India Quiz - Qriosity 2017 - Prelims

The India Open
PRELIMS
Research: Sarbajit & Debanjan

The Gist
• 30 questions.
• 1 point for every answer.
• 11-17 are starred questions.
• No negatives anywhere.

1
The Swarajya magazine runs something
called the XY Monitor.
It describes it as “dashboard that will
present quantitative measures to help
understand where the government stands on
the promises made. The dashboard is
ministry wise and will be updated on a
monthly basis”.
What is this performance monitor called?
The image taken is as of July 8.

2
Britain-based businessman Bill Dosanjh has
announced the launch of a new initiative
along with Amir Khan, with the tagline
‘Hit Harder’ This will have eight teams
representing as many regions.
The likes of Sushant Singh Rajput, Suniel
Shetty and Ritesh Desmukh are among the
investors for these teams.
What is it called?

3
Lumineux Uno, a metal created by Unolux Metallo
Valenza, is a premium amalgamation 95.5 per cent
precious metals, including platinum, palladium
and silver. Its primary colour is white and can be
plated according to needs.
It claims to “provide an alternative precious metal
with a higher lustre and is sharper and more
malleable at far more affordable price” at Rs
1,250 per 10 grams. (a/o a year ago)
In 2016, who claimed to have shifted to Lumineux
Uno, after being made its brand ambasaddor?

4
One is in Uttarakhand and was founded by the
British in 1887. It was first known as Kaludanda
and became prominent as a recruiting center for
the Garhwal Rifles and now is its HQ.
The other, also a prominent tourist destination, is
in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and
was founded in 1854 as a summer retreat for the
Company officials.
Name these two hill-stations, which share
an obvious connection.

5
Two separate Kashmiri words meaning
spring and meadow are familiar to us
through names of places (or tourist
destinations) in the Valley.
Spring: While the most famous one is a
place of countless springs, several other
places (villages and towns) have the word in
its name and have nothing to do with the
mistaken presence of a particular creature.
Meadow: Think gold, flowers and Jesus.
What are these two words?

6
The Civil and Military Gazette was published from
Lahore, Karachi and Shimla between 1872 and 1963.
Its most noted correspondent got his job through his
father’s influence after he failed to secure a
scholarship at Oxford. The editor sent this young
correspondent to Shimla, from where he submitted
short-stories at regular intervals.
These stories were later compiled and became the
correspondent’s first significant publication in what
was to be a long literary career.
Who was this correspondent?
Name this still-in-print collection of short stories.

7
A three-step process that the source material
undergoes yields three products of
different grades.
The first one (X) is generic, cheap and light. It has
a count of 17. The second one is called cazulo and
has a slightly higher count of 19. The third one (Y)
is most sought after and has a potent count of 42.
Pictures on the next slide show some
parts of production.
What are X (first) and Y (third)?

8
This much-discussed organisation has
been making its presence felt in India with
announcement/construction/completion of
projects at four locations.
Mumbai (in collaboration with Lodha
Group), Pune (with Panchsheel Group),
Gurgaon (with M3M India) and Kolkata
(with Unimark Group)
Which news-making organisation is this?

9
The first ones were made by the Saudagar
family and were named after its ear-like flap.
Soon other varieties like kachkadis, kapashias
and bakkalnalis hit the market – all named after
the village they were made in - before being
called by an umbrella term.
Families making these are now losing out to to
competitors in Nipani and Belgaum, who are
able to sell finished products for cheaper prices
due to easier procurement of raw material.
What product is this?
What is causing this loss in business?

10
It is well-known that the first passenger
train in India ran from Bombay to Thane
in 1853.
The honor though was originally reserved
for the Howrah-Hooghly line, which
started operation in the following year.
What practical problem delayed the
commencement of railway journey
between Howrah and Hooghly?

11
While X is named due to the excessive use of chilies,
Y gets its name from its air-tight storage.
X is made of roasted toor and chana dals, cumin seeds
and generous portions of dry red chili. Some also add
tamarind, hing and jaggery. It may be consumed as a
condiment or with hot rice and ghee and is often used
to pack a punch to curries.
Y differs from one family to the other and can include
up to 30 ingredients. Apart from the usual cloves,
cinnamon, cardamom, there’s Kashmiri chilies, dal,
nagkesar, mugwort (maipatri), lichen (dagadful) and
kebab chini. It’s mostly used to make meat curries.
What are X and Y – both named after English words?

12
Silver: The Most Remarkable Spy of the
Second World War is a recent book by Mihir Bose.
It traces the story of an Indian agent who worked
simultaneously for the USSR, Italy, Germany and
British India, which honoured him with an Iron Cross.
Interestingly, he is remembered for his association
with Subhas Chandra Bose, who he helped escape
India via Kabul.
Identify this personality played by Rajpal Yadav in
Shyam Benegal’s forgettable film on Bose.

13
Upon arrival after 28 months, he was handed a
piece of cardboard that said No. 1 and asked to
wear it for the press. He met the waiting
officials and took photographs with a scowl on
his face before being flown away in a helicopter
from public view and to prevent him from
interacting with journalists.
He might have had lost
retirement benefits, but remained
relevant in politics and will be
remembered as one of the
subjects of an iconic image.
Who is this person?
Which photograph?

14
This cartoon was published after Indira
Gandhi founded the INC (O) upon being
expelled on disciplinary grounds.
Who was the cartoonist?
What is the cartoon’s title, a word play on
a literary movement and its creators?

15
The Apatani people thrive in a 26 square-km landscape
in the Lower Subansiri district. This region in the
Northeast is under consideration to be listed as an
UNESCO Heritage site to celebrate practices of rice
cultivation, fishery and sustainable living.
UNESCO compares this to a 2011 official inclusion in
another continent – “centennial tradition of ______
growing in small plots in the high forest and the way
farmers have adapted cultivation to difficult mountain
conditions is comparable… farmers have adapted… made
an inhospitable valley habitable.”
What does UNESCO compare it to?
What annual event held in September does the Apatani
tribe help in co-hosting on their lands?

16
This historic town was the capital of Malwa
region for centuries. Along with sites of historic
interests, it is also noted for being the only place
in India where baobab trees grow in abundance.
The baobab fruits are known locally as ‘X ke Y’ –
where X is the town’s name and Y is a common
Indian fruit, with which it shares
sour taste and distinct look.
Name the historic town
Identify the common fruit.

17
Having heard her at a local
function in Shillong, Alka Yagnik
asked her to come to Bombay,
where she met Nadeem-Shravan
and thus began her career under
the duo, singing for films like
Jung, Judaai, Saat Rang Ke
Sapne and Agnisakshi.
However, her voice is most
familiar to us for singing a set of
six-seven songs, two of which
were immensely popular.
What is her claim to fame?

18
This musical instrument is a traditional
Indian bagpipe, common in the Garhwal
region and can also found in the states of
UP and Rajasthan.
Interestingly, it shares its name with the
water carrier used by the Bhistiwalas.
Name it.

19
Among other things, the hill station of Manali
is noted for having two very unique temples.
The more popular one is of course dedicated
to Hidimba Devi.
Who is worshipped in the other temple in this
abode, which quite possibly is the only one
of its kind in India?

20
According to legend, this modern day district
town dates back to the days of the Ramayana
when it was called Saket.
Historically, it became prominent when chosen as
the capital of the newly founded state of Awadh
by Nawab Sadat Ali Khan I in 1722. After the
Battle of Buxar the town briefly earned the name
of Chota Calcutta, when Shujauddaula founded
Fort Calcutta there.
Identify this town, whose short-lived prominence
in Indian history ended in 1775, when the capital
of Awadh was shifted to Lucknow.

21
In November 2011, this 86-year-old Himachali
was sentenced to five years of rigourous
imprisonment after being found guilty in a Rs
30-crore scam related to procurement of
polythene-insulated jelly-filled cables in
1996.
Tihar Jail officials announced that he will be
kept in the same prison building as A Raja.
Who is this person, who was one-half of a
historic exchange in 1995?

22
Bedari is a 1957 Pakistani film and still remains
one of the biggest hits in the country.
However, there was huge uproar over the film’s
plotline and the songs for it being plagiarised
from a Hindi film released a few years back. It led
to the Indian film being banned in Pakistan.
The landmark Hindi film was actually a remake of
a 1949 Bengali film.
Name the Hindi film and the original Bengali film?

23
A commonly accepted theory states that sine
and cos-sine are derived from the Sanskrit words
jyaa and koti-jya. The words were interpreted in
Arabic as jaib, meaning bosom, and hence sinus.
Jya was derived from being seen as the
“chord of an arc” or straight lines joining two
ends of a part of a circle.
Koti-jya meant “curved end”, referring to
extremity i.e “complement to an arc to
90 degrees”.
In what object were these observations noted?

24
This unique structure was designed by
Sir John Garstin.
It was built as a precautionary measure
after which catastrophic event.
Which city is this located in?
Which event?

25
an
The World of Homosexuals is a
1977 book and is considered
among the first few works on
the subject out of India.
The author said the book was a
result of a failed marriage to a
gay man.
Whose foray into writing books
began with this unlikely book
and topic?

26
These following two buildings are located
in the cities of Mumbai and Calcutta.
The buildings owe their original name to
an organisation founded in Britain in 1871.
Name the organisation or the common
name that these buildings share.

27
The Sipaijala Wildlife Sanctuary is home to
animals unique animals, among others.
Enclosed inside it is the ___ ____ National Park,
which is dedicated to an elusive small-big cat,
which also happens to be the mascot of the
of the upcoming U17 FIFA World Cup – Kheleo.
Given its name, it’s no surprise that the cat is
the state animal of a nearby state.
The other animal is called the Phayre’s Leaf
Monkey, but is more popularly known by a name
inspired from its facial appearance.
What are the two animals?

28
Identify this pilgrimage site of the Jains
which has over 800 temples divided in 9
clusters atop a hill, built over a period of
900 years.

29
It was inaugurated in 1968 and was attended by
representatives from 124 nations, who brought with
them soil from their homelands, and
thousands of spectators.
A handwritten charter was prepared and sealedTwo
decades later, the Indian parliament passed an
eponymous act to safeguard its development and also
for the management of its assets.
The given name had a double meaning as one part of
refers both to a proper noun and a time of the day.
What are we talking about?

30
Identify the composer of this song which
faced heavy censorship for being directly
critical of the Congress government that
replaced the British Raj after
independence.

1
The Swarajya magazine maintains something
called the XY Monitor.
It describes it as “dashboard that will present
quantitative measures to help understand where the
government stands on the promises made. The
dashboard is ministry wise and will be updated on a
monthly basis”.
What is this performance monitor called?
The image taken is as of July 8.

2
Britain-based businessman Bill Dosanjh has
announced the launch of a new initiative
along with Amir Khan, with the tagline
‘Hit Harder’ This will have eight teams
representing as many regions.
The likes of Sushant Singh Rajput, Suniel
Shetty and Ritesh Desmukh among the
investors for these teams.
What is it called?

3
Lumineux Uno is a metal created by Unolux
Metallo Valenza. It is a premium amalgamation
95.5 per cent precious metals, including platinum,
palladium and silver. Its primary colour is white
and can be plated according to needs.
It claims to provie “provide an alternative
precious metal with a higher lustre and is sharper
and more malleable at far more affordable price”
at Rs 1,250 per 10 grams.
In 2016, who claimed to have shifted to Lumineux
Uno, after being made its brand ambasaddor?

5
Two separate Kashmiri words meaning spring
and meadow are familiar to us through names of
places (or tourist destinations) in the Valley.
Spring: While the most famous one is a place of
countless springs, several other places have the
word suffixed to the name of the village/area
and have nothing to do with the mistaken
presence of a particular creature.
Meadow: Think gold, flowers and Jesus,
most prominently.
What are these two words?

Nag
(Anantnag, Kausarnag, Naranag)
Marg
(Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Yusmarg)
ANSWER

6
The Civil and Military Gazette was published from
Lahore, Karachi and Shimla from 1872 to 1963.
Its most noted correspondent got his job through his
father’s influence after he failed to secure a
scholarship at Oxford. The editor sent this young
correspondent to Shimla, from where he submitted
short-stories at regular intervals.
These stories were later compiled and became the
correspondent’s first significant publication in what
was to be a long literary career.
Who was this correspondent?
Name this still-in-print collection of short stories.

Rudyard Kipling
Plain Tales From The Hills
ANSWER

7
A three-step process that the source material
undergoes yields three products of different grades.
The first one (X) is cheap and light and has
a count of 17. The second one is called cazulo and
has a slightly higher count of 19 considering more
fresh material is added. The third one (Y) is most
sought after and has a mean count of 42.
Pictures on the next slide show some
parts of production.
What are X and Y?

Kolhapuri Chappals
Beef Ban / Crackdown on
slaughterhouses
ANSWER

The line had to pass through
Chandannagar, a French colony.
Diplomatic exchanges delayed the
construction of the railway line
through Chandannagar.
ANSWER

Gunpowder Masala - Used
ubiquitously in Andhra cuisine.
Bottle Masala – A trademark of the
East Indian Christians.
ANSWER

12
Silver: The Most Remarkable Spy of the Second World War
is a recent book by Mihir Bose.
It traces the story of an Indian agent who worked
simultaneously for the USSR, Italy, Germany and
British India, which honoured him with an Iron Cross.
Interestingly, he is remembered for his association
with Subhas Chandra Bose, who he helped escape
India via Kabul.
Identify this personality played by Rajpal Yadav in
Shyam Benegal’s forgettable film on Bose.

Gen. A A K Niazi, who signed the
documents of surrender after the 1971 war.
ANSWER

14
This cartoon was published after Indira
Gandhi founded the INC (O) upon being
expelled on disciplinary grounds.
Who was the cartoonist?
What is the cartoon’s title, a word play on
a literary movement?

Kutti
The Beaten Generation
ANSWER

Colombian coffee
Ziro Festival of Music
ANSWER

17
Having heard her at a local
function in Shillong, Alka Yagnik
asked her to come to Bombay,
where she met Nadeem-Shravan
and thus began her career under
the duo, singing for films like
Jung, Judaai, Saat Rang Ke
Sapne and Agnisakshi.
However, her voice is most
familiar to us for singing a set of
six-seven songs, two of which
were immensely popular.
What is her claim to fame?
INSERT AUDIO

Manu
Manali gets its name from Manu Alaya
meaning the land of Manu.
It’s believed that his ark landed near
the temple.
ANSWER

Sukh Ram
ANSWER
Sukh Ram was the Union Telecom
Minister in the Narasimha Rao cabinet
and was first investigated into in 1996, a
year after he spoke to Jyoti Basu over the
first cellular call in India.

Patna
The Bengal Famine of 1770.
ANSWER

25
The World of Homosexuals is a
1977 book and is considered
among the first few works on
the subject out of India.
The author said the book was a
result of a failed marriage to a
gay man.
Who is the author, who we know
for writing multiple books on
another subject?

Clouded Leopard
Spectacled Monkey
The clouded leopard is the
state animal of Meghalaya.
Sipaijala is located in
Tripura.
ANSWER

28
Identify this sacred pilgrimage site of the
Jains which has over 800 temples divided
in 9 clusters atop a hill, built over a period
of 900 years.

Auroville
Auro: Aurobindo, dawn (in French)
ANSWER

India Quiz - Qriosity 2017 - Prelims

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India Quiz - Qriosity 2017 - Prelims