IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers Oct - 20 & 21, 2016

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Being convinced that the development of connectivity in various forms and manifestations is the key to promote regional integration, BIMSTEC leaders expressed satisfaction at the continuing efforts and initiatives to advance multi-modal physical connectivity (air, rail, roads and waterways) in the BIMSTEC region.
• Recommendations of the BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Study were implemented. The leaders agreed to explore the possibility of having a BIMSTEC Motor Vehicle Agreement.
• The leaders committed to expedite the signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, and to early ratification of the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Acknowledging the civilizational, historical and cultural linkages in our region, we recognize the rich potential for development of tourism and reiterate our keen interest in taking concrete steps to promote intra-BIMSTEC tourism including specialized tourist circuits and eco-tourism. In particular, we encourage the development of Buddhist Tourist Circuit and Temple Tourist Circuit within the region.
• We decide to expedite the establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan, which will serve as a repository for information on cultural industries.

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

• Acknowledging the civilizational, historical and cultural linkages in our region, we recognize the rich potential for development of tourism and reiterate our keen interest in taking concrete steps to promote intra-BIMSTEC tourism including specialized tourist circuits and eco-tourism. In particular, we encourage the development of Buddhist Tourist Circuit and Temple Tourist Circuit within the region.
• We decide to expedite the establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan, which will serve as a repository for information on cultural industries.

ANSWER: Sri Lanka

Explanation:

• In the recent BIMSTEC Leaders meeting on the sidelines of the 8th BRICS Summit, There was consensus on some issue which proposed for speedy development of coordinating agencies.
• Recognizing the need for development, access and availability of technology- including for SMEs- for promoting sustainable development across sectors, the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Retreat 2016 Outcome Document directed for early finalization of the Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka.
• The leaders also direct the BIMSTEC Network of National Centres of Coordination in Traditional Medicine and its Task Force to expand and deepen cooperation in the sector o traditional medicines.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• Being aware that the Bay of Bengal region is home to over thirty percent of the world’s fishermen, the leaders recognize that cooperation in sustainable development of fisheries in this region has the potential to make a significant contribution towards ensuring food security and improving livelihoods of people in our region and agree to deepen cooperation in this Sector.
• The leaders recognize the enormous potential that the development of the blue economy holds for Bay of Bengal region, and agree to explore ways to deepen our cooperation in areas such as aquaculture (both inland and coastal), hydrography, seabed mineral exploration, coastal shipping, eco-tourism and renewable ocean energy with the objective of promoting holistic and sustainable development of our region.

ANSWER: Naropa festival

Explanation:

• A grand spiritual gathering that happens once in 12 years and is referred to as the “Kumbh Mela of the Himalayas” has begun in Ladakh’s biggest monastery, Hemis, to commemorate the millennial birth anniversary of the scholar saint Naropa.<.li>
• The month-long mega congregation, also known as Naropa festival, started with spiritual leader Gyalwang Drukpa’s grand welcome. Drukpa is the spiritual head of the Buddhist Drukpa Lineage based in the Himalayas.
• Revered as the reincarnation of Naropa, Drukpa leader donned the six bone secret ornaments of the scholar-saint at the Naro palace to grant the Grand Chakrasamvara Empowerment.
• Discussing the importance of the six ornaments which includes crown, earrings, necklace, seralkha, bangle and anklet, the chairperson of the organising committee, Thuksey Rinpoche said, “It represents the inner spirituality developed qualities”.

ANSWER: Bhasa

Explanation:

• Bhasa’s celebrated Sanskrit play Pratijna Yougandharayan was written sometime between 2 and 3 AD.
• Many of Bhasa's plays are staged in Koodiyattams even now, like parts of Pratijna-Yaugandharayana, Abhisheka-nataka etc.
• His most famous plays Pratijna-Yaugandharayana (the vow of Yaugandharayana) and Swapna-vasavadatta (Swapnavasavadatta) (Vasavadatta in the dream) are based on the legends that had grown around the legendary King Udayana, probably a contemporary of the Buddha.
• The first play tells the story of how the king Udayana married the princess Vasavadatta (his first wife).The second play tells the story of how the king Udayana, with the help of his loyal minister Yaugandharayana, later married the princess Padmavati, a daughter of the king of Magadha, and thus made this king his ally rather than enemy.

ANSWER: A play

Explanation:

• Mantrankam is the third act of Bhasa’s celebrated Sanskrit play Pratijna Yougandharayan , written sometime between 2 and 3 AD.
• It is spread over just half a dozen pages but the chakyar or performer with his artistry and talent, spins it into a labyrinthine narrative packed in equal parts with philosophy, political wisdom, statecraft, ribaldry, even some scatology.
• It is an entire 41-day enactment.
• It is a fascinating mix of the sacred and the profane, religious and secular, folk wisdom and dialectics, and a hard play to master even for veterans. Mostly, today, the play is performed in an abbreviated version over five or at most ten days.
• Mastering Mantrankam is considered the peak of a chakyar’s skills. Anyone who can acquire this vaakchaturyam (wordskill) is believed to be good enough to play any other role. And the only way to master it is through observation of the great masters at work.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Koodiyattam, with a known history of around 1,000 years, is no longer the sole preserve of the Brahminical chakyar clans.
• Between 1949 and 1965, it underwent some radical changes.
• It was brought out of Kerala’s temples by Paimkulam Rama Chakyar, and its teaching moved to an institution called Kalamandalam, where it acquired students and practitioners from other castes as well.
• In the temples of Kerala, however, even today the chakyar has monopoly over the right to perform koodiyattam (adyantara koothu). And only the six remaining chakyar families have the right to act in the plays offered as ritual.
• Traditionally, the main musical instruments used in Koodiyattam are mizhavu, kuzhitalam, etakka, kurumkuzhal, and sankhu.
• Mizhavu, the most prominent of these, is a percussion instrument that is played by a person of the Ambalavas Nambiar caste, accompanied by Nangyaramma playing the kuzhithalam (a type of cymbal).

ANSWER: Instrument playing people

Explanation:

• The dhak/dhaak is a huge membranophone instrument from South Asia.
• Drum beats are an integral part of Durga Puja.
• People playing Dhaaks are called Dhaakis.
• The shapes differ from the almost cylindrical to the barrel.
• It suspended from the neck, tied to the waist and kept on the lap or the ground, and usually played with wooden sticks. The left side is coated to give it a heavier sound.