Prelims Mantra (Day-39)

Chakyar Koothu:

• • It is a performance art from Kerala.
  • It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as Ramayana and Mahabharata) and stories from Puranas.
  • Sometimes, however, it is also a traditional equivalent of modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events.
  • It is performed in Koothambalam; a place inside Hindu temples specifically designed for performing Kutiyattam and Chakyar Koothu.
  • Ideally, performance takes place in conjunction with festivals, presented by members of Chakyar community along with Ambalavasi Nambiars.
  • It is a solo performance, by a narrator in a distinctive headgear and black moustache with his torso smeared with sandalwood paste and red dots all over the body.
  • The headgear resembles snake’s hood, to symbolise the narration by Anantha, the thousand headed serpent.
  • Two instruments accompany the performance – a mizhavu and a pair of ilathalam.
  • This is different from Nangiar Koothu, which is performed by women called Nangyarammas who belong to Nambiar caste, and is a more highly refined theatre art.

 

MISSION IOS SAGAR:

• • Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sunayna set sail from Karwar as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region).
  • Ship is carrying 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs) (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka & Tanzania).
  • IOS SAGAR is a pioneering effort aimed at bringing together the navies and maritime agencies of the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (IOR) on an Indian Naval platform.
  • INS Sunayna during its deployment will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria.

 

New Pamban bridge:

• • PM inaugurated new Pamban railway bridge, which connects Rameswaram island off the Tamil Nadu coast with Ramanathapuram on mainland.
  • Constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. at ₹531 crore, 08-km bridge over Palk Strait features a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that can be raised to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth ship movement underneath while improving rail connectivity.

 

CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart):

• • It helps keep websites safe from automated attacks and makes online services more user-friendly.
  • It is based on an idea called Turing test. This was proposed by British mathematician Alan Turing back in 1950s. The idea was to create a test that could tell if a machine could act like a human. CAPTCHA does just that by making sure that tasks are easy for humans but hard for computers.

 

Tel River:

• • It originates in Nabarangpur district of Odisha (Close to Odisha-Chhattisgarh border) near Amravati Forest range.
  • It is the largest tributary of Mahanadi River.
  • Baidyanath temple, which is famous for Kosaleshwar Shiva temple, is located on the left bank of Tel River.

 

Hadean protocrust:

• • It is the name for the earth’s crust — its outermost layer — when it first formed.
  • The ‘Hadean’ prefix refers to planet’s first geologic aeon.

 

Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana award:

• • President of Sri Lanka conferred on Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana award, country’s highest honour bestowed on foreign leaders.
  • It is first time that Indian leader is receiving this award.
  • It was conferred on Prime Minister for his enduring contribution to strengthening India-Sri Lanka friendship.

 

India’s membership to important Coonventions:

• • Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
  • Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
  • Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
  • Wassenaar Arrangement on munitions and military items
  • Australia Group on biological and chemical items

 

PRACTICE MCQs

 

Q1. Consider the following international conventions:

1. Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

2. Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

3. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

4. Wassenaar Arrangement on munitions and military items

5. Australia Group on biological and chemical items

India is member of how many of the above conventions?

a) Only two

b) Only three

c) Only four

d) All five

Answer: D

 

Q2. Consider the following statements about Tel River:

1. It originates in the state of Chhattisgarh.

2. It is the largest tributary of the Mahanadi River.

3. Baidyanath temple is located on the left bank of Tel River.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Mission IOS SAGAR:

1. It brings together the navies and maritime agencies of the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (IOR) on an Indian Naval platform.

2. Under this initiative, Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sunayna will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

 

Q4. Which of the following statements is incorrect about Chakyar Koothu?

a) It is a performance art from Karnataka.

b) It is a type of monologue where solo performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics and stories from Puranas.

c) It is performed in Koothambalam; a place inside Hindu temples specifically designed for to perform it.

d) It is presented by members of Chakyar community along with Ambalavasi Nambiars.

Answer: A

 

Q5. Consider the followings statements about New Pamban Bridge:

1. It connects Rameswaram island off the Tamil Nadu coast with Ramanathapuram on mainland.

2. It is constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.

3. It is India’s first railway bridge with vertical lift span.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

 

 

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