The OSCAR awards for 2010

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The OSCAR awards for 2010 were announced on March 07, 2010 in a ceremony held at Kodak Theatre,
Hollywood. Officially the awards should be called the 82nd Academy Awards.
There was a tough competition between “Avtar” and “The Hurt Locker”. Avtar failed to win the
maximum awards and could only manage three against six of The Hurt Locker. This reminded me
of Slumdog Millionaire that won 8 awards in OSCAR Awards 2009.
Best Picture
The Hurt Locker
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow (for The Hurt Locker)
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges (for Crazy Heart, as Otis "Bad" Blake)
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock (for The Blind Side, as Leigh Anne Tuohy)
Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz (for Inglourious Basterds, as Col. Hans Landa)
Best Supporting Actress
Mo'Nique ( for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, as Mary Lee Johnston)
Best Original Screenplay
The Hurt Locker – Mark Boal
Best Adapted Screenplay
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire – Geoffrey Fletcher from Push by Sapphire
Best Animated Feature
Up – Pete Docter
Best Foreign Language Film
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina) in Spanish – Juan José Campanella
Best Original Score
Up – Michael Giacchino
Best Original Song
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from Crazy Heart – Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett
Some Fact about Oscars 2010:
1. The Hurt Locker was the most successful film winning 6 OSCAR awards. It was followed by Avatar with
3 awards.
2. Avatar and The Hurt Locker received maximum number of nominations (9 each)
3. Inglourious Basterds was the second most nominated film (8 nominations)
4. Avatar was director James Cameron's first feature film since Titanic in 1997 which won a record-tying
11 Oscars.
5. The Hurt Locker’s Director Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best
Picture and Academy Award for Best Director. She is the second American woman to be nominated for
the second award, the other being Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation in 2003.

INDIA - BUDGET 2010

Highlights:
• To waive excise duty on solar panels
• Opposition walks out of Parliament over petrol price hike
• Petrol prices to go up
• Fresh services to be brought under service tax
• Service tax to GDP ratio 1%
• Service tax to result in net revenue gain of Rs 3000 cr
• Customs duty on silver at Rs 1500/kg
• Custom duty on gold to be reduced
• Mobile phones to be cheaper
• No capital gains tax on conversion of a business entity into Limited Liability
Partnership
• To encourage manufacture of accessories such as battery chargers and hands-free
sets, the concessions will be extended the mobile phone sector
• 5% customs duty on crude petroleum back
• Peak customs duty unchanged at 10%
• FM raises central excise duty on all non-petroleum products from 8 to 10 per cent
• Revenue loss of Rs 26,000 crore on direct tax proposals
• Stimulus-led excise duty rollback partially reversed
• FM allows housing projects to complete projects in 5 years instead of 4 years to
avail tax break
• One-time interim relief to housing and real estate sector
• Businesses up to Rs 60 lakh and professionals up to Rs 15 lakh to be exempted
from auditing obligations of their accounts
• Uproar in Parliament over petrol price rise
• To levy excise duty of Re 1/litre on petrol 2
• New tax rates would offer relief to 60 per cent of tax-payers
• CET on petroproducts hiked by Re 1
• Uniform Direct tax receipts to fall by Rs 56,000 cr
• Standard excise rate up from 8 to 10%
• Large cars, SUVs excise up to 22% from 20%
• Sops for real estate, housing projects extended by a year
• Partial roll back the rate reduction in central excise
• Direct tax scheme to result in revenue loss of Rs 26,000 cr
• Compliance burden reduced on professionals and entrepreneurs
• Corporate tax surcharge down from 10 to 7.5%
• New income tax slabs will bring relief to the middle class
• Rs 20,000 additional tax break for infra bonds
• Minimum Alternate Tax hiked to 18%
• R&D allocation increased 200%
• To unveil new Saral 2 form for salaried individuals in two pages
• Deduction of additional 10% for investment on infrastructure bonds
• Tax slabs: Broadening 1.6 lakh - Nil above 1.6 lakh-up to 5 lakh 10%
• 5-8 lakh- 20% above 8 lakh- 30%
• Tax paying interface to be de-cluttered
• States to be offered assistance to computerise commercial taxes
• Greater transparency in tax administration targeted
• Centralized Tax Centre at Bengaluru fully functional
• Fiscal deficit at 5.5% for FY'11
• Rolling target for fiscal deficit 4.2%
• Gross tax receipts at Rs 7.46 lakh cr
• New symbol for Indian Rupee
• Tech advisor group under Nandan Nilekani 3
• Allocation for development of micro and small scale sector raised from Rs 1,794
cr to Rs 2,400 cr
• Rs 2,600 cr for Minority Affairs Ministry
• To create 50 cr skilled workers by 2022
• Rs 1,900 cr to UID authority allocated
• First set of UID to be issued by this year
• Rs 19,484 cr allocated for road development, to build 20 km of highway every
day
• Subsidy for affordable housing extended
• Skill development programme for textile and garment sector
• Pvt sector to meet deficit in grain storage
• 50% increase in women & child development allocation
• Development of rural infra remains high priority area
• Power sector allocation doubled to Rs 5130 cr
• Rs 400 cr corpus for micro-finance scheme
• National pension scheme allocation increased
• States to get Rs 3,675 crore for primary education at rural level
• Rs 400 cr corpus for micro-finance scheme
• NREGA allocation to Rs 40,100 crore
• National Social Security fund to be set up for unorganized sector
• Urban Development allocation to be raised by 75 per cent
• 20,000 mw of solar power by 2022
• Rural development allocation to Rs 61,000 cr
• Indira Awaas Yojana allocation raised in proportion to plain and hill area housing
• Development of rural infra remains high priority area
• Social sector spending at Rs 1.38 lakh cr for FY11
• Rs 500 cr for Clean Ganga Mission
• Rs 66, 100 cr for rural development in FY10-11 4
• Allocation for school education up from Rs 26, 800 crore to Rs 31, 036 cr
• Rs 22, 300 crore allocated for Health Ministry
• Coal regulatory authority proposed
• Rs 300 cr for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
• Bank farm loan target: Rs 3.75 lakh crore
• Rs 200 cr To Tamil Nadu for textiles
• Need to take firm view on opening up of the retail sector
• National clean Energy Fund to be set up
• Rs 200 crore to Goa as a special golden jubilee package to restore beaches and
increase green cover
• To provide 2% loan subsidy to farmers
• Extend loan payment by calamity hit farmers
• Rs 400cr for four-part strategy for agriculture
• 2% interest subvention for exports extended
• Additional banking licenses for pvt players
• 4 pronged strategy for agriculture
• Rs 16,500 cr capital support for PSU banks
• Will consider Parikh report on fuel pricing
• Goods and services tax to be introduced in 2011
• Fertiliser subsidy to be reduced
• GDP growth for FY'10 is seen at 7.2 pc
• Rs 25,000 cr disinvestment target this year
• India weathered economic crisis well
• Direct tax code to be implemented from April 1, 2011
• Gradual phasing out of economic stimulus
• Pvt investment can sustain 9 pc growth
• First challenge: Return to GDP growth
• Manufacturing growth highest in the past 2 years 5
• Indian economy is in a far better position today
• FM is expected to simplify tax laws in 2010
• Biggest challenge is to make the growth all inclusive
• Need to strengthen food security
• Pranab: Indian economy has stood through the test of time
• Economic growth slows down to 6 pc in Q3
• Finance Minister presents Budget 2010
• Pranab Mukherjee presents his 5th Union Budget
• Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee reaches Parliament
• Inflation is forecast to reach 10 percent in coming weeks
• Government borrowing was forecast to rise by another 2.2 percent
• Economists forecast India may cut its fiscal deposit to 5.6% of GDP

TAXES :

• More services to be brought under service tax net

• Service tax to result in net revenue gain of Rs 3000cr
• Customs duty on gold to be reduced; silver at Rs 1500/kg
• Uniform concessional duty of 5% on all medical appliances
• Rationalising of customs on gaming software
• Custom duty of one of the key component of microwave oven reduced
• Peak customs duty unchanged at 10%
• Custom duty for importing of duplication of prints of films revised
• No capital gains tax on conversion of a business entity into Limited Liability
Partnership
• Businesses up to Rs 60 lakh and professionals up to Rs 15 lakh to be exempted
from auditing obligations
• Nominal duty of 4% electric cars
• Partial rollback of excise duty on cement, cement products, large cars 6
• To levy excise duty of Re 1/litre on petrol
• R&D Corp Tax break up to 200%
• Uniform Direct Tax receipts to fall by Rs 56,000 cr
• Pilot project for tax grievances extended to 4 cities
• Direct tax scheme to result in revenue loss of Rs 26,000cr
• Corporate tax surcharge down from 10 to 7.5%
• Rs 20,000 additional tax break for infra bonds
• Corp Min Alternate Tax up from 15 to 18%
• New tax rates would offer relief to 60 per cent of tax-payers
• Direct tax slabs: income upto 1.6 lakh = nil, 1.6-5 lakh = 10%, 5-8 lakh = 20%,
• above 8 lakh = 30%
• Centralized Tax Centre at Bengaluru fully functional
• Gross tax receipts Rs 7.46 lakh crore
• Deferment of goods & service tax negative for corporates in FY10-11
• Direct tax to be implemented from April 1, 2011
• Simple tax system with minimum exemptions near completion

MARKETS:

• Realty stock gain after tax sops for developers

• Nifty up 100 pts
• Sensex surges over 350 pts on direct tax sops
• BSE real estate index extends gains to 3% on sops to developers
• 12.30am: Markets responds positively, Sensex up 300 pts
• Banking stocks up, react to banking expansion plans
• Markets up by 100 points
• Fertilizer stocks up, react to reduction of subsidy
• 11.30am: BSE Sensex, Nifty up by 0.5% 7
• Markets react positively to Pranab speech
• 9am: BSE Sensex at 16,296.59, 0.26%
• 9am: NSE index at 4,880.55 0.4%

PRICES :

• Gold gets cheaper

• Petrol, Diesel to be expensive
• Mobile phones to be cheaper
• Large cars, SUVs to cost more
• Petro products, cigarettes to be expensive
• Fertilisers to be costlier after the reduction in subsidy
• High fuel prices added to inflation: Pranab
• Pranab Mukherjee said the govt would initiate action to bridge the gap between
wholesale and retail prices.
• Govt promises to tackle food inflation in budget
• Calls for fiscal discipline have gained urgency as inflation is forecast by some
economists to reach 10 percent in coming weeks as high food prices fuel broader
inflation expectations.

Railway budget 2010-11

Highlights of railway budget 2010-11

New Delhi:

 Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee appeals to business houses to join hands for building
partnership with Railways. Presenting Railway Budget for 2010-11, Banerjee says a special task
force will be set up for early clearance of projects.

 No fare hike for passengers.

 Railways not to be privatised; It will remain with the government, says Banerjee. While not
privatising, Railways have to develop business models for improving earnings, says Banerjee.


 Railways 2020 vision document will contain short, medium and long-term goals. Commitments
fulfilled to the maximum. Out of 120 trains announced in last budget, only three remain to be
flagged off because of lack of broad-gauge lines, says Banerjee.

 Plans to launch a pilot project for fire detection.The government also plans to construct more
underpasses for safety, the minister said while presenting the Railway Budget.

 Railways to start six water bottling plants in places like Ambala, Thiruvananthapuram, Farakka,
Amethi and Nasik to provide clean and cheap drinking water to passengers.

 Indian Railways aims to add 25,000 route kilometers by 2020. The railways currently has 64,015
route kilometers, she said.

 India's railways has set up a special task force to clear investment proposals in 100 days

 Indian Railways plans to keep rail freight rates unchanged, Bloomberg-UTV news channel
reported, without saying where it got the information.

 Railways to set up mobile e-ticketing centres at hospitals, universities, courts, IITs, IIMs, district
headquarters and village panchayats. All 13,000 unmanned level crossings to be manned in the
next five years.

 Railway Protection Force to be strengthened through amendments in RPF Act; women's wing to
be formed in RPF to ensure security of women. Ex-servicemen to be inducted in RPF. Railways
will be the lead partner in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

 Railways to set up Rabindra Museum in Howrah and Geetanjali Museum in Bolpur -- both in
West Bengal -- tocommemorate Rabindranath Tagore's 125th birth anniversary.


 Railways will provide houses to all its employees in the the next 10 years in collaboration with
the Urban Development ministry.

 Railways to enhance contribution to central staff benefit fund. Centre for Railway Research to
be set up at IIT-Kharagpur. Chittaranjan Locomotive Works capacity to be augmented from 200
to 275 engines a year.

 Work on Rae Bareli Coach Factory in Uttar Pradesh to start within a year. Wagon Repair Shop to
be set up in Badnera near Amravati in Maharashtra.

 Integral Coach Factory in Chennai to be modernised and a new unit to be set up there. If land is
available, Railways willing to set up a Diesel Multiple Unit factory in West Bengal.

 No forcible acquisition of land for freight corridor project. One member of each family of land
losers to be given employment in the freight corridor as also in the new projects.

 High-speed dedicated passenger corridors to be constructed; National High Speed Rail Authority
to be set up.

 Revenue from non-core business of Railways to go up from Rs 150 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
Indian Railways has set a target to transport 944 million tons of goods in the year beginning
April 1.

 Railways expects to increase earnings from non core activities. The government aims to increase
non core earnings to Rs10 billion rupees from Rs1.5 billion.

 Railways expects to increase earnings from non core activities. The government aims to increase
non core earnings to Rs10 billion rupees from Rs1.5 billion.


 Despite slowdown, Railways to exceed freight loading target by eight million tonnes during
2009-10. Freight loading target for 2010-11 fixed at 944 million tonnes, 54 million tonnes more
than the current year's revised target. Gross traffic receipt for 2010-11 pegged at Rs94,765
crore.

 Allocation for construction of new lines increased from Rs2848 crore to Rs 4411 crore.

 Rs1,302 crore provided for passenger amenities in the 2010-11 railway budget against Rs 923
crore last year.

 Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)will borrow 91.2 billion rupees ($1.97 billion) from the
market in 2010-11.

 Railways to have master plan for North Eastern region. Special train between India and
Bangladesh to be started to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

 101 additional services to start on Mumbai suburban railways. Survey will be conducted to
connect Sealdah and Howrah stations in West Bengal. To commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's
150th birth anniversary, 'Bharat Teertha' trains to connect several pilgrimage centres across the
country.

 Indian Railway Finance Corporation will borrow Rs91.2 billion ($1.97 billion) from the market in
2010-11.

 Current Affairs: International issues: 05-12

Dec 09
 Developing countries slam Danish text
 The U.N. Copenhagen climate talks were in disarray on Tuesday after developing countries
reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked
• to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the U.N.’s role in
all future climate change negotiations.
• The document also sets unequal limits on per capita carbon emissions for developed and
developing countries in 2050; meaning people in rich countries would be permitted to emit nearly
twice as much under the proposals.
• The so-called Danish text, a secret draft agreement worked on by a group of individuals known
as “the circle of commitment” — but understood to include the U.K., U.S. and Denmark — has
only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalised this week.
• The agreement, leaked to the Guardian, is a departure from the Kyoto protocol’s principle that
rich nations, which have emitted the bulk of the CO{-2}, should take on firm and binding
commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, while poorer nations were not compelled to act.
• The draft hands effective control of climate change finance to the World Bank; would abandon
the Kyoto protocol — the only legally binding treaty that the world has on emissions reductions;
and would make any money to help poor countries adapt to climate change dependent on them
taking a range of actions.
• The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto in 1997, sets legally binding targets for developed
countries to reduce emissions - a major feature of the pact. These amount to cuts of an average
5 per cent below the 1990 levels by 2012.
• Prior to the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change was
adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, but no mandatory limits on emissions were set.
Innovation in financing the climate mitigation efforts
• idea by George Soros.
• The proposal is to tap into the vast hidden reserves of cash that lie ready to keep rich nations’
economies afloat in time of crisis. The cash is in the notional form of special drawing rights
(SDRs), also known as “paper gold”, issued by the IMF. SDRs do not incur interest unless the
money is released into circulation. Mr Soros pointed out that the rich countries did not use it even
during the recent financial crisis.
• He has asked that the developed countries hand their $150 billion of SDRs to developing
countries for immediate use to combat climate change. As soon as the cash is released, it will
incur interest from the IMF—currently at around 0.5%. But this should be paid by the IMF gold
reserve, which is currently worth more than $100 billion. That would ensure that developing
countries are not saddled by debt payments. Mr Soros said the developing countries could make
money from their low-carbon investments from the SDR fund by selling carbon credits on the
carbon markets.
Funds for climate study promised
• The Planning Commission has promised a substantial hike in funds allocation to study climate
change impact and the funds will be made available after the Kasturirangan Committee submits a
report.
BASIC draft not hopeful of Copenhagen pact
• the group of four emerging economies, Brazil, South Africa, India and China, have set June
2010 as the next date by when a consensus could be arrived at.
• The BASIC draft prepared and submitted by China to be considered during the high-profile
negotiations, clearly points out that the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action
shall without any delay hold further sessions, in order to complete the work specified in the
“present decision” (Copenhagen outcome) and the Bali Action Plan.
• The Working Group shall complete its work by June 2010 and present the outcome of its work
to the Conference of the Parties (COP) for “adoption at the resumed session of its 15th session,”
the draft says. The Working Group had emanated from the Bali Action Plan and is entrusted with
the actual negotiations.
CHOGM misses key opportunities
The 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that took place in Trinidad
between November 27 and 29 was presaged with ambitious statements from some of the major
participants.
Analysis
1. The Copenhagen climate summit dominated the proceedings. The host, Trinidad Prime
Minister Patrick Manning, a special session on climate change had special invitees such as U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen, and French President
Nicholas Sarkozy. The summit did produce a strong statement on climate change reflecting the
view of the developing world. But other than that, the conference had little momentum.
2. Ahead of the summit there was considerable talk of CHOGM positioning itself as an effective
platform of developing countries at a time of significant global changes. There was little evidence
of a collective commitment to evolving a common position on other critical issues.
3. Critics say the Commonwealth has ceased to commit itself to upholding human rights and civil
liberties. Fiji remained suspended and Rwanda gained admission after it changed its language to
English from French in 2007. Yet the overall tone was a far cry from the robust exchanges that
 preceded the expulsion of South Africa over apartheid, the 1995 suspension of Nigeria for
executing Ken Saro Wiwa, the suspension of Pakistan in 1999 and again in 2007, respectively for
a military coup and the delayed lifting of martial law, and the suspension of Zimbabwe in 2002
over flawed presidential elections.
4. Despite brave words from certain of the leaders present, the organisation seems to be under-
funded and under-supported.
5. CHOGM 2009 had a curious listlessness portending increasing irrelevance. It would have been
far more useful had the grouping of 53 nations with a shared history of colonialism used the
occasion more imaginatively. It would be worthwhile for the Commonwealth to transform itself
into an enduring platform lending itself to consensus building on some core issues of global
importance. That would have sent a clear message to the world about the high value of a
multicultural, multi-faith, and multilateral body. It is a pity that instead it did precious little to
stop what could be a slide to ineffectuality.
U.S., Russia miss START deadline
• Russia and the United States missed the deadline to sign a replacement to the Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty (START) which expires on Saturday.
• Several rounds of talks have been held since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S.
counterpart agreed in London in early April to prepare an extension to the START treaty signed in
1991.
• Interfax news agency—Russia.
Current Affairs International Issues

U.S. new policy for Afghanistan

The policy

 The 30,000 additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan. There will be a rapid surge of 30,000US
troops in 2010.

 Setting 2011 as the date by when the American combat presence in the country will start
thinning out.

 During this period, additional Afghan troops will be raised and trained to take over there
responsibility from the US forces.

 There will be improvements in civil administration in Afghanistan and stepping up of the

infrastructure development with involvement of UN and other countries.

 There is a promise of a longer term partnership with Pakistan going well beyond the period of
operations against the extremists in the region. US will commit itself to the stability and
prosperity of Pakistan. Islamabad is required to put in all out efforts in eliminating all extremists.

Analists say The American campaign against the Taliban and the al-Qaida suffers from four deficits —
political attention, military doctrine, Afghan capability, and a Pakistani commitment the new policy is
directed towards it.

1. The new Obama policy has hopefully ended the attention deficit triggered by the Bush
administration’s foolish and criminal invasion of Iraq in 2003.
 2. But the other handicaps still remain. Over the past few years, American military doctrine has
leaned too heavily on the deployment of overwhelming firepower, deployed from afar, rather
than on the granulated application of force. Thereby, U.S. casualties have been low but an
unconscionably large number of Afghan civilians have died in what the Pentagon
euphemistically calls “collateral damage.” If the Taliban are to be defeated, the U.S. and its allies
will have to be far more intelligent in their military methods than they have been so far.

3. The Obama package is supposed to address a part of the third deficit — Afghan national
capabilities in the security field — but the kind of emphasis we have seen so far does not inspire
much confidence. If the U.S. is serious about setting 2011 as the date by when the American
combat presence in the country will start thinning out, the Afghan National Army will have to be
staffed, trained, and equipped at a much higher level, a task that requires a higher magnitude of
funding.

4. By far the biggest weakness of the new Af-Pak policy is Mr. Obama’s inability to craft an
effective strategy to deal with the Pakistani side of the equation. the U.S. president spoke of a
cancer that has spread on both sides of the Durand Line & threaten Islamabad into taking action
against the Taliban and other extremist groups which operate from its territory. The only
problem is the 2011 exit date that Mr. Obama announced alongside the surge. With very little
indication that the Pakistani military is ready to jettison its strategic patronage of terrorist
groups, there is the possibility that Rawalpindi might well be tempted to instruct the Taliban to
lie low till the appointed hour only to emerge triumphant once U.S. troops begin to leave.

For India- Pakistan is have expressed concern about an expanding Indian presence in Afghanistan.
However in the Indo-US joint statement, Obama appreciated India’s role in reconstruction and
rebuilding efforts and the two leaders agreed to enhance their respective efforts in this direction in
Afghanistan. It is obvious that Obama has Rejected Pakistan’s concerns on the Indian presence in
Afghanistan. Whether he will now go further and request Indian help to train Afghan troops, overriding
Pakistani objections,remains to be seen.
The speech within the speech
Australian Parliament defeats Bill on global warming

 Australia’s plans for an emissions trading system to combat global warming were scuttled on
Wednesday in Parliament, handing a defeat to a government that had hoped to set an example
at international climate change talks next week.

 The Senate, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government does not hold a majority, rejected
his administration’s proposal for Australia to become one of the first countries to install a so-
called cap-and-trade system to slash the amount of heat-trapping pollution that industries pump
into the air.

EU draft on Israel-Palestine Proposal in The draft

  EU Foreign Ministers are expected to officially call for the division of Jerusalem, with each part
serving as the respective capital of Israel and a Palestinian State. A draft authored by Sweden.

 The EU draft calls for the resumption of talks between Israelis and Palestinians, leading to the
emergence of “an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine,
comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

 The EU also welcomes that proposal of Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s
to unilaterally declare Palestinian independence. The PA has adopted this position after Israel
refused to accept an unqualified settlement freeze in all occupied territory including East
Jerusalem.
Reaction

 Israel rejects the division of Jerusalem, and has defied international calls for a settlement freeze
in East Jerusalem — the territory, along with West Bank and Gaza that it occupies following the
1967 Arab-Israeli war.

 Israel has cautioned the European Union (EU) that its intention to formally back East Jerusalem
as the capital of a future Palestinian state will be counterproductive and undermine its
mediatory role in resolving the Israel-Palestine issue.

The Golan Heights’ ,Israel- Syrian

 Little has changed in Quneitra, former capital of the Syrian Golan Heights, since Israeli forces
withdrew behind the barbed wire and minefields of the nearby ceasefire line in 1974.

 Syria has made no attempt to rebuild. Until Israel vacates the two-thirds of the Golan Heights it
first seized in 1967 and annexed in 1981, as Syria insists it must, it prefers symbolism to salvage.

 President Bashar Al-Assad wants a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan in return for ending the
state of war. Implicit in such a deal is Syrian recognition of Israel, mutual security guarantees
and normalisation of relations.

 Talks mediated by Turkey last year raised hopes of a deal. But Israel’s attack on Hamas in Gaza
caused Syria to pull out, while Turkey, shedding its neutral pose, condemned Israeli actions.

 U.S. President Barack Obama’s willingness to engage with Syria also raised expectations of
another “Damascus spring”. This year he moved to ease sanctions, promised to send a U.S.
ambassador back to Damascus and dispatched his West Asia envoy, George Mitchell, for talks.

 Relations with Saudi- arebia plummeted after Syria was accused of ordering the 2005
assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister and Saudi Arabia ally, Rafiq Al-Hariri.

 But like the Americans, the Saudi Arabians see a resurgent Iran, not Israel, as the primary
regional threat. By repairing ties, they hope to break, or at least temper, Syria’s links with
Tehran.
  Mr. Mitchell said again this week that the U.S. wanted to advance the Syrian track. But concerns
about Syria’s role in Iraq, its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and for Palestinian rejectionist
groups, its human rights record, suspicious nuclear activities and alliance with Iran have
increased domestic pressure on Mr. Obama to be cautious in reaching out to Syria, even though
he might achieve a regional peace breakthrough.

Amnesty ordinance lapses

 The controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance, under which President Asif Ali Zardari and
thousands of others received amnesty from corruption charges against them, lapsed on
Saturday, raising questions about the potential implications for the Pakistan People’s Party
leader’s political future and for the government.

 The PPP-led government was compelled to let the NRO lapse after it became clear earlier this
month it would not be able to have the law endorsed by Parliament. Even its allies deserted it
on this issue.

 In July, the Supreme Court had set November 28 as the deadline for parliamentary approval for
the NRO and 36 other ordinances decreed by the former President, Pervez Musharraf, in 2007.

 Mr. Zardari repromulagated 28 of these ordinances on Friday night, including the National
Command Authority Ordinance, which he amended to make Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani its
chairman. The NCA controls Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

Zardari hands over nuclear weapons keys to Gilani

 Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari appeared to take the first step towards handing executive
powers to the elected Prime Minister on Friday by divesting himself of the powers of the head
of the nuclear chain of command and transferring them to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

 In a late night development, Mr. Zardari reissued the National Command Authority Ordinance
2009, amending it in the process to make the Prime Minister the Chairman of the body that has
overall control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

 The Ordinance was first passed by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in October 2007, and
was part of his effort to ensure that the NCA would be under his control after the February 2008
elections

U.S. panel to summon Salahis (Tareq and Michaele Salahi)

 Virginia couple who gate crashed into President Barack Obama’s first state dinner. Nato
secretary general: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

World Conservation Day - 03 Dec China silent on border road issue

  Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang neither confirmed nor denied reports that China had
raised objections with the State authorities over the construction of an 8-km road in Ladakh
near the Line of Actual Control, the effective demarcation between the two countries.

Solange Magnano

 Former Miss Argentina died from complications after cosmetic surgery. A 38-YEAR-OLD former
Miss Argentina has died from complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery on her buttocks

HIV entry ban repealed

 The end of a 22-year-old ban on the entry of people with HIV into the United States.

 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has followed up promptly, by
publishing the rule in the Federal Register.

 The U.S. was one of a dozen countries that have archaic laws barring the entry of people
infected by HIV.

 The ban in the U.S. was enacted in 1987 amidst widespread fears that HIV, like tuberculosis, was
a communicable disease and spread through physical or respiratory contact.

Arab journalist throws shoe at Iraqi shoe throw

 An Arabic-speaking man on Tuesday hurled a shoe at the Iraqi journalist (Muntazer al-Zaidi) who
one year earlier had thrown a shoe at former US president George W Bush.

Osama was within U.S. troops’ reach: report

 Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was cornered by U.S. forces in the Afghan mountains of Tora
Bora just months after 9/11 and could have been killed or captured, but the military top brass
decided not to attack him with the massive force at their disposal,says a Senate report.

 The report, by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,

Nepal Cabinet to meet at Everest

 The government would be holding a Cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar in the Everest region — at
an altitude of 17,192ft — on December 4.

 The historic meeting would endorse a declaration on climate issues.

 Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Dipak Bohara, who initiated the idea, on Sunday
announced that the meeting would last around 20 minutes.

World Disability Day-03 Not for punitive approach, says India

  India, which voted for the IAEA resolution against Iran’s failure to implement fully all its
safeguard obligations under the IAEA regime, has also made clear that this resolution should not
be the basis of a “renewed punitive approach or new sanctions” against Iran.

 In the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Current Awareness -January 2010

E-mail

INDIA AND THE WORLD

India-Japan Relation

Japan inks pact for Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project (DMIC).

Rs. 3.6 lakh Crore
New Delhi & Tokyo signed two Pacts, including Collaboration in developing & Promoting eco-cities around
the project. (Smart communities).
The Japan Bank of International Cooperation also signed a loan agreement totalling upto USD 75 million
(Rs 330 Crore) with India ,Infrastructure Finance to prepare plan for overall DMIC region & developing
plans for investment-in phase -1st.
The DMIC Project Development Fund is envisaged to be set up with equal Contribution from India and
Japan.
The Centre has already approved a grant of Rs 330 Crore towards this.
Japanese pm Yukio Hatoyama.
This shows that both the Countries are committed to take forward the bilateral cooperation & further
accelerate economic engagements.
The DMIC is planned to promote integrated development of Industry and Infrastructure in a band of 150-
200km on the either side of the Dedicated Railway Freight Corridor between Delhi & Mumbai, over a
length of about 1,500km
The Delhi-Mumbai Dedicated Railway Freight Corridor is also being post-founded by Japanese Govt.
The agreement would help DMIC to establish eco-friendly township & Industrial Zones by adopting global
best practises

SCHEME

Government Plans Schemes For Free Treatment Of Road- Accident Victims

The Govt. is planning to introduce a scheme to fund the medical treatment of victims of road accidents
for the first 48 hours through insurance Companies or budgetary Support.
Free-treatment scheme will be rolled out,
Flag off pilot projects, Mumbai-Pune Expressway is a good option.
The Committee headed by- Former Transport- Secretary S.Sundar (2005)
The Committee headed by Transport- Secretary Brahm Dutt (current)

NISER-NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATIONAND RESEARCH (NISER) -

BHUBANESHWAR
ESL Narasimhan takes charges as AP Governor
India Continues to be world’s largest milk producer

Govt. introduces Maharastra states for top PSUS.

The Govt has approved bestowing the (Maharastra) Status enchanced autonomy to the PSUS which have
a three year track record of annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore & net profit of Rs 5,000 Crore.
The govt. on Thursday transferred state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. From the Shipping to the
Defence Ministry to meet the Country’s Security Needs.

In India - ASEAN talks on services trade from 12th Jan 2010.

India has lined up a series of meetings with the ASEAN members over the next seven months to reach a
deal on opening up services trade, after opening up services trade, after opening up of merchandise
trade.
Two rounds of Negotiations have already taken place in this regard.
India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of southeast Nations (Asean) in Aug;
which will come into effect from 1st January, 2010 and is committed to begin breaking duty barriers on
goods.
Brunei, Combodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam are
the 10 Members of the the Asean,
India has an observer status in the bloc.
All Complaints received by police stations should be treated as FIRS- The Home Ministry has decided to
issue a circular to all states.

30th Dec 2009

13th Finance Commission submits report to the President-
The report of the finance Commission, headed by former finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar.
Miss Gibraltar Aldorino takes home Miss World 2009 Crown.

Current Awareness -November 2009

1. The Rs. 12,400 crore manned space mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is
scheduled for launch by—
(A) 2020
(B) 2015
(C) 2030
(D) 2012
Ans : (B)

2. India plans a manned mission to the moon by—

(A) 2020
(B) 2025
(C) 2030
(D) 2012
Ans : (A)
3. A Judge (of a High Court) may be removed from his office by the President in the manner provided in
clause (4) of ……… for the removal of a judge of the Supreme Court.
(A) Article 125
(B) Article 124
(C) Article 126
(D) Article 127
Ans : (B)

4. In order to remove judges of the Supreme Court or High Court through impeachment proceedings a
motion is addressed to the President signed by at least—
(A) 100 members of Lok Sabha or 50 members of Rajya Sabha
(B) 50 members of Rajya Sabha or 150 members of Lok Sabha
(C) 80 members of Lok Sabha or 30 members of Rajya Sabha
(D) 60 members of Lok Sabha or 70 members of Rajya Sabha
Ans : (A)

5. Recently India and US have signed a pact on—

(A) petroleum
(B) biofuels
(C) atomic energy
(D) None of these
Ans : (B)

6. According to the UNICEF’s flagship report, ‘State of the World’s Children’ (2009) the number of
women dying every year in India in Child Births is—
(A) 75000
(B) 77000
(C) 70000
(D) 78000
Ans : (D)

7. The Planning Commission has approved an ambitious scheme known as the Van Panchayat Yojna
aiming at achieving the target of covering …………… of India’s geographical area with trees.
(A) 35%
(B) 40%
(C) 33%
(D) 28%
Ans : (C)

8. The Latest Forest Survey of India says that only ………… of the country’s land was covered with trees.
(A) 30%
(B) 22%
(C) 23%
(D) 20%
Ans : (C)

9. India has recently signed a pact for supply of reactors with—

(A) Areva
(B) U.S.A.
(C) Russia
(D) Japan
Ans : (A)

10. The last U.S.A. military base in Central Asia which was voted out by Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament was
situated at—
(A) Manas
(B) Astana
(C) Bishkek
(D) Tashkant
Ans : (A)

11. Currently the Prime Minister of Iceland is—

(A) Geir Haarde
(B) Hugo Chavez
(C) Johanna Sigurdardottir
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)

12. ……… Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) was organised by The Energy and Resource
Institute (TERI) in New Delhi recently—Fill in the blank with—
(A) Tenth
(B) Ninth
(C) Eleventh
(D) Eighth
Ans : (B)

13. BDR stands for—

(A) Border Development Force
(B) Border District Development
(C) Bangladesh Rifles
(D) Bangladesh Development Rifles
Ans : (C)

14. Zillur Rahman is the new President of—

(A) Malaysia
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Maldives
(D) Kazakhstan
Ans : (B)

15. Slumdog Millionaire won the Oscar Awards in—

(A) Eight categories
(B) Seven categories
(C) Six categories
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)

16. The Oscar Award for Best Actress has been bagged by—
(A) Dustin Lance Black
(B) Kate Winslet
(C) Vicky Christina
(D) None of the above
Ans : (B)

17. Sean Penn has got the Oscar Award 2009 for—
(A) Best Actor
(B) Best Director
(C) Adapted Screenplay
(D) Original Song
Ans : (A)

18. According to a recent report the percentage of all immigrant founded companies in last ten years
founded by Indian immigrant is—
(A) 26%
(B) 30%
(C) 35%
(D) 40%
Ans : (A)

19. STPF stands for—

(A) Special Task Protection Force
(B) Special Tiger Protection Force
(C) Special Tiger Police Force
(D) None of the above
Ans : (B)

20. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) report the country which tops the
World Hunger Chart is—
(A) Sierra Leone
(B) India
(C) Somalia
(D) Pakistan
Ans : (B)

21. ‘Daughters of Shame’ is a book written by—

(A) Jasvinder Sanghera
(B) Mehar Fatima Hussain
(C) Kermit Roosevelt
(D) Shazia Aziz
Ans : (A)

22. Earth Day is observed on—

(A) April 22
(B) April 17
(C) April 30
(D) April 24
Ans : (A)

23. The winner of Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is—

(A) New Zealand
(B) Australia
(C) India
(D) West Indies
Ans : (B)

24. NPs Aulakh has been appointed as the new Chief of—
(A) National Security Guard
(B) Research and Analysis Wing
(C) Central Bureau of Investigation
(D) National Investigation Agency
Ans : (A)

25. According to recent estimates of Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) during 2008-09 India’s
national income will grow at—
(A) 8·8%
(B) 10%
(C) 7·1%
(D) 8·5%
Ans : (C)
26. The winner of Australian Open Tennis Women’s Singles Title is—
(A) Dinara Safin
(B) Serena Williams
(C) Sania Mirza
(D) Venus Williams
Ans : (B)

27. Navin Chawla has been appointed as the new—

(A) Director General of Border Security Force
(B) National Security Guards Chief
(C) Central Bureau of Investigation Chief
(D) Chief Election Commissioner
Ans : (D)

28. The winner of Australian Open Tennis Men’s Singles Title is—
(A) Roger Federer
(B) Mahesh Bhupati
(C) Andy Murray
(D) Rafael Nadal
Ans : (D)

29. Indian Cricket team is the number …………… team in the latest ICC’s One Day ranking.
(A) Two
(B) Three
(C) Four
(D) Five
Ans : (B)

30. G-20 Finance Ministers meeting recently took place in—

(A) London
(B) Paris
(C) New Delhi
(D) Horsham
Ans : (D)

31. Who among the following personalities recently visited India ?

(A) Hillary Clinton
(B) Bill Clinton
(C) Martin Luther King III
(D) Martin Luther King IV
Ans : (C)

32. The World Wide Web (WWW) on March 13, 2009 marked its—
(A) 25th anniversary
(B) 30th anniversary
(C) 20th anniversary
(D) 35th anniversary
Ans : (C)

33. Luther L. Terry Award has been given to—

(A) K. Srinath Reddy
(B) K. Vishwanath
(C) Ronald M. Davis
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)

34. Who has recently overtaken Warren Buffet as world’s richest man ?
(A) Mukesh Ambani
(B) Anil Ambani
(C) Bill Gates
(D) Ratan Tata
Ans : (C)

35. The President of which of the following countries visited India in March 2009—
(A) Yugoslavia
(B) Benin
(C) Macedonia
(D) Turkey
Ans : (B)

36. According to Economist Intelligence Unit recent Survey the world’s costliest city is—
(A) New York
(B) Mumbai
(C) Washington
(D) Tokyo
Ans : (D)

37. The former Israeli President who has been charged with rape is—
(A) Benjamin Nitinyahu
(B) Shimon Peres
(C) Moshe Katsav
(D) Ariel Sharon
Ans : (C)

38. According to Tobacco Atlas in India roughly the number of people who are consuming tobacco is—
(A) 250 million
(B) 230 million
(C) 220 million
(D) 225 million
Ans : (B)

39. INS Viraat—the sole aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean of the Indian Navy will celebrate its ………… in
November 2009.
(A) Golden Jubilee
(B) Silver Jubilee
(C) Diamond Jubilee
(D) Platinum Jubilee
Ans : (A)

40. India recently launched Interceptor Missile on March 6, 2009 for—

(A) the fourth time
(B) the fifth time
(C) the third time
(D) the second time
Ans : (C)

41. The Chief Guest on 60th Republic Day of India was—

(A) Kazakhstan’s President
(B) Uzbekistan’s President
(C) Tajikistan’s President
(D) Kyrgyzstan’s President
Ans : (A)

42. The number of members of Global Advisory Council constituted by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh is—
(A) 20
(B) 25
(C) 27
(D) 30
Ans : (A)

43. This year Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was celebrated in—

(A) Mumbai
(B) Madras
(C) Chennai
(D) Kolkata
Ans : (C)

44. Which of the following recently celebrated its Platinum Jubilee ?

(A) Indian Space Research Organisation
(B) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(C) Indian National Science Academy
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)

45. The new Research and Analysis wing Chief is—

(A) Radha Vinod Raju
(B) M. N. Prasad
(C) J. K. Sodhi
(D) K. C. Verma
Ans : (D)

46. Which of the following Indian cricketers has not been inducted in ICC’s Hall of Fame ?
(A) Sachin Tendulkar
(B) Sunil Gavaskar
(C) Kapil Dev
(D) Bishen Singh Bedi
Ans : (A)

47. According to a recently published report, the State/Union Territory which has occupied top spot in
Education index is—
(A) Lakshdeep
(B) Kerala
(C) Puducherry
(D) Karnataka
Ans : (C)

48. The runner-up in Australian Open 2009 (Men’s Singles) is—

(A) Rafael Nadal
(B) Mahesh Bhupati
(C) Roger Federer
(D) Andy Murray
Ans : (C)

49. The runner-up in Australian Open (Women’s Singles) 2009 is—

(A) Dinara Safin
(B) Venus William
(C) Serena William
(D) Sania Mirza
Ans : (A)

50. The winner of Parsvanath International Open Chess Tournament is—

(A) Mikhail Ulibin
(B) Surya Shekhar Ganguly
(C) Samresh Jung
(D) O. Sullevan
Ans : (B)

51. The Chairman of Anti Doping Panel constituted by the Government is—
(A) Jasmeet Singh
(B) Dinesh Dayal
(C) Dr. Vikas Ahluwalia
(D) Dinesh Khanna
Ans : (B)

52. This year National Games have been held in—

(A) Sikkim
(B) Assam
(C) Kerala
(D) Jharkhand
Ans : (D)

53. Which of the following was not the base of LTTE before being captured by Sri Lankan forces ?
(A) Muridke
(B) Elephant Pass
(C) Kilinochchi
(D) Mullaithivu
Ans : (A)

54. DRDO came into existence in—

(A) 1960
(B) 1958
(C) 1962
(D) 1965
Ans : (B)

55. This year Pankaj Advani has been given—

(A) Padma Vibhushan
(B) Padma Bhushan
(C) Padma Shri
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)

56. Who among the following has not been honoured with Padma Vibhushan ?
(A) Dr. Gurdip Singh Randhawa
(B) D. P. Chattopadhyay
(C) Govind Narain
(D) Chandrika Prasad Srivastava
Ans : (A)
57. ‘India and China—A Thousand Years of Cultural Relations’ is the book written by—
(A) Probodh Chandra Bagchi
(B) K. Bikram Singh
(C) Romila Thapar
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)

58. World Consumer Rights Day is observed on—

(A) March 12
(B) March 15
(C) March 23
(D) March 24
Ans : (B)

59. The Government of India has declared……as the National Day for the Girl Child.
(A) February 25
(B) January 27
(C) March 22
(D) January 24
Ans : (D)

60. In 2007-08, Enrolment rate for Muslim children increased to—

(A) 8·41%
(B) 10·49%
(C) 9·39%
(D) 7·25%
Ans : (B)

61. The 75th edition of Ranji Trophy was won by—

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Railways
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Mumbai
Ans : (D)

62. Recently, the scientist who came into news is—

(A) Albert Einstein
(B) Charles Darwin
(C) Newton
(D) Vikram Sarabhai
Ans : (B)

63. In the Interim Budget 2009-10 the Government of India has allocated for its flagship programmes,
the amount of—
(A) Rs. 112,571 crore
(B) Rs. 122, 841 crore
(C) Rs. 131,317 crore
(D) Rs. 451,311 crore
Ans : (C)

64. The new Prime Minister of Zimbabwe is—

(A) Robert Mugabe
(B) Morgan Tsvangirai
(C) Thabo Mbeki
(D) None of the above
Ans : (B)

65. In recently held elections in Israel, the political party which emerged largest in terms of number of
seats is—
(A) Likud Party
(B) Kadima Party
(C) Labour Party
(D) Yisrael Beiteinu
Ans : (A)

66. 35th National Games will be held in—

(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Karnataka
(C) Gujarat
(D) Kerala
Ans : (D)

67. Prashant Prakash and Kalki Koechlin are the winners of—
(A) Padma Shree
(B) Metro Plus Playwright Award
(C) Assam Ratna
(D) None of the above
Ans : (B)

68. The winner of Duleep Trophy is—

(A) East Zone
(B) South Zone
(C) West Zone
(D) North Zone
Ans : (C)

69. The Punjab Gold Cup has been won by—

(A) Poland
(B) The Netherlands
(C) England
(D) Norway
Ans : (B)

70. World Social Forum meeting was recently held in—

(A) Paris
(B) Belem
(C) Davos
(D) Moscow
Ans : (B)

71. The controversial Pakistani scientist who was recently in news is—
(A) Abdul Jamal
(B) Shah Mahmood Qureshi
(C) Kazi Hussain
(D) Abdul Qadir Khan
Ans : (D)

72. The new Chairman of Satyam Computer Services is—

(A) Kiran Karnik
(B) Prem Chand Gupta
(C) Habil Khorkiwala
(D) R. N. Mittal
Ans : (A)

73. In Iraqi Parliamentary elections Prime Minister Nouri-Al-Maliki’s candidates have won in—
(A) 14 provinces
(B) 9 provinces
(C) 8 provinces
(D) 7 provinces
Ans : (B)

74. In the latest ICC ODI (Team) ranking, India has occupied—
(A) No. 2 position
(B) No. 3 position
(C) No. 4 position
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)

75. The Sustainable Leadership Award has been given to—

(A) R. K. Pachauri
(B) Bill Gates
(C) Ban Ki-Moon
(D) Arundhati Roy
Ans : (C)

76. ‘QUARK 2009’ is—

(A) An exhibition on peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy
(B) India’s ambitious project to Mars
(C) India-Russia joint noval exercise
(D) Annual-National level technical festival of BITs Pilani
Ans : (D)

77. ‘Best Executive 2008’ by Asia-money magazine has been given to—
(A) S. M. Natrajan
(B) O. P. Bhatt
(C) Ravinder Zutshi
(D) C. B. Bhav
Ans : (B)

78. Twelve new frog species have been found in—

(A) Konkan region
(B) Malwa
(C) Eastern Ghats
(D) Western Ghats
Ans : (D)

79. Sheik Sharif Ahmed is the new President of—

(A) Uganda
(B) Rawanda
(C) Somalia
(D) Morocco
Ans : (C)

80. India’s Moon Impact Probe (MIP) landed on Moon’s Surface on—
(A) November 10, 2008
(B) November 11, 2008
(C) November 14, 2008
(D) November 15, 2008
Ans : (C)

81. Stolt Valor which was recently hijacked by sea-pirates belongs to—
(A) Germany
(B) Japan
(C) U.S.A.
(D) Saudi Arabia
Ans : (B)

82. During the Egyptian President’s visit to India in November 2008 five pacts were signed with Egypt.
Which of the following was not signed ?
(A) Pact in the field of health and medicine
(B) Agreement on purchasing petrol at cheaper rate
(C) An extradition treaty
(D) Agreement on abolition of visa for specific categories
Ans : (B)

83. Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President who recently visited India, has been the President of his country
since—
(A) 1971
(B) 1981
(C) 1961
(D) 1990
Ans : (B)

84. On November 12, 2008 India testfired successfully Shourya missile. It is a—

(A) Air to air missile
(B) Air to surface missile
(C) Surface to surface missile
(D) Surface to sea missile
Ans : (C)

85. ITR stands for—

(A) International Tariff Rate
(B) Integrated Trial Rate
(C) Integrated Trial Range
(D) Integrated Test Range
Ans : (D)

86. Recently National River Status has been granted to—

(A) Mahanadi
(B) Ganga
(C) Sindhu
(D) Brahmaputra
Ans : (B)

87. Pt. Bhimsen Joshi who has been declared ‘Bharat Ratna’ winner was born in—
(A) Gadag
(B) Palakkad
(C) Pune
(D) Mysore
Ans : (A)

88. Under the revised pay scale of Judges as approved by the Union Cabinet on November 27, 2008,
which of the following pairs/matches is not correct ?
(A) Chief Justice of India—Rs. 1 lakh per month
(B) Chief Justice of the High Court—Rs. 90,000 per month
(C) Judge of the High Court—Rs. 80,000 per month
(D) Judge of the Supreme Court—Rs. 85,000 per month
Ans : (D)

89. The Security forces of India launched……to flush out terrorists which wreaked havoc in Mumbai in
the last week of November 2008.
(A) Operation Liberate Mumbai
(B) Operation Sea Storm
(C) Operation Black Tornadoes
(D) Operation Thunder storm
Ans : (C)

90. The highest number of electoral college votes during U.S.A. Presidential Election belongs to—
(A) California
(B) Florida
(C) Connecticut
(D) Virginia
Ans : (A)

91. In U.S.A. Presidential election, 2008 Barack Obama got—

(A) 371 electoral college votes
(B) 320 electoral college votes
(C) 364 electoral college votes
(D) 360 electoral college votes
Ans : (C)

92. The author of which of the following is not Barack Obama ?

(A) Dream from My Father
(B) Thoughts on Reclaiming Dream
(C) It Takes a Nation : How Strangers Became Family
(D) My Great America
Ans : (D)

93. European Union-Russia summit was held recently at—

(A) Nice
(B) Bonn
(C) St. Petersburgh
(D) London
Ans : (A)

94. Abu Dhabi was recently in news for hosting—

(A) Arab Women’s Conference
(B) OPEC Summit
(C) APEC Summit
(D) Arab League Summit
Ans : (A)

95. By an agreement between Iraq and the U.S.A., the latter has committed to withdraw its troops from
Iraq by—
(A) 2010
(B) 2011
(C) 2009
(D) 2012
Ans : (B)

96. BIMSTEC is—

(A) Seven-member nation organisation
(B) Eight-member nation organisation
(C) Nine-member organisation
(D) Six-member nation organisation
Ans : (A)

97. Recently BIMSTEC held its—

(A) Third Summit
(B) Fourth Summit
(C) Second Summit
(D) Fifth Summit
Ans : (C)

98. Which of the following countries leads space launch tally ?

(A) U.S.A.
(B) Russia
(C) Japan
(D) E.U.
Ans : (B)

99. The headquarters of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) is situated at—
(A) Kuala Lumpur
(B) Singapore
(C) Lima
(D) Santiago
Ans : (B)

100. Who has recently been made the first ambassador to the Geneva based Global fund to fight Aids,
tuberculosis and malaria ?
(A) Amitabh Bachchan
(B) Britney Spears
(C) Carla Bruni
(D) Zinedine Zidane
Ans : (C)

101. Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2008 has been conferred on—
(A) Dr. Mohammad El Bardei
(B) Hosni Mubarak
(C) Shabana Azmi
(D) Nelson Mandela
Ans : (A)

102. The prestigious Jnanpith award winner for 2005 is—

(A) Abdul Rahman Rahi
(B) Kunwar Narayan
(C) Ravindra Kelekar
(D) Satyavarat Shastri
Ans : (B)

103. ‘The Bikini Murders’ is a book by—

(A) Erez Mandela
(B) J. V. Braun
(C) Farukh Dhondy
(D) Martin Dupuls
Ans : (C)

104. LTTE’s administrative headquarters is situated at—

(A) Batticaola
(B) Kilinochchi
(C) Puthumu Rippu
(D) Ariviyal Nakar
Ans : (B)
105. UNO recently banned Pakistan based terrorist organisation—
(A) JKLF
(B) United Taliban Front
(C) Al-Humijat
(D) Jamat-ud-Dawa
Ans : (D)

106. The six important inscriptions which have recently come to light in Tamil Nadu’s 1200 year old
Shiva Temple reveal—
(A) Early Chola history
(B) Early Kushans history
(C) Early Mauryan history
(D) Early Sangam history
Ans : (A)

107. LITE is the proposed Maiden Moon Mission of—

(A) Germany
(B) France
(C) Britain
(D) Japan
Ans : (C)

108. The 2008 World Snooker Champion is—

(A) Pankaj Advani
(B) Colm Gilcreest
(C) Thepchai Un-Nooh
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)

109. The male sports man chosen as Athlete of the Year 2008 is—
(A) Usain Bolt
(B) Dayron Robles
(C) Angelo Taylor
(D) Henry Rono
Ans : (A)

110. The Champion of 2008 Formula one Races is—

(A) Kim Raikkonen
(B) Lewis Hamilton
(C) Felipe Massa
(D) Robert Kubica
Ans : (B)
111. According to Forbes latest list, the fourth richest Indian is—
(A) Anil Ambani
(B) Kushal Pal Singh
(C) Sunil Mittal
(D) Lakshmi Mittal
Ans : (C)

112. India ranks………..on Global Gender-Gap Index.

(A) 115th
(B) 113th
(C) 110th
(D) 111th
Ans : (B)

113. IBEx is—

(A) NASA’s Probe
(B) EU’s Probe
(C) EU NASA joint Probe
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)

114. According to Forbes Magazine the richest lady of India is—

(A) Indira Nooyi
(B) Sonia Gandhi
(C) Savitri Jindal
(D) Teena Ambani
Ans : (C)

115. National Women Excellence Award 2008 has been given to—
(A) Pritika Kalra Gandhi
(B) Sheila Dixit
(C) Sharmila Tagore
(D) Shabana Azmi
Ans : (A)

116. The female Athlete of the Year Award has been conferred on—
(A) Yelena Isinbayeva
(B) Tirunesh Dibaba
(C) Pamela Jelimo
(D) Anne Frazer
Ans : (A)

117. World Junior Badminton Championship (Woman’s title) has been won by—
(A) Sayaka Sato
(B) Fu Mingtian
(C) Saina Nehwal
(D) Xie Jing
Ans : (C)

118. India’s first 3G Technology-based mobile phone service of MTNL was launched on—
(A) December 15, 2008
(B) December 11, 2008
(C) December 10, 2008
(D) December 8, 2008
Ans : (B)

119. The new Chief Minister of Mizoram is—

(A) P. A. Sangma
(B) Mr. Lalthanhawla
(C) R. Lalzirliana
(D) H. Liansailova
Ans : (B)

120. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) the number of farmers who committed
suicides during 2007 is—
(A) 16,632
(B) 4,238
(C) 11,026
(D) 1,21,617
Ans : (A)

121. India–U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed on—

(A) October 11, 2008
(B) October 20, 2008
(C) October 15, 2008
(D) October 5, 2008
Ans : (A)

122. The IIM Review Committee which recommended higher government control on IIMs is headed by—
(A) M. K. Prasad
(B) R.C. Bhargava
(C) Ravi Kumar
(D) C. Rangrajan
Ans : (B)

123. India launched its first Moon Mission Chandrayaan-1 on—

(A) October 10, 2008
(B) October 15, 2008
(C) October 20, 2008
(D) October 22, 2008
Ans : (D)

124. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle which put Chandrayaan-1 into its orbit is—
(A) PSLV-C-9
(B) PSLV-C-8
(C) PSLV-C-11
(D) PSLV-C-7
Ans : (C)

125. India is the ……country to send Moon Mission.

(A) Fifth
(B) Fourth
(C) Sixth
(D) Seventh
Ans : (B)

126. The number of instruments which the spacecraft Chandrayaan carried is—
(A) 15
(B) 20
(C)11
(D) 9
Ans : (C)

127. Union Cabinet has cleared Right to Education Bill which is the enabling legislation to notify—
(A) The 91th Constitutional Amendment
(B) The 86th Constitutional Amendment
(C) The 95th Constitutional Amendment
(D) The 93rd Constitutional Amendment
Ans : (B)

128. On October 15, 2008 the……IBSA Summit concluded in New Delhi.

(A) Third
(B) Fourth
(C) Fifth
(D) Sixth
Ans : (A)

129. The IBSA Dialogue Forum was formalised through the adoption of the Brasilia Declaration in—
(A) 2004
(B) 2003
(C) 2005
(D) 2006
Ans : (B)

130. ACD stands for—

(A) Asian Cooperative Dialogue
(B) Asia Cooperation Dialogue
(C) Asia China Dialogue Forum
(D) Asian-Chinese Dialogue
Ans : (B)

131. The number of member countries who participated in Asia-Europe Meeting Summit held on
October 24-25, 2008 was—
(A) 45
(B) 40
(C) 35
(D) 30
Ans : (A)

132. The new-President of Maldives is—

(A) Abdul Gayoom
(B) Mohammad Anni Nasheed
(C) Mohammad Irshad
(D) Abdul Qadir
Ans : (B)

133. Which of the following states has topped in Governments’ Primary Education Development Index ?
(A) Delhi
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Kerala
(D) Tamil Nadu
Ans : (C)

134. EDI stands for—

(A) Enforcement Directorate Index
(B) Education Development Infrastructure
(C) Education and Development Identity
(D) Education Development Index
Ans : (D)

135. Which one of the following is not the winner of 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine ?
(A) Professor Herald Zur Hausen
(B) Martin Chalfi
(C) Prof. Luc Montagnier
(D) Francoise Barre-Sinoussi
Ans : (B)

136. Which one of the following is not the winner of 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics ?
(A) Jean Marie Gustave Le Clezio
(B) Makoto Kobayashi
(C) Toshihide Maskawa
(D) Yoichiro Nambu
Ans : (A)

137. Which one of the following has not won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry ?
(A) Martin Chalfi
(B) Roger Y. Tsien
(C) Osamu Shimomura
(D) Franco Basse Sinoussi
Ans : (D)

138. Traditionally, the first of Nobel Prizes awarded each year in the category of—
(A) Physics
(B) Chemistry
(C) Medicine
(D) Literature
Ans : (C)

139. The Alternative Nobel Prizes are—

(A) Magsaysay Awards
(B) Right to Livelihood Awards
(C) Global Energy Awards
(D) Grammy Awards
Ans : (B)

140. National Consumer Rights Day is observed on—

(A) December 4
(B) December 7
(C) December 24
(D) December 10
Ans : (C)

1. Which of the following is the winner of Miss Universe 2008

(A) Riyo Mori

(B) Zhang Zilin
(C) Dayana Mendoza
(D) Simaran Kaur Mundi
2. The President of India can nominate to the Rajya Sabha :
(A) 6 members
(B) 9 members
(C) 12 members
(D) 15 members

3. The first General elections under the Indian constitution were held in :
(A) 1950
(B) 1951
(C) 1952
(D) 1953

4. The President of India is elected by :

(A) Parliament
(B) State legislatures
(C) by the people directly
(D) by an electrol college consisting of the elected members of the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and the
State Legislative Assemblies.

5. Which article of the Indian constitution empowers the President of India to impose central rule on a
state?
(A) Article 256
(B) Article 356
(C) Article 370
(D) Article 373

6. The time-gap between two sessions of parliament must not exceed :

(A) 3 months
(B) 6 months
(C) 9 months
(D) 12 months

7. The vacancy in the office of the President must be filled within :

(A) 6 month
(B) 9 month
(C) 12 month
(D) 3 month

8. The drafting committee of the Indian Constitution was headed by :

(A) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(B) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(C) N. Gopalaswamy
(D) Jawahar Lal Nehru
9. The Union Cabinet is responsible to :
(A) The Rajya Sabha only
(B) The Lok Sabha only
(C) The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
(D) The President of India

10. Which of the following bodies has not been provided for by the Indian constitution ?
(A) Election Commission
(B) Planning Commission
(C) Finance Commission
(D) Union Public Service Commission

11. The number of Anglo-Indians who can be nominated by the President to the Lok Sabha is :
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5

12. The sanctioned strength of the Judges of Supreme Court of India including the Chief Justice is :
(A) 15
(B) 17
(C) 20
(D) 26

13. Who was the first President of India to be elected unopposed?

(A) Dr. S. Radhakrishana
(B) N. Sanjiva Reddy
(C) V. V. Giri
(D) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

14. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is :
(A) 525 and 250
(B) 552 and 250
(C) 535 and 275
(D) 500 and 250

15. If the Vice-president were to submit his resignation, he would notify to :

(A) The President of India
(B) The Prime Minister
(C) The Chief Justic of India
(D) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

16. What is the minimum strength of a State Legislative Assembly?

(A) 40
(B) 60
(C) 50
(D) 70

17. India is the third developing country to host the 2010 commonwealth Games. The other two are :
(A) Malaysia and South Korea
(B) Singapore and Jamaica
(C) Jamaica & China
(D) Malaysia & Jamaica

18. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is appointed by the :

(A) Prime Minister of India
(B) President of India
(C) Finance Minister
(D) Lok Sabha

19. Article 370 of the Indian constitution deals with :

(A) The Emergency Powers of the President
(B) The special position of the state of Jammu and Kashmir
(C) The power of the President to seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court on any matter of
public importance
(D) Distribution of taxes between the Centre and the State

20. The Supreme commander of the Defence Forces of India is :

(A) The Defence Minister
(B) The Prime Minister
(C) The Chief of the Army Staff
(D) The President of India

21. Which of the following rivers flows through a rift valley?

(A) Kaveri
(B) Krishna
(C) Tapti
(D) Godavari

22. The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of :

(A) Assam
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Rajasthan
(D) West Bengal

23. How many major ports are there at present in India?

(A) 8
(B) 12
(C) 15
(D) 14

24. The earth revolves round the sun and its causes :
(A) Differences in longitude and time
(B) Changes of seasons
(C) Deflection of winds and currents
(D) Formation of day and night

25. Latitude of a point on the earth is measured by the distance in :

(A) Kilometres from the Equator
(B) Angles from the Equator
(C) Angles from the Poles
(D) None of the above

26. The earth is :

(A) Spherical
(B) Elliptical
(C) Oblate Spheroid
(D) Prolate Spheroid

27. Day and Night are equal at the :

(A) Equator
(B) Poles
(C) Prime Meridian
(D) Antarctic

28. The heaviest planet revolving round the sun is :

(A) Moon
(B) Jupiter
(C) Neptune
(D) Pluto

29. The biggest Planet is :

(A) Venus
(B) Mars
(C) Mercury
(D) Jupiter

30. The International Date line passes through :

(A) Exactly through 180° Longitude
(B) Equator
(C) Approximately 180° east or west meridian
(D) 0° Meridian
31. The largest river of Asia is :
(A) Yangtze
(B) Yenisei
(C) Indus
(D) Mekong

32. Which country is called the ‘Sugar Bowl’ of the world?

(A) Cuba
(B) India
(C) Nepal
(D) Norway

33. Which of the following countries has the largest area in the world?
(A) USA
(B) Russia
(C) Canada
(D) China

34. The world’s highest waterfall, the Angel Falls is situated in :

(A) Venezuela
(B) USA
(C) Guyana
(D) Australia

35. The universe is composed of :

(A) Earth
(B) Earth and the Sun
(C) Mat
(D) None

36. The Temperate Grasslands of South America are called :

(A) Pampas
(B) Steppes
(C) Savanna
(D) Evergreen grasslands

37. Rial is the currency of :

(A) Romania
(B) Iran
(C) Japan
(D) Libya

38. New Moore island is situated in the :

(A) Indian Ocean
(B) Bay of Bengal
(C) Arabian Sea
(D) China Sea

39. Which river in the world carries the maximum volume of water?
(A) Amazon
(B) Nile
(C) Mississippi Missouri
(D) Ganga

40. Which of the following rivers crosses the equator twice?

(A) Amazon
(B) Nile
(C) Congo
(D) Orinoco

41. The Indus Valley civilization is associated with :

(A) Egyptians
(B) Sumerians
(C) Chinese
(D) Mesopotamians

42. The Indus Valley Civilization was famous for :

(A) Well planned cities
(B) Efficient civic organisation
(C) Progress of art and architecture
(D) All the above

43. Who was mainly worshipped in the Rig Vedic Period?

(A) Indra
(B) Vishnu
(C) Sun
(D) Trimurti

44. Who is regarded as the great law-giver of ancient India?

(A) Panini
(B) Manu
(C) Kautilya
(D) Dhruv

45. Which of the following is the oldest Veda?

(A) Samaveda
(B) Rigveda
(C) Yajurveda
(D) Atharvaveda

46. Who among the following was called Light of Asia?

(A) Mahavira
(B) Buddha
(C) Akbar
(D) Ashoka

47. Who was the founder of the Gupta dynasty?

(A) Srigupta
(B) Chandragupta II
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Kumargupta

48. The Upanishads are :

(A) A source of Hindu philosophy
(B) Books of Ancient Hindu laws
(C) Books on social behaviour of man
(D) Prayers to God

49. The biggest mosque of India was built by :

(A) Aurangzeb
(B) Shahjahan
(C) Akbar
(D) Jahangir

50. The first Battle of Panipat was fought between :

(A) Sher Shah Suri and Akbar
(B) Humayun and Ibrahim Lodhi
(C) Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi
(D) Babar and Ranasanga

51. The Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the period of Harshavardhana was :
(A) Fa-hien
(B) Hiuen Tsang
(C) Itsing
(D) Wang-sung

52. Who among the following belonged to the moderate group of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Lala Lajpat Rai
(B) Bipin Chandra Pal
(C) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
53. Fa-hien came to India during the reign of :
(A) Ashoka
(B) Chandragupta II
(C) Harsha
(D) Kanishka

54. Which of the following temples was built by the Cholas?

(A) Shore Temple, Mahabali-puram
(B) Brihadeeswara Temple, Tanjavur
(C) Sun Temple, Konark
(D) Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

55. Which dynasty was well-known for excellent village administration?

(A) Pandyas
(B) Pallavas
(C) Cholas
(D) Chalukyas

56. The Ajanta Caves were built during the period of the :
(A) Guptas
(B) Kushanas
(C) Mauryas
(D) Chaulkyas

57. The eight-fold path was propounded by :

(A) Kabirdas
(B) Buddha
(C) Shankaracharya
(D) Mahavira

58. Who were the first to issue gold coins in India?

(A) Mauryas
(B) Indo-Greeks
(C) Guptas
(D) Kushanas

59. ‘The Vedas contain all the truth’ was interpreted by :

(A) Swami Vivekananda
(B) Swami Dayananda
(C) Raja Ram Mohan Rai
(D) None of the above

60. Sanchi portrays the art and sculpture of the :

(A) Jains
(B) Buddhists
(C) Muslims
(D) Christians

61. Which among the following is a folk dance of India?

(A) Manipuri
(B) Garba
(C) Kathakali
(D) Mohiniattam

62. Kathak is the principal classical dance of :

(A) South India
(B) Eastern India
(C) Northern India
(D) Western India

63. The classical dance of Andhra Pradesh is :

(A) Kathakali
(B) Kuchipudi
(C) Odissi
(D) Bharatanatyam

64. The popular folk song of Uttar Pradesh is known as :

(A) Maang
(B) Kajari
(C) Baul
(D) Boli

65. The folk theatre of Bihar is calledÿ:

(A) Rammat
(B) Nautanki
(C) Bidesia
(D) Manch

66. Which of the following classical dance originated in Tamil Nadu ?

(A) Kathakali
(B) Kathak
(C) Bharatanatyam
(D) Odissi

67. The oldest form of composition of the Hindustani vocal music is :

(A) Ghazal
(B) Dhrupad
(C) Thumari
(D) None of the above

68. Indian classical dance has been popularized abroad by :

(A) Malaika Arora
(B) Gopi Krishna
(C) Uday Shankar
(D) Yamini Krishnamurti

69. Tamasha is the famous folk form of musical theatre and belong to :
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Punjab
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Bihar

70. The Sangeet Natak Akademi fosters the development of dance, drama and music in the country.
When was it established ?
(A) 1951
(B) 1953
(C) 1954
(D) 1956

71. When was the Planning Commission set up to prepare a blue print of development for the country?
(A) 1948
(B) 1949
(C) 1950
(D) 1951

72. Who was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission?

(A) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(B) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(C) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(D) Sardar Patel

73. The National Development Council was set up in :

(A) 1948
(B) 1950
(C) 1951
(D) 1962

74. The First Five-year plan covered the period :

(A) 1947-52
(B) 1950-55
(C) 1951-56
(D) 1952-57

75. Removal of poverty was the fore-most objective of which of the following five year plans?
(A) Third
(B) Fourth
(C) Fifth
(D) Sixth

76. Planning Commission is :

(A) Advisory body
(B) Executive body
(C) Government body
(D) Autonomous body

77. The Community Development Programme was launched in :

(A) 1950
(B) 1952
(C) 1956
(D) 1960

78. The highest body which approves the Five-Year Plan is the :
(A) Finance Ministry
(B) Lok Sabha
(C) Rajya Sabha
(D) National Development Council

79. Which of the following commodities earn maximum foreign exchange for India?
(A) Jute
(B) Iron and Steel
(C) Tea
(D) Sugar

80. The one rupee note bears the signature of :

(A) Secretary, Ministry of Finance
(B) Governor, Reserve Bank of India
(C) Finance Minister
(D) None of these

81. How many banks were nationalized in 1969?

(A) 16
(B) 14
(C) 15
(D) 20
82. The Reserve Bank of India was established in :
(A) 1820
(B) 1920
(C) 1935
(D) 1940

83. The first Indian Bank was :

(A) Traders Bank
(B) Imperial Bank
(C) Presidency Bank of Calcutta
(D) None

84. The rupee coin was first minted in India in :

(A) 1542
(B) 1601
(C) 1809
(D) 1677

85. The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank was set up in :

(A) 1980
(B) 1982
(C) 1981
(D) 1989

86. Which of the following is not a chemical action?

(A) Burning of coal
(B) Conversion of water into steam
(C) Digestion of food
(D) Burning of Paper

87. The chemical name of vitamin C is :

(A) Citric acid
(B) Ascorbic acid
(C) Oxalic acid
(D) Nitric acid

88. Permanent harness of water is due to the presence of :

(A) Calcium bicarbonate
(B) Magnesium bicarbonate
(C) Calcium sulphate
(D) Sodium bicarbonate

89. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) consist of :

(A) Butane and propane
(B) Ethane and hexane
(C) Ethane and nonane
(D) None of these

90. Which of the following is present in hard water :

(A) Calcium
(B) Aluminium
(C) Sodium
(D) Chlorine

91. Ecology deals with :

(A) Birds
(B) Cell formation
(C) Tissues
(D) Relation between organisms and their environment

92. Meteorology is the science of :

(A) Weather
(B) Meteors
(C) Metals
(D) Earthquakes

93. Entomology deals with :

(A) Plants
(B) Animals
(C) Insects
(D) Chemicals

94. Numismatics is the study of :

(A) Coins
(B) Numbers
(C) Stamps
(D) Space

95. When ice melts in a beaker of water, the level of water in the beaker will :
(A) Increase
(B) Decrease
(C) Remain the same
(D) First increase and then decrease

96. Which of the following does not admit any division?

(A) Atom
(B) Molecules
(C) Compounds
(D) All

97. What is the approximate velocity of sound in air :

(A) 3 m/s
(B) 30 m/s
(C) 300 m/s
(D) 3000 m/s

98. Which of the following is not a primary colour :

(A) Blue
(B) Green
(C) Red
(D) Black

99. Sound travels fastest through :

(A) Vacuum
(B) Steel
(C) Water
(D) Air

100. Who is the present Governor of Bihar ?

(A) R.S.Gavai
(B) R.L.Bhatia
(C) Buta Singh
(D) Syed Sibti Razi

Answers:

31. (A) 32. (A) 33. (B) 34. (A) 35. (C) 36. (A) 37. (B) 38. (B) 39. (A) 40. (A)
41. (B) 42. (D) 43. (A) 44. (B) 45. (B) 46. (B) 47. (A) 48. (A) 49. (B) 50. (C)
51. (B) 52. (C) 53. (B) 54. (B) 55. (C) 56. (A) 57. (B) 58. (B) 59. (B) 60. (B)
61. (B) 62. (C) 63. (B) 64. (B) 65. (C)

66. (C) 67. (B) 68. (C) 69. (C) 70. (B)
71. (C) 72. (C) 73. (C) 74. (C) 75. (D) 76. (A) 77. (B) 78. (D) 79. (C) 80. (A)
81. (B) 82. (C) 83. (C) 84. (A) 85. (B) 86. (B) 87. (B) 88. (C) 89. (A) 90. (A)
91. (D) 92. (A) 93. (C) 94. (A) 95. (C) 96. (A) 97. (C) 98. (D) 99. (B) 100. (B)

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>> Apple Computer------ For the best of us
>> Apple Computer----- Think outside the Box
>> Apple Computer------ Think Different
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>> Lenovo--------- New World,New Thinking
>> Infosys------- Power by intellect,Driven by values
>> HP------ The Computer is personal again
>> eBay------ The world's online market place
>> HEWLETT PACKARD-------- Invent
>> WIPRO ------ Applying Thoughts
>> Amazon.com----- And you are done
>> TCS--- Experience Certainity
>> eBay----- Buy it ,Sell it,Love it
>> Sun Microsystems ----- We are the dot in .com
>> Satyam computer services----What Business Demands
>> Microsoft---- Where do you want to go today
>> Microsoft----- Your potential,Our Passion
>> Wikipedia---- The free Encyclopedia
>> You tube----- Broad cast yourself
>> Dell Computer---- Easy as Dell
>> IBM---- Think
>> IBM--- Helping Business solutions
>> IBM---- Solutions for small planet
>> Compaq---- Inspiration Technology
>> Oracle------ Software powers the Internet
>> MonsterIndia.com ---- The best job for the best mind
>> INTEL--- Intel Insid

General Awareness Practice SET-3

E-mail

1. Who among the following has been appointed as the Central Board of Direct
Taxes on May 01, 2008 ?
(a) Brajesh Mishra

(b) Rabender Singh Mathoda

(c) Soli J. Sorabjee

(d) T. K. A. Nair

Ans: ( b ) Rabender Singh Mathoda

2. Who among the following is the new Chief Minister of Meghalaya ?

(a) S. M. Krishna

(b) Uma Bharti

(c) Donkupar Roy

(d) Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy

Ans: ( c ) Donkupar Roy

3. Who among the following has won the Miss Universe 2007 crown ?

(a) Riyo MORI

(b) Shandi Finnessey

(c) Alba Reyes

(d) None of these

Ans: ( a ) Riyo MORI

4. A solemn ceremony to mark the 60th Anniversary of D-Day landings of the Allies troops during the
Second World War, was held in

(a) Pearl Harbour

(b) Normandy

(c) New York

(d) Lisbon

Ans: ( b ) Normandy

5. Which of the following cricketers holds the world record of maximum number of sixes in Twenty 20
world cup cricket ?
(a) Yuvraj Singh

(b) Viv Richards (West Indies)

(c) Sachin Tendulkar (India)

(d) Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Ans: ( a ) Yuvraj Singh

6. Who among the following has been appointed the new Chief Justice of India ?

(a) Justice Rajendra Babu

(b) Justice V. N. Khare

(c) Justice K.G.Balkrishnan

(d) None of these

Ans: ( c ) Justice K.G.Balkrishnan

7. Who among the following sports persons got the honour of lighting the Olympic flame at the in New
Delhi recently ?

(a) Leander Paes

(b) Abhinav Bindra

(c) Viswanathan Anand

(d) K. M. Beenamol

Ans: ( a ) Leander Paes

8. Who among the following has been appointed new chairman of the National Knowledge Commission
?

(a) Ajit Singh

(b) K. C. Pant

(c) Sam Pitroda

(d) Sharad Pawar

Ans: ( c ) Sam Pitroda

9. Which of the following planets crossed the face of the sun (in transit) after 122 years ?
(a) Mars

(b) Venus

(c) Jupiter

(d) Saturn

Ans: ( b ) Venus

10. Which of the following countries was admitted to the SAARC recently ?

(a) Nepal

(b) Myanmar

(c) Pakistan

(d) Afghanistan

Ans: ( d ) Afghanistan

11. The world governing body of which of the following sports celebrated its 100 years in existence ?

(a) Football

(b) Hockey

(c) Badminton

(d) Cricket

Ans: ( a ) Football

12. Who among the following won the men's singles title of the Australian Open Tennis Championship
2008 ?

(a) Guillermo Coria

(b) Roger Federer

(c) Andy Roddick

(d) Novak Dokovic

Ans: ( d ) Novak Dokovic

13. Who is India's first Woman Grand Master in Chess ?

(a) Aarthie Ramaswamy

(b) Koneru Humpy

(c) S. Meenakshi

(d) S. Vijayalakshmi

Ans: ( b ) Koneru Humpy

14. The age of a tree can be determined by

(a) Measuring its height

(b) Measuring its diameter

(c) Analyzing its sap

(d) Counting the annual growth rings of its stem

Ans: ( d ) Counting the annual growth rings of its stem

15. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?

Mountains Continents

(a) The Rocky : North America

(b) The Andes : South America

(c) The Alps : Europe

(d) The Ural : Africa

Ans: ( d ) The Ural : Africa

16. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched ?

(a) Purna Swaraj Resolution : 1929

(b) Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh : 1931

(c) Formation of the Congress Socialist Party: 1939

(d) Simla Confeence : 1940

Ans: ( b ) Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh : 1931

17. The Lingaraja Temple built during the medieval period is at

(a) Bhubaneswar
(b) Khajuraho

(c) Madurai

(d) Mount Abu

Ans: ( a ) Bhubaneswar

18. Which one of the following is essentially a solo dance ?

(a) Kuchipudi

(b) Kathak

(c) Manipuri

(d) Mohiniattam

Ans: ( d ) Mohiniattam

19. The deepest oceanic trench Mariana is located in -

(a) Atlantic Ocean

(b) Arctic Ocean

(c) Pacific Ocean

(d) Indian Ocean

Ans: ( c ) Pacific Ocean

20. Although fog consists of fine drops of water, we cannot see clearly through it because -

(a) The light rays undergo total internal reflection in the drops

(b) Fine drops of water in fog polarize the light

(c) The fine drops are opaque to the light

(d) The drops scatter most of the light

Ans: ( d ) The drops scatter most of the light

21. During the Mughal period, which one of the following were the first to come to India as traders ?

(a) Portuguese

(b) Dutch
(c) Danish

(d) English

Ans: ( a ) Portuguese

22. Who among the following Delhi Sultans is known for introducing market control mechanism ?

(a) Iltutmish

(b) Balban

(c) Alauddin Khalji

(d) Firoze Tughlaq

Ans: ( c ) Alauddin Khalji

23. Which one of the following mountain peaks of the Himalayas is NOT in India ?

(a) Annapurna

(b) Nanda Devi

(c) Mt. Kamet

(d) Kanchenjunga

Ans: ( a ) Annapurna

24. A rift valley is formed mainly due to

(a) The forces of tension in the earth?s crust

(b) The subsidence of the floor of a river valley

(c) The valley formed after the formation of fold mountains

(d) The deepening of a valley by ice action

Ans: ( a ) The forces of tension in the earth?s crust

25. Who is the author of the book Superstar India? ?

(a) Arun Shourie

(b) Dominique Lapierre

(c) Shobha De
(d) Salman Rushdie

Ans: ( c ) Shobha De

General Awareness Practice SET-2

E-mail

1. The Chairman of the Pakisthan People’s Party is

a) Choudhury
b) Benazir Bhutto
c) Yousuf Raza Gillani
d) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

2. The Vice President of India is

a) Mohd Hamid Ansari

b) Dr Manmohan Singh
c) Mr Somnath Chatterji
d) Mr Sabharwal

3. The Chairman of Competition Commission of India is

a) Sam Pitorda
b) Mr Vinod Dhall
c) Mr Srikrishna
d) Harikrishna

4. The Chairman of the Sixth Pay Commission is

a) K G Balakrishnan;
b) S Ramakrishna
c) K N hairkrishna;
d) B N Srikrishna

5. The Chairman of Federal Reserve of US is

a) Kofi Annan;
b) Ben S Bernanke
c) Sam Pitorda;
d) Ban-ki Moon
6. NYMEX stands for

a) New York Multiple Exchange;

b) New York Main Exchange
c) New York Monetary Exchange;
d) New York Mercantile Exchange

7. CBDT stands for

a) Central Board of Direct Taxes;

b) Central Board of Directed Taxes
c) Central Board of Dual Taxes;
d) Central Board of Double Taxation

8. EOU stands for

a) European Oil Union;

b) Export Oriented Units
c) European Organisation of Unity;
d) Export Organisation of United States

9. PIN with reference to banking and financial sectors refer to

a) Postal Identification Number;

b) Personal Identification Number
c) Personal Index Number;
d) Postal Index NUmber

10 Which of the following is necessary to open a demat account?

a) PAN;
b) PEN;
c) PIN;
d) PAT

11. The richest person in the world ranked by Forbes is

a) Anil D Ambani;
b) Azim Premzi;
c) Warren Buffett;
d) Bill Gates

12. Who among the following is considered as the world’s greatest stock market investors
a) Mukesh Ambani;
b) Narayana Murthy;
c) Harshad Mehta;
d) Warren Buffett

13. Who among the following is considered as the world’s 100 most influential people in the world?

a) Warren Buffett;
b) Azim Premzi;
c) Amitabh Bachchan;
d) Sharukh Khan

14. Who is the chairman of the 13th Finance Commission of India?

a) Bimal Jalan;
b) Vijay L Kelkar;
c) B K chaturvedi;
d) Dr Sanjiv Mishra

15. The acronym FIPB refers to

a) Foreign Inward Payment Banks;

b) Foreign Investment Promotion Board
c) Foreign Investment Placement Body;
d) Foreign Institutions Promotion Board

16. The acronym NCAER refers to

a) National Council of Applied Economic Research

b) National Council of Agricultural Economic Research
c) National Council of Area Economic Research
d) National Council of Area-wise Economic Resouces

17. In Information technology terms , SOA means

a) Service Oriented Approach;

b) Service Oriented Application
c) Service Oriented Area;
d) Service Oriented Architecture

18. The Managing Director and CEO of NCDEX is

a) Damodaran;
b) C B Bhave
c) P H Ravikumar
d) Khatua

19. ASSOCHAM President is

a) Venugopal Dhoot:
b) Rahul Bajaj
c) Anil Dhirubhai Ambani;
d) Ratan Tata

20. India VIX is a sign of

a) India Ventures Index;

b) India Verification Index
c) India Volatility Index;
d) India Volume (trade) Index

21. FIEO stands for

a) Federation of Indian Export Organisation;
b) Federation of Indian Earnings Organisation
c) Foreign Investment Export Oriented
d) Fellow of Indian Export Organisation

22. Commerce and Industry Minister is

a) Mr Ram Vilas Paswan

b) Mr Hari Nath
c) Mr MUlayam Singh Yadav;
d) Mr Kamal Nath

23. Hyderabad New Internatioinal Airport is located at

a) Begumpet
b) Panjagutta
c) Shamshabad
d) Pathergatty
24. The Chairperson of Biocon India is

a) Kiran Bedi
b) Kiran Majumdar shah
c) Kiran Desai
d) Kiranmayi

25. Bangalore International Airport is located near

a) Devanahalli
b) Doddaballapur
c) Dibburhalli
d) Dobespet

ANSWERS
1 d 11 c 21 a
2 a 12 d 22 d
3 b 13 a 23 c
4 d 14 b 24 b
5 b 15 b 25 a
6 d 16 a
7 a 17 d
8 b 18 c
9 b 19 a
10 c 20 c

General Awareness Practise SET-1

E-mail

Q-1 Who is secretary general of UNO ( united nation organization )

(a) Ray Ban (b) Ban Ki Moon
(c) Nolas (d) Rice Brown

Q:-2 Who is the first Arab minister in the history of Israel

(a) Releb Majadele (b) Shimon Peres
(c) Amir Peretz (d) Nuri al-Maliki

Q:-3 The 12th ASEAN summit was held in

(a) Singapore (b) Cebu
(c) Hanoi (d) Kuala Lumpur
Q:4 Who is the recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 2004
(a) Ben Ki-moon (b) Thabo Mbeki
(c) Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour al Said (d) Kenneth Kaunda

Q:5 Which one of the following is the deepest point in the ocean floor ?
(a) Challenger Deep (b) Milwaukee Deep
(c) Java trench (d) Philippine Trench

Q:6 What is the name of the region where the north-east and south-east trade winds converge ?
(a) Doldrums (b) Sub-tropical high pressure belt
(c) Arctic circle (d) Horse latitude

Q:-7 Asteroids are found between the orbits of

(a) Mars and Jupiter (b) Mercury and Venus
(c) Earth and Mars (d) Uranus and Neptune

Q-8 Who was the president of India at the time of the proclamation of Emergency in the year 1975 ?
(a) V.V Giri
(b) Giani Zail Singh
(c) Shanker Dayal Sharma
(d) Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed

Q-9 Which rock edict of Ashoka Provides a description of the horrors of Kalinga war
(a) Kalinga Edict at Dhauli
(b) The edict at Dhauli
(c) 10th Rock Edict
(d) 13th Rock Edict

Q-10 To which one of the following processes is the term CMYK related ?
(a) Railway signaling
(b) Navigation
(c) Offset printing
(d) Electronic Voting machine

Q-11 Which one among the following is not a good source of nutritional calcium
(a) Rice (b) Ragi
(c) Skimmed milk (d) Egg

Q-12 Which one of the following countries is not a member of ASEAN ?

(a) Vietnam
(b) Brunei Darussalam
(c) Bangladesh
(d) Myanmar
Q-13 Who among the following is a Hindustani classical singer ?
(a) Geeta Changran
(b) Leela Samson.
(c) Gangubai Hangal
(d) Swapnasundari

Q-14 Which one of the following companies is associated with the exploration and commercial
production of oil in Barmer – Sanchore basin of Rajasthan ?
(a) Cairn Energy
(b) Unocal Corporation
(c) Reliance Energy Ventures
(d) ONGC

Q-15 Which one of the following revolts was made famous by bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel
Anand Math ?
(a) Bhil uprising
(b) Rangpur and Dinapur uprising
(c) Bishnupur and Birbhum rebellion
(d) Sanyasi rebellion

Q-16 Under whose presidency was the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress Held in the year
1929 wherein a resolution was adopted to gain complete independence from the British
(a) Bal Gangadher Tilak
(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Motilal Nahru

Q-17 Which one of the following countries is not a member of the nordic Council
(a) Norway (b) Denmark
(c) Iceland (d) United Kingdom

Q-18 What is the approximate mean velocity with which the Earth moves round the sun in its orbit ?
(a) 20 Km/s (b) 30 km/s
(c) 40 Km /s (d) 50 km/s

Q-19 Which one of the following Indian banks is not a nationalized bank?
(a) Corporation bank ( b) Dena bank
(c) Federal bank (d) Vijaya bank

Q-20 Which one of the following subjects is under the Union List in the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution of India
(a) Regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields
(b) Agriculture
(c) Fisheries
(d) Public health

Q-21 Who among the following British

official was sent to Lahore to negotiate the treaty of Amritsar with ranjit Singh
(a) Major Broodfoot
(b) Charles T. Metcalfe
(c) John Lawrence
(d) Lord McCartney

Q-22 The historic peace agreement of November, 2006 in Nepal has been signed between which of the
following
(a) King and SPA
(b) King and Maoist
(c) SPA and Maoist
(d) King SPA and Maoist

Q-23 Prof. Muhammad Yunus is renowned in which one of the following areas
(a) International
(b) Human rights
(c) Freedom of press
(d) Microcredit concept

Q-24 Who is the author of the book The Last Maghal – the fall of a Dynasty Delhi 1857?
(a) John Kirkland
(b) William Dalrymple
(c) Thomas Wilson
(d) Simon Digby

Q-25 In the year 2006 , Muhammad Yusuf , a Pakistani batsman , has broken the record of highest
aggregate runs in test cricket in a calendar year which up till now stood in whose name ?
(a) Don Bradman (b) Sachin Tendulkar (c) Barry (d) Vivian Richards

Q-26 The largest artificial lake in India is

(a) Pushkar lake
(b) Dal Lake
(c) Govind sagar (Bhakra)
(d) Nainital Lake

Q-27 How many States touch the boundary of Madhya Pradesh ?

(a) 7 (b) 6
(c) 5 (d) 8
Q-28 Which is the most Industrialized State in India
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Punjab
(c) Maharashtra
D) Andhra Pradesh

Q-29 India’s first earth satellite station is at

(a) Thumba near Trivandrum
(b) Arvi near Pune
(c) Shriharikota on Andhra Coast
(d) None of these

Q-30 Tan sen was a famous court poet of

(a) Allauddin Khilji
(b) Akbar the great
(c) Mahmud Ghaznavi
(d) None of these

Q-31 Arya Bhatt was a renowned Indian

(a) Chemist (b) Astronomer
(c) Physician (d) None of these

Q-32 Who was the Prime Minister of England at the time of grant of Indian independence ?
(a) Winston Churchill (b)Lord Atlee
(c) Chamberlain (d) Heath

Q-33 The first Indian to get the nobel Prize was

(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Sir C.V. Raman
(c) Mrs.Sarojini Naidu
(d) Mrs. Rabindranth Tagore

Q-34 In which field did Charak Distinguish himself

(a) Poetry
(b) Literature
(c) Medicine and surgery
(d) Sanskrit and grammar

Q-35 Mulkh Raj anand is the author of

(a) Coolie (b) Nana
(c) Gora (d) The Post Office

Q-36 My Experiment with Truth’ was written by

(a) Dr.Rajinder Prasad
(b) Sardar Patel
(c) Jawaharlal Nehtu
(d) Mahatma Gandhi

Q-37 Diet is the parliament of

(a) India (b) Canada
(c) China (d) Japan

Q: 38 The term ‘ Sudden death ‘ is associated with

(a) Hockey (b) Football
(c) Boxing (d) Cricket

Q-39 The national Games of India is

(a) Hockey (b) Football
(c) Tennis (d)Basketball

Q: 40 Mahabharata was written by

(a) Tulsidas (b) Sahe Valmiki
(c) Sage Vyasa (d) None of these

Q: 41 The ratio of the width of the national flag of India to its length is -
(a) 2:3 (b) 1:3
(c) 1:4 (d) 2:5

Q: 42 The first Indian woman to climp the everest was -

(a) Rupali Roy (b) Ujwala Patil (c) Bachendri Pal (d) Meher Moos

Q-43 Lal Bahadur Shastri become the prime minister of India

(a) 1971 (b) 1964
(c)1965 (d) 1980

Q-44 Which film superstar was abducted in july 2000 by veerapan

(a) Anil Kapoor (b) Raj Kumar
(c) Kumar Gourav (d) Govinda

Q-45 ALTURA is a variant of which Indian car -

(a) Maruti Suzuki Baleno
(b) Honda city
(c) Hyundai Accent
(d) Mitsubishi Lancer

Q-46 The biggest Art Gallery of Punjab is situated at -

(a) Amritser (b) Ludhiana
(c) Sirhind (d) Patiala
Q-47 Jaundice affects which organ of human body -
(a) Pancreas (b) Liver
(c) Heart (d) Spleen

Q-48 Ozone layer around the earth is being depleted because of -

(a) CNG (b) CFC
(c) LPG (d) All the above

Q-49 Who is the highest wicket take in the cricket

(a) Kapil Dev
(b) Sir Richard Headley
(c) Wasim Akram
(d) Courtney Walsh

Q-50 Who is the president of US-

(a) Grorge W. Bush (b) Bill Clinton
(c) George Bush (d) Al Gore

ANSWERS
1(b) Ban Ki Moon
2(a)
3(b)
4(c)
5(a)
6(a)
7(a) These are small planet like substance revolving between mars & Jupiter
8(d)
9(d)
10(c)
11(a)
12(c)
13(c)
14(a)
15(d)
16(c)
17(d)
18(b)
19(c)
20(a)
21(b)
22(c)
23(d)
24(b)
25(d)
26(c)
27(c)
28(c)
29(b)
30(b)
31(b)
32(b)
33(d)
34(c)
35(a)
36(d)
37(d)
38(a)
39(a)
40(c)
41(a)
42(c)
43(b)
44(b)
45(a)
46(d)
47(b)
48(b)
49(c)
50(a)

Important Government Schemes / Yojna

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Name of the Scheme: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Sponsored by Both: Central & State Government

Description Aims at achieving 4% annual growth in

the agriculture sector during the XI Plan period,
by ensuring a holistic development of Agriculture
and allied sectors.

Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana (RGUMY)

Sponsored by Central Government

Description The objective of this scheme is to provide handholding support and assistance to the
potential first generation
entrepreneurs, who have already successfully completed EDP/SDP/ESDP or vocational training from ITIs,
through the selected
lead agencies i.e. 'Udyami Mitras', in the establishment and management of the new enterprise, in
dealing with various
procedural and legal hurdles and in completion of various formalities required for setting up and
running of the enterprise

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY): Manipur

Sponsored by Both: Central & State Government

Funding Pattern Central and State sharing in the ratio of 75:25.

Description The objective of the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is to bring the assisted
poor families (Swarozgaris) above the Poverty Line by ensuring appreciable sustained level of income
over a period of time. This objective is to be achieved by inter alia organising the rural poor into Self-
Help Groups (SHGs) through the process of social mobilization, their training and capacity building, and
provision of income generating assets. The SHG approach helps the poor build their self-confidence
through community action. Interactions in group meetings and collective decision-making enables them
in identification and prioritization of their needs and resources. This process would ultimately lead to
the strengthening and socio-economic empowerment of the rural poor, as well as improve their
collective bargaining power. SGSY lays stress on the cluster approach.
Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY): Manipur

Sponsored by Both: Central & State Government

Funding Pattern Central and State sharing in the ratio of 75:25.

DescriptionCreation of employment opportunities with food security has been an important objective of
developmental planning in India. The relatively higher growth of population and labour force has led to
an increase in the volume of unemployment and under-employment from one Plan period to another.
The Government of India aims to bring employment through wage and self-employment into a larger
focus with the goal of reducing unemployment and under-employment to a negligible level, and of
providing food security against hunger. It is the most effective way of alleviating poverty, reducing
inequalities, improving nutritional levels, and sustaining a reasonably high pace of economic growth.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): Manipur

Sponsored by Central Government

Description Rural Road Connectivity is a key component of Rural Development by promoting access to
economic and social services, and thereby generating increased agricultural incomes and productive
employment opportunities in India, and a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. It
aims to connect unconnected habitations of rural India.
Indira awaas Yojana (IAY)

Sponsored by Central Government and state goverment in ratio 75:25

Description The scheme aims at providing dwelling units to the shelterless people living below poverty
line.

Kishori Shakti Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Description The main objective of the scheme is to improve the nutritional and health status along with
skills of girls in the age group of 11-18 years.

Balika Samridhi Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Description The main objective of this scheme is to uplift the social and educational status of girls and to
reduce the school drop-outs among girls.

Mahila Jagriti Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of PUNJAB

Description The objective of the scheme is to through Self Help Groups Under the scheme 6515 Self-
Help Groups of women have been formed, 1902 groups are involved in the socio-economic activities

Antodaya Anna Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Description Antyodaya Anna Yojana has been launched by the

Honorable Prime Minister of India on the 25th December, 2000.

This scheme reflects the commitment of the Government of India

to ensure food security for all, create a hunger free India in the

next five years and to reform and improve the Public Distribution

System so as to serve the poorest of the poor in rural and urban areas. I

t is for the poorest of poor that the Antodaya Anna Yojana has been conserved.
It is estimated that 5% of population are unable to get two square meals

a day on a substained basis through out the year.

Their purchasing power is so low that they are not in a position

to buy food grains round the year even at BPL rates

Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) Scheme For Educated Unemployed Youth

Sponsored by State Government of MEGHAYALA

Description The PMRY has been designed to provide employment to more than a million Person by
setting up of 7 lakhs micro enterprises by the educated unemployed youth. It relates to the setting up of
the self-employment ventures through industry, service and business routes. The scheme also seeks to
associate reputed non-governmental organisations in implementation of PMRY scheme especially in the
selection, training of entrepreneurs and preparation of project profiles.

Rajiv Awas Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of GOA

Description To provide financial assistance for construction /repair of House to those whose total family
annual income is less than one lakh twenty thousand rupees.

National rail vikas yojana

Government of India has conceived a massive investment plan for rail sector to eliminate capacity
bottlenecks on Golden Quadrilateral and Diagonals to provide strategic rail communication links to
ports, construction of mega-bridges for improving communication to the hinterland and development of
multi-modal transport corridors. This initiative has been given the name of National Rail Vikas Yojana.
Hon'ble Prime Minister announced the Yojana in his speech delivered on the Independence Day in 2002
and formally launched it on 26th December, 2002. National Rail Vikas Yojana comprises the following
investment planning components:

Strengthening of Golden Quadrilateral and Diagonals connecting the 4 metro cities i.e. Delhi, Mumbai,
Chennai and Kolkata.

Providing Rail based port-connectivity and development of corridors to hinterland including multi-modal
corridors for movement of containers.
Construction of 4 mega bridges at Patna and Munger on river Ganga, at Bogibeel on river Brahmputra
and at Nirmali on river Kosi .

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Funding Pattern The total fund is managed by the Central Government.

Ministry/Department Department of Health & Family Welfare Department

Description Janani Suraksha Yojana or JSY under the overall umbrella of National Rural Health Mission or
NRHM is being proposed by way of modifying the existing National Maternity Benefit Scheme or NMBS.
While NMBS is linked to provision of better diet for pregnant women from BPL families, JSY integrates
the cash assistance with antenatal care during the pregnancy period, institutional care during delivery
and immediate post partum period in a health centre by establishing a system of coordinated care by
field level health worker. The JSY would be a 100 percentages centrally sponsored scheme. The vision
for this scheme are, to reduce over all maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate, and to increase
institutional deliveries in BPL families. The main objective of Janai Suraksha Yojana is to reduce the
overall majority ratio and infant mortality rate and to increase institutional deliveries. Janani Suraksh
Yojana has identified ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist as effective link between the
Government health institutions and the poor pregnant women.

Mukhiya Kanyadaan Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of HIMACHAL PRADESH

Description The scheme is for those women who are living on their own. These women are financially
benefited for their marriage.

SHIKSHA SAHAYOG YOJANA

The scheme was launched on 31 dec 2001,with the object to lessen the burden of parents in meeting
the educational expenses of their children.
it provides scholarships to students of parents living below or marginally above poverty line & who are
covered under jan scheme Bima yojana & are studying in 9 to 12 std.
a scholarship amount of rs 300 per quarter per child is paid for a max. period of four year & max.two
children of a member covered under jan shree bima yojana..!!

Mukhiya Mantri Bal Udhar Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of HIMACHAL PRADESH

Description The scheme is for orphans or for children who have nobody to take care of. They are
provided with free homes and education.

Mid day meal scheme

This scheme was launched in aug1995 ,is intended to give boost to universalization of primary education
by increasing enrolment ,retention & attendance while contributing to the nutrition of students in
primary classes..!!

Gram Sachivalaya Yojana (GSY)

Sponsored by Central Government

Description At village level, to maintain coordination among various Government Officers (Rural
Development, Revenue, Agricullture, Irrigation, Cooperation, Maharashtra State Electricity Board), and
to make available services of all these offices under one roof, Gram Sachivalayas are being constructed
at every Revenue Circle.

Pradan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana - Gramin Awaas (PMGY)

Sponsored by Central Government

DescriptionThe programme has been introduced with the aim of reducing shortage of houses for BPL
families in rural areas and also assist in the healthy development of habitat in these areas. The PMGY-GA
is generally based on the pattern of the IAY.
Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana

(RSVY) now replaced with Backward Regions Grant Fund – BRGF (District Hoshiarpur) Status as on
28/2/2009.

The scheme, 100% funded by GoI, was to be implemented in Hoshiarpur district during 2004-07 with a
total estimated cost of Rs 45.00 crore. Planning Commission has already approved the schemes worth Rs
45.00 crore. The main objective of the scheme is to fill the critical gaps in the physical and social
infrastructure by redressing the problems of low agriculture productivity, unemployment etc.

Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

DescriptionWith a view to strengthen the Mahila Mandals and to ensure that they are involved in the
process of development, the department during 1998-99 has introduced Mahila Mandal Protsahan
Yojana. A sum of Rs. 65.00 lacs has been provided during 2004-05 to provide incentives Mahila Mandals
The incentives being provided are based upon their performance in various fields such as Family
Planning & Child Welfare, Promotion of Small Savings, Eradication of social evils and participation in
literacy campaigns

Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of ORISSA

DescriptionThe State Government has decided to formulate a Scheme for electrification of village
habitations which are not scheduled to be covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana
RGGVY. The Rural Electrification Corporation intimated on 16.01.2006 that Ministry of Power,
Government of India has decided that only those habitations having population of 300 and above are to
be covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana RGGVY. Such stipulation will result in
exclusion of a large number of habitations and or villages of the State.

Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana(RGGVY)

Sponsored by Central Government

Funding Pattern90% of fund is provided as grant by Govt. of India and 10% as loan by Rural
Electrification Corporation (REC) to the state government.

DescriptionThe Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana was launched during 10th five year plan vide
Ministry of Power order of 18th March 2005 and continued in 11th plan vide order of Feb 2008 of Min.
of Power. The Yojana aims at: 1.Electrifying all villages and habitation as per revised definition.
2.Providing access to electricity to all rural households. 3.Providing electricity connection to Below
Poverty Line(BPL) households free of cost service connection with single light point.

Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)

Sponsored by Central Government

Description This scheme aims towards employment generation and improvement of the physical and
social environment of the urban poor and the urban poor neighbourhood respectively.

Panchdhra Yojana:

Madhya Pradesh Govt.'s scheme was launched on 1nov,1991 for rural & tribal women which includes
following five schemes..

1.VATSALYA YOJNA>> for health care & facilities at the time of delivery of a child.

2.GRAMA YOJANA>> for providing working capital to rural women for small trade..

3AAYUSHMATI YOJANA>> Govt. subsidy is provided for medical treatment to the poorest women..

4.SOCIAL SECURITY PENSION SCHEME>> for orphan widows..

5.KALPAVRAKSHA SCHEME>> for providing employment to sc/st women in tribal areas..!!

Kishor Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana

The “Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana” (KVPY) is a programme started during 1999 by the
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India to encourage students of Basic Sciences,
Engineering and Medicine to take up research careers in these areas. Generous scholarship and
contingency grant is provided (up to the Pre-Ph.D. level) to the selected students.

Utkal Sabuja Gram Yojana

Sponsored by Both: Central & State Government of ORISSA

Description Utkal Sabuja Gram Yojana is one of the policy initiatives of the Government under 12 Point
policy announcement. In accordance with the policy announcements, a scheme titled Utkal Sabuja Gram
Yojana has been launched in consultation with the Revenue Department and the Forest and
Environment Department.

Swasthya Bima Yojana

Sponsored by Both: Central & State Government of ORISSA

Description The workers in the unorganized sector constitute

about 93 percent of the total work force in the country.

The Government has been implementing some social security

measures for certain occupational groups but the coverage is miniscule.

Majority of the workers are still without any social security coverage.

Recognizing the diversity with regard to public health infrastructure,

socio economic conditions and the administrative network,

the health insurance scheme aims to facilitate launching of

health insurance projects in all the districts of the States in a

phased manner for BPL workers.

The State Government while formulating the pilot project will

determine the implementing agency on behalf of the State Government.

In this context, Swasthya Bima Yojana is a revolution for each state.

Beneficiaries Individual,

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Description The scheme shall provide coverage for meeting of expenses of hospitalization and surgical
procedures of beneficiary members up to Rs.30, 000 per family per year subject to limits, in any of the.
network hospitals along with enlisted hospitals of the insurers in various parts of the country . The
benefit will be on floater basis, i.e., the total reimbursement of Rs.30,000 can be availed of individually
or collectively by members of the family per year.

Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana

Sponsored by Central Government

Description The scheme will be launched on Gandhi Jayanti. It provides for insurance to the head of the
family or an earning member of the family of a rural landless household, who is aged between 18 and 59
years, against natural as well as accidental death and against partial or permanent disability. Under the
Aam Admi Bima Yojana, all the rural landless households in the country will be provided life and
disability insurance cover. This cover will be for Rs. 75,000 on death due to accident and permanent
disability due to accident. In case of partial disability due to accident, the insurance cover would be Rs.
37,500. Upon death of a member, prior to terminal date, Rs. 30,000 is the insurance amount. Under the
Aaam Admi Bima Yojana, all the rural landless households in the country will be provided life and
disability insurance cover.

Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana

Sponsored by State Government of ORISSA

Description The Government of Orissa has recently launched a new initiative, called the Gopabandhu
Gramin Yojana, GGY, with a view to providing additional developmental assistance to the targeted 11
districts, those are I. Anugul, II. Balasore, III. Bargarh, IV. Bhadrak, V. Cuttack, VI. Jajpur, VII.
Jagatsinghpur, VIII. Kendrapara, IX. Khurda, X. Nayagarh, and XI. Puri, which are not covered under the
Backward Regions Grant Fund, BRGF. The scheme shall be implemented from the year 2006 and will
continue to be implemented during the 11th plan period from 2007 to 2012. The principle objective of
the scheme is to provide additional development funds to the targeted districts to provide infrastructure
consisting primarily of Bijli, Sadak and Pani to every revenue village in the identified 11 districts. For this
purpose, each village may be allotted funds as follows: I. the villages having a population of below 500
persons may be given funds to the extent of Rs. 2 lakh each. II. The villages having population above 500
but less than or up to 1000 persons may be given Rs. 3.00 lakh each. III. The villages having population of
more than 1000 persons may be given Rs. 5 lakh each. The census figure of 1991 shall be adopted for
determining the population of villages for the purpose of implementation of this Yojana. The objective is
to cover all revenue villages in a phased manner by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan.

Tax Saving Shemes

These schemes give tax rebates to the investors under explicit requirements of the Income Tax Act, 1961
as well as saving in Capital Gains under section 54EA and 54EB, as the Government offers tax incentives
for investment in particular avenues. Pension schemes offered by Mutual Funds, equity linked savings
schemes are allowed as deduction under Section 88 of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. For example
investing in diversified equity fund will never give you any tax benefits whereas investing in ELSS will
show the tax benefits in the year of investment itself. The amount you invest in one financial year (April
1 to March 31) will be deducted from your taxable income that year. Tax-saving schemes mainly aim
towards growth so they basically invest in equities. However, the risks associated with them are similar
to any equity scheme.

Index Schemes

Under this scheme the mutual funds also called Index Funds imitate the performance of a specific index.
The American index that is most commonly imitated is the S&P 500 by buying all 500 stocks using the
same value as the index. BSE Sensex, the NSE S&P CNX 50 in India, NASDAQ 100, Russell 2000, MCSI-
EAFE, Wilshire 5000 etc are the other popular stock indexes followed. These funds invest in a set of
securities which moves according to a popular index used as a benchmark.and are called passive funds.
The index determeines the choice of investments thus leaving the fund manager with no research on
securities. However he only needs to adjust the funds i.e. buy and sell shares with change in Index. Thus
the passive performance of funds is obvious causing a lower expense as compared to actively managed
funds. The net asset value in Index schemes is directly proportional to the index they follow. However
due to some factors such as tracking errors the percentage of change varies with each security. This
variation is always mentioned in mutual fund document provided.Traditional Index schemes allow the
change the share price only once a day. A new type of funds - Exchange-traded funds(ETFs) have a
different approach. These index funds sell shares at a price that changes throughout the day, thus
increasing the liquidity. Their practical approach have made them a hot cake financial tool with a bright
future.

Rajiv Gandhi grameen vidyutikaran yojana (RGGVY)

– All India - Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) was launched in April-05 by merging all
ongoing schemes. Under the programme 90% grant is provided by Govt. of India and 10% as loan by
REC(Rural Electrification Corporation) to the State Governments. Aim is - Providing access to electricity
to all rural households and providing electricity Connection to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families free of
charge.

Van Panchayat Yojna –

All India - plant forests in 2.42 lakh village panchayats to achieve the target of covering 33 per cent of
India’s geographical area with trees. sacred groves in each village which acted as a barrier for warm
winds and supplied essential medicinal extracts to villagers. The yojana will have two components - one
involving villagers and the other the corporate world.

Bharat Nirman –

All India - Bharat Nirman is a four year (2005-2009) business plan for action in rural infrastructure. Under
Bharat Nirman, action is proposed in the areas of irrigation, road, rural housing, rural water supply, rural
electrification and rural telecommunication connectivity.

Kutir Jyothi Scheme –

All India - Single point service connection to rural BPL, S.C. house hold .out of the grants allotted by
Scheduled Caste Development Corporation.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) -

All India - Sponsored by Central Government. This scheme was l

aunched on--feb 2, 2006. The ongoing programmes of

Sampoorna gramin rojgar yojana(SGRY) and National food for work

programme(NFFWP) are being subsumed within the NREGP in the

200 districts identified in the initial stage.

The NREGA act guarantees for rural employment to house holds

whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work not

less than 100 days. If not provided within 15 days umemployment

allowance must be given.

Sampoorna gramin rojgar yojana (SGRY) -

All India - Centrally sponsored scheme. By merging Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS), (wage
employment Scheme for rural areas), the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) (rural infrastructure
development Scheme) into one Scheme, launched the New Scheme of the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar
Yojana (SGRY) w.e.f 25th September, 2001. Now it has been included in (NREGS).

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) -

All India – SGSY will be funded by the centre and the states in the ration of 75 : 25. It is the major on-
going programme for self-employment of the rural poor. It covers all aspects of self-employment of the
rural poor viz. organisation of the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their capacity building,
training,technology and marketing support. The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
have launched this scheme by restructuring the following existing schemes:

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

2. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)

3. Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

4. Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA)

5. Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY)

6. Million Wells Scheme (MWS

PRIME MINISTER EMPLOYMENT GENERATION PROGRAMME (PMEGP) -

All India – PMEGP will be a central sector scheme to be administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MoMSME). By merging the two schemes Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY)
and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP). The Scheme will be implemented by Khadi and
Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Any individual, above 18 years of age is eligible. Maximum amount
in manufacturing unit is 25 lacks, for other business service 10 lacks. Balance amount will be provided as
bank loan.

Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) -

All India – Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana for providing self-Employment to Educated Unemployed Youth.
Preference should be given to weaker section including women. It is now included in PRIME MINISTER
EMPLOYMENT GENERATION PROGRAMME (PMEGP).

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) -

All India - Launched in December, 2000 for one crore poorest of the poor families in rural and urban
areas providing them foodgrains at a highly subsidized rate of Rs.2/ per kg. for wheat and Rs. 3/ per kg
for rice. The AAY Scheme has been expanded in 2003-2004 by adding another 50 lakh households from
amongst the BPL families. As announced in the Union Budget 2005-06, the AAY has further been
expanded to cover another 50 lakh BPL households thus increasing its overage to 2.5 crore households.
Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)/National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP) -

All India - It is a State Plan scheme. The pattern of funding is 100% Central grant. aims at achieving 4%
annual growth in the agriculture sector during the XI Plan period, by ensuring a holistic development of
Agriculture and allied sectors. To ensure that the local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected in the
agricultural plans of the states.

Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana (VKGUY) -

All India - Special Agriculture and Village Industry Scheme. To promote employment generation in rural
and semi urban areas. Incentivise the export of Gram Udyog products i.e. village and cottage industry
products by awarding a duty free scrip @ 5 per cent of FOB value of exports under the expanded
Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana, which has been renamed as Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana. All
handicrafts will be included under this scheme.

Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) -

All India - The Backward Regions Grant Fund is designed to redress regional imbalances in development.
The fund will provide financial resources for supplementing and converging existing developmental
inflows into 250 identified districts, so as to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other
development requirements that are not being adequately met through existing inflows. The Programme
has two components namely, a district component covering 250 districts and Special plans for Bihar and
the KBK (KALAHANDI, BALANGIR, KORAPUT) districts of Orissa. The existing Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana
(RSVY) has been subsumed into the BRGF Programme.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) -

All India - Sponsored by Central Government. Ministry/Department Ministry of Rural Development.

Launched to provide connectivity to unconnected rural Habitations as part of a poverty reduction
strategy. In the first phase, habitations (hamlets) of population of 1000 (500 in the case of Hill States,
tribal and Desert areas) and above will be covered. In the second phase habitations of population of
500(250 in the case of Hill States ,tribal and Desert areas ) will be covered.
Gaon Ki Beti (Daughter of a Village)

of Higher Education Department

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH
Description To promote higher education in rural areas

Deendayal Rojgar Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

Description Scheme for educated unemployed people for promoting and helping them for self-
Employment.

Rani Durgavati Anusuchit Jaati/Anusuchit Jan Jaati Swarojgar Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

The Rani Durgavati Anusuchit Jaati/Anusuchit Jan Jaati Swarojgar Yojna

It has been designed to provide employment to the SC/ST People. It relates to the setting up of the self-
employment ventures through industry, service and business routes.

Laghu Sinchai Yojnantargat Nalkoop Khanan Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionAim of the Scheme is to provide funds for increasing Irrigation facility and helping for under
ground water also.

Taaza Jal Jan Krishi Vikas Scheme

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionIncrease in Fish Production & giving maximum benefits to the Rural.

Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionScheme of Govt. of M.P. to provide help to marriageable daughter of poor Family even for
Widow and Divorcee.

Chhatra Grah Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionTribal students who could not get admission in postmatric hostels and are studying in class
XI, XII or in college are eligible for this scheme. They are provided with Post Matric Scholarship at hostel
rate. This scheme pays for room rent and light/water charges.

Kanya Saksharta Protsahan Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the scheme is to reduce the dropout rate and to increase the interest of the
tribal girl students to continue their study.

Parivar Mulak Ikai Sthapna Yojna

Sponsored by Central Government

DescriptionThe Aim of the Scheme is to provide Employment to SC/ST/OBC.

Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna

Sponsored by Central Government

DescriptionScheme for connecting Rural Areas

to the twelve month Roads.

Gramya Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the Scheme is to provide financial help for Business for women of rural areas for
make them financially strong.

Vijayaraje Janani Kalyan Beema Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThe objective of the Scheme is to provide treatment to all the Women of Below Poverty Line
Families at the time of Pregnancy.

Vivekanand Samuh Beema Yojna, 2006

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionAim of the Scheme is to provide financial security to the people of Madhya Pradesh in the
form of Vivekanand Samooh Beema Yojna Rashi.

National Family Pension Scheme

Sponsered by : central government

Description : National Family Pension Scheme was launched on 15th August, 1995. Aimed for family
falling under below poverty line (BPL) masses.

Self Certificate Scheme : Rajasthan

Sponsered by: State Government

Description :Curtails unnecessary visits of Government officials for inspection of those units who opt for
this Scheme without compromising on the safety, health, social security and welfare of the workers.
Annapurna Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the Scheme is to provide Financial Assistance to the SC/ST Farmers for quality
Seeds.

Deen Dayal Antyoday Upchar Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThe objective of the scheme is to provide free treatment and investigation facility to patients
belonging to BPL families who are hospitalized in government hospitals. The scheme seeks to provide
social security coverage to the population belonging to the lower socio economic strata of the society
and safeguard them from indebtedness arising from illness.

Ladali Lakshmi Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the Scheme is to improve health and educational facilities for Girl children there
by providing a bright future for them. It also aims to stop female feticide killing to prevent female births.
The financial aspect involves a girl registered under the scheme at birth would receive Rs1.18 lakh at the
time of marriage

Swami Vivekananda Career Guidance Scheme

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThe objective of the Scheme is to provide awareness and guidance to the students in
selecting the proper subject streams for 12th class and guide them to appropriate career line after 12th
for higher studies.

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThe objective of the scheme is to provide free treatment and investigation facilities to
patients belonging to BPL families who are hospitalized in government hospitals. The scheme seeks to
provide social security coverage to the population belonging to the lower socio economic strata of the
society and safeguard them from indebtedness arising out of illness.

Anusuchit Jati Kanya Vivah Soubhagyavati Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the Scheme is to provide Financial help to Below Poverty Line Scheduled Caste
Families for the marriage of their daughter.

Usha Kiran Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionObjective of the Scheme is to provide protection to Women from Violence in the form of
physical, mental, emotional or economical and wrong behavior with them, which is violation of their
freedom.

Dhanwantari Vikaskhand Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThis scheme has been started with the aim of attaining the best management practices and
effective implementation of the existing activities to ensure better health care to women, children and
marginalized people of the society

Krashak Mitra Yojna

Sponsored by State Government of MADHYA PRADESH

DescriptionThe main aim of this scheme is to provide Training about different activities of Agriculture.

Financial Questions
E-mail
1. What is a Repo Rate?

A: Repo rate is the rate at which our banks borrow rupees from RBI. Whenever the
banks have any shortage of funds they can borrow it from RBI. A reduction in the repo
rate will help banks to get money at a cheaper rate. When the repo rate increases,
borrowing from RBI becomes more expensive.

2. What is Reverse Repo Rate?

A: This is exact opposite of Repo rate. Reverse Repo rate is the rate at which Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) borrows money from banks. RBI uses this tool when it feels there is
too much money floating in the banking system. Banks are always happy to lend money
to RBI since their money is in safe hands with a good interest. An increase in Reverse
repo rate can cause the banks to transfer more funds to RBI due to this attractive
interest rates.

3. What is CRR Rate?

A: Cash reserve Ratio (CRR) is the amount of funds that the banks have to keep with
RBI. If RBI decides to increase the percent of this, the available amount with the banks
comes down. RBI is using this method (increase of CRR rate), to drain out the
excessive money from the banks.

4. What is SLR Rate?

 A: SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) approved secis the amount a commercial bank needs
to maintain in the form of cash, or gold or govt. urities (Bonds) before providing credit
to its customers.
SLR rate is determined and maintained by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) in order to
control the expansion of bank credit. SLR is determined as the percentage of total
demand and percentage of time liabilities. Time Liabilities are the liabilities a
commercial bank liable to pay to the customers on their anytime demand.
With the SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio), the RBI can ensure the solvency a commercial
bank. It is also helpful to control the expansion of Bank Credits. By changing the SLR
rates, RBI can increase or decrease bank credit expansion. Also through SLR, RBI
compels the commercial banks to invest in government securities like government
bonds.
SLR is used to control inflation and propel growth. Through SLR rate tuning the money
supply in the system can be controlled efficiently.

5. What is Bank Rate?

A: Bank rate, also referred to as the discount rate, is the rate of interest which a central
bank charges on the loans and advances that it extends to commercial banks and other
financial intermediaries. Changes in the bank rate are often used by central banks to
control the money supply.

6. What is Inflation?

A: Inflation is as an increase in the price of bunch of Goods and services that projects
the Indian economy. An increase in inflation figures occurs when there is an increase in
the average level of prices in Goods and services. Inflation happens when there are
fewer Goods and more buyers; this will result in increase in the price of Goods, since
there is more demand and less supply of the goods.

7. What is Deflation?
A: Deflation is the continuous decrease in prices of goods and services. Deflation occurs
when the inflation rate becomes negative (below zero) and stays there for a longer
period.

8. What is PLR?

A: The Prime Interest Rate is the interest rate charged by banks to their most
creditworthy customers (usually the most prominent and stable business customers).
The rate is almost always the same amongst major banks. Adjustments to the prime
rate are made by banks at the same time; although, the prime rate does not adjust on
any regular basis. The Prime Rate is usually adjusted at the same time and in
correlation to the adjustments of the Fed Funds Rate. The rates reported below are
based upon the prime rates on the first day of each respective month. Some banks use
the name "Reference Rate" or "Base Lending Rate" to refer to their Prime Lending Rate.

9. What is Deposit Rate?

A: Interest Rates paid by a depository institution on the cash on deposit.

Policy Rates:
· Bank Rate: 6.00%
· Repo Rate: 4.75%
· Reverse Repo Rate: 3.25%

Reserve Ratios:
· CRR: 5.00%
· SLR: 25.0%

Lending/Deposit Rates:
· PLR: 12.75%-13.25%.
· Deposit Rate: 7.50%-9.60%.

Note: Rates as on 05-11-09.

10. What is FII?

A: FII (Foreign Institutional Investor) used to denote an investor, mostly in the form of
an institution. An institution established outside India, which proposes to invest in
Indian market, in other words buying Indian stocks. FII's generally buy in large
volumes which has an impact on the stock markets. Institutional Investors includes
pension funds, mutual funds, Insurance Companies, Banks, etc.

11. What is FDI?

A: FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) occurs with the purchase of the “physical assets or
a significant amount of ownership (stock) of a company in another country in order to
gain a measure of management control” (Or) A foreign company having a stake in a
Indian Company.

12. What is IPO?

A: IPO is Initial Public Offering. This is the first offering of shares to the general public
from a company wishes to list on the stock exchanges.

13. What is Disinvestment?

A: The Selling of the government stake in public sector undertakings.

14. What is Fiscal Deficit?

A: It is the difference between the government’s total receipts (excluding borrowings)

and total expenditure. Fiscal deficit in 2009-10 is proposed at 6.8% of GDP.

15. What is Revenue deficit?

A: It defines that, where the net amount received (by taxes & other forms) fails to
meet the predicted net amount to be received by the government. Revenue deficit in
2009-10 is proposed at 4.8% of GDP.

16. What is GDP?

A: The Gross Domestic Product or GDP is a measure of all of the services and goods
produced in a country over a specific period; classically a year. GDP during 2008-09 is
6.7%.

17. What is GNP?

A: Gross National Product is measured as GDP plus income of residents from
investments made abroad minus income earned by foreigners in domestic market.

18. What is National Income?

A: National Income is the money value of all goods and services produced in a country
during the year.

19. What is Per Capita Income?

A: The national income of a country, or region, divided by its population. Per capita
income is often used to measure a country's standard of living.Per capita income during
2008-09 estimated by CSO: Rs.25, 494.

20. What is Vote on Account?

A: A vote-on account is basically a statement ,where the government presents an

estimate of a sum required to meet the expenditure that it incurs during the first three
to four months of an election financial year until a new government is in place, to keep
the machinery running.

21. Difference between Vote on Account

and Interim Budget?
A: Vote-on-account deals only with the expenditure side of the government's budget,
an interim Budget is a complete set of accounts, including both expenditure and
receipts.

22. What is SDR?

A: The SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is an artificial currency created by the IMF in
1969. SDRs are allocated to member countries and can be fully converted into
international currencies so they serve as a supplement to the official foreign reserves of
member countries. Its value is based on a basket of key international currencies (U.S.
dollar, euro, yen and pound sterling).

23. What is SEZ?

A: SEZ means Special Economic Zone is the one of the part of government’s policies in
India. A special Economic zone is a geographical region that economic laws which are
more liberal than the usual economic laws in the country. The basic motto behind this is
to increase foreign investment, development of infrastructure, job opportunities and
increase the income level of the people.

Financial Glossary (Important for Bank PO)

Accounting period:
The period of time covered by business, financial and management accounts. Financial accounts are
generally prepared once or twice in twelve calendar months, but the interval of management accounts
must be much shorter in order to ensure adequate management control over the regular operations.

Annual Depreciation:
The reduction in book value of an asset at a certain percentage rate per annum.

Appreciation:
An increase in the value of an asset over its purchase price or book value.

Asset:
Any business resource both tangible and intangible acquired at monetary cost and which is expected to
be of benefit to the business for a period of time, such as buildings, machinery, etc. Intangibles include
goodwill etc. Any resource of a deceased or insolvent person from which claims may be met.

Bad Debt:
A debt which is irrecoverable and is therefore written off as a loss in the accounts of a company/bank
etc.

Balance sheet:
Statement of the financial position of a company on a particular date, showing the nature and amount
of a company's assets and liabilities on a particular date, usually the end of the accounting year. The
assets include fixed assets, investment, current assets (which include Inventories, sundry debtors, cash
and bank balances) and loans and advances. The liabilities include shareholders' fund (equity capital plus
reserves). Loan funds (secured and unsecured loans) and current liabilities and provisions. The assets
and liabilities must balance.
Blank cheque:
A cheque which has been signed and dated but in which the amount payable has not been filled in. This
is left for the payee to insert.

Break Even Point:

That level of activity of a business at which neither profit nor loss is incurred, total costs equating with
total revenue. Also called break-even performance.

Brokerage:
The payment charged by brokers for their services in arranging a contract. It is usually expressed as a
percentage of the monetary value of the contract.

Bullion:
Gold and silver, usually in bar form, which is regarded as a commercial commodity at recognised
degrees of purity.

Capital:
All resources which have been produced by mankind and which themselves are used in the process of
production. Capital is thus different from land, since this is a natural rather than a man made resource.
The total resources of a person or business. The sum of money subscribed by the members of a
company, by partners or by an individual when starting a company.

Central Bank:
A bank, usually state owned whose operations are directed by the government as an instrument of
financial policy. Typical functions of a central bank include acting as banker to the state and the
commercial banks, controlling the note issue and managing the state's currency and credit policies. The
German Bundesbank and the American Federal Reserve are the most autonomous of all central banks in
the world. RBI will surely count amongst the least autonomous ones. Autonomy of the central bank
reduces government extravagancea and minimises political interference.

Cheque:
A written order to banker authorising him to pay a specified sum of money to a person named in the
order, to his order or to bearer from funds deposited with the banker.

Consumer Durables:
Solid items bought by the general public for use in the house. These may include washing machines,
cookers and refrigerators, which are likely to be in use for several years.

Consumer Goods:
Commodities or services consumed directly to satisfy a want rather than one used to produce
something else. For Example: Soft drinks etc. Capital goods (like machineries), on the other hand, are
used to generate some other goods.

Credit Rating

is credit agency states a borrower is capable of repaying. Credit Rating can be done for stocks, bonds or
nations themselves. Some global credit rating agencies are Standard and Poor's (S & P), Moody's etc.
CRISIL is the Indian agency rating bonds etc.
CRISIL or Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited:
Jointly sponsored by the UTI and the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI), CRISIL
has been functioning since January 1988. It rates the safety and timely payment of interest on debt
securities like debentures and fixed deposits of public and private sector companies. The rating,
subjected to periodic review, is given in alphabetical symbols preceded by d for Debentures and F for
Fixed Safety, an adequate safety, B inadequate safety, C high risk, D default.

Debentures:
An instrument of debt, called bond in the US. A debenture holder is a creditor to the company who
loans funds for a period of 7-10 years against a fixed rate of interest. After the stipulated loan period the
debentures are redeemed, i.e., the loan is paid back, sometimes with a very small premium. Debentures
are generally secured against the company's assets. Convertible debentures can be either fully or partly
converted into a certain number of shares, usually at a premium, after a stated period of time.
Convertible debentures may carry a lower rate of interest than non convertible debentures investment;
there is little risk but also little prospect of appreciation.

Debt-Equity Ratio:
Also called financial Leverage ratio in the US. There are three methods of calculating this ratio, the last
being more common:
1. The total liabilities of a company divided by the shareholders' equity
2. The total long term debt divided by shareholders' equity
3. The total long term debt plus the par value of preference shares divided by the par value of equity
shares. All the three ratios measure a company's solvency.

Depreciation:
1. The reduction in the value of an asset through wear and tear, obsolescence, etc. 2. An accounting
device by means of which the value of an asset is converted into an expense for each of the accounting
periods during which the asset is expected to contribute value.

Disinflation:
The process or policy of removing pressures on the economy which are forcing prices upwards and the
real value of the monetary unit downwards. Pressure may be removed by curtailing expenditure
through credit restrictions and a dear money policy, and by taxation.

Deficit:
An excess of liabilities over assets or of expenditure over revenue.

Disinvestment:
Especially in the Indian context, it refers to the process of offloading of shares in a firm by a party. The
government of India has partially disinvested its holding in several Public Sector undertaking (PSUs) with
the ultimate aim of privatising them to increase accountability and productivity.

Elasticity of Demand:
A measurement of economics of the degree of response of a change in one factor to a change in a
related factor, expressed in a price demand, price supply or demand income relationships.

Floating Capital:
Funds available for carrying on a business, including funds employed in marketable investments.

Foreign Exchange:
The process of trading one currency for another. This takes place on the international exchange markets
where trading sets the exchange rates of currencies. Foreign currency is required by individuals,
business and governments to finance the purchase of goods and services and to make loans to other
countries.
Free Market Economy:
An economic system where the government does not interfere in any way in business activity.

Golden Handshake:
Compensation paid to an executive of a company on his displacement and especially on his retirement.

Gross Domestic Product:

The value of goods and services produced in an economy. The value may be measured by aggregating
market values of goods and services or by aggregating incomes from employment, profits, dividends,
etc. (i.e., factor cost, which is equivalent to market values less purchase tax plus subsidies). It is
equivalent to gross national product less the value of net property abroad.

Gross National Product:

The total monetary value of all the goods and services produced by a country in a year, expressed either
at factor cost or at market prices.

Inflation:
The rate at which prices grow in an economy. Thus, reduced rate of inflation would mean that the rate
at which prices will rise has slowed down, but not that the prices will fall.

Liquid Assets:
Assets that can be converted into cash comparatively quickly. They are widely regarded as comprising
shares, short term bills of exchange, bank deposits and cash itself.
Lay off:
The temporary dismissal of a worker because there is no work to be done.

Merchandise:
Goods which are offered for sale.

National Income:
The sum of the value of goods and services available to an economy through its economic activity in a
given time period. The income many be evaluated:
1. by adding the incomes generated by economic activity, e.g., wages, salaries, dividends, profits and net
income from abroad;
2. by adding the prices of goods and services, less indirect taxes plus subsidies, together with
government expenditure. Both methods produce similar total and the movement in the total is
indicative of economic progress over time, once allowance is made for price inflation, population
growth, etc. Growth of national income need not be synonymous with improvement in living standards

Real Interest Rate:

Current interest rate less the rate of inflation; of relevance in decision regarding long term fixed interest
securities. Since most current interest is taxed, the post tax interest is likely to fall below double digit
inflation rates, which means a steady erosion of capital.

Redemption:
Buying back a loan instrument by paying off the lender. In the case of debentures or preference shares
redemption means paying back the investor, either in cash, or through equity shares.
Sensex:
it is the sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange. It reflects the weighted average price of 30 most
volatile A Group shares on the BSE. Widely criticised to be an unrepresentative but highly influential
index.

Yield:
The actual rate of return received or obtainable from an investment, generally as the annual income
calculated as a percentage of the purchase price of the investment. The rate of return for a capital
investment project which equates the net capital expenditure with the discounted value of futures net
cash inflows. The output of a process.

SAMPLE FINANCIAL AWARENESS QUESTIONS

1. When did Regional Rural Banks start functioning in India?

(A) 1975
(B) 1947
(C) 1956
(D) 1960
2. Who was the Chairman of the Sixth Central Pay Commission?
(A) Justice B. N. Srikrishna
(B) Prof. Ravindra Dholakia
(C) J. S. Mathur
(D) Sushma Nath
3. The 11th Five Year Plan is termed as plan for.
(A) India’s Health
(B) Eradication of poverty from India
(C) India’s Education
(D) Development of Rural India
4. Which of the following correctly describes what sub-prime lending is?
(1) Lending to the people with less than ideal credit status.
(2) Lending to the people who are high value customers of the banks.
(3) Lending to those who are not a regular customer
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All
5. The actual return of an investor is reduced sometimes as the prices of the commodities go up all of
a sudden. In financial sector this type of phenomenon is known as:
(A) Probability risk
(B) Market risk
(C) Inflation risk
(D) Credit risk
6. Which of the following is the limitation of the ATMs owing to which people are required to visit
branches of the bank?
(1) It does not accept deposits.
(2) It has a limited cash disbursement capacity.
(3) Lack of human interface.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) All
7. The World Development Report 2009 is released by which of the following Organisations?
(A) UNESCO
(B) ADB
(C) IMF
(D) World Bank
8. Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about the Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. which was
in news sometimes back?
(1) The US government provided a US$ 7000 million bailout package to the company.
(2) The company filed for bankruptcy in a court in New York.
(3) The company is now out of financial crisis and is busy in its restructuring so that it can start afresh.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) All
9. The Reserve Bank of India has recently issued guidelines to banks on Pillar 2 of Basel II framework.
Pillar 2 deals with which of the following?
(1) Better human resource management
(2) Adequate capital to support risks
(3) Better profitability with minimum number of employees
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) None of these
10.The World Investment Report 2008 was released in September 20This report is published every
year by:
(A) Government of India
(B) World Trade Organisation (WTO)
(C) Asian Development Bank (ADB)
(D) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
11. As we all know some new initiatives were introduced in the area of Fiscal Management by the
government of India. Which of the following acts was passed a few years back to keep a check on the
fiscal indiscipline on macroeconomic parameters?
(A) FERA
(B) FRBMA
(C) FEMA
(D) Public Debt Act
12. Which of the following has the sole right of issuing paper notes in India?
(A) Union Government
(B) Reserve Bank of India
(C) Ministry of Finance
(D) Supreme Court
13. Decision taken at Bretton Woods Conference led to the formation of
(A) IDA
(B) IMF
(C) ADB
(D) IFC
14. Which of the following is known as plastic money?
(A) bearer cheques
(B) credit cards
(C) demand drafts
(D) gift cheques
15. Euro is the currency of European Union. When did it come into being?
(A) 1999
(B) 1995
(C) 2000
(D) 2001
16. Which is the largest commercial bank in India?
(A) Reserve Bank of India
(B) State Bank of India
(C) ICICI Bank
(D) Bank of India
17. The Bank of Calcutta, Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras were merged in 1921 to form
(A) Reserve Bank of India
(B) Imperial Bank of India
(C) Bank of India
(D) Union Bank of India
18.In India, income tax is levied by
(A) Union Government
(B) State Governments
(C) Ministry of Finance
(D) RBI
19. The Reserve Bank of India was nationalized in?
(A) 1947
(B) 1948
(C) 1950
(D) 1956
20. What is a Bank which has capital and reserves of over Rs. 5 lakhs called?
(A) National Bank
(B) Cooperative Bank
(C) Scheduled Bank
(D) Unscheduled Bank

(Paper) BANK PROBATIONARY OFFICER GENERAL AWARENESS QUESTIONS

Submitted by IASguru on Mon, 2008-06-16 18:09

in Papers General Studies RRB

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PAPER : (RRB) BANK PROBATIONARY OFFICER GENERAL AWARENESS QUESTIONS

1. According to World Bank's latest report India is now the world's ________wealthiest nation?(A) Fourth

(B) Eighth

(C) Twelfth

(D) Sixteenth
2. Which among the following companies launched its super luxury hot wheels: 'Gallardo' and
'Murcielago'in India?

(A) Audi

(B) Rolls Royce

(C) Lamborghini

(D) Porsche

3. Which among the following southern states is all set to launch “Tourism-on-Wheels†project
incollaboration with the Indian Railways?

(A) Andhra Pradesh

(B) Karnataka

(C) Tamil Nadu

(D) Kerala

4. Isuzu Motors Ltd, Japan's largest maker of light trucks has decided to start making buses in India
in2007 in association with:

(A) TELCO

(B) Ashok Leyland

(C) Swaraj Mazda

(D) Mahindra and Mahindra

5. In an attempt to enhance the quality of customer service and strengthen the grievance
redressalmechanism, the Reserve Bank of India has constituted a new department Customer
ServiceDepartment (CSD). Which of the following is not among the key responsibilities of the
department?

(A) Dissemination of instructions or information relating to customer service.

(B) Grievance redressal by banks and the RBI.

(C) Administering the Banking Ombudsman (BO) scheme and act as a nodal department for theBanking
codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI).

(D) All of the above

6. The new ICC president David Morgan belongs to which among the following countries?

(A) England

(B) South Africa

(C) Australia

(D) New Zealand

7. Which among the following countries has the maximum amount of external debt?

(A) USA

(B) Mexico

(C) Brazil

(D) Japan

8. Tata Sky is a satellite television company in India, formed through a joint venture between the
TataGroup and

(A) Star TV

(B) Eurospace

(C) Sky Italia

(D) ISRO

9. 'Eco Mark' is given to the Indian products that are:

(A) pure and unadulterated

(B) rich in protein

(C) economically viable

(D) environment-friendly

10. The indicator of economic prosperity is:

(A) increase in gross national product at current prices

(B) increase in net national product at current prices

(C) increase in gross national product at fixed prices

(D) increase in net national product at fixed prices

11. Cairn Energy, which is exploring oil in Rajasthan, belongs to

(A) Ireland

(B) Scotland

(C) Norway

(D) Sweden

12. The youngest ever Indian to achieve a Grandmaster norm in Chess is:

(A) Sahaj Grover

(B) Saina Nehwal

(C) Parimarjan Negi

(D) D Harika

13. Which among the following is not a wholly owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India?

(A) National Housing Bank

(B) National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development

(C) Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India

(D) Exim Bank of India

14. The December 2006 Asian Games were held in

(A) Doha

(B) Abu Dhabi

(C) Riyadh

(D) Kyoto

15. The service tax umbrella does not cover

(A) Pathology labs

(B) Telecom services

(C) Coaching institutes

(D) Catering services

16. Which company launched a premium prêt denim line in the Indian fashion arena, co branding it
withJohn Abraham?

(A) Killer

(B) Wrangler

(C) Lee Copper

(D) Milky Way

17. The National Stock Exchange incorporated in 1992, in terms of transactions holds:

(A) fifth rank in the World.

(B) third rank in the World.

(C) seventh rank in the World.

(D) does not figure in the top 10.

18. Which country, of the following, is the biggest contributor for Foreign Direct Investment in India
between1991 and 2004?

(A) Mauritius

(B) USA

(C) Japan

(D) United Kingdom

19. SAFTA stands for

(A) South Asia Free Trade Agreement

(B) South African Federation for Tribal Advancement

(C) South Asian Forum for Tourism Agreements

(D) None of the above

20. Which company, out of the following, does not figure in the “Forbes Global 2000†year 2005
ranking?

(A) NTPC

(B) ONGC

(C) SBI

(D) EIL

21. Introduction of 3G services in telecommunication industry will NOT include which of the
followingfeatures?

(A) Video Streaming

(B) Stock Transactions

(C) E-learning
(D) E-Governance

22. Which Finance Minister resigned after a report on Haridas Mundhra share imbroglio was published
in1958?

(A) GK Iyengar

(B) Ramanand Shastri

(C) TT Krishnamachari

(D) V Padmanabhan

23. Which state tops the revenues collected under the implemented VAT tax regime?

(A) Maharashtra

(B) Andhra Pradesg

(C) Gujarat

(D) Karnataka

24. Which player won the country's highest ever professional Golf Prize held at China?

(A) Shiv Kapur

(B) Jeev Milkha Singh

(C) Gaurav Ghei

(D) Jyoti Randhawa

25. Who is the current Union Minister for Commerce and Industry?

(A) PC Chidambram

(B) MS Ahluwalia

(C) Praful Patel

(D) Kamalnath

26. Kevin Rollins is the CEO of which American Corporate giant employing direct business model?

(A) Wall Mart

(B) Dell

(C) Microsoft

(D) Quark

27. According to the “India-Pacific Wealth Report†, the number of millionaire investors in India has
grown to

(A) 83,000

(B) 23,000

(C) 48,000

(D) 100,000

28. NIIT Technologies have established ties with a Singapore agency to market GeBiz. What is GeBiz?

(A) Electronic business portal of Singapore Govt

(B) Portal of Income Tax department of Singapore

(C) GE's commercial arm based at Singapore

(D) None of the above

29. The investment giant set up by Warren Buffet is:

(A) DSP Merryl Lynch

(B) Berkshire Hathway

(C) GE Capital
(D) Citi Capital

30. Who has been awarded the Phalke Ratna Award in April 2008?

(A) Devanand

(B) Amitabh bachchan

(C) Ramanand Sagar

(D) B.R.Chopara

ANSWERS

(C) 2. (C) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (D) 6. (A) 7. (A) 8. (A)9. (D) 10. (C) 11. (B) 12. (C) 13. (D) 14. (A) 15. (A) 16.
(B)17. (B) 18. (A) 19. (A) 20. (D) 21. (C) 22. (C) 23. (A) 24. (B)25. (D) 26. (B) 27. (A) 28. (A) 29. (B) 30.
(D).