Important GK Updates

Different names of Shifting Cultivation

• Jhumming- Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland

• Pamlou- Manipur

• Dipa- Bastar district of CG, A&N

• Bewar or Dahiya- MP

• Podu or Penda- AP

• Pama Dabi or Koman or Bringa- Odisha

• Kumari- W Ghats

• Valre or Waltre- SE Rajasthan

• Khil- Himalayan belt

• Kuruwa- Jharkhand

• Milpa- Mexico, C America

• Conuco- Venzuela

• Roca- Brazil

• Masole- C Africa

• Ladang- Indonesia

• Ray- Vietnam

Indian National Religious Reform Movement

• The Ved Society was established in 1864 AD by K. Sri Dharalu Naidu in Madras.

• The Dharma Sabha was established in 1830 AD by Radhakant Dev.

• The Dev Society was established in 1887 AD by Shivanarayan Agnihotri in Lahore.

• Muslim Reform Movement –Aligarh Movement – led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

• In 1864 AD, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan established the Scientific Society in Kolkata.

• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental School in 1875 AD in Aligarh, which was transformed into Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.

• Ahmadiyya Movement – started in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

• Wahhabi Movement – movement by Syed Ahmad Barelvi.Its objective was to restore Islam.

• Deoband Movement – It was started in 1866 AD by Muhammad Qasim and Rashid Ahmad in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

• Its main objective was to spread pure education of the Quran and Hadith among Muslims.

• The Deoband school was completely opposed to English education and Western culture.

Important Conferences Related to Environment

• Ramsar Convention – 1971

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – 1973

• Montreal Protocol – 1987

• Vienna Convention – 1988

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – 1992

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – 1992

• Basel Convention – 1989

• Rio Summit – 1992

• Stockholm Convention – 2001

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – 2000

• UN-REDD – 2008

• Nagoya Protocol – 2010

• Minamata Convention – 2013

• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – 1994

• Kyoto Protocol – 1997

• Rotterdam Convention – 1998

Major cities of Indus Civilization

• Mohenjodaro – Indus River

• Harappa – Ravi River

• Ropar – Sutlej River

• Manda – Chenab River

• Kalibanga – Ghaggar River

• Lothal – Bhogwa River

• Sutkangador – Dashk River

• Balakot – Vindar River

• Sotkakoh – Shadikour

• Alamgirpur – Hindon River

• Rangpur – Madar River

• Kotdiji – Indus River

• Banwali – Ancient Saraswati River

• Chanhudaro – Indus River

Important Buddhist Writers

Ashvaghosha

• Contribution: Authored Buddhacharita in Sanskrit.

• Time Period: Contemporary of Kanishka.

• Significance: A poet, dramatist, musician, scholar, and debater.

Nagarjuna

• Contribution: Founder of the Madhyamaka School of Mahayana Buddhism.

• Time Period: Contemporary of Satavahana King Gautamiputra of Andhra.

• Significance: A key proponent of Mahayana Buddhism.

Asanga and Vasubandhu

• Relationship: Brothers from the Punjab region (4th Century CE).

• Contributions:

• Asanga: Teacher of Yogachara/Vijnanavada School, founded by his guru Maitreyanatha.

• Vasubandhu: Authored Abhidharmakosha, an encyclopedic work on Buddhism.

Buddhaghosa

• Time Period: 5th Century CE.

• Contribution: Pali scholar; authored Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification), a comprehensive guide to Theravada Buddhism.

Dinnaga

• Time Period: 5th Century CE.

• Contribution: Known as the founder of Buddhist logic.

Dharmakirti

• Time Period: 7th Century CE.

• Contribution: Renowned Buddhist logician and dialectician, as well as a subtle philosophical thinker.

Mahi River

• The Mahi basin extends over states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat having total area of 34,842 Sq km.

• It is bounded by Aravalli hills on the north and the north-west, by Malwa Plateau on the east, by the Vindhyas on the south and by the Gulf of Khambhat on the west.

• Mahi is one of the major interstate west flowing rivers of India.

• It originates from the northern slopes of Vindhyas at an altitude of 500 m in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

• The total length of Mahi is 583 km.

• It drains into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.

• The major part of basin is covered with agricultural land accounting to 63.63% of the total area

• Hydro Power stations are located in Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam and at Kadana Dam.

• Vadodara is the only important urban centre in the basin. There are not many industries in the basin.

• Some of the industries are cotton textile, paper, newsprint, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Most of these industries are located at Tatlam.

Important Folk Paintings

• Warli – Maharashtra

• Pattachitra – Odisha

• Kalamkari – Andhra Pradesh

• Kalighat – Calcutta

• Kalamezhuthu – Kerala

• Thangka – Sikkim

• Pithora Painting – Gujurat

• Thanjavur – Tami Nadu

• Madhubani, Manjusha (Snake painting) – Bihar.

 

India’s Women Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle 

• Rani Abakka, the Queen of Ullal, Karnataka fought and defeated the mighty Portuguese in the 16th century.

• Velu Nachiyar, the queen of Sivaganga was the first Indian queen to wage war against the British East India Company.

• Jhalkari Bai, was a woman soldier who grew to become one of the key advisors to the Rani of Jhansi and a prominent figure in the First War of Indian Independence, 1857.

• Matangini Hazra was a brave freedom fighter from Bengal, who laid down her life while agitating against the British.

• Gulab Kaur was a freedom fighter who abandoned her own hopes and dreams of a life abroad to fight for and mobilise the Indian people against the British Raj.

• Chakali Ilamma was a revolutionary woman who fought against the injustice of zamindars during the Telangana rebellion in the mid-1940s.

• Padmaja Naidu, the daughter of Sarojini Naidu and a freedom fighter in her own right, who would later become Governor of West Bengal and a humanitarian after Independence.

• Bishni Devi Shah, a woman who inspired large number of people in Uttarakhand to join the freedom movement.

• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was one of the greatest Hindi poets, who was also a prominent figure in the freedom movement.

• Durgawati Devi was the brave woman who provided safe passage to Bhagat Singh after the killing of John Saunders and much more during her revolutionary days.

• Sucheta Kripalani, a prominent freedom fighter, became independent India’s first woman Chief Minister of UP Government.

• Accamma Cherian, an inspirational leader of the freedom movement in Travancore, Kerala, she was given the name ‘Jhansi Rani of Tranvancore’ by Mahatma Gandhi.

• Aruna Asaf Ali was an inspirational freedom fighter who is perhaps best remembered for hoisting the Indian National flag in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

• Durgabai Deshmukh, a tireless worker for the emancipation of women in Andhra Pradesh, she was also an eminent freedom fighter and member of the Constituent Assembly.

• Rani Gaidinliu , the Naga spiritual and political leader, led an armed uprising against the British in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.

• Usha Mehta was a freedom fighter from a very young age, who is remembered for organizing an underground radio station during the Quit India Movement of 1942.

• Parbati Giri , one of Odisha’s most prominent women freedom fighters, was called the Mother Teresa of Western Odisha for her work in the upliftment of her people.

• Tarkeshwari Sinha, a prominent freedom fighter during the Quit India Movement, she went on to become an eminent politician in the early decades of independent India.

• Snehlata Varma , a freedom fighter and tireless worker for the education and upliftment of women in Mewar, Rajasthan.

• Tileshwari Baruah, one of India’s youngest martyrs, she was shot at the age of 12 by the British, during the Quit India Movement, when she and some freedom fighters tried to unfurl the Tricolour atop a police station.

 

Tribal Art in India

• Warli Art (Maharashtra)- Simple geometric shapes depicting harmony with nature.

• Gond Art (Central India)- Vibrant hues, intricate patterns, rich mythology.

• Madhubani Painting (Bihar)- Intricate motifs, bold colors, scenes from mythology.

• Pattachitra Art (Odisha)- Mythological narratives on cloth or palm leaves.

• Santhal Art (Eastern India)- Earthy tones, tribal motifs using natural materials.

• Saura Painting (Odisha)- Vibrant colors, geometric patterns, depicting deities and myths.

• Bhil Art (Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh)- Folkore, rituals, nature, animals, deities.

• Phad Painting (Rajasthan)- Stories of deities, heroes, and legends on large scrolls.

• Pithora Painting (Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh)- Ritualistic art for blessings.

• Toda Embroidery (Tamil Nadu)- Geometric patterns using natural materials.

Arrival Of European companies in chronological order

• P = Portuguese (1498)

• D = Dutch

• B-BRITISH English) (1600)

• D = Dennis (1616)

• F = French (1664)

• S = Swedish (1731

Volcano sites in the world

• India : Baratang and Barren

• Indonasia : Krakatau, Sinabung, Merapi

• Japan : Mount Asma, Mt Aso, Mt Hakone, Mt Shindke

• Mexico : Popocatépet, Volcán de Colima

• US : Mt Cliveland, Mt Shishaldin

• Ethiopia : Erta ale

• UK : Kilauea (Hawai)

• Papua New Guinea : Bagana

• Antartica : Mt Erebus

• Russia : Chirinkotan, Shiveluch

• Italy : Mt Etna, Stromboli

• Important Scroll Paintings :

• Kalamkari: Andhra Pradesh

• Kalighat Pats: Bengal

• Phad Paintings: Rajasthan

• Cheriyal Paintings: Telangana

• Pichwai: Rajasthan

• Pattachitra : Odisha

Important India GK