 2. Rajasthan
C. Ankia Nat 3. Assam
D. Yakshagana 4. Karnataka
Select the correct answer:
AA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
BA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
CA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
DA-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
Tholu Bommalata is the leather shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh. Kathputli is the string-puppet tradition of Rajasthan. Ankia Nat is the one-act devotional theatre composed by Sankaradeva in Assam. Yakshagana is the vibrant dance-drama of coastal Karnataka. The correct matching is A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4.
Practice all 54 Theatre & Puppetry questions free
Timed practice, instant scoring, and explanations for every question. Free forever - no card, no catch.