UKPSC Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 4 - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) MCQ

The current answer is option 2 i.e 70

Key Points

• Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha is the governing and law-making body of Uttarakhand,
• Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, also known as Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
• It is seated at Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, with 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
• The Speaker of the Assembly is Ritu Khanduri.

Additional InformationUttarakhand:

• ​​Capital: Dehradun
• CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Governor: Gurmit Singh
• Famous National Parks: Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park
• Famous Wildlife Sanctuary: Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary

The correct answer is Fazal Ali Commission.

Key Points

• The Commission for Uttarakhand was the Fazal Ali Commission.
  • In 1940, at the Haldwani Conference, Badri Dutt Pandey raised his voice for the special status of the mountain region of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna proposed the formation of Kumaon - Garhwal as separate units from UP.
  • In 1955, the Justice Fazal Ali commission recommended to the Government of India that a separate state should be formed from the Uttar Pradesh hilly region.
  • On 15th August 1996, the former PM H. D. Devgowda announced the formation of the new state.
  • After that various bills are introduced in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and in the UP legislative assembly and finally on 9th November 2000, a new state was formed named Uttaranchal.
  • Now Uttaranchal is known as Uttarakhand.

Additional Information

• About Uttarakhand
  • Capital: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer)
  • CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami
  • Governor: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh
  • Famous National Parks: Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park
  • Famous Wildlife Sanctuary: Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to develop India in every way by 2047. It encompasses various public welfare schemes across rural and urban areas, indicating a long-term vision for holistic national development and social welfare.

One of the suggested measures to improve road safety in Uttarakhand is to conduct regular road safety audits at accident-prone spots. This proactive approach aims to identify and mitigate risks, ensuring safer travel conditions for all road users. Additionally, increasing public awareness through films and incorporating road safety education into school curricula are also recommended strategies to enhance overall road safety.

The Rajya Shakti Tilu Rauteli Award is presented each year by the Uttarakhand government to honor women for their remarkable achievements in various fields. This award celebrates the legacy of Tilu Rauteli, a heroine of Uttarakhand, and aims to promote women's empowerment in the state.

The Mandakini River is a tributary of the Alaknanda River. It plays a crucial role in the hydrology of Uttarakhand, flowing from the Chorabari Glacier and eventually merging with the Alaknanda, which ultimately drains into the Ganges. The river is vital for both its ecological and cultural significance in the region.

The study found that house sparrows in Uttarakhand adapt to high-altitude conditions by developing larger body sizes compared to their counterparts at lower elevations. This adaptation likely helps them cope with the colder climate and varying environmental conditions found in high-altitude regions.

The unauthorized shrine constructed by Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash was built in an ecologically sensitive area, raising significant concerns among local villagers and authorities. The site is culturally important, and building a structure there could harm the local ecosystem and disrupt the natural environment.

The earthquake that struck the Chamoli region had a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter scale. This area is known for its seismic activity and vulnerability to earthquakes due to its geological characteristics.

The Bharat Gaurav Express train is designed to connect six spiritual destinations in Uttarakhand, such as Rishikesh, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. This initiative aims to facilitate pilgrimage tourism and make it easier for travelers to visit these significant religious sites. Rail transport can play a crucial role in enhancing access to spiritual locations, contributing to both tourism and local economies.

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is specifically triggered by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake, releasing a massive volume of water rapidly. This type of flooding can be initiated by various factors, including the melting of glaciers, heavy precipitation, or geological events like earthquakes. GLOFs pose significant risks to downstream communities, particularly in regions experiencing climate change, which contributes to the instability of glacial lakes.

The Centre has allocated Rs 559 crore for 33 infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand. This funding is part of a special assistance scheme aimed at capital investment, demonstrating the government's commitment to enhancing infrastructure in the state, which is crucial for development and improving public services.

The main aim of the International Yoga Festival is to offer a common platform for yoga enthusiasts, trainers, and experts from around the world. This event fosters cultural exchange and the promotion of yoga as a holistic practice. Rishikesh, recognized as a global yoga capital, plays a significant role in this initiative, furthering the global interest in yoga and wellness practices. An interesting fact is that Rishikesh has become synonymous with yoga, attracting practitioners and tourists globally, particularly during events like this festival.

The primary objective of the proposed Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand is to establish a single set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations. This aims to promote equality and uniformity in civil laws across the state.

The correct answer is option (2) i.e. Nainital.

• Uttarakhand has its capital in Dehradun and its summer capital in Gairsain.
• In case of the initial appointment of a Chief Justice of a High Court, the provisions of Article 217 will have to be followed.
• Initiation of the proposal for the appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court would be by the Chief Justice of India. The process of appointment must be initiated well in time to ensure the completion at least one month prior to the date of anticipated vacancy for the Chief Justice of the High Court.
• Appointment of Acting Chief Justices is to be made by the President of India under Article 223 of the Constitution.

The correct answer is Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh.
Key Points
Uttarakhand shares international boundaries:

• Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand share an International boundary in the NW with China.
• In the east, the districts of Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar also share an International boundary with Nepal.
• Uttarkashi and Dehradun share inter-state boundaries with Himachal Pradesh in the northwest, while Dehradun, Haridwar, part of Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar touches the boundary of Uttar Pradesh in the south.

The Correct Answer is "Katyuri".
Key Points
The early medieval history of Kumaon is the history of the Katyuri dynasty.

• The Katyuri kings ruled from the seventh to the 11th century, holding sway at the peak of their powers over large areas of Kumaon, Garhwal, and western Nepal.
• The town of Baijnath near Almora was the capital of this dynasty and a center of the arts.
• Temple building flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced by them was the replacement of bricks with stone.
• On a hilltop facing east (opposite Almora), is the temple of Katarmal.
• This 900-year-old sun temple was built during the declining years of the Katyuri dynasty.
• Katyuri was the first historical dynasty, which rules over unified Uttarakhand and left some important records in the form of inscriptions and temples.
• In the later period after the downfall of Katyuri’s, it is believed that the Garhwal region was fragmented into more than sixty-four principalities ruled by the Chieftain, one of the principal Chieftainship was Chandpurgarh, which was ruled by descendent of Kanakpal.

Additional Information
Gurkhas :

• "Gurkha" and "Gorkhali" were synonymous with "Nepali", which originates from the hill principality the Gorkha Kingdom, from which the Kingdom of Nepal expanded under Prithivi Narayan Shah.
• The name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath who has a historic shrine in Gorkha District.
• The word itself derived from Go-Raksha, Raksha becoming Rakha.
• Rakhawala means 'protector' and is derived from Raksha as well.

Parmar :

• Parmar is a Jat, Rajput, and Gurjar clan found in Northern India, especially in Rajasthan, Kutch and Sindh.
• There are multiple variants of the name, including Pramar, Panwar, Pawar, Powar, Puwar, Punwar and Puar.
• The Soorma dynasty of medieval India was ruled by Parmar Rajputs known as the Soomro caste.
• The name of the dynasty derives from Soomro and Vegho, two Parmar Rajput Hindu brothers who were appointed to rule the region; while Vegho remained Hindu, Soomro converted to Islam.

Chand :

• The Chand Kings were a Hindu ruling clan of Kumaon, which ruled the region after the decline of Katyuri Kings in the 11th century AD.
• The Chand kingdom was established by Som Chand in the 10th century, by displacing the Katyuri Kings, who had been ruling the area from the 7th century AD.
• He continued to call his state Kurmanchal, and established its capital in Champawat in Kali Kumaon, called so, due to its vicinity to river Kali.

The correct answer is Tharu Tribe.

• Ujali or Aneri Holi is associated with the Tharu Tribe.

Key Points

• Tharu Tribe:
  • The word Tharu is derived from sthavir, which means the followers of Theravada Buddhism.
  • The Tharu tribe belongs to the Terai lowlands between the Shivaliks.
  • The tribe can be found in both India and Nepal.
  • In India, they are found in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
  • Aneri Holi is a festival of Tharu tribe.
    • The word Aneri means extraordinary.

Additional Information

• Jaunsari Tribe is found in the foothills of the western Himalayas.
  • In Uttarakhand, Jaunsari tribes reside in the Jaunsar-Bawar region.
• Bhotia Tribe is found in the Garhwal (Jadh, Mana and Niti) and Kumaon division (Johar, Darma, Byans and Chaudans).
• Raaji Tribe is found in the eastern part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

The correct answer is Ranikhet.

Key Points

• Ranikhet
  • Ranikhet means "Queen of Fields".
  • It is a hill station in the Almora district of Uttarakhand.
  • Ranikhet is inhabited by pine, oak, rhododendron, and deodar forests that host a large variety of fauna, such as Leopard, Rhesus Monkey, Pine Martens, Himalayan Langur, Dhole, Rabbits, Barking Deer, Sambar, and more.
  • It is the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment.
  • It is believed that one Katuri Queen Padmani of Dwarhat had her fields near Ranikhet Club and established Kumpur Bazar, later-on knowns as Bl Bazar or Lal Kurti.
  • Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses in Asia.

Additional Information

• Uttarkashi
  • It is a district of Uttarakhand and a part of the Gharwal region constituted in 1960.
  • This district contains the source of both the Yamuna river from Yamunotri and the Ganga river from Gangotri.
• Chamoli
  • It is a district in Uttarakhand and part of the Gharwal Division.
  • Earlier it was part of the Pauri Gharwal district till the 1960s, but on 24 February 1960 Chamoli was upgraded to a new district.
  • Administrative Headquarters: Gopeshwar
  • The Famous Badrinath Temple, Hemkund Sahib, and Valley of Flowers are located in Chamoli.
  • Chamoli happened to be the birthplace of the Chipko movement, started by Sunderlal Bahuguna.
• Haldwani
  • It is a town in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand and the largest city of the Kumaon region.
  • It is said to be the financial capital of Uttarakhand, having the most commercial, economic, and industrial activities of Uttarakhand.
  • Haldwani is home to the Uttarakhand Open University which was established by an act of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on 31 October 2005.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Snow Leopard:
  • ​The snow leopard inhabits the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the five states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • In Himachal Pradesh, the snow leopard’s habitat covers a greater part of the districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
  • SECURE Himalaya: Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the project on conservation of high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem. This project is now operational in four snow leopard range states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
  • The snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Red List of the Threatened Species.
  • It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
  • It is also listed in the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), affording the highest conservation status to the species, both globally and in India.

The correct answer is Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched a pilot project in Uttarakhand to implement the One Health Framework by One Health Support Unit.
• The key objective is to develop a national One Health roadmap.
• Inter-ministerial One Health committee under the chairmanship of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the govt has been established to lead the implementation of the Unit.

Additional Information​

• National Conclave on “Production of Bees Wax” was organized by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat in collaboration with the National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 30th March 2022.
• The objective of this National Conclave is to create awareness about the production of Bee Wax.
• NDDB, NAFED &TRIFED have been identified as implementing agencies under NBHM.

The correct answer is Lakhu-Udyar.

Key Points

Palaeolithic culture sites in Uttarakhand

• Lakhu-Udyar on Almora-Pithoragarh road has been acknowledged as the richest rock shelter of the region (from older to the new stone age), Human figures in a dancing form are elected in walls with ochre, red and black pigments.
• Besides Almora, Gorkhay Udiyar (DongriVillage) and Kimni (Chamoli), Hurduli and Dhandhunga (Uttarkashi) also have rock shelters and paintings.

Additional Information

Lakhudiyar Rock Painting

• The Lakhudiyar Walls are located in the Barechhina village of the Almora district of Uttarakhand.
• It is a marvellous piece of history that is preserved in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
• It depicts the life of the early man during the times of the Stone Age.
• The Lakhudiyar is located at the banks of the Suyal River in Almora.
• These caves have paintings of animals, humans, and also tectiforms done with fingers in black, red, and white.
• It has become a historical sight and also a piece of history to be preserved as it is an archaeological rock for India.

The correct answer is Mountaineering.

Key Points

• Dr. Harshvanti Bisht is an India's'Leading woman mountaineer, has been actively associated with mountaineering and Himalayan Tourism Research work for the past two decades.
• She has Climabed Gangotri (6672 M), Nanda Devi (7817 M), and Baby Shivling (5660 M) in Garhwal Himalaya. She has participated in the Indian Everest Expedition of 1984.
• For her exceptional mountaineering skills and outstanding Achievements, Dr. Harshvanti Bisht was awarded the Arjuna Award and Directorate of Higher Education, Government of UP Gold Medal. In the mountaineering fraternity, she is widely known as Harsha.
• She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of several mountaineering and environment conservation societies. She has many research papers and radio talks to her credit.
• Dr. Harsha greatly inspired by the work of Sir Edmund Hillary in conserving the natural environment and in creating economic opportunities for the Sherpa communities.

The correct answer is 1967 A. D.

Key Points

• Separation of Uttarakhand and Uttarakhand Hill State Council:
  • The demand for a separate Uttarakhand state was first raised at a special session of the Indian National Congress in 1938.
  • The Hill State Council was formed in Ramnagar in June 1967.
  • In the session, Sridev Suman formed an organization of called Gadeshdesh Seva Sangh in Delhi, and later its name was changed to ‘Himalaya Seva Sangh‘.
  • Kumao National Front was formed by PC Joshi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India on 3 October 1970.
  • In the year 1976 Uttarakhand Youth Council was formed.
  • In the year 1979, Uttaranchal State Council was established under the leadership of Janata Party Member of Parliament Trapan Singh Negi.

The correct answer is Rung tribe.

Key Points

Kangdali Festival

• ​Kangdali Festival is one of the important festivals of the Kumaon Region and is celebrated in the Pithoragarh District.
• The women of the Rung Tribals of Chaundas Valley begin the procession where they uproot the plants with rills followed by the men and children carrying their swords.
• This festival falls between the months of August and October and is celebrated in the Chaundas Valley every 12 years along with the blooming of the Kangdali plant.
• The uprooted plants are taken back as the mars of the war.

Additional Information

Rung tribe

• ​The Rang community (sometimes called the Rung community) is an indigenous group who live in the higher reaches of India's Johar and Darma valleys, as well as Nepal's Mahakali valley. Some of these can be found in Nepal's Chameylia valley. They are also known as the Shauka in Nepal.
• Transhumance is a traditional practice among the Rang/Shauka people. In India and Nepal, the community is classified as an indigenous tribe.
• The Rungs were previously active in Indo-Tibet border trade, but this ceased after the 1962 conflict between India and China, forcing community members to seek work in cities.

The correct answer is 7th July 2016 A. D. - Haridwar.

• 'Namami Gange Yojana' was started on 7th July 2016 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Namami Gange Yojana:
  • It is an Integrated Conservation Mission to accomplish the objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga.
  • It was launched in June 2014.
  • The project is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  • In Uttarakhand, the project was launched on 7th July 2016 from Haridwar.
  • The state counterpart organizations of NMCG are the State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
  • The program centrally-funded scheme of Rs. 20,000-crore non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.
  • The main pillars of the program are:
    • Creating Sewage Treatment Infrastructure
    • River-Front Development
    • River-Surface Cleaning
    • Biodiversity conservation
    • Afforestation
    • Public Awareness
    • Industrial Effluent Monitoring
    • Ganga Gram

Additional Information

• Ganga
  • ​The left bank tributaries of the Ganga are Ramganga, Ghagra, Kali or Sharda, Gandhak, Kosi.
  • The right bank tributaries of the Ganga are Yamuna and Son.

The correct answer is option (3) i.e. 13.

• Uttarakhand is mainly separated into two regions, Garhwal and Kumaon, consisting of 13 districts.
• The districts under the Garhwal region are Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi.
• Under the Kumaon region: Almora, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital come.
• Uttarakhand was formed on 9th November 2000 as the 27th State of India, when it was carved out of northern Uttar Pradesh. Located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges, it is largely a hilly State, having international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east.
• On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh, while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.

The correct answer is Palipachau, Jaunsar, Rawai.

Key Points

• Mauna-fair is a famous fair of Uttrakhand that is celebrated every year in many places like Palipachau, Jaunsar, Rawai of Uttrakhand.
• A large number of people gather around to celebrate this festival together.
• The mela is a great fishing festival in which people assemble and catch fish.
• Villagers come with their traditional fishing tools.
• Some scientists also take part to research on species of fish.
• It is also called 'silence fair'.
• It is called silence fair as Timur plant powder is used for fishing and is poured into the river.
• The bark of the stem of the Timur plant is dried and finely powdered in a mortar.
• This powder is known as 'Maun' and it makes fish unconscious for some time.
• Please note that the Timur plant is a natural herb and does not harm the aquatic ecosystem.

The correct answer is Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand received the first prize in two categories, for the best adventure tourism destination and all-around development of tourism from the Ministry of Tourism.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar awarded this prize to the State Tourism and Culture Minister of Uttarakhand Satpal Maharaj.
• The awards were presented on the occasion of World Tourism Day which was observed on 27 September.

Important Points

• Among the many programmes being organised to encourage winter tourism, the major events include:
  • Trek of the Year - Pindari Glacier in Bageshwar district from October 1 to November 15 and the Bagchi Bugyal trek in Chamoli district from December 1 to January 15
  • Winterline Carnival in Mussoorie and Nainital during December
  • Rafting championship in Champawat from December 2022 to January 2023
  • National skiing championship at Auli in February 2023
  • International Yoga Festival to be held in Rishikesh in March 2023
• Meanwhile, to encourage tourism a photography and videography contest was also launched on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
• Winners will be selected in five categories with the total prize money being Rs 25 lakh.

Additional Information

• Uttarakhand:
  • Lok Sabha seats - 5.
  • Rajya Sabha seats - 3.
  • State Animal - Alpine musk deer.
  • State Bird - Himalayan monal.
  • Registered GI - Uttarakhand Tejpat.
  • National Parks - Corbett National Park, Gangotri National Park, Govind National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park.