Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Archaeological Survey of India recently found one of the earliest rock grooves in Kanniyakumari district, made during the Neolithic Age to sharpen weapons. The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, was the last phase of prehistoric human development. It marked the shift from hunting and gathering to farming and animal domestication. This period began around 10,000 BCE during the Holocene Epoch. The Neolithic Revolution started in the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East and later spread to India and other regions.

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Recently, a joint excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Raigad Development Authority unearthed a rare ‘yantraraj’ or astrolabe at Raigad Fort, the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Raigad Fort is located in Raigad district of Maharashtra in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, also known as the Western Ghats. The Hirkani Buruj, a famous tower, is built on a high valley near the fort.

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Recently, the Kheer Bhawani festival was celebrated on Jyeshta Ashtami at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is located near Srinagar and is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. It was originally built by Maharaja Pratap Singh around 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh. At the centre of the temple is a sacred hexagonal spring, known for its holy water. The temple and the festival are named after the sweet dish ‘kheer’, which is served as prasad to the devotees.

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Recently, a debate on folk music aesthetics emerged after the Goa State Cabinet declared the Ghumot as the state’s heritage instrument in 2019, without using monitor lizard skin. Ghumot, also called Ghumat, is a traditional percussion instrument used in Goa’s religious and cultural practices. It is made from a clay pot with one side open and the other covered with animal skin, now mostly goat hide instead of the banned Indian monitor lizard skin. The instrument is also important during festivals like Zagor and Shigmo, organized by village committees.

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Thousands of devotees have gathered in Assam for the Ambubachi Mela 2025 at the Kamakhya Temple, one of the biggest religious events in Northeast India. The Ambubachi festival is held every June during the monsoon season at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya and is a key centre of Tantrik Shaktism, a Hindu spiritual tradition.

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Recently, a rare 15th-century antique lamp with Shaiva (Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavaite (Lord Vishnu) carvings was discovered at the Anantapadmanabha temple in Perduru, Udupi district, Karnataka. Historian T. Murugeshi confirmed it was donated by Basavannaras Banga in 1456 Common Era, based on a stone inscription inside the temple. The lamp has two faces with detailed narrative sculptures. One face shows Lord Shiva as Nataraja performing Pralaya Tandava, with Parvati, Ganapati, Bringi, Khadga Ravana, and Kumara. The second face shows Brahma, Indra, Anantapadmanabha, Agni, and Varuna, describing gods praying to Lord Anantapadmanabha to calm Shiva’s destructive dance.

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A 5,300-year-old Early Harappan settlement and burial was recently discovered in Lakhapar village, Kutch district, Gujarat, by the University of Kerala’s Department of Archaeology. The site dates to around 3300–2600 BCE and builds on previous finds at Juna Khatiya, another Early Harappan cemetery nearby. A human burial was found directly in a pit without markers, using Pre-Prabhas pottery linked to Chalcolithic cultures of Saurashtra like Prabhas Patan and Datrana. Harappan-style sandstone and shale structures show planned construction and social organisation.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Meghalaya’s Eri Silk in the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat radio show. Eri Silk from Meghalaya has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Eri Silk is a heritage of Meghalaya, preserved by the Khasi community. It is called Ahimsa Silk because its production does not harm silkworms. The fabric symbolizes sustainability, tradition, and craftsmanship.

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Thousands of devotees recently witnessed the grand consecration of the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur after 16 years. The temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is located in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan and the only one situated on the seashore. The temple faces the Bay of Bengal and is touched by waves from the Gulf of Mannar. It is over 2,000 years old and showcases beautiful Tamil architecture.

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Recently, the Maratha Military Landscapes of India were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 44th World Heritage Site. The landscapes include 12 forts from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, showcasing the strategic brilliance and architectural skill of the Maratha Empire. These forts are located in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee Fort.