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JKSSB Panchayat Secretary practice questions

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Question 1General Awareness and Current Affairs

Under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, which body serves as the district-level apex institution of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system?

  1. Gram Sabha
  2. District Development Council Correct answer.
  3. Halqa Panchayat
  4. Block Development Council

Explanation

The three-tier structure created under the J&K Panchayati Raj framework places the Halqa Panchayat at the village level, the Block Development Council at the intermediate level, and the District Development Council at the district level. The DDC is therefore the apex tier, chaired by a directly elected DDC member chosen as Chairman.

Question 2General Awareness and Current Affairs

In the J&K Panchayati Raj system, the Halqa Panchayat is chaired by which functionary?

  1. Chairman, DDC
  2. Block Development Officer
  3. Sarpanch Correct answer.
  4. Tehsildar

Explanation

Each Halqa Panchayat is headed by a Sarpanch, who is directly elected by the voters of the Halqa. The Sarpanch presides over meetings of the Halqa Panchayat and represents it in dealings with higher tiers.

Question 3General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Constitution of India directs the State to organise village panchayats as units of self-government?

  1. Article 51A
  2. Article 40 Correct answer.
  3. Article 39A
  4. Article 44

Explanation

Article 40, a Directive Principle of State Policy, requires the State to take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with powers and authority to function as units of self-government. It is the constitutional foundation for grassroots democracy in India.

Question 4General Awareness and Current Affairs

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions, came into force in which year?

  1. 1991
  2. 1993 Correct answer.
  3. 1995
  4. 1989

Explanation

The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, received assent in April 1992 and came into force on 24 April 1993, inserting Part IX into the Constitution. It mandated a three-tier panchayat structure for states with a population above twenty lakh.

Question 5General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which Schedule of the Constitution of India lists the subjects on which Panchayati Raj institutions may function?

  1. Twelfth Schedule
  2. Eleventh Schedule Correct answer.
  3. Seventh Schedule
  4. Tenth Schedule

Explanation

The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, contains 29 functional items such as agriculture, drinking water, and rural housing that may be devolved to panchayats. The Twelfth Schedule performs a similar role for urban local bodies.

Question 6General Awareness and Current Affairs

Who is the constitutional head of a State government in India?

  1. The Chief Minister
  2. The Chief Justice of the High Court
  3. The Governor Correct answer.
  4. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Explanation

The Governor is appointed by the President and is the constitutional head of the State, with executive power formally vested in that office under Article 154. The Chief Minister heads the Council of Ministers that aids and advises the Governor.

Question 7General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system from lowest to highest?

  1. Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad
  2. Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat
  3. Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti
  4. Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad Correct answer.

Explanation

In the general Indian model the village-level Gram Panchayat comes first, the intermediate-level Panchayat Samiti (block level) comes second, and the district-level Zila Parishad comes third. In Jammu and Kashmir the corresponding local names are Halqa Panchayat, Block Development Council, and District Development Council.

Question 8General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which institution is responsible for conducting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions in a State?

  1. State Finance Commission
  2. State Election Commission Correct answer.
  3. District Development Council
  4. Election Commission of India

Explanation

Article 243K provides for a State Election Commission to superintend, direct and control the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to panchayats. The Election Commission of India handles Parliament and State legislature elections, not panchayat polls.

Question 9General Awareness and Current Affairs

A Halqa Panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir wishes to construct a community hall. Which source of revenue is most directly available to it for such local works under the Panchayati Raj framework?

  1. Levying and collecting local taxes, fees and user charges as authorised Correct answer.
  2. Borrowing directly from the International Monetary Fund
  3. Collecting customs duty at the district border
  4. Imposing income tax on village residents

Explanation

Panchayats can raise their own resources by levying local taxes, fees, and user charges as authorised by State law, and these funds are used for local public works. Customs duty and income tax are Union taxation subjects, and international borrowing is not open to a village council.

Question 10General Awareness and Current Affairs

What is the minimum age required for a person to contest a Panchayat election in India?

  1. 21 years Correct answer.
  2. 18 years
  3. 25 years
  4. 30 years

Explanation

Article 243F provides that a person is qualified to be chosen as a member of a panchayat if he or she has attained 21 years of age. The voting age, by contrast, is 18 years.

Question 11General Awareness and Current Affairs

The Gram Sabha consists of which of the following?

  1. All government officials posted in the village
  2. All persons registered as voters in the village electoral rolls Correct answer.
  3. All landowners residing in the block
  4. All elected members of the Halqa Panchayat only

Explanation

Article 243 defines the Gram Sabha as a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of a panchayat at the village level. It is thus the entire village electorate, not merely the elected representatives.

Question 12General Awareness and Current Affairs

What is the term of office of a Panchayat constituted under the 73rd Amendment, unless dissolved earlier?

  1. Five years Correct answer.
  2. Three years
  3. Four years
  4. Six years

Explanation

Article 243E fixes the term of a panchayat at five years from the date of its first meeting. If a panchayat is dissolved earlier, fresh elections must be completed before the expiry of six months.

Question 13General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which committee is credited with recommending a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure in India in 1957?

  1. Sarkaria Commission
  2. Ashok Mehta Committee
  3. Balwantrai Mehta Committee Correct answer.
  4. Punchhi Commission

Explanation

The Balwantrai Mehta Committee of 1957 recommended a three-tier system of elected panchayats, namely Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad. Its recommendations were adopted by several States and shaped later reform efforts.

Question 14General Awareness and Current Affairs

Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in a Panchayat is provided in proportion to what?

  1. The total revenue collected in the panchayat
  2. The number of villages in the panchayat
  3. Their share of the population in the panchayat area Correct answer.
  4. The number of government employees from those groups

Explanation

Article 243D provides that seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats as the population of those communities bears to the total population of the panchayat area. This ensures proportional representation.

Question 15General Awareness and Current Affairs

A District Development Council in Jammu and Kashmir is chaired by which of the following?

  1. The Tehsildar of the district headquarters
  2. The Deputy Commissioner by virtue of office
  3. A directly elected member chosen as Chairman by the Council Correct answer.
  4. The Member of Parliament of the district

Explanation

In the J&K framework the DDC is a directly elected body, and its members choose one of themselves as Chairman. The Deputy Commissioner is the administrative official associated with the district, not the chair of the elected council.

Question 16General Awareness and Current Affairs

The State Finance Commission is constituted under which Article of the Constitution to review the financial position of panchayats?

  1. Article 243E
  2. Article 243I Correct answer.
  3. Article 243K
  4. Article 243D

Explanation

Article 243I requires the Governor to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to review the financial position of panchayats and recommend principles for devolution of funds. Article 243E deals with duration of panchayats, 243D with reservation, and 243K with elections.

Question 17General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following subjects appears in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution?

  1. Defence
  2. Railways
  3. Currency and coinage
  4. Drinking water Correct answer.

Explanation

Drinking water is one of the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule, which may be devolved to panchayats. Defence, railways, and currency are Union List subjects outside the panchayat framework.

Question 18General Awareness and Current Affairs

A village wants to pass a resolution on a local development plan. Which body is the appropriate forum for direct participation of all village voters in such matters?

  1. Gram Sabha Correct answer.
  2. Block Development Council
  3. Halqa Panchayat
  4. District Development Council

Explanation

The Gram Sabha is the assembly of all registered village voters, making it the correct forum for direct citizen participation in local planning and social audit. The panchayat bodies are smaller elected councils that implement decisions.

Question 19General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following best describes the role of the Block Development Officer in the Panchayati Raj system?

  1. An elected chairperson of the Halqa Panchayat
  2. A member of the State Election Commission
  3. A judicial officer deciding panchayat disputes
  4. A government officer who assists the block-level panchayat body in administration and implementation Correct answer.

Explanation

The Block Development Officer is a government official who provides administrative and technical support to the block-level panchayat body and coordinates rural development schemes. The role is bureaucratic rather than elected or judicial.

Question 20General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a mandatory provision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?

  1. Establishment of a two-tier structure in all States
  2. Direct election of the Zila Parishad chairperson in all States
  3. Establishment of a three-tier panchayat structure in States with population above twenty lakh Correct answer.
  4. Uniform panchayat laws across all States

Explanation

The 73rd Amendment mandates a three-tier structure of panchayats in States with a population exceeding twenty lakh, though smaller States may have a two-tier arrangement. The other listed items are not mandatory uniform requirements of the amendment.

Question 21General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains why the Eleventh Schedule does not automatically transfer functions to panchayats?

  1. It was struck down by the Supreme Court
  2. It applies only to urban local bodies
  3. It is an enabling list, and actual devolution requires State legislation Correct answer.
  4. It applies only to Union Territories

Explanation

The Eleventh Schedule is an enabling list of subjects that States may devolve to panchayats; actual transfer of functions, funds, and functionaries requires State legislation and executive action. This is why the degree of devolution varies widely across States.

Question 22General Awareness and Current Affairs

Under the 73rd Amendment, if a panchayat is dissolved before the expiry of its term, fresh elections must ordinarily be completed within what period?

  1. Six months of dissolution Correct answer.
  2. Three months of dissolution
  3. One year of dissolution
  4. Two years of dissolution

Explanation

Article 243E provides that elections to constitute a panchayat shall be completed before the expiry of six months from the date of its dissolution. The reconstituted panchayat serves only for the remainder of the original term.

Question 23General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the relationship between the Gram Sabha and the Halqa Panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. The Gram Sabha is a judicial body and the Halqa Panchayat is a revenue body
  2. The two bodies are identical in composition and function
  3. The Gram Sabha comprises the village electorate, while the Halqa Panchayat is its elected executive body Correct answer.
  4. The Gram Sabha is appointed by the government and the Halqa Panchayat is elected

Explanation

The Gram Sabha is the assembly of all registered village voters, while the Halqa Panchayat is the elected body that carries out executive functions at the village level and is accountable to the Gram Sabha. This distinction is foundational to grassroots democracy.

Question 24General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains the significance of the State Finance Commission for Panchayati Raj?

  1. It approves the annual budget of the Union Government
  2. It adjudicates disputes between panchayats
  3. It conducts elections to panchayat bodies
  4. It recommends principles for devolution of funds to panchayats, strengthening their fiscal autonomy Correct answer.

Explanation

The State Finance Commission reviews the financial position of panchayats and recommends principles governing the distribution of taxes and grants-in-aid, which strengthens fiscal decentralisation. Election conduct belongs to the State Election Commission, and dispute adjudication is outside its mandate.

Question 25General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the reservation of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions under the 73rd Amendment?

  1. Not less than one-third of the total seats are reserved for women, and this includes seats reserved for SC and ST women Correct answer.
  2. Reservation for women is optional and left entirely to State discretion
  3. Reservation for women applies only to the Zila Parishad
  4. Reservation for women applies only to the post of Sarpanch

Explanation

Article 243D provides that not less than one-third of the total number of seats filled by direct election shall be reserved for women, including the seats reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women. Several States have raised this to one-half through State legislation.

Question 26General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for the constitution of Panchayats as a Directive Principle of State Policy?

  1. Article 44
  2. Article 50
  3. Article 51A
  4. Article 40 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 40 directs the State to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. It sits in Part IV of the Constitution dealing with Directive Principles. The 73rd Amendment later gave this principle a concrete institutional framework through Part IX.

Question 27General Awareness and Current Affairs

The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, as amended, uses which term for the intermediate-level elected body in the three-tier system?

  1. Halqa Panchayat
  2. District Development Council
  3. Block Development Council Correct answer.
  4. Panchayat Samiti

Explanation

In the Jammu and Kashmir framework the village level is the Halqa Panchayat, the intermediate level is the Block Development Council, and the district level is the District Development Council. The term Block Development Council is specific to this State legislation, which is why it differs from the Panchayat Samiti used in many other States.

Question 28General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which constitutional amendment added Part IX to the Constitution of India, dealing with Panchayats?

  1. 74th Amendment Act, 1992
  2. 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
  3. 61st Amendment Act, 1988
  4. 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 Correct answer.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, inserted Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) and the Eleventh Schedule, giving constitutional status to rural local government. It came into force in 1993. The 74th Amendment dealt separately with urban local bodies.

Question 29General Awareness and Current Affairs

Who among the following presides over the meetings of a Gram Sabha in a village?

  1. The Sarpanch or Pradhan of the village panchayat Correct answer.
  2. The Block Development Officer
  3. The District Collector
  4. The Member of the Legislative Assembly for the area

Explanation

The Gram Sabha is the assembly of all registered voters of a village, and its meetings are ordinarily convened and presided over by the elected head of the village panchayat, known as the Sarpanch or Pradhan depending on the State. Officials such as the BDO or Collector may attend but do not chair it. The presiding officer is thus a directly elected local representative.

Question 30General Awareness and Current Affairs

The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution lists how many functional items that may be entrusted to Panchayats?

  1. 29 Correct answer.
  2. 12
  3. 47
  4. 18

Explanation

The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, contains 29 subjects such as agriculture, rural housing, drinking water and poverty alleviation programmes. The Twelfth Schedule for urban local bodies contains 18 items. Knowing the correct count helps distinguish the rural and urban schedules.

Question 31General Awareness and Current Affairs

Under the 73rd Amendment, what is the minimum age for a person to be eligible for election as a member of a Panchayat?

  1. Eighteen years
  2. Thirty years
  3. Twenty-five years
  4. Twenty-one years Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 243F of the Constitution fixes twenty-one years as the minimum age for contesting a panchayat election, which is higher than the eighteen years required merely to be a voter. The higher threshold reflects the expectation that candidates have some maturity for local governance. Twenty-five years applies to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

Question 32General Awareness and Current Affairs

A State dissolves a Panchayat before the end of its five-year term. Under Article 243E, within what period must fresh elections ordinarily be completed?

  1. Three months from the date of dissolution
  2. Six months from the date of dissolution Correct answer.
  3. One year from the date of dissolution
  4. Two years from the date of dissolution

Explanation

Article 243E requires that fresh elections be held before the expiry of six months from the date of dissolution, provided the remainder of the term is not less than six months. This prevents prolonged supersession and keeps elected local government in place. The six-month window is a safeguard against indefinite administration by officials.

Question 33General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which body is constituted under Article 243-I of the Constitution to review the financial position of Panchayats in a State?

  1. The Comptroller and Auditor General
  2. The District Planning Committee
  3. The State Finance Commission Correct answer.
  4. The Union Finance Commission

Explanation

Article 243-I requires the Governor of each State to constitute a State Finance Commission every five years to review the financial position of panchayats and recommend principles for distributing taxes and grants-in-aid. Its recommendations are placed before the State Legislature. This mechanism addresses vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances at the local level.

Question 34General Awareness and Current Affairs

In the three-tier Panchayati Raj structure recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, which tier was intended to be the operational body for planning and implementation?

  1. The Gram Panchayat at the village level
  2. The Panchayat Samiti at the block level Correct answer.
  3. The Zila Parishad at the district level
  4. The Gram Sabha at the village level

Explanation

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier structure of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad, with the Panchayat Samiti at the block level as the principal executive and planning body. The village panchayat handled local civic functions while the Zila Parishad was largely a coordinating and supervisory body. This design concentrated implementation capacity at the block level.

Question 35General Awareness and Current Affairs

The Ashok Mehta Committee on Panchayati Raj, appointed in 1977, is best known for recommending which change?

  1. Abolition of the Gram Sabha in all States
  2. A two-tier structure with the Zila Parishad as the focal point Correct answer.
  3. A three-tier structure with the village panchayat as the strongest tier
  4. Direct central administration of rural development

Explanation

The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended replacing the three-tier system with a two-tier structure of Mandal Panchayats at the base and Zila Parishads at the district level, with the Zila Parishad as the focal point of planning. It also suggested participation of political parties in panchayat elections and a constitutional status for panchayats. These ideas influenced later reform debates but were not uniformly adopted.

Question 36General Awareness and Current Affairs

In a Halqa Panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir, a candidate is declared elected only when which requirement is satisfied?

  1. The candidate secures a plurality of the valid votes polled Correct answer.
  2. The candidate secures at least two-thirds of the valid votes polled
  3. The candidate secures more than fifty per cent of the total electorate
  4. The candidate is nominated by the Block Development Council

Explanation

Elections to Halqa Panchayats are held on a first-past-the-post basis, so the candidate with the highest number of valid votes polled in the ward is declared elected, even without an absolute majority. There is no requirement of a majority of the total electorate or of a special nomination. This is the same plurality principle used in general elections in India.

Question 37General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the principal function of the District Development Council in Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. Adjudicating disputes relating to panchayat taxation
  2. Preparing and approving the district plan and monitoring development schemes Correct answer.
  3. Auditing the accounts of the Union Government
  4. Conducting elections to Halqa Panchayats

Explanation

The District Development Council is the district-level tier in Jammu and Kashmir, entrusted with formulating and approving district development plans and overseeing implementation of schemes. It coordinates the Block Development Councils and Halqa Panchayats below it. It is a planning and developmental body, not an electoral or judicial authority.

Question 38General Awareness and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains why a State Legislature cannot simply abolish the three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj at will?

  1. Panchayats are bodies created by Parliament and can be altered only by a constitutional amendment
  2. The Supreme Court must certify every State panchayat law
  3. The President must approve every State law on panchayats before it takes effect
  4. Part IX of the Constitution prescribes the tiers and their essential features, so any change must respect its mandatory provisions Correct answer.

Explanation

After the 73rd Amendment, panchayats are constitutional bodies, and Part IX lays down mandatory features such as elections, reservation, a five-year term and the State Finance Commission. A State Legislature can make detailed laws under Article 243G but cannot dispense with these essential requirements. Any structural change must therefore conform to the constitutional framework.

Question 39General Awareness and Current Affairs

A State wishes to devolve a new function to Panchayats. Which constitutional provision is the proper basis for such devolution?

  1. Article 243G, read with the Eleventh Schedule Correct answer.
  2. Article 243ZD on District Planning Committees
  3. Article 243W, read with the Twelfth Schedule
  4. Article 243E on duration of Panchayats

Explanation

Article 243G empowers State Legislatures to endow panchayats with powers and responsibilities for preparing plans and implementing schemes for economic development and social justice, including matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. Devolution of a rural function therefore rests on Article 243G. Article 243W and the Twelfth Schedule apply to urban local bodies.

Question 40General Awareness and Current Affairs

A State fails to constitute a State Finance Commission for more than five years. Which statement most accurately describes the constitutional position?

  1. The Union Finance Commission automatically takes over the State's role
  2. The State has violated a constitutional obligation under Article 243-I, which requires a commission every five years Correct answer.
  3. The Governor may personally fix the panchayat budget without any commission
  4. No violation arises because the State Finance Commission is only a statutory body

Explanation

Article 243-I requires the Governor to constitute a State Finance Commission at the expiration of every fifth year and to lay its recommendations with an action-taken report before the Legislature. Failure to do so is a breach of a constitutional duty, even if the courts may be slow to compel performance. The body is constitutional, not merely statutory.

Question 41Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which river is known as the 'Suryaputri' and is the largest river of the Jammu region by volume?

  1. Jhelum
  2. Ravi
  3. Tawi
  4. Chenab Correct answer.

Explanation

The Chenab, formed by the union of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradesh, is the largest river flowing through the Jammu region and is traditionally called Suryaputri, the daughter of the Sun. It enters Jammu and Kashmir near Kishtwar and flows through Doda, Ramban and Reasi before entering Pakistan. The Tawi is significant for Jammu city but is far smaller in volume.

Question 42Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

The famous Shankaracharya Temple, situated on a hill overlooking Dal Lake, is dedicated to which deity?

  1. Lord Vishnu
  2. Lord Shiva Correct answer.
  3. Goddess Sharika
  4. Lord Ganesha

Explanation

The Shankaracharya Temple on the Takht-e-Sulaiman hill in Srinagar is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is associated by tradition with the philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have visited and worshipped there. The temple offers a panoramic view of the Kashmir Valley and Dal Lake.

Question 43Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which pass provides the traditional historic route connecting the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh?

  1. Mintaka Pass
  2. Zoji La Correct answer.
  3. Banihal Pass
  4. Pir Panjal Pass

Explanation

Zoji La lies on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Zanskar range and has historically served as the gateway between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. It remains a critical road link, closed by heavy snow in winter. The other passes listed connect different regions or lie outside the union territory.

Question 44Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which of the following is the official summer capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. Anantnag
  2. Leh
  3. Srinagar Correct answer.
  4. Jammu

Explanation

Srinagar serves as the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, while Jammu is the winter capital, a dual-capital arrangement inherited from the erstwhile state. The secretariat and government offices shift between the two cities seasonally. Leh is a separate capital of the Ladakh union territory.

Question 45Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

The Dogra Art Museum, housing artefacts of the Dogra rulers, is located in which city?

  1. Kathua
  2. Udhampur
  3. Rajouri
  4. Jammu Correct answer.

Explanation

The Dogra Art Museum is housed in the Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu city, the historic seat of the Dogra rulers. Its collection includes paintings, manuscripts, coins and royal costumes associated with the Jammu and Kashmir princely state. Mubarak Mandi itself is a heritage complex of palaces overlooking the Tawi.

Question 46Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which crop is the staple food grain of the Kashmir Valley and dominates its agricultural landscape?

  1. Wheat
  2. Rice Correct answer.
  3. Barley
  4. Maize

Explanation

Rice is the staple crop of the Kashmir Valley, grown in the flat, irrigated karewa and valley-floor lands during the summer season. Varieties such as mushk budji are locally famous. Wheat and maize are grown too, but rice dominates both diet and cropping pattern in the valley.

Question 47Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

The traditional Kashmiri kangri, used for personal heating during winter, is a portable fire pot woven into which kind of outer casing?

  1. Wicker basket Correct answer.
  2. Copper frame
  3. Clay shell
  4. Woollen bag

Explanation

A kangri consists of an earthen fire pot encased in a wicker basket woven from twigs, which insulates the hands while holding smouldering charcoal. It is carried under the traditional pheran during the harsh Chillai Kalan winter. The wicker casing is what makes it portable and safe to hold.

Question 48Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which dance form, performed by women in a circle with rhythmic clapping, is associated with the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities?

  1. Dumhal
  2. Bhand Pather
  3. Rouf Correct answer.
  4. Kud

Explanation

Rouf is a traditional dance of Kashmiri women, especially associated with the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, performed in circles during spring and festivals with rhythmic footwork and clapping. Kud is a Dogra folk dance of the Jammu region, while Dumhal is performed by the Wattal community. Bhand Pather is a folk theatre form.

Question 49Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

Which Mughal emperor is credited with laying out the Shalimar Bagh garden on the shores of Dal Lake for his wife Nur Jahan?

  1. Shah Jahan
  2. Akbar
  3. Aurangzeb
  4. Jahangir Correct answer.

Explanation

Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar was laid out by Emperor Jahangir in the early seventeenth century, traditionally for his wife Nur Jahan. It is the largest of the Mughal gardens in Kashmir and follows the classic charbagh layout with terraces and a central water channel. Later Mughal rulers added to it but did not found it.

Question 50Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge, History, Geography, and Culture

The Treaty of Amritsar of 1846 was signed between the British and which ruler, leading to the creation of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. Pratap Singh
  2. Gulab Singh Correct answer.
  3. Zorawar Singh
  4. Ranjit Singh

Explanation

Under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, the British East India Company transferred the territories of Kashmir and its dependencies to Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu for a payment of 75 lakh Nanakshahi rupees. This created the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with Gulab Singh as its first ruler. Ranjit Singh had died in 1839, and Zorawar Singh was Gulab Singh's general.