1. Dhanu Jatra is currently celebrated in which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Telangana
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Madhya Pradesh
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Correct Answer: A [Odisha]
Notes:
The famous 11-day Dhanu Jatra, the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance is conducted in and around the city of Bargarh in Western Odisha. It is based on mythological story of Lord Krishna and his Uncle, King Kansa. In November 2014, it was conferred with the National Festival Status.
2. The birth anniversary of which social reformer was celebrated on January 3?
[A] Narayana Guru
[B] Vinoba Bhave
[C] Pandita Ramabhai
[D] Savitribai Phule
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Correct Answer: D [Savitribai Phule]
Notes:
The birth anniversary of the social reformer and the first female teacher of India, Savitribai Phule was observed across the country on January 3. The Prime Minister of India and various other leaders paid tributes to her on her birth anniversary. Savitribai Phule along with her husband Jyotirao Phule founded the country’s first girls’ school in Pune in 1848. Born in Maharashtra, Phule worked hard to abolish discrimination against women and suppressed classes of people.
3. The ancient festival of ‘Lai Haraoba’ is recently celebrated in which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Tripura
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Correct Answer: D [Tripura]
Notes:
The ancient ritualistic festival observed by the people of ‘Meiti’ community of Manipur is recently celebrated in the capital city of Tripura, Agartala. Department of Information and Cultural Affairs of the Tripura state Government jointly organised this festival along with the cultural committees of the state. The festival is celebrated for five days, hosting many cultural events that include folk dance, oral literature and music.
4. Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, recently seen in news is situated in which country?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] Nepal
[D] Bhutan
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Correct Answer: B [Pakistan]
Notes:
The Nankana Sahib Gurdwara is a highly revered gurdwara located in the city of Nankana Sahib near Lahore in Pakistan. The gurdwara is built at the place where the first Sikh Guru was believed to born and preached Sikhism. It is also called as the Janam Asthan Gurdwara. It is seen in news recently as there was a severe mob attack and vandalism in the Gurdwara.
5. Which state Government is to organise the tribal cultural festival called ‘Zo Kutpui’?
[A] Assam
[B] Sikkim
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Mizoram
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Correct Answer: D [Mizoram]
Notes:
The state government of Mizoram is to organise the cultural festival ‘Zo Kutpui’ in many states of India as well as in some countries including the USA, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The first edition of the festival will begin in Tripura and will be celebrated in other states, that are home to the people of Mizo tribe.
The festival will witness several cultural programmes and traditional events of the Mizo tribe thereby increasing their unity and fraternity. Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga is to inaugurate the first edition of the festival.
6. Akbar Padamsee, who passed away recently, belonged to which profession?
[A] Politician
[B] Artist
[C] Writer
[D] Sportsperson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Artist]
Notes:
Veteran Indian artist and painter Akbar Padamsee passed away recently. Akbar is considered as the fore runner of Modern Painting. He was also a Padma Bhushan awardee and a fellow of Lalit Kala Akademi.
Akbar had worked in Paris with another renowned artist S.H.Raza in his art studio ‘Atelier 17’. He had conducted various art exhibitions of his art creations both in India and in other countries. Besides being a painter, he was also a sculptor, photographer and film maker. He settled in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during the later years of his life.
7. Madhavpur Mela is a famous attraction of which state of India?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Gujarat
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Gujarat ]
Notes:
Madhavpur Mela is a weeklong cultural festival of Gujarat to be held at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar district in April, 2020, a day after Ram Navami festival. This year, eight states of the Northern Eastern region will participate.
8. The Vice President of India is to inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for studies of which Indian language, in Nellore?
[A] Kannada
[B] Telugu
[C] Tamil
[D] Malayalam
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Correct Answer: B [Telugu]
Notes:
The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu is to inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Telugu in Nellore.
Venkaiah Naidu had earlier suggested the Union Government to shift the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu, situated in the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, to one of the Telugu States. It has now been shifted to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The centre performs several activities research on the evolution of the Telugu script, digitisation, and publishing of classical Telugu literature.
9. The Indian Prime Minister recently participated in the 50th anniversary of the ‘Thuglak’ magazine of which language?
[A] Telugu
[B] Kannada
[C] Tamil
[D] Malayalam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil]
Notes:
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi recently participated in the 50th Anniversary function of Tamil Magazine Thuglak, through Video Conferencing. The event was held at Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
The magazine was founded by the famous journalist Cho Ramaswamy, who passed away in 2016. The Tamil weekly magazine was famous for its intelligent arguments and political satire. Swaminathan Gurumurthy is the present editor of the magazine after the demise of its founder and editor.
10. Which Indian city plays host to the ‘International Children’s Film Festival’?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Kolkata
[C] Gurugram
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kolkata]
Notes:
The 9th edition of the International Children’s Film Festival’ is scheduled to be held in Kolkata from January 19 to 26, 2020. The event is being organised by the Shishu Kishore Akademi, which is an institution under the aegis of Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal.
As an initiative of the state government, the Shishu Kishore Akademi has been organizing the Kolkata International Children’s Film Festival (KICFF), annually since 2011. This year, spread across nine venues across Kolkata, the festival includes screening of about 250 films from 35 countries.