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Question 29 of 72 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
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The 'Vedda' are an indigenous community of:

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Answer: Option B — Sri Lanka

Detailed Solution

The Vedda (or "Wanniyala-Aetto", meaning "forest-dwelling people") are the indigenous people of Sri Lanka.

About the Vedda:

  • They are believed to be the descendants of the earliest inhabitants of the island, who lived there before the arrival of the Sinhala people from northern India in about the 5th-6th century BCE.
  • Traditionally, they were hunter-gatherers, living in forests and using bows and arrows.
  • They worshipped spirits of ancestors and of nature.
  • Today, they number only a few thousand, and most live in the eastern and central parts of the island, especially in the Dambana area of the Badulla district (Uva Province) and in the Maduru Oya National Park.
  • Many have now adopted farming and have mixed with the Sinhala and Tamil communities, so their traditional way of life is disappearing.
  • Their traditional language, the Vedda language, is considered endangered; it has been heavily influenced by Sinhala.
  • Their leader at Dambana is called the "Uruwarige Wanniya".
  • Genetic studies show that the Vedda are distinct from other Sri Lankan groups, with ancient links to early South Asian populations.

Other indigenous communities of South Asia:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese (Negrito groups), and the Shompen and Nicobarese (Mongoloid groups). The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island are among the most isolated peoples in the world.

India's north-east: Nagas, Mizos, Khasis, Garos, Bodos and others.

Bangladesh: the Chakma, Marma and others in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Nepal: the Tharu and Sherpa, among others.

Myanmar: the Karen, Kachin, Chin and other groups.

Other communities of Sri Lanka:

  • Sinhalese: the majority (about 75 per cent), mostly Buddhists.
  • Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian (plantation) Tamils: mostly Hindus.
  • Sri Lankan Moors (Muslims).
  • Burghers: descendants of Portuguese, Dutch and other Europeans.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Maldives is inhabited by the Dhivehi people.
  • ✗The Andaman Islands have tribes such as the Jarawa and Onge.
  • ✗Myanmar has many ethnic groups, but not the Vedda.

Quick tip

Remember: Vedda (Wanniyala-Aetto) = indigenous people of Sri Lanka (hunter-gatherers; Dambana, Badulla; Maduru Oya); Andaman tribes = Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese; Shompen = Great Nicobar.

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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, 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 world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK 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.

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