Ancient Indian History General Knowledge Questions

Ancient Indian History General Knowledge Questions

1. Which of the following are two works of Kalidasa?

[A] Raghuvamsha and Kiratarjuniya

[B] Kumara Sambhav and Raghuvamsha

[C]Malti Madhava and Kumara Sambhava

[D]Malti Madhav and Kumara Sambhava 

Ans. Kumar Sambhava and Raghuvamsha Kalidasa was one of the gems of the court of Gupta king Chandragupta II (375–415 CE). The poems he wrote were usually of epic proportions and were written in classical Sanskrit. He wrote two epic poems called Kumara sambhava, which means birth of Kumara and the Raghuvamsha, which means dynasty of Raghu. There are also two lyric poems written by Kalidasa known as Meghadutta that stands for cloud messenger and the Ritusamhara that means description of the seasons. Meghadutta is one of the finest works of Kalidasa in terms of world literature. The beauty of the continuity in flawless Sanskrit is unmatched till date. The most famous and beautiful work of Kalidasa is the Shakuntalam. It is the second play of Kalidasa after he wrote Malavikagnimitra. The Shakuntalam tells the story of king Dushyant who falls in love with a beautiful girl Shakuntala, who happens to be the daughter of a saint.

2. Who was the first Indo-Greek king, who became Buddhist?

[A]Antiochus II

[B]Apollodotus I

[C]Apollodotus II

[D]Menander II 

Ans. Menander II Menander II was the Indo-Greek king who established a large empire in the South Asia and became a patron of Buddhism.

3. Which of the following inscriptions mentions the name of Kalidasa?

 [A] Allahabad pillar inscription

 [B] Aihole inscription

 [C] Alapadu grant

 [D] Hanumakonda inscription

Ans. Aihole inscription Aihole inscription written by the Badami Chalukyas King, Pulakesin II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE and was a follower of Jainism. This valuable inscription discovered in the Meguti temple near Aihole (Bijapur district in Karnataka). The inscription is in the Sanskrit language, which uses the old Kannada script. The accounts of Pulkeshi’s campaigns are provided in the Aioli inscription dated 634 AD. It was composed by his court poet Ravikirti. Bharavi, who is associated with the Pallavas of Kanchi along with Kalidasa is mentioned in the famous Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin II.

4. The famous Konark Sun temple was built by whom?

 [A]Narshimhadeva I

 [B]Angabhima deva I

 [C]Konkanivarman

 [D]Narsimhavarman II 

Ans. Narshimhadeva I The 13th-century famous Konark Sun temple was built by King Narshimhadeva I (of the Eastern Ganga dynasty) at Konark, Odisha around AD1250.

5. Which among the following Mudra is the gesture of Buddha as depicted in his first ser

[A] Abhaya Mudra

[B] Dhyana Mudra

[C] Dharmachakra Mudra

[D] Bhumisparsa Mudra 

Ans. Dharmachakra Mudra The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. The Seated Buddha from Gandhara is an early statue of the Buddha made in Gandhara, in modern Pakistan, in the 2nd or 3rd century The pose, which was to become one of a number of standard ones, shows Buddha as a teacher setting the wheel of Dharma in motion (Dharmachakra Mudra). Buddha did this following his enlightenment and after delivering his first sermon at the deer park at Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Latest Current Affairs of 10th December, 2015

10 December: Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day (HRD) is marked annually on 10th December to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations (UN) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.

IISc bags US military contract for R&D on solar powered micro-grid

Bengaluru based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has bagged a United States military contract for research and development (R&D) on solar powered micro-grid. The federal contract worth US 52,900 dollars was awarded to IISc by the US Pacific Air Forces (PAF), Yokota Air Base in Japan. Under this contract IISc will develop solar powered micro-grid with battery and super capacitor energy storage system.

Cabinet approves amendments to The National Waterways Bill, 2015

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to carry out official amendments in The National Waterways Bill, 2015. The amendments seek to add 106 additional inland waterways as the national waterways based on the recommendations Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and comments of State Governments.

India ranks 4th in black money outflows: GFI Report

India has been placed at fourth position in black money outflows among the developing and emerging economies. It was revealed by Global Financial Integrity’s (GFI’s) Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013 Report.  Key facts

Delhi Government announced vehicle rationing scheme to curb air pollution

Delhi Government on 4 December 2015 announced vehicle rationing scheme to curb air pollution in the city. A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The primary objective of the initiative is to halve the vehicular population in the city and thereby to bring pollution levels under control.

CURRENT AffAIRS FOR SSC/BANK EXAMINATION

 1.   Literature Nobel goes to Svetlana Alexievich

I.            Svetlana Alexievich is a Belarussian journalist and prose writer, have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.”

II.            Ms. Alexievichis the 14th woman to win the literature prize. This 67 year old generalist is born to a Belarussian father and a Ukrainian mother. Ms. Alexievich is best known for giving voice to survivors of the Second World War, the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that lasted from 1979 to 1989, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

III.         Her first novel, “The Unwomanly Face of the War,” published in 1985 and based on the previously untold stories of women who had fought against the Nazi Germans, sold more than 2 million copies.

IV.         Her books have been published in 19 countries. She also has written three plays and the screenplays for 21 documentary films. The Swedish Academy cited Alexievich “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.”

V.           Last year's literature award went to French writer Patrick Modiano.

 2.   Hoesung Lee is new Chairman of IPCC:

                    I.        Hoesung Lee, a native of South Korea, has been designated as the new head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC is the UN body assigned for assessing climate science.

                  II.        Prof Lee, an expert on climate economics and sustainable development, was elected to chair the panel at its ongoing meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, fourth person to lead the IPCC in its 27-year history.He succeeds Rajendra Pachauri, who resigned amid a scandal in February.

 3.   UnionCabinet approved Protocol on Double Taxation Avoidance with Israel and Vietnam.

India & Vietnam

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Protocol amending the Agreement between India and Vietnam for the avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. 

The Protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. It is further provided that the information received from Vietnam in respect of a resident of India can be shared with other law enforcement agencies with authorisation of the Competent Authority of Vietnam and vice versa.

Background-

The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between Indian and Vietnam was signed in 1994. Both the Indian and Vietnamese sides agreed to update Article 27 on the ‘Exchange of Information’ in India-Vietnam DTAA, to meet internationally accepted standards, and add a new Article on ‘Assistance in the Collection of taxes’, and enter into an Amending Protocol for the purpose. 

India & Israel:

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the protocol amending the Convention and the Protocol between India and Israel, for avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital.

The Protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. It is further provided that the information received from Israel in respect of a resident of India can be shared with other law enforcement agencies with authorisation of the Competent Authority of Israel and vice versa.

The Protocol further provides for 'Limitation of Benefits' Article as an anti-abuse provision aimed at preventing misuse of the Convention. The provisions of this Article enable use of the provisions of domestic law and measures concerning tax avoidance or evasion in the event of misuse of the Convention.

Background:
The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) between Indian and Israel was signed in 1996. Both the Indian and Israeli sides agreed to update Article 27 on the ‘Exchange of Information’ in India-Israel DTAC to meet internationally accepted standards.

GK UPDATES FOR SSC/BANK OR OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAM.

1. Who among the following has been facilitated by UK city of coventry?

 [A]Narayana Murthy

[B]Azim Premji

 [C]Ratan Tata

[D]Nandan Nilkeni

Ratan Tata Leading Indian industrialist Ratan Tata has been felicitated by the city of Coventry with its highest award in recognition of his contributions to the West Midlands region of central England. The Tata Group Chairman Emeritus took oath as an Honorary Freeman of the City of Coventry, an award only 13 people have been conferred with since 1914. Tata, was honoured alongside Indian-origin professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, founder of the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), at the University of Warwick in Coventry. 

2. Who was conferred with the Merlin Award by InternationalMagicians Associations?

 [A]O P Sharma

[B]Zenia Bhumgara

 [C]Kuda Bux

 [D]Maneka Sorcar 

Zenia Bhumgara Famous magician Zenia Bhumgara was conferred with the Merlin Award by International Magicians Associations. The Merlin is to magicians what the Oscar is to films. The association selects a handful of people worldwide each year to bestow this honour.

3. Which of the following states has decided to impose droughttax, recently?

 [A]Karnataka

 [B]Andhra Pradesh

[C]Maharashtra

[D]Tamil Nadu 

Maharashtra Maharashtra government has decided to levy a surcharge of Rs 2 on petrol and diesel while VAT on liquor, cigarettes and beverages have also been raised by 5 per cent. The decision aims to raise more funds for tackling drought in the state. The measures will be in force for five months.

4. Who has been awarded the senior citizen award for iconic mother for the year 2015?

[A]Leelaben Chhabildas Gurjar

[B]Sunabeda Singh

 [C]Jayadevi Thayi

 [D]Yashodara Malpade 

Leelaben Chhabildas Gurjar Leelaben Chhabildas Gurjar from Gujarat has been awarded the iconic mother award from President Pranab Mukherjee. Leelaben was chosen for the award for successfully bringing-up her children despite great odds. Leelaben had to face great odds to educate her six children, including two daughters. She worked as ‘safai karamchari’ and in order to supplement the meagre salary from the job she used to work as a manual scavenger. She became mother at the age of 14. Later, five more children were born to her. In spite of adversity, she sent all her children to school and encouraged them to get education. Because of the prevailing practise of untouchability, her children were not allowed to sit along with others or to share the common facility of drinking water. Undeterred by such discrimination, Leelaben continued to give her unstinting support to her children and eventually succeeded in securing higher education for all of them and they achieved respectable positions in their careers and in society.

Banking Quiz For IBPS Exam

1. The Basic Committee has defined capital in two Tiers (Tier-I andTier-II). Tier-I capital is known as 

(a) Net capital

(b) Gross capital

(c) Working capital

(d) Core capital

(e) None of these

2. Tier-II capital consists of

(a) undisclosed reserves and cumulative perpetual preference shares.

(b) general provisions, loss reserves and revaluation reserves.

(c) subordinated debt, hybrid debt capital instruments.

(d) All of the above

(e) None of the above

3. The main objective of Land Development Bank is:

(a) Providing investment credit for agriculture.

(b) Providing crop loans to the farmers.

(c) Developing allied activities in rural and semi-urban areas.

(d) Creating good social relations in the residents of rural and semi-urban areas.

(e) None of the above

4. Who issues treasury bills?

(a) Reserve Bank of India, as the agent of the Central Government

(b) Any govt. deptt. of state and central

(c) Any Commercial Bank

(d) All of the above p

(e) None of the above

5. Commercial paper

(a) fully secured instrument

(b) unserved money market instrument

(c) partly secured paper

(d) All of the above

(e) None of the above

6. Bill of Exchange, Promissory Notes and Cheques are defined as

(a) Negotiable Instruments

(b) Trust Receipts

(c) Documents of Title to goods

(d) None of the above

(e) Stamped Instruments

7. Which of the following do not enjoy scheduled bank status with RBI?

(a) State co-operative banks

(b) Regional rural banks 

(c) Foreign banks in India

(d) District Cooperative banks

(e) None of these

8. The Reserve Bank of India has decided to help banks, as a temporary measure, by providing additional liquidity support under LAF. What is the full form of LAF?

(a) Loan Adjustment Fund

(b) Liquidity Adjustment Facility

(c) Long Awaited Funds

(d) Loan Against Funds

(e) None of these

9. Consider the following statements:

1. Increase in deposit rate results in higher savings

2. Increase in deposit rate results in fall in credit off takes 

3. Increase in deposit rate results in increase in investment
which among the above statement/statements is /are correct?

(a) 1 & 2

(b) 1 & 3

(c) 1, 2 & 3

(d) Only 2

(e) None of these

10. Which of the following is a measure of ‘narrow money’ in India?

(a) M0

(b) M1

(c) M2

(d) M3 

(e) M4

1.             D

2.             D

3.             A

4.             A

5.             B

6.             A

7.             d

8.             b

9.             b.

10.          b.