TIME LINE INDIAN HISTORY

TIME LINE
FROM STONE AGE TO MODERN India

Stone ageStone Age 70,000–3300 BCE • Mehrgarh Culture • 7000–3300 BCE Indus Valley Civilization 3300–1700 BCE Late Harappan Culture 1700–1300 BCE Iron Age 1200–1 BCE • Maha Janapadas • 700–300 BCE • Magadha Empire • 545–550 BCE • Maurya Empire • 321–184 BCE • Chera Empire • 300 BCE–1200 CE • Chola Empire • 300 BCE–1279 CE • Pandyan Empire • 250 BCE–1345 CE • Satavahana • 230 BCE–220 CE Middle Kingdoms 1CE–1279 CE • Kushan Empire • 60–240 CE • Gupta Empire • 280–550 • Pala Empire • 750–1174 • Chalukya Dynasty • 543–753 • Rashtrakuta • 753–982 • Western Chalukya Empire • 973–1189 • Yadava Empire • 850–1334 Hoysala Empire 1040–1346 Kakatiya Empire 1083–1323 Islamic Sultanates 1206–1596• Delhi Sultanate • 1206–1526 • Deccan Sultanates • 1490–1596 Ahom Kingdom 1228–1826 Vijayanagara Empire 1336–1646 Mughal Empire 1526–1858 Maratha Empire 1674–1818 Sikh Confederacy 1716–1799 Sikh Empire 1799–1849 Company rule in India 1757–1858 British Raj 1858–1947 Partition of British India 1947

Mehrgarh Culture (7000-3300 BC) 7000 BC Mehrgarh Culture (Period I) begins, which was one of the world's earliest Neolithic cultures 5500 BC Period II of Mehrgarh begins 4800 BC Period III of Mehrgarh begins 3500 BC Period IV of Mehrgarh begins 3300 BC Period IV of Mehrgarh ends
Bronze ageIndus Valley Civilization (2800-1900 BC) 3300 BC antecedents of the Indus Valley Civilization begin with the Ravi phase, eventually becoming one of the world's three earliest urban civilizations, contemporary to Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. 2800 BC Kot Diji phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins. The civilization used an early form of the Indus signs, the so-called Indus script. 2600 BC Mature Harappan phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins. The cities of Harappa, Lothal, Kalibangan and Mohenjo-daro become large metropolises and the civilization expands to over 2,500 cities and settlements across what is now Pakistan, much of northwestern and western India, and parts of Afghanistan and Iran. It covered a region of around one million square miles, which was larger than the land area of its contemporaries Egypt and Mesopotamia combined; it also had superior urban planning and sewage systems. The civilization began using the mature Indus script. 1900 BC Late Harappan Phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins. 1700 BC Indus Valley Civilization comes to an end but is continued by the Cemetery H culture and other cultures. Vedic Era (1500-500 BC) 2200-1600 BCE Rigveda 1500-1000 BC early Vedic period 1300 BC Cemetery H culture comes to an end Iron age 1000 BC Iron Age India 600 BC Sixteen Maha Janapadas ("Great Realms" or "Great Kingdoms") emerge. A number of these Maha Janapadas are semi-democratic "republics", rather than oligarchies. 600 BC Vedic Civilization comes to an end after the Historical Vedic religion evolves into early classical Hinduism. 599 BC Mahavira, 24th Tirthankar of Jainism is born. 563 BC Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism is born as a prince of the Shakya tribe, which ruled parts of what is now Northern Bihar and Southern Nepal in Ancient India. 538 BC Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire conquers northwestern parts of the Indian Subcontinent. 350 BC Panini describes the grammar and morphology of Sanskrit in the text Ashtadhyayi. Panini's standardized Sanskrit is known as Classical Sanskrit. Ancient India (500 BC - 550 AD) 333 BC Persian rule in the northwest ends after Darius III is defeated by Alexander the Great, who establishes the Macedonian Empire after inheriting the Persian Achaemenid Empire. 326 BC Ambhi king of Taxila surrenders to Alexander.
o Porus who ruled parts of the Punjab, fought Alexander at the Battle of the Hydaspes River.
321 BC Mauryan Empire is founded by Chandragupta Maurya in Magadha after he defeats the Nanda dynasty and Macedonian Seleucid Empire. Mauryan capital city is Patliputra [Modern Patna in Bihar) 305 BC Chandragupta Maurya defeats Seleucus Nicator of the Seleucid Empire. 304 BC Seleucus gives up his territories in the subcontinent (Afghanistan/Baluchistan) to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 elephants. Seleucus offers his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta to seal their friendship. 273 BC Ashoka the Great regarded as the greatest ancient Indian emperor, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ascends as emperor of the Mauryan Empire. 266 BC Ashoka conquers and unifies most of South Asia, along with Afghanistan and eastern Iran. 265 BC Kalinga War takes place between Ashoka and the kingdom of Kalinga.
o After conquering Kalinga, Ashoka reportedly regrets what he had done, leading him to adopt Buddhism, which then became the quasi-official state religion of the Mauryan Empire. 260s Ashoka begins displaying religious tolerance, grants animal rights, builds hospitals for people and animals, treats his subjects as equals regardless of caste or creed, and promotes non-violence and republicanism.Ashoka inscribes the Edicts of Ashoka, written down using Brahmi script. 232 BC Ashoka dies and is succeeded by Kunala. 230 BC Simuka declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishes the Satavahana Empire. 200 BC Kuninda Kingdom established. 200-100 BC Tholkappiyam describes the grammar and morphology of Tamil; it is the oldest existing Tamil grammar (dates vary between 200 BCE and 100 CE). 184 BC The Mauryan Empire, which shrunk considerably, collapsed after its emperor Brihadrata was assassinated by his Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga who then established the Sunga dynasty. 180 BC Establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom. 80 BC Establishment of the Indo-Scythian kingdom. 65 BC The Pandyan king sends ambassadors to the Greek and Roman lands. 10 Establishment of the Indo-Parthian kingdom. 68 Establishment of the Kushan empire by Kujula Kadphises. 78 Gautamiputra Satkarni becomes Satavahana emperor and starts Shalivahana era calendar after defeating Scythian king Vikramaditya. 35 Western Satraps formed. 240 Sri-Gupta starts the Gupta Empire in Magadha, with its capital in Patliputra 320 Chandragupta I ascends to the Gupta throne. 335 Samudragupta ascends the Gupta throne and expands the empire. 380 Chandragupta II, Samudragupta's son becomes the Gupta Emperor. 450 Invasions by the Huna. Medieval India (550-1526 AD) 606 Harshavardhana crowned king. 637 Badami Chalukya power at its peak. Pulakesi II pushes north up to the Narmada and defeats the invading Harshavardhana of Kanauj 761 First Muslim, Md. Bin Qasim defeats King Dahir 788 Adi Shankara born in Kalady, in central Kerala 814 Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I becomes Rashtrakuta king. Kannada literature flourishes. 1000 Invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni 1021 Mahmud Ghazni defeats Tarnochalpal and annexes Punjab 1030 Alberuni arrivies in India; blah of Ghazni 1058 Sumra Dynasty ends the Arab domination and establishes its own rule over Sindh. 1120 Kalyani Chalukya power at its peak. Vikramaditya VI ushers in Vikrama Chalukya era. 1134-1196 Life of Basaveshwara, Philosopher and social reformer. 1157 The Kalachuris under Bijjala II capture Kalyani 1191 "Victory of Prithviraj Chauhan". First battle of Tarain between Mohammed Ghori and Prithviraj III and Ghauri is defeated by Prithivi Raj Chauhan III. 1192 "Victory of Mohammed Ghauri". Second battle of Tarain fought between Ghauri and Prithivi Raj Chauhan III and Ghauri. Prithvi Raj Chauhan III is defeated by Mhammed Ghori. 1194 Battle of Chandawar fought between Ghauri and Jayachandra and Ghauri defeated Jayachandra and killed him. 1206 Gakhars kill Muhammad Ghori during a raid on his camp on the Jhelum River 1221 Genghis Khan invades Punjab 1310 Ala-ud-din Khalji's army under Malik Kafur occupies Devagiri ending the Seuna Yadava Kingdom 1323 Ulugh Khan defeats Prataparudra ending the Kakatiya dynasty 1336 Vijayanagara Empire established by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I 1343 Veera Ballala III killed at the Battle of Madurai. 1347 Governor Hasan Gangu revolts against Muhammad bin Tughluq founding the Bahmani Sultanate 1351 Samma Dynasty assumes rule over Sindh 1370 Bukka, the Vijayanagara ruler and his son Kumara Kamapna capture the entire Tamil speaking parts. 1398 Timur plunders Lahore 1401 Dilawar Khan establishes the Malwa Sultanate in present-day northern India 1407 Zafar Khan 1414 Khizr Khan, deputized by Timur to be the governor of Multan takes over Delhi founding the Sayyid dynasty 1424 Deva Raya II succeeded his father Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya as monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire 1443 Abdur Razzaq visits India 1446 Mallikarjuna Raya succeeds his father Deva Raya II 1451 Bahlul Khan Lodhi ascends the throne of the Delhi sultanate starting the Lodhi dynasty 1469 Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism is born 1485 Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya drives out Praudha Raya ending the Sangama Dynasty 1486 Sher Shah Suri (original name Farid Khan) born in Sasaram 1490 , Ahmadnagar declares independence, followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year thus breaking up the Bahmani Sultanate. 1497–1499 Vasco da Gama's first voyage from Europe to India and back 1503 Kingdom of Kochi is taken over by the Portuguese creating the first European settlement in India.. 1508 The Christian-Islamic power struggle, in Europe and the Middle East,spills over into the Indian Ocean as Battle of Chaul during the Portuguese-Mamluk War 1509 Battle of Diu marks the beginning of the dominance of the Europeans in the Asian naval theater. 1522 Portuguese land on the Coromandal coast Post-Medieval Era (1526-1818) 1526 Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, of the Delhi Sultanate, angers local nobles, who respond by inviting Babur, the Mughal ruler of Kabul, to invade Delhi and Agra. The local population, plus the possession of artillery, assists Babur in killing the Sultan (whose soldiers desert him) at the Battle of Panipat. 1527 Babur makes secret pact with Mewar general Silhadi that he will give Silhadi a kingdom, if Silhadi betrays Mewar King Rana Sanga in Battle of Khanwa, thus leading to the annexation of Mewar. 1530 Babur completes his Baburnama, reflecting on society, politics, economics, history, geography, nature, flora and fauna, which to this day is a standard textbook in 25 countries. Babur dies, and is succeeded by his son Humayun. 1556 Humayun converts from Sunni Islam to Shia Islam, to gain the alliance of the Shah of Persia. Humayun dies, and is succeeded by his son Akbar. 1565 Battle of Talikota results in the rout of Vijayanagara empire. 1572 Akbar annexes Gujarat. 1574 Akbar annexes Bengal. 1586 Akbar annexes Kashmir. 1600 East India company is formed in England. Gets exclusive trading rights with India. 1605 Akbar dies, and is succeeded by his son Jehangir. 1628 Jehangir announces "Chain of Justice" outside his palace that anyone can ring the bell and get a personal hearing with the emperor. Jehangir dies, and is succeeded by his son Shah Jahan. 1630 Birth of Shivaji. 1644 Shivaji takes oath of Independence at Raireshwar. 1658 Shah Jahan completes Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Red Fort. Imperial treasuries drained by architectural and military overexpenditures. Shah Jahan dies, and is succeeded by his son Aurangzeb. 1659 Shivaji's ill-equipped and small Maratha army defeat mighty Adilshahi troops at the Battle of Pratapgarh in a major upset in Indian history. Shivaji personally kills Adilshahi commander Afzal Khan (general). 1674 Forces led by Shivaji defeat Aurangzeb's troops, and establishes Maratha Empire. 1675 Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhs is executed in Delhi by the order of Aurangzeb for his support for the Kashmiri Hindus to practice their religion. 1680 Shivaji dies of fever at Raigad. 1681 Aurangzeb invades the Deccan 1699 Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs creates KHALSA, the saint-soldier at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. 1705 Mughal army besiege Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib fort, Guru's family is separated, two sons die in battle, two younger sons buried alive in a wall by the order of Mughal ruler of Sirhind 1707 Aurangzeb dies, and is succeeded by son Bahadur Shah I. 1707 Civil war breaks in Maharashtra between Maharani Tarabai and Shahu, Maratha Empire breaks into two divisions. 1708 Guru Gobind Singh survives an assasination attempt by Mughal assasins at Nanded, Maharashtra. Guru instruct Banda Singh to take charge of Khalsa army and liberate people. Guru Gobind Singh appoints Adi Granth as the eternal Guru of Sikhs before his death. 1710 Banda Singh Bahadur emerges in Punjab and sacks the Mughal establishments of Sirhind, Samana, Sadhaura, Kaithal, Sonepat, and Haryana 1715 Mughal army captures Banda Singh Bahadur. The Sikhs are brought to Delhi and executed after public torture. 1717 Pamheiba decrees Vaishnavism as the state religion of Manipur 1719 Bajirao I is appointed the Peshwa by Maratha Emperor Shahu. 1734 Pamheiba invades Tripura 1735 Annexation of Rajputana by Peshwa Bajirao 1737 Bajirao I conquers Delhi, Mughal Emperor is spared and kept as titular head. 1740 Bajirao I annexes Bengal and Orissa. 1740 Bajirao I dies, with the distinction of winning every battle he fought. He is succeeded by Balaji Bajirao 1746 First massacre of Sikhs by Mughal army led by Diwan Lakhpat Rai of Lahore 1757 The British East India Company's private army under Robert Clive annexes Bengal for the company in the Battle of Plassey. Edmund Burke has Robert Clive arrested for the act. 1760 Marathas comprehensively defeat the Nizam, Maratha Empire reaches its zenith. 1761 The Marathas are defeated in the Third battle of Panipat bringing an end to their expansion. 1761 Sikhs attack Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Abdali carrying exploits of Panipat and rescue 20,000 Indian women, mostly Maratha. 1762 Second massacre of Sikhs by Ahmad Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. 1766 Sikhs defeat Afghans army of Ahmad Shah Abdali and establish Sikh rule in Punjab. 1766 First Anglo-Mysore War begins. 1768 Ching-Thang Khomba and Suramphaa invade Manipur. 1769 First Anglo-Mysore War ends. 1772 Young Madhavrao Peshwa dies of tuberculosis. 1773 Narayanrao Peshwa is murdered by his uncle Raghunathrao's wife in front of Raghunathrao. 1774 Chief Justice of the Maratha Empire, Ram Shastri passes death sentence against the ruling Peshwa Raghunathrao for murdering his nephew. 1777 First Anglo-Maratha War begins. 1779 Maratha sardar Mahadji Shinde routs the British army at the Battle of Wadgaon. 1782 First Anglo-Maratha War ends with the restoration of status quo as per Treaty of Salbai. 1780 Second Anglo-Mysore War begins. 1784 Second Anglo-Mysore War ends with the Treaty of Mangalore. 1789 Third Anglo-Mysore War begins. 1790 The Marathas under Holkar and General de Boigne comprehensively defeat the Rajputs of Jaipur and their Mughal allies at the Battle of Patan, where 3000 1792 Third Anglo-Mysore War ends. 1796 Ching-Thang Khomba moves Manipur's capital to Kangla 1798 Fourth Anglo-Mysore War begins. 1799 Fourth Anglo-Mysore War ends with the death of Tipu Sultan and the restoration of the Wodeyar dynasty. 1801 Maharaja Ranjit Singh establishes Khalsa rule of Punjab from Lahore. Khalsa army liberates Kashmiri Pundits and invades Afghanistan through Khyber Pass, first time an Indian army goes west to conquer. 1803 Second Anglo-Maratha War begins 1805 Second Anglo-Maratha War ends 1807 East India Company signs treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Ranjit Singh 1817 Third Anglo-Maratha War begins 1818 Third Anglo-Maratha War ends with the defeat of Bajirao II and the end of the Maratha Empire leaving the British with control of almost the whole of India Colonial India Portuguese India 1510–1961 Dutch India 1605–1825 Danish India 1696–1869 French India 1759–1954 British Empire in India East India Company 1612–1757 Company rule in India 1757–1857 British Raj 1757–1947 British rule in Burma 1826–1948 British India 1612–1947 Princely states 1765–1947 Partition of British India 1947

BOTANY SALLYBUS IAS PRE & MAINS

Botany PRE SALLYBUS

1. Cell Biology : Structure and function of cell wall (extracellular matrix or ECM), cell membrane and cell organelles. Nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear pore complex (NPC), chromosome and nucleosome. Mitosis, meiosis, molecular control involving checkpoints in cell division cycle. Differentiation, cellular senescence.

 

 

2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology : Laws of inheritance. Concept of gene and allelomorph. Linkage crossing over and gene mapping. Structural and numerical changes in chromosomes and gene mutations. Sex determination and differentiation. Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins. Genetic code. Regulation of gene expression. Genetic engineering and crop improvement. Protoplast, cell, tissue and organ cultures. Somatic hybridization. Biofertilizers and biopesticides. Biotechnology in agri-horticulture, medicine and industry.

 

3. Tissue Systems : Origin, development, structure and function of primary and secondary tissue.

 

4. Plant Diversity and Systematics : Structure and function of plant forms from evolutionary aspects (viruses to Angiosperms including fossils). Principles of nomenclature, classification and identification of plants. Modern approaches in plant taxonomy. Recent classification of living organism into three groups (bacteria, archaea and eukarya).

 

5. Plant Physiology: Water relations. Mineral nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Nitrogen metabolism. Enzymes and coenzymes. Dynamics of growth, growth movements, growth substances, photomorphogenesis. Secondary metabolites. Isotopes in biological studies. Physiology of flowering.

 

6. Methods of Reproduction and Seed Biology : Vegetative, asexual and sexual methods of reproduction. Pollination and fertilization. Sexual incompatibility. Development, structure, dormancy and germination of seed.

 

7. Plant Pathology : Diseases of rice, wheat, sugarcane, potato, mustard, groundnut and cotton crops. Factors affecting infection (host factors, pathogen factors, biotic factors like rhizosphere and phyllosphere organisms). Chemical, biological and genetic methods of disease control (including transgenic plants).

 

8. Plant and Environment : Biotic and abiotic components. Ecological adaptation. Types of vegetational zones and forests of India. Deforestation, afforestation, social forestry and plant introduction. Soil erosion, wasteland, reclamation. Environmental pollution and its control (including phytoremediation). Bioindicators. Global warming.

 

9. Biodiversity, Plant Genetic Resources: Methods of conservation of plant genetic resources and its importance. Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). Endangered, threatened and endemic taxa. Role of cell/tissue culture in propagation and enrichment of genetic diversity. Plants as sources of food, fodder, forage, fibres, oils, drugs, wood and timber, paper, rubber, beverages, spices, essential oils and resins, gums, dyes, insecticides, pesticides and ornamentation. Biomass as a source of energy.

10. Origin of Life and Evolution: Basic concept of origin of earth and origin of life. Theories of organic evolution, molecular basis of evolution.

 

Botany Mains Examination Syllabus

 

PAPER-1

 

1.Microbiology and Plant Pathology:

Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroids, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma; Applications of microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine and in control of soil and water pollution; Prion and Prion hypothesis.

Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and nematodes; Modes of infection and dissemination; Molecular basis of infection and disease resistance/defence; Physiology of parasitism and control measures; Fungal toxins; Modelling and disease forecasting; Plant quarantine.

2. Cryptogams:

Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes - structure and reproduction from evolutionary viewpoint; Distribution of Cryptogams in India and their ecological and economic importance.

3.Phanerogams:

Gymnosperms: Concept of Progymnosperms; Classification and distribution of gymnosperms; Salient features of Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales and Gnetales, their structure and reproduction; General account of Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales and Cordaitales; Geological time scale; Type of fossils and their study techniques.

Angiosperms: Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogeny.

Taxonomic hierarchy; International Code of Botanical Nomenclature; Numerical taxonomy and chemotaxonomy; Evidence from anatomy, embryology and palynology.

Origin and evolution of angiosperms; Comparative account of various systems of classification of angiosperms; Study of angiospermic families â€" Mangnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Liliaceae, Musaceae and Orchidaceae.

Stomata and their types; Glandular and non-glandular trichomes; Unusual secondary growth; Anatomy of C3 and C4 plants; Xylem and phloem differentiation; Wood anatomy.

Development of male and female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization; Endosperm - its development and function; Patterns of embryo development; Polyembroyony and apomixes; Applications of palynology; Experimental embryology including pollen storage and test-tube fertilization.

4. Plant Resource Development:

Domestication and introduction of plants; Origin of cultivated plants; Vavilov’s centres of origin; Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibre, spices, beverages, edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes, latex, cellulose, starch and its products; Perfumery; Importance of Ethnobotany in Indian context; Energy plantations; Botanical Gardens and Herbaria.

5. Morphogenesis:

Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and dfferentiation; Cell, tissue, organ and protoplast culture; Somatic hybrids and Cybrids; Micropropagation; Somaclonal variation and its applications; Pollen haploids, embryo rescue methods and their applications.

PAPER-2

1. Cell Biology:

Techniques of cell biology; Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells - structural and ultrastructural details; Structure and function of extracellular matrix (cell wall), membranes-cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular transport; Structure and function of cell organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER, dictyosomes ribosomes, endosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes); Cytoskelaton and microtubules; Nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear pore complex; Chromatin and nucleosome; Cell signalling and cell receptors; Signal transduction; Mitosis and meiosis; Molecular basis of cell cycle; Numerical and structural variations in chromosomes and their significance; Chromatin organization and packaging of genome; Polytene chromosomes; B-chromosomes â€" structure, behaviour and significance.

2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution:

Development of genetics; Gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles); Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles; Linkage and crossing over; Methods of gene mapping, including molecular maps (idea of mapping function); Sex chromosomes and sex-linked inheritance, sex determination and molecular basis of sex differentiation; Mutations (biochemical and molecular basis); Cytoplasmic inheritance and cytoplasmic genes (including genetics of male sterility).

Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins;Genetic code and regulation of gene expression; Gene silencing; Multigene families; Organic evolution â€" evidences, mechanism and theories.

Role of RNA in origin and evolution.

 

3. Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics:

Methods of plant breeding â€" introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method); Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding; Use of apomixes in plant breeding; DNA sequencing; Genetic engineering â€" methods of transfer of genes; Transgenic crops and biosafety aspects; Development and use of molecular markers in plant breeding; Tools and techniques - probe, southern blotting, DNA fingerprinting, PCR and FISH.

Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV); Tests of significance (Z-test, t-test and chi-square test); Probability and distributions (normal, binomial and Poisson); Correlation and regression.

4. Physiology and Biochemistry:

Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies; Photosynthesis â€" photochemical reactions; photophosphorylation and carbon fixation pathways; C3, C4 and CAM pathways; Mechanism of phloem transport; Respiration (anerobic and aerobic, including fermentation) â€" electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation; Photorespiration; Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis; Lipid metabolism; Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism; Enzymes, coenzymes; Energy transfer and energy conservation; Importance of secondary metabolites; Pigments as photoreceptors (plastidial pigments and phytochrome); Plant movements; Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence; Growth substances â€" their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-horticulture; Growth indices, growth movements; Stress physiology (heat, water, salinity, metal); Fruit and seed physiology; Dormancy, storage and germination of seed; Fruit ripening â€" its molecular basis and manipulation.

5. Ecology and Plant Geography:

Concept of ecosystem; Ecological factors; Concepts and dynamics of community; Plant succession; Concept of biosphere; Ecosystems; Conservation; Pollution and its control (including phytoremediation); Plant indicators; Environment (Protection) Act.

Forest types of India - Ecological and economic importance of forests, afforestation, deforestation and social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism, IUCN categories, Red Data Books; Biodiversity and its conservation; Protected Area Network; Convention on Biological Diversity; Farmers’ Rights and Intellectual Property Rights; Concept of Sustainable Development; Biogeochemical cycles; Global warming and climatic change; Invasive species; Environmental Impact Assessment; Phytogeographical regions of India.

G K Q BANK

Science and Technology 2010


1. किसके रोगी को डायलेसिस पर रखा जाता है ?

उत्तर: वृक्क(Kidney) के रोगी को

2. ग्रुप A रक्त वाले व्यक्ति को किस ग्रुप का रक्त दिया जा सकता है ?

उत्तर: A तथा O ग्रुप का

3. सूर्य के प्रकाश से हमें कौनसा विटामिन मिलता है ?

उत्तर: विटामिन D

4. मानव शरीर में ऑक्सीजन को लाने और ले जाने वाला वाहक कौन है ?

उत्तर: रुधिर

5. मलेरिया का परजीवी क्या होता है ?

उत्तर: प्लैज्मोडियम वाइवेक्स

6. AB रक्त समूह वाला व्यक्ति किस रक्त समूह के व्यक्ति से रक्त ग्रहण कर सकता है ?

उत्तर: A, B तथा O समूह के व्यक्तियों से

7. पौलीथीन के संश्लेषण में प्रयुक्त की जाती है -

उत्तर: एथिलीन

8. एक बाइट कितने बिट्स के बराबर होता है ?

उत्तर: 8 बिट्स के बराबर

9. द्वि-आधारी संख्या हैं -

उत्तर: 0 तथा 1

10. गहरे समुद्रों में गोताखोरों द्वारा वायु के स्थान पर किन गैसों के मिश्रण का प्रयोग किया जाता है ?

उत्तर: हीलियम और ऑक्सीजन के मिश्रण का

नेशनल करंट अफेयर्स 2010

1. भारत का वह महत्वपूर्ण वन्यजीव जिसे वर्ल्ड लाइफ फंड ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में सर्वाधिक खतरे में बताया है -

उत्तर: बाघ (Tiger)

2. वह फिल्म जिसे वर्ष 2008 के राष्ट्रीय फिल्म पुरस्कारों में सर्वश्रेष्ठ फिल्म का पुरस्कार मिला है -

उत्तर: अंतहीन (बांग्ला)

3. वह स्थान जहाँ भारत में सर्वाधिक लम्बा एलीवेटेड राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग का निर्माण किया गया है -

उत्तर: बंगलौर

4. वह भारतीय संस्था/विभाग जो हिन्दुओं के धार्मिक आस्था के केंद्र कैलाश-मानसरोवर यात्रा का प्रबंध करता है -

उत्तर: भारत सरकार का विदेश मंत्रालय

5. भारत में इस वर्ष राष्ट्रीय बालिका सप्ताह कब मनाया गया ?

उत्तर: 24-30 जनवरी, 2010

6. वह राजनीतिक नेता, जो भारत में किसी राज्य के सर्वाधिक समय तक लगातार मुख्यमंत्री रहे ?

उत्तर: ज्योति बसु

7. भारतीय हिंदी फिल्मों के वह प्रथम सिनेमेटोग्राफर, जिन्हें वर्ष 2008 के लिये फिल्मों का सर्वोच्च दादा साहब फाल्के पुरस्कार प्रदान करने की घोषणा की गयी ?

उत्तर: वी.के.मूर्ति

8. वह बहादुर भारतीय बालक जिसे गणतंत्र दिवस-2010 पर उसकी बहादुरी के कार्य के लिये 'भारत अवार्ड' प्रदान किया गया ?

उत्तर: गौरव सिंह सैनी (हरयाणा)

9. वह विदेशी राजनेता, जो भारत के 2010 के गणतंत्र दिवस पर मुख्य अतिथि थे -

उत्तर: ली म्युंग बाक

10. वह भारतीय महिला, जो दक्षिणी ध्रुव पर स्कींग करने वाली पहली महिला बन गयी है -

उत्तर: रीना कौशल धर्मशाक्तू



International Current Affairs February 2010

1. वह अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय संस्था, जिसने हिमालय के ग्लेशियर के सन् 2035 तक पूरी तरह पिघल जाने की घोषणा की थी ?

उत्तर: इंटरगवर्नमेंटल पैनल ऑन क्लाइमेट चेंज (IPCC)

2. वह देश जहाँ जनवरी 2010 में आये भूकंप ने जान-माल की भीषण तबाही मचाई ?

उत्तर: हैती

3. वह देश जिसमें भारतीयों के पहुँचनेके सन् 2010 में 150 वर्ष पूरे होने पर वहाँ वर्ष भर आयोजन किये जा रहे हैं ?

उत्तर: दक्षिण अफ्रीका

4. वह देश जहाँ राष्ट्रमंडल देशों की संसदोंके अध्यक्षों का सम्मलेन जनवरी 2010 में आयोजित किया गया ?

उत्तर: भारत

5. संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ द्वारा वर्ष 2010 को किस रूप में मनाने की घोषणा की गयी है ?

उत्तर: जैव विविधता वर्ष

6. हॉलीवुड की वह सर्वाधिक चर्चित एवं लोकप्रिय फिल्म, जिसे जनवरी 2010 में प्रदान किये गये गोल्डन ग्लोब अवार्ड्स में सर्वश्रेष्ठ मोशन पिक्चर-ड्रामा सहित अनेक पुरस्कार प्राप्त हुए ?

उत्तर: अवतार (AVTAR)

7. अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय क्रिकेट में खेलने वाला वह देश, जिसके खिलाडियों को इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग(IPL) के तृतीय संस्करण के लिये किसी भी टीम ने सम्मिलित नहीं किया ?

उत्तर: पकिस्तान

8. वह स्थान जहाँ जनवरी 2010 में बेसिक(BASIC) समूह की मंत्री स्तरीय बैठक संपन्न हुई ?

उत्तर: नई दिल्ली

9. वह नगर जहाँ जनवरी 2010 में टाइगर जनसँख्या को बचाने तथा बढाने के लिये एक विश्वस्तरीय सम्मलेन आयोजित किया गया ?

उत्तर: बैंकोक

10. वह नगर जहाँ पहला 'प्रवासी फिल्म फेस्टीवल-2010' आयोजित किया गया ?

उत्तर: नई दिल्ली

भूगोल से सम्बंधित सामान्य ज्ञान फरवरी 2010



1. तिरुअनन्तपुरम का पुराना नाम क्या है ?

उत्तर: त्रिवेंद्रम

2. न्यूफाउंडलैंड में कौनसी दो जल धाराएं मिलती हैं ?

उत्तर: लेब्रोडोर (ठंडी जल धारा) तथा गल्फस्ट्रीम (गर्म जल धारा)

3. सबसे लम्बा राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग (NH-7) कहाँ से कहाँ तक है ?

उत्तर: वाराणसी से कन्याकुमारी तक (2369 किमी)

4. कराकोरम राजमार्ग किन दो देशों को जोड़ता है ?

उत्तर: पाकिस्तान और चीन को

5. साराजेवो किसकी राजधानी है ?

उत्तर: बोसनिया व हर्जेगोविना की

6. क्रिकेट खेल के लिये चर्चित शारजाह कहाँ है ?

उत्तर: संयुक्त अरब अमीरात (UAE)

7. युर्ट किस प्रजाति का घर है ?

उत्तर: खिरगीज का

8. क्यूराइल द्वीपों को लेकर किन दो देशों के बीच विवाद है ?

उत्तर: रूस और जापान में

9. पूर्व सोवियत संघ के किस नगर का नाम पुनः सेंत पीटर्सबर्ग रखा गया है ?

उत्तर: लेनिग्राड का

10. राजस्थान की इंदिरा गाँधी नाहर किस नदी से निकाली गयी है ?

उत्तर: सतलज-व्यास से

आज का करंट अफेयर्स

1. वह 80 वर्ष से अधिक की उम्र के राज्यपाल जिन्होंने सेक्स स्कैंडल के एक स्टिंग ओपरेशन के बाद दिसंबर 2009 में त्यागपत्र दे दिया -

उत्तर: नारायण दत्त तिवारी

2. वह स्थान जहाँ भारत की प्रतिष्ठित इंडियन साइंस कांग्रेस का 97 वाँ वार्षिक अधिवेशन जनवरी 2010 में आयोजित किया जा रहा है -

उत्तर: थिरुवंतपुरम

3. भारत का वह राज्य जहाँ प्रचुर मात्र में यूरेनियम खनिज उपलब्ध है, लेकिन खनिज परियोजना विवादों के कारण प्रारंभ नहीं हो सकी -

उत्तर: मेघालय

4. भारत निर्मित वह कार जिसे 'द 2010 इंडियन कार ऑफ द ईयर" अवार्ड प्रदान किया गया -

उत्तर: नैनो

5. भारत का वह पहला मुक्केबाज जिसने अन्तर्महाद्वीपीय प्रेसिडेंट्स कप मुक्केबाजी प्रतियोगिता में स्वर्ण पदक जीता -

उत्तर: सुरंजय सिंह

6. भारत की क्रिकेट टीम किस देश की टीम को टेस्ट श्रंखला में हराकर आई.सी.सी. की टेस्ट रंकिंग में वर्ष 2009 में शीर्ष स्थान पर आई -

उत्तर: श्रीलंका

7. वह नेता जिसे दिसम्बर 2009 में भारतीय जनता पार्टी का अध्यक्ष बनाया गया -

उत्तर: नितिन गडकरी

8. भारतीय जनता पार्टी की वह प्रखर एवं शीर्ष महिला नेता जिन्हें दिसंबर 2009 में लोक सभा में विपक्ष का नेता बनाया गया -

उत्तर: सुषमा स्वराज

9. वे भारतीय बैडमिन्टन खिलाडी जिन्होंने दिसंबर 2009 में आयोजित जे.पी. कप सैयद मोदी इंटरनेशनल ग्रांड प्रिक्स बैडमिन्टन टूर्नामेंट में क्रमश पुरुष तथा महिला वर्ग में ख़िताब जीते -

उत्तर: चेतन आनंद तथा साइना नेहवाल

10. हिंदी के वह वरिष्ठ कवि जिन्हें हिंदी वर्ग में वर्ष 2009 का साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार देने की घोषणा दिसंबर 2009 में की गई है -

उत्तर: कैलाश वाजपेयी

G K Q BANK

19/02/2010 : India's first-ever 2-MW solar power plant at Awan, near Amritsar, Punjab. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurated it. set up by US company Azure Power in the independent power producers (IPP) mode.

19/02/2010 : World's fastest train - China - average speed of 350 kph - 1,068 km between Wuhan in central China and Guangzhou in the south in two hours 45 minutes

19/02/2010 : Kaushik Basu: He has been appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in place of Arvind Virmani, who has joined the International Monetary Fund as an Executive Director.

19/02/2010 : Ben Bernanke: US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman, he has been named as the "Person of the Year, 2009" by the Time magazine, for helping guide USA through financial turmoil.

19/02/2010 : Kaiane Aldorino: Miss Gibraltar, she has won the 2009 Miss World crown in a ceremony held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Miss Mexico Perla Beltran finished second, while Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar was third.

19/02/2010 : Year 2009 was designated by UN as the International Year of Astronomy, to commemorate 400 years of Galileo's theory about the solar system.

19/02/2010 : Government of India has introduced for the first time "visa on arrival" scheme for tourists from five countries - Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.

19/02/2010 : Among developing countries, India ranked fourth in terms of FDI inflows in 2008 as per figures published in UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2009.

19/02/2010 : Rosa Power plant - After synchronising with the State grid, it became northern India's first thermal power plant in the private sector to do so. The total capacity of the project, costing Rs 6,000 crore, is going to be 1,200 MW. The first unit of 300 MW would get fully operational by April 2010. The second stage of 600 MW is likely to get operational by March 2012. What makes the project significant for UP is that 900 MW would be supplied to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The rest 300 MW would be used as "merchant capacity", company can sell it to others. Spreading over an area of around 1,500 acres, the construction of the project started in June 2007. The plant would take water from Garrah river which flows nearby. Around 75 cubic metres of water taken in would then be heated into steam to turn turbines of over 250 tonnes at a pace of 3,000 rotations per minute in order to generate the requisite power.

19/02/2010 : India's first-ever 2-MW solar power plant at Awan, near Amritsar, Punjab. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurated it. set up by US company Azure Power in the independent power producers (IPP) mode.

19/02/2010 : World's fastest train - China - average speed of 350 kph - 1,068 km between Wuhan in central China and Guangzhou in the south in two hours 45 minutes

19/02/2010 : Kaushik Basu: He has been appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in place of Arvind Virmani, who has joined the International Monetary Fund as an Executive Director.

19/02/2010 : Ben Bernanke: US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman, he has been named as the "Person of the Year, 2009" by the Time magazine, for helping guide USA through financial turmoil.

19/02/2010 : Kaiane Aldorino: Miss Gibraltar, she has won the 2009 Miss World crown in a ceremony held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Miss Mexico Perla Beltran finished second, while Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar was third.

19/02/2010 : Year 2009 was designated by UN as the International Year of Astronomy, to commemorate 400 years of Galileo's theory about the solar system.

19/02/2010 : Government of India has introduced for the first time "visa on arrival" scheme for tourists from five countries - Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.

19/02/2010 : Among developing countries, India ranked fourth in terms of FDI inflows in 2008 as per figures published in UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2009.

19/02/2010 : Rosa Power plant - After synchronising with the State grid, it became northern India's first thermal power plant in the private sector to do so. The total capacity of the project, costing Rs 6,000 crore, is going to be 1,200 MW. The first unit of 300 MW would get fully operational by April 2010. The second stage of 600 MW is likely to get operational by March 2012. What makes the project significant for UP is that 900 MW would be supplied to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The rest 300 MW would be used as "merchant capacity", company can sell it to others. Spreading over an area of around 1,500 acres, the construction of the project started in June 2007. The plant would take water from Garrah river which flows nearby. Around 75 cubic metres of water taken in would then be heated into steam to turn turbines of over 250 tonnes at a pace of 3,000 rotations per minute in order to generate the requisite power.

19/02/2010 : INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) : The first four Russian-made MiG-29K fighters to be deployed on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Admiral Gorshkov, when it is inducted into the Indian Navy have been received in a knocked-down condition and will now be assembled in this country. The jets arrived in the country on December 4, celebrated as Navy Day.



The jets were purchased by the Navy as part of a $1.5 billion deal signed with Russia in January 2004 for the Admiral Gorshkov. Of this $740 million was meant for the aircraft and the balance for the refitting of the carrier. Russians have now upped the price to between $2.2 billion and $2.9 billion.



The Navy will eventually be getting 12 MiG-29K single-seater aircraft and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat trainer aircraft, some in flyaway condition.



The Navy has named its MiG-29K squadron the Black Panthers. As the 45,000-tonne Kiev class aircraft carrier is scheduled to be delivered by 2012, the jets will undertake shore-based sorties from Goa.





19/02/2010 : Kailash Vajpeyi has been honoured with the Sahitya Akademi award for his work, Hawa mein hastakshar (Signature in the wind).

19/02/2010 : Copenhagen Major Highlights



(1). The final draft after the Copenhagen summit has agreed to cuts in emissions and hold increase in global temp below 2 C.



(2). A proposal attached to the accord calls for a legally binding treaty by the end-2010.



(3). Developed countries to provide adequate financial resources and technology to support developing countries. A goal of mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries has been set.



(4). Details of mitigation plans are included in separate annexure, one for developed countries and one for voluntary pledges from developing countries. These are not binding, and describe the current status of pledges-ranging from 'under consideration' for the United States to 'adopted by legislation' for the European Union.



(5). Emerging economies have been asked to monitor their efforts and report the results to the United Nations every two years, with some international checks to meet transparency concerns of West but 'ensure that national sovereignty is respected'.



(6). The accord agrees to provide positive incentives to fund afforestation with financial resources from developed world



(7). Carbon Markets are mentioned in the accord, but not in detail. The deal promises to pursue various approaches, including opportunities to use markets to enhance the cost-effectiveness and promote mitigation actions.

19/02/2010 : Dandi March : 390 km march from Sabarmati to Dandi between March 12 and April 6, 1930



(1). Non-violent protest against British salt Tax in colonial India with salt march to Dandi(2). First act of organised opposition after Purna Swaraj, declaration of complete independence by INC.



(3). It's important because it attracted world wide media attention and coverage towards it and thus to India Independence Movement.



(4). Styagraha against salt tax continued for almost a year ,ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at Second round of round table conferenc(5). About 80,000 were jailed during this campaign and a significant effect on world?s and British attitude towards Indian Independence, and caused large numbers of Indian to join the campaign actively.



(6). At midnight on Dec 31.1929, the INC raised the tricolour flag of India on the banks of river Ravi in Lahore.The INC , led by Gandhi and Nehru , publicly issued the Declaration of Independence, or Purna Swaraj, on January 1930.



(7). The Congress Working Committee gave Gandhi the responsibility for organizing the first act of Civil Disobedience, with Congress itself ready to take charge after Gandhi's expected arrest.



(8). Gandhi's plan was to begin civil disobedience with a satyagraha aimed at the British salt tax.



(9). The 1882 Salt Act gave the British monopoly on the collection and manufacture of salt, limiting its handling to gov. salt depots and levying a salt tax. Violation of the Salt Act was a criminal offense. Even though salt was freely available for the Indians living on the coasts(by evaporating sea water), Indians were forced to purchase it from the colonial gov..



(10). Gandhi's choice of the salt tax was met with incredulity by the working committee of the congress, though Gandhi had his reasons for choosing the salt tax. The salt tax was a deeply symbolic choice, since salt was used by nearly everyone in India. It represented 8.2% of the British Raj tax revenue, and most significantly hurt the poorest Indians the most. Gandhi felt the this protest would dramatize Purna Swaraj in a way that was meaningful to the lowliest Indians. He also reasoned that it would build unity among Hindus and Muslims by fighting a wrong that touched them equally.



(11). Dandi march was well planned and it was declared as early as 5 Feb in the newspaper.



(12). The entire route and all the dates and scheduled was well planned. Even the speeches that Gandhi gave was prepared before keeping in mind the place where it was given, considering local peoples.



(13). Gandhi prepared world media about the march by issuing statements regularly after the evening prayers and through direct contacts with press.



(14). Gandhi had intelligently used dramatic languages in addressing press, for ex: "We are entering upon a life and death struggle, a holy war; we are performing an all-embracing sacrifice in which we wish to offer ourselves as oblation." "I want world sympathy in this battle of Right against Might."



(15). Gandhi assured that strict discipline is followed during the march, so instead of hiring from Congress, he hired for march from his own disciples from Ashram.



(16). The 23 day march would pass through 4 districts and 48 villages.



(17). Gandhi sent scouts to each village to plan his talks at each resting place, based on the needs of the local residents.



(18). Events at each villages/halts are planned and publicized in Indian and Foreign press.



(19). On march 2nd Gandhi wrote to Lord Irwin offering to stop the march on the condition of meeting 11 demands.

18/02/2010 : National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities - headed by Justice Ranganath Misra - recommended 15 per cent reservation in non-minority educational institutions and Central and State government jobs for all religious and linguistic minorities. Out of the 15 per cent earmarked seats in education institutions, Muslims should be given 10 per cent reservation (commensurate with their 73 per cent share in the total minority population in India) and the remaining 5 per cent to other minorities, states the report.

18/02/2010 : India and Japan signed 2 agreements on Rs 3,60,000-crore Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project - integrated investment regions and industrial areas across six States - ecological and environment friendly cities to be built - India : Japan :: 50 : 50

18/02/2010 : Gujarat Assembly passes mandatory voting Bill - Voting mandatory - if voter fails to vote for some reason other than allowed reasons, he is declared "defaulter voter" - punishment rules are to defined

18/02/2010 : Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Fellowship Scheme for minority students. 756 fellowships (30 per cent to be reserved for women) - to minority students wishing to pursue higher studies - to grant integrated five-year fellowships in form of financial assistance to students from minority communities as notified by the Central government to pursue MPhil and PhD.

18/02/2010 : RadhaKrishnan new ISRO chief after Madhavan Nair retired.

18/02/2010 : Satuate Mile ( 1.8) > Nautical mile (1.6) : Used to measure sea distance

18/02/2010 : India's mainland : 8 degree 4' N to 37 degree 6' N latitutde and 68 degree 7'E to 97 degree 25'E longitude

18/02/2010 : India's Southern bourder 6 degree 45' in Bay of Bengal

18/02/2010 : North to South India is 3214 KM

18/02/2010 : East to West India is 2933 KM

18/02/2010 : Meridian of each country is a multiple of 7 degree 30' .That of India's is 82 degree 30' (11th multiple). Some countries have multiple time zones as USA have 7 time zones.

18/02/2010 : India's Size 3.28 milion square KM , 2.4% of world total land surface.

18/02/2010 : CoastLine is 6100KM in mainland and 7517 KM including islands.

18/02/2010 : India is seperated by SriLanka by Gulf of Mannar and Pak Strait.

18/02/2010 : Naxalism - What, why , solution :



(1). Battle with moists is being fought since 1967 when first moists rebellion erupted. It intensified over the last five years following the formation of CPI(M), in 2004, through the merger of two prominent naxalite groups, the People's War Group(PWG) and the Moists community centre(MCC).



(2). Jharkhand, Orissa and Chattisgarh are strong holds of Naxal groups.



(3). The Gadchiroli region in Maharashtra, naxals are recapturing its lost space.



(4). Kobad Gandhi and Amitabh Bhagchi are senior members of CPI(Moists), who were arrested recently.



(5). Francis Induwar, police inspector who is beheaded in Jharkhand.



(6). 18 Police members are killed in Mah , Gadcholi region.



(7). Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, member of CPI(Moists). Party incharge leader in W.B.



(8). Moists activites have spread to 231 of 626 districts in country.



(9). Action against moists will be carried out 1 or 2 areas at a time out of 11 areas identified as worst affected, thus ensuring intense mobilisation in the selected area.



(10). All the forces will be under the unified command of a central task force trained at Counter Terrosism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chattisgarh.



(11). The forces deployed in an area will be followed by a backup team which will concentrate on socio-economic developments.



(12). Institute of Conflict Management, Delhi



(13). Operation Green Hunt is likely to begin in Nov when Center sends in more troops.



(14). COBRA: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, will ensure coordination among states. In respective states, CM will be the supreme commando and DGP will oversee the operational aspect.



(15). GreyHounds an ellite commando force against naxals in A.P. raised in 1989.



(16). Area surrounding Lalgarh in W.B. is called JangalMahal.



(17). Root of Moist movement can be traced to the 1967 uprising in NaxalBari in Darjeeling.



(18). Nandigram(See Map). (Purba Midnapore District.)



(19). People's committee against Police Atrocities, public face of Moists in Lalgarh. Chatradhar Mahato head.

17/02/2010 : Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav

17/02/2010 : India offered a $250-million - to Nepal. It also extended a massive 80,000 tonnes of essentials, mainly food grains, to Nepal.



17/02/2010 : Earlier - $1 billion package to Bangladesh

17/02/2010 : Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj, veteran film actor Shreeram Lagoo and danseuse Yamini Krishnamurti are among six eminent personalities to be awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna).The other three artists are Carnatic musician Lalgudi Jayaraman, theatre personality Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi and vocalist Kishori Amonkar.

17/02/2010 : Tata Sons and Italian defence major AgustaWestland signed an agreement for formation of a joint venture company, which will establish a final assembly line for AW-119 helicopters for the Indian Army and the global market.

17/02/2010 : Vitamin C - used for treating Scurvy disease

17/02/2010 : GK Vasan - Union Minister of Shipping

17/02/2010 : Irfan Alam (28), director of SammaaN Foundation - a Patna-based NGO was invited by US President Barack Obama for the "Presidential Summit on entrepreneurship" to be held in Washington DC

17/02/2010 : Suma Shirur - women 10m air rifle.

17/02/2010 : Surendra Singh Rathod - 50m rifle

17/02/2010 : East Asia summit - held in Hua Hin, Thailand

17/02/2010 : Dandi March : 390km march from Sabarmati to Dandi between March 12 and April 6, 1930



(1). Non-violent protest against British salt Tax in colonial India with salt march to Dandi



(2). First act of organised opposition after Purna Swaraj, declaration of complete independence by INC.



(3). It's impotant because it attracted world wide media attention and coverage towards it and thus to India Independence Movement.



(4). Styagraha against salt tax continued for almost a year ,ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at Second round of round table conference.

17/02/2010 : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) felicitated national captain Bhaichung Bhutia on 20th October, 2009 for achieving the rare honour of playing 100 matches for the country. He received Rs.5 lakh, a plaque and a gold coin from AIFF president Praful Patel.

17/02/2010 : Bengali player Subrata Paul received the "Footballer of the Year" award. Paul, who played a stellar role in India's Nehru Cup victory as the goal-keeper, was also awarded Rs.5 lakh and a plaque.

17/02/2010 : India (FIFA 146) defeated Syria (96) in Nehru Cup final.

17/02/2010 : Indian football Coach Bob Houghton

16/02/2010 : Eminent Hindi poet Acharya Janaki Ballabh Shastri, who had on Republic Day refused to accept the Padma Shri, has turned down the award once again. He is upset because officials asked for his Bio-Data.

16/02/2010 : Poulomi Ghatak , Shamini Kumaresan ,Madhurika Patkar - Table Tennis - Divya No 1 in TT

16/02/2010 : Imjin River - River running through the border of North Korea and South Korea

16/02/2010 : 'Prithvi-II' surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 350 km. The nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile had already been inducted by the armed forces and was handled by the army units attached to the strategic force command's special group. The sources said the twin-engined Prithvi-II is nine metres in length and is one metre wide. It has features to deceive enemy missiles and is equipped with 'added inertial' navigation systems. They have been designed to operate with both liquid and solid fuels, and were capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads.

16/02/2010 : The 35th National Games is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in Kerala in 2010. The National Games is usually being conducted once in two years.

16/02/2010 : Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson won the Nobel Economics Prize

16/02/2010 : China (July 2009): Ethnic riots took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital. In Xinjiang's worst ethnic violence in decades, Uighurs attacked majority Han Chinese in Urumqi. The immediate cause - attacks on Uighur workers at a factory in southern China in June 2009 that left two Uighurs dead.



Uighurs are ethnic Muslims who live in Xinjinag province. They are one of China?s 56 defined minority groups, whereas the Hans form the majority in the country. They identify themselves with the Muslims-especially the Kazakhs- of Central Asia, than with the Chinese. They cherish the idea of a ?pan-Islamic Central Asia? or a ?Turkistan Federation?. On the other hand, China considers the Uighur ethnic activists as separatists and agents of Al-Qaeda. Xinjiang has economic and strategic importance. Xinjiang is connected with Pakistan through the Karakoram Highway. It has been recently revealed that many Uighurs have sneaked into Pakistan and Afghanistan through this route and fought alongside the Afghan Mujahideens and later, Taliban. China has paid much attention for the development of the province and invested huge amounts for its industrialization. It has become one of the industrial hubs of People?s Republic of China (PRC) in fuel industry, metallurgy, chemicals, petrochemicals & power sector. The progress of the Province has resulted in an influx of Han people from the other parts of China who settled there. The increasing number of Hans resulted tensions between the Hans and the Uighurs.





16/02/2010 : Bharti Groups (Airtel ) bid for acquiring Kuwait based Zain Telecom's assets in all of Africa (except those in Sudan and Morocco) for 49,700 crore was reportedly accepted by Zain's board.

16/02/2010 : With only 100 million hectares of agricultural land, China produces 400 million tonnes of grain while India averages only 108 million tonnes of food from 146 million hectares of agricultural land.

16/02/2010 : India produces over 600 million tonnes of food products annually - is the second largest rice and wheat producer - and the largest producer of pulses and milk. Only about 2% of India?s fruit and vegetable output is processed. Processed food 70% in Brazil and 60-70% in developed countries. About 30% of farm produce is wasted every year for want of storage, transportation, cold chain and other infrastructure facilities.





16/02/2010 : BT Brinjal :



GM Science : (1).Genetically modified seeds are produced by altering the genetic structure of naturally available varieties.



(2).Technology is useful in incorporating desirable traits, such as drought and salinity resistance.



(3).Bt refers to a particular type of genetic modification.



(4).Soil Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is introduced in plant cell, goading the plant to produce toxins poisonous to certain insects.



(5).Studies have to be conducted to ensure these toxins are not harmful to humans, environment and others.







Key Issues:



(1).Data and tests carried out by the developer itself.



(2).Government says it has not received any report of harmful effects of Bt Brinjal



(3).The government has put commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal on hold for a while following wide spread opposition.



(4).Bt Brinjal is the genetically modified variant, the first such ever GM vegetable.



(5).Bt Brinjal is expected to provide enchanced economic benefits to farmers, as use of pesticides will drop.







Govt's GM Policy



(1).Government has followed case-by-case approval of GM crops.



(2).Commercial cultivation is approved after safety, efficacy and agronomic performance of transgenic seeds is evaluated.



(3).Commercialisation of GM plants approved only when there is a clear economic and technical justification.



(4).The government has allowed trials of rice, okra, brinjal, potato, groundnut, tomato, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard and sorghum.



(5).India has so far allowed only Bt cotton for commercial cultivation in India.



(6).Many countries still do not allow GM foods.



(7).Others such as EU require such food to carry appropriate label.



(8).Argentina, US and Canada have adopted GM crops in a big way

15/02/2010 : OVL team wins 40% in Venezuela oil block : A consortium led by Indian state-owned oil companies has won a global bid to pick up 40% stake in an important oil block in Venezuela, providing a boost to India's attempts to secure oil assets overseas. ONGC Videsh (OVL), the foreign arm of ONGC, will pick up 11% stake in the Venezuelan field Carabobo-1, while other two Indian partners - Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Oil India (OIL) will have 3.5% stake each.

15/02/2010 : Satpayev Oil Block - Kazakhstan - OVL 25% stake - $400 million deal - July 2009



15/02/2010 : Imperial Energy - UK Listed company - Acquired by OVL in December 2008 - $2.1 billion deal

15/02/2010 : European Union - 16 nation block - to bail out Greece (capital Athens ), which is its member and have Euro as currency

15/02/2010 : International Cricket Council - ICC - Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat

15/02/2010 : Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar and West Bengal - the four states through which Ganga flows - members of Ganga River Basin Authority

15/02/2010 : Ganga dolphin - national aquarian animal - to save the rare freshwater species from becoming extinct.

15/02/2010 : Barack Hussein Obama (born 4th August, 1961) is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office, as well as the first born in Hawaii. Obama is the third sitting U.S. President to be awarded the Nobel prize, following Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) won in 2002.

15/02/2010 : The 77th Air Force Day was celebrated on 8th October 2009. It was on this day in 1932 that the Indian Air Force was formed by the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon.

15/02/2010 : 'Phalcon' Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) - India procured from Israel in 2009.

15/02/2010 : The proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) would start functioning from 2011 in Rishikesh, near Dehradun in Uttarakhand.



15/02/2010 : Union Health Minister: Gulam Nabi Azad

15/02/2010 : Swine Flu was first reported in Maxico.

15/02/2010 : Swine Flu: Swine influenza (also known as swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, that is endemic to pig (swine). Strains of endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV). These are classified as Influenzavirus A (common) or Influenzavirus C (rare). These affects humans also. Interestingly, Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine population, but it affects humans. Swine influenza is known to be caused by influenza A subtypes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 and H2N3.







Health experts say pigs can carry human influenza viruses, which can combine (i.e. exchange homologous genome sub-units by genetic reassortment) with H5N1, passing genes and mutating into a form which can pass easily among humans. In August 2004, researchers in China found H5N1 in pigs. The H5N1 virus is known to cause the avian flu (bird flu).







In humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history.







People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak is believed to have undergone this mutation.







The symptoms and transmission of the swine flu from human to human is much like that of seasonal flu. Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, while runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. It is believed to be spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.



The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, to the CDC for analysis.







For the 2009 outbreak, it is recommended it be treated under medical advice only with oseltamivir and zanamivir to avoid drug resistance. The vaccine for the human seasonal H1N1 flu does not protect against the swine H1N1 flu, even if the virus strains are the same specific variety, as they are antigenically very different.







Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately. If they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. When attending to a patient, it is imperative to wash and/or sanitize hands, not only prior to touching them but afterwards as well.

14/02/2010 : Australian-American researcher Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider and Jack Szostak of the United States won the Nobel Medicine Prize 2009 for identifying a key molecular switch in cellular ageing. The trio were honoured for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the role of an enzyme called telomerase in maintaining or stripping away this vital shield.

14/02/2010 : Three scientists who created the technology behind digital photography and helped link the world through fiber-optic networks shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in physics



Charles K. Kao was cited for his breakthrough involving the transmission of light in fiber optics while Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith were honored for inventing an imaging semiconductor circuit known as the CCD sensor.



The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said all three have American citizenship. Kao, who was born in Shanghai (China) also holds British citizenship while Boyle is also Canadian.



The award's 10 million kronor ($1.4 million) purse will be split between the three with Kao taking half and Boyle and Smith each getting a fourth. The three also receive a diploma. Kao was awarded the prize for his 1966 discovery that showed how to transmit light over long distances via fiber-optic cables, which became the backbone of modern communication networks that carry phone calls and high-speed Internet data around the world.

14/02/2010 : Romanian-born German writer Herta Mueller won the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature on 8th October. The 56-year-old author, emigrated to Germany from the then-communist Romania in 1987. Her 1982 collection of short stories titled "Niederungen," ("Lowlands" in English) was censored by the Communist Government of Romania.

14/02/2010 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh - on Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2009 - renamed NREGA to Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGREGA).



The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) aims at 100-day guaranteed unskilled manual work to every rural adult with an aim to alleviate poverty in such areas. The scheme is mainly aimed at mitigate the hardships of seasonal un-employment, which is a common phenomenon among the agricultural workers across the country.



During the financial year 2008-09, a total of 1,46,855 people were provided jobs under NREGA across the country.



In the current fiscal (2009-10), Rajasthan provided jobs to the highest number of people. When it comes to providing employment to the disabled people, West Bengal tops the list, followed by Chattisgarh.

14/02/2010 : Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. China PM Wan Jiabao.

14/02/2010 : Taepodong - II - North Korean Missile - Range 6700 KM - can reach Alaska, USA

14/02/2010 : India has announced its decision to draw international attention on the issue of tiger conservation by launching 2010 as the "Year of the Tigers". The Minister for Environment and Forests has announced that the campaign will be launched on 14th February 2010 from Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. The Year of Tiger will end in November 2010 with another function in Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan). The campaign will be assisted by the prestigious Smithsonian Institute and other agencies including the World Bank. The Russians are hosting the World Tiger Summit in Vladivostok in September 2010.



14/02/2010 : Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, Nagarhole in Karnataka and Kaziranga Assam.

14/02/2010 : The Kerry Lugar Bill lays down a programme for USD 7.5 billion non-military aid to Pakistan over the next five years, tripling the US aid to the country.

14/02/2010 : Argentine President Cristina Fernando de Kirchner. India have a Civil Nuclear Agreement with Argentina

11/02/2010 : West Bengal government accepted the Ranganath Mishra Commission report granting 10 pc reservation in government jobs for Muslims under the OBC category.

11/02/2010 : Agni-V with a range of 5,000-km to be tested within a year

11/02/2010 : IPS officer Vikram Srivastava - Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) . Vikram Srivastava is the younger brother of Border Security Force (BSF) DG Raman Srivastava

11/02/2010 : "King of Pop" Michael Jackson was honoured with the Lifetime Grammy award posthumously, which was received by his children

11/02/2010 : Mahita Mohan - Cycling

11/02/2010 : Trupti Murgunde - Badminton

11/02/2010 : HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh - outstanding achievement award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

11/02/2010 : Assocham - Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India

11/02/2010 : National Ganga River Basin Authority - under the chairmanship of PM Manmohan Singh.

11/02/2010 : Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said - India will soon come out with a climate change assessment report by its own panel - the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).

11/02/2010 : Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu - the first Indian woman to ski to the South Pole last year

11/02/2010 : Rehan Poncha - swimming

11/02/2010 : Gaganjeet Bhullar - Golf

10/02/2010 : Bt Brinjal - genetically modified - was planned to be introduced for commercial cultivation - 13 state government and some scientist opposed - now decision on hold.

10/02/2010 : Lalgarh and Jangalmahal in West Bengal - Naxal areas

10/02/2010 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar



10/02/2010 : Ram Singh - marathon

10/02/2010 : Madhurika Patkar - Table Tennis - 4 golds in 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh

10/02/2010 : Iran set into motion the process of further refining its stocks of lightly enriched uranium at its atomic facility in Natanz. Iran needs 20 per cent enriched uranium for its research reactor in Tehran to produce medical isotopes for treating cancer patients.

10/02/2010 : Salt Tax in British India: Taxation of salt has occurred in India since the earliest times. However, this tax was greatly increased when the British East India Company began to establish its rule over provinces in India. Salt has been produced all along the Rann of Kutch in the west coast of India for the past 5,000 years. The Rann of Kutch is an extensive marshland which is cut off from the rest of the Indian subcontinent during monsoons when the seas inundate the low-lying areas. However, when the sea water evaporates during summer, it leaves behind a crust of salt which accumulate as salt pans. This salt is collected by laborers called malangis. In the eastern coast, salt could be obtained extensively along the coast of Orissa. The salt produced by the salt pans called khalaris in Oriya is of the finest quality in all India. There has always been a demand for Orissa salt in Bengal. When the British took over the administration of Bengal, they too felt its need and traded for salt. Gradually they monopolized Orissa salt all over Bengal. To check smuggling and illegal transportation, they sent armies into Orissa resulting in the conquest of Orissa in 1803.



Salt is a commodity which had been taxed in India ever since the time of the Mauryas. Taxes on salt have been prevalent even during the time of Chandragupta Maurya. The Arthashastra which describes the different duties of the people says that a special officer called lavananadhyaksa was appointed to collect salt tax. Taxes were also imposed on imported salt. However, they accounted for 25 percent of the total value of the salt.

10/02/2010 : Great Hedge of India: The Great Hedge of India or Inland Customs Line was a customs barrier across India from the 1840s to the 1880s built by the British rulers to facilitate collecting the heavy salt tax. It was also used to control the profitable opium trade, which the East India Company had acquired from the Mughal Empire by conquest.The barrier consisted of fences, stone walls, and above all a nearly impenetrable barrier of trees, thorny bushes, and hedges, with periodic guard stations.

10/02/2010 : OIL India director (operations) and former deputy director general in the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH), SK Srivastava, is likely to replace the controversial chief custodian of country's oil and gas assets, VK Sibal. The government established DGH in 1993 to act as an upstream advisor and technical regulator. Its prime function is to manage country's hydrocarbon resources.

10/02/2010 : Reserve Bank governor Duvvuri Subbarao.

10/02/2010 : China replaced US as India's largest trade partner in 2009. Their bilateral trade touched $36 billion in the last financial year.

10/02/2010 : Ecuadore president Rafael Correa

10/02/2010 : The Man Booker Prize for 2009 has gone to British novelist Hilary Mantel for her gripping 16th century tale titled 'Wolf Hall'.

10/02/2010 : George Papandreou: PM of Greece . President Karolos Papoulias. Greece is the home to ancient civilisation where the Olympic games originated. It is situated in eastern Europe on the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. The capital is Athens and the currency is Euro. It is a memebr of the European Union.

G K Q BANK

24/02/2010 : Silda Camp - West Midnapore - Naxalites killed 24 soldiers of Eastern frontier rifles.




24/02/2010 : Budget :



(1). Only Parliament can authorise the government to collect funds by way of taxes, duties and borrowings. All govrnment expenditure needs Parliament's approval



(2). The Finance Minister prepares the Union Budget & budgets of states under President's Rule



(3).State Organs involved :



(a). The Planning Commission : Sets overall targets for ministeries



(b). The Comptroller & Auditor General : Keep a tabs on accounts



(c). Administrative Ministries : State their requirements and plan priorities



(4). Budget Circular: The Budget division of the department of economic affairs (DoE) issues a budget circular to all Union Ministries, all states and UTs, autonomous bodies and departments and three arms of the defence forces for preparing revised estimates for the current financial year and the budget estimates for the next financial year.



(5). Consulatations / Pre - Budget Meetings : Extensive consultations are held with all stake-holders -- union administrative ministeries, state governments, industry, political parties, economists and civil society groups



(6). The Finance Ministry undertakes an intense internal assessment. Spending priorities are assessed by the departments of economic affairs and expenditure. Revenue Mobilisation assessed by the department of revenue. Policy goals assessed by the department of economic affairs



(7). Once the pre-budget meetins are over, a final call on the tax proposals is taken by the finance minister, in consultation with the PM.



(8). Budget Presentation : The President address the Budget session of Parliament



(9). By convention, since 1999, budget is being presented at 11 AM



(10). The FM presents the Budget in the Lok Sabha



(11). The Budget speech of the FM has two parts. Part A deals with general economic survey and policy statements while Part B contains taxation proposals



(12). The annual financial statement is tabled in Rajya Sabha after the FM's speech



(13). No discussion follows the budget presentation



(14). A few days later, the Lok Sabha discusses the Budget as a whole and not the details for 2-3 days



(15). The FM replies at the end of the discussion



(16). A vote on account for expenditure for the next two months of the ensuing financial year is obtained from Parliament



(17). The house is adjourned for a fixed period



(18). During this period, demands for grants are considered by standing committees of Parliament



(19). The standing committee reports are presented to the House, which discusses and votes on demands for grants



(20). The speaker puts all the outstanding demands to the vote of the House. The Lok Sabha has the power to pass or reject any demand or even to reduce the amount of grant



(21). In the Rajya Sabha, there is only a general discussion



(22). The government introduces the Appropriation Bill, which authrosies the govt to spend out of the Consolidated Fund of India

24/02/2010 : Government-appointed committee headed by Ram Pradhan - 26/11 terror strikes investigation

24/02/2010 : Turkish President Abdullah Gul

24/02/2010 : Magsaysay Awards, 2009 - Deep Joshi, from India. He is being recognized for "his vision and leadership in bringing professionalism to the NGO movement in India, by effectively combining 'head' and 'heart' in the transformative development of rural communities." - 5 forigners also got this award. Joshi founded in 1983 the Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), an NGO, along with one Vijay Mahajan.



24/02/2010 : Ashok Chakra,2009 - Major Mohit Sharma, who laid down his life fighting militants infiltrating from Pakistan into J&K in March 2009, has been awarded with Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award of the country, along with Major D. Sreeram Kumar.



24/02/2010 : Jnanpith Award, 42nd - Eminent Sanskrit poet Satya Vrat Shastri has been presented the prestigious 42nd Jnanpith Award. The award was conferred to him by the Princess of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, for his "outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Indian literature." He is the first Sanskrit poet to be conferred the award since its inception.



24/02/2010 : Stockholm Water Prize, 2009 - Indian sanitation expert Bindeshwar Pathak has been awarded the Prize, the most prestigious award for outstanding achievement in water-related activities. The founder of Sulabh Sanitation Movement in India, Pathak is known around the world for his wide-ranging work in the sanitation field.



24/02/2010 : The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence -



(1). Businesswoman of the Year: Vinita Bali, MD, Britannia Industries.



(2). Entrepreneur of the Year: G.V.K. Reddy, Chariman, GVK Group.



(3). Emerging Company of the Year: Idea Cellular.



(4). Global Indian of the Year: Ram Charan, Management Guru and Thinker.



(5). Corporate Citizen of the Year: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).



(6). Company of the Year: Hero Honda.



(7). Business Reformer of the Year: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.



(8). Policy Change Agent of the Year: Jean Dreze, Instrumental in conceptualising NREGS.



(9).Lifetime Achievement Award: Keshub Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra & Mahindra.

24/02/2010 : "Jinnah -India, Partition, Independence" - Author Mr Jaswant Singh



24/02/2010 : Bhishma-First Indian built T-90 tank - The first batch of India's indigenously built state-of-the-art T-90 main battle tanks, named Bhishma, with features like protection from nuclear attack, were handed over to the army on August 24, 2009 at a function in Avadi, Tamil Nadu. The tanks are being manufactured at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF).



24/02/2010 : Mangala Oil fields - The Mangala oil fields of Cairn India in Barmer, Rajasthan were inaugurated by Prime minister Manmohan Singh on August 29, 2009. The fields will help India curtail its oil import bill, which is to the tune of $20 billion, to a large extent. Mangala's peak production of 1.25 lakh barrels per day (bpd) will be reached in the first half of 2010. Along with two other fields 'Bhagyam and Aishwarya' the aggregate peak production of Cairn India will be 1.75 lakh bpd, which is 20 per cent of India's domestic production. The three fields are expected to save the country $1.5 billion annually as import bill over the next 10 years. It would also earn the government $30 billion through taxes, royalties and profit petroleum.







24/02/2010 : Twenty-five years after it established Dakshin Gangotri, the first permanent research station in the South Polar Region, India is all set to build the third such centre in Antarctica to take up cutting-edge research in various fields. The new station, tentatively named Bharti, is scheduled to be operational by 2012, making India a member of an elite group of nine nations that have multiple stations in the region. Dakshin Gangotri, set up in 1984, was buried in ice and had to be abandoned in 1990, a year after India set up Maitri, the second station. The National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa, will set up the new station on Larsmann Hill, 3,000 km from Schirmacher Oasis, where Maitri stands. While Maitri was more than 100 km from the Antarctic Sea, Bharti will be on a promontory by the sea.



24/02/2010 : The National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa.

24/02/2010 : Bhuvan: Indian version of Google Earth. Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), a part of ISRO, had a lead role in designing and developing 'Bhuvan'. NRSA scientists developed the content using data provided by Indian satellites like Resourcesat-1.



24/02/2010 : World Tiger Summit - India will host World Tiger Summit in 2010 where wildlife experts from various countries are expected to congregate to deliberate on conservation of diminishing striped cats in the wild. Rajasthan will be hosting the World Tiger Summit at Ranthambore in October or November.

23/02/2010 : Nyoma - This is the third such airstrip that has been activated along the LAC in Ladakh. On September 18, 2009, an AN-32 aircraft landed at Nyoma, where an advanced landing ground (ALG) has been readied for faster deployment of troops and moving supplies to troops based at forward posts. The landing strip is 23-km inside Indian Territory and is at an altitude of 13,300 feet. An ALG means: where the landing strip comprises hard compacted earth but is not paved with concrete. Earlier, in May 2008, the IAF had activated Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO), the highest airfield in the world situated at an altitude of 16,200 feet.





23/02/2010 : India launches OceanSat-2 - On September 23, 2009, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched seven satellites in 1,200 seconds with the help of its most trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, from the Sriharikota spaceport on Andhra Pradesh coast. The satellite is intended for identification of potential fishing zones, weather forecasting and other trends of the sea, coastal zone studies and providing inputs for general meteorological observations.



India placed its second Ocean observation satellite Oceansat-2, along with six other nano satellites, including two German Rubinsat - Rubin 9.1 and Rubin 9.2 and four Cubesats - the Beesat (assembled by Technical University, Berlin), UWE-2 (University of Wuerzburg, Germany, ITU-pSat (Istanbul Technical University, Turkey) and SwissCube-1 (Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Switzerland.



Earlier, in April 2008, ISRO had launched 10 satellites in one go.

23/02/2010 : Dr Norman Borlaug - American agronomist, humanitarian, and Nobel laureate , the father of the Green Revolution

23/02/2010 : El Nino disrupts weather patterns around the world, causing drought in Indonesia, Australia, India and eastern Brazil, and unusually heavy rainfall in the US Gulf Coast and parts of South America. It also lowers sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean and Atlantic, which helps prevent the formation and intensity of hurricanes in that region.





23/02/2010 : India in Turmoil - Written by former Delhi police chief Ved Marwah

23/02/2010 : Vyas Samman, 2008 - Mannu Bhandari has been honoured for her novel "Ek Kahani Yah Bhi". The award consists of a citation and prize money of Rs 2.55 lakh.

23/02/2010 : Saraswati Samman, 2008 - Dr Lakshminandan Bora has been honoured with the award for his Assamese novel "Kayakalpa". The awards consists of a citation and prize money of Rs 5 lakh.

23/02/2010 : Rio de Janerio - Capital of Brazil, this city will host the 2016 Olympics. With this the Olympic Games head for South America for the first time.

23/02/2010 : Kumharia - The Central government has approved this site in Fatehabad district of Haryana to set-up a nuclear power project by Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

23/02/2010 : Bengaluru - The meeting of Foreign Ministers of RIC (Russia-India-China) was held here in October 2009.







23/02/2010 : Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration, 2008 - Noted journalist from Jammu and Kashmir Balraj Puri has been given the prestigious award "for his yeoman work in promoting and preserving the spirit of national integration in the country".

23/02/2010 : Booker Prize, 2009 - British author Hilary Mantel has won the prize for her novel Wolf Hall

23/02/2010 : Nobel Prizes 2009



(1). Peace - US President Barack Obama - created a new climate in international politics.



(2). Literature - Romanian-born German writer Herta Mueller



(3). Economics - Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson of the United States



(4). Chemistry: India-born structural biologist, Dr Venkatraman 'Venky' Ramakrishnan. Worked on protein-producing ribosomes, and its translation of DNA information into life. He shares the Prize with Dr Thomas Steitz of Yale University, Connecticut, and Dr Ada Yonath of Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.



(5). Physics: Three scientists, Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, who created the technology behind digital photography and helped link the world through fibre-optic networks.



(6). Medicine: Three American scientists, Australian-born Elizabeth Blackburn, British-born Jack Szostak and Carol Greider, share the award for the discovery of a built-in protection device in chromosomes, a finding that sheds light on ageing and may help in the fight against cancer.

22/02/2010 : NAFED Managing Director C. V. Ananda Bos

22/02/2010 : National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has decided to extend its 'Farm Gate to Home Gate' campaign (the sale of essential commodities at low prices) to more States to help hold the price line of essential commodities.

22/02/2010 : Bharat Nirman, a programme to build rural infrastructure, was launched by the Government of India in 2005 to be implemented in a period of four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09. Bharat Nirman project has six components :



(1). Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (Department of Drinking Water Supply )



(2). Rural Housing - Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)



(3). Telecommunication and Information Technology



(4). Rural Roads (Ministry of Rural Development)



(5). Electrification



(6). Irrigation

22/02/2010 : Professor Yash Pal of India has been awarded UNESCO's annual Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science, jointly with Trinh Xuan Thuan of Vietnam.

Established in 1951, the Kalinga rewards honour a person who has helped interpret science, research and technology for the general public.

22/02/2010 : Oil exploration firm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has stumbled upon a reserve of uranium while carrying out exploration work at the Borholla oilfield in Jorhat district. This is the first time that uranium traces have been found in an Assam oilfield although other north-eastern States like Meghalaya have rich reserves.

22/02/2010 : Commander Dilip Dhonde of the Indian Navy, the first Indian to attempt to circumnavigate the world alone, reached Christchurch in New Zealand on November 21, 2009, after covering 9,000 nautical miles on Mhadei, the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel.

22/02/2010 : India's nuclear programme crossed a milestone with fifth unit of the 220 megawatt Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (Raps-5) attaining criticality. With this, the number of operating nuclear power reactors in India has gone up to 18, increasing the total atomic power generating capacity from 4,120 MW to 4,330 MW.

Attaining criticality in the jargon of the atomic scientists means the start of self-sustaining nuclear fission chain.

22/02/2010 : Aerospace and Engineering major QuEST Global has launched India's first aerospace special economic zone (SEZ) at Belgaum, Karnataka, for development and manufacture of aerospace precision engineering products. The SEZ has come up on a 300 acre site at an investment of Rs 150 crore.

22/02/2010 : Darrah National Park - Rajasthan will soon have its third tiger reserve after Ranthambore and Sariska. The new tiger reserve will come up at Darrah National Park, 50 km from Kota.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given a nod to the project and the first tiger is likely to be relocated to Darrah by 2011.

At present, Darrah National Park is spread over an area of 250 sq km and is separated from Ranthambore by another 250 sq km stretch which houses Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary. The park has three wildlife sanctuaries - Darrah, Chambal and Jaswant Sagar. The park has another positive side - a permanent source of water from the Chambal Basin.

Meanwhile, with an aim to protect and increase tiger population, the state government has finalised a proposal to form a tiger conservation foundation. The foundation, which will also deal with rehabilitation of the big cats to reserve parks with lesser population, is being set up as per the provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act.

22/02/2010 : Kisan Vision Yojna

Kisan Vision Yojana is an ambitious project of Indian Railways to set up cold chain facilities across the country for fresh fruit and vegetables. The first pilot project is being set up at Singur in West Bengal. The aim of the project is to provide linkage between production clusters with consumption centres.

As much as Rs 35,000 crore worth of farm produce is wasted every year due to lack of proper storage. If this pilot project is successful, Railways will build similar perishable cargo centres at Nashik, Azadpur Mandi in Delhi, New Jalpaiguri, Dankuni and Mecheda.



Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), which operates inland container depots for Railways, will provide container facilities between production clusters and consumption points. CONCOR's subsidiary, Farm and Health Enterprises will provide infrastructure support to these facilities.



22/02/2010 : Language issue and the Indian Constitution

Article 343 of the Constitution and the Official Languages Act says that the official language of the Union will be Hindi. However, the attempt to adopt Hindi as the official language was strongly opposed by several non-Hindi speaking States, especially Tamil Nadu, which erupted in violent protests leading to a compromise in allowing the use of English also for official purposes. Thus, the Constitution and the act allowed English to be used for transaction of business in Parliament, by Centre and States and for certain purposes in High Courts for 15 years. Later, the act was amended in 1967 to allow continuation of English for official purposes.

Originally, the Constitution listed fourteen languages 'Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu' in Eighth Schedule, in 1950. Since then, the list has been expanded thrice, once to include Sindhi, second time to include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali and yet again to add four more languages ' Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri' bringing total to 22 Scheduled languages.

The three-language formula recommends the study of a modern Indian language, preferably a south Indian language, apart from Hindi and English in Hindi-speaking States and the study of the regional language along with Hindi and English in non-Hindi speaking States.

In 2004, the Government of India declared that languages that met certain requirements could be accorded the status of a "classical language" in India.