Which dance form of India has been inscribed into UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
- (a)Kathakali
- (b)Garba
- (c)Bhangra
- (d)Odissi
Correct — B, Garba. The Garba of Gujarat was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 6 December 2023. Garba is a devotional circular folk dance performed during Navratri around a lamp or an image of the goddess. It became the 15th element from India on the list.
- (a)Kathakali — Kathakali is a classical dance-drama of Kerala; celebrated as it is, it has not been individually inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
- (c)Bhangra — Bhangra is a vibrant Punjabi folk dance, but it does not feature on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- (d)Odissi — Odissi is a classical dance of Odisha; it is not individually inscribed on the UNESCO list.
UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognises living traditions such as performing arts, rituals and craftsmanship. India has several inscriptions — Kutiyattam, Vedic chanting, Ramlila, Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja in Kolkata, and the Garba of Gujarat added in 2023.
The question asks specifically which of the four dances was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible-heritage list. Garba (2023) is the recent addition; the other three, though important dance forms, are not individually on that list.
- Garba of Gujarat was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative List on 6 December 2023.
- It was India's 15th element on the list.
- Garba is a circular dance performed during Navratri in honour of the goddess.
- Other Indian intangible-heritage inscriptions include Yoga (2016), Kumbh Mela (2017) and Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021).
- Confusing UNESCO's tangible World Heritage Sites with the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
- Assuming a classical dance such as Kathakali or Odissi must be listed before a folk dance like Garba.
Asked as which Indian tradition was recently added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Consider the following pairs: 1. Garba : Gujarat, 2. Mohiniattam : Odisha, 3. Yakshagana : Karnataka. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(c) 1 and 3 only
Same concept — Garba as the folk dance of Gujarat. That UPSC item confirms the Garba–Gujarat pairing that underlies this question on Garba's UNESCO inscription.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Garba, added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2023, is a folk dance of
- (a)Rajasthan
- (b)Gujarat
- (c)Maharashtra
- (d)Punjab
Answer(b) Gujarat — performed during Navratri.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following is on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
- (a)Yoga
- (b)Sun Temple, Konark
- (c)Kaziranga National Park
- (d)Western Ghats
Answer(a) Yoga — inscribed in 2016; the others are World Heritage or natural sites.