Aryavarta Gramin Bank Clerk Exam Solved Paper

General Knowledge 

(Exam Held on 20-11-2011)

1. Who is a famous author of Indian origin and writes in English ?
(A) Shobha De
(B) M. S. Dhoni
(C) Shahid Kapoor
(D) Shreya Ghosal
(E) Milind Deora
Ans : (A)

2. Which of the following services is not provided by a bank ?
(A) Transfer of money
(B) Corporate loans
(C) Help in getting passports
(D) Sale of Demand Drafts
(E) Savings Bank Account
Ans : (C)

3. Which of the following is the currency of China ?
(A) Yen
(B) Taka
(C) Dollar
(D) Pesso
(E) Yuan
Ans : (E)

4. Which organization is called Bankers’ Bank ?
(A) Ministry of Finance
(B) Reserve Bank of India
(C) Securities and Exchange Board of India
(D) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(E) All Nationalised Banks
Ans : (B)

5. Which of the following is not an agricultural product ?
(A) Tea
(B) Jowar
(C) Urad
(D) Apple
(E) Calcium
Ans : (E)

6. Which of the following is the capital of Manipur ?
(A) Shillong
(B) Guwahati
(C) Tejpur
(D) Darjeeling
(E) Imphal
Ans : (E)

7. Which of the following terms is used in the field of banking & finance ?
(A) Surface Tension
(B) Know Your Customer
(C) Resistance
(D) Friction
(E) Bohr Theory
Ans : (B)

8. Which of the following is a very popular name in the field of literature ?
(A) Shahrukh Khan
(B) Abhishek Bachchan
(C) Anjali Bhagat
(D) Sania Mirza
(E) Chetan Bhagat
Ans : (E)

9. Who among the following is a famous cine actor/actress ?
(A) Kiran Desai
(B) Vikram Chandra
(C) Sonam Kapoor
(D) V. V. S. Laxman
(E) Pankaj Advani
Ans : (C)

10. Who was the first Prime Minister of India ?
(A) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(B) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Smt. Indira Gandhi
(D) Smt. Sarojini Naidu
(E) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Ans : (B)

11. Which of the following is a foreign bank having branches in India ?
(A) Axis Bank
(B) ICICI Bank
(C) IDBI Bank
(D) Standard Chartered Bank
(E) Syndicate Bank
Ans : (D)

12. Who among the following is the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Union Cabinet at present ?
(A) Shri S. M. Krishna
(B) Shri P. Chidambaram
(C) Shri Pranab Mukherjee
(D) Shri Kamal Nath
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

13. Which of the following is the host city of Olympic 2012 ?
(A) Dhaka
(B) Moscow
(C) Paris
(D) Athens
(E) London
Ans : (E)

14. Which is the capital of Nepal ?
(A) Birat Nagar
(B) Kathmandu
(C) Pokhara
(D) Gorakhpur
(E) Siwan
Ans : (B)

15. Which of the following is not the name of a country ?
(A) Bahrain
(B) Chile
(C) Denmark
(D) Fiji
(E) Euro
Ans : (E)

16. Which scheme is launched by the Govt. of India to make Indian Metros/Cities Slum free ?
(A) Indira Awas Yojana
(B) Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana
(C) Kutir Jyoti
(D) ASHA
(E) Bharat Nirman
Ans : (B)

17. Which of the following is a method of irrigation used in many countries ?
(A) Sprinkler
(B) Budding
(C) Cropping
(D) Fatterning
(E) Bubbling
Ans : (A)

18. Who among the following is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan at present ?
(A) Shri Ashok Gehlot
(B) Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia
(C) Shri Hari Dev Joshi
(D) Shri Kamal Nath
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

19. Which of the following rivers does not flow in India ?
(A) Beas
(B) Satluj
(C) Ganga
(D) Narmada
(E) Amazon
Ans : (E)

20. Which of the following is also used to make sugar/jaggery ?
(A) Date palm
(B) Apple
(C) Mango
(D) Banana
(E) Sapota
Ans : (A)

21. Which of the following is not the name of a game played at international level ?
(A) Billiards
(B) Golf
(C) Hanball
(D) Judo
(E) Tofu
Ans : (E)

22. What does the letter ‘A’ denote in the term ‘VAT’, the name of a tax levied by the Govt. of India ?
(A) Added
(B) Applied
(C) Attached
(D) Attracted
(E) Allocated
Ans : (A)

23. Islamabad is the capital of—
(A) Pakistan
(B) Afghanistan
(C) Bangladesh
(D) Iraq
(E) Iran
Ans : (A)

24. Which of the following is a major Tea producing state in India ?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Bihar
(C) Chhattisgarh
(D) Assam
(E) Punjab
Ans : (D)

25. Who among the following is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India at present ?
(A) Dr. K. C. Chakraborty
(B) Mr. U. K. Sinha
(C) Dr. D. Subbarao
(D) Shri Anand Sinha
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

26. Which is a Nationalised Bank ?
(A) Yes Bank
(B) Axis Bank
(C) South Indian Bank
(D) Bank of Maharashtra
(E) Karnataka Bank
Ans : (D)

27. Which of the following is not grown as a vegetable ?
(A) Spinach
(B) Cauliflower
(C) Carrot
(D) Mango
(E) Cabbage
Ans : (D)

28. Which of the following books is written by V. S. Naipaul ?
(A) My Story
(B) My Life
(C) Sunny Days
(D) A House for Mr. Bishwas
(E) A Himalayan Love Story
Ans : (D)

29. Who among the following is a famous cartoonist ?
(A) Barkha Dutt
(B) Saeed Naqvi
(C) Prabhu Chawla
(D) R. K. Laxman
(E) M. F. Hussain
Ans : (D)

30. Which of the following terms is associated with the game of cricket ?
(A) Love
(B) Capture
(C) Follow-on
(D) Kick
(E) Punch
Ans : (C)

31. Who is the President of USA at present ?
(A) Hillary Clinton
(B) Barack Obama
(C) George W. Bush
(D) Bill Clinton
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

32. ‘Wimbledon Trophy’ is associated with the game of—
(A) Football
(B) Hockey
(C) Cricket
(D) Lawn Tennis
(E) Badminton
Ans : (D)

33. Which of the following is a Union Territory ?
(A) Assam
(B) Meghalaya
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Uttarakhand
(E) Pudduchery
Ans : (E)

34. Who among the following is not a member of the Parliament at present ?
(A) Smt. Sushma Swaraj
(B) Shri Rahul Gandhi
(C) Shri Sachin Piolet
(D) Shri Anna Hazare
(E) Shri Sharad Pawar
Ans : (D)

35. In India we do not see a currency note of—
(A) Rs. 10,000
(B) Rs. 1,000
(C) Rs. 500
(D) Rs. 50
(E) Rs. 20
Ans : (A)

36. Famous Hawa Mahal is located in—
(A) Lucknow
(B) Udaipur
(C) Jaipur
(D) Bangalore
(E) Hyderabad
Ans : (C)

37. Ritcher Scale is used for measuring which of the following ?
(A) Electric current
(B) Intensity of Earthquakes
(C) Temperature
(D) Velocity of Sound
(E) Volume
Ans : (B)

38. Which is not an electronic company ?
(A) Samsung
(B) Ambuja
(C) LG
(D) Voltas
(E) BPL
Ans : (B)

39. Which of the following is a Member of G-8 ?
(A) India
(B) Pakistan
(C) Afghanistan
(D) Nepal
(E) Italy
Ans : (E)

40. Which is not a member of OPEC ?
(A) Libya
(B) Iraq
(C) Pakistan
(D) Iran
(E) Kuwait
Ans : (C)

41. Which of the following is a gas ?
(A) Methane
(B) Sodium
(C) Lead
(D) Phosphorous
(E) Potassium
Ans : (A)

42. Famous Ajanta Caves are in which state ?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Gujarat
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Orissa
(E) Uttar Pradesh
Ans : (A)

43. ‘Sensex’ is the Sensitive Index of—
(A) Kolkata Stock Exchange
(B) Bombay Stock Exchange
(C) Beijing Stock Exchange
(D) London Stock Exchange
(E) Tokyo Stock Exchange
Ans : (B)

44. Which of the following is not the capital of a state ?
(A) Lucknow
(B) Chandigarh
(C) Shimla
(D) Samastipur
(E) Hyderabad
Ans : (D)

45. Which cup/trophy is associated with the game of cricket ?
(A) DCM Cup
(B) Ranji Trophy
(C) Nehru Gold Cup
(D) Merdeka Cup
(E) Davis Cup
Ans : (B)

46. Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy is the present President of—
(A) Italy
(B) Germany
(C) France
(D) Russia
(E) Greece
Ans : (C)

47. Which o f the following is an alloy ?
(A) Gold
(B) Copper
(C) Brass
(D) Thorium
(E) Zinc
Ans : (C)

48. Which of the following terms is used in the field of Economics ?
(A) Atomic Number
(B) Lenz’s Law
(C) Conservation of Energy
(D) Devaluation
(E) Radiation
Ans : (D)

49. Which of the following is a Horticulture product ?
(A) Sugarcane
(B) Wheat
(C) Rose
(D) Cotton
(E) Jatropha
Ans : (E)

50. Which of the following is not a member of BRICS ?
(A) Brazil
(B) Russia
(C) Iran
(D) China
(E) South Africa
Ans : (C)

Justice Dalveer Bhandari elected to the International Court of Justice

Justice Dalveer Bhandari, the judge of the Indian Supreme Court, was elected to the position of Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the elections held in New York, United States on 27 April 2012. He secured 122 out of 197 votes in the General Assembly and 13 out of 15 votes in the Security Council.
Justice Dalveer Bhandari defeated the 84-year-old Justice Florentino Feliciano of the Philippines in the elections held to fill the casual vacancy following the resignation of Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh from Jordan in October 2011. He will have six-year tenure. He is eligible for re-election for a second term of nine years at the end of the present term.
Justice Bhandari will be the third Asian representative in the 15-member ICJ. As per Article 8 of the ICJ statute the General Assembly and the Security Council elect a judge for the ICJ. Hisashi Owada from Japan, who is also the president, and Xue Hanqin from China are two other Asians in the ICJ bench.
Justice Bhandari was unanimously elected as President of the India International Law Foundation in 2007. He is continuing in that position. Due to retire in September 2012, he will have to step down as a judge of the Supreme Court to assume the new charge.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The ICJ,  the principal judicial body of the United Nations is based in the in the Hague in Netherland. Established in 1945 by the UN charter, the Court commenced work in 1946. The basic functions of ICJ include settlement of legal disputes submitted to it by member states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly.
ICJ,  which is more often referred to as the World Court, is comprised of 15 Judges who serve for nine years. In the bench of 15 Judges, 3 hails from Africa; 2 from Latin America; 3 from Asia; 5 from Western Europe and other States and 2 from Eastern Europe.

Anand Sharma Inaugurates International Business Lounge at Pragati Maidan

International Business Lounge –a new facility developed by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) to cater the rising demand for bilateral trade negotiations and business meets, was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Shri Anand Sharma on April 27. The facility is located adjacent to Gate No.2, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Interacting with the media, Shri Anand Sharma complimented ITPO for setting -up the International Business Lounge as an additional facility for hosting bilateral trade conferences as well as formal and informal business meetings on the sidelines of trade fairs at Pragati Maidan. He pointed out that there is tremendous global interest in Indian market and such upgraded facilities are important for meaningful business exchanges. He hoped that the lounge would enhance the appeal of the exhibition complex as an ideal centre for holding ancillary events alongwith the specialized trade exhibitions for an increasing number of business visitors from India and overseas.

Among other dignitaries present on the occasion were Ambassador of Brazil , H. E. Mr. Carlos Duarte, High Commissioner of Pakistan, H. E. Mr. Shahid Malik, Chairperson and Managing Director, ITPO, Mrs. Rita Menon and several other senior officers of Government of India .

With a dedicated conference room supported by quality LED audio-visual system, the lounge offers dining space, pantry services and break out room etc. It also offers three ethnically furnished chambers and VIP rooms for hosting exclusive business meetings on the sidelines of the main Conferences. Equipped with wi-fi enabled internet connectivity, it is ideally suited for day-long bilateral or special business meets and conclaves involving main sessions and breakaway roundtable meetings.

Special Programme to Boost Productivity in Eastern India

Government of India launched a special programme of “Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI)” – a sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2010-11 in the eastern States comprising of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh (East) and West Bengal with an objective to increase the productivity of rice based cropping system by promotion of recommended agricultural technologies and addressing the underlying key constraints of different agro climatic sub regions. Under this scheme, a bouquet of activities have been taken up that include block demonstrations of rice & wheat technologies in cluster mode approach; promoting resource conservation technology (zero tillage under wheat); creation of asset building activities for water management (shallow tube wells/dug wells/bore wells, distribution of pump sets); promotion of farm implements and need based site specific activities etc.

The total production of rice during 2011-12 in seven States of the eastern region (as per 3rd Advance estimates) is 5.54 million tonnes, which is about 21 percent and 18 percent more than the production of 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively.

Farm Schemes Emphasize on Availability of Quality Seed, Other Inputs

With a view to increase the production, productivity and income of the farming sector, Government is implementing through State Governments the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize (ISOPOM), besides others.

Under these schemes emphasis is given to easy and reliable access to inputs such as quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, suitable technology, extension services, support infrastructure and innovative marketing system. Further, to ensure remunerative price, Government announces Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural commodities every year. National Policy for Farmers, 2007 also has provisions to improve economic viability of farming.

In order to improve credit flow to agriculture sector, Government decided in June, 2004 to double flow of agriculture credit in three years with reference to base year 2003-04. Flow of agriculture credit has consistently exceeded the targets since 2003-04. To facilitate flow of credit to farmers and increase financial inclusion, Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) are being provided to farmers. From Kharif 2006-07, farmers are receiving crop loan up to principal amount of Rs. 3 lakh at 7% rate of interest. In addition, since 2009-10, Government has been providing 1% interest subvention to farmers who repay loans on time. This subvention was increased to 2% in 2010-11 and 3% in 2011-12. Thus, effective rate of interest on crop loan up to Rs.3 lakh for farmers who repay on time has come down to 4% per annum.

Election Commission hosts third Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries

Election Commission of India is hosting the Third Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries here from 30 April to 2 May, 2012. The Conference brings together the Chief Election Commissioners and senior election officials of the region on a common platform to share experience of best practices in election administration and management. The Conference will build on the initiatives and exchanges discussed at the previous Conferences. Discussions will also focus on the final shape of the Forum of SAARC Election Management Bodies, which has been approved in principle at the last Conference held in Islamabad. The conference will be inaugurated by Dr S Y Quraishi, Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Some of the important topics to be discussed are: Empowerment of Election Management Bodies; Inclusive elections (gender issues, marginalized sections, minorities etc.), Voters Education, Controlling Money Power in Elections, Technology for cost-effective elections etc.

The idea of holding such Conferences took concrete shape at the 37th Session of the Standing Committee of SAARC, held at Thimphu, in April, 2010. Bangladesh hosted the first Conference in May 2010, where initial discussions on creating a Forum of SAARC EMBs were also held.

The second Conference was held in Islamabad by the Election Commission of Pakistan. It focussed on experience sharing, and also discussed the draft charter of the proposed Forum. It adopted a resolution to establish the Forum. A number of initiatives on mutual exchanges and training activities were discussed, and bilateral arrangements were tied up between member Commissions. During the Conference, Chief Election Commissioner of India offered to host the 3rd Conference in New Delhi, which was accepted.

Election Commission of India works in close collaboration with the Election Management Bodies of South Asian Countries. In the recent weeks officials for the Election Commission of Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan received training at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election management IIIDEM.

Laying the Foundation Stone of the IIIDEM new Campus in Dwarka

Coinciding with the SAARC Heads of EMBs conference, Foundation Stone of new campus of India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) will be laid by Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Chief Election Commissioner of India, on Monday, at Dwarka, New Delhi in the presence of Election Commissioners Shri V. S. Sampath and Shri H.S. Brahma and Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC countries. They include Mr.Fazel Ahmad Manawi, Chairman, Independent Election Commission, Afghanistan, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, Chief Election Commissioner, Bangladesh, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, Chief Election Commissioner, Bhutan, Mr. Neel Kantha Upreti, Chief Election Commissioner, Nepal, Mr.Ibrahim Waheed, Commissioner, Election Commission, Maldives, Mr. Justice (R ) Muhammad R. Essani, Member, Election Commission Pakistan and Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya, Commissioner of Elections, Sri Lanka. Shri Tejendra Khanna, Hon. Lt. Governor of Delhi will be the Chief Guest at the event.

ECI plans to develop IIIDEM as an advanced resource centre of learning, research, training and extension of participatory democracy and election management. Presently, IIIDEM operates from the premises of the election Commission of India in New Delhi.

The funds to the tune of Rs 48 crores have been approved for 2011-12 and 2012-13 for construction of the new campus.

At present, training courses of IIIDEM are being conducted in the interim premises of this Institute at Election Commission of India. IIIDEM, since its launch in June 2011 has hosted 32 courses for more than 500 election officials and other stakeholders in all aspects of Election management. Training courses are already lined up at IIIDEM in the coming weeks for the upcoming Summary Revision and General Elections in some of the states.

Besides the national training programmes, IIIDEM has also conducted five courses for Kenyan, Maldivian, Bhutanese and Afghanistan election officials and Nigerian Election Commissioners. There are requests for such courses from Nepal and Fiji. Over the ten months of its existence, IIIDEM has become a hub for national and international training courses, seminars and workshops. Standard training modules for international participants have already been developed by a renowned team of Indian and International experts.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rekha nominated to Rajya Sabha

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood actor Rekha are among four eminent persons who have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the UPA government.

Tendulkar, 39, who has 100 international centuries to his credit, and Rekha, 57, who made a name for herself in the 1980s in the Hindi filmdom through a variety of roles she played with ease and brilliance, will become members under Article 80 of the Constitution, which allows the President to nominate to the Rajya Sabha 12 members having special knowledge of, or practical experience in, literature, science, art and social service.

One of the top heroines of yesteryear, Rekha has won many prestigious awards during her career.

She won accolades and the national award for her portrayal of ‘Umrao Jaan' in Muzaffar Ali's film of the same name.

Highly placed government sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had written to the Home Ministry. There was no official word on the other two names recommended for nomination.

There has been a long-standing demand from several quarters for conferring the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna on Tendulkar for his contribution to cricket. He enjoys a phenomenal fan following in not only India but also many other countries. He scored the historic 100th international hundred against Bangladesh in Dhaka last month.

In the recent past, well-known film personalities, including Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen and Lata Mangeshkar, have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha now has seven nominated members.

Bachat Lamp Yojana

Till now 259.16 lakh Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) have been distributed under the Bachat Lamp Yojana (BLY) scheme. In the 11th Plan total funds allocated for the scheme were Rs.18.32 crores.

The BLY scheme has been designed on Public Private Partnership mode. The Umbrella Framework for BLY has been registered as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Programme of Activities (PoA). The private investors can participate in the BLY scheme and develop the CDM projects and distribute CFLs in co-ordination with the State Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). The private investor invests into the BLY project and earns the carbon credits for the same. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) acts as an overall coordinator for the BLY projects.

Under the BLY Scheme, no exemption/tax holiday/subsidy is provided to the CFL manufacturers. The scheme was approved for the 11th Plan and is proposed with modifications in the 12th Plan also.

Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme

Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) is a Central Sector Plan Scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj since 2005-06.  PEAIS aims to (i) incentivize States to devolve 3Fs (functions, funds and functionaries) to Panchayats and (ii) incentivize Panchayats to put in place accountability systems to make their functioning transparent and efficient.  Performance of States is measured through a Devolution Index (DI) prepared through an independent agency.  Awards are given to best performing States/UTs based on their rank on DI annually.  From 2011-2012, Panchayats have been incentivized for their performance during the year 2010-2011. The State/UT Governments have been advised to utilise the amount released for the development of Panchayati Raj in the State.

LIST OF ISRO SATELLITES

Satellite	Launch Date	Launch Vehicle	Type of Satellite
RISAT-1	26.04.2012	PSLV-C19	Earth Observation Satellite
Jugnu	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Experimental / Small Satellite
SRMSat	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Experimental / Small Satellite
Megha-Tropiques	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-12	15.07.2011	PSLV-C17	Geo-Stationary Satellite
GSAT-8	21.05.2011	Ariane-5 VA-202	Geo-Stationary Satellite
RESOURCESAT-2	20.04.2011	PSLV-C16	Earth Observation Satellite
YOUTHSAT	20.04.2011	PSLV-C16	Experimental / Small Satellite
GSAT-5P	25.12.2010	GSLV-F06	Geo-Stationary Satellite
STUDSAT	12.07.2010	PSLV-C15	Experimental / Small Satellite
CARTOSAT-2B	12.07.2010	PSLV-C15	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-4	15.04.2010	GSLV-D3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Oceansat-2	23.09.2009	PSLV-C14	Earth Observation Satellite
ANUSAT	20.04.2009	PSLV-C12	Experimental / Small Satellite
RISAT-2	20.04.2009	PSLV-C12	Earth Observation Satellite
Chandrayaan-1	22.10.2008	PSLV-C11	Space Mission
CARTOSAT - 2A	28.04.2008	PSLV-C9	Earth Observation Satellite
IMS-1	28.04.2008	PSLV-C9	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-4B	12.03.2007	Ariane-5ECA	Geo-Stationary Satellite
CARTOSAT - 2	10.01.2007	PSLV-C7	Earth Observation Satellite
SRE - 1	10.01.2007	PSLV-C7	Experimental / Small Satellite
INSAT-4CR	02.09.2007	GSLV-F04	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-4C	10.07.2006	GSLV-F02	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-4A	22.12.2005	Ariane-5GS	Geo-Stationary Satellite
HAMSAT	05.05.2005	PSLV-C6	Experimental / Small Satellite
CARTOSAT-1	05.05.2005	PSLV-C6	Earth Observation Satellite
EDUSAT (GSAT-3)	20.09.2004	GSLV-F01	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Resourcesat-1(IRS-P6)	17.10.2003	PSLV-C5	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-3A	10.04.2003	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3E	28.09.2003	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
GSAT-2	08.05.2003	GSLV-D2	Geo-Stationary Satellite
KALPANA-1(METSAT)	12.09.2002	PSLV-C4	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3C	24.01.2002	Ariane-42L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)	22.10.2001	PSLV-C3	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-1	18.04.2001	GSLV-D1	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3B	22.03.2000	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Oceansat(IRS-P4)	26.05.1999	PSLV-C2	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2E	03.04.1999	Ariane-42P H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-2DT	January 1998	Ariane-44L H10	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-1D	29.09.1997	PSLV-C1	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2D	04.06.1997	Ariane-44L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-P3	21.03.1996	PSLV-D3	Earth Observation Satellite
IRS-1C	28.12.1995	Molniya	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2C	07.12.1995	Ariane-44L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-P2	15.10.1994	PSLV-D2	Earth Observation Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C2)	04.05.1994	ASLV	Space Mission
IRS-1E	20.09.1993	PSLV-D1	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2B	23.07.1993	Ariane-44L H10+	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-2A	10.07.1992	Ariane-44L H10	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C)	20.05.1992	ASLV	Space Mission
IRS-1B	29.08.1991	Vostok	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-1D	12.06.1990	Delta 4925	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-1C	21.07.1988	Ariane-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-2)	13.07.1988	ASLV	Earth Observation Satellite
IRS-1A	17.03.1988	Vostok	Earth Observation Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-1)	24.03.1987	ASLV	Space Mission
INSAT-1B	30.08.1983	Shuttle [PAM-D]	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Rohini (RS-D2)	17.04.1983	SLV-3	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-1A	10.04.1982	Delta 3910 PAM-D	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Bhaskara-II	20.11.1981	C-1 Intercosmos	Earth Observation Satellite
Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)	19.06.1981	Ariane-1(V-3)	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Rohini (RS-D1)	31.05.1981	SLV-3	Earth Observation Satellite
Rohini (RS-1)	18.07.1980	SLV-3	Experimental / Small Satellite
Rohini Technology Payload (RTP)	10.08.1979	SLV-3	Experimental / Small Satellite
Bhaskara-I	07.06.1979	C-1 Intercosmos	Earth Observation Satellite
Aryabhata	19.04.1975	C-1 Intercosmos	Experimental / Small Satellite

India & the sex selection conundrum

What was our immediate response to further decline in the child sex ratio in India? Within days of the provisional 2011 Census results (March-April 2011), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reconstituted the Central Supervisory Board for the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex selection) Act 1994 , which had not met for 3 years, and on November 30, 2011 the Ministry of Women and Child Development formed a Sectoral Innovation Council for Child Sex Ratio. But we are busy dousing flames in haste without looking to dampen the source. This fire-fighting approach is unlikely to succeed, because putting out fires in one district virtually ensures its spread to another. That is what has happened.

The decline in child sex ratio (0-6 years) from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 914 females per 1,000 males in 2011 — the lowest since independence — is cause for alarm, but also occasion for serious policy re-think. Over the last two decades, the rate of decline appears to have slowed but what began as an urban phenomenon has spread to rural areas. This is despite legal provisions, incentive-based schemes, and media messages. Indians across the country, bridging class and caste divides, are deliberately ensuring that girls are simply not born. This artificial alteration of our demographic landscape has implications for not only gender justice and equality but also social violence, human development and democracy.

What is wrong?

So what are we doing wrong — both in the discourse we have created and in the policy route we have chosen to walk? To start with, we have chosen to target one symptom (practice of sex selection), instead of evolving a comprehensive national policy response to a deeply resistant ailment (son preference/daughter aversion and low status of women in India). State policy has, in the main, consisted of seeking to stem the supply of technology that enables sex selection through application of the law — the PCPNDT Act bans the use of diagnostic techniques for determining the sex of a foetus. The rationale (framed within an inverted demand-supply paradigm) is that stopping supply of the technology will reduce the demand — for determining the sex of the foetus and aborting if it is female. So far (not withstanding wide publicity about the PCPNDT Act, including signboards in every clinic, hospital and nursing home), this hasn't panned out as planned.

Meanwhile, this singular focus on PCPNDT has triggered an unhealthy discourse beyond what the law actually bans (using medical diagnostics to determine the sex of the foetus) to the next step, i.e. the act of abortion. Over the last few years, the hunt for aborted female foetuses appears to have become legitimate media pastime and reportage consists chiefly of stories about “foetuses' foeticide” and “foetal remains.” Clearly, the goriness of the phenomenon meets the media's need for just a tad bit of sensation (foetal remains found in gunny bags outside quack clinics, in the fields, in the dark depths of deep wells, etc.).

While national attention on this issue is welcome, this is complex terrain. On the one hand is the right of females to be born, and of society to protect and preserve a gender balance. On the other hand lies a woman's right under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (enacted in 1971, revised in 1975) to have a safe and legal abortion as part of a whole gamut of reproductive rights. In our zeal to create an environment against one type of abortion (of a foetus only because it is female), we end up stigmatising all abortions. Access to safe and legal abortion for Indian women is already severely limited, and this environment will not improve things. Indeed the very word ‘foeticide' i.e. ‘killing' of the foetus (used often without the qualifying ‘female foeticide') dents abortion rights.

Tackling the demand side

As for tackling the demand side — i.e. addressing the complex reasons that son preference-daughter aversion is so prevalent — our policy response has included marking the National Girl Child Day (declared in 2009) on January 24, sporadically putting up billboards at major intersections telling us to ‘love the girl child,' ‘beti bachao', ‘stop killing girls', and a slew of ill-conceived conditional cash transfer schemes to incentivise the birth of girls at both the Centre and the State level.

A 2010 desk review of 15 conditional cash transfer schemes (Dhan Lakshmi, Ladli, Beti Hai Anmol, Kanyadan, and others) conducted by TV Sekher of IIPS for UNFPA is revealing. Most of them promised relatively small amounts at maturity, had complex conditions (immunisation, school enrolment, institutional delivery, sterilisation, among others), gave cash amounts at the age of 18 (for dowry?), and were aimed at poor or BPL families. Quite apart from the objectionable attempt to arm twist every imaginable kind of ‘desired' behaviour (immunise, educate, sterilise) in return for small sums of money, the big problem is that these schemes are targeted largely at poor families. This is not a poor or BPL-only phenomenon. Small cash amounts are unlikely to make an iota of difference to families who have resources to pay for sex selective technology. On this issue, Indian policymakers, accustomed to ‘targeting' the poor (i.e. BPL) need to bravely enter the unfamiliar terrain of targeting the not-so-poor, the upwardly mobile, the wealthy.

The advocacy and communications around this issue, by both the government and NGOs, has taken the ‘love the girl child' route. It is unexceptionable, politically correct, and ensconced comfortably in a language of patriarchal protectiveness (ladki ko bachao). Of course, everyone likes to ‘love little girls in pigtails,' including MPs who will defeat the Women's Reservation Bill time and again in Parliament.

Cultural attitudes

The problem of ‘demand' goes far deeper than our communication or policy solutions seem to suggest. Sex selection is located at the complex interface of cultural attitudes, patriarchal prejudice, socioeconomic pressures, the changes wrought by modernity, and the commercialisation and misuse of modern medical technology. The impact of modernity and materialism on the decreased valuation of females i.e. enhanced daughter aversion, the lack of old-age social security i.e. son preference, increasing violence against women, property rights, inheritance laws — each of these and more play a role. We must demand of ourselves an equally comprehensive national policy on the sex ratio, capable of addressing each contributory factor.

South Korea & China

South Korea has beaten the problem by adopting a comprehensive national response. China, whether or not we agree with its particular national framework, at least has one. The Chinese government adopted a series of concurrent policies, strategic actions and laws to promote gender equality, increase female workforce participation, ensure old age social security, in addition to banning the use of sex selective diagnostics. The country's sex ratio is showing small signs of improvement.

Finally, a national communication strategy is key to a national policy response, and this must rest on acknowledging two things — one, behaviour change communication is a specialised field whose expertise must be harnessed, and two, the nature of reproductive decision-making in India is changing along with immense changes in the Indian family structure. A communication strategy needs to identify primary targets (decision-makers) and secondary targets (decision supporters), and reach them through strategic media platforms — traditional, conventional and new media. As for the core content of messages, a lot can be said, but for now let us agree to go beyond billboard exhortations to ‘love the girl child.' And recognise that the girl will grow up to be a woman one day.

PSLV-C19 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES RISAT-1

The PSLV-C19, the newest in the series of polar satellite launch vehicles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), burst off the launch-pads of Sriharikota in the wee hours of April 26 on its space mission of placing indigenously developed Radar Imaging Satellite the RISAT-1 in a polar circular orbit.

After a customarily tense countdown at the ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, at precisely 5.47 a.m., the launch vehicle’s core stage igniters and set of six strap-on motors ignited within seconds of each to signal the successful lift-off of the PSLV-C19 with the RISAT -1 firmly docked inside its metal frames. 

The RISAT-1 with a payload of 1858 kg, the heaviest satellite being launched yet by the PSLV, is a state-of-the-art Active Microwave Remote Sensing Satellite carrying a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload that will operate in the C-band. In simpler terms, the RISAT-1 can beam back imaging of the earth surface features during day and night and under all imagined weather conditions. The SAR which gives the RISAT-1 its magic lens also makes it superior to the generation of optical remote sensing satellites in terms of clearer imaging at all times and under any condition.

Once the PSLV-C19 successfully completed each of the four stages of its flight in a span of 18 minutes and reported normal parameters, congratulatory scenes broke out at the Mission Directorate at Sriharikota. 

According to ISRO scientists, once the satellite onboard propulsion system will raise the orbital altitude to 536 km with orbital inclination of approximately 97 degrees to place the RISAT-1 into a polar sun-synchronous orbit, the satellite will begin its daily routine of 14 orbits with a of 25 days. During its mission life of five years, RISAT-1 will use its active microwave remote sensing capability for cloud penetration and day-night imaging of the earth surface and provide critical data inputs for a range of applications.

The satellite’s applications will range across agriculture — paddy monitoring in the kharif season — and management of natural disasters like flood and cyclone and could greatly assist food security planning in India.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 21st flight (PSLV-C19), launches India’s first Radar Imaging Satellite – RISAT-1 into a Polar Circular Orbit with an altitude of 480 km (+ 40.5 km) and orbital inclination of 97.552 (+ 0.2). RISAT-1 weighing 1858 kg is the heaviest satellite being launched by PSLV.

This is the third flight of the high end version (PSLV-XL) with six extended strap-on motors, each carrying 12 tonnes of solid propellant. (The two earlier flights of PSLV-XL were used to launch Chandrayaan-1 and GSAT-12 Communication Satellite) 

 RISAT-1

Radar Satellite-1 (RISAT-1) is a state of the art Microwave Remote Sensing Satellite carrying a Synthetic Aperture Reader (SAR) Payload operating in C-band (5.35 GHz), which enables imaging of the surface features during both day and night under all weather conditions. 

Lift-off Mass	1858 kg
Orbit	Circular Polar Sun Synchronous
Orbit Altitude	536 km
Orbit Inclination	97.552o
Orbit Period	95.49 min
Number of Orbits per day	14
Local Time of Equator Crossing	6:00 am / 6:00 pm
Power	Solar Array generating 2200 W and one 70 AH Ni-H2 battery
Repetivity	25 days
Attitude and Orbit Control	3-axis body stabilised using Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers and Hydrazine Thrusters
Nominal Mission Life	5 years
Launch date	April 26, 2012
Launch site	SDSC SHAR Centre, Sriharikota, India
Launch vehicle	PSLV- C19

Native anti-malaria drug launched

India on April 25 launched its first indigenously launched anti-malaria new-age drug ‘Synriam'. The drug, produced by Ranbaxy Laboratories, was formally introduced for marketing here.

The drug, launched by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the presence of Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, has been developed by the company in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research.

Malaria claims half a million lives every year globally and India contributes to 77 per cent malaria cases of the 2.5 million cases of malaria reported annually from South East Asia.

The dual-molecule combination drug conforms to the recommendations of World Health Organisation (WHO) and will be required to be taken only once a day for three days.

The drug Synriam is to be used to treat uncomplicated “Plasmodium falciparum” malaria in adults. It provides relief from most malaria-related symptoms, including fever, and has a high cure rate of over 95 per cent.

“Today, India joins the elite club of the countries to have developed a new drug indigenously for malaria on the occasion of World Malaria Day,” Ranbaxy Laboratories CEO and MD Arun Sawhney said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Azad said the drug should be made accessible and affordable so that poor and needy can purchase it as they are the ones who are most exposed to malaria.

After commencing research on the drug in 2003, the company received the Drug Controller General of India's (DCGI) approval in 2011 to manufacture and market it in India.

The drug is efficacious and has the advantage of “compliance and convenience” as it can be taken at any time before or after meals. The course is one tablet a day for three days. Unlike artemisinin-based drugs, it has a synthetic source, the production of which can be scaled up whenever required and a consistent supply of the drug can be maintained at low cost.

The company has spent close to $ 30 million on research and development of the drug, of which the Government of India contributed a total of Rs. 5 crore.

The company also plans to introduce the drug in African countries once the clinical trials are completed and the necessary regulatory approvals are received.

Company's President (R&D) Sudershan Arora said the clinical trials in Africa will be over by the first quarter of 2013 and the drug could be introduced in the same year after getting the necessary approvals there.

Allahabad Bank P.O. Exam Solved Paper

GENERAL AWARENESS
(Exam Held on 17-04-2011)

1. Who is the author of the novel “A Bend in the River “?
a) Chetan Baghat
b) Amitav Ghosh
c) V. S. Naipaul
d) Arundhati Roy
e) None of these
2. Who is the author of book “Darkness at Noon”?
a) Salman Rushdi
b) Arun Nayyar
c) Aravind Adiga
d) Arthur Koestler
e) None of these
3. Which of the following terms is associated with the game of Cricket?
a) Center Forward
b) Love
c) LBW
d) Deuce
e) None of these
4. Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi is associated with the country -
a) Egypt
b) Ghana
c) Tunisia
d) Iran
e) Libya
5. Which of the following is currency of UAE?
a) Dirham
b) Dolloar
c) Pound
d) EURO
e) Dinar
6. Who is Kapil Sibal?
a) Agriculture Minister
b) Telecom Minister
c) Finance Minister
d) Sports Minister
e) None of these
7. Well known Late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi has excelled himself in -
a) Arts
b) Music
c) Literature
d) Jounalism
e) Sports
8. What is the name of Central Bank of USA?
a) Central Bank U.S.A
b) Reserve Bank of USA
c) Federal Reserve System
d) United States International Bank
e) None of these
9. Vikram Pandit is associated with which of the following banks?
a) United Bank
b) Citigroup Bank
c) HSBC
d) ICICI
e) HDFC
10. Which of the following metal is used in Nuclear Power production plant?
a) Copper
b) Zinc
c) Iron
d) Uranium
e) Barium
11. Which among the following is a renewable energy source?
A) Solar
B) Wind
C) Thermal
a) Only (A)
 b) Only (B)
c) Only (C)
d) Both (A) & (B)
e) All (A), (B) & (C)
12. Which of the following states government proposes to setup India’s first Islamic bank in the country?
a) Kerala
b) Gujarat
c) Tamilnadu
d) Utar Pradesh
e) Odisha
13.As per the latest survey of indian economy, which among the following sectors is likely account for maximum share in country’s GDP?
a) Agriculture
b) Services
c) Industries
d) Automobiles
e) None of these
14. Which of the following organisations will distribute UIDAI cards among the citizens of country?
a) LIC
b) RBI
b) CSO
d) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
e) None of these
15. Which of the following organisation has announced to setup a core banking facilities in rural areas and rural infrastucture?
a) SBI
b) RBI
c) ICICI
d) Rural Co-operative Banks
e) NABARD
16. What does the letter M stands for in SME, a commonly used abbriviation in financial parlance?
a) Millionaire
b) Miles
c) Medium
d) Mid-term
e) Monetary
17. What is the full form of SWIFT used in finance/banking sector?
a) Society for Worldwide International Financial Telecommunication
b) Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
c) Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Taxation
d) Society for Worldwide International Financial Taxation
e) None of these
18. RBI appointed a committee under the chairmanship of D. Mohanty to look into -
a) 2G spectrum scam
b) Implementation of Base Rate
c) Bank’s Saving Interest rate
d) Inflation
e) None of these
19. The government has proposed to setup Megha Food Parks in the country in order to-
a) control food prices
b) reduce wastage of farm produce
c) improve health facilities in urban areas
c) improve the food supply chain
e) None of these
20. What does the term IRR stands for in banking/financial parlance?
a) Interest Rate Risk
b) Interest Rate of Return
c) Internal Rate of Return
d) Internal Recovery Risk
e) None of these
21. Which of the following organizations provide credit history of the borrowers?
a) RBI
b) AMFI
c) CRISIL
d) SEBI
e) CIBIL
22. Which among the following rates is likely to effect the bank’s loan interest rate?
a) Repo rate / Bank Rate
b) CRR / SLR
c) Inflation rate
d) Reverse Repo Rate
e) None of these
23. At which of the following rates a bank borrows money from RBI?
a) Reverse Repo Rate
b) Cash Reserve Ratio
c) Repo Rate
d) SLR
e) None of these
24. The Indian economy has registered a growth of _________ in Fiscal Year 2009-10.
a) 7.2%
b) 7.4%
c) 6.7%
d) 8.1%
e) None of these
25. What is the expansion of the term FIMMDA?
a) Fixed Income Money Market and Development Association of India.
b) Floating Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India.
c) Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India
d) Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Agency of India.
e) None of these
26. Which among the following countries was second largest importer of services and goods in 2009-10 ?
a) USA
b) China
c) India
d) Germany
e) Japan
27. Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus is bleong to which of following countires?
a) Pakistan
b) Irak
c) UAE
d) Bangladesh
e) Afghanistan
28. Pipavav Port is situated in which of following states?
a) Gujarat
b) Tamilnadu
c) Kerala
d) Andhra Pradesh
e) Odisha
* Pipavav Port is India’s first port in the private sector
29. Niyamgiri bauxite mining project is to be carried out in which of the following states?
a) West Bengal
b) Orissa
c) Jharkhand
d) Andhra Pradesh
e) None of these
30. Which of the following schemes has been launched by government of india for school childrens?
a) MNREGA ( Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)
b) SEWA ( Self Employed Women’s Association )
c) Mid Day Meal
d) UIDAI ( Unique Identification Authority of India) 
e) None of these
31. The precautionary limit of the Lok-Adalat has been fixed up to Rs._______
a) 5 lakh
b) 10 lakh
c) 15 lakh
d) 20 lakh
e) None of these
32. Which of the following theories is used in economic parlance?
a) Keynesian theory
b) Pascal’s Theory
c) Gravity Theory
d) Affinity matrix
e) None of these
33. Which of the following terms is not used in banking/finance parlance?
a) Credit
b) Debit
c) Discount
d) Absolute Zero
e) None of these
34. Which of the following terms is not used in banking/finance parlance?
a) Balance sheet
b) Commercial paper
c) HIV virus
d) Hedge fund
e) None of these
35. What is CARTOSAT-2B?
a) a fighter jet developed by DRDO
b) an advanced Remote Sensing Satellite built by ISRO
c) an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by India’s ADE
d) a type of supercomputer developed by IIT, Khadagpur
e) None of these
36. Which among the following european countries is facing debt crisis?
a) Ireland
b) Netherland
c) France
d) Portugal
e) None of these
37. Which of the following acts was introduced to prevent the utilisation of money derived from crime?
a) Banking Regulation Act, 1949
b) Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
c) Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002
d) Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961
e) None of these
38. ASHA scheme aims at which of the following areas?
a) Health
b) Food
c) Education
d) Employment
e) None of these
39. Which of the following document show the balance of cash of an individual in banking/finanancial institutions on a particular date?
a) Annual Trade Report
b) Reconciliation Statement
c) Balance Sheet
d) Quarterly return statement submitted to RBI
e) None of these
40. Which among the following terms is not related to banking/finance sector?
a) Amortization
b) Breakeven Point
c) Acid Test Ratio
d) ELISA test
e) None of these
41. As per National Advisory Council (NAC) recommendations for National Food Security Bill (NFSB) which one of following is true in context of priority sector households?
a) Each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 20 kg of rice or wheat per month
b) Each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month
c) Each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 30 kg of rice or wheat per month
d) Each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 35 kg of rice or wheat per month
e) None of these
42. As per the union budget fiscal deficit pegged at ______.
a) 3.2% of GDP
b) 4.6% of GDP
c) 3.6% of total costs
d) 4.2% of total costs
e) None of these
(Note : no financial year was given in the question so some confusion there, but for FY 2011-12 it is 4.6% of GDP and for current FY 2010-11 it is 5.1% of GDP).
43. Which among the following terms is not related to banking/finance sector?
a) Prime rate
b) Line of Credit
c) Centrifugal force
d) Solvency
e) None of these
44. Which of the following institutions/banks is the primary monetary authority of India?
a) SBI
b) RBI
c) SEBI
d) Finance Ministry
e) None of these
45. How much initial amount will subsidised by the government to get new LPG connection for a single poor person?
a) Rs. 500
b) Rs. 700
c) Rs. 1200
d) Rs. 1400
e) None of these
46. Which of the following is/are key industries in india?
a) oil/petroleum refining
b) steel / electricity
c) cement / coal
a) Only (A)              
 b) Only (B)            
 c) Only (C)            
d) Both (B) & (C)              
e) All (A), (B) & (C)
47. Which of the following rates is long term Interest rate measure?
a) Repo rate
b) Bank rate
c) Reverse Repo Rate
d) Fixed Interest rate
e) None of these
48. The design of new product and improving the old product by adding new features to it is called
a) Product enrichment
b) Product enhancement
c) High-valued product
d) Improved product
e) None of these
49. A group of big industrialists and businessmen of India wrote an open letter addressed to Indian government on which of follwoing issues?
a) Corporate governance
b) Government deficit
c) Inflation
d) Petrol prices
e) None of these
50. Which among the following sectors receiving the maximum FDI equity inflow into India during FY 2009–10 ?
a) Services sector
b) Housing and real estate
c) Construction activities
d) Education business
e) None of these

Nalanda University ACT to be Ammended

Planning Commission has constituted a Committee to suggest Amendments in the Nalanda University Act, 2010. Prof.N.R.MadhavaMenon, Former Vice-Chancellor, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata will be the Chairman of the 10 member committee, other members include are Prof.Pankaj Chandra, Director, IIM Bangalore, Dr.GopaSabharwal, Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, Prof. G. Mohan Gopal, Director Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, New Delhi, Prof. K. Rajiv Saxena, Vice President, South Asia University, Dr.MeenakshiGopinath , Principal,LSR, New Delhi, Dr.JitendraNath Mishra, Joint Secretary, MEA , and the committee will also have representatives of Department of Legislative Affairs & Department of Expenditure will be as members.

The Committee would examine the Nalanda University Act, 2010 particularly provisions relating to academic, administrative and financial autonomy and suggest amendments to provide for full autonomy in matters relating to making appointments, determining salaries and emoluments and auditing. The Committee would also suggest amendments in the Act to ensure that the university acquires international stature and excellence through representative and flexible governance and forward looking legislation. It would first examine Statutes, existing Ordinances and Regulation and suggest changes so that these are consistent with the Act and lay down broad principles for making Statutes, existing Ordinances and future Regulations in the interest of consistency and clarity and would suggest amendments / insertions in the Act to take care of existing gaps with a view to see that the University functions smoothly.

GENERAL AWARENESS FOR BANK EXAMS

1. Paying for facilities like issuance of demand drafts, cheque books, credit or debit cards and ATM interchange may soon become pass as public sector lender ____ waived all service charges on current and savings accounts (CASA), the first by any bank. The move is aimed at increasing the bank’s below-industry average CASA deposits and the bank expects to double its retail account to 1 crore in the next 12 months.
a) SBI
b) PNB
c) Canara Bank
d) IDBI Bank
e) None of these

2. At present, how many families are categorized as BPL?
a) 5.10 cr
b) 6.52 cr
c) 7.81 cr
d) 10.40 cr
e) None of these

3. DTC stands for
a) Direct Tax Code
b) Disinvestment Tax Code
c) Derivative Trade Code
d) Distinct Tax Code
e) Delhi Tax Code

4. In a surprise move and to the disappointment of taxpayers, the government on Aug 30 deferred the implementation of the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) by a year to ___, 2012 and sough to waive the preferential treatment to woman in tax payment in the name of gender equity.
a) Jan 1
b) Mar 31
c) Apr 1
d) Dec 31
e) None of these

5. Which of the following statement is/are true about Direct Taxes Code (DTC)?
A) Under the Direct Taxes Code Bill, 2010 – tabled in the Lok Sabha by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and referred to the Select Committee of Parliament for scrutiny – the government has sought to raise the income tax exemption limit from Rs.1.6 Lakh to Rs.2 Lakh while retaining a host of incentives for individuals.
B) While senior citizens (above 65 years) will enjoy a higher exemption of Rs.2.5 Lakh, woman taxpayers will have no additional relief as they have not been categorized separately.
C) As for corporate taxes, the levy will be at a flat rate of 30 per cent with no surcharges or cesses. The minimum alternate tax (MAT)will be levied on book profits at 20 per cent.
a) Only A
b) Only A& B
c) Only B&C
d) All the above
e) None of these

6. Name the country with India has signed a protocol to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement that would the wealth illegally stashed away in banks.
a) Britain
b) US
c) Switzerland
d) France
e) None of these

7. In a major step to alleviate delays in wage payments under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which state govt has launched an “e-Shakti Financial Inclusion” scheme, the first of its kind in the country?
a) UP
b) MP
c) Bihar
d) Maharashtra
e) None of these

8. Name the bank whose chairman Stephan K Green will be appointed as the minister of state for trade and investment.
a) HSBC Holdings
b) Standard Chartered Bank
c) Barclays Bank
d) Royal Bank of Scotland
e) None of these

9. In a big boost to the disinvestment programme of the UPA-II Government, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry gave its green signal to the sale of government’s stake in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), a move aimed at raising around __________ this fiscal.
a) Rs. 14,000 cr
b) Rs.18,000 cr
c) Rs.24,000 cr
d) Rs. 30,000 cr
e) None of these

10. With a net worth of US$62 billion, Mukesh Ambani would be the richest man of earth in ___________, going past the current claimant, Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, according to a forecast by Forbes.
a) 2012
b) 2014
c) 2016
d) 2018
e) None of these

11. In one of his speeches Pranab Mukherjee said that the Govt had no plans to dilute the roles of market regulators. This means the role of which of the following will not be diluted?
a) Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
b) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
c) Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
d) Bureau of Indian Standards
e) Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

12. What is the full form of “ULIP’, the term which was in the news recently?
a) Universal Life & Investment Plan
b) Unit Loan & Insurance Plan
c) Universal Loan & Investment Plan
d) Uniformly Loaded Investment Plan
e) Unit Linked Insurance Plan

13. As per the news published in some major financial news papers, the Maharashtra Govt is planning to introduce “Green Tax” on Vehicles. What is the Purpose of Green Tax?
a) It has been introduced with the aim of discouraging high consumption of petroleum products.
b) It is a tax levied by the Govt in place of VAT as VAT is not very profitable for State Govts.
c) It is just like a toll tax which will be charges from all the vehicles whenever they enter green areas of a city like hospitals, schools, and old-age homes.
d) This is a tax levied on big commercial vehicles only with the aim of prohibiting them from entering residential areas and non-commercial areas.
e) None of these

14. Very often we read in newspapers about 3 G Third Generation Technology. This is a set of standards used by which of the following?
a) To Combat climatic changes
b) Production of nuclear energy
c) Film production
d) Mobile telecommunications
e) All of these

15. Which of the following companies is NOT in the field of insurance business?
a) ICICI Prudential
b) Bajaj Allianz
c) Tata AIG
d) Aegon Religare
e) Royal Orchild

16. Many times we read that a corporate entity is in the process of raising its capital base. Why is a company required to raise money to strengthen its capital base?
A) To finance its diversification Plans
B) To finance its diversification plans
C) To repay its loans and borrowings
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) Only A & B
e) All A, B&C

17. Many times we read in newspapers that a company is planning to bring a public issue. What does it mean?
A) Shares of the company will be issued only through public sector organizations like banks/Central financial institutions etc.
B) Shares of the company will be issued to general public only through primary market.
C) This means some stakeholders/ promoters are willing to leave the company. Hence they wish to sell their stock to the general public.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A,B&C
e) None of these

18. Whenever some people wish to enter into the business world, it is a must for them to approach a bank. What services do banks provide them in this regard?
A) Banks act as payment agents by operating current accounts, paying cheques and receiving payments for them.
B) Maintaining account books for them for their day-to- day activities so that they are not required to appoint account/finance personnel on a regular basis.
C) Lending money by way of overdraft, installment loan, credit or advance for business activities
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) Only A&C
e) All of these

19. As we all have noticed, banks these days are giving more emphasis on “Branchless Banking”. What does this really mean?
A) Banks will not have many branches as used to be in the good old days. Instead, the number of branches will be restricted and will conduct only a specified core business.
B) Banks will launch/operate many delivery channels like ATMs, Mobile Banking/ Internet Banking etc sot that people are not required to visit a branch for their usual banking needs.
C) This means banks will issue only debit or credit cards for all types of day-to-day financial transactions. Cheques/cash payments will not be allowed.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only A&B
d) Only B&C
e) All A, B&C

20. Which of the following is NOT a function of a bank?
a) Providing project finance
b) Selling Mutual Funds
c) Deciding policy rates like CRR, Repo Rate / SLR etc
d) Settlement of payments of behalf of the customers
e) All of these are functions of a bank

21. Which of the following is a form of “savings Bank” popular among the poor or children?
a) Core Banking
b) Credit Banking
c) Debit Card
d) Merchant Banking
e) Piggy Banking

22. Dr. Amartya Sen is a famous
a) Physicist
b) Chemical Engineer
c) Psychologist
e) Economist
e) None of these

23. Which of the following nations is considered the originator of the concept of Micro Finance?
a) India
b) Bangladesh
c) South Africa
d) USA
e) None of these

24. Govt normally does not announce the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of
a) Wheat
b) Paddy
c) Sugarcane
d) Jute
e) All of these

25. At present Dr.D Subbarao is the
a) Governor of Orissa
b) Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
c) Chairman of the FICCI
d) India’s Representative in IMF
e) None of these

26. Banks borrow money from the RBI on which of the following rates?
a) Bank rate
b) CRR
c) SLR
d) Reverse Repo Rate
e) Repo Rate

27. Which of the following is NOT a part of India’s Money Market?
a) Bill Market
b) Call Money Market
c) Banks
d) Mutual Funds
e) Indian Gold Council

28. Which of the following is/are NOT the feature(s) of India’s Foreign Trade Policy (2004 to 2009)?
A) To double India’s percent age share of global trade from present 0.7 per cent to 1.5 per cent by 2009
B) Simplifying the procedures and bringing down the cost
C) Make SAARC countries India’s most preferred foreign trade partners by 2009
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Only III
d) All I, II and III
e) Only I and III

29. Which of the following is /are the measure(s) taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ease the liquidity crunch in the country?
A) Cut in Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio.
B) Increase the flow of foreign direct investment
C) Supply of additional currency notes in the market.
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Only III
d) All I, II and III
e) None of these

30. Which of the following services is NOT provided by the post offices of India?
a) Savings Bank Scheme
b) Retailing of Mutual Funds
c) Sale of Stamp Papers (Judicial)
d) Issuance of Demand Drafts
e) Life Insurance Cover

31. Which of the following is true of New Lending Rate System in Banks?
a) For existing loans, the base rate would be applicable once they matured.
b) For new loans, the base rate would be levied immediately.
c) Banks can not charge customers any fee for such switch-over.
d) All of these
e) None of these

32. According to recently released RBI data on the Balance of Payment, net portfolio investments into country during April- December amounted to
a) $ 23.6 billion
b) $ 30.4 billion
c) $ 32.8 billion
d) $ 36.6 billion
e) $ 40.4 billion

33. Which of the following is NOT a Government sponsored organization?
a) Small Industries Development Bank of India
b) NABARD
c) National Housing Bank
d) ICICI Bank
e) All are government sponsored

34. The Reserve Bank has constituted a working group to review the current operating procedure of monetary policy, as transmission of the policy to the rest of the system remains imperfect. The group, to be headed by RBI executive director ___________, will also review the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF), through which the central bank manages money supply in the system on a day-to-day basis.
a) Usha Thorat
b) Deepak Mohanty
c) Rakesh Mohan
d) Naresh Chandra
e) None of these

35. SEBI was established in
a) 1993
b) 1992
c) 1988
d) 1990
e) None of these

36. The working of SEBI includes:
a) To regulate the dealings of share market
b) To check the foul dealings in share market
c) To control the inside trading of shares
d) All of these
e) None of these

37. The ‘Ad hoc Treasury Bill a system’ of meeting budget deficit in India was replaced by a system which came into force on
a) March 31,1997
b) April 1,1996
c) April 1,1997
d) March 31, 1996
e) None of these

38. The recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission has become/will be operational during the period
a) 2009-14
b) 2010 – 15
c) 2011 – 16
d) 2012 – 2017
e) None of these

39. Rural Woman can avail the benefit of Mahila Samriddhi Yojana if they open their account in
a) Rural Pot Offices
b) Commercial Banks
c) Rural Development Bank
d) Any of the above
e) None of these

40. The rate at which banks lend to RBI is known as
a) Bank Rate
b) Repo Rate
c) Reverse Repo Rate
d) Interest Rate
e) None of these

41. The cause of deflation is
a) Lack of goods and services as compared to money supply
b) Lack of imports as compared to exports
c) Lack of money supply as compared to supply of goods and services
d) Lack of money supply and goods
e) None of these

42. Which bank in India performs the duties of the central bank?
a) Central Bank of India
b) State Bank of India
c) Reserve Bank of India
d) Bank of India
e) None of these

43. Mixed Economy means
a) Co-existence of small and large industries
b) Promoting both Agriculture and Industries in the economy
c) Co-existence of public and private sectors
d) Co-existence of the rich and the poor
e) None of these

44. ‘Pure Banking, Northing Else’ is a slogan raised by
a) ICICI Bank
b) HDFC Bank
c) SBI
d) UTI Bank
e) None of these

45. Which of the following is true about Swavalamban Scheme?
A) Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee will launch the Swavalamban scheme in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
B) As per the scheme, the Centre will contribute Rs.1,000 a year to each New Pension Scheme (NPS) account opened in the current year.
C) The contribution will be made till 2013 – 14
D) To be eligible, a person will have to make a minimum contribution of Rs.1,000 and maximum contribution of Rs.12,000 per annum.
a) Only A,B & C
b) Only A, C & D
c) Only A & D
d) All the above
e) None of these

46. The axe finally fell on Asia’s first cooperative bank, ___________, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled its licence and asked it not to continue any banking – related transactions until further directions.
a) Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd
b) Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd
c) Nadar Co-operative Bank Ltd
d) Anyonya Cooperative Bank Ltd
e) None of these

47. 13th Finance Commission was constituted under the Chairmanship of
a) YSP Thorat
b) Vijai L Kelkar
c) TS Vijayan
d) Laxmi Narayan
e) None of these

48. SEBI is a
a) Statutory body
b) Advisory body
c) Constitutional body
d) Non-statutory body
e) None of these

49. Bank Cash Transaction Tax (BCTT) was withdrawn with effect from
a) January 1, 2009
b) March 1, 2009
c) March 31, 2009
d) April 1, 2009
e) None of these

50. Which committee recommended abolition of tax rebates under Section 88?
a) Chelliah Committee
b) Kelkar Committee
c) Shome Committee
d) Naresh Chandra Committee
e) None of these


ANSWERS :

1.D 2.B 3.A 4.C 5.D 6.C 7.C 8.A 9.C 10.B

11.E 12.E 13.E 14.D 15.E 16.A 17.B 18.D 19.E 20.C

21.E 22.D 23.B 24.D 25.E 26.E 27.E 28.D 29.A 30.E

31.D 32.C 33.D 34.B 35.C 36.D 37.C 38.B 39.A 40.C

41.C 42.C 43.C 44.C 45.D 46.D 47.B 48.A 49.D 50.B