UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Sikhism, Kumbakonam vetrilai, and more (Week 112) | UPSC Current Affairs News – Exam Ki Tayari

I. It was recently granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India, recognising its regional uniqueness and cultural significance.

II. It is staple in South Asian households and is central to preparing paan, a popular South Asian post-meal chew.

III. Kumbakonam, situated in Tamil Nadu, is home to vethalai or vetrilai, predominantly grown in Thanjavur’s fertile Cauvery river basin, giving it a unique taste and aroma.

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) I and II only

(b) I and III only

(c) II and III only

(d) I, II and III

Explanation

The Kumbakonam vetrilai or betel leaf or paan leaf was recently granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India, recognising its regional uniqueness and cultural significance. A staple in South Asian households, the betel leaf is central to preparing paan, a popular South Asian post-meal chew. The GI tag, announced in April 2025, and published in the Government Gazette in November 2024, took Tamil Nadu’s total GI products to 62. Yet, many cultivators, marginal farmers and sellers remain unaware of this recognition and the benefits that come with it.

Kumbakonam, six hours from Chennai, is home to vethalai or vetrilai, predominantly grown in Thanjavur’s fertile Cauvery river basin, giving it a unique taste and aroma. The dark to light green, oblong heart-shaped leaves with a pungent taste are cultivated, washed and then bundled in places like Thiruvaiyaru, Papanasam, Thiruvidaimarudur, Kumbakonam, and Rajagiri.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Kumbakonam vetrilai or betel leaf gets GI tag: Why cultivators, sellers need incentives and awareness to benefit by Jayashree Narayanan, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 2

I. After renouncing family life to pursue asceticism, Guru Nanak rejected both caste distinctions and Hindu idolatry, choosing a low-caste Hindu and a Muslim musician as companions to spread his spiritual message to the masses.

II. Guru Angad Dev built a gurdwara in Amritsar known as Sri Harmandir Sahib.

III. By the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a Sikh empire with an efficient army was formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) I and III only

(b) II only

(c) III only

(d) I, II and III

Explanation

Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the fifteenth century, is often considered one of the youngest religions in the world.

After renouncing family life and pursuing asceticism, Guru Nanak took a low-caste Hindu and a Muslim musician as his companions to preach his experience to the masses.

Guru Nanak’s successors propagated his message. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, built a gurdwara in Amritsar, Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple. 

The Sikhs emerged as a powerful political and military force by the late eighteenth century. By the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a Sikh empire with an efficient army was formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: How caste permeated the Sikh community by Nikita Mohta, The Indian Express.)

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Battle of Colachel, consider the following statement:

I. The battle was fought against the Portuguese East India Company.

II. It was the first time that an Asian kingdom had defeated a European power.

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) I only

(b) II only

(c) Both I and II

(d) Neither I nor II

Explanation

In 1741 King Marthanda Varma fought the Dutch East India Company commanded by the famous Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy. The Battle of Colachel is of huge significance in the history of India and Asia. It was the first time that an Asian kingdom had defeated a European power. Not only were the Dutch forces decimated, but also their colonial ambitions in India stalled.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Battle of Colachel: How an accidental shot ended Dutch plans for India by Srijana Siri, The Indian Express)

QUESTION 4

Which of the following temples is associated with King Lalitaditya Muktapida?

(a) Parashurameshvara Temple 

(b) Martand Temple

(c) Lingaraja Temple 

(d) Kandarya Mahadeva Temple 

Explanation

The Martand Temple was built by the Karkota dynasty king Lalitaditya Muktapida, who ruled Kashmir from 725 AD to 753 AD. Although some historians believe that an earlier temple existed here and was incorporated into Lalitaditya’s grander structure, others credit Lalitaditya entirely for it. Lalitaditya built his capital at Parihaspora, the ruins of which also survive to this day.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: Early history of Kashmir and Martand Temple by Manas Srivastava, The Indian Express)

QUESTION 5

With which of the following events in the history of Modern India is Kanaklata Barua associated?

(a) 1857 Revolt

(b) Swadeshi Movement

(c) Foundation of Indian National Congress

(d) Quit India Movement

Explanation

One of the youngest martyrs of the Quit India Movement, Kanaklata Barua has an iconic status in Assam. Barua, then 17, led the Mrityu Bahini, a procession of freedom fighters, to unfurl the Tricolour at Gohpur police station on September 20, 1942. When police did not let them move forward, an altercation led to firing, killing Barua at the head of the procession.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(For more, refer: President Murmu pays tribute to Matangini Hazra, Kanaklata Barua: Who were these freedom fighters, The Indian Express)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.