Anna Hazare and his fight for the Lokpal Bill..."IMPORTANT"

Anna Hazare and his fight for the Lokpal Bill..."IMPORTANT"

Posted by nishi on 7:21 PM

1. Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest villages in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4. Ok,
Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bil, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill) that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), bureaucrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

8. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

7. Oh... He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

9. Is he alone? Who else is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more. A prominent personality like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

10. Ok, got it. What can I do?
At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.
At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.
At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.
At least we can pray for his good health.

**** What is the Lok Pal Bill….in history?? ****

After 42 years the Lokpal bill is still pending in India. The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha, subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed and its pending.

The Lokpal Bill provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister, other ministers, and MPs with the ombudsman. The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) while recommending the constitution of Lokpal was convinced that such an institution was justified not only for removing the sense of injustice from the minds of adversely affected citizens but also necessary to instill public confidence in the efficiency of administrative machinery. Following this, the Lokpal Bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969.

However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, resulting the first death of the bill. The bill was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2005 and most recently in 2008. Each time, after the bill was introduced to the house, it was referred to some committee for improvements - a joint committee of parliament, or a departmental standing committee of the Home Ministry - and before the government could take a final stand on the issue the house was dissolved.

Several flaws have been cited in the recent draft of the Lokpal Bill. Meanwhile the activists of India Against Corruption (IAC) have prepared a draft for the bill called Jan Lokpal Bill.

Census 2011

Posted by swapnil on 6:25 PM

The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is 1210.19 million of which 623.72 million (51.54%) are males and 586.46 million (48.46%) are females. 

The provisional figures of Census 2011 were released in New Delhi on Thursday by Union home secretary Shri G.K.Pillai and RGI Shri C Chandramouli.

The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under:

*The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011.

*Percentage growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males 17.19 and females 18.12.

*2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 1911-1921) which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.

*Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country followed by Maharashtra with 112 million.

*The percentage decadal growth rates of the six most populous States have declined during 2001-2011 compared to 1991-2001:

-Uttar Pradesh (25.85% to 20.09%)
-Maharashtra (22.73% to 15.99%)
-Bihar (28.62% to 25.07%)
-West Bengal (17.77 % to 13.93%)
-Andhra Pradesh (14.59% to 11.10%)
-Madhya Pradesh (24.26% to 20.30%)

*During 2001-2011, as many as 25 States/UTs with a share of about 85% of the country's population registered an annual growth rate of less than 2% as compared to, 15 States/UTs with a share of about 42% during the period 1991-2001.

*15 States/UTs have grown by less than 1.5 per cent per annum during 2001-2011, while the number of such States/UTs was only 4 during the previous decade.

*The total number of children in the age-group 0-6 is 158.8 million (-5 million since 2001)

*Twenty States and Union Territories now have over one million children in the age group 0-6 years. On the other extreme, there are five States and Union Territories in the country that are yet to reach the one hundred thousand mark.

*Uttar Pradesh (29.7 million), Bihar (18.6 million), Maharashtra (12.8 million), Madhya Pradesh (10.5 million) and Rajasthan (10.5 million) constitute 52% children in the age group of 0-6 years.

*Population (0-6 years) 2001-2011 registered minus (-)3.08 percent growth with minus (-)2.42 for males and -3.80 for females.

*The proportion of Child Population in the age group of 0-6 years to total population is 13.1 percent while the corresponding figure in 2001 was 15.9 percent. The decline has been to the extent of 2.8 points.

*Overall sex ratio at the national level has increased by 7 points to reach 940 at Census 2011 as against 933 in Census 2001. This is the highest sex ratio recorded since Census 1971 and a shade lower than 1961. Increase in sex ratio is observed in 29 States/UTs.

*Three major States (J&K, Bihar & Gujarat) have shown decline in sex ratio as compared to Census 2001.

*Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038, Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618.

*Child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 914. Increasing trend in the child sex ratio (0-6) seen in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and A&N Islands. In all remaining 27 States/UTs, the child sex ratio show decline over Census 2001.
*Mizoram has the highest child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 971 followed by Meghalaya with 970. Haryana is at the bottom with ratio of 830 followed by Punjab with 846.

*Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011 showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points.

*Percentage growth in literacy during 2001-2011 is 38.82; males : 31.98% & females : 49.10%.

*Literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent. 

Good News  The literacy rate has shot up to 74% from about 65% in the last count. More hearteningly new female literates outnumbered male literates during the past decade. Ten states and union terriorities achieved a literacy rate of above 85%. The quality of literacy may be uneven and debatable, but this is an achievement India can be proud of. The good news is that at 17.64%, the rate of growth between 2001-2011 represents the sharpest decline over a decade since Independence. The growth rate was at its lowest between 1941-1951 when it was 13.3%: that was a time of famine, religious killings, and the transfer of populations in the run-up to partition. The growth rate was more than 24% between 1961 and 1981. So a 17.64% growth rate points to a slowing down that will cheer those who are concerned about how India will bear the burden of its massive population.

Bad News The biggest shock in this census is the decline in the child gender ratio at 914 girls (up to six years) for every 1000 boys. This is the lowest since Independence and it looks like a precipitous drop from a high of 976 girls in the 1961 census.

 

The decennial census of India is the primary source of information about the demographic characteristics of the population of India.

•  The 2011 census will be one of the largest censuses in the history of mankind. 
• The first census in India in modern times was conducted in 1872. First regular census was started in 1881 by Lord Rippon.
• Since then, a population census has been carried out every 10 years. 
• The latest census commenced on 1 May 2010. It will create a National Population Register with photographs and fingerprints of every resident. All usual residents of India will also be provided with their Unique ID numbers and National Identity Cards.

The census is carried out by the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Delhi, an office in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, under the 1948 Census of India Act. 

The act gives Central Government many powers like to notify a date for Census, power to ask for the services of any citizen for census work. The law makes it compulsory for every citizen to answer the census questions truthfully. The Act provides penalties for giving false answers or not giving answers at all to the census questionnaire. One of the most important provisions of law is the guarantee for the maintenance of secrecy of the information collected at the census of each individual. The census records are not open to inspection and also not admissible in evidence.

The census is conducted in two phases: first, house listing and house numbering phase and second, the actual population enumeration phase. 

Canvassing method

The census is carried out by the canvassing method. In this method, each and every household is visited and the information is collected by specially trained enumerator. They collect data related to households e.g. number of members, water & electricity supply, ownership of land, vehicles, computers and other assets and services. In the second phase, total population is counted and statistics related to individuals are collected.

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill and comparing it with Govt's Lokpal Bill

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill and comparing it with Govt's Lokpal Bill

Posted by VENKATESH on 10:30 PM

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill

The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill that would pave the way for a Jan Lokpal, an independent body like the Election Commission, which would have the power to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission. The bill has been drafted by Shanti Bhushan, former IPS Kiran Bedi, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, renowned advocate Prashant Bhushan, former chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh in consultation with the leaders of the India Against Corruption movement and the civil society. The bill proposes institution of the office of Lokpal (Ombudsman) at center and Lok Ayukta at state level. Jan Lokpal Bill is designed to create an effective anti-corruption and grievance redressal systems at centre and to assure that effective deterrent is created against corruption and to provide effective protection to whistleblowers. The Lokpal Bill drafted by the government is pending to be passed in the Rajya Sabha since 42 years.The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha, subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed and its pending.

1.     An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up

2.    Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

3.    Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

4.    The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

5.    How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

6.    So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month’s time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

7.    But won’t the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won’t be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

8.    What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

9.    What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

10.  It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.

 

IUCN Protected Area Categories System

Through its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), IUCN have developed seven Protected Area Management Categories that define protected areas according to their management objectives and are internationally recognised by various national governments and the United Nations.

The categories provide international standards for comparing the protected areas in different countries and encourage the planning of protected areas under management aims. 

The categories are:

Ia----- Strict Nature Reserve; 

Ib----- Wilderness Area;

II------ National Park; 

III----- Natural Monument of Feature; 

IV----- Habitat/Species Management Area; 

V----- Protected Landscape/ Seascape and; 

VI---- Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

IUCN--International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN--International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France. The organization changed its name to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1956 with the acronym IUCN (or UICN in French and Spanish). Use of the name “World Conservation Union”, in conjunction with IUCN, began in 1990. From March 2008 this name is no longer commonly used.

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland

IUCN at a glance ● A unique membership association ● Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization ● Today the largest professional global conservation network ● A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development ● More than 1,000 member organizations in 140 countries including 200+ government and 800+ non-government organizations ● Almost 11,000 voluntary scientists and experts, grouped in six Commissions ● More than 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices worldwide ● A neutral forum for governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities to find pragmatic solutions to conservation and development challenges.Thousands of field projects and activities around the world ● Governance by a Council elected by member organizations every four years at the IUCN World Conservation Congress ● Funded by governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, member organizations and corporations ● Official observer status at the United Nations General Assembly

***************************************************************************

Recent News

***************************************************************************

IUCN in the process of assessing freshwater biodiversity of India
The freshwater biodiversity of the country is being assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is after a gap of 13 years that the freshwater biodiversity of the country, including fish, molluscs, insects and plants, is being assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The last such assessment was held in 1997.
     The list is considered a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
It has nine classifications namely extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient and not evaluated.
It is estimated that only 13 of the 807 species of freshwater fish found in India have been assessed using the Red list criteria.

India to enlist endangered animal, plant species in Red list

New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) In a bid to strengthen its efforts at conservation of endangered plant and animal species, India has decided to initiate the Red listing process on regular basis. A high-level Environment Ministry panel has decided to bring its first report on the country's endangered species -- both plants and animals -- by the end of next year. "To begin with, two documents, one each on 'Red list of Indian Plants' and 'Red list of Indian Animals' would be released during the COP-11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in New Delhi in October 2012," a Ministry document said. The Red listing process would follow the framework of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) regional guidelines and criteria, it said. The document was prepared by the 10-member steering committee, chaired by Jagdish Kishwan, Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife). Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) would be the focal points for the Red listing of plant and animal species, respectively. The Ministry decided to carry out the Red listing process on a regular basis to end the "paucity of information for the general public on the status, biology and major threats to the endangered species" of the country, which has a staggering variety of flora and fauna. Many organisations are working independently in the country on the Red listing process. The Ministry would provide necessary coordinating mechanism to integrate the efforts of scientific and voluntary organisations into a scientifically acceptable useful output. "The directors of BSI and ZSI would co-opt as many experts -- both individuals and organisations -- as required, to form a core group, each for plants and animal species separately for completion of the Red listing exercise within the stipulated time period," the document said. The Steering Committee would monitor and guide the process of Red listing and the divisions concerned of the Ministry would allocate necessary budgetary provisions for undertaking the exercise. Last month, the Ministry in collaboration with the ZSI, had released a comprehensive document on 'Critically Endangered Animal Species of India'. As per the latest (2011) quantitative evaluation done by the IUCN, there are 57 critically endangered species of animals in India.

***************************************************************************

Dhamra Port Project

Promoting Corporate Environmental Responsibility in India

The agreement between IUCN and The Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL), a joint venture of Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro, is an encouraging step forward in promoting corporate environmental responsibility. This acquires even greater importance given the proximity of the port in relation to one of the world’s most important mass-nesting beaches for olive ridley turtles. Given the Tata Group’s commitment to environmental preservation, IUCN believes that engaging with DPCL, in an effort to integrate the highest of environmental standards into the port development and operations, is an exemplary model of contemporary conservation in action.

IUCN and DPCL, signed an agreement in 2007 with the aims of:

• Avoiding, minimizing and mitigating the impacts of Dhamra Port development on turtles and compensating or off-setting any residual impact that cannot be avoided or reasonably mitigated;
• Improving the project’s performance in other aspects of environment, e.g. terrestrial environment as affected by the access roads, railway lines and other secondary developments; and
• Contributing to raising national and global standards for environmentally responsible development of mega projects.

Current initiatives

In addition of serving as secretariat of IUCN India National Committee, the current activities of India programme include:

The Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy (LLS) is a leverage programme to catalyze the sustainable use and conservation of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services for the benefit of the rural poor.

Mangroves for the Future (MFF ) initiative, which will address long term threats to coastal ecosystems and livelihoods and which will promote investment in conserving coastal ecosystems as development ‘infrastructure’.

********************************************************************************

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those plants and animals that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable). The IUCN Red List also includes information on plants and animals that are categorized as Extinct or Extinct in the Wild; on taxa that cannot be evaluated because of insufficient information (i.e., are Data Deficient); and on plants and animals that are either close to meeting the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened were it not for an ongoing taxon-specific conservation programme (i.e., are Near Threatened).

Current Affair on Business and Economy forCLAT 2011, Bank Clerical/ PO Exams: March 2011

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

1. With which company did British Airways seal the contracts for Trent 900 engines to power a

dozen Airbus A380s?

a. General Motors

b. BMW

c. Rolls-Royce

d. Mercedes

2. Avinash Vashishtha, a veteran outsourcing professional has joined which firm as its Cahirman and Country  Managing Director?

a. IBM

b. Accenture India

c. HP

d. HCL India

3. Goldman Sachs would be selling its 44.7 percent stake worth … to Accordia Golf, a Japanese

Golf Course Operator.

a. $446 million

b. $546 million

c. $556 million

d. $656 million

4. On what amount were the prices  of onion, beer and petrol registered on par in January 2011?

a.  `50

b.  `55

c.  `60

d.  `65

5. What was the peak Customs  duty rate for the year 2010?

a. 4%

b. 6%

c. 8%

d. 10%

6. Identify from the following, the

mastermind behind Gurgaon’s

multi-crore Citibank scam.

a. Sanjeev Aggarwal

b. Shivraj Puri

c. Vikram Pandit

d. Pramit Jhaveri

7. Kotak Realty Funds Group recently sold a 20-acre residential plot near Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai for `130 crore to which housing company?

a. Adarsh

b. Homex

c. Purvankara

d. Prestige

8. Name the person who took over as the fourth deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India recently.

a. S. Venkitaramanan

b. Amitav Ghosh

c. Anand Sinha

d. Rakesh Malhotra

9. Omnitech Infosolutions  acquired Avensus Netherland BV for an amount of …

a. $5 million

b. $6 million

c. $8 million

d. $9 million

10. Toyota Kirloskar Motors recently launched its fi rst offering in the C-segment cars in India, namely, …

a. Veyron

b. Impala

c. Etios

d. Vento

11. How many oil and gas blocks have been offered for exploration by India recently in the ninth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)?

a. 34

b. 44

c. 54

d. 59

12. HCL Infosystems has decided to sell the entire stake of which of its subsidiaries to Tikona  Digital Networks?

a. HCL Axon

b. HCL Infi net

c. HCL Peripherals

d. HCL Security

13. India saw a sharp rise in infl ation at … during the last  week of December 2010.

a. 12%

b. 15%

c. 18%

d. 21%

14. Tata housing has signed an agreement with the Gujarat to invest … for developing a township in Ahmedabad on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

a.  `1,000 crore

b.  `1,200 crore

c.  `1,600 crore

d.  `1,700 crore

15. What amount did the Indian government dole out to make up for more than half the revenue loss of state retailers for selling auto and cooking fuel below cost?

a.  `20,000 crore

b.  `22,000 crore

c.  `24,000 crore

d.  `26,000 crore

16. After the cabinet rejig, who will be handling the oil ministry?

a. Mani Shankar Aiyar

b. Jaipal Reddy

c. Murli Deora

d. V. M. Katoch

17. After the cabinet rejig, who  will be handling the urban development ministry?

a. Dinsha Patel

b. A. K. Antony

c. Kamal Nath

d. Suresh Kalmadi

18. Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala founded …

a. United Bank of India

b. Central Bank of India

c. Reserve Bank of India

d. State Bank of India

19. Identify the amphibian plane service started by the Indian Government to promote tourism in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

a. Jalhans

b. Jalvayu

c. A&N services

d. None of the above

20. Mobile number portability that  allows users to keep their phone  numbers unchanged in spite of

switching operators was rolled out by Pan-India on …

a. December 20, 2010

b. December 25, 2010

c. January 9, 2011

d. January 20, 2011

21. A levy introduced by France  popularly known as ‘Google tax’ is … tax on online advertising.

a. 2%

b. 1.5%

c. 1%

d. 0.5%

22. IndiGo airlines, who is  about to complete its five years of  domestic operations in the country is will be launching its international in …

a. Februray 2011

b. August 2011

c. September 2011

d. November 2011

23. Who was named the TIME person of the year 2010?

a. Orkut Buyukkokten

b. Jerry Yang

c. Mark Zuckerberg

d. Jimmy Wales

24. What amount did Essar Energy Plc raise recently by issuing convertible bonds to fund  acquisitions, projects and refi nance debt?

a. $500 million

b. $550 million

c. $620 million

d. $640 million

25. Name the brand ambassador of Hublot watches from among the following.

a. Veronica Varekova

b. Bernie Ecclestone

c. Usain Bolt

d. Bode Miller

26. The DTH industry in India is worth …

a.  `2,000 crore

b.  `2,300 crore

c.  `3,700 crore

d.  `4,000 crore

27. With which of the following countries does India share least  or nominal trade relations?

a. Monaco

b. Nauru

c. Uganda

d. Grenada

28. The total infl ow of FDI recorded by China in 2010 is …

a. $104.74 billion

b. $105.74 billion

c. $106.74 billion

d. $107.74 billion

29. Debenture-Holders of a company are its …

a. Creditors

b. Shareholders

c. Debtors

d. Workers

30. Pearson increased its stake in Indian Education fi rm, TutorVista to 76%, which is worth …

a. $100 million

b. $117 million

c. $125 million

d. $134 million

31. When the demand of a commodity remains constant even after a big change in its price, the

demand is known as …

a. Inelastic

b. Elastic

c. Unstable

d. None of the above

32. Which among the following is India’s oldest stock joint bank?

a. Axis Bank

b. HDFC Bank

c. Bank of Maharashtra

d. Allahabad Bank

33. Sodexho, the food and facilities management service company, belongs to which country?

a. Spain

b. France

c. Germany

d. Italy

34. The nationalisation of SBI subsidiaries took place in which year?

a. 1944

b. 1951

c. 1959

d. 1962

35. In which year was the Market Access Initiative (MAI)  launched?

a. 2000

b. 2001

c. 2002

d. 2003

36. Audi launched its powerful  sedan, Audi R8 5.2 FSI with  V10 engine priced at …, sold as a completely built unit in the  Indian car market.

a.  `1.00 crore

b.  `1.14 crore

c.  `1.35 crore

d.  `1.88 crore

37. China is supposed to have incurred a debt of … to battle the impact of the global financial crisis that started in 2008.

a. $1.5 trillion

b. $1.7 trillion

c. $2.1 trillion

d. $2.6 trillion

38. How many jobs did Brazil  create in the year 2010?

a. 1 million

b. 2 million

c. 2.52 million

d. 2.93 million

39. Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) outbid HCL Technologies recently to win a contract worth … from steelmaker Arcelor Mittal

a. $300 million

b. $450 million

c. $600 million

d. $670 million

40. Air India gave ICICI bank the mandate to refinance loans  to purchase 21 Airbus A320  aircrafts worth …

a.  `55 billion

b.  `60 billion

c.  `63 billion

d.  `69 billion

41. How many US patents did IBM receive in 2010, making it the world’s most inventive company for the 18th consecutive year?

a. 2,658

b. 3,094

c. 4,551

d. 5,896

42. Coal India Ltd will operationalise a new underground mine  estimated to have a coal reserve of how many million tonnes in Jharkhand?

a. 14

b. 20

c. 23

d. 31

43. Gujarat was endorsed as India’s  premier investment destination during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2011. What was  the record-breaking amount invested within one hour on the first day of the event?

a.  `2,00,000 crore

b.  `2,50,000 crore

c.  `2,60,000 crore

d. None of the above

44. China’s economy grew by what  percent in 2010?

a. 10%

b. 11%

c. 11.5%

d. 12.1%

45. Mayawati unveiled over 600  projects worth how much on her  55th birthday recently, describing this act as “historic”?

a.  `2,000 crore

b.  `3,000 crore

c.  `4,000 crore

d.  `5,000 crore

46. Which of the following companies invested $500 million to  acquire 1% stake in Facebook?

a. Google and Apple

b. Goldman Sachs and a  Russian investor

c. Steve Jobs and Warren Buffett

d. None of the above

47. Indian drug fi rm Glenmark will pay … in damages to US  firm Abbott Laboratories as  it lost the patent case over  hypertension drug Tarka.

a. $10 million

b. $12 million

c. $15 million

d. $16 million

48. Which country became the 17th member of the eurozone on January 1, 2011?

a. Estonia

b. Russia

c. Turkey

d. Latvia

49. Citibank was recently hit by a fraud worth … at its Gurgaon (Haryana) branch.

a.  `300 crore

b.  `400 crore

c.  `500 crore

d.  `600 crore

50. Which of the following has agreed to sponsor the England football team for 3.5 years  starting this year?

a. Vaux Hall

b. Foxy Bingo

c. Cash4Gold

d. BET365

1. Where is Gulf Cooperation  Council session headquartered?

a. Riyadh

b. Oman

c. Qatar

d. Al Khurtum

2. Liu Xiaobo is the … person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison or detention.

a. First

b. Second

c. Third

d. Fourth

3. Who is the CEO of Bajaj Hindustan Ltd.?

a. Kushagra Bajaj

b. Sanjeev Kumar

c. Shishir Bajaj

d. None of these

4. Who was the fi rst Indian to win the Miss Universe title?

a. Lara Dutta

b. Sushmita Sen

c. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

d. None of these

5. Changthangi is a breed of which of the following animals?

a. Buffalo

b. Goat

c. Tiger

d. Elephant

6. Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed on which of the following rivers?

a. Periyar

b. Kaveri

c. Ganga

d. Yamuna

7. When was Prasar Bharti established?

a. 1967

b. 1988

c. 1967

d. 1927

8. Oud is a …

a. Car

b. Language

c. Folk Dance

d. Musical instrument

9. Khan Research Laboratories, which designed Hatf V is located in which city of Pakistan?

a. Kahuta

b. Karachi

c. Lahore

d. None of these

10. How many times was K. Karunakaran selected as the Chief Minister of Kerala?

a. 2

b. 3

c. 4

d. 5

11. The Strategic Arms Reduction  Treaty was a bilateral treaty  between the United States of

America and …

a. China

b. USSR

c. India

d. None of these

12. Who is the author of Hard Times?

a. Raj Rao

b. Charles Dickens

c. H. G. Wells

d. H. O. Hume

13. Which is the most spoken language in the world?

a. Mandarin

b. English

c. Hindi

d. German

14. The art of communicating  through fi ngers is called …

a. Danology

b. Cytology

c. Oncology

d. Dactyology

15. Who built Eiffel Tower?

a. Louis Williams

b. Gustave Eiffel

c. Brendon Eiffel

d. Quin Nan Mian

16. Atom Bomb was invented  in which of the following  countries?

a. USA

b. France

c. Germany

d. Russia

17. Which is the driest place on the earth?

a. Sahara Desert

b. Atcama Desert

c. Both a and b

d. Atacama Desert

18. When was the first movie made in India?

a. 1957

b. 1927

c. 1961

d. 1988

19. Which city in Rajasthan is known as Sun City?

a. Rajasthan

b. Jaipur

c. Jodhpur

d. Bikaner

20. Which hockey player is also  recognised as Magician of Hockey?

a. Dhyan Chand

b. Dhanraj Pillai

c. Ajay Singh

d. Rajesh Tomar

21. The author of God of Small Things is …

a. Nirupama Rao

b. Vikram Seth

c. Salman Rushdie

d. None of these

22. In which year did the Bengal  division take place?

a. 1919

b. 1905

c. 1962

d. 1988

23. Who gave the slogan “Yes we can” during his Presidential election?

a. Pratibh Patel

b. Barak Obama

c. George Bush

d. None of these

24. Who is the current Secretary  General of United Nations?

a. Kofi  Annna

b. Shiv Shankar Menon

c. Ban Ki moon

d. None of these

25. Which city is also known as  Empire City?

a. Jaipur

b. New York

c. Delhi

d. Katmandu

26. Where is the world's largest  gravity dam located?

a. India

b. Burma

c. Pakistan

d. Nepal

27. Who invented the wrist-watch?

a. Charles Babbage

b. Patek Phillippe

c. Adam Smith

d. None of these

28. In the absence of both President  and Vice President, who serves  the offi ce of the President of India?

a. Prime Minister

b. Speaker of Lok Sabha

c. The Chief Justice of India

d. Governor of a state

29. Where is the Great Slave Lake located?

a. USA

b. Canada

c. UK

d. Saudi Arabia

30. Which is the longest National Highway in India?

a. NH 24

b. NH 8

c. NH 7

d. NH 2

31. Who is the supreme Commander  of Indian Armed Forces?

a. Defence minister of India

b. Prime minister of India

c. President of India

d. None of these

32. Who invented Nylon?

a. William Makepeace

b. Andrew Pitt

c. Wallace Carother

d. None of these

33. Who is the only lady who has won Nobel Prize for Chemistry twice?

a. Madam Curie

b. Carla Arthur

c. Roselyn Black

d. None of these

34. Who is the architect of St. Peter’s Basilica?

a. James Spencer

b. Albert Ivanovich

c. Donate Bramante

d. None of these

35. The national Aquatic animal of  India is …

a. Dolphin

b. Whale

c. Pirana

d. Python

36. National Youth Day is celebrated in memory of …

a. Swami Vivekanand

b. Shaheed Bhagat Singh

c. Chandra Shekhar Azad

d. None of these

37. Which Indian state has the largest forest area?

a. Maharashtra

b. West Bengal

c. Tamil Nadu

d. Madhya Pradesh

38. Which of the following animals can survive longest without  water?

a. Camel

b. Dog

c. Rat

d. None of these

39. Which African country is in the  shape of a horn?

a. Sudan

b. Morrocco

c. Somalia

d. Libya

40. Daughter of the East has been authored by …

a. Jawahar Lal Nehru

b. Nelson Mandela

c. Benazir Bhutto

d. None of these

41. When is the World Population  Day observed?

a. December 8

b. August 17

c. October 21

d. July 11

42. Which of the following  countries has a 13 month calendar?

a. Brazil

b. Ethopia

c. Siberia

d. Finland

43. When did the Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) enter the Indian Market?

a. 1992

b. 1999

c. 1993

d. 1996

44. The Ryder Cup is associated with which game?

a. Cricket

b. Football

c. Golf

d. Lawn Tennis

45. The Longest Railway Tunnel of the World, Gotthard Base Tunnel, is located in …

a. India

b. Switzerland

c. Germany

d. None of these

46. Hepatology is the study of …

a. Lungs

b. Liver

c. Brain

d. Kidneys

47. Name the fi rst Indian Woman to  receive the Nobel Prize.

a. Mother Teresa

b. Fritz Robert

c. Jonathan Brown

d. None of these

48. Bagalihar Project lies on which  river?

a. Ravi

b. Kosi

c. Chenab

d. None of these

49. The Tribal Group Kolam belongs to which state?

a. Andra Pradesh

b. Tamil Nadu

c. Bihar

d. Kerala

50. Wular Lake is located in …

a. Jammu and Kashmir

b. Uttar Pradesh

c. Bihar

d. Orissa

ANSWERS


BUSINESS & ECONOMY

1. c. Rolls-Royce

2. b. Accenture India

3. a. $446 million

4. d. `65

5. d. 10%

6. b. Shivraj Puri

7. b. Homex

8. c. Anand Sinha

9. d. $9 million

10. c. Etios

11. a. 34

12. b. HCL Infi net

13. c. 18%

14. a. `1,000 crore

15. d. `26,000 crore

16. b. Jaipal Reddy

17. c. Kamal Nath

18. b. Central Bank of India

19. a. Jalhans

20. d. January 20, 2011

21. c. 1% tax

22. b. August 2011

23. c. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook

24. a. $500 million

25. b. Bernie Ecclestone

26. d. `4,000 crore

27. c. Uganda

28. b. $105.74 billion

29. a. Creditors

30. c. $125 million

31. a. Inelastic

32. d. Allahabad Bank

33. b. France

34. c. 1959

35. d. 2003

36. c. `1.35 crore

37. a. $1.5 trillion

38. c. 2.52 million

39. c. $600 million

40. a. `55 billion

41. d. 5,896

42. b. 20

43. b. `2,50,000 crore

44. a. 10%

45. c. `4,000 crore

46. b. Goldman Sachs and a Russian investor

47. d. $16 million

48. a. Estonia

49. b. `400 crore

50. a. Vaux Hall

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. a. Riyadh

2. d.Fourth

3. a. Kushagra Bajaj

4. b. Sushmita Sen

5. b. Goat

6. a. Periyar

7. c. 1967

8. d. Musical instrument

9. a. Kahuta

10. c. 4

11. b. USSR

12. b. Charles Dickens

13. a. Mandarin

14. d. Dactyology

15. b. Gustave Eiffel

16. a. USA

17. d. Atacama Desert

18. c. 1961

19. c. Jodhpur

20. a. Dhyan Chand

21. d. None of these

22. b. 1905

23. b. Barak Obama

24. c. Ban Ki moon

25. b. New York

26. a. India

27. b. Patek Phillippe

28. c. The Chief Justice of India

29. b. Canada

30. c. NH 7

31. c. President of India

32. c. Wallace Carother

33. a. Madam Curie

34. c. Donate Bramante

35. a. Dolphin

36. a. Swami Vivekanand

37. d. Madhya Pradesh

38. a. Camel

39. c. Somalia

40. c. Benazir Bhutto

41. d. July 11

42. b. Ethopia

43. a. 1992

44. c. Golf

45. b. Switzerland

46. b. Liver

47. a. Mother Teresa

48. c. Chenab

49. a. Andra Pradesh

50. a. Jammu and Kashmir