UPSC Prelims 2009 Q93: Art & Culture – Cultural Institutions & Awards
Consider the following statements :
1. The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
2. The highest honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer is by electing him its Fellow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Checking two claims about cultural academies
These statements examine the origins and honours of India's major cultural institutions.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. National School of Drama set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959 | Correct | The NSD was indeed established in 1959 as an initiative of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, before later becoming an independent, autonomous body |
| 2. Sahitya Akademi's highest honour is electing a writer as its Fellow | Correct | The Sahitya Akademi Fellowship is indeed its highest honour, conferred on distinguished writers |
Cultural academy facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| National School of Drama | Set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959 |
| Sahitya Akademi Fellowship | Its highest honour, for distinguished writers |
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 2 (Sahitya Akademi Fellowship) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 1 (NSD's 1959 founding by Sangeet Natak Akademi) is also correct, so '2 only' is incomplete.
- (c) CORRECT. Both the NSD's founding by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959 and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship's highest-honour status are accurate.
- (d) Incorrect. Since both statements are accurate, 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
The National School of Drama was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959, AND the Sahitya Akademi's highest honour is electing a writer as its Fellow — both statements are accurate.
Remember
National School of Drama: set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959. Sahitya Akademi's highest honour: electing a writer as its Fellow.
Common mistakes
- Not knowing the NSD's founding link to the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
- Missing the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship's status as the Akademi's highest honour.
- Assuming only one of two plausible-sounding cultural-institution facts can be true at once.
Exam tip
NSD (1959) was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sahitya Akademi Fellowship = its highest honour for distinguished writers. Both facts hold together.
Sources
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Annual Report (establishment of the National School of Drama, 1959)
- National School of Drama — About NSD