11. Who was the first woman in India to get Ashok Chakra?
[A] Durga Banerjee
[B] Santhosh Yadhav
[C] Nirja Bhanot
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nirja Bhanot]
Notes:
Nirja Bhanot was the first woman in India to get Ashok Chakra and also the youngest person to receive the award.
12. How many vows do Jains take while practicing Jainism?
[A] Five
[B] Four
[C] Six
[D] Seven
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Five]
Notes:
A practicing Jain takes five main vows while adhering to the core belief of Jain Dharma which include ahi?sa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (sexual continence), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
13. Which position does Buddhism occupy in term of number of followers?
[A] Second
[B] Fourth
[C] Third
[D] Second
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Fourth]
Notes:
Buddhism is the world’s fourth-largest religion in term of followers. Founded by Gautam Buddha, it has over 520 million followers(over 7% of the global population) who are called Buddhists.
14. Which of the following school pf philosophies propounds that Purusha/Brahman is both the efficient and the material cause, “that from which the origination, subsistence, and dissolution of this universe proceed.”?
[A] Vaisesika school of Hindu Philosophy
[B] Samkhya school of Hindu Philosophy
[C] Vedanta school of Hindu Philosophy
[D] Mimansa school of Hindu Philosophy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vedanta school of Hindu Philosophy]
Notes:
In contrast to the dualism of Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta school states that Purusha/Brahman) is both the efficient and the material cause. In other words, what created all existence is reflected in all beings, that is, the creative principle was and is always everywhere.
15. Who among the following is credited with the establishment of gurukul (Vedic schools ) in India?
[A] Ramkrishna Parmahans
[B] Ishvarchand Vidya sagar
[C] Swami Vivekanand
[D] Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Swami Dayananda Saraswati]
Notes:
Between 1869 and 1873, Dayanand Saraswati established Gurukul (Vedic schools) in India which emphasized Vedic values, culture, Satya (virtue), and Sanatana Dharma (the essence of living).
16. Which poet is known as Kalidas of Bihar?
[A] Nagarjun
[B] Bhikhari Thakur
[C] Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
[D] Ramesh Chandra Jha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhikhari Thakur]
Notes:
Bhikhari Thakur is known as Kalidas of Bihar. Bhikari Thakur was an Indian Bhojpuri language poet, playwright, lyricist, actor, folk dancer, folk singer and social activist. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the Bhojpuri Langauage and most popular folk writer of Purvanchal and Bihar. He is also called as “Shakespeare of Bhojpuri” and “Rai Bahadur”.
17. Which State celebrates Malmas Mela?
[A] Bihar
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bihar]
Notes:
During Malmas mela, which is also known as Adhimas, it is believed that the 33 crore gods and goddesses of Hindu culture dwell in the area of Rajgir. Therefore devotees offer prayers and offerings for the entire month marking the religious importance of the period. Moreover, devotees from all over wash off their sins by taking a dip in the hot spring and pay homage to the holy land of Rajgir during the malmas mela.
18. With context to culture of Assam, what is ‘Ankia Nat’?
[A] an one act play native to Assam
[B] a musical instrument
[C] a tribe of Assam
[D] a traditional craft made from bamboo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [an one act play native to Assam]
Notes:
‘Ankia Nat’ is an one act play native to Assam.The invention of the Ankia Naat is usually attributed to the medieval saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.
19. In which state has the Jawara Dance, a dance form to celebrate wealth, originated?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Kerala
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Jawara dance is a renowned folk dance of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The people of Bundelkhand region particularly, perform this art form. It is also known as the Harvest Dance. The peasants’ community of the area performs this dance, to celebrate their joy and bliss that they experience, after reaping a good harvest. Men and women of the region participate in this dance together in sync. The women carry a basket full of Jawara crop on their heads while performing the dance.
20. What is known as a New Year Celebration of Sikkimese Bhutia which falls in the 10th month of the Sikkimese Lunar calendar.
[A] Ashura
[B] Vesak
[C] Thai Pongal
[D] Sonam Losoong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sonam Losoong]
Notes:
Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year, of the Bhutia tribe, celebrated every year in the month of December. Based on the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, Losoong falls on the 18th day of the 10th month, when farmers celebrate the harvest. It is a traditional festival of the Bhutias, but the Lepchas also celebrate it and call it Namsoong.
