States PCS: Uttarakhand GK for UKPSC Exams
For all Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) exams including UKPCS, JE, AE, and state-level competitive posts.
11. According to Mahabharata’s Vana Parva, what was Pulinda king Subahu’s capital?
[A] Joshimath
[B] Devprayag
[C] Srinagar
[D] Aklapuri
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Aklapuri]
Notes:
In the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, King Subahu ruled the Pulindas. His capital city is named Aklapuri, located in the Himalayan and adjoining forested regions. The text does not identify Aklapuri with contemporary towns like Joshimath, Devprayag, or Srinagar. The Pulindas were ancient hill tribes mentioned in Indian epics.
12. Kanakpal was the ruler of which dynasty?
[A] Pawar dynasty
[B] Chand dynasty
[C] Katyuri dynasty
[D] Pal dynasty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pawar dynasty]
Notes:
Kanakpal founded the Pawar (Parmar) dynasty in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand around 888 CE. He came from the Malwa/Gurjar area and established his rule at Chandpur Garh. The Pawar dynasty ruled Garhwal for several centuries, marking the beginning of their reign in this Himalayan region.
13. Where have Kushan-period remains been extensively found in Uttarakhand?
[A] Virabhadra (Rishikesh)
[B] Mordhwaj (near Kotdwar)
[C] All of the above
[D] Govishan (Kashipur)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All of the above]
Notes:
Virabhadra near Rishikesh, Mordhwaj near Kotdwar, and Govishan in Kashipur have yielded Kushan-period remains dated 1st–3rd century CE. These archaeological sites contain structural remains, pottery, and coins characteristic of Kushan influence in the Himalayan foothills and upper Ganga–Terai belt.
14. Which poem was composed under the Panwar kings’ rule?
[A] Garh Rajvansh Kavya
[B] Sudarshanodaya Kavya
[C] Manodaya Kavya
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Garh Rajvansh Kavya]
Notes:
During the Panwar rulers’ reign in Garhwal, poet Mola Ram composed the Garh Rajvansh Kavya. It is a historical poem describing the Garhwal royal dynasty. No verified evidence associates Sudarshanodaya Kavya or Manodaya Kavya specifically with the Panwar kings.
15. In which book is Garhwal’s conquest by Lalitaditya Muktapida described?
[A] Rajatarangini
[B] Shahnama
[C] Jahangirnama
[D] Kalyan Chandradayam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajatarangini]
Notes:
Lalitaditya Muktapida was an 8th-century Karkota dynasty ruler of Kashmir. His conquests are detailed by Kalhana in the 12th-century work Rajatarangini. This source critically documents his campaigns in northern India and Himalayan regions.
16. When was the Debating Club in Almora established?
[A] 1870
[B] 1865
[C] 1867
[D] 1868
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1870]
Notes:
The Debating Club in Almora was established in 1870 under Buddhi Ballabh Pant. In 1871, it launched the Hindi newspaper Almora Akhbar, contributing to local journalism and reformist ideas in the Kumaon region.
17. When did PM H.D. Deve Gowda announce Uttarakhand’s formation?
[A] 15 August 1998
[B] 26 January 1999
[C] 14 April 1997
[D] 9 November 2000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [9 November 2000]
Notes:
Uttarakhand was officially formed on 9 November 2000 after the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 was passed by Parliament. President K.R. Narayanan approved the Act on 28 August 2000. Initially named Uttaranchal, the state was renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
18. Where in Uttarakhand are pataltor (source wells) commonly found?
[A] Tarai
[B] Bhabar
[C] Shivalik Hills
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhabar]
Notes:
Pataltor, or source wells, are found in the Bhabar region of Uttarakhand. Bhabar is a porous strip at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges, where rivers vanish underground due to permeable soil. Water re-emerges at pataltor points, unlike in the adjoining Tarai plains or Shivalik hills.
19. How does the melting rate of Himalayan glaciers compare globally?
[A] Slowest
[B] Similar to other glaciers worldwide
[C] Fastest
[D] No information available
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Fastest]
Notes:
Scientific studies indicate Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than most other global glaciers. The rate of ice loss is at least ten times higher than historical averages, associated with climate warming. The Himalayas are among the fastest changing glacier regions on Earth.
20. Which lake is also known as Gandhi Sarovar?
[A] Nachiketa Lake
[B] Chorabari Lake
[C] Achari Lake
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chorabari Lake]
Notes:
Chorabari Lake is a glacial lake near Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand at 3,900 meters altitude. It was renamed Gandhi Sarovar in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were scattered there. The lake is fed by the Chorabari Bamak Glacier and was originally called Kanti Sarovar.
