UPSC Essentials

PUBLISH DATE 13th January 2025

Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025? 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. Attempt today’s subject quiz on History, Culture and Social Issues to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Polity and Governance MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations.

1. Prayagraj and Ujjian also hold the Ardh-Kumbh (ardh means half), every six years.

2. One of the reason for the 12-year gap in Kumbh Melas is explained by the fact that Saturn takes 12 years to complete on revolution around the Sun.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

— The Sanskrit word kumbh means pitcher, or pot. The story goes that when Devas (gods) and Asuras (loosely translated as demons) churned the ocean, Dhanvantri emerged carrying a pitcher of amrita, or the elixir of immortality. To make sure the Asuras don’t get it, Indra’s son, Jayant, ran off with the pot. The Sun, his son Shani, Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along to protect him and the pot.

— As Jayant ran, the amrita spilt at four spots: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar. He ran for 12 days, and as one day of the Devas is equal to one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.

— Prayagraj and Haridwar also hold the Ardh-Kumbh (ardh means half), every six years. The festival held after 12 years is called the Poorna Kumbh, or the Maha Kumbh. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

How is the site of a Kumbh Mela decided?

— This depends on astrological calculations. Another reason for the 12-year gap in Kumbh Melas is explained by the fact that Jupiter takes 12 years to complete on revolution around the Sun. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to Indian music culture, consider the following statements:

1. Apart from it’s association with Amir Khusrau, tabla also finds mention in the Ain-i-Akbari, the authoritative administrative record of the reign of Akbar, written by his minister Abul Fazl at the end of the 16th century.

2. The court of emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi was host to the launch of the sitar, and the maturation of khayal vocalism.

3. Khayal came into being after the temple traditions of dhrupad and prabandh gayaki were fused with qalbana.

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

— Khayal came into being after the temple traditions of dhrupad and prabandh gayaki were fused with qalbana, the Sufi music that was later called qawwali, by the 14th century Sufi saint and musician Amir Khusrau. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— At this time, the pakhawaj was typically used in performances; the tabla would not enter the picture until a few centuries later. The association of the tabla with Amir Khusrau (who was patronised by Sultan Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) of Delhi) notwithstanding, the instrument is not mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari, the authoritative administrative record of the reign of Akbar, written by his minister Abul Fazl at the end of the 16th century. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— In his book Hindustani Music Today (2012), musicologist Deepak Raja wrote: “In the emerging post-dhrupad scenario, Hindustani music needed a percussion partner of greater agility, delicate playing technique, and softer output…

— “Historic developments in the tabla idiom took place during the reign of Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi (1719-1748), whose court was also host to the launch of the sitar, and the maturation of khayal vocalism.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Muhammad Shah was an aesthete, and a great patron of music and the other arts, because of which he was referred to as “Rangeela”, the Colourful. In their book Koh-i-noor: The Story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond (2016), William Dalrymple and Anita Anand wrote “it was Muhammad Shah who brought the sitar and the tabla out of the folk milieu and into his court.”

Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to ‘Mandala’ art, consider the following statements:

1. Mandala as an imagery first appeared in the Vedas and Buddhist missionaries travelling along the Silk Road are believed to have taken it to regions outside India.

2. While it continues to appear in Buddhist Thangka paintings, it has a central place in the works of even mainstream artists associated with tantric and neo-tantric spiritual movements.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

— Mandala is rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. Mandala imagery first appeared in the Vedas (c. 1500-500 BC), and Buddhist missionaries travelling along the Silk Road are believed to have taken it to regions outside India. By the sixth century, mandalas were recorded in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Tibet. Separately, native American peoples are believed to have used the mandala as representation of a deity or the cosmos, and as a spiritual form. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Its meaning

— It is believed that by entering the mandala and moving towards its centre, one experiences a cosmic process of transforming the universe and that of moving from emotions of suffering to the feeling of joy.

— In Hindu philosophical systems, a mandala or yantra is usually in the shape of a square with a circle at its centre.

— A traditional Buddhist mandala is a circular painting that is meant to help its creator discover their true self.

— There are various elements incorporated within the mandala, each of which has its own meaning. For instance, the eight spokes of the wheel (the Dharmachakra) represent the eight-fold path of Buddhism that brings liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The lotus flower depicts balance, and the sun represents the universe. Facing up, triangles represent action and energy, and facing down, they represent creativity and knowledge.

Mandala in modern Indian art

— Deep-rooted in ancient philosophy, the mandala has attained varied forms in the hands of modern and contemporary Indian artists.

— While it continues to appear in Buddhist Thangka paintings, it has a central place in the works of even mainstream artists associated with tantric and neo-tantric spiritual movements.

— Choosing to transition from the more figurative depictions of the previous generations of Indian artists, Sohan Qadri and Prafulla Mohanty, in the 1960s, gained widespread recognition for their works that were imbibed with tantric symbolism such as mandalas, which are also used in rituals of tantric initiation.

FYI:

— A spectacular ‘Mandala’ art installation, bigger than the size of a football field, covers a public park in Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Unveiled on August 12, 2022, the piece of land art called The Knowsley Mandala is made of natural elements, and is expected to last a month after which it will slowly fade away.

— The artist behind the creation at Halewood Park Triangle is Yorkshire-based James Brunt, who is known for using natural materials found in forests, parks, and on beaches to create elaborate artworks that he photographs to document before they wither.

Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements with reference to history of Indian Post:

1. The first horse and foot postal system was introduced under the rule of Balban.

2. At the top of the postal hierarchy of Mughal empire was the Darogha-i Dak-i Kul Mumalik-i Mahrusa, or the Superintendent of the Posts of the entire Empire.

3. Soon after Independence, Odisha launched a unique pigeon post service to connect police stations in remote areas unreachable by other means.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 only

Explanation:

— Some historians believe that Chandragupta Maurya established an early postal system in India, relying on pigeons to send messages across his expansive empire. For over a thousand years, pigeons served as the primary means of long-distance communication in India, until around 1296, when the first horse and foot postal system was introduced under the rule of Alauddin Khilji, according to records from India Post. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— In 1946, the eastern state of Odisha launched a unique pigeon post service to connect police stations in remote areas unreachable by other means. These homing pigeons became vital during natural disasters like floods and cyclones, carrying messages in small metal cylinders attached to their legs. Capable of flying at speeds up to 55 miles per hour, they navigated using landmarks. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— In April 1948, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru used the service to send a message from Sambalpur to Cuttack about arrangements for a public meeting. The pigeons also played a pivotal role in 1982 and 1999 when Odisha’s communication networks were destroyed by devastating super cyclones. The last pigeon post service in the state, however, flew into history in March 2008.

— During the Mughal era, the vast empire required an efficient communication system. As historian Irfan Habib explains in Postal Communications in Mughal India, the system relied on “the twin methods of relay-runners and relay-horses.” By the 1500s, Sher Shah Suri had perfected this dual system. Persian historian Ferishtah, also known by his full name Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah Astarabadi, wrote that Sher Shah during his short reign of five years (1541-1545) was the first to employ a mounted post in India.

— At the top of the postal hierarchy was the Darogha-i Dak-i Kul Mumalik-i Mahrusa, or the Superintendent of the Posts of the entire Empire. Under his guidance, officials known as Darogh-i Dak were appointed, some of whom also acted as intelligencers. The postal organisation was called dak chauki, with dak meaning ‘post’ and chauki referring to relay stations for runners and horses. Under Akbar, these relay stations were set up every 11 miles, with each runner assigned two horses. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Jobs have been greatly impacted by technological advancements, demographic shifts, geoeconomic tensions, and economic pressure. As per Future of Jobs Report 2025 released by World Economic Forum (WEF), which of the following careers will see a decline by 2030:

(a) Farm workers and drivers

(b) Cashiers and ticket clerks

(c) Food and beverage service workers

(d) Nursing professionals

Explanation:

— The list of five fastest-growing jobs would be topped by farm workers, labourers, and other agricultural workers, followed by light truck or delivery services drivers, software and application developers, building farmers, finishers and related trades workers, and shop salespersons.

— These would be followed by food processing and related trades workers; car, van, and motorcycle drivers; nursing professionals; food and beverage service workers; general and operations managers; social work and counselling professionals; project managers, university and higher education teachers; secondary education teachers; and personal care aides.

— On the other hand, the list of five fastest declining jobs is topped by cashiers and ticket clerks, followed by administrative assistants and executive secretaries; building caretakers, cleaners, and housekeepers; material-recording and stock-keeping clerks; and printing and related trades workers.

— These would be followed by accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll clerks; accountants and auditors; transportation attendants and conductors; security guards; bank tellers and related clerks; data entry clerks; client information and customer service workers; graphic designers; business services and administrative managers; and claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators.

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

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