11. Recently, which prison received the Biodiversity Conservation Award, constituted by the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB)?
[A] Kadapa Central Prison
[B] Nellore Central Prison
[C] Rajahmundry Central Prison
[D] Visakhapatnam Central Prison
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rajahmundry Central Prison ]
Notes:
Rajahmundry Central Prison was honored with the Biodiversity Conservation Award by Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board. The recognition applauds the prison’s eco-friendly initiatives, including groundwater preservation, natural farming, and crafting with natural materials. State Biodiversity Boards, mandated by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, are present in all states but not in Union territories, where the National Biodiversity Authority acts as their counterpart.
12. Which cooperative society has recently signed an agreement with Marut Dronetech Private Ltd to launch Drone-as-a-Service operations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?
[A] Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO)
[B] Amul
[C] Anyonya Co-operative Bank Limited
[D] Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO)]
Notes:
IFFCO partners with Marut Dronetech for Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, aiming to boost rural entrepreneurship and youth engagement. The collaboration targets to cover five lakh acres for agri input spraying. Marut Dronetech will deploy drones to dispense IFFCO agri-products. DAAS facilitates affordable drone tech access for farmers through rural entrepreneurs, promoting accessibility.
13. Which of the following pairs of GI tagged paintings and respective states is/are matched correctly?
- Gond painting – Jharkhand
- Sograi Khovar painting – Jharkhand
- Basohli painting – Jammu and Kashmir
- Cheriyal Scroll Painting – Andhra Pradesh
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:- Gond painting is a traditional art of Madhya Pradesh and belongs to the Gond tribe. Patangarh village of Dindori district is famous for Gond paintings, where there is an artist in every house.
- The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art. It is being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colours in the area of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
- The world famous Basohli Paintings from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. These are from Kathua district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Cheriyal Scroll Painting is a popular and modified version of Nakashi art, considered highly rich in the local motifs. This art form is unique to the state of Telangana and made mostly in Hyderabad currently.
14. Consider the following statements with respect to the Pushpagiri Kshetram:
- It is a 13th century Jain temple dedicated lord Parsvanatha.
- It is in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.
- It is contemporary to a temple at Vallur, built by Kayastha ruler.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:- 13th-century Hindu temple ruins have been recently unearthed at Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district.
- The Pushpagiri Kshetram hillock is also known as Pushpachala.
- The hillock is famous for the chain of temples dedicated to the pantheon of Hindu gods and has over a hundred small and big temples in its vicinity.
- Chennakesava, Umamaheswara, Rudrapada, Vishnupada, Trikooteswara, Vaidyanatha, Subrahmanya, Vighneswara and Durga Devi temples are found here.
- The Penna River flows in the southwest of the hills.
- Pushpagiri is referred to as Hari-Hara Kshetra, as there are several temples dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu.
- The architectural features of the ruins reveal a style which is contemporary to a temple at Vallur. The Vallur temple was built by the Kayastha rulers in the 13thCentury AD. The Kayasthas were subordinates to the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty. They ruled the region with Vallur as the capital.
15. In which of the following Indian states, Great Indian Bustards are found?
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Maharashtra
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 2
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 2, 3 & 5
[D] Only 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5]
Notes:- Historically, the great Indian bustard was distributed throughout Western India, spanning 11 states, as well as parts of Pakistan. Its stronghold was once the Thar desert in the north-west and the Deccan plateau of the peninsula.
- Today, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small population occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Bustards generally favour flat open landscapes with minimal visual obstruction and disturbance, therefore adapt well in grasslands.
- In the non-breeding season they frequent wide agro-grass scrub landscapes. While in the breeding season (summers and monsoons) they congregate in traditional undisturbed grassland patches characterized by a mosaic of scantily grazed tall grass (below 50 cm).
- They avoid grasses taller than themselves and dense scrub like thickets.
16. Consider the following pairs:
- Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana – Madhya Pradesh
- Rythu Bandhu Scheme – Andhra Pradesh
- Krushak Assaistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation Scheme – West Bengal
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:- The Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY) was launched in October 2017 in MP to compensate farmers in the event of a price crash and to that extent hedge the price risk faced by them.
- Rythu Bandhu scheme or Farmer’s Investment Support Scheme (FISS)is a welfare program to support farmer’s investment for two crops a year by the Government of Telangana. The scheme is meant to incentivise the state’s farmers for their day to day work.
- KALIA or “Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation” scheme was launched by the Odisha Government for farmer’s welfare.
17. Which of the following destinations is/are included in the Mukhyamantri Devdarshan Yatra Yojana 2023?
- Shirdi, Maharashtra
- Tiruptai Shrine, Andhra Pradesh
- Velankanni, Tamil Nadu
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:- Mukhyamantri Devdarshan Yatra Yojana 2023 is a state-sponsored pilgrimage scheme.
- Applicant must be a resident of Goa state.
- Only the people above the age of 50 years are eligible to apply for the free pilgrimage scheme in Goa.
- Selected Destinations under CM Devdarshan Yatra Scheme are Tirupati Shrine in Andhra Pradesh state, Velankanni in Tamil Nadu state, Shirdi in Maharashtra state.
18. Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) Awards 2021:
- Uttar Pradesh bagged the first position followed by Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Chandigarh was adjudged the ‘Best performing UT’.
- Andhra Pradesh has been facilitated for the best policy initiative under a special category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:- PMAY-U scheme is aimed at confronting and tiding over the shortage of housing facilities in urban India for beneficiaries under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low-Income Groups (LIGs) and Middle-Income Groups (MIGs) categories. PMAY-U, a flagship Mission of the Government of India implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), was launched on 25th June 2015.
- Uttar Pradesh bagged the first position in PMAY-U Awards 2021 followed by Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu at second and third place, respectively.
- Poll-bound Gujarat saw five special category awards for performance related to Affordable Rental Housing Complexes and ‘Convergence with other Missions’ coming its way.
- Madhya Pradesh got three special category awards followed by Jammu and Kashmir, which was adjudged the ‘Best Performing UT’ alongside Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
- Odisha has been felicitated with the prestigious PMAY-U Awards 2021 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for the best policy initiative under a special category.
19. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan said the State capital would be shifted to which city?
[A] Kurnool
[B] Visakhapatnam
[C] Vijayawada
[D] Guntur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Visakhapatnam]
Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan said the State capital would be shifted to Visakhapatnam.
He was addressing the preparatory meeting for Global Investors Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam. The State government had proposed three capitals, Visakhapatnam (Executive capital), Amaravati (Legislative capital) and Kurnool (Judicial capital). Amaravati is the present capital of Andhra Pradesh.
20. Consider the following pairs:
- Therukoothu – Tamil Nadu
- Chakyarkoothu – Kerala,
- Veedhinataka – Andhra Pradesh
- Yakshagana – Karnataka
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 3
[B] Only 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3 & 4]
Notes:- Therukoothu of Tamil Nadu,
- Kutiyattam and Chakyarkoothu of Kerala,
- Veedhinataka of Andhra Pradesh
- Badagutittu and tenkutittu are two variants of Yakshagana.
