The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), which is developing Science Centres/Museums/Innovation Hubs in India, works under
- A.the Ministry of Science and Technology
- B.the Ministry of Culture
- C.the Ministry of Education
- D.the Ministry of Earth Sciences
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, the Ministry of Culture. The NCSM is an autonomous society of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
It was formed in 1978 to take over the science museums then run by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and its headquarters is in Kolkata. Its oldest unit is the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata, opened in 1959, and it also runs the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bengaluru and the National Science Centre in Delhi, among many others. The council builds science centres, mobile science exhibitions and innovation hubs to spread a scientific temper among students and the public.
A is wrong because, although the work is about science, the council does not belong to the Ministry of Science and Technology. C is wrong because the Ministry of Education looks after schools, higher education and bodies such as NCERT, not the NCSM. D is wrong because the Ministry of Earth Sciences deals with weather, oceans and seismology.
Exam tip: NCSM, 1978, Kolkata, under the Ministry of Culture; first unit BITM Kolkata (1959).
Practice Questions
View allConsider the following statements with reference to the Nataraj bronze sculpture of Chola period :
1. Shiva is shown balancing himself on his right leg representing tirobhava.
2. Shiva is shown raising his left leg in bhujangatrasita stance, representing kicking away the illusion from the devotee's mind.
3. The main right hand holds the damaru, Shiva's favourite musical instrument.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
In the Chola Nataraja it is the raised left leg, in the bhujangatrasita pose, that stands for tirobhava, kicking away the veil of illusion from the devotee's mind.
Read the full explanation →Where is the famous Gupta period Deogarh Temple situated ?
- A.Uttar Pradesh
- B.Madhya Pradesh
- C.Chhattisgarh
- D.Rajasthan
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The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh stands in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, on the bank of the Betwa river. Built around the early sixth century, it is one of the earliest Hindu temples in north India and is dedicated to Vishnu.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements about the literary language Apabhramsha :
1. It appeared in recognizable forms by the sixth century.
2. It developed out of mixtures of regional vernaculars with the Prakrits and Sanskrit.
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
Show answer
Apabhramsha was a literary language that took recognisable shape by about the sixth century, formed from regional speech mixed with the Prakrits and Sanskrit.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following pairs : Traditions — Communities 1. Chaliha Sahib Festival — Sindhis 2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra — Gonds 3. Wari-Warkari — Santhals Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.None of the above
Show answer
Only the first pair is correct: Chaliha Sahib is a festival of the Sindhi community. During Chaliha, Sindhis observe forty days of fasting and prayer, usually in July and August, in honour of Jhulelal, the patron deity of Sindhis, ending with thanksgiving at a river or other water body.
Read the full explanation →Which one among the following cities was included as the 'City of Music' in the year 2023 in the UNESCO's Creative Cities Network?
- A.Kozhikode
- B.Chennai
- C.Varanasi
- D.Gwalior
Show answer
In October 2023 UNESCO added Gwalior to its Creative Cities Network as a City of Music.
Read the full explanation →