Thursday, December 31, 2009

General Knowledge 2009 quiz - 41

1. With which country India has signed a Social Security Agreement on Sep 03, 2009?
a)Malaysia    b)Singapore    c)Switzerland    d)Hongkong    e)US
2. Which state is planning to start 64 model schools in backward districts under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)?
a)Gujarat    b)Uttar Pradesh    c)Madhya Pradesh    d)Haryana   e)Karnataka
3. Who has been awarded male Golfer of the Year in the annual Golf Writers of America Awards?
a)Steve Sticker    b)Jack Nicklaus    c)Ben Hogan   d)Tiger Woods   e)Bobby Jones
4. Who has been conferred the prestigious Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque 2009 for significant contribution towards human progress?
a)Kofi Annan    b)Sheikh Hasina    c)Sujitha Koirala     d)Mahmood Nasheed   e)Aung San Suu Kyi
5. How many Indian films were nominees for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film (Oscar awards) till now?
a)one    b)two     c)three   d)four   e)five
6. Where is the headquarters of International Cricket Council (ICC)?
a)Australia    b)England    c)West Indies    d)South Africa   e)none of these
7. Which is the first Indian bank to open its branches outside India?
a)SBI     b)ICICI     c)Bank of India   d)PNB   e)none of these
8. The 35th National Games will be held at which of the following states?
a)Kerala    b)Bihar    c)Jharkhand     d)Gujarat    e)Rajasthan
9. Which bank has been awarded Golden Peacock National Training Award 2009?
a)Indian Bank    b)Canara Bank    c)PNB    d)Corporation Bank   e)Bank of Baroda
10)Which Islamic Country to setup its first ever co-educational university?
a)Pakistan    b)Iran    c)Afghanistan    d)Saudi Arabia    e)Turkey
11. Recently which country has taken steps to take finger prints from all adult foreign visitors by 2012 to lighten immigration controls and prevent criminals?
a)US    b)UK     c)South Korea    d)Australia   e)India
12. Recently President Prathiba Patil visited which of the following countries in September 2009?
a)Russia   b)Spain    c)Tajikistan   d)Kyrgyzstan   e)both a & c
13. Meenakshi Mukherjee recently passed away. She was a famous _____________?
a)Literature    b)Sports person    c)Journalist    d)Economist   e)none of these
14. Which bank has been adjudged the Best Bank for the year 2009 on Quality of Assets by Business Today-KPMG Study?
a)Canara Bank   b)Andhra Bank    c)HDFC    d)PNB   e)SBI
15. The Codename ‘Western Bridge’ is a joint Air exercise between India and ________?
a)Maldives     b)Japan    c)Oman    d)US    e)Russia
16. What is the proposed percent of reservation for women in urban local bodies?
a)31%    b)51%    c)33%    d)50%   e)49%
17. With which country India signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of Climate Change on October 22, 2009?
a)US    b)Japan   c)Canada   d)Maldives   e)Norway
18. ‘Human Rights Day’ is observed on _________?
a)Sep 10th    b)Dec 10th    c)Dec 4th    d)Sep 18th   e)Nov 7th
19. Dorjee Khandu was in news recently.He was the chief minister of _________?
a)Himachal Pradesh    b)Madhya Pradesh    c)Sikkim    d)Arunachal Pradesh   e)Assam
20. Which country won the Fed Cup?
a)Italy    b)Argentina    c)Russia    d)US   e)none of these
Note:
5 Q : 1)Mother India(1957)  2)Salaam Bombay(1988)   3)Lagaan(2001)
6 Q : Dubai

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Government Schemes in India - Part 2

1.      Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY):   (Go for Part-1)
ü  The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was launched as an integrated programme for self-employment of the rural poor with effect from 1 April 1999.
ü  Under the SGSY, assistance is given to the poor families living below the poverty line in rural areas for taking up self employment. The persons taking up Self-Employment are called swarozgaris.
ü  They may take up the activity either individually or in Groups, called the Self-Help Groups.
ü  The SGSY aims at providing self-employment to villagers through the establishment of Self-help groups.
ü  There are over 22 lakh Women’s Self Help Groups linked with banks. Reach of SHGs to be widened to enrol at least 50 per cent of all rural women in India as members of SHGs over the next five years.
ü  A Self- Help Group (SHG) may generally consist of 10-20 persons.
ü  In Union Budget 2009-10, The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission to make it universal in application, focused in approach and time bound for poverty eradication by 2014-15.
2.      Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY):
ü  It was formally launched on October 1, 2007.
ü  It is a new health insurance scheme for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the unorganized sector.
ü  The objective of RSBY is to provide the insurance cover to below poverty line (BPL) households from major health shocks that involve hospitalization.
ü  The RSBY is being implemented in 20 States/Union Territories.
ü  By the end of the year, 2009-10, 1.2 crore BPL families ( a unit of five) are expected to be covered and all the estimated 6 crore BPL families are proposed to be covered in the next four years. 
ü  In the Union Budget 2009-10, It is proposed that All BPL families to be covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).
ü  Allocation under RSBY increased by 40 per cent over previous allocation to Rs.350 crore in Budget 2009-10.
3.      Rajiv Awas Yojana:
ü  It is a new scheme announced in the Union Budget 2009-10 for the slum dwellers and the urban poor in an effort to promote a slum-free India in five years.
ü  Rajiv Awas Yojana comes under JNNURM on the lines of Indira Awas Yojana for rural poor.
4.      Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNUM):
ü  The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), launched on
ü  December 3rd 2005 is the largest national urban initiative to encourage reforms and fast
ü  track planned development of 63 identified cities.
ü  JNNURM comprises two Sub-Missions:
o   Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) (Sub-mission I)
o   Basic Services to the Urban Poor Urban (BSUP) (Sub-mission II)
Objectives:
ü  Focused attention to integrated development of basic services to the urban poor.
ü  Security of tenure at affordable price, improved housing, water supply, sanitation.
ü  Convergence of services in fields of education, health and social security.
ü  Ensuring adequate investment of funds to fulfill deficiencies in the basic services to the urban poor.
ü  In simple JNNURM is designed to support: Provision of basic service to urban poor, water supply, Road Network, Urban transport, Street lighting, Sewerage & Sanitation and etc.
ü  In the Union Budget 2009-10, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) stepped up by 87% to Rs.12, 887 cr.
5.      Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY):
ü  It is introduced in 1997 sponsored by Central Government.
ü  The Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry in November 2009 comprehensively revamped the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) with a view to providing gainful employment to the urban unemployed and underemployed.
ü  The new scheme will commence with financial year 2009-2010.
ü  The Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) shall sheek to provide gainful employment to the Urban unemployed or underemployed poor through encouraging the setting up of self-employment ventures or provision of wage employment. 
ü  The programme shall target the urban poor, defined as those living below the urban poverty line, as defined from time to time.
ü  The Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana shall consist of two special schemes, namely-
ü  i)The Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP)
ü  ii)The Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP)
6.      Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana:
ü  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched by Govt. of India during 2007-08 to incentives states to draw up plans for their agriculture sector more comprehensively, taking agro-climatic conditions, natural resource and technology into account and integrating livestock, poultry and fisheries fully.
ü  The RKVY aims at achieving 4% annual growth in the agriculture sector during the XI Plan period, by ensuring a holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
ü  Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Yojana (RKVY) stepped up by 30% in the Union Budget 2009-10.
7.      National Social Assistance Programme:
The programme was launched with effect from 15th August 1985 and under this programme three sub-schemes are under implementation. They are.
1.      National Old Age Pension(NOAP)
2.      National Family Benefit Scheme (NEBS)
3.      Annapurna Scheme
National Old Age pension (NOAP):
ü  The Scheme is implemented to the Old Age persons who are living above 65 Years. Physically Handicapped persons and Leprosy destitute (Irrespective of Age) who comes under Below Poverty line.
ü  The National Old Age Pension Scheme has been renamed as Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOPS) and formally launched on 19th November, 2007.
ü  The central contribution of pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary and the State Governments may contribute over and above to this amount. At present old age beneficiaries are getting anywhere between Rs. 200/- to Rs. 1000/- depending on the State Contribution.
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
ü  Under this scheme, in the death of primary breadwinner, the head of household is untitled to get the benefit of Rs.10000/- in case normal deaths.
ü  The deceased persons should have been primary bread winner and in the age group of more or less than 65 Years and who comes under Below poverty line and residing in the district preceding 3 years.
ü  In case of accidental deaths. The benefit shall be extruded under "APADBANDHU" scheme which covers carton incidents as prescribed by the Government. The deceased family will get Rs. 50000/- or 10000/- depending upon their age. 
Annapurna Scheme
ü  The Annapurna scheme has been launched with effect from 1st April, 2000.
ü  It aims at providing food security to meet the requirement of those Senior Citizens who though eligible have remained uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS).
ü  Under the Annapurna Scheme, 10 Kg. of food grains per month are to be provided 'free of cost' to the Beneficiary. 
ü  The age of the applicant ( male or female) should be 65 years or above.
Two new schemes have been introduced in the Interim Budget 2009-10:
·        'Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme' to provide pension of Rs.200 to widows between age groups of 40-64 years and
·        'Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme' to provide pension for severely disabled persons. Widows in the age group of 18-40 years to be given priority in admission to ITIs, Women ITIs and National/Regional ITIs for women. Government to bear cost of their training and provide stipend of Rs.500 per month.
8.      Aam Admi Bima Yojna (AABY):
ü  It was launched in 2nd October 2007.
ü  It is an Insurance Scheme. It covers the death and permanent disability for the benefit of rural landless households between the age group of 18 to 59 years.
ü  The Scheme is being implemented through the LIC of India and inter alias.
ü  The scheme provides for insurance of head of the family or an earning member of the family of rural landless household.
ü  50% will be contributed by the central Govt. and the rest 50% will be contributed by the state Government.

Monday, December 28, 2009

General Knowledge Quiz 2009 - 40

1. ‘Astrosat’ is India’s first astronomy satellite which is scheduled to launch in which of the following years?
a)2010   b)2011   c)2012    d)2013   e)2014
2. Which of the following country is a member of United Nation(UN)?
a)Palestine    b)Kosovo   c)Vatican City   d)Taiwan   e)All are non UN-members
3. Sputnik -1 the World’s first artificial satellite (in 1957) successfully launched by which country?
a)USSR    b)Japan   c)US   d)UK   e)Germany
4. How many countries became independent with the dissolution of USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in 1991?
a)5    b)9    c)11    d)13    e)15
5. Kosovo declared Independence from which of the following countries in 2008?
a)Croatia    b)Serbia    c)Macedonia    d)Yugoslavia   e)none of these
6. Srilanka has declared victory over the LTTE(Liberation of Tamil Tigers) on May 16th 2009 after ____ years old civil war?
a)21    b)23    c)25   d)26   e)27
7. Which of the following Politician gets has been arrested for insulting National Anthem in April 2009?
a)Lalu Prasad    b)Mamata Banerjee    c)Shashi Tharoor    d)Varun Gandhi    e)S M Krishna
8. United States of America(USA) got Independence from ___________ in 1776, july 4th?
a)USSR    b)Great Britain    c)Germany    d)Canada    e)none of these
9. 90% of Ozone in earth atmosphere is present in which layer?
a)Troposphere   b)Stratosphere    c)Mesosphere    d)Thermosphere  e)none of these
10. Which of the following country having the world’s largest Internet base users?
a)India(3)    b)US(2)   c)Russia    d)China(1)   e)Canada
11. Which of the following is not a Search Engine?
a)Bing    b)Wolframalpha    c)Kosmix    d)Cuil   e)All are search engines
12. India stands at which place in the world when considering area wise?
a)1st    b)3rd     c)5th    d)6th    d)7th
13. Besides India, August 15th is the Independence Day of which of the following country?
a)North Korea    b)South Vietnam   c)South Korea    d)North Vietnam   e)France
14. Which of the following is world’s most widely spoken language?
a)Mandarin(China)    b)Spanish    c)English    d)Urdu   e)Hindi
15. India’s first nuclear test explosion (Pokhran-1) conducted in the year _______?
a)1967    b)1974    c)1987   d)1998   e)none of these
16. ‘Shakti’ is the code name for which of the following?
a)India’s first supersonic cruise missile
b)India’s first  nuclear test (Pokhran-1)
c)India’s first nuclear submarine 
d)Prithvi –III
e)India’s second nuclear test (Pokhran-2)
17. Which of the following State Assembly in India has no Opposition members?
a)Arunachal Pradesh    b)Kerala    c)Orissa    d)Sikkim   e)none of these
18. ‘Brahmos -1’ is a _______________________?
a)short range ballistic missile
b)Air to Air missile
c)Supersonic cruise missile
d)Hypersonic cruise missile
e)none of these
19.  ‘000’ is national emergency number in which of the following countries?
a)US    b)Japan   c)Australia    d)Russia   e)France
20.  ____________ is the only continent without deserts (Areas that gets less than 25 cm. of rain in a year are classified as deserts)?
a)Oceania    b)North America    c)South America    d)Europe   e)none of these
Note:
2 Q : Other Non-UN members - Turkish Cyprus, Sahrawi Arab Demo.Rep.(S.A.D.R)
4 Q : the 15 countries are :  Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 
18 Q : Brahmos -2 is a Hypersonic Cruise Missile.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

November Current Affairs 2009 - Part 2

Ø  Chandrayaan-II moon mission, which will help in analysis of mineral composition and undertake terrain mapping of the moon, will be completed by 2012-13.
Ø  India may be the world's second fastest growing economy, but when it comes to man-woman equality the country figures at the bottom of the table ranked 114th among 134 countries complied by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Ø  The Centre is targetting to add one lakh mega watt power generation capacity under the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) to meet the growing demand of electricity in India.
Ø  India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) have signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of Fusion Energy Research and agreed over the free trade treaty by next year (2010) to boost trade and investment.
Ø  India has pledged a developmental assistance of USD 1.3 billion to Afghanistan to fight against terror which is not limited to military campaign and also for social, economic and developmental activities.
Ø  Beijing Olympics gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and women's boxing world champion MC Mary Kom, received the Sahara Indian Sports Award 2008-09.
Ø  India has approved further assistance of shelter material worth over USD 2.6 million besides augmenting its demining teams for speedy resettlement of over 2.8 lakh internally displaced Tamil civilians in Wanni in northern Sri Lanka.
Ø  Spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama inaugurated Kahndo-Dowa Songma Tawang district hospital  and donated Rs 20 lakh for its building when he visited Arunachal Pradesh recently.
Ø  India will open their 2011 cricket World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19 and the country (Bangladesh) will host its first match.
Ø  India's 1983 World Cup hero, former all-rounder Mohinder Amaranth honoured with the C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2008-09 by the BCCI.
Ø  Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi was today re-elected unopposed as the president of Asian Athletic Association (AAA) in Guangzhou, China, to serve his third consecutive term at the office.
Ø  Nepal and India have decided to boost their cooperation in the energy sector as they agreed to complete a key cross-border transmission line by May 2012.
Ø  The Centre has assured Rs 60 crore to set up a Software Technology Park on the premises of a Special Economic Zone in puducherry.
Ø  President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American Rajiv Shah to head US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Ø  In a major move to boost its air warfare capability, Pakistan is to purchase 36 J-10 fighter aircraft from China in a deal worth more than USD 1.4 billion.