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.

Consider the following statements about Indo-Islamic style of architecture:

1. Both forms have same architecture especially in respect ornamental decoration and the open court.

2. The Muslim style of construction was based on arches, vaults and domes.

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

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Lyrnai Pottery was recently in the news. It is associated with:

(a) Telangana

(b) Himachal Pradesh

(c) Rajasthan

(d) Meghalaya

Consider the following statements:

1. It is also known as a whistling village for its unique tradition of Jingrwai Lawbe.

2. It is located in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya.

3. The people living in this village belong to the Seng Khasi tribe.

How many of the statements given above are correct about Kongthong village?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements about the Kokborok language:

1. The Borok is the branch of Boro people of Assam belonging to the Sino-Tibetan linguistic group and racially Mongoloids.

2. It was first recognised as the official state language of Sikkim in 1979.

3. At present, Borok people reside only in India.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

He was a polymath who recreated the contemporary Bengali alphabet and spearheaded groundbreaking reforms in traditional upper-caste Hindu culture. For over 12 years, he studied Sanskrit grammar, literature, Vedanta philosophy, logic, astronomy, and Hindu law at Calcutta’s Sanskrit College. He dedicated his life to ending child marriage and promoting widow remarriage.

The above-mentioned lines refer to:

(a) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar

(b) Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

(c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

(d) Vinoba Bhave

FYI:

— Indo-Islamic architecture begins with the Ghurid occupation of India at the close of the 12 century A.D. The Muslims having inherited a wealth of varied designs from Sassanian and Byzantine empires and being naturally endowed with good taste for buildings, never failed to adapt to their own requirements the indigenous architecture of almost every foreign country that they conquered.

— The most important factors common to both forms of architecture, especially in respect of mosques and temples, were that to both styles, ornamental decoration was very vital and that the open court in many cases was surrounded by colonnades. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The prayer chamber of the mosque was spacious, whereas the shrine of the temple was comparatively small.

— The mosque was light and open, whereas the temple was dark and closed.

— The difference between the lay-out of a temple and a mosque is explained by the essential difference between the Hindu and Muslim forms of worship and prayer.

— The Muslim style of construction was based on arches, vaults and domes, on columns and pyramidal towers or slender spires, called trabeate. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— A tower or minaret, originally intended for the muazzin to call the faithful to the prayer, later assumed a mere architectural character.

— A gallery or compartment of the prayer hall or some other part was screened off to accommodate the ladies who observed purdah

— The main entrance to a mosque is on the east, and the sides are enclosed by cloisters (liwans).

— A tank is provided for ablutions usually in the courtyard of a mosque.

— In the Hindu style of construction spaces were spanned corbels, held together by making courses project, each further than the one below, so that the open span was gradually reduced to a size which could be covered with a single slab or brick.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ccrtindia.gov.in)

FYI:

—  Lyrnai Pottery is a well-known and age-old product of Meghalaya.

— The traditional pottery technology surviving in various pockets in Meghalaya and adjoining areas appears to have its roots going back to the prehistoric times.

— The Larnai Black Clay Pottery artist ladies create earthen ware in a variety of forms and sizes, including cups, plates, bowls, tots, water jars, and more.

— The Larnai Black Clay Pottery is primarily used for household uses.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: search.ipindia.gov.in)

FYI:

— The Kongthong village is located in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is popularly known as the ‘whistling village’ due to its unique tradition of ‘Jingrwai Lawbei’ under which mothers create a tune for their newborns. These tunes are often used as names. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Kongthong people belong to the Seng Khasi Tribe and speak the Khasi language. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Kokborok has a long history and is recognised as an official language of the state as per the three-language policy, but it does not have a script.

— Bengali or Roman (English) script has mostly been used to write Kokborok, since the BJP first came to power in 2018, there has been a push to introduce Devanagari for it.

— Kokborok was first recognised as the official state language of Tripura in 1979, when the first Left Front government was in power. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Borok or Tripuris are the branch of Boro people of Assam belonging to the Sino-Tibetan linguistic group and racially Mongoloids. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Borok or Tripuris live not only in Tripura but also in the north-eastern states, Pithoragarh in Uttaranchal, and neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan, numbering around 1.5 million people. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was born in 1820 in a Brahmin family. He studied Sanskrit grammar, literature, Vedanta philosophy, logic, astronomy, and Hindu law for more than 12 years at Sanskrit College in Calcutta, and received the title of Vidyasagar.

— He was a polymath who reconstructed the modern Bengali alphabet and initiated pathbreaking reform in traditional upper caste Hindu society.

— He spent his life’s energies trying to ensure an end to the practice of child marriage and initiate widow remarriage.

— Vidyasagar followed in the great reformist tradition of Raja Ram Mohun Roy (1772-1833), and argued, on the basis of scriptures and old commentaries, in favour of the remarriage of widows in the same way as Roy did for the abolition of Sati.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 44)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 43)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 43)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 43)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 43)

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