DAY – 28 (InstaTest-28): Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2020: Topic – Art & Culture, Subject-wise Test 2, Text book based Test 22, December 2019 & January 2020 CA Revision

Solution: A

The Tiger Estimation exercise is believed to be the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage, intensity of sampling and quantum of camera trapping.

Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number at 526, closely followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442).

India conducts the All India Tiger Estimation every four years.  Three cycles of the estimation have already been completed in 2006, 2010 and 2014.  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192351

Solution: C

‘Zo Kutpui’ festival

Mizoram govt organised ‘Zo Kutpui’ globally to unify Mizo tribes.

• The first festival would be held at Vanghmun, a hub town of Mizos in neighbouring Tripura.
• The event will see the presence of many important dignitaries from various Mizoram tribes and also witness

cultural programmes and traditional songs from various Mizo tribes from Mizoram and other northeastern states.

The event aims at re-unifying and strengthening brotherhood among different tribes of Mizo.

Solution: D

Thotlakonda Monastery

The maha stupa of the 2,000-year-old Buddhist heritage site of Thotlakonda, reconstructed in 2016 by the state archaeology department, has collapsed during the recent torrential rainfall.

Key facts:

• Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex is situated near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Thotlakonda was well within the influence of ancient Kalinga, which was an important source of dissemination of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and various parts of Southeast Asia.
• The excavations have established the existence of a Hinayana Buddhist complex which flourished 2000 years ago.
• The excavations reveal Satavahana dynasty lead and Roman silver coins indicating foreign trade; terracotta tiles, stucco decorative pieces, sculptured panels, miniature stupa models in stone, and Buddha footprints were also found.
• The excavations also yielded twelve inscriptions in the Brahmi script.

Solution: A

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and rules framed under it (the “FCRA” or “Act”) regulate the receipt and usage of foreign contribution by non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”) in India.

The intent of the Act is to prevent use of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activity detrimental to the national interest.

It has a very wide scope and is applicable to a natural person, body corporate, all other types of Indian entities (whether incorporated or not) as well as NRIs and overseas branches/subsidiaries of Indian companies and other entities formed or registered in India.

Solution: A

Jnanpith Award

Renowned English fiction writer Amitav Ghosh was felicitated with 54th Jnanpith Award. He is the 1st English language writer to become a Jnanpith laureate.

Eminent Malayalam poet Akkitham has been chosen for 55th Jnanpith Award for the year 2019.

The Jnanpith Award is one of the prestigious literary honours in the country. The award was instituted in 1961.

Eligibility: Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour.

Initially English language was not considered for the Award but after 49th Jnanpith Award, English language was added to the list of languages for consideration.

From 49^th Jnanpith Award, English has been included in the language list along with other Indian languages for consideration of Jnanpith Award, However, the award is open for only Indian citizens.

Solution: A

Stucco sculpture and ikshvaku dynasty

• Indian archaeologists recently unearthed a rare life-sized stucco sculpture from a Buddhist site at Phanigiri in Suryapet, Telangana.

Key facts:

• It is the biggest stucco sculpture found so far in India. It is about 1.73 metres in height and 35 cm in width.
• It represents a Bhodhisattva in Jathaka Chakra.
• It was created nearly 1,700 years ago by craftsmen at Phanigiri at peak of Ikshavaku dynasty.

Who is Bhodhisattva?

• A bodhisattva is a Buddhist deity who has attained the highest level of enlightenment, but who delays their entry into Paradise in order to help the earthbound. The bodhisattva, known in Sanskrit as Avalokiteśvara, takes both male and female form and is associated with the qualities of mercy and compassion

The Ikshvaku dynasty:

• As per Puranic literature, it was founded by king Ikshvaku. It is also known as Sūryavaṁśa (the Solar dynasty).
• Important Personalities belonging to this dynasty includes: Lord Rama, Twenty-two out of twenty-four Jain Tirthankara, and according to Buddhist texts, Prince Siddhartha also belonged to this dynasty.

Solution: D

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.

In this context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups.  75 tribal groups have been categorized categorized by Ministry of Home Affairs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s

Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha (13).

https://tribal.nic.in/pvtg.aspx

https://vikaspedia.in/social-welfare/scheduled-tribes-welfare/primitive-vulnerable-tribal-groups

Solution: C

Bibi Ka Maqbara

It is a tomb located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

• It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the memory of his first and chief wife Dilras Banu Begum.
• It is considered to be a symbol of Aurangzeb’s ‘conjugal fidelity’.
• The structure, known as the ‘Taj of the Deccan’ because of its striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal.

Solution: A

Bronze Casting

The art of bronzecasting was practised on a wide scale by the Harappans. Their bronze statues were made using the ‘lost wax’ technique in which the wax figures were first covered with a coating of clay and allowed to dry. Then the wax was heated and the molten wax was drained out through a tiny hole made in the clay cover. The hollow mould thus created was filled with molten metal which took the original shape of the object. Once the metal cooled, the clay cover was completely removed. In bronze we find human as well as animal figures, the best example of the former being the statue of a girl popularly titled ‘Dancing Girl’.

DANCING GIRL

One of the best known artefacts from the Indus Valley is this approximately fourinchhigh copper figure of a dancing girl. Found in Mohenjodaro, this exquisite casting depicts a girl whose long hair is tied in a bun. Bangles cover her left arm, a bracelet and an amulet or bangle adorn her right arm, and a cowry shell necklace is seen around her neck. Her right hand is on her hip and her left hand is clasped in a traditional Indian dance gesture. She has large eyes and flat nose. This figure is full of expression and bodily vigour and conveys a lot of information.

Solution: A

The 2+2 dialogue is to build a high level of trust between US and India promises to be the first of an annual series of dialogues held alternately in each country. India’s tango with the US comes on the 10th anniversary of the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, we began operations in January 2016 and have now grown to 102 approved members worldwide. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia and beyond, we will better connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is not established by BRICS, BRICS established NDB (New Development Bank).

https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/index.html

Solution: C

Pillars

The tradition of constructing pillars is very old and it may be observed that erection of pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are different from the Achamenian pillars. The Mauryan pillars are rockcut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills, whereas the Achamenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason. Stone pillars were erected by Ashoka, which have been found in the north Indian part of the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them

Solution: B

Bharhut

Bharhut sculptures are tall like the images of Yaksha and Yakhshini in the Mauryan period, modelling of the sculptural volume is in low relief maintaining linearity. Images stick to the picture plane. In the relief panels depicting narratives, illusion of three-dimensionality is shown with tilted perspective. Clarity in the narrative is enhanced by selecting main events. At Bharhut, narrative panels are shown with fewer characters but as the time progresses, apart from the main character in the story, others also start appearing in the picture space. At times more than one event at one geographical place is clubbed in the picture space or only a single main event is depicted in the pictorial space.

Availability of the space is utilised to the maximum by the sculptors. Folded hands in the narratives as well as single figures of the Yakhshas and Yakshinis are shown flat clinging to the chest.

Narrative reliefs at Bharhut show how artisans used the pictorial language very effectively to communicate stories.

In one such narrative, showing Queen Maya devi’s (mother of Siddhartha Gautam) dream, a descending elephant is shown. The queen is shown reclining on the bed whereas an elephant is shown on the top heading towards the womb of Queen Mayadevi.

Solution: D

Diseases eliminated/eradicated in India are Smallpox, Rinderpest, Polio, Yaws, Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus and Trachoma.

https://fit.thequint.com/fit/disease-and-smallpox-elimination

Solution: C

Paintings of the Nayaka dynasty in the seventeenth and eigtheenth centuries are seen in Thiruparakunram, Sreerangam and Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. In Thiruparakunram, paintings are found of two different periods—of the fourteenth and the seventeenth century. Early paintings depict scenes from the life of Vardhaman Mahavira.

The Nayaka paintings depict episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and also scenes from Krishna-leela. In Tiruvarur, there is a panel narrating the story of Muchukunda. In Chidambaram, there are panels of paintings narrating stories related to Shiva and Vishnu— Shiva as Bhikshatana Murti, Vishnu as Mohini, etc.

In the Sri Krishna temple at Chengam in Arcot District there are 60 panels narrating the story of the Ramayana which represent the late phase of Nayaka paintings.

The examples cited above suggest that Nayaka paintings were more or less an extension of the Vijayanagara style with minor regional modifications and incorporations.

Solution: A

There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara. There are different names for the various parts of the temple in different parts of India; however, the most common name for the simple shikhara which is square at the base and whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the ‘latina’ or the rekha-prasada type of shikara.

The second major type of architectural form in the nagara order is the phamsana. Phamsana buildings tend to be broader and shorter than latina ones. Their roofs are composed of several slabs that gently rise to a single point over the centre of the building, unlike the latina ones which look like sharply rising tall towers. Phamsana roofs do not curve inward, instead they slope upwards on a straight incline. In many North Indian temples, you will notice that the phamsana design is used for the mandapas while the main garbhagriha is housed in a latina building. Later on, the latina buildings grew complex, and instead of appearing like a single tall tower, the temple began to support many smaller towers, which were clustered together like rising mountain-peaks with the tallest one being in the centre, and this was the one which was always above the garbhagriha.

The third main sub-type of the nagara building is what is generally called the valabhi type. These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber. The edge of this vaulted chamber is rounded, like the bamboo or wooden wagons that would have been drawn by bullocks in ancient times. They are usually called ‘wagonvaulted buildings’. As mentioned above, the form of the temple is influenced by ancient building forms that were already in existence before the fifth century CE.

Solution: C

The East Coast Railways commissioned the first waste-to-energy plant of Railways sector of India.

The plant, a patented technology called Polycrack, is first-of-its-kind in the Indian Railways and fourth in the country.  It converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water.

Polycrack Technology is the world’s very first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts multiple feedstocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon as well as water.

In Polycrack Technology, waste is processed and reformed in 24 hours. The technology involves de-polmerization, cracking, reforming, scrubbing, particle filtration and rapid quenching. The waste generated will become the feeder material for the waste to energy plant. The energy which will be produced at the plant, will be in the form of light diesel oil and this oil will be used to light furnaces.

Solution: A

The city of Mandu is located sixty miles from Indore, at an elevation of over 2000 feet and overlooks the Malwa Plateau to the north and the Narmada valley to the south. Mandu’s natural defence encouraged consistent habitations by Parmara Rajputs, Afghans and Mughals. As the capital city of Ghauri Dynasty (1401–1561) founded by Hoshang Shah it acquired a lot of fame. Subsequently, Mandu was associated with the romance of Sultan Baz Bahadur and Rani Rupmati. The Mughals resorted to it for pleasure during the monsoon season. Mandu is a typical respresentation of the medieval provincial style of art and architecture. It was a complex mix of official and residential-cum-pleasure palace, pavilions, mosques, artificial reservoirs, baolis, embattlements, etc. In spite of the size or monumentality, the structures were very close to nature, designed in the style of arched pavilions, light and airy, so that these buildings did not retain heat. Local stone and marble were used to great advantage. Mandu is a fine example of architectural adaptation to the environment.

The Hindola Mahal looks like a railway viaduct bridge with its disproportionately large buttresses supporting the walls. This was the audience hall of the Sultan and also the place where he showed himself to his subjects. Batter was used very effectively to give an impression of swinging (Hindola) walls.

Jahaaz Mahal is an elegant two-storey ‘shippalace’

between two reservoirs, with open pavilions, balconies overhanging the water and a terrace. Built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji it was possibly used as his harem and as the ultimate pleasure and recreational resort. It had a complex arrangement of watercourses and a terrace swimming pool.

Solution: D

Embroidery Crafts

Amongst the crafts used on textiles, the art of working raised designs using threads or wooden blocks is unique. This art is called embroidery and can be performed by using threads of gold, silver, silk or cotton on cloth using needles.

Embroidery arts like Applique or Pipli work is practiced in Pipli village in Odisha. It is a type of patchwork made of embroidered colourful fabric that is sewed together to make a single piece. They use this technique to make beautiful lamps. Another famous technique is called Phulkari, which literally means ‘making flowers’. This process uses the technique of darning to create colourful flower like patterns on the cloth. It is produced in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

Solution: C

Recently ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) launched Bhuvan Panchayat version 3.0. Under the project, the ISRO will collaborate with Gram panchayat members to understand their data requirements. The portal will function with the help of satellite technology of ISRO. The project will run for two years.

The portal aims at helping village development planning process under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Solution: D

About UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:

The list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance.

The list was established in 2008 when Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect.

UNESCO maintains three lists under its “Intangible Cultural Heritage” banner: the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and the register of good safeguarding practices.

Some of the criteria for inclusion in the representative list are if the inscription of the element will ensure visibility and awareness of it and if the element has been nominated after having “the widest possible participation” of the community, group or individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.

From India the Intangible Cultural Heritages added into this list include:

1. Tradition of Vedic chanting.
2. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana.
3. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre.
4. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas.
5. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala.
6. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan.
7. Chhau dance.
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir.
9. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur.
10. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab.
11. Yoga.
12. Nawrouz.
13. Kumbh Mela.

Solution: C

Ganga-Volga Dialogue:

• Ganga-Volga Dialogue held between India and Russia in New Delhi.
• The dialogue focused in providing interface between the civilizations of the countries.
• The Dialogue to contribute to greater people-to-people exchanges between two nations.
• The concept of Connectivity includes greater academic and economic exchanges, as well as Digital Connectivity.
• India-Russia exchanges ideas on how to expand the areas of education, culture, economy, entrepreneurship, strategic thought, innovation, media, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing and technology.
• The role of the two major river systems of the Ganga and Volga in providing the framework for a host of activities including in culture and civilization, development of economic activity using riverine systems, and connecting people from the two river basins.

Solution: B

Bagh cave paintings

Representing an extension to the Ajanta school, Bagh caves in Madhya Pradesh with their exquisite work rank quite close to the actual Ajanta caves in terms of their design, execution and decoration. The main difference is that the figures are more tightly modeled, have stronger outline, and are earthlier and more human. Cave no. 4, known as Rang Mahal, has beautiful murals on the walls depicting Buddhist and Jataka tales, just like those in Ajanta. Although scanty and decayed now, these paintings depict religious themes in the light of contemporary lifestyle of people, thus are more secular in nature.

Solution: A

Kuno National Park is a protected area in Madhya Pradesh that received the status of national park in 2018. The protected area was established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary in the Sheopur and Morena districts. It was also known as Kuno-Palpur and Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary and it is part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests Eco region.

Solution: C

RAGAMALA PAINTINGS

Ragamala Paintings are a series of illustrative paintings from medieval India based on Ragamala or the ‘Garland of Ragas’, depicting various Indian musical Ragas. They stand as a classical example of the amalgamation of art, poetry and classical music in medieval India.

Ragamala paintings were created in most Indian schools of painting, starting in the 16th and 17th centuries and are today named accordingly, as Pahari Ragamala, Rajasthan or Rajput Ragamala, Deccan Ragamala, and Mughal Ragamala.

In these painting, each raga is personified by a colour describing the story of a hero and heroine (nayaka and nayika) in a particular mood. it also elucidates the season and the time of day and night in which a particular raga is to be sung. Moreover, many paintings also demarcate the specific Hindu deities attached with the raga, like Bhairava or Bhairavi to Shiva, Sri to Devi etc. The six principal ragas present in the Ragamala are Bhairava, Deepak, Sri, Malkaush, Megha and Hindola.

Solution: A

The Economic Survey is a report the government presents on the state of the economy in the past one year, the key challenges it anticipates, and their possible solutions.

The document is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the guidance of the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA)

The government is not constitutionally bound to present the Economic Survey or to follow the recommendations that are made in it. But while the Centre is not obliged to present the Survey at all, it is tabled because of the significance it holds.

Solution: D

To know the the measuring cylinder that can fill all the given capacities , they must be divisible by the required number.

98,182,266 all are divisible by 14.

So, 14 litres is the largest cylinder that can fill all the given cylinders.

Solution: A

HCF of two number is 12. This means 12 is a factor common to both the numbers. LCM is common multiple for the two numbers, it is divisible by the two numbers.
So, the required answer = 54.

Solution: B

Product of two numbers = 2160;

HCF = 6
By formula, LCM * HCF = Product of two numbers
LCM * 6 = 2160
LCM = 2160/6
LCM = 360
HCF : LCM = 6 : 360 = 1 : 60.

Solution: C

To find the greatest number which divides the numbers 964, 1238 and 1400 leaving the remainders 41, 31 and 51 is equals to the HCF of (964 – 41), (1238 – 31), (1400 – 51).

Therefore, HCF of 923, 1207 and 1349 = 71

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Author of the passage is trying to convey that we should reduce our dependence on agriculture and also increase the productivity of agriculture.

Option C is the nearest answer to this.