CLATGYAN | STATIC GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MODULE - 3

- ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation is the primary space agency of India. ISRO is
amongst the largest government space agencies in the world. Its primary objective is to
advance space technology and use its applications for national benefit.
Established in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space
Research (INCOSPAR). Headquartered in Bangalore, ISRO is under the administrative
control of the Department of Space, Government of India.
Since its establishment, ISRO has achieved numerous milestones. It built India's first satellite,
Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April in 1975. In 1980, Rohini
became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3.
ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
(GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits

- Sam Pitroda

Sam Pitroda an Indian engineer, business executive and policymaker. He is advisor to the
Prime Minister of India on public information infrastructure and innovations and the
chairman of National Innovation Council. Pitroda served as chairman of the National
Knowledge Commission (2005–2009), a high-level advisory body to the Prime Minister of
India, to give policy recommendations for improving knowledge related institutions and
infrastructure in the country.
As technology Advisor to the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi in the 1984s, Pitroda not only
heralded the telecom revolution in India, but also made a strong case for using technology for
the benefit of society through missions on telecommunications, literacy, dairy, water,
immunization and oil seeds.

- Elon Musk

Elon R. Musk is a South African-born Canadian-American business magnate, inventor and

investor. He is currently the CEO & CTO of SpaceX and CEO & Chief Product Architect of
Tesla Motors. He was an early investor in SpaceX, PayPal, Inc. Tesla Motors, and Zip2, and
is widely considered a co-founder of each. He conceptualized the Hyperloop, a high-speed
transportation system.

- Governor-Generals of India

The office was created in 1774, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort
William, or Governor-General of Bengal. In 1833, by the Government of India Act of that
year, the Governors-General of Bengal were redesignated as Governors-General of India.
In 1858 the term Viceroy of India was added to the office, but this title was abandoned in
1947 when India and Pakistan gained their independence. The office of Governor-General
continued to exist in each of the new dominions until they adopted republican constitutions in
1950 and 1956 respectively.

- P C Mahalanobis

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was an Indian scientist and applied statistician. He is best
remembered for the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure. He made pioneering studies
in anthropometry in India. He founded the Indian Statistical Institute, and contributed to the
design of large-scale sample surveys. The government of India decided in 2006 to celebrate
his birthday, 29 June, as National Statistical Day.
The Mahalanobis model was employed in the Second Five Year Plan and it worked towards
the rapid industrialisation of India.

- Visvesvaraya

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was a notable Indian engineer, scholar, statesman and the
Diwan of Mysore during 1912 to 1918. He was a recipient of the Indian Republic's highest
honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Indian
Empire (KCIE) by King George V for his contributions to the public good. Every year, 15
September is celebrated as Engineer's Day in India in his memory. He is held in high regard
as a pre-eminent engineer of India. He was the chief designer of the flood protection system
for the city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, as well as the chief engineer responsible for the
construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mandya.
 - List of Important Days and Dates of India ( National and International )
(Please note: This list is not exhaustive)

http://www.careerguide.co.in/2013/06/list-of-important-days-and-dates-of.html

- The world's tallest man-made structure is the 829.8 m tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates. The building gained the official title of "Tallest Building in the
World" at its opening on January 4, 2010. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban
Habitat, an organization that certifies buildings as the "World’s Tallest", recognizes a
building only if at least fifty percent of its height is made up of floor plates containing
habitable floor area. Structures that do not meet this criterion, such as the CN Tower,
are defined as "towers".

- Indira Gandhi Prize

The Indira Gandhi Prize or the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize or the Indira Gandhi Prize for
Peace, Disarmament and Development is the prestigious award accorded annually by India to
individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international
peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific
discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom. The
prize carries a cash award of 25 lakh Indian rupees and a citation. Parliamentarians for Global
Action was the first entity to win it in 1986.

- India at the Olympics

India first participated at the Olympic Games in 1900, with a lone athlete (Norman Pritchard)
winning two medals in athletics. The nation first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games
in 1920, and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at
several Winter Olympic Games beginning in 1964
For a period of time, India national field hockey team was dominant in Olympic competition,
winning eleven medals in twelve Olympics between 1928 and 1980. The run included 8 gold
medals total and six successive gold medals from 1928–1956
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, India won its first ever individual gold medal when Abhinav
Bindra won the 10m air rifle event

The 2012 Summer Olympics saw an 83-member Indian contingent participating in the games,
and set a new best for the country with six total medals. Wrestler Sushil Kumar became the
first Indian with multiple individual Olympic medals since Norman Pritchard in 1900.

On 4 December 2012, the IOC banned the IOA due to election issues. The Indian athletes
could, however, represent themselves in the Olympics as independent participants. This ban
was lifted on 11 February 2014.

- Asian Games

The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a Pancontinental multi-sport event held every four
years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games
Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the
1982 Games they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the
breakup of the Asian Games Federation.
The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described
as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

The last Games was held in Guangzhou, China from 12 November to 27 November 2010.
The next Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014.

- Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games (formerly the British Empire Games (1930-1950), British
Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954-1966), and British Commonwealth Games (1970-
1974) is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of
Nations.
The event was first held in 1930 and has taken place every four years ever since (except 1942
and 1946 which were cancelled due to World War II). The games are described as the third
largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Olympic Games and the Asian Games.
 - Parts of the Indian Constitution

Preamble
Part I – Union and its Territory
Part II – Citizenship.
Part III – Fundamental Rights.
Part IV – Directive Principles of State Policy.
Part IVA – Fundamental Duties.
Part V – The Union.
Part VI – The States.
Part VII – States in the B part of the First schedule(Repealed).
Part VIII – The Union Territories
Part IX – The Panchayats.
Part IXA – The Municipalities.
Part IXB – The Co-operative Societies
Part X – The scheduled and Tribal Areas
Part XI – Relations between the Union and the States.
Part XII – Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits
Part XIII – Trade and Commerce within the territory of India
Part XIV – Services Under the Union, the States.
Part XIVA – Tribunals.
Part XV – Elections
Part XVI – Special Provisions Relating to certain Classes.
Part XVII – Languages
Part XVIII – Emergency Provisions
Part XIX – Miscellaneous
Part XX – Amendment of the Constitution
Part XXI – Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions
Part XXII – Short title, date of commencement, Authoritative text in Hindi and Repeals

- Schedules

Schedules are lists in the Constitution that categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activity and
policy of the Government.
First Schedule- This lists the states and territories of India, lists any changes to their borders
and the laws used to make that change.

Second Schedule – This lists the salaries of officials holding public office, judges, and
Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Third Schedule—Forms of Oaths – This lists the oaths of offices for elected officials and
judges.

Fourth Schedule– This details the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of
Parliament) per State or Union Territory.

Fifth Schedule– This provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and
Scheduled Tribes (areas and tribes needing special protection due to disadvantageous
conditions).

Sixth Schedule - Provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya,
Tripura, and Mizoram.

Seventh Schedule —The union (central government), state, and concurrent lists of
responsibilities.

Eighth Schedule —The official languages.

Ninth Schedule – Validation of certain Acts and Regulations.

Tenth Schedule —"Anti-defection" provisions for Members of Parliament and Members of

the State Legislatures.

Eleventh Schedule —Panchayat Raj (rural local government).

Twelfth Schedule —Municipalities (urban local government).

 - Government Schemes in India:

Bharat Nirman: Bharat Nirman is an Indian business plan for creating and augmenting basic
rural infrastructure. It comprises projects on irrigation, roads (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana), housing (Indira Awaas Yojana), water supply (National Rural Drinking Water
Programme), electrification (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana) and
telecommunication connectivity.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

Started in the year 2005 to make million plus cities squatter (Slum area) free.

National Rural Health Mission

It was started on 12th April 2005 to enhance the health facilities in rural areas.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

It was on started on 2nd Feb 2006 to provide minimum 150 days from 1st April 2013
(previously 100 days) of employment to BPL house hold. This scheme is both for Urban and
Rural areas. The old name of this scheme is NREGA and it was changed to MGNREGA on
2nd Oct 2009.

Unique Identification Authority of India.

It was started in the year 2010 to provide multipurpose national identity card (MNIC) to
every citizen aged above 5 years.Its name has been changed to Aadhar.

National Food Security Mission

This scheme is to reduce the poverty in India under national social assistance programme.

Indira Gandhi National Old age Pension Scheme

This Scheme is for the people who aged above 65 years.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

The beneficiary is in between age group of 40-64 years in this scheme.

National Family Benefit Scheme

Under this scheme a grant of Rs. 10000 is given in case of natural and accidental death of the
primarily breadwinner of the family (he/she) of BPL households.

Annapurna:
Under this scheme 10 kg of food grains are provided to BPL households free of cost every
month.

- Books by Indian authors (http://upscguide.com/content/famous-books-indian-authors)

- Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian institution based in
Geneva, Switzerland and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate. The ICRC is part of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and 189 National Societies. It is the oldest
and most honoured organization within the Movement and one of the most widely recognized
organizations in the world, having won three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

- Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights with over

3 million members and supporters around the world. The stated objective of the organisation
is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights,
and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."
Amnesty International was founded in London in 1961, following the publication of the
article "The Forgotten Prisoners" in The Observer 28 May 1961, by the lawyer Peter
Benenson.
It draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international
laws and standards. It works to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on governments that
let abuse take place. The organisation was awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its
"campaign against torture," and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in
1978.

- Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, is a French-founded
humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best
known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases.
Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is known in most of the world
by its French name or simply as MSF, but in Canada and the United States the name Doctors
Without Borders is commonly used.
It was created by a small group of French doctors and journalists who believed that all people
have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation, and
that the needs of these people outweigh respect for national borders.
It received the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its members' continued efforts to
provide medical care in acute crises, as well as raising international awareness of potential
humanitarian disasters.

- Specialised organisations and agencies of the UN

Specialized organisations and agencies of the United Nations

Acronyms Agency Headquarters Head Established

Food and Agriculture José Graziano

FAO Italy 1945
Organization da Silva

International Atomic Yukiya

IAEA Austria 1957
Energy Agency Amano

International Civil Montreal, Raymond

ICAO 1947
Aviation Organization Canada Benjamin

International Fund for Kanayo F.

IFAD Rome, Italy 1977
Agricultural Development Nwanze

International Labour Geneva,

ILO Guy Rider 1919
Organization Switzerland

London,
International Maritime Koji
IMO United 1948
Organization Sekimizu
Kingdom

IMF International Monetary Christine 1945

 Fund Washington, Lagarde
D.C., USA

International Geneva, Hamadoun

ITU 1865
Telecommunication Union Switzerland Touré

United Nations
Paris,
UNESCO Educational, Scientific and Irina Bokova 1946
France
Cultural Organization

Bishar
Berne,
UPU Universal Postal Union Abdirahman 1947
Switzerland
Hussein

Washington, Jim Yong

WB World Bank 1945
D.C, USA Kim

World Intellectual Geneva,

WIPO Francis Gurry 1974
Property Organization Switzerland

World Meteorological Geneva, Alexander

WMO 1950
Organization Switzerland Bedritsky

World Tourism Madrid,

UNWTO Taleb Rifai 1974
Organization Spain

United Nations Office on Vienna,

UNODC Yuri Fedotov 1997
Drugs and Crime Austria