Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Jaisalmer.

• Dhola Maru tourist complex to be built in Jaisalmer.

Key Points

• Dhola Maru Tourist Complex will be built on 3500 bigha land on Sama Road, Jaisalmer.
  • Resorts, motels, farmhouses, etc. will be built here for attractions and entertainment.
  • Initially, 10 million will be spent on DPR.  
  • The Rajasthan Folk Art Training Institute will also be established in this complex.

Additional Information

• Other highlights of Budget related to Jaislamer
  • After tourism, Jaisalmer has gained a lot in the agricultural sector.
  • Mini Foot Park will be built in the next three years. The park will likely be built-in Chandan.
  • Transport Office to be built at Pokaran.
  • College in Fatehgarh
  • Handball Academy at District Headquarters.
  • Agricultural produce market in Fatehgarh and Sutharmandi.
  • Establishment of the industrial area in Pokaran subdivision.
  • Government Residential School at Bhaniyana.
  • Construction of two sub-health center buildings in Jaisalmer.

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 ​India Post Payments Bank.

Key Points

• India Post Payments Bank launches its digital payments services ‘DakPay’.
  • ​Aims to Transform Banking Experience at the last mile.
  • DakPay is not just a digital payment app but a suite of digital financial and assisted banking services provided by India Post & IPPB.
  • Launched under: Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
    • Minister: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Additional Information 

The correct answer is Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key Points

• Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Sikkim.
  • The Maenam wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim would be home to the first of its kind wildlife skywalk of India soon.
  • It was established in 1987.
• Van Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan.
• Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India.
  • The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur.
• Keoladeo National Park, popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is located in Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
• Important Points
• In 1972, a comprehensive Wildlife Act was enacted, which provides the main legal framework for the conservation and protection of wildlife in India.
• The two main objectives of the Act are
  • To provide protection to the endangered species listed in the schedule of the Act.
  • To provide legal support to the conservation areas of the country classified as National parks, sanctuaries, and closed areas.
• This Act has been comprehensively amended in 1991, making punishments more stringent, and has also made provisions for the protection of specified plant species and conservation of endangered species of wild animals. 
• There are 103 National parks and 535 wildlife sanctuaries in the country.