✅ Answer: C — The Carnatic music Trinity comprises Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri — all contemporaries from the late 18th/early 19th century.

✅ Answer: B — The Gwalior gharana is considered the oldest and most influential gharana of Hindustani classical music, known for its khayal style.

✅ Answer: C — The tabla is a membranophone — a percussion instrument where sound is produced by a vibrating membrane (skin).

✅ Answer: A — Raga Bhairav is traditionally performed in the early morning (sunrise). Yaman is an evening raga; Bhairavi is performed at the end of a concert; Darbari is a late-night raga.

✅ Answer: C — Ustad Bismillah Khan is the most celebrated shehnai player in Indian classical music. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001.

✅ Answer: B — The mridangam is the primary percussion instrument of Carnatic classical music, equivalent to the tabla in Hindustani music.

✅ Answer: B — Purandaradasa (1484–1564 CE) is considered the “Pitamaha” (grandfather) of Carnatic classical music. He systematised the teaching of Carnatic music and composed thousands of compositions.

✅ Answer: C — Baul music is a mystical folk music tradition of West Bengal (and Bangladesh), associated with wandering minstrels (Bauls) who blend Sufi and Vaishnava devotional traditions. It is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

✅ Answer: B — The veena (specifically the Saraswati veena) is the primary chordophone of Carnatic classical music. The sitar and sarod are the primary chordophones of Hindustani music.

✅ Answer: C — Teentaal (also written Tintal) has 16 beats (matras) divided into 4 vibhags of 4 beats each. It is the most commonly used tala in Hindustani classical music.