The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 31

RAPID GK SERIES 31

1. The Lover of Books is called 2. The Unit Trust of India (UTI) was started in the year 3. The regulating Authority of Electricity is 4....

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I&B Ministry declares citizen charter

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5684" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has declared a Citizen  Charter under which it will deliver services to people within a  specified time-frame. The Citizen Charter was declared on 17th jan.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">As per the Charter, for granting permission to TV Channels for  unlinking or down linking, the ministry will forward the applications  within two months after receiving them in completed form to the  Ministries and Departments concerned for clearances.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Charter explains that to issue permission for uplinking or  downlinking of TV channels from India, the application is examined by  Department of Space, Ministry of Home Affairs and other departments.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Citizen Charter lays down a time-frame of four months for delivering on such applications once such formalities are over.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Similarly, as per the Charter a specific time plan is also listed  for the Issue of license for providing Direct To Home (DTH) services to  prospective licensees. </span></li>
</ul></div></div>

I&B Ministry declares citizen charter

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has declared a Citizen Charter under which it will deli...

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Home Secretary-level talks between India & Nepal

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Nepal has assured India that it  will not allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to  India’s interests. The Home Ministry said this in a statement after the  two-day Home Secretary-level talks between India and Nepal which ended  in New Delhi today.</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>New Delhi also assured Kathmandu of its commitment to provide all necessary cooperation and assistance in security matters. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<em>Who led the discussions?</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>The Indian delegation was led by  Home Secretary R K Singh while the Nepalese delegation was headed by his  counterpart Sushil Jung Bahadur Rana.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>What was discussed?</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>The two sides discussed wide  ranging issues like countering terrorist activities, curbing  cross-border crimes, circulation of fake Indian currency notes,  smuggling of arms and ammunitions, trafficking of narcotics and  psychotropic substances. The meeting was held in a cordial environment  and both the countries expressed their satisfaction on the outcome of  the issues deliberated during the meeting and hoped it will go a long  way in addressing mutual security concerns, enhancing cooperation and  friendly relations between the two countries.</span></span></div></div>

Home Secretary-level talks between India & Nepal

Nepal has assured India that it will not allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s interests. The Home Ministry sa...

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Nano science meet in Hyderabad

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Current developments and future trends will be discussed by experts from all over the world at a four-day <strong>‘International conference on Nano Science and Technology' (ICONSAT-2012), beginning here on January 20.</strong> </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">More than 800 participants will attend the conference being  organised by the city-based International Advanced Research Centre  (ARCI), a grants-in-aid research institute of Government's of India's  Department of Science & Technology. The event is being supported  under ‘Nano Mission' initiative of Government of India. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">On the first day, Prof. C. N. R. Rao, chairman of Prime Minister's  Scientific Advisory Council will deliver a distinguished lecture on  ‘Graphene, Graphene Mimics and Their Unusual Properties'. More than 40  leading companies from India and abroad are participating in a technical  exhibition which will be inaugurated by Secretary, Department of  Science & Technology, Dr.T. Ramasami. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">A press release issued by ARCI here said that in view of the  significant participation from experts across the world, the event is  expected to act as an ideal platform to forge mutually rewarding  collaborative linkages. The sessions also include eight plenary  lectures, 22 key-note lectures and 19 invited lectures by renowned  scientists. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Another interesting feature of ‘ ICONSAT-2012' is a satellite  programme ‘Nano for Young' in which first year B.Sc/B.E./ B.Tech  students will interact with leading scientists.</span></li>
</ul></div>

Nano science meet in Hyderabad

Current developments and future trends will be discussed by experts from all over the world at a four-day ‘International conference on Nano ...

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Value-linked duty on precious metals

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5687" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Inorder to check the burgeoning current  account deficit, halt depreciation of the rupee and partly make up the  shortfall in revenue collections, the Central Government tweaked the  duty structure on precious metals to mop up an additional Rs.600 crore  during the last quarter of the current fiscal. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Accordingly, while diamonds now attract an import duty of 2 per  cent,the import duty on gold has been revised to 2 per cent of the value  from the earlier fixed rate of Rs.300 per 10 grams. Likewise, the  import duty on silver now stands pegged at 6 per cent, instead of the  earlier fixed rate of Rs.1,500 a kg. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">In 2010, the country's gold imports stood at 958 tonnes while in the  first half of 2011, imports totalled 553 tonnes, even in the wake of  hardening prices globally. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">During 2011, gold crossed the Rs.29,000 per 10 gram level to a  historic high of Rs.29,155 per 10 grams in December in view of the  marriage season. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The fact remains that apart from the  marriage requirements, the demand for gold and silver were more owing to  investment purposes as a hedge against high inflation and weak equity  markets.</span></li>
</ul></div></div>

Value-linked duty on precious metals

Inorder to check the burgeoning current account deficit, halt depreciation of the rupee and partl...

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Krishna to assist ethnic Tamils

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5688" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">India's External Affairs Minister SM  Krishna flew by chopper on jan 18 to Kilinochchi on way to Jaffna in the  northern province of Sri Lanka to meet ethnic Tamils.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">He will gift medical equipment to the district general hospital at  Kilinochchi on the third day of his four-day visit after fruitful  official talks  with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime  Minister DM Jayarathna and his counterpart GL Peiris in this scenic  capital.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">S.M.Krishna will hand over a school repaired with Indian financial  assistance at Sivapathakalaiyagam near Kilinochchi and proceed to Jaffna  for a luncheon meeting with Northern Province Governor Maj Gen (retd)  GA Chandrasiri. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">In the post-armed conflict era, India has been engaged in the  rehabilitation of about 300,000 Tamil-speaking minorities who have been  living in camps set up for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the  northern, central and eastern provinces. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">In the Jaffna province, the minister will hand over about 50 houses  built under a pilot project to the Tamil beneficiaries in Nalavadi near  Ariyalai in the northern region and gift about 10,000 bicycles to IDPs. </span></li>
</ul></div></div>

Krishna to assist ethnic Tamils

India's External Affairs Minister SM Krishna flew by chopper on jan 18 to Kilinochchi on way ...

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Railways makes Id proof mandatory for AC travel

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>As part of the measure to be implemented beginning February 15  in all trains across the country, the passengers would have to carry an  identity card. The ministry has allowed passengers to carry an identity  proof of their choice, ranging from Voter’s Identity card, Driver’s  Licence to Pan Card. </span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Why is this being done?</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">   </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Railway Ministry believes the move would help curb touts,  black marketing of tickets, and also impersonation. It has been seen  that many a times, a different set of people travel on the tickets  booked in another person’s name. <em><br />
</em></span></div></div>

Railways makes Id proof mandatory for AC travel

As part of the measure to be implemented beginning February 15 in all trains across the country, the passengers would have to carry an ide...

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India, China to set up working mechanism on border management

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span>A day after beginning talks on the  boundary question, India and China on Tuesday agreed to set up a  working mechanism on border management to deal with important affairs  related to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.</span></span> </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><em>What is the "working mechanism" ?</em></span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span>1. It will <span>study ways and  means to conduct and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between  military personnel and establishments of the two sides in the border  areas.</span></span></span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span>2.It <span>will explore the possibility of cooperation in the border areas that are agreed upon by the two sides.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span>3.It <span>will  address issues and situations that may arise in the border areas that  affect the maintenance of peace and tranquillity and will work actively  towards maintaining the friendly atmosphere between the two countries.</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span>The  working mechanism will hold consultations once or twice every year,  alternately in India and China. Emergency consultations, if required,  may be convened after mutual agreement.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>  </div>

India, China to set up working mechanism on border management

A day after beginning talks on the boundary question, India and China on Tuesday agreed to set up a working mechanism on border management...

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Cheaper food items drag price index down in Dec.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5691" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Cheaper food items, including fruit and  vegetables, pulled down the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by 0.44 per cent  month-on-month in December 2011. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The <strong>CPI</strong>, based on retail prices, stood at <strong>113.9 points in December </strong>compared to 114.4 points in November, as per data released by the government on Jan 18. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The fall was mainly on account of cheaper vegetables which saw a dip  of 15.01 per cent month-on-month to 98.5 points. The fruit index also  fell by 3.78 per cent to 122.2 points. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Similarly, the index for condiments and spices went down by 0.64 per cent to 123.9 points. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">However, CPI for clothing, bedding and footwear stood higher at  122.2 points on an all-ndia basis, against 121.5 points in November. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">However, the data for housing was compiled only for urban areas. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The price of miscellaneous items rose  by 0.09 per cent in December vis-a-vis November, as per the CPI data,  with the index for this segment rising to 112.8 points on a countrywide  basis in the month under review from 112.7 points in the previous month.</span></li>
</ul></div></div>

Cheaper food items drag price index down in Dec.

Cheaper food items, including fruit and vegetables, pulled down the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by...

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Wikipedia blackout over SOPA and PIPA online piracy bills

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5692" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Wikipedia community has blacked out  the English version of the Wikipedia website for 24 hours today to  protest against the legislation being proposed by the U.S. Congress, the  <strong>Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)</strong> in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the <strong>PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) </strong>in the U.S. Senate. The website said the blackout wills last 24 hours from midnight to midnight Eastern Standard Time.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The website said, the decision was made by Wikipedia’s global  community of editors, the people who built Wikipedia. It said, the  Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates  Wikipedia, also opposes SOPA and PIPA, and supports the editors'  blackout. It maintained that, the SOPA and PIPA are real threats to the  free and open Internet.  </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The protest was also joined by the  search engine website Google Inc, did not shut down its site, but around  midnight covered most of the logo on its U.S. homepage with a black box  adding a link asking users to tell the US Congress to not to censor the  web.</span></li>
</ul></div></div>

Wikipedia blackout over SOPA and PIPA online piracy bills

The Wikipedia community has blacked out the English version of the Wikipedia website for 24 hours...

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