9 Feb 2012 - The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 45

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1. A cluster of fixed stars in the heaven like Great Bear, Orion is called<br />
2. This is known as ï¿½vegetable goldï¿½<br />
3. This Personality invented the Vaccum Flask<br />
4. This branch of chemistry is concerned with carbon compounds<br />
5. The abbreviation of JNNURM is<br />
6. According to the 13th Finance Commission 2010-15, the States will get this % of Central Taxes<br />
7. The New Interest Rate System of Banking, œBase Rate has replaced this Older System called<br />
8. This was known as Maid Of Orleans<br />
9. Egalite’, Liberte’, Fraternite’ (Equality, Liberty, Fraternity) is the 3 Magic Words of this Country s Revolution<br />
10. The Total Number of Countries which followed the Euro Currency is<br />
<br />
<strong>ANSWERS</strong><br />
<br />
1. Constellation<br />
2. Saffron<br />
3. James Dewar (U.K.) in 1892.<br />
4. Organic Chemistry.<br />
5. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission<br />
6. 32<br />
7. BPLR (Benchmark Prime Lending Rate)<br />
8. Joan of Arc<br />
9. France (French Revolution)<br />
10. 17</div>

RAPID GK SERIES 45

RAPID GK SERIES 45

1. A cluster of fixed stars in the heaven like Great Bear, Orion is called 2. This is known as ï¿½vegetable goldï¿½ 3. This Personality in...

India to give $250 mln Line of Credit to Mauritius

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5937" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India has announced a new economic  package of a 250 million dollars line of credit and a 20 million dollars  grant for Mauritius. The package was unveiled during bilateral talks  between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Mauritian counterpart Dr.  Navinchandra Ramgoolam in New Delhi. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The two leaders in their talks focused on furthering the bilateral  relations. Five agreements were signed after the talks in the fields of  education, textiles, sports and youth affairs, science and technology  and culture. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said in a statement that the  two sides reviewed their double taxation avoidance convention, insisting  that both nations have an interest in ensuring that it is not misused. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dr. Manmohan Singh said defence and security cooperation is one of  the key pillars of the India-Mauritius bilateral relationship and that  the two nations have common security interests. He added that India will  continue to support Mauritius in ensuring the security and sovereignty  of its land and maritime territory.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He said that the two countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation  to address the growing menace of piracy which has emerged as a major  security and developmental challenge in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Singh said  that a stable and peaceful Indian Ocean is an objective of both the  countries. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Recalling that relations between India  and Mauritius are rooted in strong historical and cultural links, Dr.  Manmohan Singh noted that the two nations have agreed that the next  meeting of the India-Mauritius Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific,  Technical and Cultural Cooperation will be held later this year to  identify new areas to promote cooperation in key areas.</li>
</ul></div></div>

India to give $250 mln Line of Credit to Mauritius

India to give $250 mln Line of Credit to Mauritius

India has announced a new economic package of a 250 million dollars line of credit and a 20 milli...

Lokpal Bill to come up in RS during Budget session

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The much talked about Lokpal Bill is  expected to be brought again for consideration in the Rajya Sabha during  the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Budget session begins on March 12 with President Pratibha Patil  addressing the joint sitting of members of both the Houses of Parliament  and its second part will be held from April 24 to May 22. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>What had happened earlier?</em></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Lokpal bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during the winter  session but later a political war broke out between the government and  the opposition as the bill could not be passed in the Upper House, with  both sides accusing each other of carrying out a "well choreographed"  chaos to scuttle it.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The opposition had charged the government with running away from a vote because of lack of majority in the House.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The government had then stated that the bill was "alive" and would be taken up in the Budget session for passage.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In all its charges and counter charges, the government had ensured  that it does not in any way annoy its ally Trinamool Congress, which had  ganged up with the opposition and declared that it would vote against  the provisions relating to Lokayuktas.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>By May this year, the strength of the Congress and its allies is  expected to rise slightly in the Upper House after biennial elections in  several seats. The UPA does not have a majority in the House.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The bill was the culmination of a spirited battle between government  and Team Anna which raised the pitch for a strong anti-corruption  ombudsman. </li>
</ul></div>

Lokpal Bill to come up in RS during Budget session

Lokpal Bill to come up in RS during Budget session

The much talked about Lokpal Bill is expected to be brought again for consideration in the Rajya Sabha during the second phase of the Budg...

Bangladesh to receive first consignment of 12 double-decker buses from India

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5939" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh will receive the first  consignment of 12 double-decker buses from India next week i.e. second  week of Feb. The twelve buses are part of the 290 double decker buses  being purchased under the One Billion US dollar line of credit being  provided by India. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The buses which are being purchased from Ashok Leyland will be  handed over to the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. Apart from  these 290 double decker buses, Bangladesh has also decided to buy 50  vestibule buses and 100 single decker buses. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The total cost of the buses is 43.96  million of which 36.85 million will be provided under the Indian line of  credit while the remaining 7.11 million US Dollars will be provided by  the Bangladesh government.</li>
</ul></div></div>

Bangladesh to receive first consignment of 12 double-decker buses from India

Bangladesh to receive first consignment of 12 double-decker buses from India

Bangladesh will receive the first consignment of 12 double-decker buses from India next week i.e....

RBI asks banks to refund unclaimed deposits of 1700cr

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Reserve Bank of India, RBI has  asked banks to locate and refund unclaimed deposits estimated at over  1,700 crore rupees. RBI instructed banks to play a more pro-active role  in finding the whereabouts of the account holders of unclaimed deposits  or inoperative accounts in public interest. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Central bank advised banks to display the list of unclaimed  deposits which are inactive or inoperative for ten years or more on  their web sites. In its notification RBI asked the banks to complete the  exercise by June 30th and keep their web sites updated at regular  intervals. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Expressing concern over the increase in the amount of the unclaimed  deposits with banks year after year and the inherent risk associated  with such deposits the RBI said the lists to be displayed on web sites  should contain only the names of the account holder and his or her  address. The central bank also asked other banks to have adequate  operational safeguards to ensure that the claimants are genuine.</li>
</ul></div>

RBI asks banks to refund unclaimed deposits of 1700cr

RBI asks banks to refund unclaimed deposits of 1700cr

The Reserve Bank of India, RBI has asked banks to locate and refund unclaimed deposits estimated at over 1,700 crore rupees. RBI instructe...

Prez inaugrates Audio Visual gallery on Mahabharta & Geeta at Kurukshetra

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5941" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In Haryana, President Pratibha Devi  Singh Patil on Feb 8 inaugurated an Audio Visual gallery on Mahabharta  and Geeta in Shri Krishan museum at Kurukshetra. She was accompanied by  Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Chief Minister Bhupender Singh  Hooda.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The government has spent around 4 crore 66 lakh rupees on this  gallery, which have made possible for the tourists from India and abroad  to visualise and listen the precious moments of Mahabharta and Geeta. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In convoction of Kurukshetra University  where President Mrs. Patil is present as a chief guest, Chancellor of  the university Governor Jgannath Phadia conferred honorary Doctor of Law  of Kurukshetra University to Prime minister of the Republic of  Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender  Singh Hooda</li>
</ul></div></div>

Prez inaugrates Audio Visual gallery on Mahabharta & Geeta at Kurukshetra

Prez inaugrates Audio Visual gallery on Mahabharta & Geeta at Kurukshetra

In Haryana, President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil on Feb 8 inaugurated an Audio Visual gallery on M...

Forest cover decreases by 376 sq km in the country

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5942" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Twelve states and union territories of  the country have shown considerable decrease in forest cover to an  extent of 867 square kilometers. The forest cover in the country has  decreased by 376 square kilometers in comparison to the year 2009.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>It was revealed in the India State of Forest Report 2011, released  by the Secretary, Environment and Forest, T. Chatterjee in New Delhi. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> The report says, the forest cover of the country is over 78 million  hectares which is 23.81 percent of the geographical area of the  country. It also further said that 15 states have registered an  aggregate increase of 500 square kilometers in their forest cover with  Punjab leading with increase of 100 square kilometers.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>On the other hand, 12 states have shown decrease to the extent of  867 square kilometers. The biennial report observed that decline of 281  square kilometers in forest cover of Andhra Pradesh, is mainly  attributed to harvesting of mature plantation of Eucalyptus and other  species.  </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">While, decline has been observed in north east region due to prevailing practices of shifting cultivation in the region.</li>
</ul></div></div>

Forest cover decreases by 376 sq km in the country

Forest cover decreases by 376 sq km in the country

Twelve states and union territories of the country have shown considerable decrease in forest cov...

Pakistani minister urges reopening border to NATO

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5943" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Pakistan's defence minister says the  country should reopen its Afghan border crossings to NATO troop supplies  after negotiating a better deal with the coalition.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Pakistan closed the crossings over two months ago in response to  American airstrikes that accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said that the government should  negotiate new "terms and conditions" with NATO and then reopen the  border.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He did not provide details. But other Pakistani officials have said  the government should levy additional fees on NATO for using the route  through the country.  </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">About 30 percent of non-lethal supplies  for US and coalition troops in Afghanistan travelled through Pakistan  before the border closed. </li>
</ul></div></div>

Pakistani minister urges reopening border to NATO

Pakistani minister urges reopening border to NATO

Pakistan's defence minister says the country should reopen its Afghan border crossings to NAT...

GoM allows Air India to raise 7,400 crore rupees by various means

GoM allows Air India to raise 7,400 crore rupees by various means

GoM allows Air India to raise 7,400 crore rupees by various means

The Government has allowed the national carrier Air India to raise 7,400 crore rupees by issuing bonds or other means. It has also decided...

EGoM decides to allow export of one million tonnes of sugar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5945" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Empowered Group of Ministers, EGoM  has decided to allow further export of one million tonnes of sugar in  view of surplus production and reduce export price of basmati rice to  700 US dollar a tonne from 900 US dollar.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The decision to this effect was taken at an EGoM meeting held in New  Delhi this evening. The panel, headed by Finance Minister Pranab  Mukherjee, also approved continuation of non-basmati rice exports of up  to four million tonnes. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Last year, the government had allowed one million tonnes of sugar  exports under the open general licence for the 2011-12 marketing year,  that started from October 2011.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Panel decided to allow the additional quantity as the country is  all set to produce 26 million tonnes of sugar in the current marketing  year, as against the annual domestic demand of 22 million tonnes. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Apart from offloading surplus stock,  the move is expected to ease liquidity crunch that mills are facing to  make timely payment to sugarcane growers.</li>
</ul></div></div>

EGoM decides to allow export of one million tonnes of sugar

EGoM decides to allow export of one million tonnes of sugar

The Empowered Group of Ministers, EGoM has decided to allow further export of one million tonnes ...

Lakshya-1 test flown successfully

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India's indigenously developed  micro-light pilot-less target aircraft 'Lakshya-1' was successfully test  flown from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near here on Feb 8 as  part of a routine trial.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>‘Lakshya-1’, fitted with an advanced digitally controlled engine was  once again test flown at about 1.10 PM successfully. It was flight  tested from a mobile launcher from launch pad-II of ITR, defence sources  said.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Usually, the flight duration of the micro light aircraft is 30 to 35  minutes. But test is conducted for enhancement of the flight duration  and to check other parameters, the sources said.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>‘Lakshya’, a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system is remote  controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air  borne and air defence pilots.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The PTA has been developed by India’s aeronautic development  establishment (ADE), Bangalore to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance  of battle field and target acquisition.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>‘Lakshya’ has been inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2000.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>While a successful trial of Lakshya was conducted on January 30,  Lakshya-11 had been test flown on January 25 and 27 successfully from  the same ground. </li>
</ul></div>

Lakshya-1 test flown successfully

Lakshya-1 test flown successfully

India's indigenously developed micro-light pilot-less target aircraft 'Lakshya-1' was successfully test flown from the Integra...

Swamy seeks more Indian engagement in Sri Lanka

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5947" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Describing India's Sri Lanka policy as  "too north-centric", Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy sought more  Indian engagement in developmental projects in this country, even as he  advocated the need for a political solution to the Tamil issue.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"Peace in Sri Lanka is not only in the interest of Lankans but also  of India. But peace can come only with a political solution to the  national (Tamil) question," Swamy said.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Calling Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa a "determined and  resolute leader" for militarily defeating the LTTE, Swamy said the  Tamils must be made to feel that the defeat of the LTTE was not the  defeat of the Tamils as a minority in the island nation.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Citing the multi-million-dollar Hambantota port project, the Janata  Party leader claimed that laxity in Indian policy had allowed other  nations to step in. "Sri Lanka first approached India for assistance  over Hambantota. They only turned to China after India became  disinterested."  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Developing Hambantota, the home base of Rajapaksa, is a pet project  of the President. The Chinese dominate development of the port, airport  and other infrastructure in the region.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He had held talks with political leaders representing people of  Indian origin living in the island's central hill plantation areas.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The Indian policy in Sri Lanka has been too north- centric," Swamy  opined, adding New Delhi needs to take closer scrutiny of the issues  facing the Indian-origin plantation Tamil community.  </li>
</ul></div></div>

Swamy seeks more Indian engagement in Sri Lanka

Swamy seeks more Indian engagement in Sri Lanka

Describing India's Sri Lanka policy as "too north-centric", Janata Party chief Subr...

‘Little progress on Indo-US nuclear deal’

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Accusing Obama administration of doing  little to implement the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, a top Republican  Senator has said the nuclear liability bill is "fundamentally  inconsistent" with the liability regime that the international community  is seeking to achieve.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Noting that in 2008, the US concluded the civil nuclear cooperation  agreement with India, Lugar, who played a key role in its Congressional  passage, said the legislation lifted a three-decade American moratorium  on nuclear trade with India and opened the door for trade in a wide  range of other high-technology items, such as supercomputers and fibre  optics.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"This legislation effectively rules out Indian accession to the  Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (the CSC)  and could frustrate the US nuclear industry's efforts to play a role in  India's expanding nuclear power sector," Lugar said.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The bill's plain terms are fundamentally inconsistent with the  liability regime that the international community is seeking to achieve  in the CSC. To date, this Administration has made very little progress  on the CSC with India," the US Senator said.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In response, Powell said that she is eager to support efforts to  ensure full implementation of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement,  including ensuring a level playing field for American companies in the  commercial applications of nuclear energy.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A day earlier, the visiting Foreign Secretary, Ranjan Mathai, said  that India will ensure a level playing field for US companies in the  country's nuclear energy sector.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mathai added that the two countries has remained engaged and must  now take practical steps to advance this cooperation, as they have done  over the past year. </li>
</ul></div>

‘Little progress on Indo-US nuclear deal’

‘Little progress on Indo-US nuclear deal’

Accusing Obama administration of doing little to implement the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, a top Republican Senator has said the nuclear l...

India, Iran reach arrangement on oil payments

India, Iran reach arrangement on oil payments

India, Iran reach arrangement on oil payments

India has reached an arrangement with Iran for payment for crude oil imports as US and European Union sanctions disrupted regular payment....

Three Karnataka ministers resign over porn scandal

Three Karnataka ministers resign over porn scandal

Three Karnataka ministers resign over porn scandal

Three Karnataka ministers resigned on Wednesday after television channels aired footage of them apparently watching pornography on a mobil...

Green Signal for CRPF's own intelligence network in Maoist heartland

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The home minister P Chidambaram said that the Central Reserve Police Force should have its own intelligence cell.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Chidambaram said that the CRPF, a key force in anti-Naxal  operations, will have to acquire an intelligence based strategy to  combat Maoists who have organised themselves as a regular fighting  army.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Terming the school as a milestone in CRPF's history, he said that  though Intelligence collection is the task of IB and state police, the  Intelligence set up of CRPF is designated to collect specific  intelligence within the ambit of CRPF’s role like Counter Insurgency and  naxalism. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Director General of CRPF, K.Vijay Kumar said that with the  establishment of CRPF Intelligence School, the Force will now have its  own integrated intelligence set up right from the Directorate to the  Unit level.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Director General said that besides training the trainers, the  CRPF is planning to conduct various training programmes for officers.  The Faculty from BSF, IB, R&AW, Military Intelligence and CBI will  train the personnel. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned 468 posts for the  Intelligence set up from Commandant to Constable. The spokesperson of  CRPF, BC Khanduri, said that the CRPF has already appointed one retired  IG of BSF as Consultant, Intelligence, to head the Intelligence set up  and streamline it. </li>
</ul></div>

Green Signal for CRPF's own intelligence network in Maoist heartland

Green Signal for CRPF's own intelligence network in Maoist heartland

The home minister P Chidambaram said that the Central Reserve Police Force should have its own intelligence cell. Mr. Chidambaram said tha...

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