Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Dewas.

Key Points

• At Dewas, the RBI printing press is situated.
• The government-owned presses are at Nashik (Western India) and Dewas (Central India).
• The other two presses are at Mysore (Southern India) and Salboni (Eastern India).
• Coins are minted in four mints owned by the Government of India.
  1. Alipore
  2. Saifabad(Hyderabad)
  3. Cherlapally (Hyderabad)
  4. Noida (UP)

Important Points

• Printing notes comes under the Department of Currency Management (DCM).
• The Department of Currency Management (DCM) is headed by a Chief General Manager.
• The Department addresses policy and operational issues relating to :
  • designing of banknotes
  • forecasting demand for notes and coins
  • ensuring the integrity of banknotes.

Additional Information About RBI

• Governor -Shaktikanta Das (25^th)
• Headquarters - Mumbai.
• Total Offices - 31.

The correct answer is Ajmer.

• Rajasthan Seva Sangh:
  • This institution was established to spread political awareness among the masses.
  • It was established in 1919 in Ajmer.
  • It was established by Arjun Lal Sethi, Thakur Kesari Singh Barahath, Vijay Singh Pathik, Ram Narayan Choudhary, and Hari Bhai Kinkar, in consultation with Mahatma Gandhi.
  • The main functions of Rajasthan Seva Sangh are to listen to the common man's problems, ban the begar pratha, boycott foreign goods, and promote khadi goods.

Key Points

•  This sangha started 'Navin Rajasthan' newspaper but it was later banned by the British government.
• In 1928, this sangha came to an end due to a dispute between Ram Narayan Choudhary and Vijay Singh Pathik. 

The correct answer is Kathak.

Key Points

• The word Kathak has been derived from the word Katha which means a story.
• Kathakars or storytellers are people who narrate stories largely based on episodes from the epics, myths and legends.
• Three specific forms of this genre that is three Gharanas (schools), which mostly differ in the emphasis given to footwork versus acting, are more famous names, the Jaipur Gharana, the Benaras Gharana and the Lucknow Gharana.
• One name that has almost become famous in modern-day Kathak dance is Pandit Birju Maharaj, a scion of the legendary Maharaj family and son of Acchan Maharaj.
• He is considered the leading advocate of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin Gharana.
• Sitara Devi was also another star of this dance form described as Nritya Samragini that is the empress of dance by Rabindranath Tagore and she continues to retain her Kathak Queen title even after death.
• Other eminent Kathak artists include Roshan Kumari, Shovana Narayan, Maya Rao and Kumudini Lakhia.​

Additional Information

• Kathakali:
  • ​Kathakali is a dance mainly performed in Kerala.
  • It is an art that has evolved from many social and religious theatrical forms which existed in the southern region in ancient times. Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam andRamanattam are a few of the ritual performing arts of Kerala.
• Kuchipudi
  • Kuchipudi is one of the classical styles of Indian dance.
  • Around the third and fourth decade of this century, it emerged out of a long rich tradition of dance-drama of the same name.
  • Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It is about 35 km. from Vijayawada.
  • Andhra has a very long tradition of dance-drama which was known under the generic name of Yakshagaana.
• Bharatnatyam
  • Bharatnatyam Dance is considered to be over 2000 years old.
  • Several texts beginning with Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra (200 B.C.E. to 200 C.E.) provide information on this dance form. 
  • It is mainly performed in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

The correct answer is 11 November.

Key Points

• Every year, India celebrates National Education Day on November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• He was a freedom fighter, scholar and the first Education Minister of independent India.

​Important Points

• Abul Kalam Azad:
  • He was born in Mecca in 1888. 
  • When he migrated from Arab to India, he chose Calcutta as his centre of journalistic, scholastic, and political activities. Here, he started the first illustrated weekly called Al-Hilal in 1912 that projected a highly critical stance against the British government. 
  • The British banned its publication in 1914.
  • Following this, he launched another publication called Al-Balagh which also reiterated Azad’s anti-British stance.    
  • He also took to publishing other journals and newspapers like Paigham and Lisan-us-Sidq.
  • He also remained associated with other publications like Wakeel and Amritsar.  
  • Maulana Azad was very active on the political front and took part in the Non-Cooperation movement, Quit India Movement, and Khilafat Movement.
  • He was elected the president of the Indian national congress in 1923 (Delhi Special Session) and 1940 (Ramgarh).
  • After India’s independence, Maula Azad served as Education Minister in the Indian government of Jawaharlal Nehru from 1947 until his death. 
  • He was also a poet and an essayist who wrote on several topics of contemporary relevance.
  • His major works include Ghubaar-e-Khatir, Tazkira, and Tarjuman-ul-Quran. He wrote Ghubaar-e-Khatir during the days of his imprisonment at Ahmednagar fort.
  • He was conferred with the most prestigious award of Bharat Ratna by the Government of India in 1992.
  • Maulana Azad passed away on February 02, 1958. 
  • His autobiography, India Wins Freedom, was published posthumously in 1959.

The correct answer is Udai Singh II.

Important Points

• Udai Singh II (1540-1572):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • 1562: He gave refuge to Baz Bahadur of Malwa.
    • Due to this, Akbar attacked Mewar in October 1563.
    • Rao Jaimal and Patta fought with valour, Akbar got impressed and erected a statue at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Founded the city of Udaipur (1559) and made the capital of Mewar.

Additional Information

• Maharana Pratap (1540-1597):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Title: Leonidas of Rajasthan.
  • Battle of Haldighati (1576)
• Amar Singh I (1597-1620):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Battle of Dewar (1606):
    • The Battle of Dewar was fought between Amar Singh I of Mewar and the Mughal army under Parviz and Asaf Khan IV. 
    • Result: Rajput Victory
  • Made peace with Jahangir and the treaty negotiated by Shah Jahan.
• Jagat Singh I (1628-1652):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Built Jag temple in Lake Pichola.