UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Hemis festival, AB-PMJAY and more (Week 55)

1. It aims to achieve universal health coverage and substantially decrease out-of-pocket healthcare expenses among the poor.

2. The scheme offers up to Rs 10 lakh annually per family for hospitalisations.

3. The scheme is completely funded by the Centre for all the states.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Hemis festival, consider the following statements:

1. The festival is celebrated at a monastery in Ladakh.

2. Locally, it is also known as Tse-Chu.

3. During the festival, cham dance is performed by some members of the Tibetan Buddhist community.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

The sacred ensembles of Hoysalas inscribed on UNESCO world heritage list. Which of the following temples is not a part of Hoysala Temples?

(a) Chennakeshava Temple

(b) Achyutraya Temple

(c) Hoysaleswara Temple

(d) Keshava Temple

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. It was related to the temple entry of marginalised castes into the temples of the state.

2. The movement got the support of C Rajagopalachari.

3. The movement was restricted to the province of Travancore.

The above-mentioned statements refer to which movement?

(a) Vaikom satyagraha

(b) Shree Narayan Guru Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Movement

(c) Self Respect Movement

(d) Kandukuri Veeresalingam Reforms

QUESTION 5

With reference to a GI tag product, consider the following statements:

1. Odisha has received a geographical indication (GI) tag for this product.

2. In this art, the bricks of metal are transformed into thin fine wires or foils and used to create jewellery or showpieces.

3. It is known to have existed as far back as the 12th century.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Tarkashi

(b) Brass Metal Craft

(c) Bronzeware

(d) Silver filigree

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (a)

FYI:

— On Sunday (April 14), releasing its election manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised to expand its Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance scheme to cover senior citizens.

— Over six years since the Centre’s flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched in 2018, two-thirds of the total money spent under the scheme each year went to private hospitals across the country.

— The scheme is jointly funded by the Centre and the states in the ratio 60:40 (90:10 in the case of North-East and hilly states). Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— AB-PMJAY aims to achieve universal health coverage and substantially decrease out-of-pocket healthcare expenses among the poor, for whom a health emergency often leads to further impoverishment and debts. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana together have just 17 per cent of Ayushman cards nationwide, but account for a substantial 53 per cent of the total patients in the country.

— The cashless and paperless scheme offers up to Rs 5 lakh annually per family for hospitalisations in 27,000 empanelled secondary (hospitals with basic specialties including medicine, gynaecology) and tertiary (super-specialty, like neurosurgery, cardiology, orthopaedics) healthcare facilities, with the benefits extending nationwide and without restrictions on family size, age, or gender. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

2. (c)

FYI:

— The Hemis festival is one of the biggest and most important festivals of Ladakh. The annual Buddhist festival is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar, which falls in June or July as per the Gregorian calendar.

— It is also known as Tse-Chu, people dress up in traditional ensembles, enjoy local cuisines, and partake in various religious ceremonies. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This festival is celebrated at Hemis Gompa, a popular monastery in Ladakh. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— During the festival, Cham dance is performed by some members of the Tibetan Buddhist community wearing vibrant costumes, masks, and headgears. It is believed that each mask signifies the victory of good over evil. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Chang is a local liquor that is also enjoyed during the celebrations, and exhibitions are organised that display Thangka paintings along with exquisite handicrafts and gemstones.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

3. (b)

FYI:

— Three Hoysala-era temples in Karnataka recently made it to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, under the collective entry of ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’.

— The three temples include the Chennakeshava temple in Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, and the Keshava Temple in Somanathapura.

— The temples were built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the three temples selected for the UNESCO list are important not just because they demonstrate their builders’ superior skill, but also because they narrate the tale of the politics that shaped them.

— The Hoysalas held power in Karnataka from the 10th century to the 14th century.

— The dynasty began as provincial governors under the Western Chalukyas, but as the two dominant empires of the South, the Western Chalukyas and the Cholas, crumbled, the Hoysalas established themselves as rulers.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (a)

FYI:

— On March 30, 1924, the temple town of Vaikom in the princely state of Travancore, a non-violent agitation started which marked the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country.

— The reason behind the movement was caste discrimination and untouchability across India, with some of the most rigid and dehumanising norms documented in Travancore. Lower castes like the Ezhavas and Pulayas were considered polluting and various rules were in place to distance them from upper castes.

— Leaders such as Periyar, who was arrested multiple times, and C Rajagopalachari came to Vaikom to offer support and lead the protesters.

— The princely state of Travancore does not have the unique caste system, some of the most rigid, refined and ruthless social norms and customs were seen. It was documented by travellers such as Portuguese Duarte Barbosa.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— The famous Rupa Tarakasi, or silver filigree work of Odisha’s Cuttack, has received the geographical indication (GI) tag.

— Odisha’s Cuttack is known for its silver filigree work, of intricate design and fine craftsmanship.

— As part of Rupa Tarakasi, silver bricks are transformed into thin fine wires or foils and used to create jewellery or showpieces.

— While the actual origin of Cuttack’s filigree art is unknown, it is believed to have existed as early as the 12th century. The Mughals were generous patrons of the arts.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 55)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 54)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 54)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 54)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 54)

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