The correct answer is Konkani Hindu Community.

Key Points

• Sigmo is one of the most famous festivals of the Konkani Hindu community.
• Sigmo Festival is his five-day cultural event held in the Konkan region of Goa.
• Goa's Sigmo festival is celebrated in the Hindu community during the Phalguna month of the Saka calendar.
• The most common version of Shigmo is the Holi festival celebrated in North India, known as Dolyatra in Assam and Bengal, Kamadahan in South India, and Shimga in Maharashtra.

Additional Information

• Highlights Of Shigmo Festival
  • The main attraction of the Shigmo Festival is the dance performances hosted by the peasants and rural classes at night in Goa's remote villages.
  • Another major focus of the festival is the parade featuring many Hindu idols and folklore depicting scenes from ancient myths and stories.

The correct answer is Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Points

Sessa Orchid Sanctuary:

• Established in 1989.
• Located in West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh.
• This is the first orchid sanctuary in India.
• It connects Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary to the southwest.

Additional Information

The correct option is Nobility,

Key Points

• Kathakali originates primarily from the Indian state of Kerala.
• Dance-drama art forms called ‘Krishnanattam’ and Ramanattam based on Mahabharata and Ramayana are precursors of ‘Kathakali’.
• Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from Indian epics.
• Different facial colors indicate different mental stages & characters, e.g. green – nobility, black – wicked, red patches – combining royalty & evil.

Additional Information

• Some famous artists of Kathakali are Mrinalini Sarabhai, Thottam Shankaran, Kutti Nayyar, Shankar Kurup, KC (Kavungal Chathunni) Panicker, TT Ram Kulti, Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair.
• The characters in a Kathakali performance are divided into satvika, rajasikaand tamasika.

The correct answer is Gujarat.

Key Points

• The 36th National Games, whose theme is Celebrating Unity Through Sports, are being held after a gap of seven years and took place from September 29 to October 12 at the EKA Arena TransStadia in Ahmedabad.
• As many as six cities in Gujarat - Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar.
• New Delhi additionally hosted the track cycling event.
• The curtain-raiser event (held on 3rd September 2022)witnessed the unveiling of the Games Anthem and Mascot, as well as a custom-curated website and mobile application, marking the beginning of the biggest sporting extravaganza in the country.
• An estimated 7,000 athletes from 28 states and eight Union Territories are expected to take part across 36 disciplines that include most traditional Olympic sports.
• Indigenous sports like Mallakhamb and Yogasana also featured in the National Games for the first time.
• The 2020 edition of the National Games was scheduled to be held in Goa but was cancelled due to the covid pandemic.

Additional Information

• National Games of India
  • The National Games of India comprises various disciplines in which sportsmen from the different states of India participate against each other.
  • The first such event was held in Lahore in the year 1924.
  • The country's first few Olympic Games, now renamed as National Games, were held in North India (Delhi, Lahore, Allahabad, Patiala), Chennai, Calcutta, and Mumbai.
  • For several years in the mid-twentieth century, the national games were conducted on a low-key note.
  • However, the first Modern National Games on the lines of the Olympics were held in 1985 in New Delhi. 

The correct answer is Panama Canal.

Key Points

• The 82 km long Panama Canal, a man-made waterway, separates North and South America by joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
• Among the biggest and most challenging engineering undertakings ever.
• Of the five oceanic regions of the planet, the Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest.
• Of the five oceans in the world, the Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest.

Additional Information

• Egypt's Suez Canal is a man-made waterway that runs along sea level.
• A 98-kilometre-long freshwater canal in Germany is called the Kiel Canal.
• Greece has a man-made canal called the Corinth Canal.

The correct answer is 1980.

Key Points

• The Forest Conservation Act was enacted on 25 October 1980.
• It provides the conservation of forests and matters connected to the habitat of many animals as well.
• The aim of the Forest (Conservation) Act was to ensure the protection and conservation of trees so that they can support the wildlife as well as save the habitat of many animals and keep an eye on the deforestation and degradation of forest resources.
• Constitutional provisions of Forest Conservation:
  • Article 48-A: protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife – the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
  • Article 51(g) states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Additional Information

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 authorizes the central government to protect and improve environmental quality, control and reduce pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and operation of any industrial facility on environmental grounds.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.
• The Water (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974 was formed to prevent the pollution of water by industrial, agricultural, and household wastewater.
• It can contaminate our water sources.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 is formed for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.

The correct answer is ​Roald Amundsen.

Key Points

• On 14th December 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole. 
• The expedition led by the Amundsen succeeded first. 
• Captain Scott reached the South Pole 33 days later.
• The United States' scientific base at the South Pole, founded in 1957, is named the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, to honour the memories of both polar pioneers.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Neither I nor II.

Key Points

• Litmus solutions are the indicators which when added to a chemical, tell about its acidic or basic nature.
• These indicators change their color when a base or an acid is added to them. 
• Acids
  • Acids are molecules that are capable of giving H+ ions or form a covalent bond with electron pairs.
  • Acids are sour in taste.
  • Blue litmus turns red when brought in presence of acid and does not change color in presence of a base.  
  • Acids are naturally present in citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, etc.
• Bases
  • Bases are bitter in taste and have a soapy feel.
  • Red litmus turns blue in presence of a base and does not change in presence of acid.
  • Baking soda, neem, clove etc are examples of bases.

The correct answer is Bengali.

Key Points

• Gitanjali
  • It was originally published in the Bengali language and written by Rabindranath Tagore.
  • It was published on 14th August 1910.
  • The famous poems in this book are Jan Gan Man (National Anthem), Amar Sonar Bangla (National Anthem of Bangladesh), Ekla Cholo Re, etc.
  • This book English version name is Gitanjali: Song Offerings translated by Rabindranath Tagore and published in 1912 by the India Society of London.

Additional Information

• Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
  • He was born on 7th May 1861 in a Brahmins Family.
  • He was the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.
  • He is also known as Gurudev. (Given by M. Gandhi)
  • He was the first Indian (First in Asia) to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali.
  • He was awarded the title of knighthood by the Britishers (King George V) which he returned due to Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919.
  • He founded the Santiniketan and was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj.

The correct answer is Proportional income tax.

Key Points

• Proportional income tax can act as an automatic stabilizer in the economy because it changes in response to changes in income levels.
• This means that as income levels rise or fall, the tax burden for individuals and households changes proportionally, which can help to stabilize the economy during periods of economic growth or recession.
• During periods of economic growth, when income levels rise, the government collects more revenue from income taxes.
• This increased revenue can be used to fund government spending programs or to reduce the budget deficit.
• The government can also use this increased revenue to reduce taxes or to provide tax incentives, which can further stimulate economic growth.

Additional Information

• Professional tax
  • ​ is a tax levied by some state governments in India on individuals who earn an income through professions, trades, callings or employment.
  • It is a form of tax that is collected by the state government, and the rates and rules may vary from state to state. 
  • The professional tax is usually deducted by the employer from the salary of the employee and then remitted to the state government.
  • The amount of professional tax that an individual has to pay depends on the monthly or annual income earned, as well as the state in which the individual is employed.
  • The purpose of the professional tax is to help state governments generate revenue for their various development projects and public services.
  • It is a mandatory tax that must be paid by individuals who are liable to pay it, and failure to do so can result in penalties and fines.
• Wealth tax:
  • ​A tax on an individual's net wealth or assets.
  • A form of direct taxation aimed at reducing wealth inequality.
  • Levied annually based on the value of an individual's assets at a particular point in time.
  • Can be applied to a range of assets including cash, property, investments, and personal possessions.
  • The tax rate is usually a percentage of the net value of these assets and can vary depending on the level of wealth.
  • Used by some countries to generate revenue and fund public services
• Capital gains tax:​
  • Capital gains tax is a tax on the profit earned from the sale of an asset, such as stocks, real estate, or artwork.
  • It is a form of direct tax that is imposed by the government on the capital gains realized by an individual or a business.
  • When a person or a business sells an asset, the capital gain is the difference between the selling price of the asset and the purchase price or the cost basis of the asset.
  • The capital gains tax is then calculated based on the capital gain realized.
  • The capital gains tax rate can vary depending on the asset, the length of time the asset was held, and the taxpayer's income level.