SSC CGL 2024 Tier-I · 25 September 2024, Shift 1 · General Awareness · Question 11 of 100

Text as printed on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; answer per SSC's tentative key as marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 10 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. The questions and options here are reproduced as printed on a candidate's own response sheet for this shift — the Commission's text, unchanged. Each answer is SSC's tentative key as marked on that sheet; SSC allowed challenges to it and never publishes a final key. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

Ishwari Prasad is credited to have introduced the ________ Gharana of Kathak.

(a)Raigarh
(b)Jaipur
(c)Banaras
(d)Lucknow

Answer

Why

Correct — D. Kathak gharanas are named for the courts that housed them, and the Lucknow gharana traces its line to Ishwari Prasad, whose descendants carried the family style from the Allahabad region to Lucknow.

There it was taken up at the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh, and it became the gharana of Bindadin Maharaj, Achhan Maharaj and Birju Maharaj.

The blank takes Lucknow, option (d).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Raigarh — The Raigarh gharana is the youngest of the four and was built around the court of Raja Chakradhar Singh of Raigarh in Chhattisgarh. Its founding name is his, not Ishwari Prasad's.
(b)
Jaipur — The Jaipur gharana is traced to Bhanuji and grew under Rajput patronage, and it is known for fast footwork and layakari. Its lineage does not run back to Ishwari Prasad.
(c)
Banaras — The Banaras gharana is credited to Janakiprasad, who gave it the natwari bols it uses. That is a separate lineage from the Lucknow one the key names.

Concept

Kathak is the classical dance of north India, built on storytelling, spins and rhythmic footwork set to a tala.

It is taught in named gharanas, each carrying the taste of the court that kept it. Lucknow grew under the Nawabs of Awadh and leans on abhinaya, grace and expression. Jaipur grew under Rajput courts and leans on speed and rhythmic play.

SSC asks the founder-to-gharana map, so hold three pairs: Ishwari Prasad with Lucknow, Bhanuji with Jaipur, Janakiprasad with Banaras.

Founding names in Kathak come down through oral lineage rather than dated record, so treat Ishwari Prasad as the traditional founder the syllabus recognises rather than a firmly dated figure.

Note also that gharana is used for both dance and music. The vocal gharanas, Kirana and Gwalior and Agra, are a different list of names.

Key facts

The Lucknow gharana of Kathak traces its founding to Ishwari Prasad.
It developed under the patronage of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh.
Bindadin Maharaj, Achhan Maharaj and Birju Maharaj belong to the Lucknow gharana.
The Raigarh gharana grew around the court of Raja Chakradhar Singh in Chhattisgarh.

Study next

The gharanas of Kathak and the founder and court attached to eachThe eight classical dance forms of India and the region each is rooted inVocal gharanas of Hindustani music such as Kirana, Gwalior and Agra

Common traps

Choosing Jaipur because it is the Kathak centre most often named for footwork.
Mixing dance gharanas with vocal gharanas, which are a separate list.
Assuming Banaras must win because Kathak began as temple storytelling in the north.

SSC runs the gharana stem across both dance and music. The vocal versions key Gangubai Hangal to Kirana at 24 Sep 2024, 16:00, GA Q.1 and Ali Akbar Khan to Maihar at 19 Sep 2024, 16:00, GA Q.10.

Kathak itself is asked through performers at 17 Sep 2024, 09:00, GA Q.9, which keys Rohini Bhate, and through institutions at 10 Sep 2024, 16:00, GA Q.25 on the National Institute of Kathak Dance.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.