UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 50 years ago: Snake boats to be standardised

Q1. The trophy that gives Kerala's best-known vallam kali its name is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A bronze oar mounted on a granite pedestal, handed over by Jawaharlal Nehru during his Alappuzha visit of December 1952
  • B. A rolling silver shield bearing the emblem of the Travancore-Cochin State, instituted for the Kainakari backwater races
  • C. A silver replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus, carrying an inscription and the donor's signature
  • D. A gold-plated model of a palliyodam presented by the Aranmula temple authorities to the fastest crew of the season

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the event that gave rise to the Nehru Trophy Boat Race with the race as it is conducted today: 1. The event of 1952 was an impromptu race held during a journey by a pageantry of boats from Kottayam to Alappuzha. 2. The first official edition of the race was held in 1954 in the Kainakari-Meenappilli backwaters, and not at the stretch that serves as the venue today. 3. Unlike the 1952 event, the present-day race is fixed for the second Saturday of September every year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The event of 1952 was an impromptu race held during a journey by a pageantry of boats from Kottayam to Alappuzha.
  2. The first official edition of the race was held in 1954 in the Kainakari-Meenappilli backwaters, and not at the stretch that serves as the venue today.
  3. Unlike the 1952 event, the present-day race is fixed for the second Saturday of September every year.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In Kerala's racing tradition, the hull form of a chundan vallam is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A flat-bottomed barge of about 60 feet, roofed over with bamboo matting for carrying temple offerings
  • B. A twin-hulled craft of about 40 feet, fitted with a raised platform for singers of the accompanying vanchipattu
  • C. A canoe-form hull running to between 100 and 120 feet, tapering upward at the after end
  • D. A keeled sea-going craft of about 80 feet, decked forward and used for coastal cargo along the Malabar coast

Q4. Among the categories of craft that take part in Kerala's vallam kali, which one carries the largest crew, running to about a hundred rowers?

  • A. Churulan Vallam
  • B. Chundan Vallam
  • C. Veppu Vallam
  • D. Iruttukuthy Vallam

Q5. In India's list of wetlands of international importance, the entry styled 'Vembanad-Kol' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. A chain of freshwater irrigation tanks of about 2,000 hectares in the Palakkad gap, added to the list in 2022
  • B. A mangrove and estuarine tract of about 33,000 hectares around the Kochi barmouth, added to the list in 2012
  • C. A lagoon-and-mudflat complex of about 61,000 hectares on the northern Malabar coast, added in 2019
  • D. A backwater and wetland system of about 1,51,250 hectares in central Kerala, added to the list in 2002

Q6. Consider the following statements about the water body on which the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held and the larger system to which it belongs: 1. The Vembanad-Kol wetland was placed on the Ramsar list in 1971, the year the Convention itself was concluded. 2. Punnamada, the present venue of the race, forms part of the Vembanad backwater system in Alappuzha district. 3. Vembanad is the largest wetland in Kerala and is also reckoned the longest lake in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Vembanad-Kol wetland was placed on the Ramsar list in 1971, the year the Convention itself was concluded.
  2. Punnamada, the present venue of the race, forms part of the Vembanad backwater system in Alappuzha district.
  3. Vembanad is the largest wetland in Kerala and is also reckoned the longest lake in India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The Onam festival of Kerala is marked by a defined set of accompanying sports and performance forms. Which of the following is/are NOT part of that set? 1. Onathallu 2. Theyyam 3. Kaikottikali 4. Thrissur Pooram Which of the above is/are NOT correctly included?

  1. Onathallu
  2. Theyyam
  3. Kaikottikali
  4. Thrissur Pooram
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q8. The festivities of Onam extend over ten days in the month of Chingam. On which of the following days does the principal celebration fall?

  • A. Atham
  • B. Moolam
  • C. Uthrittathi
  • D. Thiruvonam

Q9. The standardisation scheme drawn up in 1976 arose from a disparity in crew strength between two groups of snake boats. Which of the following boats was/were NOT among those cited as carrying over a hundred rowers? 1. Kodupunna 2. Karichal 3. Payipad 4. Kallooparamban Which of the above is/are NOT correctly included?

  1. Kodupunna
  2. Karichal
  3. Payipad
  4. Kallooparamban
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q10. Under the 1976 scheme to equalise the length and rower strength of snake boats, how much was proposed as a loan to each boat to meet the cost of the modifications?

  • A. Rs. 5,000
  • B. Rs. 7,500
  • C. Rs. 10,000
  • D. Rs. 25,000

Q11. Consider the following pairs relating to Kerala's boat-racing calendar: 1. Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali — held on the Pampa 2. Nehru Trophy Boat Race — held at Punnamada, Alappuzha 3. President's Trophy Boat Race — held at Kottayam 4. Champions Boat League — concludes on the State Formation Day, 1 November Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali — held on the Pampa
  2. Nehru Trophy Boat Race — held at Punnamada, Alappuzha
  3. President's Trophy Boat Race — held at Kottayam
  4. Champions Boat League — concludes on the State Formation Day, 1 November
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only