Daily Quiz #10 UPSC Prelims Marathon – October 14, 2019

Explanation: The Mathura School flourished on the banks of the river Yamuna in the period between 1st and 3rd centuries B.C. The sculptures of the Mathura School were influenced by the stories and imageries of all three religions of the time – Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The images were modelled on the earlier Yaksha images found during the Mauryan period.

Explanation: Ajanta groups of caves, a World Heritage Site which overlooks a narrow sinuous gorge, through which flows the stream of Waghora. The river is descended from the head of the Cave 28 from a waterfall of seven leaps. Waghore means Tiger River in Marathi. Located at Aurangabad in the Indian State of Maharashtra, the thirty excavted rock cut temples at Ajanta are famous for Buddhist monuments and paintings. The caves at Ajanta are excavated in the semi-circular scarp of a steep rock about 76 m high.

Explanation: The ancient port city of Mamallapuram under Pallava dynasty in Tamil Nadu, flourished with a number of marvelous architecture. These seventh century Pallava sites have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 by the name “Group of Monuments at
Mahabalipuram. They include:
Ratha temples or Pancha Ratha: Also known as Pandava Rathas, they are the earliest rock cut temples in India, comprising of Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula and Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha, dated around 7th century AD. Dharmaraja Ratha is the largest structure among the five.
Rock-cut caves: which include Varaha Cave Temple, Krishna Cave Temple, Panchapandava Cave Temple, and the Mahishasuramardini Mandapa (Bas-relief of Goddess Durga killing Mahishasura).
Open Air Rock Reliefs: which include Descent of the Ganges which is also known as Arjuna’s Penance or Bhagiratha’s Penance carved on two huge boulders. It narrates the story of descent of River Ganga on earth from heaven by the efforts of Bhagiratha.

Explanation: The Industrial Revolution started in England in the early 18th century, with the invention of new machines like the spinning Jenny, steam engine, the power loom and several others. These machines greatly improved production in the fields of textile, metallurgy, steam power and agriculture. The industrial revolution reached other European nations late and this helped England to maintain its hegemony.

Explanation: The main proposals of the mission were as follows.
1. An Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.
2. After the end of the war, a constituent assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes.
3. The British government would accept the new constitution subject to two conditions: (i) any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union, and (ii) the new constitution making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.
4. In the meantime, defence of India would remain in British hands and the governor-general’s powers would remain intact.