Dec 2014

Economy

• 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Review
• Repo rate:8%; Reverse Repo rate:7%; MSF:9%; CRR:4%; SLR:22%

• Tax Administration and Reforms Commission
• Chairman:Parthasarathi Shome

Appointments

• New CBI Chief - Anil Sinha

Obituary

• Actor and Director Deven Verma passed away.

Awards

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya

Bharat Ratna

Educationist

Politician

Freedom Fighter
Mahamana

Quotes

Socrates

1. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
2. To Know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.
3. I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.
4. True wisdom comes to each of us when we realise how little we understand about life, ourselves and the world around us.
5. True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
6. I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.
7. I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing and that is that I know nothing.
8. Wisdom begins in wonder.
9. Worthless people live only to eat and drink; People of worth eat and drink only to live.
10. Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.
11. The unexamined life is not worth living.
12. It is not living that matters, but living rightly.
13. Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.
14. False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
15. An honest man is always a child.
16. Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.
17. Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.
18. I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live.
19. All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.
20. I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.
21. Be as you wish to seem.
22. He is a man of courage who doesn't run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy.

Climate Talks

• The 20th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) and the 10th session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol is hosted in Lima(Peru) in Dec, 2014. They aim at reducing the carbon emissions and are important for the success of the next climate talks. The talks are held under the UNFCCC(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

• The previous climate talks, i.e The COP-19 and CMP-9 are hosted by Warsaw(Poland) in Nov, 2013. The next climate talks, i.e. the COP-21 and CMP-11 are hosted by Paris(France) in Dec, 2015.

International Organisations

SAARC

1. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
2. It has 8 member countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
3. SAARC secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
4. Secretary-General - Arjun Bahadur Thapa.
5. By GDP(PPP) - 3rd largest economy.
6. By GDP(Nominal) - 8th largest economy.
7. SAARC - 3% of world area and 21% of world population.
8. 1st Summit - Dhaka,1985.
9. 18th Summit - Kathmandu, 2014.
10. SAFTA agreement - South Asia Free Trade Area Agreement - signed in 2004 and came into force in 2006.
11. TLP - Trade Liberalisation Programme - started in 2006 - members to bring down duties to 20% by 2009.
12. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, 1992 - 24 categories of dignitaries are provided a Special Travel Document which exempts visa within the region.
13. SAARC Award created in 2004 and was conferred only once till now and that was to Ziaur Rahman, Late President of Bangladesh.
14. Other awards - SAARC Literary Award and SAARC Youth Award.

OPEC

1. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
2. 12 Members - Saudi Arabia

Trigonometry

Trigonometric Identities

sin²@+cos²@=1
sec²@-tan²@=1
cosec²@-cot²@=1

Trigonometric Ratios

Sin@=Opp. Side/Hyp.
Cos@=Adj. side/Hyp.
Tan@=Opp. Side/Adj. Side
 

Current Affairs of March, 2014

Courtesy : Wikipedia

Sikkim launched helicopter service to Kanchenjunga. Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India. It is the third highest mountain in the world with a height of 28,169 ft.

Union government cleared disinvestment in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals        limited (BHEL). Ten per cent stake in IOC is offered to ONGC and OIL, the sale would fetch about 5,300 crore rupees to the exchequer. Five per cent stake in BHEL is offered to LIC, the sale would fetch about 2,045 crore rupees.

Dubai duty free tennis championship
Singles - Roger Federer
Doubles - Rohan Bopanna & Aihsan Ul Haq Qureshi

South Africa won the ICC under-19 World Cup, 2014, beating Pakistan.

The first corner of Bahrain's Formula One circuit to be named after seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. A corner in Nurburgring circuit in Germany is already named after Schumacher. Schumacher won the inaugural Bahrain race in 2004.

The film, Gravity won seven oscar awards, the most for this year's Academy Awards ceremony.

According to Forbes magazine, Bill Gates is the world's richest person.

Aruna Asaf Ali is the only woman to be awarded the Bharata Ratna award posthumously.

Elinor Ostrom is the only female Nobel laureate in Economics.

Potometer is used to measure the water intake of a leafy shoot.

Sun is a G-type main sequence star or a yellow dwarf.

Napoleon Bonaparte is a French emperor and had died in 1821.

Java cotton is a natural fiber obtained from Kapok tree.

New Laws

Sexual harassment at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act, 2013

Protection of children from sexual offences act, 2012

Stree shakti puraskar awards are presented to mark international women's day. There are six awards named after women icons of India. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh and a citation. The awardees are nominated by state governments, MPs and VIPs, suo motu and selected by national screening  committee. The awards for 2013:

Manasi Pradhan - Rani Lakshmibai Award

M. Venkaiah - Rani Rudramma Devi Award

Bina Sheth Lashkari - Mata Jijabhai Award

T. Radha K. Prashanti - Kannagi Award

Vartika Nanda - Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award

Seema Sakhare - Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award

Ahimsa Messengers is a programme aimed at preventing violence against women and children and involves women at grass root levels.

The 1750 MW Demwe mega dam project on Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh turned controversial as it affects the Dibru-Saikhowa National park in Assam.

Rakesh Sethi is appointed as CMD of Allahabad Bank.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee proposed "a universal linked information system" in 1989. Therefore, the web is celebrating silver jubilee ceremony (25 years) this year. Lee coined WWW in 1990. First site (of CERN) was made online in 1991. In 1993, CERN made WWW free to all.

Part of classified Henderson Brooks Report, a comprehensive operational review of India's debacle in India-China war of 1962 is made public.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is to harmonise standards and licensing procedures and waive tariffs across US-EU trade zone.

Trans-Pacific Partnership is to harmonise standards and licensing procedures and waive tariffs among the U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Chile, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

Indo-China trade was at $74 billion in 2011 and was $65 billion in 2013. India and China have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2015. India's trade deficit with china is $31.5 billion in 2013.

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia following a referendum.

Rohingya Muslims are ethnic community of Myanmar who live in Rakhine state. In 2012, ethnic clashes occurred between the Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. There has been a steady influx of Rohingya Muslims into West Bengal through Bangladesh, which is a matter of concern for India.

August 2014

The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill

1. Raises FDI cap in insurance from 26% to 49%.
2. FDIs above 26% are to be approved by FIPB.
3. Management to be retained with Indian investors.
4. Voting rights of foreign investors limited to 26%.

S.S. Mundra was appointed as RBI deputy governor.

Jaundice is a disease that causes yellow discolouration of body. The RBCs at the end of their life i.e. around 120 days, are broken down in the spleen into waste products called Bilirubin and Bilivirdin. The accumulation of these waste products in the body causes Jaundice.

The prime minister of India offered 2,500 kg of sandalwood and Rs. 25 crore to restore the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal.

XXI commonwealth games are to be held at Goldcoast in 2018. England stood in the first place and India stood in the fifth place in medals tally of XX commonwealth games, Glasgow.

November 2014

Economy

• RBI issued guidelines for licenses to payment banks and small finance banks in private sector.
• RBI issued guidelines for licenses to Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is made the nodal body.
• Brent Crude Oil fell to a 4-year low a barrel. OPEC decided not to cut production inspite of fall in the price due to increased availability of shale oil from U.S. OPEC countries didn't wan't to loose their market share by reducing production.
• GDP growth rate in the second quarter : 5.3%.
•  Govt. to withdraw 20:80 scheme and all other restrictions on gold imports.
• Parliament passed the law regarding labour reforms.

Important Events

• 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall that bifurcated Germany into East Germany and West Germany between 1961 to 1989.

Important Persons

• Guru Nanak

• Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism
• He is the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus.
• Guru Nanak was born in Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.

•  Rohit Sharma

• Highest Individual Score in ODI Cricket ()

• Jawaharlal Nehru

• Birth Anniversary 14th November
• Celebrated as Children's Day in India
• 2014 is the year of his 125th Birth Anniversary

Important Books

• Playing It My Way - Sachin Tendulkar

Sports

Obituary

• Tapan Raychaudhari, eminent Modern Indian historian passed away.
•  Phillip Hughes, Australian Cricketer passed away due to an injury on the field.

Anthropology For Civil Services

Primitive Religion

1. Animism
2. Animatism
3. Fetishism
4. Naturism
5. Totemism

 Schools of Anthropological Thought

1. Classical Evolutionism
2. Diffusionism
3. Historical Particularism
4. Functionalism
5. Structural Functionalism
6. Structuralism
7. Culture and Personality School
8. Neo-Evolutionism
9. Cultural Materialism
10. Symbolic and Interpretive Theories
11. Cognitive Theories
12. Post-Modernism

Pioneers of different schools of anthropological thought

1.  Classical Evolutionism
1. British School - E.B. Tylor
2. German School - Bachofein, Bastein
3. American School - 
2. Diffusionism
1. British School
2. German School
3. American School
3. Historical Particularism - Franz Boas
4. Functionalism - Malinowsi
5. Structural Functionalism - 
6. Structuralism - 
7. Culture and Personality School - Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict, Ralph Linton, Abraham Kardiner, Cora-du-Bois.
8. Neo-Evolutionism
9. Cultural Materialism
10. Symbolic and Interpretive Theories
11. Cognitive Theories
12. Post-Modernism - Geertz

Margaret Mead

1. Student of Franz Boas & Ruth Benedict
2. Also inspired by Edward Saphir
3. Used Psychoanalysis
4. Coming of age in Samoa (1928)
5. Growing up in New Guinea (1930)
6. Sex & Temperment in three primitive societies (1935)
7. Cooperation & Competition in primitive people (1939)
8. And Keep your powder dry (1942)
9. Male & Female (1949)
10. Culture influences Personality

Stone Age in India

Prominent Indian Anthropologists

1. G.S. Gurye
2. J.N. Bhattacharya
3. Leela Dube
4. S.C. Dube
5. Verrier Elwin
6. B.S. Guha
7. Irawati Karve
8. M.N. Srinivas
9. L.P. Vidyarthi
10. H.D. Sankalia

Kinship and Gender in India

October 2014

1. India ranked 114 in the annual gender survey of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The survey started first in 2006.
2. Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) is launched by Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the infrastructure and human development indices of tribal population.

Numbers

Squares
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225, 256, 289, 324, 361, 400, 441, 484, 529, 576, 625, 676, 784, 841, 900

Cubes
1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, 1000

Fractions


Divisibility Rules
Divisibility by 2 : if the number end in an even number
Divisibility by 3 : if the sum of the digits of the number is divisible by 3
Divisibility by 4 : if the number formed by the last two digits of the number is divisible by 4.
Divisibility by 5 : if the last digit of the number is either 0 or 5.
Divisibility by 6
Divisibility by 7
Divisibility by 8
Divisibility by 9
Divisibility by 10
Divisibility by 11
Divisibility by 13
Divisibility by 17
Divisibility by 19

Solved Problems

1. When 75 is added to 75% of a number, the answer is the number. Find 40% of that number. [CGL, 2013]
(a)100 (b)80 (c)120 (d)160
A. Let the number be 'x'. Then, 75% of the number is 0.75x. Therefore, 0.75x+75=x; x=300. Finally 40% of 300 is 120.

September 2014

China's President Xi Jinping's Visit to India
Bill Gates's Visit to India
President Pranab Mukherjee's Visit to Vietnam

July 2014

Australia approved Adani's Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland province. Carmichael coal mine has potential reserves that could make it Australia's largest coal mine. The mine is in the Galilee basin which has huge coal reserves that are untapped due to heavy costs of building ports and rail lines to the east coast which is about 500 Km away.

GK: India has 2.5% of earth's landmass, 17% of world population and 8% of world's biodiversity.

NASA's Opportunity rover, which landed on Mars in 2004 set a record for longest off-Earth roving distance of 40 Km. The previous record was held by USSR's Lunakhod 2 rover.

GK: Mars is called Red planet.

Magsaysay Awards 2014

Hu Shuli

Wang Canfa

Saur Marlina Manurung

Omaha Khan Masoudi

Randy Halasan

The Citizen's Foundation

GK: Cells metabolise glucose into energy. However, fructose can be metabolised only in the liver. However, excess energy is stored in the form of fat in the liver. This may lead to fatty liver disease.

Time and Work

1. If a person can do a work in 'x' days, then, he does a work of '1/x' in 1 day.
2. If 'A' can do a piece of work in 'a' days and 'B' can do the same work in 'b' days. Then, 'A' and 'B' can combinedly do the same work in 'ab/(a+b)' days.
3. If 'A' can do a piece of work in 'a' days, 'B' can do the same work in 'b' days and 'C' can do the same work in 'c' days. Then, 'A', 'B' and 'C' can combinedly do the same work in abc/(ab+bc+ca) days.

Solved Problems

1. A can do a piece of work in 16 days and B in 24 days. They take the help of C and three together finish the work in 6 days. If the total remuneration for the work is Rs. 400. The amount (in rupees) each will receive, in proportion, to do the work is: [SSC, 2013]

(A) A:150, B:100, C:150
(B) A:100, B:150, C:150
(C) A:150, B:150, C:100
(D) A:100, B:150, C:100

Ans: (A)
A does more work than B. Therefore, A gets more remuneration than B. Such condition is satisfied only by option A.

Budget 2014-15

IT exemption limit raised from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh.
Investment IT exemption limit under 80C is increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh.
Defence Spending - Rs. 2.29 lakh crore
Namami Gange - Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission.
Development of Ganga Inland Waterway from Haridwar to Haldia.
Fiscal Deficit - 4.1% of GDP (2014-15), 3.6% of GDP (2014-15), 3% of GDP (2014-15)
Costlier:
Cigarettes, Gutka, Tobacco, Pan-masala, Cold Drinks
Cheaper:
CRT, LCD and LED TVs, 

Profit and Loss

1. CP=Cost Price
2. SP=Selling Price
3. Profit=SP-CP
4. Loss=CP-SP
5. Profit %=((SP-CP)/CP)*100
6. Loss %=((CP-SP)/CP)*100
7. CP=100 SP/(100+Profit%)
8. CP=100 SP/(100-Loss%)
9. SP=(100+Profit%) CP/100
10. SP=(100-Loss%) CP/100
11. Two successive discounts of d₁% and d₂% is equivalent to a single discount of d₁+d₂-(d₁d₂/100).
12. Three successive discounts of d₁% , d₂% and d₃% is equivalent to a single discount of d₁+d₂+d₃-(d₁d₂/100)-(d₂d₃/100)-(d₃d₁/100)+(d₁d₂d₃/10000).
13. When two same items are sold, one at a profit of x% and the other at a loss of x%. Then the transaction incurs a loss %=(x/10)².
14. If false weight is used then profit %=(error/(true value - error))*100.
15. Two successive profits of p₁% and p₂% results in a total profit %=p₁+p₂+(p₁p₂/100)
16. If an item is marked p% above its Costprice and a discount of l% is allowed on the marked price then profit/loss %=p-l-(pl/100)

A dealer buys a table listed at Rs. 1,500 and gets successive discounts of 20% and 10%. He spends Rs. 20 on transportation and sells it at a profit of 20%. The selling price of the table is [FCI, 2012]
A. Rs. 1,320
B. Rs. 1,350
C. Rs. 1,360
D. Rs. 1,380

Indian History

Prehistoric India

Homo erectus appeared in India about 5,00,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens appeared in India about 75,000 years ago.

Buddhism

1. Gautama/Siddhartha was a kshatriya prince of Sakya gana.

1. Gautama was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

1. Buddhism believes in Karma, Middle path, Nirvana and Rebirth.

1. Four noble truths - truth of dukkha, truth of origin of dukkha, truth of cessation of dukkha and truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha.

1. Noble eightfold path - right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.

1. Gautama meditated under a peepal tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar and got enlightened.

1. Buddha - the wise one.

1. Buddha's first teaching was at Sarnath.

1. Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kusinara/Kushinagar, UP.

1. Chaitya/Chaitya Griha - Buddhist shrine with stupa.

1. Stupa - Mound containing Buddhist Relics.

1. Vihara - Buddhist Monastery.

1. Major branches - Theravada and Mahayana.

1. Buddha declared 4 holy places in Mahaparinibbana Sutta - Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara.

1. Buddha's teachings were in Prakrit.

Jainism

24th tirdankara - Vardhamana Mahavira.

Mahavira was a kshatriya prince of Lichhavis, part of the Vajji sangha.

At the age of 30 he left home and after 12 years he got enlightment.

Mahavira teachings were in Prakrit.

Upanishads

1. Upanishad - approaching and sitting near.

1. atman (individual soul) and brahman (universal soul) are permanent in the universe.

1. 
   

Zoroastrianism

Fall of Mughal Empire

Mughal Empire ruled for almost 200 years.
It started to shrink in the first half of 18th century (1700-1750).
In 1803, Delhi was captured by the British and the emperor was made a pensioner.
Decline started under Aurangazeb's reign.
In 1707, Aurangazeb died and his 3 sons fought for throne and Bahadur Shah became the emperor.
Bahadur Shah is educated and followed compromise and conciliation policy.
He reveresed some of the bad policies of his father.
He was tolerant towards Hinduism.

Rise of British in India

Freedom Fighters

Bhagat Singh: 

1. Member of HRA (Hindustan Republican Association).
2. Changed the name of HRA to HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) (1928)
3. Member of Young Revolutionary Movement.
4. Founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha (1926)
5. Wrote for Veer Arjun news paper and Kirti, journal of Kirti Kisan Party.
6. Along with Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs and leaflets in the Central Legislative Assembly.
7. Undertook 116-day fast for equal treatment of British and Indian political prisoners.
8. Hanged on 23rd March 1931.

June 2014

The President addresses both houses of the Parliament in a joint session in the first session of Parliament after general elections and it is followed by a Motion of Thanks.

Highlights of the President's Speech

1. By 2022, the 75th year of Independence,  every person is to have a house with water, electricity and toilet.
2. Tricolour revolution
1. Saffron - Solar Energy
2. White - Cattle and Livestock welfare
3. Green - Second Green Revolution (Protein-rich pulses and agrarian growth)
4. Blue - Cleaning of water bodies, conserving water and fishermen's welfare
3. 100 Smart Cities: Cities along rivers and highways to be built around optic fibre "i-ways".
4. Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed  trains connecting four metros.
5. Agri-rail networks for quick movement of perishable agricultural commodities.
6. Expansion of rail networks in the northeast.
7. Brand India based on 5T's : Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and Technology.
8. Promotion of ties with China, Russia, USA, EU, Japan and SAARC countries.
9. Veterans Commission to address the grievances of retired soldiers.
10. To setup National War Memorial.
11. To setup National Maritime Authority.

Pranahita Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme - Mega lift irrigation project on River Godavari in Telangana.

Kakodkar Committee on safety and funding to Railways.


2015 is the centenary year of Gandhi's return to India (1915).


Kashmiri Pandits left J&K in 1990 due to ethnic cleansing during militancy. The government assured return and rehabilitation of them to J&K.

Vishal Sikka is the new CEO and MD of Infosys. Infosys is the second largest IT exporter of India.

Mukul Rohatgi is the new Attorney General of India.

LAC seperates India and China, it is 4,056 km-long and passes through J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Japan and China have territorial dispute over Senkaku (Japan)/ Diaoyu (China) islands in the East China Sea. At present, these islands are controlled by Japan.


Japanese eel is a popular dish in Japan. It has become very costly due to scarce availability. Japanese eel has been placed on the IUCN redlist of endangered species. The decline of Japanese eel population is due to overfishing, habitat destruction, prevention of migration due to barriers along waterways, pollution and other changes in ocean conditions. Japan mulls to produce the species through industrial farming.

Sanjaya Rajaram has been chosen for World Food Prize, 2014 for his research in wheat. Dr. Swaminathan is the first recipient of the Prize in 1987. 2014 is the centenary year of Dr. Norman Borlaugh and is the international year of family farming. The Prize would be presented on U.N. World Food Day (October 16).

In the WTO, India is categorised as 'developing economy'. The U.S. wants India  to be categorised as an 'emerging economy'. The change in categorisation results in lowering of the agricultural subsidy caps on India from 10% to 5%. Moreover, India needs to grant market access to the U.S.

Gro Harlem Bruntland has been chosen for the Tang Prize (known as Asian Nobel Prize) for her work on sustainable development. 

Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a World Heritage Site of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Australia proposed to dump 3 million cubic metres of dredged material into the GBR to expand the Abbot Point Coal Port.

The islands, called Dokdo by South Korea and Takeshima by Japan are claimed by both the countries. The islands are under the control of South Korea.

Mumbai Samachar founded by Fardoonji Murzaban in 1822, completed 192 years. It is the oldest serving newspaper in Asia.

Famous National Parks of India

1. Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
2. Bandipur  National Park (Karnataka)
3. Bannerghatta National Park (Karnataka)
4. Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha)
5. Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal)
6. Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)
7. Dachigam National Park (J&K)
8. Dudwa National Park (Uttarpradesh)
9. Gir National Park (Gujarat)
10. Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
11. Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
12. Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
13. Khanchendzonga National Park (Sikkim)
14. Manas National Park (Assam)
15. Nandadevi National Park (Uttarakhand)
16. Nokrek National Park (Meghalaya)
17. Panna National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
18. Pench National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
19. Periyar National Park (Kerala)
20. Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka)
21. Ranathambore National Park (Rajasthan)
22. Saddle Peak National Park (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
23. Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan)
24. Simlipal National Park (Odisha)
25. Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal)
26. Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand)

61st National Film Awards

Feature Film Category

Best Film - Ship of Theseus

Best Actor - Raj Kumar (Shahid) & Suraj Venjaramoodu (Perariyathavar)

Best Actress - Geethanjali Thapa (Liar's Dice)

Best Direction - Hansal Mehta (Shahid)

Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment - Bhaag Milka Bhaag

Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration - Thalaimuraigal

Best film on social issues - Tuhya Dharma Koncha

Indira Gandhi award for best debut film of a director - Fandry

Best film on environment conservation/preservation - Perariyathavar

Best Children's film - Kaphal

April 2014

Manuel Valls
Courtesy : Wikipedia

Manuel Valls is appointed as the new prime minister of France.

Dhole
Courtesy : Wikipedia

Asiatic wild dog or Indian wild dog or Dhole is spotted for the first time in West Bengal at Jaldapara National Park. It is classified as endangered species in the IUCN Red list.

Scientists created an artificial chromosome for yeast, i.e. for a eukaryotic cell for the first time. The chromosome is named as SYNIII.

Asian Development Outlook 2014, released by Asian Development Bank forecasts India's GDP growth for 2014-15 at 5.5% and for 2015-16 at 6%.

International court of justice (ICJ) ordered Japan to stop it's whaling programme, Jarpa II in Antarctica.

The RBI granted 'in-principle' approval to Bandhan financial services private limited and IDFC limited to set up banks.

PSLV C-24 successfully placed IRNSS-1B into orbit. IRNSS-1B is the second of the seven satellites of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was appointed as President of Malta.

Wisden Cricketers of the Year 2013

Shikar Dhawan (IND)

Chris Rogers (AUS)

Ryan Harris (AUS)

Joe Root (ENG)

Charlotte Edwards (ENG)

The Wisden Cricketers of the Year started in 1889.

R. Chandrasekharan was appointed as chairman of Nasscom for 2014-15.

Through 'South Asia Economic Focus' report, World Bank projected the following GDP growth rates for India:

2013-14 : 4.8%

2014-15 : 5.7%

In 'World Economic Outlook' report, IMF projected the following growth rates for India:

2013-14 : 4.4%

2014-15 : 5.4%

Mangalyaan

Nov 5, 2013: PSLV-C25 placed Mars Orbiter into Earth's orbit.

Dec 1, 2013: Mars Orbiter was placed in Sun-centric orbit.

Dec 4, 2013: Mars Orbiter got out of Earth's sphere of influence (SOI) and is on it's way to Mars.

April 9, 2014: Mars Orbiter covered 34 crore km, half of it's entire journey of 68 crore km.

Shyam Saran Negi
Courtesy : dnaindia

Shyam Saran Negi, voted in all elections since 1951.

Navy Incidents

INS Sindhurakshak sank in August, 2013.

INS Sindhughosh almost ran aground in January, 2014.

Fire on INS Sindhuratna killed 2 naval officers in February, 2014.

All the above submarines are kilo-class submarines.

Due to the recent incidents in Navy, Navy Chief D.K. Joshi resigned in February, 2014.

Indo-China foreign relations

The present common regional challenge is the situation in Afghanistan.

China made territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh ( calls it South Tibet) and also issued stapled visas to the people belonging to the state to underline it as a disputed territory.

Indian History

The Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilisation is also called as Harappan Civilisation, where Harappa is the first excavated city of the civilisation.

Harappan civilisation is divided into 3 stages:

1. Early Harappan Civilisation (circa 3500 - 2600 Before Common Era)
2. Mature Harappan Civilisation (c. 2600 - 2000 BCE)
3. Late Harappan Civilisation (c. 2000 - 1600 BCE)

Important Harappan sites:

1. Manda
2. Rakhigarhi
3. Banawali
4. Mitathal
5. Kalibangan
6. Dholavira
7. Nageshwar
8. Rangpur
9. Lothal
10. Harappa
11. Ganweriwala
12. Kot diji
13. Chanhudaro
14. Balakot
15. Amri
16. Mohenjo-dado
17. Sutkagendor

Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan) is the largest Harappan site.

The top 5 biggest Harappan sites are

1. Mohenjo-daro
2. Harappa
3. Gaweriwala
4. Rakhigarhi
5. Dholavira

Cholistan is a desert area of Pakistan bordering the Thar desert.

Seals are made up of Steatite. Seals display animal motifs and script.

Beads are made from carnelian, jasper, crystal, quartz, steatite, copper, bronze, gold, shell, faience, terracotta and burnt clay.

Weights are made of chert and are in cubical shape. Lower denominations are in binary and higher denominations are in decimal.

Terracotta model of plough was found at Banawali.

Ploughed fields were found at Kalibangan. The fields had perpendicular furrows, where two crops are grown simultaneously.

Canals were found at Shortughai, Afghanistan.

Water reservoirs were found at Dholavira, Gujarat.

Utensils were made of stone, metal and terracotta.

Domestic animals - cattle, sheep, goat, buffaloes, pig and oxen.

Wild animals - Boar, Deer and gharial.

Crops - wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sesame, mullets and rice.

Food subsistence - plant and animal products including fish.

Cities are divided into two parts: citadel and lower town. Citadel is in the western direction and lower town is in the eastern direction. However, Lothal and Dholavira are exceptions.

Alexander Cunningham is the first director general of ASI and is known as father of Indian archaeology.

Magan is the old name of Oman.

Meluhha is the old name of Harappan region.

Dilmun is the old name of Bahrain.

Copper is imported from Khetri of Rajasthan and Magan.

Gold is imported from South India.

Harappans worshipped Mother Godesses, Preist Kings, Pasupati and Nature.

The Pasupati seal also contains tiger, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Indra, the warrior god of Aryans is called as puramdara ( fort destroyer ).

Harappa was excavated by D.R.Sahni.

Mohenjo-daro was excavated by R.D. Banerjee.

Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya

Founder of Mauryan Empire.

First Emperor of India.

Also known as Sandrokottos or Androcottus.

Son - Bindusara.

Grandson - Ashoka

Adopted Jainism

Became ascetic under Bhadrabahu.

Ended his life in Sallekhana ( Death by fast ) at Sravana Belgola, Karnataka.

Bindusara

Ashoka

Ghadar Party

1. Established by Punjabi immigrants in Canada and the U.S
2. Aim - to gain independence of India from British.
3. Ghadar means revolt.
4. Important persons - Kartar Singh Sarabha, Lala Har Dayal, Rashbehari Bose  and Sohan Singh Bhakna.
5. The Hindustani Workers of the Pacific Coast formed the base for setup of Ghadar Party.
6. Ghadar Party started as the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association in 1913 in the U.S.
7. Sohan Singh Bhakna is it's first President.
8. Started a weekly paper called The Ghadar, first published from Sanfrancisco on November 1, 1913.
9. Officially dissolved in 1948.

Komagata Maru

1. SS Komagata Maru - Japanese ship that carried 376 Indians from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada.
2. Canada denied entry to 352 Indians citing 'The Asian Exclusion Act' and sent back the ship.
3. 19 Indians were killed by the British on return of the ship to India at Budge Budge in Calcutta.
4. The incident triggered the growth of Ghadar Party.

Indian Polity

Constitution of India

The Preamble

"We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to provide to all its citizens
Justice; social, economic and political
Liberty of thought and expression;
Equality of status and opportunity
and promote among them all Fraternity to promote unity and integrity of the nation
On this twenty sixth day of November 1949, we adopt, enact and give ourselves this constitution"

The Union and its territory

Citizenship

Fundamental Rights

Directive Principles of State Policy

Fundamental Duties

The Union

States

Money Bill

It is defined by article 110, provisions related to tax, financial obligations, consolidated fund of India, contingency fund of India and public account of India.

A bill is declared as a money bill or not by the speaker.

Money bill can be introduced only in the loksabha on the recommendation of the President.

Money bill cannot be referred to a joint select committee.

Rajyasabha may accept the bill.

Rajyasabha may propose recommendations to the bill. These amendments may or may not be accepted by the loksabha.

Rajyasabha may not act on the bill for 14 days.

In all the three cases above, the bill is said to be passed by both houses of the parliament.

The President may accept or withhold the bill. However, he cannot return the bill for reconsideration.

The Parliament

Parliament - President + Loksabha (House of the People/First Chamber/House of Elders)+ Rajyasabha (Council of States/Second Chamber/Popular House)

Hindi names were adopted in 1954.

Parliament - Legislative wing of the government

President - Mr. Pranab Mukerjee

Loksabha - 552 (max)

Rajyasabha - 250 (max) 

Rajyasabha origin - Montague-Chelmsford Report (1918)

 Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajyasabha.

Parliamentary Committees

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

1. It is constituted by the Parliament. (As it is a Paliamentary Committee, it is constituted by the Paliament)
2. Role : to examines the expenditure of the Government of India. (Looks after the Public Accounts i.e. Accounts of the Government of India/Public)
3. Composition :  22 MPs, elected through system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
4. Distribution : 15 MPs are from Loksabha and 7 MPs from Rajyasabha. (Majority is from Loksabha)
5. Chairperson : Selected by the Speaker of the LS from the MPs of LS in the committee.
6. Term : 1 Year.
7. A minister is not eligible to be elected as a member.
8. Since 1967, the Chairman is selected from the opposition. (Became a Convention) 

Attorney General of India

1. Chief legal advisor of the union government. (SC is the legal advisor of the President under aticle 143. Advocate General is the chief legal advisor of the state government.)
2. Primary attorney of the union government in the SC.
3. Appointed by the President.
4. Holds office during the pleasure of the President. (No security of tenure.)
5. Qualified to be appointed as the judge of the SC.
6. Has right to audience in all courts of India.
7. Has right to participate in the proceedings of the Parliament, without voting right.
8. Assisted by Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals.
9. M.C. Setalvad is the first AG of India.
10. Mukul Rohatgi is the 14th and current AG of India.

Important Non-Constitutional Bodies

Planning Commission

National Development Council

Central Information Commission

State Information Commision

National Human Rights Commission

Indian Economy

Books to read:

1. Economic Survey
2. Budget
3. Indian Economy - Ramesh Singh

GDP Growth projections of India by various agencies

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

5.4 % (2014-15)

4.7 % (2015-16)

World Bank

5.7 % (2014-15)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

5.5 % (2014-15)

6 % (2015-16)

National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

5.1-5.5 % (2014-15)

Sectors of Economy

1. Agriculture sector
2. Industrial sector
3. Service sector

FICCI
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
National Association of Software and  Service Companies (Nasscom)
K. Natarajan is the chairman of Nasscom.
R. Chandrasekhar is the president of Nasscom.
U.S. is the largest market for Indian IT exports with a share of 62 per cent.

Classification of Industries

1. Small Scale Industries (SSIs)
2. Medium Scale Industries (MSIs)
3. Large Scale Industries (LSIs)

Def. of SSI: An industry with an investment limit of Rs. 100 lakh

Significance of Small Scale Industries (SSI)

Less capital intensive

More labour absorbing

Rural industrialization

Banking

A bank is a financial intermediary between the depositors and borrowers.

Banks may be classified as scheduled banks and non-scheduled banks.

Scheduled banks are the banks that are included in the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934.

Scheduled banks may be classified as commercial banks and investment bank.

Commercial banks may be classified as public sector banks, private sector banks and regional rural banks.

There are 27 public sector banks:

1. Allahabad Bank 

2. Andhra Bank 

3. Bank of Baroda 

4. Bank of India 

5. Bank of Maharashtra 

6. Bharatiya Mahila Bank 

7. Canara Bank 

8. Central Bank of India 

9. Corporation Bank 

10. Dena Bank 

11. IDBI Bank Ltd. 

12. Indian Bank 

13. Indian Overseas Bank 

14. Oriental Bank of Commerce 

15. Punjab & Sind Bank 

16. Punjab National Bank 

17. Syndicate Bank 

18. UCO Bank 

19. Union Bank of India 

20. United Bank of India 

21. Vijaya Bank

22. State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur

23. State Bank of Hyderabad

24. State Bank of India

25. State Bank of Mysore

26. State Bank of Patiala

27. State Bank of Travancore

State Bank of India and it's associated banks are called as State Bank Group.

Development Financial Institutions are financial bodies that provide long-term finance to agriculture and industry.

Industrial Finance Corporation Limited is the first DFI in India and is established in 1948.

S.H. Khan committee (1997) recommended transformation of DFI into universal banks.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India.

RBI headquarters is at Mumbai.

RBI was established in 1935 and was nationalized in 1949.

RBI has a governor and 4 deputy governors.

RBI governor - Dr. Raghuram Rajan

RBI deputy governors - Dr. K.C. Chakrabarthy, H.R. Khan, Dr. Urjit R. Patel, Anand Sinha.

RBI frames the monetary policy.

Infrastructure

1.Electricity

Total installed electricity capacity 254 GW.

Total installed renewable energy capacity 32.8 GW.

2.Ports

3.Roads

4.Airports

Current Affairs of February 2014

1. The 28th Surajkund International Crafts Mela started in Haryana. Goa is the theme state for this year. Sri Lanka is the partner country this year. About 20 countries are participating in the Mela.


2. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) estimated the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for 2013-14 at 4.9 per cent. The GDP growth for 2012-13 is 4.5 per cent.
   
   According to National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) the exports of Information Technology (IT) to grow at 13-15 per cent in 2014-15.
   
   Lakshmi Swaminathan is elected as the president of administrative tribunal of Asian Development Bank (ADB). She became the first Indian to head the tribunal.
   
   Ashok Vardhan is appointed as co-head of Goldman Sachs' securities division.
   
   International Olympic Commitee (IOC) revoked the suspension of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
   
   

   

   Courtesy : Wikipedia

   Film director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra passed away.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Autoimmune diseases are the diseases that are caused by antibodies. Antibodies are proteins synthesized by the immune system to fight foreign bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune diseases the antibodies attack the human cells.
   
   Recent Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As)
   
   
   1. Balmer Lawrie acquired Vacation Exotica.
   2. MakeMyTrip acquired EasytoBook
   3. Thomas Cook India merged Sterling Holiday Resorts.
   
   Google is working on a project called 'next generation' of internet with a target of offering data transfer speeds of 10 Gbps. At present, Google Fiber service offers data transfer speeds of 1 Gbps.
   
   Interim Budget
   The phones that cost less than Rs. 2000 were levied an excise duty of 1 per cent. Now, they are levied an excise duty of 6 per cent^[4].
   Interest subsidy on education loans taken upto March 31, 2009. Which means the union government will pay outstanding interest liability till December 31, 2013. However, the students have to pay interest from January 1, 2014^[5].
   
   The Union Government accepted "One Rank, One Pension" for ex-servicemen from 2014-15. This means the ex-servicemen of same rank and the same length of service receive same pension, irrespective of their retirement date.
   
   Abdul Basit is appointed as Pakistan high commissioner to India. He replaces Salman Bashir^[6].
   
   
   
   References:
   
   
   1. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/gdp-estimates-show-worst-may-be-over/article5666488.ece
   2. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/ashok-varadhan-to-cohead-goldman-sachs-securities-division/article5679082.ece
   3. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/balu-mahendra-passes-away/article5687355.ece
   4. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/cars-are-cheaper-cellphones-dearer/article5700893.ece
   5. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/student-loan-burden-eases/article5700891.ece
   6. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/abdul-basit-pakistan-envoy-to-india/article5700817.ece
   
   

Current Affairs of January, 2014

1. According to Gallup Poll, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the most admired man and woman in the U.S.A.
2. Retail inflation for industrial workers for November stood at 11.47 %.