Prelims · Art & culture · 10 questions

Festivals, UNESCO heritage & miscellany

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 5 of 11 years · most in 2024 (2)

UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2026 · Q31

Medium Provisional key

Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) Ecuador

Tungurahua is an active stratovolcano in the Ecuadorian Andes, near the town of Baños. UNESCO designated the Tungurahua Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark, covering about 239,700 hectares, in 2025, with Ecuador as the country.

✓ (a) UNESCO lists the geopark as located in the Ecuadorian Andes, designated in 2025, country Ecuador.
✗ (b) Peru's volcanic landmarks such as Misti and Sabancaya lie in the southern Andes; Tungurahua is not among them.
✗ (d) Colombia's active volcanoes include Nevado del Ruiz and Galeras; Tungurahua lies south of the border, in central Ecuador.

Remember · Tungurahua ('throat of fire'): active volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes; UNESCO Global Geopark since 2025, next to Sangay and Llanganates National Parks.

Sources

UNESCO, Tungurahua Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark ↗ “Located in the Ecuadorian Andes, Tungurahua Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark displays a geological history spanning over 417 million years, shaped by volcanic eruptions, tectonic uplift, and glacial activity. … Characteristics Designation date 2025 Country(ies) Ecuador Transnational No Area (ha) 239,700”

Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2026 · Q37

Easy Provisional key

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?

1.They acted as army fortresses.
2.They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3.They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4.They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) 3 only

The Moidams of Charaideo in Assam are the mound-burial system of the Tai-Ahom dynasty. They are burial mounds for Ahom kings, queens and nobles, so only the statement about burial grounds is correct.

✗ 1. The Moidams were not fortresses. They are burial mounds, and Charaideo served as the Ahom royal necropolis.
✗ 2. They were places of burial and ancestor reverence, not recreation centres. The name itself comes from a Tai phrase linked to burying the dead and the spirit of the deceased.
✓ 3. The Moidams are burial mounds constructed for Ahom kings, queens and nobles.
✗ 4. They served as tombs, not as places for battle drills or military training.

Remember · Moidams of Charaideo, Assam: burial mounds of Ahom kings, queens and nobles; mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2024.