Art & Culture Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
From 26 March 2026, Akashvani stations broadcast the full version of 'Vande Mataram' containing how many stanzas?
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Correct answer: D — Six
The full six-stanza version (3 min 10 sec) replaced the two-stanza version (65 sec), following an MHA guideline of 28 January 2026.
The first version of the full 'Vande Mataram' broadcast by Akashvani from March 2026 is sung in which raga?
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Correct answer: A — Raag Des
It is sung by Pt. Chandrashekhar Vaze in Raag Des.
Pakhala, for which Odisha set a Guinness World Record in March 2026, is a traditional dish made of:
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Correct answer: A — Fermented rice
Pakhala is fermented rice; Odisha set the record for the largest serving of fermented rice (Pakhala).
The record Pakhala serving on 20 March 2026 was laid out in a design inspired by:
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Correct answer: B — The wheel of the Konark Sun Temple
The serving was spread over 2,500 sq ft in a design inspired by the wheel of the Konark Sun Temple.
Consider the following about Odisha's Pakhala record of 20 March 2026: 1. About 850 kg of rice was used to prepare the record serving. 2. The record was set at the Konark Sun Temple premises. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
About 850 kg of rice was used; the record was set at Panthanivas in Bhubaneswar, with only the layout inspired by the Konark wheel, so statement 2 is wrong.
'RISA: Timeless Tribal', launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 18 March 2026, is:
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Correct answer: B — A premium signature brand for tribal weaves, embroidery and crafts
RISA: Timeless Tribal is a premium signature brand centred on tribal weaves, embroidery and crafts.
To which two countries was the first consignment of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam exported on 12 March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — United Kingdom and Italy
The 25-tonne consignment went to the United Kingdom and Italy; earlier small shipments had gone to Vietnam and five Middle Eastern countries.
Which body facilitated the first export of Joha rice to the UK and Italy in March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — APEDA
APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, facilitated the export with Assam's Department of Agriculture.
Consider the following statements about Joha rice: 1. It is an indigenous aromatic rice of Assam that received a GI tag in 2017. 2. Majuli is among its major producing districts. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: Joha got its GI tag in 2017, and its major districts include Nagaon, Baksa, Goalpara, Sivasagar, Majuli, Chirang and Golaghat.
The greenfield bypass awarded by NHAI on 12 March 2026 around Gangaikonda Cholapuram is on which National Highway?
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Correct answer: A — NH-81
The 7-km bypass is on the Kallagam–Meensurutti section of NH-81 in Tamil Nadu.
Which heritage monument is the Gangaikonda Cholapuram bypass, awarded on 12 March 2026, designed to protect?
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Correct answer: B — Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
NH-81 runs very close to the 1,000-year-old Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage monument; the bypass will divert heavy vehicles away from it.
PM Modi paid homage on 12 March 2026 to the participants of the Dandi March. In which year did the Dandi March begin on 12 March?
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Correct answer: C — 1930
The Dandi March began on 12 March 1930; the PM marked the anniversary on 12 March 2026.
President Droupadi Murmu attended the 9th International Santal Conference on 7 March 2026 at which place?
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Correct answer: D — Darjeeling
The President graced the conference at Darjeeling, West Bengal.
The Ol Chiki script, used for Santali, was invented in 1925 by whom?
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Correct answer: A — Pandit Raghunath Murmu
The President said Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented Ol Chiki in 1925; its centenary was celebrated recently.
The Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003 added which languages to the Eighth Schedule?
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Correct answer: B — Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali
The 92nd Amendment inserted Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali, taking the Eighth Schedule to 22 languages.
The Indian Culture Portal, whose Version 2.0 was launched on 5 March 2026, was originally launched in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 2019
The portal was originally launched in December 2019 to democratise access to India's cultural heritage.
The Saraighat Rana Smritisaudh, inaugurated in Guwahati on 4 March 2026, commemorates a battle fought in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1671
The memorial honours warriors of the Battle of Saraighat, fought in 1671 under Ahom general Lachit Borphukan.
How many warriors' names are engraved on the Saraighat Rana Smritisaudh in Guwahati?
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Correct answer: C — 132
The memorial, built in traditional Ahom style at Panbazar, bears the engraved names of 132 warriors.
Consider the following statements about the Battle of Saraighat: 1. The Ahom forces were led by Lachit Borphukan. 2. The battle was a naval clash fought on the Brahmaputra against Mughal forces. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct: India Today NE and the Times of India state that Ahom general Lachit Borphukan led the 1671 battle, and the Times of India describes it as a naval clash on the Brahmaputra that halted Mughal expansion.
According to officials, roughly how many devotees visited the Braj region for Holi festivities between 24 February and 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Over 44 lakh
Officials said more than 44 lakh devotees visited Mathura, Vrindavan and other Braj sites, with five to six lakh more expected.
Attukal Pongala, held on 3 March 2026, takes place in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Thiruvananthapuram
Attukal Pongala is offered by women devotees to the deity of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Why was the sanctum of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple closed from 3.10 pm to 7 pm on 3 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — A lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse fell on the same day, so the sanctum closed after the Pongala rituals and reopened at 7 pm.
To which city did INSV Kaundinya make her maiden overseas voyage, completed with her flag-in at Mumbai on 2 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Muscat
INSV Kaundinya returned after her maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman.
The design of INSV Kaundinya is inspired by a 5th-century CE depiction found at which site?
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Correct answer: A — Ajanta Caves
The Navy says INSV Kaundinya is inspired by a 5th-century CE depiction from the Ajanta Caves.
Consider the following statements about INSV Kaundinya: 1. Her wooden planks are stitched together with coir rope and sealed with natural resins. 2. She was inducted into the Indian Navy in May 2025. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The vessel uses ancient stitched-plank construction with coir rope and natural resins, and was inducted in May 2025.
At which venue in New Delhi was Tribes Art Fest 2026 inaugurated on 2 March 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Travancore Palace
Jual Oram inaugurated Tribes Art Fest 2026 at Travancore Palace, K.G. Marg, New Delhi.
Where was the Shaheedi Samagam for the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur held on 1 March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Navi Mumbai
The Samagam organised by the Maharashtra government was held in Navi Mumbai.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose 350th martyrdom year was marked on 1 March 2026, is revered by which title?
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Correct answer: A — Hind di Chadar
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, is revered as 'Hind di Chadar'.
In which city did President Droupadi Murmu attend the bhoomi pujan of a Sri Jagannath Temple on 26 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Jamshedpur
The bhoomi pujan of the Sri Jagannath Temple was held at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Which regiment of the Indian Army led the Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan expedition flagged in on 25 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Regiment of Artillery
The expedition was led by the Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery.
From where was the Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan expedition flagged off on 3 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Dwarka
The 3,400-km expedition was flagged off from the coastal city of Dwarka in Gujarat.
Whose bust did President Droupadi Murmu unveil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — C. Rajagopalachari
The President unveiled the bust of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The bust of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan replaced the bust of:
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Correct answer: D — Edwin Lutyens
The Rajaji bust at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap replaces the bust of Edwin Lutyens.
C. Rajagopalachari, whose bust was unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhavan in February 2026, is described as:
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Correct answer: A — The first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India
PIB describes Rajaji as the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India.
Which Indian film won the BAFTA for Best Children's & Family Film in February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Boong
The Manipuri-language film Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, won the award at the 79th BAFTA Film Awards.
Who directed the BAFTA-winning film 'Boong'?
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Correct answer: D — Lakshmipriya Devi
Boong is the debut feature of director Lakshmipriya Devi.
The film 'Boong', which won a BAFTA in 2026, is in which language?
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Correct answer: A — Manipuri
Boong is a Manipuri-language film set in Manipur.
In which city was the 30th Divya Kala Mela inaugurated on 22 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Dehradun
The 30th Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated at Rangers Ground, Dehradun, by Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh.
Shashi Tharoor's book 'The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism', released on 19 February 2026, is about which social reformer?
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Correct answer: D — Sree Narayana Guru
The book covers the life, lessons and legacy of Sree Narayana Guru, whose message was 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for humankind'.
On 19 February 2026, PM Modi paid tribute to which historical figure on his Jayanti, calling him a 'champion of Swarajya'?
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Correct answer: B — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
The PM paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti, calling him a champion of Swarajya.
Amit Shah addressed the 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur on 18 February 2026 in which district of West Bengal?
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Correct answer: B — Nadia
The celebrations were held in Nadia, West Bengal, home to Mayapur, where ISKCON is developing a spiritual centre.
The Ol Chiki script, whose centenary celebrations were inaugurated on 16 February 2026, is used to write which language?
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Correct answer: B — Santhali
Ol Chiki is used for the Santhali language.
Who invented the Ol Chiki script?
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Correct answer: D — Pandit Raghunath Murmu
President Murmu noted that Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script in 1925.
Consider the following statements about the Ol Chiki script: 1. It was invented in 1925. 2. Before Ol Chiki, Santhali was written only in the Devanagari script. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Before Ol Chiki, Santhali was written in the Roman, Devanagari, Oriya and Bengali scripts.
Sant Sevalal Maharaj, whose birth anniversary is observed on 15 February, is revered as a spiritual leader of which community?
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Correct answer: D — Banjara
Sant Sevalal Maharaj is revered as a spiritual leader of the Banjara community.
Which birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj was observed on 15 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 287th
15 February 2026 marked the 287th birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj.
On Sevalal Jayanti 2026, the Telangana Chief Minister announced a grand shrine for Sant Sevalal Maharaj in which forest area?
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Correct answer: A — Nallamala forest
CM Revanth Reddy announced the shrine in the Nallamala forest, Achampet area, where 20 acres have been allocated.
The idol of Sarveshwar Mahadev, before which Amit Shah joined the Mahashivratri Maha Aarti on 15 February 2026, stands in which lake?
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Correct answer: A — Sursagar Lake, Vadodara
The grand idol of Sarveshwar Mahadev stands in the middle of Sursagar Lake in Vadodara.
How many stamps were in the 'Puppets of India' commemorative set released by the Department of Posts on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 8
The set has eight stamps, each showing a traditional puppetry form.
Match the puppetry form with its state as shown on the 'Puppets of India' stamps: 1. Tolu Bommalatta 2. Pavakathakali 3. Kathi Kundhei Select the correct option:
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Correct answer: A — 1-Andhra Pradesh, 2-Kerala, 3-Odisha
Tolu Bommalatta is from Andhra Pradesh, Pavakathakali from Kerala and Kathi Kundhei from Odisha.
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, remembered by PM Modi on 12 February 2026, founded which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — Arya Samaj
Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj.
In which year did Dayanand Saraswati found the Arya Samaj?
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Correct answer: C — 1875
He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter the social inequities of the time.
At which temple in Colombo were the Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha exhibited before returning to India on 11 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Gangaramaya Temple
The week-long exposition was held at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo.
The Devnimori archaeological site, source of the Buddha relics, lies near Shamlaji in which district of Gujarat?
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Correct answer: D — Aravalli
The Ministry of Culture says the site is near Shamlaji in Gujarat's Aravalli district; the relics are kept at MSU Baroda.
Consider the following about the Devnimori relic casket: 1. It is made of green schist. 2. Its inscription is in Kharosthi script and Pali language. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The green schist casket is inscribed in Brahmi script and Sanskrit language, reading 'dashabala sharira nilay'.
Where was the closing ceremony of Bastar Pandum 2026 held on 9 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Jagdalpur
Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, as chief guest.
In how many categories did participants compete in Bastar Pandum 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 12
There were 12 categories this time; five were added to the seven of the previous edition.
About how many participants took part in Bastar Pandum 2026, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs?
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Correct answer: C — 55,000
About 55,000 participants from seven districts, 1,885 gram panchayats and 32 block headquarters took part.
Who inaugurated Bastar Pandum 2026 at Jagdalpur on 7 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — President Droupadi Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the festival on 7 February; Amit Shah attended the closing on 9 February.