Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
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.

Notes:
India’s Deepavali (Diwali) has recently been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising its cultural significance at the global level. The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is designed to highlight and preserve living cultural traditions, practices, and expressions that communities consider an essential part of their identity. The list recognises and safeguards cultural practices that are actively performed and upheld by communities across the world. It aims to promote cultural diversity, strengthen community identity, and ensure the continuity of traditional knowledge.

Notes:
Italy has become the first country in the world to receive UNESCO recognition for its entire national cuisine. UNESCO inscribed “Italian cooking” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Recognition was awarded by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during its 20th session in New Delhi. The official title of the recognition is “Italian cooking: Between sustainability and biocultural diversity.”

Notes:
Ponduru Khadi, a traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Ponduru Khadi is locally known as Patnulu and is produced exclusively in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district, reflecting the region’s rich textile heritage. The fabric has also been nominated under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme for Srikakulam district, highlighting its economic and cultural importance.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered the oldest known evidence of fire-making by prehistoric humans in England, providing crucial insights into early human technological abilities. The discovery includes a patch of heated clay, heat-shattered flint handaxes, and two pieces of iron pyrite, indicating deliberate fire production rather than natural burning. Iron pyrite was likely struck against flint to produce sparks, which could ignite tinder, showing early mastery of fire-making techniques. The findings highlight the advanced survival skills and cognitive development of prehistoric humans, as controlled use of fire was essential for cooking, warmth, protection, and tool-making.

Notes:
The 150th Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan was inaugurated at Shree Devi Talab Temple, Jalandhar, Punjab. It is India’s oldest Hindustani classical music festival, organised with North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala, under the Union Ministry of Culture, and supported by the Punjab government. The 3-day festival (26–28 December) is dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Pt Chhannu Lal Mishra, Banaras Gharana vocalist.

Notes:
The Aiyanoor Ammanoor festival of the Kota tribe was celebrated at Solur Kokkal village near Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The Kota tribe is classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu. The festival is a traditional annual or periodic event reflecting the living cultural heritage of the community. Aiyanoor Amman is worshipped as the central village and guardian deity. Women play a central role by performing ritual dances in traditional white attire with distinctive borders.

Notes:
Imoinu Eratpa festival was recently celebrated in Manipur. The festival was observed on December 31, 2025, which corresponds to the 12th day of the Meitei lunar month. It is a significant religious festival for the Meitei community, honoring Goddess Imoinu (Ema Imoinu Ahongbi), the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and the hearth.

Notes:
Pakistani archaeologists unearthed rare coins and decorative stones at the Bhir Mound, a UNESCO-listed site near Takshashila, revealing insights into ancient urban settlements. The decorative stones date to the 6th century BCE, while the coins are from the 2nd century CE, belonging to the Kushan dynasty. Coins depict Emperor Vasudeva on the obverse and a female religious deity on the reverse, highlighting Kushan-era religious pluralism. Lapis lazuli fragments, a prized semi-precious stone, indicate long-distance trade, likely sourced from Badakhshan (present-day Afghanistan).

Notes:
In Jaipur, nearly 250 families continue to preserve Kathputli, one of Rajasthan’s oldest folk art traditions. Kathputli is a traditional string puppet theatre form that originated in Rajasthan. Historically, travelling performers used Kathputli shows to narrate stories of Rajput kings, brave warriors, folk heroes, and moral tales to village audiences. The word Kathputli comes from kath meaning wood and putli meaning doll, highlighting its simple wooden structure. A Kathputli puppet is made using wood, cloth, thread, and metal wire, with a wooden upper body and cotton and fabric below.