Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of Culture has started consultations to include Chhath Mahaparva in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The meeting was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention. Diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Suriname, and the Netherlands supported the multinational nomination. UNESCO recognition will help global awareness, documentation, and preservation of Chhath Mahaparva. The festival is dedicated to Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and by diaspora worldwide. India currently has 15 cultural elements inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List.

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A new geoarchaeological study shows that Egypt’s Karnak Temple complex was originally built on an island amid Nile floods and later became a major sacred center. The Karnak Temple complex is located in Luxor, Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile River. It was constructed between 2055 BC and 100 AD as a cult temple dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. It is the largest religious building ever built and was called “The Most Select of Places” by ancient Egyptians. Along with Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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UNESCO recently launched the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects at the MONDIACULT 2025 conference. It is a digital platform reconnecting communities with their stolen cultural treasures. The project aims to create the first virtual immersive reality museum of stolen cultural objects globally. It raises public awareness about illicit trafficking of cultural property and aids in recovery of stolen objects. The museum is financially supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and developed in collaboration with INTERPOL. It currently displays around 240 missing objects from 46 countries. From India, it features two 9th-century sandstone sculptures from Mahadev Temple, Pali, Chhattisgarh.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted Operation Fire Trail to stop illegal smuggling of Chinese firecrackers into India. Officers intercepted a 40-foot container at Nhava Sheva Port, declared as carrying “leggings.”
Import of firecrackers is ‘Restricted’ under the ITC (HS) Code of the Foreign Trade Policy. Such imports need license from DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) and PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization). Smuggling these hazardous goods threatens public safety, national security, and port infrastructure. The DRI continues efforts to protect trade integrity and prevent organized smuggling.

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The President of India extended greetings to the people of Odisha on the occasion of the historic ‘Baliyatra’ festival. Baliyatra is an annual maritime festival celebrated in coastal Odisha on the day of Kartika Purnima. It commemorates the ancient maritime trade and cultural links between Odisha (ancient Kalinga) and Southeast Asian regions such as Bali, Java, and Sumatra. The festival is linked to the legend of ‘Taapoi’ and associated with rituals like ‘Bhalukuni Osha’ (also called ‘Khudurukuni Osha’) and ‘Bada Osha’. During the celebration, people float miniature boats with lamps on the Mahanadi River, symbolizing the sea voyages of Kalinga’s sailors and traders in ancient times

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The 9th Ganga Utsav was celebrated by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, focusing on partnership and people’s participation for river rejuvenation. Two key publications—“Status of Waterbirds in the Ganga River Basin” and “Status of Island Nesting Report”—were released to assess ecological health. At Amity University, Noida, the theme “Voices and Rhythms of River: Technical and Cultural Expressions” highlighted data-driven and LiDAR-based river management. Resources like “Preventing Solid Waste Flow into Water”, “The Colors of Ganga”, and LiDAR Data Release for Riverathon 1.0 were launched.

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Bugle, a traditional military instrument, recently received a GI (Geographical Indication) tag, marking a major revival for Meerut’s century-old craft. Meerut has made bugles since the late 19th century, supplying the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, police units, and academies. Cheap machine-made and imported bugles had earlier pushed artisans into decline due to rising brass prices and falling orders. The GI tag prevented fake instruments from being sold as Meerut bugles and increased their brand value

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Hilly villages of Garhwal in Uttarakhand celebrate Mangsir Bagwal, a post-Diwali folk festival rooted in agrarian life and local history. It is held in the lunar month of Mangsir (Margashirsha), about one month after Kartik Diwali, marking a delayed festival of lights. The celebration honours Garhwali commander Madho Singh Bhandari, who returned victorious from battle against Tibetan forces after Diwali. The festival coincides with the end of the winter-harvest season, when villagers gather for feasting, music and dance.

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The Chhattisgarh government is preparing the 5th-century Sirpur Archaeological Site for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Digital exhibits and battery-operated vehicles are being added for eco-friendly tourism. Sirpur is a multi-religious city dating from the 5th to 12th century. It is located on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Mahasamund district near Raipur, Chhattisgarh. It was the capital of Dakshina Kosala under Panduvanshi and Somavamshi rulers.

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Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the 36th Konark Festival, 15th International Sand Art Festival, and Subhadra Shakti Mela at Chandrabhaga beach, Odisha. The events were held near the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Konark Sun Temple. Classical dances like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Manipuri, and Kathak are performed. 143 sand artists from India and abroad are participating in the sand art festival. The festival runs from 1 to 5 December 2025