SSC
How many Indian classical dance forms have been recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi?
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Answer: Option A — 8
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is 8. The Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's national academy for music, dance and drama, recognises eight classical dance forms. They are Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (Uttar Pradesh and North India), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Odissi (Odisha), Manipuri (Manipur), Mohiniyattam (Kerala) and Sattriya (Assam). Sattriya was the last to be added, in 2000.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi was set up by the Government of India in 1952 and is based in New Delhi. It promotes the performing arts, gives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Fellowships (the Akademi Ratna), supports research, and runs institutions such as the National School of Drama (in its early years) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal. To be recognised as classical, a dance form is generally expected to have its roots in the Natyashastra, a long and continuous tradition, a codified technique and an established system of training.
It is important to know that different official sources give different numbers. The Ministry of Culture of the Government of India lists nine classical dance forms, because it also includes Chhau, the semi-classical masked dance of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. In exams, if the question specifically mentions the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the answer is eight. If it mentions the Ministry of Culture, the answer is usually nine.
About the other options:
- 6 and 7 are too few, since eight forms are recognised.
- 11 is too many and does not match any official list.
- Kerala is the only state with two recognised classical dances: Kathakali and Mohiniyattam.
💡 Exam tip
Learn the eight classical dances with their states, and remember three related facts: Sattriya was added last (2000), Kerala has two classical dances, and the Ministry of Culture's list of nine includes Chhau.💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.