1. Who is known as the Father of Tamil literature?
[A] Nakkirar
[B] Pushyamitra
[C] Aggatiyam
[D] Agastaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Agastaya ]
Notes:
As per Tamil sources, the father of Tamil literature is ‘Agastaya’.
2. Santhara is a religious ritual related to ___?
[A] Jainism
[B] Saivism
[C] Sakta
[D] Vaishnavism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jainism]
Notes:
Santhara, also known as Sallekhana, is an important religious ritual in Jainism. It refers to a practice of voluntary death achieved through fasting. The tradition believes it to purify the soul and release it from the cycle of death and rebirth. Contrary to being considered suicide, it is viewed as an act of spiritual liberation and is usually undertaken after giving away all belongings, entering a state of meditation, and securing permission from spiritual authorities. It remains a controversial subject in modern-day law, due to issues about the legality and morality of death by self-starvation.
3. Hanukkah, the festival of light is associated with which one of the following religions?
[A] Hindu
[B] Jewish
[C] Muslim
[D] Christian
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jewish]
Notes:
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
4. Where are the headquarters of the North East Zone Cultural Centre located?
[A] Guwahati
[B] Itanagar
[C] Aizawl
[D] Dimapur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dimapur]
Notes:
The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), one of the seven zonal centres established by the Indian government, is situated in Dimapur in Nagaland. These cultural centres were designed to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of India. NEZCC includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
5. Where is the headquarters of the National Film Archive of India located?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Pune
[C] New Delhi
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pune]
Notes:
The headquarters of the National Film Archive of India is located in Pune, Maharashtra. The main duty of the archive is to trace, acquire and preserve for posterity the heritage of Indian cinema. It was established in 1964 pursuant to the recommendations of the Indian government’s Film Inquiry Committee of 1951. The archive is the largest film library in India, storing more than 12,000 feature films and 16,000 short films.
6. In which state of North east India “Dree Festival” which is a crop harvest festival is observed?
[A] Meghalaya
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
“Dree Festival” which is a crop harvest festival is observed in Arunachal Pradesh. The Apatanis, who inhabit a tranquil pine clad valley called Ziro at the core of Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh, are famous for their unique practice of wet rice cultivation.
7. Which of the following temple in India was called as “The Black Pagoda” by the Europeans?
[A] Tirumala Tirupati , Andhra Pradesh
[B] Kamakhya Temple -Assam
[C] Konark Sun Temple, Orissa
[D] Jagannath Temple, Orissa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Konark Sun Temple, Orissa]
Notes:
Konark Sun Temple, Orissa was called as “The Black Pagoda” by the Europeans. The temple is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
8. At which of the following places, the only Swaminarayan temple is located in Pakistan?
[A] Islamabad
[B] Lahore
[C] Karachi
[D] Islamabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karachi]
Notes:
The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi is a Hindu temple that is the only Swaminarayan temple in Pakistan. Karachi is the capital of Sindh province of Pakistan.
9. The Muslim festival ‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to which among the following events of life of Prophet Mohammad?
[A] Birth of Prophet Mohammad
[B] Marriage of Prohet Mohammad
[C] Prophet Mohamad’s travel from Mecca to Medina
[D] Farewell Pilgrimage of Prophet Mohammad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Birth of Prophet Mohammad]
Notes:
‘Barawafat’, where the word ‘barah’ stands for the twelve days of the Prophet’s sickness, refers to the birth of prophet Mohammad.
10. A national award in India in the name of Maharashtrian saint Sant Gadge Baba has been announced in relation to which among the following?
[A] Social Service
[B] Widows welfare
[C] Sanitation and Cleanliness
[D] Environment Protection
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sanitation and Cleanliness]
Notes:
The Sant Gadge Baba National Award is given for outstanding contributions to sanitation and cleanliness in India. Named after the revered Maharashtrian saint Sant Gadge Baba, who was known for his efforts in promoting cleanliness and social reform, the award aims to encourage initiatives that improve sanitation and hygiene. Sant Gadge Baba’s legacy includes his famous slogan, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” emphasizing the importance of cleanliness in society.
