378
Nobel Prizes The Nobel Prizes are awarded annually to people (and, in the case of the Peace Prize, sometimes to organisations) who have completed outstanding research, invented ground-breaking techniques or equipment, or made an outstanding contribution to society in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, medicine or physiology and economics. They are widely regarded as the supreme commendation in their respective subject areas. Those honoured are known as Nobel Laureates. The Prizes were instituted by the Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel through his will. They were first awarded in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death. The prize in economics, instituted by the Bank of Sweden, has been awarded since 1969. As of September 2007, a total of 799 Nobel Prizes have been awarded, 777 to individuals (33 of these to women), 20 to organizations and 2 were awarded in different categories. Prize Categories Prize Category 2009 winners Physiology and Medicine Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak Physics Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith Chemistry Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath Literature Herta Müller Peace Barack Obama Economics Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson For information on Nobel Prize winners of previous years, click on the following link: http://nobelprize.org/ Man Booker Prize

gk.txt

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: gk.txt

Nobel Prizes

The Nobel Prizes are awarded annually to people (and, in the case of the Peace Prize, sometimes to organisations) who have completed outstanding research, invented ground-breaking techniques or equipment, or made an outstanding contribution to society in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, medicine or physiology and economics. They are widely regarded as the supreme commendation in their respective subject areas. Those honoured are known as Nobel Laureates. The Prizes were instituted by the Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel through his will. They were first awarded in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death. The prize in economics, instituted by the Bank of Sweden, has been awarded since 1969. As of September 2007, a total of 799 Nobel Prizes have been awarded, 777 to individuals (33 of these to women), 20 to organizations and 2 were awarded in different categories.

Prize Categories

Prize Category 2009 winnersPhysiology and Medicine Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. SzostakPhysics Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. SmithChemistry Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. YonathLiterature Herta MüllerPeace Barack ObamaEconomics Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson

For information on Nobel Prize winners of previous years, click on the following link:

http://nobelprize.org/

Man Booker Prize

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, also known as the Booker Prize, is one of the world’s most prestigious literary prizes, awarded each year for the best original full-length novel written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland in the English language. The Booker prize was started by Booker McConnel, a multinational conglomerate company in 1969. This award is administered by Book Trust in the United Kingdom. For the year 2007, the prize has been awarded to Ireland novelist Anne Enright for ‘The Gathering’.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Year Author Country Title

1969 P. H. Newby United Kingdom Something to Answer For

Page 2: gk.txt

1970 Bernice Rubens United Kingdom The Elected Member

1971 V. S. Naipaul Trinidad and Tobago/United Kingdom

In a Free State

1972 John Berger United Kingdom G.

1973 J. G. Farrell United Kingdom The Siege of Krishnapur

1974 Nadine GordimerStanley Middleton

South AfricaUnited Kingdom

The ConservationistHoliday

1975 Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

United Kingdom/Germany Heat and Dust

1976 David Storey United Kingdom Saville

1977 Paul Scott United Kingdom Staying On

1978 Iris Murdoch Ireland/United Kingdom The Sea, the Sea

1979 Penelope Fitzgerald United Kingdom Offshore

1980 William Golding United Kingdom Rites of Passage

1981 Salman Rushdie India Midnight's Children

1982 Thomas Keneally Australia Schindler's Ark

1983 J. M. Coetzee South Africa Life & Times of Michael K

1984 Anita Brookner United Kingdom Hotel du Lac

1985 Keri Hulme New Zealand The Bone People

1986 Kingsley Amis United Kingdom The Old Devils

1987 Penelope Lively United Kingdom Moon Tiger

1988 Peter Carey Australia Oscar and Lucinda

1989 Kazuo Ishiguro United Kingdom/Japan The Remains of the Day

1990 A. S. Byatt United Kingdom Possession: A Romance

Page 3: gk.txt

1991 Ben Okri Nigeria The Famished Road

1992 Michael OndaatjeBarry Unsworth

Sri Lanka/CanadaUnited Kingdom

The English PatientSacred Hunger

1993 Roddy Doyle Ireland Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

1994 James Kelman United Kingdom How Late It Was, How Late

1995 Pat Barker United Kingdom The Ghost Road

1996 Graham Swift United Kingdom Last Orders

1997 Arundhati Roy India The God of Small Things

1998 Ian McEwan United Kingdom Amsterdam

1999 J. M. Coetzee South Africa Disgrace

2000 Margaret Atwood Canada The Blind Assassin

2001 Peter Carey Australia True History of the Kelly Gang

2002 Yann Martel Canada Life of Pi

2003 DBC Pierre Australia/Mexico Vernon God Little

2004 Alan Hollinghurst United Kingdom The Line of Beauty

2005 John Banville Ireland The Sea

2006 Kiran Desai India The Inheritance of Loss

2007 Anne Enright Ireland The Gathering

2008 Aravind Adiga India The White Tiger

2009 Hilary Mantel United Kingdom Wolf Hall

Ramon Magsaysay Award

Ramon Magsaysay Award or the Magsaysay Award is the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in April 1957 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) based in New York City. With the concurrence of the Philippine government, the prize was created to commemorate Ramon Magsaysay, the

Page 4: gk.txt

late President of the Philippines, and to perpetuate his example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

Every year the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation gives away prizes to Asian individuals and organizations for achieving excellence in their respective fields. The awards are given in six categories:

•    Government Service•    Public Service•    Community Leadership •    Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication arts•    Peace and International Understanding •    Emergent Leadership

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners for 2009

1. Krisana Kraisintu – Thailand2. Deep Joshi – India3. Yu Xiaogang – China4. Antonio Oposa Jr. – Philippines 5. Ma Jun – China6. Ka Hsaw Wa – Burma

For more information on current winners, visit the following linkhttp://www.rmaf.org.ph/pdf/2-2009-Magsaysay-Awardees.pdf

For more information on the Ramon Magsaysay awards, visit the following linkhttp://www.rmaf.org.ph

 

Oscar Awards

Oscar Awards, also called the Academy Awards, are bestowed annually to professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers for their excellent contribution. The award is presented every year by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held in May, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honour outstanding film achievements of 1927 and 1928.

Members of the Academy represent 15 general areas – actors, animators and short film makers, art directors and costume designers, cinematographers, composers and songwriters, documentary filmmakers, directors, executives, film editors, makeup artists

Page 5: gk.txt

and hairstylists, producers, public relations specialists, sound technicians, visual effects experts and writers.

Visit the following link for a comprehensive list of nominees and winners of the 81st Academy Awards, 2008.http://www.oscars.org/awards/81academyawards/nominees.html

 

Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is awarded for achievements in newspaper journalism, literature and musical composition. Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. It was established by Hungarian-American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City.

The major categories are: * Journalism * Letters and drama * Others

The category definitions under Journalism are:

Public Service Breaking News Reporting Investigative Reporting Explanatory Reporting Local Reporting National Reporting. International Reporting Commentary Criticism Editorial Writing Editorial Cartooning Breaking News Photography Feature Photography

The categories under Letters and Drama are:

Fiction Drama History Biography or Autobiography Poetry General Non-Fiction

Page 6: gk.txt

There is one prize given for Music and a number of Special Citations and Awards.For a complete list of Pulitzer Prize winners for the year 2009, click on the following link:http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/2009

 

 

 Jesse Owens

Established in 1981, The Jesse Owens Award is USA Track & Field's highest accolade, presented annually to the outstanding U.S. male and female track and field performers. The permanent commemorative award is maintained at USATF National Headquarters, and a replica is provided to each of the winners.

The permanent commemorative Jesse Owens Award is maintained at USATF National Headquarters, and a replica is provided to each of the winners.

Visit the following link for the list of awardees:http://www.usatf.org/statistics/awards/TF/JesseOwensAward.asp

 

Bharat Ratna

The title ‘Bharat Ratna’ translates literally to ‘the Gem of India’. It is the highest civilian award in India given for exceptional contribution to the field of Art, Literature, Science and Public Service. The award was instituted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India in 1954. The award initially carried a gold medal 35mm in diameter having ‘Sun’ on one side and state ‘National Emblem’ on the other. The design of the medal was altered a year later in 1955. The first Bharat Ratna was awarded to Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in 1954. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2008 for his contribution to the field of Indian Classical Music.

Complete list of awardees

S.No   Name   Birth / death  

Awarded   Notes   Indian state or

country of origin  

1. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

1888–1975

1954 Second President, First Vice President, Philosopher.

Tamil Nadu

2. C. Rajagopalachari

1878–1972

1954 Last Governor-General, Freedom Fighter.

Tamil Nadu

Page 7: gk.txt

3. C. V. Raman 1888–1970

1954 Nobel-prize winning Physicist

Tamil Nadu

4. Bhagwan Das 1869–1958

1955 Literature, Freedom Fighter Uttar Pradesh

5. Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya

1861–1962

1955 Civil Engineer, Dam Architect, Diwan of Princely state of Mysore

Karnataka

6. Jawaharlal Nehru 1889–1964

1955 First Prime Minister, Freedom Fighter, Author.

Uttar Pradesh

7. Govind Ballabh Pant

1887–1961

1957 Freedom Fighter, Home Minister

Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand)

8. Dhondo Keshav Karve

1858–1962

1958 Educationist, Social Reformer, Awarded in his birth centenary year.

Maharashtra

9. Bidhan Chandra Roy

1882–1962

1961 Physician, Politician, Former Chief Minister of West Bengal

West Bengal

10. Purushottam Das Tandon

1882–1962

1961 Freedom Fighter, Educationist

Uttar Pradesh

11. Rajendra Prasad 1884–1963

1962 First President, Freedom Fighter, Jurist

Bihar

12. Zakir Hussain 1897–1969

1963 Former President, Scholar. Andhra Pradesh

13. Pandurang Vaman Kane

1880–1972

1963 Indologist and Sanskrit scholar

Maharashtra

14. Lal Bahadur Shastri

1904–1966

1966 Posthumous, Second Prime Minister, Freedom Fighter

Uttar Pradesh

15. Indira Gandhi 1917–1984

1971 Former Prime Minister Uttar Pradesh

16. V. V. Giri 1894–1980

1975 Former President, Trade Unionist.

Orissa

17. K. Kamaraj 1903–1975

1976 Posthumous, Freedom Fighter, Chief Minister-Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu

18. Mother Teresa 1910–1997

1980 Nobel Laureate (Peace, 1979).

West Bengal

19. Vinoba Bhave 1895–1982

1983 Posthumous, Social Reformer, Freedom Fighter.

Maharashtra

20. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

1890–1988

1987 First non-citizen, Freedom Fighter.

Pakistan

21. M. G. Ramachandran

1917–1987

1988 Posthumous, Chief Minister-Tamil Nadu,

Tamil Nadu

Page 8: gk.txt

Actor.

22. B. R. Ambedkar 1891–1956

1990

Posthumous, Architect-Indian Constitution,Social Reformer, Economist and Scholar

Maharashtra

23. Nelson Mandela b. 1918 1990 Second non-citizen and first non-Indian, Leader of Anti-Apartheid movement.

South Africa

24. Rajiv Gandhi 1944–1991

1991 Posthumous, Former Prime Minister

New Delhi

25. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

1875–1950

1991 Posthumous, Freedom Fighter, First Home Minister of India.

Gujarat

26. Morarji Deai 1896–1995

1991 Former Prime Minister, Freedom Fighter.

Gujarat

27. Abul Kalam Azad 1888–1958

1992 Posthumous, Freedom Fighter, First Education Minister of India

West Bengal

28. J. R. D. Tata 1904–1993

1992 Industrialist and philanthropist

Maharashtra

29. Satyajit Ray 1922–1992

1992 Film director West Bengal

30. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

b. 1931 1997 Former President, scientist. Tamil Nadu

31. Gulzarilal Nanda 1898–1998

1997 Freedom Fighter, former Prime Minister.

Punjab

32. Aruna Asaf Ali 1908–1996

1997 Posthumous, Freedom Fighter.

West Bengal

33. M. S. Subbulakshmi

1916–2004

1998 Carnatic music vocalist. Tamil Nadu

34. Chidambaram Subramaniam

1910–2000

1998 Freedom Fighter, Minister of Agriculture (Father of Green revolution).

Tamil Nadu

35. Jayaprakash Narayan

1902–1979

1998 Posthumous, Freedom Fighter, Social Reformer.

Bihar

36. Ravi Shankar b. 1920 1999 Sitar player United States

37. Amartya Sen b. 1933 1999 Nobel-prize winning Economist

West Bengal

38. Gopinath Bordoloi

1890–1950

1999 Posthumous, Freedom fighter, Chief Minister

Assam

39. Lata Mangeshkar b. 1929 2001 Singer Maharashtra

40. Bismillah Khan 1916–2006

2001 Classical musician, shehnai maestro

Bihar

41. Bhimsen Joshi b. 1922 2008 Hindustani Classical Karnataka

Page 9: gk.txt

vocalist

(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharat_Ratna#Complete_list_of_awardees)

Jnanpith Award

The Jnanpith Award instituted in 1961 is the highest literary honour conferred in India. It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust, which is largely owned by the Sahu Jain family of The Times group. The award includes a cheque for Rs. 5,00,000, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Devi Saraswati, the goddess of learning). Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour.Before 1982, the awards were given for a single work by a writer. From 1982, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian literature. The first recipient of the award was Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup in 1965. For 2006, the award was presented to the eminent Sanskrit scholar Satya Vrat Shastri.

Year Name Works Language

1965 G Sankara Kurup Odakkuzhal (Flute) Malayalam

1966 Tarashankar Bandopadhyaya Ganadevta Bengali

1967Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa (Kuvempu)

Sri Ramayana Darshanam Kannada

1967 Umashankar Joshi Nishitha Gujarati

1968 Sumitranandan Pant Chidambara Hindi

1969 Firaq Gorakhpuri Gul-e-Naghma Urdu

1970 Viswanatha SatyanarayanaRamayana Kalpavrikshamu (A resourceful tree:Ramayana)

Telugu

1971 Bishnu Dey Smriti Satta Bhavishyat Bengali

1972 Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' Urvashi Hindi

1973 Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre Nakutanti (Naku Thanthi) (Four Strings) Kannada

1973 Gopinath Mohanty Paraja Oriya

1974 Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar Yayati Marathi

1975 P.V.Akilan Chitttrappavai Tamil

Page 10: gk.txt

1976 Asha Purna Devi Pratham Pratisruti Bengali

1977 K.Shivaram KaranthMookajjiya Kanasugalu (Mookajjis dreams)

Kannada

1978Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan 'Ajneya'

Kitni Navon Men Kitni Bar (How many times in many boats?)

Hindi

1979 Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya Mrityunjay (Immortal) Assamese

1980 S. K. Pottekkatt Oru Desattinte Katha (Story of a land) Malayalam

1981 Amrita Pritam Kagaj te Canvas Punjabi

1982 Mahadevi Varma Yama Hindi

1983 Maasti Venkatesh AyengarChikkaveera Rajendra (Life and struggle of Kodava King Chikkaveera Rajendra)

Kannada

1984Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai |[Kayar {Coir}|]

Malayalam

1985 Pannalal Patel Maanavi Ni Bhavaai ( મા�નવી�ન� ભવી�ઇ) Gujarati

1986 Sachidananda Rout Roy Oriya

1987Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj)

Natsamrat Marathi

1988 Dr.C. Narayana Reddy Vishwambhara Telugu

1989 Qurratulain Hyder Akhire Shab Ke Humsafar Urdu

1990V. K. Gokak (Vinayaka Krishna Gokak)

Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi Kannada

1991 Subhas Mukhopadhyay Bengali

1992 Naresh Mehta Hindi

1993 Sitakant Mahapatra Oriya

1994 U.R. Ananthamurthy Kannada

1995M. T. Vasudevan Nair |Randamoozham [second chance}|

Malayalam

Page 11: gk.txt

1996 Mahasweta Devi Bengali

1997 Ali Sardar Jafri Urdu

1998 Girish Karnad"for his contributions to modern Indian drama"[5]

Kannada

1999 Nirmal Verma Hindi

1999 Gurdial Singh Punjabi

2000 Indira Goswami Assamese

2001 Rajendra Keshavlal Shah Gujarati

2002 D. Jayakanthan Tamil

2003 Vinda Karandikar Ashtadarshana (poetry) Marathi

2004 Rahman RahiSubhuk Soda, Kalami Rahi and Siyah Rode Jaren Manz

Kashmiri [6]

2005 Kunwar Narayan Hindi[3]

2006 Ravindra Kelekar Konkani[3]

2006 Satya Vrat ShastriSanskrit[4]

[7]

 

Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Dada Saheb Phalke Award – The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is the highest honour presented by the Indian government to an artist who, over the years, has made a significant contribution to the field of cinema. The award was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dada Saheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. The first winner of the award was actress Devika Rani. Tapan Sinha was the recipient of the award for 2006.

National Awards

Year Winner Occupation

17th 1969 Devika Rani actress

18th 1970 B. N. Sircar producer

Page 12: gk.txt

19th 1971 Prithviraj Kapoor actor (posthumous)

20th 1972 Pankaj Mullick composer (music director)

21st 1973 Ruby Myers (Sulochana) actress

22nd 1974 Bomireddi Narasimha Reddy Director

23rd 1975 Dhirendranath Ganguly actor, director

24th 1976 Kanan Devi actress

25th 1977 Nitin Bose cinematographer, director, writer,

26th 1978 Rai Chand Boral composer, director

27th 1979 Sohrab Modi actor, director, producer

28th 1980 Paidi Jairaj actor, director

29th 1981 Naushad Ali composer (music director)

30th 1982 L. V. Prasad actor, director, producer

31st 1983 Durga Khote actress

32nd 1984 Satyajit Ray director

33rd 1985 V. Shantaram actor, director, producer

34th 1986 Bommireddy Nagi Reddy producer

35th 1987 Raj Kapoor actor, director

36th 1988 Ashok Kumar actor

37th 1989 Lata Mangeshkar singer

38th 1990 Akkineni Nageswara Rao actor

39th 1991 Bhalji Pendharkar director, producer, writer

40th 1992 Bhupen Hazarika composer (music director)

41st 1993 Majrooh Sultanpuri lyricist

42nd 1994 Dilip Kumar actor

Page 13: gk.txt

43rd 1995 Rajkumar actor

44th 1996 Sivaji Ganesan actor

45th 1997 Pradeep lyricist

46th 1998 B.R. Chopra director, producer

47th 1999 Hrishikesh Mukherjee director

48th 2000 Asha Bhosle singer

49th 2001 Yash Chopra director, producer

50th 2002 Dev Anand actor, director, producer

51st 2003 Mrinal Sen director

52nd 2004 Adoor Gopalakrishnan director

53rd 2005 Shyam Benegal director

54th 2006 Tapan Sinha director

55th 2007 Manna Dey singer

 Padma Bhushan

This awards recognizes distinguished service of a higher order to the nation in any field. This is a civilian award given by the President of India.On the basis of the recommendations of the Awards Committee, and after approval of the Home Minister, Prime Minister and President, the Padma Awards are announced. he fields include services by the government servants and it can be given posthumously, as well.

List of Awardees - 2009

Name Field State Country  

G. Sivarama Krishna Murthy Arts Andhra Pradesh

India

R. C. Mehta Arts Gujarat India

Shamshad Begum Arts Maharashtra India V. P. Dhananjayan Arts Tamil Nadu India Shanta Dhananjayan Arts Tamil Nadu India Dr. Vaidyanathan Ganapathi Art Tamil Nadu India

Page 14: gk.txt

Sthapati S.K. Misra Civil Service Haryana India Shekhar Gupta Journalism Delhi India Alappat Sreedhara Menon Literature & Education Kerala India C.K. Prahalad Literature & Education    D. Jayakanthan Literature & Education Tamil Nadu India Isher Judge Ahluwalia Literature & Education Delhi India Kunwar Narayan Literature & Education Delhi India Minoru Hara Literature & Education   Japan Ramachandra Guha Literature & Education Karnataka India Brijendra Kumar Rao Medicine Delhi India Vaidya Devendra Triguna Medicine Delhi India Khalid Hameed Medicine    

Satish Nambiar National Security Affairs

Delhi India

Inderjit Kaur Barthakur Public Affairs Meghalaya India Kirit Shantilal Parikh Public Affairs Delhi India Bhakta B. Rath Science & Engineering    Conjeevaram Srirangachari Seshadri Science & Engineering Tamil Nadu India Gurdip Singh Randhawa Science & Engineering Delhi India Sam Pitroda Science & Engineering Delhi India Sarvagya Singh Katiyar Science & Engineering Uttar Pradesh India Thomas Kailath Science & Engineering Kerala India Naganath Nayakawadi Social Work Maharashtra India Sarojini Varadappan Social Work Tamil Nadu India Abhinav Bindra Sports Punjab India Anil Manibhai Naik Trade & Industry Maharashtra India

 

Padma Vibhushan

This civilian honour is given by the President of India and is India’s second highest civilian honour. he award is presented by the Government of India to recognize excellence of Indian citizens in any field and also to recognize notable services to the nation, including services rendered by government servants. The Padma Vibhushan Award was established by Presidential decree on 2nd January, 1954 and since then, a total of 235 people have been given the award so far. The award can be given posthumously, as well.

For complete list of awardees visit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_Vibhushan#List_of_Awardees

Page 15: gk.txt

Padma Shri Awards

The Padma Shri Awards are the fourth highest civilian awards conferred by the Government of India to recognize distinguished contribution of Indian citizens in various fields like Arts, Literature, Education, Industry, Science, Sports, Social Science and Public life.  

List of Awardees - 2009

Year 2009  

Name   Field   State   Country  

2009 Balbir Singh Kullar Sports Punjab India

2009 Shashi Deshpande Literature & Education

Karnataka India

2009 Bhai Nirmal Singh Ji Khalsa (Hazoori Raagi, Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar)

Arts Punjab India

2009 Pankaj Advani Sports Karnataka India

2009 Shri Surinder Mehta Technology Solutions

New Delhi India

2009 Dr.Brahmanandam Kanneganti Arts Andhra Pradesh

India

2009 J. A. K. Tareen Literature and Education

Puducherry India

2009 Ravindra Nath Shrivastav Literature and Education

Bihar India

2009 Jayanta Mahapatra Literature & Education

Orissa India

2009 Bannanje Govindacharya Literature & Education

Karnataka India

2009 Mahendra Singh Dhoni Sports Jharkhand India

2009 Mathoor Krishnamurty Literature & Education

Karnataka India

2009 Akshay Kumar Arts Punjab India 2009 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Arts Maharashtra India

2009 Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty Trade & Industry

Karnataka UAE

2009 Kumar Sanu Arts West Bengal India 2009 Udit Narayan Arts Maharashtra India

2009 Hashmat Ullah Khan Arts Jammu & Kashmir

India

2009 Vivek Arts Tamil Nadu India

Page 16: gk.txt

2009 Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia Arts Maharashtra India 2009 Ameen Sayani Arts Maharashtra India

2009 Dr. John Ralston Marr Literature & Education

 United Kingdom

2009 Thilakan Arts Kerala India 2009 Kalamandalam Gopi Arts Kerala India 2009 Mattannoor Sankarankutty Marar Arts Kerala India 2009 Helen Richardson Arts Maharashtra India 2009 Iravatham Mahadevan Arts Tamil Nadu India 2009 Kiran Seth Arts Delhi India 2009 Ameena Ahmed Ahuja Arts Delhi India

2009 Prof Ngawang Samten Literature and Education

  Tibet

2009 Prof. Syed Iqbal Hasnain Geography   India

2009 Pramod Tandon Science & Engineering

Meghalaya India

2009 Dr. Panchapakesa Jayaraman Literature & Education

New York United States of America

 Arts

1. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti SimoniSculptor, architect, painter

He was a Renaissance sculptor, architect, painter, and poet. Michelangelo was born near Arezzo, in Caprese, Tuscany, Italy in 1475. His father, Lodovico, was the resident magistrate in Caprese. However, Michelangelo was raised in Florence, Italy and later lived with a sculptor and his wife in the town of Settignano, Italy where his father owned a marble quarry and a small farm.

Against his father's wishes, Michelangelo chose to be the apprentice of Domenico Ghirlandaio for three years starting in 1488. Impressed, Domenico recommended him to the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo de' Medici. From 1490 to 1492, Michelangelo attended Lorenzo's school and was influenced by many prominent people who modified and expanded his ideas on art

After the death of Lorenzo in 1492, Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici (new head of the Medici family), refused to support Michelangelo's artwork. So Michelangelo decided to leave Florence and stay in Bologna, Italy. Four years later, Michelangelo returned to Florence where he produced arguably his most famous work, the marble Michelangelo's David. Michelangelo was summoned back to Rome in 1503 by the newly appointed Pope Julius II and was commissioned to build the Pope's tomb. However, under the patronage of Julius II, Michelangelo had to constantly stop work on the tomb in order to accomplish numerous other tasks. The most famous of those were the monumental paintings on the ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, which took four years (1508 - 1512) to complete.

Page 17: gk.txt

Due to those interruptions, Michelangelo worked on the tomb for 40 years without ever finishing it.

Pope Paul III commissioned the fresco of The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo worked on it from 1534 to 1541. Then in 1546, Michelangelo was appointed architect of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and designed its dome. On February 18 1564, Michelangelo died in Rome at the age of 89.

2. Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus MozartComposer of Classical Music

Known widely for the Titan Watches’ signature tune, which is Mozart’s symphony number 25, he was a prolific and highly influential composer of Classical music. His enormous output of more than six hundred compositions includes works that are widely acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. Mozart is among the most enduringly popular of European composers, and many of his works are part of the standard concert repertoire.

Mozart was born to Leopold and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart, in the front room of nine Getreidegasse in Salzburg, the capital of the sovereign Archbishopric ofSalzburg, in what is now Austria, then part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Mozart's father Leopold (1719–1787) was one of Europe's leading musical teachers. His influential textbook Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule was published in 1756, the year of Mozart's birth (English, as "A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing”. He was deputy Kapellmeister to the court orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg, and a prolific and successful composer of instrumental music. Leopold gave up composing when his son's outstanding musical talents became evident. They first came to light when Wolfgang was about three years old, and Leopold, proud of Wolfgang's achievements, gave him intensive musical training, including instruction in clavier, violin, and organ. Leopold was Wolfgang's only teacher in his earliest years. A note by Leopold records that little Wolfgang had learned several of the pieces at the age of four. Mozart's first compositions, a small Andante (K. 1a) and Allegro (K. 1b), were written in 1761, when he was five years old.

During his formative years, Mozart made several European journeys, beginning with an exhibition in 1762 at the Court of the Elector of Bavaria in Munich, then in the same year at the Imperial Court in Vienna and Prague. A long concert tour spanning three and a half years followed, taking him with his father to the courts of Munich, Mannheim, Paris, London (where Wolfgang Amadeus played with the famous Italian cellist Giovanni Battista Cirri), The Hague, again to Paris, and back home via Zürich, Donaueschingen, and Munich. During this trip Mozart met a great number of musicians and acquainted himself with the works of other great composers.

On September 23, 1777, accompanied by his mother, Mozart began a tour of Europe that included Munich, Mannheim, and Paris. In Mannheim he became acquainted with

Page 18: gk.txt

members of the Mannheim orchestra, the best in Europe at the time. He fell in love with Aloysia Weber, who later broke up the relationship with him. He was to marry her sister Constanze some four years later in Vienna. During his unsuccessful visit to Paris, his mother died (1778).

The year 1782 was an auspicious one for Mozart's career: his opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail ("The Abduction from the Seraglio") was a great success and he began a series of concerts at which he premiered his own piano concertos as director of the ensemble and soloist.

Mozart's final illness and death are difficult topics for scholars, obscured by romantic legends and replete with conflicting theories. Mozart died around 1 a.m. on December 5, 1791 in Vienna. Some days earlier, with the onset of his illness, he had largely ceased work on his final composition, the Requiem.

Athletes

1. DHYAN CHANDHockey Player

Dhyan Chand made great contribution in enhancing prestige of Indian Hockey in the eyes of the world. He was born on 29th August 1906, in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh). He joined army at the age of sixteen. He started playing hockey in army and was included in the Indian Hockey team for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

By his superior play, Dhyan Chand was held in high esteem with in the country as well as abroad. Dhyan Chand helped his country in winning gold medals in hokey in 3 successive Olympics games; Amsterdam Olympics (1928), Los Angles Olympics (1932) and Berlin Olympics (1936). He was the captain of the gold medal winner Indian Hockey team in the historic 1936 Berlin Olympics. Dhyan Chand scored 101 goals at the Olympic games and 300 goals in other international matches and his record is unbroken. Dhyan Chand had a wonderful command in wielding the hockey stick, which earned him the title " Hockey Wizard". India won one gold medal in Hockey at Amsterdam Olympics and out of a total of 28 goals scored by Indian hockey Dhyan Chand scored 11 alone. He died on December 3,1979.

2. SACHIN TENDULKARMaster Blaster of India

The pride of Indian cricket Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in one-day cricket, in a five-day match series against Australia on the 31st of March 2001. He has scored a world record, 28 hundreds and 50 half-centuries in his 10,000 runs. A perennial crowd-favorite, he is the only Indian cricketer to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour for his performance in 1997-1998, Padma

Page 19: gk.txt

Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, 1999, Rajiv Gandhi National Awards – Sports in 2005 and Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, 2008.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973, in Mumbai. Young Sachin wanted to be a fast bowler. He even undertook trials at the MRF pace foundation, Chennai, but his short stature proved to be a hindrance for bowling. Meeting Mr. R. Achrekar, his Cricket Coach and changing his school to Shardashram Vidya Mandir in Dadar marked a turning point in Sachin's cricket career.

Sachin at the age of 16, made his International debut in ODI’s India v Pakistan at Gujranwala and Tests debut India v Pakistan at Karachi around 1989/90. He then went to England as a part of the national team, and has not looked back ever since. He knows every shot in the book and makes his own improvisations. His shots have tremendous power and he times the ball perfectly, making him one of the best batsmen in the world. He is also an effective bowler and also one of the best fielders.

This all rounder has been the captain of the Indian cricket team twice. On the personal front, Sachin is god fearing and he is married to a doctor Anjali and they have a two children- Sara and Arjun. In 1998, he won the Coopers and Lybrand Award for 'Player of the year' and was in the number one position in the Wisden Cricket ratings. In January 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested that Sachin should be conferred with an honorary knighthood for his contribution to international cricket. He was mentioned in the TIME magazine as the "The greatest living exponent of his craft."

3. Vijender Singh Beniyal KumarNumber 1 Middle Weight Category Boxer in AIBA Ranking

Vijender was born on October 29, 1985 in a Hindu Jat family in Kalwas village, 5 km from Bhiwani, Haryana. His father, Mahipal Singh, is a bus driver. Vijender was inspired to take to Boxing by younger brother Manoj, a boxer himself.

Vijender’s early days were spent in his village where he did his schooling, before getting a bachelor’s degree when he moved to Bhiwani. He practiced Boxing at the Bhiwani Sports Authority of India where coach Jagdish Singh recognised his talent and encouraged him to take to professional boxing.

Vijender went on to compete at the sub-junior nationals where he won a silver medal for two years in succession. Having won medals in different competitions at the national level, Vijender was picked to train and compete at several international level competitions. Including, the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won the bronze medal in a lost semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev. After qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Vijender competed with European wrestlers in Germany.

At the Beijing Olympics, Vijender defeated Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9-4 in the quarterfinals, which guaranteed him a bronze medal—the first ever-Olympic medal for an

Page 20: gk.txt

Indian boxer. After his win, Vijender was felicitated with a number of awards, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. In 2009 he participated at the World Amateur Boxing Championships where he won bronze. The International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer in its annual middleweight (75 kg) category list with 2800 points. He is credited for bringing back the sport of boxing into limelight in India.

Literature

1. KalidasaWriter, Poet, Dramatist

Kalidasa, one of the chief figures in classic Sanskrit literature was also a dramatist and poet. He was one of the Navaratna (9 gems or the most accomplished men of their times) at the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. Kalidasa's works include plays, Epics and lyrics. His play 'Abhinjnana Sakunthalam' (Recognition of Sakunthala) is the most well known of all his works and it has been translated into various languages of the world. In all, 7 works of Kalidasa are available today. They are: 'Malavikagnimitra', 'Vikramorvasiyam' and 'Abhijnana Sakunthalam' (plays); 'Raghu Vansa' and 'Kumara Sambhavam' (Epics); 'Meghdoot' and 'Ritu Samhara' (lyrics).

As far as literacy merits are concerned, Meghdoot (cloud messenger) is the most excellent work.

2. Arundhati RoyWriter & Social Activist

Susanna Arundhati Roy the first Indian woman to have won Britain's prestigious Booker Prize, was born on 24th November 1961 in Bengal and grew up in Aymanam village, Kottayam, Kerala.

She was born to parents Mary Roy a well-known social activist who won a landmark Supreme Court verdict that granted Christian women in Kerala the right to their parent's property and father a Bengali Hindu tea planter. Arundhati's parents separated when she was small and she did her formal education in Corpus Christi school run by her mother in Kottayam District, Kerala. When she was just 16, she left her home and settled in Delhi. There she did her degree in Architecture at the Delhi School of Architecture. During this period she met Gerard Da Cunha a fellow architecture student and married him but their marriage lasted only four years. After a brief stint in the field of architecture, she found that it was not for her. She left for Goa, making a life out at the beach, got tired of it after a few months, came back to Delhi. She took a job at the National Institute of Urban Affairs, met Pradeep Krishen, a film director now her husband who offered her a small role in 'Massey Saab'. She went to Italy on a scholarship for eight months to study the restoration of monuments. She realized she was a writer during those months in Italy.

Page 21: gk.txt

After she returned from Italy she worked with Pradeep Krishen and they planned an episode television for Doordarshan called the 'Banyan Tree’, which didn't materialize and was shelved by the producers after shooting 2-3 episodes. She wrote and starred in 'In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones', a film on college life in India, based on her experiences in the University of Delhi, and wrote the screenplay for Pradip Krishen's film 'Electric Moon' (1992). She quickly became known for her work as screenwriter. Then she wrote a series of essays called 'The Great Indian Rape Trick' which attracted media attention, in defense of former dacoit Phoolan Devi, who she felt had been exploited by Shekhar Kapur's film 'Bandit Queen'. Then came her debut novel 'The God of Small Things' which shot her into prominence in 1997, by winning the prestigious British Booker prize in London and becoming an international best seller. The book, which took almost five years to complete, gives an insight to the social and political life in a village in South India through the eyes of seven year old twins and how it effects/disrupts their small lives. The book won £20,000 as prize and sold nearly 400,000 copies globally by October that year.

In the years following her success, she has turned to activism, writing 'The Cost of Living' a book comprising two essays 'The Greater Common Good’ (1999) and 'The End of Imagination’ (1998); the former against Indian Governments massive dam projects which displaced millions of poor people and the latter; its testing of Nuclear weapons. She has been an active participant in public demonstrations against the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river in Western India and has donated a substantial amount around 1.5million rupees, equivalent to her Booker Prize money, for the cause. She was even arrested along with other protestors for campaigning for the cause. 'Power Politics' her latest book published, takes on Enron the power corporation based in Houston trying to take over Maharashtra's energy sector. She has also spoken on and published several articles such as 'Promotion of equal rights' supporting equal rights for lower caste in India and 'War on Terrorism' (2001) against the Iraq war. Roy was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in May 2004 for her work in social campaigns and her advocacy of non-violence. In January 2006 she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for her collection of essays on contemporary issues, The Algebra of Infinite Justice, but she declined to accept it.

With her latest publications, Arundhati is carving a niche for herself as a political journalist. This unusual woman who has been on several lists of 'the 50 most beautiful women in the world' is not intimated by her success and fame but is an inspiration to all those who seek to speak up against the powers in support of the poor and the oppressed. She now lives in Delhi with her husband Pradip Krishen, who has two daughters Pia and Mithva from his previous marriage.

3. Herta MullerThe 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature Winner

Herta Müller was born on August 17, 1953 in the German-speaking town Nitzkydorf in Banat, Romania. Her parents were members of the German-speaking minority in Romania. Her father had served in the Waffen SS during World War II. Many German

Page 22: gk.txt

Romanians were deported to the Soviet Union in 1945, including Müller's mother who spent five years in a work camp in present-day Ukraine. Many years later, in Atemschaukel (2009), Müller was to depict the exile of the German Romanians in the Soviet Union. From 1973 to 1976, Müller studied German and Romanian literature at the university in Timişoara (Temeswar). During this period, she was associated with Aktionsgruppe Banat, a circle of young German-speaking authors who, in opposition to Ceauşescu’s dictatorship, sought freedom of speech. After completing her studies, she worked as a translator at a machine factory from 1977 to 1979. She was dismissed when she refused to be an informant for the secret police. After her dismissal, Securitate harassed her.

Müller made her debut with the collection of short stories Niederungen (1982), which was censored in Romania. Two years later, she published the uncensored version in Germany and, in the same year, Drückender Tango in Romania. In these two works, Müller depicts life in a small, German-speaking village and the corruption, intolerance and repression to be found there. The Romanian national press was very critical of these works while, outside of Romania, the German press received them very positively. Because Müller had publicly criticized the dictatorship in Romania, she was prohibited from publishing in her own country. In 1987, Müller emigrated together with her husband author Richard Wagner.

The novels Der Fuchs war damals schon der Jäger (1992), Herztier (1994; The Land of Green Plums, 1996) and Heute wär ich mir lieber nicht begegnet (1997; The Appointment, 2001) give, with chiselled details, a portrait of daily life in a stagnated dictatorship. Müller has given guest lectures at universities, colleges and other venues in Paderborn, Warwick, Hamburg, Swansea, Gainsville (Florida), Kassel, Göttingen, Tübingen and Zürich among other places. She lives in Berlin. Since 1995 she is a member of Deutsche für Sprache und Dichtung, in Darmstadt.

Political and Military Leaders

1. Manmohan SinghPrime Minister of India

Manmohan Singh, best known as ' father of Indian Reforms', has emerged as the Congress party's frontrunner, the 14th Prime Minister of India and also the first Sikh to reach the country's top legislative position. Hailed to be the cleanest man in Indian politics, he was Former Finance Minister and author of the post-1991 economic reforms.

He was born to Mr. Gurmukh Singh and Mrs. Amrit Kaur on September 26, 1932 in a small village Gah (West Punjab), now in Pakistan. A brilliant student, Manmohan Singh secured top marks in almost all the major examinations he wrote. After his Masters in Economics from Amritsar's Hindu College under Punjab University he won scholarships to Cambridge and Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the critical role of exports

Page 23: gk.txt

and free trade in India's economy. Manmohan Singh won the prestigious Adam Smith prize in 1956 from Cambridge University.

The following year, he returned to India as a university lecturer and for the next nine years remained at Punjab University before being posted for international duty with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development). He then joined the Delhi School of Economics as a professor. Two years later, his academic career was cut short and he joined the government to serve in various capacities.

Singh held several positions throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. He served as Economic advisor to the finance ministry in the late 70s, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission and Chairman of University Grants Commission in 1980s and early 1990's and as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985 etc.

An academician, he was discovered by former Prime Minister Shri. P.V Narasimha Rao. Rao offered him the finance ministry in 1991 under the Congress Government, and the chance to rescue a sickly economy threatened by an acute balance of payments crisis. During his stint as the finance minister (1991-1996), the suave, soft-spoken Sikh guided India out of financial trouble and put the country on course to becoming an economic power by opening up the economy to foreign investment and slashing trade barriers.

Singh was always an unlikely politician, who was routed in a parliamentary election in 1999. In fact, he has never won an election and sits in the upper house. Politically, Manmohan Singh is the classic example of the stateless politician.

After the Indian National Congress won the 2009 general elections, Singh was reappointed as the Prime Minister of India on May 22, 2009, making him the first Indian Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term before this over 40 years ago.He is married to Gursharan Kaur they have three daughters.

2. Barack ObamaThe 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and 44th President of the USA

Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii, USA in 1961. His mother was Caucasian and American, and his father was from Kenya. At the age of 2, they divorced and his father returned to Kenya to continue working in the field of economics. He was a very intelligent man who had been schooled in Harvard. Anyways, Barack ended up moving to Indonesia and lived with his mom and new step dad while eventually coming back to Hawaii to finish high school in the states. Years later, he ended up graduating from Columbia University with a Political Science major specializing in international relations. After graduating from there, he continued his education at the prestigious Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude (basically at the head of his class, or with "honors"). This is where he becomes the first African American president of Harvard's Law Review group. When he finished school, he ended up working as a very amazing community organizer and civil rights lawyer in and around Chicago.

Page 24: gk.txt

He taught at the University of Chicago's Law School, and during 1996 through 2004, he served in the Illinois State Senate representing Chicago's South Side. In 2004, he got elected to the United States Senate over the conservative republican black candidate Alan Keyes with over 70 percent of the votes. Barack Obama was the only serving black Senator, and only the fifth in the entire United States History. His great commitment to civil rights, idealistic thoughts, and charmingly good looks helped make his Senate Campaign. After his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in 2004, he became known as one of the most inspirational and freshest new leaders of the Democratic Party.

Obama also published a book called "Dreams from my father" in 1995 and more recently "the Audacity of Hope". Both became best sellers fairly soon after being released.

Barack is married to Michelle Obama and also has two daughters named Malia Ann and Sasha. Barack Currently lives in the Chicago area and is becoming one of the major candidates of the 2008 presidential elections.

3. ADOLF HITLERLeader of the Third Reich

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria, a small town across the Inn River from Germany. Soon after Hitler's birth, his father, Alois Hitler, moved the family to Linz, Austria. Hitler attended school in Linz and at first was a good student, but in high school he was a very poor student. Hitler's academic abilities angered his father because his father hoped that Hitler would study to become a government worker as he had been. Hitler, however, wanted to become an artist.

In 1907, Hitler went to Vienna Austria in an attempt to fulfill his dream of becoming an artist. This attempt ended when he failed the entrance exam to the Academy of Fine Arts. When Hitler's mother died in 1907, he decided to remain in Vienna. He took the entrance exam a year later and failed again. He did not have steady work in Vienna, but, instead, took a variety of odd jobs. He lived in cheap rooming houses or slept on park benches and he often had to get meals from charity kitchens. During his time in Vienna Hitler learned to hate non-Germans. Hitler was a German-speaking Austrian and considered himself German. He ridiculed the Austrian government for recognizing eight languages as official and believed that no government could last if it treated ethnic groups equally.

In 1913, Hitler went to Munich, Germany and when World War I began in 1914, he volunteered for service in the German army. Hitler was twice decorated for bravery, but only rose to the rank of corporal. When World War I ended. Hitler was in a hospital recovering from temporary blindness possibly caused by a poison gas attack. The Versailles Treaty that ended the war stripped Germany of much of its territory, forced the country to disarm, and ordered Germany to pay huge reparations. When the army returned to Germany. the country was in despair. The country was bankrupt and millions of people were unemployed.

Page 25: gk.txt

In 1920, Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers Party known as the Nazis. The Nazis called for all Germans, even those in other countries, to unite into one nation; they called for a strong central government; and they called for the cancellation of the Versailles Treaty. Hitler became leader of the Nazi party and built up membership quickly, mostly because of his powerful speaking ability. Hitler organized an army for the Nazi party called the Storm Troopers ("Brown Shirts") who were called upon to fight groups seeking to disband the Nazi rallies.

On November 9, 1923, Hitler led more than 2,000 Storm Troopers on a march to seize the Bavarian government. The attempt failed and Hitler was arrested and sentenced to prison for five years for treason. While in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). In this book. he stated his beliefs and plans for Germany's future. Hitler only served nine months in prison and when he was released, he began to rebuild the party again. He set up a private battle-ready elite guard known as the "Schutzstaffel" (SS). By 1929, the Nazis had become an important minor political party.

In 1930, a worldwide depression hit Germany, yet Germany also had the debt of paying for the damage it had caused in World War I. Hitler protested against paying the debt and said that the Jews and Communists were the cause for Germany's defeat in World War I. He promised to rid Germany of Jews and Communists and to reunite the German speaking part of Europe.

In July 1932, the Nazis received about 40% of the vote and became the strongest party in Germany. On January 30,1933, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany. Once in this position, Hitler moved quickly toward attaining a dictatorship. When von Hindenburg died in 1934, Hitler already had control of Germany and he gave himself the title "Fuehrer" (leader).

Under Hitler's government, called the Third Reich, there was no place for freedom. The government controlled every part of one's life. Hitler used extensive propaganda to brainwash the nation into believing his theory about creating the perfect Aryan or Nordic race. Therefore, it was Hitler's plan to rid the nation and eventually the world of Jews, Gypsies, Negroes, handicapped, and mentally ill persons. This plan was called the "Final Solution."

World War II began in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland to begin his unification of all German-speaking peoples. By this time extermination camps were being established throughout Germany, Poland, and Russia. Before Hitler was stopped in 1945 by the Allied countries, he had caused the extermination over 12 million people. Hitler committed suicide in his bunker on April 30,1945 and seven days later, Germany surrendered.

Religious Leaders and Philosophers

1. GAUTAMA BUDDHAFounder of Buddhism

Page 26: gk.txt

Gautama Buddha was born in 563BC in the Lumbini forests in Nepalese Terai. He was the founder of 'Buddhism'. Buddha's childhood name was Siddhartha and he was a child with a contemplative bent of mind. At the age of 29, Siddhartha left his home and all the royal comforts behind in search of peace and truth.

Siddhartha got enlightenment when he was sitting in meditation under a pipal tree in Gaya. Siddhartha now got transformed into 'Buddha' or 'enlightened' and the pipal tree under which he got enlightenment became Bodhi tree or Bodhi Vriksha.

Buddha delivered his first sermon in Sarnath (near Varanasi). Buddha taught that the root cause of mankind's suffering was desire. People could get rid of the torment of desires by following the Eightfold path: right belief, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right memory and right meditation.

Buddha attained Nirvana in Kushinagar (UP) in 483 B.C. After his death, his teachings spread through Asia. Today, the religion numbers 500 million followers, many others in the East and West practice Buddhist teachings to achieve self-awareness.

2. SOCRATESFounder of Western Philosophy

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who is widely credited for laying the foundation for Western philosophy. He was born and lived in Athens, where he spent most of his time in enthusiastic pursuit of wisdom (philosophy). He "followed the argument" in his personal reflection, and in a sustained and rigorous dialogue between friends, followers, and contemporary itinerant teachers of wisdom. Later in his life he became known as the wisest man in all of Greece.

Most of what is known about Socrates is derived from information that recurs across various contemporary sources: the dialogues written by Plato, one of Socrates' students; the works of Xenophon, one of his contemporaries; and writings by Aristophanes and Aristotle. Anything Socrates wrote himself has not survived.

According to accounts from antiquity, Socrates' father was the sculptor Sophroniscus and his mother Phaenarete, a midwife. Socrates married Xanthippe, who bore him three sons – Lamprocles, Sophroniscus and Menexenus – who were all quite young at the time of his death. Traditionally, Xanthippe is thought to have been an ill-tempered scold, mainly due to her characterization by Xenophon.

Socrates lived during the time of the transition from the height of the Athenian Empire to its decline after its defeat by Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War. At a time when Athens was seeking to stabilize and recover from its humiliating defeat, the Athenian public court was induced by three leading public figures to try Socrates for impiety and for corrupting the youth of Athens. This was a time in culture when the Greeks thought of gods and goddesses as being associated with protecting particular cities. Athens, for instance, is named after its protecting goddess Athena. The defeat of

Page 27: gk.txt

Athens in the Peloponnesian War was interpreted as Athena judging the city for not being pious. The last thing Athens needed was more punishment from Athena for one man inciting its citizens to question her or the other gods. In the Apology, Socrates insists that this is a false charge.

According to the version of his defense speech presented in Plato's Apology, Socrates' life as the "gadfly" of Athens began when his friend Chaerephon asked the oracle at Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates; the Oracle responded negatively. Socrates, interpreting this as a riddle, set out to find men who were wiser than he was. He questioned the men of Athens about their knowledge of good, beauty, and virtue. Finding that they knew nothing and yet believed themselves to know much, Socrates came to the conclusion that he was wise only in so far as he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates' superior intellect made the prominent Athenians he publicly questioned look foolish, turning them against him and leading to accusations of wrongdoing.

He was nevertheless found guilty as charged, and sentenced to death by drinking a silver goblet of hemlock. Socrates turned down the pleas of his disciples to attempt an escape from prison, drinking the hemlock and dying in the company of his friends. According to the Phaedo, Socrates had a calm death, enduring his sentence with fortitude.

3. MAHATMA GANDHIFather of the Nation

Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi called the father of the nation was born in Porbunder in Gujarat. He passed the examination for barrister in 1890 and started practicing Law. He went to South Africa to take-up a case. There he was disturbed by the oppression of Indians by the whites. He formulated the path of Satyagraha and protested against the injustice. He returned to India in 1916, and took up the leadership of the National Freedom struggle.

Gandhi launched many Movements to force the British to concede India its Independence. The most Well-known being: 'Non-Co-operation Movement' (1920), 'Civil Disobedience Movement' (1930) and 'Quit India Movement' (1942). In 1930, Gandhiji led the famous 'Dandi March' for breaking the Salt Laws. Gandhiji also worked hard for the upliftment of the Harijans, the name given by him to the untouchables. Gandhiji declared untouchability as a sin against God and man.

'My experiments with truth' is the famous autobiography written by Gandhiji. On 30th January 1948 he was shot dead by a religious fanatic Nathu Ram Godse.

Scientists

Venkatraman RamakrishnanThe 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Winner

Page 28: gk.txt

Born in 1952 in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Ramakrishnan did his PhD in Physics in 1976 from Ohio University, US. He is a senior scientist and group leader at Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, Britain.            Ramakrishnan earned his B.Sc. in Physics (1971) from Baroda University in Gujarat and later migrated to the US to continue his studies where he later got settled and attained US citizenship. He earned his Ph.D in Physics from Ohio University in the US and later worked as a graduate student at the University of California from 1976-78.

During his stint at the varsity, Ramakrishnan conducted a research with Dr Mauricio Montal, a membrane biochemist and later designed his own 2-year transition from physics to biology. As a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, he worked on a neutron-scattering map of the small ribosomal subunit of E Coli. He has been studying ribosome structure ever since.

In the August 26, 2000 issue of Nature, Ramakrishnan and his co-workers published the structure of the small ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus, a heat-stable bacterium related to one found in the Yellowstone hot springs.With this 5.5 Angstrom-resolution structure, Ramakrishnan's group identified key portions of the RNA and, using previously determined structures, positioned seven of the subunit's proteins.

In the September 21, 2000 issue of Nature, Ramakrishnan published two papers. In the first of these, he presented the 3-Angstrom structure of the 30S ribosomal subunit.His second paper revealed the structures of the 30S subunit in complex with three antibiotics that target different regions of the subunit. In this paper, Ramakrishnan discussed the structural basis for the action of each of these drugs.

After his postdoctoral fellowship, Ramakrishnan joined the staff of Brookhaven National Laboratory in the US. There, he began his collaboration with Stephen White to clone the genes for several ribosomal proteins and determine their three-dimensional structures.

He was also awarded a Guggenheim fellowship during his tenure there, and he used it to make the transition to X-ray crystallography.

Business Leaders

1. Lakshmi Niwas Mittal

Born on 15 June 1950, he is an Indian born industrialist based in the United Kingdom. He was born in Sadulpur village, in the Churu district of Rajasthan, India. He is the CEO and founder of and has been the chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal since the merge. He also serves as a non-executive director of Goldman Sachs, EADS and ICICI Bank and is the chairman of the World Steel Association.

Page 29: gk.txt

The Financial Times named Lakshmi Mittal its 2006 Person of the Year. In May 2007, he was named one of the "100 Most Influential People" by Time magazine. As of 2009, Mittal is the 8th richest person in the world. He is also the richest person in the United Kingdom with personal wealth of US$19.3 billion. He is the richest Indian in the world, with an estimated wealth of $25 billion. He resides in London, has his company registered in the Netherlands, but still holds an Indian passport. Although Mittal Steel was already the world's biggest steel company, his king-sized ambitions were evident when he took over steel giant Arcelor to create a new steel behemoth -- Arcelor-Mittal.

L N Mittal left India in the mid-1970s to start his career. He was sent to Indonesia by his father to shut down the family's ailing steel plant and sell the land. Instead, young Mittal saw an opportunity and turned the plant around.

To prove that this was no fluke, Mittal acquired a 1.3 million tonne, Iscot Steel plant in Trinidad & Tobago, which was losing $100,000 a day. One year of Mittal-style management and it was making profits, the LN Mittal legend was born. That move helped him get into America.

The Mexican government seeing the success that Mittal made of Iscot, asked him to take over their ailing steel plants in 1992. But it was not all that smooth. In 1994 Mittal had differences with his brothers and father, and went on to form his own company. The following year Mittal entered the European market, acquiring the 5 million tonne Kazakh steel plant, Karmet. Meanwhile, Mittal had listed Ispat International on the New York and Amsterdam Stock Exchanges in 1997. Eight years later Mittal Steel became the world's largest steel maker when he took over the US's largest steel producer -- the International Steel Group. He then consolidated all his steel holdings into Mittal Steel.

2. Warren Buffett

Born in August 30, 1930, he s a U.S. investor, businessman, and philanthropist. He is one of the most successful investors in history, the primary shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway,and in 2008 was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of approximately $62 billion.

Buffett is often called the "Oracle of Omaha"or the "Sage of Omaha"and is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth.

Buffett is also a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away 85 percent of his fortune to the Gates Foundation. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College.

In 1999, Buffett was named the top money manager of the twentieth century in a survey by the Carson Group, ahead of Peter Lynch and John Templeton. In 2007, he was listed among Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world.

Page 30: gk.txt

3. Indra Nooyi

Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi born October 28, 1955) is the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PepsiCo, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies. On August 14, 2006, Nooyi was named the successor to Steven Reinemund as chief executive officer of the company effective from October 1, 2006.On February 5, 2007, she was named Chairperson, effective May 2, 2007.

She is a Successor Fellow of the Yale Corporation. She is a Class B director of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve. She serves as a member of the boards of the International Rescue Committee, Catalyst and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Eisenhower Fellowships, and currently serves as Chairperson of the U.S.-India Business Council.

Forbes magazine ranked Nooyi third on the 2008 and 2009 list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.Fortune magazine has named Nooyi number one on its annual ranking of Most Powerful Women in business for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2008, Nooyi was named one of America's Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.

In 2007, she was chosen as a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India. In 2008, she was elected to the Fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In January 2008, Nooyi was elected Chairman of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), a non-profit business advocacy organization representing more than 300 of the world's largest companies doing business in India. Nooyi leads USIBC's Board of Directors, an assembly of more than 60 senior executives representing a cross-section of American industry.

Quotations

Famous, Funny, Witty and Inspiring words by Some Famous, Funny, Witty and Inspiring People around the world*

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

- Walt Disney (1901(1901-12-05)-1966)

Page 31: gk.txt

The value of an idea lies in the using of it.

- Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)

· The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.

- Bill Gates (b.1955 -)

· Stay shockingly up to date. Try and learn everything there is in your line of business. Try new things in your own organization and learn from those experiences. This is where most consulting companies fail. They tell others so many things, but rarely ever employ any of those methods in their own set ups. This is bigotry.

- Sam Walton (1918-1992) (Founder of Wal-Mart Stores)

Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time.

- Bill Gates (b.1955 -)

It is change, continuing change, inevitable change that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.

- Isaac Asimov (1920 –1992)

Business more than any other occupation is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight.

- Henry R. Luce (1898 –1967) Founder of Time magazine

In times of rapid change, experience is your worst enemy.

- John Paul Getty (1892-1976) (American Industrialist)

“The world has never truly had to develop an ethic of interdependence rooted in our common humanity. And if we do it, the 21st century will be the most interesting, exciting, peaceful era in history.”

- Bill Clinton quotes (b.1946)

For more such quotes click on the following links:

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/the_21st_century/

Page 32: gk.txt

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/quotes.html

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/%7Erobins/quotes.html

http://www.greatbusinessquotes.com/innovation_quotes.html

http://www.leading-learning.co. nz/famous-quotes.html

http://mr_sedivy.tripod.com/quotes21.html

Ancient India

History is a record of time. Ages have come and brought with them their foundations and ruins. The study of Ancient India begins with the study of the Stone Age.

1. Stone AgeThe Stone Age, or the stages of early man can be classified into:

Paleolithic Age – This period was essentially the stage of hunters and food gatherers. They used crude tools made of flakes. They had no knowledge of cultivation and house building. They lived on roots and fruits. By the end of the Paleolithic Age, the flint industry came up. The important development of this age was the emergence of Homo-Sapiens.

Mesolithic Age – This age was the transition between the Paleolithic & the Neolithic Ages. Mesolithic people lived on hunting, fishing and food gathering. At a later stage, they domesticated animals. They used microlith - a small raw-stone tools.

Neolithic Age – These people used tools and implements of polished stone. They particularly used stone axes. Parashurama became an important axe-wielding hero. Dwelling pits, ceramics, a variety of stone and bone tools and a complete absence of microliths marked this age. Cattle, sheep and goat were domesticated. Men became food producer.

2. Chalcolithic AgeCopper was the first metal used by men.

3. Indus Valley CivilizationThe most important event of ancient Indian history was the development of Indus Valley Civilization. This Civilization prospered on the banks of river Indus. It extended from Jammu in the North to Daimabad in the South, and covered various regions of Gujarat. The main sites which have been found in the excavation are: • Kalibangan in Rajasthan• Lothal in Gujarat (Sea Port)• Banwali in Haryana

Page 33: gk.txt

• Ropar in Punjab.• Mohenjodaro in Pakistan (Great Bath)

The Indus Valley Civilization existed between 2350 BC and 1750 BC. The main cities associated with the civilization were Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal. The main feature of this civilization was Town Planning. They had great buildings, well-planned roads, cities and drainage systems. Trade and agriculture were the main sources of livelihood for the people. The people of Indus Valley were the first to produce cotton. Mother Goddess was the most important deity of worship. Wheat was the main food crops. They did not know about Iron.

4. Vedic PeriodThis period is marked by the entry of the Aryans, who were originally inhabitants of Central Asia around the Caspian Sea and probably came through the Hindu Kush Mountains. The period in which they existed was between 1500-600 BC.

The Main Features of the Aryans were:i) They were admirers of nature and worshipped the Sun, Fire and Water.ii) Indra was an important deity for the Aryans.iii) Metal iron was used for the first time during this period in 1000 BC. iv) Sanskrit was first time introduced in India by Aryans.

The following religious books were written during this period:

i) Vedas: These were their most sacred books. They were four in number, viz. :a) Rig Veda – The oldest, and it contained prayers of God, Vayu, Varun, Indra and Agni.b) Sam Veda – It dealt with music.c) Yajur Veda – It dealt with formulae, sacrifices and rituals.d) Atharva Veda – It dealt with medicines.

ii) The Upanishads: They are the foundation stones of Indian Philosophy and are 108 in numbers. Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs) is taken from Mundaka Upanishad.

5. Rise of ReligionsThe two major religions that came into prominence after the vedic period:

i) Buddhism - Initiated by a Kshatriya prince of the Shakya clan, Siddhartha, (who later came to be known as Buddha) around 6th century BC. Siddhartha was born in 567 BC at Lumbini in Kapilavastu (present day Nepal). He was the son of king Shuddhodana. He went in search of truth and attained enlightenment under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya, and delivered his first sermons at Sarnath in U.P. He died at Kushinagar in U.P.

The main Buddhist teachings of the eight–fold path of • right faith • thought

Page 34: gk.txt

• action• livelihood• efforts• speech• remembrance and concentration• belief in nirvana (freedom from the cycle of birth and death)

Ahimsa and law of karma were recorded in Triptikas, the religious book of Buddhists.

ii) Jainism - Initiated by Rishabha Dava (a Kshatriya prince), Jainism attained peak under Vardhamana Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara). Mahavira was born at Kundagrama in 540 BC. He left his house at the age of 30 years and attained ‘Kaivalya’ (Perfect knowledge) at the age of 42 years. He became a ‘Jina’ (one who has conquered happiness and misery) and died at Pavapuri (present day Bihar).The major teachings of Jainism were based on the Tri-ratna concept and the Tri-ratna concept was based on a) Right knowledge,b) Right faith c) Right conduct.

• Religious book - Agam (In Pali Language)• Dilwara Temple at Mount Abu in Rajasthan is a famous religious place of Jainism.

6. Magadha Empire (6th Century BC - 4th Century BC)Major dynasties of the Magadha Empire were:

i) Haryanka Dynasty - Bimbisara and Ajatashatru laid the foundation of this dynasty in 684 BC.

ii) Shishunaga Dynasty - This dynasty was founded by Shishunag in 413 BC after defeating the last king of the Haryanka dynasty.

iii) Nanda Dynasty – This dynasty was founded in 382 BC by Mahapadma Nanda.

7. Alexander’s Invasion of India• Alexander, after establishing his Kingdom in present day Pakistan, crossed the river Indus and invaded India.• He defeated Porus, the ruler of Punjab in the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC and extended his kingdom till India.• He founded the city of Alexandria in present day Afghanistan.

8. The Age of Mauryas (321-198 BC)• Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of Maurya Empire.• Kautilya (also known as Chanakya) was in the court of Chandragupta Maurya and he had written the book titled Arthashastra.• Megasthenese was a Greek ambassador who came in the court of Chandragupta Maurya

Page 35: gk.txt

and wrote the book titled ‘INDICA’.• Ashoka (273-232 BC) was the important king of this dynasty.• Ashoka fought the Kalinga war (261 BC) and after that war he adopted Buddhism.• Ashoka was the first Indian king to talk directly to the people throughout his empire.• The Ashoka pillar of Sarnath is the most popular of the Eelics left by Ashoka. It has four lions standing back to back which is adopted as the emblem of modern day Republic.• The last king of Maurya empire Brihadratha was killed by his commander in chief Pushyamitra Sunga

9. Kushan Empire The Kushan Empire was founded by the Kushan tribe of the Yuezhi Confederation around 1st century BC.• Kanishka was the most important king of the empire. He founded the Saka Era in 78 AD.• His capital was at Pursushpura (now Peshawar).• He was responsible for organizing the 4th Buddhist council in Kashmir.• Both Gandhar and Mathura art forms developed during Kanishka’s reign.

10. Gupta EmpireIt was founded by Chandragupta I (320-325 AD). He started the Gupta Era in 320 AD. Other important kings of the Gupta empire were:

i) Samudra Gupta (335-380 AD): He was known as the Napoleon of India. His coins depicted him as playing the musical instrument Veena.

ii) Chandragupta II (380-412 AD): He was also known as Vikramaditya.• Chinese Pilgrim, Fa-hien came in his court.• Aryabhatta and Kalidas were among the ‘Nine Gems’ or distinguished men at the court of Chandragupta II. With Chandragupta II began the Vikram Era in 58 BC.

iii) Kumaragupta I of this dynasty built the Nalanda University (in present day Bihar).

11. HarshvardhanaHarshvardhana was the last important king of North India.• His capital was at Kannauj. • Hiuen-Tsang, the Chinese pilgrime came to his court.• Harshcharita, a book on the life of Harshvardhana was written by Banabhata, who had also written Kadambari. • He was defeated by Pulshekin II of the Chalukya dynasty.

12. South Indian Dynasties

12.1 The Sathavanas• This dynasty was founded by Simuka. (65 BC)

Page 36: gk.txt

• Satakarni was an important king.• They constructed many buddhist worshipping sites- the important ones being at Amaravati and Nagarjuna Konda.• They issued the maximum number of lead coins. • Sangam Literature relates primarily to Pandyan kingdom but also contains information about Cholas and Cheras. • Tolkappiyam is the oldest book of Tamil grammar.

Three Major Southern Kingdoms

12.2 The Chalukyas (6th - 7th Century AD)• Pulkeshin I founded the Chalukya dynasty and established its capital at Vatapi. • Pulkeshin II (609 AD - 642 AD) was the most important king. • According to the Aihole inscriptions, he defeated Harshvardhana on the banks of river Narmada in 619 AD. • Narasimhavarman I defeated and killed Pulkeshin II and captured Vadani. • Most of the Buddhist caves at Ajanta and Ellora were structured during the reign of the Chalukyas. • Aihole was the temple town of this period.

12.3 The Pallavas (560 AD – 903 AD)• The Pallava dynasty was founded by Simhavishnu in 560 AD. • Their Capital was at Kanch. • Mahendravarman I was defeated by Pulakeshin II. • Narasimhavarma I was the greatest king, and because he defeated Pulakeshin II and captured Badan, he was known as Vatapi-Konda. • Narshimhavarma II constructed the shore temple of Mahabalipuram and the Kailashnath Temple of Kanchi. • Narshimhavarma II was also a worshipper of Vishnu. He built the Vaikunthaperumal Temple at Kanchi.• Aparajita Pallav was the last ruler and was defeated by Aditya Chola.

Administrative Units of the Pallavas Names of the Chiefs

Mandal (Province) Rastrik

Nadu (District) Deshatric

Page 37: gk.txt

Village (Kottam - Group of Villages) Gram Bhojak

12.4 The RashtrakutasFounded by Dantidurga in Deccan, their capital was located at Manyakheta or Malkhed. Greatest kings of the Rashtrakuta dynasty were: i) Govind III (796 AD - 814 AD)ii) Amoghavarsha I (814 AD - 978 AD) - He had written the first Kannada book - ‘Kavirajamarga.’ and Ratnamalika in Kannada.iii) Krishna–I built the Kailash Temple at Ellora (in 9th century).

Administrative Units of the RashtrakutasRashtras - the provincesVisaya - the districtsBhukti - the villages

12.5 The Cholas (850 -1200 AD)• The Chola dynasty was founded by Vijayalaya in 850 AD.• Early capital was situated at Uraiyur. Later the capital was shifted to Tanjore.• Raja Raja I (985 AD - 1014 AD) was an important king.- He constructed the Siva Temple at Tanjore which is also famous as Raja Rajeshvar Temple. • Rajendra I (1014 AD- 1044AD) was called the Napolean of South India.• The Cholas were famous for naval power and for their village administration. Administrative Units of the Cholas• Mandlam, the provinces • Valanadusnadus, the districts• Taniyur, the large villages• The Village Assembly was constituted of Urs - the assembly of common people.Abha - the assembly of brahmins.Nagaram - the assembly of merchants.

Medieval India

It is marked by the beginning of the Sultanate of Delhi, which was established after the conquest of Muhammad Ghori. The period of the Sultanate of Delhi ranges from AD 1206-1526. It is also considered as the beginning of Muslim rule in India.

Important Dynasties:

1. The Slave Dynasty period ranges from AD 1206-1290. It was founded by Qutab–ud-din Aibak whose capital was at Lahore. The Qutub Minar at Delhi was also built by Qutab–ud-din Aibak. Later Iltutmish got three more floors added to the Minar. Razia

Page 38: gk.txt

Sultana, the only woman ruler of India, and Balban was the important ruler of the Slave Dynasty. Balban had started the Persian Festival, “NAUROZ”.

2. The Khilji Dynasty was founded by Jalal-ud-din Khilji and its period ranges from AD 1290-1320. Ala-ud-din Khilji was one of the most prominent rulers of this dynasty. He started branding of horses and constructed Siri Fort at Delhi and Alai Darwaza near Qutub Minar. He was famous for market reforms.

3. The Tughlaq dynasty was founded by Ghiyath-al-din-Tughlag and the period of this dynasty ranges from AD 1320-1414. Ibn Buttuta was an important African traveller who visited India in 1333. Mohammed-Bin-Tughlaq introduced coins of brass and copper. Feroz Shah Tughlaq was another important king and he constructed many towns.

4. The Lodhi dynasty was founded by Bahlol Lodhi and the period of this dynasty ranges from AD 1451–1526. Sikandar Lodhi and Ibrahim Lodhi were the other two prominent rulers belonging to this dynasty. Sikandar Lodhi established Agra City and transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi.

5. Mughal Dynasty (AD 1526-1857)

5.1 Babur - He is credited with the foundation of the Mughal empire by defeating Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat on April 20, 1526. His tomb is built at Kabul, and his autobiography Baburnama is written in Turkish.

5.2 Humayun - He was the next emperor of the Mughal empire after Babur. His tomb is in Delhi, his biography Humayu-Nama was written by Gulbadan Begum.

5.3 Akbar - He was the most successful Mughal emperor. An excellent leader, who separated religion and politics, started a new religion called Din-e-Ilahi. He established Fatehpur Sikri and Buland Darwaza near Agra. He abolished the Jazia Tax. Bairam Khan, Akbar’s General, fought the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556 and defeated Hemu. Two important books Akbar-Nama and Ain-e-Akbari were written during Akbar’s tenure by Abul Fazal. His tomb is built at Sikandara near Agra.

5.4 Jehangir - The son of Akbar, who ascended the throne after Akbar’s death, known for his administration and strict sense of justice. He was the husband of Noor Jahan Begum and had built Shalimar and Nishant Bagh. His autobiography is Tuzk-e-Jahangiri and his tomb is built at Lahore.

5.5 Shahjahan - Famous ruler and son of Jehangir, who built the Taj Mahal at Agra, in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Jama Masjid and Red Fort are the other two famous monuments that were built by him. He had transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi.

Page 39: gk.txt

5.6 Aurangzeb - A very cruel ruler and son of Shahjahan, who demolished several religious structures of Hindus, and ruled for about 50 years. He constructed the ‘Moti Masjid’ in the Red Fort at Delhi and ‘Bibi ka Makbara’ at Aurangabad.

The Mughal empire started declining with the attack of Nadir Shah who took with him the famous Kohinoor Diamond to Afghanistan and peacock throne to Iran.

6. Suri Dynasty (1540-1555):Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545) - He was a brilliant administrator who issued the Rupiah and Paisa coins and built the famous Grand Trunk Road from Peshawar to Calcutta. He constructed the Old Fort of Delhi. He came to power after Humayun and before Akbar

 

Modern India

Coming of the Europeans

• Vasco-da-Gama discovered the sea route to India in 1498 and he belonged to Portugal. So Portugal was the first European country to start trade with India.

• The East India Company (EIC) of England came to India in 1602.

• The first officer of the EIC, Captain Hawkins came to India in 1608 in the court of Jahangir, the then ruler of India.

• The EIC established its first factory at Surat in 1613.

• The first English Ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe, came to India in 1615 in the court of Jahangir.

Important Battles of Modern India

i) Battle of Plassey (1757)Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal was defeated by the East India Co., under the leadership of Lord Clive, the first governor of Bengal. It is also known as the Black Hole Episode of the Indian history.

ii) Battle of Wandiwash (1760)It was the decisive battle fought between the English and the French. The French rule in India came to an end.

iii) Battle of Buxar (1764)The joint army of Mir Quasim, former Nawab of Bengal Suja-ud-Daulah, Nawab of

Page 40: gk.txt

Awadh and Shah Alam II was defeated by the English army under the leadership of Captain Hector Munro.

The Regulating Act (1773)In1773, the British Parliament initiated a series of administrative and economic reforms in India. The post of Governor General for Bengal was created. Warren Hastings became the first Governor General of Bengal. The Governor General and his council had all the legislative powers. Supreme Court was established at Calcutta and Sir Elijah Impey became the First Chief Justice of India.

Governor Generals (1774 - 1858)

1. Warren Hastings (1774 - 1785)Warren Hastings was the first Governor General of Bengal. The foundation of the British Empire was laid down by Lord Clive (first Governor of Bengal) and Warren Hastings consolidated it.

2. Lord Cornwallis (1786 - 1793)Lord Cornwallis is known as the father of Indian Civil Services. He introduced the system of the Permanent Settlement, also called the Zamindari System, in 1793 in Bengal. It was an agreement between East India Company and the Bengali landlords (zamindars) for effective agricultural methods and productivity in the empire.

3. Lord Wellesley (1797 - 1805)Lord Wellesely adopted the policy of Subsidiary Alliance. He established the Fort William College at Calcutta.

4. Lord William Bentinck (1828 - 1835)He was the first Governer General of India. He was a famous social reformer. He abolished the Sati system in 1829. He introduced engineering education in India.

5. Lord Dalhousie (1845 - 1856)Lord Dalhousie laid the foundation of railways in India. The first railway line was laid between Bombay and Thane and began operating in 1853. He also started the first telegram line in India between Agra and Calcutta. He introduced the Widow Remarriage Act, opened post offices throughout India, established the Public Works Department, and introduced The Doctrine of Lapse.

Viceroys of India

1. Lord Canning (1858 - 1862)Lord Canning was the first Viceroy of India. He abolished The Doctrine of Lapse and also established three major Indian universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.

2. Lord Litton (1876 - 1880)Lord Litton introduced The Vernacular Press Act, to curb the freedom of Indian Press.

Page 41: gk.txt

3. Lord Rippon (1880 - 1884)Lord Rippon was known as the father of Local Self Government. He started census for the first time in India in 1881.He abolished The Vernacular Press Act and introduced Illbert Bill.

4. Lord Curzon (1899 - 1904)Lord Curzon was responsible for the partition of Bengal into East and West Bengal in 1905. He passed Indian University Act in 1904 and also passed The Indian Monuments Act.

5. Lord Minto (1905 -1910)During his tenure there was great unrest in India because of the the Indian Council Act or the Minto Morley reforms passed in 1909.

6. Lord Hardinge (1910 - 1916)During his tenure a Durbar was held at Delhi in 1911 to greet the King of England, George V. Bengal was unified and Delhi was made the capital in place of Calcutta in 1911. Gate-way of India was constructed to greet him.

7. Lord Chelmsford (1916 - 1921)Under Lord Chelmsford, The Government of India Act of 1919, popularly know as Montague-Chelmsford reform was passed. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13th April 1919. Rowlatt Act, also called the Black Bill, was passed in 1919. The Non - Cooperation movement started in the year 1920.

8. Lord Reading (1921 - 1925)The visit of the Duke of Connaught and the Prince of Wales to India was boycotted under Lord Reading. Mahatma Gandhi called off Non-cooperation Movement in 1922 due to Chauri-Chaura event.

9. Lord Irwin (1926 - 1931)During Lord Irwin’s reign, the Simon commission visited India in 1928. Civil Disobedience movement was started in India by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi - Irwin pact was signed in 1931. The First Round Table Conference was held in London. Indian National Congress boycotted it.

10. Lord Willingdon (1931 - 1936)Under Lord Willingdon, the second and third round table conferences were held at London. The Poona pact was signed between Dr. B R Ambedker and Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar participated in all thre round conference.

11. Lord Linlithgow (1936 - 1943)Under him elections were held for the first time in 11 Indian states in 1939. Congress ministries were formed in eight out of 11 provisions but subsequently resigned because India was being dragged into the Second World War.

Page 42: gk.txt

12. Lord Wavell (1943 - 1947)Under him the Cabinet Mission came to India from London. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9th December, 1946.

13. Lord Mountbatten (March 13, 1947 to 14 August 1947)Under him an act for Indian independence was passed by British Parliament. He was the last British Governor General of independent India.

Presidents of Indian National Congress (Important Sessions)

Session No. Year Place President

1 1885 Bombay W. C. Bannerjee

3 1887 Madras BadurddinTyabji

4 1888 Allahabad George Yule

9 1893 Lahore Dadabhai Naoroji

21 1905 Banaras G. K. Gokhale

22 1906 Kolkata Dadabhai Naoroji

23 1907 Surat Dr. Rash Bihari Ghosh

33 1917 Kolkata Mrs.Annie Besant

35 1918 Delhi (Annual Session) M. M. Malyviya

36 1919 Amritsar Lala Lajpat Rai

57 1939 Tripura Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Important Socio-Religious Organisations

Year Place Name of the Organisation Founder

1815 Calcutta Atmiya Sabha Ram Mohan Roy

1828 Calcutta Brahmo Samaj Ram Mohan Roy

1829 Calcutta Dharma Sabha Radhakanta Dev

Page 43: gk.txt

1867 Bombay Prarthna Samaj Atmaram Pandurang

1875 Bombay Arya SamajSwami Dayanand

Saraswati

1875New York

(USA)Theosophical Society

Madam H.P. Blavatsky and

Col. H.S. Olcott

1878 Calcutta Sadharan Brahmo Samaj Anand Mohan Bose

1886 Pune (Poona) Deccan Education Society G.G. Agarkar

1887 AligarhMuhammadan Educational

ConferenceSyed Ahmad Khan

1887 Bombay Indian National Conference M.G. Ranade

1887 Lahore Deva Samaj Shivnarayan Agnihotri

1897 Belur Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekanand

1905 Bombay Servents of Indian Society Gopalakrishna Gokhale

1911 Bombay Social Service League N.M. Joshi

1914 Allahabad Seva Samiti H.N. Kunzru

Important Milestones of Modern India

Event Year Related Facts

First War of Independence

1857Mangal Pandey was a prominent figure. He killed two British sepoys at Barrackpore.

Government of India Act

1858 Direct governance of British Crown over India.

Formation of Indian National

1885 A. O. Hume was the founder. W.C. Banerjee was the first

Page 44: gk.txt

Congress president of Indian National Congress.

Partition of Bengal 1905 Bengal was divided on the basis of religion.

Swadeshi Movement

1905Indian National Congress adopted a resolution on 7th August 1905 to boycott all foreign goods.

Formation of Muslim League

1906 Founded by Aga Khan and Salimuddin at Dhaka.

Morley–Minto Reforms

1909Under these reforms, a separate electorate was made for Muslims during the leadership of Lord Minto.

Home Rule Movement

1915-16

Annie Besant started the movement in September 1916.

Lucknow Pact 1916Congress and Muslim League held their sessions at Lucknow, which strengthened the Hindu–Muslim unity.

Rowlatt Act 1919It gave unstoppable powers to the government to arrest and imprison suspects, without even havinga trial.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

1919Because of firing, under the orders of General O’ Dyer, many people were killed, while attending a public meeting at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.

Khilafat Movement 1920This was an anti–British movement started by two brothers Shaukat and Muhammad Ali.

Non-Cooperation Movement

1920Gandhiji pioneered the movement which included the boycott of foreign goods and refusing government work.

Simon Commission 1927

Simon Commission was dispatched to India in 1927 to study constitutional reforms. Simon Commission was confronted by throngs of protesters in India. Lala Lajpat Rai died of his injuries due to Lathi charge in a procession against the Commission.

Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha)

1930 Gandhiji marched from his Sabarmati Ashram, which was basically a form of protest against the tax on salt imposed by the British Government.

Page 45: gk.txt

Government of India Act

1935Passed on the basis of the Simon Commission report, it envisaged the structure of the government under the direct governance of the ‘British Crown’.

Quit India Movement

1942Mahatma Gandhi led this movement and asked the Britishers to leave India.

Cabinet Mission Plan

1946 This envisaged forming an interim government in India

Formation of the Constituent Assembly

1946Without the Muslim league’s participation under the Assembly predisency of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the Constituent Assembly was formed.

Partition of India 1947Indian Independence Act of 1947 was responsible for the partition of India.

Constitution Enforcement

1950 The Constitution came into force on 26th Jan, 1950.

THE EARTH

Earth is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest in size. It is also the largest amongst its planetary system’s terrestrial planets, making it the largest solid body in the solar system, and it is the only planet in the universe known to support life. The Earth was formed around 4.57 billion years ago and its largest natural satellite, the Moon, was orbiting it shortly thereafter, around 4.533 billion years ago.

THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH

The Earth’s shape is that of an oblate spheroid, with an average diameter of approximately 12,742 km (~ 40,000 km /p).

THE COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH

The mass of the Earth is approximately 5.98 ×1024 kg. It comprises of iron (35.1%), oxygen (28.2%), silicon (17.2%), magnesium (15.9%), nickel (1.6%), calcium (1.6%) and aluminum (1.5%).

THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH

Page 46: gk.txt

The interior of the Earth, like that of the other terrestrial planets, is chemically divided into layers. The Earth has an outer silicate solid crust, a highly viscous mantle, a liquid outer core that is much less viscous than the mantle, and a solid inner core.

1. Earth’s Hydrosphere The abundance of water on Earth is a unique feature that distinguishes ‘The Blue Planet’ from the other planets in the Solar System. Approximately, 71% of the Earth is covered by water and only 29% is solid land.

The Earth’s hydrosphere mainly consists of oceans, but technically includes all water surfaces in the world, including inland seas, lakes, rivers, and underground waters. The average depth of the oceans is 3,794 m (12,447 ft), more than five times the average height of the continents.

2. Earth’s Atmosphere : It consists of the following layers:• Troposphere - This is the lowermost part of the atmosphere in which we live, and which is the theatre for almost all the weather phenomena.• Stratosphere - Above troposphere is the stratosphere, which is important primarily because of the presence of ozone. This layer of calm and clear air is preferred for high-speed jet flights because of the absence of air pockets.• Mesophere - Above stratosphere is mesosphere, which is more of a transitional layer.• Ionosphere - Above mesosphere lies the ionosphere, which has electrically conducting layers that help in radio communication.• Exosphere - The outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere is known as the Exosphere.

Kinds of RocksRocks are naturally occuring aggregate of minerals. The Earth’s crust and mantle are formed of rocks. The study of rocks is called Petrology. Rocks are classified by their mineral and chemical composition, texture of the constituent particles and the process by

Page 47: gk.txt

which they are formed. The transformation of one rock type to another through geographical process is called the Rock Cycle.

Types of Rocks

i. Igneous Rocks – Igneous rocks are formed when the molten magma or lava slowly cools and crystallises within the Earth’s crust. Examples of the Igneous rock are granite,basalt, etc.

ii. Sedimentary Rocks – Sedimentary rocks are formed by the deposition of organic and non-organic matter over a period of time. The process of deposition is called sedimentation. Commonly known sedimentary rocks are coal, limestone, sandstone etc.

iii. Metamorphic Rocks – Pressure and change in temprature under the Earth’s surface cause Igneous and Sedimentary rocks to undergo change. This change leads to the formation of Metamorphic Rocks.

IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS

i. Latitude and Longitude - Latitude is the angular disance of a point on the Earth’s surface, measured in degrees from the centre of the Earth. Longitude is the angular distance, measured in degrees along the equator, east or west of the Prime Meridian (the meridian that passes through Greenwich near London).

ii. International Date Line – It is the line that passes through 180º East or West meridian of longitude which falls on the opposite side of the Greenwich meridian. One day is added when this line is crossed East to West and a day is deducted when the line passes West to East.

iii. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) – GMT refers to the 0º longitude that passes through Greenwich near London.

Page 48: gk.txt

iv. Indian Standard Time (IST) - IST refers to the longitude that passes through Allahabad and is hours ahead of the GMT.

v. Solstice - It is the date on which the Sun shines vertically over a tropic when the days and nights are the longest and the shortest. On the 22nd of June the sun shines vertically over the Tropic of Cancer and this date is termed as Summer Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and Winter Solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, on December 22nd, the Sun shines vertically over the Tropic of Capricorn. Hence it is Summer Solstice for Southern Hemisphere and Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere.

vi. Equinox - It means two days during the year when the day and night are almost equal throughout the World because the Sun shines vertically over the Equator. March 21st is called the Vernal Equinox and September 23rd is called the Autumnal Equinox.

vii. Equator - The Equator represents the imaginary line passing around the Earth midway between the North and South poles. It divides the Earth into two equal parts.

viii. Meridians - They represent the imaginary lines drawn out on the global map from pole to pole and perpendicular to the Equator. Prime Meridian is the 0 degree meridian, which passes through Greenwich, a place near London.

ix. Aphelion - Aphelion refers to that position of the Earth in its orbit, when it is at the greatest distance from the Sun (about 152 million kms). The Earth reaches this position during the northern summer. This term also refers to the position of any other planet or a comet, when it is at its greatest distance from the Sun.

x. Perihelion - Perihelion refers to the nearest point of a heavenly body in its orbit around the Sun. The Earth at perihelion is at a distance of about 147 million kms from the Sun.

xi. Apogee - Apogee refers to the position of the orbit of the moon when it is at its greatest distance from Earth. This is approximately 406,000 kms for the Earth.

xii. Perigee - Perigee refers to the point of the moon when it is at its minimum distance from the Earth. This distance is approximately 364,000 kms.

xiii. Cyclone - Any area of low pressure around which the air turns in the same direction as the Earth is a cyclone. In the Indian Ocean, a tropical storm with masses of air turning rapidly round a low pressure area is called a tropical cyclone.

xiv. Typhoon - It is the name given to a tropical cyclone in the Far East.

xv. Hurricane - It is a tropical storm in the Caribbean or West Pacific Ocean, with extremely strong winds. The wind force reaches 12 on the Beaufort scale.

Page 49: gk.txt

xvi. Tornado - It is a type of whirlwind which is formed by rising air currents associated with large cumulonimbus clouds. It rotates in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. xvii. Estuary - It is the tidal mouth of a river where the salt water of the tide meets the fresh water of the river current.

xviii. Isobars - Lines on the map denoting places experiencing equal pressure.

xix. Isobaths - Lines denoting equal depths in the Sea.

xx. Isobronts - Lines joining places experiencing a thunderstorm at the same time.

xxi. Isochrones - Lines joining places located at equal travel time from a common centre.

xxii. Isogonics - Lines joining places with the same magnetic declination.

xxiii. Isorymes - Lines denoting places experiencing equal frost.

xxiv. Isoseismics - Lines denoting places experiencing equal seismic activity.

CONTINENTS OF THE WORLD

LARGEST AND SMALLEST COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

The 10 Largest Countries

Page 50: gk.txt

The 10 Smallest Countries

THE SEAS OF THE WORLD

The 10 largest seas of the World and the area covered by them

Page 51: gk.txt

The world’s largest salt water lake (Inland sea), is Russia’s Caspian Sea. It has an area of 372,000 Sq. Km.

The largest fresh water lake is Lake Superior, Canada, with an area of 82,100 Sq Km.

THE PEAKS OF THE WORLD

The Tibetan name for Mt. Everest is Chomolungma, which means “Goddess mother of the world”. The 10 highest peaks of the World, all of which are in the Himalayas, are as follows* Source – World Atlas

Page 52: gk.txt

MOST POPULOUS COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Most Populous Countries

SMALLEST POPULOUS COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

COUNTRIES, CAPITALS AND CURRENCIES

Country Capital Currency

Afghanistan Kabul Afghani

Albania Tirane Lek

Algeria Algiers Dinar

Principality of An Dorra Andorra La Vieille Franc

Angola Luanda Kwanza

Argentina Buenos Aires Peso

Australia Canberra Australian Dollar

Page 53: gk.txt

Austria Vienna Schilling

Bahrain Manama Bahraini Dinar

Bangladesh Dhaka Taka

Barbados Bridgetown Barbados Dollar

Belgium Brussels Euro

Belize Belmopan Belize Dollar

Benin Porto Novo Franc

Bhutan Thimphu Ngultrum (fixed at par

with Indian rupee)

Country Capital Currency

Bolivia La paz/Sucre The Boliviano

Botswana Gaborone Pula

Brazil Brasilia Real

Bulgaria Sofia Lev

Burundi Bujumbura Burundi Franc

Cambodia Phnom-Penh Riel

Cameroon Yaounde CFA Franc

Canada Ottawa Dollar

Central African Republic (CAR)

Bangui CFA Franc

Chad N’Djamena CFA Franc

Chile Santiago Peso

China Beijing Renmimbi (Yuan)

Colombia Bogota Colombian Peso

Page 54: gk.txt

Congo Kinshasa Congolese Franc

Costa Rica San Jose Costan Rican Colon

Cuba Havana Peso

Cyprus Nicosia Cyprun Pound

Czech Republic Prague The Koruna

Denmark Copenhagen Danish Krone

Djibouti Djibouti Djibouti Franc

Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Peso

Ecuador Quito US Dollar and Sucre

Egypt Cairo Egyptian Pound

El Salvador San Salvador Colon

Equatorial Guinea Malabo CFA Franc

Ethiopia Addis Ababa Birr

Fiji Suva Dollar

Finland Helsinki Euro

France Paris Euro

Gabon Liberville CFA Franc

The Gambia Banjul Dalasi

Germany Berlin Euro

Ghana Accra Cedi

Greece Athens Euro

Grenada St. George’s East Carribean Dollar

Guatemala Guatemala City Quetzal

Page 55: gk.txt

Country Capital Currency

Guyana Georgetown Guyana Dollar

Honduras Tegucigalpa Lempira

Hong Kong Victoria HK Dollar

Hungary Budapest Forint

Iceland Reykjavik Krona

India New Delhi Rupee

Indonesia Jakarta Rupiah

Iran Teheran Rial

Iraq Baghdad Iraqi Dinar

Ireland Dublin Euro

Israel Jerusalem New Shekel

Italy Rome Euro

Jamaica Kingston Dollar

Japan Tokyo Yen

Jordan Amman Dinar

Kenya Nairobi Shilling

Korea (North) Pyongyang Won

Korea (South) Seoul Won

Kuwait Kuwait City Kuwaiti Dinar

Laos Vientiane Kip

Lebanon Beirut Pound

Libya Tripoli Libyan Dinar

Page 56: gk.txt

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Ringgit

Malawi Lilongwe Kwacha

Maldives Male Rufiya

Mauritius Port Louis Maurituan Rupee

Mongolia Ulan Bartor Tugrik

Myanmar (Burma) Yangon Kyat

Namibia Windhoek Dollar

Nepal Kathmandu Nepalese Rupee

Netherlands Amsterdam Euro

New Zealand Wellington NZ Dollar

Nigeria Abuja Naira

Norway Oslo Krone

Oman Muscat Rial

Pakistan Islamabad Rupees

Peru Lima New Sol

Philippines Manila Peso

Country Capital Currency

Poland Warsaw Zloty

Portugal Lisbon Euro

Puerto Rico San Juan US Dollar

Qatar Doha Riyal (QAR)

Romania Bucharest Leu

Russia Moscow Rouble

Page 57: gk.txt

Rwanda Kigali Franc

Saudi ArabiaRiyadh (Royal),

Jeddah (Administrative)Rial

Seychelles Victoria Rupee

Singapore Singapore City Singapore Dollar

South AfricaPretoria

(Administrative),Cape Town (Legislative)

Rand

Spain Madrid Euro

Sri Lanka Colombo Rupee

Sudan Khartoum Dinar

Sweden Stockholm Krona

Switzerland Berne Franc

Syria Damascus Syrian Pound

Taiwan Taipei New Taiwan Dollar

Tanzania Dodoma Shilling

Thailand Bangkok Baht

Tunisia Tunis Dinar

Turkey Ankara Turkish Lira

Uganda Kampala Uganda Shilling

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Abu Dhabi Dirham

United Kingdom (UK) London Pound Sterling

United States of America

Washington D.C. Dollar

Uruguay Montevideo Peso

Page 58: gk.txt

Venezuela Caracas Bolivar

Yemen Sana’a Rial

Zambia Lusaka Kwacha

Zimbabwe Harare Dollar

NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF COUNTRIES

NEW NAMES OF COUNTRIES AND STATES

Page 59: gk.txt
Page 60: gk.txt
Page 61: gk.txt

IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES

Durand Line : Boundary between India & Afghanistan.Hindenburg Line : Boundary between Germany & Poland.McMohan Line : Boundary between China & India.Maginot Line : Boundary between France & Germany.Radcliffe Line : Boundary between India & Pakistan.17th parallel : Defined the boundary between North Vietnam & South Vietnam before the two were united.38th parallel : Boundary line between North Korea & South Korea.

Page 62: gk.txt

49th parallel : Boundary line between USA & Canada.Siegfried Line : The line between Germany and France

INDIA AT A GLANCE

India, the seventh largest country of the world, accounts for about 2.4% of the total world area. It is bounded by the great Himalayas and other snowy mountains in the north. The country stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, narrows down and ends into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the East and the Arabian Sea on the

West.

LocationIndia lies on the Northern Hemisphere between parallels of latitude 37o6’ and 8o4’ North

and between the Meridians of longitude 68o7’ E and 97o25’ East.

DimensionsThe land area covered by Indian mainland is 32, 87,780 Sq Kms. It measures about 3214

Kms from North to South and 2933 Kms from East to West. The length of the Indian coastline is 7615 Kms. It is bounded by Arabian Sea in the West, the Indian Ocean in the

South and the Bay of Bengal in the East. The coastline of India is not indented and the sea on the coast is not very deep. The Western coast is rocky while the Eastern coast is

shallow. Therefore, India does not have many good harbours. Only Mumbai and Goa are natural harbours while all the other are artificial.

Population India is the second largest country in the World in terms of population. According to the

2001 census, the population of India was about 10287 crore (16.87% of the World population). The number of males in 2001 was 53.13 crore while the number of females was 49.57 crore. The density of population in India is about 324 persons per square km. The life expectancy is 64 years and the present literacy rate in 2005 was 65.38 percent.

NeighboursTo the North of the country lie China, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan. The East of the

country is surrounded by Myanmar and Bangladesh. Towards the West of India lies Pakistan and in the South, the Indian mainland is surrounded by Sri Lanka.

INDIAN AGRICULTURE India primarily has an agrarian economy. About 2/3rd of the population is engaged in

agricuture and it provides livelihood to about 60% of the population. About 43% of the total land area in India is under agricultural cultivation. It is the second largest contributor

to the national income, and accounted for 16% of the national income.

Major Soil Types The major types of soil found in India are:

Page 63: gk.txt

i. Alluvial Soil – Alluvial soil is formed due the deposition of particles such as silt, gravel and sand by the rivers in the plains. It is the most fertile soil form found in India and is generally found in regions of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana and parts of West

Bengal. This soil type facilitates the cultivation of cereals, pulses, sugarcane and wheat.

ii. Black Soil - Also known as the cotton soil, this soil type is rich in iron, lime and alluminium. It covers 30 percent of the total area of the country. Black soil is generally found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and

facilitates the cultivation of cotton, wheat, oil seeds and tobacco.

iii. Red Soil – This soil is red in colour because of the presence of Iron oxides. It is mainly found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and Chattisgarh and facilitates the

cultivation of wheat, millets, potato and chillies.

iv. Laterite Soil – Laterite soil is highly leached and the least fertile soil type found in India. It is mainly found in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and facilitates the

cultivation of tea, coffee, and cashew nut.

Largest Producers of Major Food Crops

Crops State

Rice 1 West Bengal

2 Punjab

Wheat 1 Uttar Pradesh

2 Punjab

Maize 1 Madhya Pradesh

2 Andhra Pradesh

Total Coarse Cereals 1 Maharashtra

2 Karnataka

Total Pulses 1 Madhya Pradesh

2 Uttar Pradesh

Total Foodgrains 1 Uttar Pradesh

2 Punjab

Groundnut 1 Gujarat

Page 64: gk.txt

2 Tamil Nadu

Rapessed & Mustard 1 Rajasthan

2 Uttar Pradesh

Soyabean 1 Madhya Pradesh

2 Maharashtra

Suflower 1 Karnataka

2 Andhra Pradesh

Total Oilseeds 1 Madhya Pradesh

2 Maharashtra

Cash Crops Sugarcane 1 Uttar Pradesh

2 Maharashtra

Cotton 1 Maharashtra

2 Gujarat

Jute & Mesta 1 West Bengal

2 Bihar

Potato 1 Uttar Pradesh

2 West Bengal

Onion 1 Maharashtra

2 Gujarat

MAJOR RIVERS OF INDIAThere are four major river routes found in India. These are:

1) Himalayan Rivers – The Himalayan Rivers are snow fed and have water throughout the year. During monsoon heavy rainfall in the Himalayan region causes frequent floods

in these rivers. The major Himalayan rivers are:

Page 65: gk.txt

• The Indus and its tributaries- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.• The Ganges and its tributaries- Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa, Sone, Ghagra, Gandak,

Gomti etc.• Brahmaputra and its tributary - Tista.

2) Peninsular Rivers - The Peninsular rivers are only rain fed and fluctuate in volume and a large number of streams dry up after monsoon. The major peninsular rivers are:

• Mahanadi• Krishna

• Kaveri – known as the “Ganga of South India”.• Godavari• Narmada

• Tapi (also known as Tapti)

3) Coastal Rivers - The coastal rivers, especially on the West Coast, are short and have limited catchment areas. Most of these are non-perennial as well. Periyar, Mithi and

Mandovi are major coastal rivers of India. 4) Rivers of the inland drainage basin - The rivers on the inland drainage basin consists

of those in Western Rajasthan which are very few and short lived, like the Sambhar, which is lost in the desert sands, and the Loni that drains into the Rann of Kutch.

Major River Projects

Name of the Project River State

Bhakra Nangal Project Satluj Punjab

Damodar Valley Project Damodar Jharkhand

Farakka Barrage Project Ganga West Bengal

Hirakund Dam Project Mahanadi Orissa

Nagarjunasagar Project Krishna Karnataka

Tehri Dam Project Bhilangana, Bhagirathi Uttrakhand

INDIA’S MINERAL WEALTH

India has certain basic and useful minerals such as iron and coal. India is very rich in iron, coal, aluminium, limestone, manganese, titanium, thorium and mica but does not

have large reserves of mineral oil, sulphur, lead and tin.

India is the largest producer of mica blocks and mica splittings, ranks third in the production of coal, fourth in iron ore, sixth in bauxite and manganese ore, tenth in

aluminium and eleventh in crude steel.

Page 66: gk.txt

1. IronRanked fourth in the world in iron ore production, India has almost one-fourth of the

world’s iron ore reserves. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa are major iron bearing areas. Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Keonjhar, Bonai and

Mayurbhanj (all Orissa) are areas with richest iron deposits in the world. The major iron ore mines are at Chanda, Bastar and Durg districts in Chhattisgarh.

2. ManganeseRanked sixth in the world for production of manganese, India is a major exporter of

manganese and possesses one-third of the world’s reserves. It is an important mineral used for the production of steel. A major portion of the deposits is found in Karnataka,

Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

3. MicaIndia’s is the world’s largest producer of Mica. The majority of this product (almost

60%) comes from Jharkhand. Apart from Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are the major producers of Mica in the country. Since the domestic consumption is not very

large most of the Mica produce is exported.

4. CoalRanked third in the production of coal, 80 per cent of the coal is extracted from the mines in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Huge coal reserves exist in Rani Ganj (West Bengal) and

Jharia (Jharkhand). Other coal bearing areas are in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

5. BauxiteBauxite is an aluminium ore which is mainly found in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh,

Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. These are also the largest aluminium producing areas of the country.

Major Indian Industries and Industrial Regions• Aircraft - Bangalore and Kanpur.

• Cement - Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

• Cotton Textile - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

• Glass - Firozabad, Jabalpur, Amritsar, Ambala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.• Jute - West Bengal

• Leather - Kanpur, Batanagar, Dighaghat, Deonar, Chembur, Chennai, Agra, Coimbatore and Bangalore.

• Paper - Nepanagar, Pune, Saharanpur, Orissa, and Mumbai.• Rail Engine and Coaches - Chittaranjan Locomotives Works at Chittaranjan, Diesel Locomotives at Varanasi, Rail Coaches at Integral Coach Factory at Perambur and Rail

Coach Factory at Kapurthala.

Page 67: gk.txt

• Silk - Karnataka, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.• Sugar - Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

INDIAN STATES

States Capital Since Former Capital

Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar 1972 —

Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad 1956 —

Assam Guwahati 1972 Shillong (1874-1972)

Bihar Patna 1936 —

Chhattisgarh Raipur 2000 —

Goa Panaji 1961 —

Gujarat Gandhinagar 1970 Ahmedabad (1960-1970)

Haryana Chandigarh 1966 —

Himachal Pradesh Shimla 1948 —

Jammu and KashmirSrinagar (Summer)

1948 —Jammu (Winter)

Jharkhand Ranchi 2000 —

Karnataka Bengaluru 1956 —

Kerala Thiruvananthapuram 1956 Kochi (1949-1956)

Madhya Pradesh Bhopal 1956 —

Maharashtra Mumbai 1960 —

Manipur Imphal 1947 —

Meghalaya Shillong 1970 —

Mizoram Aizawl 1972 —

Page 68: gk.txt

Nagaland Kohima 1963 —

Orissa Bhubaneshwar 1948 Cuttack (1936-1948)

Punjab Chandigarh 1966Lahore (1936-1947)

Shimla (1947-1966)

Rajasthan Jaipur 1948 —

Sikkim Gangtok 1975 —

Tamil Nadu Chennai 1956 —

Tripura Agartala 1956 —

Uttaranchal Dehradun 2000 —

Uttar Pradesh Lucknow 1937 —

West Bengal Kolkata 1905 —

INDIAN UNION TERRITORIES

States Capital Since Former Capital

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair 1956 —

Chandigarh Chandigarh 1966 —

Dadra and Nagar Haveli Silvassa 1961 —

Daman and Diu Daman 1987 —

Delhi (NCT) Delhi 1956 —

Lakshadweep Kavaratti 1956 —

Puducherry Puducherry 1954 —

National Parks and Wild Life Sancturies of India

Page 69: gk.txt

Name of the National Parks State and famous For

Gir Forests Home of Asiatic lion, Gujarat

Kaziranga Sanctuary One horned rhino, Assam

Manas Sanctuary One horned rhino, Assam

Chandraprabha Sanctuary 2nd home of Asiatic lion, Uttar Pradesh

Ghana or Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Dachigam Sanctuary Hangul, Kashmir

Corbett National Park Home of Tiger, Uttaranchal

Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh

Shiv Puri National Park Madhya Pradesh

Hazaribagh National Park Jharkhand

Periyar Game Sanctuary Elephants, Kerala

Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu

Nokrek National Park Meghalaya

Sariska Sanctuary Rajasthan

Ranthambhor National Park Rajasthan

Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh

Keibul Lamjo Floating National Park Manipur

Palamau Tiger Project Bihar

Simlipal National Park Orrisa

Ranganthittoo Bird Sanctuary Mysore, Karnataka

Nagarhole National Park Karnataka

Mudumalai Sanctuary Tamil Nadu

Page 70: gk.txt

Balpakram Sanctuary Meghalaya

Bandipur SanctuaryAlong the Karnataka - Tamil Nadu

Border

Jaldapara Sanctuary Rhinos, West Bengal

Wild Ass Sanctuary Wild Ass, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Important Towns on Rivers

Town River Town River

AllahabadAt the confluence of the Ganga and

YamunaKota Chambal

Patna Ganga Jabalpur Narmada

Varanasi Ganga Ujjain Kshipra

Kanpur Ganga Surat Tapti

Hardwar Ganga Jamshedpur Swarnarekha

Badrinath Alaknanda Agra Yamuna

Delhi Yamuna Guwahati Brahmaputra

Mathura Yamuna Kolkata Hooghly

Ferozpur Satluj Sambalpur Mahanadi

Ludhiana Satluj Cuttack Mahanadi

Srinagar Jhelum Serianagapatnam Cauvery

Lucknow Gomti Hyderabad Musi

Jaunpur Gomti Nasik Godavari

Ayodhya Saryu Vijayvada Krishna

Page 71: gk.txt

Bareilly Ram Ganga Tiruchirapalli Cauvery

Ahmedabad Sabarmati

BRANCHES OF SCIENCE

Acoustics : The study of sound and sound waves

Aerodynamics : The study of forces acting upon bodies in motion in the air (e.g., aircraft, missiles, etc.)

Aeronautics : The study of all activities pertaining to aerial locomotion (art of flying)

Anatomy : The science of the structure of th e animal/human body learnt by dissection.

Anaesthesiology :A branch of medicine concerned with administration of anaesthetics and the condition of the patient while under anaesthesia.

Anthropology : The study of the origin and physical and cultural development of mankind.

Archaeology :A scientific study of the material remains of the past as evidence of man’s life, culture and history.

Astrophysics : A branch of astronomy dealing with the physical nature of heav enly bodies.

Astronomy : The science of heavenly bodies (planets)

Bacteriology : A branch of microbiology dealing with bacteria

Biology : The science of living organisms; subdivided into Botany and Zoology

Biophysics : The physics of the vital processes of living organisms

Botany : The science of the plant kingdom

Cardiology : A branch of medicine dealing with the heart

Ceramics : The art of making objects from clay

Chemistry : The study of elements, their behaviour and laws of their combination, etc.

Cosmetology : The study of cosmetics and their use

Cosmology : The study of the universe—its origin, nature, structure and evolution

Page 72: gk.txt

Cytopathology : The study of diseased cells

Dermatology : A branch of medicine dealing with skin

Dietetics : The science of diet and nutrition

Entomology : Deals with study of insects

Endocrinology : The study of glands

Genetics : A branch of biology dealing with heredity and the laws that govern it

Geology : A study of the chemical composition of the earth’s crust

Gerontology : A branch medicine studying the ageing process, problems and diseases

Gynaecology : A branch of medicine dealing with female diseases of the reproduction system

Haematology : A branch of medicine studying blood and its disorders

Hepatology : A branch of medicine dealing with liver

Horticulture : A branch of agricultural science dealing with flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Hydrology :The science of water with reference to its occurrence and properties in the hydrosphere and atmosphere

Hygiene : A branch of medicine dealing with health and its presevation

Immunology : A branch of medicine dealing with the immune system of the body

Neuropathology : A branch of medicine dealing with changes produced by diseases in the nervous system

Obstetrics : A branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labour and child birth

Oncology : A branch of medicine dealing with tumours

Ophthalmology : A branch of medicine dealing with eyes and related problems

Ornithology : The science of birds

Orthopaedics :A branch of medicine dealing with diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skeletal system (bones)

Paediatrics : A branch of medicine dealing with child diseases (infants)

Page 73: gk.txt

Pathology : A branch of medicine that deals with etiologies, mechanisms and manifestation of diseases

Physiology : A study of the life processes of various organs of living organisms

Psychiatry : The study and treatment of mental and emotional disorders

Radiology : A branch of medical science dealing with the use of x-rays for diagnosis and treatment

Zoology : A branch of biology that deals with animal life

SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS

x    Inventor(s) Country Year Adding

Machine             (Pascaline)   

Blaise Pascal France 1642

Aeroplane Wright brothers US 1903 Ballpoint Pen Laszlo Biro Hungary 1938

Barometer E. Torricelli Italy 1644 Bicycle Kirkpatrick Scotland 1839

Bicycle Tyre J.B. Dunlop Scotland 1888 Centigrade Scale A. Celsius France 1742

Computer Charles Babbage Britain 1820

Cinema A.L. and

J.L. Lumiere France 1895

Clock (mechanical) Hsing and Ling-Tsan China 1725 Clock (pendulum) C. Hugyens The Netherlands 1656

Diesel Engine Rudolf Diesel Germany 1892 Dynamite Alfred Nobel Sweden 1866 Dynamo Michael Faraday England 1831

Electric Lam Thomas Alva Edison US 1879 Electromagnet W. Sturgeon England 1825

Elevator E G Otis US 1852 Fountain Pen L.E. Waterman US 1884 Gas Lighting William Murdoch Scotland 1794 Gramophone Thomas Alva Edison US 1877

Jet Engine Sir Frank Whittle England 1937 Locomotive Richard Trevithic England 1804

Machine Gun Richard Gatling US 1861

Page 74: gk.txt

Match (safety) J.E. Lundstrom Sweden 1844

Microphone Alexander Graham Bell US 1876

Microscope Z. Janssen The Netherlands 1590

Motor Car (Petrol) Karl Benz Germany 1885

Motorcycle Daimler Germany 1885

Parachute JPF Blanchard France 1785

Photography (film) John Carbott US 1888

Printing Press J. Gutenberg Germany 1455

Razor (safety) K.C. Gillette US 1895

Refrigerator J. Harrison and A. Catlin Britain 1850

Safety Pin Walter Hunt US 1849

Sewing Machine B. Thimmonnier France 1829

Ship (steam) J.C. Perier France 1775

Ship (turbine) Sir Charles Parsons Britain 1894

Steam Engine (piston) Thomas Newcombe Britain 1712

Steam Engine James Watt Scotland 1765

Stainless Steel Harry Brearley England 1913

Submarine D. Bushnell US 1776

Telegraph Sir Ernest Swington France 1787

Telegraph Code Samuel F.B. Morse US 1837

Telephone Alexander Graham Bell US 1876

Telescope Hans Lippershey The Netherlands 1608

Television John Logie Baird Scotland 1926

Page 75: gk.txt

Thermometer Galileo Galilei Italy 1593

Transistor Bardeen, Shockley and Brattain US 1948

Typewriter P Tari Italy 1808

Watch Manfredi Italy 1462

X-ray Wilhelm Roentgen Germany 1895

Zip Fastener W.L. Judson US 1891

SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Instrument Name Uses

Ammeter Instrument used for measuring electric current

Barometer Instrument used for measuring atmospheric pressure

Calorimeter Instrument used for measuring heat quantity

Cardiograph (ECG) Instrument used for recording movements of the heart

Electrometer Instrument used for measuring small electric current

Endoscope Instrument used to examine internal body organs

Galvanometer Instrument used for measuring electric current

Hydrometer Instrument used to relative density of liquids

Hygrometer Instrument used to measure atmospheric humidity

Lactometer Instrument used to measure relative density of milk

Manometer Instrument used to measure pressure of gases

Micrometer Instrument used to measure distances

Microscope Instrument used to very minute objects

Periscope Instrument used in submarines to views objects above sea level

Polygraph Instrument used to record changes in the physiological process in the body

Page 76: gk.txt

Salinometer Instrument to measure salinity in liquids

Sphygmomanometer Instrument used to measure blood pressure

StethoscopeInstrument used to hear sounds produced in the body by the lungs

and the heart

Telescope Instrument used to view distant objects

Transponder Instrument used to receive and send signals

VoltmeterInstrument used to measure the potential electric

difference between two points

Wattmeter Instrument used to measure the power of an electric circuit

The Human Body

The human body is composed of billions of cells to perform various functions. The cells are organised to from tissues, tissues are organised to from organs, and organs together form organ system and so on. Human body consists of many specialised organ systems such as skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, circulatory system, etc.

1. Skeletal system: It is made up of all the bones of the body and tissues such as tendons, ligaments and cartilage that connects them. In humans, the skeletal system is made up of 206 bones and few cartilages.

Functions:Its 206 bones form a rigid framework to which the softer tissues and organs of the body are attached.

Vital organs are protected by the skeletal system. The brain is protected by the surrounding skull and the heart and lungs are encased by the sternum and rib cage.

The movement in the body is carried out by the interaction of skeletal and muscular system.

Bone marrow is the site of production of red blood cells. An average of 2.6 million red blood cells is produced each second by the bone marrow to replace those worn out and destroyed by the liver.

Bones serve as a storage area for minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. When an excess is present in the blood, buildup will occur within the bones. When the supply of these minerals within the blood is low, it will be withdrawn from the

Page 77: gk.txt

bones to replenish the supply. 2. Muscular system: There are several types of muscles such as cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles that form a part of muscular system. The muscular system is composed of over 600 muscles. Differences between each muscle are recognized

by location, function, structure, and the way they are contracted.

Functions:The main function of muscular system is movement. Muscles in coordination with

bones, joints, and some other tissues provide movement to the body.

The integrated action of joints, bones, and skeletal muscles produces obvious movements such as walking and running.

Skeletal muscles also produce more subtle movements that result in various facial expressions, eye movements, and respiration.

In addition to movement, muscle contraction also fulfills some other important functions in the body, such as posture, joint stability, and heat production. Posture,

such as sitting and standing, is maintained as a result of muscle.

3. Digestive system: The digestive system includes the digestive tract and its accessory organs, which process food into molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the cells of the body. The digestive tract, also called the alimentary canal or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, consists of a long continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus. It includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The tongue and teeth are accessory structures located in the mouth. The salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are major accessory organs that have a role in digestion. These organs secrete fluids into the digestive tract.

Functions:The main function of digestive system is to break down the food particles into smaller and smaller particles so that they get absorbed in the blood.

Page 78: gk.txt

4. Respiratory system: Respiration is the sequence of events that results in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the body cells.

We generally associate breathing to be the only function of the Respiratory system, breathing is only one of the activities of the respiratory system. The body cells need a continuous supply of oxygen for the metabolic processes that are necessary to maintain life. The respiratory system works with the circulatory system to provide this oxygen and to remove the waste products of metabolism. It also helps to regulate pH of the blood.

It consists of following organs: Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli.

The process of breathing, which involves inhalation and exhalation moves air into and out of the lungs.

After this, there is an exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood. This is called external respiration. The blood transports the gases to and from the tissue cells. The exchange of gases between the blood and tissue cells is internal respiration. Finally, the cells utilize the oxygen for their specific activities. This is cellular metabolism, or cellular respiration. Together these activities constitute respiration.

5. Circulatory system: This system is also known as cardio-vascular system. It consists of the heart, a muscular pumping device, and a closed system of vessels called arteries, veins, and capillaries. The blood is pumped by the heart around a close circuit of vessels. The vital role of the cardiovascular system in maintaining homeostasis depends on the continuous and controlled movement of blood through the thousands of miles of capillaries that permeate every tissue and reach every cell in the body.

It is in the microscopic capillaries that blood performs its ultimate transport function. Nutrients and other essential materials pass from capillary blood into fluids surrounding the cells as waste products are removed.

6. Reproductive system: In humans, male reproductive system consists of testes, epididymus, scrotum, vas deferens, penis, and glands.

Female reproductive system consists of vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, uterus,

Page 79: gk.txt

The reproductive system has following functions(i) to produce sperm and egg cells(ii) to produce hormones(iii) to nurture the developing offspring

7. Urinary system: The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. The kidneys form the urine and account for the other functions.

The urinary system maintains an appropriate fluid volume by regulating the amount of water that is excreted in the urine. Other aspects of its function include regulating the concentrations of various electrolytes in the body fluids and maintaining normal pH of the blood. Although the urinary system has a major role in excretion, other organs contribute to the excretory function. The lungs in the respiratory system excrete some waste products, such as carbon dioxide and water. The skin is another excretory organ that rids the body of wastes through the sweat glands. The liver and intestines excrete bile pigments that result from the destruction of hemoglobin. The major task of excretion still belongs to the urinary system. If it fails the other organs cannot take over and compensate adequately.

8. Nervous system: The nervous system is composed of organs, principally the brain, spinal cord, nerves. These, in turn, consist of various tissues, including nerve, blood, and connective tissue. Together these carry out the complex activities of the nervous system. The nervous system is the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body. It is the center of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory.}

9. Endocrine system: The endocrine system, along with the nervous system, functions in the regulation of body activities. The endocrine system acts through chemical messengers called hormones that influence growth, development, and metabolic activities.

There are basically two types of glands— endocrine and exocrine gland. The endocrine glands are also known as ductless glands. The secretory products of endocrine glands are called hormones and are secreted directly into the blood and then carried throughout the body where they influence only those cells that have receptor sites for that hormone. There are eight major endocrine glands scattered throughout the body. These are Pituitary and pineal gland; thyroid and parathyroid gland; adrenal gland; pancreas; gonads(testes and ovaries), etc.

Page 80: gk.txt

Some glands also have non-endocrine regions that have functions other than hormone secretion.

For example, the pancreas has a major exocrine portion that secretes digestive enzymes and an endocrine portion that secretes hormones. The ovaries and testes secrete hormones and also produce the ova and sperm.

COMPONENTS OF THE BODY

I. Structural organization of cell

The word cell is derived from a Latin word ‘cellula’, which means ‘a little room’.

Robert Hooke was the scientist who coined the term cell. He observed the cells while examining a thin slice of cork. The human body, which is made up of numerous cells, begins as a single, newly fertilized cell.

Cells constitute various components of plants and animals. A cell is the smallest unit of life and is capable of all living functions. Cells are the building blocks of life. This is the reason why cells are referred to as the basic structural and functional units of life.

The cell theory that all plants and animals are composed of cells and that cell is the basic unit of life was presented by two biologist, Schleiden (1838) and Schwann (1839).

The cell theory was further expanded by Rudolf Virchow in 1855. He suggested that all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Principles of cell theoryA. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.B. Cells are the basic units of structure and function in an organism. C. All cells come only from the reproduction of existing cells.

There are many different types, sizes, and shapes of cells in the body. For descriptive purposes, the concept of a “generalized cell” is introduced. It includes features from all cell types. A cell consists of three parts: the cell membrane, the nucleus, and between the two, the cytoplasm. Within the cytoplasm lie intricate arrangements of fine fibers and hundreds or even thousands of miniscule but distinct structures called organelles.Plasma membrane or cell membrane:The cell membrane (or plasma membrane or plasmalemma) is the outermost covering of the cell that separates the contents of the cell from the external environment.

Cell membrane is an extremely delicate, thin, elastic, and living membrane of the cell. It surrounds the cytoplasm of the cell and regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell. This means that the cell membrane allows the entry of only some substances and prevents the movement of some other materials. Therefore, the cell membrane is known as selectively permeable membrane.

Page 81: gk.txt

Functions of plasma membrane:1. It gives a definite shape to the cell.2. It separates the contents of the cell from its surrounding medium.3. It provides mechanical barrier for the protection of the internal contents of cell.4. It regulates entry and exit of substances in and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm:It is the fluid that fills the cell and occurs between the plasma membrane and the nuclear membrane. The cell organelles are suspended in the cytoplasm.

Functions:1. Cytoplasm helps in the exchange of material between the cell organelles.2. It acts as a storage organelle of vital chemicals, such as amino acids, glucose, vitamins, ions etc.3. It is the site of certain metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, synthesis of fatty acids, nucleotides, and some amino acids.

Nucleus:The nucleus is round in shape and is the largest organelle of the cell. It is generally present in the centre of the cell, except in plant cells where the nucleus is pushed towards the periphery of the cell because of the central vacuole. The nucleus is composed of the following components: nuclear membrane, nucleoplasm, and nucleolus.

Functions of nucleus:1. The nucleus controls all metabolic activities of the cell. 2. It regulates the cell cycle.3. It is concerned with the transmission of hereditary traits from the parent to the offspring.4. It plays an important role in cellular reproduction, the process by which a single cell divides or forms two new cells.

Cell organelles

Endoplasmic Reticulum:The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a large network of membrane-bound tubes and sheets. It looks like long tubules or round or oblong bags (vesicles). The ER functions as a packaging system. However, it does not work alone; it works closely with Golgi apparatus and ribosomes.

There are two types of ER—rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). RER looks rough under a microscope because it has particles called ribosomes attached to its surface. The ribosomes, which are present in all active cells, are the sites of protein manufacturing.

Functions:1. ER serves as a channel for the transport of materials (especially proteins) between

Page 82: gk.txt

various regions of the cytoplasm or between the cytoplasm and the nucleus.2. ER also functions as a cytoplasmic framework providing a surface for some of the biochemical activities of the cell.

Ribosomes: These are very small, round structures found either in free state suspended in the cytoplasm or attached to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. They are composed of ribonucleic acids and proteins.The main function of ribosomes is to act as a site of protein synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus:The Golgi apparatus is another packaging organelle like the endoplasmic reticulum. It was named after Camillo Golgi, an Italian biologist. It consists of a system of membrane bound vesicles arranged approximately parallel to each other in stacks called cisterns.

Functions:1. The material synthesised near the ER is packaged and dispatched to various targets inside and outside the cell through the Golgi apparatus.2. It helps in the storage, modification and packaging of products in vesicles.3. The Golgi apparatus is also involved in the formation of lysosomes and peroxisomes.

Lysosomes:Lysosomes are found in almost all animal-like eukaryotic cells. It is a membrane-bound vesicular structure that holds variety of other enzymes. The purpose of lysosome is to digest worn out cells. Lysosomes are involved in intracellular digestion of foreign food particles or microbes and are called digestive bags.

Sometimes, this organelle is also involved in the self-digestion of cells after their death, also known as autolysis. Hence they are also called as ‘suicidal bags’. Lysosomes are a kind of waste disposal system of a cell.

Mitochondria:Mitochondria create energy for the cell and this process of creating energy for the cell is known as cellular respiration. Most of the chemical reactions involved in cellular respiration occur in mitochondria. (though cellular respiration also occur in cytoplasm but very little energy is produced) The energy required for various chemical activities needed for life is released by mitochondria in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) molecules. This is why, mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell.

Functions of Mitochondria:1. Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration.2. They provide energy (in the form of ATP) for vital activities of the living cells.3. Mitochondria are able to make some of their own proteins, so they are regarded as semiautonomous organelles.

Page 83: gk.txt

Plastids:Plastids are the organelles that are present only in plant cells. These are double membrane organelles which are usually spherical or discoidal in shape.

There are two types of plastids – chromoplasts (coloured plastids) and leucoplasts (white or colourless plastids). Chromoplasts containing the pigment chlorophyll are known as chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are important for photosynthesis in plants. Chloroplasts also contain various yellow or orange pigments in addition to chlorophyll. Leucoplasts are primarily organelles in which materials such as starch, oils and protein granules are stored.

Vacuoles:Vacuoles are storage sacs (for solid or liquid contents) found in the cells. These are found in both plant and animal cells but are much larger in plant cells. The central vacuole of some plant cells may occupy 50-90% of the cell volume.

In plant cells, vacuoles are full of cell sap and provide turgidity and rigidity to the cell. Vacuoles store food and nutrients that a cell needs to survive. These include amino acids, sugars, various organic acids and some proteins.

Differences between plant and animal cells

Animal Cell Plant Cell

1. Animal cells are generally small in size. 1. Plant cells are usually larger than animal cells.

2. Cell wall is absent. 2. The plasma membrane of plant cells is surrounded by a rigid cell wall of cellulose.

3. Except the protozoan Euglena, no animal cell present.

3. Plastids (chromoplasts and leucoplasts) are possesses plastids.

4. Vacuoles are less in number and small in size. 4. Vacuoles are present in abundance and larger in size.

5. Animal cells have a single highly complex and prominent golgi apparatus.

5. Plant cells have many simpler units of golgi apparatus, called dictyosomes.

II. Blood

Blood is a highly specialised connective tissue present in human body. It is a vascular tissue that contains cells, separated by a non-living, liquid material. This liquid material or fluid is known as plasma.

Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets are suspended in plasma.

Page 84: gk.txt

The blood is the medium through which the entire body is nourished and supported carrying nutrient molecules from digested foods, as well as carrying away harmful waste products such as carbon dioxide. It circulates the needed oxygen from the lungs. It also picks up hormones and uses custom distribution to deliver chemical messages to the organs it comes into contact with. As other organs interact with the blood it is in a constant flux of updating and extending its chemical composition.

Functions of blood: • It transports hormones, nutrients, waste material to different parts of the body.• Red blood cells transport respiratory gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.• White blood cells fight diseases by producing antibodies.

III. Human brain

The brain is the main coordinating centre of the body. It is a part of the nervous system that controls and monitors every organ of the body.

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of nerves that connect the central nervous system to different parts of the body.

The central nervous system receives information from all parts of the body and also sends information to the muscles. The communication between the CNS and the body parts is facilitated by the nerves of the PNS.

The brain is divisible into three main regions—forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

Forebrain: It consists of the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus. It is the main thinking part of the brain. Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and constitutes four-fifth of its weight. The forebrain has sensory regions that receive sensory impulses from various receptors, as well as motor regions that control the movement of various muscles such as, the leg muscles. There are separate areas in the forebrain that are specialized for hearing, smelling, sight, and general sensations such as pain, touch, taste, etc. A certain part of the cerebrum primarily controls intelligence, learning, memory, thinking, and speech. The forebrain is also known as the main thinking part of the brain.

The hypothalamus contains many areas that control things such as body temperature, urge for eating and drinking, etc. Some regions of the cerebrum, along with the hypothalamus, are involved in the regulation of sexual behaviour and expression of emotional reactions such as, excitement, pleasure, fear, etc.

Midbrain: It has regions that are concerned with the sense of sight and hearing. Some regions of the midbrain transmit motor impulses to the limbs.

Page 85: gk.txt

Hindbrain: Most involuntary actions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, movement of food in the alimentary canal, salivation, etc., are controlled by the midbrain and hindbrain. All these involuntary actions are controlled by the medulla of the hindbrain.

The cerebellum, which is a part of the hindbrain, is responsible for maintaining posture and equilibrium of the body. It also coordinates the contraction of voluntary muscles according to the directions of the cerebrum.

The brain, as you have learnt, is an important organ for the maintenance of a variety of activities. As an important organ, it needs protection. Hence, it is enclosed by a bony box called the cranium. The spinal cord is protected by a bony, curved, vertical rod called the vertebrae or vertebral column.

EYE

Our paired eyes are located in sockets of the skull called orbits. A brief account of structure and functions of the human eye is given in the following sections.

Parts of an eyeThe adult human eye ball is nearly a spherical structure. The wall of theeye ball is composed of three layers.

• The external layer is composed of a dense connective tissue and is called the sclera. The anterior portion of this layer is called the cornea.

• The middle layer, choroid, contains many blood vessels and looks bluish in colour.

• The choroid layer is thin over the posterior two-thirds of the eye ball, but it becomes thick in the anterior part to form the ciliary body.

• The ciliary body itself continues forward to form a pigmented and opaque structure called the iris which is the visible coloured portion of the eye.

• The eye ball contains a transparent crystalline lens which is held in place by ligaments attached to the ciliary body.

• In front of the lens, the aperture surrounded by the iris is called the pupil. The diameter of the pupil is regulated by the muscle fibres of iris.

• The inner layer is the retina and it contains three layers of cells – from inside to outside – ganglion cells, bipolar cells and photoreceptor cells.

Page 86: gk.txt

DEFECTS OF VISION

MyopiaMyopia is also known as near-sightedness. A person with myopia can see nearby objects clearly but cannot see distant objects distinctly.

This defect can be corrected by using a concave lens of suitable power.

HypermetropiaHypermetropia is also known as far-sightedness. A person with hypermetropia can see distant objects clearly but cannot see nearby objects distinctly.

This defect arises either because (i) the focal length of the eye lens is too long, or (ii) the eyeball has become too small. This defect can be corrected by using a convex lens of appropriate power.

PresbyopiaThe power of accommodation of the eye usually decreases with ageing. For most people, the near point gradually recedes away. They find it difficult to see nearby objects comfortable and distinctly without corrective eye-glasses. This defect is called Presbyopia.

EAR

The ears perform two sensory functions, hearing and maintenance of body balance. Anatomically, the ear can be divided into three major sections called the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

• The outer ear consists of the pinna and external auditory meatus (canal). The pinna collects the vibrations in the air which produce sound.

• The external auditory meatus leads inwards and extends up to the tympanic membrane (the ear drum).

Page 87: gk.txt

• There are very fine hairs and wax- secreting sebaceous glands in the skin of the pinna and the meatus. The tympanic membrane is composed of connective tissues covered with skin outside and with mucus membrane inside.

• The middle ear contains three ossicles called malleus, incus and stapes which are attached to one another in a chain-like fashion.

• The malleus is attached to the tympanic membrane and the stapes is attached to the oval window of the cochlea. The ear ossicles increase the efficiency of transmission of sound waves to the inner ear.

• An Eustachian tube connects the middle ear cavity with the pharynx. The Eustachian tube helps in equalising the pressures on either sides of the ear drum.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

The process of intake of any external source of energy or food is called nutrition. All living organisms require energy, but they get it from different sources. Some organisms utilize simple inorganic sources such as, carbon dioxide and water, whereas the other organisms utilize complex substances. These complex substances are broken down into simpler ones before they can be utilized by various life processes for the growth and repair of the body.

All the varied sources of energy, that any living organism consumes, are always broken down or built up into a uniform source of energy that can be used for sustaining various life processes.

There are seven major classes of nutrients that the body needs: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibers and water

Page 88: gk.txt

Carbohydrates: These are the body’s main source of energy. The three different kinds of carbohydrates are starch, sugar and fibers. Plant foods like cereals, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, plantains and corn are good sources of starch. They give us the energy we need to do daily activities. These starchy foods give us important vitamins and minerals, too.

Fats:Fat is a nutrient that is an important source of calories. One gram of fat supplies 9 calories - more than twice the amount we get from carbohydrates or protein. Fat also is needed to carry and store essential fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A and D. There are two basic types of fat. They are grouped by their chemical structure. Each type of fat is used differently in our bodies and has a different effect on our health.Fat is found in many foods. Some of the fat that we eat comes from the fat we add in cooking or spread on breads, vegetables or other foods. A lot of fat is hidden in foods that we eat as snacks, pastries or prepared meals.

ProteinsThese are necessary for the growth of the cells. It also repairs or replaces healthy cells and tissues.

Protein is made of chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Our bodies can make most of the amino acids. Most foods that are obtained from animals, such as fish, chicken, beef, pork, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt contain all of the essential amino acids. They are known as “complete” proteins. Plant foods, such as rice, dried beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, wheat, oats, corn, may be low or lacking in one or more of the amino acids. They are considered to be incomplete proteins.

VitaminsThese are the organic compounds obtained from the food in minute quantity. They must be supplied from external sources and perform specific functions. On the basis of their solubility, vitamins are divided into two categories:• Fat soluble vitamins – Vitamin A, D, E, and K• Water soluble vitamins – Vitamin B complex, and C

Vitamin A: It is also known as retinol. It is manly found in animal sources such as cod-liver oil, milk, butter, ghee, egg, fish, etc. In plant sources, vitamin A is mainly found in carrot, tomatoes, leafy vegetable, papaya, etc.

The deficiency of this vitamin can cause nightblindness.

FunctionsVitamin A is essential for growth. It is main component of rhodopsin, hence it is essential for night vision.It controls the action of bone cells.

Page 89: gk.txt

Vitamin D: It is also known as calciferol. It is mainly found in animal sources such as cod liver oil, butter, milk, ghee, egg, etc.

FunctionsIt promotes calcium absorption from the intestine.It helps in the development of new born.

Vitamin E: It is also known as tocopherol. The main animal source of this vitamin is egg, fish, meat, etc. The plant sources include vegetable seed oils sucha s wheat, soyabean, corn, etc.

FunctionsIt has antioxidative properties. It mainly prevents unwanted oxidation the body.It is required for normal functioning of muscles.

Vitamin K: It is also known as phylloquinone. The main plant sources of this vitamin are cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, etc.

FunctionsIt helps in the maintenance of normal prothrombin and factor VII in the blood. Thus it takes active part in normal coagulation.

Vitamin B complex: It includes vitamin B1 or thiamine, B2 or riboflavin, B3 or pantothenic acid, B5 or niacin, B6 or pyridoxine, B12 or cyanocobalamin.

The main source of this vitamin are cereals, pulses, nuts, and green vegetables.

Functions:It is essential for normal growthIt is essential basic reactions of metabolismIt helps in the formation of fat from carbohydrates.

Vitamin C: It is also known as ascorbic acid. It is mainly found in citrus fruits such as amla, tomato, papaya, etc. It is also found in fresh vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, beans. Etc.

Functions:It is essential for proper functioning of the formative cells of various tissuesIt plays a key role in wound repair.

Human diseases

1. Infectious diseasesA disease caused due to microorganisms is known as an infectious disease.

Page 90: gk.txt

Infectious agents: They are the disease-causing microorganisms which belong to different categories such as:

Infectious agents

VirusesSome bacteria Some fungi Some unicellular animals Some multicellular animals

• Viruses – They are very tiny organisms which are visible only with the help of electron microscope. They cannot grow, multiply, or reproduce on their own. They need to infect a host cell to get the required machinery to perform these functions. Influenza, cold (Rhinovirus), dengue, AIDS, etc., are certain human diseases caused by viruses.

• Bacteria – Bacteria are unicellular organisms that are larger than viruses. There are only some bacteria that cause diseases while some other bacteria are useful in nature. Whooping cough, typhoid, cholera, anthrax, etc., are certain human diseases caused by bacteria.

• Fungi – They are plant-like organisms, which are heterotrophic, i.e., they lack chlorophyll. Their cells have cell walls. Athlete’s foot, candidiasis, ringworms, etc., are some human diseases caused by fungi.

• Protozoa – They are simple, primitive unicellular organisms which include Amoeba, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania. They are often found in water as they need moisture for survival. Hence, they cause diseases through contaminated water.Amoebiasis, kala azar, malaria, African sleeping sickness, etc., are some of the diseases caused by protozoans.

• Multicellular animals like worms – Worms are the parasites that infect intestines of human beings and other animals. It includes round worms, pinworms, hookworm, tapeworm etc. Diarrhoea, anaemia, liver rot, etc., are caused by these worms.

2. Deficiency diseases: These diseases are caused by the deficiency of one or the other nutrient in the diet. For example,

i. Deficiency of protein may cause Kwashiorkar and marasmus

ii. Deficiency of iron causes anaemia

iii. Deficiency of iodine causes goitre

Page 91: gk.txt

iv. Deficiency of vitamin A causes night blindness

v. Deficiency of vitamin B1 causes beri-beri

 

Books and Authors

Name of the book Author

Autobiographies

Babur–Nama Babur

Made in Japan Akio Morita

Mein Kamph Adolf Hitler

Moon Walk Michael Jackson

Sunny Days Sunil Gavaskar

Wings of Fire APJ Abdul Kalam

Biographies

Ain-I-Akbari Abul Fazal

Akbarnama Abul Fazal

Idols Sunil Gavaskar

Shahnama Firdausi

Classic

All’s Well that Ends well William Shakespeare

A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens

Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy

Page 92: gk.txt

Antony and Cleopatra William Shakespeare

As You like it William Shakespeare

Abhijnanshakuntalam Kalidas

Babbit Sinclair Lewis

Ceaser and Cleopatra George Bernard Shaw

The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare

David Copperfield Charles Dickens

Devdas Sharat Chandra Chatterjee

Doctor Zhivago Boris Pasternak

Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes

Fountain Head Ayn Rand

Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell

Gulliver’s Travels Jonathan Swift

Hamlet William Shakespeare

Iliad Homer

Indica Magasthenese

The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde

Invisible Man H. G. Wells

Julius Caesar William Shakespeare

Kadambari Bana Bhatt

Kamasutra Vatsyayan

Kamayani Jai Shankar Prasad

King Lear William Shakespeare

Page 93: gk.txt

Macbeth William Shakespeare

Mahabharata Ved Vyas

Meghdoot Kalidas

Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing William Shakespeare

Mudra Rakshas Vishakadutta

Natya Shastra Bharat Muni

Nine Days Wonder John Masefield

Odyssey Homer

Oliver Charles Dickens

Othello William Shakespeare

Paradise Lost John Milton

Pather Panchali Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

Raghuvamsa Kalidas

Ram Charita Manas Tulsidas

Ramayana Valmiki

Ratnavali Harsha Vardhan

Rendezvous with Rama Arthur C Clarke

Ritu Samhara Kalidas

Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe

Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare

Savitri Sir Aurobindo Ghosh

Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen

Page 94: gk.txt

Sohrab and Rustum Mathew Arnold

The Tempest William Shakespeare

The Count of Monte Cristo Alexander Dumas

My Experiments with Truth Mahatma Gandhi

Three Musketeers Alexander Dumas

Time machine H.G. Wells

Treasure Island R L Stevenson

Twelfth Night Willam Shakespeare

Twenty Years After Alexander Dumas

Ulysses James Joyce

Unto This Last John Ruskin

Uttar Ramcharita Bhavbhuti

Vanity Fair William Thackeray

Vinay Patrika Tulsidas

The Virginians William Thackeray

Yama Mahadevi Verma

Descriptive

Area of Darkness V. S. Naipaul

Freedom from Fear Aung San Su Kyi

Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela

Maneaters of Kumaon Jim Corbett

Origin of Species Charles Darwin

Sadar-I-Riyasat Karan Singh

Starry Nights Shobha De

Page 95: gk.txt

Economics

New Dimensions of India’s Foreign Policy A B Vajpayee

Wealth of Nations Adam Smith

Fantasy

Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark Twain

The Class Eric Segal

Dr. JekyII and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson

One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabrial Garcla Marquez

Other Side of Midnight, The Sidney Sheldon

Swami and Friends R.K. Narayan

The Alchemist Paulo Coelho

The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy

Fiction

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adventure of Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe

Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark Twain

Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carrol

A Bend In the River V S Naipaul

A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth

An Equal Music Vikram Seth

Arabian Nights Richard Burton

Page 96: gk.txt

Being Digital Nicholas Negroponte

Catcher in the Rye J D Sallinger

Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer

Chitra Rabindranath Tagore

City of Joy Domonique Lapiere

Coolie Mulk Raj Anand

East West Salman Rushdie

Fury Salman Rushdie

Future Shock Alvin Toffler

Godfather Mario Puzo

Godan Munshi Prem Chand

The Guide R.K. Narayan

Gulliver’s Travels Jonathan Swift

Half a Life V S Naipaul

Harsha Charita Bana Bhatt

Inscrutable Americans Anurag Mathur

Interpreter of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri

Iron in the soul Jean Paul Sartre

Ivanhoe Walter Scott

The Judgement Kuldip Nayar

Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling

Kim Rudyard Kipling

Life Divine Aurobindo Ghosh

Lajja Tasleema Nasreen

Page 97: gk.txt

Lolita V. Nabakov

Love Story Eric Segal

Malgudi Days R K Narayan

Midnight’s children Salman Rushdie

Moor’s Last Sigh Salman Rushdie

Mother Moxim Gorky

Nice Guys Finish Second B K Nehru

Panchatantra Vishnu Sharma

Post Office Rabindranath Tagore

The Satanic Verses Salman Rushdie

Shape of Things to Come H. G. Wells

Shame Salman Rushdie

The Last Don Mario Puzo

The Tin Drum Guenter Grass

Treasure Island R L Stevenson

Two Leaves and a Bud Mulk Raj Anand

Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking Ankit Fadia

Vish Vriksha Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

War and Peace Leo Tolstoy

History Books

Arthashastra Kautilya

August 1914 (H) Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Ben Hur Lewis Wallace

Communist Manifesto Karl Marx

Page 98: gk.txt

Discovery of India Jawahar Lal Nehru

Hindu View of Life D. S. Radhakrishnan

India-A Wounded Civilisation V S Naipaul

India Divided Rajendra Prasad

India Wins Freedom Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Indian Home Rule M. K. Gandhi

Indian Philosophy D. S. Radhakrishnan

Man and Superman George Bernard Shaw

A Passage to India E. M. Forster

Wake up India Annie Besant

The Wonder that Was India A.L. Basham

Poetry

Bharat Bharati Maithili Sharan Gupt

Geet Govinda Jaya Dev

Gitanjali Rabindranath Tagore

Rubaiyat Omar Khayyam

Philosophy

Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand

Geet govinda Jaya Dev

Voice of Conscience V. V. Giri

Psychology

Page 99: gk.txt

Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky

Games People Play Eric Berne

Man of Destiny George Bernard Shaw

Satyartha Prakash Swami Dayanand

Sociology

Das Kapital Karl Marx

Diplomacy Henry Kissinger

Gita Rahasya Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Grammer of Politics Harold Laski

Politics Aristotle

Republic Plato

Sub Regionalism in Asia Abul Kalam Azad

Surviving Men Khushwant Singh

The Degeneration of India T. N. Seshan

Untouchable Mulk Raj Anand

Utopia Thomas Moore

Miscellaneous

Area of Darkness V. S. Naipaul

Between the lines Kuldip Nayar

Brave New world Aldous Huxley

Broken wing Sarojini Naidu

Beyond Peace Richard Nixon

Blood, Brain and Beer David Ogilvy

Page 100: gk.txt

Confessions of a Lover Mulk Raj Anand

District Diary Jaswant Singh

Dragon Fire Humphry Hawensky

Dilemma of our time Harold Joseph Laski

Doctor’s Dilemma George Bernard Shaw

Don Juan Lord Byron

Ends and Means Aldous Huxley

Fifth Column Ernest Hemingway

Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway

First Among Equals Jeffrey Archer

For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway

Gathering Storm Winston Churchill

Glimpses of World History Jawaharlal Nehru

Golden Threshold Sarojini Naidu

The Golden Gate Virkram Seth

Heat and Dust Ruth P. Jhabwala

India Unbound Gurcharan Das

Is Paris Burning Larry Collins & Dominique Lapiere

If I am Assassinated Z. A. Bhutto

Kumar Sambhava Kalidas

Mother India Katherine Mayo

My Music, My life Ravi Shankar

My Truth Indira Gandhi

A Passage to England Nirad C. Choudhary

Page 101: gk.txt

To live or Not to Live Nirad C. Choudhary

Triumph John Kenneth Galbraith

Valley of Dolls Jacqueline Susan

Worshipping False Gods Arun Shourie

Major Print Media Companies in India

1. ANANDA BAZAR PATRIKA LTD. (ABP LTD.)

ABP Ltd. is one of the leading media companies in India. The group started out as a newspaper by the name of Ananda Bazar Patrika in 1922. ABP was founded by Prafulla Chandra Sarkar who was also the editor. Today along with its flagship newspaper, the group publishes 9 other publications. These include

l The Telegraph in Schools – standlone Newspaper by & for school students

l Unish Kuri – teen Bengali Magazine 2003

l Ananda Bazar Patrika – a premier Bengali language daily

l Anandamela – a children’s monthly magazine in Bengali

l Anadalok – a film magazine published in Bengali

l Desh – a literary magazine

l Boier Desh – another literary magazine in Bengali

l Sports World – a sports magazine

l The Telegraph – an English language daily

l Sunday – an English language weekly magazine

l Business World – a weekly business magazine

l Career – Fortnightly launched in 2004

Page 102: gk.txt

l Sanada – Fortnightly Woman Magazine Bengali & Oriya

l Star Majha– Marathi 2007, Star News – 2003

The group jointly owns a 24 hour news channel in collaboration with Star India by the name of ‘Star Ananda’ Bengali – 2005. The present editor-in-chief of the group is Mr. Aveek Sarkar.

2. INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP

The Indian Express group is another leading media company owned by the RPG group. The Indian Express group started out as a newspaper by the same name in 1932. The foundation of the group was laid down by Late Shri Ramnath Goenka. The present Chairman and Managing Director of the group is Mr. Vivek Goenka. Presently the group owns 35 national editions, 14 publication centers and 7 national language dailies. Some of the major group publications are

l The Indian Express – a leading national daily

l The Sunday Express – a weekly English newspaper

l Loksatta – a Marathi language daily

l Express Hospitality – Express Travel work – monthly

l The Financial Express – daily business newspaper

l Lok Prabha – a weekly Marathi language magazine

l Jansatta – a Hindi language daily

l Screen – a film magazine published in Hindi and English

l Network Magazine – an IT Intelligent Enterprize

l Express Computer – Weekly express channel business

l Express Pharma – Express Healthcare

l Healthcare Management – a pharmacy magazine

3. BENNETT COLEMAN & CO. LTD. (TIMES GROUP)

Page 103: gk.txt

The company started its operations in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1838 when the first edition of The Times of India was published. Today, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. is one of the leading media house in India. The group is a multi-product group and has a number of leading media brands to its name. These include,

l The Times of India – a leading English language daily

l The Economic Times – a leading business daily

l NavBharat Times – a leading Hindi language daily

l Maharashtra Times – a leading Marathi daily

l Femina – a women’s magazine published in English

l Filmfare – a film magazine

l Times Music – The group’s music label

l Radio Mirchi – The group’s radio station

l Indiatimes.com – The group’s internet portal

The present chairperson of the group is Ms. Indu Jain. Mr. Vineet Jain is the Managing Director of the group.

4. HT MEDIA LTD.

One of the largest Indian media company, HT Media ltd. was founded in 1924 when its first newspaper, Hindustan Times was launched. A flagship company of the KK Birla group, HT Media Ltd. today operates with 15 printing facilities across India. Some major brands owned by the company are:

l Hindustan Times – a leading English daily

l Hindustantimes.com – online newspaper of the group

Page 104: gk.txt

l industan – a leading Hindi daily

l Hindustandainik.com – online Hindi newspaper

l HT Next – a youth newspaper

l Kadambini – a monthly Hindi magazine

l Nandan – a popular children’s magazine published in Hindi and English

l Metro Now – Young Delhities Newspaper

l Mint – Business Newspaper

The present Chairman of HT Media Ltd. is Mr. K K Birla. Mr. Vir Sanghvi is the editor-in-chief.

5. INDIA TODAY GROUP (LIVING MEDIA PVT. LTD.)

India Today Group is the largest media house in India. The group was founded in 1975 by Mr. Aroon Purie, who has held the position of editor- in- chief for the last three decades. Today the group has 12 magazines, 3 Radio stations, 4 TV channels, a newspaper, a music label, a book publishing house and India’s only book club in its bouquet. These include:

l India Today – a weekly magazine published in Hindi and English

l Money Today – a monthly financial magazine

l Business Today – a fortnightly business magazine

l Men’s Health – a monthly health magazine for men

l Design Today – a monthly interior design magazine

l Good Housekeeping – a monthly magazine

l Travel Plus – a monthly travel magazine

l Cosmopolitan – a monthly women’s magazine

l Reader’s Digest – a monthly magazine

Page 105: gk.txt

l Golf Digest India – a monthly golf magazine

l Harvard Business Review – a Harvard Business School management journal

l Time – Indian issue of the magazine

l Fortune – Indian issue of the magazine

l Chartered Accountant – a monthly journal on Chartered Accountancy

l Today – a daily newspaper

l Aaj Tak, Delhi Aaj Tak, Tez – 24 hour Hindi news channels

l Headlines Today – 24 hour English news channel

l Thompson Press – The group’s publishing label

l Music Today – The group’s music label

l Meow 104.8 FM – Stations Just for Women

6. HINDU GROUP

The Hindu group started its operations as a weekly newspaper by the same name in 1878. The newspaper became a daily in 1889. Today, the group’s flagship newspaper is printed from 12 centers. Some of the other group publications include:

l Hindu Business Line – a business daily

l The Sportstar – a weekly sports magazine

l Frontline – fortnightly features magazine

l Survey of the Indian Industry – an annual review on Indian industries

l Survey of Indian Agriculture – an annual review on Indian agriculture

l Survey of the Environment – an annual review of the environment

l Indian Cricket – an annual record book on cricket

l The Hindu – Daily

l The Hindu International – Edition Weekly

Page 106: gk.txt

l The Hindu International – Monthly & Cumulated annual

The present group editor-in-chief is Mr. N. Ram.

Major Indian Magazines

Magazine Publishing House

A & M Spectrum Magazines

Business World Ananda Bazar Patrika

The Week Malayala Manorama

Business Today Living Media

Computers Today Living Media

Cosmopolitan Living Media

Digit Jassubhai Digital Media

Economic & Political Weekly Sameeksha Trust

Femina Bennett Coleman & Co.

Filmfare Bennett Coleman & Co.

Fortune (Indian Edition) Living Media

Frontline Hindu Group

Gentleman Express Publications

Good Housekeeping Living Media

India Today Living Media

Intelligent Investor Berkshire Hathaway

Kadambini HT Media Ltd.

Nandan HT Media Ltd.

Outlook Rajan Raheja group

Reader’s Digest (Indian Edition) Living Media

Page 107: gk.txt

The Sportstar Hindu Group

Teens Today Living Media

Yojana Ministry of I&B

Major Indian Newspapers

Newspaper Publishing House

Asian Age Asian Age Holdings

Business Standard Business Standard Ltd.

Financial Express RPG promoted Indian Express Group

Hindu Business Line Hindu Group

Hindustan Times K K Birla promoted HT Media Ltd.

Indian Express RPG promoted Indian Express Group

Navbharat Times Bennett Coleman & Co.

Pioneer CMYK Printech

Telegraph Ananda Bazar Patrika

The Hindu Hindu Group

The Economic Times Bennett Coleman & Co.

The Times of India Bennett Coleman & Co.

Tribune Tribune Trust

COMMONLY USED BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC ABBREVIATIONS

AAGR Average Annual Growth Rate

AAR Average Annual Return

ABB Asean Braun Boveri

Page 108: gk.txt

ADAG Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group

ADB Asian Development Bank

ADR American Depository Receipts

AGM Annual General Meeting

APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

APM Administered Price Mechanism

ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange

ASSOCHAM Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry

B2B Business to Business

B2C Business to Consumer

BIS Bank for International Settlements, Bureau of Indian Standards

BOP Balance of Payment

BPO Business Process Outsourcing

BRIC Brazil India Russia China

BSE Bombay Stock Exchange

CAGR Compounded Annual Growth Rate

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CFO Chief Financial Officer

CII Confederation of Indian Industries

CIS Commonwealth of Independent States

CMIE Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy

CPI Consumer Price Index

CRISIL Credit Rating Information Services of India Ltd.

CRR Cash Reserve Ratio

Page 109: gk.txt

CSO Central Static’s organization

DIAL Delhi International Airport Ltd.

EMI Equated Monthly Installment

EPS Earnings Per Share

EPZ Export Processing Zone

ESOP Employee Stock Ownership Plan

EXIM Bank Export and Import Bank

FDI Foreign Direct Investment

FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act

FERA Foreign Exchange Regulation Act

FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

FII Foreign Institutional Investor

FIPB Foreign Investment Promotion Board

GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GDR Global Depository Receipt

GNP Gross National Product

HDFC Housing Development Finance Corporation

HNWI High Net Worth Individuals

ICICI Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India

ICRA Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India

IDBI Industrial Development Bank of India

IFC Industrial Finance Corporation; International Finance Corporation

ILO International Labour Organization

Page 110: gk.txt

IMF International Monetary Fund

IPCL Indian Petrochemical Corporation Limited

IPO Initial Public Offering

IRDA Insurance Regulation and Development Authority

IRR Internal Rate of Return

JV Joint Venture

KPI Key Performance Indicators

LIBOR London Inter-bank Offered Rate

LIC Life Insurance Corporation of India

M1 Money supply with public

M2 M1 + time related deposits + savings deposits, money market funds.

M3 Aggregate monetary resources

MNC Multi National Corporation

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

NABARD National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development

NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement

NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation

NASSCOM National Association of Software and Service Companies (of India)

NAV Net Asset Value

NCAER National Council of Applied Economic Search

NHAI National Highways Authority of India Limited

NPA Non Performing Assets

NRIs Non-Resident Indian

NRS National Readership Survey

Page 111: gk.txt

NSE National Stock Exchange

NYSE New York Stock Exchange

ONGC Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

OPEC Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OTCEI Over the Counter Exchange of India

PETA People for Ethical Treatment of Animals

PLR Prime Lending Rate

PPP Purchasing Power Parity

PSU Public Sector Undertaking

RBI Reserve Bank of India

RPI Retail Price Index

SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Coorporation

SAIL Steel Authority of India Limited

SEBI Securities and Exchange Board of India

SENSEX Sensitivity Index (of Share Price on BSE)

SEZ Special Economic Zone

SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio

SME SME

SWOT Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats

TISCO Tata Iron and Steel Co.

UHNWI Ultra-high Networth Individual

UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

VAT Value Added Tax

Page 112: gk.txt

WEF World Economics Forum

WPI Whole Sale Price Index

YTM Yield to Maturity

TYPES OF BUSINESS ENTITIES

A business entity is an institution engaged in an economic activity, producing, selling and distributing goods/services with an aim of earning profits. Three important types of business entities are: 1. Sole Proprietorship2. Partnership3. Company

1. SOLE PROPRIETORSHIPWhen an individual takes the initiative to start an activity related to start a trade or commerce for his own economic benefit, it is known as sole proprietorship. A sole proprietor is a single person who owns, maintains and manages the whole show in the business. All the salaries and other overheads only form a part of the expenses of the sole proprietorship firm. After deducting all the expenses that relate to the business from total receipts of the business, what remains is the profit which may either be reinvested in the firm or could be withdrawn by the proprietor.

Characteristic of a Sole Proprietorship Business

i. Single Ownership

ii. Autonomy in Decision Making - The sole proprietor is the only decision maker and has complete autonomy in decision making.

iii. Quick Decision Making – Since the firm is owned by a single person, the decision making is prompt.

iv. Unlimited Liability – In case of insolvency of the firm, the liability stands unlimited i.e. if the assets of the firm are not enough to pay off the business debts the personal assets of the proprietor are also attached to the firm’s property.

v. Can be winded up without any prior legal notice.

vi. No Separate Legal Entity – In case of sole proprietorship, the owner and the business are considered one and the same i.e. the actions taken by the proprietor are binding upon the firm and vice versa.

2. PARTNERSHIP An individual i.e. a sole proprietor may not be in a position to cope with the financial and

Page 113: gk.txt

managerial demands of the present business world. As a result, two or more individuals may decide to pool in their financial ad non-financial resources to start and carry on a business. The Indian partnership act defines partnership as, “the partnership between persons who have agreed to share the profits of business carried on by all, or any one of them acting for all.”

Characteristics of a Partnership Business

i. An association of two or more persons.

ii. An agreement entered into by all persons concerned.

iii. Existence of business (and not just an agreement) .

iv. The carrying on of business by all, or any one of them acting for all.

v. Sharing of profits (or losses)of the business.

From the point of view, the main thing is that relations among the partners will be governed by mutual agreement. The agreement is known as The Partnership Deed which is to be properly stamped. It should be comprehensive to avoid disputes later on. It is usual therefore, to find the following clauses in a Partnership business:

i. Name of the firm and the partnership business.

ii. Commencement and duration of business

iii. Amount of capital to be contributed by each partner

iv. Rate of interest to be provided to each partner on his capital

v. Disposal of profits and the ratio in which it would be done

vi. Amount to be allowed to each partner as drawings and the timings of such drawings

vii. Whether a partner will be allowed a salary

viii.

Any variation in the mutual rights and duties of the partners

ix Method by which goodwill will be calculated

x Procedure by which a partner may retire and the method of payment of his dues

xi Treatment of losses arising out of the insolvency of a partner

Page 114: gk.txt

xii Preparation of accounts and their audit

3. COMPANYThe word Company etymologically is a combination of two Latin words ‘Com’ meaning ‘with or together’ and ‘Pains’ meaning ‘bread’. Originally, it referred to a group of persons who took their meals together.

In business terminology, a company “refers to a legal entity formed which has a separate legal entity from its members, and is ordinarily incorporated to undertake commercial business”.

Put in simple words, a company is nothing but a group of persons that have come together and have contributed money for some common purpose and have incorporated themselves into a distinct legal entity in the form of a company for the same purpose. A company is formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956.

Characteristics of a Company

i. Separate Legal Entity - A company has a legal identity distinct from that of its members. In a court case, Salomon vs. Salomon & Co. Ltd, 1807, the entity of the company has been described as following “A company is a person, artificial, invisible, intangible and existing in the eyes of law”.

ii. Limited Liability – In a company limited by shares, liability of the members is limited to the unpaid value of the shares whereas in a company limited by guarantee, liability of the members is limited to such amount as the members may undertake to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of it being winded up.

iii. Perpetual Succession – A company’s life does not depend upon the life of its members. Members of a company may come and go, may change from time to time, but that does not affect the continuity of the company.

iv. Separate Property – Since the company has a separate legal entity, it also has a separate property of its own. No member can claim to be the owner of the company’s property till the existence of the company.

v. Transferability of Shares – The shares in a company are freely transferable but subject to certain conditions, such that no shareholder is permanently or necessarily attached to the company.

vi. Common Seal - A company is an artificial person and does not have a physical existence. A common seal is the official signature of the company under which it operates and carries out its activities.

vii. Legal Entity – Since a company is a separate entity, distinguished from its owners, it has the capacity to sue and can be sued in its own name.

viii.

Separate Management – A company is owned by its shareholders but the management of a company is in the hands of its managerial force constituted of Board of Directors, employees etc. Thus the management of a company is separate from its owners. The shareholders may or may not constitute a company’s management.

Page 115: gk.txt

ix One Share-One Vote – The voting principle followed by a company is of the pattern where one share constitutes one vote. If a person holds 100 shares of a company, he has 100 eligible votes in that company.

Types of Companies

1. Public Company Public Company is a company in which shares are held collectively by the general public rather than a selected few individuals. Minimum number of members in a public company is seven, if members become less than seven, the company is no longer a public company but is rather a private company.

2. Private Company Private company means a company which by its articles of association,

l Restricts the right of members to transfer its shares

l Limits the number of its members to fifty. In determining this number of 50, employee-members and ex-employee members are not to be considered.

l Prohibits an invitation to the public to subscribe to any shares in or the debentures of the company.

If a private company contravenes any of the aforesaid provisions, it ceases to be a private company and loses all the exemptions and privileges which a private company is entitled to. Minimum number of members in a private company is two. A private company does not need a separate certificate from the Registrar of Companies for the commencement of its business.

3. Companies deemed to be Public Limited Company A private company will be treated as a deemed public limited company under one of the following circumstances:

l Where at least 25% of the paid up share capital of a private company is held by one or more body corporates, the private company shall automatically become a public company on and from the date on which the aforesaid percentage is so held.

l Where the annual average turnover of the private company during the period of three consecutive financial years is not less than Rs 25 crores, the private company shall be, irrespective of its paid up share capital, deemed a public company.

l Where not less than 25% of the paid up capital of a public limited company is held by the private company, then the private company shall become a public company on and from the date on which the aforesaid percentage is so held.

l Where a private company accepts deposits from public, after an invitation is made by advertisement or renews deposits from the public (other than from its members or directors or their relatives), such company shall become public company on and from the date when such acceptance or renewal is first made.

Page 116: gk.txt

4. Limited and Unlimited Companies Companies may be limited, limited by shares or limited by guarantee.

a) Company limited by shares - In this case, the liability of the members is limited to the amount of uncalled share capital. No member of the company limited by the shares can be called upon to pay more than the face value of shares or so much of it as has remained unpaid. The members of limited companies have no liability in case of fully paid up shares.

b) Company limited by the guarantee - A company limited by guarantee is a registered company having the liability of its members limited by its Memorandum of Association (MoA) to such amount as the members may respectively thereby undertake to pay if necessary on liquidation of the company. The liability of the members to pay the guaranteed amount arises only when the company has gone into liquidation and not when it is a going concern.

c) Unlimited Company: The liability of the members of an unlimited company is unlimited. Therefore their liability is similar to that of the liability of the partners in a partnership firm.

5. Section 25 Company Under the Companies Act, 1956, the name of a public limited company must end with the word ‘Limited’ and the name of a private limited company must end with the word ‘Private Limited’. However, under Section 25, the Central Government may allow companies to remove the word “Limited / Private Limited” from the name if any of the following conditions are met by:

l The company is formed for promoting commerce, science, art, religion, charity or other socially useful objectives.

l The company does not intend to pay dividend to its members but apply its profits and other income in promotion of its objectives.

6. Holding and Subsidiary CompaniesA company shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of another company if:

l That other company controls the composition of its board of directors

l That other company holds more than half (>50%) in face value of its equity share capital.

The control of the composition of the Board of Directors of the company means that the holding company has the power at its discretion, to appoint or remove all or majority of directors of the subsidiary company without consent or concurrence of any other person.

7. Government CompanyA Government Company is the one in which 51% or more is held either by the central government or by the state government or is jointly held by the central and the state government. All the decisions pertaining to its management and operations are taken by the government.

Page 117: gk.txt

8. Foreign CompanyA company that has been incorporated outside India, under the law of some other country, is registered in that country and has set up its business in India is called a Foreign Company

GLOBAL COMPANIES AND LEADERS

AUTOMOBILE

S. No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present head Designation

1 BMWMunich, Germany

1913Karl & Gustav otto

RappDr. Norbert Chairman

2 Daimler AGStuttgart, Germany

1924 (as Daimler-Benz

AG)

Kar Benz of Benz & Cie (founded in 1883) & Giffkiev

Daimler & Wilhelm Maybach of Daimler

Motoren Gasellschaft

(founded 1890).

Dieter Zetsche Chairman

3 Fiat Turin, Italy 1899 Giovanni AgnelliLuca Cordero Di Montezemolo

Chairman

4 Ford Motors Dearborn, USA 1903 Henry Ford William Ford. Jr. Chairman

5 Honda Motors Tokyo, Japan 1948 Soichiro Honda Satoshi Aoki

CEO & Alan Mullaly is

President & CEO

6 Mitsubishi Tokyo, Japan 1870 Yataro Iwasaki Takashi Nishioka Chairman

7General Motors

Detroit-Minnesota, USA

1908 William C. Durant Fritz HendersonChairman &

CEO

8Harley

DavidsonMilwaukee,

Wisconsin, USA 1903

William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson

Keith E Wandell CEO

9 RenaultBoulogne – Billancourt,

France

1899 Louis Renault Carlos Ghosn CEO

Page 118: gk.txt

10 Chrysler LLC Michigan, USA 1925 Walter P. Chrysler Sergio MarchionneCEO &

Chairman

11 Toyota Japan 1937 Kiichiro Toyoda Fujio Cho Chairman

12 Volkswagen AG Germany 1937Government of

GermanyMartin Winterkorn Chairman

IT

S. No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Adobe SystemsSan Jose.

California U.S.A1982

John Warnock & Charles Gerchke

Shantanu Narayanan

CEO & President

2 Amazon.comSeattle,

Washington, USA 1994 Jeffrey P. Bezos Jeffrey P. Bezos CEO & President

3 Cisco SystemsSan Francisco, California, USA

1984Len Bosack and Sandra Lerner

John Chambers CEO & Chairman

4 Dell Computer Texas, USA 1984 Michael Dell Michael Dell Chairman & CEO

5 eBaySan Jose,

California, USA 1995 Pierre Omidyar John Donahoe CEO

6 Fujitsu Tokyo, Japan 1935

Fujitsu: Joint Venture between Furukaw a Electric Company, Japan

and German Conglomerate

Siemens

Hiroaki Kurokawa President

7 Hewlett PackardPalo Alto,

California, USA1939

Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard

Mark HurdPresident and

CEO & Chairman

8 IntelSanta Clara,

California, USA 1968

Gordon E. Moore & Robert Noyce

Paul Otellini Craig Barett

CEO Chairman

9 IBM New York, USA 1888 Herman Hollerith Samuel Chairman and

Page 119: gk.txt

Palmisano CEO

10 Microsoft Redmond, USA 1975Bill Gates and Paul

AllenBill Gates Steve

BallmerChairman CEO

11 Oracle California, USA 1977Lawrence J.

Ellison, Bob Miner and Ed Oates

Lawrence J. Ellison

CEO

12 SAP AGWalldorf, Germany

1972

Dietmar Hopp, Hans-Werner Hector, Hasso Plattner, Klaus

Tschira and Claus Wellenreuther

Leo Apotheker CEO & President

13SUN

MicrosystemsSanta Clara,

California, USA 1982

Scott McNealy, Vinod Khosla,

Andy Bechtolsheim

Scott McNealy Jonathan I. Schwartz

Chairman CEO & President

14Apple

ComputersCupertino

California, USA 1976

Steve Jobs & Steve Woznaik

Steve Jobs CEO

15 AccentureHamilton Bermuda

1989

Founded as consulting division

of Anderson Consulting by

Arther Anderson & Clarence Delany

William Green CEO

16 AT & T inc.Dallas, Texas,

USA1983

Randall L. Stephenson

CEO

17 Google California, USA 1998Larry Page & Sergey Brin

Eric Schmidt CEO

18 Alcatel-Lucent Paris, France 2006 (1898 -

Alcatel)Alcate and Lucent

TechnologiesBen Verwaayen Phillippe Camus

CEO Chairman

19 MotorolaSchaumburg Illinois, USA

1928Paul Galvin & Joseph Galvin

Greg BrownPresident and

CEO

Page 120: gk.txt

BANKS/FINANCIAL SERFVICES

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Allianz SE Munich, Germany 1890 Public CompanyMichael

DiekmannCEO

2American Express

New York City, New York USA

1850Henry Wells, William

Fargo and John Butterfield

Kenneth I. Chenault

Chairman and CEO

3 Aviva London, UK 2000Created by a merger

of Norwich Union and CGU plc

Lord Sharman Andrew Moss

Chairman CEO

4 Bank of AmericaCharlotte, North

Carolina, USA 1928 Amadeo Giannini Kenneth D Lewis

Chairman and CEO

5 Barclays London, UK 1896Several Banks United

under one banner called Barclays & Co.

Marcus Agius Chairman

6 Citigroup New York, USA 1812Through a merger of

Citicorp and Travelers Group

Vikram Pandit Sir Win Bischoff

CEO Chairman

7 Deutsche BankFrankfurt, Germany

1870Adelbert Delbruck

and Ludwig Bamberger

Josef AckermannChairman and

CEO

8 HSBC London, UK 1865 Thomas Sunderland Stephen Green Chairman

9 Morgan Stanley New York , USA 1935Henry S. Morgan and

Harold StanleyJohn J. Mack

Chairman and CEO

10 UBS AGZurich,

Switzerland 1998

Merger of Union Bank of Switzerland &

Swiss Bank Corporation

Kaspar Villiger Chairman

11 AIG New York USA 1919Cornelius Vander

StarrEdward M. Liddy

CEO & Chairman

12 Berkshire Nebraska, USA 1839 Oliver Chace Warren Buffet CEO &

Page 121: gk.txt

Hathaway Chairman

13 Goldman Sachs New York, USA 1869 Marcus Goldman Lloyd BlankfienCEO and

Chairman

14 JP Morgan ChaseNew York City

USA1799

Chase Manhatten acquired JP Morgan

in 2000James L.Dimon

Chairman & CEO

PHARMACEUTICALS

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Sanofi- Aventis Paris, France 2004Sanofi-Synthelabo acquired Aventis in

2004

Jean-Francois Dehecq Chris Viehbacher

Chairman CEO

2 Bayer AGLeverkusen,

Germany 1863

Friedrich Bayer & Johann Friedrich

WeskottWerner Wenning CEO

3Glaxo

SmithKlineLondon, UK 2000

Formed by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and

SmithKline Beecham

Sir Chris Gent Andrew Witty

Chairman CEO

4Johnson &

JohnsonNew Brunswick,

USA 1886

Robert wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson

& Edward Mead Johnson

William C. Weldon

Chairman and CEO

5 Pfizer New York, USA 1849Charles Pfizer & Charles Erhardt

Jeff Kindler CEO

6 Eli LillyIndianapolis, Indiana, USA

1876 Colonel Eli LillySidney Taurel

John C. Lachleiter

Chairman President &

CEO

MEDIA

Page 122: gk.txt

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 News Corp New York, USA 1979 Rupert Murdoch Rupert MurdochCEO &

Chairman

2 Time Warner New York, USA 1990

Merger between Time Inc. and Warner

Comm,.subseq-uently purchased by AOL

Jeffrey L. BewkesChairman and

CEO

3The Walt Disney

CompanyBurbank

California, USA 1923 Walt and Roy Disney

Robert Iger John E. Pepper Jr.

President and CEO Chairman

FMCG/CONSUMER DURABLE

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Coca- Cola Atlanta, USA 1892 Asa Griggs Candler Muhtar KentCEO &

Chairman

2Colgate

PalmoliveNew York, USA 1928

Colgate was founded in 1806 and in 1928 it

was bought by Palmolive

Roger D Casmeyer Justin

SkalaMD Chairman

3 Cadbury plc London, UK 1824

John Cadbury Cadbury Schweppes

plc demerged in 2008 separated its global

confectionery business.

Roger Carr Todd Stitzer

Chairman CEO

4 ElectroluxStockholm,

Sweden

1910 as Elektomekaniska

AB

Through the merger of Elektromekaniska

AB and Lux AB in 1919

Hans Straberg Marcus

Wallenberg

CEO & President Chairman

5 Henkel AGDusseldorf, Germany

1876 Fritz Henkel Kasper RorstedCEO &

Chairman

6 L’Oréal Clichy, France 1909 Eugène Schueller Lindsay Owen Jones Jean-Paul

Chairman CEO

Page 123: gk.txt

Agon

7 LG Seoul, Korea 1947

Through a merger of the appliance

company Goldstar and the chemical company Lucky.

Koo Bon Moo CEO

8 NestléVevey,

Switzerland1866 Henri Nestle

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Paul

BulckeChairman CEO

9Procter and

GambleCincinnati, Ohio, USA

1837William Procter &

James GambleBob McDonald

Chairman and CEO

10 Pepsi Co. New York, USA 1965

Donald M. Kendall and Herman W. Lay through the merger

of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay

Indra NooyiChairwoman

& President & CEO

11 PhilipsAmsterdam,

the Netherlands

1891 Gerard PhilipsGerard J.

KleisterleeCEO

12 Sony Tokyo, Japan 1946Masaru Ibuka and

Akio MoritaSir Howard

StringerChairman and

CEO

13 Sara Lee Il1inois, USA 1939 Nathan Cummings Brenda C. Barnes CEO

14 UnileverLondon, UK

and Rotterdam Netherlands

1930Formed as a merger

of Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie

Micheal Treschow Paul

PolmanChairman CEO

15 Kraft Foods Illinois, USA 1903 James. L. Kraft Irene Rosenfeld Chairman

GARMENTS/APPARELS

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 AdidasHerzogenaurach,

Germany

1924 as Gebriider Dassler

SchuhFabrik in

Adolf Dassler Herbert Hainer CEO

Page 124: gk.txt

1949 registered as Adidas AG

2 Nike Oregon, USA 1972Philip Knight and

William J. Bill Bowerman

Philip Knight Mark Parker

Chairman CEO & President

3Polo Ralph

LaurenNew York, USA 1967 Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren

CEO & Chairman

4Abercrombie &

FitchNew Albany, USA 1892

David T. Abercrombie

Ezra Fitch

Michael S. Jeffries

Chairman & CEO

5 Lacoste Paris 1933 Rene Lacoste Michel Lacoste Chairman

6Phillips-Van

Heusen Corporation

Manhatten, New York, USA

1900sJohn M. Van

Heusen & Isaac Phillips

Emanuel ChiricoChairman &

CEO

7 Tommy Hilfiger New York, USA 1984 Tommy Hilfiger David F. DyerPresident &

Director

MISCELLANEOUS

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Asahi Glass Tokyo, Japan 1907 Toshiya IwasakiMasahiro

KadomatsuChairman &

CEO

2 Fed Ex Memphis, USA 1971 Frederick W. SmithFrederick W.

SmithChairman & President

3 General Electric Fairfield, USA 1878

Thomas Alva Edison, Elihu

Thomson, Edwin J. Hovston

Jeffrey R. ImmeltChairman and

CEO

4 Canon Tokyo, Japan 1937Goro Yoshida and

Saburo UchidaFujioMitarai

Chairman and CEO

5 Arcelor Mittal Luxembourg City, 2006 Through the merger of Arcelor

Lakshmi N. Mittal Chairman of the borad &

Page 125: gk.txt

Luxembourg and Mittal Steel CEO

6 Virgin Atlantic London, UK 1984 Richard BransonRichard Branson Stephen Murphy

President Chairman

7Wal-Mart Stores

inc.Arkansas, USA 1962 Sam Walton Mike Duke CEO

8 IKEALeiden, the

Netherlands1943 Ingvar Kamprad Anders Dahlvig President

9 Boeing Chicago, USA 1916 William BoeingW. James

McNerney, Jr.CEO

10 Airbus France 1970

Began as a consortium of

European aviation firms

CEO

PETROLEUM CORPORATION

S.No Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 BP London, UK 1954Donald Alexander

SmithAnthony B. Hayward

CEO

2 Exxon Mobil Texas, USA 1999Formed by the

merger of Exxon & Mobil

Rex W. TillersonChairman and

CEO

3Royal Dutch

ShellThe Hague, the

Netherlands1907 Jean Kessler

Peter Vosek Jorma Ollila

CEO Chairman

4 Chevron Corp. California, USA 1879Formed by Anti

Trust breakup of Standard Oil

David ReillyChairman and

CEO

Brand/Company Punchlines

AUTOMOBILESBRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

Page 126: gk.txt

Mercedes Benz Brace YourselfMahindra Bolero Break Free

Wagon R For the smarter raceMaruti Suzuki Count On UsBajaj Pulsar Definitely MaleSplendor + Designed To Excel

Hyundai Motors Drive Your WayChevrolet Optra For A Special Journey Called Life

Opel Fresh Thinking, Better CarsSuper Splendor Generation Nayi Bharosa Wohi

Ford Fiesta Go FidaBajaj Auto Inspiring Confidence

TVS Apache Its Now Or NeverAlto Let’s Go

Toyota Corolla Life’s A JourneyFord Motors Make Everyday Exciting

Indica V2 More Car Per CarToyota Touch the Perfection

Mahindra Scorpio Nothing Else Will DoHonda City ZX Outperform

Mitsubishi Lancer Own The RoadBridgestone Passion For Excellence

Audi Vorsprung Durch Technik (Progress through technology)

Tata Safari Dicor Reclaim your lifeTata Indigo Spoil yourselfFord Ikon The Josh Machine

Ford Endeavour The Next Big ThingHonda The Power Of Dreams

Chevron Corporation Human EnergyBMW The Ultimate Driving Machine

Honda Accord The Unbeatable AccordYamaha Touching Your Heart

Hyundai Sonata Embera Undoubtedly DistinguishedMaruti Esteem Welcome To The Big World

Hyundai Accent What Dreams DriveFord Built for the Road Ahead GM Only GM

Volkswagen Drivers wantedFiat Driven by Passion. FIAT

Tata Motors Even More Car per CarSkoda Obsessed with quality since 1897

Page 127: gk.txt

ITBRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

Wipro Applying ThoughtTCS Experience Certainity Acer Empowering People

Accenture           High Performance Delivered Compaq Inspiration Technology

Hewlett & Packard InventIntel Intel inside

Infosys Technologies Powered By Intellect, Driven By ValuesCisco Powered Networkebay The Worlds online market place. 

amazon.com Earth's Biggest Bookstoretimesjobs.com If you have a reason, we have the job

Microsoft Your Potential Our PassionWindows XP Do More with Less

HP-Invent Everything is PossibleIBM On Demand

Lenovo We are building a new technology company.

Apple Macintosh Think DifferentAdobe Simplicity at work. Better by adobeDell Easy as DELL.

Sun Microsystems The Network is the ComputerAT&T The World's Networking Company

Monster.com Never SettleIndiaInfoline.com It’s all about money, honey

Aptech We change livesCognizent Passion for building stronger businesses

PHARAMACEUTICALS BRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

Bayer Science for a Better lifeWockhardt Healthcare Is In Our Genes

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Not Just Healthcare Life careIBP Pure bhi Pura bhi

Pfizer Working together For A Healthier WorldCipla Caring for life. Life is our life’s work

Sanofi Aventis Because Health Matters

Page 128: gk.txt

Bicon The difference lies in our DNADr. Reddy lab Life Research Hope

MEDIABRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

CNN.Com Be The First To KnowForbes Capitalist ToolNDTV Expertise. Truth First

Discovery Channel Lets all discoverTimes Now Feel The News

Business Today For Managing TomorrowBusiness Standard Intelligence Everywhere

ZEE Network Jiyo Zee Bhar KeIndian Express Journalism Of Courage

Hindustan Times The Name India trusts for NewsTimes Of India Let Truth Prevail

BBC World Putting News FirstCNBC India Profit From It

HBO Simply The BestOutlook Speak OutTehelka The People’s Paper

The Economic Times The Power Of KnowledgeCNN The World’s News Leader

The Telegraph UnputdownableNDTV Profit News you can UseStar Sports We know your game

Aaj Tak Sabse Tez

PETROLEUM CORPORATIONBRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

IOCL Bringing Energy To LifeHindustan Petroleum Future full of Energy

Bharat Petroleum Energising LivesGAIL India’s No. 1 Gas companyONGC Making Tomorrow Brighter

British Petroleum Beyond PetroleumBPCL Pure for SureSpeed High Performance PetrolServo 100% Performance Everytime

Page 129: gk.txt

MISCELLANEOUSBRAND/COMPANY PUNCHLINE

Reliance Communication Ventures Ltd. A New Way Of LifeAmway Better Ideas Better Life

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) Brightening Lives  Powering ProjectsMax Healthcare Caring For You For Life

De Beers Diamonds Are ForeverLongines Elegance Is An AttitudeIL & FS Energising Capital Realising IdeasKerala God’s Own Country

Reliance Industries Growth Of LifeGE Imagination At Work

Tata Group Improving The Quality Of LifeBerger Paints Paint Your ImaginationTAG Heuer Swiss Avant Garde – Grade Since 1860

Xerox The Document CompanyReynolds The Pen The World PrefersOmega The Sign Of ExcellenceSwatch Time Is What You Make Of It

Apollo Hospitals Touching LivesGati Ahead is ReachMRF Tyres with MuscleCEAT Born Tough

Ernst and Young Quality in Everything we DoNintendo  Get N or get out. 

Omega The sign of ExcellenceDuPont The Miracles of Science.  

Samsonite Life’s a journeyPiramyd Consulting Inc.

 Brand Quotient and Brand Endorsers

BRAND QUOTIENT

AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES

Tata Indica V2 Indigo Safari Sumo Xeta TL 4x4    Nano Marina Sierra Estate XenonXT Cliffrider Xover

MarutiM800 Alto Omni

Zen Estillo

Wagon R BalenoA-star,

Gypsy EsteemGrand Vitara

Versa SX4 Swift

Page 130: gk.txt

Mahindra

Commander Armada Bolero ClassicMM

RangeCL 500

Xylo, Thar, Legend, Axe,Renault

Logan Voyager

MaXX ScorpioLCV

RangeMarshal Ingenio

HyundaiSantro Accent Sonata Elantra Getz Tucson  Verna Terracan  I 10        

Honda City ZX Accord CR-V Civic Odyssey Element  Ford Ikon Fiesta Endeavour Fusion Escort  Mondeo   

GMChevrolet

Optra

ChevroletAveo

Chevrolet SRV

Opel Corsa

Opel Astra

MASCOT 

TaveraT-480 FC, Pushpak

Opel Swing Cadillac U-VA Spark Buick Pontiac  Hindustan

Ambassador LancerLancer Cedia

RTV Pajero Montero  

Motors  

Toyota Corolla Camry InnovaLand

Cruiser Prado

Qualis RV4

Sienna 

Skoda Auto Octavia Laura SuperbOctavia Combi

Rider 1.8 Turbo

Roomster  

Bajaj Auto

Discover   Pulsar CT100 Avenger PlatinaBajaj ULC

(Nano competitor)

    Eliminator Boxer Aspire  

  Sunny     XCDKristal Dts-i

Hero & Honda

Super Splendor

Passion +CBZ

XtremeKarizma

CD DAWN

CD HUNK, ACHIEVER,

Glamour,Deluxe

Dawn Ambition Activa  Dio Eterno Pleasure  

LMLSelect II NV Freedom

Adreno FX

Graptor Supremo  

Energy FX Prima FreedomFreedom Topper

Trendy    

TVSFiero Victor Centra Scooty Star Star City  

Super XL Apache Max 100 Shogun      

Kinetic

Nova 35 Velocity GF125 Zoom Challenger Aquila  

Zing 80 Kine 4SComet

250GF Laser King V2  

Luna Stryker Boss        Yamaha Libero Crux R G5 Fazer Gladiator YBX  Nisan

MotorsX-Trail            

Mitsubishi Lancer Pajero          Royal Thunderbird Bullet Machismo        

Page 131: gk.txt

Enfield cruiserMitsubishi Lancer Pajero          

FMCG COMPANIES

HUL

Lifebuoy Sunsilk Surf Excel PondsYellow

Label TeaLux

Lipton Tea, Vaseline,

Pureit, Sunlight,

Breez, Aviance

Clinic Range Wheel Lakme Rexona RinFair & Lovely

Brooke Bond Annapurna Breeze Ala Kissan Dove

Pepsodent Bru Hamam CloseUp Axe Pears

Kwality Walls Liril Ayush Knorr Margo Vim

P&G,

Head & Shoulders

Ariel Vicks WhisperPantene

Pro VTide

Detergent

Bouty, Crest, Dawn,

Duracell, Ivory, Gain,

Fusion, Oral-B

Rejoice Pampers Gillette Tide Pringles Always

Reckitt Benckiser

Cherry Blossom Dettol Lysol Mortein Harpic Robin Blue Gaviscon

Vanish Veet Colin Finish Clarsil Strepsils

Henkel Fa Mr. White Henko Chick Spee PrilSchauma, Pritt, Duck

Glaxo Smithkline

Aquafresh Toothpaste

Crocin Horlicks Boost Iodex Levitra

Britannia

Fifty-Fifty Tiger Half Half cakeDairy

WhitenerMarie Treat

GoodDay Milkman Flavoured milk Cheese Bread Butter

Ghee Milk Pure Magic

Page 132: gk.txt

Dabur

HajmolaChyawanpras

hGlucose D Pudin Hara Honey

Red Toothpest

Amla lite, Badam Tail,

Meswak, Nature Care,

Odopic, Promise,

Sani Fresh, Sat Isabgol,

Shaukha Puspi,

Amla Hair Oil Hommade RealVatika Hair

OilAnmol Herbal

Shilajit

BinacaLal

DantmanjanLal Tail

Babool Toothpaste

Janma Ghuti

Baby Olive oil

Lemoneez Coolers Odomos Odonil Heena

Marico Industries Ltd.

Parachute Saffola Hair&CareShanti Badam

AmlaMediker

Mealmaker, Nihar Nihar, Starz,

ManjalOil of Malabar Sil Revive

Kaya Skin Clinics

Sweekar Silk n Shine

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Limca Thums Up Fanta Sunfil Kinley

Maaza Coke Sprite Georgia Shock

RimZim

Pepsi Co.Pepsi 7-Up Slice Miranda Frito Lays

Mountain Dew Lipton Tropicana Gatorade

Cadila Healthcare Ltd.

Sugar Free Medicines Generic DrugsEverYuth Skincare

Boots Piramal Ltd.

Strepsils & Ultra Clearasil

Medicines Icy Sweetex Saridon

Parle

Bisleri, Frooti, Appy, Saint Juice

Bailey

ParleG, Monaco, Hide

Krackjack,Poppins, Mango Melody &

Murret Bites, Orange Candy

& Seek, Must Bites

Shakti, Marie, Bite,

Kismi Toffee

Page 133: gk.txt

Apparel Companies

RaymondPark Avenue

ZappParx Notting Hill Orchard Manzoni Colorplus

Madura Garments

Van Heusen Louis Philippe Peter England Allen Solly SF Jeans

Bombay Dyeing

Vivaldi

Arvind Mills Excalibur Lee Wrangler Newport Ruff & TuffFlying

Machine

Arrow Tommy Hilfiger Spykar Jeans

S Kumar’s Reid & Taylor Tamarind Belmonte S.KumarsStephens Brothers

Indus- League (Future Group)

Indigo Nation Scullers Urban Yoga Jealous Jeans Urbana Lombard,

Buffalo, GIGJohn Miller

Reebok Traxtar

Nike Cole Haan Dry-fit

Adidas Supernova

Levi Strauss Dockers Mobile Levis Signature

Amitabh BachchanReid & Taylor, Cadburys Dairy Milk, Nerolac, Hajmola, Navratan, Emami, Dabur,

Tide, Pulse Polio Campaign, Binani Cement, Parker Pen

Aishwarya Rai L’Oréal, Longines, Lux

Shahrukh KhanVideocon, Pepsi, Santro Xing, Unicef, Tag Heuer, Omega, Airtel, ITC Sunfeast, Dish

TV, Nokia, Hyundai-i10, ICICI, Belmonte

Sania MirzaAtlas Cycles, Tata Tea, Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, ‘Save the Girl Child’

Campaign, Lotto, Tata Indicom, Hyundai Getz, HPCL, Sprite, Adidas

Hrithik Roshan Coke, ITC John Players, Hero Honda Karizma, Sony Ericsson, Acer, Rasna, Rupa Macro Man, Hide-n-seek Biscuits

Page 134: gk.txt

John AbrahamDiet Pepsi, Yamaha, Clinic Shampoo, Wrangler, Fastrack Sunglasses, Samsung

Mobiles, Mumbai Marathon 2008, Castrol

Kareena KapoorCitizen Eco-Drive Watches, Pepsi, Lux, Globus, Garnier, Anne French, Head &

Shoulder, Boro Plus, Dulux Paints, Vivel Di Wills

M. S. DhoniExide Batteries, IOC, TVS Star City, Reebok, Brylcreem, Frito Lay, Videocon, GE

Money, BPCL, RCOM, Reliance Energy, Royal Stag, Tata Sonata

Deepika PadukoneKingfisher Airlines, Tissot, Levis Signature Jeans, Maybelline, Pepsi, Liril Soap,

Parachute oil

Abhishek Bachchan Idea, Flying Machine, Big 92.7 FM, Omega, Motorola, Ford Fiesta

Priyanka Chopra Lux, J Hampstead, Tag Heuer, Sunsilk, Killer Jeans, Nokia, Ponds, Hero Honda

Sushmita Sen Tag Hauer, olay, kiah, Pantene Shampoo

Yuvraj Singh Donear Suiting, Marico, Xbox 360, Royal Stag, Pepsi, Microsoft, SBI Cards, Seagram

Sachin Tendulkar TVS, Canon, Adidas, MRF, Aviva, Sunfeast, Boost

Rani Mukherji Titan Raga, Nestle Munch, Good Night, Aveo

Saif Ali Khan Aveo, Royal Stag, Asian Paint, Lenevo, Frito Lay, Provogue, Newport, TajMahal tea

Katrina Kaif Estelle Jewellery, Lakmé, Pantene, Veet, Kodak, LG, Slice, Nakshatra

 INDIAN COMPANIES AND LEADERS

AUTOMOBILES

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Bajaj Auto Pune 1945 Jamnalal BajajRahul Bajaj Rajiv

BajajChairman MD

2 Castrol India Mumbai 1899Castrol, the global

brand, was founded by Charles Wakefield

Naveen KshatriyaManaging Director

3 Hero Group

Varied locations for different

Group companies

1956

Mr. Satyanand Munjal, Mr. Brijmohan Lal

Munjal and Mr. O. P. Munjal

Dr. Brij Mohan Lall Munjal

Chairman Group

Page 135: gk.txt

4 TVS Motors Chennai 1911Shri.T V Sundaram

IyengarVenu Srinivasan Chairman

5 Bharat Forge Mumbai 1961 Baba Kalyani Baba KalyaniChairman and

CEO

6Mahindra and

MahindraMumbai 1945

J.C. Mahindra & K.C. Mahindra & Ghulam

Mohammad

Keshub Mahindra Anand Mahindra

Chairman MD

7 Tata Motors Mumbai 1945 Jamshedji Tata (JRD) Ratan Tata Chairman

8Maruti Suzuki

India Ltd.Gurgaon 1981

Indian subsidary of Suzuki, Japan

R.C.Bhargava Shinzo Nakanishi

Chairman CEO

IT

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 HCL Corp. Noida 1976Shiv Nadar and Ajai

ChowdhryShiv Nadar Roshni

NadarChairman CEO

2 Infosys Bengaluru 1981

N R Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, N S

Raghavan, S Gopalakrishnan, S D

Shibulal, K Dinesh and Ashok Arora.

Narayana NR Murthy Kris.

Gopalakrishnan

Honorary Chairman CEO

and MD

3Oracle Financial

Services Ltd.Mumbai 1991 Rajesh Hukku Rajesh Hukku Chairman

4 Moser Baer New Delhi 1983 Mr. Deepak Puri Mr. Deepak Puri MD

5 Patni Computers Mumbai 1978Narendra K. Patni,

Gajendra K. Patni and Ashok K. Patni

Narendra K PatniChairman and

CEO

6 Satyam Hyderabad

Founded in 1987.

Became Mahindra Satyam in

B Ramalinga Raju and B Rama Raju

C.P.Gurnani CEO

Page 136: gk.txt

June 2009

7 Wipro Bangalore 1945 Azim Premji Azim Premji Chairman

8Polaris Software

Ltd.Chennai 1993 Arun Jain Arun Jain

Chairman and CEO

9 NIIT New Delhi 1981Ranjendar S. Pawar &

Vijay ThadaniR. S. Pawar & Vijay Thadani

Chairman CEO

10 MphasiS Bengaluru 2000

Merger of U.S. based IT consulting company MphasiS Corporation

& the Indian IT services company BFL,

Software Ltd.

Andy Mattes Ganesh Ayyar

Chairman CEO & Director

11Tata Consultancy

Services LtdMumbai 1968

Started as a division of the Tata Group

S.Ramadorai CEO & MD

AIRLINES

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded in Founder Present Head Designation

1 Air IndiaMumbai,

Maharashtra1932

Initially started as Tata Airlines, a division of

Tata Sons Ltd. by J.R.D. Tata. It was converted

into a public limited company in 1946

Aravind JadhavChairman and

Managing Director

2 Kingfisher Bengaluru 2004 Vijay Mallya Vijay MallyaChairman &

MD

3 Jet Airways Mumbai 1993 Naresh Goyal Naresh Goyal Chairman

4 IndiGo New Delhi 2005Rahul Bhatiya & Rakesh Gangwal

Bruce Ashby CEO

5 SpiceJet New Delhi 2005It was earlier known as

Royal Airways, a reincarnation of Modi

Sanjay Aggarwal CEO

Page 137: gk.txt

Luft.

6 GoAir Mumbai 2004 Wadia GroupEdgardo Badiali Jehangir Wadia

CEO MD

BANKS/FINANCIAL SERVICES

S.No. Company HeadquartersFounded

inFounder Present Head Designation

1. HDFC Mumbai 1977 Hashmukhbhia Parekh Mr. D S Parekh Chairman

2. ICICI Mumbai 1955

Started as collaboration between world Bank, Government of India

and representatives of Indian Industry

Chairman MD & CEO

3. IDBI Mumbai 1964Estd. by a special act of the

Parliament to provide credit to Indian Industry

Yogesh Agarwal

Chairman and MD

4. SBI Mumbai 1806 Government of India O.P.Bhatt Chairman

5. PNB New Delhi 1895Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia and

Lala Harkishen Lal K.C.

ChakrabartyChairman and

MD6. Bank of

BarodaMumbai 1908

Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III

M.D. MallyaChairman and

MD

7. Bank of India Mumbai 1906Founded by a group of Hindus, Muslims, Parsis & Jews lead

promoter was Sir Sasson David

T.S. Narayanan

Swami

Chairman and MD

8. Oriental Bank Of Commerce

New Delhi 1943Rai Bahadur Lala

Sohan Lal A.K.Mishra

Chairman and MD

9. Canara Bank Bengaluru 1906 Ammembal Subbarao Pai A.C. MahajanChairman and

MD10. Yes Bank Mumbai 2004 Rana Kapoor Rana Kapoor

Founder and CEO

11. HSBCLondon,

England, U.K. 1865 Thomas Sutherland

Stephen Green

Naina Lal Kidwai

Chairman

(CEO – HSBC India

branches)12. LIC of India Mumbai 1956 Government of India T.S.Vijayan

Chairman and CEO

Page 138: gk.txt

13. MCXAndheri, Mumbai

2003 Jignesh Shah  Joseph Massey

CEO and MD

14.Bombay

Stock Exchange Ltd.

Mumbai 1875 Government of IndiaRajnikant

PatelCEO

15. Reserve Bank of India

Mumbai 1935 Government of IndiaDr. D.

SubbaraoGovernor

16. NSE Mumbai 1992 Government of India Ravi Narain MD

PHARMACEUTICALS

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded In Founder Present Head Designation

1 BIOCONBangalore,

Karnataka and New Jersey USA

1978Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-

ShawMs. Kiran

Mazumdar ShawChairman and

MD

2 CiplaMumbai,

Maharashtra1935 Khwaja Abdul Hamied Dr. Y.K. Hamied

Chairman and MD

3 Dr. Reddy’sHyderabad,

Andhra Pradesh1984 Dr. Anji Reddy

Dr. Anji Reddy G V Prasad

Chairman CEO

4 Nicholas PiramalMumbai,

Maharashtra1988

Merger of Many Companies

Ajay G Piramal Chairman

5 RanbaxyGurgaon, Haryana

1937 Bhai Mohan SinghMalvinder

Mohan SinghMD and CEO

6 Zydus CadilaAhmedabad,

Gujarat1952

Ramanbhai Patel & Indravadan Modi

Pankaj R. PatelChairman & Managing Director

7Wockhardt

Hospital Mumbai 1960 Habil Khorakiwala

Habil Khorakiwala

Chairman

8Novartis

International AG.

Basel, Switzerland

1996Merger of Ciba-Geigy & Sandoz laboratories

Daniel VasellaChairman and

CEO

9 Morepen Laboratories

New Delhi 1984 K.B. Suri Sushil Suri Chairman and MD

Page 139: gk.txt

10 Aventis Sanofi Paris, France 2004

Started as Aventis. Later on, Sanofi-

Synthelabo purchased Aventis.

Jean-Francois Dehecq

CEO

11 Pfizer India New York 1849 Subsidary Pfizer Kewal Handa MD

12 Bayer India Ltd Germany 1863 Friedrich Bayer Vijay Mallya Chairman

13Torrent

PharmaceuticalsAhmedabad 1959 U.N. Mehta

Sudhir Mehta Sameer Mehta

Chairman MD

MEDIA

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded In Founder Present Head Designation

1.Balaji

TelefilmsMumbai,

Maharashtra 1999 Jeetendra Kapoor

Jeetendra Kapoor

Chairman

2. Mukta ArtsMumbai,

Maharashtra 1972 Subhash Ghai Subhash Ghai

Chairman and MD

3. Zee TelefilmsMumbai,

Maharashtra 1992 Subhash Chandra

Subhash Chandra

Chairman & Managing Director

4. Sun TV Tamil Nadu 1993Karunanidhi

Family Kalanithi Maran

Chairman and MD

5.Sahara India

Pariwar

Goregaon, Mumbai, Lucknow

1978News

CorporationSubrato Roy

GroupChairman

PETROLEUM CORPORATION

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded In Founder Present Head Designation

1 IOC New Delhi 1959 Government of India Sarthak Behuria Chairman

2 ONGC Dehradun 1956 Govt. of India R.S.Sharma Chairman and MD

3 BPCL Mumbai 1976 Govt. of India Ashok Shina Chairman and MD

4 GAIL New Delhi 1984 Govt. of India Dr. B.C. Tripathi Chairman and MD

5 HPCL Mumbai 1976 Govt. of India Arun Balakrishanan Chairman and MD

Page 140: gk.txt

6 IPCL Mumbai 1969 Mukesh Ambani Mukesh Ambani Chairman

FMCG/CONSUMER DURABLES

S.No. Company HeadquartersFounded

InFounder Present Head Designation

1 DaburGhaziabad, Uttar

Pradesh1884 Dr. S K. Burman

Anand. Burman Amit Burman

Chairman Vice-Chairman

2 GodrejMumbai,

Maharashtra 1897

Ardeshir and Pirojsha Godrej

J.N. Godrej Chairman

3 NirmaAhmedabad,

Gujarat1969 Karsanbhai Patel Karsanbhai Patel

Chairman and MD

4 VideoconAurangabad Maharashtra

1987Nandlal Madhavlal

DhootVenugopal Dhoot Chairman

5Hindustan Unilever

Ltd. (HUL)Anand 1933 Subsidary Uniliver

Harish Manwani Nitin Paranjape

Chairman CEO and MD

6Britannia Industries

Kolkata & Bangalore

1892 ---------Vineeta Bali Nasli

WadiaMD Chairman

GARMENTS/APPARELS

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded In Founder Present Head Designation

1 Arvind Mills Ahmedabad, Gujrat 1931Kasturbhai

LalbhaiMr. Sanjay.S.Lalbhai Chaiman & MD

2 Bombay DyeingMumbai,

Maharashtra 1879

Nowrosjee Wadia

Nusli Wadia Chairman

3Future Group

(India)Mumbai,

Maharashtra 1987 Kishore Biyani Kishore Biyani CEO & MD

4 Raymond Mumbai, 1925 Lala Juggilal Gautam Hari Chairman and

Page 141: gk.txt

Maharashtra Singhania MD

MISCELLANEOUS

S.No. Company HeadquartersFounded

InFounder Present Head Designation

1Aditya Birla

GroupMumbai,

Maharashtra 1857

The group’s founding father was Ghanshyamdas Birla, under Aditya

Vikram Birla, it became a world-calss business base.

Kumar Mangalam Birla

Chairman

2 Apollo TyresPerambra,

Kerala1975

Matthew T Maratukallam and Jacob Thomas. Later taken over by Raunaq

Singh in 1974Onkar S. Kanwar

Chairman & MD

3

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group

Mumbai, Maharashtra

2005 Mr. Anil Ambani Mr. Anil Ambani Chairman

4BILT (Avantha

Group)Gurgaon, Haryana

1945Founded by Late Karam Chand

Thapar as Ballarpur Paper and Straw to Ballarpur Industries Ltd. In 1975

Gautam Thapar MD

5Hinduja Group

London, U.K. 1914 Parmanand Deepchand HindujaSrichand P

HindujaChairman

6 Jaypee Group New Delhi 1972 Jaiprakash Gaur Jaiprakash Gaur Chairman

7Larsen & Toubro

Mumbai, Maharashtra

1938Henning Holck-Larsen and Soren

Kristian ToubroA. M. Naik

Chairman, MD & CEO

8. RPG Group Mumbai 1820 Ramdutt GoenkaHarsh Vardhan

GoenkaChairman

9.Reliance

IndustriesMumbai,

Maharashtra1966 Dhirubhai Ambani Mukesh Ambani

Chairman and MD

10. Tata GroupMumbai,

Maharashtra1868 Jamshetji Nusserwanji Tata Ratan Tata Chairman

11. Sterlite Tuticorin, Tamil 1976 Anil Agarwal Anil Agarwal Chairman MD

Page 142: gk.txt

Industries NaduKuldip Kumar

Kaura& CEO

12.Suzlon Energy

Pune 1995 Tulsi Tanti Tulsi TantiChairman and CEO

13. Unitech Ltd.Gurgaon, Haryana

1971 Ramesh Chandra Ramesh Chandra CEO

14. Tata Steel Mumbai 1907 JRD -Jamsedji TataB. Muthuraman

Ratan TataCEO

Chairman

15. Delhi Metro New Delhi 1995 Govt. of India E.Shreedharan MD

16. DLF Limited Delhi 1946 C.R.Singh Kushal Pal Singh Chairman

17.Coca-Cola

IndiaMumbai 1993 ------- Atul Singh

CEO & President

18. Pepsi IndiaGurgaon, Haryana

1989 Subsidary Pepsi Inc. Sanjeev Chadda CEO

CELLULAR/NETWORK PROVIDER

S.No. Company Headquarters Founded In Founder Present Head Designation

1.Bharti Tele-

VenturesNew Delhi 1995 Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal

Mr. Sunil BhartiMittal

Chairman

2. Essar GroupMumbai,

Maharashtra1956 Nand Kishore Ruia Shashi Ruia Chairman

3.Reliance

CommunicationNavi Mumbai 2002 Dhirubhai Ambani Anil Ambani

Chairman &MD

India’s Advertisement Agency

Name of the Agency Head

Ogilvy & Mather Piyush Pandey (Chairman & National Creative Director)

JWT Colvyn J. Harris

Page 143: gk.txt

Euro RSCG Suman Shrivastava

Saatchi & Saatchi Kamal Basu (CEO)

Leo Burnett Arvind Sharma (Chairman & CEO)

FCB Ulka Ambi M.G. Parmeswaran (Executive Director)

R.K. Swamy/BBDO Shekar Swamy

Mudra Communication Ltd. Madhukar Kamat (MD & CEO)

David & Bates Subhash Kamat (CEO)

Rediffusion Diwan Arun Nanda (MD & CEO)

McCann-Erickson Prasoon Joshi (National Creative Director)

Contract Advertising Ravi Deshpande (Chairman & Chief Creative Officer)

Lintas Media Group (LMG) Lynn de Souza

Grey Group (Asia Pacific) Nirvik Singh (Chairman & CEO)

Electronic Media

I. Major Indian Production Houses

1. Dharma Productions

Dharma Productions is a film production company founded by Late Yash Johar in 1976. The first film to be produced by the company was Dostana in 1980.

HeadquarterDharma Productions is based in Mumbai.

Present ManagementWith the release of Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai in 1998, Yash Johar’s son Karan Johar made

Page 144: gk.txt

his directorial debut. Presently he is the Managing Director and his mother Hiroo Johar is the Chairperson of the company.

Major ProductionsSome other films produced by the company include:

l Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987)

l Agneepath (1990)

l Gumrah (1993)

l Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

l Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)

l Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

l Kaal (2005)

l Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

2. Balaji Telefilms

Balaji Telefilms is one of the leading production houses of India. It is run by the Kapoor family, with Jeetendra as its Chairman. The production house is mainly into producing television serials. HeadquarterBalaji Telefilms is based in Mumbai.

Present ManagementMs. Shobha Kapoor is the Managing Director and CEO of the company while her daughter Ekta Kapoor is the Creative Head of the company.

Major ProductionsSome of the major serials produced by Balaji Telefilms are:

l Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii

l Kahiin To Hoga

l Karam Apnaa Apnaa

Page 145: gk.txt

l Kasamh Se

l Kasautii Zindagi Kay

l Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

3. United Television (UTV)

United Television is a leading media and entertainment company of India with offices in South East Asia, US and UK. UTV is into producing content for television, motion pictures and broadcasting. The company was established 18 years ago by Ronnie Screwvala in 1990.

The company has 4 subsidiaries:

l United Entertainment Solutions Ltd (India).

l UTV Communication (USA) LLC

l UTV Communication (UK) Ltd.

l UTV Communication (Mauritius) Ltd.

HeadquarterUTV is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Ronnie Screwvala is the CEO of UTV.

4. Adlabs

Adlabs is the largest entertainment company in India. Adlabs was founded by Manmohan Shetty in 1978 along with Vasanji Mamania as a small film processing unit catering to ad films. In 1989, the firm entered mainstream cinema processing. Today, the company processes more them 70 percent of all Hindi films produced in India. In June 2005, Anil Ambani who owned Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) became a majority stakeholder (51%) in Adlabs. In 2006, Adlabs had also entered into television content creation by becoming a majority stakeholder in Siddhartha Basu’s

Page 146: gk.txt

Synergy Communication. Adlabs cinema is also one of the largest motion picture exhibitors in India.

Headquarter Adlabs is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Manmohan Shetty is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company and his daughter Ms. Pooja Shetty is the whole-time Director of the company.

5. Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd (SOMEL)

Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited (SOMEL) is the media company of the Sahara India Parivar. It operates two television channels “Sahara One” a general entertainment channel and “Filmy” (2006 Feb) a Hindi movie channel.

Sahara One Motion pictures is one of India’s largest movie production houses in the business of producing, marketing, and distributing motion pictures in Hindi and other Indian regional languages.

HeadquarterSahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd. is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Subrata Roy is the Managing Worker and Chairman of the Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd.

6. Yash Raj Films

Yash Raj Films is a multi–product company set up by Yash Chopra in 1970. Apart from producing motion pictures in Hindi language, the company is also in the business of distributing films. It has also launched a music label by the name “Yash Raj Music” and also produces DVD’s, VCD’s and videos under the label “Yash Raj Films Home Entertainment”. In 2001, Yash Raj films became the first Indian production company to create a Corporate Structure. In 2004, an International film magazine Hollywood Reporter, rated Yash Raj Films as the 27th Biggest Film Distribution House in the World and the largest production company as in 2006. Recently it has started a new state-of-the-art studio at Mumbai.

Page 147: gk.txt

HeadquarterYash Raj films is based in Mumbai.

Present ManagementThe present Chairman of the company is Yash Chopra.

Major Productions of Yashraj Productions

l Kabhi Kabhi (1976)

l Silsila (1981)

l Lamhe (1991)

l Dilwale Dulhaiya Le Jayenge (1995)

l Dil to Pagal Hai (1997)

l Mohabbatein (2000)

l Saathiya (2002)

l Kabul Express (2006)

l Chak De! India (2007)

II. Major Internet Companies

1. Google Inc.

Google was started by Sergey Brin and Larry Page as a research project while undergoing their Ph.D. at Stanford University, California. The search engine was initially nicknamed “Back Rub”. The domain name google.com was registered on Sep 15, 1997. The company has its office in Menlo Park, California. The total initial investment raised for the new company was US $1.1 million, including a cheque of $ 1 million from Andy Bechtolscheim, one of the founders of Sun Microsystems.

HeadquarterThe head office of Google inc. “The Googleplex” is situated at Mountain View, California.

Present ManagementEric E. Schmidt – CEO/Chairman

Page 148: gk.txt

Sergey Brin – President, Technology Larry Page – President, Products

Products and Services offered The major product offerings of Google include the Google Search Engine, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs and Spreadsheets, Jot Spot, Adwords, Google Notebook, Orkut, google Groups, Picassa-Web albums, Google Earth, Google Maps and You Tube.

2. Yahoo! Inc

Yahoo! Inc was founded by David Filo and Jerry Yang, Ph.D. students of electrical engineering at Stanford University, in January 1995. The website was initially named ‘Jerry and David’s guide to the world wide web’, but eventually got the name ‘Yahoo! – Yet another hierarchical officious oracle’.

HeadquarterThe present headquarter of Yahoo! Inc is at Sunnyvale, California, USA

Present ManagementRoy J. Bostock – Chairman Carol Bartz – CEODavid Filo – Co-Founder

Products and Services offeredThe major product/service offering of Yahoo include - Ask Yahoo!, Blogs, Flickr – a public photo album for users, Geocities – a web hosting service, My Yahoo – personalized homepage for users, Yahoo 360° - social networking domain for users, Yahoo Education, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Games, Yahoo Gallery, Yahoo Greetings, Yahoo Groups, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Messages, Yahoo Search and Yahoo Video.

3. eBay Inc.

The online auction site, eBay was founded in San Jose, California on September 3, 1995 by computer programmer Pierre Omidyar as auction web. The first item sold by the website was a broken laser pointer for which Omidyar earned $14.83. The name of the service was changed from auction web to eBay in September 1997.

HeadquarterThe company, eBay Inc is headquartered at San Jose, California.

Page 149: gk.txt

Present ManagementPierre Omidyar – ChairmanJohn Donahoe – CEO

Services OfferedeBay is an online auction portal having a varied range of products for sale on the portal. Some of the items sold on the website include Apparel and Accessories, Books and Magazine, Camera and Optics, Cars and Bikes etc.

4. Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.com Inc is an American e-commerce company. The company was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. Amazon.com offers services for access to its catalogue as well as for integration with retailers. Amazon.com provides search engine services to the website. Amazon.com went live on April 14, 2004. Its results derive from Windows Live Search, supplemented by Alexa (a subsidiary of Amazon.com) and other engines for specific search types.

HeadquarterThe company is presently headquartered at Seattle, Washington, USA

Present ManagementJeffrey Bezos – Chairman, CEO and President

Products and Services OfferedAmazon.com began as an online bookstore, but it soon diversified into other product areas which includes DVD’s, CD’s, computer software, videogames, electronics, apparels, furniture, and food. It also facilitates integration with retailers like Target and Marks & Spencer. Kindle launch in Novemeber 2007 is an ebook reader and amazon mp3 was started in January 2008

5. Microsoft Corporation Inc.

Microsoft Corporation was founded by two students from Harvard University, Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. The name became a registered trademark on November 26, 1976. The company started its operations from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its first international office was opened in Japan on November 1, 1978. The company underwent a restructuring on June 25, 1981 to become an incorporated business in the state of Washington. Kindle – Nov 2007 – ebook reader Amazon MP3 – Jan 08

Page 150: gk.txt

HeadquartersMicrosoft Inc. is headquartered at Redmond, Washington, USA

Present ManagementBill Gates – Co-founder and Executive ChairmanSteve Ballmer – CEORay Ozzie – Chief software ArchitectCraig Mundie – (CRSO)

Products and Services offeredSome of the major product/service offerings of Microsoft include Ultra Mobile PC, Windows operating system MS Office, Windows Series System, Developer Tools, Xbox 360 and MSN, Business Solutions Zune.

6. AOL LLC.

Formerly America Online, Inc., is an American global Internet services and media company formerly operated by Time Warner and headquartered in New York, New York. It has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world, or set up international versions of its services.

HeadquartersNew York, USA

Present ManagementTim Armstrong, CEO

Products and ServicesICQ, AIM, Compuserve, Goowy, Netscape, Winamp, Weblogs, INC. and etc. First chatroom base text role playing game Black Bayou (2004).

III. Major Television Channels

Company Owner

NDTV Prannoy Roy

Sony Entertainment Television Kunal Dasgupta (CEO)

Star Group Uday Shankar (CEO)

Synergy Communication Siddharths Basu

Network Eighteen Raghav Behl (MD)

Page 151: gk.txt

TV Today Group Living Media

UTV Ronnie Screwvala (CEO)

Zee Network Subhash Chandra

IV. Major Radio Stations

Station Owner

Radio City Star Group

Radio Mirchi Bennett Coleman & Co.

Radio One Mid-Day

Big FM Adlabs

Red FM Value Labs, Malaysian media group – Astro & NDTV

Radio Tadka (95 FM) Rajasthan Patrika

Fever 104 FM Fever 104 FM

 

PUBLIC SECTOR COMPANIES

A public company is one in which 51 per cent or more stake is owned by the government. Public sector companies can be broadly classified into :

I. Navratna Companies

l The Government of India had in 1997 identified 11 public sector undertakings as Navratna companies or crown jewels.

l The Board of Directors of those companies can approve all decisions relating to capital expenditure and no separate clearance is required from the government.

l In case of equity acquisitions in a joint venture company, a Navratna company can take an independent decision for investments up to Rs. 1,000 crore. But the investment is subject to the condition that the total investment in all such joint ventures is below 30% of the net worth of the Navratna Company.

l At present there are 9 Navratna companies as IPCL & VSNL have been privatized by the government.

Page 152: gk.txt

l In addition to the Navratna companies, the government of India has created another category called Mini - Ratna. The Mini-Ratna designation applies to PSU’s that have made profits continuously for the last 3 years or have earned a net profit of Rs. 30 crores or more in three years.

1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

l BHEL is the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India, in the energy related infrastructure sector today.

l It was established more than 40 years ago in 1962.

l BHEL manufactures over 180 products under 30 major product groups and caters to core sectors of the Indian Economy viz. power generation & transmission, transportation, telecommunication and renewable energy.

l BHEL has acquired certifications for quality management systems (ISO 9001), environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) 18001).

HeadquarterBharat Heavy Electrical Ltd. (BHEL) is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementMr. K. Ravi Kumar is the present Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BHEL.Products and Services Offered BHEL offers a wide range of products for:

l power sector

l industrial production

l transmission and transportation sectors

l non-conventional energy sources

l R & D products

The company offers services in

l Power Generation Systems

l transmission systems

Page 153: gk.txt

l transportation systems

l industrial systems.

2. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)

l The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) was established on 1st of April, 1986.

l The company was set up to take over the management, control and operation of Delhi Telephone District and Mumbai Telephone District.

l It is a public limited company largely owned by the Government of India (GOI).

HeadquartersMahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is headquartered at New Delhi, India.

Present ManagementMr. R. S. P. Sinha is the Chairman & Managing Director of MTNL.

Services OfferedMahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) provides fixed line telephone services, cellular services – both GSM & WLL and internet services through both Dial -Up & Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL).

3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

l HPCL came into existence in 1974 after the takeover and merger of the erstwhile Esso and Lube India undertaking by the government.

lIn 1976, Caltex Oil Refinery India Ltd. was taken over by the government and was subsequently merged with HPCL in 1978.

l In 1979, Kosan Gas Company was taken over and merged with HPCL and a single entity HPCL came into existence.

l Today, HPCL is the second largest oil company in India and is one of the largest PSU companies in terms of revenue.

Page 154: gk.txt

l It is also one of the Fortune 500 companies of the world, ranked at 290th position.

HeadquartersHindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Arun Balakrishnan is the present Chairman and MD.

Products and Services OfferedThe product/service offerings by the company include

l Refined oil for industrial use and export

l LPG for domestic consumption offered through its subsidiary HP gas

l Lubricants for domestic consumption, industrial consumption and exports

lBulk fuels and specialties for industrial consumers like power plants, chemical companies, fertilizer companies and shipping companies

l Aviation fuel and Lubricants

l Products and services for retail customers which it markets through Club HP outlets

4. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)

l Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) was founded in 1976 by the Government of India, when it acquired the Burma Shell group of companies. It was on 1st August, 1977, that the company was renamed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

l BPCL was also the first refinery to process newly found indigenous crude in the country (at Bombay High.).

l BPCL is one of the Fortune 500 companies of the world currently ranked at 325th position.

HeadquartersBharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Ashok Sinha is the present Chairman and MD of BPCL.

Page 155: gk.txt

Products and Services OfferedThe product/service offerings of the company include

l Refined oil for industry and export

l LPG for domestic consumption offered through its subsidiary Bharat Gas

l Lubricants for domestic consumption, industrial consumption and exports.

l Fuels and solvents, industrial services and e-business facilities for commercial units.

l Aviation fuel and lubricants.

l Retail services - at petrol pumps, speed fuels, in & out stores, petro – card, smart fleet card and ‘Pure for Sure’

5. GAIL (India) Limited

l GAIL (India) ltd. (Erstwhile Gas Authority of India Ltd.), India’s principal gas transmission and Marketing Company, was established by the government of India on August 16, 1984.

l The company entered into LPG business in February 1991.

l It began city gas distribution in Delhi in 1997 by setting up the first CNG station.

l GAIL commissioned its petrochemicals plant in March 1999 at Pata.

HeadquarterGAIL (India) Ltd. is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementMr. B.C.Tripathi is the present Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL (India) Ltd.

Product and Services OfferedApart from marketing of

l gas

l city gas

l CNG

GAIL (India) Ltd. has presence in various other product areas. It offers

Page 156: gk.txt

l petrochemical products

l telecom services

l Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

l power

l exploration and production of gas and holds participatory interest in 12 exploration blocks in the country.

6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

l Indian Oil Corporation Limited was founded in 1964 through a merger of Indian Oil Company Ltd. and Indian Refineries Ltd.

l In 1965, Gujarat Refinery was inaugurated.

l In 1967, Haldia Barauni Pipeline was commissioned.

l In 1969, the company undertook the marketing of Madras Refinery Products. ‘Servo’ the first indigenous lubricant was launched in 1972.

l In 1995, Kandla – Bhatinda Pipeline started operations and IOCL launched Indane Home Shoppe.

l In 1997 the company entered into LNG business through a JV company, Petronet LNG.

l IOCL, in 2000 became the first Indian company to achieve the turnover of Rs. 1,00,000 crore.

l In 2001, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (BRPL) were acquired by the company.

l In 2003, Lanka IOC Pvt. Ltd. (LIOC) was launched in Sri Lanka.

HeadquarterIndian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is headquartered at New Delhi.

Page 157: gk.txt

Present ManagementMr. Sarthak Behuria is the present chairman and MD of IOCL.

Products and Services OfferedThe product/service offerings of the company include:

l Refined oil for industrial use and export purposes.

l LPG for domestic consumption offered by its subsidiary Indane Gas.

l Lubricants for domestic consumption, industrial consumption and export.

l Aviation fuel and lubricants.

l Auto gas – company’s LPG variant which has been launched in selected markets in India.

l Retail services - at petrol pumps, Xtrapower products for customers and ‘Swagat’ highway flagship retail outlets.

7. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

l In 1955, the Government of India decided to develop oil and natural gas resources in various areas of the country. With this objective, an Oil and Natural Gas Directorate was set up.

l In August 1956, the directorate was raised to the state of Commission with enhanced power, but was still under the direct control of the government.

l In October 1959, the commission was converted into a statutory body by an Act of the Indian parliament and ONGC was formed.

l Since its formation, ONGC has carried out its activities in various parts of the country and also started its overseas operations. The company went offshore in early 70’s when it discovered an oil field at Bombay High.

l In 1994, ONGC was re-organised as a limited company under the Company Act of 1956.

l In 2002 ONGC purchased Mangalore Refinery Pvt. Ltd. (MRPL) from AV Birla group. It also entered the global market in 2003 through its subsidiary ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL).

l The company has also made investments in Vietnam, Sakhlin (Russia) and Sudan and earned its first revenue from the hydrocarbon business in Vietnam.

l ONGC is currently ranked 369th on the fortune 500 list.

Page 158: gk.txt

HeadquarterONGC is headquartered in Dehradun.

Present ManagementMr. R. S. Sharma is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Products and Services offered

l ONGC’s diverse activities are handled through the holding company ONGC India and its two subsidiaries ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and Mangalore Refinery Pvt. Ltd (MRPL).

l ONGC India offers a diversified range of petroleum by-products used mainly for industrial purpose.

l ONGC Videsh Llimited (OVL), the company’s overseas arm is engaged is exploration and production activities outside the territorial boundaries of the country.

l The company’s subsidiary MRPL produces refined petroleum and by-products used by industrial units and for export purposes.

8. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

l Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd was formed in October, 2000.

l It is the largest telecommunication company in India providing comprehensive range of telecom services.

l BSNL is the largest fixed line service provider in the country having operations across India except Mumbai and Delhi.

HeadquartersBSNL is headquartered in New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. Kuldeep Goyal is the present Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Products/Services OfferedBSNL offers a wide range of service to its customers. These include:

Page 159: gk.txt

l Fixed line telephony service

l Internet service, both Dial-up and Broadband

l Message carrier services

l VSAT and VOIP services

l Intelligent Network (I.N) services

9. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

l Steel Authority of India Limited is the leading steel-making company in India. Incorporated on Jan 23, 1973.

lRanked amongst the top ten public sector companies in India in terms of turnover, SAIL is a fully integrated iron and steel maker.

l SAIL produces iron and steel at 5 steel plants located at Bhilai, Bokaro, Durgapur, Rourkela and Asansol (West Bengal).

l SAIL featured in 2005 list of Forbes Global 2000 ranked at 764th position.

Headquarter SAIL is headquartered in New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. S K Roongta is the present Chairman of the company

Products offeredA broad range of steel products is offered by the company. These include:

l Hot and cold - rolled sheets and coils

l Galvanised sheets.

l Electrical sheets and structures.

l Railway product.

l Iron plates, bars and rods.

Page 160: gk.txt

l Stainless steel and other steel alloys.

The company clientele include construction companies, engineering companies, power companies, engineering companies, railways industry, automobile companies, defense industries and importers from other countries.

II. Other Important Public Sector Undertaking’s (PSU’s)

1. Indian Railways

lIndian Railway is owned by the GOI. It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over six billion of passengers and freight worth INR 750 million annually.

lRailways were introduced in India in 16th April 1853 when the first railway line between Bombay and Thane became operational.

lBy the year 1947, there were forty-two rail systems in the country. All the units were nationalised into a single unit, Indian Railway in 1951, making it one of the largest rail networks in the world.

l Presently, both the long distance and suburban rail systems in India are operated by the Indian Railways.

lThe Indian rail network is spread over a distance of 63,140 km, operational on broad metre gauge and narrow metre gauge (The Calcutta Metro is also owned and operated by Indian Railways).

Railway Zones

For administrative purposes, Indian railways are divided into sixteen functional zones

These are:

Zone Headquarter

Northern Railway Delhi

North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur

Eastern Railway Maligaon

Page 161: gk.txt

South Eastern Railway Kolkata

South Central Railway Secunderabad

Southern Railway Chennai

Central Railway Mumbai

Western Railway Mumbai

South Western Railway Hubli

North Western Railway Jaipur

West Central Railway Jabalpur

North Central Railway Allahabad

South East Control Railway Bilaspur

East Coast Railway Bhubaneswar

East Control Railway Hajipur

Railway Production UnitsIn addition to its operation of trains, Indian Railway also carries out its own production services. It owns six production units each headed by General Manager who reports to the Railways Board. These production units are:

l Chittaranjan Locomotive Works at Chittaranjan, West Bengal

l Diesel Locomotive factory at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

l Integral coach factory at Perambur, Tamil Nadu.

l Rail coach factory at Kapurthala, Punjab

l Rail wheel factory at Yelahanka (near Bangalore) Karnataka.

l Diesel modernization works at Patiala, Punjab.

Notable Achievement of Indian RailwaysSome of the notable achievements of Indian railways are:

Page 162: gk.txt

l The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (railway station in Mumbai) are all world heritage sites accredited by UNESCO.

l Samjhauta Express and Thar express are two trains run by Indian Railway that connect India and Pakistan.

l ‘Lifeline Express’ is a hospital on wheels providing healthcare facilities to people in rural areas.

l ‘Kharagpur’ railway station has the largest railway platform in the World, while ‘ib’ is the shortest name for a station and longest name is Sri Venkatanarasimharajauvaripeta.

Present Management Presently, Ms. Mamata Banerjee is the Union Railway Minister of the Government of India. Indian Railway also enjoys the distinction of being the world’s largest employer with more than 16 million employees. Mr. S.S.Khurana is the present Chairman of Indian Railways.

2. Air India

l Air India was originally founded as Tata Airlines in 1932, a subsidiary of Tata Sons Ltd by J.R.D. Tata.

lIn 1946, government of India purchased a majority stake in Tata Airlines and the company was renamed Air-India International.

lAir-India International was registered on March 8, 1948 and inaugurated its international service on June 8, 1948 with a weekly flight between Mumbai and London. The word ‘International’ was dropped by the company in 1962.

l In 1994, the airline was renamed as Air India Limited.

l Air India has recently started with “Air India Express”, the low cost variant of Air India.

lIndian Airlines since 2007 has been amalgamated to be a part of Air India. Air India is now an amalgamation of Air India Limited and Indian Airlines.

Headquarter The company is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present Management Mr. Aravind Jadhav is the present Chairman & MD of Air India.Fleet and NetworkAt present Air India has 45 aircrafts which include Boeing 747’s, Airbus 310’s, Airbus 300’s and

Page 163: gk.txt

Boeing 777’s. The airline operates its flight on all major international air routes and on some important domestic air routes. The airline at present covers 42 destinations - 29 international air routes and 13 domestic air routes.

3. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

l Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a major aerospace company under the Ministry of Defence. It was established as Hindustan Aircraft in 1940 by Walchand Hirachand, backed by the Kingdom of Mysore to produce aircrafts in the country.

lIn April 1942, British government bought out the stake of Walchand Hirachand and some other promoters. The buyout helped the Britishers greatly during the second world war.

lThe kingdom of Mysore however, did not sell its stake in the company. Thus, the company was nationalized in 1944. The company acquired its present name in 1964.

l In 2006, the company entered into a joint venture with Samtel for developing and manufacturing Avionics Display system.

l This is the first public – private partnership in the area of defence avionics (aviation communication).

l The first military aircraft constructed in South Asia was built by HAL.

HeadquartersHAL is headquartered at Bangalore, Karnataka.

Present ManagementMr. Ashok Nayak is the present Chairman of HAL.

Products Offered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is currently involved in the

l design

l assembly of aircrafts

l jet engines

l helicopters and their components and spares parts

l communication and navigation equipment

l HAL has collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to prod

Page 164: gk.txt

PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES

I. Automobile IndustryThe automobile industry in India can be mainly classified on the basis of

i) Market for Commercial Vehicles

ii) Market for Private Vehicles

i) Market for Commercial VehiclesThe market for commercial vehicles is a linchpin in the Indian Industrial Sector and responsible for transportation of more than 60 percent of the total freight handled in the country. As transportation is involved in every sector of the economy, the performance of the commercial vehicle market reflects the overall performance of the economy. The commercial vehicle industry has a cyclical nature of demand, because the demand is driven by a number of factors such as

l industrial growth

l agricultural production

l increase in volumes of freight movement

l road use for freight movement

l change in freight prices

l fuel prices

l government policies

Since 2001 – 02, the demand for commercial vehicles has been on a rise. In 2003, the total number of commercial vehicles grew by 20% and stood at 4025 thousand units. The growth is expected to augment due to a rise in the industrial production and supportive government policies. The major players in the market are Mahindra and Mahindra, Escorts, Ashok Leyland, Tata and Hindustan Motors.

ii) Market for Private VehiclesThe market for private Vehicles can be further classified on two basis.

a) Market for Two WheelersThe present market for two wheelers has witnessed rapid growth since the past four years. The total sales of two wheelers in India stood at 5,000,000 units in 2003 – 04. This has grown to 7,857,548 units in 2006 – 07. The rapid growth in the past two years is attributable to a rise in

Page 165: gk.txt

l household/consumers income

l easy availability of finance

l growing replacement demand

l introduction of new models

l increasingly aggressive outlook of the key players.

The overall sales of two wheelers are expected to reach 11,000,000 units in 2009–10. The expected surge in rural demand will play a key role in steering the total demand for two wheelers.

Key Players in the Market1. Hero Honda Motors Limited

l Hero Honda Motors Limited started as a joint venture between Hero group and the Honda Motor Company of Japan in 1984, Jan 19.

l The first motorcycle ‘CD 100’ was produced in 1985. In the year 1996.

l Hero Honda became the first company to serve the armed forces with its 100cc Motorcycles.

l In 2000, company’s brand ‘Splendor” was declared world’s number one largest selling single two wheeler model.

l Presently, Hero Honda Motors Limited is the single largest two wheeler manufacturer in the world.

HeadquarterHero Honda Motors Limited is headquartered at New Delhi, India.

Present ManagementMr. Brij Mohan Lal Munjal is the present Chairman of the company while Mr. Pawan Munjal is the Managing Director of Hero Honda Group.

Products OfferedThe product range offered by the company includes

l Karizma l Splendor l CD100 SS l Super Splendor

l CD Deluxe l Passion l Passion Plus l CD Dawn

l Glamour l Achiever l Hunk l CBZ Xtreme

Page 166: gk.txt

2. Bajaj Auto

l Bajaj Auto started its business as M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Limited in 1945 by Jamnalal Bajaj.

l It started with the sales of imported two and three wheelers in 1948.

l In 1959, Bajaj Auto obtained license from Government of India to manufacture two and three wheelers.

l Rahul Bajaj took charge of the business in 1965. Under his leadership, the company tied up with Kawasaki Industries of Japan for technological collaboration and launched Kawasaki Bajaj KB 100 motorcycles.

l At present, Bajaj Auto is ranked as world’s fourth largest two and three wheelers manufacturer.

Products OfferedThe product range offered by the company includes

l CT100 l Wind l Discover l Pulsar

l Avenger l Kawasaki Caliber l XCD 125 l Kawasaki Eliminator

HeadquarterBajaj Auto is headquartered at Pune, Maharashtra.

Present ManagementMr. Rahul Bajaj is the present Chairman and Mr. Madhur Bajaj is the Vice Chairman of the Bajaj Group.

b) Market for Four Wheelers

l The four wheelers market in India is at present experiencing a boom owing to high domestic demand, increasing exports, ambitious expansion plans by the major players of the sector and entry of foreign car manufacturer in the domestic market.

l The domestic sales are expected to grow annually at 12 per cent from 1.06 million vehicles 2004 – 05 to nearly 1.87 million in 2009 –10.

l Healthy growth in the disposable incomes of consumers, lower EMI’s owing to longer tenure and an improved distribution network will drive the growth in passenger cars and utility vehicles.

l The export of four wheelers from India is also growing at an increasing rate and is expected to grow by 21 percent per annum in the next four years.

l The global export from India is dominated by the small car segment with Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti Alto and Tata Indica

Page 167: gk.txt

topping the list.

Key Players in the Market1. Maruti Suzuki

l Maruti Suzuki was established as Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) in Feb 1981 through an Act of Parliament to meet the growing demand for a personal mode of transport.

l Suzuki Motor Company (now Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan) was chosen from seven prospective partners worldwide and a joint venture agreement was signed between Government of India and Suzuki in October, 1982.

l As a part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), The Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) was started in 2000, jointly with Delhi Government to promote safe driving habits among people.

l In 2002, Suzuki Motors Corporation increased its stake in Maruti to 54.2 percent and became the major stakeholder. Maruti Suzuki is the largest car manufacturer in India.

Brands OfferedThe brands offered by Maruti are

l Maruti 800 l Omni

l Alto l Gypsy

l Versa l Zen Estilo

l Wagon R l Esteem

l Baleno l Swift

l SX4 l Grand Vitara

HeadquarterThe company’s registered and corporate office is located at New Delhi and the workshop is located in Gurgaon, Haryana.

Present ManagementMr. Shizno Nakanishi is the Managing Director & CEO and R.C. Bhargava is the chairman of Maruti Suzuki.

2. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL)

l Hyundai Motor India Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea. The company

Page 168: gk.txt

started its operation in India in 1998 – 99.

l At present Hyundai Motors India limited is the second largest car manufacturer in India.

lThe year 2006 had been a significant year for the company. It achieved a significant milestone by rolling out the fastest 300,000th export car.

l The company exports to over 65 countries globally and has recently ventured into the UK market.

l The Company has also been awarded ISO 1400 certification for its sustainable environment management practices.

Brand OfferedThe brands offered by Hyundai India are:

l Santro Xing l Getz

l Accent l Verna

l Elantra l Embera

l Tucson l i 10

HeadquarterThe company’s headquarters are located at New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. H.S. Lheem is the Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India Limited___________________________________________________________________________

II. Information Technology Industry

l Post Liberalization, the IT industry has become one of the core business sectors of the economy.

l The annual growth rate of India’s software exports has been consistently over 50 percent since 1991.

l According to a report from Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The ITeS – BPO industry has grown by about 54 per cent with exports earnings of US $3.6 billion during 2003 – 2004.

l The government’s IT policy aims to use IT as a tool for raising the living standards of population based in rural areas by enhancing rural connectivity and increasing IT awareness.

l The recent findings of NASSCOM – Mc Kinsey report projects a further growth in the revenue of IT industry.

l It is expected to reach US $87 billion in 2008. The report also says that the growth in the IT industry would lead to creation

Page 169: gk.txt

of about 2.2 million jobs.

Key Players in the Market

1. Infosys

l Infosys Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: INFY) is an information technology (IT) company founded at Pune in 1981, by seven IT professionals.

l In 1987 the company set up its first international office in the US in Fremont.

l In the year 1992, Infosys became a public limited company in India.

l In 1999, it became the first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ and attained SEI – CMM level 5 certification.

l The company operates nine development centres in India and has over 30 offices in 20 other nations.

l Apart from its core business area, Infosys, through its subsidiaries, operates in some other business interests as well namely

i) Progeon – Infosys offers business process outsourcing solution to the global clients through Progeon.

ii) Infosys Consulting Inc. US – a subsidiary of Infosys Technologies, the company offers IT consulting to clients across North America.

iii) Infosys Technologies was also responsible for the introduction of “Finacle”, the software for Indian Banking industry.

HeadquarterInfosys technologies is headquartered at Bangalore.

Present ManagementMr. N. R. Narayan Murthy is the Chief Mentor and Chairman of BOD, S. Gopalakrishnan is the Chairman and Managing Director.

2. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

l Tata Consultancy Services Limited is a Tata group company.

l TCS commenced its operations in 1968.

l Today the company has its presence in 34 countries across 6 continents and offers a range of services to its clients.

l The main services provided by TCS are - complete range of IT products/service, consultancy services and outsourcing

Page 170: gk.txt

services.

HeadquarterThe company’s corporate office is at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Ratan N Tata is the Chairman of the Tata Group and Mr. S.Ramadorai is the CEO and Managing Director of TCS.

3. Wipro Technologies

l Wipro was set up in 1945 as Western India Vegetable Products Limited with modest presence in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

l The diversification into IT happened for the company in 1980 when IT services were started in the domestic market.

l Wipro launched its hardware company in 1981. In 1982, the company’s name was changed to Wipro Limited and it launched its software product subsidiary – Wipro Systems Limited in 1984.

l In 2000 the company was listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2001, WIPRO became world’s first PCMM level 5 company.

l In 1975, WIPRO marketed India’s 1st homegrown PC.

HeadquarterWipro Technologies is headquartered at Bangalore.

Present Management Mr. Azim Premji is the present Chairman of Wipro Technologies/Wipro Group.___________________________________________________________________________

III. Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Market

l The Indian FMCG sector is the fourth largest sector in the economy with a total market size in excess of US $13.1 billion.

l The FMCG Industry has strong presence in the Indian Economy and is characterised by a well established distribution network, intense competition between the organised and unorganised segments and low production costs.

l Availability of key raw material and cheap labor costs gives India a competitive advantage.

l India is one of the largest emerging markets and the fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, with a strong middle class base. The large share of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) in total individual spending clubbed with

Page 171: gk.txt

the large population base marks Indian as one of the largest FMCG markets.

l The size of the FMCG market is set to treble from US $11.6 billion in 2003 to US $33.4 billion in 2015.

l Growth in this sector is also likely to come from consumer upgradation to matured product categories like processed food.

l By 2010, about 200 million people in India are expected to consume processed and packaged food, which would require a large investment in the food processing industry.

Key Players in The Market

1. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)

l In the summer of 1888, visitors to the Kolkata harbour noticed crates full of ‘Sunlight’ soap bars embossed with the words “Made in England by Lever Brothers”. With it, began the era of branded Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) in India.

l In 1895 the company launched Lifebuoy and other famous brands like Pears, Lux and Vim. Vanaspati was launched in 1918.

l In 1931, Unilever set up its Indian subsidiary by the name Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company. Brand ‘Dalda’ came to the Indian Market in 1937.

l It was followed by setting up of Lever Brothers Limited in 1933 and United Traders Limited in 1935.

l The three Companies were merged together in 1956 and Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) was formed.

l The company was renamed from HLL to HUL in late Jun 2007 to provide the optimum balance and the future benefits and synergies of global alignment with the corporate name of “Unilever”.

l At present, HUL is India’s largest FMCG company with its presence across varied product categories namely Home and Personal care, processed foods and Beverages.

l It is also one of the largest exporters in the country and has been recognised as Golden Super Star Trading House by the Government of India.

HeadquarterHindustan Unilever Limited has its headquarters at Mumbai.

Present Management Mr. Harish Manwani is the Present non – executive Chairman of the company and Nitin Paranjpe, CEO.

Products OfferedThe various products offered by HLL are:

Page 172: gk.txt

Personal Care Laundry Foods Appliances

Lux Surf Excel Brooke Bond Hindustan Lever Limited has also come out with Pureit -

Lifebouy Rin Lipton The world’s most advanced water purifier.

Liril Wheel Kissan

Hamam Knorr Annapurna

Breeze Bru

Dove Kwality Wall’s

Pears

Rexona

Fair and Lovely

Pond’s

Sunsilk Naturals

Clinic

Pepsodent

Close-Up

Axe

Vaseline

Ayush

Lakme

2. ITC Limited

l ITC Limited was incorporated on August 24, 1910 under the name of ‘Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited.

lThe company’s ownership was progressively Indianised and the name of the company was changed to ITC Limited in 1974.

l The company’s packaging and printing business divisions were set up in 1925 to provide strategic support to ITC’s

Page 173: gk.txt

cigarette business.

l Apart from FMCG product offerings, the company has also marked its presence in hotel industry under two brand names Welcome Group of Hotels and Sheraton Hotels. The company ventured into the hotel business in 1975.

l It also offers a range of lifestyle products and stationery items.

l In 2000, the company started its stationery business and also introduced “Wills Lifestyle” range of clothing.

l It made an entry into the packaged foods business in 2001, with the launch of its brand “Kitchens of India”. In 2002, the company launched “Aashirwad” brand of atta and subsequently in 2003 “Sunfeast” brand of biscuits was launched.

HeadquarterITC Limited is headquartered at Kolkata

Present Management Mr. Y. C. Deveshwar is the present Chairman of the company.

Products OfferedMajor Brands in various product offerings of company include:

1) FMCG

a) Cigarettes – Insignia, India Kings, Classic, Gold Flake, Capstan, Flake and etc.

b) Food Brands – Kitchens of India, Fashioned, Sunfeast, Mint-O, Candyman & Bingo.

c) Lifestyle Retailing – Will Lifestyle, John Players, Essenza De Wills, Miss Players

d) Personal Care – Farina Di Wills

e) Stationery – Expression Greeting Cards, Classmate, Papercraft, Regalia

f) Safety Matches & Agarbattis – Ikon, Aim, Vare Lit, Mangaldeep, Delite

2) Hotels - Maurya Sheraton, Chola Mandalam

3) Paperboard & Specialty Papers

4) Packaging

5) Agni Business

6) Information Technology

Page 174: gk.txt

3. Proctor and Gamble India (P & G)

l Proctor & Gamble started its operation in India when Vicks Product Inc. India was established in 1951.

l In 1964, a public limited company, Richardson Hindustan Limited (RHL) was formed which obtained a license from the government to produce menthol oil and Vicks range of products.

l In 1967, RHL introduced ‘CLEARASIL’, the pimple cream and subsequently in 1979, ‘VICKS ACTION 500’ was launched.

l In 1985, RHL became an affiliate of Proctor & Gamble Company, USA and the name was finally changed to Proctor & Gamble, India in 1989.

l In 1991, ‘Ariel’ brand of detergent was introduced. In 1993, Proctor and Gamble India started the marketing of Old Spice brand of products.

l In 1999, the name of the company was changed to Proctor & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited.

HeadquarterP & G India is headquartered at Mumbai. Robert A. McDonald is Chairman & CEO of the Company.

Products Offered1. Hygiene & Health Care Whisper, Vicks Vapor Rub, Vicks Inhaler, Vicks Formula 44, Vicks Cough Drops, Vicks Action 500+2. Home ProductionAriel Tide Detergent and BarPanteneOlayJoyHeads & ShouldersPantene RejoicePampers___________________________________________________________________________

IV. Telecom Sector

lAccording to a recent report by CRIS INFAC the Indian Telecom Sector is one of the fastest growing, high potential telecom markets in the world.

l The total subscriber base in India is expected to grow to 490.0 million suscribers by 2012 at a Compounded Annual Growth

Page 175: gk.txt

Rate (CAGR) of 24.3 percent.

lThe urban teledensity is expected to cross 50 percent mark by 2009–10 and the rural teledensity would reach double figures.

lWireless telephony services (Mobile & fixed wireless) until now account for almost the entire growth in the sector. The mobile subscriber base is expected to grow from 52.2 million at the end of 2004 – 05 to 490.0 million in 2011 – 12.

l The fixed line subscriber base is expected to grow from 45.9 million at the end of 2004–05 to 73.4 million in 2009 – 10.

The current telecom boom is likely to sustain itself in future because of many factors:

l Low access charge

l Reduction in license fee

l Reduction in tariff rates, both for fixed line and wireless services

l Increase in FDI limit for the sector

l Government policy of moving from fixed license regime to a revenue share regime

Key players in the market

1. Bharti Tele-Ventures (AIRTEL)

Bharti Tele-Ventures limited, a part of Bharti enterprises, is India’s leading private sector telecommunication service provider. The business of Bharti Tele-Ventures has been structured into two main strategic business groups:

i)  Mobility business groupii) Infotel business group

The Mobility Business Group provides GSM mobile services across India in 23 Telecom circles and the Infotel Business Group provides broadband and telephone (fixed line) services. Till now, it is the only company to operate in all 23 circles in India. The telephone and internet services provided by the company are available in 15 circles. In 2005, Vodafone Group Plc., the largest telecom company of United Kingdom bought 10% stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures for US $1.5 billion.

HeadquarterBharti Tele-Ventures Ltd. is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementMr. Sunil Bharti Mittal is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Page 176: gk.txt

2. Vodafone EssarVodafone Essar previously known as Hutchison Essar, brands its product as ‘Vodafone’.Vodafone Essar is owned by Vodafone Group (52%), Essar Group (33%), and other Indian Nationals (15%).

HeadquarterVodafone Essar is headquartered at Mumbai

Present ManagementMr. Asim Ghosh is CEO of Vodafone Essar and Mr. Arun Sarin is the CEO of Vodafone Group.

3. Reliance Communications Limited (RCL)

l Reliance Communications Limited was originally incorporated on July 15, 2004 under the Companies Act, 1956 as Reliance Infrastructure Limited.

l The status of the company was changed from private limited to public limited on July 25, 2005.

l The name has since been changed to its present name - Reliance Communications Limited, under a fresh Certificate of incorporation obtained from the government for the consequent change of name on June 7, 2006.

HeadquarterReliance Communications Limited is headquartered at Navi Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. Anil Dhirubhai Ambani is the present chairman of the company___________________________________________________________________________

V. Infrastructure Sector

l Infrastructure Development has begun to pick up over the past two years and is set to surge over the next few years.

l Driven by government initiatives, private participation in the sector, innovative financing schemes and low interest rate on borrowing, have made it easier and cheaper for companies to fund large projects.

l According to a recent CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) report, the further growth expected in the sector would require investments to the tune of Rs. 6,196 billion over FY 2005 – 08.

l The focus of the Public–Private partnership is on development of roads, ports and power sector.

l All these initiatives would translate into huge earnings for the construction companies.

Page 177: gk.txt

Key Players in the Market1. Jaiprakash Industries (Jaypee Group)

l The Jaypee Group is a well diversified infrastructure company of India. The company was set up by Shri Jayparakash Gaur in 1979. After his stint with the government of Uttar Pradesh, he branched off on his own as a Civil Contractor in 1958.

l Jaiprakash Associates Pvt. Ltd (JAPL) was set up in 1979.

l In 1980, Hotel Siddharth (New Delhi) and Hotel Vasant Continental (New Delhi) were set up.

l In 1983, Jaypee Rewa Cement Plant (JRCL) was set up and subsequently Jaiprakash Industries Limited (JIL) was formed in 1986 by amalgamation of JAPL into JRCL.

l In 1992, the group ventured into power sector and two New Companies – Jaiprakash Hydro Power Ltd. (JHPL) and Jaiprakash Power Venture Ltd. (JPVL) were formed.

l In the year 2000, Jaypee Cement Ltd (JCL) was set up after a merger of JRCL and another Cement Plant Jaypee Bela Cement Plant (JBCP).

l In 2003, JIL was merged with JIL and Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. (JAL) was formed in 2005, JHPL was listed on both NSE and BSE and thereby became the first Hydropower Company to be listed on either BSE or NSE in India.

HeadquarterJaiprakash Industries is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementShri Jaiprakash Gaur is the Present Chairman of the Group.

2. DLF Group

l The DLF Group founded in 1946 is a leading name in India’s real estate Industry. The Group’s existing range of business verticals spans across Homes, Offices, Shopping Malls and Recreational Spaces like DLF Golf and Country Club.

lIt has been responsible for the development of various urban colonies and townships across India, primarily Gurgaon (NCR).

l Already a major player in locations across the country, the company is now focusing on new business areas.

l The group has made significant investments in hotels, infrastructure and Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s).

l DLF has also entered into a Joint Venture with Laing O’Rourke of UK to develop expressways and airports in the country.

HeadquarterDLF Group has its Corporate Office in New Delhi.

Page 178: gk.txt

Present ManagementMr. KP Singh is the present Chairman of the group.

3. Gammon India

l Gammon India Limited is one of the leading construction companies in India.

l The company was established by Mr. JG Gammon in 1919 as a firm of civic engineers and contractor which in 1922 was incorporated as a private limited company.

l Under its present name the firm went public in 1962.

l Gammon India has to its credit the largest river bridge in the world across the river Ganges at Patna, the largest road bridge in India across the open sea in Mumbai and the first Cable stayed bridge in India.

l Gammon India Limited is the only Indian construction company to have been accredited with ISO 9001 certification for all fields of civil engineering works.

HeadquarterThe Company has its corporate office in Mumbai.

Present Management Mr. Abhijit Ranjan is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Company.

4. GMR Group

l GMR Group is an infrastructure development company founded in 1978.

l The group today has major interests in energy, transportation and business in manufacturing.

lAs a part of group’s corporate social responsibility initiative, GMR Varalakshmi foundation (GMRVF) was established in 1991 with focus on education, community services, health and hygiene and creation of livelihood through empowerment of local communities.

lIn early 2006, the group also bagged the contract for restructuring and modernizing Delhi’s International Airport, jointly with FRAPORT (Frankfurt airport)

HeadquarterThe company has its corporate office at Bangalore.

Present ManagementMr. G. M. Rao is the founding chairman of the GMR Group.___________________________________________________________________________

Page 179: gk.txt

VI. Major Business Groups1. Tata Group

l Born in a Parsi family in 1839, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata came to Bombay at the age of 14. In 1868, he started a private trading firm with a capital of Rs.21000, laying the foundation of what now exists as Tata Group.

l His travels in the Far East and Europe created a strong desire in him to manufacture cotton goods. Finally, he launched the famous Central India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing company in 1874 marking the group’s entry into Textiles.

l The group later moved in to steel, electric power, locomotives, automobiles, banking, insurance, hotels and eventually information technology.

l Jamsetji had got the approval for building a steel plant in 1895. Many years were spent in surveying the Indian terrain before the group hit gold in the remote coalfields of Bengal which had ore with rich iron content and a continuous flow of water. The Tata Iron and Steel Company was founded in 1907 at Jamshedpur, in Bihar (present day Jharkhand).

l Sir Dorabji Tata, aided by his cousin RD Tata, saw Jamsetji’s projects through to the stage of accomplishment. Sir Dorabji always believed that wealth must be put to constructive use. Towards the end of his career in 1932, he put all his wealth–including the 245-carat Jubilee Diamond, twice as large as the Koh-i-noor and estimated at Rs. 1 crore–into a trust for the advancement of learning and research, the relief of distress and other charitable purposes.

l Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD) was born in Paris on July 29, 1904. JRD, as he was fondly referred to all his life, arrived at group headquarters, Bombay House to work under John Peterson, director-in-charge of Tata Steel, in 1925.

l In 1938, after the death of Sir Nowroji Saklatvala, chairman of Tata Sons, JRD Tata was catapulted to be the head of India’s largest industrial empire.

l JRD’s passion for flying was fulfilled with the formation of the Tata Aviation Service back in 1932. Just before India’s Independence, in 1945, Tata Steel promoted the Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco) with the objective of making locomotives for the Indian Railways.

l For these endeavors, JRD Tata was awarded the country’s highest civilian honour - Bharat Ratna, in 1992–one of the rare instances when the award was granted during a person’s lifetime.

Milestones

1868 :

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata starts a private trading firm. The foundation of the Tata empire is laid.

1874 :

The first Indian textile mill, Central India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company is established.

Page 180: gk.txt

1902 :

The Indian Hotels Company is established to run a chain of hotels in India.

1907 :

The birth of the Tata Iron and Steel Company heralds India’s entry into the steel age.

1910 :

The first of the three Tata electric companies, the Tata Hydro-Electric power Supply Company, is created.

1911 :

The Indian Institute of Science is established in Bangalore.

1917 :

The Tata entered consumer goods, as The Tata Oil Mills Company starts making soaps, detergents and cooking oils..

1931 :

Tata Press is born. It is now one of the country’s leading, integrated commercial printer.

1932 :

Tata Airlines, a division of Tata Sons, is established.

1939 :

Tata Chemicals, now the largest producer of soda ash in the country, is established.

1945 :

The Tata Engineering and locomotive Company is set up to manufacture commercial vehicles

1952 :

Lakme is established.

1954 :

India’s major marketing, engineering and manufacturing organisation, Voltas is established.

1962 :

Tata Finlay (now Tata Tea), one of the largest tea producers, is established.

1968 :

Tata Consultancy Services is formed, a division of Tata Sons.

1970 :

Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company is created to publish educational and technical books. Tata Economic Consultancy Services is set up.

1984 :

Titan Industries – a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) – is set up to manufacture watches.

Page 181: gk.txt

1996 :

Tata Teleservices (TTSL) is established to spearhead the Group’s foray into the telecom sector.

1998 :

Tata Indica, India’s first indigenously designed, developed and manufactured car is launched.

1999 :

The new Tata Group corporate mark and logo are launched.

2000 :

Tata Tea acquires Tetley Group, UK.

2001 :

Tata-AIG – a joint venture between the Tata Group and American International Group Inc (AIG) – marks the Tata’s re-entry into insurance. (The Group’s insurance company New India Assurance, was nationalised in 1956). The Tata Group Executive Office (GEO) is set up to design and implement change in the Tata Group and to provide long-term direction.

2003 :

Tata BP Solar inaugurates plant; launches three new products. Tata Motors launches City Rover – Indica fashioned for the European market.

2005 :

Tata Steel acquires Singapore-based steel company NatSteel by subscribing to 100 per cent equity of its subsidiary, NatSteel Asia.

2007 :

Tata Steel, part of India’s Tata Group, offered to purchase 100% stake in the Corus Group at 608 p. per share in an all cash deal, cumulatively valued at USD 12.04 Billion. This deal was also the biggest acquisition by any Indian company till date.

HeadquarterThe Tata Group’s holding company has its headquarters at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Present ManagementMr. Ratan Tata is the present Chairman of the group.

Engineering Services/Products

Power Chemicals Communication ITConsumer Products

ServicesGlobal

Operations

TAL Manufacturing Solutions

Tata BP Solar India

Rallies India

Tata Sky

Nelito Systems

Tata McGrawhill publishing

Indian Hotels (Taj Group)

Tata Enterprise AG

Tata AutoComp System

Tata powerTata

ChemicalsTata Teleservices SerWizSol Tata Tea

Taj Housing Development Corporation

(THDC)

Tata Incorporated

Page 182: gk.txt

Tata HolsetTata

PigmentsTatanet Tata Elxsi Trent

Financial Services

Tata International

Tata Motors Technolgies VSNLTata

TechnolgiesTata Ceramics

Tata International

AG

Tata ProjectsTata

Consultancy Services (TCS)

Titan Industries

Tata AIG General

InsuranceTata Limited

TCE Consulting Engineers

Tata Interactive

Systems

Tata AIG Life Insurance

Tata Precision Ltd.

Telco Construction Equipment Co.

Tata Asset Management

Tata AG

TRFTata Financial

Services

VoltasTata

Investment Corporation

Tata Steel Other Services

Tata Quality Management

Services

Tata Services

Tata Strategic Management

Group.

Group Companies

2. The Goenka’s - RPG Group

The RPG Group’s business origin can be traced to 1820, when Mr. Ramdutt Goenka, arrived in Calcutta from Dundlod, in Rajasthan, India, to do business with the British

Page 183: gk.txt

East India Company. Along with his brothers and sons, he acquired several profitable agencies. By the turn of the twentieth century, his business had expanded rapidly with significant diversification in banking, textiles, jute and tea. For their outstanding contribution to the Indian business and community services, the British conferred Knighthood on Sir Hariram Goenka and Sir Badridas Goenka. They became prominent leaders of the Marwari community of Calcutta and held sway in business communities throughout India.

Sir Badridas Goenka played an important role in public life and national politics. In 1933, he became the first Indian to be appointed Chairman of the Imperial Bank of India, now known as the State Bank of India. In 1945, he was elected President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The successful streak of entrepreneurship continued with Keshav Prasad Goenka, son of Sir Badridas Goenka. He managed to steer his companies through the pre-independence and post-independence era and in the 1950s, embarked on a course of expansion and diversification at an escalating tempo. Keshav Prasad Goenka acquired the two British trading houses, Duncan Brothers and Octavius Steel. In the early 1960s, he promoted three companies in the automobile tyre industry namely Phillips Carbon Black and acquired several others. By the end of 1970s, when he progressively retired leaving the management of his business to his three sons, he had acquired substantial interests in tea, automobile tyre, jute, cotton textile and electric cables. Like his father, he played an active role in public life. He held the position of President of FICCI in 1965, and became a director of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, a position later held by his son Rama Prasad Goenka, better known as RP Goenka.

In 1979, the fortune owned by Keshav Prasad Goenka was shared amongst his three sons. From owning four companies; Phillips Carbon Black, Asian Cables, Agarpara Jute and Murphy India, with a turnover of Rs 75 crore, RP Goenka, led the group to what it is today: a Rs 7,472 crore company (US$ 1.65 billion), with more than 20 companies in 7 different business sectors. With razor sharp business instincts, RP Goenka excelled in buying and selling companies. His first purchase was CEAT Tyres of India in 1981. In the 1980s, this takeover specialist acquired KEC (1982), Searle India (1983, later renamed RPG Life Sciences), Dunlop (1984), HMV (1988), and finally in 1989,CESC, Harrisons Malayalam, Spencer & Co. and ICIM.

In 1990, he entrusted the management of the group to his two sons, Harsh and Sanjiv Goenka. RP Goenka became Chairman Emeritus, Harsh Goenka Chairman and Sanjiv Goenka Vice-Chairman of RPG Enterprises.

Milestones

1979 : Inception of RPG Enterprises by Mr RP Goenka, a Rs. 700 million group, which comprises Phillips Carbon Black, Asian           Cables, Agarpara Jute and Murphy (India)1983 : RPG Life Sciences (formerly Searle India) is acquired.

Page 184: gk.txt

1985 : Saregama India (formerly the Gramophone of India Ltd.) is acquired1988 : HMV (His Master’s Voice) is acquired.1989 : Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., Spencer’s CESC Ltd., Raychem RPG (formerly Raychem Corporation) and Zensar Technologies          (formerly ICIL) are acquired.1995 : RPG Cellular commences its operations.1996 : RPG Netcom is established.1997 : MusicWorld and Health and Glow are formed.1999 : Searle India becomes RPG Life Sciences. Foodworld is established.2000 : International Computers India Ltd. (ICIL) becomes Zensar Technologies Ltd. 2001 : ‘Giant’ hypermarkets is established.2003 : RPG crosses the Rs.7000 crore turnover mark reaching Rs.7472 crore in sales.

HeadquarterThe group is headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Present ManagementMr. R P Goenka is the Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Harsh Goenka is the present Chairman of the group and Mr. Sanjiv Goenka is the Vice Chairman of the group.

RPG Group CompaniesRetail : Foodworld, Musicworld, Spencer’s, Hypermarkets

Page 185: gk.txt

Technology : Zensar Technology, RPG Cables, RPG Life Sciences Entertainment : Saregama HMV, HamaraCDPower Transmission : CESC Ltd., Noida Power CompanyTyres : CEAT Ltd., CEAT Kelani, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.Speciality : Raychem RPG, Transmission : KEC International, Nitel, RPG Transmission

3. Bajaj Group

The Bajaj Group is amongst the top 10 business houses in India. Its footprint stretches over a wide range of industries, spanning automobiles (two-wheelers and three-wheelers), home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel and finance. The group’s flagship company, Bajaj Auto, is ranked as the world’s fourth largest two and three wheeler manufacturer and the Bajaj brand is well-known in over a dozen countries in Europe, Latin America, the US and Asia.

Founded in 1926, at the height of India’s movement for independence from the British, the group has an illustrious history. The integrity, dedication, resourcefulness and determination to succeed which are characteristic of the group today, can be traced back to its birth during those days of relentless devotion to a common cause. Jamnalal Bajaj, founder of the group, was a close confidant and disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, Gandhiji had adopted him as his son. This close relationship and his deep involvement in the independence movement did not leave Jamnalal Bajaj with much time to spend on his newly launched business venture.

His son, Kamalnayan Bajaj, then 27, took over the reins of business in 1942. He too was close to Gandhiji and it was only after Independence in 1947, that he was able to give his full attention to the business. Kamalnayan Bajaj not only consolidated the group, but also diversified into various manufacturing activities.

HeadquarterBajaj group is headquartered at Pune, Maharashtra.

Present ManagementThe present Chairman and Managing Director of the group, Rahul Bajaj, took charge of the business in 1965. Under his leadership, the turnover of the Bajaj Auto, the flagship company, has gone up from INR 72 million to INR 46.16 billion (USD 936 million) and its product portfolio has expanded and the brand has found a global market. He is one of India’s most distinguished business leaders and is internationally respected for his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit.

Bajaj Group Companies

Bajaj Auto Ltd. Mukand Global Finance Ltd.

Page 186: gk.txt

Bajaj Electricals Ltd. Bachraj Factories Pvt. Ltd

Bajaj Hindustan Ltd. Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd.

Maharashtra Scooters Ltd. Bajaj Auto Holdings Ltd.

Bajaj Auto finance Ltd. Jamnalal Sons Pvt. Ltd.

Hercules Hoists Ltd. Bachraj & Company Pvt. Ltd.

Bajaj Sevashram Pvt. Ltd. Jeevan Ltd.

Hind lamps Ltd. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Bajaj Ventures Ltd. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd.

Mukand International Ltd. Stainless India Ltd.

The Hindustan Housing Co. Ltd. Hind Musafir Agency Pvt. Ltd.

Baroda Industries Pvt. Ltd. Bajaj Internatinal Pvt. Ltd.

Bombay Forgings Ltd.

4. Aditya Birla GroupA formidable force in the Indian industry, Mr Aditya Birla dared to dream of setting up a global business empire at the age of 24. He was the first to put the Indian business on the world map, as far back as 1969, long before globalization became a buzzword in India. Interestingly, for Mr Aditya Birla, globalisation meant more than just geographic reach. He believed that a business could be global even whilst being based in India. Therefore, back in his home-territory, he single-mindedly drove to put together the building blocks to make his Indian business a global force. Under his stewardship, his companies rose to be the world’s largest producer of viscose staple fibre, the largest refiner of palm oil, the third largest producer of insulators and the sixth largest producer of carbon black. In India they attained the status of the largest single producer of viscose filament yarn, apart from being a producer of cement, grey cement and rayon grade pulp. The group is also the largest producer of aluminium in the private sector, the lowest cost producers in the world and the only producer of line in the textile industry in India.

Milestones

1857 :The foundation of the Birla Group of Companies is laid by Seth Shiv Narayan Birla–cotton trading operations commence at Pilani, Rajasthan.

1919 : Ghanshyam Das Birla, grandson of Shiv Narayan Birla, sets up the first Birla jute mill.

Page 187: gk.txt

1947 : Grasim is incorporated.

1958 : Hindalco is incorporated.

1965 : Aditya Birla, grandson of the legendary Ghanshyamdas Birla, starts the Eastern Spinning Mills & Industries.

1966 : The Indian Rayon Corporation Ltd. is acquired.

1985 : India’s first gas-based fertiliser plant in the private sector – Indo Gulf – goes on stream at Jagdishpur, UP

1986 : The Birla Growth Fund is set up.

1990 : Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla gets actively involved in the Group’s operations.

1995 : The group enters the telecommunications sector through a joint venture with AT & T (USA)

1996 : All group companies are consolidated under the umbrella of the Aditya Birla Group, led by Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla.

1999 : A joint venture with financial services major Sun Life of Canada is inked, as part of the overall restructuring of the Group’s financial services business.

2000 : l Indian Rayon acquires Madura Garments and selected overseas brand rights, taking the Group to the top of the league in the branded apparels sector.

l The Group forays into e-business through a strategic alliance of its software arm, Birla Software and Consultancy

Services (BCSS), with Lawson Software (USA).

l ‘Gyanodaya’, the Institute of Management Learning of the Aditya Birla Group, is inaugurated.

l Hindalco acquires Indal. The Indal board is reconstituted. Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla becomes Indal’s new chairman.

The Group holding goes up to 74.6 percent, and further increases to 96 per cent in FY’03.

l The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) grants registration in principle to Birla Sun Life Insurance

Company. Indian Rayon acquires major world rights for international apparel brands Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and Peter England.

l The Group announces its intention to launch a 450 MW ‘Green Power Project’ in Karnataka.

l The merger of Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular is completed to form IDEA.

2004 : Board reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla taking over as Chairman. Completion of the implementation process to de-merge the cement business of L&T and completion of open offer by Grasim, with the latter acquiring controlling stake in the newly formed company UltraTech.

HeadquarterThe group is headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Page 188: gk.txt

Present ManagementMr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is the present Chairman of the group. Under his leadership the group has not only sustained existing empire but is also prospering to new heights. The group is spearheaded by Grasim, Hindalco, Indian Rayon, and Indo Gulf Fertilisers.

Group Companies

Group Companies Indian Companies Joint Ventures

Grasim Industries Ltd. PSI Data Systems Birla Sun Life Insurance

Hindalco Industries Ltd. TransWorks Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company Ltd.

Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd. Essel Mining & Industries Ltd. Birla Sun Life Distribution Company Ltd.

Ultra Tech Cement Ltd. Shree Digvijay Cement Ltd. Tanfac Industries Ltd.

Idea Cellular Ltd.

Birla NGK Insulators

Bihar Caustic and Chemicals Ltd.

5. Reliance Industries Limited (Mukesh Ambani) The Reliance Group, founded by Dhirubhai H. Ambani (1932-2002), is India’s largest private sector enterprise, with businesses in the energy and materials value chain. Group’s annual revenues are in excess of USD 27 billion. The flagship company, Reliance Industries Limited, is a Fortune Global 500 company and is the largest private sector company in India.

The Group’s activities span exploration and production of oil and gas, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals (polyester, fibre intermediates, plastics and chemicals), textiles and retail.

Reliance enjoys global leadership in its businesses, being the largest polyester yarn and fibre producer in the world and among the top five to ten producers in the world in major petrochemical products.

The Group exports products in excess of USD 15 billion to more than 100 countries in the world. There are more than 25,000 employees on the rolls of Group Companies. Major Group Companies are Reliance Industries Limited (including main subsidiaries Reliance Petroleum Limited and Reliance Retail Limited) and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Limited.

Milestones

Page 189: gk.txt

1977 : Reliance went Public with IPO – Dhirubhai Ambani introduced equity cult in India, a new model of business leadership from a base of the broadcast public shareholding.

1992 : Reliance raised funds by pioneering foray into overseas capital markets with first ever international GDR offering by an Indian corporate.

1993 : Reliance Petroleum Limited public issue - India’s largest public offering .

Reliance pioneered the first ever Euro Convertible Bond issue by an Indian company.

1994 : Reliance offered the second Euro issue of GDR.

1995 : Net profit crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark (Rs 1,065 crores or US$ 338 million), unparalleled in the Indian Private sector.

1996-97:

First corporate in Asia to issue 50 and 100 years bond in US debt market.

Reliance became the first private sector company to be rated by international credit rating agencies. S&P rated BB+, stable outlook, constrained by the Sovereign Ceiling. Moody’s rated Baa3, Investment grade, constrained by the Sovereign Ceilings.

1998 : Dhirubhai Ambani was awarded the Dean’s Medal by the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA, for setting an outstanding example of leadership.

2001 : Reliance Industries Ltd. and Reliance Petroleum Ltd. became India’s two largest companies in terms of all major financial parameters

Dhirubhai Ambani was conferred The Economic Times Award for Corporate Excellence for Lifetime Achievement.

2002 : l Reliance Infocomm to launch various telecom services on 28th December - beginning with Gujarat, the Infocomm revolution will cover thousands of villages and hundreds of cities across the country. Reliance Infocomm will become a major catalyst for changing the face of India and improving the quality of life of Indians.

l Reliance announced India’s biggest gas discovery in nearly three decades and one of the largest gas discoveries in the world during 2002. The in place volume of natural gas is in excess of 7 trillion cubic feet, equivalent to about 1.2 billion barrels of crude oil. This is the first ever discovery by an Indian private sector company.

l Reliance acquired control of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) - India’s second largest petrochemicals company.

l The merger of Reliance Petroleum Limited with Reliance Industries Limited was announced - largest ever merger in India - Reliance Industries became the largest private sector company in India on all major financial parameters including sales, profits, net worth, assets, and exports.

2003 : l Reliance Infocomm acquires FLAG Telecom, a multinational telecom company providing bandwidth through its undersea cable network comprising of over 50,000 kms of undersea fiber optic cable that spans four continents and

Page 190: gk.txt

connects the key regions of Asia, Europe, Middle East and the USA.

l Reliance strikes oil in an onshore block in Yemen, where it has an equity oil position.

l Reliance’s refinery at Jamnagar was ranked best in Shell Benchmarking for the third consecutive year in ‘Energy and Loss’ performance from amongst 50 refineries worldwide.

l BSES, one of the premier utility companies of the country, engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity becomes part of the Reliance Group and Mr. Anil D Ambani is appointed its Chairman

2004 : l Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) emerged as the ‘Petrochemicals Company of the Year’ at the prestigious sixth annual Platts Global Energy Awards ceremony in New York, USA

l The European Commission approved the acquisition of the German specialty polyester manufacturer ‘Trevira’ by Reliance.

l Reliance Industries emerged as the first and only private sector company from India to feature in the 2004 Fortune Global 500 list of World’s Largest Corporations.

l Reliance announced it had struck gas off the Orissa Coast in the Bay of Bengal.

l RIL became the first private sector company in India to record a net profit of US dollar of over 1 billion.

2006 : Reliance becomes India’s first private sector enterprise to cross US$2 billion profit mark.

2007 : l RIL completes a landmark acquisition of IPCL.

l Reliance Retail entered the organised retail market in India with the launch of its convenience store format under the brand name of ‘Reliance Fresh’.

HeadquatersRIL is headquatered at Nariman Point, Mumbai

Present ManagementChairman & Managing Director – Mukesh Ambani

6. Reliance ADA Group

Page 191: gk.txt

Reliance Capital Reliance Capital is one of India’s leading and fastest growing private sector financial services companies, and ranks among the top 3 private sector financial services and banking companies, in terms of net worth.The company has interests in asset management and mutual funds, life and general insurance, private equity and proprietary investments, stock broking and other activities in financial services.

Reliance Communications Limited The flagship company of the Reliance – ADA Group, Reliance Communications Limited, is the realisation of their founder’s dream of bringing about a digital revolution that will provide every Indian with affordable means of communication and a ready access to information.The company began operations in 1999 and has over 20 million subscribers today. It offers a complete range of integrated telecom services. These include mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband, national and international long distance services, data services and a wide range of value added services and applications aimed at enhancing the productivity of enterprises and individuals.

Reliance Energy Limited Reliance Energy Limited, incorporated in 1929, is a fully integrated utility engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It ranks among India’s top listed private companies on all major financial parameters, including assets, sales, profits and market capitalization.

Page 192: gk.txt

It is India’s foremost private sector utility with aggregate estimated revenues of Rs 9,500 crore (US$ 2.1 billion) and total assets of Rs 10,700 crore (US$ 2.4 billion).

Reliance HealthIn a country where healthcare is fast becoming a booming industry, Reliance Health is a focused healthcare services company enabling the provision of solution to Indians, at affordable prices. The company aims at providing integrated health services that will compete with the best in the world.It also plans to venture into diversified fields like Insurance Administration, Health care Delivery and Integrated Health, Health Informatics and Information Management and Consumer Health.

Reliance Media & EntertainmentAs part of the Reliance - ADA Group, Reliance Entertainment is spearheading the Group’s foray into the media and entertainment space. Reliance Entertainment’s core focus is to build significant presence for Reliance in the Entertainment eco-system: across content and distribution platforms.The key content initiative are across Movies, Music, Sports, Gaming, Internet & mobile portals, leading to direct opportunities in delivery across the emerging digital distribution platforms: digital cinema, IPTV, DTH and Mobile TV.Reliance ADA Group acquired Adlabs Films Limited in 2005, one of the largest entertainment companies in India, which has interests in film processing, production, exhibition & digital cinema.Reliance Entertainment has made an entry into the FM Radio business through Adlabs Radio www.big927fm.com Having won 45 stations in the recent bidding, BIG 92.7 FM is already India’s largest private FM radio network with 12 radio stations across the country as on 28th February 2007, with many more to be launched in the coming months.

HeadquaterThe company has its headquarter in Mumbai

Present ManagementShri Anil D Ambani is the chairman of Reliance ADAG.

7. Mahindra & Mahindra

l Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is a major automaker in India. It is the flagship strategic business unit of the Mahindra Group.

l The company was set up in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed. Later, after the partition of India, Mr. Gulam Mohammed migrated to Pakistan and became that nation’s first finance minister.

l The company first traded steel with suppliers in England and the United States.

l Real business activity of M&M began by assembling complete knock down (CKD) Jeeps in 1949. The company expanded to indigenous manufacture of Jeep vehicles with a high level of local content under license from Kaiser Jeep and later

Page 193: gk.txt

American Motors (AMC).

l M&M soon branched out into manufacturing agricultural tractors and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). It later expanded its operations to secure a significant presence in many more important sectors.

l The company has now transformed itself into a group of business units that caters to the Indian and overseas markets with a presence in vehicles, farm equipment, information technology, trade and finance related services, as well as infrastructure development.

l By 2005, M&M had become the largest producer of SUVs in India. The company has recently started a separate sector, the Mahindra Systems and Automotive Technologies (MSAT), to focus on developing components and offering engineering services.

l Mahindra & Mahindra rapidly grew from being a maker of army vehicles to a major automobile and tractor manufacturer with a growing global appetite.

l It made strategic acquisitions of plants in China and the United Kingdom, and has three assembly plants in the USA. M&M has partnerships with international companies like Renault SA, France, Nissan and International Truck and Engine Corporation, USA.

l M&M made its entry into the passenger car segment with Logan in April 2007 under the Mahindra Renault JV.

l M&M will make its maiden entry into the heavy trucks segment with Mahindra International, the joint venture with International Truck, USA.

l M&M’s Automotive Sector makes a wide rage of vehicles including MUVs, LCVs and three wheelers. M&M is the largest manufacturer of MUVs, offering over 20 models including new generation multi-utility vehicles like the Scorpio and the Bolero. The company is a market leader in the Utility Vehicle segment.

l M&M’s products are being exported to the USA, Russia and several other countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Its global subsidiaries include Mahindra Europe Srl. based in Italy, Mahindra USA Inc., Mahindra South Africa and Mahindra (China) Tractor Co. Ltd.

l M&M is the third largest tractor company in the world. It is also the largest manufacturer of tractors in India with sustained market leadership of around 24 years. It designs, develops, manufactures and markets tractors as well as farm implements.

HeadquaterThe company is headquatered in Mumbai

Present ManagementKeshub Mahindra is Chairman and Anand G.Mahindra is the Vice-Chairman & Managing Director.

Page 194: gk.txt

IMPORTANT GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS

1. Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Set up in 1927, on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organization of Indian business. Its history is very closely interwoven with the freedom movement. FICCI inspired economic nationalism as a political tool to fight against discriminatory economic policies. That commitment, drive and mission continue in the ever-changing economic landscape of India, always chasing newer agendas. With a nationwide membership of over 1500 corporates and over 500 chambers of commerce and business associations, FICCI espouses the shared vision of Indian businesses and speaks directly and indirectly for over 2,50,000 business units. It has an expanding direct membership of enterprises drawn from large, medium, small and tiny segments of manufacturing, distributive trade and services. FICCI maintains the lead as the proactive business solution provider through research, interactions at the highest political level and global networking.

HeadquarterFICCI is headquartered at New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. Harsh Pati Singhania - PresidentMr. Rajan Bharati Mittal - Sr. Vice PresidentMr. Harsh C. Mariwala - Vice President

2. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industries in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organisation, playing a proactive role in India’s development process. Founded over 112 years ago, it is India’s premier business association, with a direct membership of over 7000 organisations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs and indirect membership of over 90,000 companies from around 362 national and regional sectoral associations.

HeadquarterCII is headquartered at New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. Venu Srinivasan – President, CIIMr. Hari S. Bhartia – Vice President, CII

3. National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) is the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT software and services industry in India. NASSCOM is a global trade body with over 1200 members, of which over 250 are global companies from the US, UK, EU, Japan and China. NASSCOM’s member

Page 195: gk.txt

companies are in the business of software development, software services, software products and IT-enabled Services/BPO services. NASSCOM was set up in 1988 to facilitate business and trade in software and services and to encourage advancement of research in software technology. It is a not-for-profit organization, registered under the Indian Societies Act, 1860.

HeadquarterNASSCOM has its headquarters at New Delhi

Present ManagementMr. Pramod Bhasin – Chairman, NASSCOMMr. Harsh Mangalik – Vice Chairman, NASSCOMMr. Som Mittal – President, NASSCOM

4. ASSOCHAM The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) is the premiere body of chamber of commerce in India. Established in 1920, it currently has a membership of over 200,000 companies across the country. The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and interacting with the Government of India on policy issues, and liaisoning with their international counterparts to promote trade between India and other nations.

Present ManagementSwati Piramal, President, ASSOCHAMDilip Modi, Vice President, ASSOCHAMRajkumar Dhoot, Vice President, ASSOCHAM

5. Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is a board (autonomous body) created by the Government of India in 1988 and given statutory form in 1992 under the SEBI Act 1992. SEBI has three functions rolled into one body: legislative, judicial and executive. It drafts rules in its legislative capacity, it conducts enquiries and enforcement action in its executive function and it passes rulings and orders in its judicial capacity. SEBI has had a mixed history in terms of its success as a regulator. Though it has pushed systemic reforms aggressively and successively (e.g. the quick movement towards making the markets electronic and paperless), it seems to lack the legal expertise needed to sustain prosecutions/enforcement actions.

HeadquarterSEBI is headquartered at Mumbai.

Present ManagementMr. C.B. Bhave – Chairman, SEBI Dr. K.P. Krishna – Joint Secretary – CM

Page 196: gk.txt

6. Finance Commission The First Finance Commission was constituted under Art. 280 by a Presidential Order dated November 22, 1951, under the chairmanship of KC Neogy. It is the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to:

l The distribution between the Union and the States of the Net proceeds of Taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them under this Chapter and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds

l The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

HeadquarterFinance Commission is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementMr. Vijay L. Kelkar - Chairman, Finance Commision

7. National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) It was established in 1956 as a non-governmental body in Delhi to assist government, civil society and the private sector to make informed policy choices. The council encourages research on Indian themes using Indian data. Its major activities include:

l Developing policy reports for clients.

l Examining domestic agricultural market structures, price policy, linkages between agricultural price policy and poverty, and, the role of the Panchayats in fostering sustainable development.

l Tracking key sectors of the economy for subscribers and forecasting the economic outlook.

l Conducting, designing, and analysing surveys that illuminate public policy issues as well as assist private sector decisions

l Disseminating research findings

HeadquarterNCAER is headquartered at New Delhi.

Present ManagementMr. Nandan Nilekani - President, NCAER Mr. M.S. Verma – Vice President, NCAE

THE PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission is the supreme organ for planning social and economic development in India. It was established on March 15, 1950. The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Planning Commission. The committee members also

Page 197: gk.txt

appoint a Deputy Chairman, who is the de-facto executive head of the Commission and enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

The Cabinet Ministers with certain important portfolios act as part-time members of the Commission, while the full-time members are experts from various fields like Economics, Industry, Science and General Administration.

The commission works through the following divisions

l General Planning Divisions

l Special Planning Divisions

l Programme Administration Divisions

The majority of experts in the commission are economists, making the commission the biggest employer of the Indian Economic Services.

Five Year PlansThe Indian Economy is based on the concept of planning. This is carried through the five-year plans, developed, executed and monitored by the Planning Commission. The First Five Year plan was implemented in 1951. The Tenth plan is currently underway.

l First Five Year Plan (1951-56) – The first plan aimed at correcting the distortions caused to the economy after the World War II.

l Second Five Year Plan (1956-61) – The second plan aimed at a pattern of development leading to a ‘socialist society’ framework for the economy.

l Third Five Year Plan (1961-66) – The third plan aimed at achieving the goals enlisted in the first two plans and also aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in foodgrains, increase employment oppurtunities and expand basic and heavy industries.

l Three Annual Plans (1966-69)

l Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74) – The objectives of the fourth plan were to achieve self-reliance, and give priority to agriculture, promote industrial production and exports.

l Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79) – The fifth five year plan aimed at removal of poverty, attaining economic self reliance and increasing employment oppurtunities in the country.

l Sixth Year Plan (1979-85) – The sixth plan aimed at achieving a annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent and raising the per capita income by 3.3 per cent.

l Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90) – The plan focussed on policies and programmes to increase domestic industrial productivity, employment oppurtunities, and agriculture productivity by increasing the basic framework and by adopting

Page 198: gk.txt

modern technologies.

l Annual Plans 1990-92

l Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-97) – The plan aimed at achieving a higher outlay of public sector enterprises to meet the demands of various central and state sectors.

l Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-02) – The plan aimed to achieve an anual growth rate of 6.5 per cent. The total public sector outlay was Rs. 859000 crore.

l Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07) – This plan has adopted an aggressive approach. This plan aims at achieving 8 per cent GDP growth, reduce the poverty ratio to 20 per cent, increase the literacy rate to 72 per cent, reduce the infant mortality rate to 45 per 1000 births and clean all major polluted rivers till the end of the plan in 2007.

l Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) – This plan aims to accelerate GDP growth from 8% to 10% and then maintain at 10% in the 12th Plan in order to double per capita income by 2016-17,increase literacy rate for persons of age 7 years or more to 85%, reduce infant mortality rate to 28 and maternal mortality ratio to 1 per 1000 live births and ensure electricity connection to all villages and BPL households by 2009 and round-the-clock power.

THE MONETARY POLICY

The Monetary Policy, as the name suggests, is the policy used as a tool to regulate the supply of money in the economy. The basic task of a monetary policy in a developing economy is to meet the credit needs of the growth sectors on the one hand and to curb the supply of money meant to be used in non - productive activities like speculative dealings, headging etc. In India, the monetary policy is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The policy in India is designed on the principles mentioned above and exercises various quantitative controls to make the policy effective. The policy is therefore also referred to as the policy of ‘Controlled Monetary Expansion’ which implies

i. Expansion in the supply of money.

ii. Restraint on secondary expansion of credit.

The Monetary Policy thus helps the government to exercise control over the money supply in the economy.

THE FISCAL POLICYThe fiscal policy helps the government exercise a control over the fiscal deficit i.e. the difference between the total revenue earned and the total expenditure incurred by the government. A rise in the fiscal deficit implies a higher borrowing for the government from the RBI. The economic impact of such borrowing is that the money supply in the economy decreases.

Page 199: gk.txt

The pressure on the money supply leads to an increase of prices i.e. an inflationary situation. So the government, through a proper fiscal policy tries to maximize revenue sources (taxes) and reduce expenditure, thereby reducing fiscal deficits.

THE MAJOR PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

1.  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was set up in April 1935, with its central office at Calcutta (Kolkata) under the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934, but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937. Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the RBI is fully owned by Government of India. Presently, RBI is the central bank of India. It issues notes, buys and sells government securities, regulates the volume of what direction and cost of credit, manages foreign exchange, supports other financial institutions and comes out with the Monetary Policy. The RBI is presently headquartered at Mumbai and the present RBI governor is Dr. Duruvi Subbarao.

2.  The Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI)SIDBI was established on April 2, 1990. The Small Industries Development Bank of India Act, 1989 envisaged SIDBI to be “the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing and development of industry in the small scale sector and to co-ordinate the functions of the institutions engaged in the promotion and financing or developing industry in the small scale sector and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. In the SIDBI charter,four basic objectives were set out. They are Financing, Promotion, Development, Coordination, for orderly growth of industry in the small scale sector.The business domain of SIDBI consists of small scale industrial units, which contribute significantly to the national economy in terms of production, employment and exports. Small scale industries are the industrial units in which the investment in plant and machinery does not exceed Rs.10 million. About 3.1 million such units, employing 17.2 million persons account for a share of 36 per cent of India’s exports and 40 per cent of industrial manufacture. In addition, SIDBI’s assistance flows to the transport, health care and tourism sectors and also to the professional and self-employed persons setting up small-sized professional ventures. Mr. Rajendra Mohan Malla is the present chairman and managing director of the SIDBI.

3.  The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI)IDBI was established on July 1, 1964, by an act of the Parliament as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, to catalyze the development of a diversified and efficient industrial structure in the country, in tune with national priorities. In 1976, the ownership was transferred from the RBI to the Government of India. The current Government holding in IDBI is about 53%. IDBI is currently the tenth largest development bank in the world. It financed some well-known institutes in India like, the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), the National Securities Depository Services Ltd. (NSDL), and the Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL).To meet the emerging challenges and to keep up with reforms in the financial sector, IDBI converted into a banking company in 2004, to undertake an entire gamut of banking

Page 200: gk.txt

activities. Mr. Yogesh Agarwal is the present Chairman and Managing Director of the IDBI bank.

4.  The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)NABARD was established on 12th July 1982 to implement the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act 1981. It replaced the Agricultural Credit Department (ACD) and the Rural Planning and Credit Cell (RPCC) of the Reserve Bank of India, and the Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC).

The following functions are performed by NABARD

i. Serves as an apex financing agency for the institutions providing investment and production credit for promoting the various developmental activities in rural areas.

ii. Takes measures towards institution building for improving absorptive capacity of the credit delivery system, including monitoring, formulation of rehabilitation schemes, restructuring of credit institutions, training of personnel, etc.

iii. Co-ordinates the rural financing activities of all institutions engaged in developmental work at the field level and maintains liaison with the Government of India, State Governments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other national level institutions concerned with policy formulation.

iv. Undertakes monitoring and evaluation of projects refinanced by it.

Shri Umesh Chandra Sarangi is the present chairman of NABARD.

ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION (1991)

The economic liberalisation of 1991 was initiated by the then Indian Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao and his Finance Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh in response to a balance-of-payments crisis being faced by the country. The new economic framework adopted by the government did away with the Licence Raj (investment, industrial and import licensing) system and ended many public monopolies. The policy aimed at allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in many sectors of the economy. Even though the foreign direct investment ceiling was removed by the government in 1991, it was only in 1996 that foreign investors started showing confidence in the Indian economy and large sectors saw the inflow of foreign capital.

Since then, the overall direction of liberalisation has remained the same, irrespective of the ruling party, although no party has yet tried to take on powerful lobbies such as the trade unions and farmers, or contentious issues such as reforming labour laws and reducing agricultural subsidies.

IMPORTANT SECTORS OF INDIAN ECONOMY

1. AGRICULTURE

Page 201: gk.txt

i) Contribution to GDP

Agriculture forms the backbone of Indian economy. it contributes approx. 26 percent of Gross Domestic Product. It was 55.4 percent in 1950-51.

Though the agriculture in national income has come down, even now agriculture contributes a major share of the national income in India. Further, the share of agriculture in manufacturing and services sector is increasing.

ii) Source of Employment

Agriculture provides employment to around 65 percent of the total work-force of the country.

iii) Source of Industrial Development

Agriculture has been the source of supply of raw material to our leading industries.

Many of our small and cottage industries like handloom, weaving, oil crushing, rice husking, etc. depends on agriculture.

Green RevolutionIndian Green Revolution is associated with the use of HYVS (High Yielding Variety Seeds). Chemical fertilizers and new technology led to a sharp rise in agricultural production during the middle of 1960.

The term Green Revolution was given by Americal Scientist, Dr. William Gande.

During the middle of sixties, Indian agriculture scientists developed a number of new high yielding varieties of wheat by processing wheat seeds imported from Mexico. A similar improvement in variety of rice was also observed.

The credit of this goes not only to Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug. But also to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is also known as the father of the Green Revolution in India.

Second Green RevolutionOf all the plans, the sixth five-year plan was hailed as a great success on the agriculture front. As against the expected annual growth of 3.8 percent for agriculture, the actual growth rate was 4.3 percent. The production of food grains in 1983-84 was 152 million tones and was hailed by the Government as the Second Green Revolution.

While the first Green Revolution from 1967-68 arose from the introduction of HYVS of Mexican wheat and rice, the second Green Revolution from 1983-84 was said to be for the extension in supplies of inputs and services to farmers, agricultural extension and better management.

Page 202: gk.txt

While the first Green Revolution was confirmed mainly to Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, the second Revolution has spread to the entire North India.

Other Revolutions

Revolution Area

Yellow Revolution Oil Seeds

White Revolution Milk

Blue Revolution Fish

Pink Revolution Shrimp

Grey Revolution Egg

Golden Revolution Horticulture

IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES OF INDIA

1. LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIES

i) Iron and Steel Industries:

Ist Steel Industry at Kulti near Jhari, West Bengal

Ist large scale steel plant - TISCO at Jamshedpur in 1907 followed by IISCO at Bumpur in 1919. Both belonged to private sector.

The first public sector unit was ‘Vishveshvaraya Iron and Steel Works’ at Bhadrawati

Public Sector Steel Plants

Location Assistance

1. Rourkela (Orissa) Germany

2. Bhilai (Madhya Pradesh) Russian Govt.

3. Durgapur (West Bengal) Britain Govt.

4. Bokaro (Jharkhand) Russian Govt.

Page 203: gk.txt

5. Burnpur (West Bengal) Acquired by Private sector in 1976

6. Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) Russian Govt.

7. Salem (Tamilnadu)

8. Vijai Nagar (Karnataka)

9. Bhadrawati (Karnataka)

Nationalization of Vishveshvaraya Iron and Steel Ltd.

(Owned by Central and State Government)

All these are managed by SAIL. (At present all important steels except TISCO, are under Public Sector).Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was established in 1974 and was made responsible for the development of the steel Industry.Bhilai, Durgapur and Rourkela were established during the Second Five Year Plan. Bokaro was established during the Third while the steel plants at Salem, Vijay Nagar, and Vishakhapatnam were established in the Fourth Five Year Plant.Presently India is the 8th largest steel producing country in the world.

ii) Jute Industry :Jute industry is an important industry for a country like India, because not only does it earn foreign Exchange but also provides substantial employment opportunities in agriculture and industrial sectors. Its first modernized industrial unit was established at Reshra in West Bengal in 1855. There are at present 73 jute mills in India, out of which West Bengal has 59 mills, Bihar 3 mills, Uttar Pradesh 3 mills, Andhra Pradesh 4 mills and Assam, Tripura, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh one each.The Jute Industry in the Country is traditionally export oriented. India ranks number one in raw jute and jute goods production and number two in export of jute goods in the world.

iii) Cotton and Textile Industry :Oldest industry of India, and employs largest number of workers.It is the largest organized and broad-based industry which accounts for about 4 percent of GDP, 20 percent of manufacturing value added and one-third of total export earnings.The first Indian modernized cotton cloth mill was established in 1818 at Fort Gloaster near Kolkata but this mill was not successful. The second mill named ‘Bombay Spinning and Weaving Co.’ was established in 1854 at Bombay by K.G.N. Daber.

iv) Sugar Industry :Sugar Industry is the second largest industry after cotton textile industry among agriculture based Industries in the country.

Page 204: gk.txt

There are more than 500 installed sugar factories in the country. This industry provides not only employment to a substantial number of persons but also holds the potential of developing other industries related to its by-products.India is now the largest producer and consumer of sugar in the world. Maharashtra contributes over one-third of the total sugar output, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are the other important producers of sugar.

v) Fertilizer Industry :India is the third largest producer of nitrogeneous fertilizers in the world.There are at present, 57 fertilizer units manufacturing a wide range of nitrogeneous and complex fertilizers, including 29 units producing urea and 9 units producing ammonium sulphate as a by-product.

vi) Paper Industry :The first mechanized paper mill was set-up in 1812 at Serampur in West Bengal.The Paper Industry in India is ranked among the 15 top global paper industries.

vii) Silk Industry :India is the second largest (first being China) country in the world in producing natural silk. At present, India produces about 16 percent silk of the world.India enjoys the distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial varieties of silk, viz. Mulberry, Troical rassal, Oak Tussar, Eri and Muga.

viii) Petroleum and Natural Gas :First successful oil well was dug in India in 1889 at Digboi, Assam.For exploration purpose, Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was established in 1956 at Dehradun, Uttranchal.The total oil reserves in India have been estimated to be about 13 crore tones. Domestic production of oil in India is much less to meet the domestic demand. India currently produces just over 32 million tones of crude oil against it annual demand of 105 million tones meeting only 30.5 percent of demand from domestic resources.

Marketing and Distribution of Petroleum Products

a) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL): By acquisition of Burmah Shell in 1976.

b) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL): Established in 1974 by acquiring the assets of US company ESSO Eastern. In 1976, Government acquired Caltex Oil Refining Ltd. and merged it with HPCL.

c) Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL): Established in 1984 for handling post-exploration activities relating to natural gas. The company was assigned the priority task of setting up the cross country HBJ (Hazira, Bijapur, and Jagdishpur) pipeline. Presently GAIL is the largest company in India for marketing of natural gas.

NAVRATNAS

Page 205: gk.txt

In 1997, the Government identified nine leading, well performing and high profit making public enterprises as Navratnas (Nine Precious Jewels). Later, on the same year, two more were added to the list.They have been given special powers including freedom to form new joint ventures, make new investments and authorized to raise money.

1. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOC)

2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)

3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)

4. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)

5. Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (IPCL)

6. Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL)

7. National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC)

8. Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd. (BHEL)

9. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL)

10. Mahangar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL)

11. Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL)

Two of these Navratnas, IPCL and VSNL, have been privatized.

INSURANCEInsurance has been an important part of the Indian financial system. Until recently, insurance services were provided by the public sector, i.e. life insurance by the Life Insurance Corporation of India and general insurance by the General Insurance Corporation and its four Subsidaries. This insurance industry was opened to the Private sector in August 2000. After the opening, 12 new companies have entered life segment and 9 companies in the non life segment.

1. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)

Established : Sept, 1956

Head Office : Mumbai

Zonal Offices : 7 (Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Bhopal)

Page 206: gk.txt

2. General Insurance Corporation (GIC)

Established : Jan 1, 1973

It has four subsidiary companies:

1.National Insurance Company Ltd., Kolkatta

2.The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Mumbai

3.The Oriental Fire and General Insurance Co.Ltd., New Delhi

4.United India Fire and General Insurance Co. Ltd., Chennai.

STOCK EXCHANGES

Stock exchange or share market plays a dominant role in mobilizing resources for corporate sector. It is a market for dealing in shares, debentures and financial securities. In the stock exchange, shares and debentures are bought and sold for investment as well as for speculative purposes. There are 24 stock exchanges in the country.

CENSUS-2001

Total Population : 1,02,70,15,247

Males : 531,277,078

Females : 495,738,169

Population Growth : 21.34%

Males : 20.93%

Females : 21.70%

Average Yearly Growth Rate : 1.93%

Density of population : 324

Sex Ratio : 933

Literacy Rate : 65.38

Males : 75.85

Females : 54.16

Life Expectancy : 62 years

Page 207: gk.txt

Child Population : 15.42%

TOP STATES IN IMPORTANT PARAMETERS

MAXIMUM POPULATION

Uttar Pradesh : 16.6 crore

Maharashtra : 9.7 crore

Bihar : 8.3 crore

West Bengal : 8.0 crore

Andhra Pradesh : 7.6 crore

MINIMUM POPULATION

Sikkim : 5.4 lakh

Mizoram : 8.9 lakh

Arunachal Pradesh : 10.9 lakh

Goa : 13.4 lakh

Nagaland : 19.8 lakh

MAXIMUM DECADAL GROWTH RATE

Nagaland : 64.41

Sikkim : 32.98

Manipur : 30.02

Jammu and Kashmir : 29.04

Meghalaya : 29.94

Page 208: gk.txt

MAXIMUM POPULATION DENSITY

West Bengal : 904

Bihar : 880

Kerala : 819

Uttar Pradesh : 689

Punjab : 482

MINIMUM POPULATION DENSITY

Arunachal Pradesh : 13

Mizoram : 42

Sikkim : 76

Jammu and Kashmir : 99

Meghalaya : 103

MAXIMUM SEX RATIO

Kerala : 1058

Chhatisgarh : 990

Tamilandu : 986

Andhra Pradesh : 978

Manipur : 978

MINIMUM SEX RATIO

Haryana : 861

Punjab : 874

Sikkim : 875

Uttar Pradesh : 898

Page 209: gk.txt

Jammu and Kashmir : 900

MAXIMUM LITERACY RATE

Kerala : 90.92

Mizoram : 88.49

Goa : 82.32

Maharashtra : 77.27

Himachal Pradesh : 77.13

MINIMUM LITERACY RATE

Bihar : 47.53

Jharkhand : 54.13

Jammu and Kashmir : 54.74

Uttar Pradesh : 57.36

MAXIMUM FEMALE LITERACY RATE

Kerala : 87.86

Mizoram : 86.13

Goa : 75.51

Himachal Pradesh : 68.08

Maharashtra : 67.57

MINIMUM FEMALE LITERACY RATE

Bihar : 33.57

Jharkhand : 39.38

Jammu and Kashmir : 41.82

Page 210: gk.txt

Uttar Pradesh : 42.98

Arunachal Pradesh : 44.24

MAXIMUM URBAN POPULATION (%)

Goa : 49.77

Mizoram : 49.5

Tamilnadu : 43.86

Maharashtra : 42.4

Gujarat : 37.35

MINIMUM URBAN POPULATION(%)

Himachal Pradesh : 9.79

Bihar : 10.47

Sikkim : 11.1

Assam : 12.72

Orissa : 14.97

IMPORTANT PARAMETERS OF UNION TERRITORIES

TOTAL POPULATION

Delhi : 1.3 crore

Pondicherry : 9.7 lakh

Chandigarh : 9.0 lakh

Andaman and Nicobar : 3.5 lakh

Dadra and Nagar Haveli : 2.2 lakh

Page 211: gk.txt

Lakshadweep : 0.6 lakh

POPULATION DENSITY

Delhi : 9294

Chandigarh : 7903

Pondicherry : 2029

Lakshadwep : 1894

Daman and Diu : 1411

Dadar and Nagar Haveli : 449

Andaman and Nicobar : 43

SEX RATIO

Pondicherry : 1001

Daman and Diu : 989

Lakshadweep : 947

Andaman and Nicobar : 846

Delhi : 821

Dadar and Nagar Haveli : 811

Chandigarh : 773

LITERACY RATE

Lakshadweep : 87.52

Delhi : 81.82

Chandigarh : 81.76

Pondicherry : 81.49

Andaman and Nicobar : 81.18

Daman and Diu : 81.09

Page 212: gk.txt

Dadar and Nagar Haveli : 60.03

BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY

A Computer is an electronic device for automatically carrying out a program of instructions. It is a powerful general-purpose machine which can be programmed to do a wide variety of computations.

There are three basic main steps to carry out any particular computation:

• INPUT- The user feeds in, or inputs, his program and data (the data is the information which the program will process to produce the desired results of the computations.)

• PROCESS/EXECUTION- The computer carries out, or executes the program of instructions.

• OUTPUT- The results of the computation are fed back, or output, to the user.

The tasks that a computer performs can be divided into three categories:

• Arithmetic Operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

• Comparison operations (determining whether a given value is greater than, equal to, or less than another value)

• Storage and retrieval operations (saving a program on any of the disks for further use)

ANATOMY OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

HARDWAREThe hardware consists of the actual physical components of a computer. The three basic components of a computer system, which are essentially the same regardless of the type of system, are: a central processing unit, a primary storage unit and peripheral devices.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU), rightly called the “brain” of the computer is composed of: the control unit and arithmetic/logic unit. The control unit controls the activities of the CPU. It does not process or store the data, but instructs the various parts of the computer in performing these tasks. This unit interprets the instructions given by the user and sends out signals to circuits within the CPU to execute these instructions. The control unit also keeps track of all the programs that have already been executed and the ones which remain to be executed. Finally it collects the output and sends it to the

Page 213: gk.txt

output device, like monitor screen or a printer.

The arithmetic/logic unit performs only the mathematical computations like addition, subtraction, multiplication or division and logical operations. A logical operation is performed by instructing the computer to make a comparison and then to take an action based on the result of that comparison.

The Primary Storage

Types of Computer Memory:Based on the different needs, the memory in computers is classified into two types:

Primary Memory & Secondary MemoryPrimary Memory (also referred to as main memory, primary storage or internal storage) The Primary memory is very important to the immediate processing needs of the computer, which means that when the computer is first switched on, there is an immediate requirement of memory, which is supplied by the primary memory. This unit temporarily holds program instruction, data and the intermediate and final results of processing. It consists of various storage locations, each having a unique address and holding a small amount of information. The address allocated to each storage locations allows the computer to locate items that have been stored in the computer’s memory. This type of memory is of two types:

• Random Access Memory or RAM

• Read Only Memory or ROM

RAM - This is the additional memory which is inside the CPU. RAM is called the Temporary Memory of the computer because the data, information or program that is present in the memory either gets overwritten by new data or information gets erased when the computer is switched off.

ROM - The ROM contains programs that are permanently coded by the CPU. The ROM is called so, i.e read only because it cannot be written on by the CPU. Unlike RAM, ROM does not allow anything to be written on it.

Secondary Memory (also called external storage/external memory/storage device/magnetic storage device) is so called because it is found outside the CPU box. The common examples of secondary storage devices are floppy disks, compact disk and hard disk.

The Peripheral DevicesThese devices are input devices, output devices, and secondary storage devices. The programs and data that are entered into a computer to be processed are called input. The word data refers to unorganized facts. When this data is processed to some meaningful form, it is called information.

Page 214: gk.txt

Input devices These devices are used to enter data into the computer so that it can be processed. Some examples of input devices are a terminal keyboard, a mouse, a graphics tablet, and a light pen.

Output DevicesThe device that gives the processed data or information to us is called the output device. Depending on the requirement of the user, the result is displayed on the monitor or a printer.

• Monitor: All the data entered from the keyboard, first appears on the small TV called monitor. It is called so because it allows the user of the computer to keep a check on the things that are being typed. Another very important use of this monitor is that after the processing has been completed by the computer the result is obtained and is flashed on the monitor, allowing the user to see the information. Monitors can be Monochrome (having a dark background) or Coloured (can display text and pictures in all colours)

•Printers: The data that has been processed in the computer can be printed on the paper by means of a printer. They are classified on the basis of how they work. If the printer creates an impression of the typed letter on the paper, it is called an impact printer, otherwise it is known as non-impact printer.

Displaying output on the screen gives the user the result in a convenient readable form; this output is referred to as soft copy. Printing the results on paper is a way of permanently saving the information which can even be used at a later time. This output is called hard copy.

The Secondary storage devices allow programs, data and processing results to be saved on a storage media (such as magnetic tape, floppy diskettes). If it is required to process these items, they can be transferred back into the primary storage unit of the computer. Although it takes more time to access items in secondary storage devices than in main memory, but the main advantage of secondary storage devices over primary ones is that they are less expensive and can store enormous quantities of data.

SOFTWAREThe computer needs written instructions to solve a problem, these instructions must be written in a programming language. These programs and series of programs are referred to as software. These programs are of two types- system programs and application programs. The system programs direct the computer in its own internal operations while the application programs are written to solve user’s problems.

OPERATING SYSTEMSOperating System is a set of software modules (Program) within a computer system that governs the control of equipment resources such as processors, main memory, secondary memory, I/O devices and files.

Page 215: gk.txt

Some examples of operating system are DOS, WINDOWS, WINDOWS-XP, etc.

TYPES OF COMPUTERSDIGITAL, ANALOG & HYBRID COMPUTERSThe automatic, digital computer was invented in 1833 by Charles Babbage (known as the ‘Father of Computers’) A digital computer is so called because it uses a series of digits to represent all types of information. The digits used are called binary digit (0 and 1) also balled bits. In contrast to digital computers, analogue computers use the values of continuously varying physical quantities to represent information. The desirable features of analog and digital machines can be combined to create a Hybrid computing system, which is partly digital and partly analog.

ProgramsRefers to the set of instructions that have to be written for the computer so that it is able to process the data to give the desired information. These programs are written by only those Computer Professionals called programmers. These programmers have the required knowledge of how to communicate with the computer. The tool that is used for writing the set of instructions is called a computer language. Working a program is called executing or running the program.

Types of ProgramsThe operating system contains several types of programs. These are:

1. Supervisor Program: (also called the monitor or executive) is the major component of the operating system. It coordinates the activities of all other parts of the operating system. This program schedules the order of input and output operations. It also sends messages to the computer operator if an error occurs or if the computer requires additional direction.

2. Job Control Program: A job is a unit of work to be processed by the CPU. Job control commands are used to identify the beginning of a job, the specific program to be executed, the work to be done, and the input/output devices required. The job control program translates the job control commands written by a programmmer into machine language.

3. Input/Output Management System: When a user-written program requests information to be transferred into or out of main memory, the input/output (I/O) management system oversees and coordinates the process. Input and output devices are assigned to specific programs and information is moved between the devices and memory locations.

4. Language Translation Programs: A computer can only execute instructions that are in machine language, which consists of 0s and 1s. In order for the computer to use English-like programs such as those written in Pascal, it must use a language translation program. This program translates the English-like program into machine language. There are two types of language translation programs: interpreters and compilers. Compiler, on the other hand, is a program that translates high-level language into absolute code, or sometimes into assembly language. The input to the compiler is a description of an algorithm or program in a problem-oriented language; its output (the object code) is an equivalent description of the algorithm in a machine-oriented language (the source code).

5. Library Programs: Library programs are user-written or manufacturer-supplied programs and subprograms that are

Page 216: gk.txt

frequently used in other programs. They perform commonly needed tasks. Library programs are stored in a system library and called into main memory when needed. They are then linked together with other programs.

6. Utility Programs: Utility programs perform specialized functions. Utility programs or routines are pre-written programs to provide procedures commonly required by virtually all applications. For example, a utility program can transfer data from a tape to a disk, to another tape, or to a printer.

Computer LanguagesThe languages that are used to communicate with the computer are called computer languages. These computer languages have developed a great deal since they were first used. Their evolution spans about four stages which are referred to as generations.

Each generation has it’s own individual characteristic language.

• First Generation Language: This language used for computers consisted of zeroes and ones. All instructions that had to be given consisted of zeroes and ones. This language was also called machine language (also called binary representation). This was used on computers of the first generation, which used vacuum tubes. Data represented in binary form is stored in the computer as a series of “on” and “off” states of electronic devices representing binary digits (or bits)

• Second Generation Language: The chief characteristic of second generation language was assembly language (also referred to as low-level language). In this type of language the programmer uses symbolic names to specify various machine operations; these symbolic names are called mnemonics. Mnemonics are nothing but easy to remember short-cuts to certain complex instructions. The use of these mnemonics makes assembly language programming easier than machine language programming. Another important improvement of Assemble language over machine language is the use of names to represent storage locations, so that the programmer no longer has to know the address of the location in which a particular value is kept.

• Third Generation Language: The languages used in the third generation were very easy to learn and use on the computers. These language do not require the programmer to understand the technical details of internal computer operations. As they were very close to the English languages so they were called high level languages. Example of such languages are Pascal, BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, C, C++, etc.

• Fourth Generation Language: These languages are used even today with most computers available. They are popular because they allow a lot of data to be collected, stored and used for extracting various types of information. Such huge collections of data is called a database. Examples of these type of language are dBASE, FoxPro, Oracle and Ingres.

VIRUSThe term ‘virus’ is used to describe virtually any type of destructive software. Viruses do not affect the hardware of the computer. The viruses can and ‘do’ corrupt data and programs. Computer Viruses are executable computer programs. Like biological viruses, they find and attach themselves to a host. Most viruses stay active in memory until the system is switched off. When we turn off the computer we remove the virus from memory, but not from the file, files or disk it has affected. So, next time we use our

Page 217: gk.txt

computer, the virus program is activated again and attaches itself to more programs.

Typer of VirusMainly, there are two main types of virus - Program Virus & Boot VirusProgram Virus must be written for a specific operating system. Boot Virus exploit the inherent features of the computer (rather than operating system) to spread and activate.

DefinitionsVirus: A virus is a type of program that can replicate itself by making (possibly modified) copies of itself. The main criterion for classifying a piece of executable code as a virus is that it spreads itself by means of ‘hosts’. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or carrying it on a removable medium. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. Viruses are sometimes confused with worms.

Worm: A worm, however, can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host. Many personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to local-area networks, facilitating their spread. Today’s viruses may also take advantage of network services such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, and file sharing systems to spread, blurring the line between viruses and worms.

Viruses can infect different types of hosts. The most common targets are executable files that contain application software or parts of the operating system. Viruses have also infected the executable boot sectors of floppy disks, script files of application programs, and documents that can contain macro scripts. Additionally, viruses can infect files in other ways than simply inserting a copy of their code into the code of the host program. For example, a virus can overwrite its host with the virus code, or it can use a trick to ensure that the virus program is executed when the user wants to execute the (unmodified) host program. Viruses have existed for many different operating systems, including MSDOS, Amiga OS, Linux and even Mac OS; however, the vast majority of viruses affect Microsoft Windows.

Spyware: In the field of computing, the term spyware refers to a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer’s operation without the informed consent of that machine’s owner or legitimate user. While the term taken literally suggests software that surreptitiously monitors the user, it has come to refer more broadly to software that subverts the computer’s operation for the benefit of a third party.

Spyware differs from viruses and worms in that it does not usually self-replicate. Like many recent viruses, however, spyware – by design – exploits infected computers for commercial gain. Typical tactics furthering this goal include delivery of unsolicited pop-up advertisements; theft of personal information (including financial information such as credit card numbers); monitoring of Web-browsing activity for marketing purposes; or

Page 218: gk.txt

routing of HTTP requests to advertising sites.

Adware: Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used.

COMPUTER NETWORKING

Computer networking is the scientific and engineering discipline concerned with communication between computer systems. Such networks involve at least two computers seperated by a few inches (e.g. via Bluetooth) or thousands of miles (e.g. via the Internet). Computer networking is sometimes considered a sub-discipline of telecommunications.

HistoryCarrying instructions between calculation machines and early computers was done by human users. In September, 1940 George Stibitz used a teletype machine to send instructions for a problem set from his Model K at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to his Complex Number Calculator in New York and received results back by the same means. Linking output systems like teletypes to computers was an interest at the Advanced Research Projects Agency ARPA when, in 1962, J.C.R. Licklider was hired and developed a working group he called the “Intergalactic Network”, a precursor to the ARPANet. In 1964, researchers at Dartmouth developed a time sharing system for distributed users of large computer systems. The same year, at MIT, a research group supported by General Electric and Bell Labs used a computer (DEC’s PDP-8) to route and manage telephone connections. In 1968 Paul Baran proposed a network system consisting of datagrams or packets that could be used in a packet switching network between computer systems. In 1969 the University of California at Los Angeles, SRI (in Stanford), University of California at Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah were connected as the beginning of the ARPANet network using 50 kbit/s circuits.

Categorizing

Local area networkA local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small local area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings such as a home, office, or college. Current LANs are most likely to be based on switched Ethernet or Wi-Fi technology running at from 10 to 10000 Mbit/s. The defining characteristics of LANs in contrast to WANs are: a) much higher data rates, b) smaller geographic range - at most a few kilometers, and c) they do not involve leased telecommunication lines. “LAN” usually does not refer to data running over local analog telephone lines, as on a private branch exchange (PBX).

Wide area networkA wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a wide geographical area, involving a vast array of computers. This is different from personal area networks (PANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) or local area networks (LANs) that are

Page 219: gk.txt

usually limited to a room, building or campus. The most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.

WANs are used to connect local area networks (LANs) together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private. Others, built by Internet Service Providers, provide connections from an organization’s LAN to the Internet. WANs are most often built using leased lines. At each end of the leased line, a router connects to the LAN on one side and a hub within the WAN on the other.

Network protocols including TCP/IP deliver transport and addressing functions. Protocols including Packet over SONET/SDH, MPLS, ATM and Frame relay are often used by service providers to deliver the links that are used in WANs. X.25 was an important early WAN protocol, and is often considered to be the “grandfather” of Frame Relay as many of the underlying protocols and functions of X.25 are still in use today (with upgrades) by Frame Relay.

Benefits of Networks

• Exchanging Data

• Sharing system resources

• Creation of workgroups

• Centralized Management

• Security

• Access to more than one operating system

• Enhancement of the corporate structure

Components of Networks

• Server - A server runs the network operating system and offers network services to users at their individual workstations. It offers services such as file, storage, security, resource management, user management. The types of server are 1. File server 2. E-mail server or E-mail gateway3. Database server4. Fax server5. Print server6. Backup and archive server

Page 220: gk.txt

• Workstations - When a computer is connected to a network, it becomes a node on the network and is called a workstation or client. A workstation’s job has been to execute program files retrieved from the network, and the server’s job is to deliver those files to the workstation.

• NICs - Network Interface Cards provides interface between the server and workstations. Each computer attached to a network requires a network interface card (NIC) that supports a specific networking scheme. The type of NICs used usually decides the maximum data transfer rate

• Cabling - The network cabling system is the media used to connect the server and the workstations together.

• Shared resources and peripherals - Shared resources and peripherals include storage devices attached to the server, optical disk drives, printers, plotters, modem and other equipment that can be used by everyone on the network.

NTERNET

The Internet, or simply the Net, is the publicly accessible worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using a standardized Internet Protocol (IP). It is made up of thousands of smaller commercial, academic, domestic, and government networks. It carries various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, and the interlinked Web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web.

Contrary to some common usage, the Internet and the World Wide Web are not synonymous: the Internet is a collection of interconnected computer networks, linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless connections etc.; the Web is a collection of interconnected documents, linked by hyperlinks and URLs, and is accessible using the Internet.

Creation of the InternetThe USSR’s launch of Sputnik spurred the U.S. to create the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in February 1958 to regain a technological lead. DARPA created the Information Processing Technology Office to further the research of the Semi Automatic Ground Environment program, which had networked country-wide radar systems together for the first time. J. C. R. Licklider was selected to head the IPTO, and saw universal networking as a potential unifying human revolution. Licklider recruited Lawrence Roberts to head a project to implement a network, and Roberts based the technology on the work of Paul Baran who had written an exhaustive study for the U.S. Air Force that recommended packet switching to make a network highly robust and survivable. After much work, the first node went live at UCLA on October 29, 1969 on what would be called the ARPANET, the “eve” network of today’s Internet. In December of 1970, Charles A. Petrik contacted the U.S. Navy and suggested that a special communications network, that the Department of Defence had built for use in the possibility of a nuclear attack, could also be used during peace time. Petrik convinced the military to connect the computers of the U.S. National Laboratories for scientific research purposes, and to allow these labs to get data to other labs faster, and safer. The vast

Page 221: gk.txt

majority of today’s Internet uses version four of the IP protocol (i.e. IPv4), and although IPv6 is standardised, it exists only as “islands” of connectivity, and there are many ISPs who don’t have any IPv6 connectivity at all. The first TCP/IP wide area network was operational by 1 January 1983 , when the United States’ National Science Foundation (NSF) constructed a university network backbone that would later become the NSFNet. (This date is held by some to be technically that of the birth of the Internet.) It was then followed by the opening of the network to commercial interests in 1995. Important separate networks that offered gateways into, then later merged into the Internet include Usenet, Bitnet and the various commercial and educational X.25 networks such as Compuserve and JANET. The ability of TCP/IP to work over these pre-existing communication networks allowed for a great ease of growth. Use of Internet as a phrase to describe a single global TCP/IP network originated around this time.

The network gained a public face in the 1990s. In August 1991 CERN in Switzerland publicized the new World Wide Web project, two years after Tim Berners-Lee had begun creating HTML, HTTP and the first few web pages at CERN in Switzerland. In 1993 the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign released the Mosaic web browser version 1.0, and by late 1994 there was growing public interest in the previously academic/technical Internet. By 1996 the word “Internet” was common public currency, but it referred almost entirely to the World Wide Web.

Meanwhile, over the course of the decade, the Internet successfully accommodated the majority of previously existing public computer networks (although some networks such as FidoNet have remained separate). This growth is often attributed to the lack of central administration, which allows organic growth of the network, as well as the non-proprietary open nature of the Internet protocols, which encourages vendor interoperability and prevents any one company from exerting too much control over the network.

Today’s InternetApart from the complex physical connections that make up its infrastructure, the Internet is held together by bi- or multi-lateral commercial contracts (for example peering agreements) and by technical specifications or protocols that describe how to exchange data over the network. Indeed, the Internet is essentially defined by its interconnections and routing policies. Internet protocols

In this context, there are three layers of protocols:

• at the lowest level is IP - the datagram which carries a block of data from one node to another

•next comes TCP & UDP - the protocols by which one host exchanges data with another – the former making a virtual circuit giving some level of guarantee of reliability, the latter being a best-effort connection-less transport

• on top comes the application protocol - the specific messages or data stream used by the

Page 222: gk.txt

• application running on the hosts to talk to each other.

Unlike older communications systems, the Internet protocol suite was deliberately designed to be independent of the underlying physical medium. Any communications network, wired or wireless, that can carry two-way digital data can carry Internet traffic. Thus, Internet packets flow through wired networks like copper wire, coaxial cable, and fibre optic; and through wireless networks like Wi-Fi.

Together, all these networks, sharing the same high-level protocols, form the Internet.The Internet protocols originate from discussions within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and its working groups, which are open to public participation and review. These committees produce documents that are known as Request for Comments documents (RFCs). Some RFCs are raised to the status of Internet Standard by the IETF process.

Some of the popular services on the Internet that make use of these protocols are e-mail, Usenet newsgroups, file sharing, Instant Messenger, the World Wide Web, Gopher, session access, WAIS, finger, IRC, MUDs, and MUSHs. Of these, e-mail and the World Wide Web are clearly the most used, and many other services are built upon them, such as mailing lists and blogs. The Internet makes it possible to provide real-time services such as Internet radio and webcasts that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

World Wide WebThe World Wide Web (“WWW” or simply the “‘Web”) is a global information space which people can read-from and write-to via a large number of different Internet-connected devices. For example, computers, Personal Digital Assistants, cellular phones, telephone kiosks, etc. The World Wide Web is also available (sometimes only partially) through digital television services, exposing content onto television screens.

THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

Salient Feature

1. The Constituent Assembly was formed by the order of The Cabinet Mission in 1946.

2. Sachida Prasad Sinha was the temporary President of the Constituent Assembly.

3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

4. Dr. B.R. Ambedker was the chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Page 223: gk.txt

5. B.N. Rao was the legal advisor of the Constituent Assembly.

6. The Constituent Assembly took 2 years 11 months and 18 days to prepare the largest written constitution in the World.

7. Rs. 64 lakhs were spent on the making of the Constitution.

8. The original Constitution consisted of 22 parts, 395 articles but at present it has 22 parts, 444 articles and 12 schedules.

9. It was adopted by the Government of India on the 26th of November, 1949.

10. It was enforced by the Government of India on the 26th of January, 1950.

Structure of the Indian Constitution

The constitution of India consists of :

1. The Preamble

2.. Parts I to XXII, covering over 449 Articles

3. Schedules 1 – 12

4. An Appendix

Fundamental Rights

1. Part III (Articles 12 - 35) of the Constitution deals with Fundamental Rights.

2. Originally, seven Fundamental Rights were listed, but after the 44th Amendment, only six Fundamental Rights exist. These are

a. Right to Equality (14 - 18)

b. Right to freedom of speech (19)

c. Right against Exploitation (23-24)

d. Right to freedom of Religion (25-28)

e. Culture and Educational Right (29-30)

f. Right to Constitutional Remedies (32-33)

Page 224: gk.txt

3. Right to Property used to be a Fundamental Right but after the 44th Amendment it became a legal right.

Fundamental Duties

Article (51-A) included in the Constitution in the 42nd Amendment, lays down 11 Fundamental Duties that citizens have towards the state. These are:

a) To abide by the Constitution, show respect to the National Flag and the National Anthem.

b) To follow the noble ideas of the freedom struggle.

c) To protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

d) To defend one’s country.

e) To promote common brotherhood and establish dignity of women.

f) To preserve our heritage and culture.

g) To protect the natural environment.

h) To develop a scientific temper.

i) To safeguard public property.

j) To strive for excellence in all spheres of activity.

k) Every citizen who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or as the case may be ward between the age of 6 & 14 years.

Union Executive

• Part V (Articles 52-78) describe the functioning of the president, Vice president and the parliament.

• The president is elected by the member of an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both House of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and the Union Territory of Delhi and Puducherry.

• Article 55 describes how President is elected. The election is held in accordance

Page 225: gk.txt

with the system of proportional representation through secret ballot.

• Every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there are multiply of 1000 in the quotient obtained by dividing the pupulation of the State by the total number of the elected members of Assembly.

• The term of the president is 5 years (Article 56 but can serve for any number of terms).

• The qualifications of the president are laid down in Article 58. To be eligible, a person must be:

a) a citizen of India,

b) has minimum age of thirty-five years,

c) is qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha

• A person is not eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under

a) central government

b) state government

c) any local or other authority.

• The monthly salary of the president is Rs. 1,00,000 per month.

• There is no limit as to how many times a person can become President.

• Article 61 lays down the procedure for impeachment of the President.

• Article 63-68 lays down the procedure for the Vice-President of India. The Vice-president is ex-officio chairman of the council of states (Rajaya Sabha) and shall not hold any other office of profit.

• If the president is temporarily unable to discharge his duties, the vice-president discharge his functions.

• The procedure of election of the Vice-president is laid down in Article 66 and is similar to that of the president. The Vice-president is elected by the members of electoral college consisting of the members of both House of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation. The basic qualifications are the same as that of the president.

• The term of office of Vice-president is five years.

Page 226: gk.txt

• Any disputes in connection with the election of a president or Vice-president are to be decided by the Supreme Court. (Article 71)

• The president has a power to grant pardons, reprieves, respires of remissions of punishment of commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence (Article 72).

• Under Article 74, the Council of ministers with the prime minister as the head, is to aid and advice the president who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.

• Article 76 - the appointment of Attorney General of India, who gives advice to the government of India upon legal matters.

• Article 77 says that all executives action of the government of India is to be taken in the name of the president. In this regard, it is the duty of the prime minister to inform the president about the decision of the Council of Ministers (Article 78), and to furnish information relating of the Union as the president may call for.

Kinds of Bills

i Ordinary Bill - An ordinary bill can be introduced in either of the Houses and can be passed by a simple majority in both the Houses. In case of a deadlock a joint sitting of both the houses is possible.

ii Money Bill (Article 110) – A money bill is concerned with taxation and government spending. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha after prior recommendation of the President. Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the deciding authority whether the introduced bill is a Money bill or not.

iii Financial Bill - A bill which is related with revenue and expenditure of the government is a financial bill.

iv Constitutional Amendment Bill (Article 368) - This bill can be introduced in either of the Houses of the Parliament. It can be passed only by a special majority.

For more information visit the following websites:

indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/welcome.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India

india.gov.in/govt/constitutions_india.php

Page 227: gk.txt

The Indian Political System

INDIAN LEGISLATURE

India is the second largest democracy in the world. The Indian legislature is bicameral i.e. the Indian Parliament is made up of the Lower House – Lok Sabha, and the Upper House – Rajya Sabha and President.

INDIAN JUDICIARY

Salient Features

1. The Constitution contains provisions related to the Union Judiciary in Articles 124–127.

2. Supreme Court is the apex court of India. Supreme Court has 26 judges including the Chief Justice. The salary of the Chief Justice is Rs.33000 per month and each judge gets Rs. 30000 per month. The retirement age of the judges of the Supreme Court is 65 years.

3. High Courts are at the top of hiearchy in the State Judicial System. Presently there are 21 High Courts in the country. The retirement age of the judges of a High Court is 62 years.

States and Union Territories

• Article 3 authorises the Parliament, by a majority vote, to establish or eliminate State and Union Territories.

• India has 28 States and 7 Union Territories.

• Article 370 provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the Consititution.

• Article 256 and 257 require States to comply with the governor, who is appointed by the President.

• The eligibility for appointment as Governor is that he is a citizen of India and has completed the age of thirty-five years and he should not hold any other office of profit.

• The Governor of a state has the power to grant pardons, reprieves or remissions of punishment or to remit or compute

Page 228: gk.txt

the sentence of any person relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

• The term of the governor is five years unless dismissed by the president or resignation.

• In 6 of India’s 28 state (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharastra, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh) the legislative council serves as the upper houses of a bicameral legislature.

• Where there are two houses of the Legislature of a State, one is known as the Legislative Council and the other as the Legilative Assembly, and where there is only one House, it is known as the Legislative Assembly.

• There is a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as the head to aid and advice the Governor in the exercise of his functions.

• The Legislative Assembly of each state shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty members chosen by direct election. (except Sikkim)

• The Central government distributes taxes and grants-in-aid to States through the decision of the Finance Commission, stipulated in Article 275. The president constitutes the Finance Commission at the expiry of 5 years.

• The central Government also distributes grants to States through the development plans prepared by the Planning Commission.

• Union Territories are administered by the President through the administrator who is appointed by President. President may appoint the Goveror of a state as the administrator of an adjoining Union Territory.

CAG

• The powers and duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) are described in Articles 149 and 150. He has three main functions: (1) to audit government’s expenditure; (2) to see that the financial rules are obeyed; and (3) to see the sanction of expenditure.

• Under Article 151, reports of the CAG relating to the Union are submitted to the President, those relating to the states are submitted to the Governor. These are to be a placed before Parliament and State Legislature respectively.

Elections

• Under Article 327, Parliament is vested with the Supreme power to legislate on all matters relating to elections, including election State legislatures. The States have also been vested with certain limited powers of legislation with respect to elections, Under Article 328. But such legislation should not be in conflict with any parlimentary.

• One of the outstanding features of the Consitution is adult suffrage. Every person who is not less than 18 years of the age has the right to vote in the election to the House of the People and the State Legislative Party. The only grounds for

Page 229: gk.txt

disqualifications are: () non residence (ii) unsoundness of mind, (iii) crime, and (iv) corrupt or illegal practice, Article 325 says that no person will be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.

• Article 324 provides that the superintendence, direction and control of election in India to be vested in and Election Commission. According to the 19th Amendment, the provisions of constituting election tribunals have been abolished. Election petitions are now heard by the High Court in appeals. Article 339, however, bars interference by courts in electoral matters. State election commission conducts election of corporations, municipalities and other local bodies.

THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body created to conduct free and fair elections for the representative bodies in India. It was established on January 25, 1950.

The Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the superintendence, direction and control of the entire process for the conduct of elections for the Parliament and the Legislature of every State and for the offices of the President and the Vice-President of India.The law which governs all the elections in India as mentioned above is the Representation of People Act, 1950.

The Commission presently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. Originally, however, the Commission had just one Chief Commissioner. Two Commissioners were appointed for the first time on October 16, 1989 but their tenure lasted only till January 1, 1990. On October 1, 1993, two additional Election Commissioners were appointed. The commission has followed the multi-member structure since then, with decisions taken by a majority vote.

The Election Commission has a Secretariat at New Delhi consisting of about 300 officials.

INDIAN DEFENCE

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. It is on his behalf that the Defence Minister looks after all the matters concerning the Defence Services. The Defence Minister is responsible to the Parliament for all matters concerning the Defence. However, the responsibility of national defence rests with the Cabinet of Ministers. The three services of Defence i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force, function under their respective Chief of Staff.

ArmyIndian Army is responsible for the defence and security of India’s territorial area. The Army is organised into five operational commmands – Northern, Eastern, Western, Central and Southern and one Training Command – each headed by a Commander-in-

Page 230: gk.txt

Chief of the rank of Lieutenant General. The Army, with its headquarter at New Delhi, consists of a number of services such as armoured corps, regiment of artillery, engineer corps, infantry, army services corps, army medical corps, intelligence corps, etc. The Chief of the Army is of the designation General and is answerable to the Defence Minister.

NavyThe Indian Navy is responsible for the defence and security of the Indian water. The Navy is organised into three operational commands – Western, Eastern, and Southern – headquartered at Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, and Cochin respectively. The Western and the Eastern commands have under them operational fleets like warships, submarines, aircrafts and other support ships. The Southern Naval Command is responsible for all the training activities of the Navy. The designation of The Chief of the Navy is Admiral and he is answerable to the Defence Minister.

Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is responsible for the defence and security of the Indian airspace. The fourth largest Air Force in the World, it is organised into five operational commands – Western Command, South-Western Command, Central Air Command, Eastern Air Command, and Southern Air Command and two functional commands - a Maintainance and a Training command. It is headquartered at New Delhi. The designation of The Chief of the Air Force is Air Chief Marshall and he is answerable to the Defence Minister

 

First in Indian Politics

1. First President of India – Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

2. First Vice-President of India – Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

3. First Muslim President of India – Dr. Zakir Hussain.

4. First Sikh President of India – Giani Jail Singh.

5. First Prime Minister of India – Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru

6. First Woman Prime Minister of India – Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

7. First Speaker of the Lok Sabha – G.V. Mavlankar.

8. First Chief Justice of India – Justice H.L. Kania.

9. First Chairman of the Rajaya Sabha – Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

Page 231: gk.txt

10. First Woman Governor of a State – Mrs. Sarojini Naidu.

11. First Woman Chief Minister – Mrs. Sucheta Kripalani.

12. First Woman Central Minister – Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.

13. First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha – Mrs. Shanno Devi.

14. First Woman IAS Officer – Anna George.

15. First Woman IPS Officer – Kiran Bedi.

16. First Woman Advocate – Carnelia Sorabji.

17. First Woman Judge – Anna Chandi.

18. First Woman Judge of High Court – Anna Chandi.

19. First Woman Judge of Supreme Court – M. Fathima Beevi.

20. First Woman Judge of Supreme Court – M. Fathima Beevi.

21. First Chairman of Planning Commission – Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

22. First Chairman of Finance Commission – K.C. Niyogi.

23. First Acting Prime Minister of India – Guljari Lal Nanda.

24. First Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha – M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar.

25. First recognised leader of opposition in Lok Sabha – Y.V. Chavan.

26. First recognised leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha – Lokpati Tripathi.

27. First Lok Sabha Election – 1952

28. First State where Panchayati Raj was implemented (in the whole state) – Rajasthan.

29. First Chief Election Commissioner of India – Sukumar Sen.

30. First Woman Chief Election Commissioner (acting) of India – Smt. V.S. Rama

Page 232: gk.txt

Devi

Legal Awareness

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (from 1942 to 1947)

l The Quit India Resolution 1942:- emphasized on ending the British rule in India This movement was suppressed by the government. This continued till 1944.

l Sri Rajagopalachari along with Mahatma Gandhi wanted the Muslim League to endorse the Indian demand for independence and cooperate with the Congress in the formation of a provincial interim government, and began negotiations with Lord Wavell. Mr.Jinnah refused to accept.

l The Wavell Plan 1945 And The Simla Conference: - both the Wavell plan and the Simla conference were a failure, because the congress did not accept Mr.Jinnah demand of Pakistan. The Governor General was not prepared to have an interim settlement without the cooperation and consent of the Muslim League.

l The Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 For United India: - The Cripps mission in March 1942 had proposed that, immediately after the cessation of hostilities steps shall be taken to set up in India a Constitution making body to frame a new Constitution for India. The British cabinet mission consisting of Lord Patrick Lawrence and Secretary Of State A.V. Alexander and Sir Stafford Cripps came to Delhi on March 24 1946.

l The cabinet suggested its formula on May 16 1946 to resolve the issue As the political parties, the Muslim League and the congress did not come to any mutual understanding and the congress ruled out the idea of Pakistan.

l The mission recommended that there should be a union of India.

l To frame a Constitution, the cabinet mission suggested that a constituent assembly be formed consisting of 389 members. Provincial representatives were to be sent in the proportion of 1:10, 00,000.

l However the Muslim league resolved that the proceedings of the constituent assembly was ultra vires and demanded its dissolution.

l December 9 1946 the constituent assembly first met. The Muslim league members did not attend.

l Lord Mountbatten’s plan of 1947 for transfer of power:-

Page 233: gk.txt

i) The partition of India,

ii)After Bengal and Punjab had decided that they wanted their respective provinces to be partioned; Sindh and the N.W.F. provinces decided to join Pakistan.

l Indian Independence: - the Indian Independence Bill was passed by the Parliament on the July 18, 1947.

l Indian Independence Act, 1947 ended the British Raj in India and the partition of India into India and Pakistan.

l Our national flag, the tricolor was adopted on the July 22, 1947

l August 15, 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in as the first Prime minister of independent India.

l Our first President was Dr. Rajendra Prasad

l The Constituent Assembly appointed the drafting committee on August 29 1947 under the chairmanship of Dr. Ambedkar.

l The Draft Constitution was ready by October and the ‘Draft Constitution of India was published in February 1948.

l The constituent assembly read the draft clause by clause from November 15 1948 to October 17 1949.

l The third reading started from November 14 1949 and finished it on November 26 1949. On this date the Constitution received the signature of the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

l Our draft Constitution of India when presented to the President of the constituent assembly. It contained 315 Articles and 8 Schedules.

l The date of commencement of the Constitution was 26th January 1950. It contained 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.

l The State Emblem which has three lions, a horse a bull and a charka was taken from Ashoka’s Pillar in Sarnath, it was adopted on 26th January 1950 and has the words Satyameva Jayayte let Truth alone prevail.

l The National Anthem composed by Rabindranath Tagore was adopted on 24th January 1950.

Page 234: gk.txt

l India as Part of the Commonwealth:-India did not sever all ties with the British Commonwealth. India joined the Commonwealth without any allegiance to the British crown.

l It was this decision of India to join the Commonwealth, that the association of these independent nations it was called the ‘Commonwealth of Nations’. This historic decision took place in London on April 27th 1949. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said “it is an agreement by free will, to be terminated by free will”.

l This historic decision took place in London on April 27th 1949.

lPandit Jawaharlal Nehru said “it is an agreement by free will, to be terminated by free will”.

WRITTEN CONSTITUTION

l The Constitutional laws of the country contain the legal and the non legal norms. Legal norms are those which are enforceable in the courts of law and non legal norms are generally practices and conventions of the Constitution which are not enforceable.

l Ours being a written Constitution is in the form of a Constitutional document whereas England does not have a written Constitution the Sovereignty the Parliament is based upon traditions.

l A written Constitution contains the supreme law of the land on the source of the Constitutional law in the country. Every organ in the country must adhere to it otherwise it will be declared unconstitutional.

l Though we have often heard that the Indian Parliament is Sovereign, it is sovereign to the extent that India is a sovereign nation and not under any external influence. Therefore the Parliament which functions under the written Constitution has to adhere to the rules stated under it and cannot have unbridled powers.

l Our Constitution being a federal Constitution has a few characteristics attached to it, they are:-

i) Distribution of powers

ii) Supremacy of the Constitution

iii) Written Constitution

Page 235: gk.txt

iv) Rigidity

v) Authority of the Courts

PREAMBLE

l The Preamble literally means preface, preliminary statement or intorduction states that India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic Republic.

l ‘Sovereign’ denotes that our country is not subject to any external authority.

l Socialist’ herein does not mean that it adheres to any ideas of Socialism but means that it will have Private enterprise as well as State ownership. What we were trying was a mixed economy.

l ‘Secular, means that the Constitution ensures equal freedom for all religions.

l ‘Democratic’ signifies that India has a Parliamentary form of government wherein the government is responsible to an elected legislature.

l ‘Republic’ means where the Head of the State is an elected functionary.

l According to the Preamble it is the people who have imposed this Constitution upon themselves and will conduct their government through elected representatives.

l The terms ‘Socialist’ And ‘Secular’ were added by the 42nd Amendment.

l The Preamble envisages being a Social Welfare State as stated by the Directive Principles of State Policy

l In Aruna Roy v. Union of India 2002 SC, it was held that the Preamble was part of the basic structure of the Constitution. The essence of ‘secularism ‘is non discrimination of people by the State on the basis of religious differences.

THE JUDICIARY

l It is very important to have an independent and impartial Judiciary. Our Constitution has done everything to make the Supreme Courts and the various High Courts independent of the Executive.

l The High Court is a Court Of Appeal and can also enforce the Fundamental Rights. The Supreme Court, the High Court and the lower courts constitute a single judiciary having jurisdiction over all cases arising under any law whether enacted

Page 236: gk.txt

by the Parliament or the State Legislature.

l The judiciary scrutinizes Governmental action in order to assess whether it confirms with the Constitution or not. It also scrutinizes the administrative action.

l Judicial review is based on the assumption that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and that all government organs and governmental actions must confirm with the Constitution.

l The State shall not make any law that takes away the Fundamental Rights of the people.

CITIZENSHIP

l A person who is born in the territory of India Citizenship Act – 1955; either whose parents are born in India; or who has been ordinarily a resident in the territory of India for not less than five years immediately preceding such commencement, shall be a citizen of India.

l Articles 5 to 11 of the Constitution lay down as to who are citizens of India at the commencement of the Constitution.

l Article 5 deals with the Domicile of a person. But however the term ‘domicile’ has not been defined in the Constitution. ‘Domicile’ means permanent home.

l The Article draws a difference between ‘Domicile’ and ‘Residence’. Its domicile and not residence that makes a person an Indian citizen. ‘Domicile’ and five years ‘Residence’ is sufficient to make a person a citizen of India.

l India has neither State citizenship, nor dual citizenship. There is single citizenship in India.(2003– Citizenship Ammendant Act that further ammends the Citizenship Act, 155, 2 provides for overseas Indian citizenship or Dual citizenship

POLITICAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

l Concept of Fundamental Rights: -

i) The fundamental rights were supposed to be basic, natural and in alienable rights of the man. Where there are rights there are certain limitations. With time it became the most important thing to protect the rights and liberties of

Page 237: gk.txt

the people to be protected from governmental action.

ii) The fundamental rights in India has its roots in the preamble which the people of India have given to themselves and apart from guaranteeing all that, it also safeguards the interests of the minorities and tries to keep away discrimination, guaranteeing religious freedom and protecting other cultural rights.

l Fundamental Rights In India

i) The framers of the constitution have tried to strike a balance between the rights of the people and the society and the courts have also had a tough time interpreting them.

ii) Though it was said earlier that the fundamental rights were mutually exclusive but now the courts have held that some of the rights are not mutually exclusive.

l Justiciability Of Fundamental Rights

i) Article 13 makes the fundamental rights justiciable. It is because of this Article that the fundamental rights cannot be infringed by the government.

RIGHT TO EQUALITY ARTICLE 14 to 18

l Right to equality will encompass :

i) Equality before law-Article 14

ii) Prohibition on the grounds of religion ,race, caste, sex or place-Article 15

iii) Equal opportunity in matters of employment-Article 16

iv) Abolition of titles-Article 18

l Right to equality Article 14:-

i) According to the Article all persons who are in the similar circumstances are to be treated alike in respect to both privileges conferred and the liabilities imposed. It however does not forbid different treatment of unequals. All persons are not equal in all respects and they cannot be treated at par with every body. Thus, would only result in unequal treatment (e.g. the reservation we have for the various classes of people is one such example of giving

Page 238: gk.txt

different treatment for unequal).

ii) Right to equality has been recognised as the Basic Structure of the Constitution held in Indra Swahney v. Union of India A.I.R. 2000

ii) Article14 does not allow classification of persons into groups that are treated differently but does not forbid differentiation on the grounds of reasonable classification.

iv) According to the new approach of Article14; Article 14 strikes at the arbitrariness of the state action and ensures fairness and equality of State action. The principle of reasonableness is an essential element of equality. Any arbitrary or those actions which are unreasonable are as such discriminatory.

v) In Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan, A.I.R. 1997 Article14 was invoked to prohibit sexual harassment of women in their workplace on grounds of violation of the right to gender equality.

l Probation of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste sex or place of birth-Article15

i) The State may provide special provisions in favour of women and children.

ii) Indra Swahney v. Union of India the court held that other that in extraordinary cases reservation should not exceed 50%. Caste should not be the yardstick for social or economic backwardness (SEBC. Socially and educationally backward classes) within the SEBC further classification between backward and more backward is however permissible.

l Equal opportunity in matters of Employment-Article 16

i) Right to Equality is guaranteed by Article14, Article 16 gives Equality of Opportunity in matters relating to appointment or employment in offices under the State.

l Abolition of titles-Article 18

i) Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is punishable by law.

l Abolition of titles-Article 18

i) No titles other than military and academic shall be conferred by the state. Conferring honors on the people, like Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan are not to be treated as a title.

Page 239: gk.txt

RIGHT TO FREEDOM –Article19

l Freedom of speech Article 19(1)(a);

l Freedom to assemble peacefully Article19(1)(b);

l Freedom to form associations or unions Article19(1)(c)

l Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India Article 19(1)(d);

l To reside and settle in any part of the country Article 19(1)(e);

l To acquire, hold and dispose off property Article 19(1)(f) (this freedom was omitted by the 44th Amendment Act 1978)

l To practice any profession, or carry on any occupation, trade or business Article 19(1) (g).

l These freedoms are available only to citizens. These freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 are basic freedoms which all persons should enjoy, but these freedoms do not come without certain restrictions.

l From clause (2) to clause (6) of Article 19 the state has the right to impose certain reasonable restrictions so that the interests of the public, security of the state, public order e.t.c are protected for general welfare of the people.

l These freedoms are restricted in matters related to the security of state, defamation, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, incitement to an offence, sovereignty and integrity of India.

l The freedom to assembly is restricted so as to maintain public order.

l The freedom to form associations does not mean several people getting together or voluntarily forming an association but not at the cost of the sovereignty and integrity of India, public order or morality.

l Wherein restrictions have been made on the freedom of movement it has to be reasonable in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of the schedule tribes.

l The freedom to trade and occupation should not jeopardize the public order or public health, economic welfare of the community.

PROTECTION IN RESPECT OF CONVICTION OF OFFENSES ARTICLE 20Article 20 gives protection to persons with respect to conviction for offences.

Page 240: gk.txt

l Expost facto laws Article 20(1)

i) Ex-post laws are those laws which nullified and punished acts which were lawful when done. Article20 (1) prohibits all convictions or subjections to penalties after the Constitution, in respect of an ex- post facto law. It means that no one can be punished for any action which was not declared a crime when such an action was done.

l Double Jeopardy Article 20(2)

i) Under Article20 (2) no person shall be prosecuted or punished for the same offence more than once. under the Indian Constitution in order to bring a person within the ambit of this Article it has to be shown that he was prosecuted before the court and punished by it for the same offence for which he is prosecuted again. There is no Constitutional bar to a second prosecution and punishment for the same unless the accused has been punished in the first instance.

l Self IncriminationArticle20(3)

i) Under Article 20(3) no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself by a person accused of an offence.

ii) To be a witness herein would mean to give oral or written statements against oneself in or out of the court out of compulsion.

iii) The prohibition is only on the person being compelled to give evidence against oneself. This however does not apply to those cases where the accused gives evidence without threat, or inducement.

PROTECTION OF LIFE AND LIBERTY ARTICLE 21

lArticle 21 gives the fundamental right to life and liberty in accordance to procedure established by law.

l

For sometime the courts were of the view that right to life does not include right to livelihood. Under Article39 (a) men and women equally have the right to adequate means of livelihood. The courts now have clearly held that right to life would include right to livelihood because no person can live without the means of living or livelihood.

l ‘Procedure established by law’ in Article 21 would mean; not mean a law which has only a semblance of law even if it is arbitrary and unreasonable. It would now

Page 241: gk.txt

mean that the procedure must satisfy certain requisites like being fair and reasonable .the procedure must not be arbitrary, unfair, and unreasonable.

l Some of the areas which shows the widening horizon of Article21 are:-

i)

Bandua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India A.I.R.1984 the court held that the bonded laborers were to be released and rehabilitated as it was against the principles enunciated by Article21 and also the Directive Principles of State Policy.

ii)In Hussain v. State of Kerala 2000 SC and Rudal Shah v. State of Bihar recognised the Right to Compensation for the violation of Article21.

PROTECTION AGAINST ARREST AND DETENTION ARTICLE 22

l Fundamental rights can be suspended for the period the emergency is proclaimed but the rights under Article20 and 21 cannot be suspended even then.

l Today progressive judicial interpretation of Article 21 has lead it to greater heights in terms of protecting a person’s life and liberty. The ‘procedure established by law’ could deprive a person of his right to life and liberty under Article 21. The procedure must answer to the test of reasonableness. Article 21 is the procedural Magna Carta protective of right to life and liberty and article 22 draws its strength from it.

l Article 22 confers a few rights on the person who is arrested

i) Shall not be detained without being informed of the grounds of arrest.

ii)

Right to consult a lawyer. The right to consult a lawyer is not lost if he is released on bail.

iii) To be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest.

l Cannot be detained for a period exceeding 24 hours without the authority of the court.

i)

All these are instances of punitive detention where in a person is detained for the wrong caused by him.

ii)

In case of preventive detention the object of this is to curtail a person’s liberty so that h is prevented from doing anything injurious.

iii) Preventive detention is used for the purposes like defence, foreign affairs, or

Page 242: gk.txt

the security of India.

RIGHT AGAINST EXPLOITATION

l Prohibition of Traffic in Human Beings and Forced Labour Article 24.

i) There were socio economic problems that were growing out of the control which was mainly due to poverty. Lack of education and economic conditions so bad that people were willing to work for any amount of money.

ii) According to this article no person can be forced to work without payment, and ‘traffic in human beings’ means to buy and sell human beings like property, other forms of forced labour which includes bonded labour, and also includes immoral traffic of women.

iii) Bandua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India A.I.R.1984 the Supreme Court held that it was the fundamental right of every human being to live with human dignity and free from exploitation.

l Prohibition Of Employment Of Children In Factories Article 24

i) Most of the India’s poor have many children and because the families feel that

the family can be supported by the extra income that the child will bring in, child labour is more of an economic problem than any thing else.

ii) This article has been able to achieve only partial prohibition as there are

millions of children in our country who are toiling their childhood away without any one even listening to their plight.

iii) M.C. Mehta v. State of T.N. it was seen that child labour was wide spread. In

this case the directions were given by the Supreme Court in the context of employing children in the cracker and match factories of Sivakasi.

iv) In Bandua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, A.I.R. 1997 SC this case was concerning the children being employed in the carpet weaving industry in U.P. The Supreme Court reiterated the direction of the earlier case and prohibited the employment of children below the age of 14 making arrangements for their education by creating a fund and providing employment to the parents or able bodied adults in the family.

RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION ART 25 TO ART 28

l Religion is an integral part in our lives and India being a country where many

Page 243: gk.txt

religions are followed it has been called a Secular state and the people do have a certain amount of religious tolerance but not enough to shun communal violence which is rampant. Religious tolerance is one and being fanatic is an other. We should try to maintain the secular feature of our constitution.

l Our constitution guarantees to every person not merely to the citizens freedom to profess, practice but also to carry out religious obligations and propagate religion.

l The state however has the authority to step in when it has to maintain public order, morality, curtail practices which are not the integral part of the religion, conversion by fraud.

l No Religion states that prayers have to be done with the help of loud speakers or beating of drums. It was held by the Supreme Court that such practice should not adversely affect the rights of others including those who are not disturbed by their activities. Not only was their liberty infringed under Article 21 people also have their rights under Article19 (1) (a) wherein they need not be subjected to sounds they do not like.

CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS ARTICLE 29 TO ARTICLE 31

l Article 29 protects the interest of minorities: - this article provides the minorities the guarantee to conserve their culture, language and their script. The state shall in no manner restrict this right.

l Article 30 gives the minorities to establish and administer educational institutions: - The state shall not discriminate against these institutions while granting aid. Article states that when the institution is granted aid by the state then no citizen shall be denied admission on basis of religion, race, caste, language. The minority institution may however reserve up to 50% of the seats of the members of its community. Wherein the institution is receiving no aid then they are free in matters of admission.

RIGHT TO CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDIES

l Under Article 32 the right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of rights conferred by way of Fundamental Rights is guaranteed.

l This Right is remedial in nature. Since we have all the Fundamental Rights conferred to us by the Constitution, we have the remedy under Article 32 when it is infringed. This right under Article 32 cannot be taken away or abridged by an

Page 244: gk.txt

Act of the legislature unless the Constitution itself is amended.

l Enforcement of fundamental rights

i) Article 32 is applicable only if there is an infringement of a fundamental right. Cases where there has been no specific violation of fundamental right also petitions under Article 32 has been entertained.

ii) Under Article 32 the petitioner can challenge not only the validity of the law but can also question executive action.

iii) The petition has an alternative under article 226, but that does not mean that the court will not grant relief under Article 32. The Supreme Court insists that when an alternative remedy is available then that remedy should be availed as extraordinary remedies should not be availed when ordinary remedy is available.

l Who can apply

i) When ever there has been an infringement of a fundamental right the person aggrieved by such infraction can file a petition.

ii) When it is a writ of habeas corpus then any person, a relative or a friend can file a petition on behalf of the person who has been detained.

iii) In case of public interest litigations any member of the public having sufficient interest can file a petition for the persons against whom a legal injury has been caused by a violation of the fundamental rights are incapable of doing so as they are under poverty or socially or economically disadvantaged. Today petitions are filed by public spirited persons who take up issues like pavement dwellers, bonded labourers, child labour, and child prostitution. The court has also acted on basis of news paper reports, letters written to the court. The court has to be very careful as there are numerous people who will fritter ways the valuable time of the court with frivolous litigation.

l Various writs

i) Habeas corpus: -This writ used to secure a person who has been unlawfully detained without a legal justification.

l Though function of this writ is to release a person unlawfully arrested or detained, the Supreme Court has widened its scope by giving relief to prisoners who are subjected to inhuman and cruel treatment in the prison. The court permits the use of this writ for protecting the various personal

Page 245: gk.txt

liberties that have been granted to persons who are arrested and prisoners under the various laws and the constitution.

ii) Mandamus: - mandamus is used to enforce the performance of public duties by public authorities which are imposed by law.

l Mandamus is issued when the government denies jurisdiction when it very well has the jurisdiction under law.

l The main function of this writ is to keep the public authorities within their limits of jurisdiction while carrying out their public functions. This writ can be issued to administrative bodies, legislative, judicial as well as quasi judicial bodies.

l A discriminatory administrative decision can be squashed by a writ of mandamus

iii) Certiorari: - The function of certiorari is to squash a decision already made by the lower subordinate court or a tribunal. And so it is issued when the body in question has deposed off the matter and rendered the decision.

l The function of certiorari is supervisory. This writ is issued when the authority is acting under an invalid law.

iv) Quo warranto: - This writ is used to control executive action in the areas of making appointments to public offices under relevant statutory provisions judicially.

l This writ protects the citizens from the holder of a public office when he is not entitled to it. This writ requires the holder of a particular public office to show under what authority he is holding that particular office. If it is found that he is not entitled to that office then the court will restrain him from holding that office and declare that office vacant.

v) Prohibition: - both prohibition and certiorari are remedies for the judicial control of quasi judicial bodies and administrative decisions affecting the rights.

l Prohibition is issued when the matter has not been disposed of but being considered by the body concerned. The function of prohibition is to prohibit the body concerned from proceeding with the matter further.

Res judicata

Page 246: gk.txt

l Wherein a matter has been resolved under Article 32 between two parties the same matter between the same parties cannot come up under the same Article.

l This principle will be applicable even when the High Court has been moved under Article 226 and a fresh petition has been filed under Article 32.

l The writ of Habeas corpus is an exception to this rule. Res judicata is not applicable for this writ. A writ of Habeas Corpus has been rejected by the High Court a petition can be filed under Article 32 under the same writ.

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

NATURE

l Articles 38 to 51 deals with the Directive Principles of State Policy. This concept was borrowed from the Irish Constitution. The directive principles lay down certain socio-economic goals which the government of India seeks to achieve.

l These directives are not enforceable in the court of law. The reason behind the non-justiciability of the principles is that they impose positive obligations on the government.

l Then why have them? It was more to have an awakened public opinion.

l When directive principles override the fundamental rights, the courts have held that it is the fundamental rights that will prevail. The fundamental rights are justiciable wherein the directive principles are not. The laws made to implement directive principles cannot take away the fundamental rights.

l If the Parliament in its capacity of an amending body amends the Constitution, by which a fundamental right is taken away or is abridged the court cannot declare the Constitutional amendment as wrong.

l Both the directive principles and the fundamental rights have to coexist harmoniously. There has to be a harmonious construction between the directive principles and the fundamental rights.

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES- WHAT IT SEEKS TO ACHIEVE

l The directive principle seeks to create certain obligations upon the government

Page 247: gk.txt

and at the same time gives certain rights to its citizens.

l The obligation it imposes upon the State:-

i) Directs the State to strive for social, political, and economic equality Article

38(1)

ii) To minimize inequality of income Article 38(2)

iii) To direct its policy towards controlling material resources Article 39 (b) and

concentration of wealth in the hands of few Article 39(c).this affects the entire economic system of our nation.

iv) To enable the citizens to have village panchayats Article 40.

v) Welfare of the workers .and to promote cottage industries on individual or

cooperative basis in rural areas Article 42, 43.

vi) To strive for a uniform civil code Article 44.

vii) Provision of free and compulsory education for children Article 45.

viii) Educational and economic interests for the weaker sections of the people

Article 46.

ix) To regard as its primary duty to improve public health and raise nutritional

levels and standard of living Article 47.

x) To organize agriculture and animal husbandry Article 48.

xi) To protect and improve environment safeguard wildlife and forests of the

country Article48A.

xii) Places of historical interest to be protected Article 49.

xiii) Independence of judiciary from executive Article 50.

xiv) To promote international peace and security and harmonious relations

between countries. To abide by treaties and international law Article 51.

l The rights that the directive principles give its citizens. Though these are non-justiciable rights there are statutes which implement these provisions.

i) Right to means of livelihood Article 39(a)

ii) Equal work for men and women Article 39(d)

Page 248: gk.txt

iii) Health of the workers Article 39(e)

iv) Protection against exploitation and moral and material abandonment Article

39(f)

v) To get free legal aid Article 39 A

vi) To have humane conditions of work and maternity leave Article 42.

vii) Participation of workers in the management Article 43A.

viii) Compulsory and free education for children Article 45. This directive just

does not mean primary education but education till the age of 14 years.

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

l Article 51A contains ten Fundamental Duties which were brought in by the

i) To abide by the Constitution . Respect the national flag and anthem.

ii) To cherish and follow the noble ideas which inspired our national struggle for freedom

iii) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

iv) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.

v) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brother hood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to dignity of women.

vi) To value the rich heritage of our composite culture.

vii) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

viii) To develop scientific temper, humanism and spirit of enquiry and reform.

ix) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence

x) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.

Page 249: gk.txt

Indian Legislative Structure

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT-THE PARLIAMENTCONSTITUTION OF PARLIAMENT

l The Indian Parliament is bicameral i.e., having two houses. It follows a ‘Parliamentary system’. It consists of the ‘House of the People’ or the Lok sabha and the ‘Council of States’ which is the upper house or as we know the Rajya Sabha.

l The Parliament is constituted by the two houses and the President. These three organs are important for the process of legislation by the Parliament.

l It is the Parliament that tries to maintain a balance between the executive actions and the legislations, as it is a Parliamentary system. It is also responsible for the legislations, taxes, and revenue and expenditure of the public money.

COMPOSITION OF THE RAJYA SABHA AND LOK SABHA:-

l Rajya Sabha

i) The Council of States is a permanent body.

ii) The Vice-President is the ex-officio chair man of the Rajya Sabha.

iii) The representatives of the State in the Rajya sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assembly.

iv) There are some members who are elected and some who are nominated.

v) There is no difference between them except that the nominated members of the Rajya sabha do not participate in the election of the President of India.

l Membership

i) The maximum strength of the Rajya sabha has been fixed at 250 members.

ii) 238 members are elected representatives of the States and Union Territories.

iii) 12 members are nominated by the President, who have special or practical knowledge of subjects like literature, science, art, social sciences.

l Duration

i) 1/3rd of the members retire at the end of the second year.

ii) The Rajya sabha is not subjected to dissolution as it is a continuing body.

Page 250: gk.txt

iii) The members continue for a duration of 6 years.

l Qualification

i) Should be a citizen of India.

ii) Should not be less than 30 years of age

iii) Should possess other qualifications that Parliament may by law prescribe.

l Disqualification

i) Corrupt practices during elections

ii) Conviction for an offence leading to imprisonment for more than two or more years.

iii) Should not hold office of profit under the government.

iv) A person cannot be a member for both the houses of the Parliament.

l LOK SABHA

i) The members of the Lok sabha are directly elected by the people.

ii) The Speaker is the Chief Officer of the Lok sabha.

iii) The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are chosen by the house amongst the members itself.

l Membership

i) Not more than 530 members are representatives of the state.

ii) Not more than 20 representatives of the union territories.

iii) Not more than 2 members belonging to the Anglo-Indian community.

l Duration

i) The Lok sabha is not a continuing body.

ii) Elections may be held to constitute new Lok sabha before that is done the existing Lok sabha is dissolved.

Page 251: gk.txt

iii) The house shall continue for a period of 5 years.

iv) It can be dissolved earlier by the President. The life of the Lok sabha can be extended when there is a proclaimed emergency.

l Qualification

i) A citizen of India

ii) Not less than 25 years of age.

l Disqualification

i) Must not be of unsound mind.

ii) Should not be discharged or insolvent.

iii) Voluntarily acquired the citizenship or acknowledges the allegiance to another country.

iv) If should not hold an office of profit.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTREWORKING OF EXECUTIVEThe Union Executive consists of the President, Prime minister, and the Council Of Ministers. Though the Constitution gives a lot of functions to the President he actually does not do so without the consultation of the ministers, so effectively it is the Prime minister and the Council of Ministers that constitute the Executive.

PRESIDENT

l Qualifications For Election As The President-Article58

i) Should be a citizen of India

ii) Should have completed 35 years of age

iii) Should be qualified for election as a member of the House Of The People

iv) Should not hold any office of profit under the Central Government or any of the State Governments.

l Manner In Which The President Is Elected- Article55

i) The President of India is not directly elected by the people but by indirect election.

Page 252: gk.txt

ii) President is elected by an electoral college which consists of the elected members of both the Houses Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies.

iii) Election is done in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote by secret ballot.

l Tenure Of The President

i) 5 years from the time he enters upon his office.

ii) Even after the term expires he continues as President till his successor takes over.

iii) The President may resign by giving in writing addressed to the Vice-President

iv) In the event of the death, resignation or removal of the President the Vice-President shall act as the President until a new President is elected.

l Salary

i) The salary of the President is Rs.50,000 per month.

l Re-election as President

i) The Constitution lays no restrictions on the reelection of the same person to the office of the President.

ii) He may be elected many numbers of terms.

iii) Dr. Rajendra Prasad the first President of India was elected twice from 26th January 1950 to 1962.

l Powers Of The President

i) Executive powers:-

l Initiation of legislation, maintaining order, promoting social and economic welfare, public health, welfare of industrial workers, education transport. The executive power vested in the President has to be exercised in accordance with the Constitution.

ii) Administrative powers:-

l Appoints the Prime Minister, the Ministers of the Union, Attorney-General, Chief-Justice, the Commission to investigate the conditions of Backward Classes, the Judges of the Supreme Court, the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioner, Chairman and Members of the Union Public Service, the Finance Commission. In case of the proclamation of an emergency, the President can suspend the enforcement of the fundamental rights.

iii) Legislative powers

l Every Bill in order to become a law, has to have the accent of the President. S/he can refuse to give accent and send it

Page 253: gk.txt

back for reconsideration, issue ordinances during the recess of the Parliament and can dissolve the Parliament and convene joint sessions. His/her accent is also required for the amendment of the Constitution.

iv) Powers dealing with defence:-

l S/he is the supreme commander of the forces.

l This military power is exercised in accordance with the Constitution.

l The exercise of the supreme military power can be regulated by an Act of Parliament.

v) Judicial powers:-

l Can grant pardons, reprieves (temporary suspension of a punishment fixed by law), remit punishments (reduce the amount of punishments without changing the punishment), and give respites (postpone the execution of a punishment to the future), and commutation (changing the punishment).

vi) The President is the head of the state. S/he receives international dignitaries and also represents India internationally.

vii) The present President of India is Smt. Pratibha Patil.

VICE-PRESIDENT

l The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

lIf the office of the President falls vacant In the event of death, resignation or removal of the President the Vice-President shall act as the President until a new President is elected.

l Elected:-

i) The Vice- President acts as the president when the president is unable to carry out his duties due to illness or absence.

ii)Vice-President is elected by an electoral college which consists of the elected members of both the Houses Parliament; Election is done in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote by secret ballot.

l Qualification:-

i) A citizen of India.

ii) 35 years of age.

iii) Cannot be a member of the Parliament and the State Legislature.

iv) Should be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Page 254: gk.txt

l Tenure:-

i) 5 years from the date he enters upon his office.

ii) He may resign his office by writing to the President.

iii) He may also be removed by a resolution by members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok sabha.

PRIME MINISTER

l Since it is a parliamentary form of government the Prime minister have a very important role to play.

l He is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha and also of the Council Of Ministers.

l The Prime Minister is the link between the President and the Ministers. He appoints a minister and can also compel the resignation of the minister.

l The entire functioning of the parliament depends upon the Prime Minister.

l The President may be the Head of State but practically it seems that the Prime Minister is the Head of State.

l When ever the Prime Minister resigns the entire council of ministers also resign.

l The Constitution states that the Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

l The total number of the ministers including the Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers should not exceed 15% of the total number of members in the House of People. The ministers hold office at the pleasure of the President.

l The Council of Ministers has ‘collective responsibility’ towards the house of people. Where in the whole ministry will be treated like a single entity on matters relating to policies as far as being answerable to the parliament. The President shall act in accordance to the aid and advice given by the council of ministers but the President can always ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice.

l If a minister within the period of 6 months is not a member of either house of the Parliament ceases to be a minister.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF INDIA –Article 76

lA person qualified to be appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed as the Attorney General of India.

l Holds office at the pleasure of the President.

Page 255: gk.txt

l Functions of the Attorney General

i) To give advice to the Government of India on legal matters.

ii) Perform such duties assigned to him by the President.

iii) Discharge functions conferred to him by the Constitution.

SUPREME COURT

It is the protector of fundamental rights of the people in exercise of its original as well as appellate jurisdictionIt is the ultimate authority to interpret the provisions of the Constitution.It is the final court of appeal in all matters, constitutional, civil, criminal, etcIt is the sole tribunal to decide matters regarding Centre State relationship and inter -State disputes.

l FIRST WOMAN JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT M FATIMA BEEVI (1989)

l FIRST LAWYER:- CORNELIA SORABJEE (1924)

COMPOSITION

l Number of Judges:-

i) Article124 of the Constitution of India provides for the Chief Justice of India.

ii) The total number of judges 25. The age of retirement is 65.

iii)In S.C. Advocates on Board v. Union of India, A.I.R. 1994 SC The court held that the number of judges should commensurate to the amount of work otherwise the judiciary cannot perform its Constitutional obligations.

l Appointment of Judges:-

i) The Judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of India.

ii) The Judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of India.

iii) The judges of the Supreme Court hold office at the pleasure of the President.

iv)The President should consult the Chief Justice of India in the appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice of India.

v) The Constitution does not give any procedure for the appointment of the Chief Justice.

Page 256: gk.txt

vi)It is the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court who is appointed as the Chief Justice. On two occasions this rule was flouted, first when Justice A. N. Ray was appointed and when he retired Justice Khanna was superceded and Justice Beg was appointed.

vii)The Supreme Court has since held that as a matter of rule only the senior most Judge shall be appointed as the Chief Justice of India.

viii) Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hiralal J. Kania was the first Chief Justice of India from 26th Jan., 1950 - 6th Nov.,1951

ix) The present Chief Justice is

l Qualification of a Supreme Court Judge Article124(3)

i) Must be a citizen of India

ii) Five years as the Judge of the High court in India

iii) Advocate of ten years standing

iv) Or in the opinion of the President an eminent jurist

l Removal

i) A Judge of the Supreme Court can be removed by an order of the President

ii) The Presidents power to remove is exercisable only after an address to each House of Parliament.

iii)The removal is a Parliamentary procedure and no subject to judicial intervention unless it has resulted in removal of the Judge wherein the finding has to be supported by the Inquiry Committee and also subject to the judicial review.

iv)The process of removal of a Judge under Article124 (4) was invoked only once against Justice Ramaswamy in 1991 but turned out in favour of the judge despite support for removal by the committee and the media bar, and the Parliamentarians.

l Salary

i) The salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Rs 33,000 and other Judges of the supreme court Rs 30,000

JURISDICTION OF POWERS

l The Constitution of India grants the Supreme Court three types of Jurisdiction. They are Original Appellate and Advisory Jurisdiction.

l Original Jurisdiction

i) Under Article131 the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to any dispute between the Centre and the

Page 257: gk.txt

State.

ii) The Supreme Court is not a court of original jurisdiction in all matters between parties.

iii) The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction under Article32 regarding the enforcement of Fundamentals Rights, it is

empowered to issue directions, orders or writs.

l Appellate jurisdiction

i) Articles 132 to 136 deal with Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Constitutional, Civil and Criminal cases.

ii) It deals with appeals involving interpretation of the statutes and also regarding civil matters

iii) Article134 empowers the Supreme Court to hear appeals from any judgment, final order or sentence in a criminal

proceeding. It is a court of criminal appeal over the High Courts and creates a right of second appeal.

l Advisory jurisdiction

i) The Supreme Court has advisory jurisdiction in matters which may specifically be referred to it by the President of India

under Article143 of the Constitution.

POWER TO REVIEW

l Under Article137 the Supreme Court can review its own judgments, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament or any rules made by the Supreme Court under Article145.

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION

l The Supreme Court as started looking into matters in which the interest of public at large is involved.

lThe court can be moved by any individual or group, by either filing a writ petition or by addressing a letter to the Chief Justice of India.

l This concept is called the ‘Public Interest Litigation’

l This concept is unique to the Supreme Court of India as no other court in the world excises this extraordinary jurisdiction.

PROVISION FOR LEGAL AID

l If a person belonging to the poor section of the society or the schedule caste or tribe, is a victim to a natural calamity, who is a woman or a child or a mentally ill or otherwise a disabled person or an industrial workmen is entitled to get free legal aid from the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.

Page 258: gk.txt

HIGH COURTSCOMPOSITION OF HIGH COURT

l The High Courts

i) The High Court is the Head of the State’s judicial administration.

ii)There are eighteen High Courts in the country and three of these High Courts have jurisdiction for more than one State. Like the Bombay High Court, the Gauhati High Court, and Calcutta High Court.

iii)There are eighteen High Courts in the country and three of these High Courts have jurisdiction for more than one State. Like the Bombay High Court, the Gauhati High Court, and Calcutta High Court.

iv) Among the Union Territories only Delhi has a High Court .The others come under the different State High Courts.

v)The Ranchi High Court (Jharkand), the Nanital High Court (Uttaranchal) and the Bilaspur High Court (Chattisgrah) are High Courts which were establishd in 2000.

l The Chief Justice And The Judges

i) Each High Court comprises of a Chief Justice and other judges as the President may appoint.

ii)The Chief Justice of the High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State.

iii) THE FIRST WOMAN CHIEF JUSTICE OF A HIGH COURT LEILA SETH (1991)

iv) The Chief Justice can also be from another State.

v) They hold office until the age of 62 years and are removable in the same manner as the Supreme Court Judge

vi)To be legible for appointment as judge one must be a citizen of India and have held judicial office in India for ten years or must have practiced as an Advocate of a High Court for a similar period.

vii) The salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court is Rs 30,000 and the Judges it is Rs 26,000

JURISDICTION

l The High Courts have Appellate Jurisdiction and is empower to supervise all courts under its appellate jurisdiction.

l The High Courts of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras and Andhra Pradesh continue to have admiralty jurisdiction.

WRIT JURISDICTION

l Article226 confers upon the High Courts of India to issue to any person or authority orders or writs for the enforcement

Page 259: gk.txt

of the

l Fundamental Rights. Or any other legal right it can be exercised even against the Legislature.

STATE GOVERNMENT

l CONSTITUTION

i) The State legislature shall consist of the Governor,

ii) In the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh the legislature is bicarmel, where in

the States have two houses. The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) and the Legislative Assembly (vidhan sabha).

iii) In all the other States there is only one House which is the Legislative Assembly,

iv) The creation of, or the abolition of the Legislative Council shall not be considered the Amendment of the Constitution.

l COMPOSITION

i) Legislative Council

lThe total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall not exceed 1/3 of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of the State. But the total number of members shall not be less than 40.

lThe membership of the Legislative Council is not from territorial constituencies as in the Legislative Assemblies but by nomination.

ii) Legislative Assembly

l The members are elected directly by the people in the State.

l They are elected once in every five years.

l The minimum number members in the Legislative Assembly should be 60 and the maximum should be 500.

lNo member shall be the member of the Council and the Assembly at the same time and no member can be the member of the Assembly and the Parliament.

l FUNCTION

i) Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly

l When there are two Houses then the Bill has to be passed by both the Houses.

l When the assembly is dissolved and the Bill pending in the Legislative Council which has not been passed by the

Page 260: gk.txt

Legislative Assembly does not lapse.

l But if passed by the Assembly and not by the Council then it lapses.

lA non- money Bill may become an act without the consent of the Legislative Council if the Legislative Assembly passes the Bill and the Council fails to pass it within three months from the date the Bill was laid before the Council, or if the Council makes certain amendments to which the Assembly does not agree to.

l A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Legislative Council.

lWhether the Assembly accepts or does not accept the recommendations of the Council, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both the Houses.

lLike the Parliament both the Houses perform the function of discussing and debating public issues, controlling the State Government, looking into policies.

FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR

l FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR:-SAROJINI NAIDU (1947)

l Each State has a Governor. Sometimes two or more States may have a common Governor. He is formally appointed by the President.

l The Governor is the Head of the State as well as the link between the Centre and the State so as to ensure a smooth functioning of the Constitutional Machinery.

THE CHIEF MINISTER AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

l FIRST WOMAN CHIEF MINISTER:- SUCHETA KRIPLANI (1963)

lThe Governor appoints the Chief Minister. There is no specific qualification required to be the Chief Minister of a State. He only has to be the leader of the majority party.

lThe Governor can dismiss the Ministers and dissolve the Legislative Assembly. Under Article163 the Ministers have no right to advice the Governor in relation to the functions he has to carry on under Constitution to exercise his discretion.

lHe maintains peace and tranquility of the State, summoning, dissolving the State Legislative Assembly, superintendence and direction, and control of elections, appointment of members of the State Public Service Commission, and Advocate General of the State.

lBy the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) act, 2003, Article164(1-A) the total number of the Ministers including the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers should not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of the memberd of the Legislative Assembly.

Page 261: gk.txt

THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION (UNO)

The United Nation Organisation came into existence on 24th October 1945.The name was devised by the then US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

At present, there are 192 members in the UNO. Taiwan and Vatican City are not the members. Vatican City is the permanent observer for the UN.

Headquarter- First Avenue at 46th Street, UN Plaza, New York City-10017.Official Languages- English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, French, and Chinese (Mandarin)

The Principal Organs of the UNO

The principal organs of the UNO are:

1. General Assembly - The General Assembly consists of representatives of the member nations. Each state has one vote, but may send 5 representatives. The assembly meets at least once in a year. Special sessions may be summoned by the Secretary General, on a request by the Security Council.

2. Security Council - It consists of 15 members, each of which has one vote.There are 5 permanent and 10 non permanent members. The 5 permanent members are USA, Russia, UK, France and China. The 10 non permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for a period of 2 years. The permanent members have the power to veto any decision.

3. The Secretariat - It is composed of the Secretary General, the Chief Administrative Officer of the organisation and an international staff appointed by him under the regulations of the General Assembly. However the Secretary General, the High commissioner of Refugees and the Managing Director of funds is appointed by the General Assembly.

4. Trusteeship Council - The Charter of the UN provides for an international trusteeship system to safeguard the interests of the inhabitants of territories which are not yet fully self-governing and which may have been placed thereunder by individual trusteeship agreements.

5. International Court - The International Court of Justice was created by an international treaty, the statute of the Court, which forms an integral part of the UN charter, and all the members are ipso facto parties to the statute of the court. There are 15 judges, appointed for a 9 year term. The expenses of the Court are borne by the UN.

6. Economic and Social Council - It is responsible under the General Assembly for carrying out the functions of the UN with regard to international, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters. The Economic and Social council consists of 54 member States elected by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.

UN Secretary Generals

1. Trygve Lie (Norway) 1946-53

2. Dag Hammarskjold (Sweden) 1953-61

Page 262: gk.txt

3. U Thant (Burma) 1961-71

4. Kurt Waldheim (Austria) 1972-81

5. Javier Perez De Gueller (Peru) 1982-91

6. Boutros Boutros Ghali (Egypt) 1992-96

7. Kofi Annan (Ghana) 1997-2007

8. Ban Ki Moon (South Korea) 2007- till date

Specific UN Agencies and their Headquarters

1. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - UNDP is the UN‘s global development network advocating change and connecting countries to share knowledge and resources which helps build a better life in countries across the globe. Presently it has offices in 166 member countries. UNDP is headquartered at New York, US.

2. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – UNICEF was initially set up in 1946 as an emergency fund to provide post-war relief to children in different countries. Today, as a children’s fund, UNICEF concentrates its activities on providing assistance to children and mothers in developing countries, aiming at improving their quality of life. UNICEF is headquartered at New York, US.

3. The United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) – UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945 to assist developing countries in their educational projects, to help the countries in scientific development and to build cultural understanding between the nations. UNESCO is headquartered at Paris, France.

4. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) – IMF is an international organisation having 184 member countries. It was established in 1945 to promote international monetary co-operation and exchange stability between nations which in turn would promote economic growth and increase employment opportunities. IMF also provides temporary financial assistance to its member countries to ease their balance of payment. IMF is headquartered at Washington DC, US.

5. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, commonly known as the World Bank) – The ‘World Bank’ was formed after the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, but begun operations in 1946. It aims at providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the World. Presently World Bank has 184 member countries and is headquartered at Washinton DC, US.

6. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) – WTO was formed as an international trade body to replace General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) in 1995. WTO is the only international body dealing with rules of trade between the countries to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland. Cape Verde has been the most recent member of the WTO since 23 July 2008. For the entire list of members go to

Page 263: gk.txt

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm

7. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – IAEA was set up in 1957. It is presently headquartered at Vienna, Austria.

8. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) – FAO was set up in 1945. It is presently headquartered at Rome, Italy.

9. The World Health Organisation (WHO) – W.H.O was set up in 1946. It is presently headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

10. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – IFC is an affiliate of the World Bank, and was set up in 1956. It is headquartered at Washinton DC, US.

11. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – ITU was set up in 1932. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

12. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) – ICAO was set up in 1944. It is headquartered at Montreal, Canada.

13. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) – UPU was set up in 1875. It is headquartered at Berne, Switzerland.

14. The International Labor Organisation (ILO) – ILO was set uo in 1919. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

15. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) – IMO was set up in 1948. It is headquartere

INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES AND THEIR HEADQUARTERS

1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) – It is headquartered at Manila, Phillipines.

2. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – It is headquartered at Jakarta, Indonesia.

3. The European Union (EU) – It is headquartered at Brussels, Belgium.

4. The INTERPOL – It is headquartered at Lyon, France

5. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) – It is headquartered at Brussels, Belgium.

6. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – It is headquartered at Vienna, Austria.

7. The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) – It is headquartered at Kuwait.

8. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) – It is headquartered at Kathmandu, Nepal.

9. The Red Cross – It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

Page 264: gk.txt

Commonly Used Sports Terminologies

Sport Terms associated with sports disciplines

Badminton Deuce, double fault, drop, let, love all, smash

Basketball Basket, blocking, dribbling, free throw, held ball, holding, jump ball, pivot

Billiards Bauik line, bolting, cannon, cue hazard, long jenny, scratch, screwback, short jenny, spot stroke

Boxing Babit punch, break, cut, defence, hook, jab lying on, knock, slam, upper cut, weight in, knockout

Bridge Chicane, dealer, dummy, finesse, grand slam, little slam, no trump, revoke, rubber, suit, tricks, vulnerable

Chess Bishop, castle, checkmate, gambit, king, knight, pawn, queen, rook, stalemate

Cricket Ashes, boundary, bowling, caught, chinaman, cover drive, crease, duck, follow on, googly, gully, hat trick, hit wicket, LBW, leg break, leg bye, maiden over, no ball, off break, on drive, over pitch, popping crease, rubber, run out, sixer, silly point, square leg, straight drive, stumped, wicket

Football Corner kick, dribble, free kick, goal kick, hat-trick, off side, penalty kick, throw in, tripping

Golf Best ball, bogey, bunker, caddie, dormy, fairway, fourball, greed holes, links, niblic, par, put, rough, stymied, tee

Hockey Bully, corner, dribble, hat-trick, offside, roll-in, scoop, short corner, stick, striking circle, tie break

Table Tennis Deuce, drop, let, spin, smash

Tennis Backhand stroke, crosscourt, deuce, double fault, fault, forehand, ground stroke, half volley, let, smash, slice, volley

Volleyball Blocking, doubling, heave, love point, service, volley

IMPORTANT CUPS AND TROPHIES

i. Badminton – Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and World Cup.

ii. Cricket – Ashes, Champions Trophy, C.K.Naidu Trophy, County Championships, Duleep Trophy, Gavaskar-Border Trophy,

Page 265: gk.txt

ICC World Cup, Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy, and Sheffield Shield Cup.

iii. Football – African Nations Cup, Asia Cup, Confederations Cup, Durand Cup, English Premier League, Federation Cup, FIFA World Cup, German Bundeslga, Italian Serie A, Merdeka Cup, NFL Cup, Santosh Trophy, Spanish LA Liga, and UEFA Cup.

iv. Golf – British Open, Ryder Cup, US Open, and Walker Cup.

v. Hockey – Agha Khan Cup, Champions Trophy, Dhyan Chand Trophy, Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy, and World Cup.

vi. Tennis – ATP Masters, Australian Open Championships, Champions Cup, Davis Cup, Federation Cup, French Open Championships, US Open Championships, and Wimbeldon Championships.

Years & Venues of Major Sports

Olympic Games

Year Place

1896 Athens

1900 Paris

1904 St. Louis

1908 London

1912 Stockholm

1920 Antwerp

1924 Paris

1928 Amsterdam

1932 Los Angeles

1936 Berlin

1948 London

1952 Helsinki

1956 Melbourne

1960 Rome

Page 266: gk.txt

1964 Tokyo

1968 Mexico City

1972 Munich

1976 Montreal

1980 Moscow

1984 Los Angeles

1988 Seoul

1992 Barcelona

1996 Atlanta

2000 Sydney

2004 Athens

2008 Beijing

2012 London (scheduled)

Commonwealth Games

Year Venue

1930 Hamilton

1934 London

1938 Sydney

1950 Auckland

1954 Vancouver

1958 Cardiff

1962 Perth

1966 Jamaica

Page 267: gk.txt

1970 Edinburgh

1974 Christchurch

1978 Edmonton

1982 Brisbane

1986 Edinburgh

1990 Auckland

1994 Victoria

1998 Kuala Lumpur

2002 Manchester

2006 Melbourne

2010 Delhi (scheduled)

Asian Games

Year Venue

1951 New Delhi

1954 Manila

1958 Tokyo

1962 Jakarta

1966 Bangkok

1970 Bangkok (originally had to be hosted by Seoul)

1974 Tehran

1978 Bangkok (originally had to be hosted by Karachi)

1982 New Delhi

1986 Seoul

Page 268: gk.txt

1990 Beijing

1994 Hiroshima

1998 Bangkok

2002 Busan

2006 Doha

2010 Guangzhou (scheduled)

Cricket World Cup

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

1975 England West Indies Australia

1979 England West Indies England

1983 England India West Indies

1987 Indian Subcontinent Australia England

1992 Australia & New Zealand Pakistan England

1996 Indian Subcontinent Sri Lanka Australia

1999 England Australia Pakistan

2003South Africa,

Zimbabwe & KenyaAustralia India

2007 West Indies Australia Sri Lanka

2011 Indian SubcontinentScheduled

2015 Australia & New Zealand

Hockey World Cup

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

Page 269: gk.txt

1971 Barcelona, Spain Pakistan Spain

1973 Amstelveen, The Netherlands Netherlands India

1975 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia India Pakistan

1978 Buenos Aires, Argentina Pakistan Netherlands

1982 Mumbai, India Pakistan West Germany

1986 London, England Australia England

1990 Lahore, Pakistan Netherlands Pakistan

1994 Sydney, Australia Pakistan Netherlands

1998 Utrecht, The Netherlands Netherlands Spain

2002 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Germany Australia

2006 Monchengladbach, Germany Germany Australia

2010 New Delhi, India Scheduled

Football World Cup

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

1974 West Germany West Germany Netherlands

1978 Argentina Argentina Netherlands

1982 Spain Italy West Germany

1986 Mexico Argentina West Germany

1990 Italy West Germany Argentina

1994 USA Brazil Italy

1998 France France Brazil

2002 South Korea & Japan Brazil Germany

2006 Germany Italy France

Page 270: gk.txt

2010 South AfricaScheduled

2014 South America

Tennis Grand Slams

Australian Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Serena Williams(USA)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

2008Novak Djokovic

(Serbia)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

(France)Maria Sharapova

(Russia)Ana Ivanovic

(Serbia)

2007Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Fernando Gonzalez(Chile)

Serena Williams(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

2006Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Marcos Baghdatis(Cyprus)

Amelie Mauresmo (France)

Justine Henin-Hardene (Belgium)

2005Marat Safin

(Russia)Lleyton Hewitt

(Australia)Serena Williams

(USA)Lindsay Davenport

(USA)

2004Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Marat Safin (Russia)

Justine Henin-Hardene (Belgium)

Kim Clijsters(Belgium)

French Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Robin Soderling(Sweden)

Svetlana Kuznetsova(Russia)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

2008Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Ana Ivanovic(Serbia)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

2007 Rafael Nadal Roger Federer Justine Henin-Hardene Ana Ivanovic

Page 271: gk.txt

(Spain) (Switzerland) (Belgium) (Serbia)

2006Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

Svetlana Kuznetsova(Russia)

2005Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Mariano Puerta

(Argentina)Justine Henin-Hardene

(Belgium)Mary Pierce

(France)

Wimbledon Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick (USA)

Serena Williams(USA)

Venus Williams(USA)

2008Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Venus Williams(USA)

Serena Williams (USA)

2007Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Rafael Nadal(Spain)

Venus Williams(USA)

Marion Bartoli(France)

2006Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick (USA)

Amelie Mauresmo(France)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

2005Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Venus Williams(USA)

Lindsay Davenport(USA)

2004Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

Serena Williams(USA)

U.S.Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2008Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Murray(United Kingdom)

Serena Williams(USA)

Jelena Janković(Serbia)

Page 272: gk.txt

2007Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Novak Djokovic(Serbia)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

Svetlona Kuznetsova(Russia)

2006Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

2005Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andre Agassi(USA)

Kim Clijsters(Belgium)

Mary Pierce(France)

2004Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Lleyton Hewitt(Australia)

Svetlona Kuznet sova(Russia)

Elena Dementieva(Russia)

The Olympics

The oldest and the largest sporting event in the World, Olympics were first started in 776 BC in Greece. The games were first played in the ancient Greek kingdom of Elis to honour Zeus, the Greek god of Sky and Thunder. But after the initial games in 776 BC, they became an irregular feature and were restricted only to Greece. It was only after 1500 years, in 1892 that revival of games was undertaken by Baron Pierre de Coubretin. In June, 1894 Baron and his associates decided to make the games a regular sporting event and created the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Presently, the IOC is headqutered at Laussane, Switzerland.

Olympic Symbol (five rings)

The Olympic Symbol comprises of five rings linked together to represent sporting friendship amongst countries. The rings represent the five continents – Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Australia.

Year Place

1896 Athens

1900 Paris

1904 St. Louis

1908 London

1912 Stockholm

1920 Antwerp

1924 Paris

Page 273: gk.txt

1928 Amsterdam

1932 Los Angeles

1936 Berlin

1948 London

1952 Helsinki

1956 Melbourne

1960 Rome

1964 Tokyo

1968 Mexico City

1972 Munich

1976 Montreal

1980 Moscow

1984 Los Angeles

1988 Seoul

1992 Barcelona

1996 Atlanta

2000 Sydney

2004 Athens

2008 Beijing

2012 London (scheduled)

Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games are the second largest sporting event in the World after Olympics. These games are held every four years between the years of the Olympic Games. The games involve atheletes from Commonwealth Nations (majority erstwhile colonies of the British). Started in 1930, the games were originally called the British Empire Games. It was in 1978 that

Page 274: gk.txt

the present name of the Commonwelth Games was adopted. The table below gives the details of the Commonwealth Games till date. The games were not held from 1939 till 1949.

Year Venue

1930 Hamilton

1934 London

1938 Sydney

1950 Auckland

1954 Vancouver

1958 Cardiff

1962 Perth

1966 Jamaica

1970 Edinburgh

1974 Christchurch

1978 Edmonton

1982 Brisbane

1986 Edinburgh

1990 Auckland

1994 Victoria

1998 Kuala Lumpur

2002 Manchester

2006 Melbourne

2010 Delhi (scheduled)

Asian Games

The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, is a sporting event on the lines of the Olympic Games held every four years among atheletes from all over Asia. India played a leading role in starting

Page 275: gk.txt

an event for the Asian nations. The motto of the Asian Games is ‘Ever Onward’. The table below gives the details of Asian Games till date.

Year Venue

1951 New Delhi

1954 Manila

1958 Tokyo

1962 Jakarta

1966 Bangkok

1970 Bangkok (originally had to be hosted by Seoul)

1974 Tehran

1978 Bangkok (originally had to be hosted by Karachi)

1982 New Delhi

1986 Seoul

1990 Beijing

1994 Hiroshima

1998 Bangkok

2002 Busan

2006 Doha

2010 Guangzhou (scheduled)

Cricket World Cup

The Cricket World Cup is a premier international championship for one day cricket in the world. The event is organised once every four years by the sport’s governing body, The International Cricket Council (ICC) and is contested by all Test playing nations (presently 10) plus the qualifying teams. The table below gives the details of the World Cups held till date.

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

Page 276: gk.txt

1975 England West Indies Australia

1979 England West Indies England

1983 England India West Indies

1987 Indian Subcontinent Australia England

1992 Australia & Pakistan England

New Zealand

1996 Indian Subcontinent Sri Lanka Australia

1999 England Australia Pakistan

2003South Africa,

Zimbabwe & KenyaAustralia India

2007 West Indies Australia Sri Lanka

2011 Indian SubcontinentScheduled

2015 Australia & New Zealand

Hockey World Cup

The Hockey World Cup is a premier international field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) once every four years. The tournament was started in 1971. The table below gives the details of each World Cup held till date.

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

1971 Barcelona, Spain Pakistan Spain

1973 Amstelveen, Netherlands India

The Netherlands

1975 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia India Pakistan

1978 Buenos Aires, Argentina Pakistan Netherlands

1982 Mumbai, India Pakistan West Germany

Page 277: gk.txt

1986 London, England Australia England

1990 Lahore, Pakistan Netherlands Pakistan

1994 Sydney, Australia Pakistan Netherlands

1998 Utrecht, The Netherlands Netherlands Spain

2002 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Germany Australia

2006 Monchengladbach, Germany Germany Australia

2010 New Delhi, India Scheduled

Football World Cup

The Football/Soccer World Cup is an international football competition contested by the national teams of the member nations of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The tournament started in 1930 and is held every four years, but could not be held in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. The table below gives details of the last ten World Cups.

Year Venue Winner Runner-up

1974 West Germany West Germany Netherlands

1978 Argentina Argentina Netherlands

1982 Spain Italy West Germany

1986 Mexico Argentina West Germany

1990 Italy West Germany Argentina

1994 USA Brazil Italy

1998 France France Brazil

2002 South Korea & Japan Brazil Germany

2006 Germany Italy France

2010 South AfricaScheduled

2014 South America

Page 278: gk.txt

Tennis Grand Slams

The tables below give the last five year championship winners for four major Tennis Grand Slams viz Australian Open (held at Melbourne), French Open (held at Paris, also called Roland Garros), Wimbledon (held at Wimbledon, near London) and U.S. Open (held at Flushing Meadows, New York).

Australian Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Serena Williams(USA)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

2008Novak Djokovic

(Serbia)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

(France)Maria Sharapova

(Russia)Ana Ivanovic

(Serbia)

2007Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Fernando Gonzalez(Chile)

Serena Williams(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

2006Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Marcos Baghdatis(Cyprus)

Amelie Mauresmo (France)

Justine Henin-Hardene (Belgium)

2005Marat Safin

(Russia)Lleyton Hewitt

(Australia)Serena Williams

(USA)Lindsay Davenport

(USA)

2004Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Marat Safin (Russia)

Justine Henin-Hardene (Belgium)

Kim Clijsters(Belgium)

French Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Robin Soderling(Sweden)

Svetlana Kuznetsova(Russia)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

2008 Rafael Nadal(Spain)

Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Ana Ivanovic(Serbia)

Dinara Safina(Russia)

Page 279: gk.txt

2007Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Justine Henin-Hardene (Belgium)

Ana Ivanovic(Serbia)

2006Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

Svetlana Kuznetsova(Russia)

2005Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Mariano Puerta

(Argentina)Justine Henin-Hardene

(Belgium)Mary Pierce

(France)

Wimbledon Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2009Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick (USA)

Serena Williams(USA)

Venus Williams(USA)

2008Rafael Nadal

(Spain)Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Venus Williams(USA)

Serena Williams (USA)

2007Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Rafael Nadal(Spain)

Venus Williams(USA)

Marion Bartoli(France)

2006Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick (USA)

Amelie Mauresmo(France)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

2005Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Venus Williams(USA)

Lindsay Davenport(USA)

2004Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

Serena Williams(USA)

U.S.Open

YearMen’s Title Women’s Title

Winner Runner-up Winner Runner-up

2008 Roger Federer Andy Murray Serena Williams Jelena Janković

Page 280: gk.txt

(Switzerland) (United Kingdom) (USA) (Serbia)

2007Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Novak Djokovic(Serbia)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

Svetlona Kuznetsova(Russia)

2006Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andy Roddick(USA)

Maria Sharapova(Russia)

Justine Henin-Hardene(Belgium)

2005Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Andre Agassi(USA)

Kim Clijsters(Belgium)

Mary Pierce(France)

2004Roger Federer(Switzerland)

Lleyton Hewitt(Australia)

Svetlona Kuznet sova(Russia)

Elena Dementieva(Russia)

THE SUPERLATIVES

THE HIGHEST, BIGGEST, LARGEST, LONGEST ETC. IN THE WORLD

Airport Largest King Khaled International Airport, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Animal Tallest Giraffe (Average height 6.09m)

Largest & Heaviest Blue Whale (190 tonnes)

Fastest Cheetah (Approximately 100 km/hr)

Bay With max. shore line Hudson Bay

With max. area Bay of Bengal

Bridge HighestSuspension bridgeOver the Royal Gorge of the Arakansas river, Colorado,

USA

LongestCross-sea bridge Donghai Bridge, China

Road & Rail Traffic Bridge Tsing Ma bridge linking HongKong to Lantau island

Building Highest Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CanalBig Ship Suez Canal

Busiest Kiel Canal

Page 281: gk.txt

CanyonDeepest Vicos Gorge (Greece)

Largest Grand Canyon (Colarado River)

Church Largest Basilica of St. Peter (Vatican City)

Cinema House Largest Radio City Music Hall (New York)

CityLargest Population Mumbai

Largest Area Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia

ContinentLargest Asia (44.5 million sq km)

Smallest Australia (7.7 million sq km)

Coral Formation Largest The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Country

Largest in Population China

Largest in Area Russia

With largest electorate India

Smallest in Area Vatican City

With most Land Frontiers China

Dam Largest Grand Coulee Dam, Columbia River (USA)

Highest Rogunskaya dam across river Vakash, Tajakistan

Delta Largest Ganges Delta (Sundarban Delta )

Desert Largest Sahara desert, Africa

Diamond Largest The Cullinan

Dome Largest Louisiana Superdome, USA

Epic Largest Mahabharata

Fish Largest fresh water Plabeuk

Page 282: gk.txt

Most abundant Bristle mouth

Most venomous Stone fish

Most electric Electric Eel

FilmLongest Die Zweite Heimat (Germany)

Most Oscars Ben Hur and Titanic (11 oscars each)

Fountain Tallest Fountain at Fountain Hills ( Arizona, US)

Fruit

Most nutritive Avocado (Vitamin A,C,E and Proteins)

Least nutritiveCucumber

Gulf Largest Gulf of Mexico

HotelWith the most

MGM Grand Las Vegas (Nevada)number of rooms

Island Biggest Greenland

Lake

Largest Caspian Sea

Deepest Baikal Lake

Largest fresh water Lake Superior

LibraryBiggest US Library of Congress (Washinton DC)

Biggest non statutory New York Public Library

MountainHighest Peak Mt. Everest (8848 mts)

Highest Range Himalayas, Asia

Museum Largest American museum of Natural History, New York

Ocean Largest and Deepest Pacific Ocean

Peninsula Largest Arabian

Park Largest National Park of Greenland

Page 283: gk.txt

Places

Coldest Antartica

Driest Calama, Chile

Hottest Dallol, Ethiopia

Rainiest Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya

Planet

Biggest Jupiter

Brightest, hottest, and nearest to the Earth

Venus

Farthest from Sun Neptune/Pluto (Unsolved)

Nearest to Sun Mercury

Most Satellites Uranus

Plateau Highest Tibetan Plateau

Platform (rail) Longest Kharagpur, West Bengal

PortLargest Port of New York and New Jersey

Busiest Rotterdam, Netherlands

Railway Line Longest Trans-Siberian Railway

Railway StationLargest Grand Central Terminal, New York

Highest Condor, Bolivia

Religion

OldestHinduism

Largest Christianity

Rivers Largest Amazon (6750 km)

RoadHighest Kang-ti-Suu

Longest Pan American Highway (from Alaska to Brasilia)

Page 284: gk.txt

SeaLargest South China Sea

Largest (inland) Caspian Sea

Star Brightest Sirius A ( dog star)

Swimming course Longest recognized English Channel

Telescope

Largest (radio) at US National Science Foundation

Largest (solar) at Kitt Peak National Observatory

Largest refractor at Yerkes Observatory

Temple Largest Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Tower Tallest Burj Dubai

TunnelLongest (Railway) Seikan Rail Tunnel (Japan)

Largest (Road) Laerdal Aurland, Norway

Wall Longest The Great Wall of China

Waterfall

Highest Angel Falls in Venezuela

Widest Khone Falls in Loas

Largest Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

ZooLargest

Etoha Reserve, Namibia

Sandiago Zoo

Largest collection of animals Berlin Zoo

Page 285: gk.txt