SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 17 September 2025, Shift 1 · General Awareness · Question 16 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. From 2025 the candidate response sheet prints every question and option as a picture, so the text here is transcribed from those pictures for this shift and checked against them independently; where the layout carries meaning, the picture is shown as well. Each answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. SSC released a tentative key for challenge and later its final one, both only to candidates behind a login, and the sheet does not say which of the two it carries. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

Vilasini Natyam, once performed in temples and courts, is a classical dance form revived in which Indian state?

(a)Tamil Nadu
(b)Karnataka
(c)Andhra Pradesh
(d)Kerala

Answer

Why

Correct — C. Vilasini Natyam is the dance tradition of the devadasis of Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu temple and court dancers the stem describes.

It nearly died out after the laws against devadasi dedication and was revived by the few dancers who still knew it: option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Tamil Nadu — Tamil Nadu's devadasi dance is the root of Bharatanatyam. That tradition, Sadir, is Tamil. Vilasini Natyam belongs to the Telugu temple and court dancers of Andhra Pradesh.
(b)
Karnataka — Wrong language region. Vilasini Natyam is the art of Telugu temple and court dancers. Karnataka's well-known dance-drama is Yakshagana, a different form.
(d)
Kerala — Kerala's classical forms are Mohiniyattam and Kathakali. Vilasini Natyam is Telugu, from the devadasi tradition of Andhra Pradesh.

Concept

Vilasini Natyam was performed by devadasis in the temples and courts of Andhra Pradesh.

The laws against dedicating devadasis cut off its patronage, and it came close to extinction before surviving dancers passed it on.

Do not confuse it with Kuchipudi, the Andhra Pradesh dance that is on the Sangeet Natak Akademi's classical list.

The stem calls it a classical dance form, which is loose. Vilasini Natyam has not been given Indian classical dance status. The state is still Andhra Pradesh, so the key stands.

Key facts

Vilasini Natyam is the dance tradition of the devadasis of Andhra Pradesh.
It has not yet been given Indian classical dance status.
Swapnasundari, a Padma Bhushan recipient in 2003, wrote 'Vilasini natyam: Bharatam of Telugu temple and court dancers'.
Kuchipudi is Andhra Pradesh's dance on the Sangeet Natak Akademi's list of classical dances.

Study next

The eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and their statesSadir and its reshaping into BharatanatyamKuchipudi and its Bhama Kalapam dance-drama

Common traps

Picking Tamil Nadu because devadasis are linked with Bharatanatyam: Vilasini Natyam is the Telugu tradition.
Taking 'classical' in the stem to mean one of the recognised classical dances: Vilasini Natyam is not on that list, and Kuchipudi is Andhra Pradesh's listed form.

Kuchipudi, the recognised classical dance of the same state, is asked at 24 Sep 2024, 16:00, GA Q.20 (keyed: Andhra Pradesh).

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Topic: Culture — all 246 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.