UPSC Essentials : Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 14)

The popular question for the coming week: How to read News, Editorials and Explainers from the ‘5Ws and 1H’ perspective,  and more… (Other general queries will also be taken up)

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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. UPSC Daily Subject Quiz covers all topics under the UPSC Civil Services syllabus, including Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment, Science and Technology, International Relations, and more. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus.

Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on History, Culture and Social Issues to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

QUESTION 1

He hailed from the Ratnagiri district in present-day Maharashtra and studied at the Elphinstone College in Mumbai before joining as a professor at the Fergusson College in Pune. In 1889, he joined the Indian National Congress, emerging as one of the main leaders of its ‘moderate’ wing, and gave up teaching three years later to work as a lawmaker for the remainder of his life. He is best remembered for his extensive work in colonial legislatures and was a member of the Bombay Legislative Council between 1899 to 1902.

The above-mentioned lines refer to

(a) Pherozeshah Mehta

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

(c) M.G Ranade

(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

QUESTION 2

With reference to the ‘Ladakh Shingskos’, consider the following statements:

1. It is basically Ladakh’s famous carpet weaving handicraft.

2. It has got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

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

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Sanjhi art, consider the following statements:

1. The traditional art form originated out of the cult of Krishna.

2. It involves creating stencils based on incidents from the life of the deity and then hand-cutting these on thin sheets of paper using scissors.

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 4

With reference to the Ramappa Temple, consider the following statements:

1. The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu.

2. It involves the various experimentations in expressive art forms of the Kakatiya period.

3. It is built of sandstone with decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 5

This archaeological site of a Harappan-era city received the UNESCO world heritage site tag. The city became the fourth site from Gujarat and 40th from India to make the list. It is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the tag.

The above lines refer to which site?

(a) Dholavira

(b) Bet Dwarka

(c) Lothal

(d) Kanjetar

ANSWER TO MCQs

1. (d)

FYI:

— Gopal Krishna Gokhale hailed from the Ratnagiri district in present-day Maharashtra and studied at the Elphinstone College in Mumbai before joining as a professor at the Fergusson College in Pune, where he taught political economy and history.

— Gokhale rose to national prominence after questioning British colonial spending at the Welby Commission in England in 1897. Gokhale’s efforts garnered him accolades in India, as he exposed British military financing tactics that imposed a heavy cost on Indian taxpayers, much to the disgust of then Viceroy Lord Curzon, who was regarded as one of the most virulent racists to hold that position.

— In 1889, Gokhale joined the Indian National Congress, emerging as one of the main leaders of its ‘moderate’ wing, and gave up teaching three years later to work as a lawmaker for the remainder of his life.

— Gokhale is best remembered for his extensive work in colonial legislatures. Between 1899 and 1902, he was a member of the Bombay Legislative Council followed by a stint at the Imperial Legislative Council from 1902 till his death.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

2. (b)

FYI:

— In Ladakh Shingskos which is also known as Ladakh Wood Carving, various symbols in the temples are gradually used in excellent quality of furniture. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The product made by the Ladakh wood carving artisan is very specific with the multi-dimensional variety of products starting from Architecture of Gompas, Houses, Monastery, Wooden choktse tablets, Carvings of animals on wooden lintels, etc.

— It has got Geographical Indication (GI) tag under section 13 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: search.ipindia.gov.in)

3. (c)

FYI:

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Tokyo to attend the Quad Summit, he carried with him gifts for leaders of the US, Australia and Japan showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and art forms.

— The intricate sanjhi panel that PM Modi gave US President Joe Biden is based on the theme of Thakurani Ghat, which is one of the most famous ghats on the banks of the holy river of Yamuna in Gokul.

— The traditional art form that originated out of the cult of Krishna. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It involves creating stencils based on incidents from the life of the deity and then hand-cutting these on thin sheets of paper using scissors. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— In olden times, stencils were made using rough paper or banana leaves, but now this has changed to handmade and recycled paper.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

4. (b)

FYI:

— Ramappa is the main Shiva temple in a larger walled temple complex, which includes several smaller temples and structures. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The temple stands as a testimony to the highest level of creative, artistic and engineering talents involving various experimentations in expressive art forms of the Kakatiya period (1123-1323). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is built of sandstone with decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite, with a distinctive Vimana (inner sanctum) made of lightweight porous bricks, also known as the “floating bricks”. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The sculptures of the Ramappa Temple, especially its bracket figures, have their lustre intact even after 800 years of construction.

— The temple is a living memory of the legend of the Kakatiyas who brought a golden era to the Telugu-speaking region of South India.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— Dholavira, the archaeological site of a Harappan-era city, received the UNESCO world heritage site tag.

— Dholavira became the fourth site from Gujarat and 40th from India to make the list, it is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the tag.

— The IVC acropolis is located on a hillock near present-day Dholavira village in Kutch district, from which it gets its name.

— It was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi.

— The site’s excavation between 1990 and 2005 under the supervision of archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht uncovered the ancient city, which was a commercial and manufacturing hub for about 1,500 years before its decline and eventual ruin in 1500 BC.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

UPSC CSE Mains 2023 season has begun. Are you ready for it? UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Try it out!

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 1)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 4)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 6)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 1)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 7)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 4)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 6)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 7)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 5)

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