Introduction
Kerala, known as “God’s Own Country”, is a beautiful state in the southwestern part of India, along the Malabar Coast. Its history goes back thousands of years — from ancient Cheras (one of the Sangam age kingdoms) to its role as a hub in the spice trade, which attracted Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British.
Kerala is famous for its lush greenery, Ayurveda, Kathakali dance, Mohiniyattam, houseboats, and backwaters. Malayalam is the official language, and the state has one of the highest literacy rates in India. Kerala is also a leader in tourism, education, healthcare, and remittances from its large diaspora in the Middle East.
MCQs on Kerala
History & Heritage
-
Which ancient kingdom ruled much of Kerala during the Sangam age?
a) Chola
b) Chera ✅
c) Pandya
d) Pallava -
The port of Muziris (Kodungallur) was famous in ancient Kerala for:
a) Silk trade
b) Spice trade ✅
c) Cotton trade
d) Precious stones -
Who was the famous king of Kerala associated with the Onam festival?
a) Mahabali ✅
b) Cheran Senguttuvan
c) Marthanda Varma
d) Shaktan Thampuran -
The Dutch were defeated by Marthanda Varma of Travancore in which battle?
a) Battle of Talikota
b) Battle of Plassey
c) Battle of Colachel ✅
d) Battle of Panipat -
Who is known as the “Maker of Modern Travancore”?
a) Marthanda Varma ✅
b) Rama Varma
c) Veera Kerala Varma
d) Karthika Thirunal -
Which European power first set up a trading base in Kerala?
a) British
b) Portuguese ✅ (Vasco da Gama, Calicut, 1498)
c) Dutch
d) French -
Who built the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram?
a) Marthanda Varma ✅
b) Tippu Sultan
c) Hyder Ali
d) Chera king -
The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25) in Kerala was related to:
a) Salt law
b) Temple entry ✅
c) Tax revolt
d) Freedom of press -
Which Kerala social reformer founded the SNDP Yogam?
a) Narayana Guru ✅
b) Chattampi Swamikal
c) Ayyankali
d) K. Kelappan -
Kerala was formed as a state in independent India in:
a) 1950
b) 1952
c) 1956 ✅ (1 November, States Reorganisation Act)
d) 1960
Geography & Nature
-
Which sea lies to the west of Kerala?
a) Arabian Sea ✅
b) Bay of Bengal
c) Indian Ocean
d) Andaman Sea -
Which is the longest river in Kerala?
a) Bharathapuzha
b) Periyar ✅
c) Pamba
d) Kabini -
Silent Valley in Kerala is famous for:
a) Tea estates
b) Tropical evergreen forests ✅
c) Lakes
d) Coffee plantations -
Kerala shares its borders with which states?
a) Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh
b) Tamil Nadu & Karnataka ✅
c) Andhra Pradesh & Goa
d) Tamil Nadu & Telangana -
Which city is known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”?
a) Kochi ✅
b) Kozhikode
c) Kollam
d) Alappuzha
Language & Literature
-
What is the official language of Kerala?
a) Kannada
b) Malayalam ✅
c) Tamil
d) Tulu -
Who is called the “Father of Malayalam literature”?
a) Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan ✅
b) Kumaran Asan
c) Vallathol Narayana Menon
d) Chandu Menon -
The first Malayalam newspaper was:
a) Malayala Manorama
b) Rajyasamacharam ✅
c) Deepika
d) Mathrubhumi -
Which poet is associated with Kerala’s modern renaissance?
a) Kumaran Asan ✅
b) Kalidasa
c) Subramania Bharati
d) Sarojini Naidu -
The Jnanpith Award-winning Malayalam author M.T. Vasudevan Nair is famous for which novel?
a) Chemmeen
b) Randamoozham ✅
c) Kayar
d) Indulekha
Dance, Art & Culture
-
Which classical dance form originated in Kerala?
a) Bharatanatyam
b) Kathakali ✅
c) Kuchipudi
d) Manipuri -
Mohiniyattam is associated with which state?
a) Kerala ✅
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Odisha
d) Assam -
Which traditional martial art form belongs to Kerala?
a) Silambam
b) Kalaripayattu ✅
c) Gatka
d) Thang-ta -
Vallam Kali in Kerala is:
a) A folk drama
b) A snake boat race ✅
c) A harvest festival
d) A martial art -
The Thrissur Pooram festival is associated with which temple?
a) Guruvayur Temple
b) Vadakkunnathan Temple ✅
c) Padmanabhaswamy Temple
d) Sabarimala
Economy & Business
-
Kerala is the largest producer of which crop in India?
a) Tea
b) Coffee
c) Pepper ✅
d) Cotton -
Which is the most famous export product of Kerala historically?
a) Spices ✅
b) Textiles
c) Gems
d) Iron -
Which Kerala city is a major IT hub, also called “Cyber City”?
a) Kozhikode
b) Thiruvananthapuram (Technopark) ✅
c) Kochi
d) Kollam -
Which Kerala port is India’s first trans-shipment terminal?
a) Vizhinjam ✅
b) Kochi
c) Kollam
d) Kannur -
A large portion of Kerala’s economy comes from:
a) Agriculture
b) Tourism
c) Remittances from Gulf countries ✅
d) Mining
Current & General Knowledge
-
Kerala has India’s highest:
a) Literacy rate ✅
b) Population density
c) Poverty rate
d) Urbanisation rate -
Which is the only airport in Kerala with four terminals?
a) Kannur Airport
b) Cochin International Airport ✅
c) Calicut Airport
d) Trivandrum Airport -
Which Kerala city was declared India’s first digital district?
a) Kollam ✅
b) Kochi
c) Thrissur
d) Alappuzha -
The Kerala Legislative Assembly is located in:
a) Kochi
b) Thiruvananthapuram ✅
c) Kozhikode
d) Alappuzha -
Who is the first man from Kerala to win an Olympic medal?
a) Shiny Wilson
b) Anju Bobby George
c) P. R. Sreejesh ✅
d) K. M. Beenamol - What is the capital of Kerala?
a) Kochi
b) Thiruvananthapuram ✅
c) Kozhikode
d) Kollam
