RAPID GK SERIES 52

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1. The Isotope of Uranium used in Atomic Reactors is<br /> 2. Among the defects of eye, the Short-sightedness is called<br /> 3. This continent is the third largest in terms of Population of the world<br /> 4. Mekong River drains into this sea<br /> 5. The first person who traveled twice to space as a tourist is<br /> 6. Mahatma Gandhi’s remark, “A Post-dated cheque on a crumbling bank” is regarding with this proposals of this mission<br /> 7. The Money Order System was introduced in India in this year<br /> 8. The second largest Railway network in the world is<br /> 9. In India, the term Black Revolution is associated with this<br /> 10. Singareni Coal Fields lies in this River Valley<br /> <br /> <strong>ANSWERS</strong><br /> <br /> 1. U 235<br /> 2. Myopia<br /> 3. Europe<br /> 4. South China Sea<br /> 5. Charles Simonyi<br /> 6. Cripps Mission<br /> 7. 1880<br /> 8. Indian Railway Network<br /> 9. Self-dependence in Petroleum / Crude Oil<br /> 10. Godavari Valley</div>

RAPID GK SERIES 52

1. The Isotope of Uranium used in Atomic Reactors is 2. Among the defects of eye, the Short-sightedness is called 3. This continent is the...

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New Rail Coach manufacturing unit to produce 400 coaches annually

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Centre has approved the setting up of a new Rail Coach Manufacturing unit at Palakkad in Kerala to manufacture 400 coaches per annum. It will be a Joint Venture in which Railways shall contribute 26% of the equity. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The estimated cost of project is 550 crore rupees excluding the cost of land. The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The new coach building plant will be set up at Palakkad in Kerala where land to the extent of about 239 acres is available for use which will be purchased by the Railways from the Government of Kerala. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>This will help Indian Railways in ensuring timely availability of passenger coaches to meet the increasing demands of passenger transportation. It shall also ensure induction of state of the art aluminium coaches on Indian Railways. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The work on this project will commence during 2012-13 and will be completed within a period of 36 months.</li> </ul></div>

New Rail Coach manufacturing unit to produce 400 coaches annually

Centre has approved the setting up of a new Rail Coach Manufacturing unit at Palakkad in Kerala to manufacture 400 coaches per annum. It w...

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Govt launches minister's office interface for CPGRAMS implementation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6017" style="display: block;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The government launched minister's office interface for better implementation of centralized public grievances redress and monitoring system (CPGRAMS) . It is a single window application for on line receipt of grievance by any citizen from any part of the country. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Launching this initiative, minister of state for the Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Mr V Narayanasamy said the government is committed to redressal of public grievances in a time bound manner. CPGRAMS is functioning in all the ministries in central government since June 2007. He said ministers office interface of CPGRAMS will also be made available to offices of other ministers also very soon. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr Narayanasamy said key features of this interface will also include registration of grievances received manually or by post and grievances will be acknowledged with unique registration numbers.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In the CPGRAMS each ministry has designated an officer of the level of joint secretary as nodal director of grievances for redress and monitoring of public grievances.</li> </ul></div></div>

Govt launches minister's office interface for CPGRAMS implementation

The government launched minister's office interface for better implementation of centralize...

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India to induct latest Russian military chopper

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> India will induct the modern Mi-17V5 helicopter, its latest buy from Russia, into the air force to ferry troops and supplies to remote borders and mountain areas.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> The helicopters, 80 of which were bought in 2008 for $1.34 billion, were delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in September 2011. These are meant to strengthen the helicopter fl.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT">The helicopter is an upgrade of Mi-17 class of rotary wing aircraft in the medium-lift category, which IAF presently uses.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> The Mi-17s carry troops and supplies to remote helipads closer to border posts. Russian origin IL-76 and AN-32 transporters fly only to airfields.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> Russia has till date delivered 21 of the 80-chopper fleet to IAF, and another six will join the fleet by March end. Once all the 80 helicopters are delivered by 2014, India may order for 59 more of these choppers at a cost of $1 billion.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> Even as the defence ministry inducts these advanced military transport helicopters, the home ministry too has decided to buy six of these for logistics in Maoist-affected districts.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> The IAF plans to base the first lot of these choppers at Bhatinda in Punjab and in Srinagar. </span></li> </ul><span id="advenueINTEXT"><i>About Mi-17V5</i></span><br /> <ul><li> The Mi-17V5 falls in the category of an armed helicopter, with substantial and effective firepower. </li> </ul><ul><li> It is fitted with the latest and more powerful engines that will greatly enhance its payload carriage capability at higher altitudes. </li> </ul><ul><li> With a glass cockpit, this is the first such helicopter to be inducted into the IAF. </li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> Having an on board weather radar, state-of-the-art autopilot system, the helicopter is compatible with the latest generation-III night vision goggles.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> The helicopter is also equipped with a Bambi-Bucket that can be used for fire-fighting. It is also fitted with a powerful winch -- a feature useful in disaster relief operations in areas where landing is not possible.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> It has a modified loading ramp for faster loading and off-loading, apart from the traditional rear clamshells. A starboard door and a 'dolphin' shaped nose section give it a unique identity.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> "The entire airframe has a high degree of ballistics tolerance and is crash-resistant. It also comes equipped with an emergency flotation system. Its internal cabin volume is sufficient for transporting fully-equipped infantry soldiers for specialised operations," the IAF said.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span id="advenueINTEXT"> The IAF first inducted helicopters in 1954 and has operated them in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world.</span><span id="advenueINTEXT"><i> </i></span></li> </ul></div>

India to induct latest Russian military chopper

India will induct the modern Mi-17V5 helicopter, its latest buy from Russia, into the air force to ferry troops and supplies to remote ...

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India, Pakistan to ease visa restrictions for businessmen

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India and Pakistan have agreed to ease visa restrictions for businessmen to boost bilateral trade. Islamabad also assured New Delhi to move to a small negative list of imports from India by the end of this month. This negative list will be phased out by the year end culminating in the most favoured nation status to India. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The two countries also agreed to allow opening of two branches of their banks on reciprocal basis for which an understanding has been reached between Reserve bank of India and State Bank of Pakistan. New Delhi and Islamabad also signed three important pacts to improve their economic ties.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The two countries signed agreements on cooperation in customs, mutual recognition of standards and for redressing trade grievances in the presence of Indian Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma and Pakistani Commerce and Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem in Islamabad last evening. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Visiting Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who is leading an over 120 people-strong business delegation, told reporters in Islamabad that he has discussed the issue of visa liberalisation with Home Minister. He said the two countries will completely revise the existing bilateral visa agreement that was signed in 1974 to facilitate travel by businessmen from both the countries.</li> </ul></div>

India, Pakistan to ease visa restrictions for businessmen

India and Pakistan have agreed to ease visa restrictions for businessmen to boost bilateral trade. Islamabad also assured New Delhi to mov...

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Delhiites' per capita income highest in country

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6021" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In reflection of growing economic prosperity, the Delhiites' per capita income of Rs 1.16 lakh in 2009-10 is highest in the country.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of Delhiites living in urban areas has increased from Rs 2,078 in 2008 to Rs 2,905 in 2010, which is also highest in the country. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span>The national figure for monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) in urban areas is Rs 1,984 for 2010, while it was Rs 2,078 in Delhi in 2008, it said.</span> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The MPCE in urban areas of Himachal Pradesh has been estimated at Rs 2654, the second highest, followed by Haryana at Rs 2,321. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to the figures, the per capita income of Delhiites increased to Rs 1,16,886 in 2009-10 against 1,03,400 in 2008-09. </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The report is based on findings of a sample survey conducted during July 2009 to June 2010 under National Sample Survey of 66th Round.</li> </ul></div></div>

Delhiites' per capita income highest in country

In reflection of growing economic prosperity, the Delhiites' per capita income of Rs 1.16 lak...

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Mumbai airport ranked third for 'service quality'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai, has been adjudged among the top three performing airports of last year in the airport service quality survey, by the Airport Council International (ACI).  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>While the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi has been ranked the first in India and the second best globally, Mumbai's CSIA ranks the third best airport globally, and has emerged the second best in India in the 25-40 million passengers per annum (MPPA) category of ACI. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The survey was conducted at 180 airports worldwide for the ACI Airport Service Quality Awards(ASQ), 2011, the CSIA official said. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) managing director GV Sanjay Reddy, commenting on the CSIA securing the top honours, said, it is "a reaffirmation of our vision to transform the CSIA into one of the best airports in the world." </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>ACI, an autonomous and independent body, carried out the ASQ passenger survey by measuring customer feedback on a range of service delivery parameters, that track the customer experience at an airport from the moment of arrival to the departure gate. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Analysis of this "real-time" data, recorded on the day of travel, serves as a guide for better aligning service provision with customer expectations. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>By benchmarking an airport with other similar airports, ASQ enables airports to see where they stand in competition with their peers, and in turn, helps them prioritize improvement projects and validate their investments in new facilities and services. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>CSIA catered to 29.10 million passengers between April 2010-March 2011, compared to 25.6 million passengers during the same period the previous year, a healthy growth of around four million passengers in one year. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>MIAL is a joint venture between the GVK-led consortium and Airports Authority of India, with a mandate to modernize, upgrade and expand the existing CSIA.</li> </ul></div>

Mumbai airport ranked third for 'service quality'

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai, has been adjudged among the top three performing airports of last year in the ai...

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Kept out of RTI, National safety regulatory authority bill rejected

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The government's zero transparency enabled Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill has got thumbs down from a Parliamentary standing committee. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Atomic Energy Department had introduced NSRA Bill for setting up independent nuclear safety watchdog in Parliament last year with specific clauses limiting the applicability of the Right To Information (RTI) Act, the government's first such move. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The bill propose to incorporate additional proviso in section 8 --- listing exempted clauses --- of the RTI Act prohibiting disclosing of information compromising confidentiality of commercially sensitive information of technology holders. The insertion of this provision would mean no information related to nuclear safety would be disclosed. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The bill also seeks to keep existing nuclear organizations outside the purview RTI Act by including them in the second schedule of the Act in the name of country's defence and nuclear interests. Intelligence and investigating agencies such as Central Bureau of Investigation are already listed in the schedule.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The clause 26 of NSRA bill prohibits any person from disclosing information relating to exempted organization and disclosing such information would be liable for punishment ----- maximum of five years in prison and an unspecified amount of fine. The RTI law provides penalty of up to Rs 25,000 for not disclosing information but it is for the first time that jail term has been prescribed for providing information. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which discussed the bill, felt that these clauses would restrict people's right to information and allow only that information to be disclosed which the proposed authority wanted. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Venkatesh Nayak, co-convenor of National Campaign for People&rsquo;s Right to Information (NCPRI), said the bill exempts people centric information related to nuclear safety under the blanket phrase "sensitive information" which was not desirable. He also wondered why the government was incorporating additional exemption clauses in NSRA Bill when such provisions were part of the RTI Act.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The committee, which received representations from civil society organizations against the Bill, is likely to seek changes in some of the provisions restricting applicability of the RTI Act on nuclear installations.</li> </ul></div>

Kept out of RTI, National safety regulatory authority bill rejected

The government's zero transparency enabled Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill has got thumbs down from a Parliamentary st...

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Syria to hold referendum on new draft constitution

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Syrian President Bashar Assad ordered a referendum for later this month on a new constitution that would allow political parties other than his ruling Baath Party, the centrepiece of reforms he has promised to ease the crisis, even as the Syrian military besieged rebellious areas. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The opposition quickly rejected the move, saying that the regime was stalling and that Syrians in the uprising would accept nothing less than Assad's ouster. The referendum call also raises the question of how a nationwide vote could be held at a time when many areas see daily battles between Syrian troops and rebel soldiers. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Amendments to the constitution once were a key demand by the opposition at the start of Syria's uprising, when protesters first launched demonstrations calling for change. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>But after 11 months of a fearsome crackdown on dissent that has left thousands dead and turned some cities into war zones, the opposition says Assad and his regime must go. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Top Syrian ally Russia has presented Assad's promises of reform and dialogue as an alternative way to resolve Syria's bloodshed after Moscow and Beijing earlier this month vetoed a Western- and Arab-backed resolution at the UN Security Council aimed at pressuring Assad to step down. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The referendum, announced on Syrian state TV, was set to take place February 26. The current Syrian constitution enshrines Assad's Baath Party as the leader of the state. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>But according to the new draft, obtained by The Associated Press, "the state's political system is based on political pluralism and power is practised democratically through voting."</li> </ul></div>

Syria to hold referendum on new draft constitution

Syrian President Bashar Assad ordered a referendum for later this month on a new constitution that would allow political parties other tha...

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Green energy ministry seeks Rs 40,000 cr

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has sought a budget allocation of Rs 40,000 crore for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) to counter a host of issues plaguing the industry including credit crunch, poor infrastructure facilities and a lack of awareness and confidence among project developers. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Besides, the ministry is also facing hurdles in the production of biomass gas, with collection and transportation of agro residues to the generation site, posing problems. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The MNRE was granted around Rs 11,000 crore during the 11th Plan period. However, a parliamentary panel found disparities between targets set and those achieved and came down heavily on the ministry for its lacklustre performance. To overcome such disparities, the ministry has decided to follow a transparent regime this year, a government source said. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>“Our focus will be to frame different schemes and components so that the funds do not get surrendered. The money will be diverted to component, which can act as the growth catalyst.”</li> </ul></div>

Green energy ministry seeks Rs 40,000 cr

The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has sought a budget allocation of Rs 40,000 crore for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) to...

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