UKPSC Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 5 - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) MCQ

• Pauri: Jim Corbett National Park is not located in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.


• Almora: Jim Corbett National Park is not located in Almora district of Uttarakhand.


• Nainital: Jim Corbett National Park is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.


• Tehri: Jim Corbett National Park is not located in Tehri district of Uttarakhand.

Therefore, the correct answer is Nainital.

The correct answer is Manvendra Shah.

Key Points

• ​When India got independence, Manvendra Shah was the king of Tehri.
• ‘The land of celestial beauty is the title which is given to the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttrakhand.
  

Additional Information

• It is believed that Vedas, shastras, and Mahabharta were written in Garhwal.
• In Garhwal, Kanak Pal was the first ruler.
• There was no influence of the mighty Mughals in the Garhwal region.
• The region emerged as an independent kingdom.
• The kings of the Garhwal region maintained diplomatic relations with the Mughals.
• Later, the Pala rulers were called Shahs.
• The Title of Shah was given by Mughal rulers.

The winter carnival in Mussoorie was organized to showcase the local culture of Uttarakhand. This event featured various cultural performances and a food festival focused on millets, promoting both tourism and local businesses.

The aim of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative is to streamline the transfer of government benefits directly to beneficiaries, thereby increasing efficiency and transparency in the delivery system. This mechanism helps reduce fraudulent practices and ensures that aid reaches those who need it most, thus enhancing the effectiveness of government welfare programs.

The four pillars of the Gross Environment Product Index are air, soil, water, and forest (or tree). Wildlife is important for ecological health but is not included as a direct pillar in this particular index, which focuses on these four fundamental environmental components.

The National Green Tribunal expressed concern over the absence of a fixed carrying capacity for the number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham sites. Without regulations, the unregulated influx of pilgrims can lead to overcrowding, which poses risks to both the environment and the safety of visitors.

The Chief Minister directed officials to identify "sensitive" villages impacted by heavy rains and landslides and to relocate affected residents to safer areas. This proactive measure aims to ensure the safety and well-being of communities at risk from natural disasters.

Guru Purnima is dedicated to Maharshi Veda Vyasa, a revered sage credited with editing the Vedas and authoring significant texts like the Mahabharata. This festival is a way to honor teachers and gurus, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and guidance in spiritual and educational contexts.

The "Home of the Himalayas" initiative aims to promote tourism in the picturesque Adi Kailash and Om Parvat region of Uttarakhand. This initiative focuses on enhancing the tourism brand identity of Uttarakhand and creating high-quality content to showcase its diverse landscapes and cultural heritage. Such initiatives are vital for boosting local tourism and preserving the natural environment.

The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) aims to improve the quality of life for people living in identified border villages, focusing on infrastructure development and overall community welfare. The initiative covers several northern border states, emphasizing sustainable development and enhancing living conditions, which includes better connectivity, access to basic services, and economic opportunities for residents.

The Uttarakhand Rural Roads Development Agency (URRDA) is tasked with implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which aims to enhance rural connectivity through the construction of roads. This initiative is crucial for improving infrastructure in rural areas.

In Uttarakhand, out of the 13 glacial lakes, five are classified as 'A' or highly sensitive. This classification indicates that these lakes are particularly vulnerable to outburst floods, which can occur due to rapid melting or other environmental changes. Understanding the sensitivity of these lakes is crucial for effective management and disaster prevention. Interestingly, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) pose significant risks in mountainous regions, especially as climate change accelerates glacial melting.

The recent snowfall in Uttarakhand led to a surge in tourist influx, particularly in areas like Mussoorie. Snowfall tends to attract tourists seeking winter sports and scenic beauty, positively impacting local economies reliant on tourism. This phenomenon illustrates how weather conditions can directly influence tourism patterns in mountainous regions.

Uttarakhand is set to introduce a bill aimed at recovering damages to public and government properties incurred during protests and strikes. Under this proposed legislation, a tribunal headed by a retired judge will assess damages and hold accountable those who cause destruction during civil disturbances. This measure reflects an effort to deter violence and ensure that individuals who engage in such actions are responsible for the financial repercussions of their conduct.

The correct answer is Pushpawati.

• Pushpawati River flows through a valley of flowers.
• The River flows through the Chamoli district in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• The River rises in the east Kamet glacier near Rataban.
• The River joins the Bhyunder Ganga near Ghagria.
• Pushpavati and Bhyunder River both are together called Lakshman Ganga.
• In the valley of flower, the River Pushpavati drains.
• Through past thick glacial deposits, the River flows.
• In the lower reaches, the River flows through the gorges.
• Permanent snow covers the upper tracts of the River.
• It is believed that Pandavas had given the name Pushpavati to the River.

The correct answer is Nanda Devi.
Key Points
Nanda Devi National Park Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is located in the Himalayan Mountains in the northern part of India in Uttarakhand.
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO recognized Biosphere reserve under Man & Biosphere Programme.
• Designation date by UNESCO: 2004
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve dispersed across three districts of Uttarakhand viz. Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar.
• Several endangered mammal species find refuge in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve such as:
  • snow leopard
  • Himalayan black bear
  • brown bear
  • musk deer
  • bharal/blue sheep

Additional Infor mation
6 National Parks In Uttarakhand

• Jim Corbett National Park: Watch The Tigers
• Rajaji National Park: Admire The Natural Beauty
• Valley Of Flowers National Park: See Colorful Valleys
• Nanda Devi National Park: A World Heritage Site
• Gangotri National Park: Witness The Different Species
• Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Sanctuary: Admire Valleys

The correct answer is Pandit Hargovind Pant.
Key Points

• 1905, Banaras Session of Indian National Congress
  • President: Gopal Krishna Gokhale
  • Formal Proclamation of Swadeshi Movement against the British Government.
• Pandit Hargovind Pant
  • Hargovind Pant was a freedom fighter and founder of the Kumaon Parishad political group in 1915.
  • He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India where he represented the interests of the hill districts of the United Province.
  • He contributed to starting local papers with nationalistic ideas so that the masses could be educated and informed about political awakening in the country.

Additional Information
Badridutt Pandey

• He was an Indian historian, freedom fighter, Social Reformer, and subsequently, a Member of Parliament from Almora in independent India.
• He was one of the foremost political leaders from Kumaon.
• He was popularly known as the Kumaon Kesari.
• He was the editor of a newspaper called Almora Akhbar.

Important Point

• The Indian National Congress is a political party in India with deep roots all across the nation.
• It was founded in the year 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume at Gokuldas Tejpal College.
• 1st President of the Indian National Congress was W.C. Banerjee.
• 1st English President was George Yule in 1888 at Allahabad.
• The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Annie Besant.
• Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian female President of the Indian National Congress.
• The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji at Madras in 1887.

The correct answer is the Bhilangana river.

• The Khatling Glacier is the source of the rivers Bhilangana, Sahasratal and Masartal.
• Khatling Glacier is located in the Tehri district of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state.
• The Ghuttu village is the starting point of the Khatling Glacier trek.
• The source of River Bhilangana, Khatling Glacier is a mesmerizing glacier perched at an elevation of 3,700 m.
• The glacier is surrounded by the Himalayan peaks of the Jogin group (6,466 m), Barte Kauter (6,579 m), Sphetic Pristwar (6,905 m), and Meru (6,660 m).

Key Points
Famous Glaciers in Uttarakhand are:

• Bhandarpunch Glacier.
• Gangotri Glacier.
• Doonagiri Glacier.
• Milam Glacier.
• Ralam Glacier.

Additional Information

The Correct Answer is "Uttarakhand".

Important Points

• Substantial quantities of resources are established in Uttarakhand (59%), followed by Tamil Nadu (25%) and Rajasthan (14%).
• Resources are also located in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Tamil Nadu continued to be the major producing state with a maximum contribution of 75% to the total output during 2016-17 followed by Uttarakhand (23%) and the remaining 2% was contributed by Karnataka.

Key Points

• Magnesite (MgCO3) is a carbonate of magnesium.
• It is usually found as secondary deposits formed due to alteration of ultrabasic rocks and other magnesium-rich rock types formed by replacement of dolomite and dolomitic limestone, as bedded deposits, and as irregular veins.
• Magnesite deposits in India, generally occur as crystalline mass, amorphous and massive.
• Calcium and silica are the most common impurities found in magnesite along with Fe2O3 and Al2O3.
• It is a very important mineral for the manufacture of basic refractories, which could be largely used in the Steel Industry.

The correct answer is Bagwal.

• A stone-pelting festival named Baghwal is held every year in Uttarakhand.
• At the temple of Goddess Barahi Devi, the festival is held.

Key Points

• The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.
• In Devidhura, Goddess Barahi Devi temple is located.
• The festival celebrates Rakshabandhan in a special way.
• In Bagwal festival, the people of the area pelt stones on each other.
• Many devotees come to the temple to enjoy the festival.
• In 2019, in this stone pelting festival, more than 120 people were injured in the temple.
• The stone-pelting was done in order to please the deity.

• SECURE Himalaya is a six-year program that works for the conservation of locally and globally important biodiversity, land and forest resources in the high Himalayan region spread over four states which are- Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the project on 2 October 2017.
• SECURE stands for Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems.
• The program mainly focusses on the protection of snow leopards and other endangered species, their habitats, securing livelihoods of people in the region and enhancing enforcement to reduce crimes against wildlife.

The correct answer is ​Cholia Dance.

Key Points

Cholia Dance

• Choliya dance is the sword dance, meant to depict the martial art traditions of the Kumaoni tribe.
• This dance form is as old as a thousand years, and it is performed during the local Rajput weddings.
• The Choliya dancers are equipped with swords and shields, regional brass instruments including Turi and Ransing, and percussion instruments like dhol and damaru, etc.
• The dancers dress like the Kumaon warriors and engage in mock sword fights with duly synchronised twists and turns of the body.​

Additional Information

Bhotia Dance

• The Bhotiyas are an ancient tribe of Uttarakhand, and the namesake dance is performed by them is closely linked to their death rituals.
• It is a common belief among the Bhotiyas that the soul of the dead lives in the body of a sheep or goat after the human body dies.

Pandav Nritya

• The Pandava Nritya tells the tale of the five heroes of Hindu mythology, the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, from start to end.
• Through this ecstatic dance, the various stages of their lives are portrayed, performed on the drum beats.
• It is a 10 - 12 day dance-drama celebration performed between November to February every year
• It is believed that the energies of the five Pandavas enter the body of performing artists during the stage performance.
• On the last day of Pandava Nritya, a grand feast is organised for the villagers.

Jhora Dance

• Jhora dance is a springtime celebration performed by the local people by moving around in circles.
• It is a highly popular dance in the Kumaon Himalayas.
• It aims to break caste barriers, thus allowing both higher and lower caste people to perform it together.
• Besides springtime, this dance is also performed during weddings and local fairs.

The Correct Answer is "Mana Pass".

Important Points

Mana Pass :

• Mana pass connects the remote villages of Kuti and Sela.
• It lies in the northern part of the Pithoragarh district.
• It is seldom used these days.
• Location: India
• Range: Himalayas
• Elevation: 5,545 meter.

Additional Information

Imis La Pass :

• Imis La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,290m (17,355ft) above sea level, located between Ladakh (India) and Tibet (China).
• It is one of the major passes over the main Himalayan Range.
• It's one of the highest mountain roads in the country.

Nathu La Pass :

• Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in the East Sikkim district.
• It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
• The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level, forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Tea Horse Road.
• Nathu means "listening ears" and La means "pass" in Tibetan.
• Elevation: 4,310 meter.
• Location: India (Sikkim) – China (Tibet Autonomous Region).
• Range: Himalayas.

Jelep La Pass :

• Jelep La or Jelep Pass, elevation 4,267 m or 13,999 ft, is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, Sikkim, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
• It is on a route that connects Lhasa to India.
• Elevation is 4,270 meter.
• Location: India (Sikkim) – China (Tibet Autonomous Region).
• Range: Himalayas.

The correct answer is Henry Ramsay.

Key Points

• Nainital Schools are famous for their excellent educational standards in India.
• Nainital has been known for its many schools.
• Four Schools from the British Period continue to exist today: Sherwood College 1869, All Saints' College 1869, Mary's Convent High School 1878, and St. Joseph's College 1888.
• Nainital
  • It is a district of Uttarakhand and a part of the Kumaon region.
  • It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand as the High court is located here.
  • The Nainital Yacht club, situated along the Nainital lake, is the highest yacht club in India.
  • There are seven lakes in and around Nainital, these are Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Malwatal, Harishtal, and Lokhamtal, Bhimtal is the biggest one.
• Henry Ramsay
  • He was a British General in the Indian Army, who served as a Commissioner of Kumaon and Garhwal districts for 28 years from 1856.
  • He was also known as The King of Kumaon.
  • He built one of the earliest schools of North India in the Kumaon region with the help of missionaries and developed Nainital as an education center.
  • Ramsay Inter College of Almora was among the few schools in North India when it was established.

Additional Information

• George William Trail
  • On 22 August 1815, George William Trail was appointed as Assistant Commissioner Garhwal, where he completed the settlements of Garhwal on a priority basis.
  • He conducted the second revenue settlement of Kumaon.
  • He subdued the old, Sayan of the rural areas coming from the Chand dynasty and appointed them as agents to recover the goods.
• Commissioner Lunshingaton
  • East Indian Company appointed G.T. Lushington as Commissioner of Kumaon division in 1846.

The correct answer is Tehri Garhwal.

• Angali Math is situated in district Tehri Garhwal.

Additional Information

• Tehri Garhwal stretches from the snow-clad Himalayan peaks of Thalaiya Sagar, Jonli, and the Gangotri group all the way to the foothills near Rishikesh.
  • The gushing Bhagirathi which runs through seems to divide the district into two, while the Bhilangna, Alaknanda, Ganga, and Yamuna rivers border it on the east and west.
  • Tehri Garhwal is surrounded by Uttarkashi district in the north, Pauri Garhwal district in the south, Rudraprayag district in the east, and Dehradun district in the west.
• Pauri Garhwal is a district of Uttrakhand.
  • Located partly in the Gangetic plain and partly in the northern Himalayas.
  • The district is bordered on the southwest by Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, and, clockwise from west to southeast, by the Uttarakhand districts of Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Almora, and Nainital.
• Rudraprayag District was established on 16 September 1997.
  • It lies at the confluence of two rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayag or five confluences of the Alaknanda River.
  • Rudraprayag is blessed with nature’s bounty, the climate of which depends upon the height of the region.

The correct answer is NH 7

Key Points

NH 7 connect Fazilka (Punjab) and Mana (Uttarakhand).

• ​Its total length is 845 km.
• It connects the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• The NH-7 connects Dehradun and Chandigarh with the Hindu pilgrim centres of Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, and Badrinath.

Additional Information

NH 10 connect Fazilka to Delhi.

Its total length is 403 km.

• It connects the states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.​

​NH 44 is related to the North-South corridor.

• ​It connect Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
• NH 44 is the longest highway in India.
• Its total length is 4000 km.

​NH 27 is related to the East-West corridor.

• ​It connect Silchar to Porbandar.
• Its total length is 3300 km.

The correct answer is Love song.

Key Points

• Laman is the regional music of Himachal Pradesh.
  • In Laman, a group of girls sing a stanza and a group of boys gives the reply in the song.
  • Interesting is that the girls singing on one of the peaks of the hill seldom see the faces of the boys singing on another peak.
  • In between is the hill which echoes their love song.
  • Most of these songs are sung especially in Kullu Valley.

Additional Information

• Folk songs of Himachal Pradesh:
  • Jhoori songs are usually accompanied by a dance known by the name of "Jhoomar", which is performed by a woman.
  • Samskara is a folk song that is sung by women of higher castes during the celebration of major festivals. The songs are composed on the basis of the ragas of Indian classical music, which makes it absolutely melodious and a treat for music lovers.
  • Ainchaliyan is basically a religious song that is sung at the house of a newlywed bride or an unmarried girl who is about to get married.

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

Key Points

• Hindi is the official language of the state and Sanskrit is the additional official language. Garhwali and Kumaoni are the dialects that are often spoken in Uttarakhand.
• On 19th January 2010 Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal made Sanskrit as the second official language of the state.
• Emblem of the state is Diamond Shield and Satyameva Jayate is the motto.
• According to the 2011 Census, 79.63 % is the literacy rate of Uttarakhand.
• At 7816 m Nanda Devi is the highest peak of the state.

Additional Information

• About Uttarakhand: (as of May 2022)
  • Governor: Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh
  • CM: Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami
  • State flower: Saussurea obvallata
  • State Bird: Himalayan Monal
  • Capital: Gairsain (Summer) Dehradun (Winter)

The correct answer is 9th November 2000.

Important Points

• The President of India, K.R. Narayanan approved the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill. On 28th August 2000, and then it turned into the act on 9th November 2000 the New State Uttaranchal came into existence as the 27^th state of India.
• In January 2007 the new State changed its name to Uttarkhand, meaning the "northern region" which was the traditional name for the area.
• It is often referred to as "Devbhumi" due to numerous Hindu Temples and Pilgrim centres found throughout the state.

Key Points

• It is bordered to the:-
  • Northwest- Himachal Pradesh
  • Northeast- Tibet
  • Southeast- Nepal
  • South and southwest- Uttar Pradesh
• Capital:-
  • Gairsain (Summer)
  • Dehradun (Winter)
• Largest City:- Dehradun
• Governer:- Baby Rani Maurya
• Chief Minister:- Trivendra Singh Rawat

Additional Information

• Two of the most important rivers in Hinduism originated in the glacier of Uttrakhand,
  • The Ganges at Gangotri.
  • The Yamuna at Yamunotri.
• A holy pilgrim for the Hindus Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham situated at Uttrakhand.
• Uttarakhand is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Site:
  • Valley Of Flowers.
  • Nada Devi National Park.
• With the astonishing height of 7816 meters or 25,643 feet, Nanda Devi Peak is the second-highest peak in India.
• Established in 1936, Jim Corbett National park is the oldest National park in India which is situated in the Nainital district of Uttrakhand.
• According to the latest census, Uttarakhand becomes the second state in India after Karnataka with the highest number of tigers.

​The correct answer is Uttarakhand and Tibet.

Key Points

• The river Ganga originates from Devprayag in Uttarakhand at the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi.
• The river Brahmaputra originates from the Angsi Glacier in Burang County, Tibet.

Important Points

• Ganga River:
  • The Ganges rises in the southern Great Himalayas on the Indian side of the border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
  • Its five major streams—the Bhagirathi, the Alaknanda, the Mandakini, the Dhauliganga, and the Pindar—all rise in the mountainous region of northern Uttarakhand state.
  • Among them, the two main streams are the Alaknanda (the longer of the two), which rises about 30 miles (50 km) north of the Himalayan peak of Nanda Devi, and the Bhagirathi, which rises about 10,000 feet (3,000 m). above sea level in a subglacial meltwater cave at the base of a Himalayan glacier known as Gangotri.
  • Gangotri itself is a holy place for Hindu pilgrimage. However, the original source of the Ganges is believed to be Gaumukh, about 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Gangotri.
• Brahmaputra River:
  • The source of the Brahmaputra is the Chemayungdung Glacier, which covers the Himalayan slopes about 60 miles (100 km) southeast of Mapam Lake in southwestern Tibet.
  • The Kubi, Angasi, and Chemayungdung are the three major streams that originate there.
  • From its source, the river runs in a generally easterly direction for about 700 miles (1,100 km) between the Great Himalayan Range in the south and the Kailas Range in the north.
  • Throughout its upper course, the river is generally referred to as the Tsangpo ("purifier").
  • It is also known by its Chinese name (Yarlung Zangbo) and other local Tibetan names.