UPSC Essentials | Daily subject quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Women’s Cricket, Zionism, UNESCO Cities, and more (Week 129 and Week 130)

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

—  It was on October 31, 1976 that 11 Indian women, led by Shantha Rangaswamy, strode onto the centre at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore to play a sport which had by then become a craze in the country because of their male counterparts. The three-day Test against the touring West Indian team, which ended in a draw, was the first international outing for the Indian women, and leg-spinner Shubanghi Kulkarni ensured that it was a memorable one, finishing with figures of 5-48. Behroze Edulji opened the bowling, and was part of a famous sister-act with her more illustrious sibling, Diana.

— Indian women played their first test in 1976 and their first One Day International (ODI) in 1978. But it is not even 20 years since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recognised women’s cricket. In 2006, the Women’s Cricket Association of India merged with the BCCI, a year after the Indian team reached the World Cup final, finishing as runners-up. The second time that the Indian team reached a World Cup final, they lost by a mere nine runs against England in 2017. India won the world cup in 2025.

Therefore, c is the correct answer.

India vs South Africa Women’s World Cup Final Live Cricket Score Updates: India have won their first ever Women’s World Cup title. (Express Photo by Narendra Vaskar)

(For more, refer: Chasing glory, minus the frenzy, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 2

Unguarded is the autobiography of which cricketer?

(a) Mithali Raj

(b) Anjum Chopra 

(c) Jhulan Goswami

(d) None of the above

Explanation

— Mithali Raj’s autobiography , ‘Unguarded’, provides a candid and revealing look into her personal and sporting life.

Mithali Raj (Image Source: AP)

Therefore, a is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Mithali Raj’s autobiography to hit stands in 2018, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 3

“It is believed that the 16th-century monument was built in parts by the Mughal emperor Humayun and the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. The first excavation at the site was carried out by archaeologist B. B. Lal in 1954.”

Which is the monument that the above lines mention?

(a) Rohtas fort

(b) Shergarh fort

(c) Adilabad fort

(d) None of the above

Explanation

— Over the last seven decades, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has carried out seven rounds of excavations at Purana Qila for evidence that would establish a link between the area and the events described in the Mahabharata.

— It is believed that the 16th century fort, built in parts by the Mughal emperor Humayun and the Afghan Sher Shah Suri, stands at the site of the city of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas.

— The first excavation at the site was carried out by archaeologist B B Lal in 1954, but it was not until 2014 that the ASI discovered fragments of pottery known as Painted Grey Ware or PGW that is typical of the Iron Age Indo-Aryan culture of the western Gangetic plain and the Ghaggar-Hakra valley, and is usually dated between c. 1100 BCE and c. 500-400 BCE.

Therefore, d is the correct answer.

View of the site excavated in 2014 and 2017 (ANI Photo)

(For more, refer: The search for Indraprastha – What archaeology says about the links of Delhi with the ancient capital of the Pandavas by Adrija Roychowdhury, Research, The Indian Express)

QUESTION 4

Which of the following pottery is typical of the Iron Age Indo-Aryan culture of the western Gangetic plain and the Ghaggar-Hakra valley?

(a) Northern Black Polished Ware

(b) Ochre Coloured Pottery

(c) Painted Grey Ware 

(d) Black and Red Ware

Explanation

— The first excavation Purana Qila was carried out by archaeologist B B Lal in 1954, but it was not until 2014 that the ASI discovered fragments of pottery known as Painted Grey Ware or PGW that is typical of the Iron Age Indo-Aryan culture of the western Gangetic plain and the Ghaggar-Hakra valley, and is usually dated between c. 1100 BCE and c. 500-400 BCE.

Therefore, c is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: The search for Indraprastha – What archaeology says about the links of Delhi with the ancient capital of the Pandavas by Adrija Roychowdhury, Research, The Indian Express)

QUESTION 5

The ‘Gagging Act’ in India was first passed under which Viceroy during the British rule?

(a) Lord Lytton

(b) Lord Linlithgow

(c) Lord Irwin

(d) Lord Curzon

Explanation

Gagging Act of India, Lyttelton. Source: National Library of New Zealand Times, Volume VIII, Issue 529, 28 November 1857

— During the reign of the British empire there were several Acts passed as stringent curbs over the Indian Press. Prior to the rumblings of the 1857 mutiny, the Press was fiercely involved in rallying the masses, and inevitably, the British government was increasingly becoming apprehensive about the Press’ freedom. Through the newspapers, a nationalistic rebellion was slowly being pieced together through words and symbols. In view of this, the “Gagging Act” was passed by Lord Lytton, which was driven to curtail and control the Indian publications’ content. The Act compelled all Indian publications to apply for a license from the government, while also ensuring that nothing was written against the British government, nor was the government challenged in any measure.

Therefore, a is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: A pre-Independence history of press freedom in India, Research, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 6

With reference to ‘Zionism’, consider the following statements:

1. It was a movement that sought to establish a Jewish homeland that would be openly recognised and legally secure.  

2. The idea first emerged in India in the late 19th century among the Jewish literate community and later travelled to Europe, where it was opposed by the governments.

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

Explanation

— Zionism, which evolved in the late 19th century, argued that Jews needed a homeland of their own, especially in response to widespread antisemitism in Eastern Europe. But many, like the Jews in Western Europe, were opposed to the idea of a separate state.

— The second statement is incorrect as the idea did not emerge in India.

Therefore, a is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Not all Jews support Zionism or the state of Israel, here’s why, Research, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 7

With reference to ‘Jana Gana Mana’, consider the following statements:

1. On December 27, 1911, it was first sung at the Calcutta session of the Congress.

2. It was adopted as the country’s National Anthem by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950, the last day of its last session.

Which of the above given statements is are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— On December 27, 1911, the National Anthem was first sung at the Calcutta session of the Congress.

Therefore, c is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: The importance of December 27 for India’s National Anthem, Explained, The Indian Express)

QUESTION 8

Which two cities are part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Gastronomy?

(a) Delhi and Kolkata

(b) Hyderabad and Lucknow

(c) Lucknow and Delhi

(d) Hyderabad and Kolkata

Explanation

— Lucknow has made it to the list of UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, bringing Awadh’s rich and decadent flavours under the global spotlight. The recognition celebrates India and the South Asian diaspora’s culinary heritage and centuries-old traditions surrounding food.

— Following Hyderabad, which received the honour in 2019, Lucknow became the second Indian city to join the network of 408 Creative Cities across more than 100 countries – each recognised for excellence in Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, Music, and the newly added Architecture. The announcement was made on 31st October, as part of the 58 additions to the Creative Cities Network made this year.

Therefore, b is the correct answer.

Kebabs are a specialty of Lucknow. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

(For more, refer: Lucknow receives UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ honour, spotlights Awadh’s rich and historic cuisine, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 9

‘It details the items bought by a Greek shipper from a Cochin merchant, spanning spices, elephant tusks, and nard (a holy perfume).’

What does the above line refer to?

(a) Rehla

(b) Muziris Papyrus

(c) The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

(d) Yuktikalpataru

Explanation

— William Dalrymple was in conversation with historian Anirudh Kanisetti at the preview of his next book, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World (Rs 999, Bloomsbury) in 2024 discussing India’s western and eastern coasts interacting with the world, how Buddhism and the number ‘zero’ originated from the country to travel the globe, and why this cultural influence slowed after the 13th century.

— The story began with how Ancient Rome’s gold helped develop south India, with massive coin hoards still being discovered in present-day Kerala. A document called Muziris Papyrus details the items bought by a Greek shipper from a Cochin merchant, spanning spices, elephant tusks, and nard (a holy perfume). “A third of the Roman imperial budget,” emphasised Dalrymple, “came from the customs’ take on the Red Sea. The value of one shipment was enough to make you one of the richest men in the Roman empire.”

Therefore, b is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: How Ancient India changed the world by Udbhav Seth, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 10

‘Veeragallu’ refers to:

(a) Martial art

(b) Ancient port city 

(c) Tamil manuscripts

(d) Memorial stones

Explanation

The easiest of these two to find is located among the greenery near the Bandstand, commemorating a long-dead local hero, with four figures displayed in the form of a bas-relief sculpture. (Express photo by Jithendra M)

— They are memorial stones commemorating the deaths of heroes on battles. According to The Indian Express article:

“All around Lalbagh, the eyes of visitors are drawn by some of the well-known attractions the garden has to offer – the Glass House, the Kempe Gowda Tower, and the British-era Bandstand, to name a few. But records of the area’s ancient history are hiding in plain sight on two carved rocks – known as ‘veeragallu’ or ‘hero stones’.

Therefore, d is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Know Your City — Stones sitting in plain sight, telling the tales of Bengaluru’s bygone eras by Arnav Chandrasekhar, The Indian Express.)

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