Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Dholavira.

Key Points

• In July 2021, the Indus valley site Dholavira was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.
  • Now Gujarat has three world heritage sites, Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and the historic city of Ahmedabad.
  • Dholavira is now the 40^th treasure in India to be recognized as a World Heritage site.
  • According to a press release by the Ministry of Culture, India submitted the nomination for Dholavira to the World Heritage Centre in January 2020. The site was on the UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014.
  • UNESCO has already given India a new world heritage site in the form of the Rudreswara/ Ramappa Temple in Telangana in the ongoing 44th session of the World Heritage Committee.
  • Ramappa Temple dates back to the 13^th century.
  • This session of the World Heritage Committee is being chaired from Fuzhou in China.

Additional Information

• Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani.
• Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Papier Mache is a peculiar craft practiced in Madhya Pradesh since very ancient times.
  • In Madhya Pradesh, the main center for papier mache is Ujjain, but it is also practiced in Gwalior, Bhopal, and Ratlam. 
• Stone carving is one of the oldest forms of art and crafts of Madhya Pradesh.  
  • Every region of this state has got a unique and distinct style.
  • Lattice (Jaal) work is the specialty of Gwalior whereas, Tikamgarh and Jabalpur specialize in decorative pieces of work like animals and human statues. 
• Bamboo and cane artwork is a significant part of the rural life of Madhya Pradesh, is hugely used to manufacture utility articles.
  • The tribal communities of Baiga, Gond, and Korku are involved in this craft as well.
  • The skilled craftsmen of the areas like Balaghat, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Mandla, Shahdol, and Seoni were involved in this artwork.
• Carpet weaving is practiced in Gwalior since the Mughal era.
  • Mandla and Shahdol district is also known for this craft later.
  • Apart from being masters of carpet weaving, the craftspeople of these areas excel in dyeing. 

The correct answer is Surat.

Key Points

• Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on 12 Dec 2021 inaugurated the 34th edition 'Hunar Haat'.
• Handmade products from over 30 states and Union Territories as well as traditional dishes are available in the 300 stalls in the 34th 'Hunar Haat', with more than 600 artisans and craftsmen participating.

• The next "Hunar Haat" will be organized at Jawahar Lal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in New Delhi.

Additional Information

• ​In November 2021, "Hunar Haat” received the prestigious India International Trade Fair, 2021 Silver Medal for strengthening commitment to “Vocal for Local”.
• 40th India International Trade Fair 2021 was held in November 2021 at Pragati Maidan.
• On the occasion of the 75th year of Indian Independence, the central government has decided to organise 75 such Hunar Haat across the country.

The correct answer is Ellora Caves.

Key Points

• Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
• It is located nearly 100 km away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra.
• The temples and monasteries extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff.
• The structures were excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.
• Ellora Caves are one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temple cave complexes in the world.
• Ellora caves are a group of 100 caves at the site of which 34 caves are open to the public.
  • 17 caves out of these 34 are themed around Hinduism, 12 caves depict the themes of Buddhist, and 5 caves are of Jain faith.
• The set of caves in Ellora were developed during the period between the 5th century and 11th century A.D.
• The most remarkable of the Ellora cave temples is Kailasa Temple (Kailasanatha; cave 16).
• It features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world.
• It is named for the mountain in the Kailasa Range of the Himalayas where the Hindu god Shiva resides.

The correct answer is Maharashtra.

The Aga Khan Palace is located in the state of Maharashtra.

Key Points

• The Aga Khan Palace was built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in the district of Pune in Maharashtra.
• The Palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who wanted to help the poor in the neighboring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.
• Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III was the founder of the All India Muslims League.
• Aga Khan Palace served as the prison for Mahatma Gandhi in Pune from Aug 1942 to May 1944.
• Gandhi lived here along with his wife Kasturba, his secretary Mahadev Desai & Sarojini Naidu.
• In fact, both Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died in the premises of this Palace turned prison.
• A corner of the Palace premises serves as the Samadhi dedicated to two of them.
• Some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are placed next to the two samadhis.
• Samadhis are nothing but Tulasi plants growing on top of the places where Kasturba and Mahadev Desai were cremated.

Additional Information

Maharashtra

• Maharashtra is the second most populous state in India.
• Mumbai is the financial capital of India.
• The old name of Mumbai was Bombay.
• Maharashtra is the most industrialized and most urbanized state in India.
• Maharashtra is the leading producer of electricity.
• Pune is known as the Cultural capital of Maharashtra.
• Mumbai was the first venue of the first International Film Festival of India (1952).
• The first railway line in India - Bombay to Thane (1853)
• Bombay Stock Exchange(1875) is the oldest stock exchange in India and also the first stock exchange in Asia.
• Gateway of India is situated in Mumbai.
• The headquarter of Central Railway, Western Railway, and Konkan Railway is in Mumbai.
• The headquarters of RBI, LIC, NABARD is in Mumbai.
• The first meeting of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay (1885).

Uttar Pradesh

• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India.
• Uttar Pradesh is the 'Sugar Bowl of India'.
• Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of monuments in India.
• Uttar Pradesh has the maximum membership (80 seats) in the Lok Sabha.
• Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the most number of states in India (9 states - Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh including Delhi and Nepal).
• Asia's first DNA bank is in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
• Uttar Pradesh is the state through which most numbers of the National Highways pass.

Kerala

• Kerala is known as 'God's Own Country.'
• Kerala is the 'Spice Garden of India'.
• Kerala is the state having the highest literacy rate in India.
• Kerala is the first state in India to achieve 100% primary education.
• Kerala is the state having the highest sex ratio in India.
• Kerala is the first baby-friendly state in India.
• Kerala is the first total banking state in India.
• Kerala is the first state in India to set up Disaster Management Authority.

Madhya Pradesh

• Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'Heart of India' and 'Tiger State of India.'
• India's biggest diamond mine Panna is in Madhya Pradesh.
• Indore is the largest city in Madhya Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area in India.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest scheduled tribe population in India.
• Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to conduct an election by Panchayath Raj Act 1992.
• Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'Soya State of India'.​