UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on History, Culture, and Social Issues to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Environment, Geography, Science and Technology MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

With reference to the Ashtadhyayi, consider the following statements:

1. It is a linguistic work that established the standard for how Sanskrit should be written and spoken.

2. It delves deep into the language’s phonetics, syntax and grammar.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

With reference to the Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:

1. The main goal of the mission was to persuade India to help the British war by providing resources.

2. B.R. Ambedkar quipped this mission as a ‘post-dated cheque on a bank largely failing’.

3. The mission offered dominion status to India without a specific time frame.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

He was born in Kalady village on the bank of the River Periyar in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. He is also popularly identified as the author of 116 works, including celebrated commentaries (or bhashyas) on 10 Upanishads, the Brahmasutra, and the Bhagavad Gita. He is said to have traversed the length and breadth of the Indian landmass preaching Advaita Vedanta.

The above-mentioned lines refer to:

(a) Kumarila Bhatta

(b) Swami Chinmayananda

(c) Adi Shankaracharya

(d) Madhvacharya

Consider the following statements about Ellora Caves:

1. It is one of the largest rock-cut temple complexes which houses only Buddhist sculptures.

2. It is a UNESCO world heritage site.

3. It is locally known as ‘Verul Leni’.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Which state has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag for Lakhori chili?

(a) Uttarakhand

(b) Goa

(c) Rajasthan

(d) Maharashtra

FYI:

— Ashtadhyayi is a linguistics text that set the standard for how Sanskrit was meant to be written and spoken. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It was written more than 2,000 years ago by a scholar Panini towards the end of the 4th century BC.

— It delves deep into the language’s phonetics, syntax and grammar. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It also offers a ‘language machine’, where you can feed in the root and suffix of any Sanskrit word, and get grammatically correct words and sentences in return.

— To ensure this ‘machine’ was accurate, Panini wrote a set of 4,000 rules dictating its logic.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— In March 1942, a mission led by Sir Stafford Cripps arrived in India to meet leaders of the Congress and the Muslim League. The idea was to secure India’s whole-hearted support in the war, and the return offer to Indians was the promise of self-governance.

— The sole purpose of Cripps Mission was to convince India to support the British war by supplying the wherewithal to their army, soldiers in particular. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The mission offered dominion status to India in return after the war was quite vague and without a definite time frame. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Indian Leaders felt deceived when the Mission announced that the British would hold complete control over Indian affairs in the mean time.

— There was a provision for the partition of India, which was not acceptable to the Congress.

— Mahatma Gandhi quipped this mission as a ‘post-dated cheque on a bank largely failing’. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: pib.gov.in)

FYI:

— The four shankaracharyas have said that they will not attend the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

— The shankaracharyas head the four Hindu mathas (monasteries) — in Dwarka (Gujarat), Joshimath (Uttarakhand), Puri (Odisha), and Sringeri (Karnataka) — that are believed to have been founded by the eighth-century religious scholar and philosopher Adi Shankara.

— According to the most popular versions of Adi Shankara’s life-story, he was born in Kalady village on the bank of the River Periyar in what is today Kerala’s Ernakulam district.

— Shankara’s numerous hagiographies depict a remarkable scholar-monk who, after being initiated into studies by Govindacharya, was constantly on the move, visiting important spiritual centres, challenging prevalent philosophical traditions, and establishing mathas and monastic orders.

— He is also popularly identified as the author of 116 works, including celebrated commentaries (or bhashyas) on 10 Upanishads, the Brahmasutra, and the Bhagavad Gita.

— Shankara is most associated with Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy and spiritual discipline.

— Advaita Vedanta articulates an ontological position of radical nondualism — it posits that all that we perceive is ultimately illusory (maya), and that the principle of brahman (not to be confused with the caste Brahmin) is the only true reality of all things, transcending empirical plurality.

— The fundamental thrust of Advaita Vedanta lies in the unity of atman or individual consciousness, and brahman, or the ultimate reality.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Ellora Caves, the UNESCO world heritage site in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, will become the first monument in the country to have a hydraulic lift. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is situated around 30 km from Aurangabad city.

— Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut temple complexes in the world, housing Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sculptures, and witnesses the highest tourist footfall in the region. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The ASI has been undertaking several projects to make Ellora Caves, which is spread across a stretch of 500 metres, more tourist-friendly.

— Of the 34 caves in the complex, cave number 16, also known as Kailash Cave, is a double-storey construction, and guests must climb a staircase or hike up a ramp to see the view from the top.

— The Ellora caves are locally known as ‘Verul Leni’. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The etymology of the word „Lakhori‟ reveals that the variety of chili was first grown in a village called Lakhora situated on the Garhwal and Kumaon border of Uttarakhand.

— “Almora Lakhori Mirchi” comprises the following nutrients Proteins, Carotenoids, Fat, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Provitamines E, P, B1, B2, B3, Steroidal alkaloidal glycosides and cholesterol and sodium.

— Lakhori Chilli‟s is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

— Almora Lakhori Mirchi has recently got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag under Sub-section (1) of Section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: search.ipindia.gov.in)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 41)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 40)

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