31. On February 8, 2020, Thaipoosam festival was celebrated by the Tamil community around the world. This festival marks birth day of which deity?
[A] Thirumal
[B] Murugan
[C] Nataraja
[D] Pavadairayan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Murugan]
Notes:
Thaipoosam is a festival celebrated by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, usually coinciding with Pushya star, known as Poosam in Tamil. It is believed to be Murugan’s birthday by many.
32. Which city recently organized the Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF)?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Chandigarh
[C] Jammu
[D] Dehradun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu]
Notes:
The Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF) began on Feb 1 in Jammu and has veen a big it. This is first time in history of Jammu & Kashmir that a theatre festival of international repute was organized here.
33. Which film recently won the Oscar for best picture, which is also the first non- English film to win the award?
[A] Les Misérables
[B] Irishman
[C] Parasite
[D] Border
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Parasite]
Notes:
The South Korean film Parasite created history at the 2020 Oscars, by being the first film not in the English language to win the coveted award. It won a total of four Oscars, including best picture, best director, best screenplay and best international feature.
This is also the first film to have won both international feature and best picture at the Oscars, in its history. Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger won the award for best actor and actress respectively.
34. Which city plays host to the first cultural festival called ‘Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival‘?
[A] Jerusalem
[B] Mumbai
[C] New Delhi
[D] Tel Aviv-Yafo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mumbai]
Notes:
The first cultural festival called ‘Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival’ is set to be hosted by India, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The festival is celebrated to promote the ties between India and Israel.
This is the first such joint event for Jerusalem in an Asian city. The two-day festival commences on February 15 and comprises of several art and cultural events to showcase the tradition of both countries.
35. Which Indian state/UT is to create French Fusion music by collaborating with the French Province Center-Val de Loire?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Puducherry
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Minister for Culture, Pandiarajan and the Minister from the French province Center-Val de Loire, Olivier Frezot had a meeting in the state capital Chennai. During the meeting, they announced that Tamil Nadu and the French Province of Center-Val de Loire are set to make Tamil and French fusion music, which is to be performed in both the states.
The two states have already signed an MoU for mutual cooperation in culture studies. The Ministers also reviewed the progress made in the agreement.
36. The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is to be set up in which Indian state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
India and Portugal recently signed an MoU to develop a world-class National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat. The MoU has been signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during his visit to India.
The complex would showcase rich Indian artefacts and create awareness among the public about the rich heritage of the country. The two countries also signed as many as 14 agreements in several fields including maritime transport and ports.
37. ‘Kambala’, which was in news recently, is a traditional sport of which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
Kambala is a traditional sport of Karnataka, in which the people of coastal districts of the state conduct a buffalo-race.
It was in news recently as one of the local contestants from Dakshina Kannada district named Srinivas Gowda covered 142.5 m Kambala in just 13.62 seconds. The Sports Authority of India recently announced that it will devise a suitable course for the runner. He is called for trials by the Sports Ministry.
38. As of 2020, how many languages in India are given the status of ‘Classical language’?
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [6]
Notes:
Six languages in India namely Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia have been given the status of classical language.
Recently, both houses of the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed resolutions, requesting the Centre to provide ‘Classical language’ status to Marathi. Languages declared as classical have benefits like setting up centres for their study and provide international awards for their scholars.
39. ‘Attukal Pongala’ is a famous annual women-festival of which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Lakhs of women gathered in the Thiruvananthapuram city of Kerala to perform the annual Attukal Pongala festival at Attukal Devi temple. This cultural festival is participated by only women.
Amid fear of coronavirus outbreak after six positive cases in the state, many devotees participated in the festival. It is reported that more than 2.6 million people participated in the festival. The temple which is also called Sabarimala of women, had made the Guinness World Record for the largest annual gathering of women in a single function.
40. The traditional festival called ‘Fagli’ is celebrated in which Indian state?
[A] Mizoram
[B] Nagaland
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The traditional festival called ‘Fagli’ has been recently celebrated in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The annual festival is being celebrated for several years to observe the “victory of good over evil”. This festival is also celebrated to mark the end of winter or the beginning of spring.
The people of the state were dressed in traditional attire with masks on their faces and followed the traditional celebrations associated with the festival. This festival will continue for the next few days in the district.
