The Christ University National Quiz Championship 2016

The India QuizFinals

Content and Presentation

Sameer Dharur

Acknowledgements

Harish KrishnaRama Subramanian

Nitish KhadiyaNavin Rajaram

Major Chandrakant Nair

2 Written Rounds. 2 Infinite Pounce Rounds. 46 questions in all. Good luck!

The Deal

Written Round I

8 questions. 10 points per answer. No negatives, feel free to take guesses. Theme – Symbolism.

Written Round I

1.The Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is NASA’s primary rocket launch site to support space and exploration missions. On his first visit to the place, APJ Abdul Kalam describes in Wings of Fire that he was awestruck by one of the paintings in the lobby of the reception, which was an appropriate and deserving recognition befitting the place – while it wasn’t given its due credit in our own country.

What event, apt to the facility, was captured by the painting?

2.Brooks is a sports clothing company based in Australia that landed one of its most high profile clients about a decade ago.The requirement was to make specially customized equipment that would bear the colours of green or navy blue in patches with white – an unusual combination for these items, intended for personal reasons.

What items were these, that have occasionally been faulted by the official body in its field for flouting rules? Why this peculiar choice of colours?

3.Being Censitive is an art project by a group of design students from around the country that intends to protest against moral policing and any form of censorship in the creative space, especially in content that is considered obscene and ‘against Indian culture’.To counter this notion, they came up with a series of drawings that sought to banish the taboo as well as reassert that they were very much a part of ‘Indian culture’.

What place provided the inspiration for this art project?

4.The Hilton Young Commission was a group appointed by the British in 1927 to improve the financial health of its colonies, especially India, in the aftermath of the World War I.One of the results of this commission in our context was a new setup whose logo was inspired by the erstwhile Double Mohur coin initiated by the East India Company. However, this logo was tweaked to remove the lion for another replacement.

What new setup was this, that first saw an Indian heading it only in 1952? Why was the lion replaced – a choice that gained official validation in 1972?

5.The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti is a NGO set up by renowned activist Narendra Dhabolkar in 2013 that conducts numerous sessions across the state to raise awareness on important issues.Earlier this year, it began a series of discussions with the public on marriage reforms – the need to banish outdated customs and rituals, to spend less on the ceremonies and to eliminate the menace of caste endogamy.

What exactly was claimed to be the inspiration, that also made a Maharashtrian record of sorts, for these sessions?

6.At a public meeting earlier this year, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu considered the idea of laying a special railway line as a symbolic gesture to ensure connectivity to the village of Gehlore in Bihar which is still 8 KMs away from its nearest railway station, despite sustained efforts to ensure better access that only managed to connect it to a few nearby towns and villages, and ended over 30 years ago.

How did this remote village become accessible to its neighbours around that time?

7.Mohammed Farooq Qureshi Sheikh is a 56 year old resident of Mumbai who makes the news around mid-year for undertaking an activity across a seven-kilometer distance from Dongri to Chinch Bunder. He has been doing this for the last 18 years to keep alive a tradition that originated in Egypt and has prevailed ever since across several countries of the Middle East, but is quickly becoming extinct owing to the advancement of devices to perform the task.

What tradition is this? OR What does he do for a few days every year?

8.Following a relentless period of 16 years, Iron Sharmila finally decided to break her fast on August 9th this year and also announced her desire to run for public office in Manipur.

Why did it specifically end on August 9th this year, coinciding with a certain anniversary from over 70 years ago? How was this symbolic to the idea of her protest?

Answers

1.The Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is NASA’s primary rocket launch site to support space and exploration missions. On his first visit to the place, APJ Abdul Kalam describes in Wings of Fire that he was awestruck by one of the paintings in the lobby of the reception, which was an appropriate and deserving recognition befitting the place – while it wasn’t given its due credit in our own country.

What event, apt to the facility, was captured by the painting?

The Answer is …

The use of Tipu Sultan’s rockets in the Anglo-Mysore Wars.

2.Brooks is a sports clothing company based in Australia that landed one of its most high profile clients about a decade ago.The requirement was to make specially customized equipment that would bear the colours of green or navy blue in patches with white – an unusual combination for these items, intended for personal reasons.

What items were these, that have occasionally been faulted by the official body in its field for flouting rules? Why this peculiar choice of colours?

The Answer is …

MS Dhoni’s wicket-keeping gloves.

The camouflage is intended as a tribute to the Indian Armed Forces.

3.Being Censitive is an art project by a group of design students from around the country that intends to protest against moral policing and any form of censorship in the creative space, especially in content that is considered obscene and ‘against Indian culture’.To counter this notion, they came up with a series of drawings that sought to banish the taboo as well as reassert that they were very much a part of ‘Indian culture’.

What place provided the inspiration for this art project?

The Answer is …

The sculptures at the Khajuraho temples.

4.The Hilton Young Commission was a group appointed by the British in 1927 to improve the financial health of its colonies, especially India, in the aftermath of the World War I.One of the results of this commission in our context was the a new setup whose logo was inspired by the erstwhile Double Mohur coin initiated by the East India Company. However, this logo was tweaked to remove the lion for another replacement.

What new setup was this, that first saw an Indian heading it only in 1952? Why was the lion replaced?

The Answer is …

The Reserve Bank of India.

To impart a sense of local authority to the organization, the national animal tiger was

picked.

5.The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti is a NGO set up by renowned activist Narendra Dhabolkar in 2013 that conducts numerous sessions across the state to raise awareness on important issues.Earlier this year, it began a series of discussions with the public on marriage reforms – the need to banish outdated customs and rituals, to spend less on the ceremonies and to eliminate the menace of caste endogamy.

What exactly was claimed to be the inspiration, that also made a Maharashtrian record of sorts, for these sessions?

The Answer is …

Sairat.

6.At a public meeting earlier this year, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu considered the idea of laying a special railway line as a symbolic gesture to ensure connectivity to the village of Gehlore in Bihar which is still 8 KMs away from its nearest railway station, despite sustained efforts to ensure better access that only managed to connect it to a few nearby towns and villages, and ended over 30 years ago.

How did this remote village become accessible to its neighbours around that time?

The Answer is …

Dashrath Manjhi’s carving of the hillock.

7.Mohammed Farooq Qureshi Sheikh is a 56 year old resident of Mumbai who makes the news around mid-year for undertaking an activity across a seven-kilometer distance from Dongri to Chinch Bunder. He has been doing this for the last 18 years to keep alive a tradition that originated in Egypt and has prevailed ever since across several countries of the Middle East, but is quickly becoming extinct owing to the advancement of devices to perform the task.

What tradition is this? OR What does he do for a few days every year?

The Answer is …

Wakes people up at the dawn of Ramzan!

8.Following a relentless period of 16 years, Iron Sharmila finally decided to break her fast on August 9th this year and also announced her desire to run for public office in Manipur.

Why did it specifically end on August 9th this year, coinciding with a certain anniversary from over 70 years ago? How was this symbolic to the idea of her protest?

The Answer is …

Intended to coincide with the anniversary of the Quit India

Movement.

The AFSPA was brought into being by the British

empire to suppress the movement.

Infinite Pounce I

15 questions. +10, -5 on the pounce. No partial pounces applicable. Good luck!

Infinite Pounce I

1.The Hitachi Zosen Corporation shipped 5 of these machines to India in 2011, which were locally nicknamed – Helen, Margarita, Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari. Operating at a diameter of 5 meters, they were picked for their USP to work without causing damage to the surrounding area – by using the pressure of the circulated muddy water in the cutter chamber. While one half of the intended job has been done and is now operational, the other half is to be completed by next year.

For what specific purpose were these machines used?

The Answer is …

Creating the underground tunnels for the Bangalore Metro.

2.In February this year, a vendor on Barakhamba Road – connecting Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi – reported heavy sales of his ₹20 product, widely bought and displayed by a large group of people. The rationale for this surge in purchases was that it not only projected the origins of the people but also aligned well with the tenets of their core message.

Who were these people, setting an Indian record of sorts and making news extensively? What items were these, appropriate to their cause?

The Answer is …

JNU’s protesting students.

Roses, a tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru and his values as opposed to those of the

crackdown.

3.The choice of ebony for laying the foundation in the construction of buildings has always been considered a risky one. The wood is known to weaken over time and crumble owing to rot and ruin. Archaeological studies conducted over the years have, therefore, expressed surprise when ebony was picked over other materials for this 17th century construction – whose marginal shift of 1.5 inches reported in the 1980s was considered as evidence of its impending destruction, apart from widespread pollution in its neighbouring areas. However, the design ensures that even a collapse wouldn’t damage its significant centerpiece(s).How has the danger of ebony collapsing been prevented by its surroundings? What design choice has ensured that even a collapse wouldn’t ruin it?

The Answer is …

The foundation of the Taj Mahal is nourished by the waters of the Yamuna

which keeps the wood strong.

The minarets were designed with an outward tilt – ensuring a collapse wouldn’t

affect the actual tombs.

4.A recent edition of the Open magazine carries a revelation on the reasons behind a diplomatic defeat in the last decade.

It is revealed that China had nothing to do with the negative outcome, contrary to common perception back home. The result was attributed entirely to the actions of the USA and its foreign policy interests with another Asian country. In addition, the matter did not figure prominently in consecutive meetings between Manmohan Singh and George W Bush, due to a much more significant bilateral matter with historic implications.

What defeat was being talked about? What was this other more crucial issue that took precedence?

The Answer is …

The failure to elect Shashi Tharoor as the UN Secretary General.

The Indo-US Nuclear Deal.

5.Skymet Weather Services is a company headquartered in Noida that provides forecasts and research solutions on the weather.On a special study undertaken retrospectively since the technology wasn’t available at the time, the phenomenon of ‘inversion of temperature’ on winter nights was discovered – that acts as a lid on the lower layers of the atmosphere which does not allow for any escape to the upper layers thereby ensuring that any entrants would survive for sustained periods of time at the same level without drifting away to higher or neighbouring areas in the absence of air currents.

What exactly was the subject of this study?

The Answer is …

The leakage of Methyl Iso-Cyanate that caused the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

6.The DMT Corporation of Germany is a company that carries out research, development and maintenance in the geological industry. In 2015, they offered to collaborate with the Indian government for tackling an issue within a 18 sq-km area that has given us losses of over $220 billion, apart from heavy costs involved in the relocation of settlements. While the extent of the problem was unknown for years, investigations carried out over 4 decades ago revealed over 70 sites that needed attention. No progress has been made since then, leading to hazardous effects on the area and its people. What issue is this, that has now entered the record books? What socialist government decision 4 decades ago initiated an investigation into the matter?

The Answer is …

The Jharia coal mine fires.

The nationalization of coal mines in 1972.

7.Zirakpur – popularly known as the Wedding Capital of Punjab – is known for its exotic function halls that come with the most lavish facilities. In 2008, one of the premium halls in this town received an unusual renting request for a special purpose and given an image makeover – with wooden walls, glass enclosures and green coloured flooring – by someone who, while travelling from Germany to the east decided to stop over for a week since it was on the way, spent a couple of days with a few close friends at this place before resuming his trip that eventually turned out to be a successful one.

Who rented out this wedding hall, and why?

The Answer is …

Abhinav Bindra.

To simulate the conditions of the shooting range at the 2008 Beijing

Olympics.

8.In the 1970s when the royal families were stripped of their titles and the ‘privy purses’, Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur turned it into an opportunity and threw open his much coveted fort for tourism and monetization. Before turning it into a museum, he made money by selling a product courtesy the fort’s only ‘residents’ until that point – which was playing a pivotal role around the world in developing modern practices in the agricultural field, and also contributing hugely to the development of environmental consciousness.

Who were these ‘residents’? How did this place catch worldwide attention four years ago, an apt choice of location considering the residents?

The Answer is …

Bats, whose droppings make the guano fertilizer extensively used in the farming

industry.

The location for the rock climbing scene in The Dark Knight Rises.

9.Kunaria is a remote village in the Kutch region of Gujarat. A decade and a half ago, the barren land contained some distinguishable features of development from the rest of the area in the form of pucca-roofed-houses, navigable roads, regular supply of water – all spread across a 100 acre piece of land that held particular significance to a 3000+ group of occupiers, despite being one of the hottest places in the state throughout the year. Following their subsequent exit, they were compelled to return in a few months, this time for more unfortunate reasons that related to the native villagers.

Who were these occupiers? Why did they feel the need to return?

The Answer is …

The cast and crew of Lagaan, who chose this village for the film’s shoot.

To offer help in the aftermath of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake that destroyed

the village.

10.After the first Anglo-Sikh war, the British East India Company and Gulab Singh Dogra struck a treaty at Amritsar in 1846. One of the articles of the treaty was that “the British Government transfers and makes over for ever in independent possession to Maharajah Gulab Singh and the heirs male of his body – all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi.”What controversial and prohibitive rule, mentioned as a sub-article, stays on even today? What loophole did the British exploit to enjoy the summer months in this region?

The Answer is …

Non-Kashmiris not being allowed to buy land in Kashmir.

The British purchased the houseboats on Dal Lake as they weren’t technically

buying land!

11.Nandalal Bose of Shanti Niketan was made the illustrator of a book written by Prem Behari Raizada, three of whose drawings are seen in the following slide.The first image was mentioned in a January 1993 judgment of Justice HN Tilhari of the Allahabad High Court in a case between the State of Uttar Pradesh and another private entity, that ignited the passions of a large group of people.

In which book would you find these drawings? According to the judgment, what did the first drawing imply and help justify?

The Answer is …

The Constitution of India.

The judge legitimized the Ram temple at Ayodha, claiming ‘Ram is a

constitutional entity’.

12.Bhaskara Sethupathi was a minor when his father, the Raja of Ramnad, died in the late 1800s. According to a British policy, such minor zamindars were to be trained by a Court of Wards until they come of age. He was taught English, Western etiquette and made to travel around India and Ceylon to become worldy-wise. But he disappointed his tutor at the end of his study when he preferred Sanskrit poetry to English classics and said that he had moorings in Indian culture and arts. What prestigious invitation did he receive a few years later, because of his scholarship? Which guest from his kingdom did he send instead of going himself?

The Answer is …

To speak at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.

Swami Vivekananda.

13.Sydney Percy Lancaster was the last Englishman to hold the position of Superintendent of Horticultural Operations, Govt of India. One of the most prominent projects he carried out was under the supervision of PM Nehru in the late 1940s, to create a square sunken garden floored with red stone – as a symbolic, simplistic depiction of natural Earth landscaped with a grass lawn. His other high profile venture came a couple of years later, supervising greenery for the renovation of a nearby amphitheatre that would soon garner global attention in a historic first for India, and recur for several years to come.

What two projects of his are being referred to?

The Answer is …

The garden at Raj Ghat.

The grass used in the National Stadium, that hosted the first Asian

Games in 1951.

14.The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, which was aimed at regulating payments and foreign exchange, claimed Coca Cola as a high profile casualty when it required its secret formula to be revealed so that an Indian company could go ahead with having a major stake in the business. To make up for this, Modern Food Industries – a public sector company – came up with a product called Double Seven that grew popular all over the country but was later disbanded 3 years later.

What was the significance behind the name of this product? What circumstances enabled Coca Cola’s re-entry into the Indian market?

The Answer is …

The year Indira Gandhi lost power, since the incumbent Janata Party wanted to push

local goods.

The liberalization of the economy in 1991.

15.By the end of 2nd century BC, mariners in India intending to travel to Indonesia never went directly. They assembled at Odisha’s Chilika Lake around this time of the year and headed to Sri Lanka first, taking in fresh water and supplies along the way, eventually reaching Bali through Sumatra and Java. The return journey was planned similarly beginning about 6 months later.During these travels, one of the key exchanges was the import of a South Asian plant of the Piperaceae family whose extensive usage in our country is contrasted with bans over its sale and consumption in countries such as the UAE and Qatar, over health hazards among other things.What led to these unusual travel itineraries? What ubiquitous plant used in India owes its origins to these travels?

The Answer is …

The travel was planned in such a way that it was eased along by the monsoon

winds.

Paan, prepared from the imports of betel leaves and areca nuts.

Written Round II

8 questions. 2 parts to each question – with 5 points per part. The first part connects to the second part in a lateral way. Theme – Winning questions on Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Written Round II

1.In 1992, who became the first sportsperson to be honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?

A. Vishwanathan Anand.B. Sachin Tendulkar.C. Geet Sethi.D. Leander Paes.

1.The Pongal Test was an annual fixture held at the Chepauk in Chennai from 1915 to 1950 between Indian and European teams. The trophy was named after Buchi Babu Naidu – widely regarded as the father of South Indian cricket. His son Cotah Ramaswami – a regular in the match – shares a special distinction with two others, of representing India in multiple sports having played professional tennis too. One of the others was MJ Gopalan who played cricket and hockey for India.

Who is the third and last person who joined this list in June this year?

2.In 1860, which British official became the first Auditor General of India?

A. Sir AF Cox.B. Sir Proby Cautley.C. Lord Salisbury.D. Sir Edmund Drummond.

2.Earlier this month, the governments of India and the USA signed a landmark defence agreement for the purchase of M777 howitzers costing $737 million, the first deal for artillery guns since the 1980s.The machines themselves were manufactured by BAE Systems, a world leader in its field that sells defence equipment to several countries around the globe.

How do we better know this last deal that was signed in the 80s also involving the said company, that gave its auditor many a sleepless night?

3.Who was the youngest person in the world to climb the Mount Everest?

A. Arjun Vajpai.B. Jordan Romero.C. Ming Kipa Sherpa.D. Temba Tsheri.

3.The Zenith sector was an upward facing telescope used for accurate angle measurement scales. Several of these machines were imported into the country by the British for a certain purpose that began in the early 19th century and went on for much longer than expected, spearheaded by 6 different people throughout its duration.

What was the purpose?

4.Which of these animals' image is not found on a 10 rupee note?

A. Tiger.B. Deer.C. Elephant.D. Rhino.

4.The Mysore Airport at Mandakahalli was inaugurated during the Yeddyurappa regime in 2010 but left practically unused after a few initial flights.However, it was recently learnt that the central government paid a private company 1 lakh euros to run a series of chartered flights that would enable transport from a local facility in the city to various other important places in the country – an operation carried out over the last 6 months and seeing effect over the last few weeks.

What were these flights transporting?

5.What was the only dowry, apart from a few yards of khadi, that Lal Bahadur Shastri accepted in his marriage?

A. Bhagvad Gita.B. Khadaun.C. Gandhi Topi.D. Charkha.

5.One of Charles Correa’s first and most iconic constructions in India – this museum was inaugurated in 1963 with the idea of paying tribute to its most famous resident.

Where is this museum located?

6.Whom does the Indian constitution permit to take part in the proceedings of the Parliament? 

A. Solicitor General.B. Attorney General.C. Cabinet Secretary.D. Chief Justice.

6.A dramatic moment in recent Indian legal history took place at a CBI Special Court in 2013 where a person holding this constitutional office appeared for trial as a witness for the first time ever. He was subjected to much animosity from the accused who called him a liar and claimed that every decision in the process was taken after consulting him.The accused, meanwhile, was guilty of misusing a press release issued by him to illegally alter specific dates in an official process that went on to become the subject of much uproar.

What case of public importance was this?

7.Who commanded the 'Hector', the first British trading ship to land at Surat?

A. Paul Canning.B. William Hawkins.C. Thomas Roe.D. James Lancaster.

7.Well before the arrival of the Hector and the captain’s bonhomie with Jehangir, one of the first interactions of the Mughal Empire with Europeans was in the 1560s when Akbar encouraged exchange of cultural ideas. Following these meetings, Mughal miniatures made their way to countries in Europe.

About a 100 years later, who was inspired by these miniatures to come up with the following depictions of the Mughal Empire?

8.Which colonial power ended its involvement in India by selling the rights of the Nicobar Islands to the British on October 16, 1868?

A. Belgium.B. Italy.C. Denmark.D. France.

8.The Canara Union Hall in Malleshwaram has its roof at a height of 20 feet and girders at 17 feet – and has been a preferred place for all sorts of association among people in the area for several decades. These dimensions were of particular help to someone in the late 60s since they imposed constraints that helped hone his craft in an effective manner.

After initial successes in the country in the 70s, what was his global claim to fame in 1980 that cemented his place in the history books?

Answers

1.In 1992, who became the first sportsperson to be honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?

A. Vishwanathan Anand.B. Sachin Tendulkar.C. Geet Sethi.D. Leander Paes.

1.The Pongal Test was an annual fixture held at the Chepauk in Chennai from 1915 to 1950 between Indian and European teams. The trophy was named after Buchi Babu Naidu – widely regarded as the father of South Indian cricket. His son Cotah Ramaswami – a regular in the match – shares a special distinction with two others, of representing India in multiple sports having played professional tennis too. One of the others was MJ Gopalan who played cricket and hockey for India.

Who is the third and last person who joined this list in June this year?

The Answer is …

Yuzvendra Chahal, who was a chess player before taking to cricket.

2.In 1860, which British official became the first Auditor General of India?

A. Sir AF Cox.B. Sir Proby Cautley.C. Lord Salisbury.D. Sir Edmund Drummond.

2.Earlier this month, the governments of India and the USA signed a landmark defence agreement for the purchase of M777 howitzers costing $737 million, the first deal for artillery guns since the 1980s.The machines themselves were manufactured by BAE Systems, a world leader in its field that sells defence equipment to several countries around the globe.

How do we better know this last deal that was signed in the 80s also involving the said company, that gave its auditor many a sleepless night?

The Answer is …

3.Who was the youngest person in the world to climb the Mount Everest?

A. Arjun Vajpai.B. Jordan Romero.C. Ming Kipa Sherpa.D. Temba Tsheri.

3.The Zenith sector was an upward facing telescope used for accurate angle measurement scales. Several of these machines were imported into the country by the British for a certain purpose that began in the early 19th century and went on for much longer than expected, spearheaded by 6 different people throughout its duration.

What was the purpose?

The Answer is …

The Great Trigonometric Survey of India, once headed by George Everest.

4.Which of these animals' image is not found on a 10 rupee note?

A. Tiger.B. Deer.C. Elephant.D. Rhino.

4.The Mysore Airport at Mandakahalli was inaugurated during the Yeddyurappa regime in 2010 but left practically unused after a few initial flights.However, it was recently learnt that the central government paid a private company 1 lakh euros to run a series of chartered flights that would enable transport from a local facility in the city to various other important places in the country – an operation carried out over the last 6 months and seeing effect over the last few weeks.

What were these flights transporting?

The Answer is …

The new ₹2000 notes.

6.What was the only dowry, apart from a few yards of khadi, that Lal Bahadur Shastri accepted in his marriage?

A. Bhagvad Gita.B. Khadaun.C. Gandhi Topi.D. Charkha.

6.One of Charles Correa’s first and most iconic constructions in India – this museum was inaugurated in 1963 with the idea of paying tribute to its most famous resident.

Where is this museum located?

The Answer is …

Sabarmati Ashram.

6.Whom does the Indian constitution permit to take part in the proceedings of the Parliament? 

A. Solicitor General.B. Attorney General.C. Cabinet Secretary.D. Chief Justice.

6.A dramatic moment in recent Indian legal history took place at a CBI Special Court in 2013 where a person holding this constitutional office appeared for trial as a witness for the first time ever. He was subjected to much animosity from the accused who called him a liar and claimed that every decision in the process was taken after consulting him.The accused, meanwhile, was guilty of misusing a press release issued by him to illegally alter specific dates in an official process that went on to become the subject of much uproar.

What case of public importance was this?

The Answer is …

The 2G spectrum allocations.

7.Who commanded the 'Hector', the first British trading ship to land at Surat?

A. Paul Canning.B. William Hawkins.C. Thomas Roe.D. James Lancaster.

7.Well before the arrival of the Hector and the captain’s bonhomie with Jehangir, one of the first interactions of the Mughal Empire with Europeans was in the 1560s when Akbar encouraged exchange of cultural ideas. Following these meetings, Mughal miniatures made their way to countries in Europe.

About a 100 years later, who was inspired by these miniatures to come up with the following depictions of the Mughal Empire?

The Answer is …

Rembrandt.

8.Which colonial power ended its involvement in India by selling the rights of the Nicobar Islands to the British on October 16, 1868?

A. Belgium.B. Italy.C. Denmark.D. France.

8.The Canara Union Hall in Malleshwaram has its roof at a height of 20 feet and girders at 17 feet – and has been a preferred place for all sorts of association among people in the area for several decades. These dimensions were of particular help to someone in the late 60s since they imposed constraints that helped hone his craft in an effective manner.

After initial successes in the country in the 70s, what was his global claim to fame in 1980 that cemented his place in the history books?

The Answer is …

Prakash Padukone winning the All England Badminton Championships.

Infinite Pounce II

15 questions. +10, -5 on the pounce. No partial pounces applicable. Good luck!

Infinite Pounce II

16.As part of increasing the awareness towards rail safety, Section 156 of The Railways Act 1989 brought in rules that laid out punishments for a specific act of passenger misconduct. Roughly a decade later, it was observed that this practice suddenly grew in popularity, greatly endangering the lives of passengers. Over the last few years, a few thousands of these cases are observed to be registered annually – with increased fines and widespread campaigns by the Railways urging people to stay away.

What risky practice is this? Why did it quickly become popular in the late 90s?

The Answer is …

Travelling on the rooftops.

Inspiration from the filming of Chaiyya Chaiyya.

17.Among the most audacious decisions of the Delhi High Court in its recent history was the setting up of mobile courts in the capital in the late 2000s to dispense speedy justice to a large group of people. This was seen as a necessary parallel to the relevant welfare scheme, with subjects being booked under a 1959 act considered a violation of rights among activists. Several vans were deployed in the city which were meant to round up around 60,000 people for quick trial – following which they were to be deported to their state of origin, or to government run shelters.Who were the intended subjects of this crackdown? What was the reason for carrying out this exercise, that was an eventual success despite skepticism?

The Answer is …

Rounding up beggars on the streets.

To ‘cleanse’ the city in the run up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

18.Involving over 12,000 men and requiring enormous maintenance effort throughout the year, the British in 1803 decided to construct a series of tall hedges over 4 metres tall, that would constantly be patrolled by its officers. Often called one of the least known achievements of the British regime, it eventually extended to a continuous construction across a large region of the country, which affected close to 30 million Indians. However, it was systematically disbanded towards the end of the century but its origins remained contentious and spurred a historic event around 30 years after its closure.What purpose did these hedges serve? What event did its origins inspire?

The Answer is …

Customs barriers to impose the salt tax, surrounding the areas that produced it.

Gandhi’s protest march against the law from Dandi.

19.Akhnoor is a picturesque town in the Jammu district on the banks of the River Chenab, located on the foothills of the Himalayas. Among the many crop cultivations that take place in the region, the grass grown around the town is always required to be contained within specific limitations, for a special purpose. Interestingly, this town has a famous mythological reputation associated with a similar purpose – making it among the most vital archaeological sites in the state and more importantly, one of religious significance for believers.

What necessitates this regulation of the grass? What similar helpful role did this town supposedly play in Indian mythology?

The Answer is …

The grass is kept low to deny the cover needed for cross-border terrorist

infiltrations.

The town supposedly played host to the exiled times of the Pandavas in hiding.

20.The Aravalli mountain range extends for about 692 km, originating at Palanpur in Gujarat and extending up to the North of the country. The place where it terminates gets its name from a moniker given to the local estate ruler Kalda Rao whose reign during the 1600s and 1700s was considered brave and courageous. In the 1910s, the locals of this place were subjected to harsh land grabbing with over 300 families being displaced. Today, the name continues to serve as a metronym for the establishment. How do we better know this terminating point of this range? What was the reason behind this land acquisition in the 1910s?

The Answer is …

Raisina Hill.

Movement of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi.

21.Among the worst victims of animal poaching in India are turtles – about 15,000 of which have been reported to be smuggled over the last 10 years from a breeding ground near Sarnath set up by the government in 1987 to serve a special purpose. This initiative was halted in 1993 owing to poaching efforts and resumed again in 2005, with over 1,000 of them being carefully bred every year and released to the intended location, while a number of them are intercepted in transit as they’re headed North.Where are these turtles released every year? What special purpose do they serve for the greater good, owing to their distinctive culinary habits?

The Answer is …

Along the banks of The Ganges.

To eliminate the polluting corpses cremated in the river.

22.Duncan Kennedy, the owner of a materials science and manufacturing workshop at New York’s Clarkson University received a special request last year to design certain objects of steel weighing about 20-25 kilos each. As an addition to the generic ones manufactured for other clients in European countries such as Germany, Italy and Austria – the Indian variant required a special addition that increased its weight by a few 100 grams without compromising on its intended purpose, deemed dangerous by several experts – especially in our conditions.

What exclusive items were these, manufactured for a certain individual? What was the special addition made to the Indian variant?

The Answer is …

Shiva Keshavan’s luge sleds.

Equipped with wheels to help him train on Manali’s roads in the absence

of snow.

23.The origins of Bombay’s massive population can be traced back to the latter half of the 19th century, which witnessed a huge influx of immigrant workers owing to the cotton boom that the city benefitted from. However, this growth was short-lived and brought catastrophe in the 1890s which forced the British Parliament to enact special laws for the city’s welfare. Despite India never being the first choice for cotton imports in Britain, changing circumstances and competitive considerations in the 1860s increased the Indian contribution from 20% to over 60% of all cotton.What was the unfortunate consequence of this development to Bombay in the 1890s? What circumstances led to India suddenly becoming the number one choice for cotton in the 1860s?

The Answer is …

The bubonic plague epidemic in Bombay, that killed around 40,000

people in 10 years.

The embargo on cotton-rich Confederate states during the

American Civil War.

24.During BC Roy’s tenure as the Chief Minister of West Bengal in the years following independence, he was approached by Bela Sen – who headed the All Bengal Women’s Union – to release a ₹1,50,000 loan for a cause seen as ‘rural uplift’. The CM eventually agreed but decided to review the outcome with Nehru, after its completion over 3 years from 1953 to 1956, to ensure it did more good than harm to the state. For accounting purposes, this loan was sanctioned under the name of the state’s Roads and Buildings Department.

What world famous project was this funding for? Why did the government account for it under the Roads and Buildings Department?

The Answer is …

Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali.

The title means ‘Song of the Road’, mistakenly thought to be a documentary

on the state’s roads!

25.Dronagiri is an ecologically sensitive village in Uttarakhand whose locals are very sensitive about preserving their natural environment. Owing to this reason and to historical considerations, this village’s manner of celebrating the Ramlila ceremony has undergone a change in terms of the storyline of the Ramayana – which is also reflected in the Hindu temples around the area. Locals say this change is rooted in sentiments shaped over several centuries and unlikely to ever change.

What change in the story or ceremony is this? What emotional reasons brought about this change?

The Answer is …

The exclusion of Hanuman from the Ramayana.

Intended as a boycott of him for taking away the Sanjeevani from the region!

26.Contrary to the global trend, the community of amateur radio operators in India has grown in its numbers since inception in the 1970s, driven by communication engineers at HAL and boosted by the efforts of a pioneer who, in the 1980s eased the process of entry, while using them extensively for communicating with people across the world as part of his job.With regular hangout spots being the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep, these licenses are handed out after rigorous examinations and remain very difficult to acquire.Who was this pioneer, actively using the medium until the early 90s? In the absence of alternatives, how did these communications save lives in these islands more than a decade ago?

The Answer is …

Rajiv Gandhi, who abolished import duty on the wireless equipment as PM.

Undertook special relief broadcasts during the Indian Ocean tsunami of

2004.

27.Four qualified doctors from the Brooklyn Medical Center in New York were sponsored by the Govt of India to travel to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital in 1984 for treating a case of acute kidney failure, that was followed by a stroke that led to permanent impairment of speech and paralysis of the right leg.A couple of Japanese doctors were flown in as well to assist local ones and apart from the state-of-the-art medical equipment, cameras were also exclusively permitted into the hospital premises on the insistence of the state government, which did so in view of events to follow that year.

What case was this, that grabbed the attention of the state for a long time? For what eventually successful purpose were the cameras brought in?

The Answer is …

The hospitalization of MG Ramachandran.

To reassure voters of his health before the Assembly elections later in the

year!

28.Makrana is a town in Rajasthan best known for mining high quality marble. Because of its high percentage of Calcium content, its water absorption is the least among all varieties available in India. Owing to this important property, this was chosen as the renovation material a few years ago for a structure heavily affected by saline winds on a daily basis and thronged by around 80,000 people every week – despite being inaccessible for some parts of the day.

What place is this? Why exactly is it out of bounds to visitors for some time every day?

The Answer is …

The Haji Ali Dargah.

The causeway to the shrine is submerged during high tides.

29.The White-bellied Shortwing is a songbird species endemic to the Shola forests in the Western Ghats, now threatened by ecological circumstances.They are now found in isolated populations separated from each other along the Ghats such that their cultural characteristics are vastly different, within the same species. Researchers have attributed natural factors such as rivers and valleys that have separated the birds over millions of years as well as man-made causes about 100-200 years ago, introduced by the British after conducting relevant studies in China.

What was the man-made reason for the drift of these birds and the subsequent cultural disparity?

The Answer is …

The construction of tea plantations along the Ghats in places like Munnar

and Kodaikanal.

30.Following the 26/11 attacks, the Home Ministry decided to undertake a major revamp of the National Security Guard (NSG) – that carried out the operation which flushed out the terrorists from the Taj Hotel.The organization itself was set up more than three decades ago for ‘combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances’ – inspired by the German special operations unit GSG9 that was established more than 10 years prior to this, owing to a shakeup of their security apparatus following an international embarrassment.

What circumstances in India necessitated the formation of the NSG? What prompted the Germans to establish the GSG9?

The Answer is …

Operation Blue Star.

The 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

Thank you!