1 Feb 2012 - The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 40

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1. Bank Rate is determined by this organization<br />
2. In this State, the Bhilai Steel Plant is situated<br />
3. The Highest Populous State in India is<br />
4. This Turkey City is the ˜Gateway to the West<br />
5. India Played its 100th Cricket Test Match with this Country<br />
6. The President of India can be removed from his office by<br />
7. A Federal Court was established in India under the Act of<br />
8. The Time of the Year when the difference between the Length of the Days and the Length of Nights is the Largest is called<br />
9. In our Indian Constitution, the part of the œFundamental Rights is borrowed from this Country<br />
10. The Smallest State in terms of area is<br />
<span></span><br />
<span></span> <strong>ANSWERS</strong><br />
<span></span><br />
<span></span> 1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)<br />
2. Chattisgarh<br />
3. Uttar Pradesh<br />
4. Istanbul<br />
5. Srilanka<br />
6. The Parliament<br />
7. 1935<br />
8. Solstice<br />
9. USA<br />
10. Goa </div>

RAPID GK SERIES 40

RAPID GK SERIES 40

1. Bank Rate is determined by this organization 2. In this State, the Bhilai Steel Plant is situated 3. The Highest Populous State in Indi...

India to ask US, Pak to extradite 9 persons involved in 26/11 attack

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India is all set to ask the United States and Pakistan to extradite nine persons involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The list of nine persons includes Pakistani-American terrorist David  Headley, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and two ISI officers. The extradition  requests to the US and Pakistan will be sent very soon as all the nine  persons were directly involved in the conspiracy as well as executing  the India's worst terror strike. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The move comes a month after the National Investigation Agency  chargesheeted LeT operative Headley, Hafiz Saeed, Mumbai attack  mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Headley's accomplice and  Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana and al-Qaeda operative Illyas Kashmiri  for plotting terror attacks in India including the 26/11 strikes. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Sajid Malik, handler of Headley, and Abdul Rehman Hashmi,former  Pakistani Army officer, were also named in the charge- sheet besides two  officers Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali who believed to be working for  Pakistan's spy agency. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The extradition requests will be sent to the US despite the fact  that Headley had entered into a plea bargain with American authorities  to escape harsh sentence. Both Headley and Rana are at present in  custody of US authorities and NIA has only got a limited access to  Headley. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Barring Headley and Rana, NIA has secured an Interpol Red Corner  Notice against all the seven accused including Saeed and Lakhvi who is  said to be in a Pakistani jail facing trial for conspiring the 26/11  attack.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The seven others are believed to be in Pakistan and New Delhi does not have any extradition pact with Islamabad.</li>
</ul></div>

India to ask US, Pak to extradite 9 persons involved in 26/11 attack

India to ask US, Pak to extradite 9 persons involved in 26/11 attack

India is all set to ask the United States and Pakistan to extradite nine persons involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. The list of n...

Obama admits US drone strikes on Pakistan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">US President Barack Obama has confirmed  that unmanned drones regularly strike suspected militants in Pakistan  's tribal areas. Mr. Obama called the strikes a targeted focussed effort  at people who are on a list of active terrorists. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The US does not routinely speak publicly about drone operations. Mr.  Obama made his comments during an hour-long video hangout on Google's  social network. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>More than 130,000 questions were submitted before the hangout began,  and six people were invited to join the president online for the event. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>They were able to ask questions and seek follow-up answers from Mr. Obama. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The event ended a week of social media engagement in the wake of Mr. Obama's State of the Union address on 24 January. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Meanwhile, Pakistan said the drone attacks are unlawful, counterproductive and hence unacceptable.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said our view has always been very clear and position principled.</li>
</ul></div>

Obama admits US drone strikes on Pakistan

Obama admits US drone strikes on Pakistan

US President Barack Obama has confirmed that unmanned drones regularly strike suspected militants in Pakistan 's tribal areas. Mr. Oba...

Western govt urges UNSC to tackle Syria crisis

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Western governments are putting intense  pressure on the UN Security Council to tackle the crisis in Syria where  violence is raging. They are demanding a UN resolution on political  change in Syria based on a plan by the Arab League, but that is fiercely  opposed by Russia which calls it regime change by another name. The UN  Security Council is due to discuss Syria later on Tuesday. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The plan proposed by the Arab League, and backed by the United  States, Britain and France, calls for Mr. Assad to hand power to a  deputy who would then form a government of national unity. Moscow said  this is not balanced and will leave open the possibility of intervention  in Syria 's affairs. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Earlier, the United States said it was inevitable that President  Bashar Al- Assad will fall. White House spokesman Jay Carney said  Assad's fall is inevitable as the regime has lost control of the  country. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Meanwhile, Damascus has slammed what it termed aggressive statements  made by the United States and other Western nations ahead of a UN  Security Council session on the spiraling violence in Syria . </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A foreign ministry statement distributed by the official SANA news  agency said the aggressive American and Western statements against Syria  are escalating in a scandalous manner. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Damascus described statements by the West as ridiculous, and  insisted that recent events in the country should be blamed on armed  terrorist groups.</li>
</ul></div>

Western govt urges UNSC to tackle Syria crisis

Western govt urges UNSC to tackle Syria crisis

Western governments are putting intense pressure on the UN Security Council to tackle the crisis in Syria where violence is raging. They a...

No petrol without helmets in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district

No petrol without helmets in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district

No petrol without helmets in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district

Ranchi district administration has issued instructions to all petrol pumps not to sell petrol to ...

PM asks officials to speeds up trans-shipment project in Kerala

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh  has asked the officials of concerned departments to speed up the  country's first International Container Trans-shipment Terminal project  at Vallarpadam in Kerala.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Once implemented, over 16,000-crore Vallarpadam container facility for trans-shipment will become a major hub for cargo. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to a release issued by Prime Minister’s Office, the  project will help reducing the number of days taken to export or import  consignments by seven days apart from cutting down the transportation  cost of each container by 300 US dollar. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The facility will give a boost to international Indian trade making  it more competitive. Currently Indian importers and exporters use  Colombo , Salalah , Singapore and Dubai hubs for shipments adding to  their costs. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Pulok Chatterjee chaired a  meeting with officials from the departments of Revenue, Commerce and  Shipping. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>They have been asked to ensure that procedural issues do not come in the way of the implementation of this project. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In the meeting it was also decided that the Department of Commerce  and Ministry of Shipping will make all efforts to ensure that the first  Container Freight Station (CFS) is operational by 1st of March this year  and other 3 proposed such stations should be commissioned shortly. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Customs Department will also ensure necessary arrangements for the purpose.</li>
</ul></div>

PM asks officials to speeds up trans-shipment project in Kerala

PM asks officials to speeds up trans-shipment project in Kerala

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has asked the officials of concerned departments to speed up the country's first International C...

Dinesh Trivedi calls for National Policy on Railways

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Railways Minister Mr. Dinesh  Trivedi has called for a National Policy on Railways so that it can add  to the country’s GDP and generate employment. Addressing Public Private  Partnership Summit 2012 in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, he asserted  that if India has to maintain a GDP of seven to eight percent, it must  relook towards the growth of Railways.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Calling for automation of railways system to avoid accidents, the Minister said that accidents happen mostly due to human error. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Advocating a rebuild of the organisational structure of railways,  Mr. Trivedi disclosed that the Railway Board will be expanded after the  budget to make it customer oriented. He said a roadmap to this effect  will be presented in the Railway budget.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Saying that safety will be his first and foremost concern, Mr.  Trivedi said that two committees are already working on the issue for a  complete overhaul.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Speaking on the occasion, Member Planning Commission Mr. B.K.  Chaturvedi said that all allocation under PPP mode must be in a  transparent manner and once the terms of allocation is fixed, it should  not be changed. Stressing the need for a dispute resolution mechanism,  Mr. Chaturvedi said that the disputes should be settled at the  earliest.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>During the 12th Five Year Plan, half of the one trillion dollar  investment is targetted to be achieved through private sector  investment.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>It has been observed that while PPP projects in some sectors have  displayed good progress, several others achieved only limited success.  In the 11th Plan Private Partnership remained 80 percent while Public  partnership was only 20 percent.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>While Telecom, Oil and Gas Pipeline and Power Sector has seen  largest private investment. Other areas like Railways, health, education  and Urban Development are yet to get its due share.</li>
</ul></div>

Dinesh Trivedi calls for National Policy on Railways

Dinesh Trivedi calls for National Policy on Railways

The Railways Minister Mr. Dinesh Trivedi has called for a National Policy on Railways so that it can add to the country’s GDP and generate...

ISRO to release Antrix-Devas deal reports

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">An ISRO press release issued in  Bangalore says that the ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan has initiated  a process of getting necessary clearances for releasing the reports of  two committees to examine various aspects of the ANTRIX-DEVAS Agreement  of January 2005. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>It can be recalled that the Government has set up the High Powered  Review Committee on February 10, 2011 with Shri B.K. Chaturvedi and  Prof. Roddam Narasimha as Members. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Another High Level Team was also set up by Government on May 31,  2011 chaired by Shri Pratyush Sinha to examine various aspects of the  ANTRIX-DEVAS Agreement. Former ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair and three  other senior space scientists are charged with omissions allegedly  committed in Antrix Corporation's deal with Devas Multimedia for leasing  out S-band transponders on two satellites for launch of digital  multimedia services. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office V Narayanaswamy had  said on Monday that Government is ready to hear the point of view of  four scientists barred from occupying any government posts in connection  with the Antrix-Devos deal. </li>
</ul></div>

ISRO to release Antrix-Devas deal reports

ISRO to release Antrix-Devas deal reports

An ISRO press release issued in Bangalore says that the ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan has initiated a process of getting necessary cl...

Bihar village sets example by planting trees on birth of girls

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Planting of trees by families on birth  of a girl child, the theme of Bihar’s tableau in this year’s Republic  Day parade, has worked wonders for a village in Bhagalpur by improving  the environment and providing financial security to girls. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The tradition in Dharhara village, about 40 km from Bhagalpur, was  popularised by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was so impressed by it  that he decided to launch a welfare scheme “Pahli Kilkari Yojna” from  there on Environment Day last year, official sources said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to the practise, a family plants a fruit bearing tree on  the birth of a girl child. The fruits provide financial insurance for  the girl as the family deposits the money by selling them in her name. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The money, which multiplies in the course of time, is spent during the marriage of the girl. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>BJP spokesman and Bhagalpur MP Shahnawaz Hussain told that the tradition has proved a boon for the girl child. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Besides, financially empowering the girl, the custom has a positive impact on the environment of the area, he said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Naughachia, Sushil Kumar said the  government provides all possible help to the village to encourage this  practise which has spread to many other neighbouring areas. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Subodh Kumar Kushwaha, a villager, said due to this healthy  tradition, everyone feels happy on birth of a girl child in their  family. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Locals said earlier people used to plant seesam (Indian Rosewood)  tree on the occasion but it was not successful as the tree started  decaying due to some unknown disease, besides taking a long time in  maturing. This prompted people to go for cash-rich trees like banana and  mango.</li>
</ul></div>

Bihar village sets example by planting trees on birth of girls

Bihar village sets example by planting trees on birth of girls

Planting of trees by families on birth of a girl child, the theme of Bihar’s tableau in this year’s Republic Day parade, has worked wonder...

U.S. nuclear reactor loses power, venting system

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">A nuclear reactor at a northern  Illinois plant was shut down after losing power, and steam was being  vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear  and federal regulators. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Unit 2 at Byron Generating Station, about 153 kilometres northwest  of Chicago, shut down at 10:18 a.m., after losing power, Exelon  officials said. Diesel generators began supplying power to the plant,  and operators began releasing steam to cool the reactor, but from the  part of the plant where turbines are producing electricity, not from  within the nuclear reactor itself, officials said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The steam contains low levels of tritium, a radioactive form of  hydrogen, but federal and plant officials insisted the levels were safe  for workers and the public. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission declared the incident an  “unusual event,” the lowest of four levels of emergency. Commission  officials also said the release of tritium was expected. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Exelon Nuclear officials believe a failed piece of equipment at a  switchyard caused the shutdown. The switchyard is similar to a large  substation that delivers power from the plant to the electrical grid,  they said. Officials were still investigating the equipment failure.</li>
</ul></div>

U.S. nuclear reactor loses power, venting system

U.S. nuclear reactor loses power, venting system

A nuclear reactor at a northern Illinois plant was shut down after losing power, and steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according ...

'Lakshya' successfully test flown

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5846" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Indigenously developed micro-light and  pilot-less target aircraft ‘Lakshya-1’ was successfully test flown from  the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur today.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>'Lakshya-1’, fitted with an advanced digitally controlled engine was  successfully test flown at about 11.40 AM to check the validity of its  engine and duration enhancement, defence sources said here. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"It is a routine trial by the users," the sources said. ‘Lakshya’ is  a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system remote controlled from the  ground and designed to impart training to both air borne and air defence  pilots. The flight duration of the micro light air-craft is usually  30-35 minutes.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The aircraft has been developed by India's aeronautic development  establishment (ADE), Bangalore to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance  of battle field and target acquisition. ‘Lakshya’ has been inducted in  to the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2000.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The trial was significant as Lakshya-11 PTA was successfully flight tested from the same ground on January 25 and 27.  </li>
</ul></div></div>

'Lakshya' successfully test flown

'Lakshya' successfully test flown

Indigenously developed micro-light and pilot-less target aircraft ‘Lakshya-1’ was successfully te...

Kazakhstan lifts state of emergency after riots

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Kazakhstan today lifted a state of  emergency in its riot-torn Caspian Sea town of Zhanaozen, where clashes  between striking oil workers and police left at least 16 dead last  month.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the state of emergency  to last until 7 am, local time, today. He announced Friday it would not  be extended because the "situation had taken a normal course."  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The violence in Zhanaozen and the wider Mangistau region on the  Caspian Sea, where the Central Asian country pumps much of its oil, was  the bloodiest in Kazakhstan's post-Soviet history.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Strongman Nazarbayev initially blamed the bloodshed on militants,  but he later sacked several energy executives and even his son-in-law  Timur Kulibayev, who headed a state holding firm with stakes in the  companies hit by strikes. </li>
</ul></div>

Kazakhstan lifts state of emergency after riots

Kazakhstan lifts state of emergency after riots

Kazakhstan today lifted a state of emergency in its riot-torn Caspian Sea town of Zhanaozen, where clashes between striking oil workers an...

IAF chief on four-day visit to Malaysia

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5848" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In consonance with India's 'Look East'  policy, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on Monday left for Malaysia on a  four-day visit to discuss bilateral defence cooperation, which received a  big boost after IAF started to train their pilots to fly Russian-origin  Sukhoi fighters.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>During his stay, he will meet Malaysian Chief of Defence Force  General Zulkifeli bin Mohammed Zin and Chief of Royal Malaysian Air  Force Gen Rodzali bin Daud, an IAF release said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A team of IAF pilots and technicians were in Malaysia in 2008 for a  period of two years to train Malaysian Pilots, Weapon System Operators  and maintenance staff for smooth induction and operation of their newly  acquired Su-30 MKM fighter aircraft.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>They also helped them set up a Systems School for Su-30 MKM at Gong Kedak Air Base. <a href="http://www.tippani.in/blog/xbusiness.php?submit=showTopics#5848" title="Click here to show details"></a> </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Browne will also visit their Sukhoi-30  and Subang airbases and hold talks on issues including professional  exchanges, Su-30 Training, courses, maintenance and logistic issues. </li>
</ul></div></div>

IAF chief on four-day visit to Malaysia

IAF chief on four-day visit to Malaysia

In consonance with India's 'Look East' policy, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on Monday...

Dhoni not bothered about losing captaincy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5849" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Facing severe criticism for his  unimpressive captaincy and performances in Test cricket, under-fire  Mahendra Singh Dhoni has offered to quit the leadership role in the  longer format of the game if the BCCI feels there is a better  replacement waiting in the wings. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dhoni said if somebody could do a better job than him in Tests, then  he will be more than happy to step down as captain for the sake of the  team. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dhoni now has lost seven straight Test matches abroad as captain and  as a batsman, his stocks have really fallen low on foreign pitches. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>While he made 220 at 31.43 from four Tests in England, he scored 102  from six innings of three Tests at 20.40 on the present tour. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The responsibility was given to me three-and-a-half years ago. I am  trying to fit into the shoes, get along with the team and perform  well." </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dhoni had earlier dropped hints during the Test series that he might  leave Test cricket altogether by 2013 to make himself available the  2015 World Cup. </li>
</ul></div></div>

Dhoni not bothered about losing captaincy

Dhoni not bothered about losing captaincy

Facing severe criticism for his unimpressive captaincy and performances in Test cricket, under-fi...

SC allows Swamy's plea on grant of sanction in 2G case

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="content" style="text-align: justify;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Setting aside the Delhi High Court  order refusing to pass any direction to the Prime Minister for taking a  decision on sanction of prosecution in 2G case, the Supreme Court today  held that filing of a complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act  is a constitutional right of a citizen.<br />
</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><ul><li>It said the competent authority should take a decision on giving the  sanction within a time frame. In a case filed by Janata Party Chief  Subramanian Swamy, seeking a direction to the Prime Minister for  sanction to prosecute the then Telecom Minister A Raja, the two judge  bench of the Apex Court held that if the sanction is not given within  four months it would deem to have been granted.</li>
</ul></span></div><span> <ul><li>The bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly held that  Swamy had the locus standi to seek sanction for Raja's prosecution. The  court, however, said, it was not declaring as ultra vires, the  provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The Apex Court had reserved its judgement on November 24, 2010 on  the petition filed by Swamy alleging that there was delay in taking  action on his plea seeking sanction to prosecute A. Raja.</li>
</ul></span><span><ul><li>The PMO had, however, refuted all the allegations and filed an  affidavit before the apex court maintaining that the request for  sanction for prosecution of Raja was considered by the Prime Minister  and that he was advised that evidence collected by CBI was necessary  before taking a decision.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The government said as the CBI probe was going on, it was necessary  to wait for its completion before taking any decision on granting  sanction.<br />
</li>
</ul></span><span><ul><li>Swamy had approached the Apex Court challenging the Delhi High Court  judgement that had refused to pass any direction to the Prime Minister  for taking decision on sanction.</li>
</ul></span><span> </span></div></div>

SC allows Swamy's plea on grant of sanction in 2G case

SC allows Swamy's plea on grant of sanction in 2G case

Setting aside the Delhi High Court order refusing to pass any direction to the Prime Minister for taking a decision on sanction of prosec...

RBI to issue 500 note with rupee symbol

RBI to issue 500 note with rupee symbol

RBI to issue 500 note with rupee symbol

The Reserve Bank of India, RBI will soon issue 500 rupees denomination bank-notes incorporating n...

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