The correct answer is Kannada.

Key Points

• Kavirajamarga 
  • Kavirajamarga is the earliest available work on rhetoric, poetics, and grammar in the Kannada language.
  • It was inspired by or written in part by the famous Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha I, and some historians claim it is based partly on the Sanskrit text Kavyadarsha.
  • Some historians believe Kavirajamarga may have been co-authored by a poet in the king's court, the Kannada language theorist Sri Vijaya.
  • The name literally means "Royal Path for Poets" and was written as a guide book for poets and scholars (Kavishiksha).
  • From references made in this writing to earlier Kannada poetry and literature, it is clear that a considerable body of work in prose and poetry must have existed in the preceding centuries.

Additional Information

• Amoghvarsha (814-878):
  • ​He was one of the greatest Rashtrakuta rulers and the successor of Govind III.
  • He set up a new capital at Manyakheta (now Malkhed in Karnataka state).
  • He preferred literature and religion over war.
  • Kavirajamarga in Kannada and Prashnottara Ratnamalika in Sanskrit are famous literary works by him.
  • Amoghavarsha patronized Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
  • He was converted to Jainism by Jinasena, a Jain monk.

The correct answer is 22 yards.

Key Points

• In cricket, the distance between the two wickets is 22 yards, and there is a stump on either side.
• The cricket field is 20.12 metres long and 3.05 metres wide, respectively.
• A large field is used to play the game of cricket.
• In the centre of the cricket field, a pitch that is 22 yards long and 10 feet wide is created.
• The stumps are each 28 inches in height.
• Above the wickets is a 4.5-inch length by 0.5-inch thick bail.

Additional Information

• The Ranji Trophy was established as India's first domestic first-class competition between 1934–1955.
• India will host the Ranji Trophy, a domestic first-class cricket competition.
• The United States and Canada engaged in the world's first cricket match in 1844.
• The Duckworth Lewis rule was applied for the first time in international cricket in the 1996–1997 game between Zimbabwe and England.

The correct answer is Young Bengal Movement.

Key Points

• The leader and inspirer of the Young Bengal Movement was the young Anglo-Indian Henry Vivian Derozio.
• A radical trend arose among the Bengali intellectuals during the late 1820s and 1830s.
• This trend was more modern than Raja Ram Mohan Roy's ideology and is known as the "Young Bengal Movement".
• Henry Louis Vivian Derozio was an Indian poet from the 19th century.
• He was also the assistant headmaster of "Hindu College" in Kolkata.
• He is the influencer of the social movement called the "Bengal Renaissance".

Important Points

• The Theosophical Society was founded by Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott in 1875 in New York. The movement was popularised by Annie Besant in India.
• Asiatic Society of Bengal, the scholarly society founded on January 15, 1784, by Sir William Jones.
  • The objective is to initiate and enlighten the oriental knowledge available in history, scriptures, or regional texts in India or the Indian subcontinent.
• Allan Octavian Hume is the father of the Indian National Congress (1829 to 1912).
  • Womesh Chandra Banerjee was elected as the first president of the first meeting of the Congress.
  • The Indian National Congress, on 19 December 1929, passed the historic ‘Purna Swaraj’ – (total independence) resolution – at its Lahore session.
  • A public declaration was made on 26 January 1930 – a day which the Congress Party urged Indians to celebrate as ‘Independence Day’.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as President of the Indian National Congress in December 1929 at its annual session in the city of Lahore.

The correct answer is 1855.

Key Points

• Santhal Rebellion: 
  • The Santhal Revolt started in 1855-56.
  • Due to the introduction of the Permanent Land Settlement of 1793 the British people snatched lands that the Santhals had been cultivating for centuries from them.
  • The zamindars, moneylenders, Europeans and therefore the British government officials raised the property tax and exploited farmers.
  • On 30th June 1855, two Santhal brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu organised 10,000 Santhals and proclaimed a rebellion against the British.
  •  About 15000 Santhal villagers including the Murmu brothers were killed and their villages destroyed.
  • Martial law was declared on 10th November 1855 and it lasted till 3rd January 1856.
  • The British Official passed the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act in 1876 which offered some protection for the tribals against exploitation.

The correct answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Key Points

• The famous newspaper 'The Hitavada' was founded by Indian freedom fighter, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
• The Hitavada is an English daily newspaper.
• Founded in 1911.
• The newspaper was taken over by Purohit and Company, owned by Banwarilal Purohit In 2011.

The correct answer is Aurangzeb.

Key Points

• Aurangzeb:
  • He crowned himself with the title of "Alamgir".
  • He was called Zinda peer.
  • The Mughal area was the largest during the time of Aurangzeb.
  • He forbade:
    • Singing and dancing in his court
    • Sati system and Jharokha darshan.
    • Kalma written coin.
    • Astrology and Palm reading.
    • Tuladan practice.
  • Selling and drinking Alcohol and Bhang were prohibited in a public place during his time.
  • Aurangzeb used to play "Veena".
  • He started the Jaziya tax in 1679.
  • He gave permission to the French for setting up a factory at Surat in 1667.
  • Monuments:
    • Bibi ka Makabara: Aurangabad, Maharastra.
    • Moti Masjid: Delhi
    • Badshahi Masjid: Lahore.

Additional Information

• Humayun: 
  • He was defeated by Sher Shah Suri in the battle of Chausa in 1539.
  • He was again defeated by Sher Shah Suri in the battle of Kannauj in 1540. 
  • Humayunama was written by his half sister "Gulbadan Begum".
  • Humayun's tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum (Bega Begum) in Delhi. 
  • He died in 1556 due to falling from his Library stairs in Purana Quila, Delhi.
• Akbar:
  • He was born in 1542 at Amrakot, Sindh.
  • He was son of Humayun and Hameeda Bano Begum.
  • He was crowned by Bairam Khan at Kalanpur, Haryana in 1556.
  • He established Matrimonial Alliance between Mughal and Rajputs.
  • He introduced the Mansabdari system in 1574.
  • Monuments:
    • Ibadat Khana: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra.
    • Buland darwaza: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra.
• Jahangir:
  • In 1605, Prince Salim succeeded with the title Jahangir (Conqueror of World) when he assumed the throne after the death of Akbar.
  • He established Zanjir-i-Adil (chain of justice) at Agra for the seekers of royal justice.
  • He is the eldest son of Akbar was born at Fatehpur Sikri near Agra in 1569.
  • In 1611, he married Mehr-un-Nisa whom he gave the title of Nur Jahan (light of the world).
  • Nurjahan exercised tremendous influence over state affairs. She was made the official Badshah Begum. 
  • Jahangir issued coins jointly in Nurjahan's name and his own.
  • Jahangir also married Manbai in 1585 AD and Jodhbai (Jagat Gosain, daughter of Mota Raja Udai Singh) in 1587 AD.
  • He defeated and imprisoned his son, Khusrau Mirza.
  •  He also beheaded Guru Arjun, the 5th Sikh Guru and one of the supporters of Khusrau Mirza.
  • Captain Hawkins (1608-1611) and Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1616) visited Jahangir's court.
  • Production of Tobacco started in his reign.
  • He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangir.
  • He was buried in Lahore in 1627.

The correct answer is the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Key Points

• The Sun temple of Konark was built by Narasimhadeva I.
• Narasimhadeva I belong to the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
• Konar sun temple was built in the 13th century.
• The temple is mainly dedicated to the god sun.
• It is situated at Konark 35 km northeast of the Puri on the coastline of Odisha India.
• Konark is a small town in the district Puri of Odisha.
• The temple is shaped in the giant form of a chariot.
• It is consist of seven horse and twenty-four wheels of the chariot.

Important Points

• The Eastern Ganga dynasty was a medieval Indian dynasty that ruled from the 11th century to the early 15th century.
• The territory ruled by the dynasty consisted of the Indian state of Odisha as well as parts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Additional Information

• The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Odisha temple architecture.
• It is one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world.
• Sun has been the most popular deity in India since the Vedic period.

The correct answer is plan and non-plan expenditure.

Key Points

• Budget documents classify total expenditures into plan and non-plan expenditures.
• Plan expenditures refer to the funds allocated for specific programs, schemes, and projects outlined in the budgetary plan.
• Non-plan expenditures, on the other hand, encompass general expenses such as salaries, pensions, debt servicing, and maintenance costs.
• This classification enables policymakers to track and analyze spending patterns to ensure efficient utilization of resources and effective implementation of developmental plans.

Additional Information

• Plan Expenditure:
  • Allocated for specific programs and projects outlined in Five-Year Plans.
  • Focused on achieving developmental goals in sectors like education, health, infrastructure, etc.
  • Strategic allocation for long-term objectives, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
  • Subject to evaluation and scrutiny to ensure effective utilization of funds.
• Non-Plan Expenditure:
  • Covers regular expenses of the government not part of Five-Year Plans.
  • Includes administrative, operational, and maintenance costs.
  • Essential for day-to-day functioning and provision of services.
  • Supports the overall governance and administration.

The correct answer is Kathakali.

Key Points

• Shri Sadanam II ~ Balakrishnan won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Kathakali.
• He was Born in 1944 in Taliparamba village in northern Kerala.
• Shri Sadanam Puthiyaveetil Balakrishnan received his initial training in Kathakali from Shri Kurumathur Narayanan Namboodiripad at Kannur.
• After a short stint as a teacher in Kerala, Shri Balakrishnan joined the International Centre for Kathakali, New Delhi, in 1974.
• Shri Balakrishnan has also authored a book on Kathakali.
• Among various honors and awards, Shri Sadanam Balakrishnan has received the Parishad Samman of Sahitya Kala Parishad; Delhi.

Important Points

The Sangeet Natak academy currently confers classical status on eight Indian classical dance styles:

Additional InformationLavani-

• Lavani is a folk dance from Maharashtra.
• It is a combination of traditional song and dance, which is particularly performed to the beats of the Dholki which is a percussion instrument.
• It is noted for its powerful rhythm and has contributed substantially to the development of Marathi folk theatre.
• It is performed by beautiful women wearing nine yards sarees and dancing to the beats of a drum-like instrument called a dholak.

Bharatnatyam-

• Bharatnatyam is the oldest Indian classical dance 
• It originated hundreds of years ago in the state of Tamilnadu.
• This dance form expresses the religious themes and spiritual ideas of South India.
• The ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram contains the description of Bharatnatyam.

Kuchipudi-

• One of the eight principal Indian classical dances is Kuchipudi.
• It comes from the Andhra Pradesh state of India, specifically the village of Kuchipudi.
• Kuchipudi was created as a way to worship Krishna, a Hindu deity.
• Kuchipudi is renowned for its dynamic storytelling, dramatic characterization, outstanding, rapid dancing, and expressive eye movements.

The correct answer is ​United Nations Environment Programme.

In News

The Hindu: World wastes 1 billion meals a day, says U.N. report.

Key Points

Food Waste Index Report 2024:

• The Food Waste Index Report 2024, released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to catalyze essential action towards reducing food waste and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3.

Here are some key aspects of the report:

• Expanded Data Points: The report incorporates vastly expanded data points from around the world, providing significantly more robust global and national estimates.
• Measurement Methodology: It expands on the SDG 12.3 food waste measurement methodology introduced in the 2021 report, offering enhanced guidance on measurement across retail, food service, and household sectors. This additional guidance delves into various methodologies, their strengths and limitations, and strategies for prioritizing sub-sectors for measurement.
• Focus on Solutions: The report transitions from focusing solely on food waste measurement to exploring solutions for food waste reduction. It examines effective approaches to reducing food waste globally, with a spotlight on public-private partnerships.
• Global Food Waste: The report revealed that the world wasted one-fifth of the total food available in 2022. This amounts to 1.05 billion tonnes (or 19 per cent) of food available to consumers at the retail, food service, and household level.