Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Minister of State announced plans for the comprehensive development of Kondaveedu Fort. Kondaveedu Fort, also called Kondavid Fort, is located in Andhra Pradesh. It was built during the Telugu Choda period and later strengthened by the Kakatiya dynasty. Prolaya Vema Reddy made it his capital in 1323 CE. The fort was later ruled by the Gajapathis of Odisha, Bahmani Sultans, Vijayanagara Empire, Golconda Sultanate, Mughals, French, and British. Its architecture shows a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles using granite and lime mortar. It has an advanced water conservation system with ponds and recent findings of ancient Buddhist stupa remains.

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A world record was created at the Koya Krushi Kumbh festival in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, by preparing 1,111 kilograms of finger millet (ragi) pudding. The record-setting event was led by noted chef Vishnu Manohar. Koya Krushi Kumbh is a five-day agricultural exposition aimed at empowering tribal farmers and promoting farm and forest products. The festival is held at the Agriculture College campus in Sonepur, Gadchiroli district. The achievement was registered with the India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, and World Record Book of India.

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The Leh Dosmochey festival and Stromochey festival at Likir Monastery are celebrated simultaneously in Ladakh from 15 February. Leh Dosmochey is celebrated in Leh town with great religious devotion and traditional grandeur. The festivals symbolise the victory of good over evil in Buddhist tradition. Monks perform sacred tantric mask dances as the main ritual highlight. The celebrations mark the end of the harsh winter season in Ladakh. They signal the beginning of preparations for the new agricultural season.

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The lost city of Charax Spasinou has been discovered in the deserts of Iraq. It was an ancient port city located at the meeting point of the Tigris and Choaspes rivers near the Iraq–Iran border. It was founded in 324 Before Common Era during the Hellenistic period, initially by Alexander the Great. Later, Hyspaosines rebuilt it and founded the Kingdom of Characene with Charax as its capital. Its strategic location made it a major trade hub between Mesopotamia and India through the Persian Gulf. Its importance declined around 224–228 After Death with the rise of the Sassanian Empire.

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Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organising Tribes Art Fest 2026 in New Delhi under the vision of Narendra Modi. It is organised with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and National Gallery of Modern Art. More than 75 artists and 1,000 artworks from 30+ tribal traditions are showcased. Key initiatives highlighted include PM JANMAN for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, DAJGUA, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India. Festival promotes fair markets, direct sales and sustainable livelihoods.

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The Indian Orchid Festival 2026, themed ‘Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity’, was organised by ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR-NRCO) in Pakyong district, Sikkim. Renowned nurseries, tissue culture companies, and marketing firms interacted with growers to share knowledge on cultivation, marketing, and collaboration in the orchid industry. The four-day festival included technical sessions where experts shared practical knowledge to benefit growers. The festival’s theme, ‘Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity’, is intended to inspire growers and stakeholders for future development.

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A Telugu medieval inscription linked to the Gajapati Empire was discovered at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. The Gajapati Empire was a medieval Hindu dynasty from Odisha, ruling roughly from 1434 to 1541. It was founded by Kapilendra Deva of the Suryavamsa lineage after the death of Bhanu Deva IV of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The early capital was Cuttack, later shifted during Prataparudra Deva’s reign. At its peak in the 15th century, the empire extended from the Ganges River near Hooghly to the Kaveri River. Gajapati rulers strongly supported art, architecture, literature, and Odia culture.

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The Tribes Art Fest (TAF) 2026 was held at the historic Travancore Palace, New Delhi, from 2–13 March 2026, showcasing India’s tribal heritage. More than 75 tribal artists participated, presenting nearly 1,000 artworks across more than 30 tribal art forms from different regions of India. The festival was organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in partnership with FICCI and the National Gallery of Modern Art, reflecting government commitment to tribal empowerment. Policy initiatives supporting the fest included PM JANMAN for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, DAJGUA, expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and TRIFED market linkages.

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The Kalinjar Fort hill region in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, has been officially declared a National Geo-Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Kalinjar Fort is located on an isolated hilltop, surrounded by the Vindhya Mountains and the Ken River, making it a strategically important location. It is one of the oldest and most impressive forts in India, witnessing many decisive battles across ancient, medieval, and modern times. The fort has a history of over 1,500 years, with evidence of its establishment during the Gupta period (4th–6th century).

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Chapchar Kut is Mizoram’s spring festival, celebrated in March to honour Mizo culture with traditional dances, music, art, cuisine, and community festivities. It marks the completion of the Jhum operation (clearing forest and remnants of burning) and reflects the Mizo community’s connection with nature and agriculture. The theme of 2026 festival is “Zo nun ze mawi – Inremna” (Mizo Ethics – Reconciliation).