RAPID GK SERIES 19

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1. This Cricketer has announced as the event ambassador of the ICC World Cup 2011<br /> 2. This number of Nations have participated in Asian Games 2010ss<br /> 3. Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a Nobel Laureate (Peace) belongs to this country<br /> 4. The International Human Rights Day is on<br /> 5. The abbreviation of CACP is<br /> 6. This Article in our Constitution has designated ˜Police as a State Subject i.e. State Govt. has to frame rule for the Police Dept.<br /> 7. According to our Census, the number of Individuals (Population) in Rural Area should be within this number<br /> 8. œIndia lives in its villages, is the famous words of this great leader<br /> 9. This is the imaginary line joining North and South Pole of the earth is<br /> 10. The First Round Table Conference was officially started in this year<br /> <br /> <strong>ANSWERS</strong><br /> <br /> 1. Sachin Tendulkar<br /> 2. 45<br /> 3. Burma<br /> 4. 10th December<br /> 5. Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices<br /> 6. Article 246<br /> 7. Less than 5000<br /> 8. Mahatma Gandhi<br /> 9. Axis<br /> 10. 1930</div>

RAPID GK SERIES 19

1. This Cricketer has announced as the event ambassador of the ICC World Cup 2011 2. This number of Nations have participated in Asian Game...

+ Read more »

NRHM scam: CBI raids 50 places including ex-minister Kushwaha’s house

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5462" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today raided the Lucknow residence of former Uttar Pradesh Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha in connection with irregularities in the National Rural Health Mission, NRHM. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">It also conducted raids at over 50 other locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Besides Lucknow, the places where the searches were carried out include Delhi, Kanpur, Noida, Moradabad, Sonipat, Amethi and Ghazhiabad.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in the supply of medicines and medical equipment under the NRHM scheme which was meant to be implemented by 72 Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and other nodal officers across the state.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has allocated nearly 10,000 crore rupees to Uttar Pradesh since the scheme came into being in 2005.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

NRHM scam: CBI raids 50 places including ex-minister Kushwaha’s house

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today raided the Lucknow residence of former Uttar Pr...

+ Read more »

Govt approves filling up of backlog vacancies in SC/ST categories

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Union Cabinet today approved filling up of backlog vacancies in SC and ST categories in Central government jobs.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Union Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh approved a proposal for providing insurance cover and pension benefits to Overseas Indian workers. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has already announced that a fund is being set up for the purpose. The objective is to offer financial help to Indians working in Gulf region after they return back to the country. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Cabinet also approved making hallmarking of gold jewellery mandatory. This decision has been taken to maintain the quality of gold jewellery. India is the world's biggest consumer of gold. The Cabinet also approved filling up of backlog vacancies in SC and ST categories in central government jobs. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In yet another decision, the Cabinet approved extension of Ex-servicemen contributory health scheme facilities to Nepal domiciled Gorkhas. About one lakh Ex-servicemen and their 2.17 lakh dependents living in Nepal will benefit from the decision. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">According to an official press release, the application forms for availing this facility will be available on the Headquarters of Army, Navy and Airforce in India or from the Defence Attache at Kathmandu.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Govt approves filling up of backlog vacancies in SC/ST categories

Union Cabinet today approved filling up of backlog vacancies in SC and ST categories in Central government jobs. The Union Cabinet wh...

+ Read more »

RS. 19000 cr approved for Udhampur-Qazigund Rail line in J&K

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5464" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The government today approved an additional fund of Rs 19000 crore for completion of Udhampur-Qazigund Railway line project in Jammu and Kashmir.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This was stated by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah after a meeting of Cabinet Committee of Infrastructure in New Delhi .</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The railway line is to be completed by 2017. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The rail lines from Jammu to Udhampur and Qazigund to Baramulla are already in operation</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

RS. 19000 cr approved for Udhampur-Qazigund Rail line in J&K

The government today approved an additional fund of Rs 19000 crore for completion of Udhampur-Q...

+ Read more »

China initiates criminal proceedings in torture of 2 Indian businessmen

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5465" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">China has initiated criminal proceedings against five locals suspected for the torture of two Indian businessmen. Bejing had promised to address the issue and give due attention to the safety of Indian nationals on its soil.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The assurance was given by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan when he met Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale in the External Affairs Ministry.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Two Indian nationals Shyamsunder Agarwal and Deepak Raheja have complained of ill-treatment ever since they were kidnapped on the 15th of December by some local people.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div></div>

China initiates criminal proceedings in torture of 2 Indian businessmen

China has initiated criminal proceedings against five locals suspected for the torture of two I...

+ Read more »

6000 ‘Indira Awas’ houses to be built in Saranda forest in Jharkhand

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In south west Jharkhand, six thousands 'Indira Awas' would be constructed in six panchayats in Saranda forest range. The Central Rural Development Ministry has given the permission.<strong> </strong></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The forest range was in the grip of the naxals for years and the security forces had freed them last year through an operation named ‘Anaconda’.<strong> </strong></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Ministry has also agreed to the state government proposal of six check dams in the forest range.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

6000 ‘Indira Awas’ houses to be built in Saranda forest in Jharkhand

In south west Jharkhand, six thousands 'Indira Awas' would be constructed in six panchayats in Saranda forest range. The Central ...

+ Read more »

Ashish strikes gold at Central Asian C'ships

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Commonwealth and Asian Games bronze-medallist Ashish Kumar struck gold, not once but four times, as India notched up a whopping 17 medals at the South Central Asian Gymnastics Championships in Dhaka .</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Indian team comprising five men and four women, secured six gold medals in the total tally of 17. Ashish was the best male gymnast of the event, claiming four individual gold medals along with a bronze in individual category and a silver in team category</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Ashish strikes gold at Central Asian C'ships

Commonwealth and Asian Games bronze-medallist Ashish Kumar struck gold, not once but four times, as India notched up a whopping 17 medals...

+ Read more »

First indigenous nuclear submarine’s sea trials to begin off Visakhapatnam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> India will take a big step towards achieving a credible nuclear weapon triad in February when its first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant begins sea trials off Visakhapatnam. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Top defence ministry sources say the "sea-acceptance trials'' (SATS) of INS Arihant are slated to begin "towards end-February'' after the completion of its ongoing harbour-acceptance trials (HATS). "It will take at least six months of extensive SATS and missile trials before the boat is ready for commissioning into Navy,</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">With INS Arihant's induction, India for the first time will brandish the most effective third leg of the nuclear triad - the ability to fire nukes from land, air and sea. The first two legs revolve around the Agni family of ballistic missiles and fighters like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000 s jury-rigged to deliver nuclear warheads </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The  Big-5 has nuclear triads till now, with a total of over 140 nuclear-powered submarines. America leads the pack with 71, followed by Russia with about 40, while China, the UK and France have around 10-12 each. India did get delivery of INS Chakra, the rechristened Akula-II nuclear-powered submarine 'K-152 Nerpa' </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

First indigenous nuclear submarine’s sea trials to begin off Visakhapatnam

 India will take a big step towards achieving a credible nuclear weapon triad in February when its first indigenous nuclear submarine INS...

+ Read more »

Pale octopus, hairy-chested yeti crab and other new species found

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Scientists exploring underwater vents near Antarctica find a world of creatures thriving in temperatures of 400C</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Hundreds of hairy-chested yeti crabs, a mysterious-looking pale octopus and colonies of limpets, snails and barnacles were found by British scientists at a hydrothermal vent located in the ocean's East Scotia Ridge.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Prof Alex Rogers of Oxford University used a remotely operated vehicle called Isis to scout the sea bed around the ridge, which spans about 2.4km and features springs of black, smoky water that can reach temperatures of almost 400C (752F).</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The first-known yeti crab, Kiwa hirsuta, was described living near a hydrothermal vent in the south pacific in 2005 and, since then, several species have been discovered in different parts of the undersea world. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Hirsuta has long hairs on its limbs and its claws, whereas our yeti crabs have extremely hairy chests. One of the nicknames of the crabs which developed during the cruise was the Hasselhoff crabs because they had these dense mats of [hair] on their undersides, the equivalents of their chests."</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Another striking creature spotted by the scientists was a pale octopus, which was photographed by the team. Rogers suspected it might be a new species related to the Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis seen at other underwater vents around the world.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Pale octopus, hairy-chested yeti crab and other new species found

Scientists exploring underwater vents near Antarctica find a world of creatures thriving in temperatures of 400C  Hundreds of hairy-c...

+ Read more »

NASA Creates 3-D Maps From Apollo Lunar Images

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Generates digital mosaics from scanned images taken aboard early 1970s moon missions.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Even as the latest in NASA spacecraft technology has just entered orbit around the moon, the agency has created digital maps out of images taken decades ago by spacecraft on some of the earliest missions to Earth's closest celestial body.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Through the Apollo Zone project out of the NASA Ames Research Center, scientists have created maps out of static images taken from the Apollo Metric Camera aboard the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 spacecraft, which flew to the moon in the early 1970s as part of the larger Apollo mission.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The "Digital Image Mosaic (DIM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM) maps cover about 18% of the lunar surface at a resolution of 98 feet (30 meters) per pixel. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

NASA Creates 3-D Maps From Apollo Lunar Images

Generates digital mosaics from scanned images taken aboard early 1970s moon missions. Even as the latest in NASA spacecraft technolog...

+ Read more »

Sun nearest to Earth ON 05/01/2012

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Sun will be nearest to our planet, giving an opportunity to astro-enthusiasts to carry out several experiments.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">“At 5.53 am tomorrow (Perihelion Day), the Earth will be at its nearest point from the Sun. The distance at that time is 147 million km</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Every January, the Earth is at perihelion, the closest from the Sun for the year and in July it is at aphelion, the farthest to the Sun for the year, he said.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The word perihelion comes from the Greek words “peri” (meaning “near”) and “helios” (meaning "sun").</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">All planets, comets and asteroids in our solar system have elliptical orbits. Thus, they all have a closest and a farthest point from the Sun-- a perihelion and an aphelion</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Sun nearest to Earth ON 05/01/2012

The Sun will be nearest to our planet, giving an opportunity to astro-enthusiasts to carry out several experiments. “At 5.53 am tomor...

+ Read more »

Nobel glitterati at science congress

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Eight Nobel laureates are taking part in the 99th Science Congress, which began in Bhubaneswar </span></span><br /> </li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Nobel laureate Rolf M Zinkernagel delivered a public lecture on the first day of the conference.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">LIST OF THE NOBEL LAUREATES</span></span><br /> </li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">1.Prof Rolf M Zinkernagel</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1996), Zinkernagel is a professor of experimental immunology at the University of Zurich. He shared the</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Nobel with Australian academic Peter C Doherty for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells. Zinkernagel holds an MD degree from the University of Basel and received PhD from the Australian National University in 1975.</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">2.Prof Richard R. Ernst</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This Swiss scientist received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1991) for his contributions to the</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Development  of the methodology of Fourier Transform nuclear magnetic resonance</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">(NMR) spectroscopy. Born in 1933 in Winterthur, Switzerland, Prof Ernst has an "insatiable love for Asian art." His interest is directed towards the religious art of Tibetan scroll paintings. Prof Ernst will deliver a public lecture on 'Academic Opportunities for Shaping a Better Future' at the ISC .</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">3.Dr Amartya Sen</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Recipient of Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1998), this 1933-born Indian economist was recognized for his contributions to welfare economics and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">4. Prof Kurt Wuthrich</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2002), Kurt Wuthrich is a Swiss chemical scientist. He was born in 1938, and went to the University of Berne.</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">5. Muhammad Yunus</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Yunus is the only Bangladeshi to win the prestigious award. Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize(2006), this Bangladeshi economist is the founder of the microcredit organization, The Grameen Bank. Born in 1940, Yunus was recognized by the Nobel committee for his efforts to facilitate economic and social development.</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">6. Carolyn W Greider</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This 1961-born American molecular biologist received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2009. Greider shared the award with Elizabeth Blackburn and Jack Szostak for their discovery that telomeres are protected from progressive shortening by the enzyme telomerase.</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">7. Dale T. Mortensen</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This American academic won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2010. Born in 1939, Mortensen did his BA in economics from Willamette University and PhD in Economics fromCarnegie Mellon University.</span></span></li> </ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">8. Sir Robert G. Edwards</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This British physiologist, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010, is a pioneer in reproductive medicine and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).</span></span></li> </ul></div>

Nobel glitterati at science congress

Eight Nobel laureates are taking part in the 99th Science Congress, which began in Bhubaneswar  Nobel laureate Rolf M Zinkernagel delive...

+ Read more »

Now book rail ticket from your mobile

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Indian Railways have updated their technology enabling you to book a reserved ticket from your mobile phone.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">An internet-enabled mobile owner is required to register with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and download its software. With that, he can book a ticket from a place and time of his convenience.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The registration is needed only for the first transaction and further reservation can be made using one's ID and password. The software can be downloaded from the IRCTC website or its associate service providers.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Upon booking a ticket, the passenger will receive a reservation message or virtual ticket with journey details.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">This message will be treated as proof of booking and the passenger need not carry a printed copy for the journey.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The IRCTC promises to launch its mobile application too and it will be made available on its website soon. The application will be functional on most GPRS and browser-based models.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The charge for booking tickets from a mobile set is the same as for booking an e-ticket.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Now book rail ticket from your mobile

The Indian Railways have updated their technology enabling you to book a reserved ticket from your mobile phone. An internet-enabled ...

+ Read more »

Ministry nod for RIL's $1.529 b investment plan in satellite fields

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">In a major relief to Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Management Committee (MC) of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry for the KG D6 block granted approval to the company's $1.529-billion investment plan for developing four satellite fields in the flagging KG-D6 block.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The KG-D6 block oversight committee, which includes officials from the Petroleum Ministry and Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), met here on Tuesday and approved the proposal. The MC go-ahead, which is the final approval an operator needs before beginning work, has put a cap on the cost of developing the four fields that surround the currently producing Dhirubhai-1 and 3 (D-1 & D-3) fields in the KG-D6 block stating the cost cannot vary by more than 15 per cent.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">RIL agreed to cap spending on the four fields at $1.529 billion, plus or minus 15 per cent. The company has so far made 18 gas discoveries in the KG-D6 block.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Of these, D-1 and D-3 — the largest among the lot — were brought into production from April, 2009, but output has fallen sharply from 54 million metric standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd), in March, 2010, to 32.94 mmscmd this month.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Together with 6.86 mmscmd of associated gas produced from the MA oilfield in the same area, total production from the block amounts to 39.80 mmscmd. The company had, in July, 2008, submitted an FDP to exploit reserves of 1,708 billion cubic feet (bcf) in nine satellite gas discoveries (D-2, D-4, D-6, D-7, D-8, D-16, D-19, D-22 and D-23) in the D6 block at an estimated capex of $5.6 billion.</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">It later submitted an optimised development plan for four of the satellite gas fields (D-2, D-6, D-19 and D-22) at the end of 2009.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Ministry nod for RIL's $1.529 b investment plan in satellite fields

In a major relief to Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Management Committee (MC) of the Petroleum and Natural Ga...

+ Read more »

NATO to pull $30bn worth of gear from Afghanistan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">NATO says it is planning the logistics for withdrawing $30 billion worth of military equipment and gear from Afghanistan when alliance troops leave the country. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The  operation to remove thousands of armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and vast quantities of other equipment accumulated over the 10-year war will start soon. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">More than 10,000 US and other allied troops left Afghanistan in 2011, and tens of thousands are due to join them by the end of this year.</span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

NATO to pull $30bn worth of gear from Afghanistan

NATO says it is planning the logistics for withdrawing $30 billion worth of military equipment and gear from Afghanistan when alliance tr...

+ Read more »

Quadrantids meteor shower to delight astro buffs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The International Meteor Organisation (IMO) expects maximum of 120 meteors per hour</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The  number of meteors can vary from 60 to 200 per hour as the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">It is called "Quadrantids Meteor Shower" as the radiant of the meteor shower lies in Bootes constellation which was earlier called Quadrans Muralis. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The source of the Quadrantid meteor shower was not known until December 2003 when Peter Jenniskens of the NASA Ames Research Center found evidence that Quadrantid meteoroids come from 2003 EH1, an "asteroid" that is probably a piece of a comet that broke up some 500 years ago.  </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The annual meteor shower is visible from December 28 to January 12. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

Quadrantids meteor shower to delight astro buffs

The International Meteor Organisation (IMO) expects maximum of 120 meteors per hour The  number of meteors can vary from 60 to 200 per...

+ Read more »

UAV built to fly over Saturn's moon Titan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">A special unmanned aircraft similar to the drones used by CIA in Pakistan and Afghanistan has been built to fly over Saturn's largest moon Titan and help scientists build up a picture of the planet's geology. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The USD 715-million Aviatr probe, which weighs just 120kg, has been designed to take 3D photos of the surface of Titan that has fascinated scientists because of its thick, cloudy atmosphere. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">At the end of the mission, plutonium-powered craft would dive down to surface and attempt a landing on Titan's dunes,</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The moon is thickly shrouded in clouds,</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> Titan is bigger than the Earth's Moon and even the planet Mercury. The temperature at Titan's surface is about -178 degrees centigrade. </span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Aviatr, designed by a team of scientists led by Jason Barnes at University of Idaho, would be much nimbler than a balloon and would use its plutonium-powered generator to stay on the "day" side of Titan to make the most of its photographing time. </span></span><br /> </li> </ul></div>

UAV built to fly over Saturn's moon Titan

A special unmanned aircraft similar to the drones used by CIA in Pakistan and Afghanistan has been built to fly over Saturn's largest...

+ Read more »