AIIMS GK With Logical

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AIIMS

GENERAL
KNOWLEDGE
with Logical Thinking

DR. MD. USMANGANI ANSARI

Covers
~~ Current Affairs Update
~~ General Knowledge
~~ Logical Thinking
~~ Theory with Exercises
• Head Office : B-32, Shivalik Main Road, Malviya Nagar,
New Delhi-110017

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Chief Editor : DR. MD. USMANGANI ANSARI

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Contents
GK Solved Paper 2016 Set 1 2016-1-2

GK Solved Paper 2016 Set 2 2016-3-4

Current Affairs Update


yy Current Affairs A-1-66

India 2016-17 at a Glance 1


World 2016-17 at a Glance 2
Game Changers 2016 3
Demonetization 4
Goods & Service Tax (GST) 2016 6
Books and Authors 2016-17 8
Popular Terms 9
Important Appointments 2016-17 11
Awards & Honours 2016-17 13
Top 20 Universities of India 17
Important Supreme Court Judgements in 2016-17 18
Important Bills and Acts 2016-17 23
Policies And Schemes 2016 24
People 26
Events 30
Issues 39
Ideas 41
Important news in 2017 46
Who’s Who 50
Important National Officials 53
Countries & their Heads 55
Important International Officials 58
National Schemes/ Programmes 2014-17 59
yy Current Affairs MCQs A-67-74

General Knowledge
yy India Panorama B-1-21

yy World Panorama B-22-37

yy History B-38-48

yy Polity B-49-58

yy Geography B-59-70

yy Ecology and Environment B-71-79

yy Economy B-80-84

yy Technology and its application B-85-86

yy Information Technology and Computer B-87-89

yy Sports B-90-94

yy Healthcare B-95-100

yy Everyday Science B-101-110

yy General Knowledge MCQs B-111-124

Logical thinking
yy Logical thinking B-125-127

yy Exercise B-128-138
WHY & HOW G.K.+ DECIDES SUCCESS IN AIIMS RESULT
A. SYLLABUS
No syllabus is prescribed by the Institute for the examination, i.e. questions
can be formed based on 12th under 10+2/Intermediate Science (Phy, Che &
Bio) + General Knowledge and Aptitude/Logical Thinking as given below :

Subject No. of questions

1. Biology (Botany + Zoology)


60
2. Chemistry
60
3. Physics
60
4. (a) G.K.
20
(b) Aptitude + Logical Thinking

B. MINIMUM CUT-OFF SCORE FOR ADMISSION


In accordance with decision of the Governing Body, AIIMS, New Delhi
dated 26-11-2009 and the past practices adopted by AIIMS, New Delhi,
the minimum cut-off necessary in the Entrance Examination to determine
eligibility for admission in MBBS Course in AIIMS is :
General Category – 50%
OBC (Non-creamy layer) – 45%
SC/ST – 40%
OPH – Cut-offs of respective category

C. PREPARATION OF RESULT
• The examination result for each candidate would be prepared on the
basis of raw scores.
• PERCENTAGE (%): Percentiles upto 7 decimal places separately
for each of the 4 subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and General
Knowledge) and the Total will be prepared. The percentile of the Total
shall not be an aggregate or average of the percentile of individual
subjects.
• The following 5 percentiles would be calculated for each student:
Let T (Total), S-1 (Biology), S-2 (Chemistry), S-3 (Physics) & S-4 (G.K)
denote the raw marks obtained in T, S-1, S-2, S-3 & S-4 as :
1. Total Percentile (TP)
No. of Candidates from the group with Total Marks ≤ T × 100
= No. of Candidates in the group /shift (i.e. morning/evening)
2. Biology Percentile (S-1P)
No. of Candidates from the group with Biology marks ≤ S -1 × 100
= No. of Candidates in the group /shift (i.e. morning/evening)
3. Chemistry Percentile (S-2P)
No. of Candidates from the group with Chemistry marks ≤ S -2 × 100
= No. of Candidates in the group /shift (i.e. morning/evening)

4. Physics Percentile (S-3P)


No. of Candidates from the group with Physics marks ≤ S -3 × 100
= No. of Candidates in the group /shift (i.e. morning/evening)

5. G.K. Percentile (S-4P)


No. of Candidates from the group with G.K. marks ≤ S - 4 × 100
= No. of Candidates in the group /shift (i.e. morning/evening)

D. PREPARATION OF OVERALL RANK/MERIT LIST


The percentile scores for the Total Marks for both the shifts (Morning &
Evening) as mentioned above would be merged and arranged so as to derive
an overall Merit List/Ranking.
Note : Thus the percentile scores is not the same as percentage (%) of marks
obtained.

E. METHOD OF RESOLVING TIES BETWEEN/AMONG CANDIDATES


• The overall merit/ranking shall be based on the Percentile Scores of
the Total Raw Score.
• The method adopted for breaking ties (similar percentile) shall be:
Biology: Higher Percentile Scores in Biology will result in higher
(i)
ranking.
Chemistry: If Biology Percentiles do not break the tie, then higher
(ii)
Percentile Scores is Chemistry will result in higher ranking.
Physics: If Biology and Chemistry Percentiles do not break the tie, then
(iii)
higher Percentile Scores in Physics will result in higher ranking.
G.K.: If Biology, Chemistry and Physics Percentiles do not break the tie,
(iv)
then higher Percentile Scores in General Knowledge (G.K.) will result in
higher ranking.
Age: If Biology, Chemistry, Physics and G.K. Percentiles do not break
(v)
the tie, then the candidates elder by age will be ranked higher.
CONCLUSION/IMPORTANCE OF GK+
The above criteria for preparing results, overall Rank/Merit List and method of
resolving ties between/among candidates, the total score in General knowledge
(G.K. + Aptitude) out of 20 marks shall be deciding factor for many AIIMS
aspirants. So, do not give least importance to G.K.+. To crack the AIIMS exam,
we went through previous G.K.+ questions and analysed each and every areas of
importance, and divided the book into three main segments.
A. Current Affairs
B. Static Subjects, i.e. Panorma, History, Polity, Geography, Environment
Everyday Science, Healthcare, Economy, Art & Culture, Sports & Computer
& IT.
C. Aptitude & Logical Thinking
We are sure that this book will be helpful in scoring highest Percentile in G.K.+
to make the aspirants’ names visible in the Merit list for admission in AIIMS. We
welcome the aspirant’s valuable suggestions for improvement in making the book
valuable for this exam.

With Best Wishes


DR. MD. USMANGANI ANSARI
AIIMS GK Solved Paper 2016 (Set-1)
(Based on Memory)

1. Why Earth is known as “blue 6. Siva Reddy walked 2 km west of


planet”? his house and then turned south
(a) Due to presence of water. covering 4 km. Finally, he moved
(b) Due to the presence of green 3 km towards east and then again
plants. 1 km west. How far is he from his
(c) Presence of living organisms. initial position?
(d) Due to the presence of air. (a) 10km (b) 9km
2. A, P, R, X, S and Z are sitting in a (c) 2km (d) 4km
row. S and Z are in the centre. A 7. Who among the following was
and P are at either ends. R is sitting
the first female pilot in Indian Air
to the left of A. Who is to the right
Force?
of P?
(a) A (b) X (a) Jane Levitte
(c) S (d) Z (b) Avani Chaturvedi
(c) Avani Singh
3. (d) Amelia Earthart
8. Former Chief Justice of India RM
Lodha, is associated with which
The above given logo represents
which scheme proposed by Prime examinations launched under
Minister Narendra Modi in 2014? Medical Council of India?
(a) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yogna (a) IIT-JEE
(b) Make in India. (b) NET
(c) Skill India (c) NEET
(d) Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yogna. (d) AIIMS
4. Out of the given GPS navigational 9. Kangana Ranaut won which of the
satellite which of the following was following awards in the year 2016
the first navigational satellite to be under the category of women of the
placed in geosynchronous orbit year?
which was launched by Indian
(a) CNN-IBN Indian of the year
Space Research Organization?
(b) National Film Awards
(a) IRNSS-1B (b) IRNSS-1G
(c) IRNSS-1A (d) IRNSS-1E (c) GQ Men of the year award
5. Which of the following represents (d) Zee-Cine award.
the logo of Election Commission of 10. The bullet train proposed by Ministry
India? of Railways is to be started by 2018
between which cities?
(a) (b) (a) Ahmedabad-Bangalore
(b) Chennai-Mumbai
(c) (d) (c) Mumbai-Ahmedabad
(d) Mumbai-Hyderabad
2016-2 AIIMS GK Solved Paper 2016 (Set-1)
11. What was the theme of the 2016 16. What is the full form of the
Rio Olympics? acronym, ATM?
(a) Peace for inner soul (a) All Time Money
(b) Live sports, live freedom (b) Automated Teller Machine
(c) Nothing can be achieved (c) All Time Machine
without peace (d) At The Moment
(d) World peace and environment 17. Which of the following sequence is
12. Human: Brain :: Computer: ? in the correct order.
(a) RAM (b) CPU (a) doctor , pain , drug, hospital
(c) Monitor (d) Keyboard (b) hospital, pain, drug, doctor
13. Which of the following vehicle (c) drug, hospital, pain, doctor
doesn’t include the use of petrol? (d) pain, hospital, doctor, drug
Mark the odd one out. 18. Black box in plane is of which
(a) Cars (b) Scooter color?
(c) Bicycle (d) Jeep (a) White (b) Black
14. Who among the following became (c) Yellow (d) Orange
the Chief Executive Officer of 19. State Assembly Elections 2017 is
Google in the year of 2015? not held in which of the following
(a) Sundar Khand states?
(b) Sundar Pichai (a) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Shantanu Narayan (b) Punjab
(d) Satya Nadella (c) Uttrakhand
15. Which among the following was (d) Uttar Pradesh
declared as the “first digital state?” 20. Out which of the following product
(a) Kerala of tobacco have the high levels of
(b) Maharashtra nicotine?
(c) Delhi (a) Bidi (b) Cigarettes
(d) Tamil Nadu (c) Cigars (d) Hookah

ANSWERS KEY
1 (a) 2 (b) 3 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) 6 (d) 7 (b) 8 (c)
9 (c) 10 (c) 11 (d) 12 (b) 13 (c) 14 (b) 15 (a) 16 (b)
17 (d) 18 (d) 19 (a) 20 (a)
AIIMS GK Solved Paper 2016 (Set-1I)
(Based on Memory)

1. Which planet is called a “green (a) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur


planet”? (b) Dr Jivraj Mehta
(a) Uranus (b) Earth (c) Bidhan Chandra Roy
(c) Saturn (d) Mars (d) Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss
2. Who among the following received 7. The chairman of Lodha Committee
The 46th Dada Saheb Phalke of MCI was appointed by whom?
Award in the year 2015? (a) Supreme Court
(a) Rishi Kapoor (b) President
(b) Shashi Kapoor (c) Prime Minister
(c) Randhir Kapoor (d) Lieutenant Governor
(d) Shammi Kapoor 8. Among the following which is the
3. When is the next Summer Olympics symbol of WWF (World Wide Fund
to be held in 2020? of Nature)?
(a) Beijing, China
(b) Tokyo, Japan (a) (b)
(c) Peoyonchang, South Korea
(d) Budapest, Hungary
4. Rajesh’s school bus is facing North
when reaches his school. After
starting from Rajesh’s house, (c) (d)
it turning twice and then left .
before reaching the school. What
9. Which among the following
direction the bus facing when it
parliament became the first in the
left the bus stop in front of Rajesh’s
world to run on solar power?
house?
(a) Indian Parliament
(a) North (b) West
(b) Pakistan Parliament
(c) South (d) East
(c) Parliament of Nepal
5. Rohan’s rank 25 from the top and
(d) Parliament of Bangladesh
Sohan’s rank 30 from the bottom.
10. The airport in Bahrain is located
If there are three students in
at among which of the following
between Rohan and Sohan then
places?
find out the total number of
(a) Iran (b) Muharraq
students.
(c) Kuwait (d) Iraq
(a) 50 (b) 62
11. Out of which of the following is
(c) 58
the main official email address of
(d) Can’t be determined
AIIMS?
6. Who among the following became
(a) www.aiims.edu
the first president of AIIMS and
(b) [email protected]
was responsible in development of
(c) @aiims.in
the Hospital?
(d) @aiims.org.in
2016-4 AIIMS GK Solved Paper 2016 (Set-1I)
12. What is the main aim of Pradhan 16. Which is the hottest planet of the
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana solar system.
(PMKVY)? (a) Mercury (b) Venus
(a) To provide skills training to (c) Jupiter (d) Saturn
the youth. 17. Which one of the following zones
(b) To promote art and craft. of the atmosphere is rich in Ozone
(c) To ensure the development gas
of infrastructure. (a) Mesosphere
(d) To provide job facilities to (b) Troposphere
the youth (c) Stratosphere
13. Who was the first Governor - (d) Ionosphere
General of India 18. A sand deposit extending into the
(a) Robert Clive mouth of a bay is a ?
(b) Sir Charles Metcalfe
(a) Headland (b) Sea Stack
(c) William Bentinck
(c) Split (d) Berm
(d) Warren Hastings
19. Supreme Court judge retires upon
14. WHO Declared Zika an International
Public Health Emergency in which attaining the age of
month? (a) 65 years (b) 60 years
(a) January  (b) February (c) 55 years (d) 50 years
(c) December  (d) November 20. Name the first antibiotic medicine
15. Select the odd one out. discovered.
(a) Cricket (a) Penicillin
(b) Table Tennis (b) Auromycin
(c) Badminton (c) Streptomycin
(d) Football (d) Ampicilin

ANSWERS KEY
1 (a) 2 (b) 3 (b) 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (a) 7 (a) 8 (a)
9 (b) 10 (b) 11 (a) 12 (a) 13 (d) 14 (a) 15 (c) 16 (b)
17 (c) 18 (c) 19 (a) 20 (a)
CURRENT AFFAIRS

Tamil Nadu people compelled Union Govt. launched Election Commission announced
January the State Assembly to pass Intelectual Property Right dates for Assembly polls of 5
2017 Jallikattu Bill on 23-01-2017 (IPR) Enforcement Toolkit for states– Goa, Punjab, Manipur,
Police. UK & UP.
Litchi being the mysterious 5 associate banks, i.e. State Union HRD Ministry decided
February reason behind Muzaffarpur’s Bank (SBB&J) of Bikaner & to set up National Testing
brain fever death, discovered Jaipur, S.B. of Hyderabad, S.B. Agency (NTA) to conduct
2017 of Mysore, S.B. of Patiala & S.B. entrance exams, i.e., NEET,
by India & US scientists.
of Travancore merged into SBI. JEE, NET, etc.
A-2 Current Affairs

44th New Delhi World Book ISRO launched 104 satellites Donald Trump took oath of
Fair begin on 7-01-2017 on 15-02-2017 in one. 101 President on 20-01-2017.
orgainsed by NBT under belong to 6 foreign countries
theme –“Manushi Books”. on commercial basis.

On the eve of World Cancer World Bank cuts India’s GDP Mohammed Abdullahi was
Day (4th Feb.), the centre of growth for 2016-17 to 7% elected as 9th President of
Integrative Oncology (C/O) was
inaugurated at NICPR, Noida from 7.6% on 11-01-2017. Somalia on 8-2-2017.
Current Affairs A-3

GAME CHANGERS 2016


Donald Trump: The most victory. It was an unexpected outcome
unexpected winner for the Republican candidate, who beat
The dust has settled in Washington and out not only a stacked GOP primary
around the country after an election field but also an even more formidable
that stunned political watchers and opponent in Hillary Clinton. Despite
pollsters. US Republican Donald all this, however, Trump managed
Trump on 9 November 2016 won to strike a chord with the American
the US presidential elections in a people as an unorthodox candidate
stunning victory. He won the elections without a political background.
by 276 seats. Trump will resume Jio: A trend setter?
office as the 45th President of the US Reliance announced its high speed
on 20 January 2017. He won Florida, Broadband service across the country
Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina, while which aims to revolutionize the Indian
Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won telecom market resulting in stock
218 seats, took Virginia and Nevada, values of all other Telecom Operators
ABC projects. Donald Trump is the crashing. Everyone in India and abroad
chairman and president of Trump was in great hype; discussions arose
Organisation. The organisation is the and became talk of the town just like
principal holding company for his real Freedom251 Mobile. Relaince Jio is a
estate ventures and other business 4th generation technology that allows
interests. Against all odds, polls and taking advantage of more bandwidth
projections, Donald Trump gained and better output.
A-4 Current Affairs
Current Affairs A-5

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Immediate
 The clampdown of unaccounted cash/ Black money.
 Motivate people to open accounts to deposit their money.
 Online, cashless/ digital payments, net banking, E-Wallet, E-Banking, Apps become
primary payment medium.
 Medium & Small business companies face slowdown due to lack of money supply.
 Stall the circulation of large volume counterfiet notes.
Short-term Impact
 Curb inflation.
 Recapitalize Banks.
 Reduce interest rates.
 Vibrant economy with cash flows.
 Certain sections like SMEs, Small traders, house hold, political parties retail outlets may
face short term disruptions in facilitation of their transactions.
Long-term Impact
 Black money hoarding will vanish & boost formal economy.
 Govt. will be able to spend more on health education & housing.
 Demonetization and GST will make system more accountable and efficient.
 Habit changing impact will be increased belief in keeping cash in banks rather than
home.
 Lower borrowing and better fiscal management.
 With improved tax collection Govt will reduce tax rates
 Sustained economic growth.
 Cashless transaction offer higher & transparent scale of growth.
A-6 Current Affairs

GOODS & SERVICE TAX (GST) 2017

GST-TAXES
Tax structure : 5%, 12%, 18%, & 28%
Cess surcharge beyond 28% are :
(i) Luxury cars – 15%
(ii) Aerated drinks/water – 15%
(iii) Panmasala – 135%
(iv) Tobacco & cigarettes – 290%
(iv) Coal & lignite – ` 400 / tonnes
Current Affairs A-7
How will GST benefit consumer?
Present tax collection system. GST Collection system.
Example Example
Stage 1: Stage 1:
In the process of creating jeans, the Under GST, Manufacturer can set off
manufacturer buys raw materials for this tax (`13) against the tax he has
`100 & adds value to the materials he already paid on raw material/inputs
started out with. Let us take this value (`10). Therefore, the effective GST
or/margin/profit added by him to on the manufacturer will be only `3
be ` 30. The gross value of his good (13 – 10). He will sell good to
would, be `130 (100 + 30). wholesaler for `133 (100 + 30 + 3).
At a tax rate of 10%, the tax on
Stage 2:
output will be `13. Here good sold to
wholesaler for `143 (130+13). Wholesaler adds margin of ` 20 on
good. Its value = `153(133 + 20)
Stage 2: Under GST, he can set off the tax on his
The wholesaler purchases it for `143, output (`15.30) against the tax on his
and adds on value (his ‘margin’) of, purchased good from the manufacturer
say, `20. The gross value of jeans he (`13). Thus, the effective GST incidence
sells would then be `163 (`143 + 20) on the wholesaler is only ` 2.30 (15.30
A 10% tax on this amount will be – 13). He will set it to retailer for
`16.3. ` 155.30(153 + 2.30)
He will sell it to retailer for ` 179.30. Stage 3:
(163 + 16.3).
Retailer adds margin of ` 10 on good.
Stage 3: Its value = ` 165.3(155.3 + 10) Tax
To retailer purchase price of ` 179.30, 10% = 16.53
he adds margin, of `10. The gross But by setting off this tax (`16.53)
value of jeans goes up to `189.30 against the tax on his purchase from
(` 179.3 + 10). The tax on this, at 10%, the wholesaler (`15.30), the retailer
will be `18.93. brings down the effective GST incidence
He will sell it to consumer for `208.23 on himself to ` 1.23 (16.53 –15.30).
(189.3 + 18.93). Here good total value = 165.30 + 1.23 =
166.53. i.e consumer buys it for `166.53.
So, the total GST on the entire value
chain from the raw material/input
suppliers through the manufacturer,
wholesaler and retailer is, ` 10 + 3
+2.30 + 1.23, or `16.53.
A-8 Current Affairs

BOOKS AND AUTHORS 2016-17


Democrats and Dissenters–Ramachandra Guha
One Indian girl–Chetan Bhagat
Six Machine (I Don’t Like Cricket I Love It)–Chris Gayle
His Bloody Project–Graeme Macrae Brunet
AB The autobiography–AB De Villiers
Citizen and Society–Hamid Ansari
The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History–Sanjeev
Sanyal
R D Burmania: Panchamemoirs–Chaitanya Padukone
India Rising: Fresh Hope, New Fears–Ravi Velloor
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable–Amitav Ghosh
Courage & Commitment–Margaret Alva
India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t we just be Friends?–Husain Haqqani
Chaos and Caliphate: Jihadis and the West in the Struggle for the Middle East–Patrick
Cockburn
A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve–Mother Teresa
The Unseen Indira Gandhi–Dr KP Mathur
A Life in Diplomacy–Maharajakrishna Rasgotra
Blood on my Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounters–Kishalay Bhattacharjee
The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprises–Kartar Lalvani
A State in Denial–BG Verghese
The Kiss of Life–Emraan Hashmi
Anything But Khamosh: The Shatrughan Sinha Biography–Bharathi S Pradhan
Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography–Pramod Kapoor
Fixed! Cash and Corruption in Cricket–Journalist Shantanu Guha Ray
“Who was Shivaji?”–Govind Pansare
A Kingdom for His Love–Vani Mahesh, Shinie Antony
Nathuram Godse: The Story of an Assassin–Anup Ashok Sardesai
The Turbulent Years, Volume II–President Pranab Mukherjee
The Z Factor–Subhash Chandra
Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective–Hamid Ansari
Maru Bharat Saru Bharat–Jain Acharya Maharaj
The Golden House–Salman Rashdie
Age of Anger: A History of the Present –Pankaj Mishra
Current Affairs A-9

POPULAR TERMS
Augmented Reality: Augmented reality which success in business depends on
(AR) is a live direct or indirect view of close relationships between business
a physical, real-world environment people and government officials.
whose elements are augmented (or It may be exhibited by favoritism
supplemented) by computer-generated in the distribution of legal permits,
sensory input such as sound, video, government grants, special tax breaks,
graphics or GPS data. It is also known or other forms of state interventionism.
as the computer term, Kudzi 3.0. It is CIVETS: An acronym given to the
related to a more general concept called countries Colombia, Indonesia,
mediated reality, in which a view of reality Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South
is modified (possibly even diminished Africa, which are predicted by some to
rather than augmented) by a computer. be among the next emerging markets
Benami properties: Benami essentially to quickly rise in economic prominence
means property without a name. In over the coming decades.
this kind of transaction the person who Democratic socialism: It is a political
pays for the property does not buy it ideology that advocates political
under his/her own name. The person democracy alongside social ownership
on whose name the property has been of the means of production, often
purchased is called the benamdar and with an emphasis on democratic
the property so purchased is called management of enterprises within a
the benami property. The person who socialist economic system.
finances the deal is the real owner. Decacorn: A decacorn is a word used
Black Friday: Black Friday is the day for companies valued over $10 billion.
following Thanksgiving Day in the EAGLES: Emerging and growth-leading
United States (the fourth Thursday economies of Korea, Indonesia, Mexico,
of November). Since 1952, it has Turkey, Egypt and Taiwan along with
been regarded as the beginning of the the BRIC countries Brazil, Russia,
Christmas shopping season in the U.S., India and China. BBVA expected these
and most major retailers open very early countries to generate 50% of the
(and more recently during overnight global economic growth through 2020,
hours) and offer promotional sales. whereas it expected the G7 countries
COP22: COP 22 (Conference of the of France, Germany, the United States,
Parties) was held in Marrakech, Morocco, Canada, Italy, Japan and the United
on 7–18 November 2016. Main issues: Kingdom to generate just 14%.
water scarcity, water cleanliness, and Extracorporeal membrane oxyge-
water-related sustainability, a major nation (ECMO): It is an extracorporeal
problem in the developing world, technique of providing both cardiac
including many African states. and respiratory support to persons
China’s Singles Day: Singles’ Day or whose heart and lungs are unable to
Guanggun Jie is an entertaining festival provide an adequate amount of gas
widespread among young Chinese exchange to sustain life.
people, to celebrate the fact that they Frontier market: A frontier market is
are proud of being single. The date, a type of developing country which is
November 11th (11/11), is chosen more developed than the least developing
because the number “1” resembles an countries, but too small to be generally
individual that is alone. considered an emerging market.
Crony-Capitalism: Crony capitalism Geneva III (Geneva peace talks on
is a term describing an economy in Syria): The Geneva peace talks on Syria,
A-10 Current Affairs
also known as Geneva III, are intended the economy. It is usually used when
peace negotiations between the Syrian standard monetary policy has become
government and opposition in Geneva ineffective. Quantitative easing is
under the auspices of the UN. considered when short-term interest
Hectocorn: A Hectocorn is the rates are at or approaching zero, and
appropriate term for such a companies does not involve the printing of new
valued over $100 billion. bank notes.
Liquid biopsy: A medical test in which Servergate: The term refers to the
blood cells are taken from the body and controversy surrounding Hillary
examined to find out if they are healthy. Clinton’s private server. The term
MINTs: An acronym coined by the comes from the combination of
major investment firm Fidelity in 2011 “server” and “watergate”, which was
for a group of four countries—Mexico, the political controversy that led to
Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey— President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
that are expected to show strong TIMP: TIMP’ stands for ‘Turkey,
growth and provide high returns for Indonesia, Mexico and Philippines.’
investors over the coming decade. The Similar to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India
MINTs have been grouped together and China), the acronym was coined by
because of their large populations, an investor/economist to group fast-
favorable demographics and emerging growing emerging market economies in
economies. The MINTs have smaller similar states of economic development.
economies than the BRICs. Trans Pacific Partnership: The Trans-
Mercalli intensity scale: The Mercalli Pacific Partnership (TPP) or Trans
intensity scale is a seismic scale used for Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)
measuring the intensity of an earthquake. is a trade agreement among twelve of
It measures the effects of an earthquake. the Pacific Rim countries—notably not
Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB): A including China.
zero-energy building, also known as a Thanksgiving Day: Thanksgiving Day
zero net energy (ZNE) building, net- is a national holiday celebrated in
zero energy building (NZEB), or net Canada, in the United States, in some
zero building, is a building with zero net of the Caribbean islands and in Liberia.
energy consumption, meaning the total It was originally celebrated as a day
of giving thanks for the blessing of
amount of energy used by the building
the harvest and of the preceding year.
on an annual basis is roughly equal to
Similarly named festival holidays occur
the amount of renewable energy created
in Germany and Japan. Thanksgiving
on the site, or in other definitions by
is celebrated on the second Monday of
renewable energy sources elsewhere.
October in Canada and on the fourth
Populism: It is a political doctrine that Thursday of November in the United
stems from a viewpoint of struggle States, and around the same part of
between the populace and ruling the year in other places. Although
faction. Populism is most common in Thanksgiving has historical roots in
democratic nations. religious and cultural traditions, it
Political radicalism: The term denotes has long been celebrated as a secular
political principles focused on altering holiday as well.
social structures through revolutionary Unicorn: A unicorn is a start-up company
means and changing value systems in valued at over $1 billion. According to
fundamental ways. VentureBeat, there were 229 unicorns
Quantitative Easing: Quantitative as of January 2016. The largest unicorns
easing (QE) is a monetary policy included Uber, Xiaomi, Airbnb, Palantir,
used by central banks to stimulate Snapchat, Dropbox and Pinterest.
Current Affairs A-11

IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS 2016-17


MARCH
Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain appointed as Chief of Staff of Eastern Naval
Mar 2, 2016
Command.
Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan appointed as Chairman of 21st Law
Mar 11, 2016
Commission of India.
Mar 12, 2016 Lt Gen N P S Hira appointed Deputy Chief of Army.
Mar 15, 2016 Htin Kyaw elected as first civilian President of Myanmar.
Justice Permod Kohli appointed as Chairman of Central Administrative
Mar 23, 2016
Tribunal.
APRIL
CP Gurnani appointed as Chairman of NASSCOM (National Association of
April 7, 2016
Software and Services Companies).
MAY
Bhupendra Kainthola takes charge as FTII (Film and Television Institute
May 3, 2016
of India) Director.
May 31, 2016 Admiral Sunil Lanba takes charge as Navy chief.
JUNE
June 3, 2016 Navin Agarwal appointed as DG of NADA (National Anti Doping Agency).
Peter Thomson elected as President of 71st session of United Nations
June 15, 2016
General Assembly.
Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway appointed as UN Women Goodwill
June 15, 2016
Ambassador.
June 22, 2016 Ken Miyauchi appointed as President and COO of SoftBank Group.
June 23, 2016 BCCI appoints Anil Kumble as the head coach of Indian Cricket Team.
Sujoy Bose appointed as first CEO of NIIF (National Investment and
June 27, 2016
Infrastructure Fund).
June 28, 2016 NS Vishwanathan appointed as deputy governor of RBI.
JULY
July 4, 2016 Sudarshan Sen appointed Executive Director of RBI.
July 11, 2016 D Rajkumar appointed as CMD of BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd).
July 13, 2016 Theresa May appointed as PM of the United Kingdom.
July 14, 2016 Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi appointed as Chairman of CBSE.
July 19, 2016 Guruprasad Mohapatra appointed as Chairman of Airports Authority of India.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as CEO of UIDAI (Unique Identification
July 21, 2016
Authority of India).
AUGUST
Aug 1, 2016 Rani Singh Nair appointed as Chairman of CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes).
SEPTEMBER
Sep 4, 2016 Urjit Patel assumes charge as 24th Governor of Reserve Bank of India.
Sep 19, 2016 Alka Sirohi appointed UPSC chairman.
Sep 28, 2016 World Bank reappoints Jim Yong Kim for second term as President.
A-12 Current Affairs

OCTOBER
Oct 3, 2016 S Sivakumar appointed as full-time member of 21st Law Commission of India.
Oct 6, 2016 Sushil Chandra appointed CBDT Chairman.
Oct 14, 2016 Portugal’s Antonio Guterres appointed UN Secretary-General.
Amandeep Singh Gill appointed as India’s Ambassador to UN Conference
Oct 18, 2016
on Disarmament, Geneva.
Vice Admiral SV Bhokare assumes office as the Commandant of Indian
Oct 21, 2016
Naval Academy.
Oct 27, 2016 Karnal Singh appointed as Director of Enforcement Directorate.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 7, 2016 M Rajeshwar Rao new RBI Executive Director.
Nov. 24, 2016 Yudhvir Singh Malik appointed as new Chairman of NHA.
DECEMBER
Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam appointed as the new AIADMK
Dec 5, 2016
chief and the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

JANUARY 2017
• Air chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa was appointed as the new Air
Jan 2, 2017 Force Chief.
• General Bipin Rawat was appointed as Chief of Army Staff.
Jan 3, 2017 Prof David R Syiemlieh was appointed as the new UPSC Chairman.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Surekha Marandi as its
Jan 4, 2017 new Executive Director (ED).
• Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar appointed as Chief Justice of India.
Jan 12, 2017 Natraja Chandrasekaran appointed as chairman of TATASons group.
Delhi Police Commissioner and Senior IPS officer Alok Kumar Verma was
Jan 19, 2017
appointed as new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Jan 28, 2017 Dr Vijay Bhatkar appointed as new vice-chancellor of Nalanda University.
Jan 30, 2017 Amulya Kumar Patnaik appointed Delhi Police Commissioner.
FEBRUARY 2017
Feb 11, 2017 Senior IAS officer Ajay Tyagi appointed as SEBI Chairman.
Feb 16, 2017 Edapaddi K. Palaniswami appointed as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Nand Kumar Sai assumes charge as Chairman of National Commission of
Feb 28, 2017
Scheduled Tribes.
Feb 23, 2016 KN Vyas appointed as Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Feb 25, 2016 Rajendra Singh appointed as DG of Coast Guard.
Former CJI HL Dattu takes over as Chairman of NHRC (National Human
Feb 29, 2016
Rights Commission).
Current Affairs A-13

AWARDS & HONOURS 2016-17

Gallantry Awards
New Delhi, Jan 25 : President Pranab Mukherjee has approved 398 Gallantry
and other defence awards to personnel of Indian armed forces on the eve of
the 2017 Republic Day. These awards include two Kirit Chakras, 12 Shaurya
Chakras, three Bar 50 Sena Medal, 91 Sena Medal, four Vayusena medals and
two Nao Sena medal.
Commanding officers of 4 and 9 Special Para Forces have been awarded Youdh
Sewa Medal for successfully conducting a surgical strike to destroy terror camps
well inside Pakistan’s border. Col Kapil Yadav, commading officer of 9 Para and
Col Harpreet Sandhu, Commanding Officer of 4 Para got the prestigious award.
Major Rohit Suri and Prem Bahadur Resmi Nagar got the Kirti Chakra for
successfully leading a team while conducting the surgical strike that was
considered a big strategic and military success for India.
Five personnel from the two para units Lt.Col. Atul Gupta, Major D. Vinay
Reddy, Major Rajat Chandra, etc. got Shaurya Chakra.

Padma awards 2017 (NATIONAL, SOCIAL)


DATE: 25th January, 2017
PLACE: New Delhi
AGENDA/ISSUE: Padma Awards 2017 announced
TARGET/APPLICATION: Padma awards were announced on 25th January, 2017
to citizens of the country in acknowledgment of their distinguished contribution
in various spheres. These awards are conferred by the President of India at
ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around
March/ April every year. This year the President of India has approved conferment
of Padma Awards to 89 persons. The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 7
Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. 19 of the awardees are women
and the list also includes 5 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs
and 6 posthumous awardees.
PADMA VIBHUSHAN
Sl. Name Field State
No
1. Shri K J Yesudas Art-Music Kerala
2. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Others-Spiritualism Tamil Nadu
3. Shri Sharad Pawar Public Affairs Maharashtra
4. Shri Murli Manohar Joshi Public Affairs Uttar Pradesh
A-14 Current Affairs

5. Prof. Udipi Ramachandra Science & Engineering Karnataka


Rao
6. Late Shri Sunder Lal Patwa Public Affairs Madhya Pradesh
(Posthumous)
7. Late Shri PA Sangma Public Affairs Meghalaya
(Posthumous)
PADMA BHUSHAN
Sl. Name Field State
No.
8. Shri Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Art-Music Rajasthan
9. Prof. (Dr.) Devi Prasad Literature & Uttar Pradesh
Dwivedi Education
10. Shri Tehemton Udwadia Medicine Maharashtra
11. Shri Ratna Sundar Maharaj Others-Spiritualism Gujarat
12. Swami Niranjana Nanda Others-Yoga Bihar
Saraswati
13. H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Literature & Educa- Thailand
Sirindhorn (Foreigner) tion
14. Late Shri Cho Ramaswamy Literature & Tamil Nadu
(Posthumous) Education –
Journalism
PADMA SHRI
Sl. Name Field State
No
15. Smt. Basanti Bisht Art-Music Uttarakhand
16. Shri Chemanchery Art-Dance Kerala
Kunhiraman Nair
17. Smt. Aruna Mohanty Art-Dance Odisha
18. Smt. Bharathi Vishnuvardhan Art-Cinema Karnataka
19. Shri Sadhu Meher Art-Cinema Odisha
20. Shri T K Murthy Art-Music Tamil Nadu
21. Shri Laishram Art-Music Manipur
Birendrakumar Singh
22. Shri Krishna Ram Chaud- Art-Music Uttar Pradesh
hary
23. Smt. Baoa Devi Art-Painting Bihar
24. Shri Tilak Gitai Art-Painting Rajasthan
25. Dr. Prof. Aekka Yadagiri Rao Art-Sculpture Telangana
Current Affairs A-15

26th Saraswati Samman 2016


Renowned bilingual writer Mahabaleshwar Sail has been honoured in March
2017 for his Konkani novel “Hawthan”. The award is instituted by KK Birla
Foundation in 1991 for literary work.

73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards

T he 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony was organized at Beverly Hills,
California, United States (US) on January 10, 2016. Golden Globe Awards are
the annual awards that honour the best in Motion Pictures and Television for
the previous year.
In this edition of awards, The Revenant won the maximum 3 awards followed by
The Martian and Steve Jobs winning 2 awards each.
The winners of various awards are as follows:
Best Motion Picture Drama: The Revenant.
Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: The Martian.
Best Director in Motion Picture-Drama: Alejandro
Inarritu for The Revenant.
Best Actor in Motion Picture-Drama: Leonardo
DiCaprio for The Revenant.
Best Actress in Motion Picture-Drama: Brie Larson for Room.
Best Actor in Motion Picture or Musical or Comedy: Matt Damon for The
Martian.
Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Lawrence for Joy.
Best Actor in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Sylvester Stallone for
Creed.
Best Actress in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Kate Winslet for Steve
Jobs.
Best Original Score Motion Picture: Ennio Morricone for The Hateful Eight.
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul (Hungary).

51st Jnanpith Award 2016


President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on renowned
Gujarati writer and litterateur Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari on July 11, 2016
at a function in New Delhi. He was awarded with the India’s highest literary
honour carrying a cash prize, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Goddess
Saraswati for the year 2015.
Mr. Chaudhary is the fourth Gujarati litterateur to bag this prestigious award after
Uma Shankar Joshi (1967), Pannalal Patel (1985) and Rajendra Shah (2001)
A-16 Current Affairs

Nobel Prize 2016


Peace: The current President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, was awarded
Nobel Peace Prize for his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than
50-year-long civil war to an end, a war that took away the lives of at least
2,20,000 Colombians and displaced nearly six million people.
Physics: British trio of physicists David Thouless, F Duncan M Haldane and
Michael Kosterlitz have won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Economics: Two economists Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom have won the
2016 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Chemistry: Trio of Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L Feringa
have won the prestigious 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Literature: American singer-songwriter, artist and writer Bob Dylan (75) has
won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is the first American to win the prize
since novelist Toni Morrison in 1993.
Medicine: Yoshinori Ohsumi (71) of Japan has won the 2016 Nobel Prize for
physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work on autophagy.

National Sports Awards 2016


The Union Government bestows National Sports Awards every year to recognize
and reward excellence in sports in India.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
Recipients are: PV Sindhu (Badminton), Sakshi Malik (Wrestling), Dipa
Karmakar (Gymnastics) and Jitu Rai (Shooting). 2016
Dronacharya Award
Recipients are: Nagapuri Ramesh (Athletics), Sagar Mal Dhayal (Boxing), Raj
Kumar Sharma (Cricket), Bishweshwar Nandi (Gymnastics), S. Pradeep Kumar
(Swimming) and Mahabir Singh (Wrestling) 2016
Arjuna Award
Recipients are: Rajat Chauhan (Archery), Lalita Babar (Athletics), Sourav
Kothari (Billiards & Snooker), Shiva Thapa (Boxing), Ajinkya Rahane (Cricket),
Subrata Paul (Football), Rani (Hockey), Raghunath V.R. (Hockey), Gurpreet
Singh (Shooting), Apurvi Chandela (Shooting), Soumyajit Ghosh (Table Tennis),
Vinesh (Wrestling), Amit Kumar (Wrestling), Sandeep Singh Mann (Para-
Athletics) and Virender Singh (Wrestling).
2016 Dhyan Chand Award
Recipients are: Satti Geetha (Athletics), Sylvanus Dung Dung (Hockey) and
Rajendra Pralhad Shelke (Rowing). 2015-16
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy
Recipient: Punjabi University, Patiala.
Current Affairs A-17

TOP 20 UNIVERSITIES OF INDIA


Weighted
Rank Name Est. City
Score
Indian Institute of Science,
1 1909 Bengaluru 91.81
Bangalore
Institute of Chemical Technology,
2 1933 Mumbai 87.58
Mumbai
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
3 1969 New Delhi 86.46
New Delhi

4 University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 1974 Hyderabad 85.45

5 Tezpur University, Tezpur 1994 Tezpur 84.31

6 University of Delhi, Delhi 1922 Delhi 83.19

7 Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 1916 Varanasi 81.22

Indian Institute of Space Science and Thiruvanan-


8 2007 78.83
Technology, Thiruvananthapuram thapuram

Birla Institute of Technology &


9 1964 Pilani 76.85
Science, Pilani
10 Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 1920 Aligarh 76.62

11 Visva Bharati, Kolkata 1922 Kolkata 76.11

12 Panjab University, Chandigarh 1882 Chandigarh 76.07

13 Pondicherry University, Puducherry 1985 Puducherry 74.44

14 Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 1982 Coimbatore 74.32


North Eastern Hill University,
15 1973 Shillong 72.42
Shillong
King Georges Medical University,
16 1905 Lucknow 72.24
Lucknow
Homi Bhabha National Institute,
17 2005 Mumbai 72.09
Mumbai
18 Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 1989 New Delhi 71.46
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
19 2003 Coimbatore 71.03
Coimbatore
20 Goa University, Goa 1985 Goa 69.90
A-18 Current Affairs

IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENTS IN 2016-17


Date Judgment Parties
04-02-2016 SC observed that the request of Kerala Public Service Commission
the information seeker about the vs. State Information Commission.
information of his answer sheets
and details of the interview
marks can be and should be
provided to him by Public
Service Commission under RTI
Act but not about examiners.
18-03-2016 SC Allows Photos of CMs, Request by Centre, W.Bengal & T.
Governors, and Ministers in Nadu govts. To Supreme Court.
Government Advertisements.
30-03-2016 SC approved guidelines of Union SC’s Committee & Transport
Government to protect Good Ministry for road safety.
Samaritans from police, who
help road accident victims.
28-04-2016 SC ordered to conduct the Sankalp Charitable Trust vs. UoI.
National Eligibility Cum
Entrance Test (NEET) 2016 in
Two Phases, for academic year
2016-17 for admission to MBBS,
BDS and like Courses of medical
colleges throughout the country.
02-05-2016 SC appointed RM Lodha Panel SC appointed Panel on its own.
to oversee functions of Medical
Council of India.
11-05-2016 SC ruled that Telecom Regulatory Cellular Operators Association of
Authority of India TRAI’s Penalty India vs. TRAI.
on Tel-companies for Call Drops
is Illegal.
11-05-2016 SC issued landmark guidelines for Swaraj Abhiyan vs. UoI.
disaster /drought management.
The writ petition was filed by
Swaraj Abhiyan.
12-05-2016 SC asked the SpiceJet Ltd to pay Jeeja Ghosh vs. UoI.
Rupees Ten Lakhs to Jeeja Ghosh,
an eminent activist involved in
disability rights, for forcibly de-
boarding her by the flight crew,
because of her disability.
30-06-2016 SC directed the Union Government Transgender vs. Govt.
and State Governments to treat
only transgender & not Lesbians,
Gays and Bisexuals as socially and
educationally backward classes and
provide them quotas in admission to
educational institutions and public
appointments.
Current Affairs A-19

08-07-2016 SC ruled that security forces cannot Verdict on PIL filed by Extra
use excessive and retaliatory force Judicial Execution Victim
in disturbed areas under the Families Association.
Armed Forces (Special Powers)
Act (AFSPA), 1958.
18-07-2016 SC accepted recommendations of BCCI vs. Lodha Committee
the Lodha Committee on reforms Recommendations.
to the BCCI, including a bar on
ministers and civil servants and
those above 70 from becoming
its members.
19-07-2016 SC can transfer cases from Anita Kushwaha vs. Pushpa
Jammu & Kashmir Courts to Sudan.
courts outside it and vice versa.
01-08-2016 SC held that former Chief Ministers Lok Prahari vs. State of Uttar
are not entitled for government Pradesh.
accommodation for lifetime.
09-08-2016 SC ruled that persons in Govt/ Vijay Kumar Mishra and Anr vs.
judicial service need not resign Patna High Court.
to participate in District Judge
Selection Process.
SC held that Article 233(2) of
the Constitution of India only
prohibits the appointment of a
person as District Judge, who
is already in the service of the
Union or the State, but not the
selection of such a person.
22-08-2016 SC held that all Tribunals are S. Kazi vs. Muslim education
not necessary parties to the society
proceedings where legality of its
orders challenged.
05-09-2016 SC ordered Karnataka to release State of Karnataka vs. State of
15000 cusecs of water to Tamil Tamil Nadu.
Nadu, Later on a plea by state
of Karnataka; it was modified to
12000 cusecs.
07-09-2016 SC directed Union & state Youth Bar Association of India
govts. To upload FIRs in Police vs. Union of India.
Websites.
19-09-2016 SC in case of Tattu Lodhi, child Child’s Parent Vs. Tattu Lodhi.
rapist and murderer opted
for, instead of death penalty,
a “judicial innovation”, i.e. SC
stripped Lodhi of his right to
apply for release from prison on
remission for the next 25 years.
A-20 Current Affairs

28-09-2016 SC observed that providing social Cardamom Marketing


security to the legal profession Corporation & Anr. vs. State of
becomes an essential part of Kerala & Ors.
any legal system which has to
be effective, efficient and robust
to enable it to provide necessary
service to the consumers of justice.
06-10-2016 SC held that persistent effort Narendra vs. K.Meena.
of the wife to constrain her
husband to be separated from
the family constitutes an act of
‘cruelty’ to grant divorce.
07-10-2016 SC stayed the commercial On petition filed by Aruna
release of Genetically Modified Rodrigues vs. Govt. Of India.
(GM) mustard crop till October
17, 2016.
10-10-2016 SC widened the scope of the Hiral P Harsora and ors vs.
Domestic Violence Act by Kusum Narottamdas Harsora.
ordering deletion of the words
“adult male” from it, paving
the way for prosecution of
women and even non-adults for
subjecting a woman relative to
violence and harassment.
21-10-2016 SC Freezes BCCI’s Transactions BCCI vs. Lodha Committee.
with State Cricket Bodies.
11-11-2016 SC upheld the constitutional Jindal Stainless Ltd. vs. State of
validity of Entry Tax imposed by Haryana.
States on goods coming in from
other states.
30-11-2016 SC ordered all cinema halls Shyam Narayan Chouksey vs
across India to play the National Union of India.
Anthem before the screening of
films.
03-12-2016 SC ruled that horse racing per Animal Welfare Board of India vs
se is not animal cruelty. It held A. Nagaraja & Ors
that it is different from Jallikattu,
which metes out specific
methods of torture to bulls.
15-12-2016 • SC set aside a Rajasthan High • Union of India vs. Rajasthan
Court order which had directed High Court and Ors.
the Union Government to
exempt judges of the high
court from pre-embarkation
security checks, i.e. High
Court judges not exempt from
airport frisking.
Current Affairs A-21

• SC passed an order to ban all


liquor shops on national as
well as state highways across
the country as a measure to
control the road mishaps. • State of Tamil Nadu vs. K. Balu
• SC ruled that the Indian Air
Force (IAF) personnel cannot
sport a beard on religious • Mohammed Zubair and
grounds. Ansari Aaftab Ahmed vs. IAF
• SC refused to quash the March authorities.
2015 resolution by both • Justice Markandey Katju vs.
houses of Parliament against the Lok Sabha.
Justice Markandey Katju for
describing Gandhi as a British
agent and Netaji as a Japanese
agent in a blog.
16-12-2016 • SC held that Jammu and • State Bank of India vs.
Kashmir has “no vestige” of Santosh Gupta & Anr. Etc.
sovereignty outside the Indian
Constitution and its own, while
the citizens of the state are
“first and foremost” citizens of • A batch of cases Vs. GoI.
India.
• SC has referred constitutional
validity of demonetization to a
constitutional bench.
02-01-2017 • SC ruled out that • Abhiram Singh vs. C.D.
no politician can seek votes in Commachen.
the name of caste, language,
region or religion & it will be
a corrupt practice and not • BCCI vs. Lodha Panel
permissible.
• SC sacked Anurag Thakur,
President, BCCI and Secretary • Krishna Kumar Singh vs. State
Ajay Shirke from their posts. of Bihar.
• A seven-judge Constitution
Bench of the Supreme Court
has held that re-promulgation
of ordinances is a fraud on the
Constitution and a subversion of
democratic legislative processes. • Vitusah Oberoi vs. Court of Its
So, placing of Ordinance before Own Motion.
Legislature is mandatory.
• A High Court cannot initiate
contempt proceedings or
punish for contempt of the
Supreme Court. A Bench
headed by Chief Justice of India
TS Thakur set aside an order of
division bench of Delhi High.
A-22 Current Affairs

Court, which found editors


and cartoonists of Mid-Day
newspaper guilty of contempt
for maligning the former Chief
Justice of India. The High
court had suo motu initiated
contempt after an advocate
brought such cartoons and
news reports to its notice
03-01-2017 • The Supreme Court has • Anil Sabarwal & ORS vs Girija
imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh Shankar.
on a tenant who refused to
hand over possession to the
landlord even after the apex
court ordered it in 2012.
07-01-2017 The Supreme Court reiterated Behram Tejani vs. Azeem Jagani.
that a person holding premises
gratuitously (i.e. unjustifiably)
won’t acquire any legal right on
the property.
04-02-2017 SC declined to interfere in a The Student Federation of India
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) (SFI) vs. Union of India & ors.
for regulation of private coaching
institutes.
01-03-2017 SC directed all universities to Ajayinder Sangwan vs. Bar
verify certificates of law degree Council of India & ors.
holders without charging a fee.
03-03-2017 SC notice to Centre, CBSE on Through its Secretary & ors vs.
plea to include urdu un NEET. Union of India.
07-03-2017 • SC Tells High Courts not to • Sasi (D) Through Lrs. vs.
keep review petetions pending Aravindakshan Nari and
for long. Others
08-03-2017 SC declared trust can’t file Pratibha Pratisthan vs. Manager,
complaint before consumer Canara Bank.
forum.
10-03-2017 SC ruled central PF authorities Yeshwant Gramin Shikshan
have no authority over Sanstha vs. Assistant Provident
‘exempted’ establishments. Fund Commissioner.
Current Affairs A-23

IMPORTANT BILLS AND ACTS 2016-17


Maternity Benefits (Amendment) (iv) registration of doctors, (v)
Bill, 2016 standards of professional conduct
• Rajya Sabha has passed this bill on of medical practitioners, among
August 11, 2016 which aims to raise others.
maternity leave for women from 12 • The provisions of the bill will come
to 26 weeks. into force from May 24, 2016.
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, • The Bill seeks to introduce a
protects the employment of women uniform entrance examination for
during the time of maternity all medical educational institutions.
and entitles them of a full paid • This would be applicable at the
absence from work to take care undergraduate and the post-
for the child. The amendment bill graduate level.
seeks to increase maternity leave • The Bill has the provision in case a
to 26 weeks in all establishments, state has not opted for the uniform
including private sector. entrance examination, then the
• The act is applicable to all examination will not be applicable
establishments employing 10 or at the undergraduate level for the
more persons. The bill also provides academic year 2016-17.
12 weeks leave for commissioning • This provision will apply to state
and adopting mothers and makes government seats in government
it compulsory to provide crèche and private medical colleges.
facility for establishment where the
number of workers is 50 and above. NIT, Science Education & Research
Adopting mother is the woman (Amendment) Bill, 2016
who legally adopts a child below • The National Institutes of
3 months of age. A commissioning Technology (NIT), Science Education
mother is a biological mother who and Research (Amendment) Bill,
uses her egg to create an embryo 2016 was passed by the Parliament
implanted in another woman. on August 2, 2016.
• There is already a provision of 26- • The bill was first passed in Lok
week or 6-month maternity leave Sabha in July 2016. Now the bill will
for the government employees. go for presidential assent as per
Article 111 of Constitution.
Indian Medical Council • The Bill seeks to establish the
(Amendment Bill), 2016 National Institute of Technology
• The Indian Medical Council (NIT), Andhra Pradesh as an
(Amendment) Bill, 2016 was institute of national importance.
introduced by Minister of Health • The NIT, Andhra Pradesh will be
and Family Welfare, Mr. Jagat Prakash established under the National Institutes
Nadda in Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016. of Technology, Science Education and
• The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Research (NITSER) Act, 2007.
Medical Council Act, 1956. • The NIT will be deemed as an
• The MCI regulates: (i) standards of institute of national importance
medical education, (ii) permission status as on August 20, 2015, the
to start colleges, courses or day on which the Union Government
increase the number of seats, approved its establishment.
A-24 Current Affairs
Aadhaar Act, 2016 compelled to disclose his HIV status
The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of except with his informed consent,
Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and if required by a court order
and services) Act, 2016 has been establishments keeping records of
notified by the Union Government information of PLHIV must adopt
on March 28. The Act will provide data protection measures.
statutory backing for transfer of • Obligations on establishments to
subsidies and benefits to eligible safeguard rights of persons living
people having Aadhaar (UID) number. with HIV arid create mechanisms for
• Those individuals not having redressing complaints. Lists various
Aadhaar number shall be offered grounds on which discrimination
alternate and viable means of against HIV-positive persons and
identification for delivery of the those living with them is prohibited.
subsidies, benefits or service. • These include the denial, discontinuation,
termination or unfair treatment with
HIV and AIDS (Prevention and regard to employment, educational
Control) Bill, 2014 establishments, health care services,
The Union Cabinet has given its renting property etc. Prohibits,
approval to introduce amendments requirement for HIV testing as a pre-
to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and requisite for obtaining employment
Control) Bill, 2014. or accessing health care or education.
• Prevent and control the spread • Prohibits any individual from
of HIV and AIDS. It prohibits publishing information or advocating
discrimination against persons with feelings of hatred against HIV positive
HIV and AIDS. No person will be persons and PLHIV.

POLICIES AND SCHEMES 2016


UJALA Scheme Vidyalayas in the underdeveloped rural
The National LED programme – areas of the state. It was launched by
Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
(UJALA) was launched by the Union at Sasan Ambagaon village in his home
Government on May 1. constituency Hinjli in Ganjam district.
Key facts Key features
• The UJALA scheme is being • Schools under AV project will provide
implemented by Energy Efficiency free education to students of the
Services Limited (EESL), a joint classes from VI to XII along with
venture of PSUs under the Union free uniforms and other study
Ministry of Power. materials.
• It is LED based Domestic Efficient • These schools will be affiliated
Lighting Programme (DELP). under the Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE) and
Adarsh Vidyalaya Project shall have hostel facility in future.
Adarsh Vidyalaya (AV) project was • Under this project, one Adarsh
launched by the Odisha Government Vidyalaya will be set up in each
on April 7 to provide modern schools of the 314 revenue blocks of the
facilities on the lines of Kendriya state.
Current Affairs A-25
Swachh Himachal Padhai bhi, Safai bhi families have to undertake frequent
‘Swachh Himachal – Padhai bhi, trips, often over long distances, to
Safai bhi’ campaign was launched by access dialysis services, incurring
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association heavy travel costs and loss of wages.
(HPCA) on February 20 in Dharamsala. • Finance Minister has also proposed
With this unique campaign, HPCA to exempt certain parts of dialysis
became the first cricket association in equipment from basic customs
the country to work towards Swatch duty, excise/CVD and SAD to further
Bharat Abhiyan initiated by the Union reduce the cost.
Government.
Key facts Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
The campaign aims at involving youth On May 1, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
to promote good health and sanitation Yojana (PMUY) was launched. The
in urban and rural areas in the scheme will benefit the poor, especially
Himalayan state. the women. The scheme aims to
provide cooking gas (LPG) connections
National Dialysis Services
to five crore below-poverty-line (BPL)
Programme
beneficiaries over the next three
With an aim to help poor patients years.
suffering from renal (kidney) disease,
• A budgetary provision of the
who require regular dialysis, the
scheme is 2000 crore rupees.
government has started a ‘National
Dialysis Services Programme’. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva
Highlights of the scheme Abhiyan
• The scheme will provide health The Scheme aims at providing
cover up-to ` 1 lakh per family. pregnant women ante-natal services
• For senior citizens of the age 60 years and required treatment for free
and above belonging to this category, at government health centres and
an additional top-up package up to hospitals on 9th of every month.
` 30,000 will be provided. The Scheme had also found its mention
• About 2.2 lakh new patients of end in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
stage renal disease get added every monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat in
year resulting in additional demand
June 2016.
for 3.4 crore dialysis sessions.
• With approximately 4,950 dialysis Salient Features
centres in India, largely in the • To provide healthy life to pregnant
private sector and concentrated women
in the major towns, the demand is • To lower the maternity mortality rate
only half met. • To make pregnant women aware of
• Every dialysis session costs about their health issues and diseases
` 2,000 - an annual expenditure of • To ensure safe delivery and healthy
more than ` 3 lakh. Besides, most life of the baby
A-26 Current Affairs

PEOPLE
PV Sindhu attack in Dhaka was his follower who
India’s ace shuttler was inspired by his speeches. Mr. Naik’s
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu speeches are aired on ‘Peace TV’ from
won the silver medal in Dubai, run by his Mumbai-based
women’s singles Islamic Research Foundation. Britain
badminton event at 2016 Rio Olympics. and Canada have banned Mr. Naik from
In the final match of women’s singles visiting their countries several years
badminton event, Sindhu lost to Spain’s ago while Malaysia banned his lectures
Carolina Marín (World No.1) by 21-19, fearing that they could instigate inter-
12-21, 15-21 score. Earlier in her racial tensions. Born on 18 October 1965
quarterfinal match, she had defeated in Mumbai, Dr. Naik attended the
Japan’s Wang Yihan (World No.2) by 22- Kishinchand Chellaram College in
20, 21-19 score. She also won China open Churchgate, and later studied medicine
on 19 November, 2016. at Topiwala National Medical College,
PV Sindhu was Born on 5 July 1995 in and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital.
Hyderabad, Telangana.
Subrata Roy
Dipa Karmakar Subrata Roy was released on parole
The 23 year Tripura girl, in May 2016 to attend the last rites of
Dipa Karmakar created his deceased mother. The court kept
history by becoming the first extending his parole on the condition
Indian woman gymnast to of depositing money with the SEBI
qualify for Olympics as she booked a berth towards refunding investors.
for the Rio Games after a strong On 26 February, 2014, the Supreme
performance at the final qualifying and Court of India ordered the arrest of
test event. She garnered a total score of Subrata Roy, chairman and founder
52.698 points in the Olympics qualifying of Sahara India Pariwar, for failing to
event to book a berth for artistic appear in court in connection with the
gymnastics in Rio Games. `24,000 crore deposits his company
Dipa had created history by becoming failed to refund to its investors as
the first Indian woman gymnast per a Supreme Court order, after a
to win a medal - a bronze, in the legal dispute with the Indian market
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in regulator SEBI. He was eventually
2014. She then became the first Indian arrested on 28 February, 2014 by Uttar
woman gymnast to feature in the finals Pradesh police on a Supreme Court
of World Championships. warrant.
Zakir Naik Urjit R Patel
Zakir Naik has been
Union Government
under the scanner of appointed Dr. Urjit R
Indian law enforcement Patel as the 24th
authorities ever since governor of Reserve
Bangladesh asked for Bank of India (RBI) on 20 August, 2016.
an investigation into his speeches and He will be having tenure of three years
his writing, following a claim that a with effect from 4 September, 2016. He
terrorist involved in the recent terror will succeed the present RBI Governor
Current Affairs A-27
Dr. Raghuram Rajan, the former Enforcement Directorate for money
International Monetary Fund chief laundering.
economist. At present, Dr Patel is the Mallya, known for his extravagant
Deputy Governor of RBI and is holding lifestyle and Kingfisher brand of
this assignment since 2013. With this liquor, is in debt with 17 public sector
appointment, he also becomes the banks for an estimated amount of
eight Deputy Governor to be elevated `9,091 crore, who have moved the
as the Governor at RBI. Patel obtained Debt Recovery Tribunal against him.
his Bachelor’s in Economics from the Upon the banks’ plea, the Supreme
London School of Economics, M. Phil. Court has issued a notice to Mallya
degree from Oxford University in 1986. seeking the disclosure of his assets
He received his doctorate in Economics and seizure of his passport. Earlier the
from Yale University in 1990. He was at liquor baron had made a quiet exit to
IMF India desk during the 1991–94 London via Delhi on March 2016. Now,
transition period. He was posted to Mallya is being chased by almost every
IMF country mission in India 1992–95. institution in the country for `9,000
He has also been a non-resident Senior crore that he owes to the lenders.
Fellow at the Brookings Institution
since 2009. Mahudha in Kheda district Cyrus Mistry
of Gujarat is his ancestral village. Patel The board of India’s largest
is unmarried. conglomerate Tata Sons Ltd
has removed Cyrus Pallonji
Abidali Neemuchwala Mistry (48) as Chairman.
IT giant Wipro, India’s third largest IT The board has replaced him with his
services exporter, on 4 January, 2016 predecessor Ratan Tata as interim
appointed current Chief Operating chairman for four months. Mistry had
Officer (COO) Abid Ali Neemuchwala as shortest tenure as Chairman so far at the
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and group. Mistry had replaced Ratan Tata
member of the board. Neemuchwala as chairman in December 2012. He was
gets his surname from Neemuch, only the sixth group Chairman in nearly
a small town in Madhya Pradesh. 15 decades and the first from outside
Neemuchwala had joined Wipro as COO the Tata family to be appointed to top
in April 2015. Prior to Wipro, he held a most post of Tata group.
long tenure of over 23 years with Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS). In TCS, he Vinod Rai
headed the business process services Former Comptroller & Auditor General
unit of India’s biggest outsourcer. of India Vinod Rai has been appointed
He obtained an engineering degree as the first chairman of Banks Board
in electronics and communication Bureau on February 28, 2016,
from NIT, Raipur and holds a master’s which will advice the government
degree in industrial management from
in appointing heads of public sector
IIT Mumbai.
banks and also on banking reforms.
Vijay Mallya Rai served as the Comptroller and
Business tycoon and Rajya Auditor General between January 2008
Sabha member, Vijay and May 2013, during which a number
Mallya, is in trouble for his of CAG reports led to revelation of
escape from the country various scams including the telecom
right around the time he is wanted by the and coal sector scams.
A-28 Current Affairs

Jayalalithaa Jayaraman
Jaylalithaa’s life in politics is well documented. Her
steady growth from a party secretary to a member of
Rajya Sabha to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is a
long saga of adventure, struggle and success.
Once a classical dancer, later a popular actress, she
became the face of the state’s politics in the 21st
century. Jayalalithaa revered as ‘Amma’ by lakhs of her loyalists has had one of
the most interesting expeditions any modern politicians have had. Jayalalithaa
who suffered a cardiac arrest passed away on 5 December 2016. She was 68.
Jayalalitha was born in Mysore on 24 February 1948. She hails from a Tamil
Iyengar family. Her father Jayaram, a lawyer by profession, passed away when
she was just two years old. She completed her schooling from Bishop Cotton
Girls’ High School, Chennai, and Sacred Heart Matriculation School in 1964.
However, she took up films shortly after that.
In 1982, Jayalalitha became a member of the AIADMK, a party founded by
M.G. Ramachandran. It marked her entry into politics. In 1984, Jayalalitha
came to the forefront during the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative
Assembly in Tamil Nadu in December 1984.
On 24 June 1991, she became the youngest ever and the second female Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu. She held the position till 12 May 1996. The 1998
general election of the Lok Sabha saw the AIADMK and its alliance securing
30 out of 40 seats. In February 2002, she was elected from the constituency of
Andipatti. She remained the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2 March 2002
to 12 May 2006.
Again in the 2011 Legislative Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK
and its allies bounced back, winning 203 seats out of 234, with the AIADMK
securing 150 seats on its own.
Jayalalitha had to step down from her post of the Chief Minister in September
2014 when a trial court in Karnataka held her guilty in an 18-year-old
disproportionate assets (amounting to ` 66.65 crore) and corruption case. The
court had sentenced her to a four-year jail term with a fine of ` 100 crore,
but she challenged this verdict in Karnataka High Court. On 11 May 2015, the
Karnataka High Court acquitted Jayalalitha in the Disproportionate Assets case.
J. Jayalalitha was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a record-
equaling fifth time on 23 May 2015. Again she took oath as the chief minister of
Tamil Nadu for a record sixth time on 23 May 2016.
Current Affairs A-29

O Panneerselvam
AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam, 65, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu following the death of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He was administered
the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao at a solemn
ceremony held in the Raj Bhavan, Chennai on 6th Dec 2016. This is for the third
time he has sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Panneerselvam was born on January 14, 1951 in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. He
started his political career as chairman of Periyakulam Municipality (1996 to
2001). Previously in Jayalalithaa’s government he had served as Minister of
Revenue Department (March 2002 to December 2002), Minister for Public
Works (December 2002 to May 2006) and Finance Minister (May 2011 to
September 2014).
Earlier he had served CM for two brief periods from 2001-02 and 2014-15
after Jayalalithaa was unseated from the post by the courts on various grounds.
Panneerselvam has been a trusted aide of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa. After
her death, he was elected the leader of the Legislature Party. He will have
remaining four years term of the Jayalalithaa Government.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Vice Foreign Minister of Egypt, he


oversaw the UN at a time when it dealt
The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh
with several world crises, including
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was
the break-up of Yugoslavia and the
the chief guest for the 68th Republic Rwandan Genocide.
Day celebrations on 26 January, 2017.
This is the first time that a leader of TVK Sasikala
the United Arab Emirates was honored Convicted in Disproportionate Assests
with the invitation of being the chief Case
guest at India’s Republic Day parade. DOB: 1957
Boutros Boutros-Ghali Background: Sasikala Natarajan is
the General Secretary of AIADMK.
The former United Nations Secretary- Sasikala was born to Vivekanandan
General Boutros Boutros-Ghali passed and Krishnaveni, a family from
away on 16 February, 2016 in Cairo, Egypt. Thiruthuraipoondi and is married to
He was 93. Boutros-Ghali served as UN Natarajan with the blessings of DMK
Chief from January 1992 to December Chief M. Karunanidhi. Her husband was
1996 and became the first secretary working as a Public Relations officer
general to be deprived of a second term in Tamil Nadu government when they
as he struggled to impose the UN’s writ got married. She was a close aid of
in a post-cold war world. He was the first former Tamil Nadu CM, Jayalalitha. She
African to hold the position. He helped was arrested along with Jayalalitha in
secure peace deals between Israel and 1996 in connection with the Colors TV
Egypt. Scam. She was contented as the chief
Born on 14 November 1922 in Cairo, minister of Tamil Nadu after demise of
Egypt, Boutros Boutros-Ghali was Jayalalitha.
an Egyptian politician and diplomat Important Work: AIADMK general
who was the sixth Secretary-General secretary VK Sasikala was convicted
of the UN. An academic and former in the disproportionate assets case
A-30 Current Affairs
and sentenced to four-year jail-term addressing her MLAs. She was also
on 14th February 2017. According fined Rs. 10 crore The verdict of 21
to the verdict, she cannot contest year old corruption case shattered
elections for the next 10 years. Sasikala Sasikala’s dream to become the next
was found guilty of amassing wealth CM of Tamil Nadu.
disproportionate to her income
with two others and was asked to E. Palaniswamy
immediately surrender to the police to Edapaddi Palaniswami was appointed
begin serving her sentence. She reacted as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 16th
to the conviction by emotionally Feb. 2017.

EVENTS
ENVIS Portal Launched MW inaugurated in Amritsar in Punjab
Agenda/Issue: A new Environment on 18th May, 2016. The plant has
Information System (ENVIS) portal been set up with the cost of 139 crore
and mobile application is launched on rupees and would generate clean
17 February, 2016. It is a central sector and green energy sufficient to power
Scheme of the MOEFCC implemented approximately 8,000 homes. It will also
since 1982. help in abating 4-lakh tonnes of carbon
Target/Application: The portal dioxide (CO2) in the next 25 years.
http://envis.nic.in runs parallel with Green-concept Based State Data
the Digital India Objective, which
Centre
works on improving the digital literacy
in the environment sector and deliver Agenda/Issue: Himachal Pradesh
services digitally all over the country. became the first state in the country
to have a State Data Centre (SDC),
Gatiman Express Flagged Off designed using green data centre
Place: New Delhi concept on 5th June, 2016. The SDC
Agenda/Issue: Railway Minister will offer 101 people-oriented services
Suresh Prabhu flagged off the much- online through an integrated data base.
awaited Gatiman Express on 5th April, It would integrate the websites of
2016 which will cover the distance various departments and all services
from Agra to Nizamuddin station in 90 can be accessed through the integrated
to 100 minutes. data base.

World Health Day World Environment Day


Agenda/Issue: April 7th 2016 was Agenda/Issue: World Environment
celebrated as the World Health Day a Day was celebrated on June 5, 2016
global health awareness day. to educate global awareness to tiger-
This year’s focus was-scale up express take positive environmental
prevention, strength care, enhance action to protect nature and the planet
surveillance. Earth. The Theme for 2016 is ‘Go Wild
for Life (Zero Tolerance for the Illegal
Single Rooftop Solar Power Plant Wildlife Trade)’.
Place: Amritsar
India’s First LIGO Laboratory to
Agenda/Issue: World’s largest Single
Come up in Hingoli, Maharashtra
Rooftop Solar Power Plant over 82
acres on 8 rooftops to generate 19.6 Place: Hingoli , Maharashtra
Current Affairs A-31
Agenda/Issue: India’s first LIGO its prevention, detection, and
(Laser Interferometer Gravitational- treatment. The theme for year 2016
Wave Observatory) laboratory will be WCD was “We can. I can”
set up in Aundh in Hingoli district of The Union for International Cancer
Maharashtra. The proposal is approved Control (UICC) had founded the WCD
on 10th September, 2016. in 2008 by formally writing the goals
Target/Application: It will be third of the World Cancer Declaration. The
such laboratory in the world and primary goal of observing the day is
first outside the United States. The to reduce illness and death caused
existing two laboratories are located in by it by 2020. UICC is a Geneva based
Hanford, Washington and in Livingston, leading international non-governmental
Louisiana. organisation (NGO) founded in 1933.
The LIGO-India laboratory will help
World Wildlife Day
to bring considerable opportunities
in cutting edge technology for Indian Agenda/Issue: World Wildlife day
industries. was observed across the world on 3rd
March, 2016. It is designated as World
National Ayurveda Day Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise
Agenda/Issue: The first National awareness of the world’s wild fauna
Ayurveda Day was observed on 28 and flora.
October, 2016 on the occasion of Target/Application: The theme for
Dhanwantari Jayanti. 2016 theme was “The future of wildlife
Target/Application: Union is in our hands”, with African and
Government has decided to celebrate Asian elephants being the main focus
National Ayurveda Day every year on of global campaigns. The date is the
the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti. day of the adoption of the Convention
This day marks birth date of Lord on International Trade in Endangered
Dhanvantari, which occurs before two Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
days before Diwali on Dhanteras. in 1973, which plays an important role
in ensuring that international trade
Smart India Hackathon Launched does not threaten the species’ survival.
Agenda/Issue: The Union Ministry
of Human Resource Development RIO Paralympics 2016
(HRD) has launched Smart India Agenda/Issue: The 2016 Summer
Hackathon 2017 on 10th November, Paralympic Games began on 7th
2016. It is the world’s largest digital September 2016 and concluded on
national building initiative. Through 18th September 2016. Deepa Malik
this initiative, HRD Ministry is keen to has created history by winning silver
reach out to all technology institutions medal in Women’s shotput at the
in the country and challenge students 2016 Rio Paralympics. With this she
to offer innovative solutions to some becomes first Indian woman to win a
of the daunting problems faced by our medal at the Paralympics. It is India’s
nation. 3rd medal in the ongoing Paralympics
games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
World Cancer Day Mariyappan Thangavelu has won
Agenda/Issue: World Cancer Day India’s first gold medal at the 2016 Rio
(WCD) was observed on 4 February, Paralympics. He won the gold medal in
2016 across the world to raise the Men’s High Jump T-42 event with
awareness of cancer and to encourage jump of 1.89 metres.
A-32 Current Affairs
Summer Olympics 2016: Rio de Janeiro Morocco. Nearly 200 nations attending
The 31st Summer Olympic Games the COP22 to the UNFCC have adopted
officially began on 5 August, 2016 Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our
with inaugural ceremony held at the Climate and Sustainable Development.
Maracana Stadium in the Brazilian The adaptation of Marrakech Action
city of Rio de Janeiro. The Game was Proclamation sends out a strong signal
declared open by Brazil’s Acting to the world on climate action and shift
President Michel Temer in the presence towards a new era of implementation
of International Olympic Committee and action on climate and sustainable
chief Thomas Bach and United Nations development. India has welcomed
chief, Ban-Ki Moon.  Marrakesh Action Proclamation as
Indian bagged a total of two medals, most of its demands including the issue
one silver and one bronze, in the of providing finance to developing
games, and stood at the 67th place in nations to tackle climate change has
the medal tally. Badminton player  P been incorporated.
V Sindhu won historic silver medal Target/Application: Countries affirmed
in women’s singles badminton their commitment to full implementation
event. With this, she became the of the Paris Agreement held during
first Indian woman to clinch a silver COP21/0CMP11 from 30 Nov, to 11
medal in Olympics. Wrestler Sakshi Dec, 2015.
Malik  secured a bronze in the 58
kg category to become India’s first Election Commission announces
female wrestler to win an Olympic dates for Assembly polls of five states
medal. India had qualified one artistic Date: 4 January 2017
gymnast into the Olympic competition Place: New Delhi
for the first time since 1964.  Dipa Agenda/Issue
Karmakar  became the first Indian The Election Commission of India
female ever to book an Olympic spot (ECI) has announced the dates for
in the apparatus events and all-around the assembly elections in five states–
event at the Olympic Test Event. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab,
United Nations Day Manipur and Goa.
With the Election Commission
Agenda/Issue: The United Nations announcement the Model code of
Day is being observed globally on
conduct has come into effect. Counting of
October 24.
votes for all five states will take place on
Target/Application: It entered into
11 March 2017.
force on 24 October 1945 after it was
Target/Application
ratified by the original five permanent
members of the Security Council— State Date of Poll
China, France,Russia, United Kingdom, Goa 4 Febraury 2017
and United States.
Punjab 4 February 2017
This year’s United Nations Day will
high light concrete actions people can Uttarakhand 15 February 2017
take to help achieve the Sustainable Manipur 4 March 2017,
Development Goals. (2 phases) 8 March 2017
COP22 Adopts Marrakech Action 11 February 2017,
Proclamation Uttar Pradesh 15 February 2017,
Agenda/Issue: The COP22 was held (7 phases) 19 February 2017,
on 7-18 November, 2016 in Marrakech, 23 February 2017
Current Affairs A-33
Union Government launches IPR the Union Ministry of Human Resource
Enforcement Toolkit for Police Development. While, India Trade
Date: 4 January 2017 Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is the
Place: New Delhi Co-organizer.
Agenda/Issue PM Narendra Modi announces
The Union Commerce and Industry Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched
Date: 8 January 2017
an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Place: Bangalore
Enforcement Toolkit for Police. Agenda/Issue
This toolkit will be provided to all state Prime Minister Narendra Modi
police departments across the nation launched Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana
to assist them in dealing with the cases (PKVY), a skill development program
relating to Trademarks and Copyrights targeted at Indian youth seeking
infringements. overseas employment.
Target/Application It was launched after inauguration of
The toolkit has been jointly developed 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention
by the Cell for IPR Promotion and held in India’s IT hub Bengaluru,
Management (CIPAM) and Federation Karnataka. Portuguese Prime Minister
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Antonio Costa was the Chief Guest of
Industry (FICCI). the event.
It will act as a ready reckoner for Target/Application
police officials across the country for PKVY will provide training and certify
dealing with crimes related Intellectual Indians who are seeking overseas
Property rights (IPR) infringement, employment in selected sectors in line
specifically Trade Marks counterfeiting with international standards.
and Copyrights piracy. It will be implemented by the National
In addition it will provide details of Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
offences under various laws, checklists through its training partners and in
for registering a complaint and consultation with the Union Ministry
conducting search and seizures case of of External Affairs and the Union Skill
IP crimes. Development Ministry.
44th New Delhi World Book Fair begins It also aims at boosting the confidence
of the Indian youth so that they don’t
Date: 7 January 2017 feel like strangers when they land in a
Place: New Delhi country of their choice for vocation.
Agenda/Issue
The 44th edition of the New Delhi World January 12: National Youth Day
Book Fair began at Pragati Maidan in DATE: 12th January 2017
national capital. The theme for this PLACE: India
edition of the event is ‘Manushi– Books AGENDA/ISSUE: To commemorate the
Written on and by Women’. birthday of Swami Vivekananda.
It was inaugurated by Union Minister TARGET/APPLICATION: National
of State (MoS) for Human Resources Youth Day (Yuva Diwas or Swami
Development (Higher Education) Vivekananda Birthday) is celebrated
Mahendra Nath Pandey. with the great joy and enthusiasm in
Target/Application India every year on 12th of January. It
The nine-day event has been organised is celebrated to honour the birthday
by National Book Trust (NBT), under of Swami Vivekananda. It was first
A-34 Current Affairs
declared by the Government of India ISRO, CNES ink pact on satellite
in the year 1984 to celebrate the launch
birthday of Swami Vivekananda as the DATE: 9th January 2017
National Youth Day. Since then (1985), PLACE: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
it is started celebrating as the National AGENDA/ISSUE: Indo-French strategic
Youth Day all over the country. partnership.
TARGET/APPLICATION: Indian Space
Narendra Modi inaugurates Nobel Prize
Research Organisation (ISRO) and
Series India Exhibition in Gandhinagar
French Space agency (CNES) signed
DATE: 9th January 2017 a partnership agreement in satellite
PLACE: Ahmedabad launch technology. The agreement
AGENDA/ISSUE: Part of Nobel Prize was signed between ISRO Chairman
Series India 2017, an extensive Kiran Kumar and CNES President Jean-
programme of events taking place Yves Le Gall in the presence of visiting
with the participation of nine Nobel French Minister of Foreign Affairs
Laureates Jean-Marc Ayrault. ISRO is the second
TARGET/APPLICATION: Prime partner of CNES, in terms of volume,
Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated after NASA.
the ‘The Nobel Prize’ exhibition at
74th Golden Globe Awards
Science City in Ahmedabad. ‘The Nobel
Prize: Ideas Changing the World’ DATE: 8th January 2017
contains several original artefacts, both PLACE: The Beverly Hilton in Beverly
from Alfred Nobel himself and from a Hills, California
number of Nobel Laureates. The Nobel AGENDA/ISSUE: To honour the best in
Prize Series 2017 will attribute to a film and American television of 2016
TARGET/APPLICATION: The
five week long Science Exhibition. It is
critically-acclaimed musical La La
being set up by the Nobel Foundation
Land broke the record for most wins
with exhibits from Nobel Museum at
by any one film. It won all seven of
Stockholm, Sweden. One of the 9 Nobel
the categories it was nominated in,
laureates include India-born scientist
including a Best Actor statuette for
Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan. He
Ryan Gosling, Best Actress for Emma
won 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Stone and Best Director for its auteur
his work on ribosome structure along Damian Chazelle. On the television
with Thomas A Steitz and Ada Yonath. side, The Crown took home Netflix’s
The Department of Biotechnology first trophy for best drama, while star
(DBT) under the Union Ministry of Claire Foy won for best actress in a
Science and Technology and Nobel drama series. Donald Glover took the
Media had signed a Memorandum stage twice, with Atlanta winning best
of Understanding (MoU) for hosting comedy series and Glover himself
Nobel Prize Series in India for the next winning for best actor in a comedy.
5years in 2016. Due to the programme Meryl Streep was announced as the
the students will be able to interact Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement
with the Laureates at universities such Award honouree. Actor and talk-show
as IISC Bangalore, NCBS Bangalore, host Jimmy Fallon was announced as
IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat the host of the ceremony on August 2,
University and M S University Vadodara. 2016.
Current Affairs A-35
January 10: World Hindi Day the country’s Constitution was adopted in
DATE: 10th January 2017 1950, with the customary grand parade
PLACE: All across the world. in the national capital and several other
AGENDA/ISSUE: The day is observed events. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,
to honour the Indo-Aryan language. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
TARGET/APPLICATION: The World was the chief guest of honour at this
Hindi Day is observed every year on 10 year’s Republic Day parade. The Indian
January. World Hindi Day was observed Army, Navy, Air Force, artistes and
for the first time on 10 January 2006. It performers from across the country took
is in addition to present National Hindi part in parades.
Divas which is being observed annually
on 14 September. Hindi has also been Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously
declared as the official language in Fiji. passes Jallikattu Bill
(NATIONAL, SOCIAL)
ISRO successfully tests Cryogenic DATE: 23rd January, 2017
Engine for Upper Stage of GSLV Mk PLACE: Chennai
III (NATIONAL, SOCIAL) AGENDA/ISSUE: Ordinance
DATE: 25 January, 2017 promulgated to allow Jallikattu
PLACE: Mahendragiri TARGET/APPLICATION: Tamil Nadu
AGENDA/ISSUE: Testing indigenously Assembly unanimously passed an
developed Cryogenic Upper Stage for amendment bill for conducting the bull
GSLV MkIII taming sport without any hindrance.
TARGET/APPLICATION: Indian Replacing an ordinance promulgated
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) two days ago to allow Jallikattu, the Bill
successfully ground tested its to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to
indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Animals Act, 1960 was unanimously
Stage for GSLV MkIII on 25th January, adopted by the House after members
2017. The cryogenic stage designated of all parties spoke welcoming the
as C25 was tested for a duration of 50 legislative initiative. The “Prevention
seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu
(IPRC) in Mahendragiri demonstrating Amendment), Act, 2017” was piloted
all the stage operations. This is the first
by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and
test in a series of two tests. The next
adopted by voice vote. It was deemed
test is planned for flight duration of
to have come into effect on the day
640 seconds. The development of C25
the ordinance was issued, January 21,
cryogenic stage began with the sanction
of GSLV MKIII, the next generation launch 2017. The Bill defines Jallikattu as an
vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching 4 occasion involving bulls conducted
ton class spacecraft in Geosynchronous with a view to following tradition and
Transfer Orbit (GTO). culture from January to May and it
includes alike events like ‘manjuviratu’,
68th Republic Day celebrated on 26 ‘vadamadu’ and ‘erudhuvidum’
January 2017 (NATIONAL, SOCIAL) festivals. Considering the crucial role of
DATE: 26th January, 2017 jallikattu in preserving and promoting
PLACE: New Delhi tradition and culture among people and
AGENDA/ISSUE: Celebration of India’s also in view of ensuring the survival
68th Republic Day and continuance of native breeds of
TARGET/APPLICATION: India celebrated bulls, the Government of Tamil Nadu
its 68th Republic Day on 26th January has decided to exempt jallikattu from
2017 marking the anniversary of the day the provisions of the PCA Act.
A-36 Current Affairs
News: Donald Trump: Immigration Aedesaegypti mosquito populations that
Ban on immigrants from Muslim- transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika
majority countries in United States: were launched in Dawalwadi, Badnapur,
International/ Political in Maharashtra’s Jalna district.Based on
DOB: 14 June 1946 the results of the trials, which use the
Background: Donald Trump is an Release of Insects carrying Dominant
American businessman, politician and Lethal genes (RIDL) technology, and
social personality. He was sworn in as permission from Indian regulatory
45th president of USA on 20th January authorities, GangabishanBhikulal
2017 after he defeated Hilary Clinton. Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT)
At the age of 70 years, he is the oldest and Oxitec, plan to conduct open field
and wealthiest person to become the trials in the country.Laboratory-based
President of the United States. studies have already been carried out
Important Work: Donald Trump in India since 2012 by GBIT and Oxitec
issued an executive order which will and these studies have demonstrated
deny refugees and immigrants from
the compatibility of Aedesaegypti
few Muslim-dominant countries entry
mosquitoes.Oxitec’s technology uses
to the United States. The immigration
ban was passed on 27th January 2017 genetically modified male Aedesaegypti
as a measure to keep terrorists away mosquitoes that carry a dominant lethal
from US. The 90 day ban applies to gene. When male GM mosquitoes mate
the citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, with wild female mosquitoes the lethal
Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia. The gene is passed on to offspring. The lethal
ban has stopped the entry of refugees gene in the offspring kills the larvae
from Syria indefinitely. The ban was before they reach adulthood.Since
condemned by democrats, immigrants male mosquitoes do not bite humans,
and civil rights groups as it is counter the release of GM males will not increase
to US Constitutional principle of not the risk of dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
discriminating on the basis of religion.
However Republicans were in stride Centre of Integrative Oncology
of the ban considering it as a matter of inaugurated in New Delhi
national security. Date: 4th February, 2017
Genetically Modified mosquito Place: New Delhi
trials launched to control dengue, AGENDA/ISSUE: Inauguration of
chikungunya and zika (NATIONAL, Centre of Integratve Oncology (CIO)
SOCIAL) TARGET/APPLICATION: The Centre
Date:23rd January, 2017 of Integrative Oncology (CIO) was
Place:Maharashtra inaugurated at the National Institute
Field/ Segment: Science, Medicine of Cancer Prevention and Research
Problem/Demand: To demonstrate (NICPR) at Noida on the eve of world
the efficiency of genetically modified Cancer Day (4th February).
mosquitoes to suppress wild female
Aedesaegypti mosquito populations that Litchi Reason behind mysterious
transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika deaths in Bihar
Effects: Outdoor caged trials to determine Date: 1st February, 2017
the efficiency of genetically modified Place: New Delhi
mosquitoes to suppress wild female Field/ Segment: Social
Current Affairs A-37
Problem/Demand:Unexplainedneurological recurring outbreak illness is associated
illness in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur Effects: The with litchi consumption and toxicity from
unknown reason behind the occurrence both hypoglycin A and MPCG.
of amysterious neurological illness in
NTA to Conduct Exams for Higher &
Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, which claimed
nearly 100 lives each year till 2014, Secondary Education
has been resolved. Scientists from Date: 5th February 2017
the US and India, after a combined Place: New Delhi
investigation, have concluded that The Union Ministry of Human Resource
consuming litchi --a tropical fruit on Development (HRD) is going to set up a
an empty stomach triggers the illness department known as National Testing
and death.Seasonal outbreak of the Agency (NTA) to conduct examinations
mysterious illness, characterised by for higher and secondary education.
acute seizures and changed mental It will be the single authority that will
status, has been plaguing Muzaffarpur for conduct entrance tests for all higher
nearly two decades. Some similar cases institutions like JEE, NEET, NET and
have been reported from Malda in West other prestigious exams. Establishment
Bengal. Naturally-occurring toxins that of NTA will free CBSE, AICTE and
are found in litchis --hypoglycin A and other agencies from conducting
methylenecyclopropylglycine (MPCG) - various exams and enable them to
focus on their core areas and work on
disrupt the fatty acid metabolism, leading
improving the quality of education.
to acutely low levels of blood sugar. This
Its main purpose is to bring reforms
further affects brain function, leading to
in the education system. The National
acute seizures and stroke. The research
Testing aims to bring professionalism,
findings have been published in the latest
competence and transparency in the
issue of medical journal The Lancet. For
field of conducting tests for higher
years, many theories were proposed for educational institutions and benefit
the seasonal outbreak, including the students as well.
possibility of pesticide exposure and Initially examinations like IIT, NIT and
infectious encephalitis, but no one could even university exams will be conducted
confirm anything.In 2013, the National by NTA. Later on secondary school
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in exams will also be handed over to it.
India and US Center for Disease Control Initially, the CBSE staff will be deployed
initiated a joint investigation into the in this department and but later on the
matter. The hospital-based surveillance specialised people will be hired in the
involved laboratory investigations to NTA.
evaluatepossible infectious and non-
infectious causes in 390 children less SC upholds cancellation of MBBS
than 15 years old, who were admitted admission through Vyapam
to Shri Krishna Medical College hospital DATE: 13th February, 2017
and KrishnadeviDeviprasadKejriwal PLACE: New Delhi
maternity hospital -the chief referral AGENDA/ISSUE: Admission of MBBS
medical centres in Muzaffarpur with students through Vyapam cancelled
sudden neurological illness. This TARGET/APPLICATION: Supreme
study is the largest investigation of Court has upheld the cancellation of
the Muzaffarpur outbreak and the first the admission of 634 MBBS students in
comprehensive confirmation that this the MBBS course through Vyapam test
A-38 Current Affairs
in Madhya Pradesh for adopting unfair the 104 satellites lifted off from the
means, terming their action as “an first launch pad at Satish Dhawan
act of deceit”. The three-judge bench Space Centre in Sriharikota. It was
headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar PSLV’s 39th flight. Out of the total 104
said the actions of the students were satellites placed in orbit, 101 satellites
founded on “unacceptable behaviour” belonged to six foreign countries. They
and warranted no interference under included 96 from the US and one each
Article 142 of the Constitution. Article from Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands,
142 deals with special powers of the Switzerland and Kazakhstan.
Supreme Court to enforce decree to PSLV first injected its main payload
meet the ends of justice. Cartosat- 2 series, India’s indigenously
The batch of matters were referred built earth observation satellite. It was
to the three-judge bench after a two- followed by two other nanosatellites of
judge bench of Justices J Chelameswar Isro - INS-1A and INS-1B. Russian Space
and A M Sapre, though they concurred Agency held a record of launching 37
regarding guilt of adopting unfair satellites in one go during its mission
means by the medical aspirants, in June 2014.
but had differed on the quantum of India previously launched 23 satellites
sentence. The medicos had challenged in a single mission in June 2015.
two verdicts, delivered in 2014, of the Equipped with panchromatic and
Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissing multispectral cameras, the 664kg
their pleas against cancellation of the Cartosat -2 will provide remote
results in the entrance examinations sensing services similar to that of its
held between 2008 and 2013 by predecessors. INS-1A and INS-1B are
the Madhya Pradesh Professional versatile and modular nanosatellite bus
Examination Board (MPPEB), also system envisioned for future science
known as VYAPAM. During the inquiry, and experimental payload. The nano
the examination board had concluded satellites from Israel, Kazakhstan, the
that the exam process was “tampered Netherlands, Switzerland and the UAE
with” and 634 medicos were the are mostly technology demonstrators.
beneficiaries of the “manipulated
examination process”. 5 associate banks merged into SBI
DATE: 15th February, 2017
ISRO launches 104 satellites in one PLACE: New Delhi
go AGENDA/ISSUE: Cabinet approves
DATE: 15th February, 2017 merger of SBI with 5 associate banks
PLACE: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, TARGET/APPLICATION: The Union
Sriharikota Cabinet has approved the merger of
AGENDA/ISSUE: ISRO will gain State Bank of India with five of its
supremacy in the field of space research associate banks including State Bank
TARGET/APPLICATION: India has got of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of
its name etched in the history of space Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore,
exploration with the successful launch State Bank of Patiala, and State Bank
of a record 104 satellites by Isro’s of Travancore. The merger proposal
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was announced in May 2016 and was
in a single mission. PSLV-C37 carrying scheduled for March 2017.
Current Affairs A-39

ISSUES

Cauvery Water Dispute


Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are living in rivalry for 125-years. Currently, this
has been raging since the order of the Supreme Court asking Karnataka to
release 15,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu.
The dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over sharing Cauvery was
close to a solution when in 1924, the two sides, Mysore princely state and
Madras Presidency, reached an agreement.
Mysore was permitted to build a dam at Kannambadi village to trap 44.8
thousand million cubic feet of water. The agreement was supposed to be valid
for 50 years with a review thereafter.
Core of the issue
Karnataka claims that the British-era agreement was not correct since it did
not get its due share of water. Whereas, Tamil Nadu believes that it needs the
water to sustain extensive farming that has resulted in increase because of
Karnataka’s commitment to provide sufficient water.
Karnataka wants to triple its water share from the river, that originates from
Kodagu and flows through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.
This means there Tamil Nadu’s portion will reduce.
Present agitation
The dispute escalated when monsoon failed, as there is lesser water to share.
Adding to the fire, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have received less rainfall during
the monsoon. Karnataka denies releasing water to TN for agriculture, saying it
needs it for drinking water purposes.

Combat Drug Resistant TB centres across the country. These sites


Date: 21 March, 2016 have advanced facilities for laboratory
Place: New Delhi testing and intensive care for patients.
Field: Health It will be given to multi-drug resistant
Bedaquiline Drug the new anti-TB TB patients with resistance to either
drug combat Drug Resistant TB as part all fluoroquinolone and/or all second
of the Revised National Tuberculosis line injectables and extensive drug
Control Program (RNTCP). It is a new resistant TB. Union Minister of Health
class of drug is a diarylquinoline that and Family Welfare on 21st March
specifically targets Mycobacterial ATP launched Bedaquiline – new anti-TB
synthase, an enzyme essential for supply drug for Drug Resistant TB as part of the
of energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis
and most other mycobacteria. It will Control Program) on the eve of ‘World
available at six identified tertiary care TB Day’.
A-40 Current Affairs

National Waterways Project Threatens Gangetic Dolphins


Date: 24 September, 2016
Place: Patna
Field: Ecological Conservation
The development of the Ganga is beneficial for India but it is the natural habitat
of dolphins. Due to construction of dams and barrages on the river for shipping
their numbers are rapidly decreasing. The Central Government plans further
to develop a 1600-km waterway between Allahabad and Haldia. The first
phase of the project spanning 1300 km, from Varanasi to Haldia is now under
implementation. It envisages to improve the navigability of the river as it passes
through Northern India. However this stretch is also home to the endangered
dolphin. According to the scientists and wildlife conservationists, the National
Waterways (NW) project possesses serious environmental threat to Gangetic
river dolphins. The development NW1 in the River Ganga is considered as
single-largest threat to the survival of the species, whose numbers are declining
in most parts of their natural habitat. River dolphins are found in Ganga and
Brahmaputra and its tributaries. It has been declared endangered species and
is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ Expansion Of Rotavirus Vaccine In


Date: 13 July, 2016 5 States
Place: New Delhi Date: 18th February, 2017
Field: Foreign Affairs Place: Agartala
There are over 550 Indians at Juba Problem/Demand: Morbidity and
and another 150 in areas where the mortality among children from
rotavirus diarrhoea.
oil wells are located. South Sudan
Effects: Diarrhoea is one of the biggest
has been hit by violence which has killers in children and Rotavirus is one
claimed hundreds of lives till now. The of the most common causes of severe
conflict is because of clashes between diarrhoea in children less than 2 years of
government troops and forces loyal to age. Rotavirus vaccine along with proper
Vice President Riek Machar. Thousands sanitation, hand washing practices,
of Indians are working in the Gulf ORS and zinc supplementation will go
countries and they are in serious threat a long way in reducing the mortality
due to growing militarism of ISIS. and morbidity due to diarrhoea in
In this regard Operation Sankat children. The government is committed
Mochan is the first big evacuation to increasing the full immunization
effort in a year after Operation Rahat coverage and ensuring that the benefit
of the life-saving vaccines is provided to
that evacuated hundreds of citizens of
every child.
India and other countries in July 2015.
The fourth phase of Mission
‘Sankat Mochan’ evacuated Indian Indradhanush has already begun
citizens stranded in South Sudan’s in North-eastern states - Arunachal
capital Juba. Sankat Mochan in Hindi Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,
means reliever from troubles. The Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
operation was being undertaken by from 7th February 2017 and will be
Indian Air Force (IAF). rolled out in rest of the country in April
Current Affairs A-41
2017. This life-saving vaccine will not enough. They also often place profits
only improve the health of our children ahead public health when choosing which
but will also reduce hospitalization drugs to develop.
and other conditions associated with For the first time, the World Health
diarrhoea due to Rotavirus such as Organization (WHO) published a list of
malnutrition, delayed physical and bacteria threatening to turn once easily
mental development among children. treatable infections into serial killers.
In March 2016, the Rotavirus vaccine The list was drawn up by a group of
was first introduced in four states international experts led by the WHO and
namely Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the University of Tübingen in Germany
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. India’s which has ranked bacteria based on their
UIP provides free vaccines against 11 level of resistance to treatment, their
life threatening diseases, to 26 million mortality rates, their prevalence in the
children annually, the largest birth community, and the burden on the health
cohort in the world. system they cause.
The 12 bugs on the list are categorised
FIGHT AGAINST 12 MOST as critical, high and medium priority.
DANGEROUS SUPERBUGS At the top of the critical category
are Acinetobacter baumannii and
DATE: 27th February, 2016
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which
PLACE: Geneva, Switzerland
can cause deadly blood infections
PLACE/DEMAND: Demand for drugs and pneumonia, most commonly in
against drug-resistant bacteria hospital patients. The third on the
EFFECTS: The World Health Organization list, carbapenem-resistant entero-
(WHO) has urged countries to step bacteriaceae, is a family of germs that
up the fight against a dozen bacteria include Klebsiella and E. coli bacteria.
that are growing resistant to all the They also commonly originate in
existing antibiotics. The antibiotic hospitals, and can lead to urinary tract
resistance crisis has been credited to infections, bloodstream infections,
the accelerated overuse of these drugs. and pneumonia with high mortality
The primary reason sighted are that rates. Among the high and medium
the pharmaceutical companies aren’t priority categories were drug-resistant
developing new antibiotics quickly gonorrhea and salmonella bacteria.

IDEAS
HPV Vaccine Programme in Schools Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs
Date: 29 February, 2016 establish productive infections only in
Place: Delhi keratinocytes of the skin or mucous
Field: Health membranes.
Delhi is going to be the first state in POCSO e-box
the country to launch the Human Date: 26 August, 2016
Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a
Place: New Delhi
public health programme for school
children. The HPV vaccine protects Field: Child Development
people against the group of 150-odd An online complaint box for reporting
HPVs, some of which can cause cervical child sexual abuse, the POCSO e-Box is
cancer. Human papillomavirus is a DNA a much needed initiative to address the
virus from the papillomavirus family grave situation. Protection of Children
that is capable of infecting humans. from Sexual Offences (POCSO), e-Box,
A-42 Current Affairs
is an online complaint management Kabhi Bhi’ medical facilities for its
system for easy and direct reporting beneficiaries of Delhi. Kahin Bhi means
of sexual offences against children and any dispensary/Hospital and Kabhi Bhi
timely action against the offenders means anytime. With this initiative, all
under the POCSO Act, 2012. The e-Box the networks of dispensaries of Delhi
is incorporated prominently in the have been made accessible to insured
home page of National Commission persons and their family members all
for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) the time. The initiative aims at saving
website http://ncpcr.gov.in/ where time of the beneficiaries as well as
a user has to simply push a button minimizing the effort that he/she
named POSCO e-Box. The Protection of makes to avail the services.
Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO
Act) 2012 was formulated in order to Mobile App CHIRAG
effectively address sexual abuse and sexual Date: 9 November, 2016
exploitation of children. Which is growing Place: Mumbai
rampantly in India. Field: Human Rights
Digital Locker The App “Child Helpline for Information
on Rights and Address Grievances”
Date: 8 September, 2016 (CHIRAG) will be available for download
Place: New Delhi on Google Playstore while an IOS version
Field: Transport would be launched shortly. The app
The idea of integration of DigiLocker will provide information regarding
with Driving Licenses (DL) & Vehicle functioning of the Child Rights Protection
Registration Certificates (VRC) will Commission while spreading awareness
hugely benefit people. Now, people will about children’s rights. People can also
no longer need to carry around physical lodge complaints about violation of child
copies of their Driving Licences and rights through the app. Maharashtra and
RCs. Using DigiLocker mobile app, they Uttar Pradesh have recorded cases of
can instead access digital copies of the child abuse. This idea is path-breaking
same on their mobile phones. Besides, because with registering a complaint on
DLs and VRC documents will be now the app will immediately send an email
issued directly to the DigiLockers of to the Maharashtra State Child Rights
individuals in digital formats. These Protection, which will direct it to police
digital copies also can be shared with or a child right charity.
other government departments as
identity and address proof. They can DRDO’s drone Rustom-2
also be used for on the spot verification Date: 15 November, 2016
through the citizen’s mobile, by Place: Karnataka
various law enforcement authorities Field: Defence
like the Traffic Police. Besides, it will A medium-altitude long-endurance
also result in assured authenticity unmanned aerial vehicle, Rustom-2
of such documents and reduction of is comparable to the American made
administrative overhead. Predator drone and can fly for 24 hours
Kahin Bhi-Kabhi Bhi Medical Facilities at stretch. It can conduct sustained
surveillance and can carry weapons
Date: 14 November, 2016 along with surveillance equipment.
Place: New Delhi The application of drones is manifold -
Field: Health including reconnaissance, surveillance,
Employees State Insurance Corporation intelligence gathering and aerial
(ESIC) is going to launch ‘Kahin Bhi- combat missions. What makes them
Current Affairs A-43
indispensable is that they can conduct Problems: Start-ups lacking specific
these tasks at a fraction of the cost of a financial needs
manned aircraft and in case of a crash SBI InCube branch is a specialised
or malfunction, costs no lives. The branch to understand and address our
most recent instance of drone usage banking needs for setting up a start-up.
by India had been during the army’s It will provide the best suitable solutions
surgical strikes on terror launchpads in banking transactions and investments
across the Line of Control in Jammu on a robust technology platform for
and Kashmir, where the drones have business model.InCube branches will be
monitored and filmed the proceedings. a one-stop shop for the financial service
For that operation, the military had to requirements of start-ups in the country.
rely on imported drones, which had long SBI has opened its first InCube branch in
endurance and a capacity to fly in high Bengaluru keeping in mind that the city
altitudes. Rustom-2 will be able to carry is the hub for start-ups in the country.
out such missions. The Rustom-2 has Apart from serving a start-up’s financial
been renamed Tapas 201. The Rustom-1, services requirements, SBI will also
which flew for the first time in 2009, provide mentorship through technology
had been named after the late Rustom experts. SBI also launched a new wealth
Damania, who helped develop the aircraft management service called Exclusif.
that had been used as a prototype.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Stand Up India Scheme for Women
Date: 31 October, 2016
and SC/ST
Place: New Delhi
Date: January 7, 2016
Field: Culture
Place: New Delhi
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National
Field: Economic Empowerment Unity Day) is observed across India
Problems: SC/ST Economic Backwardness on 31 October to commemorate birth
Effects: To promote entrepreneurship anniversary of Independent India’s
among SC/ST and Women first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar
Stand Up India Scheme aims to promote Vallabhai Patel. The theme of the day
entrepreneurship among SC/ST and for 2016 is “Integration of India”.
Women entrepreneurs. This Scheme The idea of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
aims to facilitate at least two such was mooted by PM Narendra Modi
projects per bank branch, on an average in October 2014 to mark the birth
one for each category of entrepreneur. anniversary of country’s first Home
It is likely to prove beneficiary for Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
at least 2.5 lakh borrowers. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Pate is known as
Stand Up India Scheme provides for: the Iron Man of India or Bismarck of
Refinance window through Small India. In India’s independence struggle,
Industries Development Bank of India he played a major role in organizing
(SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs. peasants’ movements on Gandhian
10,000 crore and creation of a credit principles in Bardoli and Kheda in
guarantees mechanism through the Gujarat and during the Quit India
National Credit Guarantee Trustee movement. His biggest contribution
Company (NCGTC). to India was his role in the integration
of the over 500 princely states with
SBI In Cube India during 1947-49. He is also
Date: January 14, 2016 remembered as the Patron Saint of
Place: Bengaluru, Karnataka India’s civil servants for establishing
Field: Start-ups modern All-India Services.
A-44 Current Affairs

Solar Impulse 2
Date: 26 July, 2016
Place: Abu Dhabi
Field: Aviation
Solar Impulse 2, the first airplane powered by renewable energy has
completed the first round world trip. The solar-powered airplane finally
arrived at Al-Bateen Executive Airport located in Abu Dhabi, where it had
started its journey 505 days ago. This airplane is extra sensitive to weather
patterns and it depends on the sun for power and also its tiny weight makes
it difficult to fly through heavy cloud cover or rain. The flight covered a
remarkable 42,000-kilometre journey across four continents, two oceans and
three seas. Solar Impulse is a Swiss long-range experimental solar-powered
aircraft project, and also the name of the project’s two operational aircraft. The
privately financed project is led by Swiss engineer and businessman André
Borschbergand Swiss psychiatrist and aeronaut Bertrand Piccard, who
co-piloted Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to circle the world non-stop.
The Solar Impulse project’s goals were to make the first circumnavigation of
the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power and to bring
attention to clean technologies.
Coradia iLint Lou Gehrig’s. The implantation has
Date: 3 Nov, 2016 enabled her to communicate in day-to-day
Place: Germany life with the help of a speech computer.
Field: Environment The disease Lou Gehrig’s caused nerve
World’s first hydrogen-powered and degeneration that had left her with
zero-emission passenger train is control only over her eyes. The implant
Germany’s Coradia iLint. It is powered enabled her to control the computer using
by a hydrogen fuel tank on its roof. The brain signals, and spell out messages
fuel cell is supplied with hydrogen and speaking two letters per minute. With
oxygen from the air, which it converts into this innovative idea a remarkable change
electric power. The system is backed up will take place in medical science. Now
by lithium batteries. These batteries store the people whose heart beats even if the
the excess power in order to later supply brain is dead can survive.
the train when needed. The train is totally GOES-R
carbon-free, making it a much more
sustainable alternative to the 4000 diesel Date: 20 Nov, 2016
trains currently in circulation in Germany. Place: Washington DC
It has enough onboard hydrogen storage Field: Science & Tech
to power an 800 kilometre journey, with GOES-R is the next generation of
speeds topping out at 87 miles per hour. geosynchronous environmental satellite.
It is expected to provide atmospheric and
First Brain Implantation surface measurements of the Earth’s
Date: 14 Nov, 2016 Western Hemisphere for weather
Place: Netherlands forecasting, severe storm tracking, space
Field: Health weather monitoring and meteorological
Doctors of Netherlands have performed research. It marks a technological advance
the first-ever brain implant on a 58-year- in geostationary observations. Compared
old woman paralysed by disease named to the current GOES system, the advanced
Current Affairs A-45
instruments and data processing tornado warning lead time, improved
provides, three times more spectral hurricane track and intensity forecasts,
information, four times greater spatial improved monitoring of solar x-ray flux,
resolution, five times faster coverage, improved monitoring of solar flares and
real-time mapping of total lightning coronal mass ejections and improved
activity, increased thunderstorm and geomagnetic storm forecasting.

Chabahar Port
The Chabahar port is located in south-eastern Iran in the Gulf of Oman. It is
the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s visit to Iran has led to the much-awaited signing of the pact for India to
develop the strategic Chabahar port.
The port was partially built by India in 1990s. The pact to build the Chabahar
port was first initiated during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 2003,
but the deal couldn’t get through the subsequent years.
After several rounds of negotiations between India’s consortium of JNPT,
Kandla Port Authority and Iranian authorities, the contract was finally deemed
ready to be signed.
Developing the port is understood to be a major breakthrough for India’s trade
with West Asia. Following agreements have been established as per the pact:
a) India will develop and operate the Chabahar port. India Ports Global will
invest $85 million in developing two container berths with a length of 640
metres and three multi-cargo berths.
b) The signed contract will last for 10 years and is extendable. First two
years of the contract are to be observed as grace period. It means India
doesn’t have to guarantee any cargo for the port. Phase one of the port
construction will take 18 months to complete.
c) India will facilitate 30,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent) of cargo at the
port in third year. By the tenth year, quantum will rise to 2,50,000 TEUs.
d) IRCON International will set up a railway line at Chabahar in order to move
goods right up to Afghanistan. The rail link of 500-km between Chabahar
and Zahedan will link Delhi to the rest of Iran’s railway network.
e) Free trade zone where a total investment of `1 lakh crore is envisaged is
also a part of the agreement.
f) India will also supply $400 million of steel rails to Tehran.
How India gains?
• Presently, Pakistan does not allow India to transport through its territory
to Afghanistan. The port will make way for India to bypass Pakistan and
transport goods to Afghanistan using a sea-land route.
• This will also give momentum to the International North-South Transport
Corridor. Iran is the key gateway in this project. The route primarily
involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.
• The corridor would increase trade connectivity between major cities such
as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku etc.
• It would counter Chinese presence in the Arabian sea through the support
of Pakistan in developing Gwadar port.
• Port can also be used to station security vessels for merchant ships off
the African coast, apart from giving the country a foothold in the western
Arabian Sea. It is important as many of its energy imports pass through the
route.
A-46 Current Affairs

IMPORTANT NEWS IN 2017


International Year of Sustainable Grand Slam is scheduled to be held in
Tourism for Development 2017: The July in United Kingdom July 3–July 16.
United Nations General Assembly PM Modi to visit G20 SUMMIT: PM
approved 2017 to be the International Modi scheduled to attend the 12th
Year of Sustainable Tourism for G20 SUMMIT to be held in Hamburg,
Development. Germany from July 7-July 8.
INS Viraat to be decommissioned: Presidential election 2017 India: A
INS Viraat, world’s oldest aircraft Presidential election will be held before
carrier, formal decommissioning was 25 July, 2017, the day when incumbent
scheduled in January 2017. President Pranab Mukherjee’s term
Portugal PM Antonio Costa was ends.
the chief guest: The Indian-origin The total solar eclipse: This eclipse will
Portugal Prime Minister, Antonio Costa be the first total solar eclipse visible from
was the chief guest at the 14th Pravasi the United States on August 21, 2017
Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held since the solar eclipse of July 11, 1991
from January 7 to 9, 2017 in Bengaluru. and the first visible from the contiguous
IPL 2017: The 2017 edition of IPL will United States since 1979.
take place from 5 April to 21, May 2017 The Chess World Cup 2017: The Chess
in India. World Cup 2017 is scheduled to be
World Team Chess Championship 2017: held in Georgia from September 1 to
World Team Chess Championship 2017 September 25, 2017.
to take place in Russia from May 15–May The Himachal Pradesh Legislative
27. Assembly election, 2017: The Himachal
ICC Champions Trophy 2017: ICC Pradesh Legislative Assembly election,
Champions Trophy 2017 to be held 2017 will be held in late 2017, to elect
across three venues: The Oval, Edgbaston the 68 members of the Himachal Pradesh
and Sophia Gardens in England from Legislative Assembly, as the term of
June 1 to June 18. current Legislative Assembly ends on 7
The 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup: January, 2018.
The 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup is 9th BRICS SUMMIT: PM Narendra
to be played in England from 26 June to 23 Modi schedule to attend the 9th BRICS
July 2017. SUMMIT in 2017 to be held in China.
French Open Grand Slam 2017: French IBSA Summit: PM Narendra Modi
Open Grand Slam to be held in France scheduled to attend the next IBSA
from June 28–11 June. Summit to be held in 2017 in India.
2017 Wimbledon Championships Grand Exoplanet to be launched: NASA plans
Slam: 2017 Wimbledon Championships to launch the exoplanet-seeking TESS
Current Affairs A-47
(Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk II) in 2017.
mission to survey the brightest stars near China establishes the largest megacity
the Earth. in the world: China is going to merge
‘Artificial’ chromosome: A UK team nine of its cities into one, creating the
of scientists is building an “artificial” largest metropolitan area on the planet.
chromosome to be inserted into the This new megacity has a population of
world’s first synthetic yeast scheduled 42 million – over 7 million greater than
to be completed by the year 2017. Tokyo, the previous record holder.
Cassini–Huygens to be destroyed: India’s first private moon mission 2017:
The unmanned spacecraft sent to the TeamIndus, a Bengaluru-based private
planet Saturn will be destroyed in 2017 aerospace company, will send a spacecraft
by flying into Saturn, since it is running to the moon on December 28, 2017, aboard
out of fuel for orbital corrections. an Indian Space Research Organisation
Chandrayaan-2: Chandrayaan-2 is India’s (ISRO) rocket. The mission’s aim is to
second lunar exploration mission after land this spacecraft on the moon, have it
Chandrayaan-1 developed by the ISRO, travel at least 500 metres and beam high-
the mission is planned to be launched to definition video, images and data back to
the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite the earth.
A-48 Current Affairs
Current Affairs A-49
A-50 Current Affairs

WHO’S WHO
President – Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Vice President – Mohd. Hamid Ansari
Prime Minister – Shri Narendra Modi
THE NEW COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AT THE CENTRE 2016
S.No. Portfolio Name
Union Council of Ministers
1 Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Narendra Modi
Department of Atomic Energy, Department of
Space, All important policy issues and All other
portfolios not allocated to any Minister
Cabinet Ministers
1 Home Affairs Rajnath Singh
2 External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj
3 Finance, Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley
4 Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty M. Venkaiah Naidu
Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting
5 Road Transport and Highways, Shipping Nitin Jairam Gadkari
6 Defence Manohar Parrikar
7 Railways Suresh Prabhu
8 Statistics & Programme Implementation D.V. Sadananda Gowda
9 Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Sushri Uma Bharati
Rejuvenation
10 Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ramvilas Paswan
11 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra
12 Women and Child Development Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi
13 Chemicals and Fertilizers, Parliamentary Affairs Ananth kumar
14 Law & Justice, Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad
15 Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda
16 Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju
Pusapati
17 Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Anant Geete
18 Food Processing Industries Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal
19 Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Narendra Singh Tomar
Water and Sanitation
20 Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh
21 Tribal Affairs Jual Oram
22 Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh
23 Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot
24 Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani
25 Science and Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan
26 Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar
Current Affairs A-51
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
Minister Portfolio
Vijay Goyal Sports &Youth Affairs, Water Resources,
River Developmet and Ganga Rejuvenation
Rao Inderjit Singh Planning Urban Development, Housing &
Urban Poverty Alliviation
Jitendra Singh Development of North Eastern Region
Bandaru Dattatreya Labour and Employment
Rajiv Pratap Rudy Skill Development & Enterpreneurship
Shripad Yesso Naik AYUSH
Dharmendra Pradhan Petroleum Forest and Climate Change
Piyush Goyal Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy
and Mines
Mukhtar Aabbas Naqvi Minority Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs
Manoj Sinha Communications and Railways
Nirmala Sitharamaqn Commerce and Industry
Mahesh Sharma Culture and Tourism
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
Minister Portfolio
VK Singh, MJ Akbar External Affairs
Santosh Kumar Gangwar Finance
Faggan Singh Kulaste, Anupriya Patel Health & Family Welfare
Ajay Tamta Textiles
CR Chaudhary Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Krishna Raj Women & Child Development
Arjun Ram Meghwal Finance and Corporate Affairs
Subhash Ramrao Bharma Defence
Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi Drinking Water and Sanitation
Giriraj Singh, Haribha Parthibha Chaudhary Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Sanjeev Kumar Balyan Water Resources, River Developmet &
Ganga Rejuvenation
Sudarshan Bhagat Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Rajen Gohain Railways
Mansukh L Mandaviya Road Transport and Highways, Shipping,
Cheimcal and Fertilizers
Parushottam Rupala Agriculture & Farmers Welefare and
Panchayati Raj
P. Radhadrishnan Road Transport & Highways, Shipping
Kiran Rijiju, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir Home Affairs
SS Ahluwalia Agricultures & Farmers Welfare,
Parliamentary Affairs, Tribal Affairs
Jaswantsingh Sumanbhai Bahadur Tribal Affairs
Ram Kripal Yadav Rural Development
A-52 Current Affairs

PP Chaudhary Law & Justice, Electronics & Information


Technology
Vishnu Deo Steel
Mahendra Nath Pandey, Upendra Kus- Human Resource Development
hwaha
YS Chowdhary Science & Technology and Earth Sciences
Babul Supriyo Urban Development, Housing and Urban
Poverty Alleviation, Heavy Industries and
Public Enterprises
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Information & Broadcasting
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Food Processing Industries
Vijay Samplea, Krishan Pal, Ram Das Social Justice & Empowered
Athawala
Chief Minister and Governors of States & Union Territories
State Capital Chief Minister Governor
Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad N.Chandrababu E.S Lakshmi
Naidu Narasimhan
Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Pema Khandu Padmanabha Acharya
Assam Dispur Sarbananda Sonowal Padamanabha Acharya
Bihar Patna Nitish Kumar Ram Nath Kovind
Chattisgarh Raipur Dr. Raman Singh Balram Dass Tandon
Goa Panaji Manohar Parrikar Mridula Sinha
Gujarat Gandhinagar Vijay Rupani Om Prakash Kohli
Haryana Chandigarh Manohar Lal Khattar Kaptan Singh Solanki
Himachal Pradesh Simla Virbhadra Singh Acharya Dev Vrat
Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar (Summer) Mehbooba Mufti Narinder Nath Vohra
Jammu(Winter)
Jharkhand Ranchi Raghuvar Das Draupadi Murmu
Karnataka Bangalore Siddaramaiah Vajubhai Vala
Kerala Thiruvananthapuram Pinarayi Vijayan P. Sathasivam
Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Shivraj Singh Chouhan Om Prakash Kohli
Maharashtra Mumbai Devendra Fadnavis Chennamaneni
Vidyasagar Rao
Manipur Imphal N. Biren Singh V. Shanmuganthan
Meghalaya Shillong Dr. Mukul Sangma Banwarilal Purohit
Mizoram Aizawl Lal Thanhawla Nirbhay Sharma
Nagaland Kohima T R Zeliang Padmanabha
Balkrishna Acharya
Odisha Bhubaneswar Naveen Patnaik S.C. Jamir
Punjab Chandigarh Capt. Amrinder Singh Kaptan Singh Solanki
Rajasthan Jaipur Vasundhara Raje Kalyan Singh
Sikkim Gangtok Pawan Kumar Shriniwas
Chamling Dadasaheb Patil
Tamil Nadu Chennai E. Palaniswami Dr. K. Rosaiah
Telangana Hyderabad K Chandrasekhar Rao E.S Lakshmi
Narasimhan
Tripura Agartala Manik Sarkar Tathagata Roy
Uttar Pradesh Lucknow ...... Ram Naik
Uttarakhand Dehradun Trivendra Singh Rawat Krishan Kant Paul
West Bengal Kolkata Mamta Benerjee Keshri Nath Tripathi
Current Affairs A-53
Union Territories Capital Head Position
Andaman and Port Blair Jagdish Mukhi Lieutenant Governor
Nicobar Island
Chandigarh Chandigarh V. P. Singh Badnore Administrator
Dadra and Silvassa Praful Khoda Patel Administrator
Nagar Haveli
Daman and Diu Daman Praful Khoda Patel Administrator
Delhi Delhi Arvind Kejriwal Anil Baijal
Lakshadweep Kavaratti Farooq Khan Administrator
Puducherry Puducherry Kiran Bedi Lieutenant Governor

IMPORTANT NATIONAL OFFICIALS


1. Naseem Ahmed Chairperson, NCM
2. Rameshwar Oraon Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribe
3. Ved Prakash Chairperson, UGC
4. P.L. Punia Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Castes
5. H. L. Dattu Chairperson NHRC
6. Shekhar Basu Chairman, Atomic Research Centre
7. K.N. Vyas Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
8. Dr. Y.V. Reddy Chairperson, 14th Finance Commission
9. Urjit Patel Governor, Reserve Bank of India
10. U.K. Sinha Chairman, SEBI
11. Ram Sevak Sharma Chairperson, TRAI
12. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala Chairperson, NABARD
13. Ashish Bahuguna Chairperson, FSSAI
14. Raghav Chandra/ Chairperson, National Highways Authority of india
Yudhvir Singh Malik
15. A.S. Kiran Kumar Chairperson, ISRO
16. Karnal Singh Director, Enforcement Directorate
17. Pahlaj Nihalani Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification
18. Mukesh Khanna Chairperson, Children’s Film Society of India
19. A. Chakravarty/ Director, National Cadet Corps
Vinod Vashisht
20. Rakesh Kr. Chaturvedi Chairperson, Central Board of Secondary Education
21. T.S. Vijayam Chairperson, Insurance Regulatory & Development
Authority of India
22. C.K. Prasad Chairperson, Press Council of India
23. Krishna Chaudhary Director General ITBP
24. K.K. Sharma/D.K. Pathak Director General, Border Security Force
25. Ranjit Kumar Solicitor General of India
26. Mukul Rohtagi Attorney General of India
27. Justice Swatantra Kumar Chairperson, National Green Tribunal
28. K. Durga Prasad Director General, CRPF
29. Dr. Hrushikesh Senapaty Director, NCERT
30. Sunil Kanoria President, ASSOCHAM
31. T.M. Bhasin Chairman, Indian Banks Association
32. R. Chandrashekhar President, NASSCOM
33. Hurmusti N. Cama President, Press Trust of India
A-54 Current Affairs
34. Ashim Khurana President, Staff Selection Commission
35. Mangu Singh Director General, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
36. Muhammad Aslam Vice Chancellor, IGNOU
37. Jyotsna Suri/Pankaj Patel President, FICCI
38. Lalitha Kumarmangalam President, National Commission for Women
39. CA M Devaraja Reddy President, Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI)
40. Dr. Girish Sahni Director General, CSIR
41. Anupam Shrivastava CEO, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
42. Prof. David R. Syiemlieh Chairman of UPSC
Heads of State Bank of India & Associates/MDs
1. Arundhati Bhattacharya Chairperson–State Bank of India
2. Mani Palveesan MD–State Bank of Hyderabad
3. N.K. Chari State Bank of Mysore
4. Jyoti Ghosh (MD)/ State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur
Dibakar Mohanty
5. Jeevandas Narayan (MD) State Bank of Travancore
C.R. Sasikumar
6. SM Ramesh Rangan (MD) State Bank of Patiala
Heads of Nationalised Banks CHAIRMAN
1. Rakesh Sethi Allahabad Bank
2. Melwyn Rego Bank of India
3. P.S. Jayakumar Bank of Baroda
4. Ravindra Prabhakar Bank of Maharashtra
Marathe
5. Suresh N. Patel Andhra Bank
6. T.N. Manoharan Canara Bank
7. Jai Kumar Garg/S.R. Bansal Corporation Bank
8. Mahesh Kumar Jain Indian Bank
9. Ashwani Kumar Dena Bank
10. Animesh Chauhan Oriental Bank of Commerce
11. Usha Ananta Punjab National Bank
Subrahmaniam
12. Jatinderbir Singh Punjab and Sind Bank
13. R. Subramania Kumar Indian Overseas Bank
14. Arun Shrivastava Syndicate Bank
15. Arun Shrivastava Syndicate Bank
16. Pawan Kumar Bajaj United Bank of India
17. Ravi Krishan Takkar UCO Bank
18. Kishore Kumar Sansi Vijaya Bank
19. S.M. Swathi Bhartiya Mahila Bank
20. Kishor Kharat IDBI Bank
Directors of Maharatna/Navaratna Companies
1. B. Ashok Indian Oil Corporation Limited
2. B.C. Tripathi Gas Authority of India Limited
3. Atul Sobti Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
4. D.K. Sarraf Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Current Affairs A-55
5. S. Bhattacharya Coal India Limited
6. Gurdeep Singh National Thermal Power Corporation
7. Anil Kumar Gupta Container Corporation of India Limited
8. A.K. Mittal National Buildings Construction Corporation
9. P.K. Singh Steel Authority of India Limited
10. S.K. Sharma Bharat Electricals Limited
11. S. Varadarajan/D. Rajkumar Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
12. Sanjaya Gupta Engineers India Limited
13. M.K. Surana Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
14. T. Suvama Raju Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
15. P.K. Purwar Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
16. Rajiv Sharma Power Finance Corporation
17. I.S. Jha Power Grid Corporation
18. P. Madhusudan Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
19. Arun Kumar Gupta/ Shipping Corporation of India
Anoop Kumar Sharma
20. Surat Kumar Acharya Neyvelli Lignite Corporation Limited
21. Utpal Bora Oil India Limited
22. Rajiv Sharma/P.V. Ramesh Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
23. T.K. Chand National Aluminium Company Limited
24. Bharathi S. Sihag/ National Mineral Development Corporation
Syedain Abbasi

COUNTRIES & THEIR HEADS


State Head of state Head of Government
Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani Abdullah Abdullah
Albania Bujar Nishani Edi Rama
Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika Abdelmalek Sellal
Angola Jos Eduardo dos Santos
Argentina Mauricio Macri
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan Karen Karapetyan
Australia Elizabeth II Malcolm Turnbull
Austria Vacant Christian Kern
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev Artur Rasizade
Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al
Khalifa
Bangladesh Abdul Hamid Sheikh Hasina
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Andrei Kobyakov
Belgium Philippe Charles Michel
Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Tshering Tobgay
Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko
Brazil Michel Temer
Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
Bulgaria Rumen Radev Boyko Borissov
Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza
Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni Hun Sen
Cameroon Paul Biya PhilŽmon Yang
Canada Elizabeth II Justin Trudeau
Central African Republic Faustin-Archange TouadŽra Simplice Sarandji
A-56 Current Affairs
Chile Michelle Bachelet
Colombia Juan Manuel Santos
Congo Joseph Kabila Samy Badibanga
(Democratic Republic)
Congo (Republic) Denis Sassou Nguesso Clament Mouamba
Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Sol’s
Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi_ Andrej Plenkovi_
Cuba Raœl Castro
Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades
Czech Republic Milo_ Zeman Bohuslav Sobotka
Denmark Margrethe II Lars L¿kke Rasmussen
Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Sherif Ismail
Ethiopia Mulatu Teshome Hailemariam Desalegn
Fiji George Konrote Frank Bainimarama
Finland Sauli Niinistš Juha SipilŠ
France Franois Hollande Bernard Cazeneuve
Gambia Adama Barrow
Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili Giorgi Kvirikashvili
Germany Joachim Gauck Angela Merkel
Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo
Greece Prokopis Pavlopoulos Alexis Tsipras
Grenada Elizabeth II Keith Mitchell
Guatemala Jimmy Morales
Guinea Alpha CondŽ Mamady Youla
Guyana David A. Granger Moses Nagamootoo
Haiti Jocelerme Privert Enex Jean-Charles
Hungary Jinos çder Viktor Orbin
Iceland Gu_ni Th. J—hannesson Bjarni Benediktsson
India Pranab Mukherjee Narendra Modi
Indonesia Joko Widodo
Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Hassan Rouhani
Iraq Fuad Masum Haider al-Abadi
Ireland Michael D. Higgins Enda Kenny
Israel Reuven Rivlin Benjamin Netanyahu
Italy Sergio Mattarella Paolo Gentiloni
Jamaica Elizabeth II Andrew Holness
Japan Akihito Shinz_ Abe
Jordan Abdullah II Hani Al-Mulki
Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev Bakhytzhan Sagintayev
Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta
Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev Sooronbay Jeenbekov
Libya Fayez al-Sarraj
Liechtenstein Hans-Adam II Adrian Hasler
Lithuania Dalia Grybauskait_ Saulius Skvernelis
Luxembourg Henri Xavier Bettel
Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov Emil Dimitriev
Malaysia Muhammad V Najib Razak
Maldives Abdulla Yameen
Current Affairs A-57
Mauritius Ameenah Gurib Pravind Jugnauth
Mexico Enrique Pe–a Nieto
Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat
Morocco Mohammed VI Abdelilah Benkirane
Mozambique Filipe Nyusi Carlos Agostinho do Ros‡rio
Myanmar Htin Kyaw Aung San Suu Kyi
Namibia Hage Geingob Saara Kuugongelwa
Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Netherlands Willem-Alexander Mark Rutte
New Zealand Elizabeth II Bill English
Nicaragua Daniel Ortega
Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari
North Korea Kim Jong-un
Norway Harald V Erna Solberg
Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said
Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain Nawaz Sharif
Palestine Mahmoud Abbas Rami Hamdallah
Panama Juan Carlos Varela
Paraguay Horacio Cartes
Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Fernando Zavala
Philippines Rodrigo Duterte
Poland Andrzej Duda Beata Szyd_o
Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Ant—nio Costa
Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser
Al Thani bin Khalifa Al Thani
Romania Klaus Iohannis Sorin Grindeanu
Russia Vladimir Putin Dmitry Medvedev
Rwanda Paul Kagame Anastase Murekezi
Saudi Arabia Salman
Senegal Macky Sall Mohammed Dionne
Serbia Tomislav Nikoli_ Aleksandar Vu_i_
Singapore Tony Tan Lee Hsien Loong
Slovakia Andrej Kiska Robert Fico
Slovenia Borut Pahor Miro Cerar
Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Omar Abdirashid Ali
Sharmarke
South Africa Jacob Zuma
South Korea Park Geun-hye Hwang Kyo-ahn
Spain Felipe VI Mariano Rajoy
Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena Ranil Wickremesinghe
Sudan Omar al-Bashir
Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf Stefan Lšfven
Switzerland
Syria Bashar al-Assad Imad Khamis
Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen Lin Chuan
Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon Kokhir Rasulzoda
Tanzania John Magufuli Kassim Majaliwa
Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Prayut Chan-o-cha
Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi Youssef Chahed
Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdo_an Binali Yõldõrõm
A-58 Current Affairs
Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Uganda Yoweri Museveni Ruhakana Rugunda
Ukraine Petro Poroshenko Volodymyr Groysman
United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Sheikh Mohammed bin
Al Nahyan Rashid Al Maktoum
United Kingdom Elizabeth II Theresa May
United States Donald Trump
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev Abdulla Aripov
Vatican City Pope Francis Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello
Venezuela Nicolas Maduro
Vietnam Nguy_n Phœ Tr_ng
Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr
Zambia Edgar Lungu
Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe

IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS


1. Antonio Guterres Secretary-General, United Nations Organisation
2. Hiroshi Naka Vice-President, World Bank
3. Roberto Azevedo Director-General, World Trade Organisation
4. Mogens Lykketoff/ President, UN General Assembly
Peter Thomson
5. Irina Bokova Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
6. Christine Lagarde Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
7. Antony Lake Executive Director, United Nations International
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
8. Jim Yong Kim President, World Bank
9. Ronny Abraham President, International Court of Justice (ICJ)
10. Takehiko Nakao President, Asian Development Bank
11. Thomas Bach President, International Olympic Committee
12. Charles F. Bolden Adminstrator, NASA
13. Choi Kyonglim President, UN Human Rights Council
14. Yukiya Amano Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency
15. Jens Stoltenberg Secretary-General, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
16. Lee Luang Minh Secretary-General, ASEAN
17. Arjun Bahadur Thapa Secretary-General, SAARC
18. The Baroness Scotland of Secretary-General, Commonwealth
Asthal/Patricia Scotland
19. Zaheer Abbas President, International Cricket Council
20. Shashank Manohar/ Chairman, International Cricket Council
Dave Richardson
21. Philip Vraven President, International Paralymic Committee
22. Sebastian Coe President, International Paralymic Committee
23. Iyad Bin Madani Secretary-General, OIC
24. Abdul Rahman ibn/ Secretary-General, Gulf Cooperation Council
Abdullatif bin
Rashid Al Zayani
25. Jose Graziano da Silva Director-General, FAO
26. Li Yong Director-General, UNIDO
27. Ertharin Cousin Head, World Food Programme
Current Affairs A-59

NATIONAL SCHEMES/ PROGRAMMES 2014-17


Schemes/ Launched Symbol Objectives
Programs Date
Pradhan Mantri August 28, Financial inclusion
Jan Dhan Yojana 2014 and access to
(PMJDY) financial services
for all households in
the country.
Pradhan January To secure the
Mantri Sukanya 22, 2015 future of girl child
Samriddhi and it is linked to
Yojana “Beti Bachao-Beti
(PMSSY) Padhao”

Pradhan Mantri April 8, Financial support


Mudra Yojana 2015 for growth of micro
(PMMY) enterprises sector.

Pradhan Mantri May 9, Provide life


Jeevan Jyoti 2015 insurance cover to
Yojana all Indian citizens.
(PMJJY)

Pradhan Mantri May 9, Provide accidental


Suraksha Bima 2015 cover to all Indian
Yojana citizens
(PMSBY)

Atal Pension May 9, Increase the


Yojana 2015 number of people
(APY) covered under any
kind of pension
scheme.
Kisan Vikas March 3, To provide safe and
Patra 2015 (Re- secure investment
(KVP) launched) avenues to the small
investors.

Gold November To secure the


Monetization 4, 2015 reliance on gold
Scheme imports over time.
(GMS)
A-60 Current Affairs

Pradhan Mantri October Provide insurance


Fasal Bima 11, 2014 cover to rabi and
Yojana kharif crops and
(PMFBY) financial support to
farmers in case of
damage of crops.
Pradhan Mantri July, 1, Irrigating the field
Gram Sinchai 2015 of every farmer and
yojana improving water
(PMGSY) use efficiency to
provide “Per Drop
More Crop”.
Sansand Adarsh October Social, cultural,
Gram Yojana 11, 2014 economic
(SAGY) infrastructure
development in the
villages.
Soil Health Card February To help farmers
Scheme 17, 2015 to improve
(SHCS) productivity by
using fertilizers.

Deen Dayal July 25, Electric supply


Upadhyaya 2015 feeder separation
Gram Jyoti and distribution
Yojana infrastructure
(DDUGJY) including metering
at all levels in rural
areas.
Shyama Prasad February To create 300
Mukherji 21, 2016 clusters across
Rurban Mission the country and
(SPMRM) strengthen financial,
job, and lifestyle
facilities in rural
area.
Rashtriya Gram --------- --------- To strengthen the
Swaraj Abhiyan panchayati raj
(RGSA) system across the
country.
Rashtriya Gokul December To conserve and
Mission 16, 2014 develop indigenous
(RGM) bovine breeds.
Current Affairs A-61

Gram Uday Se 14 to 24
th th
This scheme
bharat Uday April strengthens
Abhiyan panchayati raj
(GUSBUA) villages and ensures
social harmony in
villages.
Pradhan Mantri June 25, Achieve housing for
Awas Yojana 2015 all by the year 2022,
(PMAY) 2 crore in urban and
3 crore in homes in
rural areas.

Pradhan Mantri --------- Government to


Awas Yojana- construct 1 crore
Gramin permanent house
for the rural poor in
the next three years.
Atal Mission for June 24, To provide basic
Rejuvenation 2015 services (water
and Urban supply, sewerage,
Transformation urban transport)
to households and
build amenities in
cities.
National January Bringing together
Heritage City 21, 2015 urban planning,
Development economic growth
and and heritage
Augmentation conservation.

Smart City June 25, To develop 100


Mission 2015 cities all over the
country, making
them citizen
friendly and
sustainable.
PMAY-G Home November ------------- The beneficiaries
Loan Scheme 30, 2016 will be provided
2017 interest subvention
of 3% on home loan
of up to 2 lakhs
taken in 2017.
Smart Ganga August 13, Union minister for
City Scheme 2016 water resources,
(SGCS) river development
and Ganges
Rejuvenation.
A-62 Current Affairs

Digital India July 1, To deliver


2015 government
services to citizens
electronically by
improving online
infrastructures
and by increasing
internet
connectivity.
Skill India July 16, Train over 40 crore
2015 people in India in
different skills by
2022.

Deen dyala July 25, To achieve inclusive


Upadhaya 2016 growth, by
Grameen developing skills
Kaushalya and productive
Yojana capacity of the rural
(DDU-GKY) youth from poor
families.
Udaan Scheme November Encouraging girls
14, 2014 for higher technical
education.

Unnat Bharat --------- Aims to connect


Abhiyan institutions of
higher education
including IITs, NITs
and IISERs.

Pradhan Mantri January 8, Aims to train Indian


Kaushal Vikas 2017 youth for overseas
yojana employment.

National August 19, Providing


Apprenticeship 2016 apprenticeship
Promotion training to over 50
Scheme lakh youngsters
(NAPS) in order to create
more jobs.
Current Affairs A-63

Vidyanjali --------- To boost community


Scheme participation in
government schools
eg: cultural and
social program
SWAYAM Prabha July 18, Operationalsing
2016 32 direct to home
television channels
for providing high
quality educational
content to all.
Pradhan Mantri ----------- To scale up an
Yuva Yojana ecosystem of
(PMYY) entrepreneurship
for youngsters.

Make in India September To encourage


25, 2014 multinational and
domestic companies
to manufacture
their products in
India and create
jobs and skill
enhancement in
25sectors
Startup India, January To provide support
Standup India 16, 2016 to all start up
businesses in all
aspects of doing
business in India.

Pradhan Mantri April, Implement the


Garib Kalyan 2015 pro-poor welfare
Yojana schemes in more
(PMGKY) effective way and
reaches out to more
poor population
across the country.
Swachh Bharat October 2, To fulfill Mahatma
Abhiyan 2014 Gandhi’s dream of
(SBA) clean and hygienic
India.
A-64 Current Affairs

Namami Gange July 10, To integrate the


Project 2014 efforts to clean
(NGP) and protect the
Ganga river in a
comprehensive
manner.

Mission December To immunize all


Indradhanush 25, 2014 children as well as
pregnant women
against diseases by
2020.

National Bal November --------------- To provide


Swachhta 14, 2014 hygienic and clean
Mission environment, food,
drinking water,
toilets, schools and
other surroundings
to the children.
Pradhan Mantri March, Provides drugs/
Jan Aushadhi 2016 medicines at
Yojana (expected) affordable cost
(PMJAY) across the country.

Pradhan Mantri -------- Aims at boosting the


Surakshit health care facilities
Matritva for the pregnant
Abhiyan women, especially
the poor.

Integrated September To ensure 24*7


Power 18, 2015 power for all.
Development
Scheme (IPDS)

Prakash Path- Januray 5, To distribute


Way to Light- 2015 LED bulbs and
the National decrease the power
LED Programme consumption.
Current Affairs A-65

UJWAL Discom November To obtain


Assurance 20, 2015 operational
Yojana (UDAY) and financial
turnaround of
state owned
power distribution
companies
(DISCOMs)
Pradhan Mantri May 1, To distribute free
Ujwal Yojana 2016 LPG connections
to the women
belonging to 5 crore
BPL families across
the country.

Swadesh March 9, To develop world


Darshan Yojana 2015 class tourism
(SDY) infrastructure

PRASAD March 9, To develop world


(Pilgrimage 2015 class tourism
Rejuvenation infrastructure
and Spiritual across India.
Augmentation
Drive)

Beti Bacchao, January To generate


Beti Padhao 22, 2015 awareness and
Yojana improving the
(BBBPY) efficiency of welfare
services meant for
women.

Pandit October To consolidate


Deendhayal 16, 2014 information of
Upadhaya labor inspection
Shramev Jayate and its enforcement
Yojana (PDUSJY) through a unified
web portal.
A-66 Current Affairs

Sagarmala July 31, To transform the


Project 2015 existing ports into
modern world
class ports. It’s to
promote transport
of goods.
Vikalp Scheme November For confirmed
1, 2015 accommodation
in next alternative
train for the
waitlisted
passengers.
National Sports February To identify sporting
Talent Search 20, 2015 talent among
Scheme (NSTSS) students in the age
group of 8-12 years

PAHAL –Direct January 1, To send the subsidy


Benefits 2015 money of LPG
Transfer for cylinders directly
LPG (DBTL) into the bank
Consumers accounts of the
Scheme consumers.

Pradhan Mantri September To safeguard health,


Khanij Kshetra 17, 2015 environment
Kalyan Yojana and economic
conditions of the
tribals.

Setu Bhratam March 3, To free all national


Project 2016 highways from
railway level
crossings and
renovate the old
bridges on national
highways by 2019.
Current Affairs MCQs
1. The Swachh Swasth Sarvatra is a 7. Demonetization announced as a
part of the Union Government’s measure to curb terror against
flagship Swachh Bharat Mission. which of the following?
Out of the following which of these (a) To decrease the supply of
are its main objectives? money
(a) Drinking Water and Sanitation (b) To disrupt the growth of the
to achieve better health economy.
outcomes through improved (c) Financing, black money and
sanitation and increase counterfeit currency.
awareness on healthy lifestyles. (d) To increase the interest rates
(b) Pledged for a neat and in banks
cleaner India.
8. Assam Government launched
(c) Maintaining a hygienic
environment. which of the following health care
(d) cleaning up the garbage, scheme?
focusing on sanitation (a) Atal Pension Yojana
2. Union Government launched (b) Atal-Amrit Abhiyan
which of the following systems to (c) Sawachh bharat Abhiyan
tackle call drops in the year 2016? (d) National Bal Swachta mission
(a) MAC OS X (b) IVRS 9. Scientists developed Biological
(c) MINIX (d) UNIX/LINUX Pacemaker using which of the
3. Among which of the countries following biological component?
launched high resolution remote (a) Bacterial DNA
sensing satellites in the year 2016? (b) Human DNA
(a) India (b) Sri Lanka (c) Human Bone marrow tissue
(c) China (d) United States (d) Human Stem cells.
4. Who was appointed as 21st Lt. 10. What is the full form of the given
Governor of Delhi? acronym SAAW?
(a) Gopal Rai (a) Synthetic Anti-Airfield Weapon
(b) Imran Hussain
(b) Systematic Aero-Airfield Weapon
(c) Kapil Misra
(c) Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon
(d) Anil Baijal
5. International Astronomers discovered (d) Synced Anti-Airfield Weapon.
which of the following cluster near the 11. Railway Budget for the year 2016-
Milky Way? 2017 was represented by which of
(a) Vela Super Cluster the following minister?
(b) Cygnus A Cluster (a) Finance Minister
(c) Abell 370 Cluster (b) Home Minister
(d) Messier 87 Cluster (c) Chief Minister
6. Who among the following leader of (d) Prime Minister
AIADMK passed away in December 12. Surgical strike by India was against
2016? which of the following country?
(a) Pannersilvam (a) Bangladesh
(b) Sasikala (b) China
(c) Jayalalithaa (c) Pakistan
(d) V.M.Rao (d) Baluchistan
A-68 Current Affairs MCQs
13. Who became the 45th U.S. President? (b) China, India, Venezuela, England,
(a) Peter Trump Tajikistan and Singapore
(b) George W.Bush (c) Chile, Iceland, Vanauta,
(c) Donald Trump Ethiopia, South Korea
(d) Bill Clinton (d) Canada,Iran, Vienna, Ecuador
14. Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked an and South America
21. Who received the 47th Dada Saheb
Indian Air Force base in which of
Phalke Award in the 2016?
the following areas of Punjab? (a) Shashi Kapoor
(a) Pathankot, Punjab (b) Manoj Kumar
(b) Jalandhar, Punab (c) Rishi Kpoor
(c) Ludhiana, Punjab (d) Amitabh Bacchan
(d) Patiala, Punjab 22. Who among the following own the
15. Which of the following Pay Commission 51st Jnanpith Award?
was ratified by Prime Minister Narendra (a) Kedarnath Singh
Modi? (b) Balchandra Nemade
(a) 5th Pay Commission (c) Raghuveer Chaudhary
(b) 7th Pay commission’ (d) Shankha Gosh
23. Who won the Nobel Prize 2016,
(c) 6th Pay Commission
under the category of medicine?
(d) 8th Pay Commission (a) Oliver Hart
16. Which taxes at the Central level are (b) Yoshinori Ohsumi
being subsumed into GST? (c) Bob Dylan
(a) Service tax (d) Bernard L. Feringa
(b) Luxury tax 24. P.V.Sindhu an ace badminton
(c) Taxes on lottery player, won which of the following
(d) Entertainment tax award in the year 2016?
17. When Reliance Jio was first launched? (a) Dronacharya Award
(a) 9th September (b) Arjuna Award
(b) 6th September (c) Dhyan Chand Award
(d) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
(c) 8th September 25. Who among the following was
(d) 5th September appointed as the new chief of
18. What is the correct objective of the AIADMK?
scheme “Pradhan Mantri MUDRA (a) Sasikala
Yojana” launched by Finance (b) Panneersilvam
Minister, Arun Jaitely? (c) Vijay Rao
(a) Shishu Loan upto 10,000 (d) Rajeshwar Rao
(b) Shishu loan upto 50,000 26. Who among the following is the
(c) Shishu loan upto 20,000 richest person in India according
(d) Shishu loan upto 80,000 to the net worth?
(a) Lakshmi Mittal
19. Who is the author of the book “The
(b) Amitabh Bacchan
Legend of Lakshmi Prasad”? (c) Mukesh Ambani
(a) Vijay Lokapally (d) Kumar Birla
(b) Hamid Ansari 27. Who among the following is
(c) Govind Pansare the richest person in the world
(d) Twinkle Khanna according to the net worth?
20. What is the full form of the (a) Mark Zuckerberg
acronym given, CIVETS? (b) Bill Gates
(a) Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, (c) Lilliane Bettencourt
Egypt, Turkey and South Africa (d) Charles Koch
Current Affairs MCQs A-69
28. Which of the following represents 35. Who among the following led the
the top university of India with Patidar reservation agitation ?
respect to its score? (a) Keshubai Patel
(a) Delhi university (b) Anandiben Patel
(b) IISc (c) Babubhai Bokhiria
(c) IGNOU (d) Hardik Patel
(d) JNU (Jawahar Lal Nehru
36. What are the main objectives of
University)
Paris Agreement?
29. Among the following industries,
which industry has the highest (a) Aim is to strengthen the global
growth %? response to the threat of climate
(a) Nestle India change by keeping a global
(b) Sun Pharma temperature rise this century
(c) Biocon well below 2 degrees Celsius
(d) Apollo Hospitals above pre-industrial levels.
30. Who among the following gave the (b) To reduce the amount and
slogan “Inquilab Zindabad (Long the consumption of CFCs.
Live the Revolution)? (c) In order to remove the
(a) Mahatma Gandhi particulate matters from the
(b) Bhagat Singh environment.
(c) Chandra Shekar Azad (d) To increase the amount of
(d) Subhash Chandra Bose carbon credits.
31. COP22 (conference of Parties) held 37. Among the following states in India,
in which of the following country? which of the following was marked
(a) Vienna as the first digital state of India?
(b) Morocco (a) Andhra Pradesh
(c) United Kingdom (b) Tamil Nadu
(d) Rome (c) Karnataka
32. The program “Namami Gange” (d) Kerala
aims at which one of the following
38. Who is known as the “Iron Man” of
objectives launched by the Union
India?
Government?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(a) Cleaning of the holy water
(b) Development of dams (b) Sardar Vallabhai Patel
(c) Development of (c) Bhagat Singh
(d) Cleaning of sewage water (d) Jawahar Lal Nehru
33. Who is known as “Iron Lady” of 39. Which currency notes are
Manipur? Demonetized?
(a) Indira Gandhi (a) ` 10 notes
(b) Mamta Banerjee (b) ` 50 notes
(c) Irom Sharmila (c) ` 500 & ` 1000 notes
(d) Jayalalithaa (d) ` 20 notes
34. The replica of the Nobel Prize 40. The Tata Sons Board voted to
won, was stolen from which of the remove who among the following
following persons? from the Chairmanship of Tata Sons.
(a) Yoshinori Ohsumi (a) Ishaat Hussain
(b) Bob Dylan (b) Cyrus Mistry
(c) Oliver Hart (c) Venu Srinivasan
(d) Kailash Satyarthi (d) Natarajan Chandrasekaran
A-70 Current Affairs MCQs
41. Who among the following played (b) United Nations Framework
the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat in Convention on Climate Change
the movie “Dangal”? (c) United Nations Federation on
(a) Shahrukh Khan Climate Change and Carbon
(b) Amir Khan elimination
(c) Salman Khan (d) United Nations Foundation of
(d) Arbaz Khan Climate Change Convention
42. What was the theme of the 2016 49. Who among the following US
Rio Olympics? President banned the entry of Muslims
(a) Peace for inner soul Community from seven countries?
(b) Live sports, live freedom (a) Donald Trump
(c) Nothing can be achieved (b) George Bush
without peace (c) Barack Obama
(d) World peace and environment (d) Bill Clinton
43. State Assembly Elections 2017 is 50. National Green Highway Mission
not held in which of the following features which of the following?
states? (a) Developing green highways
(a) Himachal Pradesh by planting trees.
(b) Punjab (b) Encouraging the agricultural
(c) Uttrakhand and rural economy
(d) Uttar Pradesh (c) To develop the national
44. When is the next Summer Olympics highways.
to be held in 2020? (d) To provide the green
(a) Beijing, China canopy along 100,000 km of
(b) Tokyo, Japan highways and create jobs for
(c) Peoyonchang, South Korea 1million youth.
(d) Budapest, Hungary 51. Which of the following sports is
45. Who among the following is the practiced in the Indian state of
leader of Samajwadi Party? Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal
(a) Akhilesh Yadav celebrations?
(b) Mulayam Singh Yadav (a) Jallikattu (b) Vallamkali
(c) Shivpal Yadav (c) Thoda (d) Silambam
(d) Ram Gopal Yadav 52. Which of the following straits is
46. Who was the Democratic candidate located between North and South
in the US Elections 2016? Islands of New Zealand?
(a) Donald Trump (a) Cook Strait
(b) John Kerry (b) Bass Strait
(c) Hillary Clinton (c) Foveaux Strait
(d) Betty Tucker (d) Torres Strait
47. Ozone layer depletion is associated 53. Which one of the following is the
with which one of the following? largest city of Africa?
(a) Kyoto Protocol (a) Durban (b) Lagos
(b) Ciwa Protocol (c) Nairobi (d) Cairo
(c) Montreal Protocol 54. In which of the following countries
(d) Basel Protocol you will find a marshy swamp
48. The Acronym, UNFCC stands for called “Sudd”?
which one of the following (a) Egypt
(a) United Nations Framework (b) South Sudan
on Climate Change and (c) Algeria
Convention (d) Somalia
Current Affairs MCQs A-71
55. Amnesty International has declared 63. Which of the following is
who among the following as a prisoner considered as a central university?
of conscience? (a) Jamia Islamia University
(a) Irom Sharmila (b) Jamia Hamdard University
(b) Mamta Bnajerjee (c) Guru Gobind Indraprastha
(c) Kim Gangte University
(d) Okrum Ibobi Singh (d) Maharashtra University
56. When is National Education Day 64. World’s smallest pacemaker was
celebrated? obtained from which one of the
(a) 10th November following?
(b) 11th November (a) Bacterial cells
(c) 14th November (b) Bacterial DNA
(d) 15th November (c) Human stem cells
57. World’s AIDS day is celebrated on? (d) Viral DNA
(a) 1st December 65. Which one of the following is
(b) 2nd December known as green planet?
(c) 3rd December (a) Earth (b) Pluto
(d) 5th December (c) Mars (d) Uranus
58. Who won the Ramon Magsaysay 66. Which of the following fruit
Award for Peace and International discovered has high rate of toxin,
Understanding? hypoglycin A?
(a) Strawberry
(a) Nancy Reagan
(b) Litchi
(b) Derek O’Brien
(c) Chikoo
(c) Mother Teresa
(d) Grapes
(d) Charles Keating
67. How many types of nucleotides are
59. Which of the following is known as
present in human DNA?
the floating garden of India?
(a) 4 (b) 2
(a) Loktak Lake
(c) 3 (d) 5
(b) Dal Lake 68. Dengue is caused by which of the
(c) Pangong Tso following mosquito?
(d) Tsomgo Lake (a) Aedes aegypti
60. Which of the following was declared (b) Anopheles
as city animal of Guwahati? (c) Culex mosquito
(a) Indian Rhinoceros (d) Aedes albopictus
(b) Indian Elephant 69. Scientist has labeled which one of the
(c) Gayal following as a risk in causing cancer?
(d) Gangetic Dolphin (a) Brown bread
61. Mangroves are found in which of (b) Oats
the following area? (c) Multi grained bread
(a) Rajasthan (d) Wheat
(b) Gujarat 70. The acronym NASA stands for?
(c) Sundarband (a) National Aeronautical Space
(d) Andhra Pradesh Air land
62. Out of the following, which of these (b) National Aeronautics and
is not a carnivorous plant? Space Administration
(a) Pitcher Plant (c) National Aircraft and Space
(b) Venus Flytrap Administration
(c) Nepenthes (d) National Aircraft and Space
(d) Dahlia Area
A-72 Current Affairs MCQs
71. Which of the following is the 79. Kerala’s which teak tree is to get
missing element in the earth’s geographical indication tag?
core? (a) Nimalbur teak
(a) Zircon (b) Iron (b) Shisham teak
(c) Nickel (d) Silicon (c) Rose wood teak
72. Which of the following organ is (d) Sandalwood teak
known as the “safe house” of the 80. What is the full form of the
human body? acronym provided, SAARC?
(a) Heart (a) South Africa Argentina Russia
(b) Lungs Canada
(c) Gall bladder (b) South Asian Association for
(d) Appendix Regional Corporation
73. Among the following, which (c) South Asian African for
country is the most polluted Regional Campaigning
country in the world? (d) South American Association
(a) India (b) Russia for Regional Corporation
(c) USA (d) China 81. Which of the following state got
74. Which if the world’s most heat
separated from its parent state on
resistant material
the basis of language in 2014?
(a) Hafnium carbide
(a) Karnataka
(b) Titanium carbide
(b) Telangana
(c) Hydrogen carbide
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Tantalum carbide
(d) Puducherry
75. Ozone formation occurs in which
layer? 82. Bharatnatayam dance belongs to
(a) Troposphere which state?
(b) Mesosphere (a) Kerala
(c) Stratosphere (b) Karnataka
(d) Ionosphere (c) Tamil Nadu
76. Who among the following gave the (d) Andhra Pradesh
slogan “Jai Hind”? 83. IUCN stands for?
(a) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (a) International Union of Nature
(b) Mahatma Gandhi and Natural Resources
(c) Bhagat Singh (b) International Union of
(d) Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Natural Resources
77. Chikungunya vaccine is obtained (c) Inter-government Union of
from which of the following virus? Natural Resources
(a) Ebola virus (d) International Union of
(b) Zika virus Natural Research
(c) HIV virus 84. Which of the following is a non-
(d) Eilat virus statuary body of Indian constitution?
78. Which day is celebrated as National (a) National Green Tribunal
Productivity Day in India? (b) National Commission for
(a) 10th February Women
(b) 11th February (c) National Human Rights
(c) 12th February Commission
(d) 13thFebruary (d) Planning Commission
Current Affairs MCQs A-73
85. Who among the following won the 92. BRICS stands for?
Rio Paralympics 2016? (a) Brazil Russia India China and
(a) P.V.Sindhu South Africa
(b) Sakshi Malik (b) Bangladesh Rome Indonesia
(c) Deepa Malik Colombia and South America
(d) Dipa Singh (c) Bhutan Romania Italy and Sri
86. Dr. Vijay Bhatkar appointed as new Lanka
vice-chancellor of which of the (d) Belgium Rwanda India South
following university? America
(a) Delhi University 93. NITI Ayog stands for?
(b) Banaras Hindu University (a) National Indian Tribal
(c) Nalanda University Institute
(d) Aligarh Muslim University (b) National Institution for
87. Banwari Lala was appointed as Training Institute
Governor of which state? (c) National Institution for
(a) Manipur (b) Meghalaya Transforming India
(d) National Institute for Tribal
(c) Assam (d) Kolkata
Institute
88. Who won the second highest
94. Which of the following sports is
civilian award, Padma Vibhushan
banned on the ocassion pongal?
in 2017?
(a) Kalaripayattu
(a) K J Yesudas
(b) Jallikattu
(b) Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
(c) Silambam
(c) Cho Ramaswamy
(d) Pachisi
(d) Tehemton Udwadia
95. Glass wares are thrown in which
89. Which of the following element
colored bags recommended by the
was detected in troposphere?
government?
(a) Ammonia
(a) Yellow (b) Red
(b) Nitrogen oxides
(c) Black (d) Blue
(c) Nitrogen dioxides 96. Plastic wastes, syringes are
(d) Ozone thrown in which colored bags
90. What is the full form of the given recommended by the government?
acronym PSLV? (a) Yellow (b) Blue
(a) Polar Sun Launched Van (c) Red (d) Black
(b) Polar Satellite Long Vehicle 97. Brain implants was performed by
(c) Polar Satellite Launched which of the following country?
Vehicle (a) India
(d) Polar Sun Long van (b) China
91. Which of the following country (c) Unites States
launched World Robot Olympiad (d) Netherlands
for the first time? 98. Super moon is also known as?
(a) United States (a) Perigee full moon
(b) Germany (b) Crescent moon
(c) Russia (c) Full moon
(d) India (d) Red moon
A-74 Current Affairs MCQs

99. Which bank launched its first 100. World Science Day for Peace and
banking robot, “Lakshmi”? Development is observed on?
(a) Bank of India (a) 10th November
(b) Union Bank (b) 11th November
(c) City Union Bank (c) !2th November
(d) State Bank of India (d) 9th November

ANSWERS KEY
1 (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (a) 6 (c) 7 (c) 8 (b)
9 (d) 10 (c) 11 (a) 12 (c) 13 (c) 14 (a) 15 (b) 16 (a)
17 (d) 18 (b) 19 (d) 20 (a) 21 (b) 22 (c) 23 (b) 24 (d)
25 (a) 26 (c) 27 (b) 28 (b) 29 (d) 30 (b) 31 (b) 32 (a)
33 (c) 34 (d) 35 (d) 36 (a) 37 (d) 38 (b) 39 (a) 40 (b)
41 (b) 42 (d) 43 (a) 44 (b) 45 (b) 46 (c) 47 (c) 48 (b)
49 (a) 50 (d) 51 (a) 52 (a) 53 (b) 54 (b) 55 (a) 56 (b)
57 (a) 58 (c) 59 (a) 60 (d) 61 (c) 62 (d) 63 (a) 64 (c)
65 (d) 66 (b) 67 (a) 68 (a) 69 (a) 70 (b) 71 (d) 72 (d)
73 (d) 71 (a) 75 (c) 76 (a) 77 (d) 78 (c) 79 (a) 80 (b)
81 (b) 82 (c) 83 (a) 84 (d) 85 (c) 86 (c) 87 (b) 88 (a)
86 (a) 90 (c) 91 (d) 92 (a) 93 (c) 94 (b) 95 (d) 96 (c)
97 (d) 98 (a) 99 (c) 100 (a)
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Indian Panorama
NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA
National The national flag consists of a horizontal rectangular
Flag tricolour with saffron at the top, white in the middle
and India green at the bottom. The centre has a navy
blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the
Ashoka Chakra. The flag was designed by Pingali
Venkayya.
National The national emblem is the Lion Capital of Asoka at
Emblem Sarnath which was adopted on 26th January 1950.
The motto inscribed on the emblem is in Devanagari
script: “Satyameva jayate” which means Truth Alone
Triumphs.
National The anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore;
Jana Gana
Anthem adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24th January
Mana
1950.
National Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra
Vande
Song Chatterjee. It was adopted as the National song of
Mataram
India in 1950.
National Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the national flower.
Flower It is the representation of purity as it remains flawless
despite growing in mud and water.
National Mango (Mangifera indica) also known as the ‘King of
Fruit Fruits’, is the National Fruit of India.

National Ganga is the national river of India. It is also the


River longest river of the country.

National The Indian Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) is the national


Tree tree.

National Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the national bird of


Bird India.

National The Tiger (Panthera tigris) known as the Lord of the


Animal Jungle is the national animal of India.

National Saka calendar was introduced as the National


Saka calendar
Calendar calendar by the Calendar Committee in 1957.
INDIAN STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES
B-2

INDIAN STATES & UNION TERRITORIES


India/State Capital Area Language Establishment Sex Litera- Pop. Festivals Dance Tribes
(Sq. Year Ratio cy Density
Km) /1000 Average (Sq.
% Km)
INDIA New Delhi 3.3 No National 15-08-1947 940 73% 382 G.Jayanti, I.Day. – –
Million Language & R. Day
1. Andhra Hyderabad 160205 Telugu, 01-10-1953 992 67.7% 308 Sankranti, Kuchipudi Andh, Bagata,
Pradesh Urdu Ugadi Bhil, Konda
2. Arunachal Itanagar 83,743 English 20-02-1987 920/ 66.95% 17 Losar” or The Bardo Abor, Aka,
Pradesh 1000 New Year Chham Apatani
3. Assam Dispur 78,550 Assamese, 1st April – – 397 Bihu Ankia Naat Mikirs, Khasis,
(Assom) Bengali, 1912 (Onkeeya) Nagas, Boro
4. Bihar Patna 99,200 Bhojpuri, 1st April 916 63.4% 1,102 Chhath Bidesia Kajari Gonda, Mun-
Maithili 1936 das, Gaur
5. Chhattisgarh Raipur 135,194 Chattisgarhi, 1-11-2000 991 71.04% 189 Bastar Dussere, Panthi, Rawat Agariya, Andh,
Hindi Bhoramdeo Nacha Baiga, Bhaina,
6. Goa Panaji 3,702 Konkani 30-05- 1987 968 88.70% 394 per Ganesh Dekhnni, Dhodia, Dubla
sq km. Chaturthi Fugdi (Halpati),
7. Gujarat Gandhinagar 196,204 Gujarati 01-05-1960 918 79.31% 310 Makar Sankranti Rass-garba Bhils, Barda,
Bavacha
8. Haryana Chandigarh 44,212 Punjabi, 01-11-1966 877 76.64% 573 Haryali Teej, Lohri, Saang, Dhamal Meo, Ror
Haryanvi
Indian Panorama

9. Himachal Shimla 55,673 Pahari, 25-01-1971 974 83.78% 123 Kullu, Shoolini Losar Shona Bhot, Bodh,
Pradesh Kangri Chuksam Gaddi, Gujjar
10. J & K Srinagar 222,236 Kashmiri, 26-10-1947 883 66.7% 56 Hemis, Urs Dumhal, Balti, Beda,
Urdu Rouff Bot, Boto
11. Jharkhand Ranchi 79,714 Santhali, 15-11-2000 947 67.6% 414 Jhumar, Paika, Karam, Vat Asur, Agaria,
Indian Panorama

Mundari,Ho Chau, Agni savitri Baiga, Banjara


12. Karnataka Bengaluru 191,791 Kannada 01-11-1956 968 75.60% 320 Mysore Bharatanatyam, Adiyan, Barda,
Dasara, Ugadi Bolak-aat Bavacha, Bhil
13. Kerala Thiruvanantha- 38,863 Malayalam, 01-07-1949 1,084 93.91% 860 Onam Kathakali Adiyan,
puram English Arandan
14. Madhya Bhopal 308,245 Hindi 01-11-1956 930 70.60% 236 Shivratri, Badhai, Rai, Bhil, Bhunjia,
Pradesh Bahgoriya Saira Biar, Binjhwar
15. Maharashtra Mumbai 307,713 Marathi 01-05-1960 929 82.9% 370 Vijayadashami Lavani, Koli Andh, Baiga,
or Dasara Barda
16. Manipur Imphal 22,327 Meeteilon 21-01-1972 987 79.21% 120 Lui-ngai-ni Ningol Manipuri Aimol, Anal,
Chakouba, Angami
Yaoshang
17. Meghalaya Shillong 22,429 Khasi,Garo 21-01-1972 986 75.84% 130 Nongkrem, Nongkrem` Chakma,
Wangala Dimasa, Garo
18. Mizoram Aizawl 21,087 Mizo 20-02-1987 975 91.58% 52 Chapchar Kut, Cheraw, Chakma,
Thalfavang Kut, Khuallam Dimasa, Garo
19. Nagaland Kohima 16,579 English 01-12-1963 931 80.11% 119 Hornbill, Zeliang Naga, Kuki,
Sekrenyi Mikir, Garo
20. Odisha Bhubaneshwar 155,820 Odia, 01-04-1936 978 73.45% 270 Ganesh Odissi Agata, Bathudi,
English Chaturthi Birhor
21. Punjab Chandigarh 50,362 Punjabi 15-08-1947 893 76.68% 550 Bandi Chhor, Bhangra, –
B-3

Vaisakhi, Lohri Giddha


22. Rajasthan Jaipur 342,239 Hindi, 01-11-1956 926 67.68% 201 Gangaur, Teej, Ghoomar –
Rajasthani Gogaji
23. Sikkim Gangtok 7,096 Nepali, 16-5-1975 889 82.2% 86 Maghe, Losar Singhi Bhutia, Lepcha, B-4
Bhutia Chham Limboo
24. Tamil Nadu Chennai 130,058 Tamil 26-01-1950 995 80.33 % 550 Pongal Bharata-nat- Adiyan,
yam Aranadan,
25. Telangana Hyderabad 114,840 Telugu,Urdu 02-06-2014 – 66.50% 310 Ugadi Kuchipudi Andh, Konda
26. Tripura Agartala 10,491.69 Bengali , 21-01-1972 961 94.65% 350 – Goria, Jhum Bhil, Bhutia,
Kokborok Chaimal
27. Uttarakhand Dehradun 53,483 Garhwali, 9-11-2000 963 79.63% 189 Kandali, Langvir Bhotia, Buksa,
Kumaoni Ramman Nritya Jaunsari, Raji
28. Uttar Lucknow 243,286 Hindi, 01-04-1937 908 69.7% 820 Makar Sank- Kathak Bhotia, Buksa,
Pradesh Urdu ranti, Chhath Tharu, Baiga
29. West Bengal Kolkata 88,752 Bengali and 15-08-1947 947 77.08% 1,000 Durga Puja, Chau dance Asur, Baiga,

Union
English Kali Puja Bedia, Chero

Territory
1. Andaman and Port Blair 8,073 English, 01-11-1956 878 86.27% 46 – – Andamanese,
Nicobar Islands Hindi Chariar, Chari
2. Chandigarh Chandigarh 114 Punjabi 01-11-1966 818 81.9% 9,300/ Lohri Bhangra –
3. Dadra and Silvassa 102 English, 11-08-1961 775 77.65% 698 Pongal Tarpa, Warlis, dublas
Nagar Haveli Gujarati Bhavada
4. Daman and Daman 102 Gujarati, 30-05-1987 618 87.07% 2169 Garba Mando, Vira Dhodia, Dubla
Diu Marathi (Halpati)
5. Lakshadweep Kavaratti 32 English, 01-11-1956 946 92.28% 2013 Eid-Ul-Fitr, Lava, Kolkali Koya, Malmi
Malayalam Muharram
6. NCT of Delhi New Delhi 1,484.0 Hindi 01-02-1992 866 86.34% 11,297 Diwali, Eid ul-Fitr – –
Indian Panorama

7. Puducherry Pondicherry 492 Malayalam, 07-01-1963 1,038 86.34% 2,500 Pongal Garadi Grulas, Villi
Tamil
Indian Panorama B-5
Four Ends of India Foundation day of States
Easternmost point of India is known as 1st January Nagaland Day
Kibithu; situated on right bank of river 21st January Manipur, Meghalaya and
Lohit separating India from China-Tibet Tripura Day
region. It is a small village at the altitude 6th February Jammu and Kashmir
of 3,350 metre in Arunachal Pradesh. Day
Westernmost point is situated in Kuch
20th Mizoram and Arunachal
area of Gujarat called as Ghuar Mota. The
February Pradesh day
region is famous for its harsh climate
with 45°C in summer and 20°C in winter. 11th March Andman and Nicobar
During monsoon season this region Islands Day
looks like a tortoise surrounded by sea 22nd March Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas)
water. Northernmost point of India has 30th March Rajasthan Day
been in controversies ever since India’s 1st April Utkal (Odisha) Day
independence. The Siachen Glacier in the
14th April Tamil Nadu Day
state of J&K is the northern boundary of
India according to the official division of 15th April Himachal Pradesh Day
India during the time of independence. 1st May Gujarat and Maharashtra
The Southernmost point of the mainland Day
of India is Kanyakumari District in the 16th May Sikkim Day
state of Tamil Nadu. Kannyakumari, 1st November Chattisgarh
formerly was known as Cape Comorin. 9th Uttaranchal (Now
It is the second largest and urbanized of November Uttarakhand) Day
Tamil Nadu. Indira Point is a village in the
15th Jharkhand Day
Nicobar district of Andaman and Nicobar
November (Jharkhand Diwas)
Islands, India. It is located in the Great
Nicobar tehsil. It is the location of the 2nd June Telangana Day
southernmost point of India’s territory. (2014)

AWARDS AND HONOURS


Gallantry Awards • The first three recipients of Bharat
Param Vir Chakra: The highest Ratna: C. Rajagopalchari, Dr. S.
Gallantry Award Radhakrishnan and DR. C.V.Raman
Mahavir Chakra: The second highest (1954)
Gallantry Award Padma Awards
Vir Chakra: The third highest Gallantry • Padma Vibhushan : The second
Award highest civilian award given for
Ashok Chakra: The highest peacetime exceptional and distinguished
Gallantry award service.
Kirti Chakra: For conspicuous • Padma Bhushan : The third
Gallantry highest civilian award given for
Shaurya Chakra: For an act of distinguished service of a high order.
Gallantry • Padma Shri : The fourth highest
Bharat Ratna civilian award given for distinguished
The highest civilian award of India. service.
B-6 Indian Panorama
Bharatiya Jnanpith Award and over the years it has been
• Instituted in 22 May, 1961, carries awarded to those persons who
a cash prize of ` 11 lakh, a citation have done outstanding work for
and a bronze replica of Vagdevi international peace, disarmament
(Saraswati). and development.
• This award is given for the best Borlaug Award
literary writing by an Indian citizen • Instituted in 1973, carries a cash
in a language listed in eight schedule prize of ` 5 lakh.
of the Indian Constitution. • Instituted to honour outstanding
Gandhi Peace Prize agricultural scientists.
• Established in 2 October, 1994. It Sahitya Akademi Award
carries a cash prize of ` 1 crore. • Awarded for outstanding literary work
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, and carries a cash prize of ` 1 lakh.
Disarmament and Development • Sahitya Academi gives 22 awards
• Instituted in 1985, this prestigious for literary works in the languages
award is regarded as ‘Nobel’ which has recognized works.

IMPORTANT BOOKS AND AUTHORS


Transcendence: My Spiritual Modi - Incredible emergence of a
Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji: star: Tarun Vijay
Abdul Kalam The Accidental Prime Minister – The
Unbelievable – Delhi to Islamabad: making and unmaking of Manmohan
Prof Bhim Singh Singh: Sanjaya Baru
Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Hard Choices (Autobiography):
Eight Nights: Salman Rushdie Hillary Rodham Clinton
Globalisation, Democratization and I am Malala (Autobiography): Malala
Distributive Justice: Professor Mool Yousafzai
Chand Sharma And Then One Day: Naseerudin Shah
Making India Awesome: Chetan Playing It My Way: Sachin Tendulkar
Bhagat
The Narrow Road To the Deep North:
Flood of fire: Amitav Ghosh
Richard Flangan
Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: Khurshid
Go Set a Watchman: Harper Lee
M Kasuri
Super Economies: Raghav Bahl
The Red Sari: Javier Moro
Sourav Ganguly: Cricket, Captaincy Family Life: Akhil Sharma
and Controversy: Saptarshi Sarkar Lucknow Boy: A Memoir: Late Vinod
China – Confucius in the Shadows: Mehta
Poonam Surie A Brief History of Seven Killings:
Mrs Funnybones: Twinkle Khanna Marlon James
R.D. Burman: The Prince of Music: Beyond 2020: A Vision for
Khagesh Dev Burman Tomorrow’s India: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Beyond Doubt: A Dossier on Gandhi’s and Y. S. Rajan
Assassination: Teesta Setalvad Leading: Alex Ferguson With Michael
Benazir Bhutto: A Multidimensional Moritz
Portrait: Dr Anna Suvorova The Outsider: Frederick Forsyth
Indian Panorama B-7
The Courage to Act – A Memoir of The Country of First Boys: Amartya Sen
a Crisis and Its Aftermath: Ben S. A Strangeness in My Mind: Orhan Pamuk
Bernanke Autumn of the Matriarch: Indira
Ruled or Misruled: Story and Destiny Gandhi’s Final Term in Office: Diego
of Bihar: Santosh Singh Maiorano
Hungry Bengal: War, Famine, Riots Gods of Corruption: Promilla Shankar
and the End of Empire: Janam Restart: The Last Chance for the
Mukherjee Indian Economy: Mihir S. Sharma
To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 The Tears of the Rajas: Ferdinand
Story: Jairam Ramesh Mount
The Pakistan Paradox: Christrophe Jaffrelot The Z factor - My journey as the
Crusader or Conspirator: P.C. Parakh wrong man at the Right Time :
Born Again On the Mountain: Subhash Chandra
Arunima Sinha Nathuram Godse - The Story of an
Assassin : Anup Ashok Sardesai
The China Model: Daniel A bell
The turbulent year - 1980-1996
Scion of Ikshvaku: Amish Tripathi
(Volume II) : Pranab Mukherjee.
Purity: Jonathan Franzen Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian
God Help the Child: Toni Morrison Polity is Perspective : Prof (Dr) P.J.
Love + Hate: Stories and Essays: Alexander
Hanif Kureishi The Kiss of life - How a superhero
The Heart Goes Last: Margaret Atwood and my son defeated cancer : Emraan
Deep South: Paul Theroux Hashmi
INDIA’S DEMOGRAPHIC JOURNEY 70 YEARS
Parameters Course of Journey
Population • 1947 – Population of India was 340 million
• Between 1947 – 1981, population doubled.
• By 2001 – it surpassed 1 billion
• 2011 – Population was 1210 million
• India's population increasing at the rate of 16 million per year
• India has 17% of world's population.
• Highest populated state : Uttar Pradesh.
• Lowest populated State – Sikkim
• Highest populated Union Territory – Delhi
• Lowest populated UT – Lakshadweep
• Average Density of population in India – 382 person/sq km.
2011–Population in Rural Areas – 68.84 %
• Population in Urban Areas – 31.16%
• 18.62% of country's population in Uttar Pradesh.
Fertility • Total Fertility Rate in 1966-71 : 5.78 %
rate TFR in 1971-76 : 5.37%
TFR in 1976-81 : 4.65%
TFR in Kerala : 2.1%
TFR in Tamil Nadu : 1.8%
2001 : Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
accounted for 45% of the total population.
B-8 Indian Panorama

Birth and 1951-1961 : Death Rate - 24 /1000


Death Rate : Birth Rate - 42 /1000
1971-1981 : Death Rate - 15/1000
Birth Rate - 38 /1000
1996-2001 : Death Rate – 9/1000
Birth Rate - 24/1000
Population 1952 – National family Programme launched.
policy in Features:
India • To slow down population growth rate through Birth Control
Measures
• To Improve public Health Standards
• To Increase Public Awareness about public health Issues.
1975-1976 – Period of National Emergency
• Introduced coercive programme of mass sterilization.
1978 – National family welfare Programme launched.
2010 – National Socio-demographic Goals launched :
• Free Compulsory Education upto age of 14
• Reduce IMR to below 30/1000 live birth.
• Delayed marriages for girls
• 100% registration of birth, death, marriage and Pregnancy.
Literacy 1951 – Literacy Rate in India – 18.3%
1991 – Increased to 52.2%
2001 – Literacy Rate – 65.4%
2011 – Literacy Rate – 74.04%
• Male Literacy Rate – 82.14%
• Female Literacy Rate – 65. 46%
• State with Universal Literacy – KERALA (93.7)
• Least Literate State – BIHAR (63.82%)
• State with Lowest female literacy Rate – HARYANA
• RIGHT TO EDUCATION (Article 21A) has been made
fundamental Right in India via 86th Constitution Amendment
Act.
Religion • Share of Hindu Population in India – 80%
• India has world's 3rd most biggest Muslim population (While
Pakistan–second & Indonesia–first)
• Concentration of Muslim population in India in LAKSHADWEEP
and JAMMU & KASHMIR.
• Concentration of Christian population –
MEGHALAYA, MIZORAM, NAGALAND.
• Concentration of Sikh population – PUNJAB
Declining 1951 – 946 F / 1000 M
Sex Ratio 1971 – 930 F / 1000 M
1981 – 934 F / 1000 M
1991 – 925 F / 1000 M
2001 – 933 F / 1000 M
2011 – 940 F / 1000 M
Indian Panorama B-9

• Lowest Child Sex Ratio – PUNJAB (793)


• Lowest female Sex Ratio – HARYANA (877)
• Highest female Sex Ratio – KERALA (1084)
• States with declining Sex Ratio – HARYANA, CHANDIGARH,
DELHI, GUJARAT and HIMACHAL PRADESH.
Efforts taken: PRE–NATAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE (Regulation
and prevention of misuse) ACT passed in 1996.
Age • INDIA has a very young population.
Structure * UNDER 15 AGE GROUP
1971 – 42% of total population
2001 – 35% of total population
2011 – 29.7% of total population
* 15 – 60 AGE GROUP
1971 – 53% of total population
2001 – 59% of total population
2011 – 64.9% of total population
60 + AGE GROUP
1971 – 5% of total population
2001 – 7% of total population
2011 – 5.5% of total population
• State with high proportion in younger age group – UTTAR
PRADESH
• 1/3rd of India's population below 15 yrs of age in 2000.
Life 1951 – Males (32.45 yrs) Female (31.66 yrs)
Expectancy 1971 – Males (46.40 yrs) Female (44.70 yrs)
1991 – Males (59.70 yrs) Female (60.50 yrs)
2001 – Males (63.90 yrs) Female (66.90 yrs)
2011 – Average life expectancy – 65.48 yrs
Rural 1951 – Rural Population : 299 million
Urban Urban Population: 62 million
Preferences 1981 – Rural Population : 524 million
Urban Population: 159 million
2001 – Rural Population : 743 million
Urban Population: 286 million
INDIA'S DEMOGRAPHIC ACHIEVEMENT
• Reduced CRUDE BIRTH RATE from 40.8 (1951) to 24.1 (2004)
• Reduced IMR from 146/1000 live birth (1951) to 58/1000 live birth (2004)
• Reduced Crude death rate from 25 (1951) to 7.5 (2004)
• Added 25 yrs to life expectancy from 37 yrs to 62 yrs.
• Halved the TFR from 6.0 (1951) to 3.0 (2004)
• Quadrupled the couple protection rate from 10.4% (1971) to 44% (1999).
B-10 Indian Panorama

SPACE SCIENCE
Space mission 1975-2016
Satellite Launch Date Launch Vehicle
Aryabhata 19-Apr-75 u-11 Interkosmos
Bhaskara-I 7-Jun-79 C-1 Interkosmos
Rohini Technology Payload 10-Aug-79 SLV-3
Rohini RS-1 18-Jul-80 SLV-3
Rohini RS-D1 31-May-81 SLV-3
Ariane Passenger Payload 19-Jun-81 Ariane-1 (V-3)
Experiment
Bhaskara -II 20-Nov-81 C-1 Intercosmos
INSAT-1A 10-Apr-82 Delta 3910 PAM-D
Rohini RS-D2 17-Apr-83 SLV-3
INSAT-1B 30-Aug-83 Shuttle [PAM-D]
Stretched Rohini Satellite 24-Mar-87 ASLV
Series (SROSS-1)
IRS-1A 17-Mar-88 Vostok
Stretched Rohini Satellite 13-Jul-88 ASLV
Series (SROSS-2)
INSAT-1C 21-Jul-88 Ariane-3
INSAT-1D 12-Jun-90 Delta 4925
IRS-1B 29-Aug-91 Vostok
INSAT-2DT 26-Feb-92 Ariane-44L H10
Stretched Rohini Satellite 20-May-92 ASLV
Series (SROSS-C)
INSAT-2A 10-Jul-92 Ariane-44L H10
INSAT-2B 23-Jul-93 Ariane-44L H10+
IRS-1E 20-Sep-93 PSLV-D1
Stretched Rohini Satellite 4-May-94 ASLV
Series (SROSS-C2)
IRS-P2 15-Oct-94 PSLV-D2
INSAT-2C 7-Dec-95 Ariane-44L H10-3
IRS-1C 29-Dec-95 Molniya
IRS-P3 21-Mar-96 PSLV-D3
INSAT-2D 4-Jun-97 Ariane-44L H10-3
IRS-1D 29-Sep-97 PSLV-C1
INSAT-2E 3-Apr-99 Ariane-42P H10-3
Oceansat-1 (IRS-P4) 26-May-99 PSLV-C2
INSAT-3B 22-Mar-00 Ariane-5G
GSAT-1 18-Apr-01 GSLV-D1
Indian Panorama B-11

Technology Experiment 22-Oct-01 PSLV-C3


Satellite (TES)
INSAT-3C 24-Jan-02 Ariane-42L H10-3
Kalpana-1 (METSAT) 12-Sep-02 PSLV-C4
INSAT-3A 10-Apr-03 Ariane-5G
GSAT-2 8-May-03 GSLV-D2
INSAT-3E 28-Sep-03 Ariane-5G
RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) 17-Oct-03 PSLV-C5
EDUSAT 20-Oct-04 GSLV-F01
HAMSAT 5-May-05 PSLV-C6
CARTOSAT-1 5-May-05 PSLV-C6
INSAT-4A 22-Dec-05 Ariane-5GS
INSAT-4C 10-Jul-06 GSLV-F02
CARTOSAT-2 10-Jan-07 PSLV-C7
Space Capsule Recovery 10-Jan-07 PSLV-C7
Experiment (SRE-1)
INSAT-4B 12-Mar-07 Ariane-5ECA
INSAT-4CR 2-Sep-07 GSLV-F04
CARTOSAT-2A 28-Apr-08 PSLV-C9
IMS-1 (Third World Satellite 28-Apr-08 PSLV-C9
– TWsat)
Chandrayaan-1 22-Oct-08 PSLV-C11
RISAT-2 20-Apr-09 PSLV-C12
ANUSAT 20-Apr-09 PSLV-C12
Oceansat-2 (IRS-P4) 23-Sep-09 PSLV-C14
GSAT-4 15-Apr-10 GSLV-D3
CARTOSAT-2B 12-Jul-10 PSLV-C15
StudSat 12-Jul-10 PSLV-C15
GSAT-5P / INSAT-4D 25-Dec-10 GSLV-F06
RESOURCESAT-2 20-Apr-11 PSLV-C16
Youthsat 20-Apr-11 PSLV-C16
GSAT-8 / INSAT-4G 21-May-11 Ariane-5 VA-202
GSAT-12 15-Jul-11 PSLV-C17
Megha-Tropiques 12-Oct-11 PSLV-C18
Jugnu 12-Oct-11 PSLV-C18
RISAT-1 26-Apr-12 PSLV-C19
SRMSAT 26-Apr-12 PSLV-C18
GSAT-10 29-Sep-12 Ariane-5 VA-209
SARAL 25-Feb-13 PSLV-C20
IRNSS-1A 1-Jul-13 PSLV-C22
INSAT-3D 26-Jul-13 Ariane-5
B-12 Indian Panorama

GSAT-7 30-Aug-13 Ariane-5


Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) 5-Nov-13 PSLV-C25
GSAT-14 5-Jan-14 GSLV-D5
IRNSS-1B 4-Apr-14 PSLV-C24
IRNSS-1C 10-Nov-14 PSLV-C26
GSAT-16 7-Dec-14 Ariane-5
IRNSS-1D 28-Mar-15 PSLV-C27
GSAT-6 27-Aug-15 GSLV-D6
Astrosat 28-Sep-15 PSLV-C30
GSAT-15 11-Nov-15 Ariane 5 VA-227
IRNSS-1E 20-Jan-16 PSLV-C31
IRNSS-1F 10-Mar-16 PSLV-C32
IRNSS-1G 28-Apr-16 PSLV-C33
Corbo Set-2C 22-Jun-16 PSLV-C34
Insat 3DR 8-Sep-16 GSLV-F05
SCATSAT-1 26-Sep-16 PSLV-C35
GSAT-18 5-Oct-16 Ariane 5 ECA VA-231
Space Centres and Units Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
•• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Satellite System
- Thumba (Thiruvananthapuram)
The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
•• ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) - satellite system is one of the largest
Bengaluru
constellations of remote sensing
•• SHAR Centre - Shriharikota (Andhra satellites in operation in the world today.
Pradesh)
The IRS programme commissioned with
•• Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre the launch of IRS-1A in 1988 presently
(LPSC) - Bengaluru
includes eleven satellites that continue to
•• Space Application Centre - Ahmedabad
provide imageries in a variety of spatial
•• Developmental and Educational resolutions ranging from better than one
Communication - Ahmedabad unit
metre upto 500 metres.
(DECU)
•• ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite
Command Network (ISTRAC) - System
Bengaluru
•• National Remote Sensing Agency The new of Navigation Satellite system
(NRSA) - Hyderabad was launched in 2013 aimed at providing
•• Master Control Facility (MCF) - accurate real time positioning and timing
Hassan (Karnataka) services over India and its surroundings
•• The Antrix Corporation Limited - upto a range of 1500 km. The fully
Bengaluru deployed system consists of 3 satellites
•• North Eastern-Space Applications in GEO orbit and 4 satellites in GSO orbits
Centre (NE-SAC) - Shillong placed approximately at an altitude of
•• Physical Research Laboratory 36000 km. The constellation has total 7
(PRL) - Ahmedabad satellites.
Indian Panorama B-13
Phobas 1 – USSR Mars orbiter/
Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
Lander, July 7, 1988.
is a space probe, launched on 24
September, 2014. The mission focuses Mars Odyssey – USA Mars orbiter,
on developing the technologies for Apr. 7, 2001
designing, planning, management Spirit (MER-A) – USA Mars Rover,
and operations of an interplanetary June 10, 2003
mission. The probe carries five Opportunity (MER-B) – USA Mars
instruments for gathering knowledge Rover, July 7, 2003.
about Mars. The space craft is now Mars Phoenix Lander – USA Mars
jointly monitored by ISRO Telemetry, Lander, Aug. 4, 2007.
Tracking and Command Network •• Jupiter :
(ISTRAC) in Bangalore, and Indian Galileo – USA and Europe probe,
Deep Space Network antennae at Oct. 18, 1989.
Byalalu.
Hubble space Telescope – USA and
Europe, Apr. 25, 1990.
GLOBAL SPACE PROBES
New Horizons – USA Kuiper belt
•• Venus : flyby, Jan. 19, 2006.
Venera 1 – USSR Venus flyby, Feb •• Moon :
12, 1961; Now in a solar orbit. Pioneer O – USA Lunar orbiter,
Mariner 2 – USA Venus flyby, Aug Aug. 17, 1958.
27, 1962; Now in a solar orbit. Apollo 17 – USA manned lunar
Magellan – USA Venus orbiter, May lander, Dec. 7, 1972
4, 1989 – 1994 Chang’e – 1 – China’s lunar orbiter,
•• Mars : Oct 24, 2007.
Mariner 3 – USA Mars flyby, Nov. 5, Chandrayaan 1 – India PSLV – C
1964. 11, Oct 22, 2008. India’s first moon
Viking 1 – USA Mars orbiter/ mission and the cheapest moon
Lander, Aug 20,1975. mission in the world.
POWER STATION IN INDIA
Power station Operator Establishment Location State
Date
Tarapur Atomic Power NPCIL 1969 Tarapur Maharashtra
Station
Rajasthan Atomic Power NPCIL 1973 Rawatbhata Rajasthan
Station
Kakrapar Atomic Power NPCIL 1993 Kakrapar Gujarat
Station
Kudankulam Nuclear NPCIL 2013 Kudankulam Tamil Nadu
Power Plant
Kaiga Nuclear Power NPCIL 2000 Kaiga Karnataka
Plant
Madras Atomic Power NPCIL 1984 Kalpakkam Tamil Nadu
Station
B-14 Indian Panorama

Narora Atomic Power NPCIL 1991 Narora Uttar


Station Pradesh
Gorakhpur Atomic Power NPCIL Fatehabad Haryana
Station
Talcher Super Thermal NTPC 1995 Kaniha Odisha
Power Station
Sipat Thermal Power NTPC 2008 Sipat Chhattisgarh
Plant
Vindhyachal Super NTPC 2013 Singrauli Madhya
Thermal Power Sta- Pradesh
tion
Mundra Ultra Mega Tata 2009 Mundra Gujarat
Power Project Power
Korba Super Thermal NTPC 1983 Jamani Palli Chhattisgarh
Power Plant
Bhusawal Thermal Power MA- 1968 Deepnagar Maharashtra
Station HAGEN-
CO
Satpura Thermal Power MPPGCL 1967 Sarni Madhya
Station Pradesh
Sterlite Jharsuguda Power Vedanta 2006 Jharsuguda Odisha
Station
Durgapur Thermal Power DVC 1996 Durgapur West Bengal
Station

FIRST IN MALE
First Governor of Bengal Lord Clive(1757-60)
Last Governor of Bengal Warren Hastings(1772-74)
The first British Governor General of Bengal Lord Warren Hasting(1774-1885)
The first British Governor General of India Lord William Bentinck(1833-1835)
The first British Viceroy of India Lord Canning(1856-62)
The first Governor General of free India Lord Mountbatten(1947-1948)
The first and the last Indian to be Governor C. Rajgopalachari(1948-1950)
General of free India
The first President of Indian Republic Dr. Rajendra Prasad
The first Prime Minister of free India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru
The first Indian to win Nobel Prize Rabindranath Tagore
The first President of Indian National W.C. Banerjee
Congress
The first Muslim President of Indian Badruddin Tayyabji
National Congress
The first Muslim President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain
Indian Panorama B-15

The first man who introduced printing James Hicky


press in India
The first Indian to join the I.C.S Satyendra Nath Tagore
India’s first man in Space Rakesh Sharma
The first Prime Minister of India who Morarji Desai
resigned without completing the full term
The first Indian Commander-in-Chief of India General Cariappa
The first Chief of Army Staff Gen. Maharaj Rajendra Singhji
The first Indian Member of the Viceroy’s S.P.Sinha
Executive Council
The first President of India who died while Dr. Zakir Hussain
in office
The first Prime Minister of India who did Charan Singh
not face the Parliament
The first Field Marshal of India S.H.F. Manekshaw
The first Indian to get Nobel Prize in Physics C.V.Raman
The first Indian to receive Bharat Ratna award Dr. Radhakrishnan
The first Indian to cross English Channel Mihir Sen
The first Person to receive Jnanpith award Sri Shankar Kurup
The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha Ganesh Vasudeva Mavalankar
The first Vice-President of India Dr. Radhakrishnan
The first Education Minister Abdul Kalam Azad
The first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
The first Indian Air Chief Marshal S. Mukherjee
The first Indian Naval Chief Vice Admiral R.D. Katari
The first Judge of International Court of Justice Dr. Nagendra Singh
The first person to reach Mt. Everest Sherpa Anga Dorjee
without oxygen
The first person to get Param Vir Chakra Major Somnath Sharma
The first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen
The first person to receive Magsaysay Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Award
The first person of Indian origin to receive Hargovind Khurana
Nobel Prize in Medicine
The first Chinese traveller to visit India Fa-hein
The first person to receive Stalin Prize Saifuddin Kitchlu
The first person to resign from the Central Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Cabinet
The first person to receive Nobel Prize in Amartya Sen
Economics
The first Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Hirala J. Kania
The first Indian Pilot J.R.D. Tata (1929)
B-16 Indian Panorama

FIRST IN FEMALE
The first lady to become Miss World Rita Faria
The first woman judge in Supreme Court Mrs. Meera Sahib Fatima Bibi
The first woman Ambassador Miss C.B. Muthamma
The first woman Governor of a state in free Mrs Sarojini Naidu
India
The first woman Speaker of a State Assembly Shanno Devi
The first woman Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi
The first woman Minister in a Government Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
The first woman to climb Mount Everest Bachhendri Pal
The first woman to climb Mount Everest twice Santosh Yadav
The first woman President of Indian National Mrs Annie Besant
Congress
The first woman pilot in Indian Air Force Harita Kaur Dayal
The first woman Graduates Kadambini Ganguly and
Chandramukhi Basu, 1883
The first woman Airline Pilot Durga Banerjee
The first woman Honours Graduate Kamini Roy, 1886
The first woman Olympic medal Winner Karnam Malleswari, 2000
The first woman Asian Games Gold Medal Kamlijit Sandhu
Winner
The first woman Lawyer Cornelia Sorabjee
The first woman President of United Nations Mrs Vijaya Laxmi Pandit
General Assembly
The first woman Chief Minister of an Indian Mrs Sucheta Kripalani
State
The first woman Chairman of Union Public Roze Millian Bethew
Service Commission
The first woman Director General of Police Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya
The first woman Judge Anna Chandy (She became judge
in a district court in 1937)
The first woman Chief Justice of High Court Mrs Leela Seth (Himachal
Pradesh High Court)
The first woman Judge in Supreme Court of India Kumari Justice M. Fathima Beevi
The first woman Lieutenant General Puneeta Arora
The first woman Air Vice Marshal P. Bandopadhyaya
The first woman chairperson of Indian Airlines Sushma Chawla
The first woman IPS officer Mrs. Kiran Bedi
The first and last Muslim woman ruler of India Razia Sultan
The first woman to receive Ashoka Chakra Neerja Bhanot
The first woman to receive Jnanpith Award Ashapurna Devi
Indian Panorama B-17

The first woman to cross English Channel Aarti Saha


The first woman to receive Nobel Prize Mother Teresa
The first woman to receive Bharat Ratna Mrs Indira Gandhi
The first woman to receive Jnanpith Award Ashapurna Devi
FIRST IN OTHERS
First Wax statue of a Living Indian Mahatma Gandhi at Madame Tussaud’s
in 1939
First Exclusive internet magazine Bharat Samachar
First Miss India to participate in Miss Indrani Rehman
Universe
First Judge in International Court of Dr. Nagender Singh
Justice
First Graduate in Medicine Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chukerbutty
India’s First University Nalanda University
India’s First Open University Andhra Pradesh Open University
India’s First Lok Sabha Member to be P.V.Narasimha Rao
elected with a record maximum num-
ber of votes
First Indian to reach Antarctica Lt. Ram Charan
First Test tube baby of India Indira (Baby Harsha)
First Post Office opened in India Kolkata(1727)
SUPERLATIVES •• Largest Cinema Hall – Prasad Max,
Structures Hyderabad
•• Highest Tower ( Minaret ) – Qutub •• Largest Museum – National Museum
Minar Delhi
•• Higher Gateway – Buland Darwaza •• Largest River Barrage – Farakka
at Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Built by Barrage
Akbar (53.5 m /175 ft High) •• Biggest Auditorium (Mumbai) – Sri
•• Highest Dam – Bhakra Dam Shanmukhanand Hall
•• Highest Bridge – Chenab Bridge •• Largest zoo – Arignar Anna
•• Highest Airport- Leh Air Port in Zoological Park
Ladakh (3256 m/ 16080 ft high) •• Largest Cave Temple – Ellora
•• Highest Hydel Power Station- •• Largest Gurudwara – Golden
Rongtong Hydel Project in Kinnaur Temple, Amritsar
district of Himachal Pradesh. •• Largest Mosque – Jama Masjid,
•• Highest Mountain Peak- Delhi (built by Shah Jahan in 1644-
Kanchenjunga 58)
•• Highest Road- Road at Khardungla •• Largest Man-made Lake – Govind
in the Leh-Manali Sector Sagar (Bhakra)
•• Highest Waterfall- Jog Waterfall, •• Largest Dome – Gol Gumbaz
Karnataka (Karnataka)
•• Largest Residence – Antilia Bhawan •• Largest Cantilever Bridge – Howrah
built by Mukesh Ambani Bridge
B-18 Indian Panorama
•• Longest Railway Tunnel- Pir Panjal •• Tallest Statues – Statue of Jain Saint
Railway Tunnel (11 km) Gomateswara at Sravanabelagola in
•• Longest Road Tunnel - 9.2 km long Karnataka
tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National •• Tallest Chimber – Hanuman Swami
Highway statue with 135ft. tall.
•• Largest Public Sector Bank- State •• Oldest Church- St. Thomas Church
Bank of India at Palayar in Trichur district in
•• Largest Botanical Garden - National Kerala built in 52 AD.
Botanical Garden in Kolkata •• Oldest Monastery- Buddhist Mon-
•• Largest Church- Se Cathedral at Old astery, (situated at an altitude of
Goa, 10 km from Panaji. 3,048 m /10,000 ft) at Tawang in
•• Largest Delta- Sunderbans (75,000 Arunachal Pradesh.
sq km) formed by the Ganga and •• Largest mall- Lulu Mall Kochi
Brahmaputra in West Bengal and •• Most Populous City- Mumbai
Bangladesh Natural
•• Largest Stupa- Kesariya Stupa in
Bihar •• Longest River – Ganges
•• Largest Library- National Library, •• Largest Desert – Thar ( Rajasthan)
Kolkata •• Largest Lake – Wular Rajasthan
•• Largest Planetarium- Birla Planetar- •• Largest Fresh Water Lake-Kolleru
ium, Kolkata. in Andhra Pradesh
•• Largest Prison- Tihar Jail, Delhi •• Largest Cave- Amarnath (about 44
•• Largest Concentration of Scheduled km from Pahalgam in Jammu and
Tribes- Madhya Pradesh Kashmir)
•• Largest Scheduled Caste- Community Founders of Indian Institutions
Santhal
•• Arya Samaj-Swami Dayanand Sar-
•• Longest River Bridge – Bandra-
aswati
Worli sea link which is 5.6 km.
•• Athmiya Sabha-Raja Ram Mohan Roy
•• Largest Corridor – Rameshwaram
•• Brahma Samaj-Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Temple Corridor
•• Deccan Education Society-G.G.Agar-
•• Largest irrigation Canal-Indira
kar, M.G.Ranade, V.G.Gibhongar
Gandhi Canal or Rajasthan Canal
•• Dharma Sabha-Radhakanthadev
(959 km long)
•• Indian Brahma Samaj-Keshav Chan-
•• Longest Dam-Hirakund Dam on
dra Sen
Mahanadi river in Odisha (24.4 km •• Manavadharma Sabha-Durgaram Man-
long) jaram
•• Longest Glacier-Siachen Glacier on •• Prarthana Samaj-Athmaram Pand-
the Indo-Pakistan border (75.6 km urang
long and 2.8 km wide) •• Pune Sewa Sadan-Smt.Remabhai
•• Longest Railway Bridge Nehru Setu Ranade, G.K.Devdhar
Bridge (4.62 km) long •• Ramakrishna Mission-Swami Viveka-
•• Fastest Train-Gatiman Express nanda
between New Delhi and Agra at a •• Sadharan Brahma Samaj-Shivananda
speed of 160 kmph Sashtri, Anand Mohan Bose
•• Tallest Light House – Jakhau, light •• Servants of India Society-Gopala-
hour, Gujarat krishna Gokhale
Indian Panorama B-19
•• Sewa Sadan-Bahuramji M.Malabari •• Calcutta- Job Charnock
•• Sewa Samithi-H.N.Kunsru •• Delhi- Anankapalan
•• Social Service League-N.M.Joshi •• Fatehpur Sikri - Akbar
•• Thathwabodhini Sabha-Debendranatha •• Hisar- Ferozshah Tuglaq
Tagore •• Hyderabad - Quli Qutabshah
•• Theosophical Society-Madam H.P. •• Jodhpur- Rao Jodha
Blavadski, Col.H.L.Olkott •• Mahabalipuram -
Narasimhawarman
Leader of Nations-Famous Father •• Siri- Alauddin Khilji
•• America—George Washington •• Vijayanagaram - Hariharan 1
•• Bangladesh—Mujibur Rehuman
•• China—Sunyatsen Agricultural Revolution
•• India—Gandhiji •• Blue Revolution - Fisheries
•• Indonesia—Sukarno Development
•• Mauritius—Ramgoolam •• Brown Revolution - Leather
•• Namibia—Sam Nujoma Production
•• Pakistan—Muhammad Ali Jinna •• Grey Revolution - Housing
•• Sri Lanka—D.S.Senanayeke Development
•• Tanzania—Julius Nerera •• Green Revolution - Agriculture
•• Turkey—Musthafa Kamal Production
•• Pink Revolution - Drugs &
Founders of Towns in India Pharmaceuticals
•• Agra- Sikandar Lodhi •• Silver Revolution - Egg Production
•• Ahmedabad - Ahmed Shah •• White Revolution - Dairy Development
•• Ajmer- Ajaypal Chauhan •• Yellow Revolution - Oil Seed
•• Allahabad- Akbar Production
SOBRIQUETS
A sobriquet is a nickname, occasionally assumed and often given by another.
Person Primary Names
Anna C N Annadurai
Badshah Khan/ Frontier Gandhi Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama
Chacha Jawahar Lal Nehru
Deenabandhu C F Andrews
Deshbandhu C. R. Das
Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Grand Old Man of India Dadabhai Naoroji
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
Guruji M S Gohlwalkar
Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas K. Gandhi
Man of Peace Lal Bahadur Shastri
Manitas de Plate Flamenco guitarist Ricardo Baliardo
B-20 Indian Panorama

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose


Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu
Panditji Jawahar Lal Nehru
Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai
Rajaji C Rajagopalachari
Saint of the Gutters Mother Teresa
Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Haryana Hurricane Kapil Dev
Prince of Kolkata Saurav Ganguly
Places Primary Names
Bengal’s Sorrow Damodar River
Blue Mountain Niligiri Hills
City of Golden Temple Amritsar
City of Palaces Kolkata
Diamond City in India Surat, Gujarat
Garden City of India Bengaluru
Garden of India Kashmir
Gateway of India Mumbai
God’s Own Country Kerala
Land of Five Rivers Punjab
Pink City Jaipur
Queen of Arabian Sea Kochi
Spice Garden of India Kerala
The City of Joy Kolkata
The City of Palaces Kolkata
Venice of East Alleppey
Queen of Arabian Sea Kochi
Garden City of India Bangalore
Blue Mountains Niligiri Hills
Silicon Valley of India Bengaluru
Planned City of India Chandigarh

States & its Slogans •• State of Apples, Dev Bhoomi (Adobe


•• Rice bowl of India, Egg bowl of Asia of Gods) – Himachal Pradesh
– Andhra Pradesh. •• Heaven on Earth – Jammu and
Kashmir.
•• The Orchid state of India or
•• The Land of Jungles & Jharis
the paradise of the Botanists-
(Bushes) – Jharkhand
Arunachal Pradesh.
•• God’s own country – Kerala
•• Rice bowl of Central India – •• Heart of India – Madhya Pradesh
Chhattisgarh. •• Gateway of the East – Manipur
•• Jewel of the Western part of India– •• The adobe of the clouds – Meghalaya
Gujarat. •• Land of the hill people – Mizoram
Indian Panorama B-21
•• Falcon capital of the world- •• Land of the Gods – Uttarakhand
Nagaland •• Hindi Heartland of India – Uttar
•• Granary of India, India’s bread- Pradesh
basket – Punjab
List of Slogans by Freedom Fighters & Others
Quit India Mahatma Gandhi
Do or Die (Karo Ya Maro) Mahatma Gandhi
Humne Ghutne Tekkar Roti Mangi Kintu Pathar Mile Mahatma Gandhi
Don’t Pay Tax (During Satyagraha) Mahatma Gandhi
Tum Mujhe Khoon Do Main Tumhe Azaadi Dunga Netaji Subhash Chandra Bosh
Jai Hind Netaji Subhash Chandra Bosh
Dilli Chalo Netaji Subhash Chandra Bosh
Vande Matram (I Bow to Thee Mother) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Inqlaab Zindabad (Long Live the Revolution) Bhagat Singh
Jan Gan Man Adhinayak Jay Hai Rabindranath Tagore
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Me Hai Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil
Swaraj Hamara Janamsidh Adhika Hai, Aur Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Main Ise Lekar Rahunga (Swarajya is my birthright,
and I shall have it)
Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara Iqbal
Samuhca Bharat Ek Vishal Bandigrah Hai RC Das
Simon Go Back Lajpat Rai
Satyamev Jayate Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya
Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan Lal Bahadur Shastri
Araam Haraam Hai Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru
Main Apni Jhansi Nahi Doongi Rani Laxmibai
Dushman Ki Goliyon Ka Hum Saamna Karenge, Chandra Shekhar Azad
Azaad hi Rahe Hai, Azaad Hi Rahenge
Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Garibi Hatao Indira Gandhi
Ma Mati Manush Mamta Banerjee
Indira Hatao Desh Bachao Jaiya prakash Narayan
Hindi–Chini Bhai-Bhai Jawaharlal Nehru
Back to Vedas Swami Dayanand Saraswati
One religion, One caste and One God for Narayan Guru
Mankind
Kings are made for the people, not people Dadabhai Naoroji
for their Kings
World Panorama
WORLD COUNTRIES, CAPITAL, LANGUAGE & THEIR CURRENCY
Country Capital Chief Language Currency
Afghanistan Kabul Pushtu Dari Afghani
Algeria Algiers Arabic, French Algerian Dinar
Argentina Buenos Aires Spanish Argentine Peso
Australia Canberra English Australian Dollar
Azerbaijan Baku Azeri Manat
Bahrain Manama Arabic, English Bahraini Dinar
Bangladesh Dhaka Bangla Taka
Belgium Brussels Flemish (Dutch), French, Euro
German
Bhutan Thimphu Dzongkha Ngultrum
Bolivia La Paz; Sucre Aymara Spanish, Quechua Boliviano
Bosnia and Sarajevo Serbo-Croatian Conv.Mark
Herzegovina
Brazil Brazilia Portuguese Real
Bulgaria Sofia Bulgarian Lev
Burkina Faso Ouagadougou French Franc
Cambodia Phnom-Penh Khmer Riel
Canada Ottawa French, English Canadian Dollar
Chile Santiago Spanish Peso
China Beijing Chinese (Mandarin) Yuan
Colombia Bogota Spanish Peso
Congo Kinshasa French Congolese Franc
Formerly Zaire
Costa Rica San Jose Spanish Colon
Croatia Zagreb Croatian Kuna
Cuba Havana Spanish Peso
Czech Prague Czech Koruna
Republic
Denmark Copenhagen Danish Krone
Ecuador Quito Spanish United States dollar
Egypt Cairo Arabic Egyptian Pound
Ethiopia Addis Ababa Amharic Birr
Fiji Suva English Fijian Dollar
Finland Helsinki Finnish, Swedish Euro
France Paris French Euro
French Guiana Cayenne French Euro
World Panorama B-23

Country Capital Chief Language Currency


Georgia Tbilisi Georgian Lari
Germany Berlin German Euro
Ghana Accra English Ghana Cedi
Greece Athens Greek Euro
Guatemala Guatemala City Spanish Quetzal
Guyana Georgetown English Guyana Dollar
Haiti Port-au-Prince French Gourde
Honduras Tegucigalpa Spanish Lempira
Hong Kong Victoria English, Chinese Hong Kong Dollar
Hungary Budapest Hungarian Forint
India New Delhi Hindi (official), English and Rupee
22 officially recognised
regional languages
Indonesia Jakarta Bahasa Indonesian, Dutch, Rupiah
English Javanese
Iran Tehran Persian (Farsi), Turk, Rial
Kurdish, Arabic
Iraq Baghdad Arabic, Kurdish Iraqi Dinar
Ireland Dublin Irish, English Euro
Israel Jerusalem Hebrew, Arabic Shekel
Italy Rome Italian Euro
Japan Tokyo Japanese Yen
Jordan Amman Arabic, English Jordan Dinar
Kazakhstan Astana Kazakh, Russian, German Tenge
Kenya Nairobi Kiswahili, English, Kikuyu Shilling
Korea, North Pyongyang Korean Won
Korea, South Seoul Korean Won
Kuwait Kuwait city Arabic, English Kuwait Dinar
Lebanon Beirut Arabic, French, English Pound
Libya Tripoli Arabic Libyan Dinar
Luxembourg Luxembourg French, German, English, Euro
Luxembourgish
Malaysia Putrajaya Malay, English, Chinese, Ringgit
(formerly Tamil
Kuala Lumpur)
Mauritius Port Louis English, French, Creole, Rupee Mauritian
Hindustani
Mexico Mexico city Spanish, Amerindian Mexico Peso
languages
Mongolia Ulan Bator Mangolian Togrog
B-24 World Panorama

Country Capital Chief Language Currency


Myanmar Naypyidar or Burmese and tribal lan- Kyat
Pyinmana (for- guages
merly Yangon)
Netherlands Amsterdam Dutch Euro
New Zealand Wellington English and Maori dialect New Zealand
Dollar
Nigeria Abuja English, Hansa, Ibo, Yoruba Naira
Norway Oslo Norwegian Krone
Oman Muscat Arabic Omani Rial
Pakistan Islamabad Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pust- Pakistani Rupee
hu, Baluchi, Brahvi, English
Peru Lima Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Nuero Sol
Philippines Manila Filipino, English, Spanish Peso
Poland Warsaw Polish Zloty
Portugal Lisbon Portuguese Euro
Qatar Doha Arabic, English Riyal (QAR)
Russia Moscow Russian Russian ruble
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Arabic Rial (SAR)
Serbia Belgrade Serbo-Croatian (official), Dinar
Albanian
Singapore Singapore city Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Singapore Dollar
English
Somalia Mogadishu Arabic, English, Italian Somali Shilling
South Africa Capetown Afrikaans, English Rand
Spain Madrid Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Euro
Galician
Sri Lanka Colombo Sinhala, Tamil, English Sri Lankan Rupee
Sudan Khartoum Arabic, English, Dinka, Sudanese Pound
Nubian
Sweden Stockholm Swedish Krona
Switzerland Bern German, French, Italian, Swiss Franc
Romansch
Syria Damascus Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian Syrian Pound
Taiwan Taipei Mandarian Chinese, Taiwan, New Taiwan
Hakka dialects Dollar
Thailand Bangkok Thai, Chinese, English, Malay Thai Baht
Tunisia Tunis Arabic, French Dinar
Turkey Ankara Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic Turkish Lira
Uganda Kampala English, Luganda, Swahili Ugandan Shilling
United Arab Abu Dhabi Arabic Dirham
Emirates
World Panorama B-25

Country Capital Chief Language Currency


United King- London English, Welsh, Scots, Gaelic Pound Sterling
dom
United States Washington English Dollar
of America D.C.
Venezuela Caracas Spanish Bolivar
Vietnam Hanoi Vietnamese, French, Eng- Dong
lish, Chinese
Yemen Sana’a Arabic Rial
Zimbabwe Harare English, Shona, Ndebela Dollar (ZWD)
NATIONAL ANIMALS OF THE MAJOR COUNTRIES
Country Animals Country Animal
Afghanistan Snow Leopard Nepal Cow
Albania Golden Eagle New Zealand Kiwi
Australia Kangaroo Pakistan Markhor
Bangladesh Royal Bengal tiger South Africa Springbok
Brazil Macaw Spain Bull
Canada North American beaver United Kingdom Barbary Lion
China Panda, Red Crowned Crane United States Bald Eagle
Denmark Mute Swan India Bengal Tiger
Japan Green Pheasant Kuwait Camel
Myanmar Tiger Belgium Lion
OFFICIAL BOOKS
Blue Book : An official report of the British Government
Green Book : An official publication of Italy and Persia
Grey Book : An official reports of the Government of Japan and Belgium
Orange Book : An official Publications of the Government of Netherlands
White Book : An official Publications of China, Germany and Portugal
Yellow Book : French official Book
White Paper : An official paper of the Government of Britain and India on a
particular issue
Red Data Book : Russian official book which contains lists of species whose
continued existence is threatened.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Nobel Prize
• It was set up in 1895 under the will of Alfred Nobel.
• The Nobel prizes are presented annually on 10 December (The death
anniversary of the founder).
• It is given in the fields of Peace, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Physiology
or Medicine (from 1901) and Economics (from 1969).
B-26 World Panorama

Nobel Prize (Indian/Indian origin) literary award of the world, set up


by the Booker Company and the
1913: L
 iterature: Rabindranath
British Publishers Association along
Tagore; was the first Asian to
the lines of the Pulitzer Prize of USA.
win the prize
1930: Physics: C. V. Raman Right Livelihood Award
1968: M
 edicine: Har Gobind Khora- • The Right Livelihood Award was
na; US citizen of Indian origin established in 1980.
• It is also referred as “Alternative
1979: P
 eace: Mother Teresa; Indian
Nobel Prize”.
citizen of Albanian origin
• It is given to honour those “working
1998: Economics: Amartya Sen on practical and exemplary solutions
2009: C
 hemistry: Venkatraman Ram- to the most urgent challenges facing
akrishnan; US citizen of Indian the world today.”
origin
Oscar Awards
2014: Peace: Kailash Sathyarthi
• Instituted in 1929, are conferred
Pulitzer Prize annually by the Academy of Motion
• Instituted in 1917 and named after Pictures, Arts and Sciences, USA,
US publisher Joseph Pulitzer. in recognition of outstanding
• It is conferred annually in the United contribution in the various fields of
States for the accomplishments in film making.
journalism, literature and music.
UN Human Rights Award
Magsaysay Awards
• Instituted in 1966, this award is
• Instituted in 1957. Named after given every 5 years for individual
Ramon Magsaysay, the former contributions to the establishment
President of Philippines. of human rights.
• The award is given annually on
August 31, the birth anniversary UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize
of Magsaysay, for outstanding • Instituted by UNESCO (1995) for
contributions in Public service, the promotion of tolerance and
Community Leadership, Journalism, non-violence on the occasion of
Literature & Creative Arts and the UN Year of Tolerance and the
International Understanding. 125th birth Anniversary of Mahatma
Man Booker Prize Gandhi funded by a donation from
• Instituted in 1968, is the highest Madanjeet Singh.
WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

Detective Agency Country Detective Agency Country


Ministry of State Security China VAJA Iran
Australian Secret Intelligence Australia MOSSAD Israel
Service (ASIS)
FSB Russia Egyption Homeland Security Egypt
State Security Agency South Africa PSIA Japan
Inter Service Intelligence Pakistan Iraqi National Intelligence Iraq
(ISI) Service
World Panorama B-27

MI (Military Intelligence) 5 UK Central Intelligence Agency USA


and 6, Special Branch, Joint (CIA), Federal Bureau of
Intelligence org investigation (FBI)
Research and Analysis wing India DGSE (Direction General Dela France
(RAW), Intelligence Bureau Securite Exterieure
(IB)

FATHER OF VARIOUS FIELDS

Field Father Field Father


Atom Bomb Dr. Robert Computer Charles Babbage
Oppenheime
Aviation Sir George Cayley Biology Aristotle
Chemistry Robert Boyle Microbiology Louis Pasteur and
Robert Koch
Comedy Aristophanes Political Science Aristotle
Economics Adam Smith Modern Philosphy Rene Descartes
English Poetry Geoffrey Chaucer Psychology Wilhelmam Wundt
Greek Tragedy Aeschylus Modern Observation- Galileo Galilei
al Astronomy
Immunology Edward Jenner Modern Physics Science Galileo Galilei
Modern Antoini Lavois- Modern Science Galileo Galilei
Chemistry ier
Nuclear Physics Ernest Ruther- Nano technology Richard Smalley
ford
Sanskrit Grammar Panini Indian Nuclear Science Homi Jehangir Bhabha
Geography Eratosthenes Anatomy Andreas Vesalius
Sociology Auguste Comte Geometry Euclid
Mathematics Archimedes Internet Vinton Cerf

ADDITIONAL FACTS
•• The largest coffee growing country in the World is - Brazil
•• The biggest delta in the World is the - Sunderbans
•• The Japanese call their country as - Nippon
•• The biggest Island of the World is - Greenland
•• The river which carries maximum quantity of water into the sea is the -
Mississippi
•• Mount Everest was named after Sir George - Everest
•• The biggest stadium in the world is the - Strahov Stadium, Prague
•• The world’s largest diamond producing country is - South Africa
•• The Eggel tower was built by - Alexander Eiffel
•• The Red Cross was founded by - Jean Henri Durant
•• The permanent secretariat of the SAARC is located at - Kathmandu
•• The earlier name of Sri Lanka was Ceylon
•• The founder of the Republic of China was - San Yat Sen
B-28 World Panorama

FIRST IN THE WORLD


The first person to reach Mount Everest Sherpa Tenzing, Edmund Hillary
The first person to reach North Pole Robert Peary
The first person to reach South Pole Amundsen
The first religion of the world Hinduism
The first country to print book China
The first country to issue paper currency China
The first country to commence competitive China
examination in civil services
The first President of the U.S.A George Washington
The first Prime Minister of Britain Robert Walpole
The first Secretary General of the United Nations Trygve Lie
The first country to win football World cup Uruguay
The first country to prepare a constitution U.S.A
The first Governor General of Pakistan Mohd. Ali Jinnah
The first country to host NAM summit Belgrade (Yugoslavia)
The first European to attack India Alexander, The Great
The first European to reach China Marco Polo
The first person to fly aeroplane Wright Brothers
The first person to sail round the world Magellan
The first country to send man to the moon U.S.A
The first country to launch Artificial satellite in Russia
the space
The first country to host the modern Olympics Greece
The first city on which the atom bomb was Hiroshima (Japan)
dropped
The first person to land on the moon Neil Armstrong followed by
Edwin E. Aldrin
The first shuttle to go in space Columbia
The first spacecraft to reach on Mars Viking-I
The first woman Prime Minister of England Margaret Thatcher
The first Muslim Woman Prime Minister of a Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan)
country
The first woman Woman Prime Minister of a Mrs. S. Bandamaike (Sri Lanka)
country
The first woman to climb Mount Everest Mrs. Junko Tabei (Japan)
The first woman cosmonaut of the world Valentina Tereshkova (Russia)
The first woman President of the U.N. General Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Assembly
The first man to fly into space Yuri Gagarin (Russia)
World Panorama B-29

The first batsman to score three test century in Mohd. Azharuddin


three successive tests on debut
The first man to have climbed Mount Everest Nawang Gombu
twice
The first U.S. President to resign Presidency Richard Nixon

SUPERLATIVES
Tallest Animal on (land) Giraffe
Biggest Bell Great Bell at Moscow
Fastest Bird Swift
Largest Bird Ostrich
Smallest Bird Humming Bird
Longest Bridge (Railway) Lower Zambeji (Africa )
Tallest Building Burj khalifa, Dubai (U.A.E)
Tallest Office Building Patronas Twin Towers Kuala Lampur (Malaysia)
Longest Big Ship Canal Seuz Canal (Linkin red sea & Mediterranean)
Busiest Canal (Ship) Baltic White Sea Canal (152 miles)
Biggest Cinema House Roxy (New York)
Highest City Wen Chuwan (Tibet, China) 16,732 ft.
Largest City (in population) Tokyo [(3,42,00000), Est. population in 2006]
Biggest City in (area) Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia (41225 sq. km.)
Largest Continent Asia
Smallest Continent Australia
Largest Country (in China
population)
Largest Country (in area) Russia
Largest Coral Formation The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
Largest Dam Grand Coulee- Concrete Dam (U.S.A)
Longest Day June 21 (in Northern Hemisphere)
Shortest Day Dec. 22(in Northern Hemisphere)
Largest Delta Sundarbans, India (8000 sq. miles)
Longest Desert (World) Sahara, Africa (84, 00,000 sq. km.)
Largest Diamond The Cullinan (over 1 ½ 1b.)
Biggest Dome Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur), (Old archi) 144 ft. diameter.
Biggest Dome (New Archi) Astrodome, Sports
Longest Epic The Mahabharata
Largest Island Greenland (renamed Kalaallit Nunaat)
Largest Lake (Artificial) Lake Mead (Bouler)
Deepest Lake Baikal (Siberia); average depth2300 ft.
Highest Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) 12645 ft. above sea level.
Largest Lake (Fresh Water) Lake Superior, U.S.A
Largest Lake (Salt Water) Caspian Sea 3, 71,000 sq. km.)
B-30 World Panorama

Largest Mosque Masjid-al-Haram (Mecca-Saudi Arabia) surrounds


the Kaaba
Biggest Library National Kiev Library,Moscow & Library of the
Congress, Washington)
Highest Mountain peak Mt. Everest, Himalayas
(World)
Longest Mountain Range Andes (S. America) 5,500 miles in length
Biggest Museum British Museum (London)
Tallest Minaret (Free Qutub Minar, Delhi 238 ft.
Standing)
Tallest Minaret Great Hassan Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco
Deepest & Biggest Ocean The Pacific
Largest Palace Imperial Palace (Gugong), Beijing (China)
Largest Park National Park, Greenland
Largest Peninsula Arabic (32,50,000 sq. km.)
Coldest Place or Region Verkhoyansk (Syberia), Temperature – 85° C
Driest Place Death Valley (California); rainfall 1 ½ inch.
Hottest Place (World) Al-Aziziyah (Libya, Africa) 136°F
Largest Planet Jupiter
Brightest and Hottest Planet Venus
(also nearest to Earth)
Farthest planet (from the Neptune
Sun)
Nearest Planet (to the Sun) Mercury
Smallest Planet Mercury
Highest Plateau Pamir (Tibet)
Longest Platform (Railway) Kharagpur W.B, India (833m)
Largest Platform (Railway) Grand Central terminal, New York (U.S.A)
Largest Port Port of New York & New Jersey (U.S.A)
Busiest Port Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
Longest Railway Trans-Siberian Railway (6,000 miles Long)
Longest River Nile (6690 km), Amazon (6570 km.)
Longest River Dam Hirakund Dam (Odisha), India 15.8 miles.
Largest sea-bird Albatross
Largest Sea (inland) Mediterranean Sea
Brightest Star Sirius (also called Dog star)
Tallest statue Statue of Liberty, New York (U.S.A), 150 ft. high.
Tallest Statue (Bronze) Bronze Statue of Lord Buddha, Tokyo (Japan).
Longest Swimming Course English Channel
Tallest Tower C.N Tower Toronto (Canada)
Longest Train nonstop Flying Scoutsman
Longest Tunnel (Railway) Seikan Rail Tunnel (Japan), (53.85 km.)
World Panorama B-31

Longest & Largest Canal Le Rove Tunnel (South of France)


Tunnel
Longest Tunnel (Road) Laerdal, Norway
Highest Volcano Ojos Del Salado, Andes Argentine-Chile (6,885 m.)
Largest Volcano Mauna Lao (Hawaii)
Longest Wall Great Wall of China (1500 miles)
Highest Waterfall Salto Angel Falls (Venezuela)
Longest Strait Tartar Strait (Sakhalin Island & the Russian
mainland)
Broadest Strait Davis Straits (Greenland & Baffin Island, (Canada)
Narrowest strait Chaliks-45 yards (Between the Greek mainland the
island of Euboea in the Aegean Sea)
Largest Bay Hudson Bay, Canada (Shore line 7623 miles)
Largest Gulf Gulf of Mexico,( shoreline 2100 miles)
Largest Archipelago Indonesia (over 3,000 Islands)
Tallest Active Geyser Giant (Geyser ) Yellowstone Park, U.S.A 200 ft. high
Largest River Basin Amazon Basin- 27, 20,000 sq. mile.
World Rainiest Spot Cherrapunji (Mawsynram), India
Largest Gorge Grand Canyon, on the Colorado River, U.S.A
Lightest gas Hydrogen
Lightest Metal Lithium
Highest Melting Point Tungsten, 3,410`C
Hardest Substance Diamond
Longest Animal Blue Whale, (recorded length 106 ft. weight-195
tons)
Longest Life Span of an 190 to 200 years, (Giant tortoise)
Animal
Largest Land Animal African Bush Elephant
Fastest Animal Cheetah (Leopard ) 70 m.p.h
Longest Jump Animal Kangaroo
Longest wing Spread Bird Albatross
Slowest Animal Snail
Domestic Dog Irish Wolf Hound
Fastest Dog Persian Grey Hound (speed 43 m.p.h)
Longest poisonous snake King Cobra
Biggest Flower Raffesia (Java)
Largest Stadium Strahov stadium in Prague, (the Czech Republic)
Largest Church Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Largest Temple Angkor Vat (Combodia)
Largest Diamond mine Kimbarley (S. Africa)
Largest River in volume Amazon, Brazil
Longest Corridor Rameshwaram Temple’s Corridor (5000 ft.)
B-32 World Panorama

Highest Straight Dam Bhakhra Dam


Highest Capital City La Paz (Bolivia)
Largest Asian Desert Gobi, Mongolia
Largest Democracy India
Longest Thoroughfare Verazano-Narrows, New York City Harbour
Largest Neck Animal Giraffe
Largest Animal of the Cat Lion
Family
Most Intelligent Animal Chimpanzee
Bird, that never makes its Cuckoo
nests
Wingless Bird Kiwi
Reptile which changes its Chameleon
colours
Largest Mammal Whale
FAMOUS LANDMARKS AROUND •• Acropolis of Athens: Greece
THE WORLD •• Niagara Falls: Border of Ontario
(Canada) and New York (USA)
•• The Statue of Liberty in New York:
•• Angkor Wat: Cambodia
USA
•• St. Peter’s Cathedral: Vatican City
•• The Eiffel tower in Paris: France
•• Mount Rushmore: South Dakota
•• St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow:
•• The Grand Canyon: Arizona
Russia •• Sydney Opera House: Australia
•• The Great Sphinx at Giza, The •• Forbidden City: Beijing
Pyramids of Giza: Egypt •• The Colosseum: Rome, Italy
•• Neptune and the Place of Versailles: •• The Empire State Building: New
France York
•• The Great wall of China: China •• Abu Simbel: Egypt
•• The Taj Mahal in Agra: India •• Tower of Pisa: Italy
•• Christ the Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro •• The Burj al Arab Hotel: Dubai
•• Mecca: Saudi Arabia •• Stonehenge: Wiltshire, United
•• Brandenburg Gate in Berlin: Kingdom
Germany •• Big Ben: London
THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Country Emblem Country Emblem


Australia Kangaroo Bangladesh Water Lily
Barbados Head of a Trident Belgium Lion
Canada White Lily Chile Candor & Huemul
Denmark Beach Dominica Sisserou Parrot
France Lily Germany Corn Flower
Guyana Canje Pheasant Hong Kong Bauhinia (Orchid Tree)
India Lioned Capital Iran Rose
Ireland Shamrock Israel Candelabrum
World Panorama B-33

Italy White Lily Ivory Coast Elephant


Japan Chrysanthemum Lebanon Cedar Tree
Luxembourg Lion with Crown Mongolia The Soyombo
Netherlands Lion New Zealand Southern Cross, Kiwi, Fern
Norway Lion Pakistan Crescent
Papua New Bird of paradise Spain Eagle
Guinea Sierra Leone Lion
Sri Lanka Lion Sudan Secretary Bird
Syria Eagle Turkey Crescent & Star
U.K. Rose

IMPORTANT DAYS OF THE YEAR


JANUARY
Louis Braille Day January 4
Pravasi Bharatiya Day January 9
World Laughter Day January 10
National Youth Day January 12
Army Day January 15
Girl Child Day (India) January 24
Indian Tourism Day January 25
National Voters Day January 25
International Customs and Excise Day January 26
Republic Day January 26
Leprosy Prevention Day January 30
Martyrs’ Day January 30
World Leprosy Eradication Day January 31
FEBRUARY
World Marriage Day 2nd Sunday of February
World Cancer Day February 4
International Mother Tongue Day February 21
Central Excise Day February 24
National Science Day February 28
World Marriage Day 1st Sunday of February
MARCH
National Defence Day March 3
National Safety/Security Day March 4
International Women’s Day March 8
World Kidney Day 2nd Thursday of March
CISF Day March 12
World Consumers’ Rights Day March 15
National Vaccination Day March 16
B-34 World Panorama
World Forestry Day March 21
World Day for Water March 22
World Meteorological Day March 23
World TB Day March 24
APRIL
National Maritime Day April 5
World Health Day April 7
World Homeopathy Day April 10
Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre Day (1919) April 13
World Hemophilia Day April 17
World Heritage Day April 18
Indian Civil Service Day April 21
World Earth Day April 22
World Book and Copyright Day April 23
World Malaria Day April 25
MAY
International Labour Day May 1
World Press Freedom Day May 3
International Energy Day May 3
World Asthma Day 1st Tuesday of May
World Family Day May 8
International Red Cross Day May 8
World Thalassemia Day May 9
National Technology Day May 11
International Nurses Day/World Hypertension Day May 12
World Migratory Bird Day May 14
International Family Day May 15
World Telecom Day/World Information Day May 17
Anti-terrorism Day May 21
International Day for Biological Diversity May 22
Commonwealth Day May 24
World Thyroid Day May 25
World No-Tobacco Day May 31
JUNE
International Children’s Day/World Milk Day June 1
International Day of Innocent Children victims of Aggression June 4
World Environment Day June 5
World Day Against Child Labour June 12
World Blood Donor Day June 14
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought June 17
World Refugee Day June 20
World Panorama B-35
International Yoga Day June 21
International Window’s Day June 23
International Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking June 26
National Diabetes Day June 27
National Statistics Day June 29
JULY
Vanmahotsava Day July 1
National Doctor’s Day July 1
World Population Day July 11
Kargil Victory Day July 26
World Hepatitis Day July 28
International Tiger Day July 29
AUGUST
World Breast Feeding Day August 1
Hiroshima Day August 6
National Handloom Day August 7
International Day of Indigenous People/Nagasaki Day August 9
Quit India Movement Day August 9
International Youth Day August 12
World Organ Donation Day August 13
India’s Independence Day August 15
World Humanitarian Day August 19
World Photography Day August 19
World Mosquito Day/Sadbhavana Day August 20
National Sports Day August 29
Small Industry Day August 30
SEPTEMBER
India’s Teacher’s Day September 5
International Literacy Day September 8
World Suicide Prevention/Abolition Day September 10
Hindi Day September 14
World First Aid Day September 14
World Ozone Day September 16
World Water Monitoring Day September 18
Wife Appreciation Day 3rd Sunday of September
World Alzheimer’s Day/International Day of Peace September 21
Social Justice Day September 25
Day of the Deaf September 26
World Tourism Day September 27
World Rabies Day September 28
World Heart Day September 29
B-36 World Panorama
OCTOBER
World Habitat Day 1st Monday of October
World Vision Day 2nd Thursday of October
International Day for the Elderly (UN) October 1
International Day of Non-violence October 2
Gandhi Jayanti October 2
World Nature Day October 3
World Habitat Day October 3
World Animal Welfare Day October 4
World Teacher’s Day October 5
World Wildlife Day October 6
World Food Security Day October 6
World Elderly Day October 7
Air Force Day October 8
World Postal Day October 9
World Mental Health Day October 10
Natioal Postal Day October 10
World Sight Day October 12
International Day for Disaster Reduction October 13
World Calamity Control Day (UN) October 13
World Standard Day October 14
World White Cane Day October 15
International Poverty Day October 17
World Statistics Day/National Solidarity Day October 20
United Nations Day October 24
World ThriftDay October 30
NOVEMBER
Infant Protection Day November 7
World Cancer Awareness Day November 7
Legal Service Day November 9
Malala Day November 10
Transport Day November 10
National Education Day November 11
World Diabetes Day November 14
Children’s Day November 14
World Tolerance Day November 16
Water Conservation Day/National Integration Day November 19
Universal Children Day November 20
World Television Day November 21
National Law Day November 26
World Panorama B-37
DECEMBER
World AIDS Day December 1
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery December 2
World Day of the Handicapped December 3
World Disabled Day December 3
Navy Day December 4
Armed Force Flag Day December 7
International Anti-Corruption Day (UN) December 9
International Day of Broadcasting December 10
Human Rights Day December 10
International Mountain Day December 11
UNICEF Day December 11
National Energy Conservation Day December 14
International Migrants Day December 18
Minorities Rights Day December 18
Farmer’s Day (Kisaan Divas) December 23
History
Pre Historic Ages •• Neither they milked animals for
dairy products.
Stone Age
•• It was a transitional stage when both
•• Pre - historic period is divided into
bronze, copper and stone tools
three sections- Stone age, Bronze age
were used and humans started living
and Iron age.
settled life.
•• Stone age is divided into three
periods i.e. Palaeolithic Age, Bronze Age
Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age. •• It began with the development of
•• Lower Palaeolithic Age covers the Indus valley civilization around
greater part of the Ice Age. 3000 BC and continued up to 1300
•• The people of this age used to eat BC.
fruits, birds, raw animal flesh etc. •• People started using weapons and
•• The tools were usually made of hard agricultural tools made of Bronze,
rock. an alloy of copper and tin.
•• In Middle Palaeolithic age, a •• It had opened the trade networks
change occurred in the shape of of Mesopotamia civilization to
tools which were made of stones or reach out in various directions.
bones.
•• The age came to an end primarily
•• In Upper Palaeolithic age, human
because of the fact that the metals
lived as nomadic hunter and
used as alloy in manufacturing
gatherers.
bronze were not very common
•• Mesolithic Age was an intermediate
and widely found. More over the
stage in the stone age. It ended with
expenses of making bronze were
the introduction of agriculture.
high at that time.
•• Neolithic age was an age of
polished tool culture. Iron Age
•• Tool making became an important •• It was the last principal period
profession and a variety of polished among the three-age system of
tools were manufactured. prehistoric societies, preceded by
•• They learnt the art of pottery and the Bronze age.
their pots were well made and •• The development of this era was
decorated with paintings. due to the weapons and tools made
•• They discovered the art of by iron. Other changes in the society
producing fire by the friction of such as agricultural practices,
stones and the wheel was also an religious belief and inclinations
important discovery of this age. towards art were started.
Chalcolithic Age •• The age began in the 6th century
•• Chalcolithic Age is marked by the BCE in northern Europe and 8th
use of copper as copper age. century BCE in central Europe and
•• The economy was based on by 12th century BCE in the East,
subsistence agriculture, stock- i.e. ancient Iran, ancient India, and
raising, hunting and fishing. ancient Greece.
History B-39
•• In India the late Harappan Indus Valley Civilization
Culture was marked with the Iron Indus Valley Civilization was the most
Age archaeological cultures of ancient urban civilization in this world
India with emphasis given on the which flourished on the bank of Indus
Painted Grey Ware culture (1200 River during Bronze Age Period. The
to 600 BCE) and the Northern Black important cities under this civilizations
Polished Ware (700 to 200 BCE). were :
IMPORTANT SITES OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Name of Sites Year of Excavators Features
Excavation
Harappa 1921 Daya Ram • City followed grid planning
Punjab Sahni, • Row of six granaries
(Pakistan) Madho • Only place having evidences of coffin
River Ravi Sarup Vatsa, burial
Wheeler
• Evidence of fractional burial and
coffin burial
• Cemetery-H of alien people.
• Virgin-Goddess (Seal)
• Stone symbol of Lingam and Yoni
• Painted Pottery
Mohenjodaro 1922 R.D. Banerjee, • Great Granary, Great Bath
Sindh Mackay, Assembly hall
(Pakistan) Wheeler • Pashupati Mahadeva Seal
River Indus • Bronze image of nude woman
dancer
• Human Skeltons huddled
together
• Clay figures of Mother Goddess
• A fragment of woven cotton
• Brick Kilns and Dice
Chanhu-daro 1931 N. Gopal • A city without citadel
Sindh Majumdar, • Inkpot, Lipstick
(Pakistan) Mackay • Shell ornament makers’ shop
River Indus and bead makers’ shop
• Footprint of dog on a brick
• Terracotta model of a bullock
cart, Bronze toy cart
• Town was flooded more than seven
times.
B-40 History

Kalibangan 1953 A. Ghosh, • Shows both Pre Harappan and


Rajasthan B.V. Lal, Harappan phase
(India) River B.K. Thapar • Evidence of furrowed land
Ghaggar • Evidence of seven fire altars and
camel bones
• Many houses had their own well
• Kalibangan stand for black
bangles
• Evidence of wooden furrow
Lothal Gujarat 1953 S.R. Rao • A titled floor which bears
(India) River intersecting design of circles
Bhogava • Remains of rice husk
• Evidence of horse from a terracotta
figurine
• A ship designed on a seal
• Beads & trade ports
• An instrument for measuring angles,
pointing to modern day compass
• Dockyard
Banwali Hisar 1974 R.S. Bisht • Shows both Pre-Harappan and
Haryana Harppan phase
• Good quantity of barley found
here
Amri Sindh 1935 N.G. • Evidence of antelope
Majumdar
Dholavira 1985-90 R.S. Bisht • Seven cultural stages
Gujarat • Largest site
• Three part of city
• Unique water management
Rangpur 1953 M.S. Vats, B.B. • Rice was cultivated
Gujarat River Lal & S.R. Rao
Mahar
Ropar Punjab 1953 Y.D. • Evidence of burying a dog below
River Sutlej Sharma the human burial
• One example of rectangular
mudbrick chamber was noticed
• Five fold cultures - Harappan, PGW,
NBP, Kushana - Gupta and Medieval
Alamgirpur 1958 Y.D. Sharma • The impression of cloth on a
Ghaziabad trough is discovered
• Usually considered to be the
eastern boundary of the Indus
culture
History B-41
Gautama Buddha at Uruvella (Bodh Gaya) on the
He was the founder of Buddhism. He bank of river Naranjana (modern
was born in 563 BC on the vaisakha name Falgu) he attained Nirvana
purnima day at Lumbinivana, Nepal in (enlightment).
the Sakya Kshatriya clan. •• Buddha delivered his first sermon
•• At the age of 29, he renounced at Sarnath (Deer Park) to his
home, this was his Mahabhinish five disciples, this is known as
Kramana (great going forth) and Dharamachakro Pravartana.
became a wandering ascetic. •• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC
•• After 49 days of continuous at Kushinagar. This is known as
meditation under a pipal tree Mahaparinirvana.
ASHOKAN 14 MAJOR ROCK EDICTS

S. No. Informations
1. Prohibition of animal sacrifices and festive gatherings.
2. Measures of social welfare.
3. Respect to Brahamanas.
4. Courtesy to relatives, elders, consideration for animals.
5. Appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras and their duties.
6. Need for efficient organisation of administration (orders to Dhamma
Mahamatras).
7. Need for tolerance among all religious sects.
9 System of Dhamma-yatras.
9. Attack on meaningless ceremonies and rituals.
10. Conquest through Dhamma instead of war.
11. Explanation of Dhamma-policy.
12. Appeal for tolerance among all religious sects.
13. Kalinga war, mention 5 contemporary Hellenic (Greek) kings.
14. Inspiration to spend religious life.

Bhakti Movement •• Saints like Sankara, Ramanuja and


•• Bhakti means personal devotion Madhwa gave their concepts of God
to God. It stresses the union of the and the individual soul.
individual with God.
•• Bhakti movement originated in •• Teachings of Ramanuja were based
South India between the 15th and on the Upanishads and Bhagwad
the 17th centuries AD. Gita.
•• The Nayanars, who worshipped
•• Ramananda was disciple of Ram-
Shiva, and the Alwars, who
worshipped Vishnu, preached the unaja. He was the first reformer to
idea of Bhakti. preach in Hindi.
B-42 History
•• Kabir was an ardent disciple of •• Eknath was a devotee of Vithoba.
Ramananda. He wanted unity He wrote commentary on verses of
between the Hindus and the the Bhagavad Gita.
Muslims.
Sufi Movement
•• He preached that both the Hindus
and the Muslims are the children of Sufism or tasawwuf, as it is called
a single God. in Arabic, is generally understood
•• The devotees of Kabir were known by scholars and Sufis to be the inner,
as Kabir Panthis. mystical, or psycho-spiritual dimension
•• Namdeva was a waterman by birth. of Islam. Today, however, many Muslims
He composed beautiful hymns in and non-Muslims believe that Sufism is
Marathi. outside the sphere of Islam.
•• Nanak was the founder of the Sikh In Sufism, a perfect being is also
religion. called a Wali (saint), a word that
•• Nanak’s teachings were in the form literally means ‘sincere friend’. The
of verses. They were collected in a superstructure of Sufism is built upon
book called the Adi Granth. the concept of teacher, pir or murshid.
•• Later Adi Granth was written in a The cardinal doctrines of the Sufism
script called Gurmukhi. include
•• Chaitanya, a great devotee of Lord 1. Absorbed variety of ideas and
Krishna, was a saint from Bengal. practices from Hinduism, Christia-
•• Meerabai was a Rajput princess. nity, Buddhism and Zorastrianism.
She married the Rana of Mewar. She 2. It aimed at services of mankind
was a pious devotee of Lord Krishna.
3. Building cultural synthesis
•• Chatrapati Shivaji, the great
4. It opposed orthodoxy and preached
Maratha ruler, was a follower of
devotion to God
Ramdas.
5. Discouraged materialistic life but
•• Tukaram was a saint who lived in
did not support complete renuncia-
Maharashtra. He composed a large
tion
number of verses called Abhangas.
These cardinal principles altogether
•• Tulsidas composed the famous
make the Doctrine of Fana which
Ramcharitamanas in Hindi,
means annihilation of human attributes
expounding the various aspects of
through Union with God. Sufism had
Hindu dharma.
succeeded in inculcating the sentiments
•• Surdas was a devotee of Lord
of fraternity, equality and equity,
Krishna and Radha. His works
coupled with sense of service to
include Sursagar, Sahitya Ratna
humanity, in the followers, irrespective
and Sur Sarawali.
of race, community, caste, creed and
•• Dadu Dayal was a disciple of Kabir.
colour.
His followers were known as Dadu
Panthis.
History B-43
LITERATURE OF MUGHAL PERIOD
Book Author Contents
Tuzuk-i-Baburi Babur Describes military tactics and
administrative organisation during
Babur’s reign
Qanun-i-Humayu Khwand Amair Describes Humayun’s administration,
festivities and buildings of that period
Humayun Nama Gulbadan Begum Biography of Humayun
Akbar Nama Abul Fazl Gives a history of Akbar’s reign
Tobaqat-i-Akbari Khwajah -do-
Nizamuddin
Ahmad Baksh
Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri Jahangir Memoirs of his own reign
Iqbalnama-i- Muhammad Khan History of Jahangir's reign
Jahangiri
Chahar Chaman Chandra Bhan History of Shah Jahan's rule
Brahman
Alamgir-nama Munshi Mirza Gives an account of Aurangzeb's first
Muhamma Kazin 10 years of rule
Massir-i-Alamgiri Saqi Mustaid Official history of Aurangzeb’s reign
Khan written after his death
Ain-i-Akbari Abul Fazl History of Akbar's reign
Muntakhab-ul- Badauni History of Akbar's rule
Tawarikh
Tawarikh-i-Alfi Mulla Daud -do-
Nuriyya-i-Sultaniyya Abdul Haq Theory of Kinship during Mughal
Period
Waqt-i-Hyderabad Nimat Khan Ali Aurangzeb's Golconda conquest
Futuhat-i-Alamgiri Ishwar Das Aurangzeb's history
Nuskha-i-Dilkusha Bhimsen Saxena Analysis of Aurangzeb's rule and
character
Khulasat-ul-Tawarikh Sujan Raj Khatri History of Aurangzeb's rule
Padshah Namah Abdul Hamid History of Shah Jahan's reign
Lahori
Padshah Namah Muhammad -do-
Waris
Shahjahan Namah Muhammad Salih -do-
Shahjahan Namah Inyat Khan -do-
Hamlai-Haidri Muhammad Rafi History of Aurangzeb's rule
Khan
B-44 History

Namah-e-Alamgiri Aquil Khan Zafar -do-


Sirr-i-Akbar Dara Shikoh Urdu translation of Upanishad
Safinat-ul-Auliya -do- Biographies of Sufi Saints
Majma-ul-Bahrain -do- Philosophical ideas discussed
Raqqat-e-Alamgiri Aurangzeb A compendium of his letters
Hasmat-ul-Arifin Dara Shikoh Religious ideas discussed

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REFORMS


Date Person Event
1815 Raja Ram Mohan Roy Established Atmiya Sabha. He was the
first Indian to start an agitation for social,
religious and political reforms.
1828 Raja Ram Mohan Roy Established Brahmo Samaj to preach
monotheism and purify Hinduism.
1839 Debendranath Tagore Founded Tatvabodhini Sabha to
propagate Ram Mohan Roy’s ideas.
1850 Vidyasagar Protest against child-marriage and
promoted women education.
1850 Vishnu Shankar Pundit Founded widow remarriage association.
1851 Naoroji Furdonji, Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha or Religious
Dadabhai Naoroji and Reform Association.
S.S.Bengalee
1852 Kassondas Mulji In Gujarat advocated widow remarriage.
1866 Dadabhai Naoroji Established East India Association in
London.
1872 Baba Ram Singh Namdhari Movement originated in north-
west corner of Sikh kingdom. It was also
known as Kuka movement.
23 Mahatma Jyotirao Formed Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of
September, Govindrao Phule Seekers of Truth).
1873
1875 Swami Dayanand Founded Arya Samaj in Bombay. Called
Saraswathi Vedas to be source of “true knowledge”
and gave the motto “back to Vedas”. Was
against idol worship, child marriage and
caste system.
1897 Vivekananda Founded the Ramakrishna Mission to carry
out humanitarian relief and social work.
1902 Swami Shradhananda Started Gurukul near Haridwar to
propagate more traditional idea of
education.
History B-45

THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE TIME LINE


1885 Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Badruddin Tyabji formed
Bombay Presidency Association.
28 Dec. 1885 Indian National Congress was formed by Allan Octavian Hume.
28-31 Dec. First session of Indian National Congress was attended by 72
1885 delegates under the presidency of W.C. Bonnerjee.
1896-97 Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated a no-tax campaign in Maharashtra.
20 July, 1905 Partition of Bengal order was passed by Lord Curzon.
Dec. 1905 Gokhale then the president of Congress condemned the partition
of Bengal and supported Swadeshi and Boycott movement.
1906 Dadabhai Naoroji became the president of National Congress
and clearly declared their goal to be self-government or Swaraj
like the other colonies.
30 Dec. 1906 All India Muslim League was formed by Aga Khan III and the
founding meeting was hosted by Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah.
1909 The Indian Councils Act or Morley-Minto Reform was announced.
1911 Government announced the withdrawal of Partition of Bengal.
1913 Ghadar Party founded by Punjabi Indians in the United States
and Canada aiming at securing India’s independence.
April, 1915 First session of Hindu Mahasabha was held under the
presidentship of Maharaja of Kasim Bazar.
26 Dec. 1916 Lucknow Pact was signed dealing with the structure of the
government of India and with relation to the Hindu and Muslim
communities.
1917 Indigo Satyagraha started by M.K. Gandhi in Champaran, Bihar.
1918 Edwin Montagu, then the Secretary of State and Lord Chelmsford,
the Viceroy produced a scheme of constitutional reform which
was called as the Montague-Chelmsford reforms.
1919 Enactment of the Government of India Act.
March, 1919 Rowlatt Act was passed which enabled government to imprison
people without trial.
13 April, 1919 Unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest against
the arrest of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal was
attacked by the British army as commanded by General Dyer.
31 August, 1920 Khilafat Committee launched a non-cooperation Movement.
1 February, 1922 M.K. Gandhi announced mass Civil Disobedience movement.
5 Feb. 1922 Protesters participating in the Non-cooperation Movement
turned violent, leading to police opening fire in Chauri Chaura.
Congress as a result halted the non-cooperation Movement.
1925 Communist Party came into existence.
Nov. 1927 Simon headed commission was set up to submit report on
working of Indian constitution established by Government of
India Act, 1919.
B-46 History

17 Nov. 1928 Lala Lajpat Rai died due to the injuries by the beating of local
police during a protest demonstration at Lahore.
Dec. 1928 Gandhi joined back the active politics at Calcutta session.
26 Jan. 1930 Was fixed as the First Independence Day and since then was
celebrated every year up to 1947.
Feb. 1930 Chandra Shekhar Azad was shot dead in a park called Azad Park
at Allahabad, in an encounter with British police.
12 March, Dandi March lead by M.K. Gandhi took place. Together with 78
1930 companions he walked 375 km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi.
6 April, 1930 Gandhi reached Dandi and broke the Salt law.
12 Nov. 1930 First round table conference was held in London, was chaired by
British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
5 March, 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed between Gandhi and then
viceroy of India Lord Irwin. According to which British agreed
to withdraw all ordinances and end prosecutions and release all
political prisoners.
24 August, Poona Pact was signed between Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
1932 at Yerwada Central Jail.
1935 Government of India Act was passed according to which All
India Federation was established including British India and
Princely States (representative were appointed by the rulers)
forming a bicameral federal legislature.
October, 1940 Gandhi gave an order for limited satyagraha (for few individuals
only).
8 August, 1942 Quit India Movement was launched by M.K.Gandhi.
1945 Congress working committee adopted a resolution to abolish
landlordism.
2 Sept. 1946 Interim government of India formed the newly elected Constituent
Assembly of India. This idea was rejected by Muslim league.
9 Dec. 1946 The Constituent Assembly met for the first time.
NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS
Newspaper/Journal Name Founder
Bengal Gazette (1780) (India’s First James Augustus Hickey.
Newspaper)
Kesari B.G.Tilak
Amrita Bazar Patrika Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh
Vande Mataram Aurobindo Ghosh, Madam Bhikaji Cama
Kavivachan Sudha Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar(first newspaper in Gujarati) Dadabhai Naoroji
Statesman Robert Knight
Hindu Vir Raghavacharya and G.S. Aiyar
Yugantar Bhupendranath Data and Barinder
Kumar Ghosh
History B-47

Bombay Chronicle Firoze Shah Mehta


Hindustan M.M. Malaviya
Mooknayak B.R. Ambedkar
Comrade Mohammad Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Al-Hilal Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh Abul Kalam Azad
Independent Motilal Nehru
Punjabi Lala Lajpat Rai
New India(Daily) Annie Besant
Pratap Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali) Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akbhar Ram Mohan Roy (first Persian Newspaper)
Young India M.K Gandhi
Harijan M.K Gandhi
Hindustan Times K.M. Pannikar

GREAT TRAVELERS IN INDIAN HISTORY


Identity: Greek ethnographer & ambassador.
Time of Visit to India: During the rule of Chandragupta
Maurya.
Duration of Stay: 302-298 BC.
Contribution: Wrote the book Indica.
Megasthenes
Identity: A Buddhist Monk who came from China.
Time of Visit to India: Reign of Harshvardhana.
Duration of Stay: 405-411 AD.
Contribution: Wrote ‘Record of Buddhist kingdoms’.
Fa Hsien
Identity: Chinese Buddhist monk.
Time of Visit to India: Reign of Harshavardhan.
Duration of Stay: 630-645 AD.
Contribution: Wrote Si-yu-ki or the ‘Records of Western
Hiuen Tsang-tsang/ World.
Xuanzang
Identity: Muslim scholar and polymath from Persia
Time of Visit to India: Came along with Mahmud of
Ghazni.
Duration of Stay: 1024-1030 AD
Al-Biruni/Abu Contribution: Wrote Taharikh-al-Hind, about social
Rayhan Muhammad religious, political nature of India during that time.
B-48 History

Identity: Italian merchant and traveller


Time of Visit to India: Came during the Period of
Rudramani Devi of Kakatiya Dynasty.
Duration of Stay: 1292-1294 AD
Contribution: Wrote “The book of Sir Marcopolo”,
Marco Polo describing about Indian Economy at that time.
Identity: Traveller of Morocco
Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of
Muhammad bin Tughluq.
Duration of Stay: 1333-1347 AD
Ibn Battuta Contribution: write Kitab-ul-rahla, relating geographical,
social and economical behaviour of this time.
Identity: Russian merchant Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came to India during the reign of
Bahmani Sultanate.
Duration of Stay: 1469-1472
Contribution: ‘The Journey beyond Three Seas’.
Nicolo Conti
Identity: Ambassador of James II, king of England
Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of
Jahangir, the great mogul along with William Finch.
Duration of Stay: First Visit: 1421, Revisited: 1430
William Hawkins
Identity: Italian Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came during the rule of Devaraya
I of Sangam dynasty of Vijaynagar empire.
Duration of Stay: First Visit : 1421 Revisited: 1430
Contribution: Author of “Voyage aux Indes.
Afanasy Nikitin
Identity: Persian traveller
Abdur Razzaq Time of Visit to India: Came to India during Bahmani
Sultanate.
Duration of Stay: 1443-1444 AD
Identity: Arab navigator
Sulaiman Al Mahri Time of Visit: Middle of Ninth Century during the age of
Palas and Pratiharas
Contribution: Wrote an account on Pala Empire
Identity: Arab historian & geographer
Al-Masudi Time: Visited Gujarat in 915-16 during Pratiharas
Kinghom.
Contribution: Testified the great power and prestige of
the Pratihara rulers.
Polity
Enactment of Constitution • It makes India Sovereign, Socialist,
• Enactment and enforcement of the Secular, Democratic Republic.
Constitution took place on November • It is designed to work as Federal
26, 1949 and January 26, 1950, Government in normal times and
respectively. However, some parts had as a Unitary Government in an
come into force on 26 November, 1949 emergency.
itself with the passing of the motion • It establishes a Parliamentary
‘the Constitution as settled by the System of Government in India.
Assembly be passed’. • It introduces adult franchise and
the system of Government in India.
• In all 284 of the Assembly signed • India is a union of 29 States and 7
the official copies of the Indian Union Territories.
Constitution which came into effect • It abolishes untouchability in India.
on Jan 26, 1950. • It guarantees Fundamental Rights
• The Constitution adopted on Nov. to all citizens of India.
26, 1949, contained a Preamble, • It lays down Directive Principles of State
395 Articles and 8 Schedules. Policy for the guidance of Legislature
• The Constituent Assembly took 2 and the Executive of the country.
years 11 months and 18 days to • It establishes independence of judi-
complete the Constitution. ciary from the executive.
THE PREAMBLE READS • It declares Hindi as the National lan-
guage of India which would replace
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having English as early as possible.
solemnly resolved to constitute • A Union Public Service Commission
India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, has been set up to make recruitment
to various services.
SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC • Provision has been made for amen-
and to secure to all its citizen: ding the Constitution.
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, LIST OF NEW STATES & UTS
belief, faith and worship; CREATED AFTER 1956
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; STATES/UTs YEAR
and to promote among them all 1. Maharashtra & Gujarat 1960
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity 2. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1961
of the individual and the unity and
integrity of the nation: 3. Goa, Daman & Diu 1962
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, 4. Goa (Statehood) 1987
this 26th day of November 1949, do 5. Puducherry 1962
hereby ADOPT, ENACT and GIVE TO 6. Nagaland 1963
OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
7. Haryana, Chandigarh 1966
Salient Features 8. Himachal Pradesh (Statehood) 1971
• Originally our Constitution contained
395 Articles divided in 22 Parts and 9. Manipur, Tripura & Meghalaya 1972
8 Schedules. (Statehood)
• Right from the beginning our 10. Sikkim (full – fledged State) 1975
Constitution is the most comprehensive 11. Arunachal Pradesh & Mizoram 1987
constitution in the world.
• The Constitution, in its current form, 12. Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand 2000
consists of a Preamble, 24 Parts & Jharkhand
containing 448 articles, 12 schedules. 13. Telangana 2014
B-50
Can be Suspended FRs available only to citizens
Magna Carta Part III (Article Borrowed from during Emergency & Not to Foreigners- Art. 15,
of India 12 to 35) USA & France except Art. 20 & 21 16, 19, 29, 30

Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality Right to Freedom Right Against Exploitation Right to Freedom of Cultural and Right to Constitutional
Religion Educational Rights Remedies

Articles Articles Articles Articles Articles Articles


14-18 19-22 23-24 25-28 29-30 32
(14) Equality before Law (19) 6 Rights: Freedom of (23) Prohibition of traffic in (25) Freedom of conscience & (29) Protection of Includes writs:
& Equal protection speech & expression, human beings & forced free profession, practice & interests of (1) Habeas Corpus
of law. Assembly, Association, labour. propagation of religion. minorities.
(2) Mandamus
Movement, Residence &
Profession. (3) Prohibition
(4) Certiorari
(5) Quo–Warranto

Directive Principles
(15) Prohibition of (20) Protection in respect of (24) Prohibition of (26 ) Manage religious affairs. (30) Right of minorities
discrimination on conviction for offences. employment of to establish
grounds of religion, children in factories & administer
race, sex etc. etc. educational
institutions.
(16) Equality of (21) Protection of life & (27) Freedom from payment of
opportunity in personal liberty. taxes for promotion of any
public employment religion.
(17) Abolition of (22) Protection against (28) Freedom from attending
untouchability. arrest & detention in religious instruction
certain cases. or worship in certain
educational institutions.
Polity

(18) Abolition of titles.


Polity B-51

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
Fundamental Duties
Covered Part IV A, Article 51–A
Borrowed from USSR
Amendment 42nd Amendment 1976, introduced Article 51 A in the
Constitution.
Recommended Swaran Singh Committee.
by
Numbers Originally–10 duties
Now–11 duties (added by 86th Amendment ACT, 2002)
List of F.Ds 51 A (a) Abide by the Constitution and respect National Flag
& National Anthem

B Follow ideals of the freedom struggle

C Protect sovereignty & integrity of India

D Defend the country and render national services


when called upon

E Spirit of common brotherhood

F Preserve composite culture

G Protect natural environment

H Develop scientific temper

I Safeguard public property

J Strive for excellence

K Duty of all parents & guardians to send their children


in the age group of 6-14 years to school.
President
B-52

President
Position Term Oath Emolument Qualification Election Vacancy Powers
Executive
• Executive • 5 years • By Chief • ` 1.5 • Citizen of • Elected • On expiry of term Legislative
Head of the • Eligible for Justice lakh per India indirectly by • By death Judicial
State Re-election of India month • Completed electoral college • By resignation Emergency
• First citizen or senior • Pension 35 years age consisting • By impeachment
of the most ` 75,000 • Qualified for elected
country judge of per election as a members of
Supreme month member of both houses
Court Lok Sabha of Parliament
• Not hold & State’s
any office of Legislative
profit under Assemblies
UNION & STATE EXECUTIVES

GOI • Following
formula is
adopted at first

= ×
stage:
Total population of State 1
Value of vote of MLA
Total no. of elected members in the State Legislative Assembly 1000

Total value of votes of all MLAs of all States


Value of vote of MP =
Total no. of elected MPs
Polity

•• At second stage, a complex system of calculating Quota of individual candidate is used which is
based on the order of preference of candidates.
Polity
Powers of President

Executive Legislative Judicial

Appoints PM, Directly Dissolution Address Nominates Assent Laying Issue Seek Power
Council of ministers, administers or & Send Members on Bills down Ordinance Advice to grant
Attorney_
General, UTs Prorogation messages of passed by some of pardon
CAG, Judges of of to houses Parliament Parliament reports Supreme
Supreme Court Parliament before Court
& High Courts,
Governors, Parliament
Administrators
of UTs, Chairman Miscellaneous Emergency
& Members of
Public Service
Commission,
Chairman & Supreme Conclude National Failure of Financial
Members of Commander & Approve Emergency Constitutional Emergency
Finance of Armed International (Art. 352) Machinery (Art. 360)
Commission, in States
Chief Election Forces Treaties &
Commissioner Agreements (Art. 356)
& Election
Commissioners,
Inter - State
Council,
Commission
B-53

investigate the
condition of SCs,
STs & OBCs.
B-54 Polity
Vice President Prime Minister
Qualification Appointment
(1) Citizen of India. (1) By President
(2) Completed 35 years.
Position
(3) Qualified for election as a member
of Rajya Sabha. (1) Real executive authority (de facto
(4) Not hold any office of profit under executive).
Union/ State government or any Local (2) Head of the Government.
Authority.
(3) Leader of the majority party in the
Term
Lok Sabha.
(1) 5 years.
(2) Eligible for re-election. Election

Oath (1) Elected directly by the people.


(1) Administered by the President. Term
Emoluments (1) 5 years
(1) ` 1.25 Lakh per month salary. (2) The PM actually stays in office as
Election long as he enjoys the confidence of
(1) Indirectly elected. the parliament, but the normal term
(2) Elected by an electoral college
is automatically reduced if the Lok
consisting of the members of both
Houses of Parliament & in accordance Sabha is dissolved earlier.
with the system of proportional Powers
representation by means of the single
(1) Advise the President to summon &
transferable vote.
prorogue the Parliament & dissolve
Functions
the Lok Sabha.
(1) Ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha.
(2) Act as a Link between the cabinet &
(2) Suspend or adjourn the business of
the House(Rajya Sabha). the President.
(3) Issues direction to the Chairman of (3) All the members of the Council
various committees. of Ministers are appointed by the
(4) Acts as President when vacancy President on the recommendations
occurs in the office of the President of the Prime Minister.
due to his resignation. Removal,
death, or otherwise. (4) Allocates Portfolios among the
various ministers & reshuffles
Removal
(1) He can be removed by a resolution them.
of the Rajya Sabha passed by an (5) Presides over the meetings of the
absolute majority & agreed to Council of ministers.
by the Lok Sabha. But, no such
(6) Ask a minister to resign.
resolution can be moved unless at
least 14 days advance notice has (7) Coordinates the policies of the
been given. various departments & ministries.
Polity B-55
Governor
Position •• Chief Executive of the State.
•• Act as an head agent of the Central Government.
Qualification •• Citizen of India.
•• Completed 35 years.
•• Not hold any office of profit under government.
•• Not a member of Parliament or State legislature.
Appointment •• Appointed by President.
& Tenure •• Term is 5 years.
Oath •• Administered by Chief Justice of High Court
Powers and (A) Executive Powers –
Functions •• Appoints Chief Minister & other ministers, Advocate General,
chairman & Members of State PSC, State Election Commissioner
& Finance Commission, Vice Chancellors of Universities in State.
•• Nominate one member of Anglo Indian Community to the Legislative
Assembly of his State & 1/6th members of Sate Legislative Council.
•• Recommend President that government of the Sate cannot be
carried on in accordance with the Provisions of the Constitution.
(B) Legislative Powers –
•• Summon, adjourn & Prorogue State legislature & Dissolve the
State Legislative Assembly.
•• Address the state legislature at the commencement of the first
session after each general election and the first session of each year.
•• Give or withold Assent to the bill.
•• Return or reserve the Bill.
•• Submission reports from auditor General, State PSC, State
Finance Commission before the legislature.
(C) Discretionary Powers –
•• Appointing a new Chief Minister when no Single Party Commands
a clear-cut majority in Legislative Assembly.
•• Dismissal of ministry if he is convinced that it has lost majority support.
(D) Other powers –
•• Grant Pardons & Suspend the sentence of any person but cannot
Pardon in case of death sentence.
•• No demand of grants can be made except on the recommendation
of the Governor.
•• Ensures that Budget of State is laid before State legislature every
year.
Chief Minister
Appointment By Governor
Tenure 5 years
Qualification Member of either house of the State legislature
Powers & (1) Chief link between the Governor & the Council of Ministers.
Functions (2) Head of the Council of Ministers.
(3) Recommends to the Governor the names of persons to be
appointed as members of the Council of Ministers
(4) Allocates portfolios among Ministers.
(5) Supervises & coordinates Policies of the several Ministries &
Departments.
B-56 Polity
Council of Ministers (At Centre & State Level) : Composition
Assist Ministers
with whom they are
attached & perform
administrative duties

Collective
Responsibility No Separate charge
to Lok Sabha Y M I NISTE
UT RS
at Central level EP Head Important
and Legislative S O F S TA Ministries of Central
D

R
Assembly at TE T / State Government
IS

E
State level
MIN

Attend Cabinet’s
CABINET meetings & decide
MINISTERS policies
Supreme
Individual Executive
(Independent
Responsibility authority
Charge)
to President at
Central level Independent charge of
& Governor at Ministries / Departments.
State level.
Work under Supervision &
guidance of Cabinet ministers.

Not members of Cabinet &


donot attend Cabinet meeting.

Supreme Court •• According to Article 129, SC is a


•• Supreme court is the final interpre- “Court of Record”. It means:-
ter & guardian of our Constitution. (a) Court records are admitted to
It is the highest court of appeal in be of evidentiary value.
India. (b) It can punish for Contempt of
•• Presently there are 31 judges the Court.
(including Chief justice) in Supreme •• Qualification for appointment as a
Court. Judge of SC :-
•• The CJI is appointed by the Presi- (1) Citizen of India.
dent. (2) Either be a distinguished jurist,
•• There is no fixed period of office or one who has been a High
for SC judges. Once appointed, they Court Judge for atleast 5 years
hold office till the age of 65 years. or an advocate of a High Court
•• A judge of SC can be removed from (or 2 or more such courts in
his office only by the process of Succession) for atleast 10
impeachment. years.
Polity B-57
Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Types of Jurisdiction

Original Appellate Advisory Review


Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Jurisdiction

Give its legal opinion


Disputes Disputes involving on matters referred to
relating to violation of it by the President Power of Judicial Review
Union and the fundamental rights (means it can pronounce
states (writ jurisdiction) upon the constitutional
validity of laws passed by
legislature and actions
Appeal in Appeal in Appeal in Special leave taken by administrative
Civil cases Criminal cases Constitutional cases to Appeal authority.

Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) 3. Municipal Corporation for a larger


urban area.
The term Panchayati Raj (PRI) in India
signifies the system of rural local self Election Commission
government. It has been established in
It is a permanent & an independent body
all the States of India by the Acts of the
state Legislatures to build democracy established by the Constitution of India
at the grassroot level. It is entrusted directly to ensure free & fair elections
with rural development. It was in the country. Elections to Parliament,
constitutionalised through the 73rd State legislatures, President & Vice–
Constitutional Amendment Act 1992. President are vested in it.
Composition
Municipalities
For the establishment of self- The Election Commission consists of
government in urban areas urban a Chief Election Commissioner & such
bodies have been established. other commissioners as the President
The urban institutions have been may form time to time to decide.
granted constitutional status by Appointment & Term
74th Constitutional Amendement
(enforced with effect from January The CEC & other Election Commissi-
1,1993). In the Part IX A of the oners are appointed by the President
Constitution the provisions for for a term of 6 years. The Regional
Municipalities have been made from Commissioners may also be appointed
Article 243 P to 243 ZG. Besides a 12th by the President in consultation with
Schedule also has been incorporated the Election Commission for assisting
in the Constitution, which contains 18 the Election Commission. The CEC can
subjects relating to the jurisdiction of be removed from office before expiry of
Municipalities. his term by the President on the basis of
As per this Constitutional Amendment
a Resolution passed by the Parliament
3 types of urban institutions have been
established on the basis of population by a special majority on the ground of
they are – proved misbehavior or incapacity. The
1. Nagar Panchayat for a transitional area. other Election Commissioners may
2. Municipal Council for a smaller be removed by the President on the
urban area. recommendation of the CEC.
B-58 Polity

POWERS & FUNCTIONS OF E.C.

ELECTIONS

3 Types Procedure Basis

General By Mid term Steps Adult Geographical Single Member


Election Election Election Suffrage Representation Territorial
Constituencies
Nomination
Elections Election Election of Candidates
of Lok to fill due to
Sabha vacant Dissolvement Declaration of final
& State seat of of Lok Sabha or list of candidates
Assemblies a member Vidhan Sabha Allotment of symbols
of Lok before its term to political parties &
Sabha or is over Independent Candidates
State
Legislative Election Manifesto
Assembly & campaign

Polling

Counting
of votes
Declaration
of Result

Right to Information (RTI)


• RTI Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government
information.
• It has been given the status of a fundamental right under Article 19(1) of
the Constitution.
• It confers right to access to information held by a Public Authority, in
order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every
public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission
States Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or
incidental thereto.
Geography
Planet oxidize, or rust, causing the soil and
A planet must meet three criteria: the dusty atmosphere to look red. The
(i) It must orbit the Sun, planet is characterized by volcanoes,
(ii) It must be big enough for gravity to canyon systems, riverbeds, crated
squash it into a round ball, terrains.
(iii) It must have cleared other objects Jupiter
out of the way in its orbital It is the fifth planet from the Sun
neighbourhood. and the largest in the solar system.
•• The Terrestrial Planets or Inner Its atmosphere is made up mostly
Planets are the four innermost
of hydrogen (H) and helium (He). It
planets in the solar system, which has the fastest rotational velocity,
include Mercury, Venus, Earth and
completing one rotation in less than 10
Mars.
hours.
•• The Jovian Planets or Outer Planets
Jupiter has 67 known satellites and
are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune because they are all 4 Galilean moons. It has the biggest
gigantic compared to Earth, and magnetosphere in the entire solar
they have a gaseous nature. system.
Saturn
Mercury
It is the second largest planet of the
It is the smallest and the closest planet
solar system and surrounded by ring
to the Sun, without a moon. Surface is
like structures. These rings are made
full of craters.
of premordial dust and ice particles.
Venus More over Saturn is a gaseous planet.
It is the second closest planet to the Sun, The planet has 62 prominent moons
known as evening as well as morning among which the largest moon is Titan
star, rotates from east to west. It is the which is the second largest in the entire
hottest planet. The atmosphere of Venus solar system.
is covered with thick clouds that strongly Uranus
reflects sunlight.
It is the seventh planet from the Sun. One
Earth day on Uranus takes about 17 hours (the
It is the third planet from the Sun with time it takes for Uranus to rotate or spin
one moon. Perfect place for life. It once). Uranus makes a complete orbit
consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, around the Sun (a year in Uranian time)
and 1% other ingredients envelops it. in about 84 Earth years. It has 27 moons.
Moon is the only natural satellite of It is characterized by usual magnetic and
Earth. electric field.
Mars Neptune
It is the fourth planet from the Sun with It is the eighth planet from the Sun.
two moons (Phobos and Deimos). Its atmosphere is made up mostly
It is known as the Red Planet because of hydrogen (H), helium (He) and
iron minerals in the Martian soil methane (CH4). Triton is its largest
B-60 Geography
moon. It is having a earth size blemish 12. Fastest revolution in solar system-
called as Green dark spot. It has 14 Mercury
satellites among which Triton and 13. Hottest Planet-Venus
Nereid are the prominent ones. 14. Densest Planet- Earth
Pluto (not a planet now). It is now 15. Fastest Rotation in Solar System-
considered as a dwarf planet. It Jupiter
has the slowest orbital velocity and 16. Morning Star-Venus
hence, the longest year, Charon, is 17. Nearest Planet to Earth-Venus
nearly half its size.
18. Nearest Planet to Sun-Mercury
19. Red Planet-Mars
Dwarf planet– A dwarf planet is
a planetary-mass object that is 20. Slowest Revolution in Solar System-
neither a planet nor a natural Neptune
satellite. It shares its orbits around 21. Slowest Rotation in Solar System-
the Sun with other objects such as Venus
asteroids or comets. It is massive 22. Smallest Planet-Mercury
enough for its shape to be in
hydrostatic equilibrium under its 23. Smallest Satellite-Deimos
own gravity, but has not cleared the 24. Earth’s Twin-Venus
neighborhood around its orbit. 25. Atmosphere like Earth-Titan
The first 5 recognised dwarf planets
are – Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Haumea & Cosmic World
Makemake.
Asteroid: 645,118
A small rocky body orbiting the sun is
Light year– A light-year is a unit
termed as asteroid. Large numbers of
of astronomical distance. It is the
distance that light can travel in one these, are found between the orbits of
year. It is approximately 9.5 trillion Mars and Jupiter, though some have
kilometres (or about 6 trillion more eccentric orbits.
miles). Meteor
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic
Planets Facts body travelling through space and
1. Biggest Planet-Jupiter range in size from small grains to 1
2. Biggest Satellite-Jupiter meter-wide objects. When it enters
3. Blue Planet-Earth the atmosphere to become visible it
4. Green Planet-Uranus is called meteor. It is also known as
5. Brightest Planet-Venus “shooting star” or “falling star.” One
6. Brightest Planet outside Solar can see nearly 20 million of meteors
System-Sirus in a day. In Huba the largest meteorite
7. Closest Star of Solar System- was found (Namibia – 60 tons).
Proxima Oort Clouds
8. Coldest Planet-Neptune They are roughly spherical, shell of
9. Evening Star-Venus icy objects found in the outermost
10. Farthest Planet from Sun-Neptune reaches of the solar system is called
11. Planet with maximum no. of Oort Clouds. Astronomers believe that
satellites-Jupiter it is remains of the disc of material that
Geography B-61
formed the Sun and planets. Estimates Frigid Zones
put it at around 2 trillion. It is also
referred to as Trans-Neptunian object
applied to objects in the Kuiper Belt.
Astronomers think that long-period
comets have their origins in the Oort
Clouds.

Planet Earth
•• The form of Earth is ‘Oblate
spheroid’.
•• The axis of the Earth is inclined to
the plane of Earth’s orbit at an angle
of 66 1/2°giving rise to different
These are the two extremely cold zones
seasons and varying lengths of day situated in the Polar regions extending
and night. to the Arctic circle in the North and to
•• At equator, day and night are of the Antarctic circle in the South.
equal length throughout the year.
Seasons Formation
Torrid Zone
Revolution of the Earth around the
The Mid-day Sun shines vertically Sun along with it spinning around its
overhead at least once a year between axis, which is tilted at an angle of 23.5
the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of degrees, is the main cause of season’s
Capricorn. Thus, this region receiving formation. Around the June Solstice,
the maximum heat and is called Torrid the Northern Hemisphere is tilted
Zone. towards the Sun, therefore experiencing
summer. The Southern Hemisphere on
Temperate Zones
the other hand, is tilted away from the
These are the areas where climatic Sun and thus, experiences winter. The
condition is not extreme. The area lies opposite occurs around the December
between the tropics and polar region Solstice, when the Southern Hemisphere
(23½° of 66½°) having moderate is tilted towards the Sun, while the
climate. Northern Hemisphere is tilted away.
Seasons and their Formation
Northern summer/Southern winter Northern fall/Southern spring
21. March
Periapsis
ill.
Equinox 47 m 3. January
1 m k
21. June Line of Solstice
s 21. December
side
f ap
eo
Lin
km
mill.
152 23. September
Apoapsis 3. July

Northern summer/Southern winter Northern fall/Southern spring


B-62 Geography
There are four seasons: Summer Plate Tectonic Theory
when the Sun’s ray falls directly over Our earth surface is made up of
the tropic of cancer. In autumn, the plates which are in motion due to the
Sun’s ray falls directly over the equator. convection current flowing beneath
During winter it is over tropic of it. This movement in the earth’s plate
Capricorn and during spring it falls is called as tectonic movement. This
back on equator. movement has been widely accepted
Equinoxes is the day which happens cause of continental drift, earthquakes,
twice a year and day and night are of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic
equal length. March 21 is called as trenches.
Vernal equinox and 23rd September Exogenetic/Denudational/Destructional
is autumnal equinox. Solstice in the Forces
same ways occurs when the difference The forces which act above the earth
between the lengths of day and night surface changing relief of earth surface
are maximum. Occurs twice in a year are known as exogenetic forces. These
firstly when the Sun’s ray falls on tropic processes are continuously engaged in
of cancer and secondly when over destructing the relief features created
tropic of Capricorn. by endogenetic forces. These forces are
carried on by the agents of erosion such
Eclipse as wind, water, glacier etc., the process
It is related to obscuring light of the through which these agents work on
sun or the moon by any other body. the earth surface are weathering and
There are two types of eclipse. erosion.
Lunar eclipse occurs when the earth •• Weathering is a process in which
comes in middle of the sun and the breaking down of the earth surface
moon. It occurs on full moon day but takes place but the debris do not
move from their place.
not every full moon day experiences
•• Erosion refers to the movement in
lunar eclipse.
the weathered material.
Solar eclipse occurs when the moon Denudation is a long-term sum of
comes in middle of the sun and the processes that is caused by weathering,
earth. It occurs on the new moon day leading to a reduction in elevation and
when the moon is in line with sun. relief of landforms and landscapes and
Earthquake erosion.

Motion ranging from faint terror to wild Gulf


shaking of the earth surface is called A large area of a sea or ocean partially
earthquake. It occurs mainly due to enclosed by land, especially a long
tectonic activities caused by continuous landlocked portion of sea opening
endogenetic processes inside earth’s through a strait. Gulf and Bay are of
crust. The place from where it starts economic importance as they serve as
is called as focus or hypocenter and excellent harbour in most of the cases.
the point directly above it is known as Many important trading centers are
epicenter. It is measured in Richter located on gulfs. It forms a good fishing
scale varying from 0 to 9. ground and oil deposits.
Geography B-63
The Gulf of Mexico plant and animal communities because
Bordering the United States, Mexico, their waters are brackish. Brackish is a
and the island nation of Cuba, is the mixture of fresh water draining from the
world’s largest gulf. It has a coastline of land and salty seawater.
about 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Bar-built
The Persian Gulf Sandbars or barrier islands built up by
In Arabian Sea borders Iran, Iraq, Ku- ocean currents and waves in coastal
wait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the areas created a protected area fed by
United Arab Emirates, and Oman. There small streams or rivers. The barrier
a vast deposit of petroleum is found. islands off the Atlantic coastline of
The Gulf of Carpentaria on northeast North Carolina and Massachusetts
coast of Australia, is an inlet of the enclose bar-built estuaries.
Arafura Sea. Delta system
Bay Deltas are formed at the mouths of
A bay is a small body of water or a broad large rivers from sediment and silt
inlet that is set off from a larger body of depositing. When the river flow is
water generally where the land curves restricted by the delta, an estuary may
inward. Examples of bays include form. The Nile River in Egypt and the
the Bay of Pigs (Cuba), Hudson Bay Mississippi River in Louisiana forms
(Canada), Chesapeake Bay (Maryland delta systems estuaries.
and Virginia), and Bay of Bengal (near Tectonic
India).
It is created when a major crack or a
Choke Point large landmass sink, often caused by
When a body of water such as a strait is earthquakes, produced a basin below
capable of being blocked or even closed sea level that fills with water. This type
in order to control transportation of estuaries usually occurs along fault
routes, the body is called a “choke lines. San Francisco Bay in California
point.” is an example of an estuary created by
Estuaries tectonics.
Estuaries are bodies of water and their Fjords
surrounding coastal habitats typically Advancing glaciers ground out long,
found where rivers meet the sea. It narrow valleys with steep sides. Glacier
becomes the home of numerous unique Bay in Alaska is an example of a fjord.
MAJOR GULFS AND THEIR LOCATION
Gulf of Aden of the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula
Gulf of Alaska in the Pacific Ocean south of the state of Alaska
Amundsen Gulf in the Arctic Ocean northwest of Canada
Gulf of Aqaba in the northern end of the Red Sea, leading to Israel and Jordan
Gulf of Bahrain, part of the Persian Gulf
Gulf of Bothnia, part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland
Gulf of Cádiz, part of the Atlantic Ocean off the southern border of Spain and
Portugal
B-64 Geography

Gulf of California in the Pacific Ocean in northwestern Mexico


Gulf of Carpentaria a large bay off northern Australia
Gulf of Cazones a large gulf in southern Cuba
Gulf of Corinth, which extends into Greece from the Mediterranean
Davao Gulf in the Philippines
Gulf of the Farallones, westward from the opening of the San Francisco Bay
and Drakes Bay to the Farallon Islands
Gulf of Finland, between the southern coast of Finland and the northern coast
of Estonia in the Baltic Sea.
Gulf of Genoa inside the Ligurian Sea on the northwestern coast of Italy
Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Equatorial Africa
Gulf of Izmir in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. It was formerly
called the Gulf of Smyrna.
Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea, formerly known as the Gulf of Cambay
Gulf of Kutch in the Arabian Sea
Lingayen Gulf of western Luzon, the Philippines, in the South China Sea
Gulf of Lion, a bay on the Mediterranean coastline of Languedoc-Roussillon and
Provence in France
Gulf of Maine, off the State of Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in the
Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mannar, between India and Sri Lanka
Gulf of Mexico, between Mexico, the United States, and Cuba
Gulf of Morbihan, a natural harbour on the coast of the Département of
Morbihan in the south of Brittany
Gulf of Nicoya, in Costa Rica, Central America.
Gulf of Oman, between the south eastern Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Pakistan and
Arabian Sea.
Gulf of Oristano, near Oristano on the Western Sardinian coast
Gulf of Panama in the Pacific Ocean south of Panama
Persian Gulf between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula
Gulf of Roses, the most northeastern bay on the Catalan coast
Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the world’s largest estuary and the outlet of the Saint
Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean
Gulf St Vincent, separated from Spencer Gulf by the Yorke Peninsula
Gulf of Sidra, just north of Libya in the Mediterranean
Spencer Gulf, near Port Lincoln, South Australia
Gulf of Suez, in the northern end of the Red Sea, leading to the Suez Canal
Gulf of Thailand, just south of Thailand in the Indian Ocean
Gulf of Tonkin, just east of North Vietnam in the Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Tunis, in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tunisia
Geography B-65
Cyclones
Cyclones are the low pressure centers surrounded by closed isobars having
pressure increasing outwards. Blows inward from high pressure to low
pressure and hence wind movement is anti-clockwise in northern hemisphere
and clockwise in southern hemisphere. They are also termed as atmospheric
disturbances. There shape varied from circular to elliptical and sometimes even V
shaped. On the basis of place of origin there are two types of cyclones which are
as follows:
Tropical Cyclone Temperate / Extra-tropical cyclone
The tropical cyclones have a thermal Formed in middle or high latitudes,
origin, exclusively over the tropical seas. due to the development of front (350-
650 N and S).
A low pressure zone is created due to Develops when a frontal surface
extreme heat and further intensifies separates two opposing air masses
with the increase in temperature (above (warm and cold). As the amplitude
270C). The winds from surrounding high of the wave increases, the pressure
pressure region rushes to the central at the centre of disturbance falls,
low pressure (eye) area developing a eventually intensifying to the point at
powerful and destructive storm. The which a cyclonic circulation begins.
velocity of the cyclone varies from 32-
180 km/hour.
Its velocity decreases and finally decays When the cold air from the poles
as they cross more land mass. Usually sweeps off all the warm tropical air
ends with heavy downpour of rain and and entire cyclone is composed of the
wind bringing devastation to the coastal cold air mass temperate cyclone dies.
areas.

Famous Cities and River Banks


City River City River City River
Allahabad At the confluence Ferozpur Satluj Mathura Yamuna
of the Ganga Guwahati Brahmaputra Nasik Godavari
and Yamuna Haridwar Ganga Patna Ganga
(Sangam) Hyderabad Musi Panjim Mandavi
Agra Yamuna Jabalpur Narmada Srinagar Jhelum
Ayodhya Saryu Jamshedpur Swarnarekha Surat Tapti
Ahmedabad Sabarmati Jaunpur Gomti Sambalpur Mahanadi
Badrinath Alaknanda Kanpur Ganga Serirangapatam Cauvery
Bareilly Ram Ganga Kota Chambal Tiruchurapalli Cauvery
Cuttack Mahandadi Kolkata Hooghly Ujjain Kshipra
Kurnool Tungabhadra
Lucknow Gomti Vijayawada Krishna
Delhi Yamuna
Ludhiana Sutlej Varanasi Ganga
Dibrugarh Brahmaputra
B-66 Geography
Important Rivers of India
Name Origin From Fall into Length (km)
Ganges Combined Sources Bay of Bengal 2525
Satluj Mansarovar Rakas Lakes Chenab 1050
Indus Near Mansarovar Lake Arabian Sea 2880
Ravi Kullu Hills near Rohtang Pass Chenab 720
Beas Near Rohtang Pass Satluj 470
Jhelum Verinag in Kashmir Chenab 725
Yamuna Yamunotri Ganga 1375
Chambal M.P. Yamuna 1050
Ghagra Matsatung Glacier Ganga 1080
Kosi Near Gosain Dham Park Ganga 730
Betwa Vindhyanchal Yamuna 480
Son Amarkantak Ganga 780
Brahmaputra Near Mansarovar Lake Bay of Bengal 2900
Narmada Amarkantak Gulf of Khambat 1057
Tapti Betul Distt. of M.P. Gulf of Khambat 724
Mahanadi Raipur Distt. in Chattisgarh Bay of Bengal 858
Luni Aravallis Rann of Kuchchh 450
Ghaggar Himalayas Near Fatehabad 494
Sabarmati Aravallis Gulf of Khambat 416
Krishna Western ghats Bay of Bengal 1327
Godavari Nasik distt. in Maharashtra Bay of Bengal 1465
Cauvery Brahmagir Range of Western Bay of Bengal 805
Ghats
Tungabhadra Western Ghats Krishna River 640
Important River Valley Projects in India
Bhakra Nangal Project Situated on Sutlej in Punjab. Highest in India. Ht.
226m. Reservoir is called Gobind Sagar Lake.
Mandi Project On Beas in Himachal Pradesh
Chambal Valley Project On Chambal in Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan, 3
dams include Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap
Sagar Dam and Jawahar Sagar Dam
Damodar Valley Project On Damodar in Bihar, based on Tennessee Valley
Project USA
Hirakud Project On Mahanadi in Odisha, World’s Longest Dam:
4801m
Rihand Project On Son in Mirzapur, Reservoir is called Gobind Val-
labh Pant reservoir
Geography B-67

Kosi Project On Kosi in N. Bihar


Mayurkashi Project On Mayurkashi in West Bengal
Kakrapara Project On Tapi in Gujarat
Nizamsagar Project On Manjra in Andhra Pradesh
Nagarjuna Sagar Project On Krishna in Andhra Pradesh
Tungabhadra Project On Tungabhadra in Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka
Shivasamudram Project On Cauvery in Karnataka. One of the oldest river
valley projects in India.
Tata Hydel Scheme On Bhima in Maharashtra
Sharavathi Hydel Project On Jog Falls in Karnataka
Kundah & Periyar Project In Tamil Nadu
Farakka Project On Ganga in WB. Apart from power and irrigation,
also helps to remove silt for easy navigation.
Ukai Project On Tapti in Gujarat
Mahi Project On Mahi in Gujarat
Salal Project On Chenab in J&K
Mata Tila Multipurpose On Betwa in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Project
Thein Project On Ravi, Punjab.
Pong Dam On Beas, Punjab
Tehri Dam On Bhagirathi, Uttarakhand
Sardar Sarovar Project On Narmada, Gujarat/MP.

Tribal Groups of India


Tribal Region Tribal Region
Group Group
Abhor Arunachal Pradesh Kharia Jharkhand, Odisha
Adivasi A.P, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Kol Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Some
Northeastern States, West Ben-
gal, Andaman and Nicobar
Ahgani Manipur Kolam Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Telengana, M.P
Apatani Arunachal Pradesh Kota Karnataka
Baiga Madhya Pradesh Kuki Mizoram
Bakarwal Jammu and Kashmir Lahaula Himachal Pradesh
Bhil M.P and Rajasthan Lepcha Sikkim
Birhor M.P and Bihar Lushai Mizoram, Manipur
Chang Nagaland Muria Chhattisgarh
Chenchuas Telengana, Karnataka Miha Rajasthan
Sutiya Assam Moplah Malabar
B-68 Geography

Gaddis Himachal Pradesh Munda West Bengal,


Jharkhand, Odisha,
Chhattishgarh
Gallong Arunachal Pradesh Nishi Assam
Garo Meghalaya Naga Nagaland
Gond M.P and Bihar Oraon MP, Bihar and Odisha,
Chhota Nagpur, W.B,
Gujjar Rajasthan Onges Andaman & Nicobar
Irula Tamil Nadu Singpho Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh
Jaintia Meghalaya Santhal WB, Odisha, Bihar,
Jharkhand, Assam
Jarawa Andaman, Islands Sangtam Nagaland
Kanikar Tamil Nadu and Kerala Sema Nagaland
Kalkari Maharashtra Sentinelese Andaman & Nicobar
Kharia Maharashtra Shompen Andaman & Nicobar
Khond Jharkhand Toda Tamil Nadu
Khasi Meghalaya Uralis Kerala
Wancho Arunachal Pradesh
Warli Maharashtra, Daman
and Diu, Bihar, Mad-
haya Pradesh, West
Bengal Dadra and
Nagar Haveli

EARTH INFORMATION BULLETIN


•• Total Surface Area - 510, 072,000 km² •• Largest country - Russia
•• Land Area - 148,094,000 km² (17,075,400 km²)
•• Water Area - 361,132,000 km² •• Most populated country - China
•• Percentage of Land - 29.2% (1,401,586,609) 2015
•• Percentage of Water - 70.8% •• Smallest country - Vatican City (0.44
•• Water Type - 97% salt water, 3% km²)
fresh water •• Least populated country - Vatican
•• Circumference - 40,066 km at
City (1000) 2015
Equator, 39,992 km at Poles
•• Highest point - Mount Everest
•• Continents - 7 recognized
(8,848 m)
•• Countries - 193 recognized
•• Oceans - 5 •• Lowest point - Dead Sea (-409 m)
•• Population - 7,214,958,996 (2015) •• Largest Ocean - Pacific (155,557,000
•• Largest continent - Asia km²)
(43,810,582 km²) •• Smallest Ocean - Arctic (14,056,000
•• Most populated continent - Asia km²)
(4,361,416,312) 2015 •• Largest Sea - South China sea
•• Smallest continent - Australia/ (2,974,600 km²)
Oceania (8,112,000 km²) •• Largest Saline Lake - Caspian Sea
•• Least populated continent- (371,000 km²)
Antarctica (no native population) •• Longest River - Nile (6,695 km)
Geography B-69
Highest Mountain Peaks (World)
Name Height (in metres) Range
1. Mount Everest 8848 Himalayas
2. K2 (Godwin Austen) 8611 Karakoram
3. Kanchenjunga 8598 Himalayas
4. Lhotse 8511 Himalayas
5. Makalu I 8481 Himalayas
6. Dhaulagiri I 8167 Himalayas
7. Manaslu I 8156 Himalayas
8. Cho Uyo 8153 Himalayas
9. Nanga Parbat 8126 Himalayas
8. Annapurana I 8091 Himalayas

Three Deepest Oceans


Name Greatest depth (in metres) Greatest depth location
1. Pacific Ocean 11,033 Mariana Trench
2. Atlantic Ocean 9,460 Puerto Rico Trench
3. Indian Ocean 7,542 Java Trench
Some Important Boundary Lines
Durand Line Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Hindenberg Line Between Germany and Poland
49th Parallel Between USA and Canada
Mac Mahon Line Between India and Tibet/China
Maginot Line Between France and Germany
38th Parallel Between North and South Korea
Oder Neisse Line Between Germany and Poland
Radcliffe Line Between India and Pakistan
Longest Rivers
Name, Nation/Continent Length in kms Basin Area m2km
Nile, Africa 6695 3.25
Amazon, South America 6516 6.14
Yangtze Kiang, China 6380 1.72
Mississippi Missouri, USA 5959 3.20
Ob Irtysh, Russia 5568 2.97
Yenisey Angari a Selenga, Asia 5550 2.55
Yellow (Hwang Ho), China 5464 –
Congo (Zaire), Africa 4667 –
Parana Rio de la Plata, S. America 4500 2.58
Irtysh, Asia 4440 –
Mekong, Asia 4425 –
B-70 Geography

India REGION LENGTH


Indus Asia 3180
Brahmaputra Asia 2948
Ganga-Hooghly-Padma India 2620
Godawari India 1465
Sutlej India 1372
Krishna India 1300
Narmada India 1289
Chenab India 1086
Ghaghara India 1080
Shortest River (metres)
Europe Ombia River, Croatia 30
North America, Roe River, Montana, USA 61
South America – Azvis River, Brazil 147
Deepest Lakes
Baikal, Russian 1620 m
Tanganyika, Africa 1463 m
Caspian Sea, Asia-Europe 1025 m
Malawi of Nyasa, Africa 706 m
Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan 702 m
Largest Deserts of the World
Subtropical
Sahara, North Africa 8,600,650 sq. km
Arabian, Middle East 2,300,000 sq. km
Great Victoria, Australia 647,475 sq. km
Kalahari, Southern Africa 582,727 sq. km
Chihuahuan, Mexico 453,232 sq. km
Thar, India/Pakistan 453,232 sq. km
Great Sandy, Australia 388,485 sq. km
Gibson, Australia 310,788 sq. km
Sonoran, S.W. USA 310,788 sq. km
Simpson/Stony, N Africa 145,034 sq. km
Mohave, S.W. USA 139,854 sq. km
Cool coastal
Atacama, Chile SA 139,854 sq. km
Namib, S.W. Africa 33,668 sq. km
Cold winter
Gobi, China 1,166,450 sq km
Patagonian, Argentina 673,374 sq km
Great Basin, S.W. USA 492,081 sq. km
Karakum, West Asia 349,636 sq. km
Colorado, Western USA, also called the Painted Desert 336,687 sq. km
Kyzyl-kum, West Asia 297,838 sq. km
Taklamakan, China 271,939 sq. km
Ecology & Environment
ENDANGERED SPECIES IN INDIA
Birds White-bellied heron
Great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
Forest owlet (Athene blewitti)
Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri)
Spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus)
Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus)
White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)
Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
Pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
Sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)
Bugun liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum)
Fish Knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
Deccan labeo (Labeo potail)
Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon)
Longcomb sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
Humpback mahseer
Reptiles and Northern river terrapin (Batagur baska)
Amphibians Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga)
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
Ghats wart frog (Fejervarya murthii)
Gundia Indian frog (Indirana gundia)
Toad-skinned frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
Charles Darwin’s frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini)
Rao’s torrent frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
Amboli bush frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
White-spotted bush frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
Griet bush frog (Raorchestes griet)
Munnar bush frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
Ponmudi bush frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
Sacred Grove bush frog (Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus)
Shillong bubble-nest frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
Resplendent shrubfrog (Raorchestes resplendens)
Anaimalai flying frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
Patinghe Indian gecko (Geckoella jeyporensis)
B-72 Ecology & Environment

Mammals Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)


Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
Himalayan wolf (Canis himalayensis)
Andaman Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
Jenkins’ shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
Nicobar shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
Northern Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
lasiotis)
Kondana soft-furred rat (Millardia kondana)
Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
Indian Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis)
Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina)
Elvira rat (Cremnomys elvira)
Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
Kashmir stag (Cervus canadensis hanglu)
Coral Fire corals (Millepora boschmai)
Spiders
Rameshwaram Ornamental or Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria
hanumavilasumica)
Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or (Poecilotheria
metallica)
NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA
Name State Notability
Bandipur National Karnataka Chital, grey langurs, Indian giant squirrel,
Park (1974) gaur, leopard, sambar deer, Indian elephants,
honey buzzard, red-headed vulture and other
animals.
Bannerghatta Karnataka White Tiger, Royal Bengal Tiger, Bear, other
National Park animals
(Bannerghatta
Biological Park)
(1974)
Betla National Park Jharkhand Tiger, Sloth Bear, Peacock, Elephant, Sambar
(1986) deer, mouse deer and other animals.
Bhitarkanika Odisha Mangroves, Saltwater crocodile, white
National Park crocodile, Indian python, black ibis, wild pigs,
(1988) rhesus monkeys, chital and other animals
Buxa Tiger Reserve West Tiger
(1992) Bengal
Dachigam National J&K Only area where Kashmir stag is found
Park (1981)
Dudhwa National U.P Swamp deer, sambar deer, barking deer,
Park (1977) spotted deer, hog deer, tiger, Indian rhinoceros,
Gir Forest National Gujarat Asiatic lion
Park (1965)
Ecology & Environment B-73

Great Himalayan Himachal UNESCO World Heritage Site


National Park Pradesh
(1984)
Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Green turtles and Olive Ridley turtles and
Marine National whales.
Park (1980)
Indravati National Chhattisgarh Wild Asian Buffalo, Tiger Reserve, Hill Mynas
Park (1981)
Jaldapara National West Indian one horned rhinoceros
Park (2012) Bengal
Jim Corbett Uttarakhand Tiger
National Park
(1936)
Kanha National Madhya Swamp Deer, Tigers
Park (1955) Pradesh
Kaziranga National Assam Indian rhinoceros, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1905)
Keibul Lamjao Manipur Only floating park in the world
National Park
(1977)
Keoladeo National Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1981)
Manas National Assam UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1990)
Mandla Plant Madhya Plant Fossils National Park
Fossils National Pradesh
Park (1983)
Marine National Gujarat 70 species of sponges, Coral 52 species along
Park, Gulf of Kutch with puffer fishes, sea horse and sting ray
(1980)
Namdapha National Arunachal Snow Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Common
Park (1974) Pradesh Leopards and Tigers
Nanda Devi Uttarakhand UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Park
(1982)
Neora Valley West Clouded leopard, red panda and musk deer
National Park Bengal
(1986)
Nokrek National Meghalaya UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
Park (1986)
Periyar National Kerala Tigers
Park (1982)
Ranthambore Rajasthan Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar
National Park deer and Chital
(1981)
B-74 Ecology & Environment

Sariska Tiger Rajasthan Tiger


Reserve (1955)
Simlipal National Odisha Tiger, Leopard, Asian elephant, Sambar,
Park (1980) Barking deer, Gaur, Jungle cat, Wild boar, and
other animals
Sultanpur National Haryana Siberian crane, greater flamingo, ruff, black-
Park (1989) winged stilt, common teal, northern pintail,
and yellow wagtail
Sundarbans West UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Park (1984) Bengal
Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand Flying squirrel, Himalayan black bear, red
National Park fox, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan yellow-
(1982) throated marten, and Himalayan goral

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
India has 515 animal sanctuaries referred to as wildlife sanctuaries category IV
protected areas. Among these, the 48 tiger reserves are governed by Project Tiger,
and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger.
WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

Name of the Location Major Species


Sanctuary
Gir Wildlife Sasan Gir, Lion, Leopard, Chausinga, Chital, Hyena,
Sanctuary Junagadh, Sambar, Chinkara, Herpetofauna, Crocodiles
Amreli and birds
Wild Ass Little Rann of Wild Ass, Chinkara, Blue bull, Houbara
Sanctuary Kachchh bustard, Wolf, Waterfowls, Herpetofauna
Hingolgadh Hingolgadh, Chinkara, Blue bull, Wolf, Hyena, Fox,
Sanctuary Rajkot Birds, Herpetofauna
Marine Sanctuary Gulf of Kachchh, Sponges, Corals, Jellyfish, Sea horse,
Jamnagar Octopus,Oyster, Pearloyster, Starfish,
Lobster, Dolphin, Dugong, waterfowls
Simlipal Sactuary Odisha Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Cheetal
Kutch Desert Great Rann of Chinkara, Hyena, Fox, Flamingo, Pelicans
Sanctuary Kachchh & other waterfowls, Herpetofauna
Rampara Rampara, Blue bull, Chinkara, Wolf, Fox, Jackal,
Sanctuary Rajkot Birds, Herpetofauna
Ghana Bird Rajasthan Water Bird, Black-buck, Cheetal, Sambar
Sanctuary
Panchmarhi Madhya Tiger, Panther, Sambhar, Nilgai, Baskeng,
Pradesh Deer
Dandeli Karnataka Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Cheetal, Sanbhar,
Sanctuary Wild Boar
Kutch Bustard Near Naliya, Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Houbara
Sanctuary Kachchh bustard, Chinkara, Blue bull, Herpetofauna
Ecology & Environment B-75
BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA AREA-WISE

Name State Key Fauna


Nilgiri Biosphere Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque
Reserve Kerala and
Karnataka
Nanda Devi Uttarakhand Himalayan musk deer, mainland serow,
National Park Himalayan tahr
& Biosphere
Reserve
Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Dugong or sea cow
Nokrek Meghalaya Red panda
Sundarbans West Bengal Royal Bengal tiger
Manas Assam Golden langur, red panda
Simlipal Odisha Gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, elephant
Dihang-Dibang Arunachal Mishmi takin, red goral, musk deer
Pradesh
Pachmarhi Madhya Pradesh Giant squirrel, flying squirrel
Biosphere
Reserve
Achanakmar- Madhya Four horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis),
Amarkantak Pradesh, Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus), Saras crane
Biosphere Chhattisgarh (Grus antigone), Asian white-backed vulture
Reserve (Gyps bengalensis), Sacred grove bush frog
(Philautus sanctisilvaticus)
Great Rann of Gujarat Indian wild ass
Kutch
Cold Desert Himachal Snow leopard
Pradesh
Khangchendzonga Sikkim Snow leopard, red panda
AgasthyamalI Kerala, Tamil Nilgiri tahr, elephants
Biosphere Nadu
Reserve
Great Nicobar Andaman and Saltwater crocodile
Biosphere Nicobar Islands
Reserve
Dibru-Saikhowa Assam Golden langur
Seshachalam Andhra Pradesh Yellow-throated bulbul
Hills
Panna Madhya Pradesh Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambhar and sloth
bear
B-76 Ecology & Environment

WHO IS DOING WHAT FOR CLIMATE?

GHG emission Country


CHINA : Envisages a peak in emissions by around 2030, and
reducing carbon intensity (CO2 emitted per unit of GDP) by
60-65% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. The world’s
I 24% most populous nation will boost the share of non-fossil fuel in
primary energy consumption from 11.2% in 2014 to 20%, and
boost the volume of CO2-absorbing forest by about 4.5 billion
cubic metres.
UNITED STATES : Has pledged a 26-28% reduction in emissions
II 15.5% from 2005 levels by 2025. Power plants are to cut carbon dioxide
pollution by 32% by 2030.
EUROPEAN UNION: The 28-member bloc tends to cut
III 10.8% emissions by at least 40% by 2030 over 1990 levels, and has set
27% targets for renewable energy supply and efficiency gains.
INDIA : Plans to reduce carbon intensity by 35% by 2030 from
IV 6.4% 2005 levels, and generate 40% of its electricity from renewable
sources by the same date.
RUSSIA : Has mooted cutting emissions by 25-30% by 2030
V 4.9% from 1990 levels, conditional on the pledges of other “major
emitters”.
JAPAN : Has pledged a 26% reduction in emissions from 2013
levels by 2030, with nuclear energy – offline since the 2011
VI 2.9% Fukushima disaster – providing 20-22% of electricity by then.
Renewable electricity production, including hydro power,
would be expanded to a 22-24% share, from 11% in 2014.
BRAZIL : Will cut emissions by 37% by 2025 from 2005 and
VII 2.1%
43% by 2030.
IRAN: Iran has made an unconditional pledge to reduce its
greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by four per cent compared
with a “business as usual” secnario. In addition, Tehran
VIII 1.6%
said it would reduce emissions by another 8% if it receives
financial and technology support, and if what it describes
as : unjust sanctions where lifted.
INDONESIA : A 29% cut in emissions by 2030 compared with
IX 1.6% what the level would have been with our any action. With
financial and other help, this could be raised to 41%.
CANADA: Will seek to cut emissions by 30% from the 2005
levels by 2030. Canada has done its bit by cutting carbon
X 1.5%
emission and putting a curb on pollution in major cities in the
country.
Ecology & Environment B-77

CARBON BUDGET
A carbon budget is the maximum industrialization. Although we tend to
amount of carbon that can be released focus on growing atmospheric carbon
into the atmosphere while keeping a concentrations, ocean acidification
reasonable chance of staying below a is also hugely worrying. As the world
given temperature rise. The concept of continues to warm the future function
carbon budget was first time adopted of ocean and land sinks may come
by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate under strain.
Change (IPCC) in its 2013 report. Global Share of CO2
In its most recent synthesis report, The largest producers of CO2 emissions
published in early 2014 states that the worldwide in 2015, based on their
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate share of global CO2 emissions.
Change (IPCC) laid out estimates of In recent years, there has been a
how much CO2 we can emit and still tremendous surge in carbon dioxide
keep global average temperature rise to (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. These
no more than 1.5C, 2C or 3C above pre- atmospheric carbon dioxide rises are
industrial levels. believed to be the result of the earth’s
The first four carbon budgets, leading industrialization. China was the biggest
to year 2027, have been set in law. The emitter of carbon dioxide; the country
UK is currently in the second carbon accounted for around 28.03 percent of
budget period (2013-17). Meeting the global CO2 emissions that year. In 2014
five largest CO2 producers includes
fourth carbon budget (2023-27) will
United States of America, Brazil,
require that emissions be reduced by
Russia India and China out of which
50% on 1990 levels in 2025.
China is at the top position in carbon
Carbon Sinks are increasing with time: dioxide emission. Today, there are a
As Carbon dioxide is increasing day by number of measures to reduce carbon
day in the atmosphere the three major dioxide emissions. These measures
sink (atmosphere, ocean and land) are include reforestation, the introduction
absorbing more carbon. The carbon of a price for carbon, a reduction of
sink are increasing alarmingly due to livestock and a decreased use of fossil
deforestation, fossil fuel emission and fuels in energy generation.

PARIS AGREEMENT
Introduction into force on 16 February 2005. In this
The Paris Agreement is the outcome protocol developed countries were
of 20 previous Conferences of Parties recognized as principally responsible
(COPs) on behalf of United Nations for the current high levels of green
Framework Convention on Climate house gas (GHG) emissions in the
Change (UNFCCC) first held in Rio de atmosphere as a result of more than
Janeiro (Brazil) Earth Summit in 1992. 150 years of industrial activity. So the
Protocol placed a heavier burden on
For the same objective the Kyoto
developed nations under the principle
Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan,
of “common but differentiated
on 11 December 1997 and entered
responsibilities.”
B-78 Ecology & Environment
The detailed rules for the impleme- Global Peaking (Art.4): To achieve
ntation of the Kyoto Protocol were this temperature goal, Parties aim to
adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh, reach global peaking of greenhouse
Morocco, in 2001, and are referred to gas emissions as soon as possible,
as the “Marrakesh Accords.” Its first recognizing peaking will take longer
commitment period started in 2008 for developing country Parties, so
and ended in 2012. as to achieve a balance between
The Paris Agreement came during anthropogenic emissions by sources
COP21/CMP11 of United Nations and removals by sinks of greenhouse
Climate Change Conference (UNCCC)
gases in the second half of the century.
held in Paris (France) from 30 Novem-
ber to 11 December 2015. The Parties Mitigation (Art. 4): The Agreement
acknowledged, “climate change is a establishes binding commitments by
common concern of humankind, so all Parties to prepare, communicate
Parties should, when taking action and maintain a nationally determined
to address climate change, respect, contribution (NDC) and to pursue
promote and consider their respective domestic measures to achieve them.
obligations on human rights, the right It also prescribes that Parties shall
to health, the rights of indigenous communicate their NDCs every 5 years
peoples, local communities, migrants, and provide information necessary for
children, persons with disabilities and clarity and transparency. Developed
people in vulnerable situations and the countries should continue to take
right to development, as well as gender the lead by undertaking absolute
equality, empowerment of women and economywise reduction targets,
intergenerational equity”.
while developing countries should
Essential Elements of Paris continue enhancing their mitigation
Agreement efforts, and are encouraged to move
The Paris Agreement builds upon the toward economywise targets over
Convention and for the first time brings time in the light of different national
all nations(Developed & developing) circumstances.
into a common cause to undertake Sinks and Reservoirs (Art.5): The
ambitious efforts to combat climate Agreement also encourages Parties to
change and adapt to its effects, with conserve and enhance, as appropriate,
enhanced support to assist developing sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse
countries to do so. As such, it charts gases as referred to in Article 4,
a new course in the global climate paragraph 1(d) of the Convention,
effort. Some of the key aspects of the including forests.
agreement are:
Market and Non-markets (Art.
Long-term Temperature Goal (Art.
6): The Agreement establishes a
2): The Paris Agreement, in seeking
to strengthen the global response to mechanism to contribute to the
climate change, reaffirms the goal of mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions
limiting global temperature increase and support sustainable development,
to well below 2 degrees Celsius, while as well as defining a framework for
pursuing efforts to limit the increase to non-market approaches to sustainable
1.5 degrees. development.
Ecology & Environment B-79
Adaptation (Art. 7): The Agreement includes a mechanism that will
establishes a global goal to significantly facilitate implementation and promote
strengthen national adaptation compliance in a non-adversarial and
efforts – enhancing adaptive capacity, non-punitive manner, and will report
strengthening resilience and reduction annually to the COP.
of vulnerability to climate change – Global Stocktake (Art. 14): A “global
through support and international stocktake”, to take place in 2023 and
cooperation. Developing country. every 5 years thereafter, will assess
Parties will receive enhanced support collective progress toward meeting
for adaptation actions. the purpose of the Agreement in a
Loss and Damage (Art. 8): The comprehensive and facilitative manner.
Agreement significantly enhances the Decision also sets out a number of
Warsaw International Mechanism on measures to enhance action prior to
Loss and Damage, which will deve- 2020, including strengthening the
lop approaches to help vulnerable technical examination process, enhan-
countries cope with the adverse effects cement of provision of urgent finance,
of climate change, including extreme technology and support and measures
weather events and slow-onset events
to strengthen high-level engagement.
such as sea-level rise. The Agreement
The decision also welcomed the
now provides a framework for Parties
to enhance understanding, action efforts of all non-Party stakeholders to
and support with regard to loss and address and respond to climate change,
damage. including those of civil society, the
private sector, financial institutions,
Support (Art. 9, 10 and 11): The
Agreement reaffirms the obligations cities and other sub-national author-
of developed countries to support the ities. These stakeholders were reques-
efforts of developing country Parties to ted to scale up their efforts and show-
build clean, climate-resilient futures, case them via the Non-State Actor Zone
while for the first time encouraging for Climate Action .
voluntary contributions by other Status of Ratification
Parties. For this developed nations are
called to give $ 100 billion annually The Paris Agreement entered into force
to developing nations by 2020 to help on 4 November 2016, thirty days after
them combat climate and foster green the date (5 October 2016) on which at
economies with advanced technology. least 55% Parties to the Convention
Transparency (Art. 13): The accounting in total of global greenhouse
Agreement relies on a robust transp- gas emissions have deposited their
arency and accounting system to instruments of ratification, acceptance,
provide clarity on action and support approval or accession with the
by Parties, with flexibility for their Depositary. However, 125 Parties out
differing capabilities. In addition to of 197 ratified the Paris Convention.
reporting information on mitigation, The first session of the Conference
adaptation and support, the agreement of the Parties serving as the Meeting
requires that the information subm- of the Parties to the Paris Agreement
itted by each Party undergoes intern- (CMA 1) took place in Marrakech,
ational review. The Agreement also Morocco from 15-18 November 2016.
Economy
Inflation (iv) Loop-sided Production
In a broad sense, inflation is that state (v) Hoarding by traders
in which the prices of goods & services (vi) Operation of Law of Diminishing
rise on one hand & value of money falls Returns.
on the other. Impact of Inflation
Types of Inflation Inflation is the most regressive form
1. Demand Pull Inflation: It is that of taxation as it affects the poor and
inflation when prices rise due to vulnerable sections of the society the
higher demand for goods & services most. Such a situation leads to increase
over the available supply. in income disparities.
2. Cost Push Inflation: It is the type Inflation dampens exports by making
of inflation in which prices rise due our products expensive and, conversely,
to increased input costs. makes imports attractive. Such a
situation may warrant formal or informal
Causes of Inflation
devaluation of the currency in order to
The inflation occurs due to two main make our exports competitive.
factors :- Inflation leads to recession, as people
with fixed incomes set apart an increasing
(a) (b) share of their income to meet the growing
Increase in demand Decrease in the costs of essential commodities, leaving
for goods & services supply of goods & very little for expenditure on non-
services essential terms. The production of
(a) Factors causing an increase in such items has to be reduced, leading
demand for goods & services: to shutdowns and recession.
(i) Increase in public expenditure Policy measure to control inflation
(ii) Increase in pvt. expenditure The issue of inflation is addressed from
(iii) Increase in exports both demand and supply sides. Demand
(iv) Reduction in taxation management implies putting a check
(v) Rapid growth of population on the demand of the public for goods
and services. Demand management is
(vi) Black money
achieved by measures such as postponing
(vii) Deficit financing
public expenditure, reducing up excess
(viii) Cheap money policy liquidity either through taxes or saving
(ix) Increase in consumer spending schemes and restrictions on ad hoc
(x) Department of Tax internal treasury bills. While such measures
debts. help contain the money supply, there
(b) Factors causing decrease in supply is a danger that these will contract
of goods & services: the economy and lead to an increase
(i) Shortage of supplies of factors in unemployment. Rationalisation of
(ii) Industrial disputes excise and import duties of essential
commodities to higher the burden on
(iii) Natural calamities
poor.
Economy B-81
RBI assists in controlling inflation –– MAT (Minimum Alternate Tax) –
through monetary measures such as Imposed on zero tax companies
quantitative and selective credit controls (companies pay very low tax by
and by manipulating the Cash Reserve using the provisions of exemptions,
Ratio (CRR) and the Statutory Liquidity deductions, incentives, etc.
Ratio (SLR). These are the monetary –– Excise Duties– Tax on production
policies adopted by government. of commodities.
On the supply side, the mechanism of –– Custom Duties– Tax on Import &
Public Distribution System (PDS) ensures Export of commodities.
availability of essential commodities for –– VAT (Value Added Tax) –Tax on
the vulnerable sections of society. This sale of commodities. It is a state
helps to maintain price levels. Fixation level tax. The tax rate is imposed
of maximum prices to eliminate the as x of value added.
–– GST– It is a uniform tax on goods
incentive for hoarding and speculative
& services throughout the country.
activity in foodgrains. Control over
private trade in foodgrains. Adoption of METHODS OF TAXATION OF GOODS
Open General Licence (OGL) to ease the Methods of
imports of sugar, pulses, etc.,in case of Taxation on Goods
shortages. Coupled with this is the open
market sale of rice and wheat resorted
to by FCI from its buffer stock in times Ad– Valorem Specific Duty
of price rise.
Related Terms (1) Ad Valorem– If tax is levied as x of
the value of the goods regardless
Deflation: Deflation is that state in
of number of units produced/
which the value of money rises & the
sold/ imported, then it is called ad
price of goods & services falls.
valorem.
Stagflation: It refers to the situation
of coexistence of stagnation & inflation Eg.Price of car Tax Amount
in the economy. Stagnation means ` 2 lakh ` 20,000
low National Income growth & high ` 4 lakh ` 40,000
unemployment. (2) Specific Duty– If tax is levied at a
Disinflation: The rate of inflation at a flat rate per unit of goods produced/
slower rate is called disinflation. sold/ imported regardless of the
Types of Taxes value then it is called specific
•• Direct Tax– The tax that people duties.
pay directly to the government is Eg. Car’s Price Tax
called direct tax. Examples : ` 2 lakh ` 10,000
–– Income Tax– Tax on the personal ` 4 lakh ` 10,000
income of the individuals.
–– Corporate Tax– Levied on IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL
Company’s profit income. REPORTS INDEX
–– Wealth Tax– Imposed on the Human Development Index
accumulated wealth or property
The UNDP Human Development
of every individual.
Report ranks countries on the basis
•• Indirect Tax– The tax burden when
shifted to another person that tax is of measuring human development by
called indirect tax. Examples : combining indicators of the Health,
B-82 Economy
Education & Income into a composite India has been classified in the Medium
Human Development Index (HDI). Human Development Category, placed
The HDI classifies the World into 4 at 130 rank out of 187 countries
broad segments : (Human Development Report 2015).
Very High → High → Medium and → The title of 2015 edition of, HDR is
Low Human Development Components ‘work for Human Development’. The
of HDI. top 3 nations in 2015 HDI are Norway
HDI includes (1st),Australia (2nd) & Switzerland(3rd).
The first Indian Human Development
(a) Health : Life Expectancy at Birth
Report was formally released by the
(b) Education : Mean years of schooling, then Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari
Expected years of schooling Vajpayee on April 23, 2002. Madhya
(c) Living standards: Gross National Pradesh was the first state to release
Income Per Capita state-level Human Development Report.
INDIA’S RANK IN IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL REPORTS/INDEX
Index / Report India's Rank
Gender Inequality Index 2015 130th (Out of 155 countries)
Global Hunger Index 2016 28.5 (Serious hunger situation)
Global Competitiveness Report 55th (Out of 140 economies)
2015-16
World Investment Report 2016 10th (in FDI inflows in the world)
Global Gender Gap 2015 108th (Out of 145 economies)
Ease of Doing Business Index 2017 130th (Out of 190 economies)
Global Innovation Index 2016 66th (Out of 128 countries)
Global Human Capital Index 2016 105th (Out of 130 countries)
Evergreen Revolution Agricultural Revolution in a nutshell
The pioneer of Indian green revolution Revolution Area
Mr. M.S. Swaminathan, presently
chairman of National Commission on 1. Green Foodgrain production
farmers gave a new call for ‘Evergreen 2. White Milk
Revolution’ for doubling the present
3. Yellow Oil seeds
production level of foodgrains from 210
million tonnes to 420 million tonnes. 4. Blue Fisheries
For making ‘Evergreen Revolution’ a 5. Red Meat and Tomato
success, he stressed on adopting organic
farming. He also mentioned four pre- 6. Golden Fruits
requistes for getting the success: 7. Grey Fertilizers
i. Promoting soil health. 8. Black/ Brown Non-conventional &
ii. Promoting Lab to Land exhibitions. Energy Sources
iii. Making rainwater harvesting compulsory.
9. Silver Eggs
iv Providing credit to farmers on
suitable conditions. 10. Round Potato
Economy B-83
E–Commerce in India certifies that a product confirms to
E-commerce or electronic commerce the Indian Standard, mentioned as IS:
deals with the buying & selling of goods xxxx on top of the mark, developed
& services, or the transmitting of funds by the Bureau of Indian Standards
or data, over an electronic platform, (BIS). The ISI mark is mandatory for
mainly the internet. These business certifying products to be sold in India,
transactions are categorised into– like many of the electrical appliances,
•• Business to Business (B2B) kitchen appliances, other products like
•• Business to Consumers (B2C) LPG valves, LPG cylinders, automotive
•• Consumer to Consumer (C2C) tyres, etc.
•• Consumer to Business(C2B) Provident Fund (PF)
Business to Business to Consumer
E–commerce processes are conducted It is a fund which is composed of
using applications, such as Email, fax, contributions & made by the employee
online catalogues & shopping carts, during the time he/she worked
electronic data interchange, file transfer along with an equal contribution by
protocol & web services & e–newsletters his employer. Its purpose is to help
to subscribers. E–Travel is the most employees save a fraction of their
popular form of E–commerce, followed salary every month, to be used in an
by e–Tail which essentially means selling event that the employee is temporarily
of retail goods on the internet conducted or no longer fit to work or at retirement.
by the B2C category.
Mobile Commerce (M – Commerce) FDI
M–Commerce is the buying & selling • Foreign direct investment (FDI)
of goods & services through wireless is an investment in a business by
handheld services such as cellular an investor from another country
telephone & personal digital assistants. for which the foreign investor has
The phrase mobile commerce was control over the company purchased.
originally coined in 1997 by Kevin The Organisation of Economic
Duffey at the launch of the Global Mobile Co-operation and Development
Commerce Forum. Mobile Commerce (OECD) defines control as owning
transaction continues to grow, & the term 10% or more of the business.
includes online banking, bill payment & Businesses that make foreign
so on. direct investment are after called
Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
Agmark or Multinational Enterprises (MNEs).
It is a certification mark employed • A MNE may create a new foreign
on agricultural products in India, enterprise by making a direct
assuring that they confirm to a set of investment, which is called a
standards approved by the Directorate greenfield investment.
• A MNE may make a direct investment
of Marketing & Inspection, an agency of
by the acquisition of a foreign firm,
the Government of India.
which is called an acquisition or
ISI Mark prownfield investment .
ISI (Indian Standards Institute) Advantages FDI
mark is a certification mark for 1. Economic Development Stimulation.
industrial products in India. The mark 2. Easy International Trade.
B-84 Economy
3. Employment and Economic Boost. b. the other consisting of sectors
4. Development of human capital where prior approval from the
Resources. Foreign Investment Approval
5. Tax incentives. Board (FIPB) is required.
6. Resource Transfer. • FDI policy changes increasingly
7. Reduced disparity between revenues reflect the requirements of industry
and costs. and are based on stakeholder’s
8. Increased productivity. consultation. Upfront listing of
9. Increment in income. negative sectors has helped focus on
Disadvantages of FDI reform areas, which are reflected in
buoyant FDI inflows.
1. Hindrances to domestic Investment. 100% FDI
2. Risk from political changes.
• Advertising, agriculture, air tran-
3. Negative influence on exchange
sport services (domestic airlines),
rates.
4. Higher costs. courier services, drugs and pharma-
5. Economic non-viability. ceuticals, electricity, power, films and
6. Expropriation. studios, hotel and tourism, housing
7. Modern-day Economic colonialism. and real estate, construction, mass
• FDI, being a non-debt capital flow, is a rapid transport system, mining
leading source of external financing, (gold and silver), NBFC, marketing,
especially for the developing pipelines and refining of petroleum
economies. It not only brings in products, tourism, transport inf-
capital and technical know-how but rastructure, townships, SEZs, rail-
also increases the competitiveness ways, single brand retail (upto
of the economy. 49% automatic and from 49 to
• The current phase of FDI policy is 100% has to be approved by FIPB),
characterized by negative listing, telecommunications (upto 49% aut-
permitting FDI freely except in a few omatic, 49-100% by FIPB), and asset
sectors indicated through a negative reconstruction companies ( upto
list. Under the current policy regime, 49% automatic, 49-100% by FIPB).
there are three broad entry options
74% FDI
for foreign direct investors:
1. In some sectors, FDI is not permitted • Airports, broadcasting, coal and
(negative list); lignite, credit information companies,
2. In another small category of sectors, direct to home (DTH), mining (diam-
foreign investment is permitted only onds&preciousstones),satellites,and
till a specified level of foreign equity private sector banking are the sectors
participation. withFDIlimit of 74%.
3. The third category, comprising all 26–49% FDI
the other sectors, is where foreign
investment up to 100 % of equity • Airlines/aviation, defence, insurance
participation is allowed. The third and pension are the sectors which
category has two subsets – have 49% FDI limit. Sectors with 26%
a. one consisting of sectors where FDI limits print media (newspaper –
automatic approval is granted 26%, scientific & periodicals – 100%)
for FDI (often foreign equity and FM radio. Public sector Banks
participation less than 100 %), have the lowest FDI limit of 20%.
and
Technology & its Application
Absorbable Heart Stent Electroactive Bandage
The bio- absorbable version made by The NASA (National Aeronautics and
Abbott Laboratories in Illinois does its Space Administration) has developed
job and disappears. After six months a new high-tech electroactive bandage
the stent begins to dissolve, and after that uses electricity to significantly
two years it’s completely gone, leaving promote healing of injured wounds.
behind a healthy artery. But cheap The high-tech bandage creates an
electric charge to promote the healing
stents are metallic which don’t dissolve.
process of wounds in space especially
Artificial Brain in conditions of non-Earth gravity.
Artificial brain is a collection of The electroactive bandage uses a
interconnected neural net module which new material called polyvinylidene
is evolved in a special electronic hardware fluoride (PVDF) which can be
downloaded into PC and interconnected stimulated by pressure of cell growth
according to the design of human brain. and body heat. This bandage could be
used by astronauts in space, military
Autophagy personnel wounded in field, patients
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or who have undergone surgery or who
Medicine has been awarded to 71-year- have suffered a serious wound.
old Yoshinori Ohsumi of the Tokyo 3D – Lungs
Institute of Technology for unravelling Scientists in the United States including
in the 1990s the underlying molecular those of Indian origin have successfully
mechanism of autophagy. He was the grown three-dimensional (3D) lungs in
first to visually observe the process. the lab, using stem cells.The 3D lungs
During starvation a person is able to or organoids was created by coating
survive for a considerable stretch of tiny gel beads with lung-derived stem
time. Despite the obvious stress, the cells and then allowing them to self-
body is able to cope because of an assemble into the shapes of the air
internal physiological process of “self- sacs found in human lungs. To show
cannibalisation” through which the body that these tiny organoids mimicked
makes use of its inessential and damaged the structure of actual human lungs,
researchers compared it with real
cellular components by breaking them
sections of human lung.
down and reassembling them into useful
The laboratory-grown 3D lungs can
proteins and the nutrients needed to be used to study diseases including
sustain its essential functions. This Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
is called autophagy, which literally which has been difficult to study
means “self-devouring”. It is a process using conventional methods and also
that has been evolutionarily conserved test possible treatments for the lung
and is intrinsic to all organisms, from diseases.
unicellular yeast to multicellular IPF is a chronic lung disease
mammalian systems like humans. characterised by scarring of the lungs.
B-86 Technology & its Application
The scarring makes the lungs thick The advantage of the cryogenic engine
and stiff. It results in progressively is that it would develop one-and-a-half
worsening shortness of breath and times the thrust of conventional liquid
thus results in lack of oxygen to rocket engines using fuel storable at
the brain and vital organs. Though room temperature. It is a high risk high
researchers do not know what causes technology and would help bridge the
gap between the number of satellite
IPF in all cases but cigarette smoking
being made by India and the vehicles
and exposure to certain types of dust
needed for their launch.
can increase the risk of developing the
disease. Hawk-Eye
Human Hair as Cathode Hawk-Eye is a complex computer
system used officially in numerous
Researchers from Kolkata based Indian
sports such as cricket, tennis,
Institute of Science Education and
Gaelic football, badminton, hurling,
Research (IISER) have produced cost-
association football and volleyball, to
effective, metal-free cathodes using
visually track the trajectory of the ball
human hair for use in solar cells.
and display a record of its statistically
This is the first instance where a bio- most likely path as a moving image. The
waste-derived electrode (in this case system is not infallible and is accurate
human hair) has been used as cathode to within 5 millimetres (0.19 inch) but
in a quantum dot sensitised solar cell is generally trusted as an impartial
device. second opinion in sports.
Cryogenic Engine Print-on-demand
The cryogenic engine is crucial to the It is a book distribution method made
development of GSLV. Cryogenics refers possible by, and inseparable from,
to technology of sub-zero temperatures, digital printing. It prints books only
and cryogenic engines use liquid oxygen in response to orders, and only prints
as the oxidiser and liquid hydrogen as the the exact amount ordered. With the
fuel. India was to acquire the cryogenic capabilities of digital printing, print
engine and technology from the Russian on demand is capable of filling an
space agency, Glavkosmos. order for one book economically.
Information Technology & Computer
Government Initiatives Net Neutrality
1. National Digital Literacy Mission Network Neutrality, Internet Neutrality
or Net neutrality is a term that was
National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM)
first given by media law professor of
Scheme has been formulated to impart IT Columbia University, Tim Wu, in the year
training to 52.5 lakh persons, including 2003. The principle makes it necessary
Anganwadi and ASHA workers and for the Internet service providers and
authorised ration dealers in all the States/ governments to treat all Internet data
UTs to enable them to actively participate as same. There will not be any charges
in developmental process. imposed on by user, application, type of
2. Digital India (DI) enclosure, content, website, etc. It is the
best way for all to enjoy the usefulness
The Digital India not only envisages
of internet without any charges. It is
giving boost to information technology
a feature of net neutrality to allow
but also envisages achieving import- different websites to exist side-by-side
export balance in electronics. without affecting others. At the same
Supercomputing in India time and same speed, all the websites
are accessible for users. Net neutrality
India’s supercomputer programme will support competitive market place
was started in late 1980s. PARAM by providing a chance to each firm
8000 is considered to be India’s first irrespective of its size. Net Neutrality has
supercomputer. It was indigenously built enabled Google, Facebook and Zomato
in 1990 by Centre for Development of to reach various places around the
Advanced Computing (C-DAC)and was globe. Until now, India has had no laws
replicated and installed at ICAD Moscow to govern the net neutrality. Although
in 1991 under Russian collaboration. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
PARAM-ISHAN (TRAI) has released rules for unified
•• P
ARAM ISHAN is the fastest access service license to encourage net
and most powerful computer. neutrality, they do not execute them.
It has been jointly developed by IIT
Free Basics by Facebook is a free
Guwahati and C -DAC. step to connecting one billion
•• It has a peak computing power of Indians to jobs, education, and
250 Teraflops and three hundred opportunities online, and ultimately
terabytes capacity. a better future.
•• It can be used in research initiatives
such as computational chemistry, 4G
computational electromagnetic, Fourth generation, also called as 4G, is
computational fluid dynamics, civil the succeeding generation of 3G in mobile
engineering structures, nana-block telecommunications. It is an advanced
self-assemble, optimization etc. system with advanced capabilities of
•• It can be also used for weather, telephony, mobile web, gaming services,
climate modeling and seismic data high definition TV, video conferencing,
processing. 3D television and cloud computing.
B-88 Information Technology & Computer
Mobile generations began in 1981 with VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term
byte analogue (1G) moving to digital Evolution) operator in the country,
transmission (2G) in the year 1992. with coverage across all 22
Then, in 2001, multi-media supported telecom circles in India.
3G was introduced. It had byte rate of
200 kb/s. 4G is assumed to have a five SOME COMMONLY USED TERMS
times faster speed than its predecessor • Assembler– A programme, which
3G. 4G aims at providing a download converts assembly language pro-
speed of 100MB/s. gramme into machine language pro-
•• 4G long-term evolution (LTE) is gramme. It is a system software.
wireless communications standard • Bit– It is the basic units of computer.
developed by the 3rd Generation It can have two values 1 and 0 only.
Partnership Project (3GPP). • BIOS– It stands for Basic Input Out-
•• 4G LTE is one of several competing
put System. This program is stored
4G standards along with WiMax
in ROM.
(IEEE 802.16) and Ultra Mobile
• Byte– One byte is a collection of 8
Broadband (UMB). Presently two
bits.
standards are commercially used
• Compiler– It is a computer pro-
world-wide viz. LTE and Mobile
gramme that transforms human
WiMax standard.
readable source code of another
•• WiMax standard was first commer-
cially in South Korea in 2007 and LTE computer programme into the Ma-
standard was first used in Norway chine readable code that a CPU can
and Sweden in 2009. execute.
•• Designed to provide up to 10x speeds • Cloud Commuting– It is a new tech-
of 3G networks for mobile devices nology for internet services, under
such as tablets, smartphones, net- which the user need not to have fall
books and wireless hotspots etc. softwares and operating system in-
•• It can provide internet speed of at stalled on his machine, rather could
least 100 Mbit per second (Mbps) be provided the same as and when
to 1 Gbps. required by the internet e.g., Google.
•• 4G technologies are designed to • Computer Virus– A virus is a com-
provide IP (Internet Protocol)- puter programme which attaches
based voice, data and multimedia itself to and becomes part of anoth-
streaming at high speed. er executable programme and thus
Reliance Jio halts the system by pending to same
undesired result.
•• Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited,
• Connector– A connector is a device
doing business as Jio, is a LTE
that joins two networks together.
(Long-Term Evolution) mobile
The most common connectors are
network operator in India.
hub, bridges and router.
•• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Reliance Industries • Cables– A flexible metal or glass
provides wireless 4G wire or group of wires. All cables
LTE service network used in electronics are insulated
(without 2G/3G based with a material such as plastic or
services) and is the only 100% rubber.
Information Technology & Computer B-89
• Cell– Cells are boxes created by the (megabit per second) or faster over
interaction of rows and columns. distances of up to 75 km ranging
• Copyright– It means the material from several blocks of buildings to
and information are the personal entire cities.
property of the owner or producer. • Modem– A modem is a device that
• Database– It is a collection of files. allows a computer to communicate
Data remains in an organized form through telephone lines.
in a database. • Network Interface Card (NIC)–
• Interpreter– It translates some An expansion card or other device
form of source code into a target used to provide network access to
representation that it can immedi- a computer or other device, such as
ately execute but execution is rela- a printer. Network interface cards
tively slower than compiler. mediate between the computer and
• Internet– It is the worldwide the physical media, such as cabling,
accessible system of interconnected over which transmissions travel.
computer networks that transmit • Primary Key– It is a field with
unique value for each record.
data by using the internet protocol.
• Resource– Any part of a computer
• Local Area Network (LAN)– A
system or a network such as a disk
LAN is a computer network that
drive, printer, or memory that can
physically links two or more
be allotted to a program or a process
computers within a geographically
while it is running.
limited area (generally one building
• Secondary Memory– It is the
or a group of buildings).
permanent memory of the computer.
• Multi-tasking– Allows more than
• System Software– It performs the
one programme to run concurrently.
basic functions that are necessary to
• Multi-processing– Supports running
operate a computer system.
a programme on more than one CPU.
• Time sharing– It is the concurrent
• Multi-threading– Allows different
use of a single computer system by
parts of a single programme to run
many independent users. In time
concurrently.
sharing many terminals can be
• Multimedia– It is the use of
attached to a central computer.
several media (example, text, audio,
graphics, animation, video etc.) to • Tag– It is part of HTML. It determines
convey the information. the way, the browser displays text in
• Microprocessor– It is a single chip Web Page.
based device which is a complete • Wide Area Networks (WAN)–
processor in itself and is capable of WAN is a computer Network that
performing arithmetic and logical is distinguished from a Local Area
operations. Network because of its longer-
• Metropolitan Area Networks distance communications. The
(MAN)– MAN is a high-speed network may cover a whole country
network that can carry voice, data, or may include the sites of a large
and images at up to 200 Mbps multinational organization.
Sports
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON EACH SIDE
Badminton 1 or 2 Polo 4
Baseball 9 Rugby Football 15
Basketball 5 Tennis and Table tennis 1 or 2
Cricket 11 Water Polo 7
Football 11 Volleyball 6
Hockey 11 Kabaddi 7
Chess 1

NATIONAL SPORTS OF FAMOUS COUNTRIES


Name National game
Australia Cricket
Brazil Football
Canada Ice Hockey
China Table Tennis
England Cricket
India No Game
Japan Judo or Ju Jitsu
Malaysia Badminton
Pakistan Hockey
Russia Chess, Football
Scotland Rugby, Football
Spain Bull Fighting
United States of America Baseball
Terms used in Sports and Games Chess Check, Checkmate, Gambit,
Stalemate
Badminton Deuce, Double, Drop, Fault,
Cricket Bowling, Bouncer, Crease,
Game, Let, Love, Smash.
Cover point, Drive, Duck,
Baseball Bunt, Diamond, Home, Follow on, Googly, Gulley,
Pitcher, Put out, Strike. Hat Trick, Hit wicket,
Billiards Break, Cannons, Cue, In L.B.W. (Leg Before
off, Jigger, Scratch, Wicket), Leg Break, Leg
Boat Race Cox spinner, Leg bye, Maiden
over, No ball, Pitch, Run,
Boxing Hook, Jab, Knock-out, Punch,
Silly point, Stumped,
Upper cut. Wicket keeper.
Bridge Diamonds, Dummy, Grand Football Dribble, Drop Kick, Foul,
slam, Little slam, Revoke, Hattrick, Off-side, Penalty,
Ruff, Tricks, Trump. Throw in, Touch Down.
Sports B-91
Golf Bogey, Caddie, Hole, Links, Lawn Tennis Back-hand-drive, Service,
Put, Putting the green, Smash, Volley, Deuce,
Stymie, Tee. Game, Set, Love.
Hockey Bull, Carry, Centre Forw- Polo Bunder, Chuckker, Mallet.
ard, Carried, Dribble, Goal, Rifle Shooting Bull’s eye.
Hat trick, Penalty corner,
Rugby Drop kick, Screen.
Scoop, Short corner, Stic-
ks, Striking circle, Under Swimming Stroke.
cutting. Volley ball Booster, Deuce, Love,
Horse Racing Jockey, Place, Protest, Service, Spikers.
Punter, Win. Wrestling Half Nelson, Heave.
SPECIFIC NAMES OF PLAYING AREAS
Sport Name of Playing Area Sport Name of Playing Area
Badminton Court Golf Link, Green**
Baseball Diamond Lawn Tennis Court
Boxing Ring Ice Skating Rink
Cricket Pitch* Wrestling Ring, Arena
* Pitch in fact is the space between the wickets and not the entire cricket field.
** It is the area around the hole only.

OLYMPIC GAMES
Olympic Games are an international Mount Olympia. India officially
sporting event which is organised in the participated in the Olympics for the
form of summer and winter sports. The first time in the year 1920, in
Summer Olympic Games were first held the 6th edition of the games
in 1896. The Winter Olympic Games at Antwerp, Belgium.
were created after the huge success of The Olympic flag is made up of white
the Summer Olympics. Baron Pierre de silk and contains five intertwined rings
Coubertin founded the International as the Olympics emblem.
Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The colour of rings represents different
The Olympic Games are held after continents as given below:
every four years, with the Summer and
Winter Games alternatively occurring Blue Europe
every four years but two years apart Yellow Asia
from each other. Black Africa
The Olympics games originated in the Red America
city of Olympia, an ancient city of
Greece. These games were held at Green Australia and Oceania

PARALYMPIC GAMES
•• Back in 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttman, sport as part of the rehabilitation
a neurologist who was working programmes of his patients. He
with World War II veterans with set up a competition with other
spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospitals to coincide with the
Hospital in Aylesbury, began using London Olympics in that year.
B-92 Sports
•• The Paralympics are elite sport Allan Donald White Lightning
events for athletes from six different
disability groups. Athletes include Kapil Dev The Haryana
those with mobility disabilities, Hurricane
intellectual disabilities, visual Shikhar Dhawan Gabbar
impairments, cerebral palsy and Brendon Baz
amputees. McCullum
•• This event focuses on the athletes’
achievements rather than their Rahul Dravid The Wall, Mr.
disabilities. Dependable, Jammy
•• Paralympic sports include athletics, Mahendra Mahi, Captain Cool,
cycling, judo, rowing, swimming, Singh Dhoni MSD
and volleyball. Michael Phelps “The Baltimore Bullet”
•• The first Paralympic Games
Usain Bolt “Lightning Bolt”
were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960
and involved 400 athletes from Lionel Messi “La Pulga”
23 countries. Originally, only Baichung “Sikkimese Sniper”
wheelchair athletes were invited to Bhutia
compete. Mahesh “Indian Express”
•• The Paralympics are held in two Bhupathi and
seasons: summer and winter. Leander Paes
NICKNAMES OF FAMOUS PLAYERS (Doubles)
AROUND THE WORLD Novak Djokovic “Djoker”
Rafael Nadal “The King of Clay”
Sachin Master Blaster,
Andre Agassi “The Las Vegas Kid”
Tendulkar Tendlya
Martina Hingis “Can’t-miss-Swiss”
Virender Viru, Sultan of Multan
Sehwag BOOKS BY SPORTS PERSONS
Shoaib Akhtar Rawalpindi Express Sachin Playing it my way
V V S Laxman Very Very Special Tendulkar
Don Bradman The Don Kapil Dev By God’s Decree
Milkha Singh Flying Sikh Sunil Gavaskar Idol, Sunny Days
Sunil Gavaskar Sunny, Little Master Ajith Wadekar The making of a cricketer
Sourav Gan- Dada, The Prince of David Beckham My Side
guly Kolkata Tiger Wood How to play golf?
Ricky Ponting Punter Allan Border Beyond Ten thousand
Harbhajan Bhajji, Turbanator PT Usha Golden Girl
Singh Major Dhyan Goal
Shane Warne Warnie, The King of Chand
Spin Javed Miandad The cutting edge
Brett Lee Bing, Binga, The Vishvanathan My best game of Chess
Speedster Anand
PT Usha Payyoli Express Yuvraj Singh The test of my life
Major “The Wizard” Abhinav Bindra A Shot at History
Dhyanchand Allan Donald White Lightening
Sports B-93

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)


The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established on 10th November
1999. Its primary aim is to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in
sport internationally. The organization’s headquarters is located in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada. WADA was set up as a foundation under the initiative of the
IOC with the support and participation of intergovernmental organizations,
governments, public authorities, and other public and private bodies fighting
doping in sport. WADA is accountable for the World Anti-Doping Code, ad-
opted by more than 600 sports organizations, including international sports
federations, national anti-doping organizations, the IOC, and the International
Paralympics Committee. Sir Craig Reedie is the current president of the agency.
National Anti Doping Agency
National Anti Doping Agency is responsible for conducting for dope free sports
in India. The primary objectives are to implement anti-doping rules as per
WADA code, regulate dope control programme, to promote education and re-
search and creating awareness about doping and its ill effects. India is among
one of the nation who signed the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti Doping in
December 2004.
International Games : Current and Coming venue
Last Venue & Year Coming
Games
Year Venue Year Venue
1.Summer Olympics 2016 Rio de Janeiro (Bragil) 2020 Tokyo (Japan)
2. Winter Olympics 2014 Sochi (Russia) 2018 Pyeongchang (S. Korea)
3. Summer 2016 Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) 2020 Tokyo (Japan)
Paralympics
4. Winter 2014 Sochi (Russia) 2018 Pyeongchang (S. Korea)
Paralymipcs
5. Asian Games 2014 Incheon, (South Korea) 2018 Jakarta, (Indonesia)
6. South Asian 2016 Guwahati & Shilong 2020
Games (India)
7. Commonwealth 2014 Glasgow (Scotland) U.K. 2018 Gold Coast City
Games (Australia)
8. FIFA (Federation 2014 Brazil 2018 Russia
Int’l de Football
Association
9. ICC Cricket 2015 Australia & New Zealand 2019 England
World Cup
10. ICC T20 Cup 2016 India 2018 Australia
World
11. Hockey World 2014 Hague (Netherlands) 2018 Kalinga Stadiduir (Bhu-
Cup baneshwar) India
B-94 Sports

12. Men Volleyball 2015 Japan 2019 Japan India


World Cup
13. Women 2015 Japan
Volleyball World
Cup
14. Men Kabaddi 2014 Winner– India 2016 Winner – India (Host)
World Cup
15. Women 2014 Winner–India (Host)
Kabaddi World Cup
16. Chess World 2015 2017 Tbilise (Georgia)
Cup
17. Women 2014 The Hague, Netherlands 2018 London, England
Hockey World Cup (Winner- Netherlands)
18. Women 2015 Canada (Winner – 2019 France
Football World United States)
Cup
19. Women 2013 India (Winner- Australia) 2017 England
Cricket World Cup
20. Women ICC 2016 India (Winner – West 2018 West Indies
World T-20 World Indies)
Cup
21. ICC World Test 2017 (1st edition) – England 2021 India
Championship
Healthcare
Present Status
India has worked in improving the health of the citizens. However, the
healthcare sector has been seen as a social sector receiving less focus and low
budget allocation.
* India spends a total of 4.2% of its GDP on healthcare while USA 18%.
* As a result of low GDP allocation private players are emerging to fulfil the
growing healthcare needs.
* India shares 20% of the burden of global diseases with only 6% beds and 8
% doctors.
* Hospital bed density in India is 0.9 per 1,000 persons, against WHO’s
recommendation 3.5 per 1,000.
* India has one doctor per 1,700 citizens against WHO’s a minimum ratio of
1:1,000.
* India has 387 medical colleges—181 Government and 206 private.
* India produces 30,000 doctors, 18,000 specialists, 30,000 AYUSH graduates,
54,000 nurses, 15,000 ANMs and 36,000 pharmacists annually.
* India has about 6-6.5 lakh doctors. But it needs 4 lakh more by 2020 to
maintain the required ratio of 1:1,000.

NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES


National AIDS Control Programme Pulse Polio Campaign (Do Boond
A division of Ministry of Health and Zindegi Ke)
Family Welfare, was established in Initiated in 1978 the programme aimed
1992 to prevent and control HIV/ at preventing polio by vaccinating
AIDS infection through 35 HIV/AIDS against the disease. It was the extended
Prevention and Control Societies. programme of Universal Immunisation
Program which successfully covered
National Cancer Control Programme 95% of the country and as a result
Launched in 1975 with an initiation India was declared Polio free in 2014.
of giving priority for equipping the
National Filaria Control Programme
premier cancer hospital/institutions.
Launched in India since 1957 with an
The further evolution has added few
objective:
other important aspects which include
•• To carry out surveys in different
recognition of new Regional Cancer
parts of the state where the
Centre, strengthening of existing problem was known to exist in
Regional Cancer Centres, development order to determine the extent of
of oncology units, District Cancer prevalence, types of infection and
Control Programme, etc. their vectors.
B-96 Healthcare
•• To train professional and ancillary projects of providing free diagnosis,
personnel required for the progr- treatment, nutrition support and
amme. financial aid to the affected patients.
National Leprosy Eradication National Tobacco Control
Programme (NLEP) Programme
Launched in 1955 is a centrally Launched in 2007 by the Ministry
sponsored Health Scheme of the of Health and Family Welfare with
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, objectives:
Govt. of India with an objective of •• To bring about greater awareness
eliminating Leprosy with the use about the harmful effects of
of Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) in phases. tobacco use and about the Tobacco
Control Laws.
Eliminate Kala-azar
•• To facilitate effective implementation
A part of National Health Policy
of the Tobacco Control Law.
envisaged in 2010 to eradicate the
dreaded disease ‘Kala-azar’ or Visceral National Rural Health Mission
Leishmaniasis, also known as ‘Black (NRHM)
Fever’ and ‘Dumdum Fever’ from India Launched on 5th April,2005. The Mission
by 2015. was initially started for:
National TB Control Programme •• Creation of cadre of Accredited
Launched in 1962 with an objective of Social Health Activist (ASHA).
eradication of the disease but till 1992 •• Strengthening all the CHCs, PHCs
only 30% of the country had been and sub centres.
covered. So the programmes has been •• Mainstreaming AYUSH (Indian Sys-
revised in 1993 with an objective of tem of Medicine).
achieving and maintaining a cure rate of •• Integrating health and family wel-
85% among newly detected infectious fare programme.
(new sputum smear positive) cases. •• Developing capacities for preve-
This resulted in the coverage of 450 ntive healthcare at all levels.
million populations which is more than •• Promotion of public-private partn-
80% in 2004. erships for achieving public health
goals.
TB-Mission 2020
•• Strengthening capacities for data
•• TB Mission 2020 was announced collection, assessment and review
by the Union Ministry of Health
for evidence based planning, monit-
and Family Welfare on 28th
oring and supervision.
October 2014 at WHO’s Global TB
Symposium in Barcelona with an National Urban Health Mission
initiative to eliminate Tuberculosis (NUHM)
in India by 2020. Launched in 2014 under National
•• The Indian government will take up Health Mission (NHM).
Healthcare B-97
The main objectives are to: •• The mission will be carried out
•• Improve the healthcare status of in 2 phases in 2015 in which the
the urban population particularly first phase will cover 201 districts,
the poor and other disadvantaged while the second phase will cover
sections. 297 districts.
•• Strengthen public healthcare system. •• The Government has recognised
•• Involve the community and urban 201 districts across 28 states in
local bodies in healthcare delivery. the country with 82 districts from
•• Supplement the National Rural Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Health under a unified National
and Uttar Pradesh having 25%
Health Mission.
children who are unimmunized or
Special Focus on:
partially immunized.
•• Urban poor population living in
listed and unlisted slums. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
•• All other vulnerable populations •• The Swachh Bharat Mission was
such as homeless, rag-pickers, officially launched by Prime
street children, rickshaw pullers, Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd
construction site workers, sex
October 2014, covering 4041
workers and any other temporary
statutory towns with the purpose
migrants.
to clean the streets, roads and
Mission Indradhanush infrastructure of the nation.
•• Mission Indradhanush was launched •• The mission aims to make the
to immunize all children against nation ‘open defecation free’ by
seven vaccine preventable diseases 2019 through construction of IHHL
including diphtheria, whooping (individual household latrines),
cough (Pertussis), tetanus, polio, cluster toilets and community
tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis toilets.
B by the year 2020. •• SBA also aims at eradication of
•• The mission involves four special manual scavenging.
vaccination campaigns which were •• It also involves 100% collection
conducted between the months of and processing/disposal/reuse/re-
April and July 2015, focussing on cycling of municipal solid waste.
intensive planning and monitoring •• The campaign involves generation
of these campaigns. of awareness among the citizens
•• The campaigns will be planned
regarding sanitation and public
and executed in accordance with
health.
the learning from the successful
•• The mission encourages private
implementation of the polio
sectors to participate in construction
programme.
•• The focus of the systematic immun- and maintenance of sanitary facili-
ization drive will be comprehended ties as a part of corporate social
through a “catch-up” campaign responsibility initiative. L&T has
mode with the aim to cover the announced the construction of 5000
left out children who missed out toilets across the nation as the part
immunization. of their CSR initiative.
B-98 Healthcare
National Bal Swachhta Mission •• The six themes to be included in the
•• The National Bal Swachhta Mission mission are:
was launched by the Union Govern- 1. Clean Anganwadis
ment on 14th Novem-ber 2014, 2. Clean Surroundings like Playg-
rounds
on the 125th birth anniversary of
3. Clean Self (Personal Hygiene/
India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar
Child Health)
Lal Nehru.
4. Clean Food
•• The Bal Swachhta Mission is an 5. Clean Drinking Water.
integral part of the famous sanita- 6. Clean Toilets
tion drive ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. •• Maternity Benefit Program

RECENT OUTBREAK OF MAJOR DISEASES IN INDIA


Disease
Symptoms Recommended Treatment
Outbreak
Influenza A • Chills, Fever, Cough Use of drugs such as
(H1N1) virus • Sore Throat, Runny or Stuffy • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®),
2009 Nose, Bodyache, Fatigue, • Zanamivir (Relenza®)
Diarrhoea • Peramivir (Rapivab®)
Swine flu 2014- • Cough • Vaccination to prevent
2015 • Fever infection.
• Headache • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®),
• Sore Throat • Zanamivir (Relenza®)
• Muscle Pain
• Chills
• Vomiting Or Diarrhoea.
Hepatitis 2009 • Liver Inflammation, • Lamivudine (Zeffix®)
• Vomiting • Adefovir (Hepsera®)
• Jaundice. • Entecavir (Baraclude®) 
• Tenofovir (Viread®)
• Pegylated Interferon
(Pegasys®)
Dengue 2014- • High Fever, (105°F) • As such there is no such
2016 • Pain Behind the Eyes & specific drugs for treating
Joints, Muscles, Bones dengue. However doctors
• Severe Headache prescribe Acetaminophen
• Rash over skin (Tylenol, others) for
• Bleeding from nose/ gum/ alleviating pain and reduce
stools fever.
Cholera 2010 • Mild fever, Body ache, • Antibiotic
Abdominal pain and • Oral health drink to pre-
cramps, Lethargy and vent dehydration
fatigue
• Excessive thirst
• Headaches
Healthcare B-99

Plague 1994 • Sudden onset of fever • Streptomycin


• Headache • Gentamicin
• Chills • Tetracycline
• Weakness and one or • Chloramphenicol
more swollen, tender • Doxycycline
and painful lymph nodes • Oxytetracycline
(called buboes) • Sulfamethoxazole/
trimethopri
Chikungunya • Arthritis like pain around • Aspirin
1963-1973 & the joints • Non-steroidal inflammato-
2016 • Muscle aches ry drugs
• Fever • Chloroquine Phosphate
• Malaise
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES IN HEALTH SECTOR


India’s universal health plan that aims o Pradhan Mantri Jan Ausha-
to offer guaranteed benefits to a sixth dhi Yojana to be strengthened,
of the world’s population will cost an 3000 generic drug store to be
estimated ` 1.6 trillion (US$ 23.48 opened.
billion) over the next four years. •• Government of West Bengal has
Some of the major initiatives taken by introduced G1 Digital Dispensary,
the Government of India to promote to provide people from rural areas
Indian healthcare industry are as access to primary healthcare
follows: services.
•• Provisions made in the Union •• A unique initiative for healthcare
budget 2016-17: ‘SEHAT’ (Social Endeavour for
o National Dialysis Services Health and Telemedicine) has
Programme to be initiated to been launched to empower rural
provide dialysis services in all citizens by providing access to
district hospitals. information, knowledge, skills and
o A new health protection other services in different sectors
scheme for health cover upto ` through digital technologies.
1 lakh (US$ 1,470) per family. •• Government of India has launched
o Setting up 3,000 medical stores the National Deworming initiative
across the country to provide to protect 24 crore children of 1-19
quality medicines at affordable years from intestinal worms.
prices.
o Senior citizens will get addi- Startups Making Difference in
tional healthcare cover of ` Healthcare Digitally
30,000 (US$ 441) under the About 90% of the startups evaluated
new scheme in 2015 were working on preventive
B-100 Healthcare
healthcare and monitoring solutions, Mediaka Bazaar: It was founded by
revealed an InnAccel’s report. Hospitals, Mr. Vivek Tiwari in 2015 in Mumbai.
medical devices, clinical trials, Mediaka bazaar is a market place for
outsourcing, tele-medicine, medical all medical and healthcare needs. It
tourism, health insurance and medical helps buyers search and compare
equipment collectively form the pillar of from over 10,000 medical devices and
healthcare sector. consumable options for all health and
Today, you can locate diagnostic wellness needs.
centres, hospitals and doctors just by a Medical Unique Identity (MUI):
swipe on a smartphone’s Apps created Mr. Mayank Harlalka started it in
Bengaluru. MUI manages personal
by Startups. Below are the list of some
health information to deliver quality
healthtech startups:
healthcare to the public. It allows users
eKincare: It was founded in 2014 by to maintain lifetime health records
Kiran Kalakuntla and Sunil Motaparti and data for improving the quality of
at Hyderabad. It helps users put their medical treatment.
health records and keep it on the BookMEDS.com: It was started by
cloud — where they can access the Mohammed Abubakar, Subathra
data anywhere, using a PC or a mobile Santanam, and Sajid Sikander in 2013 at
device. Hyderabad. BookMEDS is an e-commerce
Medibox Technologies: Mr. Bhavik portal for medicines and medical
Kumar and Kapil Kanbarkar started it products. The product categories
include orthopedic care, home care,
at Bengaluru. Medibox allows patients
mother and baby care, medical gadgets,
to search for healthcare facilities like
hospital equipment, contraceptives
pharmacies, hospitals and blood banks care, protein supplements, fitness and
across India. It is a mobile application sports, homeopathy and ayurveda, ENT,
based services. eye, and dental care.
Everyday Science
•• Why on mixing salt to the water •• Why is a flash of lightening seen
the level of water remain same? before thunder?
The matter is made up of particle. Because light travels faster than
When we dissolve particle of salt sound, it reaches the Earth before
it occupies the space between the the sound of thunder.
particles of water. •• Why cannot a fire caused by
•• Why is carbon dioxide used in petrol be extinguished by water?
extinguishing fire? Water, which is heavier than petrol,
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is heavier slips down permitting the petrol
than oxygen, (O2). So it makes a to rise to the surface and continue
blanket and do not allow oxygen to to burn. Besides, the existing
come in contact for combustion. temperature is so high that the
•• Evaporation takes place at lower water poured on the fire evaporates
temperature around 60° & above, even before it can extinguish the
but boiling at 100° C. fire. The latter is true if a small
Evaporation is a surface phenomenon, quantity of water is poured.
occurs only in the upper part of water •• Why does water remain cold in
but boiling is a bulk phenomenon. an earthen pot?
•• Plant cells are stronger than There are pores in an earthen pot
which allow water to percolate to
animal cells.
the outer surface. Here evaporation
Plant cells lacks lysosome (suicide
of water takes place thereby
bag of cell). So in plant cell even
producing a cooling effect.
dead cell help to strengthen the
•• Why do we place a wet cloth
plant.
on the forehead of a patient
•• Why number of (white blood cell
suffering from high fever?
or WBC) should be maintained? Because of the body’s temperature,
Normally the count of WBC in water evaporating from the wet
normal human body is 4500 to cloth produces a cooling effect and
11000 per mg. But its increase will brings the temperature down.
lead to leukaemia and decrease may •• When a needle is placed on a small
decrease the immunity which may piece of blotting paper which is
lead to HIV. placed on the surface of clean
•• Why head injury is more water, the blotting paper sinks
vulnerable? after a few minutes but the needle
The head cells are basically floats. However, in a soap solution
neuron cell, which are specialized the needle sinks. Why?
cell, which do not regenerate. It The surface tension of clean water
ultimately is very fatal. being higher than that of a soap
•• Who will possibly learn swimming solution, it can support the weight
faster-a fat person or thin person ? of a needle due to its surface
The fat person displaces more tension. By addition of soap, the
water which will help him float surface tension of water reduces,
much more freely compared to a thereby resulting in the sinking of
thin person. the needle.
B-102 Everyday Science
•• To prevent multiplication of slows evaporation. Dew is formed
mosquitoes, it is recommended to on objects which are good radiators
sprinkle oil in the ponds with and bad conductors.
stagnant water. Why? •• If a lighted paper is introduced in
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. a jar filled with carbon dioxide, its
The larvae of mosquitoes keep flame is extinguished. Why ?
floating on the surface of water due Because carbon dioxide does not
to surface tension. However, when help in burning. For burning oxygen
oil is sprinkled, the surface tension is required.
is lowered resulting in drowning •• Why does the mass of an iron rod
and death of the larvae. increase on rusting?
•• How does oil rise on a cloth tape Because rust is hydrated ferric
of an oil lamp? oxide which adds to the mass of
The pores in the cloth tape suck oil the iron rod. The process of rusting
due to the capillary action of oil. involves addition of hydrogen and
•• How are ventilators in a room oxygen elements to iron.
always made near the roof? •• Why does milk curdle?
The hot air being lighter in weight Lactose (milk sugar) content of
tends to rise above and escape milk undergoes fermentation and
from the ventilators at the top. This changes into lactic acid which on
allows the cool air to come in the reacting with milk protein (caesin),
room to take its place. forms curd.
•• How does ink get filled in a •• Why does hard water not lather
fountain pen? soap profusely?
When the rubber tube of a fountain Hard water contains sulphates and
pen is immersed in ink it is pressed,
chlorides of magnesium and calcium
the air inside the tube comes out
which forms an insoluble compound
and when the pressure is released
with soap. Therefore, soap does not
the ink rushes in to fill the air space
lather with hard water.
in the tube.
•• Why is it dangerous to have
•• Why are air coolers less effective
charcoal fire burning in a closed
during the rainy season?
During the rainy reason the room?
atmospheric air is saturated with When charcoal burns it produces
moisture. Therefore, the process of carbon monoxide which is
evaporation of water from the moist suffocating and can cause death.
pads of the cooler slows down •• Why is it dangerous to sleep
thereby not cooling the air blown under trees at night?
out from the cooler. Plants respire at night and give out
•• Why does grass gather more dew carbon dioxide which reduces the
in nights than metallic objects oxygen content of air under the
such as stones? trees required for breathing.
Grass being a good radiator enables •• Why does ENO’s salt effervesce
water vapour in the air to condense on addition of water?
on it. Moreover, grass gives out It contains tartaric acid and sodium
water constantly (transpiration) bicarbonate. On adding water,
which appears in the form of carbon dioxide is produced which
dew because the air near grass is when released into water causes
saturated with water vapour and effervescence.
Everyday Science B-103
•• Why does milk turn sour? dark or black clothes are good
The microbes react with milk and absorbers of heat. Therefore, white
grow. They turn lactose into lactic clothes are more comfortable
acid which is sour in taste. because they do not absorb heat
•• Why is a new quilt warmer than from the sun rays.
an old one? •• Why does a rose appear red and
In the new quilt the cotton is not grass green in daylight?
compressed and it encloses more Rose absorbs all the constituent
air which is bad conductor of heat. colours of white light except red
Therefore, it does not allow heat to which is reflected to us. Similarly,
pass. grass absorbs all colours except
•• Eskimos live in double-walled ice green which is reflected to us.
houses. Why? •• Why does a ship rise as it enters
Because the air in between two ice the sea from a river?
walls does not allow heat to pass. The density of sea water is high due
Ultimately they feel warmer in it to impurities and salts compared to
compared to environment river water. As a result, the upthrust
•• Curved rail tracks or curved produced by the sea water on the
roads are banked or raised on ship is more than that of river water.
one side. Why? •• Why are fuses provided in electric
Because a fast moving train or
installations?
vehicle leans inwards while taking
A safety fuse is made of a wire of
turn and the banked or raised track
metal having a very low melting
provides required centripetal force
point. When excess current flows
to enable it to move round the
in, the wire gets heated, melts and
curve.
breaks the circuit. By breaking the
•• How do bats fly in dark?
circuit it saves electric equipment
When bats fly they produce
ultrasonic sound waves which are or installations from damage by
reflected back to them from the excessive flow of current.
obstacles in their way and hence •• Why is it easier to lift a heavy
they can fly without difficulty. object under water than in air?
•• Water pipes often burst at hill Because when a body is immersed in
stations on cold frosty nights. water, it experiences an upward thrust
Why? (Archimedes’ Principle) and loses
The temperature at hill stations weight equal to the weight of the water
may fall below 0°C during cold displaced by its immersed portion,
frosty nights which converts the and hence, is easier to lift objects.
water inside the pipes into ice, •• If a highly pumped up bicycle
resulting in an increase in volume. tyre is left in the hot sunlight, it
This exerts great force on the pipes bursts. Why?
and as a result, they burst. The air inside the tube increases in
•• Why are white clothes more volume when heated up. As sufficient
comfortable in summer than dark space for the expansion of the air is
or black ones? not available because the tube is
White clothes are good reflectors already highly pumped, it may result
and bad absorbers of heat, whereas in bursting of the tyre.
B-104 Everyday Science
•• What will be the colour of green •• Why are water or mercury
grass in blue light? droplets always round when
Grass will appear dark in colour dropped on a clean glass?
because it absorbs all other colours The surface of a liquid is the seat of
of the light except its own green a special force as a result of which
colour. The blue light failing on molecules on the surface are bound
grass will be absorbed by it, and together to form something like a
hence, it will appear dark in colour. stretched membrane. They tend to
•• Why do two eyes give better compress the molecules below to
vision than one? the smallest possible volume which
Because two eyes do not form causes the drop to take a round shape
exactly similar images and the as for a given mass the sphere has
fusion of these two dissimilar minimum volume.
images in the brain gives three •• Why does a balloon filled with
dimensions of the stereoscopic hydrogen rise in the air?
vision. Weight of hydrogen is less than
•• Why do we bring our hands close
the weight of air displaced by it.
to the mouth while shouting
In balloons hydrogen is normally
across to someone far away?
filled because it is lighter than air.
By keeping hands close to mouth
•• Why do we lean forward while
the sound is not allowed to spread
climbing a hill?
(phenomenon of diffraction of sound)
In order to keep the vertical
in all directions but is directed to a
line passing through our centre
particular direction and becomes
louder. of gravity always between our
•• Why does a corked bottle filled feet, which is essential to attain
with water burst if left out on a equilibrium or stability.
frosty night? •• Why does smoke curl up in the
Because of low temperature the air?
water inside the bottle freezes. Smoke contains hot gases which
On freezing it expands, thereby its being lighter in weight, follows a
volume increases and pressure is curved path because of the eddy
exerted on the walls. currents that are set up in the air.
•• Why is a small gap left at the joint •• Why does an electric bulb
between two rails? explode when it is broken?
To permit expansion of rails due The bulb encompasses partial
to heat generated by friction of a vacuum and as it breaks, air rushes
moving train. in causing a small explosion.
•• Why cannot a copper wire be •• Why does a man fall forward
used to make elements in electric when he jumps out of a running
heater? train or bus?
Copper melts at 108.3°C and forms He is in motion while in the train or bus.
a black powder on reacting with When he jumps out, his feet comes to
atmospheric oxygen. For heater rest while touching the ground but his
elements a metal should have more upper portion which is still in motion
resistance to produce propels him forward.
Everyday Science B-105
•• Why does an ordinary glass tumbler In winter, water vapour contained
crack when very hot tea or milk is in the breath condenses into small
poured in it? droplets which become visible but in
When a hot liquid is poured into summer they are quickly evaporated
a tumbler, the inner layer of the and not seen.
tumbler gets heated, it expands •• Why doesn’t the electric filament
before the outer layer and an in an electric bulb burn up?
unequal expansion of both layers Firstly, because it is made of tungsten
causes the tumbler to crack. which has a very high melting point
••
Why is a compass used as an (3410°C) whereas the temperature of
indicator of direction? the filament required to glow is only
The magnetic needles of a compass 2700°C. Secondly, oxygen is absent
under the influence of the earth’s since the bulb is filled with an inert
magnetic field lie in a north-south gas which does not help in burning.
direction. Hence, we can identify •• Why does blotting paper absorb
direction. ink?
•• Why is water from a hand pump Blotting paper has fine pores which
warm in winter and cold in act like capillaries. When a portion of
summer? blotting paper is brought in contact
In winter the outside temperature with ink, ink enters the pores due
is lower than that of water flowing to surface tension (capillary action
out of the pump, and therefore, of liquids) and is absorbed.
the water is warm. Whereas, in •• Why does a small ball of iron sink
summer, the outside temperature is in water but a large ship float?
The weight of water displaced by an
higher than the water of the pump,
iron ball is less than its own weight,
and therefore, it feels cold.
whereas water displaced by the
•• Why is a rainbow seen after a
immersed portion of a ship is
shower?
equal to its weight (Archimedes’
After a shower the clouds
Principle).
containing water droplets act like a
•• Why does ice float on water?
prism through which the white light
The weight of the ice block is equal
is dispersed producing a spectrum.
to the weight of the liquid displaced
•• Why does a swimming pool appear
by the immersed portion of the ice
less deep than it actually is?
•• Why does moisture gather

The rays of light coming from the outside a tumbler containing
bottom of the pool pass from a cold water?
denser medium (water) to a rarer The water vapour in the air condenses
medium (air) and are refracted on cooling and appears as droplets
(bend away from the normal). of water.
When the rays return to the surface •• Why does kerosene float on
they form an image of the bottom water?
of the pool at a point which is little Because the density of kerosene is
above the real position. less than that of water. For the same
•• Why is one’s breath visible in reason cream rises in milk and floats
winter but not in summer? at the top.
B-106 Everyday Science
•• Why is the water in an open pond •• A piece of chalk when immersed
cool even on a hot summer day? in water, emits bubbles. Why?
As the water evaporates from the Chalk consists of pores forming
open surface of a pond, heat is capillaries. When it is immersed in
taken away in the process, leaving water the water begins to rise in the
the surface cool. capillaries and air present there is
•• Why is it less difficult to cook rice expelled in the form of bubbles.
or potatoes at higher altitudes? •• Why does a liquid remain hot
Atmospheric pressure at higher or cold for a long time inside a
altitudes is low and boils water thermos flask?
below 100°C. The boiling point of The presence of air, a poor
water is directly proportional to the conductor of heat, between the
pressure on its surface. double glass wall of a thermos flask,
•• Why is it difficult to breathe at keeps the liquid hot or cold inside a
higher altitudes? flask for a long time.
Because of low air pressure at higher •• Why does a ball bounce upon
altitudes the quantity of air is less, falling?
and so also that of oxygen. When a ball falls, it is temporarily
•• Why are winter nights and deformed. Because of elasticity,
summer nights warmer during the ball tends to regain its original
cloudy weather than when the shape for which it presses the
sky is clear? ground and bounce up (Newton’s
Clouds being bad conductors of Third Law of Motion).
heat do not permit radiation of •• Why is standing in boats or
heat from land to escape into the double decker buses not allowed,
sky. As this heat remains in the particularly in the upper deck of
atmosphere, the cloudy nights are buses?
warmer. On tilting the centre of gravity of
•• Why is a metal tyre heated before the boat or bus is lowered and it is
it is fixed on wooden wheels? likely to overturn.
On heating, the metal tyre expands •• Why is it recommended to add
by which its circumference also salt to water while boiling dal?
increases This makes fixing the wheel By addition of salt, the boiling point
easier and thereafter cooling down of water gets raised which helps in
shrinks it; thus fixing the tyre tightly. cooking the dal sooner.
•• Why is it easier to swim in the •• Why is the boiling point of sea
sea than in a river? water more than that of pure
The density of sea water is higher; water?
hence the upthrust is more than Sea water contains salt, and other
that of river water. impurities which cause an elevation
•• A man with a load jumps from a in its boiling point.
high building. What will be the •• Why is it easier to spray water to
load experience by him ? which soap is added?
Zero, because while falling, both the Addition of soap decreases the
man and the load are falling at the surface tension of water. The energy
same acceleration i.e. acceleration for spraying is directly proportional
due to gravity. to surface tension.
Everyday Science B-107
•• Which is more elastic, rubber or •• Why does a solid chunk of
steel? iron sink in water but floats in
Steel is more elastic for the same mercury?
stress produced compared with Because the density of iron is more
rubber. than that of water but less than that
•• Why is the sky blue? of mercury.
Violet and blue light have short •• Why is cooking quicker in a
waves which are scattered more pressure cooker?
than red light waves. While red As the pressure inside the cooker
light goes almost straight through increases, the boiling point of
the atmosphere. Blue and violet water is raised. Hence, the cooking
light are scattered by particles in process is quicker.
the atmosphere. Thus, we see a
•• When wood burns, it crackles.
blue sky.
Explain.
•• Why does ink leak out of partially
filled pen when taken to a higher Wood contains a complex mixture
altitude? of gases and tar forming vapours
As we go up, the pressure and trapped under its surface. These
density of air goes on decreasing. gases and tar vapours escape,
A partially filled pen leaks when making a crackling sound.
taken to a higher altitude because •• Why do stars twinkle?
the pressure of air acting on the ink The light from a star reaches us
inside the tube of the pen is greater after refraction as it passes through
than the pressure of the air outside. various layers of air. When the
•• On the Moon, will the weight of light passes through the earth’s
a man be less or more than his atmosphere, it is made to flicker by
weight on the Earth? the hot and cold ripples of air and it
The gravity of the moon is one-sixth appears as if the stars are twinkling.
that of the earth; hence the weight •• Why is it easier to roll a barrel
of a person on the surface of the than to pull it?
moon will be one-sixth of his actual Because the rolling force of friction
weight on earth. is less than the dynamic force of
sliding friction .
•• Why do some liquids burn while
•• If a feather, a wooden ball and
others do not?
a steel ball fall simultaneously
A liquid burns if its molecules can in a vacuum, which one of these
combine with oxygen in the air with would fall faster?
the production of heat. Hence, oil All will fall at the same speed in
burns but water does not. vacuum because there will be no air
•• Why can we see ourselves in a resistance and the earth’s gravity
mirror? will exert a similar gravitational
We see objects when light rays from pull on all.
them reach our eyes. As mirrors •• When a man fires a gun, he is
have a shiny surface, the light rays pushed back slightly. Why?
are reflected back to us and enter As the bullet leaves the nozzle of
our eyes. the gun’s barrel with momentum
B-108 Everyday Science
in a forward direction, as per •• Why does a thermometer kept in
Newton’s Third Law of Motion, boiling water show no change in
the ejection imparts to the gun an reading after 100°C?
equal momentum in a backward The boiling point of water is 100°C.
direction. Once water starts boiling at this
•• Ice wrapped in a blanket or saw temperature, thermometer records
dust does not melt quickly. Why? no change in temperature. The
Both blanket and saw dust are bad quantity of heat supplied is being
conductors of heat. They do not utilized as latent heat of evaporation
permit heat rays to reach the ice to convert the water at boiling point
easily. into vapour.
•• Why do we perspire on a hot day? •• TB patients are suggested to live
in sanatorium.
When the body temperature rises,
At high altitude count of RBC
the sweat glands are stimulated to
(haemoglobin) increases.
secrete perspiration. It is nature’s
•• Rate of breathing in fish is higher
way to keep the body cool. During
than human being.
the process of evaporation of sweat,
Fish live in water, where amount of
body heat is taken away, thus, giving dissolved oxygen in water is less,
a sense of coolness. so fish breath at higher rate to get
•• Why does ice float on water but adequate oxygen for respiration.
sink in alcohol? •• Cornea transplant do not need
Because ice is lighter than water it blood match.
floats on it. However, ice is heavier Cornea does not have blood vessel.
than alcohol and therefore it sinks It takes oxygen directly from
in alcohol. atmosphere.
•• Why do we perspire before rains? •• Clay layers are poor aquifers.
Before the rain falls, the atmosphere Clay minerals are dense
gets saturated with water vapour, as impermeable material and act as an
a result, the process of evaporation aquifers i.e a layer of material that
of sweat is delayed. is almost impermeable to water.

MYTHS & REALITY IN EVERY DAY SCIENCE


1. Hair and fingernails continues to cold and influenza are caused
grow after death: by viruses and are not affected
Reality: People believe that hair by antibiotic use. While some
and fingernails grows even after might think that taking antibiotics
the death of the person. The person could be helpful on some level
would need to still be eating and and want them for viral disease
digesting nutrients and performing that is actually wrong and could
cellular processes. So there’s no bring on more problems. Taking
way the body is producing more antibiotics in a manner contrary to
keratin in order to make hair and their intended purpose or dosage
fingernails. instruction could cause other
2. Antibiotics can kill the virus: common bacteria within the body
Reality: By definition antibiotics to become drug-resistant, which
can kill only bacteria. The common has become critically important.
Everyday Science B-109
3. Dropping a penny from a tall experts have stated that there
building will kill someone: is little or no evidence that the
Reality: Some people believes vitamin can help treatment of a
that pennies when fall on the head cold. Instead of effectively treating a
from top of any tall building it may cold, it is thought to help in building
kill the person. Pennies are fairly up the immune system to ward off
lightweight at around one gram potential flu viruses.
and being a flat circle doesn’t bode 8. Brain cell cannot regenerate:
well in terms of aerodynamics. Reality: The study has found that
Because it would tumble and flip the memory and learning center
the entire way down, its low mass of the brain can create new cells –
and relatively low terminal velocity giving hope for an eventual cure for
wouldn’t do much damage to the illnesses like Alzheimer’s.
people rather. It would feel similar 9. Meteors are heated by friction
to getting flicked in the head. when entering the atmosphere:
Annoying, yes; but not lethal. Reality: When a meteoroid enters
4. Sugar makes children hyperactive: the atmosphere of the earth
Reality: Some people believe that (becoming a meteor), it is actually
sugar consumption by children can the speed compressing the air in
influence hyperactivity in them as front of the object that causes it to
they see them in birthday parties. heat up. It is the pressure on the
There has not been much evidence
air that generates a heat intense
to suggest that the sugar actually
enough to make the rock so hot that
makes children hyperactive. It may
is glows brilliantly.
be due to presence of caffeine and
10. Evolution causes something to go
also due to excitement over getting
from “lower” to “higher”:
a treat or being around other kids.
Reality: It is a fact that according to
5. Tea makes the skin turn darker:
natural selection organisms having
Reality: Tea has been blamed for
useful variations are selected by
causing darker skin tone however
nature but there are many cases
there is no relation between your
where an imperfect organism has
cup of tea and your skin tone.
6. The Earth revolves around the survived. Some examples of this
Sun: are fungi, sharks, crayfish, and
Reality: Technically, the Earth, sun mosses – these have all remained
and all of the other the planets are essentially the same over a great
orbiting around the centre of mass period of time. These organisms
of the solar system, not specifically 11. People use just 10 per cent of
the sun. their brain:
7. Vitamin C is an effective Reality: Neurologists describe the
treatment for a cold: myth as false and state we use
Reality: Flu-sufferers are often virtually every part of the brain,
encouraged to increase their and that (most of) the brain is
dosage of Vitamin C, but most active almost all the time.
B-110 Everyday Science
12. Shaving your hair will make it Great Wall of China from the Moon.
grow back quicker: In fact, all you can see from the
Reality: Many believe shaving body Moon is the white and blue marble
hair makes it grow back quicker of Earth.
but shaving hair doesn’t change its 16. Plants breathe by inhaling
thickness, colour or rate of growth. carbon dioxide and exhaling
Shaving facial or body hair simply oxygen:
gives the hair a blunt tip which Reality: Plants take in air through
might feel coarse or ‘stubbly’ for a their leaves. Both carbon dioxide
period of time as it grows out. and oxygen are used for different
13. Microwave radiation can cause processes. In Photosynthesis plants
cancer: takes carbon dioxide, while in
Reality: Most experts say that respiration plants takes oxygen.
microwave ovens don’t give off 17. Physical changes are reversible
enough energy to damage the while chemical changes are not:
genetic material (DNA) in cells so Reality: Chemical changes are
they can’t cause cancer. also reversible. Some physical
14. Handling a baby bird will make changes are also hard to reverse,
its mother reject it: for example, crushing a rock.
Reality: Most birds have a very 18. Going out in chilly weather
poor sense of smell, so in most causes you to catch cold:
cases are unable to even notice Reality: A cold is caused by a viral
human scent on baby bird. infection of the respiratory system.
15. The Great Wall of China can be Viruses don’t magically appear in
seen from space: your body because you went out to
Reality: The Apollo astronauts get the mail without your scarf and
confirmed that you can’t see the mittens.
General Knowledge MCQs
1. Stethoscope of doctors for finding 6. Which of the following institutions
quality, strength and frequency of have reserved seats for women?
human heart beat is based on the A. Lok Sabha
principle of B. Rajya Sabha
(a) SONAR C. Legislative Assemblies
(c) Reverberation D. Municipalities
(b) Multiple reflection E. Panchayats
(d) Echo (a) A, C, D, E (b) B, C, D, E
2. National Highway-7 is the longest
(c) D and E (d) E only
national highway in India, which
7. Chlorophyll is a naturally
traverses between Varanasi and
Kanya Kumari. Identify the places occurring chelate compound in
on route from North to South. which central metal is
(a) Nagpur - Jabalpur - Bengaluru (a) Copper (b) Magnesium
- Hyderabad - adurai (c) Iron (d) Calcium
(b) Jabalpur - Nagpur - Hyderabad 8. Information relating to which
- Bengaluru - Madurai of the following aspects are
(c) Jabalpur - Nagpur - Bengaluru used to determine the human
- Hyderabad - Madurai development in a country?
(d) Nagpur - Jabalpur - Hyderabad (a) HeaIth, education and poverty
- Bengaluru - Madurai (b) Inequality, health and education
3. Which of the following is a non (c) Health, education and income
metal that remains liquid at room (d) Women’s health, education
temperature? and income
(a) Phosphorous 9. How membership in a Self Help
Group helps a poor rural woman?
(b) Bromine
(a) Facilitates her how to help
(c) Chlorine herself in daily work.
(d) Helium (b) To work together in factones
4. Parliament of India consists of and get regular employment
(a) Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha (c) To overcome the problem of
(b) President, Rajya Sabha and lack of collateral as borrowing
Lok Sabha is based on the group.
(c) Election Commission, Rajya (d) To get free money from the
Sabha and Lok Sabha government.
(d) President, Election Commission. 10. Though consumers in India has
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha the right to information about
the product he/she purchases,
5. Which of the following is not a
which of the following aspects of
feature of a 9, democratic form of a product, the producer need not
government? inform the consumer ?
(a) Majority rule (a) Date of production
(b) Rights of minorities (b) Date of expiry
(c) Universal adult franchise (c) Address of the producer
(d) Majoritarianism (d) The production process
B-112 General Knowledge MCQs
11. A segment of DNA contains 1200 (b) continuous exposure to high
nucleotides, of which 200 have temperature.
adenine base. How many cytosine (c) increased level of carbon
bases are present in this segment monoxide.
of DNA? (d) increased level of carbon
(a) 100 (b) 200 dioxide.
(c) 400 (d) 800 16. Which one of the following
12. Which one of the following statements is true with respect to
statements about cell organelles photosynthesis?
and their function is correct? (a) Oxygen evolved during
(a) Mitochondria are associated photosynthesis comes from
with anaerobic respiration. CO2.
(b) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (b) Chlorophyll a is the only
is involved in protein synthesis. photosynthetic pigment in
(c) Lysosomes are important in plants
membrane biogenesis. (c) Photosynthesis occurs in
(d) Golgi bodies are involved in stem of some plants.
packaging and dispatching of (d) Photosynthesis does not
materials. occur in red light.
13. A leguminous plant grown in an 17. Which one of the following
autoclaved, sterilized soil fails to represents the correct sequence
produce root nodules because of reflex action?
(a) autoclaved soil is not good for (a) Receptor → sensory nerve →
root growth. motor nerve → spinal cord →
(b) autoclaved soil is devoid of muscle
bacteria. (b) Receptor → motor nerve →
(c) autoclaving reduces N2 spinal cord → sensory nerve
content of soil. → muscle
(d) plants cannot form root hairs (c) Receptor → sensory nerve
→ spinal cord → muscle →
in such a soil.
motor nerve
14. The causative agent of the disease (d) Receptor → sensory nerve →
‘sleeping sickness’ in human spinal cord → motor nerve →
beings is an muscle
(a) intracellular parasite found in 18. In human female, immature eggs
RBC. are for. the first time seen in ovary
(b) extracellular parasite found in (a) at puberty.
blood plasma. (b) before birth, at the fetus stage.
(c) intracellular parasite found in (c) during the first menstrual
WBC. cycle.
(d) extracellular parasite found (d) after the first year of birth.
19. The hardest substance available
on the surface of platelets.
on earth is
15. Prolonged exposure to the
(a) Gold (b) Iron
fumes released by incomplete (c) Diamond (d) Platinum
combustion of coal may cause 20. In late 19th and early 20th
death of a human because of centuries, nationalism captured
(a) inhalation of unburnt carbon the imagination of the Indian
particles. people through a variety of
General Knowledge MCQs B-113
cultural processes. Which of the (a) The triumph of the democratic
following was not a part of those aspirations of the German
processes? middle-class.
(a) Rewriting history to show (b) The fulfilment of the liberal
India’s continuous progress initiative to nation-building.
from the ancient to the (c) The power of the common
modern times. people, das volk.
(b) Creation of different images (d) The dominance of the state
of Bharat Mata. power and conservatives’
(c) Recording, collection and success in mobilising
publication of folk tales and nationalist sentiments.
folk songs. 24. Choose the correct response from
(d) Designing flags as inspiring the given options.
symbols of nationalism. The formation of the ‘United
21. Choose the correct response from Kingdom of Great Britain’ in 1707
the given options. meant, in effect,
Nomadic people move over long (a) Equal representation of all
distances because the British Isles in the British
(a) By temperament they do not Parliament.
like to settle down in any one (b) Recognition to the ethnic
place. identities of the Welsh, the
(b) They constantly look for good Scot and the Irish.
pastureland for their cattle. (c) The cessation of conflicts
(c) They follow a life style which between the Catholics and the
is very different from the Protestants.
settled communities. (d) The dominance of England on
(d) Economically they are too Scotland through the English
poor to own land. supremacy in Parliament.
22. Choose the correct response from 25. Choose the correct response from
the given options. the given options.
In 19th century England grain Many within the Congress were
production grew as quickly as the initially opposed to the idea of
population because non-cooperation because
(a) Farmers used simple (a) They did not think that British
agricultural technology to rule in India would collapse if
greater effect. Indians refused to cooperate.
(b) Radical innovations were (b) They were not yet sure
made in agricultural of Gandhiji’s ability to
technology. successfully lead a nationwide
(c) Larger and larger areas were movement.
brought under cultivation. (c) They were reluctant to
(d) Increasing number of poor boycott the council election
people found work as scheduled for November
agricultural labourers. 1920.
23. Choose the correct response from (d) They did not agree with
the given options. Gandhiji’s proposal to carry
The unification of Germany in the movement forward in
1871, for a change, demonstrated stages.
B-114 General Knowledge MCQs
26. Milkha Singh Stood ____ in 1960 33. Which country has not adopted
Olympics, in Athletics. Federalism?
(a) Fourth in 400m final (a) U.S.A. (b) China
(b) Second in 400m final (c) India (d) Brazil
(c) eighth in 50km walk 34. Kathak, Nauntanki, Jhora and Kajri
(d) seventh in 800m final are the important dances of
27. Modern Indo-Aryan languages (a) Uttaranchal
are based on an ancient language (b) Uttar Pradesh
called (c) Jharkhand
(a) Hindi (b) Sanskrit (d) Chhattisgarh
(c) Kannada (d) Tamil 35. ITCZ is the abbreviated form of -
28. Arrange these hills from west to (a) Indian Tropical Convergence
east direction. Zone
A. Khasi hills B. Garo hills (b) Inter Tropical convergence
C. Naga hills D. Jaintia Range Zone
(a) C, A, B, D (b) D, B, A, C (c) Inter Tropical Climate Zone
(c) A, B, C, D (d) B, A, D, C (d) Inter Temperate Convergence
29. Economic growth is growth in Zone
___________ 36. Which one of the following is the
(a) value of total output. cheapest mean of transport?
(b) value of total investment. (a) Roadways (b) Railways
(c) value of industrial output. (c) Waterways (d) Pipelines
(d) value added of all sectors. 37. Why is it necessary that banks
30. Malfunctioning of which of the and cooperatives increase their
following organs causes jaundice? lending particularly in rural
(a) Stomach (b) Pancreas areas?
(c) Liver (d) Kidney (a) To reduce the dependence on
31. First weekly paper published in informal sources of credit
India was – (b) To promote informal sources
(a) Bengal Gazette of credit in urban areas
(b) Samachar Chandrika (c) To provide high interest
(c) Bombay Samachar (d) None of them
(d) Shamsul Akhbar 38. Lance Armstrong, a sportsperson
of international repute, belongs to
32. What are the functions of RBI?
which of the following countries?
(a) Supervises the formal sources
(a) USA (b) Ukraine
of loan (c) Spain (d) Brazil
(b) Monitors whether banks 39. Chapbooks are-
actually maintain the cash (a) Pocket size books
balance or not (b) Coloured books
(c) Ensures that the banks give (c) Books giving astronomical
loan not just to profit making information
businesses and traders but (d) Comic books
also to small scale industries 40. What steps have been taken
and borrowers too. by the government to promote
(d) All of them education?
General Knowledge MCQs B-115
(a) There is a provision made for (c) to develop friendly relations
providing universal access, among nations
retention and quality in (d) All of the above
elementary education with a 45. How much percentage of a bank’s
special emphasis on girls deposits does the bank hold as
(b) Establishment of pace setting cash?
of schools like Navodaya (a) 15% (b) 20%
Vidyalaya in each district (c) 10% (d) 12%
(c) Vocational streams have
been developed to equip 46. The fundamental duties of a
large number of high school citizen do not include-
students with occupations (a) Promoting communal harmony
related to knowledge and (b) Developing scientific temper
skills (c) Safeguarding public property
(d) All of them (d) Protecting children from
41. The variety of coal in which the hazardous employment
deposit contains recognisable traces
47. The Narmada Bachao Andolan
of the original plant material is
(a) Bitumen (b) Anthracite was started against which one of
(c) Lignite (d) Peat the dams?
42. How can government of a country (a) The Bhakra Dam
play a major role in making (b) Sardar Sarovar Dam
Globalization fairer? (c) The Hirakund Dam
(a) Government can ensure that (d) The Kosi Dam
labour laws are properly 48. A judge of the Supreme Court can
implemented and the workers
be removed by-
get their rights.
(b) Government can support (a) President of India
small producers to improve (b) The Prime minister
their performance till the time (c) The President after an
they become strong enough to address by the Parliament
compete. (d) The speaker
(c) Government can negotiate at 49. Deforestation leads to
WTO for fairer rules. (a) soil erosion and degradation
(d) All of them
of soil.
43. What is mango shower?
(a) Premonsoon rainfall in (b) climate change and decrease
Karnataka and Kerala in ground water level.
(b) Rainfall in June to September (c) reduction of forest produce
(c) Rainfall in winter days and loss of biodiversity.
(d) Rainfall caused by western (d) increase in fertility of the soil
disturbances leading to more yield.
44. The main objectives of the UN are 50. The industrial organization of
(a) to maintain peace and Atomic Minerals Division, Heavy
security in the world
Water Board (HWB) is located at
(b) to work together to remove
poverty, disease and illiteracy (a) Mumbai
and encourage respect for (b) Kolkata
each other’s rights of basic (c) Hyderabad
freedom. (d) Jadugude, Bihar
B-116 General Knowledge MCQs
51. Which of the following charac- (c) Britain and China
teristics does not belong to (d) Japan and China
flowering plants? 58. Surat and Hoogly were replaced
(a) Seeds are naked. with-
(b) Conducting tissue is well (a) Bombay and Orissa
developed. (b) Bombay and Calcutta
(c) Shows nodes and internodes. (c) Masulipatam and Calcutta
(d) Shows the presence of root (d) Bombay and Masulipatam
hairs. 59. What does HYV stand for?
52. The headquarter of International (a) High Yielding Varieties
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are (b) High Yolk Variety
situated at (c) Health Young Variety
(a) Vienna (b) Geneva (d) None of them
(c) Rome (d) Paris 60. Carbon, diamond and graphite are
53. The element common to all acids together called
is (a) allotropes
(a) Hydrogen (b) Carbon (b) isomers
(c) Sulphur (d) Oxygen (c) isomorphs
54. Non stick cooking utensils are (d) isotopes
coated with 61. The chief constituent of gobar gas is
(a) Teflon (a) ethane
(b) PVC (b) methane
(c) Black paint (c) hydrogen
(d) Polystyrene (d) carbon dioxide
55. The main purpose of ASEAN 62. On the basis of ownership indust-
(Association of South-East Asian ries are categories as-
Nations) is (a) Large scale and small scale
(a) to accelerate economic pro- industries
gress and maintain economic (b) Public sector, private sector,
stability joint & cooperative sectors
(b) to maintain higher standards (c) Basic / Key and consumer
of living among member nat- Industries
ions (d) Agro based and mineral based
(c) to provide collective de-fence Industries
and economic cooperation 63. The largest population of scheduled
(d) None of the above Tribes is in-
56. The main object of which of the (a) Himachal Pradesh
following UN agency is to help (b) Madhya Pradesh
the underdeveloped countries (c) Arunachal Pradesh
in the task of raising their living (d) Sikkim
standards? 64. The most important objective
(a) IMF (b) UNICEF behind the establishment of
(c) UNDP (d) IDA biosphere reserves is-
57. Which two countries were (a) Protection of endangered
involved in opium wars? species of animals
(a) Britain and Japan (b) Preservation of tigers and
(b) Britain and Poland Crocodiles
General Knowledge MCQs B-117
(c) Preservation of the overall (a) Ozone in found mostly in the
biotic diversity stratosphere.
(d) Optimum utilization of the (b) Ozone layer lies 55-75 kms
forest products above the surface of the earth.
65. Agriculture practiced only for the (c) Ozone absorbs ultraviolet
family’s own needs is known as- radiation from the Sun.
(a) Commercial farming (d) Both (a) and (c)
71. Which of the following pairs is
(b) Subsistence farming
correctly matched ?
(c) Shifting agriculture
(a) Elbe - Caspian Sea
(d) Horticulture (b) Rhone - Baltic Sea
66. Which of the following is not (c) Ural - White Sea
included in the ‘Right to Freedom’ (d) Danube - Black Sea
in the constitution of India? 72. Which of these are positive influ-
(a) Freedom of speech and expr- ences of human beings on the
ession ecosystem ?
(b) Freedom of assemble with A. Declaring areas as wildlife
arms sanctuaries.
(c) Freedom to form association B. Increasing biodegradable packing
(d) Freedom to adopt any profess- materials that can be recycled.
ion C. Removing pollutants from
toxic industrial smoke.
67. According to the World Develop-
D. Using the natural resources
ment Report 2006, brought out intensively.
by the World Bank, countries with (a) A and B (b) B and C
per capita income of `4,53,000 p.a. (c) A, B and C (d) B, C and D
and above are called ___________. 73. The exhaled air contains
(a) Weak countries (a) Carbon dioxide only
(b) Rich countries (b) a mixture which has more
(c) Low income countries carbon dioxide than oxygen
(d) All of them (c) a mixture of carbon dioxide,
68. The chief purpose of crop rotation nitrogen and oxygen in which
is to check the loss of top soil nitrogen has the highest
(a) by water erosion percentage
(d) a mixture of carbon dioxide
(b) by wind erosion
and nitrogen
(c) by weathering 74. The relationship of the following
(d) of its mineral content three is
69. The chief of the Army staff is Nitrogen - Bacteria Plants
assisted by Considering this, which of the
(a) Vice-chief of the Army Staff following statements is true?
(b) Principal staff officers such Write its number in the space
as Deputy Chief, Adjutant provided.
General, Military Secretary (a) Plants absorb nitrogen from
(c) both (a) and (b) the atmosphere.
(d) None of the above (b) Bacteria are not necessary
70. Which set of the statements is for plants to make use of
correct ? nitrogen.
B-118 General Knowledge MCQs
(c) Bacteria change the form of 79. Which of the following statements
nitrogen to facilitate plants to are correct about the Planning
use it. Commission?
(d) Plants change the form of A. It is a constitutional body
nitrogen on their own to created by the Parliament.
make use of it. B. It acts as an advisory body to
75. Arrange the following social reform the Union Government.
organization chronologically on C. The Finance Minister is the
the basis of their foundation. ex-officio chairman of this
A. Arya Samaj body.
B. Prarthana Samaj D. Its basic function is to
C. Veda Samaj
formulate priorities for the
D. Sree Narayan Dharma Paripalana
Five Year Plan for integrated
(SNDP) Yogam
economic and social
(a) A, D, C, B (b) A, B, C, D
(c) D, C, B, A (d) C, B. A. D development
76. Why was the Delhi Durbar (a) A and C only
organized in 1877 with pomp and (b) B and D only
show? (c) A, C and D only
(a) The Viceroy wanted to display (d) D only
the wealth and prosperity of 80. What does the ‘mixed economy’ in
India. India mean?
(b) The British wanted to threaten (a) Companies of foreign
the people by displaying their countries can play an equal
army strength. role in development of India’s
(c) The British wanted to replace economy.
the Mughal emperor from the (b) Special privileges are given
minds of the people as their to foreign companies by the
rulers. government for investment in
(d) The Viceroy wanted to India.
appease Queen Victoria. (c) Private companies of India
77. Sodium metal is kept under? are allowed to invest in public
(a) petrol (b) alcohol sector.
(c) water (d) kerosene (d) Private sectors play a
78. Match the following list of subjects complementary role along
which come under the purview of with the public sector.
the distribution of powers and 81. Which of the following best
select the correct alternative.
describes “jet streams”?
List Subjects
(a) Wind system with seas and
A. Central List I. Railways
reversal of direction.
B. State List II. Health
C. Concurrent III. Foreign (b) Wind blowing from sub-
List affairs tropical high pressure belts
D. Residuary IV. Water towards the tropical low
List disputes pressure belts.
(a) A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV (c) Narrow meandering bands
(b) A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III of winds which blow in mid
(c) A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I latitude near the tropopause
(d) A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV and encircle the globe.
General Knowledge MCQs B-119
(d) Winds blowing from the C. needs very high pressure and
tropical high pressure belts high temperature.
towards the equatorial low D. causes air pollution.
pressure belts. Select the correct alternative.
82. Intense damage was caused in (a) A and B (b) B and D
Ladakh in 2010 due to which (c) C and A (d) D and C
natural calamity? 88. Which of the following comes
(a) Mud flow (b) Landslide under the category of ‘footloose
(c) Earthquake (d) Drought industry’?
83. Column I shows the types of (a) Iron and Steel
natural vegetation while column (b) Cotton textile
II shows the climate type.
(c) Information technology
Column I Column II
(d) Petro-chemical
A Evergreen I Arid Forests
89. Which one of the following is not
B. Deciduous II. Semi-humid
C. Grasslands III. Humid an elected member of the House?
D. Thorny IV. Semi arid (a) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
bushes (b) Deputy Speaker of the Lok
(a) A - II, B - III, C -IV, D -I Sabha
(b) A - III, B - II , C - IV, D - I (c) Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
(c) A - II, B - IV, C - I, D - III (d) Deputy Chairman of the Rajya
(d) A - IV, B - II, C - III, D - I Sabha
84. Right to the enjoyment of pollution 90. Former Australian captain Mark
free water as interpreted by the Taylor has had several nicknames
Supreme Court in Subhas Kumar over his playing career. Which
Vs. State of Bihar (1991) falls of the following was NOT one of
under them?
(a) Right to Equality (a) Tubby (b) Stodge
(b) Right to Liberty (c) Helium Bat (d) Stumpy
(c) Right against Exploitation 91. Which was the 1st non Test
(d) Right to Life and Personal playing country to beat India in an
liberty international match?
85. The Principle of ‘checks and (a) Canada (b) Sri Lanka
balances’ is related to (c) Zimbabwe (d) East Africa
(a) Rule of law 92. Track and field star Carl Lewis
(b) Fundamental law won how many gold medals at the
(c) Fundamental Duties
1984 Olympic games?
(d) Separation of Powers
(a) Two (b) Three
86. Which of the following is a source
(c) Four (d) Eight
of instant energy?
(a) Salt (b) Glucose 93. When was Amateur Athletics
(c) Water (d) Starch Federation of India established?
87. Coal is a fossil fuel and it cannot (a) 1936 (b) 1946
be prepared in a laboratory or (c) 1956 (d) 1966
industry because the formation of 94. Who did Stone Cold Steve Austin
coal wrestle at the 1998 edition of
A. is a very slow process. “Over the Edge”?
B. needs very low pressure and (a) Cactus Jack (b) Mankind
low temperature. (c) Dude Love (d) Mick Foley
B-120 General Knowledge MCQs
95 Who won the 1993 “King of the Body
Ring”? (a) Pulmonary
Veins Heart Lungs
(a) Owen Hart (b) Bret Hart Vein
(c) Edge (d) Mabel Pulmonary Artery
96. Where did India play its 1st one
day international match? Pulmonary Artery
(b)
(a) Lords (b) Headingley Veins
(c) Taunton (d) The Oval Body Heart Lungs
97. Which county did Mohammad Arteries
Azharuddin play for? Pulmonary Vein
(a) Yorkshire (b) Hampshire
(c) Lancashire (d) Derbyshire (c) Arteries
98. Which county did Sunil Gavaskar Body Heart
Pulmonary
Lungs
play for? Vein
Artery

(a) Somerset
(d) Veins Veins Veins Artery
(b) Worcestershire Body Heart Lungs Heart Body

(c) Warwickshire 106. Students were taken to a museum


on an educational trip. Which
(d) Glamorgan
one of the following documents
99. The ‘Dronacharya Award’ is given will provide the information on
to...? endangered animals and plants?
(a) Sportsmen (a) Data book
(b) Coaches (b) Atlas
(c) Umpires (c) Red Data Book
(d) Sports Editors (d) Dictionary
100. Who among the following is 107. Baker’s yeast with sugar is added to
known as “the Father of Internet”? aquarium for the following reason:
(a) Vint Cerf A. It provides minerals and metals.
(b) Bob Marley B. It absorbs heavy metals present
(c) Tim Berkeley in water and purifies it.
(d) Thomas Jeffery C. It helps the plants for
photosynthesis through
101. Where was the first computer
aerobic respiration.
installed in India? D. It helps the plants for
(a) New Delhi (b) Kolkata photosynthesis through
(c) Bengaluru (d) Mumbai anaerobic respiration.
102. Which company is nicknamed Select the correct option.
“Big Blue” ? (a) A only (b) D only
(a) WIPRO (b) IBM (c) B and C (d) A and B
(c) IDM (d) TCS 108. What is true about natural gas?
103. Which was the first ever web A. Its main component is
server software? methane and is used as a fuel
(a) HTTP (b) Cherokee in motor cars.
(c) Nginx (d) Apache B. It is used as the raw material for
manufacturing of fertilizers.
104. The first web based e-mail sevice?
C. It is used for the generation of
(a) Gmail (b) Yahoo mail electricity.
(c) Rediff mail (d) Hot mail D. It is an inexhaustible natural
105. Select the correct schematic source.
representation of blood circulation (a) A, B and C (b) B, C and D
in human from the followings : (c) C, D and A (d) D, A and B
General Knowledge MCQs B-121
109. Read the following statements 115. If a non-degradable and fat soluble
and select the correct statements pollutant, such as DDT enters the
about greenhouse gases: food chain, the pollutant
A. Carbon dioxide is the only (a) magnifies in concentration at
gas in the atmosphere which each trophic level.
causes global warming. (b) degrades at first trophic level.
B. The greenhouse gases traps (c) accumulates in the body fat of
heat and do not allow heat to organism at first trophic level
escape into outer space. and does not pass to second
C. Water vapours do not contribute trophic level.
to greenhouse effect. (d) decreases in concentration at
D. The presence of excessive each trophic level.
greenhouse gases in the 116. Which of these features is not
atmosphere is responsible for a guiding value of the Indian
Constitution?
global warming.
(a) No external power can dictate
(a) A and B (b) B and D
to the Government of India.
(c) C and B (d) D and A (b) The head of the State is a
110. India is a ‘Republic’ because hereditary position.
(a) legislature is elected. (c) All people are equal before law.
(b) the Act of 1935 provided for a (d) Citizens have complete freedom
republic. to follow any religion.
(c) the head of the state is elected. 117. According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,
(d) it has representative democracy. which of the following is the ‘heart
111. The boundaries of States an be and soul’ of our Constitution?
altered by (a) The Preamble
(a) the Supreme Court of India. (b) Right to Equality
(b) the President of India. (c) Right against Exploitation
(c) the State Governments. (d) Right to Constitutional Remedies
(d) the Indian Parliament. 118. We accept paper money as a
112. The Indian National Congress was medium of exchange because
defeated for the first time it the (a) it has gold backing.
General Elections of Parliament in (b) the law legalizes it.
the year (c) Reserve Bank of India has
(a) 1962 (b) 1967 precious metals against which
(c) 1977 (d) 1998 it prints notes.
113. The average temperature of the (d) everyone else accepts it.
Earth remains fairly steady as 119. Which of the following refers to
compared to that of the moon trade barrier in the context of
because of the WTO?
(a) atmosphere (b) lithosphere I. Restrictions on domestic trade
(c) biosphere (d) hydrosphere II. Not allowing companies to do
114. A person with blood group ‘A’ can foreign trade beyond specific
donate blood to the persons with quantity
blood group ‘A’ or ‘AB’ because it III. Restrictions on the export
(a) has both ‘A’ and ‘B’ antigens. and import of goods
(b) has only ‘A’ antigen and ‘B’ IV. Restrictions on the price fixed
antibodies. by companies
(c) has only ‘B’ antigen and ‘A’ (a) (I), (II) and (III)
antibodies. (b) (II), (III) and (IV)
(d) does not have any antigens (c) (III) and (IV)
and antibodies. (d) (I), (II) and (IV)
B-122 General Knowledge MCQs
120. Typhoid is caused by : 128.
Which treaty was imposed on
(a) Streptococcus Germany after first would war ?
(b) Salmonella (a) Versailles (b) Paris
(c) Giardia (c) Vienna (d) London
(d) Mycobacterium 129. The Chairman of the Drafting
121. Choose the right from the following. Committee of the Constituent
(i) In light, hormone auxin, helps Assembly of India was
the cells to grow longer in (a) B. R. Ambedkar
plants. (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(ii) Plant hormone gibberellins help (c) Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel
in growth of a stem. (d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(iii) Cytokininis inhibits cell division. 130. The Chief Justice of the Supreme
(iv) Abscisic acid promotes growth Court is appointed by the
in plants. (a) President
(a) (i) and (iii) are correct. (b) Vice-President
(b) (ii) and (iv) are correct. (c) Prime Minister
(c) (i) and (ii) are correct. (d) Attorney General
(d) (i) and (iv) are correct. 131. Which one of the following parties
122. Hieun-Tsang came to India during grew out of a movement?
the reign of (a) Communist Party of India
(a) Harshavardhana (b) Bahujan Samaj Party
(b) Kanishka (c) Assam Gana Parishad
(c) Chandragupta Maurya (d) Assam United Democratic Front
(d) Samudragupta 132. By which country India was
123. Who was called the ‘Frontier inspired to include Directive
Gandhi’? Principles of State Policy in the
(a) Mahatma Gandhi Indian Constitution?
(b) Pattavi Sitaramaiya (a) Britain
(c) Vallabhbhai Patel (b) United States of America
(d) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (c) Russia
124. Who was Viceroy of India during (d) Ireland
Civil Disobedience Movement? 133. Who is the first Person of India ?
(a) Lord Curzon (a) Prime Minister
(b) Lord Minto (b) President
(c) Lord Canning (c) Governor
(d) Lord Irwin (d) Chief Minister
125. Who is regarded as Light of Asia ? 134. Which article of the Indian
(a) Gautam Buddha Constitution is regarded as the
(b) Gandhiji Soul of Indian Constitution?
(b) Swami Mahavir (a) Art. 21 (b) Art. 31
(d) Mao-Tse Tung (c) Art. 19 (d) Art. 32
126. ‘When France Sneezes, the rest of
135. Amnesty International is an
Europe catches cold?. This was the
international organisation which
remark of ?
(a) Bismarck (b) Metternich works for
(c) Mazzini (d) Napoleon (a) World Peace
127. Who was the author of “Geet Govind”? (b) Human Rights
(a) Sarangdhar (b) Jaidev (c) Justice
(c) Madhodas (d) Bihari (d) Restoration of Democracy
General Knowledge MCQs B-123
136. Which of the following is the main 143. The time period of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
feature of Pressure group? Kalam as a President of India is :
(a) Direct control on political (a) 25 July 2000 to 25 July 2005
power (b) 25 July 2001 to 25 July 2006
(b) Try to influence the politics of (c) 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007
Government (d) 25 July 2003 to 25 July 2008
(c) Lax Organisation 144. National Waterways No. 1 of India
(d) Direct participation in Political connects which two cities of India?
Power (a) Sadia – Dubri
137. In case of conflict between the (b) Allahabad – Haldia
centre and the State Government (c) Kottapuram – Kollam
over a subject in the concurrent (d) Delhi – Kanpur
list: 145. Which one of the following
(a) The state has the upper hand groups, represents neighbouring
countries of India?
(b) The centre has the upper
(a) Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
hand
Srilanka
(c) Both are equally applicable
(b) Persia, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives
(d) Supreme Court decides
(c) Burma, Bhutan, Tazikistan, China
whether the State Law should
(d) Malasia, Burma, Nepal, Srilanka
prevail or Central Law 146. What is “Barkan” ?
138. ‘The Untouchability Crime Act’ (a) Name of Sand dune
was implemented in (b) Name of Village
(a) 1948 (b) 1950 (c) Name of Tree
(c) 1956 (d) 1955 (d) Name of Mountain
139. In which year the first meeting of 147. Which state coast line is called the
Constituent Assembly took place ? Malabar?
(a) 1945 (b) 1946 (a) Gujrat (b) Kerala
(c) 1947 (d) 1948 (c) Rajasthan (d) West Bengal
140. Which is the first expressway of 148. Which mine is found in Khetri ?
India (a) Copper Mines
(a) Delhi – Kolkata (b) Lignite Mines
(b) Mumbai – Pune (c) Bauxite Mines
(c) Pune – Chennai (d) Iron Ore Mines
(d) Delhi – Mumbai 149. Wright Brothers are regarded
141. Which of the following is the inventors of the ?
youngest structure of India ? (a) Balloon
(a) Great Himalayas (b) Bicycle
(b) Shiwalik Range (c) Aeroplane
(c) Middle Himalayas (d) None of the above
(d) Peninsular India 150. Panchayati Raj System is based on
142. Who appoints the Chief Election (a) Centralisation of power
Commissioner of India ?
(b) Decentralisation of power
(a) Prime Minister
(b) President (c) Co operation with people and
(c) Parliament administrator
(d) Chairman of Lok Sabha (d) All of the above
B-124 General Knowledge MCQs

ANSWERS KEY
1. (c) 20. (a) 39. (d) 58. (b) 77. (d) 96. (b) 115. (a) 134. (d)
2. (b) 21. (b) 40. (d) 59. (a) 78. (b) 97. (d) 116. (b) 135. (b)
3. (b) 22. (c) 41. (d) 60. (a) 79. (b) 98. (a) 117. (d) 136. (b)
4. (b) 23. (d) 42. (c) 61. (b) 80. (d) 99. (b) 118. (b) 137. (b)
5. (d) 24. (d) 43. (a) 62. (b) 81. (c) 100. (a) 119. (c) 138. (d)
6. (c) 25. (d) 44. (d) 63. (b) 82. (a) 101. (b) 120. (b) 139. (b)
7. (b) 26. (a) 45. (a) 64. (C) 83. (b) 102. (b) 121. (c) 140. (b)
8. (c) 27. (b) 46. (d) 65. (b) 84. (d) 103. (a) 122. (a) 141. (a)
9. (c) 28. (d) 47. (b) 66. (b) 85. (d) 104. (d) 123. (d) 142. (b)
10. (d) 29. (d) 48. (c) 67. (b) 86. (b) 105. (b) 124. (d) 143. (c)
11. (c) 30. (c) 49. (d) 68. (d) 87. (c) 106. (c) 125. (a) 144. (b)
12. (d) 31. (a) 50. (a) 69. (c) 88. (c) 107. (b) 126. (b) 145. (a)
13. (b) 32. (d) 51. (a) 70. (d) 89. (c) 108. (a) 127. (b) 146. (a)
14. (b) 33. (b) 52. (a) 71. (d) 90. (d) 109. (b) 128. (a) 147. (b)
15. (c) 34. (b) 53. (a) 72. (c) 91. (b) 110. (c) 129. (a) 148. (a)
16. (c) 35. (b) 54. (a) 73. (c) 92. (c) 111. (d) 130. (a) 149. (c)
17. (d) 36. (b) 55. (a) 74. (c) 93. (b) 112. (c) 131. (c) 150. (b)
18. (b) 37. (a) 56. (d) 75. (d) 94. (c) 113. (a) 132. (d)
19. (c) 38. (a) 57. (c) 76. (c) 95. (b) 114. (b) 133. (b)
Logical Thinking
Analogy 3. Gender based analogy: In such
type of analogy, one word is
The meaning of analogy is ‘similar
masculine and another word
properties’ or ‘similarity’. If an object
is feminine of it. In fact, it is a
or word or digit or activity shows
‘male and female’ or ‘gender’
any similarity with another object or
relationship.
word or digit or activity in terms of
Examples:
properties, type, shape, size, trait etc.,
then the particular similarity will be Man : Woman
called analogy. Boy : Girl
TYPES OF ANALOGY. Nephew : Niece
1. Tool & object based analogy: Bull : Cow
This establishes a relationship Duck : Drake
between a tool and the object in 4. Quantity and unit based analogy:
which it works. Similar relations In such type of analogy, 2nd word is
has to be discovered from answer the unit of the first word and vice-
choices. versa.
Examples: Examples:
Pencil : Paper Distance : Mile
Pen : Paper Mass : Kilogram
Scissors : Cloth Length : Meter
Saw : Wood Example 1.
Eraser : Paper Bulky : Fat : : Happiness : ?
2. Synonym based analogy : In such (a) Bad (b) Ugly
type of analogy two words have (c) Joy (d) Sorrow
similar meaning. Sol. (c) Option (c) is the correct
Examples: because ‘Bulky’ is the synonym of
Big : Large ‘Fat’ and similarly ‘Happiness’ is
Huge : Gigantic the synonym of ‘joy’.
Endless : Eternal
Odd One Out
Thin : Slim
In classification we take out an element
Benevolent : Kind
out of some given elements and the
Notion : Idea element to be taken out is different
Huge : Big from the rest of the elements in terms
B-126 Logical Thinking
of common properties, shapes, sizes, sequences of the numbers denoting
types, nature, colours, traits etc. In this them, as alternatives. The candidate is
way the rest of the elements form a required to arrange these words in a
group and the element that has been logical sequence based on a common
taken out is not the member of that property and then choose the correctly
group as this single element does not graded sequence from the given data
possesses the common quality to be
Example 4. Arrange the following in
possessed by rest of the elements.
a meaningful sequence
Example 2. Which one of the following 1. Consultation
word is not a part of the group
2. Illness
formed by remaining words.
3. Doctor
The remaining words form the
group on the basis of certain 4. Treatment
similarity. 5. Recovery
(a) Name (b) Game (a) 2 3 1 4 5 (b) 2 3 4 1 5
(c) Fame (d) Shame (c) 4 3 1 2 5 (d) 5 1 4 3 2
Sol. (d) Option (d) is the correct Sol. (a) Clearly illness occurs first.
answer because this is the only One then goes to a doctor
word which has 5 letters while the and after consultation with
remaining words have 4 letters
him, undergoes treatment to
and hence options (a), (b), &
finally attain recovery.
(c) form a group separating out
S o , t h e c o r r e c t o r d e r
option (d).
becomes, 2, 3, 1, 4, 5... (a).
Example 3. Which of the following
animals does not fit into the Direction & Distance
group formed by remaining
Concept of Direction
animals?
In our day to day life, we make our
(a) Cat (b) Dog
concept of direction after seeing the
(c) Tiger (d) Octopus
position of sun. In fact, this is a truth
Sol. (d) Option (d) is the correct
that sun rises in the East and goes
option as this is the only animal
out of given options which is a down in the west. Thus when we stand
water animal. Rest of the options facing sunrise, then our front is called
are land animals. East while our back is called West. At
this position our left hand is in the
Logical Sequence of Words Northward and the right hand is in the
In this particular type of problems, Southward. Let us see the following
certain inter-related words are given direction map that will make your
and numbered, followed by various concept more clear:
Logical Thinking B-127
Direction Map:

Sitting arrangement
Note:
On paper North is always on top be It is a sequential arrangement of
while South is always in bottom. persons/objects on the basis of some
Example 5. Raman walked 2 km West conditions. In these types of questions,
from his office and then turned we have to analyse the given information
South covering 4 km. Finally, he
and condense it in a suitable form to
waked 3 km towards East and
again move 1 km West. How answer the questions. Though there
far is Raman from his initial exists no set formulae to solve these
position? kinds of problems, yet a systematic
(a) 4 km (b) 8 km approach can help to solve questions.
(c) 10 km (d) 7 km Following examples will help you to
Sol. (a) Raman starts from his office
develop methodology to solve these
A, moves 2 km West upto
types of questions.
B, then 4 km to the South
upto C, 3 km East upto D and Example 6. Five coaches P, L, R, M, O
finally 1 km West upto E, are in a row. R is to the right of
Thus his distance from the
M and left of P. L is to the right
initial position A = AE = BC =
of P and left of O. Which coach
4 km.
Hence, option (a) is the is in the middle?
correct answer. (a) P (b) L
(c) R (d) O
Sol. (a)
Left Right
M R P L O
Hence, P coach is in the middle
of the five coaches.
B-128 Logical Thinking

EXERCISE
DIRECTIONS (Qs. 1 to 18) : In each of 10. Safe : secure : : Protect : ?
the following questions, there are two (a) guard (b) lock
words / set of letters / numbers to the (c) sure (d) conserve
left of the sign :: which are connected in 11. Melt : Liquid : : Freeze : ?
some way. The same relationship (a) Crystal (b) Solid
obtains between the third words / set of (c) Ice (d) Evaporate
letters / numbers and one of the four 12. Length : Metre :: Power : ?
alternatives under it. Find the correct (a) Calories (b) Degree
alternative in each question. (c) Watt (d) Kilogram
1. Ocean : Water :: Glacier : ? 13. Square : Cube :: Circle : ?
(a) Refrigerator (b) Ice (a) Ellipse (b) Parabola
(c) Mountain (d) Cave (c) Cone (d) Sphere
2. Medicine : Sickness :: Book : ?
14. Paper : Tree :: Glass : ?
(a) Ignorance (b) Knowledge
(a) Window (b) Sand
(c) Author (d) Teacher
3. Bank : River :: Coast : ? (c) Stone (d) Mirror
(a) Flood (b) Waves 15. Fish : Scales : : Bear : ?
(c) Sea (d) Beach (a) Feathers (b) Leaves
4. Thunder : Rain :: Night : ... (c) Fur (d) Skin
(a) Day (b) Dusk 16. Country : President : : State : ?
(c) Darkness (d) Evening (a) Chief Minister
5. Breeze : Cyclone : : Drizzle : ? (b) Prime Minister
(a) Earthquake (b) Storm (c) Speaker
(d) Governor
(c) Flood (d) Downpour
17. Blue whale : Sea : : ? : Land
6. Disease : Pathology :: Planet : ?
(a) Turtle (b) Fish
(a) Astrology
(b) Geology (c) Elephant
(c) Astronomy (d) Green whale
(d) Palaeontology 18. Hard : Rock : : Soft : ?
7. Shout : Whisper :: Run : ? (a) Lead (b) Paper
(a) Stay (b) Stand (c) Sponge (d) Glass
(c) Walk (d) Hop DIRECTIONS (Qs. 19 to 35) : Find the
8. Smoke : pollution : : war : ? odd word/letters/number pair from
(a) victory (b) peace the given alternatives.
(c) treaty (d) destruction 19. (a) Rice (b) Wheat
9. Hour : second : : tertiary : ? (c) Barley (d) Mustard
(a) ordinary (b) secondary 20. (a) Arrow (b) Sword
(c) primary (d) intermediary (c) Knife (d) Axe
Logical Thinking B-129

21. (a) Listen (b) Feel (a) 1, 2, 4, 3, 5 (b) 1, 3, 2, 4, 5


(c) Think (d) Sing (c) 2, 3, 5, 4, 1 (d) 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
22. (a) Volume (b) Size 37. 1. Doctor 2. Fever
(c) Large (d) Shape 3. Prescribe 4. Diagnose
23. (a) Mathematics 5. Medicine
(b) Geometry (a) 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 (b) 1, 4, 3, 2, 5
(c) Algebra
(c) 2, 1, 4, 3, 5 (d) 2, 4, 3, 5, 1
(d) Trigonometry
38. 1. Line 2. Angle
24. (a) Advice (b) Counsel
3. Square 4. Triangle
(c) Direct (d) Suggest
(a) 2, 1, 4, 3 (b) 3, 4, 1, 2
25. (a) Medium (b) Average
(c) 4, 2, 1, 3 (d) 1, 2, 4, 3
(c) Mediocre (d) Terrible
39. 1. Childhood
26. (a) Travelled (b) Sailed
2. Adulthood
(c) Walked (d) Rode
3. Infancy
27. (a) Telescope
4. Adolescence
(b) Transistor
5. Babyhood
(c) Taperecorder
(a) 4, 1, 3, 2, 5 (b) 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
(d) Telephone
(c) 2, 5, 1, 4, 3 (d) 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
28. (a) Fore ward (b) Text
40. 1. Amoeba 2. Oyster
(c) Index (d) preface
3. Worm 4. Cow
29. (a) Analysis
(a) 1, 3, 2, 4 (b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) Search
(c) 4, 3, 2, 1 (d) 3, 2, 4, 1
(c) Conclusion
41. 1. Exhaust 2. Night
(d) Investigation
3. Day 4. Sleep
30. (a) Room (b) Chamber
5. Work
(c) Veranda (d) Cabin
(a) 1, 3, 5, 2, 4 (b) 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
31. (a) Radio (b) Television
(c) 3, 5, 1, 2, 4 (d) 3, 5, 2, 1, 4
(c) Transistor (d) Tube
42. A. Family B. Community
32. (a) Tennis (b) Cricket
C. Member D. Locality
(c) Volleyball (d) Football
E. Country
33. (a) Heat (b) Light
(a) C, A, D, B, E (b) C, A, B, D, E
(c) Bulb (d) Electricity
(c) C, A, B, E, D (d) C, A, D, E, B
24. (a) Flute (b) Violin
43. 1. Curd 2. Grass
(c) Guitar (d) Sitar
3. Butter 4. Milk
35. (a) Tomato (b) Potato
5. Cow
(c) Carrot (d) Onion
(a) 5, 2, 3, 4, 1 (b) 4, 2, 5, 3, 1
DIRECTIONS (Qs. 36-50): Arrange the (c) 2, 5, 4, 3, 1 (d) 5, 2, 4, 1, 3
following in a logical order. 44. 1. Plant 2. Fruit
36. 1. Foetus 2. Child 3. Seed 4. Flower
3. Baby 4. Adult (a) 3, 1, 4, 2 (b) 3, 2, 1, 4
5. Youth (c) 3, 2, 4, 1 (d) 3, 1, 2, 4
B-130 Logical Thinking

45. 1. Son 2. Husband 52. ‘X’ started walking straight towards


3. Grandfather 4. Brother South. He walked a distance of 5
5. Father metres and then took a left turn and
(a) 1, 5, 2, 4, 3 (b) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 walked a distance of 3 metres. Then
(c) 1, 4, 2, 5, 3 (d) 1, 2, 4, 5, 3 he took a right turn and walked a
46. 1. Curd 2. Milk distance of 5 metres again. ‘X’ is
3. Butter milk 4. Cow facing which direction now?
5. Ghee 6. Butter (a) North-East (b) South
(c) North (d) South-West
(a) 2, 5, 6, 4, 1, 3
53. If A is to the south of B and C is to
(b) 4, 6, 2, 1, 3, 5
the east of B, in what direction is
(c) 4, 2, 1, 3, 6, 5
A with respect to C?
(d) 2, 6, 4, 5, 3, 1
(a) North-east
47. 1. Adulthood 2. Infancy (b) North- west
3. Childhood 4. Adolescence (c) South-east
(a) 1, 3, 4, 2 (b) 2, 3, 4, 1 (d) South-west
(c) 2, 4, 3, 1 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 54. A boy rode his bicycle northwards,
48. 1. Elephant 2. Cat then turned left and rode one km
3. Mosquito 4. Tiger and again turned left and rode 2
5. Whale km. He found himself exactly one
(a) 5, 3, 1, 2, 4 (b) 1, 3, 5, 4, 2 km west of his starting point. How
(c) 3, 2, 4, 1, 5 (d) 2, 5, 1, 4, 3 far did he ride northwards
49. (1) Classroom (2) Desk initially?
(3) School (4) (a) 1 km (b) 2 km
Community (c) 3 km (d) 5 km
(5) Drawer 55. A rat runs 20' towards east and
(a) (4), (2), (3), (1), (5) turns to right, runs 10' and turns
(b) (3), (2), (4), (5), (1) to right, runs 9' and again turns to
left, runs 5' and then to left, runs
(c) (4), (3), (1), (2), (5)
12' and finally turns to left and
(d) (1), (2), (3), (4), (5)
runs 6'. Now, which direction is
50. 1. India 2. Bangalore
the rat facing?
3. Asia 4. Karnataka
(a) East (b) West
(a) 3, 1, 4, 2 (b) 3, 1, 2, 4 (c) North (d) South
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4 (d) 3, 4, 2, 1 56. From his house, Lokesh went 15
51. Alok walked 30 metres towards km to the North. Then he turned
east and took a right turn and West and covered 10 km. Then,
walked 40 metres. He again took he turned South and covered 5
a right turn and walked 50 metres. km. Finally , turning to East, he
Towards which direction is he covered 10 km. In which direction
from his starting point? is he from his house?
(a) South (b) West (a) East (b) West
(c) South-West (d) South-East (c) North (d) South
Logical Thinking B-131

57. Ram left home and walked 5 km her starting point? In which
southward, turned right and direction would she be driving?
walked 2 km and turned right and (a) 6 km East (b) 3 km West
walked 5 km and turned left and (c) 3 km East (d) 6 km North
walked 5 km. How many km will 62. A cyclist goes 30 km to North and
he have to walk to reach his home then turning to East he goes 40
starting ? km. Again he turns to his right and
(a) 5 (b) 7 goes 20 km. After this he turns to
(c) 17 (d) 15 his right and goes 40 km. How far
58. Sobha was facing East. She walked is he from his starting point ?
20 metres. Turning left she moved (a) 0 km. (b) 10 km.
15 metres and then turning right (c) 25 km. (d) 40 km.
moved 25 metres. Finally, she 63. Rajat moves from his office to the
turned right and moved 15 metres canteen straight at a distance of
more. How far is she from her 12 meters. Then he turned left and
starting point? walked for 2 metres. Then he
(a) 25 metres (b) 35 metres turns left again and walks straight
(c) 50 metres (d) 45 metres for 12 metres. How far is he from
59. Jatin leaves his house and walks his office?
12 km towards North. He turns (a) 10 metres (b) 12 metres
right and walks another 12 km. (c) 8 metres (d) 2 metres
He turns right again, walks 12 km 64. Rohan walks a distance of 3 km
more and turns left to walk 5 km. towards North, then turns to his
How far is he from his home and left and walks for 2 km. He again
in which direction ? turns left and walks for 3 km. At
(a) 7 km east (b) 10 km east this point he turns to his left and
(c) 17 km east (d) 24 km east walks for 3 km. How many
60. Priya starts walking in the kilometres is he from the starting
afternoon facing the Sun. After point ?
some time, she turned to the right. (a) 1 km (b) 2 km
Later again, she tunred to her left (c) 3 km (d) 4 km
and again also left. At what 65. Pinky walks a distance of 600 mtr.
direction is Priya moving now? towards east, turns left and moves
(a) East (b) West 500 mtr, then turns left and walks
(c) North (d) South 600 mtr. and then turns left again
61. Asha drives 6 km towards West and moves 500 mtr and halts. At
and turns to the right and drives 3 what distance in metres is the
km. Then, she turns again and from the starting point?
drives towards right hand and (a) 2200 (b) 500
drives 6 km. How far is she from (c) 0 (d) 600
B-132 Logical Thinking

66. Sunita rode her scooty northwards, (a) Ravi (b) Mahima
then turned left and then again rode (c) Girdhar (d) Rama
to her left 4 km. She found herself 70. Five boys A, B, C, D. E are sitting
exactly 2 kms west of her starting in a park in a circle. A is facing
point. How far did she ride South-West, D is facing South-
northwards initially ? East, B and E are right opposite A
(a) 2 km (b) 4 km and D respectively and C is
(c) 5 km (d) 6 km equidistant between D and B.
67. P, Q, R, S and T are sitting around Which direction is C facing'?
a circular table. R is to the right of (a) West (b) South
P and is second to the left of S. T is (c) North (d) East
not between P and S. Who is 71. Four students ABCD are sitting one
second to the left of R? each of the four corners of a
(a) S square all facing the centre of the
(b) T square. The student E sitting at the
(c) Q centre is facing only C and the
(d) Data inadequate student A is sitting facing the back
68. In a classroom, there are 5 rows, of E. If D is sitting on the right of
and 5 children A, B, C, D and E are E, where B will be sitting to E?
seated one behind the other in 5 (a) B is sitting on the left of E
seperate rows as follows : (b) B is to the back of E
A is sitting behind C, but in front of B. (c) A is facing B and E
C is sitting behind E, D is sitting (d) B is on the right of E
in front of E. 72. There are five buses M, N, O, P, Q
The order in which they are in a row on a road. Bus M is
sitting from the first row to the standing at the front and Q is
last is standing at the back end. Bus N
(a) DECAB (b) BACED stands between M and O. Bus P
(c) ACBDE (d) ABEDC stands between O and Q. Which
69. A group of friends are sitting in an bus is in the middle of the five?
arrangement one each at the (a) M (b) P
corner of an octagon. All are (c) N (d) O
facing the centre. Mahima is 73. Five boys A, B, C, D and E are
sitting diagonally opposite Rama, standing in a row. D is on the right
who is on Sushma's right. Ravi is of E. B is on the left of E, but on the
next to Sushma and opposite right of A. D is on the left of C, who
Girdhar, who is on Chandra's left. is standing on the extreme right.
Savitri is not on mahima's right Who is standing in the middle?
but opposite Shalini. Who is on (a) D (b) E
Shalini's right? (b) B (d) C
Logical Thinking B-133

74. (i) A and B can speak Tamil and (a) A (b) B


Malayalam. (c) D (d) G
(ii) C and D can speak English
78. A,B,C,D,E,F are sitting on the
and Hindi.
round table with equal distances.
(iii) B and D can speak Malayalam
and Hindi. F is sitting opposite to E and
(iv) A and C can speak Tamil and between A and D. C is sitting right
English. side of E and opposite to A. Who
One who speaks English, Hindi are the neighbours of A?
and Malayalam is
(a) F and D (b) E and F
(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D (c) E and C (d) B and F
75. Six persons are sitting in a circle. 79. 4 friends ABCD are sitting in a
'J' is between 'N' and 'O'; 'N' is coffee shop. A and B are sitting
opposite 'M'; and 'L' is not in either face to face. D is not sitting next
osf the neighbouring seats of 'N'.
to A but can see the facial
Who is opposite to 'K'?
expression of A clearly. B is talking
(a) M (b) O
(c) J (d) L to C who is sitting opposite to him.
76. Five policemen are standing in a Who are sitting together ?
row facing south. Shekhar is to (a) D & C (b) A & B
the immediate right of Dhanush. (c) A & C (d) A & D
Bala is between Basha and
80. Prem, Rakesh, Roshan, Sanjay,
Dhanush. David is at the extreme
right end of the row. Who is Tanuj, Udit are sitting at equal
standing in the middle of the row? distance in a circlr and are facing
(a) Bala (b) Basha the centre. Roshan is third from
(c) Shekhar (d) Dhanush Prem in the right. Rakesh is third
77. Seven persons A, B, C, D, E, F and
from Tanuj from the left. Udit is
G are standing in a straight line.
between Prem and Tanuj and
D is to the right of G.
C is between A and B. Sanjay is third from Uditin the left
E is between F and D. and right. Who is opposite Tanuj?
There are three persons between (a) Roshan (b) Prem
G and B. Who is on the extreme (c) Rakesh (d) Sanjay
left?
B-134 Logical Thinking

HINTS & EXPLANATIONS


1. (b) First consists of the second. 15. (c) The body of fish remains
2. (a) As medicine cures sickness, covered with scales
in the same way, books externally. Similarly, the body
remove ignorance. of bear remains covered with
fur.
3. (c) Bank is the land beside a
16. (d) President is the head of
river.
Union Executive of a India.
Similarly, coast is the land Similarly, Governer is the
beside a sea. head of State Executive.
4. (c) As ‘Rain’ is followed by 17. (c) As Blue whale is heaviest
‘Thunder’, similarly animal in the sea. Similarly,
‘Darkness’ is followed by Elephant is heaviest animal
‘Night’. on the land.
5. (d) Second is more intense than 18. (c) As, rock is a hard substance.
the first. Similarly, sponge is a soft
substance.
6. (c) Diseases are studied under
19. (d) Except ‘mustard’ each
Pathology.
belongs to the same category,
Similarly, planets are studied viz food grains. Mustard is
in Astronomy. an oilseed.
7. (c) Whisper is of lesser intense 20. (a) All others are held in the hand
than shouting, so is walking and not shot out.
to running. 21. (d) All others are the features of
8. (d) Smoke cause pollution sense organes.
22. (c) ‘Large’ is an adjective
Similarly, destruction is the
whereas others are noun.
result of war.
23. (a) MATHEMATICS is STREAM/
9. (c) Second is smallest of hour Main Category.
and similarly, primary is Others are substream or sub
initial stage category of Mathematics.
10. (a) Safe is synonyms of secure 24. (c) Direct is different from the
and protect is synonyms of other three words. Direct
guard. means 'to give a formal or-
11. (c) First is the process of der or command.'
formation of the second. 25. (d) All except terrible are
synonyms.
12. (c) Metre is a unit of length
26. (a) All others are different modes
likewise watt is a unit of
of travel.
power.
27. (a) All except Telescope are
13. (d) As cube is 3-D of square. audio devices.
Similarly, sphere is 3-D of 28. (b) Text is different from other
circle. three.
14. (b) As paper is product of Tree. 29. (c) Conclusion is the final stage
Similarly glass is a product of analysis, search and
of sand. investigation.
Logical Thinking B-135

30.(c) Except veranda, all others are 43. (d) The correct order is :
surrounded by four walls. Cow ® Grass ® Milk ®
31. (d) Radio, transistor and Curd ® Butter
television are the way of 44. (a)
broadcasting. Hence, tube is
Seed ® Plant ® Flower ® Fruit
odd one out.
3 ® 1 ® 4 ® 2
32. (b)
45. (c) Meaningful order is :
33. (c) Bulb is an item while all
others are phenomena. Son ® Brother ® Husband
34. (a) Except Flute, all others are (1) (4) (2)
stringed musical instruments. ® Father ® Grandfather
35. (a) Except Tomato all others are (5) (3)
grown underground. 46. (c) Cow ® Milk ® Curd ®
36. (b) The correct sequence is (4) (2) (1)
Foetus – Baby – Child – Butter Milk ® Butter ® Ghee
(1) (2) (3) (3) (6) (5)
Adult – Youth 47. (b) Infancy ® Childhood ®
(4) (5) (2) (3)
37. (c) Correct sequence is : Adolescence ® Adulthood
Fever ® Doctor ® Diagnose ® Prescribe ® Medicine
(4) (1)
(2) (1) (4) (3) (5)
48. (c) Meaningful Order:
Fever ® Doctor ® Diagnose ® Prescribe ® Medicine Mosquito ® Cat ® Tiger ®
(2) (1) (4) (3) (5)
(3) (2) (4)
38. (d) Line ® Angle ® Triangle ®
(1) (2) (3) Elephant ® Whale
Square (1) (5)
(4) 49. (c) Meaningful order is :
1, 2, 4, 3
Community ® School ®
39. (b) 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
(4) (3)
40. (b) 1. Amoeba
Classroom ® Desk ® Drawer
2. Oyster
(1) (2) (5)
3. Worm
50. (a) Asia ® India ® Karnatka ®
4. Cow
Bangalore
41. (c) Meaningful order of the
51. (c)
words :
3. Day ® 5. Work ® Starting point
1. Exhaust ® 2. Night ® N
30 m
4. Sleep
42. (b) Meaningful order of the W E
40 m
words:
S
C. Member ® A. Family ®
B. Community ® D. Locality
® E. Country 50 m
B-136 Logical Thinking

52. (b) N 55. (c) The movements of rat are as


shown in figure. Clearly, it is
finally walking in the
direction FG i.e. North.
W E 20' B
A

9' 10' G
D C
S
5' 6'
5
E 12' F
56. (c) The movements of Lokesh
3 are as shown in figure. (A to
B, B to C, C to D, D to E). Clearly,
5
his final position is E which
is to the North of his house A.
53. (d) Clearly, comparing the C 10 km B
direction of A w.r.t. C in the

15 km
5 km
second diagram with that in
the first diagram, A will be D
E
10 km
south-west of C.
N A (Lokesh)
57. (b)
Starting
5 km
W E

SW
S 5 km 5 km
B C

2 km
N

A
54. (b) Clearly, the boy rode from A W E
to B,
C 1km B
S
2km Required distance = 5 + 2 = 7 km
58. (d)
25 metres
D 1km A
15 metres
15 metres

then to C and finally up to D.


Since D lies to the west of A,
so required distance = AB = Starting 20 metres
Point E Finishing Point
CD = 2 km.
Logical Thinking B-137
towards South is same, i.e., 63. (d)
15 metres. So, Shobha is 20 + 12 m
25 metres = 45 metres away
from her starting point.

2m
59. (c) (12 km + 5 km = 17 km)
N

12km 12 m Canteen
W E Office
\ Required distance = 2 metres
12km S
12km 2 km
64. (a)
12km
Finishing
5km Point
Home
60. (d) 3 km 3 km

3 km
Required distance = 1 km
65. (c)
D 600 mtr. C
500 mtr.

500 mtr.
Hence, Priya is moving in the
South direction.
61. (c)
Pinky’s
starting point A 600 mtr. B
Hence, Pinky is 0 metres
from the starting point.
66. (b)
C B

Hence, Asha is 3km from


starting point and in the east 4 km
direction. 4 km
62. (b)
East
C 40km D right
D A Sunita’s
2 km starting point
Hence, Sunita rode 4 km
20 km 20 km
northwards initially.
30 km
E 67. (c)
B
North right
Destination point
of cyclist
A
Starting point
of cyclist
Distance from starting point
= AC – BC = 30 – 20 = 10 km Q is second to the left of R.
B-138 Logical Thinking

68. (a) 1st Row Þ D 75. (b)


2nd Row Þ E J J
3rd Row Þ C N O N
O
4th Row Þ A
5th Row Þ B or
69. (a) K
M
K L M L
Shalini Mahima
Hence, O is the opposite of K.
76. (d) Standing arrangement :
Ravi Chandra (facing south)
Right Left
End End
David Shekhar Dhanush Bala Basha
Sushma Girdhar
Hence, Dhanush is standing
at the middle of the row.
Rama Savitri 77. (d) Standing Arrangement:
Ravi is to the right of Shalini.
D A
70. (d) G F E D B C A
C G is standing on the extreme
left.
B E 78. (d)
So, C is facing towards East.
71. (a)
B C

E
B and F are neighours of A
A D 79. (c) Sitting Arrangement:
A/C
72. (d) M N O P Q
Bus O is in the middle of the five.

73. (b) A B E D C
B/D
74. (d) So, the correct answer is (c).
80. (c) Rohan
LANGUAGES Tanuj
Persons
Tamil Malayalam English Hindi
A P P P O
Udit Sanjay
B P P O P
C P O P P Rakesh
D O P P P
Prem
D can speak English, Hindi, and
Rakesh is opposite to Tanuj
Malayalam.

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