N. The Shatabdi Express series of superfast passenger trains was started in the year 1988 to commemorate whose birth centenary (surname please)?
O. Which popular hill station in the Nilgiri Hills was originally occupied by the Toda people and was ceded to the East India Company by Tipu Sultan in 1799?
P. After being denied Cray supercomputers from USA as a result of a technology embargo, India started a programme to develop indigenous supercomputers and supercomputing technologies. For the purpose of achieving self sufficiency in the field, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) was set up in 1988. In 1990, a prototype was produced and was benchmarked at the 1990 Zurich Supercomputering Show. It surpassed most other systems, placing India second after US. 1991 saw the final result of this effort. It is considered India’s first supercomputer. What was it named?
Q. For which 1988 romantic drama did actor Aamir Khan win the best the Best Male Debut at the Filmfare Awards?
R. If Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthem of India, who wrote the national anthem of Bangladesh?
S. Which 1975 blockbuster movie was shot in the rocky terrain of Ramanagara, Karnataka, and told the story of two criminals hired to capture a ruthless dacoit? It is the first film in the history of Indian cinema to celebrate a silver jubilee (25 weeks) in over a hundred theatres across India. The film topped the British Film Institute’s poll of ‘Top 10 Indian Films’ of all time.
T. A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (for example a town, region, or country). This tag is approved worldwide through WTO (World Trade Organisation). Similar products made elsewhere in the world cannot use the geographical name of the tagged product. For example, Kancheepuram silk is a GI tagged product and silk products made anywhere else in the world cannot use the word ‘Kancheepuram’ on their product. What was the first product from India to receive a Geographical Indication tag in India in 2004-05 and where does it come from?
U. Which festival held annually on the death anniversary of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer attracts more than 4,00,000 devotees each year?
V. What is the name of India’s first aircraft carrier whose original name was HMS Hercules? It was bought by India from UK in 1957 and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade on East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971.
W. What is the name of the Adivasi tribe living at the Maharashtra-Gujarat border and surrounding areas? They are best known for their art of rudimentary wall paintings that use a very basic graphic vocabulary: a circle, a triangle and a square. The background is the red ochrfe wall and the paint is white, made of rice paste and water.
X. What is the name of India’s biggest singing reality TV show whose 2011 winner was Geet Sagar?
Y. In Indian mythology which turbulent river that was in spate following heavy rains parted when Vasudeva, carrying baby Krishna in a basket, crossed it to save the infant from the evil king Kamsa?
Z. What was the hereditary royal title of the rulers of Calicut one of whom is remembered for receiving Vasco da Gama when he arrived on the shores of India?
answers
N. Jawaharlal Nehru
O. Ooty (Ootacamund)
P. Param
Q. Qayamat se Qayamat Tak
R. Rabindranath Tagore again!
S. Sholay
T. Tea from Darjeeling
U. Ursw
V. Vikrant
W. Warli
X. X-Factor
Y. Yamuna
Z. Zamorin