History and Culture Important Topics for Prelims 2020

History and Culture plays an important role in Prelims - GS Paper (I) because it weighs around 15-20 questions each year. The syllabus of Indian History and Culture is very vast, therefore we should understand the nature and types of questions asked in previous year papers.

Here we will provide you Important Topics related to History and culture, which remains in the news in the last one year. Hence, these questions have more probability to come in the exam.

 

History and Culture Important Topics for Prelims 2020

 

1. Aadi Mahotsav (National Tribal Festival)

Aadi Mahotsav is an Indian Tribal Festival being organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) to celebrate, cherishes and promote the spirit of Tribal crafts, culture, and cuisine and commerce.

It was a 9-day festival held in August 2019 at Leh-Ladakh with the theme "A celebration of the spirit of tribal crafts, culture, and commerce."

This Mahotsav comprises of display and sale of items of tribal art and craft, tribal medicine, tribal cuisine and display of tribal folk performance, in which tribal artisans, chefs, folk dancers/musicians from 23 States of the country shall participate and provide a glimpse of their rich traditional culture.

 

2. Chaukhandi Stupa

It is an ancient Buddhist site in Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh).

It has been declared to be a "protected area of National Importance" By the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

It is a lofty mound of bricks, whose square edifice is surrounded by an octagonal Tower.

It is said to be originally a terraced temple constructed during the Gupta Period (4th-6th century). but the present shape was given by Goverdhan (Son of Raja Todarmal), he built an octagonal tower to commemorate the Mughal ruler visit in the 16th century.

It was built to mark the place where Buddha met his first disciples at Sarnath

Archeological Survey of India (ASI)

 

The ASI is an Indian government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture.

It is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.

It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.

 

3. DIGITAL BHARAT DIGITAL SANSKRITI

 

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism launched E- Portal of CCRT "DIGITAL BHARAT DIGITAL SANSKRITI" and CCRT Youtube Chanel.

This will enable the dissemination of cultural education through digital interactive medium into the classrooms all over the country.

CCRT (Centre for Cultural Resources and Training)

It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India, established in 1979.

It works in the field of linking education with culture.

 

4. Hindi Divas

 

Hindi Divas is celebrated on 14th September every year. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi as an official language of India along with English.

Hindi is the single largest spoken language in India and the 4th largest in the world.

Union Home Minister awarded the Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar and Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar on the occasion of Hindi Divas Samaroh 2019.

Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar is given for outstanding work in promoting the progressive use of official language to Ministries, Departments, PSUs, Banks, and in-house Hindi magazines.

Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar comprises 3 awards:

      (A) To Citizens of India for writing original books in Hindi on knowledge and science-based subjects.

      (B) To Central Government Employees (including retired ones) for writing original books in Hindi.

      (C) To Central Government Employees (including retired ones) for writing an excellent article in Hindi.

 

5. National Maritime Heritage Museum

 

India and Portugal will cooperate in the setting up of a National Maritime Heritage Museum at the ancient site of Lothal (Gujarat).

The museum will display India’s heritage of inland waterways and trade through the water route. It also intends to highlight the ancient shipbuilding and navigational technologies developed by India.

The Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Shipping through its Sagarmala Programme, with the involvement of ASI, the state government and the other stakeholders.

Lothal (Indus Valley Site), is one of the oldest man-made dockyards in India.

Sagarmala Project:

Sagarmala project was approved by the Union Cabinet on 25th March 2015. It is a flagship programme of Ministry of Shipping.

It aims to leverage the country's coastline and inland waterways to drive Industrial Development.

 

6. Kartarpur Corridor

 

India signed an agreement with Pakistan to operationalise the Kartarpur Corridor. Initially, It is valid for 5 Years.

This corridor connects the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Norowal District of Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, Punjab (India).

The agreement will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims.

It was built to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev (Founder of Sikhism) on 12th November 2019.

Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539)

He founded the Sikhism and advocated Nirguna Form of Bhakti. He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, etc.

He set up rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation.

 

7. Maharaja Ranjit Singh

 

Pakistan unveiled a life-size sculpture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 27, on the eve of 180th death anniversary of the Sikh ruler, in Lahore.

Ranjit Singh was born on November 30, 1780, in Gujranwala (now in Pakistan).

He ruled over Punjab for almost 40 years (1801-39).

Lahore was the capital of Punjab under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

He was also known as "Sher-e-Punjab".

 

 

8.Iron age settlement at Phupgaon

 

Recently, ASI excavated at Phupgaon, Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and revealed the evidence of an iron age settlement.

The site is situated in the vast meander of the river Purna, a major tributary of Tapi.

 

10. Taanaji Malusare

 

Recently, a film based on the story of Tanaji Malusare, who created a history in the Maratha Empire, was released.

Taanaji Malusare was a Maratha military leader and a close aide of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Taanaji is popularly remembered for the Battle of Singhagad that took place in the year 1670.

In the year 1665, the Treaty of Purandar was signed between Jai Singh and Shivaji, which required the Maratha ruler to give up Fort Kondhana to the Mughals. Later, Shivaji entrusted Taanaji the task of reconquering the fort Kondhana at any cost.

In the battle, Taanaji fought against Udaybhan Rathore who was put in charge of Fort Kondhana by Jai Singh. The fort was renamed as Singhagad (Lion's Fort) by Shivaji to honour Taanaji.

I hope these topics will definitely important for exam and helps in scoring high in the exam.

 

9. Maharaja Surajmal

Recently, members of the Jat community in Rajasthan opposed the release of the movie Panipat directed by Ashutosh Gowariker & based on the Third Battle of Panipat accusing its makers of wrongly portraying Maharaja Suraj Mal. The film shows Maharaja Surajmal as having denied help to the Maratha army.

Maharaja Suraj Mal (1707 1763) or Sujan Singh was a Jat ruler of Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

He was born in 1707 in  Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

He was the son of the Jat chieftain Badan Singh.

He is described as “a strong leader who harried the Mughal empire in the anarchic period of its decline, consolidated the kingdom with its capital at Bharatpur.

3rd Battle of Panipat

The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat (Haryana) between the Marathas under Sadashivrao 'Bhau' and invading force of Ahmed Shah Abdali.

Marathas was defeated in the battle.

 

 

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