1. Which city is recognized as a UNESCO City of Music?
[A] Lucknow
[B] Varanasi
[C] Allahabad
[D] Kanpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Varanasi]
Notes:
Varanasi, renowned for the Benares tabla gharana, was designated UNESCO City of Music in 2015. It has profound ties to Indian classical music with legends like Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan hailing from here.
2. Which of the following UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh was constructed as a memorial to a spouse?
[A] Fatehpur Sikri
[B] Taj Mahal
[C] Buland Darwaza
[D] Agra Fort
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Taj Mahal]
Notes:
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Regarded as a symbol of eternal love, the Taj Mahal is renowned worldwide for its stunning white marble architecture and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Unlike other monuments in the region, it was specifically constructed as a mausoleum to commemorate a spouse.
3. Consider the following statements regarding World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh:
1. All three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh are located in Agra district.
2. Agra Fort was built entirely by Mughal emperor Akbar.
3. Buland Darwaza was built to commemorate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct as all three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uttar Pradesh—Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri—are located in Agra district. Statement 2 is incorrect because although Akbar initiated the construction of Agra Fort, it was completed by his successors. Statement 3 is correct: Buland Darwaza was constructed by Akbar in 1572 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
4. Which festival is proposed for inclusion in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
[A] Chhath Mahaparva
[B] Holi
[C] Diwali
[D] Pongal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chhath Mahaparva]
Notes:
The Ministry of Culture has started consultations to include Chhath Mahaparva in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The meeting was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention. Diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Suriname, and the Netherlands supported the multinational nomination. UNESCO recognition will help global awareness, documentation, and preservation of Chhath Mahaparva. The festival is dedicated to Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and by diaspora worldwide. India currently has 15 cultural elements inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List.
5. Which of the following National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
- Sundarbans National Park
- Nanda Devi National Park
- Manas National Park
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
Sundarbans National Park, Nanda Devi National Park (including Valley of Flowers), and Manas National Park are all recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their unique biodiversity, ecosystems and global ecological significance. All three parks are among the prominent Indian sites listed under UNESCO's World Natural Heritage category.
6. Which of the following statements regarding the Wadden Sea in Europe is/are correct?
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
- It is the world’s largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats.
- It is located in the Mediterranean Sea basin.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] 1, 2, and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:
The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shared by Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It comprises the largest unbroken intertidal sand and mud flat system globally. It is situated along the North Sea coast and not in the Mediterranean Sea basin; thus, statement 3 is incorrect.
7. Which of the following UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites are island ecosystems?
- Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles)
- Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
- Komodo National Park (Indonesia)
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
Aldabra Atoll is an island atoll in Seychelles, Ha Long Bay consists of thousands of limestone islands in Vietnam, and Komodo National Park includes numerous islands in Indonesia. All three are recognized UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites characterized by significant island ecosystems and unique biodiversity.
8. Which of the following UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in China?
- Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan
- Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
- Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan and Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries are UNESCO World Heritage Sites situated in China. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is in Tanzania, Africa, and is not located in China. Hence, only 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
9. Which of the following are UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites?
- Iguazu National Park (Brazil–Argentina)
- Yellowstone National Park (USA)
- Komodo National Park (Indonesia)
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
All three— Iquazu National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Komodo National Park— are UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites. Iguazu is famous for its waterfalls, Yellowstone for geothermal features and biodiversity, and Komodo for being habitat of the Komodo dragon. All meet UNESCO criteria for natural significance and biodiversity value.
10. Erra Matti Dibbalu and the Tirumala Hills, recently included in UNESCO’s Tentative List, are located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Recently, Andhra Pradesh’s Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) and the Natural Heritage of the Tirumala Hills were included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. Being on the Tentative List is the mandatory first step before nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Erra Matti Dibbalu, near Visakhapatnam, covers 1,500 acres and is a National Geo-heritage Monument declared by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 2016. The dunes are composed of sand, silt, and clay with a reddish hue from natural oxidation and show dendritic drainage and sediment layers from the late Quaternary period.
