UPSC Essentials : Daily Subject-wise quiz | History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 30)

1. It enshrines religious relics of the Buddha and his revered disciples.

2. The toranas were added to the Stupa in the Satvahana period.

3. During the Gupta period, the original brick structure was enlarged to twice its size.

4. A Buddhist temple and a lion pillar were added to Sanchi during the Maurya period.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Ramon Magsaysay Award, consider the following statements:

1. The award was named after the third president of the Republic of the Philippines after World War II.

2. Dr. Ravi Kannan R of India was awarded for the year 2023.

3. The award is regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

“Sarna religion” was recently in the news. The followers of Sarna faith believe in praying to:

(a) Buddhism

(b) Jainism

(c) Christian

(d) Nature

QUESTION 4

It is a small village where a Sangam-era archaeological site was discovered. The findings from this place are divided into six blocks, building a narrative of Tamil life as it existed 2,500 years ago, including the agrarian systems, pottery, technology, burial methods and evidence of writing. The archaelogical site being referred is:

(a) Keeladi

(b) Hire Benakal

(c) Edakkal Caves

(d) Sisupalgarh

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. It is a specialized stone carvings carved from soft limestone called “SuddaRai” in local language and available only in this region.

2. The stone is whitish-gray in colour and unique to this region.

3. Andhra Pradesh has got a geographical indication (GI) tag for this stone carving.

The above statements refer to

(a) Durgi Stone carvings

(b) Mahabalipuram Stone Carvings

(c) Allagadda Stone Carvings

(d) Konark Stone Carving

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— A replica of the famous East Gate of Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been meticulously crafted and placed in front of the reconstructed baroque façade of the Berlin Palace, which houses the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art.

— It’s not the first time Berlin is exhibiting a replica of this famous gate. Another plaster cast of the original gate was previously on display in what was then known as the Royal Museum of Ethnology in Berlin in 1886.

Sanchi Stupa

— It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1989, Sanchi attracts tourists from all over the world. The Buddhist complex is one of India’s oldest, most significant and most well-preserved Buddhist sanctuaries.

— The Great Stupa was built by Ashoka in the third century BC. It enshrines religious relics or remains of the Buddha and his most revered disciples. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— During the Shunga period, the original brick structure was enlarged to twice its size and the mound was covered in sandstone slabs. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The most elaborate additions to the stupa were made during the Satavahana period from the first century BC to the second century AD. Four stone gateways or toranas were added to the stupa in the four cardinal directions. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— A Buddhist temple and a lion pillar were added to Sanchi during the Gupta period. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (c)

FYI:

— The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s premier and highest honour. It was named after Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay, the third president of the Republic of the Philippines after World War II. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It was started in 1957, the Magsaysay award celebrates the memory and leadership example of the former Philippine president and is given every year to individuals or organisations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service and transformative influence that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.

— The winner of the award for different categories are selected annually by the trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.

— Mother Teresa, Arun Shourie, Maheshweta Devi, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Ravish Kumar, Sonam Wagnchuk, social entrepreneur Anshu Gupta are some of the notable recipients of the award from India.

— The award is regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Dr. Ravi Kannan R. is an Indian surgical oncologist who has revolutionized cancer treatment in Assam through people-centered and pro-poor programs. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for the year 2023 along with Rakshand Korvi, Lemos, Eugenio, Coronel-Ferrer and Miriam. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.rmaward.asia)

3. (d)

FYI:

— Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking recognition of the ‘Sarna’ religious code for tribals.

— The followers of Sarna faith believe pray to nature. The holy grail of the faith is “Jal, Jungle, Zameen” and its followers pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas.

— Jharkhand has 32 tribal groups, eight of which are particularly vulnerable. While many adhere to Hinduism, some have converted to Christianity, which has become one of the tenets of the demand for a separate code “to preserve religious identity,” as various tribal organisations put it.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

4. (a)

FYI:

— Keeladi is a small village in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, where a Sangam-era archaeological site was discovered.

— The findings from Keeladi are divided among six blocks, building a narrative of Tamil life as it existed 2,500 years ago, including the agrarian systems, pottery, technology, burial methods, evidence of writing and so on.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— Durgi Stone carvings are specialized stone carvings carved from soft lime stone called “SuddaRai” in local language and available only in this region.

— The stone is whitish gray in color and unique to this region.

— The stone carvings are available in sizes ranging from ½ feet to a maximum of 10 feet in height, which are done according to Shilpa Sastra.

— Andhra Pradesh has got a geographical indication (GI) tag for Durgi Stone Carvings under Sub-section (1) of Section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: search.ipindia.gov.in)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 30)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 29)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 29)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 29)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 29)

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