MCQs 2026

National Handloom Day is celebrated every year on August 7th to honor the handloom weaving community and to promote the handloom industry. The preparations for the 2026 National Handloom Day would be underway in the preceding months.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which led to the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state, is often referred to in conjunction with the constitutional changes made in 2019. While not a direct constitutional amendment act in the traditional sense of amending the text of the constitution, it was enacted under powers that effectively amended the constitutional application to J&K. The 105th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2021 is unrelated. The relevant legislative act was the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. However, the question asks for a constitutional amendment act. The abrogation was enabled by presidential orders and parliamentary resolutions, not a single constitutional amendment act number that directly replaced Article 370. The closest legislative action that enabled this was the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Given the options, and the year 2019, the question might be flawed or referring to the general legislative context. However, the abrogation itself was based on Presidential Orders and parliamentary resolutions, not a specific amendment act number that replaced Article 370. The 105th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2021 is unrelated. The question is problematic as the abrogation was not done via a single numbered constitutional amendment act that replaced Article 370. It was done via Presidential Orders and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The second anniversary is in 2021. NEEDS_REVIEW

On August 5, 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed, which bifurcated the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The second anniversary was in 2021.

Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Indian Parliament on August 5, 2019. The second anniversary would be in 2021.

The SFAPAC scheme is a comprehensive initiative by the Ministry of Culture designed to support a wide array of traditional and contemporary art forms. In 2026, it continues to provide crucial financial assistance to eligible individuals, groups, and organizations involved in traditional Indian puppetry, covering aspects like performances, workshops, training programs, and documentation efforts, thereby playing a significant role in its promotion and preservation. It is not exclusive to private schools, nor does it focus solely on classical music/dance or involve creating a new ministry.

To counter the decline in traditional puppetry, a key strategy involves creating platforms for exposure and skill transfer. National and international puppetry festivals provide opportunities for artists to perform, gain recognition, and interact. Workshops are crucial for training younger generations and ensuring the continuity of traditional techniques. The other options do not directly address the core issue of preserving the traditional art form and its practitioners.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, consistently supports traditional performing arts, including puppetry, through various schemes. The 'National Puppetry Revival Grant' (or similar grant schemes for traditional arts) provides crucial financial assistance for training new artists, organizing performances, and documenting traditional forms, ensuring their continuity and promotion. The other options are either not primary initiatives or are counterproductive to traditional preservation.

While local community engagement is beneficial, rapid urbanization and industrial pollution are significant emerging threats. The expansion of human settlements, mining activities, and industrial emissions in areas surrounding rock art sites can lead to air pollution, acid rain, and physical damage, accelerating the degradation of these fragile artworks. New preservation strategies often focus on buffer zone management and environmental impact assessments.

ASI employs scientific methods for conservation, which include careful chemical cleaning to remove biological growth and pollutants, digital mapping and 3D scanning for accurate documentation, and micro-climatic monitoring to understand environmental impacts. Repainting or relocating entire panels are generally avoided as they can damage the original art or its context. Covering all art with glass is impractical and can create adverse micro-climates.

Ancient rock art sites like Bhimbetka face significant threats from natural processes such as weathering, erosion, and biological growth (lichens, mosses). Additionally, human activities including vandalism, uncontrolled tourism, and encroachment pose serious anthropogenic damage challenges to their long-term preservation. Legal protection and heritage status are generally in place for major sites, and funding, while sometimes insufficient, is not typically 'excessive'.