UPSC Essentials: Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 4)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Monuments of National Importance, consider the following statements:

1. These monuments are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, of 1958.

2. These monuments do not include temples and mosques.

3. The term ‘national importance’ has been defined in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

QUESTION 2

The word Charaideo Maidams was recently in the news. They are best described as:

(a) Grasslands of Tripura

(b) Royal burial sites of the Assam

(c) Hillrocks of Ladakh

(d) Wetland in Maharashtra

QUESTION 3

Thullal is a recite-and-dance art form famous for its humour and social satire. It belongs to:

(a) Karnataka

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Tamil Nadu

(d) Kerala

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Mission Vatsalya, consider the following statements:

1. It provides for a roadmap to achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for the implementation of this scheme.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

Which of the following statements is not correct about Unnakoti Heritage Site?

(a) It is situated in the State of Tripura.

(b) It is also known as Angkor Wat of the North-East.

(c) It is a Saivite pilgrimage site.

(d) All the images found at Unakoti are rock-carved figures.

QUESTION 6

Consider the following pairs:

             Product                          Region

1. Agate Bowls                         Gujarat

2. Kinnauri Shawls               Himachal Pradesh

3. Mata Ni Pachedi               Rajasthan

4. Patan Patola                      Jammu and Kashmir

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

QUESTION 7

He was an original thinker, writer, poet, playwright, teacher and freedom fighter. He was inspired by the persona of Sri Krishna, the Yadava king. He wrote a weekly journal, Karmayogin. He was also committed to taking forward the teachings of Krishna through his works, especially the Bhagavad Gita, amongst many others.

The above lines refer to which of the freedom fighter?

(a) Bipin Chandra Pal

(b) Lala Lajpat Rai

(c) Aurobindo Ghosh

(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

QUESTION 8

With reference to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), consider the following statements:

1. It functions under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

2. It was established in the year 1986 with the aim of establishing a body to compile and keep records of data on crime.

3. Collection, coordination, and exchange of information on inter-state and international criminals to the respective states is a function of NCRB.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 3 only

ANSWERS TO MCQs

1. (c)

FYI:

— Twenty heritage sites, including two ancient mounds at Haryana’s Rakhigarhi and the age-old Anangtal in Delhi, have been identified for the national importance tag.

— The other sites include rock painting at Chintakunta, Andhra Pradesh; rock art site Murgi at Rdanag, Leh; Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Kalesar (Manyala Panchayat), Himachal Pradesh.

— Article 51A of the Constitution stipulates that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India “to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.”

— In accordance with these constitutional provisions, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act, 1958) was enacted to preserve the historical and archaeological wealth of the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This Act provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains which have been declared to be of ‘national importance’ under the law. It was amended once in 2010.

— As of August 2022, India had 3695 Monuments of National Importance (MNI) under the AMASR Act, 1958. The list includes temples, churches, mosques, stupas, forts, caves, palaces, colonial monuments/sites, water systems (tanks and baolis), pre-historic sites, archaeological sites, and archaeological remains among others. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Other Source: (eacpm.gov.in)

2. (b)

FYI:

— Assam Chief Minister announced that the central government has decided to put forth the name of Assam’s Charaideo moidams burial sites in addition to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list. 

— The Charaideo moidams are royal burial sites of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled over much of Assam and the North East from 1228 to 1826 AD. It is located around 30 km from Sivasagar town in eastern Assam, even today, the tumuli in Charaideo are considered sacrosanct by many locals.

— The word Charaideo has been derived from three Tai Ahom words, Che-Rai-Doi. “Che” means city or town, “Rai” means “to shine” and “Doi” means hill. In short, Charaideo means, “a shining town situated on a hilltop.”

— A moidam is a tumulus – a mound of earth raised over a grave – of Ahom royalty and aristocracy. While Charaideo exclusively contains moidams of Ahom royals, other moidams of aristocrats and chiefs can be found scattered across Eastern Assam, in the region between the towns of Jorhat and Dibrugarh. 

— A typical moidam at Charaideo contains one or more chambers in a vault. On top of these is a hemispherical earthen mound, rising high above the ground, covered in grass. On top of this mound, there is a pavilion, known as the chow chali. A low octagonal wall surrounds the mound with one entrance.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

3. (d)

FYI:

— Thullal performances have been the constant checks and reminders that have shaped the length and breadth of Kerala’s landscape.

— The dance is witnessed at temple festivals and cultural programmes, these performances use elaborate expressions and stories recited in verses to bring important mythological tales and stories to life.

— It was introduced in the 18th century by legendary poet Kunchan Nambiar, it is epitomized by humour, satire and social criticism.

— The costume and makeup of the performer are similar to that of a Kathakali artist. The Thullal performer is supported by a singer who repeats the verses and is accompanied by an orchestra of mridangam or thoppimaddalam (percussions) and cymbals.

— It has spawned into three separate versions which include- Ottanthullal, Seethankan thullal and Parayan thullal. — Each has become a strong platform for reform and social consciousness in our community over the course of the last few centuries.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.keralatourism.org)

4. (c)

FYI:

— The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal Ministry for ensuring welfare of children. This is envisaged to be accomplished by way of legislation, policy & schematic interventions along with coordination with other Ministries and Organizations. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The Indian Parliament has passed several landmark legislations in favor of children like the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012, the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Right to Education Act 2009.
— India is also a signatory to important international treaties i.e., the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child and the Hague convention on Adoption of children which mandate systemic development and strengthening of juvenile justice system in the country.

Mission Vatsalya

— It is a roadmap to achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— It lays emphasis on child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to ‘leave no child behind’.
— The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provisions and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 form the basic framework for implementation of the Mission.
— Prior to 2009-10, there were three schemes being implemented under the Ministry namely,
(a) Programme for Juvenile Justice for Children in need of care and protection, and Children in conflict with Law;
(b) Integrated Programme for street children
(c) Scheme for assistance to homes for children (Shishu Greh).
— All the three schemes were incorporated in a single centrally sponsored scheme called the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). The ICPS was implemented by the Ministry since 2009-2010. The scheme was then renamed as “Child Protection Services” Scheme in 2017. The CPS Scheme has been now subsumed under Mission Vatsalya from 2021-22 onwards.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Source: wcd.nic.in)

5. (d)

FYI:

— This place dates back to the 7th-9th centuries, Unakoti is a ‘Shaiba’ (Saivite) pilgrimage site with marvelous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty, and waterfalls.

— Unakoti means ‘one less one crore’ in Hindi and Bengali and it is believed that these many rock carvings (ninety-nine lakh ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine) are present here.

— In the local Kokborok language, it is called Subrai Khung and is the central tourist spot of the Unakoti District in the Kailashahar Subdivision of Tripura.

— The images found at Unakoti are of two types – rock-carved figures and stone images.

— The central Shiva head is known as ‘Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava’ and is about 30 feet high including an embroidered head-dress which itself is 10 feet high.

— On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva, there are two full-size female figures – one of Durga standing on a lion, and another female figure on the other. In addition, three enormous images of Nandi Bull are found half buried in the ground.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

6. (b)

FYI:

— At the G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted heads of State curated craft pieces from Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

— US President Joe Biden was presented with miniature paintings from Kangra.

— UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received Mata Ni Pachedi, a sacred textile piece made by nomadic communities in Gujarat.

— Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was presented a Patan Patola scarf, a colourful dupatta woven in the northern part of Gujarat, which was encased in a decorative sadeli box, a wooden craft native to Surat. The double ikat scarf can be worn on both sides. The motifs weaved on Meloni’s scarf were inspired by the Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell in Patan, built in the 11th century AD.

— The miniature Pahari painting presented to Biden is based on the theme of love as a means of devotion.

— The Kinnauri shawl, presented to the President of the host country, Joko Widodo. The design on this specific piece shows influences from Central Asia and Tibet. Widodo was also presented with a silver bowl from Surat.

— Agate bowls from Kutch were presented to the leaders of France, Germany and Singapore. The semi-precious stone is found in underground mines of Rajpipla and Ratanpur in riverbeds, and extracted to produce a variety of ornamental objects.

— PM Modi gifted a tribal art piece, Pithora, to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. Pithora paintings, ritualistic tribal folk art by the Rathwa artisans from Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat, are based on the cave paintings that tribal people used to make, reflecting their social, cultural and mythological life and beliefs. These paintings resemble the aboriginal dot paintings of the indigenous communities of Australia.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

7. (c)

FYI:

— Aurobindo was a multifaceted personality. He was an original thinker, writer, poet, playwright, teacher and freedom fighter.

— He was a voracious reader who learned the best of Western philosophies and returned to India to create something uniquely Indian for spiritual transformation through his “integral yoga”.

— Aurobindo was inspired by the persona of Sri Krishna, the Yadava king, who was multifaceted — a king, diplomat, strategist, friend, and advisor.

— Aurobindo’s writings in Karmayogin, his weekly journal in English that he brought out after the Alipore Bomb Case, had Krishna and Arjuna in the Kurukshetra being pictorially represented on the cover.

— Aurobindo was also committed to taking forward the essence of the teachings of Krishna through his works, especially the Bhagavad Gita, amongst many others.

—Aurobindo held all individuals as one and equal and this notion is for India to set before the world. He affirmed that education in India should be armed with the focus of the “Vedantic gospel of equality”. According to him, the British used caste as a political instrument.

— Sri Aurobindo was also inspired by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. His exchanges with Tilak set him on the path of revolutionary activity to act against British rule and aspire for complete independence.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

8. (b)

FYI:

— A new edition of ‘Crime in India’, the annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), was released for crime-related statistics in 2021.

— The reports of NCRB have been a valuable compilation of statistics over the years on offences ranging from crimes against women to economic and financial crimes.

Overall, 2021 saw a 7.6 per cent decline in the number of crimes registered, as compared to 2020. The crime rate per lakh population declined from 487.8 in 2020 to 445.9 in 2021.

— The NCRB was established in January 1986 with the aim of establishing a body to compile and keep records of data on crime. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It functions under the Union Home Ministry. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Apart from publishing annual reports, its functions include “Collection, coordination and exchange of information on inter-state and international criminals to the respective states”. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— It also acts as a “national warehouse” for the fingerprint records of Indian and foreign criminals, and assists in locating interstate criminals through fingerprint searches.

— The NCRB report contains data received from the 36 states and Union Territories across the country.

— This information is entered by state/UT police at the police station/ district level, then validated further at the district level, then the state level, and finally by the NCRB.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Quizzes:

Polity and Governance (Week 2)

Polity and Governance (Week 3)

Polity and Governance (Week 4)

History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 2)

History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 3)

UPSC Weekly Quiz (Current Affairs)

UPSC Essentials: Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 4)

Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 2)

Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 3)

International Relations (Week 2)

International Relations (Week 3)

International Relations (Week 4)

Tomorrow’s Quiz: Environment, Geography, Science and Technology

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