Fairs, Tribal Culture & Handicrafts of India
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Why This Chapter Matters
SSC and RRB papers pick up two or three questions from this chapter almost every attempt, and the pattern is narrow enough to prepare fully. Kumbh Mela questions test the four locations and the river at each site. Pushkar and Sonepur fairs get asked as single-line facts: state, month, animal traded. Tribal culture questions usually name a tribe and ask its state, or name a state and ask which tribe lives there — Bhil, Gond, Santhal and Naga groups repeat the most. GI tags on handicrafts have become a favourite in the last few years because a new tag is announced almost every month, so examiners have a constant supply of fresh, checkable facts.
The safest strategy here is table memory, not story memory. Learn fair-state-month as one block, tribe-state-practice as a second block, and handicraft-state-GI year as a third block. This chapter builds all three blocks for you.
1. Kumbh Mela — The Master Fact Table
Kumbh Mela is the largest periodic religious gathering in the world, held at four river-bank sites in rotation. The gathering marks a point when, according to Hindu belief, drops of amrit (nectar of immortality) fell to earth during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), and bathing at these spots on the correct date is believed to cleanse sins.
There are four Kumbh sites, and each hosts the fair once every 12 years, so a full cycle of all four takes 12 years with a gap pattern rather than each falling exactly three years apart in a simple rotation — the dates depend on planetary positions (position of Jupiter, Sun and Moon in specific zodiac signs).
| Site | State | River | Local name of the bathing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haridwar | Uttarakhand | Ganga | Har ki Pauri |
| Prayagraj (Allahabad) | Uttar Pradesh | Confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati (Triveni Sangam) | Sangam |
| Nashik (Trimbakeshwar) | Maharashtra | Godavari | Ramkund |
| Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh | Shipra (Kshipra) | Ram Ghat |
Remember this as "two rivers in the north, one each in the west and centre." Prayagraj is the only site on a river confluence, which is why its fair is sometimes called the biggest of the four.
Three related terms are frequently confused in MCQs:
- Ardh Kumbh — held every 6 years, at Haridwar and Prayagraj only.
- Purna Kumbh — held every 12 years, at all four sites in rotation.
- Maha Kumbh — held after 12 cycles of Purna Kumbh, that is, every 144 years, at Prayagraj only.
UNESCO inscribed Kumbh Mela on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017, describing it as the largest peaceful gathering of pilgrims on earth.
2. Pushkar Fair, Sonepur Mela and Other Major Fairs
Pushkar Fair is held at Pushkar in Rajasthan on the banks of Pushkar Lake, in the Hindu month of Kartik (October–November, around Kartik Purnima). It began as a cattle and camel trading fair for local herders and is now the largest camel fair in India, drawing traders, tourists and folk performers together. Camel races, camel decoration contests and folk music competitions are its signature events. Pushkar also has one of India's few temples dedicated to Brahma, visited heavily during the fair.
Sonepur Mela (also called Harihar Kshetra Mela) is held at Sonepur in Bihar, at the confluence of the Gandak and Ganga rivers, starting on Kartik Purnima (October–November) and running about a month. It is Asia's largest cattle fair and historically the largest animal trading fair in India, trading elephants, horses, cattle and birds; elephant trading has been restricted in recent decades under wildlife law, but the fair's animal-trading identity remains the exam-testable fact.
Other fairs worth a one-line memory each:
| Fair | State | Month/Season | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pushkar Fair | Rajasthan | Kartik (Oct–Nov) | Camel trading, camel races |
| Sonepur Mela | Bihar | Kartik Purnima (Oct–Nov) | Asia's largest cattle fair |
| Kumbh Mela | UP/Uttarakhand/MP/Maharashtra | Cyclical, per planetary position | Largest religious gathering |
| Surajkund Crafts Mela | Haryana (Faridabad) | February | Handicrafts and folk art of India and invited partner countries |
| Hemis Festival | Ladakh | June–July | Masked Cham dance, Guru Padmasambhava's birth anniversary |
| Modhera Dance Festival (Uttarardh Mahotsav) | Gujarat | January | Classical dance at Sun Temple, Modhera |
| Chandrabhaga Mela | Odisha (Konark) | January–February (Magha Saptami) | Sun worship near Konark Sun Temple |
| Nauchandi Mela | Uttar Pradesh (Meerut) | March–April | Trade fair with a communal-harmony tradition |
| Rath Yatra fairs | Odisha (Puri) and others | June–July (Ashadha) | Chariot festival crowds, craft stalls |
| Kila Raipur Sports Festival ("Rural Olympics") | Punjab | February | Rural sports, bullock-cart races |
SSC has repeatedly tested "Pushkar Fair is associated with which animal" and "Sonepur Mela is held at the confluence of which two rivers." Learn these two cold.
3. Tribal Communities of India — Region by Region
India's Scheduled Tribes are spread across the country but cluster heavily in central India, the northeast and pockets of the south and islands. Exam questions almost always ask "which state is X tribe found in" or give a distinctive practice and ask the tribe's name.
Central India
Central India (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha) holds the largest tribal population of any zone.
- Gond — the single largest tribal group in India by population, spread across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. Known for Gond painting, a dot-and-line folk art tradition, and worship of nature deities. The historic Gondwana kingdom takes its name from this group.
- Bhil — the second largest tribal group, found mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra (the region loosely called the "Bhil belt"). Traditionally skilled archers; known for Pithora paintings and the Bhagoria festival in the Jhabua-Alirajpur belt of MP, a pre-Holi gathering where young men and women choose partners.
- Santhal — India's third largest tribal group, concentrated in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar. Led the Santhal Hul (rebellion) of 1855 against British land policy; known for Santhali dance and the Sohrai harvest festival with distinctive wall painting.
- Munda — found in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. Birsa Munda, who led the Ulgulan (Great Tumult) of 1899–1900, belonged to this group.
- Oraon (Kurukh) — found in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal. Known for the Sarhul spring festival, worship of the Sal tree.
- Baiga — found mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), traditionally practised shifting cultivation called bewar.
- Kol — found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh.
Northeast India
The northeast has the highest tribal share of population of any zone, with each state associated with specific groups.
- Naga tribes (Angami, Ao, Konyak, Sema/Sumi and others) — Nagaland. Known for the Hornbill Festival, held every December at Kisama near Kohima, showcasing all Naga tribes together.
- Khasi, Garo, Jaintia — Meghalaya. These are notably matrilineal societies, where property passes through the mother's line; the youngest daughter (khadduh among Khasis) usually inherits ancestral property.
- Mizo (Lushai) — Mizoram. Known for Cheraw, the bamboo dance, performed with crossing and uncrossing bamboo poles.
- Bodo — Assam, the largest plains tribal group of the state, with the Bodoland Territorial Region.
- Apatani — Arunachal Pradesh (Ziro valley), UNESCO-nominated for sustainable wet-rice cultivation and traditional nose-plug/facial-tattoo custom among older women (now discontinued).
- Adi, Nyishi, Monpa — Arunachal Pradesh; the Monpa are Buddhist and associated with Tawang.
- Meitei — Manipur, majority community of the Imphal valley (not a Scheduled Tribe as a whole, but closely linked to Manipuri classical dance covered in Chapter 2).
- Kuki — hill tribe found across Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram.
Western and Southern India
- Bhil and Garasia — Rajasthan, Gujarat.
- Warli — Maharashtra (Thane, Palghar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli belt), globally known for Warli painting, white geometric figures on mud-red backgrounds depicting daily life and harvest scenes.
- Toda — Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu, known for distinctive barrel-vaulted huts and buffalo-based pastoral economy.
- Irula, Kadar, Kurumba — Nilgiri and Western Ghats belt of Tamil Nadu/Kerala.
- Chenchu — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Nallamala hills), a forest-dwelling, hunter-gatherer group, listed as a PVTG.
- Kota — Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu, known as skilled artisans and musicians among the Nilgiri tribes.
Islands
- Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese — Andaman Islands. The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island remain the most isolated, uncontacted tribal group in the world, protected by law from all outside contact.
- Nicobarese, Shompen — Nicobar Islands.
Key Terms Examiners Test
- Scheduled Tribes (ST) — communities notified under Article 342 of the Constitution.
- Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — a sub-category (earlier called Primitive Tribal Groups) marked by pre-agricultural technology, low literacy and declining/stagnant population; examples include Baiga, Chenchu, Toto, Birhor and Sentinelese.
- Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — Fifth Schedule covers tribal administration in most states; Sixth Schedule provides autonomous district councils for tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
- TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) — the nodal body marketing tribal produce and handicrafts under the "Tribes India" brand.
4. Tribal Festivals and Distinctive Practices — Quick Table
| Tribe | State(s) | Distinctive practice/festival |
|---|---|---|
| Gond | MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha | Gond painting; Gondwana heritage |
| Bhil | MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat | Bhagoria festival; Pithora painting; archery skill |
| Santhal | Jharkhand, WB, Odisha, Bihar | Santhal Hul 1855; Sohrai wall art |
| Munda | Jharkhand, Odisha | Ulgulan 1899–1900 (Birsa Munda) |
| Oraon | Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh | Sarhul festival, Sal tree worship |
| Baiga | MP, Chhattisgarh | Bewar (shifting cultivation); PVTG |
| Naga tribes | Nagaland | Hornbill Festival (December) |
| Khasi/Garo/Jaintia | Meghalaya | Matrilineal inheritance |
| Mizo | Mizoram | Cheraw bamboo dance |
| Apatani | Arunachal Pradesh | Wet-rice cultivation in Ziro valley |
| Warli | Maharashtra | Warli painting |
| Toda | Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris) | Barrel-vaulted huts, buffalo pastoralism |
| Chenchu | Andhra Pradesh/Telangana | Forest hunter-gatherer PVTG |
| Sentinelese | Andaman Islands | Fully isolated, legally protected from contact |
5. GI-Tagged Handicrafts of India — State-wise Table
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag protects products whose qualities are tied to a specific place of origin. In India, GI registration is handled under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, administered by the Geographical Indications Registry at Chennai. Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to receive a GI tag, in 2004. This chapter covers handicraft GI tags; agricultural GI tags (Basmati rice, Alphonso mango) are outside its scope.
| Handicraft | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pashmina shawl | Jammu & Kashmir | Woven from fine Changthangi goat wool |
| Kashmiri Pashmina / Kani shawl | Jammu & Kashmir | Kani weave uses small wooden sticks instead of a shuttle |
| Chanderi sari | Madhya Pradesh | Sheer, lightweight weave from Chanderi town |
| Maheshwari sari | Madhya Pradesh | Reversible border weave from Maheshwar |
| Banarasi sari (Banaras Brocade) | Uttar Pradesh | Gold and silver zari brocade from Varanasi |
| Lucknow Chikankari | Uttar Pradesh | White-thread shadow embroidery |
| Kota Doria sari | Rajasthan | Lightweight checkered weave from Kota |
| Bagru hand block print | Rajasthan | Natural-dye block printing from Bagru village |
| Sanganeri hand block print | Rajasthan | Fine floral block printing from Sanganer |
| Blue Pottery of Jaipur | Rajasthan | Persian-origin glazed pottery, no clay used, made from quartz |
| Molela clay work | Rajasthan | Terracotta plaques from Molela village |
| Phulkari | Punjab | Colourful embroidered shawl/dupatta motif work |
| Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving | Jammu & Kashmir | Carved furniture and boxes |
| Bidriware | Karnataka (Bidar) | Blackened metal alloy inlaid with silver |
| Channapatna toys | Karnataka | Lacquered wooden toys |
| Mysore Silk | Karnataka | Pure silk sarees, KSIC-produced |
| Kondapalli toys | Andhra Pradesh | Lightweight wooden toys from Kondapalli village |
| Kalamkari (Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti styles) | Andhra Pradesh | Hand-painted/block-printed textile art |
| Pochampally Ikat | Telangana | Tie-dye "double ikat" weaving |
| Bidriware (listed above) | Karnataka | — |
| Pattachitra | Odisha (also West Bengal style) | Scroll painting on cloth, mythological themes |
| Sambalpuri sari (Sambalpuri Ikat) | Odisha | Bandha (ikat) tie-dye weaving |
| Applique work of Pipili | Odisha | Colourful patchwork textile craft |
| Bankura Panchmura terracotta horse | West Bengal | Iconic terracotta horse figure, also a state emblem-like symbol |
| Baluchari sari | West Bengal | Silk sari with woven mythological figures |
| Dhokra (Dokra) metal casting | Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand | Lost-wax bronze casting, tribal motifs |
| Madhubani painting (Mithila painting) | Bihar | Line-and-colour folk painting from the Mithila region |
| Bhagalpuri Silk (Tussar silk) | Bihar | Wild silk textile from Bhagalpur |
| Sikki grass craft | Bihar | Golden grass woven into decorative items |
| Nagaland Naga textiles (e.g., Naga shawls) | Nagaland | Tribe-specific woven shawl patterns |
| Manipur Black Pottery (Longpi pottery) | Manipur | Black stoneware made without a potter's wheel |
| Assam Muga Silk | Assam | Golden-hued wild silk, unique to Brahmaputra valley |
| Kani shawl (listed above) | Jammu & Kashmir | — |
| Aranmula Kannadi (metal mirror) | Kerala | Hand-made metal-alloy mirror from Aranmula |
| Palakkad handloom | Kerala | Traditional Kerala handloom textile |
| Thanjavur paintings | Tamil Nadu | Gold-leaf relief painting, classical/devotional themes |
| Toda embroidery | Tamil Nadu | Red-and-black geometric embroidery by the Toda tribe |
| Swamimalai bronze icons | Tamil Nadu | Lost-wax bronze idol casting, Chola-style continuity |
Note the recurring rule: two states sometimes share a similar craft under different GI names (Kalamkari in Andhra Pradesh, Pattachitra in both Odisha and West Bengal, Dhokra across several central/eastern states). SSC likes to test the "odd one out" using exactly this kind of overlap, so read the state column carefully rather than memorising by craft name alone.
Quick Revision — One-Line Facts
- Kumbh Mela is held at four sites: Haridwar (Ganga), Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam), Nashik (Godavari), Ujjain (Shipra).
- Ardh Kumbh is every 6 years (Haridwar/Prayagraj only); Purna Kumbh every 12 years (all four sites); Maha Kumbh every 144 years (Prayagraj only).
- UNESCO listed Kumbh Mela as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
- Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan, held in Kartik month, is India's largest camel fair.
- Sonepur Mela, Bihar, is held at the Gandak-Ganga confluence and is Asia's largest cattle fair.
- Surajkund Crafts Mela is held every February in Faridabad, Haryana.
- Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is held every December at Kisama.
- Gond is India's largest tribal community by population; Bhil is the second largest; Santhal is the third.
- Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan of 1899–1900 among the Munda tribe.
- The Santhal Hul (rebellion) took place in 1855 in the Jharkhand-Bengal-Bihar-Odisha belt.
- Khasi, Garo and Jaintia societies of Meghalaya are matrilineal.
- Mizoram's Cheraw is popularly called the bamboo dance.
- Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh (Ziro valley) is known for sustainable wet-rice farming without irrigation channels from rivers.
- The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island (Andaman) are the world's most isolated tribal group, legally protected from contact.
- PVTG stands for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group; examples include Baiga, Chenchu and Toto.
- Tribal areas are governed under the Fifth Schedule (most states) and Sixth Schedule (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram) of the Constitution.
- TRIFED markets tribal handicrafts and produce under the "Tribes India" brand.
- Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get a GI tag, in 2004.
- India's GI Registry is located in Chennai, under the GI Act of 1999.
- Warli painting (Maharashtra) uses white pigment on a mud-red background; it is not a tribe-specific painting confined to one caste but is associated chiefly with the Warli tribe.
- Madhubani (Mithila) painting comes from the Mithila region of Bihar.
- Blue Pottery of Jaipur uses no clay; it is made from quartz stone powder.
- Bidriware comes from Bidar, Karnataka, and uses blackened alloy inlaid with silver.
- Dhokra metal craft uses the lost-wax casting method and is found across central-eastern tribal belts.
- Pattachitra scroll painting is associated with both Odisha and West Bengal.
- Channapatna toys (Karnataka) are known for lacquer-finished wooden work.
- Phulkari embroidery belongs to Punjab.
- Aranmula Kannadi is a hand-made metal mirror from Kerala, not made of glass.
- Toda embroidery is a red-and-black geometric craft of the Toda tribe of Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri hills.
Memory Tables
Table A — Fair to State to Month
| Fair | State | Month |
|---|---|---|
| Kumbh Mela (Haridwar) | Uttarakhand | Per planetary cycle |
| Kumbh Mela (Prayagraj) | Uttar Pradesh | Per planetary cycle |
| Kumbh Mela (Nashik) | Maharashtra | Per planetary cycle |
| Kumbh Mela (Ujjain) | Madhya Pradesh | Per planetary cycle |
| Pushkar Fair | Rajasthan | Kartik (Oct–Nov) |
| Sonepur Mela | Bihar | Kartik Purnima (Oct–Nov) |
| Surajkund Crafts Mela | Haryana | February |
| Hornbill Festival | Nagaland | December |
| Modhera Dance Festival | Gujarat | January |
| Chandrabhaga Mela | Odisha | Jan–Feb |
Table B — Tribe to State to Signature Practice
| Tribe | State | Signature practice |
|---|---|---|
| Gond | MP/Chhattisgarh/Maharashtra | Gond painting |
| Bhil | MP/Rajasthan/Gujarat | Bhagoria festival |
| Santhal | Jharkhand/WB/Odisha | Sohrai art, Santhal Hul 1855 |
| Munda | Jharkhand/Odisha | Ulgulan led by Birsa Munda |
| Khasi/Garo/Jaintia | Meghalaya | Matrilineal society |
| Mizo | Mizoram | Cheraw bamboo dance |
| Naga tribes | Nagaland | Hornbill Festival |
| Apatani | Arunachal Pradesh | Wet-rice cultivation |
| Warli | Maharashtra | Warli painting |
| Toda | Tamil Nadu | Barrel-vaulted huts |
| Sentinelese | Andaman Islands | Total isolation |
Table C — Handicraft to State to GI Feature
| Handicraft | State | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pashmina/Kani shawl | Jammu & Kashmir | Fine goat-wool weave |
| Chikankari | Uttar Pradesh | White shadow embroidery |
| Blue Pottery | Rajasthan | Quartz-based, no clay |
| Phulkari | Punjab | Colourful embroidery |
| Bidriware | Karnataka | Silver-inlaid blackened alloy |
| Pochampally Ikat | Telangana | Double ikat weave |
| Sambalpuri sari | Odisha | Bandha ikat weave |
| Dhokra | Chhattisgarh/WB/Odisha/Jharkhand | Lost-wax metal casting |
| Madhubani painting | Bihar | Mithila folk painting |
| Muga silk | Assam | Golden wild silk |
| Aranmula Kannadi | Kerala | Metal-alloy mirror |
| Thanjavur painting | Tamil Nadu | Gold-leaf relief art |
Practice MCQs
Q1. At which of the following places is the Kumbh Mela held on the banks of the river Shipra? (a) Haridwar (b) Prayagraj (c) Ujjain (d) Nashik
Q2. Pushkar Fair, famous for camel trading, is held in which state? (a) Gujarat (b) Rajasthan (c) Haryana (d) Madhya Pradesh
Q3. Sonepur Mela, considered Asia's largest cattle fair, is held at the confluence of which two rivers? (a) Ganga and Yamuna (b) Gandak and Ganga (c) Godavari and Krishna (d) Shipra and Chambal
Q4. UNESCO inscribed the Kumbh Mela on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in which year? (a) 2010 (b) 2014 (c) 2017 (d) 2019
Q5. Which of the following is India's largest tribal community by population? (a) Bhil (b) Santhal (c) Gond (d) Munda
Q6. Birsa Munda led which uprising among the Munda tribe? (a) Santhal Hul (b) Ulgulan (c) Kol uprising (d) Bhil revolt
Q7. The Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya are notable for following which system of inheritance? (a) Patrilineal (b) Matrilineal (c) Joint family only (d) State-controlled inheritance
Q8. Cheraw, the bamboo dance, is a traditional dance of which state? (a) Manipur (b) Nagaland (c) Mizoram (d) Meghalaya
Q9. The Sentinelese tribe, known for remaining completely isolated from outside contact, lives on which island? (a) Havelock Island (b) North Sentinel Island (c) Little Andaman (d) Car Nicobar
Q10. Which of the following was the first Indian product to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag? (a) Basmati Rice (b) Alphonso Mango (c) Darjeeling Tea (d) Mysore Silk
Q11. Bidriware, a metal handicraft using silver inlay on a blackened alloy, originates from which state? (a) Telangana (b) Karnataka (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Maharashtra
Q12. Match the handicraft with its state of origin. List I: (1) Chikankari (2) Phulkari (3) Pattachitra (4) Muga Silk List II: (A) Punjab (B) Uttar Pradesh (C) Assam (D) Odisha (a) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C (b) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D (c) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D (d) 1-D, 2-B, 3-A, 4-C
Q13. Arrange the following Kumbh Mela cycles in increasing order of the gap between two occurrences at the same location. (1) Purna Kumbh (2) Ardh Kumbh (3) Maha Kumbh (a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 2, 1, 3 (c) 3, 2, 1 (d) 2, 3, 1
Q14. Which of the following statements about the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is correct? (a) They are a nomadic pastoral tribe of the Nilgiris. (b) They are known for sustainable wet-rice cultivation in the Ziro valley. (c) They practise matrilineal inheritance similar to the Khasis. (d) They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
Q15. Which body in India administers the registration of Geographical Indication (GI) tags? (a) Archaeological Survey of India (b) Sangeet Natak Akademi (c) Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai (d) Ministry of Textiles, Delhi
Answer Key
| Q | Answer | One-line reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | (c) | Ujjain's Kumbh is held on the river Shipra (Kshipra). |
| 2 | (b) | Pushkar, the camel fair town, is in Rajasthan. |
| 3 | (b) | Sonepur sits at the Gandak-Ganga confluence in Bihar. |
| 4 | (c) | UNESCO listed Kumbh Mela as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. |
| 5 | (c) | Gond is the largest tribal group in India by population. |
| 6 | (b) | Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan (Great Tumult) of 1899-1900. |
| 7 | (b) | Khasi, Garo and Jaintia societies follow matrilineal inheritance. |
| 8 | (c) | Cheraw, the bamboo dance, belongs to Mizoram. |
| 9 | (b) | The Sentinelese live in isolation on North Sentinel Island. |
| 10 | (c) | Darjeeling Tea got India's first GI tag in 2004. |
| 11 | (b) | Bidriware takes its name from Bidar in Karnataka. |
| 12 | (a) | Chikankari-UP, Phulkari-Punjab, Pattachitra-Odisha, Muga Silk-Assam. |
| 13 | (b) | Ardh Kumbh (6 yrs) < Purna Kumbh (12 yrs) < Maha Kumbh (144 yrs). |
| 14 | (b) | Apatanis of Ziro valley are known for sustainable wet-rice farming. |
| 15 | (c) | GI tags in India are registered at the GI Registry, Chennai. |