Indian General Knowledge: States, Geography & Mythology

Ekdant is a name for Lord Ganesh, referring to his single tusk. Ganesh is often depicted with one complete tusk and one broken tusk, hence the name Ekdant (ek = one, dant = tusk). Brihaspati is the guru of gods, Indra is the king of gods, and Shiva is the destroyer/transformer in the Hindu trinity.

Indra is known as the king of Hindu gods and the ruler of Svarga (heaven). He is the deity of rain, thunder, and lightning, and wields the weapon Vajra. Shiva is part of the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh), Vishnu is the preserver, and Brihaspati is the guru of gods.

The Air India Express flight IX 812 crashed in Mangalore, Karnataka on May 22, 2010, when it overshot the runway while landing. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft crashed into a valley beyond the runway, resulting in 158 fatalities. This tragic accident occurred at Mangalore International Airport.

Sahasraksh is a name for Indra, meaning "one with a thousand eyes." According to Hindu mythology, Indra was cursed by sage Gautama to have a thousand marks resembling eyes on his body, which later became actual eyes. Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, Vishnu is the preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer.

Goddess Saraswati is the Hindu deity of learning, knowledge, wisdom, music, and arts. She is depicted holding a veena (musical instrument) and sitting on a lotus, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. Students and scholars worship her for academic success. Parvati is Shiva's consort, Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, and Shiva is the destroyer.

Brihaspati (also known as Jupiter) is the guru or teacher of the gods in Hindu mythology. He is the deity of wisdom, eloquence, and education, and serves as the spiritual preceptor to Indra and other devas. Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, Indra is the king of gods, and Vishnu is the preserver.

The Vajra is the legendary weapon of Indra, the king of gods in Hindu mythology. It is a thunderbolt or diamond weapon that Indra uses to defeat enemies and bring rain. Vishnu's weapon is the Sudarshana Chakra, Shiva's is the Trishul (trident), and Ganesh wields an axe or sometimes a noose.

Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasur, earning the title Mahishasuramardini (the slayer of Mahishasur). According to Hindu mythology, Durga was created by the combined energies of all gods to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasur, who could not be defeated by any male deity. Saraswati is the goddess of learning, Indra is the king of gods, and Vishnu is the preserver.

Dantewada in Chhattisgarh has been the site of several major Naxalite attacks, most notably the April 2010 ambush that killed 76 CRPF personnel. The other options are incorrect: Vijayawada is a major city in Andhra Pradesh with no such attack history, Shaniwarwada is a historic fort in Pune, and 'ninjawada' appears to be a fictional or made-up name.

Goa is the smallest state in India by area, covering approximately 3,702 square kilometers. It was part of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu until 1987 when it became a separate state. Sikkim is the second smallest, and Haryana and Tripura are significantly larger. Goa's small size and location on India's western coast make it unique among Indian states.

The Gaur (Indian bison) is the official state animal of Goa, declared in 2012. Bulls, goats, and cows are domestic animals found throughout India but not designated as state symbols of Goa.

Panaji (Panjim) is the capital of Goa. It houses the state legislative assembly and serves as the administrative center. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, while Imphal (Manipur) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) are capitals of other states.

Football is Goa's most popular sport, reflecting Portuguese influence and the state's strong football culture. The state produces many national team players and has passionate local clubs. Volleyball, basketball, and tennis have limited presence in Goa.

Uttarakhand became the 27th state of India on November 9, 2000. Before its creation, India had 26 states. Counting includes all states from the original reorganization of states in 1956 through subsequent creations.

Jim Corbett National Park (established 1936 as Hailey National Park) is India's oldest national park. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980, Eravikulam in 1978. Bandipur (likely what 'Banarghat' refers to) was established in 1974. Corbett's 1936 founding date makes it the oldest.

Dehradun is the temporary capital of Uttarakhand, serving as the interim administrative center while Gairsen is developed as the permanent capital. Nainital houses the High Court. Gairsen and Almora are towns in Uttarakhand but not the capital.

Gairsen (or Gairsain) is planned as the permanent future capital of Uttarakhand, chosen for its central geographic location within the state. Dehradun serves as the temporary capital. Almora and Mussoorie are important towns in Uttarakhand but not designated as the future capital.

The Uttarakhand High Court is located in Nainital, established in 2013 after the state's formation. Dehradun serves as the temporary capital but doesn't house the High Court. Gairsen is the planned future capital, and Chamoli is a district.