41. Consider the following sacred and heritage sites in South Asia:
- Shrine of Paramahansa Ji Maharaj
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Srikalahasti Temple
- Apsidal Temple
Arrange the above places from North to South:
[A] 2, 1, 4, 3
[B] 2, 4, 1, 3
[C] 2, 3, 1, 4
[D] 1, 4, 3, 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2, 4, 1, 3]
Notes:
Pashupatinath Temple is the northernmost in Kathmandu, Nepal; Apsidal Temple is in Bazira, Swat, Pakistan; Shrine of Paramahansa Ji Maharaj is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; and Srikalahasti Temple, the southernmost, is in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Correct order from North to South is 2, 4, 1, 3.
42. Consider the following statements:
- Vanijya Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
- Seemant Vikas Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Kala Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture.
- Shehri Samridhi Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 4
[B] 1, 2 and 4
[C] 2, 3 and 4
[D] 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 4]
Notes:
Vanijya Utsav was started by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, not Corporate Affairs. Seemant Vikas Utsav is a Ministry of Home Affairs initiative for border development, not External Affairs. Kala Utsav falls under the Ministry of Education, not Culture. Only Shehri Samridhi Utsav is correctly attributed to the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission.
43. Consider the following statements regarding the festival ‘Kongali’:
- It is a harvest festival celebrated in Karnataka.
- It is observed on the first day of the Kati month as per the Assamese calendar.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Both 1 and 2
[C] Only 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2]
Notes:
Kongali Bihu, also known as Kati Bihu, is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, not Karnataka. It is marked on the first day of the Kati month in the Assamese calendar and signifies a vital phase in the farmer’s lifecycle tied to rice saplings. Hence, only Statement 2 is correct.
44. Consider the following statements:
- The earliest reference to Vasudeva Krishna is found in the Chhandogya Upanishad.
- The Buddhist text Uttaradhyayana Sutra mentions Krishna as a contemporary of Arishtanemi.
- The earliest reference to the deification of Krishna is found in Panini's Ashtadhyayi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 and 3]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct as the Chhandogya Upanishad refers to Vasudeva Krishna. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Uttaradhyayana Sutra is a Jain, not a Buddhist, text and mentions Krishna (Kesava) as a contemporary of Arishtanemi. Statement 3 is correct, as Panini's Ashtadhyayi records Krishna's deification.
45. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam has been honoured with which of the following awards?
- Padma Bhushan
- Padma Vibhushan
- Indira Gandhi award for National Integration
- Veer Sarvarkar Award (1998) and
- Ramanujan Award
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 5
[B] Only 3, 4 & 5
[C] Only 1, 2, 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3, 4 & 5]
Notes:
- World Students’ Day is celebrated on October 15 to mark the birth anniversary of former President APJ (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen) Abdul Kalam, a celebrated Aerospace scientist and former President of India.
- He was honoured with several recognitions including
- Padma Bhushan (1981),
- Padma Vibhushan (1990),
- Bharat Ratna (1997),
- Indira Gandhi award for National Integration (1997),
- Veer Sarvarkar Award (1998) and
- Ramanujan Award.
46. Consider the following statements about the Dalai Lamas:
- The Dalai Lama belongs to the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
- The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of ‘Avalokiteshvara’, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
- The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 2 and 3
[B] Only 1
[C] Only 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 2 and 3]
Notes:
The Dalai Lamas belong to the Gelug school, not the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. They are revered as manifestations of ‘Avalokiteshvara’, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso. Thus, only statements 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
47. Which of the following traditional craftsmanship items is/are correctly matched with their respective regions?
- Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery – Kerala
- Channapatna Toys – Tamil Nadu
- Bidriware – Karnataka
- Kalamkari Textiles – Andhra Pradesh
- Kondapalli Bommalu – Andhra Pradesh
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 3 & 5
[B] Only 2 & 4
[C] Only 1 & 4
[D] 1, 3, 4 & 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 3, 4 & 5]
Notes:
Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery is from Kerala, Bidriware originates from Karnataka, Kalamkari Textiles are associated with Andhra Pradesh, and Kondapalli Bommalu is also from Andhra Pradesh, thus all are correctly matched. However, Channapatna Toys are actually from Karnataka, not Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the correct options are 1, 3, 4, and 5.
48. Match the following products with their respective states:
| Products |
States |
| A. Nakshi Kantha |
1. Bihar |
| B. Tirur Vettila |
2. Jammu & Kashmir |
| C. Gucchi Mushroom |
3. West Bengal |
| D. Silao Khaja |
4. Kerala |
Select the correct option
[A] A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
[B] A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
[C] A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
[D] A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1]
Notes:
- Nakshi Kantha, a GI-tagged handicraft from West Bengal, represents its regional heritage and quality.
- Tirur Vettila, a betel leaf from Kerala’s Malappuram district, is rich in chlorophyll, protein, and medicinal properties.
- Gucchi mushrooms from Jammu & Kashmir, also GI-tagged, aim to boost branding and benefit local farmers.
- Silao Khaja, a delicacy from Bihar’s Nalanda district, recently received a GI tag. Known for its crisp, multi-layered texture, it owes its unique taste to Silao’s water and climate. Historical accounts link this sweet to King Vikramaditya and Lord Buddha, adding cultural significance.
49. Consider the following pairs:
| Sixth Schedule |
Empowers tribal communities in India |
| Karbi Anglong |
Autonomous hill district in Meghalaya |
| Kaziranga National Park |
Famous for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses |
How many of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[A] Only one pair
[B] Only two pairs
[C] All three pairs
[D] None of the pairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only two pairs]
Notes:
- Sixth Schedule – Empowers tribal communities in India
- Correct: The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides special provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It grants autonomy to tribal communities through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), allowing them to govern themselves in certain matters.
- Karbi Anglong – Autonomous hill district in Meghalaya
- Incorrect: Karbi Anglong is an autonomous hill district but is located in Assam, not Meghalaya. It is governed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule.
- Kaziranga National Park – Famous for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses
- Correct: Kaziranga National Park, located in Assam, is world-famous for housing the largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key wildlife conservation area.
50. Consider the following objectives in relation to the “Hamari Parampara, Hamari Virasat” initiative:
- Strengthening traditional tribal self-governance systems in Scheduled Areas
- Promoting tribal festivals like Sarhul at the national level
- Facilitating the migration of tribal communities to urban areas
- Documenting and preserving tribal languages, music, and food traditions
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] 1, 2 and 4 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 4 only]
Notes:
- Strengthening traditional tribal self-governance systems in Scheduled Areas – This is a key objective of the initiative, aligned with the PESA Act.
- Promoting tribal festivals like Sarhul at the national level – The Sarhul Mahotsav 2025 was celebrated as part of this initiative, showcasing tribal heritage on a national platform.
- Facilitating the migration of tribal communities to urban areas – This is not an objective of the initiative. Instead, the focus is on preserving tribal culture in their native environments and empowering them locally.
- Documenting and preserving tribal languages, music, and food traditions – The campaign emphasizes recording “Lok Bhasha, Bhoosha, Bhojan, Sangeet” to safeguard indigenous knowledge and heritage.
