UPSC Prelims 2014— Question 7

Correct answer: Option D. Kalaripayattu is a traditional martial art of Kerala and the broader southern Indian cultural region. It includes systems of physical training, weapon practice and unarmed combat, and is distinct from a dance-drama, religious sect or metalworking tradition. Option A: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “It is an ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism still prevalent in some parts of South India” Option B: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “It is an ancient style bronze and brass work still found in southern part of Coromandel area” Option C: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “It is an ancient form of dance-drama and a living tradition in the northern part of Malabar” Option D: Correct. This option is consistent with the governing fact or the valid combination identified in the question. The option reads: “It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India” The key Prelims lesson is to test each proposition independently before selecting the combination. Where the question uses words such as 'only', 'all', 'none', 'always' or a precise institutional/geographical association, a single inaccurate component is sufficient to eliminate the option. The answer recorded here follows the official answer key for the question-paper series represented by the uploaded source and has been cross-checked against an independent published key. The explanation is intended for conceptual revision rather than as a reproduction of any third-party solution.