UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Shompen tribe, UCCN, Tholu Bommalata and more (Week 61)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the “delisting” of monuments, consider the following statements:

1. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for delisting of monuments.

2. Section 35 of the AMASR Act says that – the State government makes the list of delisting of monuments.

3. Kos Minar No.13 is a delisted site in Haryana.

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 Madhava Perumal Temple, consider the following statements:

1. The temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu.

2. The temple is located in Tamil Nadu.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 3

Consider the following:

1. Crafts and Folk Art

2. Gastronomy

3. Literature

4. Music

For how many of the above fields, can the city be included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 4

The Shompen tribe was recently in news. The tribes reside in:

(a) North-East India

(b) Karnataka

(c) Lakshadweep

(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

QUESTION 5

Tholu Bommalata is:

(a) Wall painting

(b) Shadow puppet theatre

(c) Classical dance

(d) Folk art

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to delist 18 “centrally protected monuments” because they lack national significance. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A mediaeval roadway milestone known as Kos Minar No.13 in Mujessar village in Haryana, Barakhamba Cemetery in Delhi, Gunner Burkill’s tomb in Jhansi district, a cemetery at Gaughat in Lucknow, and the Telia Nala Buddhist remains in Varanasi are among the sites on the verge of being delisted. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The ASI, which works under the Union Ministry of Culture, is responsible for protecting and maintaining certain specific monuments and archaeological sites that have been declared to be of national importance under the relevant provisions of The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 and The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).

— Delisting a monument effectively means that it will no longer be conserved, safeguarded, or maintained by the ASI. The AMASR Act prohibits any type of development work near a protected site. Once the monument has been delisted, routine construction and urbanisation operations in the area can resume.

— According to Section 35 of the AMASR Act, if the Central Government believes that an ancient or historical monument, archaeological site, or remains are no longer of national importance, they can declare it so in the Official Gazette. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— The Madhavaraya Temple, also known as the Madhava Perumal Temple, is an old Hindu temple located in the scenic town of Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Government of India has declared this majestic temple as a Monument of National Importance, recognising its historical and cultural value.

— Several 16th-century Vijayanagara inscriptions have been unearthed at Gandikota. The Madhavaraya Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is reported to have been built during the reign of Sri Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The crew unearthed old board games at several temples, including the Kapaleeshwar temple in Mylapore, the Keshava Perumal temple on NSC Bose Road, the Madhava Perumal temple in Mylapore, the Vadivudai Amman temple in Thiruvottriyur, the Marundeeshwarar temple in Thiruvanmiyur, and the Kundrathur Murugan Temple.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: nidhi.tourism.gov.in)

3. (d)

FYI:

— Gwalior and Kozhikode from India are among the 55 new cities which have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

— These new cities were acknowledged for “their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies, and displaying innovative practices in human-centred urban planning”.

— Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh has made it to the coveted list in the ‘Music’ category while Kozhikode in Kerala has earned a place in the ‘Literature’ category.

— The UCCN now counts 350 cities in more than a hundred countries, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

4. (d)

FYI:

— The Shompen are one of the least researched Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.

— This tribal clan lives in the lush tropical rainforest on Great Nicobar Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

— The Shompen environment is also a major biological hotspot, including two National Parks and one Biosphere Reserve: Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park, and Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.

— They are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers whose primary sources of income include hunting, gathering, fishing, and primitive horticultural pursuits.

— Since the British established the prison settlement in 1858, the populations of primitive tribes like the Onge, Jarawa, Shompen, Great Andamanese, and Sentinelese have decreased dramatically owing to illnesses, exploitation in return for alcohol, and clashes with the British.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncst.nic.in)

5. (b)

FYI:

— Tholu signifies leather, whereas Bommalata refers to dancing puppets. It is a shadow puppet theatre tradition practised by only a few families over the generations.

— The oldest narrative regarding this art form is about Sree Krishna Devaranayanu, who used to travel throughout villages performing this art. He used to play the Mahabharata and Ramayana on Tholu Bommalata.

— Tholu Bommalata has been performed for generations in Southern India to tell stories from ancient literature like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 61)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 60)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 60)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 60)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 60)

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