SSC
A list of '50 iconic Indian heritage textiles' was released by:
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Answer: Option C ā UNESCO
Detailed Solution
UNESCO released a list (and a publication) of "50 Iconic Indian Heritage Textiles", prepared by its New Delhi office, to document and promote India's handloom heritage.
About the list:
It identifies 50 traditional Indian textiles that are unique to particular regions and communities, and that are at risk of disappearing.
It records the history, techniques, motifs and communities associated with each textile, and the challenges they face, such as competition from powerloom and mill-made cloth, declining number of weavers, and lack of markets.
It aims to raise awareness, encourage the protection of traditional weaving skills, and support the livelihoods of weavers, especially women.
Examples of textiles included:
- Kunbi weave (Goa): a red-and-white checked sari worn by the Kunbi tribal community; it was nearly forgotten and has been revived.
- Himroo (Maharashtra): a fabric of silk and cotton from Aurangabad.
About UNESCO and Indian heritage:
- UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list includes India's "Kalbelia" dance, "Chhau" dance, "Sankirtana" of Manipur, and many other elements.
- The "Traditional art of Jamdani weaving" (Bangladesh, 2013) is also on the list.
About handlooms in India:
- National Handloom Day is observed on 7 August.
- The handloom sector is one of India's largest employers in rural areas, especially of women.
- The "India Handloom" brand was launched in 2015.
- Many textiles have Geographical Indication (GI) tags, such as Pochampally Ikat, Kanchipuram silk, Banarasi brocade and Chanderi.
Why not the other options?
- āThe WTO deals with trade rules, not heritage textiles.
- āThe Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism, not this UNESCO list.
- āThe Crafts Council of the UK is not related to this list.
Quick tip
Remember: "50 Iconic Indian Heritage Textiles" = UNESCO (New Delhi office); includes Kunbi weave (Goa) and Himroo (Maharashtra); National Handloom Day = 7 August.
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes ā Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.