Q1. Who is credited with inventing the phonograph?
A. Alexander Graham Bell
B. Emile Berliner
C. Thomas Edison
D. Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville
Answer: C. Thomas Edison
Q2. In what year was the phonograph invented by Thomas Edison?
A. 1877
B. 1880
C. 1887
D. 1890
Answer: A. 1877
Q3. What was the recording medium used in Edison’s original phonograph?
A. Wax cylinder
B. Flat disc
C. Tinfoil wrapped around a cylinder
D. Shellac disc
Answer: C. Tinfoil wrapped around a cylinder
Q1. What is the primary traditional use of the pungi in Indian culture?
A. Playing in classical concerts
B. Accompanying snake charming performances
C. Performing at weddings and temples
D. Leading military bands
Answer: B. Accompanying snake charming performances
Q2. The pungi is classified as which type of musical instrument?
A. String instrument
B. Percussion instrument
C. Wind aerophone
D. Keyboard instrument
Answer: C. Wind aerophone
Q3. What material is commonly used for the air reservoir of a traditional pungi?
A. Metal bell
B. Dried bottle gourd
C. Wooden body
D. Plastic tube
Answer: B. Dried bottle gourd
Geopolitics & World News Involving India (10 Questions)
Q1. On 8 January 2026, reports emerged that India’s finance ministry plans to scrap restrictions on which country’s firms bidding for government contracts?
A) Russia
B) United States
C) China
D) Pakistan
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The restrictions, imposed five years ago amid border tensions, are being lifted to revive commercial ties with China.
Q2. U.S. President Donald Trump backed a Bill on 8 January 2026 mandating up to 500% tariffs on countries buying which commodity from Russia?
A) Natural Gas
B) Oil
C) Wheat
D) Arms
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: This puts pressure on India, a major buyer of discounted Russian oil, amid ongoing energy security concerns.
Q3. Which international event in India will feature European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa as chief guests in January 2026?
A) Vibrant Gujarat Summit
B) G20 Summit
C) Republic Day Celebrations
D) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: They will attend India’s Republic Day on 26 January 2026, highlighting strengthened India-EU ties.
Q1. What is the primary musical tradition in which the sarod is prominently used?
A. Carnatic classical music
B. Hindustani classical music
C. Western orchestral music
D. Folk music of South India
Answer: B Hindustani classical music
Q2. The sarod is known for producing a sound that is described as:
A. Sweet and overtone-rich like the sitar
B. Bright and piercing like the violin
C. Deep, weighty, and introspective
D. Nasal and reedy like the shehnai
Answer: C. Deep, weighty, and introspective
Q3. The sarod is a fretless instrument, which allows for:
A. Rapid chord strumming
B. Continuous slides between notes (meend or glissandi)
C. Fixed fretted positions only
D. Bowed playing technique
Answer: B. Continuous slides between notes (meend or glissandi)
Q1. What type of musical instrument is the shehnai classified as?
A. Stringed instrument
B. Percussion instrument
C. Double-reed woodwind instrument
D. Single-reed brass instrument
Answer: C. Double-reed woodwind instrument
Q2. The shehnai is primarily associated with which region of India?
A. South India
B. North India
C. East India
D. West India
Answer: B. North India
Q3. What material is the body of a traditional shehnai typically made from?
A. Metal
B. Bamboo
C. Wood
D. Plastic
Answer: C. Wood
Q1. On January 7, 2026, the US forces seized oil tankers linked to which country as part of efforts to control its oil industry?
A) Iran
B) Russia
C) Venezuela
D) Yemen
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: US forces seized multiple Venezuela-linked tankers, amid escalating operations under the Trump administration.
Q2. Which leader’s capture or related operations were debated in Washington on January 7, 2026?
A) Nicolas Maduro
B) Vladimir Putin
C) Xi Jinping
D) Kim Jong-un
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Debates continued over the US operation involving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Q3. The Trump administration reiterated interest in acquiring which territory on or around January 7, 2026?
A) Puerto Rico
B) Greenland
C) Alaska
D) Hawaii
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Discussions on acquiring Greenland continued, with military options mentioned as possible.
Q1. What does the name “Ektara” literally mean in Sanskrit-derived languages?
A. Two strings
B. One string
C. Many strings
D. Bamboo lute
Answer: B. One string
Q2. The Ektara is primarily classified as which type of musical instrument?
A. Stringed drone lute
B. Percussion instrument
C. Wind instrument
D. Bowed instrument
Answer: A. Stringed drone lute
Q3. Which material is most commonly used for the resonator body of a traditional Ektara?
A. Metal bowl
B. Plastic container
C. Dried bottle gourd
D. Solid wood block
Answer: C. Dried bottle gourd
Q1. What is the Guzheng commonly known as in English?
A. Chinese harp
B. Chinese zither
C. Chinese lute
D. Chinese flute
Answer: B. Chinese zither
Q2. Approximately how many years of history does the Guzheng have?
A. About 500 years
B. About 1,000 years
C. Over 2,500 years
D. About 3,000 years
Answer: C. Over 2,500 years
Q3. During which ancient Chinese period did the Guzheng originate?
A. Warring States Period
B. Han Dynasty
C. Tang Dynasty
D. Ming Dynasty
Answer: A. Warring States Period
Geopolitics & World News (Questions 1-9)
Q1. On 6 January 2026, which event marked the fifth anniversary of the US Capitol attack?
A) Inauguration of President Trump
B) January 6, 2021 Capitol riot
C) US midterm elections
D) Impeachment trial of former officials
Answer: B.
Explanation: 6 January 2026 commemorated the fifth anniversary of the 2021 Capitol riot by Trump supporters attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.
Q2. Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a US court on 6 January 2026 for what charges?
A) Election fraud
B) Corruption in oil deals
C) Human rights violations
D) Drug and weapons charges
Answer: D.
Explanation: They pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges following their capture by US forces.
Q3. President Trump’s administration on 6 January 2026 launched a website blaming whom for the January 6, 2021 events?
A) Democratic lawmakers
B) Foreign interference
C) Capitol Police
D) Media outlets
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The White House site claimed Capitol Police turned a peaceful demonstration into chaos, rewriting the narrative of the 2021 riot.
Q1. What is the primary musical tradition in which the sitar is predominantly used?
A. Carnatic classical music
B. Hindustani classical music
C. Sufi devotional music
D. Folk music of South India
Answer: B. Hindustani classical music
Q2. The sitar is believed to have evolved from which ancient Indian instrument?
A. Tanpura
B. Sarod
C. Veena
D. Tabla
Answer: C. Veena
Q3. Approximately how many strings does a standard sitar have in total?
A. 7-10
B. 11-13
C. 18-21
D. 25-30
Answer: C. 18-21