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 CONTENT
PANORAMA 3—68
INDIAN PANORAMA: Indian State and Union Territories, Four Ends, National
Symbols, Space Science, Defence and Security, Atomic and Nuclear Science,
Power Station in India, First in Male, First in Female, First in Others, Superlatives,
Founders of Indian Institutions, Indian Heritage Sites, Sobriquets.
WORLD PANORAMA: World Countries, 7 wonders of the world, World’s most
Powerful Intelligence Agencies, Sobriquets, Places, First in World, Superlatives,
Famous Landmarks, National Emblems of different countries, Standard Time
Zone, Important Days of the year.
MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE OF ALL THE TIME 69—128

GEOGRAPHY 129—186
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: Universe ; Geomorphology; Oceanography; Atmosphere.
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY: India Physiography; Drainage; Soil; Climate; Natural
Vegetation; Language; Agriculture; Industry; Minerals; Energy; Census 2011.
WORLD GEOGRAPHY : Language; Religion; Climate; Industry; Continents;
World at a glance.
HISTORY 187—222
INDIAN HISTORY : Ancient History; Medieval History; Modern History
WORLD HISTORY: Ancient History; Medieval History; Modern History
POLITY 223—292
INDIAN POLITY: Making of the Constitution; Salient features; List of Schedules
& Important Amendments; Constitutional Framework; Constitutional Bodies;
Statutory Bodies; Types & Levels of Government; Institutional Framework; Elec-
tions; Political Parties & Pressure Groups; Foreign Policy; PM Narendra Modi’s
visit to Nations.
WORLD POLITY : Introduction; United Nations; Parliament of Different Countries.
ECONOMY 293—330
Micro-Macro Economics; Public Finance; Indian Economy
BUSINESS 331—344
Business Entities; Corporate Governance; Company Act 2013; Ministry Of Corporate
Affairs; Balance Sheet; Sources Of Funds; Performance Of A Company; Small And
Medium-Sized Enterprises; E-Commerce In India; Important Business Terms.
GENERAL SCIENCE 345—426
PHYSICS: Mechanics; Properties of Matter; Heat; Sound; Optics; Electricity;
Magnetism; Semiconductor Electronics.
CHEMISTRY: Nature of Matter; Atom; Classification of Elements; Acids, Bases
and Salts; Metals and Non metals; General Organic Chemistry.
BIOLOGY: Cell biology; Plant Physiology; Human Physiology; Diversity in Living
Organism, Disease and Defense mechanism; Discoveries in Biology.
EVERYDAY SCIENCE
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT 427—454
Ecology; Environmental Issues; Endangered species, Indian Initiatives towards
environmental issues; International Conventions for climate change; National
Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Disaster Management.
ART AND CULTURE 455—468
Art Forms; Indian Painters; Indian Music; Indian Dance; Theaters and Films;
Tourism; Handicrafts.
SPORTS 469—480
Introduction; Famous Games; FIFA World Cup 2014; Tennis Grand Slams; ICC
Cricket World Cup; IPL 2015; Indian Super League; UEFA Champions League.
HEALTHCARE 481—486
Healthcare in India; National Health Programmes; Outbreak of major disease
in India.
COMMUNICATION, NEWS AND MEDIA 487—500
Post Office; Telecommunication; Mobile Communication; Communication
Satellite; Electronics and Information Technology; Indian Road Network; Indian
Railways; Metro Rail; Aviation Industry; Waterways; Ports; Newspaper.
EDUCATION AND CAREER 501—512
UPSC; SSC; Banking; International Tests; Career options; Most sought after
courses-Engineering, Medical, Mass Communication, Law and Business
Management; UGC; AICTE; CBSE; CISCE.
IT AND COMPUTERS 513—518
Indian Government Initiatives; IT & Mobile Trends.
TECHNOLOGY 519—528
Top Technological Innovations; Major Technologies in all the fields.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ 529—544
NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
CURRENT AFFAIRS UPDATES CA-1— CA- 48
PANORAMA
`` Indian
`` World
B-4 Panorama

Indian Panorama
INDIAN STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES
`` Andhra Pradesh Art & Culture:
(a) Classical dance forms (Sastriya
Also known as : “Rice Bowl of
Nrutyam) such as Kuchipudi,
India”, “Egg Bowl of Asia”
Bhamakalapam, Veeranatyam; and
Capital: Hyderabad
folk dances such as Butta bommalu,
Largest City: Visakhapatnam Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi, Dhimsa,
No. Of Districts : 13 and Chindu exists in Andhra
Chief Minister: Nara Chandrababu Pradesh.
Naidu (b) Festivals : Sankranti, Maha
Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan Shivaratri, Ugadi or the Telugu
Area: 160,205sq. km(61,855 sq mi) New Year, Sri Rama Navami,
Language: Telugu and Urdu Varalakshmi Vratam, Vinayaka
Date of Establishment:1st October Chaviti, Dasara, Atla Tadde,
1953 Deepavali, Deepothsavam during
Population: 49,386,799 the Deepavali season.
Sex ratio: 992 females per 1000 males Religious places: Tirupati or
Literacy Rate: 67.7% Tirumala is the richest pilgrimage
Population Density(per sq km): 308 centre in the world, dedicated to the
Forest Area: Total area covered by god Venkateswara; Simhachalam is
the forest are 22,862 sq. km believed to be abode of the saviour-
Agriculture : An exporter of many god Narasimha, who rescued Prahlada
agricultural products and about 60 from abusive father Hiranyakasipu;
percent of population is engaged in Srisailam is dedicated mainly to Lord
agriculture and related activities. Rice Shiva and is famous as one of the
is the major food crop and staple food locations of the various Jyotirlingams.
of the state. Also grow wheat, jowar, Tribes: Andh, Bagata, Bhil, Chenchu,
bajra, maize, minor millet, coarse Gadabas, Bodo, Nakkala, Dhulia,
grain, many varieties of pulses, oil Koya, Kotia, Jatapus, Kulia, Malis,
seeds, sugarcane, cotton, chilli-pepper Valmiki, Manna, Mukha, Pardhan,
and tobacco. Porja.
Industry: Home to firms like Cuisines: Mutton Biryani, Mirchi
PepsiCo, Isuzu Motors, Cadbury Salan, Ghongpura Pickle, Korikoora
India, Kellogg’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Animal: Blackback (Antilope cervicapra)
Kobelco etc. Along with the largest Bird: Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
PepsiCo plant in India.
Neighbouring states : Telangana `` Arunachal Pradesh
in the North-West, Chhattisgarh in
the north, Odisha in the North-East, Also known as: “The Orchid State
Karnataka in the West, Tamil Nadu of India” or “the Paradise of the
in the South and the water body of Botanists”
Bay of Bengal in the East. Capital: Itanagar
Panorama B-5

Largest City: Itanagar Cuisines: Chinese Cuisine & Apong

No. Of Districts:19 (Local Beer)
Chief Minister: Nabam Tuki Animal- Gayal (Bos frontalis)
Governor: Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa Bird- Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
Area: 83,743 sq. km
`` Asom
Language: English
Date of Establishment: 20 February Capital: Dispur
1987 Largest City: Guwahati
Population: 1,382,611 No. Of Districts: 32
Chief Minister: Tarun Gogoi
Sex Ratio: 920 females per 1000
Governor: Padmanabha Balakrishna
males
Acharya
Literacy Rate: 66.95% Area:78,550 sq. km
Population density:17 per sq. km Language: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo
Forest Area: 68045 sq. km. Date of Establishment: 1st April 1912
Agriculture:Main crops:rice, maize, Population density:397 per sq km.
millet, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, Forest Area:26,832 sq km
ginger, and oilseeds. Also ideal for Agriculture : Asom’s biggest contribution
horticulture and fruit orchards. to the world is Asom tea and has its own
Industry:Arts and Crafts, weaving, variety of Camellia assamica. The state
cane and bamboo, carpet weaving, produces rice, rapeseed, mustard seed, jute,
wood carving, ornaments, tourism potato, sweet potato, banana, papaya, areca
and horticulture. nut, sugarcane and turmeric.
Neighbouring States: Borders with Industry: The industries housed by the
the states of Assam and Nagaland to state include a chemical fertiliser plant
the south, and international borders at Namrup, petrochemical industries at
with Bhutan in the west, Burma in the Namrup and Bongaigaon, Paper mills
east and China in the north. at Jagiroad, Hindustan Paper Corporatio
Art & Culture: Ltd. Township Area Panchgram and
(a) Dance: Bardo Chham is a folk Jogighopa, sugar mills at Barua Bamun
dance which depicts the victory Gaon, Chargola, Kampur, Cement plant
of good over evil. at Bokajan and Badarpur, cosmetics
(b) Festivals: Losar” or The New plant of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) at
Year festival, is the most important Doom Dooma, etc.
festival of Tawang District in Neighbouring States: Asom is surrounded
Arunachal Pradesh. by six of the other Seven Sister States:
Religious places: Parasuram Kunda Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur,
attracts lots of devotees in January Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
during the Parasuram mela Akashganga Art & Culture:
Temple is also called Malinithan (a) Ankia Naat (Onkeeya Naat), a
temple and associated with the traditional Vaishnav dance-drama
legend of Daksha Yagya and Sati’s (Bhaona) popular since the 15th
self-immolation. century AD. Folk dances like Bihu
Tribes: Abor, Aka, Apatani, Momba, and the Bagurumba (both danced
Naga, Sherdukp, Nyishi, Galo, during festivals held in the spring),
Khampti, Khowa, Mishmi, Idu, the Bhortal dance, the Ojapali
Hrusso, Tagin, Khamba, Adi dance etc.
B-6 Panorama

(b) Festivals: Bihu is the most Neighbouring States: It is contiguous

important and common and with Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal
celebrated all over Asom. Durga to the north, the northern part of
Puja is another festival celebrated West Bengal to the east, and with
with great enthusiasm. Muslims Jharkhand to the south.
celebrate two Eids (Eid ul-Fitr Art & Culture:
and Eid al-Adha) with great zeal.
(a) Mithila painting is a style of
Religious places: Kamakhya Temple
Indian painting practised in the
is one of the most famous temples.
Tribes: Mikirs, Khasis, Nagas, Barmans, Mithila region of Bihar
Boro, Borokachari, Deori, Hojai, . (b) Festivals: Chhath, also called
Kachari, Sonwal, Lalung, Mech, Miri, Dala Chhath, is an ancient and
Rabha, Dimasa, Hajong, Singhpho, major festival in Bihar.Shravani
Khampti, Garo. mela,Teej and Chitragupta Puja
Cuisines: Masor Tenga, Pitha along with all the major festivals
Animal: One-horned rhino (Rhinoceros of India are celebrated in Bihar.
unicornis) Religious Places: Mahabodhi Temple
Bird: White-winged wood duck is a Buddhist shrine and UNESCO
(Cairina scutulata) World Heritage Site;
Mahavir Mandir in Patna; Takht Shri
`` Bihar Harmandir Saheb in Patna and many
Capital: Patna more.
Largest City: Patna Tribes: Gonda, Mundas, Oraon,
No. Of districts: 38 Gorait, Ho, Karmali, Kharia , Kha,
Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar Omitted, Binjhia, Birhor, Birjia, Chero.
Governor: Ram Nath Kovind Cuisines: Litti-Chokha, Sattu Paratha,
Area:99,200 sq. km Khaja, Khubi Ka Lai, Anarasa, Tilkut
Language: Hindi, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Animal: Gaur (Bos gaurue)
Maithili, Urdu Bird: House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Date of Establishment: 1st April 1936
Population: 103,804,637 `` Chhattisgarh
Sex Ratio: 916 females per 1000 males Also Known as: “Rice bowl of central
Literacy Rate: 63.4% India”
Population density:1,102 per sq km. Capital: Raipur
Forest Area:6,764.14 sq mi (2,612 sq mi) Largest City: Raipur
Agriculture: Largest producer of No. Of Districts: 27
vegetables, especially potatoes, onions, Chief Minister: Raman Singh
brinjal/egg-plant, and cauliflower. Governor: Balramji Das Tandon
Largest producer of litchi, the third Area:135,194 sq. km.
largest producer of pineapples and a Language: Chattisgarhi, Hindi
major producer of mangoes, bananas, Date of Establishment:1st November
and guava. Sugarcane,jute cash crops 2000
Industry: Three major firms — Population: 25,545,198
United Breweries Group, Danish Sex Ratio: 991 females per 1000
Brewery Company Carlsberg Group males
and Cobra Beer — are to set up new Literacy Rate: 71.04%
units in Patna and Muzaffarpur in Population density:189 per sq km.
2012. Forest Area: 41.33% of the total state area
Panorama B-7

Agriculture: The main crops are rice, Majhi, Majhwar, Mawasi , Munda,
maize, kodo-kutki and other small Kharia, Kondh, Kol, Kolam, Pao.
millets and pulses oilseeds, such Cuisines: Bafauri, Kusli, Red Ant
as groundnuts (peanuts), soybeans Chutney
and sunflowers, are also grown. Animal: Wild buffalo (Bubalis arnee)
Horticulture and animal husbandry Bird: Bastar Hill myna (Gracula religiosa)
also engage a major share of the total
population of the state. `` Goa
Industry: Industries: Bhilai Steel Capital: Panaji
Plant, Jindal Steel and Power, Bharat Largest City: Vasco da Gama
Aluminium Company, Baldev Alloys No. Of districts: 2
Pvt Ltd,Indian Oil Corporation Chief Minister: Laxmikant Parsekar
Engineering: Simplex Casting Ltd, Governor: Mridula Sinha
CHPL-Dream-Homes (Chouhan Area: 3,702 sq km (1,429 sq mi)
Housing Pvt Ltd.), NMDC, South Language: Konkani
Eastern Coalfields, NTPC, Lanco Date of Establishment: 30th May, 1987
Infratech, KSK Energy Ventures, Population: 1,457,723
Vandana Vidyut, Chhattisgarh State Sex ratio: 968 females per 1000 males
Power Generation Company and Literacy Rate: 88.70%
Jindal Power Limited. Population density:394 per sq km.
Neighbouring States: Borders the Forest Area:1,424 sq km (549.81 sq mi)
states of Madhya Pradesh in the Agriculture: Rice the main
northwest, Maharashtra in the agricultural crop, followed by areca,
southwest Telangana and Andhra cashew and coconut.
Pradesh in the south, Odisha in the Industry: Tourism is Goa’s primary
east, Jharkhand in the northeast and industry as it handles 12% of all
Uttar Pradesh in the north. foreign tourist arrival in India.
Art & Culture: (a) Dances: Panthi, Neighbouring States:It is bounded
Rawat Nacha Pandwani, Chaitra, by the state of Maharashtra to the
Kaksar, Saila and Soowa are the north and by Karnataka to the east
several indigenous dance styles of and south, while the Arabian Sea
Chhattisgarh. forms its western coast.
Festival– Bastar Dussere, Bhoramdeo Art & Culture:
Festival, Madai Festival. Hariyali, (a) Dance: Some of the traditional
Goan dance art forms are
Kora, Navakhani are the major
Dekhnni, Fugdi, Corridinho,
festival
Mando, Dulpod and Fado.
Religious Places: Bhoramdeo temple,
(b) Festivals: The most popular
Rajivlochan temple, Chandrahasini
celebrations in the Indian state
Devi temple, Vishnu temple, Damudhara
of Goa are Ganesh Chaturthi,
(Rishab Tirth) and Sivarinarayana
Diwali, Christmas, Easter,
Laxminarayana temple, Bambleshwari
Samvatsar Padvo or Sanvsar
Temple, Danteshwari Temple and
Padvo, Shigmo, Goa Carnival.
many more other ancient temples. Goa known for its New Year’s
Tribes: Agariya, Andh, Baiga, celebrations along with the Goan
Bhaina, Bharia, Halba, Kamar, Carnival is known to attract a
Karku, Saur, Sawar, Sawara, Sonr , large number of tourists.
B-8 Panorama

Religious places: Goa has two holy AMW trucks are made near Bhuj. Surat
World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jesus is the hub of the global diamond trade.
Basilica and churches and convents According to Forbes list Ahmedabad
of Old Goa. The Basilica holds the ranks 3rd in the world’s fastest growing
mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, cities in the world.
who is the patron saint of Goa. Neighbouring states: The state is
Tribes: Dhodia, Dubla (Halpati), bordered by Rajasthan to the north,
Naikda, Siddi, Varli, Kunbi, Gawda, Maharashtra to the south, Madhya
Velip. Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian
Cuisines: Vindaloo, Xacuti, Bibinca, Sea as well as the Pakistani province
Prawn Balchao of Sindh to the west.
Animal: Gaur (Bos gaurus) Art & Culture :
Bird: Black-crested bulbul (Pycnonotus (a) Rass-garba is a folk dance
gularis) which is done as celebration of
Navratri.
`` Gujarat (b) Festivals: Makar Sankranti,
Navratri, Uttarayana, Diwali,
Also known as: Jewel of the Western Holi, Tazia and others are
part of India celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Capital: Gandhinagar Religious places: Somnath temple
Largest City: Ahmedabad and the Sun Temple are some of the
No. Of districts:33 renowned Hindu temples. Palitana
Chief Minister: Anandiben Patel templesfor the Jain community; Sidi
Governor: Om Prakash Kohli Saiyyed Mosque and Jama Masjid
Area:196,204 sq km (75,755 sq mi) are holymosques for Muslims.
Language: Gujarati Tribes: Bhils, Barda, Bavacha, Charan,
Date of Establishment:1 May 1960 Gond, Dubla, Dhanka, Chodhara,
Population:60,383,628 Chaudhr, Charan, Gamit, Kunbi,
Sex Ratio: 918 females per 1000 Patelia, Pomla, Rabar, Rathawa, Siddi.
males Cuisines: Thepla, Dhokla, Khandvi,
Literacy Rate:79.31% Handvo, Panki
Animal: Asiatic lison (Panthera leo
Population Density:310/ sq km(800/
persica)
sq mi)
Bird: Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus
Forest Area: 9.7% of the total
roseus)
geographical area is under forest cover
Agriculture: Gujarat’s agriculture `` Haryana
is majorly focussed on cotton
production, livestock, fruits and Capital: Chandigarh
vegetables, and wheat production. Largest City: Faridabad
Industry: Large scale industries such as No. Of Districts: 21
Agro Marine Exports, Creative Castings Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
Ltd., Gujarat Dairy Development Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki
Corporation, Austin Engineering Area: 44,212 sq. km(17,070 sq mi)
and JSW Power Co. The Alang Ship Language: Hindi, Punjabi, Haryanvi
Recycling Yard (the world’s largest), Date of Establishment:1 November
General Motors manufactures, Tata 1966
Motors manufactures the Tata Nano and Population: 25,351,462
Panorama B-9

Sex Ratio: 877 females per 1000 males `` Himachal Pradesh

Literacy Rate: 76.64%
Population Density: 73 per sq km Name: Himachal Pradesh
(1,480/sq mi) Also known as: State of Apples, Dev
Forest Area:1,684 sq km (650 sq mi) Bhoomi(Abode of Gods)
Agriculture: Wheat and rice are the Capital: Shimla
major crops making Haryana, the Largest City: Shimla
second largest contributor to India’s No. Of Districts:12
central pool of food grains. The main Chief Minister: Virbhadra Singh
crops are wheat, rice, sugarcane, Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat
cotton,oilseeds, gram, barley, corn, Area: 55,673 sq. km(21,495 sq mi)
millet and many more.
Language: Hindi, English
Industry: National and international
Date of Establishment: 25th January
companies like Samsung, DB Schenker,
Damco Solutions, Abacus Softech, 1971
Nokia Networks, Mitsubishi Electric, Population: 6,856,509
IBM, Huawei, General Electric, Tata Sex Ratio: 974 females per 1000 males
Consultancy Services and Amdocs Literacy Rate: 83.78%
have their branch offices and contact Population Density: 123 per sq km
centres in Faridabad and Gurgaon(also (320/sq mi)
known as City of millennium). Large- Forest Area: 66.52% of the total area
scale companies like Orient Paper Agriculture: Agriculture contributes
& Industries, JCB India Limited, nearly 45% to the net state domestic
Nirigemes, Agri Machinery Group product and 93% of the state
(Escorts Limited), India Yamaha population depends directly upon
Motor Pvt. Ltd., Whirlpool, ABB
agriculture. The main cereals grown
Group, Goodyear Tyres and Knorr
Bremse India Pvt. Ltd. in the state are wheat, maize, rice and
Neighbouring States: It is bordered barley. Fruit cultivation has also proved
by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to to be an economic boon,with Apple
the north, by Rajasthan to the west farming producing the maximum
and south. The river Yamuna defines income which amounts to 3 billion
its eastern border with Uttar Pradesh. annually.
Art & Culture: Festivals: Haryali Teej, Industry: Textiles, pharmaceuticals,
Lohri, Gangore, Makar Sankranti, food procurement and processing,
Gugga Naumi, Baisaki are some of light engineering, IT and electronics,
the famous festivals of Haryana
cement, tourism and hydropower are
Tourism: Surajkund International
the key industries resident in the state
Crafts Mela, Sultanpur National
Park, Kalesar National Park, Pinjore with Himachal accounting for 25
Gardens Resort, and Nahar Singh per cent of the country’s total hydro
Mahal are some of the major tourist power potential.
attraction. Neighbouring States: It is bordered
Cuisine: Rabadi, Bajre ki Khichdi, by Jammu and Kashmir on the
Cholia, Chaach-Lassi, Kachri ki Sabzi north, Punjab on the west, Haryana
Animal: Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) on the south-west, Uttarakhand
Bird: Black Francolin (Francolinus on the south-east and by the Tibet
francolinus) Autonomous Region on the east.
B-10 Panorama

Art & Culture: Sex Ratio: 883 females per 1000 males
(a) Dances: Losar Shona Chuksam, Literacy Rate: 66.7%
Dangi, Gee Dance and Burah Population Density: 56 per sq. km
dance, Naati, Kharait, Ujagjama (150/sq mi)
and Chadhgebrikar and Shunto Forest Area: 20230 sq. km
are some of the known dance Agriculture: Known for its sericulture
forms. and cold-water fisheries. Wood to make
(b) Festivals: Kullu Dussehra, Shivratri high-quality cricket bats known as
Fair, Shoolini Mela (Solan), Minjar Kashmir Willow. Kashmiri saffron.
Fair, Mani Mahesh Chhari Yatra, Horticultural includes apples, apricots,
Renuka fair, Lavi Trade Fair, cherries, pears, plums, almonds and
Vrajeshwari fair, Jwalamukhi Fair, walnuts with an annual turnover of
Holi Fair, and Naina Devi Fair, over 3 billion (US$46 million).
and Fulaich are some of the most
Industry: Horticulture plays a pivotal
celebrated festivals.
role in the economy of the country.
Tourism: The state is home to Neighbouring States: It shares border
many famous hill stations such as with the states of Himachal Pradesh and
Dalhousie, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Punjab to the south, an international
Nainital, Dharamsala, Mcleodganj border with China in the north and east,
and many more. and the Line of Control separates it
Tribes: Bhot, Bodh, Gaddi, Gujjar, from the Pakistani-controlled territories
Jad, Lamba, Khampa, Kanaura, of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan
Kinnara, Lahaula, Pangwala, in the west and northwest respectively.
Swangla, Beta, Beda, Domba. Art & Culture: Dances: The Dumhal
Cuisines: Sidu, Aktori, Dham, Seppu is a famous dance in the Kashmir
Vadi, Badana, Babru Valley, performed by men of the Wattal
Animal: Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia region whereas women perform the
or Panthna uncia) Rouff, another traditional folk dance
Bird: Jujurana Western Irogapa (Trogopan of the region.
melanocephalus) Religious places: Vaishno Devi
temple, Amarnath, and Raghunath
`` Jammu and Kashmir temple.
Nature Tourism: Gulmarg, Sonamarg,
Also known as: Heaven on Earth
Leh, Pahalgam and many more are
Capital: Srinagar
some of the most frequented hill
Largest City: Srinagar stations.
No. Of Districts: 22
Tribes: Balti, Beda, Bot, Boto, Brokpa,
Chief Minister: Mufti Mohammad Drokpa, Dard, Shin, Changpa, Garra,
Sayeed Mon, Purigpa, Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi,
Governor: Narinder Nath Vohra Sippi.
Area:222,236 sq. km(85,806 sq mi) Cuisines: Gustaba, Tbak Maz, Dum
Language: English, Urdu Aloo, Haak or Karam ka Saag
Date of Establishment: 26th October Animal: Kashmir Stag (Cervus
1947 elaphus hanglin)
Population: 12,548,926 Bird: Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis)
Panorama B-11

`` Jharkhand Tribes: Asur, Agaria, Baiga, Banjara,

Bathudi, Bedia, Binjhia, Chero, Chik
Also known as: “the Land of jungles”
Baraik, Gond, Gorait, Ho, Karmali,
and “jharis”(bushes)
Kharia, Kora, Kharwar, Khond,
Capital: Ranchi
Kisan, Mudi-Kora, Korwa, Munda,
Largest City: Jamshedpur
Oraon, Lohra Santal, Sauria Paharia,
No. Of Districts: 24
Savar, Bhumij, Kawar, Kol
Chief Minister: Raghubar Das
Cuisines: Thekua, Pua, Pittha,
Governor: Draupadi Murmu
Marua-ka-Roti
Area: 79,714 sq. km (30,778 sq mi)
Animal: Indian Elephant (Elephas
Language: Hindi, Santhali, Mundari,
maximus indicus)
Ho
Bird: Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea)
Date of Establishment: 15th November
2000 `` Karnataka
Population: 32,966,238
Sex Ratio: 947 females per 1000 males Capital: Bengaluru
Literacy Rate: 67.6% Largest City: Bengaluru
Population Density: 414 per sq km No. Of Districts: 30
(1,070/sq mi) Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
Forest Area: 23,605 sq.km which is Governor: Vajubhai Vala
29.61% of the geographical area of Area:191,791 sq. km(74,051 sq mi)
the state Language: Kannada
Agriculture: Rice, Pulses, Jackfruit, Date of Establishment:1st November
Blackberry, Mango and Litchi 1956
Industry: Mining is the primary and Population: 61,130,704
most important source of economy
Sex Ratio: 968 females per 1000
for the state as it accounts to 40% of
males
mineral resources of the state.
Neighbouring States: The state shares Literacy Rate:75.60%
its border with the states of Bihar to the Population Density: 320/ sq.km
north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (830/sq mi)
to the west, Odisha to the south, and Forest Area: 38,720 sq.km of forest
West Bengal to the east. area.
Art & Culture: Dance: The most Agriculture: The main crops: rice, ragi,
popular foll dances of Jharkhand are jowar, maize, and pulses (Tur and gram)
Jhumar, Paika, Chau, Agni, Santhal, besides oilseeds and number of cash
Nanhai, Jamda, Ghatwari, Natwa, crops. Cashews, coconut, arecanut,
Chaukare, Sohrai, Lurisayro, Uatha cardamom, chillies, cotton, sugarcane
Festivals: Karam festival, Vat savitri and tobacco are among the other crops
puja, Teej, Sohrai, Jitia Puja, Sarhul, produced in the state. Karnataka is
Makar Sankranti, Deepavali, Durga the largest producer of coarse cereals,
Puja and many more are some of the coffee, raw silk and tomatoes among
most celebrated festivals. the states in India. Karnataka occupies
Tourism: Sanctuaries: Palamau Tiger the second position in India in terms
Reserves, Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary, of production and 700 tons of flowers
Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park, and (worth Rs.500 million) were produced
Betla National Park in 2004–05.
B-12 Panorama

Industry: National Aerospace Animal: Indian Elephant (Elephas

Laboratories, Bharat Heavy Electricals maximus indicus)
Limited, Indian Telephone Industries, Bird: Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML),
Bharat Electronics Limited, Hindustan `` Kerala
Machine Tools and Indian subsidiaries
Also known as: God’s own country
of Volvo and Toyota are headquartered
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
in Bangalore.
Largest City: Kochi
Neighbouring States: Karnataka is
No. Of Districts:14
bordered by the Arabian Sea and the
Laccadive Sea to the west, Goa to Chief Minister: Oommen Chandy
the north west, Maharashtra to the Governor : P. Sathasivam
north, Telangana to the North east, Area: 38,863 sq.km(15,005 sq mi)
Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Language: Malayalam, English
Nadu to the south east, and Kerala Date of Establishment: 1st July 1949
to the south west. Population: 33,387,677
Art & Culture: (a) Dance: Mysore Sex Ratio: 1,084 females per 1000
style of Bharatanatyam is the oldest males
and most popular dance form and Literacy Rate: 93.91%
is widely performed in Karnataka. Population Density: 860/sq.km
Bolak-aat, Ummatt-aat and Komb- (2,200/sq mi)
aat are some of the other forms of Forest Area: 10,336 sq.km (3,991 sq mi)
folk dances in the state. Agriculture: Kerala produces 97% of
(b) Festivals: Mysore Dasara is the national output of black pepper and
celebrated as the state festival of accounts for 85% of the area under
Mysore. Ugadi (Kannada New Year), natural rubber in the country. Coconut,
Makar Sankranti (the harvest festival), tea, coffee, cashew, and spices—including
Ganesh Chaturthi, Nagapanchami, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and
Basava Jayanthi, Deepavali, and nutmeg comprise a critical agricultural
Ramzan are the other major festivals sector. The key agricultural staple is
of Karnataka. rice, with varieties grown in extensive
Tourism: paddy fields.
National Parks: Bandipur National Industry: Software giants like Infosys,
Park, Bannerghatta National Park Oracle, Tata Consultancy Services,
and Nagarhole National Park. Capgemini, HCL, UST Global, Nest,
Waterfalls: Gokak Falls, Unchalli Suntec and IBS have offices in the
Falls, Magod Falls, Abbey Falls, Jog state. Thiruvananthapuram is also the
falls and Shivanasamudra Falls “IT Hub of Kerala” and accounts for
Tribes: Adiyan, Barda, Bavacha, Bhil, around 80% of the software exports.
Chenchu, Chodhara, Dubla, Konda, The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival
Koraga, Kurumans, Maha Malasar, (GKSF) claimed to be “Asia’s largest
Malaikudi, Malasar, Malayekandi, shopping festival” was started in the
Maleru, Maratha Patelia, Rathawa, year 2007.
Siddi, Sholaga, Soligaru , Toda, Neighbouring States: It is bordered
Varli, Vitolia by Karnataka to the north and north
Cuisines: Bisi Bele Bhaat, Kesari east, Tamil Nadu to the east and
Bath, Mysore Pak, Dharwad Pedha, south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to
Chiroti the west.
Panorama B-13

Art & Culture: Population: 72,597,565

(a) Dance: The classical dance Sex Ratio: 930 females per 1000 males
forms of Kerala are Kathakali, Literacy Rate: 70.60%
Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattom, Population Density: 236/sq.km
Thullal and Krishnanattam. (610/sq mi)
(b) Festivals: Onam is a harvest Forest Area: 94,689 sq.km (36,560 sq mi)
festival celebrated by the people Agriculture: The state has an
of Kerala. agrarian economy. The major crops of
Tourism: Madhya Pradesh are wheat, soybean,
Beaches: Kovalam, Varkala, Fort gram, sugarcane, rice, maize, cotton,
Kochi, Cherai, Payyambalam, Kappad, rapeseed, mustard and arhar
Muzhappilangad. Industry: Mining and Ordinance
Hill stations: Munnar, Wayanad, factories comprise the major industries.
Wagamon, Peermade, Paithalmala, Neighbouring States: It borders the
Nelliampathi and Ponmudi. states of Uttar Pradesh to the north-
National parks and sanctuaries: east, Chhattisgarh to the south-east,
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat
Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife to the west, and Rajasthan to the
Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, northwest.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Art & Culture:
Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife
(a) Dances: Badhai, Rai, Saira,
Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park,
Jawara, Sher, Akhara, Shaitan,
and Silent Valley National Park.
Tertali, Charkula, Jawara, and
Tribes: Adiyan, Arandan, Irular, Kadar,
Maanch are some of the majore
Cholanaickan, Paniyan, Ulladan ,
dance forms.
Ullatan, Uraly Mavilan, Karimpalan,
(b) Festivals: Shivratri, Navratri,
Vetta Kuruman, Mala Panickar
Dussehra, Diwali, Bahgoriya, Shab-
Cuisines: Puttu-Kadala, Kappa-Meen I-Barat, Krishna Janamashtmi and
Kari, Sadya Meal, Avial, Malabar
many more.
Parotha, Payasam, Irachi Stew,
Tourism:
Karimean Kari
National parks and sanctuaries:
Animal: Indian Elephant (Elephas
Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna,
maximus indicus)
and Satpura National Park.
Bird: Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
Hill Station: Pachmarhi and
`` Madhya Pradesh Amarkantak
Tribes: Bhil, Bhunjia, Biar, Binjhwar,
Also known as: “Heart of India” Birhul, Damor, Dhanwar, Gadaba,
Capital: Bhopal Gond, Halba, Kamar, Karku, Kawar,
Largest City: Indore Kondar, Kharia, Kondh, Kol, Kolam,
No. Of Districts: 51 Korku, Munda, Oraon, Panika, Pao,
Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan Pardhan, Saonta, Saur, Sawar, Sonr.
Governor: Ram Naresh Yadav Cuisines: Lapsi, Bafla, Bhutte ki
Area: 308,245 sq.km (119,014 sq mi) Khees, Bhopali Kabab
Language: Hindi Animal: Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii)
Date of Establishment: 1st November Bird: Asian Paradise Flycatcher
1956 (Trepsiphone paradisi)
B-14 Panorama

`` Maharashtra (b) Festivals: Vijayadashami or

Dasara, Navaratri, Holi, Diwali,
Capital: Mumbai
Eid, Simollanghan is a ritual
Largest city: Mumbai performed on Dasara or Viajaya
No. Of districts: 36 Dashami day in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis Religious Tourism: Shirdi, Haji Ali
Governor: C. Vidyasagar Rao Dargah, Tuljabhavani temple, Parvati
Area: 307,713 sq.km(118,809 sq mi) temples, Chaturshringi Temple,
Language: Marathi Pataleshwar.
Date of establishment: 1st May 1960 Nature Tourism: Amboli, Chikhaldara,
Population: 112,372,972 Igatpuri, Jawhar, Karjat, Khandala,
Sex Ratio: 929 females per 1000 Lavasa, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar,
males Matheran, Panchgani, Panhala,
Literacy Rate: 82.9% Toranmal
Population Density: 370/sq.km (950/ Tribes: Andh, Baiga, Barda, Bavacha,
sq mi) Bhaina, Bhunjia, Birhul, Kol, Halba,
Forest Area: 61,939 sq.km (23,915 Kamar, Kathodi, Kolam, Khairwar,
sq mi) Kharia, Kokna, Parja, Patelia, Pomla,
Rathawa, Sawar, Thakur, Varli, Vitolia
Agriculture: Agriculture and allied
activities contributes 12.9% to the Cuisines: Shrikhand, Thalipeeth,
Vada Pao, Modak
state’s income. Staples such as rice and
millet are the main monsoon crops. Animal: Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa
Cash crops include sugarcane, cotton, indica)
oilseeds, tobacco, fruit, vegetables Bird: Yellow footed green pigeon
and spices such as turmeric. (Treron phoenicoptera)
Industry: Mumbai is also known `` Manipur
as the financial capital of India and
houses major corporate and financial Also known as: “Gateway to the
institutions. Maharashtra contributes East”
25% of the country’s industrial output Capital: Imphal
and is manufacturing hub for some of Largest city: Imphal
the largest public sector industries in No. Of districts: 9
India, including Hindustan Petroleum Chief Minister: Okram Ibobi Singh
Corporation, Tata Petrodyne and Oil Governor: Syed Ahmed
India Ltd. Area: 22,327 sq.km(8,621 sq mi)
Neighbouring States: It shares its Language: Meeteilon
border with Arabian Sea to the west Date of establishment: 21st Jan. 1972
and states of Karnataka, Telangana, Population: 2,570,390
Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Sex Ratio: 987 females per 1000 males
Pradesh and the Union territory of Literacy Rate: 79.21%
Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Population Density: 120/sq.km
Art & Culture: (300/sq mi)
(a) Dances: Lavani is the most Forest Area: 14,365 dq.km
popular form of dance in the Agriculture: Manipur’s climate and
state. Koli dance is yet another soil conditions are ideally suited for
form of folk dance. horticultural crops. It is home for
Panorama B-15

variety of rare and exotic medicinal Capital: Shillong

and aromatic plants. Some cash Largest city: Shillong
crops suited for Manipur include No. Of districts: 11
litchi, cashew nuts, walnuts, orange, Chief Minister: Mukul Sangma
lemon, pineapple, papaya, passion Governor: V. Shanmuganathan
fruit, peach, pear and plum. Area: 22,429 sq.km(8,660 sq mi)
Industry: Its economy is primarily Language: English, Khasi and Garo
agriculture, forestry, cottage and
Date of establishment: 21 January
trade driven. Manipur has the
1972
highest number of handicrafts units
Population: 2,964,007
and number of craftspersons, in the
entire northeastern region of India. Sex Ratio: 986 females per 1000 males
The state is covered with over 3,000 Literacy Rate: 75.84%
square km of bamboo forests, making Population Density :130/sq.km
it one of India’s largest contributors (340/sq mi)
to its bamboo industry. Forest Area: 9,496 sq.km (3,666 sq mi)
Neighbouring States: It is bounded Agriculture: Basically an agricultural
by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram state with about 80% of population
to the south, and Assam to the west; depending entirely on agriculture for
Burma lies to its east. their livelihood. Rice, maize, wheat
Art & Culture: and a few other cereals and pulses.
(a) Dances: Manipuri dance (Ras The important cash crops potato,
Lila) ginger, turmeric, black pepper, areca
(b) Festivals: The various festivals nut, tezpatta, betelvine, short-staple
of Manipur are Lui-ngai-ni cotton, jute, mesta, mustard and
Ningol Chakouba, Yaoshang, rapeseed etc. Horticultural crops like
Ganngai, Chumpha, Christmas, orange, lemon, pineapple, guava,
Cheiraoba, Kang and Heikru litchi, banana, jack fruits and fruits
Hidongba. such as plum, pear and peach.
Nature Tourism: Loktak Lake, Industry: Meghalaya has a rich base
Kaina, Keibul Lamjao National Park, of natural resources which include
Sadu Chiru waterfall and Thalon minerals such as coal, limestone,
Cave. sillimanite, Kaolin and granite
Tribes: Aimol, Anal, Angami, Chiru, among others.
Chothe, Gangte, Hmar, Kabui, Neighbouring States: This state is
Koireng, Kom, Lamgang, Mao, bounded to the south by the districts
Maram, Maring, Mizo, , Suhte, Tangkh, of greater Mymensingh and the
Thadou, Vaiphui, Zou, Kuki. Division of Sylhet and the west by the
Cuisines: Iromba, Kabok, Chakkounba Division of Rangpur of Bangladesh
Animal: Sangai (Cervus eldi) and the north and the east by Assam.
Bird: Mrs. Humes Pheasant (Syrmaticus Art & Culture:
humiae) (a) Dances: Nongkrem` is an important
folkdance from the Meghalaya.
`` Meghalaya (b) Festivals: Shivratri, Nongkrem
Also known as: “the abode of the Dance Festival, and Wangala or
clouds” the harvest Festival.
B-16 Panorama

Tourism: Mawphlang sacred forest, Neighbouring States: The state

limestone and sandstone caves, and shares borders with three of the seven
some of the popular waterfalls like sister states, namely Tripura, Assam,
the Elephant Falls, Shadthum Falls, Manipur and a 722 km border with the
Weinia falls, Bishop Falls, Nohkalikai neighbouring countries of Bangladesh
Falls, Langshiang Falls and Sweet and Myanmar.
Falls. Art & Culture:
Tribes: Chakma, Dimasa, Garo, (a) Dances: Cheraw, Khuallam,
Hajong, Hmar, Khasi, Jaintia, Kuki, Chheihla, Chai
Pawi, Synteng, Boro, Koch, Raba, (b) Festivals: Chapchar Kut,
Lakher, Man, Naga, Mikir, Mizo. Thalfavang Kut, Mim Kut, Pawl
Cuisines: Jadoh, Kyat (local beer). Kut, Christmas and Easter.
Bitchi Tourism:
Animal: Clouded Leopard (Neofelis National parks and sanctuaries:
nebulosa) Murlen National Park, Dampa
Bird: Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa) Tiger Reserve, Khawnglung Wildlife
Sanctuary.
`` Mizoram Hill stations: Hmuifang Tlang, Reiek
Tlang
Also known as: “land of the hill Tribes: Chakma, Dimasa, Garo,
people” Hajong, Hmar, Khasi, Jaintia, Kuki,
Capital: Aizawl Mikir, Naga, Pawi, Synteng, Paite,
Largest city: Aizawl Lakher, Man.
No. Of districts: 8 Cuisines: Zu (a special tea)
Chief Minister: Pu Lalthanhawla Animal: Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock
Governor: Lt General Nirbhay Sharma hoolock)
Area: 21,087 sq.km(8,142 sq mi) Bird: Mrs. Humes pheasant (Syrmaticus
Language: Mizo humaie)
Date of establishment: 20th February
1987 `` Nagaland
Population: 1,091,014 Also known as: “falcon capital of
Sex Ratio: 975 females per 1000 males the world”
Literacy Rate: 91.58% Capital: Kohima
Population Density: 52/sq.km(130/sq mi) Largest city: Dimapur
Forest Area: 1,594,000 hectares No. Of districts: 11
(3,940,000 acres) Chief Minister: T. R. Zeliang
Agriculture:55% to 60% of the Governor: Padmanabha Acharya
working population of the state is Area: 16,579 sq.km(6,401 sq mi)
annually deployed on agriculture. Language: English
Rice remains the largest crop grown in Date of establishment: 1st December
the state; fruits are the second largest 1963
category, followed by condiments and Population: 1,980,602
spices. Sex Ratio: 931
Industry: Handloom, horticulture Literacy Rate: 80.11%
industries, forestry, fisheries and Population Density: 119/sq.km
sericulture (310/sq mi)
Panorama B-17

Forest Area: About one-sixth of the Language: Odia, English

state’s area is covered by tropical and Date of establishment: 1st April
sub-tropical evergreen forests. 1936
Agriculture: The main crops of Population: 41,947,358
the state are rice, millet, maize, and Sex Ratio: 978 females per 1000
pulses. Cash crops, like sugarcane and males
potato, are also grown in some parts. Literacy Rate: 73.45%
Plantation crops such as premium Population Density: 270/sq.km
coffee, cardamom, and tea are grown (700/sq mi)
in hilly areas in small quantities. Forest Area: 48,903 sq.km
Industry: Forestry is also an Agriculture: Rice is the dominant
important source of income. crop in Odisha and is grown on 77%
Cottage industries such as weaving, of the area under cultivation. The
woodwork, and pottery are also an state is the fourth largest shrimp
important source of revenue. producing state in India.
Neighbouring States: It borders the Industry: Industries like manufacturing;
state of Assamto the west, Arunachal mining and quarrying; electricity, gas
Pradesh and part of Assam to the and water supply; and construction are
north, Burma to the east and Manipur dominant in the state. NALCO and
to the south. Vedanta, two of the biggest aluminium
Art & Culture: plants are in Odisha which makes the
(a) Dances: Zeliang is the one of state leading producer of aluminium
the most artistic dance forms. in the state.
(b) Festivals: Nagaland is known Neighbouring States: It shares its
as the land of festivals. The borders with states of West Bengal
Hornbill Festival in December, to the north-east, Jharkhand to the
Sekrenyi, Tsukhenyie, Mimkut, north, Chhattisgarh to the west and
Bishu, Aoling, Moatsu, Tuluni, north-west, Telangana to the south-
Nyaknylum, Mongmong, Tokhu west and Andhra Pradesh to the
Emong and Yemshe are some of south.
the important festivals celebrated Art & Culture:
by the various Naga tribes. (a) Dances: Odissi is one of the oldest
Tribes: Naga, Kuki, Kachari, Mikir, and most important classical
Garo dance forms in the state. Other
Cuisines: Momos, Rice Beer, and dance forms include: Ghumura
Cherry Wine Dance, Chhau dance, Mahari
Animal: Gaur (Bos gaurus) dance, and Gotipua.
Bird:Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii) (b) festivals: Durga Puja, Kumar
Purnima, Deepabali, Prathamastami,
`` Odisha Vasant Panchami, Maha Shivaratri,
Ratha Yatra, Ganesh Chaturthi,
Capital: Bhubaneshwar Raja Parba are some of the major
Largest city: Bhubaneshwar festivals celebrated across Odisha.
No. Of districts: 30 Religious Places: Lingaraja Temple
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik at Bhubaneswar, Jagannath Temple,
Governor: S.C. Jamir Puri and the Konark Sun Temple and
Area: 155,820 sq.km(60,160 sq mi) Maa Sarala Temple at Tirtol town.
B-18 Panorama

Nature Tourism: Udayagiri and sewing machines, sports goods, starch,

Khandagiri Caves, Dhauli, Chilika tourism, fertilisers, bicycles, garments,
Lake, Bhitarkanika National Park, and the processing of pine oil and sugar.
Simlipal National Park. Punjab also has the largest number of
Tribes: Bagata, Bathudi, , Birhor, steel rolling mill plants in India, which
Didayi, Didayi, Chenchu, Dal, are located in “Steel Town”—Mandi
Desua, Gandia, Ghara, Gond, Ho, Gobindgarh in the Fatehgarh Sahib
Holva, Kandha, Munda, Kol, Kolah district.
Laharas, Kol Loharas, Kolha, Koli, Neighbouring States: The state
Mahali, Mankidi, Mankirdia, Pentia, is bordered by the Indian states
Rajuar, Santal, Saora, of Himachal Pradesh to the east,
Cuisines: Fish Orly, Khirmohan, Haryana to the south and southeast,
Rsabali, Chhenapodapitha Rajasthan to the southwest, and the
Animal: Sambar (Rusa unicolor) Pakistani province of Punjab to the
Bird: Indian Roller (Coracias west. To the north it is bounded by the
benghalensis) Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Art & Culture:
`` Punjab (a) Dances: Bhangra and Giddha
Also known as: “Granary of India”, are the major dance forms of the
“India’s bread-basket” state.
(b) Festivals: Bandi Chhor Divas
Capital: Chandigarh
(Diwali), Mela Maghi, Hola
Largest city: Ludhiana
Mohalla, Rakhri, Vaisakhi,
No. Of districts: 22
Lohri, Teeyan and Basant.
Chief Minister: Parkash Singh Badal Religious Places: The Golden Temple
Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki in Amritsar and Sri Anandpur Sahib
Area: 50,362 sq.km (19,445 sq mi) are the major religious attraction of
Language: Punjabi the state.
Date of establishment: 15th August Cuisines: Dal Makhni, Makke di
1947 Roti-Sarson da Saag, Chana Bhature
Population: 27,704,236 Animal: Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)
Sex Ratio: 893 females per 1000 Bird: Northern Goshawk (Accipiter
males gentilis)
Literacy Rate: 76.68%
Population Density: 550/sq. km `` Rajasthan
(1,400/sq mi)
Name: Rajasthan
Agriculture: Wheat is the most
Capital: Jaipur
important crop of the state. Rice,
Largest city: Jaipur
sugarcane, fruits and vegetables are
No. Of districts: 33
also grown. The state produces 10.26%
of India’s cotton, 19.5% of India’s Chief Minister: Vasundhara Raje
wheat, and 11% of India’s rice. Governor: Kalyan Singh
Industry: Industries include the Area: 342,239 sq.km(132,139 sq mi)
manufacturing of scientific instruments, Language: Hindi, Rajasthani
agricultural goods, electrical goods, Date of establishment: 1st November
financial services, machine tools, textiles, 1956
Panorama B-19

Population: 73,529,325 Animal: Chinkara (Gazella bennettii)

Sex Ratio: 926 females per 1000 males Bird:Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis
Literacy Rate: 67.68% nigriceps)
Population Density: 201/sq.km
(520/sq mi) `` Sikkim
Agriculture: Wheat, barley, pulses, Capital: Gangtok Largest city:
sugarcane and oilseeds are cultivated Gangtok
over large areas. Cotton and tobacco No. Of districts: 4
are the main cash crops. The largest Chief Minister: Pawan Chamling
producers of edible oils in India
Governor: Shriniwas Dadasaheb
and the second largest producer of
Patil
oilseeds. The biggest wool-producing
state in India and the main opium Area: 7,096 sq.km (2,740 sq mi)
producer and consumer. Language: Nepali, Bhutia, Gurung,
Industry: Main industries are Lepcha, Limbu, Manggar, Newari,
mineral, agriculture, and textile Sherpa, Sunwar, Tamang
based. The second largest producer Date of establishment: 16th May
of polyester fibre in India. 1975
Neighbouring States: It shares a Population: 607,688
border with the Pakistani provinces Sex Ratio: 889 females per 1000 males
of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh Literacy Rate: 82.2%
to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus Population Density: 86/sq.km (220/
river valley. Elsewhere it is bordered sq mi)
by the other Indian states: Punjab Forest Area: 81% of the state area
to the north; Haryana and Uttar Agriculture: Crops such as Rice,
Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya maize, millet, wheat, barley, oranges,
Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat tea and cardamom are grown here.
to the southwest.
Sikkim is the leading producer of
Art & Culture: cardamom in India
(a) Dances: Ghoomar dance from
Industry: Brewing, distilling,
Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of
tanning and watches are the main
Jaisalmer
industries. The state has also invested
(b) Festivals: Deepawali, Holi,
in a fledgling gambling industry,
Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji, Shri
promoting both casinos and online
Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar
Sankranti and Janmashtami gambling. The Playwin lottery has
Religious Places: The Brahma been a notable success in the state.
temple at Pushkar, Dilwara Temples Neighbouring States: The state
of Mount Abu, Ranakpur Temple is bordered by Nepal to the west,
in Pali District, Mehandipur Balaji China’s Tibet Autonomous Region to
Temple, Karni Mata Temple of the north and east, and Bhutan to the
Bikaner, Ajmer Sharif Dargah are east. The Indian state of West Bengal
some of the important religious lies to the south.
places in the state. Art & Culture:
Cuisines: Dal-Bati-Churma, Ker (a) Dances: Singhi Chham is a
Sangari, Lal Maas, Gatte masked dance of Sikkim.
B-20 Panorama

(b) Festivals: Diwali, Dussera, Maghe Coach Factory which is located in

Sankranti, Bhimsen Puja, Losar, Perambur is the largest producer of
Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab railway coaches in Asia.
Duechen, Drupka Teshi, Bhumchu, Neighbouring States: The state is
Eid ul-Fitr, Muharram and bordered by the union territory of
Christmas are the major festivals Puducherry and the south Indian
celebrated in the state. states of Kerala, Karnataka, and
Religious Places: Rumtek Monastery, Andhra Pradesh. It also shares a
Tsongmo Lake, Nathu la pass, maritime border with the nation of
Gurudongmar Lake Sri Lanka.
Tribes: Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Art & Culture:
Tamang (a) Dances: Bharatanatyam is the
Cuisines:Momos, Thukpa, Gundruk, famous dance forms of Tamail
Phagshapa and Seal Roti Nadu. Other forms of folk dances
Animal: Red panda (Ailurus fulgens) are Karakattam,Mayilam.
Bird: Blood pheasant (Ithaginis (b) Festivals: Pongal is the most
cruentus) celebrated festival of the state.
Other major festivals are
`` Tamil Nadu Deepavali, Ayudha Poojai,
Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara),
Capital: Chennai Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka
Largest city: Chennai Chathurthi, Eid ul-Fitr, Bakrid,
No. Of districts: 32 Milad un Nabi, Muharram, Good
Chief Minister: J Jayalalithaa Friday, Easter are celebrated in the
Governor: Konijeti Rosaiah state.
Area: 130,058 sq.km(50,216 sq mi) Religious Places: Chidambaram,
Language: Tamil Thiruvannaamalai, Brihadishwara
Date of establishment: 26th January Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram,
1950 Madurai Meenakshi Amman
Population: 72,147,030 Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy
Sex Ratio: 995 females per 1000 males Temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli,
and Rameshwaram are the famous
Literacy Rate: 80.33 %
religious places of the state.
Population Density: 550/sq.km
Tribes: Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan,
(1,400/sq mi)
Irular, Kadar, Kammara, Kaniyan,
Forest Area: 22,643 sq.km(8,743 sq mi) Kanyan, Kattunayakan, Kochu,
Agriculture: Rice is the leading crop Konda, Kondareddis, Koraga, Kota
and the Cauvery delta region is known Muthuvan, Malai, Malakkuravan,
as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Malasar, Malayali , Palliyar, Paniyan,
Mango and banana are the leading Sholaga, Toda.
fruit crops. The main vegetables Cuisines: Appam, Dosai, Idli,
grown are tapioca, tomato, onion, Sambhar, Rasam, Chettinad Chicken,
brinjal(eggplant), and drumstick. Pongal
Industry: Textiles, leather, electronics, Animal: Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus
heavy industries, engineering, hylocrius)
software, and automobiles are the Bird: Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps
leading industries of the state. Integral indica)
Panorama B-21

`` Telangana Religious Places: Alampur Jogulamba

temple, Gnana Saraswati Temple,
Capital: Hyderabad
Bhadrachalam Temple, Sri Raja
Largest city: Hyderabad Rajeswara Swami temple and the
No. Of districts: 10 Thousand Pillar Temple are some of
Chief Minister: Kalvakuntla the famous temples of the state.
Chandrashekar Rao Cuisines: Gongura Ghosht, Pappuchura,
Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan Gongura Pappu, Hyderabadi Biryani
Area: 114,840 sq.km(44,340 sq mi) Animal: Chital (Zinka)
Language: Telugu, Urdu Bird:Pala Pitta (Coracias benghalensis)
Date of establishment: 2nd June
2014 `` Tripura
Population: 35,193,978 Capital: Agartala
Literacy Rate: 66.50% Largest city: Agartala
Population Density: 310/sq.km (790 No. Of districts: 8
/sq mi) Chief Minister: Manik Sarkar
Agriculture: Rice is the major food Governor: Tathagata Roy
crop and staple food of the state. Other Area: 10,491.69 sq.km(4,050.86 sq mi)
important crops are Maize, Tobacco, Language: Bengali and Kokborok
Mango, Cotton and Sugar cane Date of establishment: 21st Jan. 1972
Industry: Automobiles and auto Population: 3,671,032
components industry, spices, mines Sex Ratio: 961 females per 1000 males
and minerals, textiles and apparels, Literacy Rate: 94.65%
pharmaceutical, horticulture, poultry Population Density: 350/sq.km
farming (910/sq mi)
Neighbouring States: The state Forest Area: 57.73% of the state
shares its borders with Maharashtra, Agriculture: Rice, potato, sugarcane,
Chhattisgarh to the north, and mesta, pulses, and jute are some of the
Karnataka to the west, and Andhra crops grown in the state. Jackfruit and
Pradesh to the south, east and north pineapple are among the horticultural
east. products.
Art & Culture: Industry: Brickfields and tea industry
(a) Classical dance forms (Sastriya Neighbouring States: The state
Nrutyam) such as Kuchipudi, is bordered by Bangladesh to the
AndhraNatyam, Bhamakalapam, north, south, and west, and Assam
Veeranatyam; and folk dances such and Mizoram to the east.
as Butta bommalu, Tappeta Gullu, Art & Culture: Goria dance, Jhum
Lambadi, Dhimsa, and Chindu. dance, lebang dance, mamita dance,
(b) Festivals: Sankranti, Maha and mosak sulmani dance are some
Shivaratri, Ugadi or the Telugu of the dance forms of the state.
New Year, Sri Rama Navami, Tourism: Ujjayanta Palace, Kunjaban
Varalakshmi Vratam, Vinayaka Palace, Neermahal – Lake Palace,
Chaviti, Dasara, Atla Tadde, Laxminarayan Temple, Uma Maheswar
Deepavali, Deepothsavam during Temple, Jagannath Temple, Benuban
the Deepavali season. Bihar, Gedu Mian Mosque, Malancha
B-22 Panorama

Niwas, Rabindra Kanan, Purbasha, Art & Culture:

Handicrafts Designing Centre, Fourteen (a) Dances: Langvir Nritya, Barada
Goddess Temple, and Portuguese Church Nati, Hurka Baul, Jhora-Chanchri,
are some of major tourist attractions. Jhumaila, Chauphula, and
Tribes: Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Chholiya.
Chakma, Garoo, Halam, Khasia, (b) Festivals: Kumbh Mela, Kanwar
Kuki, Mag , Munda, Noatia, Orang, Yatra, Kandali Festival, Ramman,
Riang, Santal, Tripura Harela mela, Nauchandi mela,
Cuisines: Chakhwi, Mwkhwi, Muitru Uttarayani mela and Nanda Devi
Animal: Phayre’s Langur Mela take place.
Tourism: It is home to some
(Trachypithecus phayrel)
most frequented hill stations like
Bird:Green Imperial Pigeon (Dacula
Mussoorie, Nainital, Dhanaulti,
genea) Lansdowne, Pauri, Sattal, Almora,
Kausani, Bhimtal, and Ranikhet.
`` Uttarakhand
National parks in the state include
Also known as: “Land of the Gods” Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji
Capital: Dehradun National Park, Nanda Devi National
Largest city: Dehradun Park, and Valley of Flowers National
No. Of districts: 13 Park. Badrinath and Kedarnath are
Chief Minister: Harish Rawat one of the most auspicious and holy
pilgrimages housed by the state.
Governor: Krishan Kant Paul
Tribes: Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Raji,
Area: 53,483 sq.km(20,650 sq mi)
Tharu
Language: Hindi, Sanskrit, Garhwali, Cuisines: Aloo ke Gutke, Kaapa,
Kumaoni Jhangora (millets) ki Kheer, Chainsoo
Date of establishment: 9th November Animal: Musk deer (Moschus
2000 cupreus)
Population: 10,116,752 Bird:Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus
Sex Ratio: 963 females per 1000 males impejanus)
Literacy Rate: 79.63%
Population Density: 189/sq.km `` Uttar Pradesh
(490/sq mi) Also known as: ‘Hindi heartland of
Forest Area: 34651 sq.km India’
Agriculture: Basmati rice, wheat, Capital & Largest city: Lucknow
soybeans, groundnuts, coarse cereals, No. Of districts: 75
pulses, and oil seeds are the major Chief Minister: Akhilesh Yadav
crops grown in the state. Governor: Ram Naik
Industry: Tourism and hydropower Area: 243,286 sq.km(93,933 sq mi)
are the major industries of the state. Language: Hindi, Urdu
Neighbouring States: It borders Tibet Date of establishment: 1st April
on the north; the Mahakali Zone of 1937 as the United Provinces
the Far-Western Region, Nepal on the Population: 199,581,477
east; and the Indian states of Uttar Sex Ratio: 908 females per 1000
Pradesh to the south and Himachal males
Pradesh to the northwest. Literacy Rate: 69.7%
Panorama B-23

Population Density: 820/sq.km Animal: Swamp Deer (Rucervus

(2,100/sq mi) duvaucelii)
Forest Area: 16,583 sq.km (6,403 sq mi) Bird: Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)
Agriculture: Wheat is the major
food crop; and sugarcane is the main `` West Bengal
commercial crop with 70% of sugar Capital & Largest city: Kolkata
produce from the state. No. Of districts: 20
Industry: Major industries include Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
electronics, electrical equipment,
Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi
cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery,
Area: 88,752 sq.km (34,267 sq mi)
frigates, automobiles, railway coaches,
Language: Bengali and English
etc
Date of establishment: 15th August
Neighbouring States: The state
1947
shares its border with Rajasthan
to the west, Haryana and Delhi to Population: 91,347,736
the northwest, Uttarakhand and Sex Ratio: 947 females per 1000 males
the country of Nepal to the north, Literacy Rate: 77.08%
Bihar to the east, Jharkhand to Population Density: 1,000/sq.km
the southeast, Chhattisgarh to the (2,700/sq mi)
south and Madhya Pradesh to the Forest Area: 16,805 sq.km (6,488 sq mi)
southwest. Agriculture: Rice, potato, jute,
Art & Culture: sugarcane and wheat
(a) Dances: Kathak is most popular Industry: steel, leather, textiles,
dance form. jewellery, frigates, automobiles,
(b) Festivals: Diwali, Buddha Purnima, electronics, electrical equipment etc
Christmas, Rama Navami, are the major manufacturing industries
Vijayadashami, Makar Sankranti, of West Bengal.
Vasant Panchami, Ayudha Puja, Neighbouring States: The state
Ganga Mahotsava, Janmashtami, is surrounded by the countries of
Sardhana Christian Fair, Maha Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and
Shivaratri, Mahavir Jayanti, the states of Odisha, Jharkhand,
Moharram, Barah Wafat, Eid, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam
Bakreed, Chhath puja, Lucknow Art & Culture:
Mahotsav, Kabob and Hanuman (a) Dances: Chau dance and many
Jayanti. other folk dances.
Tourism: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Bara (b) Festivals: Durga Puja, Poila
Imambara, Fatehpur Sikri, Sarnath, Baishakh (the Bengali New Year),
Kushinagar, Patna Bird Sanctuary Rathayatra, Dolyatra or Basanta-
and many more are the major tourist Utsab, Nobanno, Poush Parbon,
attractions of the state. Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, Laxmi
Tribes: Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Raji, Puja, Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr,
Tharu, Gonda, Baiga, Parahiya, Eid ul-Adha, Buddha Purnima,
Saharya, Chero, Kharwar, Bhuiya, Muharram, Christmas
Pankha, Baiga. Tourism: Dakshineswar Kali
Cuisines: Kabab, Biryanis, Bedmi Temple, Tipu Sultan Mosque, St
Aloo, Kachori, Banarasi Chaat Paul’s Cathedral, Victoria Memorial,
B-24 Panorama

Howrah Bridge, Vidyasagar Setu are Saw Mill, Mini Zoo, Corbyn’s cove,
some of the major tourist attractions. Chidiya Tapu, Wandoor Beach, Forest
Popular national parks include Museum, Cinque island, Mt Harriet
Sundarbans National Park, Buxa and Mud Volcano, Neil Island and
Tiger Reserve, Gorumara National many more.
Park, Neora Valley National Park, Tribes: Andamanese, Chariar, Chari,
Singalila National Park, and Jaldapara Kora, Tabo, Bo, Yere, Kede, Bea,
National Park. Balawa, Bojigiyab, Juwai, Kol, Jarawas,
Tribes: Asur, Baiga, Bedia, Chero, Nicobarese, Onges, Sentinelese, Shom.
Chik Baraik, Garo, Gond, Gorait,
Haja Mru, Munda, Nagesia, Oraon, `` Chandigarh
Parhaiya, Rabha, Santal, Sauria Also known as: “Wealthiest Town
Paharia, Savar, Limbu of India”
Cuisines: Rosogulla, Mishti Doi, Administrator: Kaptan Singh Solanki
Bhapa Illish Mayor: Poonam Sharma
Animal: Fishing cat (Prionailurus Commissioner: Vivek Pratap Singh
viverrinus)
Area:114 sq.km(44 sq mi)
Bird: White-breasted Kingfisher
Language: English, Hindi, Punjabi
(Halcyon smyrnensis) Date of establishment:1st Nov, 1966
`` Andaman and Nicobar Islands Population:1,054,686
Sex Ratio: 818 females per 1000 males
Capital & Largest city: Port Blair Literacy Rate: 81.9%
No. Of districts: 3 Population Density: 9,300/sq.km
Area: 8,073 sq.km(3,117 sq mi) (24,000/sq mi)
Language: English, Hindi Industry: Pharmaceuticals, machinery,
Date of establishment:1st November food products, and electrical appliances
1956 are some of the major industries.
Population: 379,944 Neighbouring states: The union
Sex Ratio:878 females per 1,000 males territory shares its border with
Literacy Rate:86.27% Haryana and Punjab.
Population Density:46 per sq.km Tourism: Kasauli, Sukhna Lake,
Forest Area: 86.2% of the total land Leisure Valley, Rock Garden and
area. many more are the major tourist
Agriculture: Paddy, oilseeds and attraction.
vegetables Cuisines: Butter Chicken, Tandoori
Industry: Small scale industries and Chicken, Mutton Pulao
handicraft units; Tourism plays an
important role in the economy of the `` Dadra and Nagar Haveli
union territory. Capital: Silvassa
Tourism: The island serves as an Administrator: Ashish Kundra
excellent tourist destination with Area: 102 sq.km (39 sq mi)
major attractions like Havelock Language: English, Gujarati, Hindi,
island, Cellular Jail, Mahatma Gandhi Marathi
Marine National Park, Andaman Date of establishment: 11th August
Water sports complex, Chatham 1961
Panorama B-25

Population: 342,853 Administrator: H. Rajesh Prasad

Sex Ratio: 775 females per 1000 males Area: 32 sq.km (12 sq mi)
Literacy Rate: 77.65% Language: English, Malayalam
Population Density: 698 per sq.km Date of establishment: 1st November
Forest Area: 43% of the land is under 1956
forest cover Population: 65,473
Agriculture: paddy, ragi, small Sex Ratio: 946 females per 1000 males
millets, jowar, sugarcanes Literacy Rate: 92.28%
Industry: Agriculture, Industries, Population Density: 2013 per sq.km
Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture: fishing and coconut
Tourism cultivation
Neighbouring states: It is surrounded Industry: Fisheries, production
by Valsad District of Gujarat on the of fibre products, tourism and
West, North and East and by Thane desalination are major industries
District of Maharashtra on the South Neighbouring states: Kerala and
and South-East. Karnataka
Tourism: Vanganga Lake Garden, Art & Culture: Festivals: Eid-Ul-Fitr,
Hirwavan garden, Piparia, Tribal Muharram, Bakra Eid and Milad-Un-
Museum, Vandhara Udyan, Mini Nabi are the most celebrated festivals.
Zoo and Bal Udyan, Ayyappa Temple Tourism: Bangaram and Kadmat
,Silvassa, Tapovan Tourist Complex, islands are the most frequented
Bindrabin are the major tourist tourist destinations.
attractions. Animal: Butterfly fish (Chaetodon
decussatus)
`` Daman and Diu
Bird: House Sparrow (Passer
Capital: Daman domesticus)
Administrator: Ashish Kundra Bird: Soofy Tern (onychoprion fuscata)
Area: 102 sq.km (39 sq mi)
Language: English, Gujarati, Hindi, `` National Capital Territory of
Marathi Delhi
Date of establishment: 30 May 1987 Capital: New Delhi
Population: 242,911 No. Of districts: 11
Sex Ratio: 618 females per 1000 males Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
Literacy Rate: 87.07% Area: 1,484.0 sq.km(573.0 sq mi)
Population Density: 2169 per sq.km Language: Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
Industry: Major industries include Date of establishment: 1st Feb 1992
distillery, fishing andtourism Population: 11,007,835
Neighbouring states: Gujarat Sex Ratio: 866 females per 1000
Tribes: Dhodia, Dubla (Halpati), males
Naikda (Talavia), Siddi, Varli. Literacy Rate: 86.34%
Population Density: 11,297 per sq. km
`` Lakshadweep
Industry: Information technology,
Capital: Kavaratti sports goods, medicines, leather
Largest city: Andrott goods, telecommunications, hotels,
No. Of districts: 1 banking, media and tourism
B-26 Panorama

Neighbouring states: Haryana and Bharathi Park, Governors Palace,

Uttar Pradesh Romain Rolland Library, Legislative
Art & Culture: Festivals: Diwali (the Assembly, Pondicherry Museum,
festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Thirukaameeswarar Temple and
Guru Nanak’s Birthday, Raksha many more are the famous tourist
Bandhan, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, spots in Puducherry.
Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivratri, Cuisines: Kadugu yerra, Vendakkai,
Eid ul-Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Patchaddy
Jayanti. Animal: Squirrel Sciuridae ratufinae
Tourism: Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Bird: Asian Koel (Eudynamys
Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Jantar scolopaceus)
Mantar, Laxminarayan temple,
Four Ends of India
Akshardham temple, Lotus temple,
Iskcon temple, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Easternmost point of India is known
and Jama Masjid are the prominent as Kibithu; situated on right bank of
tourist attractions. river Lohit separating India from
China-Tibet region. It is a small
Cuisines: Chaat, Tandoori Chicken,
village with the population at the
Paranthe, Chole Bhature
altitude of 3,350 metre in Arunachal
Bird: House Sparrow (Passer
Pradesh. Westernmost point is
domesticus)
situated in Kuch area of Gujarat
`` Puducherry called as Ghuar Mota. The region
is famous for its harsh climate with
Capital & Largest city: Pondicherry 45°C in summer and 20°C in winter.
No. Of districts:4 During monsoon season this region
Chief Minister: N. Rangaswamy looks like tortoise surrounded by
Area:492 sq.km (190 sq mi) seawater. Northernmost point of
Language: French, Malayalam, India has been in controversies
Tamil, Telugu ever since India’s independence.
Date of establishment:7 Jan 1963 The Siachen Glacier in the state
Population:1,244,464 of J&K is the northern boundary
of India according to the official
Sex Ratio:1,038 females per 1000
division of India during the time of
males
Independences. The Southernmost
Literacy Rate:86.34%
point of the mainland of India is
Population Density:2,500/sq.km Kanyakunar District in the state
(6,600/sq mi) of Tamil Nadu. Kanniyakumari,
Agriculture: Rice, pulses, sugarcane, formerly was known as Cape
coconuts, and cotton Comorin. It is the second largest
Industry: Fisheries, textile, automobile and urbanized of Tamil Nadu.
parts, computer hardware, cotton yarn Indira Point is a village in the
and tourism are the major industries. Nicobar district of Andaman and
Tourism: Promenade Beach, Sri Nicobar Islands, India. It is located
Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville in the Great Nicobar tehsil. It is the
Beach, Serenity Beach, French War location of the southernmost point
Memorial, 19th Century Light House, of India’s territory.
Panorama B-27

National Symbols of India

National The national flag consists of a horizontal
Flag rectangular tricolour with saffron at the top, white
in the middle and India green at the bottom. The
centre has a navy blue wheel with twenty-four
spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra. The flag is
designed by Pingali Venkayya.
National The national emblem is the Lion Capital of Asoka
Emblem at Sarnath which was adopted on 26th January
1950. The motto inscribed on the emblem is in
Devana gari script: “Satyameva jayate” which
means Truth Alone Triumphs.

National Jana Gana Mana The anthem was composed by Rabindranath

Anthem Tagore; adopted by the Constituent Assembly 24th
January 1950.

National Vande Mataram Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim

Song Chandra Chatterjee. It was adopted as the National
song of India in 1950.

National Indian lotus is the national flower. It is the

Flower representation of purity as it remains flawless
despite growing in mud and water.

National Mango, also known as the ‘King of Fruits’, is the

Fruit National Fruit of India.

National Ganga is the national river of India. It is also the

River longest river of the country.

National The Indian Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) is the

Tree national tree.

National Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the national bird

Bird of India.

National The Tiger known as the Lord of the Jungle is the

Animal national animal of India.

National Saka calendar Saka calendar was introduced as the National

Calendar calendar by the Calendar Committee in 1957.
B-28 Panorama

SPACE SCIENCE
Space mission 1975-2015
Satellite Launch Date Launch Vehicle
Aryabhata 19-Apr-75 u-11 Interkosmos
Bhaskara-I 7-Jun-79 C-1 Interkosmos
Rohini Technology Payload 10-Aug-79 SLV-3
Rohini RS-1 18-Jul-80 SLV-3
Rohini RS-D1 31-May-81 SLV-3
Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment 19-Jun-81 Ariane-1 (V-3)
Bhaskara -II 20-Nov-81 C-1 Intercosmos
INSAT-1A 10-Apr-82 Delta 3910 PAM-D
Rohini RS-D2 17-Apr-83 SLV-3
INSAT-1B 30-Aug-83 Shuttle [PAM-D]
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-1) 24-Mar-87 ASLV
IRS-1A 17-Mar-88 Vostok
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-2) 13-Jul-88 ASLV
INSAT-1C 21-Jul-88 Ariane-3
INSAT-1D 12-Jun-90 Delta 4925
IRS-1B 29-Aug-91 Vostok
INSAT-2DT 26-Feb-92 Ariane-44L H10
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C) 20-May-92 ASLV
INSAT-2A 10-Jul-92 Ariane-44L H10
INSAT-2B 23-Jul-93 Ariane-44L H10+
IRS-1E 20-Sep-93 PSLV-D1
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C2) 4-May-94 ASLV
IRS-P2 15-Oct-94 PSLV-D2
INSAT-2C 7-Dec-95 Ariane-44L H10-3
IRS-1C 29-Dec-95 Molniya
IRS-P3 21-Mar-96 PSLV-D3
INSAT-2D 4-Jun-97 Ariane-44L H10-3
IRS-1D 29-Sep-97 PSLV-C1
INSAT-2E 3-Apr-99 Ariane-42P H10-3
Oceansat-1 (IRS-P4) 26-May-99 PSLV-C2
INSAT-3B 22-Mar-00 Ariane-5G
GSAT-1 18-Apr-01 GSLV-D1
Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) 22-Oct-01 PSLV-C3
INSAT-3C 24-Jan-02 Ariane-42L H10-3
Kalpana-1 (METSAT) 12-Sep-02 PSLV-C4
INSAT-3A 10-Apr-03 Ariane-5G
GSAT-2 8-May-03 GSLV-D2
INSAT-3E 28-Sep-03 Ariane-5G
RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) 17-Oct-03 PSLV-C5
EDUSAT 20-Oct-04 GSLV-F01
Panorama B-29

HAMSAT 5-May-05 PSLV-C6

CARTOSAT-1 5-May-05 PSLV-C6
INSAT-4A 22-Dec-05 Ariane-5GS
INSAT-4C 10-Jul-06 GSLV-F02
CARTOSAT-2 10-Jan-07 PSLV-C7
Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) 10-Jan-07 PSLV-C7
INSAT-4B 12-Mar-07 Ariane-5ECA
INSAT-4CR 2-Sep-07 GSLV-F04
CARTOSAT-2A 28-Apr-08 PSLV-C9
IMS-1 (Third World Satellite – TWsat) 28-Apr-08 PSLV-C9
Chandrayaan-1 22-Oct-08 PSLV-C11
RISAT-2 20-Apr-09 PSLV-C12
ANUSAT 20-Apr-09 PSLV-C12
Oceansat-2 (IRS-P4) 23-Sep-09 PSLV-C14
GSAT-4 15-Apr-10 GSLV-D3
CARTOSAT-2B 12-Jul-10 PSLV-C15
StudSat 12-Jul-10 PSLV-C15
GSAT-5P / INSAT-4D 25-Dec-10 GSLV-F06
RESOURCESAT-2 20-Apr-11 PSLV-C16
Youthsat 20-Apr-11 PSLV-C16
GSAT-8 / INSAT-4G 21-May-11 Ariane-5 VA-202
GSAT-12 15-Jul-11 PSLV-C17
Megha-Tropiques 12-Oct-11 PSLV-C18
Jugnu 12-Oct-11 PSLV-C18
RISAT-1 26-Apr-12 PSLV-C19
SRMSAT 26-Apr-12 PSLV-C18
GSAT-10 29-Sep-12 Ariane-5 VA-209
SARAL 25-Feb-13 PSLV-C20
IRNSS-1A 1-Jul-13 PSLV-C22
INSAT-3D 26-Jul-13 Ariane-5
GSAT-7 30-Aug-13 Ariane-5
Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) 5-Nov-13 PSLV-C25
GSAT-14 5-Jan-14 GSLV-D5
IRNSS-1B 4-Apr-14 PSLV-C24
IRNSS-1C 10-Nov-14 PSLV-C26
GSAT-16 7-Dec-14 Ariane-5
IRNSS-1D 28-Mar-15 PSLV-C27
GSAT-6 27-Aug-15 GSLV-D6
Astrosat 28-Sep-15 PSLV-C30
GSAT-15 11-Nov-15 Ariane 5 VA-227
Space Centres and Units •• SHAR Centre - Shriharikota
•• Vikram Sarabhai Space (Andhra Pradesh)
Centre (VSSC) - Thumba •• Liquid Propulsion Systems
(Thiruvananthapuram) Centre (LPSC) - Bengaluru
•• ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) - •• Space Application Centre -
Bengaluru Ahemdabad
B-30 Panorama

•• Developmental and Educational

Mars Orbiter Mission is a space
Communication - Ahmedabad
probe, launched on 24 September,
unit (DECU)
2014. The mission focuses on
•• ISRO Telemetry Tracking and developing the technologies
Command Network (ISTRAC) for designing, planning,
- Bengaluru management and operations of
•• National Remote Sensing an interplanetary mission. The
Agency (NRSA) - Hyderabad probe carries five instruments for
•• Master Control Facility (MCF) - gathering knowledge about Mars.
Hassan (Karnataka) The space craft is now jointly
•• The Antrix Corporation Limited monitored by ISRO Telemetry,
- Bengaluru Tracking and Command Network
•• North Eastern-Space Applications (ISTRAC) in Bangalore, and
Centre (NE-SAC) - Shillong Indian Deep Space Network
•• Physical Research Laboratory antennae at Byalalu.
(PRL) - Ahmedabad
Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
Satellite System
GLOBAL SPACE PROBES
•• Venus :
The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
satellite system is one of the Venera 1 – USSR Venus flyby,
largest constellations of remote Feb 12, 1961; Now in a solar
orbit.
sensing satellites in operation in the
Mariner 2 – USA Venus flyby,
world today. The IRS programme
Aug 27, 1962; Now in a solar
commissioned with the launch of orbit.
IRS-1A in 1988 presently includes Magellan – USA Venus orbiter,
eleven satellites that continue to May 4, 1989 – 1994
provide imageries in a variety of •• Mars :
spatial resolutions ranging from Mariner 3 – USA Mars flyby,
better than one metre upto 500 Nov. 5, 1964.
metres. Viking 1 – USA Mars orbiter/
Lander, Aug 20,1975.
Indian Regional Navigation
Phobas 1 – USSR Mars orbiter/
Satellite System Lander, July 7, 1988.
The new of Navigation Satellite Mars Odyssey – USA Mars
system was launched in 2013 aimed orbiter, Apr. 7, 2001
at providing accurate real time Spirit (MER-A) – USA Mars
positioning and timing services over Rover, June 10, 2003
India and its surroundings upto a Opportunity (MER-B) – USA
range of 1500 km. The fully deployed Mars Rover, July 7, 2003.
system consists of 3 satellites in GEO Mars Phoenix Lander – USA
orbit and 4 satellites in GSO orbits Mars Lander, Aug. 4, 2007.
placed approximately at an attitude •• Jupiter :
of 36000 km. The constellation has Galileo – USA and Europe
total 7 satellites. probe, Oct. 18, 1989.
Hubble space Telescope – USA
and Europe, Apr. 25, 1990.
Panorama B-31

New Horizons – USA Kuiper Chang’e – 1 – China’s lunar orbiter,

belt flyby, Jan. 19, 2006. Oct 24, 2007.
•• Moon : Chandrayaan 1 – India PSLV – C
Pioneer O – USA Lunar orbiter, 11, Oct 22, 2008. India’s first moon
Aug. 17, 1958. mission and the cheapest moon
Apollo 17 – USA manned lunar mission in the world.
lander, Dec. 7, 1972

DEFENCE AND SECURITY

The Republic of India has world’s 4. Southern Pune
3rd largest military force and has the Command
world’s largest volunteer army. The
5. Central Command Lucknow
President of India is the Supreme
Commander of the Indian Armed
Forces and is looked after by the 6. Training Mhow
Ministry of Defence (MoD) is led Command
by the Union Cabinet Minister (added in 1991)
of Defence. It consists of three 7. South Western Jaipur
professional uniformed services: Command
the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and (added in 2005)
Indian Air Force.
The President of India is the Supreme Air Force
Commander of the Armed Force. Headed By Chief of the Air
However, the Cabinet is responsible for Staff
National Defence. The Administrative
control of armed forces is exercised Headquarters New Delhi
by the Ministry of Defence, which Number of Command
constitutes the following. Command Headquarter
(a) Department of Defence
1. Western Air Delhi
(b) Department of Defence
Command
Production and Supplies
(c) Department of Defence Research 2. South-Western Gandhinagar
and Development (DDRD). Air Command
Army 3. Central Air Allahabad
Headed by Chief of the Army Command
Staff 4. Eastern Air Shillong
Headquarters New Delhi Command
Further, the three services Headquarters, 5. Southern Air Thiru-
which were used to be attached offices of Command vanathapuram
Ministry of Defence are now integrated In addition to the above main
with the Ministry and known as command, there are two support
Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry commands, or functional commands,
of Defence. namely:
Number of Commands 1. Training Command – Bangalore
Command Headquarter 2. Maintenance Command – Nagpur
1. Western Command Chandimandir Today, the Air Force has an
2. Eastern Command Calcutta array of modern aircraft on
3. Northern Udhampur
its inventory besides other hi-
Command
tech electronic and support
B-32 Panorama

equipment. The aircraft fleet INS INS INS

consists of fighter-bombers, air- Sindhushastra Brahamputra Nashak
superiority fighters, interceptors, INS Ghariyal INS Vipul
transport, and logistic aircraft INS Kulish
and helicopters. INS Satpura
INS Talwar
Navy INS
Headed by Chief of Naval Staff Tillanchang
Headquarters New Delhi
Number of Commands
Location of Defence
Establishments
Command Headquarter
Army
1. Western Naval Mumbai Indian Military Dehradun
Command
Academy
2. Eastern Naval Visakhapatnam The College of Kirkee
Command Operational Military Engineering (Pune)
command The School of Signals Mhow
The Infantry School Mhow
3. Southern Naval Kochi used for
Command training
The Corps of Military Faizabad
Police Centre and
Each command is commanded by School
a flag officer commanding- in-chief. The Army Education Pachmarhi
The Indian Navy is a well- Corps and Training
balanced three-dimensional force College
consisting of sophisticated missile- Navy
capable warships, aircraft carriers,
Indian Naval Academy Kochi
minesweepers, advanced submarines,
and the latest aircraft in its inventory. Naval Air Station Garuda Kochi
At present, the Navy has two INS Agrani (Petty Coimbatore
major Naval bases at Mumbai and Officer’s School)
Visakhapatnam. Goa and Arkonnam Naval Gunnery School Kochi
are the major Naval air bases. Torpedo Anti-Submarine Kochi
School
IMPORTANT SUBMARINES/
Navigation Direction Mormugao
MISSILE BOATS/WARSHIPS
School
Submarines Warships Missile Air Force
Boats
Pilot Training Allahabad
INS Chakra INS Savitri INS Establishment
Vibhuti
Jet Training and Hyderabad
INS Shahkul INS Delhi INS Transport Training
Prahar Wings, Air Force
Station
INS Shalki INS Mysore INS The Air Force Jalahalli
Prashant Technical Training
College
Panorama B-33

Paratroopers Training Agra the pursuit of self-reliance in critical

School technologies of relevance to national
Inter-services Institutes security.
The major achievements towards
National Defence Khadakvasla
indigenous development of defence
Academy weapons and systems are (i)
National Defence New Delhi development leading to production
College of surface-to-surface missile, Prithvi;
Defence Services Wellington (ii) state-of-the-art MBT, Arjun; (iii)
Staff College flight simulators for aircraft; (iv)
School of Land/Air Secunderabad pilotless target aircraft, Lakshya; (v)
Warfare parallel super-computer; and (vi)
Rashtriya Indian Dehradun the submarine sonar and weapon
Military College control system, Panchendriya.
Armed Forces Pune Indian (Space Research Organisation
Medical College (ISRO)) is the parented agency of
DRDO Indian space agencies which was
established on 15th August 1969.
It was established in 1958 by The head quater of this organisation
amalgamating Defence Science is at Bangalore and it was founded
Organization and some of the by Vikram Sarabhai with a vision
Technical Development Institutions. to harness space technology for
It functions under the control national development, while pursuing
of Scientific Adviser to Defence space science research and planetary
Minister who is also secretary, exploration. The first satellite made
Defence R&D. DRDO formulates by ISRO was Aryabhata and it was
and executes programmes of launched by Russia on 19th April
scientific research, design and 1975. Thereafter it has developed
development leading to induction of numerous satellites and spacecrafts for
state-of-the-art weapons, platforms, serving different technology such as
and other equipment required by communication Earth’s observation,
the Armed Forces. It is engaged in navigation, climatic observations etc.
RANKS OF INDIAN ARMY, NAVY & AIR FORCE
Indian Army Indian Navy Indian Air Force
Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet Marshal of the Air Force
General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Lieutenant General Vice Admiral Air Marshal
Major General Rear Admiral Air Vice Marshal
Brigadier Commodore Air Commodore
Colonel Captain Group Captain
Lieutenant Colonel Commander Wing Commander
Major Lieutenant Commander Squadron Leader
Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Flying Officer
Indian Costal Guard (ICG) jurisdiction over the territorial waters
Indian Costal Guard (ICG) of India, including its contiguous
protects India’s maritime interests zone and exclusive economic
and enforces maritime law, with zone. The Indian Coast Guard was
B-34 Panorama

formally established on 18 August 3. Border Security Force (BSF)

1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. (1965)
The Coast Guard works in close Mission
cooperation with the Indian Navy, •• Promote a sense of security among
the Department of Fisheries, the the people living in the border
Department of Revenue (Customs) areas.
and the Central and State police •• Prevent trans border crimes,
forces. unauthorized entry into or exit
There are five coastal regions: from the territory of India.
Western Region (W) Mumbai; Eastern •• Prevent smuggling and any other
Region (E) Chennia; North Eastern illegal activity.
Region (NE) Kolkata; North Western •• Holding ground in less threatened
Region (NW) Ghandhinagar. sectors so long as the main attack
does not develop in a particular
Paramilitary Forces: sector and it is felt that the local
1. Railway Protection Force (RPF) situation is within the capability
(1861) of BSF to deal with.
Mission •• Protection of vital installations
•• Protect and safeguard railway particular air-fields against enemy
passengers, passenger area and commandoes/para troopers or
railway property. raids.
•• Ensure the safety, security and •• Providing extension to the flanks
boost the confidence of the of main defence line by the holding
traveling public in the Indian of strong points in conjunction
Railways with other units.
2. Central Reserve Railway •• Limited Aggressive action against
Protection Force (CRPF) (1949)– para military or irregular forces of
Mission: the enemy within the overall plan
•• Crowd control of the Armed Forces.
•• Riot control
•• Acting as guides in an area of
•• Counter Millitancy / Insurgency
responsibility where routes are
operations.
•• Dealing with Left Wing Extremism known.
•• Overall co-ordination of large •• Guarding of prisoners of war cages.
scale security arrangement •• Assistance in control of refugees.
specially with regard to elections •• Anti-infiltration duties in specified
in distrubed areas. area.
•• Protection of VIPs and vital 4. Central Industrial Security Force
installations. -CPF. (1969)–
•• Checking environmental de- Mission
gradation and protection of local •• Providing total security solutions.
Flora and Fauna •• Exposure to varied security
•• Fighting aggression during War environments ranging from highly
time
disturbed areas in J&K, North
•• Participating in UN Peace Keeping
East and Andhra Pradesh to mafia
Mission
infested coalfields of Jharkhand
•• Rescue and Relief operations at
the time of Natural Calamity. and West Bengal.
Panorama B-35

•• Rich experience in security and •• Aims at tracking and neutralizing

protection of highly sensitive activities of terror-groups ,
establishments, Airports and mafia and other organized
Centres of economic growth. crime syndicates, and detecting
•• Protection of heritage monuments rackets of counterfeit currency
like Taj Mahal. notes and smuggling of narcotic
•• Only Force to have a full-fledged substances.
Intelligence Bureau(IB) (1887) –
Fire Wing comprising highly
trained personnel. •• A unit of India’s internal
•• Extensive use of latest security intelligence agency
gadgets. •• Tasked with intelligence collection
•• Excellent training infrastructure. in border areas along with domestic
intelligence responsibilities
5. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
Assam Rifles (1853)
(1969)–
Mission •• A unit of paramilitary forces
•• To promote sense of security •• Aims at combating counter
insurgency, civil unrest,terrorism,
among the people living in the
special weapons operations.
border area.
Garud Commando Force
•• To prevent trans-border crimes and (2004)–
unauthorized entries into or exit •• A special unit of the Indian Air
from the territory of India. Force
•• To prevent smuggling and other •• Garuds perform both war
illegal activities. and peace time duties such
6. Indo-Tibetan Border Police asrescuing downed airmen and
(ITBP) (1962)– other forces from behind enemy
Mission lines,suppression of enemy of
•• Vigil on the northern borders, air defense,provide support to
detection and prevention of border other air operations,protecting
violations, and promotion of the the air bases and other vital
sense of security among the local infrastructure ,counter terrorism,
populace. anti-hijacking, hostage rescue,
•• Check illegal immigration, trans- aid during natural calamities
and military tasks in the interest
border smuggling and crimes.
of the nation
•• Security to sensitive installations,
Ghatak Force
banks and protected persons.
•• A special unit of the an infantry
•• Restore and preserve order in any battalion in the Indian Army
area in the event of disturbance. •• Performs task such as special
Special Security Forces reconnaissance, raids on enemy
artillery positions, airfields, supply
Anti Terrorist Squad (1990) – dumps and tactical headquarters.
•• A unit of government of Rapid Action Force (1991) –
Maharashtra to tackle menace •• A specialized wing of the Indian
and terrorism in collaboration CRPF (Central Reserve Police
with RAW and IB. Force).
B-36 Panorama

•• They are trained to deal with riots, Research and Analysis Wing
riot like situations, crowd control, (RAW) (1968) –
rescue and relief operations, and •• It’s a primary foreign intelligence
related unrest.
agency of India.
National security Guard (1984) –
•• It is a as a Federal Contingency •• Aims at monitoring political,
Deployment Forceunder the military, economic and scientific
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). developments in countries
•• Aimed at performing counter which have direct bearing on
hijacking tasks on land, sea, India’s national security and
and air, bomb disposal (search, the formulation of its foreign
detection and neutralization of policy,coveting operations to
IEDs), Post Blast Investigation safe guard India’s National
and hostage rescue
interests,moulding international
National Investigation Agency public opinion with the help of
(2009) –
the strong and vibrant Indian
•• A federal agency established by Diaspora, performing Anti Terror
the Indian Government.
Operations and neutralizing terror
•• It aims at creating prevention for
existing and potential terrorist elements posing a threat to India.
groups/individuals alongside Commando Battalion for
developinga storehouse of all Resolute Action (COBRA)
terrorist related information. (2008) –
Marcos (1907) – •• It’s a specialized unit of the CRPF
•• A special force unit of Indian Navy. created to counter the Naxalite
It is created to conduct special problem in India.
operations such as amphibious •• They are specially trained in
warfare, counter-terrorism, direct
guerilla warfare to tackle the
action, special reconnaissance,
unconventional warfare, hostage notorious naxalite groups in
rescue, personnel recovery, combat the country. They also master
search and rescue, asymmetric the techniques of camouflage,
warfare, foreign internal defense, jungle warfare, parachute jumps,
counter proliferation. precision strikes and ambushes.

INDIA’S MISSILE SYSTEM : AT A GLANCE

S.
No. Missile Feature Range

1 Astra Missile Beyond Visual range air-to-air Missile A range of over 80

km in head on mode
and 20 km in tail-
chase mode.
2 Shourya Missile Canisterised Surface-to-surface missile 600 km
3 Sagarika Missile Submarine-to-Surface Missile More than 700 km
(K-15)
4 Akash Missile Medium range Surface-to-Air Missile 25 km
Panorama B-37

5 Nag Missile Third Generation-fire and forget-anti- 4 to 6 km

tank guided missile
6 Nirbhay Missile Long range subsonic cruise missile 1000 km
7 Dhanush Missile The Ship-based Surface-to-surface 300 to 350 km
ballistic missile
8 Brahmos Missile Supersonic cruise missile (can be 290 km
(Joint Indo- launched from ships, submarines,
Russia Venture) aricrafts and land)

9 (a) Prithvi-I A single stage liquid-fuelled surface-to- 150 km

(Army version) surface missile.
(b) Prithivi- A single stage liquid-fuelled surface-to- 250 km
II (Air force surface missile.
version)
(c) Prithvi-III A two-stage surface-to-surface missile 350 km
(Naval Version) (first stage is solid fuelled and second
stage is liquid fuelled).
10 (a) Agni-I Short range ballistic missile 700-800 km
(b) Agni-II Medium range ballistic missile 2500 km
(c) Agni-III Intermediate range ballistic missile 3500 km
(d) Agni-IV Intermediate 4000 km

(e) Agni-V Range ballistic missile 5500-5800 km

(f) Agni-VI (tested) undu development 600-800 km

TANKS IN INDIA

Quantity
Type Origin Description
(Est.)

The Indian Army ordered 124 'Arjun' Mk1 MBTs

in 2000 and placed another order for additional 124
'Arjun' Mk1 MBTs and 124 'Arjun' Mk2 MBTs in
Ar jun
248 India 2010, after Arjun tank had conclusively outperformed
MBT
the T-90. Indian Army is set to acquire 124 Arjun Mk2
tanks as a follow-on order, according to the Defence
Minister.

Procured in three separate orders. Two batches (310

tanks and knockdown kits in 2000 and a further 300
T-90 1,050 Russia in 2006) were purchased from Russia. A further 1000
were to be produced locally by 2020. Of those, the first
batch of 10 were delivered in August 2009.

Soviet Upgraded to advanced Ajeya Mk1 and MK2 standard

T-72 2,414 Union, mainly based on Polish PT-91 Twardy Tank features
Poland developed by DRDO
B-38 Panorama

INDIAN SEA-BASED NUCLEAR-ARMED BALLISTIC MISSILES

Name Type Maximum Status
range (km)
Dhanush Short-range 350 Developed, but not deployed
Sagarika (K-15) SLBM 700 Awaiting deployment on INS
K-4 SLBM3 500 Tested
NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES
Class Type Boats Displacement Note
Chakra Attack INS 12,770 tonnes Under a 10 year lease from
(Akula submarine Chakra Russia since 2012.
II)-class (SSN) (S71)
Arihant- Ballistic Missile INS 6,000 tonnes, Undergoing sea trials,
class sub marine Arihant surfaced expected to be commissioned
(SSBN) (S73) by 2014-2015.

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
Class Type Ships Displacement Description
Centaur Aircraft INS 28,700 tonnes STOVL carrier. Scheduled to
-class carrier Viraat be decommissioned by 2018
(R22) and replaced by INS Vikrant
Modified Aircraft INS 45,400 tonnes STOBAR carrier.
Kiev-class carrier Vikramaditya (R33)
REPLENISHMENT SHIPS
Class Type Ships Origin Displacement
Deepak-class Replenishment INS Italy 27,500 tonnes
oiler Deepak (A50)
INS Shakti (A57)
Jyoti-class Replenishment INS Russia 35,900 tonnes
oiler Jyoti (A58)
Aditya-class Replenishment INS India 24,612 tonnes
oiler & Repair ship Aditya (A59)
RESEARCH AND SURVEY VESSELS
Class Type Ships Displacement
Sagardhwani Research INS Sagardhwani 2,050 tonnes
vessel (A74)
Sandhayak-class Survey INS Nirupak (J14) INS 1,800
vessel Investigator tonnes
(J15) INS Jamuna
(J16)INS Sutlej
(J17) INS Sandhayak
(J18) INS Nirdeshak
(J19) INS Darshak
(J20) INS Sarvekshak (J22)
Makar-class Survey INS Makar 500
vessel (J31) tonnes
Panorama B-39

ATOMIC & NUCLEAR SCIENCE

ATOMIC RESEARCH (a) BARC’s atomic reactors
Aspara India’s atomic reactor
India’s atomic research programme is
committed to peaceful uses only, for was commissioned on 4 August
example, atomic power, generation of 1956. One megawatt swimming
electricity, development of agriculture pool type reactor produces radio
and industry, medical science isotopes. It is also the first atomic
application, etc. reactor in Asia.
Indian’s journey to atomic energy (b) Cirus (canada India Reactor) Built
research started with establishment of in 1960, it is a 40 MW reactor.
the Atomic Energy Commission on 10 (c) Zerlina (Zero Energy Reactor for
August 1948 under the chairmanship Lattice Investigation and New
of Dr. Homi J. Bhabha. Subsequently, Assemblies) Commissioned on 4
DAE was established in 1956 with the January 1961, used for studies of
following mandate: uranium heavy water lattice.
(a) To generate safe, economic (d) Dhruva Commissioned on 15
electrical power from nuclear August 1984, this 100 MW reactor
energy. is a completely indigenous nuclear
(b) To build research reactors and to reactor with most advanced
utilize the radioisotopes produced laboratories in the world.
in these reactors for applications (e) Purnima - I (Plutonium Reactor
in the field of agriculture and for Neutronic Investigation
medicine. in Multiplying Assemblies)
(c) To develop advanced technology commissioned on 22 May 1972,
in areas such as accelerators, a plutonium fuelled reactor,
lasers, biochemistry, information modified as Purnima-II that used
technology, and materials uranium as fuel and it is being
including development of non- further modified as Purnima-III.
nuclear and strategic materials (f) Kamini India’s first fast breeder
like titanium. neutron reactor, it has been set up
First Nuclear Implosion at Kalpakkam. Today.
Carried out on 18 May 1974 at Nuclear power plants
pokhran to Rajasthan (Thar) desert.
The main objective was use of Nuclear power is the fourth-largest
atomic energy for peaceful purposes, source of electricity in India
that is, digging canals, reservoirs, oil after thermal, hydroelectric and
explorations as well as to study rock renewable sources of electricity.
dynamics. This successful implosion India has 21 nuclear reactors in
made India the sixth nuclear nation operation in 7 nuclear power plants,
in the world. having an installed capacity of
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre 5308 MW and producing a total
(BARC) Established in 1957, it is of 30,292.91 GWh of electricity
located at Trombay (Maharashtra), while seven other reactors are under
and is India’s largest atomic research construction and are expected to
centre, for R&D. generate an additional 6,100 MW.
B-40 Panorama

POWER STATION IN INDIA

Power station Operator Establishment Location State
Date
Tarapur Atomic Power NPCIL 1969 Tarapur Maharashtra
Station
Rajasthan Atomic NPCIL 1973 Rawatbhata Rajasthan
Power Station
Kakrapar Atomic Power NPCIL 1993 Kakrapar Gujarat
Station
Kudankulam Nuclear NPCIL 2013 Kudankulam Tamil Nadu
Power Plant
Kaiga Nuclear Power NPCIL 2000 Kaiga Karnataka
Plant
Madras Atomic Power NPCIL 1984 Kalpakkam Tamil Nadu
Station
Narora Atomic Power NPCIL 1991 Narora Uttar Pradesh
Station
Gorakhpur Atomic NPCIL Fatehabad Haryana
Power Station
Talcher Super Thermal NTPC 1995 Kaniha Odisha
Power Station
Sipat Thermal Power NTPC 2008 Sipat Chhattisgarh
Plant
Vindhyachal Super NTPC 2013 Singrauli Madhya
Thermal Power Sta- Pradesh
tion
Mundra Ultra Mega Tata Power 2009 Mundra Gujarat
Power Project
Korba Super Thermal NTPC 1983 Jamani Palli Chattish Gahr
Power Plant
Bhusawal Thermal MA- 1968 Deepnagar Maharastra
Power Station HAGENCO
Satpura Thermal Power MPPGCL 1967 Sarni Madhya
Station Pradesh
Sterlite Jharsuguda Vedanta 2006 Jharsuguda Odisha
Power Station
Durgapur Thermal DVC 1996 Durgapur West Bengal
Power Station

FIRST IN MALE
First governor of Bengal Lord Clive(1757-60)
Last governor of Bengal Warren Hastings(1772-74)
The first British Governor General of Lord Warren Hasting(1774-1885)
Bengal
The first British Governor General of India Lord William Bentinck(1833-1835)
The first British Viceroy of India Lord Canning(1856-62)
The first Governor General of free India Lord Mountbatten(1947-1948)
Panorama B-41

The first and the last Indian to be Governor C. Rajgopalachari(1948-1950)

General of free India
The first President of Indian Republic Dr. Rajendra Prasad
The first Prime Minister of free India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru
The first Indian to win Nobel Prize Rabindranath Tagore
The first President of Indian National W.C. Banerjee
Congress
The first Muslim President of Indian Badruddin Tayyabji
National Congress
The first Muslim President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain
The first man who introduced printing James Hicky
press in India
The first Indian to join the I.C.S Satyendra Nath Tagore
India’s first man in Space Rakesh Sharma
The first Prime Minister of India who Morarji Desai
resigned without completing the full term
The first Indian Commander-in-Chief of General Cariappa
India
The first Chief of Army Staff Gen. Maharaj Rajendra Singhji
The first Indian Member of the Viceroy’s S.P.Sinha
executive council
The first President of India who died while Dr. Zakhir Hussain
in office
The first Muslim President of Indian Dr. Zakhir Hussain
Republic
The first Prime Minister of India who did Charan Singh
not face the Parliament
The first Field Marshal of India S.H.F. Manekshaw
The first Indian to get Nobel Prize in C.V.Raman
Physics
The first Indian to receive Bharat Ratna Dr. Radhakrishnan
award
The first Indian to cross English Channel Mihir Sen
The first Person to receive Jnanpith award Sri Shankar Kurup
The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha Ganesh Vasudeva Mavalankar
The first Vice-President of India Dr. Radhakrishnan
The first Education Minister Abdul Kalam Azad
The first Home minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
The first Indian Air Chief Marshal S. Mukherjee
The first Indian Naval Chief Vice Admiral R.D. Katari
The first Judge of International Court of Dr. Nagendra Singh
Justice
The first person to reach Mt. Everest Sherpa Anga Dorjee
without oxygen
The first person to get Param Vir Chakra Major Somnath Sharma
The first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen
B-42 Panorama

The first person to receive Magsaysay Acharya Vinoba Bhave

Award
The first person of Indian origin to receive Hargovind Khurana
Nobel Prize in Medicine
The first Chinese traveller to visit India Fa-hein
The first person to receive Stalin Prize Saifuddin Kitchlu
The first person to resign from the Central Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Cabinet
The first person to receive Nobel Prize in Amartya Sen
Economics
The first Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Hirala J. Kania
The first Indian Pilot J.R.D. Tata (1929)
FIRST IN FEMALE
The first lady to become Miss World Rita Faria
The first woman judge in Supreme Court Mrs. Meera Sahib Fatima Bibi
The first woman Ambassador Miss C.B. Muthamma
The first woman Governor of a state in free Mrs Sarojini Naidu
India
The first woman Speaker of a State Assembly Shanno Devi
The first woman Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi
The first woman Minister in a Government Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
The first woman to climb Mount Everest Bachhendri Pal
The first woman to climb Mount Everest twice Santosh Yadav
The first woman President of Indian National Mrs Annie Besant
Congress
The first woman pilot in Indian Air Force Harita Kaur Dayal
The first woman Graduates Kadambini Ganguly and
Chandramukhi Basu, 1883
The first woman Airline Pilot Durga Banerjee
The first woman Honours Graduate Kamini Roy, 1886
The first woman Olympic medal Winner Karnam Malleswari, 2000
The first woman Asian Games Gold Medal Kamlijit Sandhu
Winner
The first woman Lawyer Cornelia Sorabjee
The first woman President of United Nations Mrs Vijaya Laxmi Pandit
General Assembly
The first woman Chief Minister of an Indian Mrs Sucheta Kripalani
State
The first woman Chairman of Union Public Roze Millian Bethew
Service Commission
The first woman Director General of Police Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya
The first woman Judge Anna Chandy (She became judge in
a district court in 1937)
The first woman Cheif Justice of High Court Mrs Leela Seth (Himachal Pradesh
High Court)
The first woman Judge in Supreme Court of Kumari Justice M. Fathima Beevi
India
Panorama B-43

The first woman Lieutenant General Puneeta Arora

The first woman Air Vice Marshal P. Bandopadhyaya
The first woman chairperson of Indian Airlines Sushma Chawla

The first woman IPS officer Mrs. Kiran Bedi

The first and last Muslim woman ruler of India Razia Sultan
The first woman to receive Ashoka Chakra Nirja Bhanot
The first woman to receive Jnanpith Award Ashapurna Devi
The first woman to cross English Channel Aarti Saha
The first woman to receive Nobel Prize Mother Teresa
The first woman to receive Bharat Ratna Mrs Indira Gandhi
The first woman to receive Jnanpith Award Ashapurna Devi
FIRST IN OTHERS
First Wax statue of a Living Indian Mahatma Gandhi at Madame Tussaud’s in
1939
First Exclusive internet magazine Bharat Samachar
First Miss India to participate in Miss Indrani Rehman
Universe
First Judge in International Court of Justice Dr. Nagender Singh
First Graduate in Medicine Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chukerbutty
India’s First University Nalanda University
India’s First Open University Andhra Pradesh Open University
India’s First Lok Sabha Member to be P.V.Narasimha Rao
elected with a record
maximum number of votes
First Indian to reach Antarctica Lt. Ram Charan
First British to Visit India Hawkins
First Test tube baby of India Indira (Baby Harsha)
First Post Office Opened in India Kolkata(1727)

SUPERLATIVES Kinnaur district of Himachal

Pradesh.
Structures
•• Highest Mountain Peak-
•• Highest Tower ( Minaret ) – Qutub Kanchenjunga
Minar
•• Highest Road- Road at
•• Higher Gateway – Buland
Khardungla in the Leh-Manali
Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri near
Agra. Built by Akbar (53.5 m Sector
/175 ft High) •• Highest Waterfall- Jog Waterfall,
•• Highest Dam – Bhakra Dam Karnataka
•• Highest Bridge – Chenab Bridge •• Largest Residence – Antilia
•• Highest Airport- Leh Air Port in Bhawan built by Mukesh
Ladakh (3256 m/ 16080 ft high) Ambani
•• Highest Hydel Power Station- •• Largest Cinema Hall – Prasad
Rongtong Hydel Project in Max, Hyderabad
B-44 Panorama

•• Largest Museum – National •• Largest Corridor –

Museum Delhi Rameshwaram Temple Corridor
•• Largest River Barrage – Farakka •• Largest irrigation Canal-Indira
Barrage Gandhi Canal or Rajasthan
•• Biggest Auditorium (Mumbai) – Canal (959 km long)
Sri Shanmukhanand Hall •• Longest Dam-Hirakund Dam on
•• Largest zoo – Arignar Anna Mahanadi river in Orissa (24.4
Zoological Park km long)
•• Largest Cave Temple – Ellora •• Longest Glacier-Siachen Glacier
•• Largest Gurudwara – Golden on the Indo-pakistan border
Temple, Amritsar (75.6 km long and 2.8 km wide)
•• Largest Mosque – Jama Masjid, •• Longest Railway Bridge Nehru
Delhi (built by Shah Jahan in Setu Bridge (4.62 km) long
1644-58) •• Fastest Train-Shatabdi Express
•• Largest Man-made Lake – between New Delhi and Bhopal
Govind Sagar (Bhakra) at a speed of 140 kmph
•• Largest Dome – Gol Gumbaz •• Tallest Light House – Jakhau, light
(Karnataka) hour, Gujarat
•• Largest Cantilever Bridge – •• Tallest Statues – Statue of Jain Saint
Howrah Bridge Gomateswara at Sravanabelagola
•• Longest Railway Tunnel- Pir in Karnataka
Panjal Railway Tunnel (11 km) •• Tallest Chimber – Hanuman
•• Longest Road Tunnel - 9.2 km Swami statue with 135ft. tall.
long tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar •• Oldest Church- St. Thomas
National Highway Church at Palayar in Trichur
•• Largest Public Sector Bank- State district in Kerala built in 52 AD.
Bank of India •• Oldest Monastery- Buddhist
•• Largest Botanical Garden - Monastery, (situated at an
National Botanical Garden in altitude of 3,048 m /10,000 ft) at
Kolkata Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
•• Largest Church- Se Cathedral at •• Largest mall- Lulu Mall Kochi
Old Goa, 10 km from Panaji. •• Most Populous City- Mumbai
•• Largest Delta- Sunderbans (75,000 Natural
sq km) formed by the Ganga and
Brahmaputra in West Bengal and •• Longest River – Ganges
Bangladesh •• Largest Desert – Thar ( Rajasthan)
•• Largest Stupa- Kesariya Stupa in •• Largest Lake – Wular Rajasthan
Bihar •• Largest Fresh Water Lake-
•• Largest Library- National Library, Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh
Kolkata •• Largest Cave- Amarnath (about
•• Largest Planetarium- Birla 44 km from Pahalgam in Jammu
Planetarium, Kolkata. and Kashmir)
•• Largest Prison- Tihar Jail, Delhi Founders of Indian Institutions
•• Largest Concentration of •• Arya Samaj-Swami Dayanand
Scheduled Tribes- Madhya Saraswathi
Pradesh •• Athmiya Sabha-Raja Ram Mohan
•• Largest Scheduled Caste- Roy
Community Santhal •• Brahma Samaj-Raja Ram Mohan
•• Longest River Bridge – Bandra- Roy
Worli sea link which is 5.6 km. •• Deccan Education Society-
Panorama B-45

G.G.Agarkar, M.G.Ranade, •• Tanzania—Julius Nerera

V.G.Gibhongar •• Turkey—Musthafa Kamal
•• Dharma Sabha-Radhakanthadev
Founders of Towns in India
•• Indian Brahma Samaj-Keshav
Chandra Sen •• Agra- Sikkandar Lodhi
•• Manavadharma Sabha-Durgaram •• Ahmedabad - Ahmed Shah
Manjaram •• Ajmeer- Ajaypal Chauhan
•• Prarthana Samaj-Athmaram •• Allahabad- Akbar
•• Culcutta- Job Charnok
Pandurang
•• Delhi- Anankapalan
•• Pune Sewa Sadan-Smt.Remabhai •• Fathepur Sikri - Akbar
Ranade, G.K.Devdhar •• Hisar- Ferozshah Tuglaq
•• Ramakrishna Mission-Swami •• Hyderabad - Quli Qutabshah
Vivekananda •• Jodhpur- Rao Jodha
•• Sadharan Brahma Samaj- •• Mahabalipuram -
Shivananda Sashtri, Anand Narasimhawarman
Mohan Bose •• Siri- Alaudden Khilji
•• Servants of India Society- •• Vijayanagaram - Hariharan 1
Gopalakrishna Gokhale
•• Sewa Sadan-Bahuramji M.Malabari List of Revolutions Relating to
•• Sewa Samithi-H.N.Kunsru
Products
•• Social Service League-N.M.Joshi •• Blue Revolution - Fisheries
•• Thathwabodhini Sabha- Development
Debendranatha Tagore •• Brown Revolution - Leather
•• Theosophical Society-Madam Production
•• Grey Revolution - Housing
H.P.Blavadski, Col.H.L.Olkott
Development
Leader of Nations-Famous Father •• Green Revolution - Agriculture
Production
•• America—George Washington •• Pink Revolution - Drugs &
•• Bangladesh—Mujibur Rehuman Pharmaceuticals
•• China—Sunyatsen •• Silver Revolution - Egg Production
•• India—Gandhiji •• White Revolution - Dairy
•• Indonesia—Sukarno Development
•• Mouritius—Ramgoolam
•• Namibia—Sam Nujoma •• Yellow Revolution - Oil Seed
•• Pakistan—Muhammad Ali Jinna Production
•• SriLanka—D.S.Senanayeke
INDIAN HERITAGE SITES RECOMMENDED BY UNESCO
There are 32 World heritage sites in India that are being recognized as World
heritage sites by UNESCO. Some of them are given below.
Ajanta Caves in Ajanta offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of places,
1983 royalty, culture and tales of everyday life of ancient India.
Ellora Caves in 1983 Ellora is the finest example of cave temples with almost 34
caves with intricate interiors and ornamental facades
Taj Mahal1 in 983 The Taj was built to enshrine the remains of Begum Mumtaz
Mahal, the consort of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Agra Fort in 1983 The fort is surrounded by a 70 foot high wall. Its houses the
beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces
Sun Temple at The Sun temple of Konark, also known as Black Pagoda, is
Konark in 1984 the crowning glory of the temple architecture of ancient Orissa
B-46 Panorama

Monuments at Mahabalipuram is world famous for its shore temples and it

Mahabalipuram in was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram
1984
Kaziranga National Kaziranga is one of the last strongholds of the endangered
Park in 1985 Indian one-horned rhinoceros
Manas Wildlife The Manas river divides the lush, mixed deciduous forests that
Sanctuary in 1985 run through India to Bhutan
Keoladeo National The Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary is situated just 55
Park in 1985 kilometers from the Taj Mahal at Agra
Fatehpur Sikri in Fatehpur Sikri is the one of the finest examples of Mughal
1986 architectural splendour. It was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar
Churches and The churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century
Convents in Goa in A.D. (Basilica of Bom Jesus, etc) at Goa are a legacy of the
1986 Portuguese
Monuments at Khajuraho Monuments were built between 950-1050 A.D. near
Khajuraho 1986 the village of Khajuraho under the patronage of the Chandela
kings of northern central India
Monuments at Hampi, 353 kilometers from Bangalore, are one of the most
Hampi 1986 fascinating historical sites in South India.
Brihadeeshwara The Brihadisvara temple with its 66.5 meters high ‘srivimana’
Temple at Thanjavur dominating the city is built of granite.
1987
Sundarbans National The Sunderbans National Park, covering about 1330.10 sq. km,
Park 1987 is the habitat of nearly 200 Royal Bengal tigers
Elephanta Caves Elephanta consists of seven caves of which the most notable is
1987 the Mahesa-murti cave
Monuments at Pattadakal, in Karnataka, illustrates the Chalukyan art which,
Pattadakal 1987 in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D., under the Chalukya dynasty
Nanda Devi The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular
National Park 1988 wilderness areas in the Himalayas.
Buddhist Monastery Sanchi is a serene hill crowned by a group of stupas,
at Sanchi 1989 monasteries, temples and pillars dating from 3rd Century BC
to the 12th Cent AD.
Humayun’s Tomb at Humayun`s Tomb is an early example of Mughal architecture
Delhi 1993 built in Delhi
Qutab Minar 1993 Qutab Minar with a length of 238 feet, commands a panoramic
view of the green fields extending into a sprawling city of Delhi
Darjeeling This toy train has achieved worldwide fame for engineering
Himalayan Railway excellence, wonderful landscape and tourist attraction.
1999
Bodhgaya Complex A big complex of Buddhist temples that include the site where
of Buddhist Temples Lord Buddha had meditated to get enlightenment
2002
Bhimbetka Rock The very recent addition has been the rock shelters & over 500
Shelters and Caves caves of Bhimbetka, belonging to the Neolithic age, which lies
near Bhopal 2003 46 km South of Bhopal, surrounded by the northern fringe of
the Vindhyan ranges.
Panorama B-47

Chhatrapati Shivaji This is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival

Terminus (formerly architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from
Victoria Terminus) Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the
2004 British architect F.W. Stevens
Champaner A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic
Pawagarh and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive
Archaeological Park landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill
in Gujarat in 2004 fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 15th
century capital of the state of Gujarat.
Red Fort complex, The 17th century Mughal marvel, Red Fort, has joined the
Delhi in 2007 ranks of 26 other Indian sites, to be included in UNESCO’s
list of World Heritage Sites. Earlier it almost got nominated
in 1993, but due to the army occupying it that time, the
government deferred nominating it that time.
Jantar Mantar of The Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur, is an astronomical observation
Jaipur,Rajastan in site built in the early 18th century. It includes a set of some
2010 20 main fixed instruments. This is the most significant, most
comprehensive, and the best preserved of India’s historic
observatories.

Hill Forts of Rajasthan The sites consists of six majestic forts Chittorgarh,
(2013) Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur, and
Jaisalmer of Rajasthan. They are the major urban centres
which flouriched during 8th to 18th centiry AD.
Rani-ki-Vav (the It is characterized by high alpine peaks, alpine meadows and
Queen’s step well at riverine forests. It is situated in the northern India state of
patna Gujarat 2014) Himachal Pradesh covering nearly 90,540 ha of area which
include mountain glaciers, snow melt water sources of river,
rich assemblage of fauna species.
Western Ghats (2012) These ghats or (mountain ranges) are older than Himalayan
mountains which cover unique species of non-equatorial
tropical evergreen forest. It is characterised by exceptionally
high level of biological diversity known as one of the eight
“hottest spot: in the world.

SOBRIQUETS
A sobriquet is a nickname, Occasionally assumed and often given by anther.
It is usually a familiar name. This significant distinctive is a ample familiarity
that the sobriquet can become more familiar than the original name.
Person Primary Names
Anna C N Annadurai
Badshah Khan/ Frontier Gandhi Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama
Chacha Jawaharlal Nehru
Deenabandhu C F Andrews
Deshbandhu C. R. Das
Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Frontier Gandhi Abdul Gaffar Khan
B-48 Panorama

Grand Old Man of India Dadabhai Naoroji

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
Guruji M S Gohlwalkar
Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas K. Gandhi
Man of Peace Lal Bahadur Shastri
Manitas de Plate Flamenco guitarist Ricardo Baliardo
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu
Panditji Jawaharlal Nehru
Punjab kesari Lala Lajpat Rai
Rajaji C Rajagopalachari
Saint of the Gutters Mother Teresa
Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Haryana Hurricane Kapil Dev
Prince of Kolkata Saurav Ganguly
Places Primary Names
Bengal’s Sorrow Damodar Rever, India
Blue Mountain Niligiri Hills, India
City of Golden Temple Amritsar, India
City of Palaces Kolkata, India
Diamond City in India Surat, Gujarat
Garden City of India Bengaluru
Garden of India Kashmir
Gateway of India Mumbai
God’s Own Country Kerala
Land of Five Rivers Punjab, India
Pink City Jaipur, India
Queen of Arabian Sea Kochi, India
Spice Garden of India Kerala
The City of Joy Kolkata, India
The City of Palaces Kolkata, India
Venice of East Alleppey, India
Queen of Arabian Sea Kochi, India
Garden City of India Bangalore
Blue Mountains Niligiri Hills, India
Panorama B-49

World Panorama
WORLD COUNTRIES, CAPITAL,
LANGUAGE & THEIR CURRENCY
Country Capital Chief Language Currency
Afghanistan Kabul Pushtu Dari Afghani
Algeria Algiers Arabic, French Algerian Dinar
Argentina Buenos Aires Spanish Argentine Peso
Australia Canberra English Australian Dollar
Azerbaijan Baku Azeri Manat
Bahrain Manama Arabic, English Bahraini, Dinar
Bangladesh Dhaka Bangla Taka
Belgium Brussels Flemish (Dutch), French, Euro
German
Bhutan Thimphu Dzongkha Ngultrum
Bolivia La Paz; Sucre Aymara Spanish, Quechua Boliviano
Bosnia and Sarajevo Serbo-Croatian Conv.Mark
Herzegovina
Brazil Brazilia Portuguese Real
Bulgaria Sofia Bulgarian Lev
Burkina Faso Ouagadougou French Franc
Cambodia Phnom-Penh Khmer Riel
Canada Ottawa French, English Canadian Dollar
Chile Santiago Spanish Peso
China Beijing Chinese (Mandarin) Yuan
Colombia Bogota Spanish Peso
Congo Kinshasa French Congolese Franc
Formerly Zaire
Costa Rica San Jose Spanish Colon
Croatia Zagreb Croatian Kuna
Cuba Havana Spanish Peso
Czech Prague Czech Koruna
Republic
Denmark Copenhagen Danish Krone
Ecuador Quito Spanish United States dollar
Egypt Cairo Arabic Egyptian Pound
Ethiopia Addis Ababa Amharic Birr
Fiji Suva English Fijian Dollar
Finland Helsinki Finnish, Swedish Euro
France Paris French Euro
French Guiana Caine French Euro
B-50 Panorama

Country Capital Chief Language Currency

Georgia Tbilisi Georgian Lari
Germany Berlin German Euro
Ghana Accra English Ghana Cedi
Greece Athens Greek Euro
Guatemala Guatemala City Spanish Quetzal
Guyana Georgetown English Guyana Dollar
Haiti Port-au-Prince French Gourde
Honduras Tegucigalpa Spanish Lempira
Hong Kong Victoria English, Chinese Hong Kong Dollar
Hungary Budapest Hungarian Forint
India New Delhi Hindi (official), English and Rupee
22 officially recognised
regional languages
Indonesia Jakarta Bahasa Indonesian, Dutch, Rupiah
English Javanese
Iran Teheran Persian (Farsi), Turk, Kurdish, Rial
Arabic
Iraq Baghdad Arabic, Kurdish Iraqi Dinar
Ireland Dublin Irish, English Euro
Israel Jerusalem Hebrew, Arabic Shekel
Italy Rome Italian Euro
Japan Tokyo Japanese Yen
Jordan Amman Arabic, English Jordan Dinar
Kazakhstan Astana Kazakh, Russian, German Tenge
Kenya Nariobi Kiswahili, English, Kikuyu Shilling
Korea, North Pyongyang Korean Won
Korea, South Seoul Korean Won
Kuwait Kuwait city Arabic, English Kuwait Dinar
Lebanon Beriut Arabic, French, English Pound
Libya Tripoli Arabic Libyan Dinar
Luxembourg Luxembourg French, German, English, Euro
Luxembourgish
Malaysia Putrajaya Malay, English, Chinese, Ringgit
(formerly Tamil
Kuala Lumpur)
Mauritius Port Louis English, French, Creole, Rupee Mauritian
Hindustani
Mexico Mexico city Spanish, Amerindian Mexico Peso
languages
Mongolia Ulan Bator Mangolian Togrog
Myanmar Naypyidar or Burmeses and tribal lan- Kyat
Pyinmana (for- guages
merly Yangon)
Netherlands Amsterdam Dutch Euro
New Zealand Wellington English and Maori dialect New Zealand
Dollar
Panorama B-51

Country Capital Chief Language Currency

Nigeria Abuja English, Hansa, Ibo, Yoruba Naira
Norway Oslo Norwegian Krone
Oman Muscat Arabic Omani Rial
Pakistan Islamabad Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pakistani Rupee
Pusthu, Baluchi, Brahvi,
English
Peru Lima Spanish, Quechua, Nuero Sol
Aymara
Philippines Manila Filipino, English, Spanish Peso
Poland Wrsaw Polish Zloty
Portugal Lisbon Portuguese Euro
Qatar Doha Arabic, English Riyal (QAR)
Russia Moscow Russian Russian ruble
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Arabic Rial (SAR)
Serbia Belgrade Serbo-Croatian (official), Dinar
Albanian
Singapore Singapore city Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Singapore Dollar
English
Somalia Mogadishu Arabic, English, Italian Somali Shilling
South Africa Capetown Afrikaans, English Rand
Spain Madrid Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Euro
Galician
Sri Lanka Colombo Sinhala, Tamil, English Sri Lankan Rupee
Sudan Khartoum Arabic, English, Dinka, Sudanese Pound
Nubian
Sweden Stockholm Swedish Krona
Switzerland Berne German, French, Italian, Swiss Franc
Romansch
Syria Damascus Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian Syrian Pound
Taiwan Taipei Mandarian Chinese, Taiwan, New Taiwan
Hakka dialects Dollar
Thailand Bangkok Thai, Chinese, English, Malay Thai Baht
Tunisia Tunis Arabic, French Dinar
Turkey Ankara Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic Turkish Lira
Uganda Kampala Englsih, Luganda, Swahili Ugandan Shilling
United Arab Abu Dhubi Arabic Dirham
Emirates
United London English, Welsh, Scots, Gaelic Pound Sterling
Kingdom
United States Washington English Dollar
of America D.C.
Venezuela Caracas Spanish Bolivar
Vietnam Hanoi Vietnamese, French, English, Dong
Chinese
Yemen Sana’a Arabic Rial
Zimbabwe Harare English, Shona, Ndebela Dollar (ZWD)
B-52 Panorama

LIST OF IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL

DISCOVERIES AROUND THE WORLD
•• Amundsen (Norwegian)-Discovered •• Magellan-Commanded the first
South Pole in 1912. expedition in 1519 to sail round
•• Byrd-American aviator and polar the world. Discovered passage
explorer. Flew over the North to the Pacific from the Atlantic
Pole in 1926 and made the first through Straits afterwards named
flight over the South Pole in 1929. after him.
Discovered Edsel Ford mountains •• Marco Polo-Venetian traveller
and Morei Byrd land. who explored China, India,
South Eastern countries and
•• Cabot (Venetian)-Discovered New
published the record of his various
Foundland in 1494.
explorations. He was the first
•• Captain Cook (English)-Discovered
European to visit China.
Sandwich (now Hawaiian) Isles
•• Nansen-Norwegian explorer who
in 1770. explored across Greenland and
•• Columbus-Discovered West Indies reached the highest altitude in
in 1492 and South America in 1498. the North Polar Region, till then
•• Copernicus-Discovered Solar attained.
System in 1540. Propounded the •• Peary, Robert-First to reach the
astronomical system which bears North Pole in 1909.
his name. •• Pedro Alvares Cabral (Portuguese)
•• David Livingstone-Discovered - Discovered Brazil in 1500.
course of the Zambesi, the Victoria •• Shackleton-Arctic explorer,
Falls and Lake Nyasa in Africa. reached within 160 km of the
South Pole.
•• Edmund Hillary-Joint conqueror
•• Sven Hedin-Swedish explorer.
of Mount Everest with Tenzing.
Made great contribution to the
He also led a Trans-Atlantic geographic and archaeological
expedition and reached South knowledge of large areas of
Pole on January 3, 1958. Central Asia.
•• Ferdinand de Lesseps-Conceived •• Iksman-Dutch navigator, discovered
the plan of the Suez Canal on the Tasmania Island and New
which work was completed in Zealand in 1642.
1869 through his efforts. •• Tenzing (Indian)-First to reach
•• Francis Younghusband-Explored Mount Everest on 29th May, 1953
the frontier regions of India, China along with Edmund Hillary. The
and Tibet. expedition was led by Col. Sir
•• Kepler-Discovered the Laws of John Hunt.
Planetary Motion in 1609. •• Vasco da Gama (Portuguese)-
•• Lindbergh-Performed the first Rounded the Cape of Good Hope
solo-flight across the Atlantic in and discovered the sea route to
1927 from New York to Paris. India in 1498.
Panorama B-53

NATIONAL ANIMALS OF THE MAJOR COUNTRIES

Country Animals Country Animal
Afghanistan Snow Leopard Nepal Cow
Albania Golden Eagle New Zealand Kiwi
Australia Kangaroo Pakistan Markhor
Bangladesh Royal Bengal tiger South Africa Springbok
Brazil Macaw Spain Bull
Canada North American beaver United Kingdom Barbary Lion
China Panda, Red Crowned Crane United States Bald Eagle
Denmark Mute Swan India Bengal Tiger
Japan Green Pheasant Kuwait Camel
Myanmar Tiger Belgium Lion

Official Books
Blue Book : An official report of the British Government
Green Book : An official publication of Italy and Persia
Grey Book : An official reports of the Government of Japan and Belgium
Orange Book : An official Publications of the Government of Netherlands
White Book : An official Publications of China, Germany and Portugal
Yellow Book : French official Book
White Paper : An official paper of the Government of Britain and India on a
particular issue
Red Data Book: Russian official book which contains lists of species whose continued
existence is threatened
NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Petra, Jordan
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Great Wall of China, China The Taj Mahal, India
Machu Picchu, Peru Chichen Itza, Mexico

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES

Detective Agency Country Detective Agency Country
Ministry of State Security China VAJA Iran
Australian Secret Intelligence Australia MOSSAD Israel
Service (ASIS)
FSB Russia Egyption Homeland Security Egypt
State Security Agency South Africa PSIA Japan
Inter Service Intelligence Pakistan Iraqi National Intelligence Iraq
(ISI) Service
MI (Military Intelligence) 5 UK Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), USA
and 6, Special Branch, Joint Federal Bureau of investigation
Intelligence org. (FBI)
Research and Analysis wing INDIA DGSE (Direction General Dela France
(RAW), Intelligence Bureau Securite Exterieure
(IB)
B-54 Panorama

Direction Generale De La Securite Its main responsibilities are within

Exterieure (DGSE), France the country and include counter-
intelligence, internal and border
The General Directorate for External
security, counter-terrorism, and
Security (DGSE) is the intelligence surveillance as well as investigating
agency of France. It was founded some other types of grave crimes
in 1982 to gather intelligence from and federal law violations. It is
foreign sources to assist in military headquartered in Lubyanka Square,
and strategic decisions. It is not Moscow’s centre, in the main
as famous as CIA or Mossad, but building of the former KGB. The
DGSE claims to have prevented Director of the FSB since 2008 is
more than 15 terrorist attacks in army general Aleksandr Bortnikov.
France since 9/11. The agency has
Ministry of State Security
a network of around 5000 agents
spread across France and the
(MSS), China
world. Its head office is in the 20th The Ministry of State Security
arrondissement of Paris. (MSS) is one of the most powerful
and most active Chinese intelligence
The Institute for Intelligence agencies. Its main objective is to
and Special Operations, keep track and neutralise “enemies”
MOSSAD, Israel of the Communist Party of China.
One of the most powerful secret It is headquartered near the Ministry
service agencies in the world, the of Public Security of the People’s
Republic of China in Beijing. MSS
Mossad, meaning Institute for
holds the same authority to arrest
Intelligence and Special Operations,
or detain people as regular police
is the national intelligence agency
for crimes involving state security
of Israel. Mossad, like the CIA, has
with identical supervision by the
active agents spread across the world
procuratorates and the courts.
and are involved in intelligence
gathering, covert operations Military Intelligence Section 6
and ‘protecting Jews and Jewish (MI6), United Kingdom
interests’. Mossad was formed on The Secret Intelligence Service
December 13, 1949, as the Central (SIS), popularly referred to as the
Institute for Coordination at the Directorate of Military Intelligence
recommendation of Prime Minister Section 6 (MI6), is known as the
David Ben-Gurion to Reuven “the secret front line” of Britain`s
Shiloah. national security. A century old
organisation, the MI6’s presence was
Federal Security Services
not officially acknowledged till 1994.
(FSB), Russia The agency is tasked with gathering
Federal Security Services foreign intelligence from across the
is the principal security globe that could impact political and
agency of Russia and the economic interests in the UK. Since
foremost successor agency 1995, the SIS headquarters have
to the USSR’s Committee been at Vauxhall Cross on the South
of State Security(KGB). Bank of the River Thames.
Panorama B-55

Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), the world. The primary function

Pakistan of R&AW is gathering foreign
Established in 1948, Pakistan’s intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence R&AW was formed in September 1968
(ISI) is the premier military operated under the guidance of its first Director,
intelligence service of Pakistan. The Rameshwar Nath Kao. Headquartered
ISI was established as an independent in New Delhi, R&AW’s current chief
intelligence service in 1948 in order is Rajinder Khanna, a 1978-batch IPS
to strengthen the sharing of military cadre officer.
intelligencebetween the three branches of Canadian Security Intelligence
Pakistan Armed Forces in the aftermath Service (CSIS)
of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, which
Canadian Security Intelligence
had exposed weaknesses in intelligence
Services is Canada’s primary national
gathering, sharing and coordination
intelligence service. It is responsible
between the Army, Air Force and Navy.
for collecting, analyzing, reporting and
The ISI has headquarters in Islamabad,
disseminating intelligence on threats
Islamabad Capital Venue, and is currently
to Canada’s national security, and
headed by Lieutenant-General Rizwan
conducting operations, covert and
Akhter, who succeeded Zaheerul Islam
overt, within Canada and abroad.
in October 2014.
It also reports to and advises the
Central Intelligence Agency, government of Canada on national
CIA, United States security issues and situations that
The Central Intelligence Agency threaten the security of the nation.
(CIA) of the United States of Its headquarters is located in Ottawa,
America is indeed the largest secret Ontario, in a purpose-built facility
service with the maximum reach. completed in 1995.
The CIA is known to play a pivotal Australian Secret Intelligence
role in helping the US maintain its Service (ASIS)
status as the world’s sole super power.
The Australian Secret Intelligence
More importantly, CIA has been
Service (ASIS) is Australia’s
playing a central role in exchange
intelligence watchdog which keeps a
of intelligence between countries to
close watch on developments across
combat global terrorism.
the world, especially in the Asia-
Research and Analysis Wing Pacific region. Although Australia is
(RAW, India) relatively isolated from global terror,
Founded in 1968, the Research and still ASIS works 24X7 to protect the
Analysis Wing (RAW), initially, country’s political and economic
focused its activities in India’s interests. Interestingly, the existence
immediate neighbourhood but with of ASIS, founded in 1952, was a secret
the changing profile of New Delhi’s even from its own government for over
geo-political interests, it has spread twenty years.Its current Director-
its wings to other regions across General is Nick Warner.
B-56 Panorama

FATHER OF VARIOUS FIELDS

Field Father Field Father
Atom Bomb Dr. Robert Computer Charles Babbage
Oppenheime
Aviation Sir George Cayley Biology Aristotle
Chemistry Robert Boyle Microbiology Louis pasteur and Rob-
ert koch
Comedy Aristophanes Political Science Aristotle
Economics Adam Smith Modern Philosphy Rene Descartes
English Geoffrey Psychology Wilhelmam Wundt
Poetry Chaucer
Greek Trag- Aeschylus Modern Observational Galileo Galilei
edy Astronomy
Immunology Edward Jenner Modern Physics Science Galileo Galilei
Modern Antoini Modern Science Galileo Galilei
Chemistry Lavoisier
Nuclear Ernest Nano technology Richard Smalley
Physics Rutherford
Sanskrit Panini Indian Nuclear Science Homi Jehangir Bhabha
Grammar
Geography Eratosthenes Anatomy Andreas Vesalius
Sociology Auguste Comte Geometry Euclid
Mathematics Archimedes Internet Vinton Cerf

SOBRIQUETS
A sobriquet is a nickname, Occasionally assumed and often given by another.
The sobriquet can become more familiar than the original name.
Sobriquets Person Primary Names
Angel of Death Josef Mengele
Bard of Avon William Shakespeare
Bard of Twickenham Alexander Pope
Bloody mary Mary I of England
Bonnie Prince Charlie Charles Edward Stuart
Brangelina Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Canuck Canadian, from Johnny Canuck
der Alte (the old man) Konrad Adenauer
Desert Fox Erwin Rommel
Diamond Dave David Lee Roth, Singer
Digger Australian soldier
Dr. Death Jack Kevorkian, proponent of assisted suicide
Panorama B-57

Sobriquets Person Primary Names

Dubya George W. Bush
EI Caudillo Francisco Franco
Father of his country George Washington
Fuhrer Adolf Hitler
Genghis Khan Temüjin
Grand Old Man of Britain Willian Ewart Glandstone
Hanoi Jane Jane Fonda
Honest Abe Abraham Lincoln
Ike Dwight David Eisenhower
Iron Duke Duke of Wellington
Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher
King James LeBron James, American basketball player
Lady with the Lamp Florence Nightingale
Little Richard Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman, a prominent
figure in rock n’ roll.
Madge Madonna
Madiba Nelson Mandela
Maid of Orleans Joan of Arc
Man of Blood and Iron Otto Von Bismark
Man of Destiny Napolean Bonaparte
Old Blood and Guts George S. Patton
Old Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, entertainer
Old Hickory Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United
States
Old Kinderhook (OK) Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United
States
Old Nick Santa
Old Rough and Ready Zachary Taylor
Old St. Nick Santa
Pelê Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Prince of the Humanists Desiderius Erasmus
Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Saint Jimmy Billie Joe Armstrong
Satchmo Louis Armstrong
Slick Willy U.S. President Bill Clinton
Slowhand Eric Clapton
Sting Gordon Summer, British rock musician
The Bard William Shakespeare
The Bird Mark Fidrych, Baseball pitcher
The Boss Bruce Springsteen
The Cincinnatus of the Americans George Washington
The Duke John Wayne
The Fab Four The Beatles
The Godfather of Soul James Brown
B-58 Panorama

Sobriquets Person Primary Names

The Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus
The Great Commoner William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (“Pitt the
elder”) or William Jennings Bryan
The Greatest Muhammad Ali, Boxer
The King (of golf) Arnold Palmer
The King (of Rock and Roll) Elvis Presley
The King of Pop Michael Jackson
The Lion of the Round Top Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain, commander of
the 20th Maine Regiment, American Civil War
The Man from Tennessee Andrew Jackson
The Material Girl Madonna
The New Sinatra Jay-Z
The Rat Pack A group of American singers and entertainers
from the late 1950s to the early 1970s
The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen, World War I,
German flying ace
The Rock Chemeleon David Bowie
The Tiger of France Georges Clemenceau
Tricky Dick Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United
States
Uncle Sam The U.S.A. or sometimes the government
Wizard of the North Walter Scott
Yank (a short form of “Yankee”) Originally used derogatorily by Southerners but
now only heard outside the USA

PLACES
Beantown Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Blighty Great Britain (used by British servicemen abroad
and expatriates)
Brass Fountain PPSh-41
Brew City Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Brisvegas Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Britain of South New Zealand
Chocolate City Washington, D.C., so named because of its
majority African-American population
City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia
City of Dreaming Spires Oxford, England
City of Golden Gate San Francisco, USA
City of Magnificent Distances Washington D.C., USA
City of Seven Hills Rome, Italy
City of Skyscrapers New York, USA
City of the Golder Gate San Francisco
Cockpit of Europe Belgium
Dark Continent Africa
Panorama B-59

Empire City New York, USA

Eternal City Rome, Italy
Forbidden City Lhasa, Tibet
Frisco San Francisco, California
Garden of England Kent, England
Garrincha Manoel Francisco dos Santos
Gate of Tears Bab-el-mandab, Jerusalem
Gift of Nile Egypt
Gotham New York
Granite City Aberdeen, Scotland
Great White Way Broadway, New York, USA
Hermit Kingdom Korea
Herring Pond Atlantic Ocean
Hogtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Holy Land Palestine
Humming Bird Trinidad
Island of Cloves Madagascar
Island of Pearls Bahrain
Key of Mediterranean Gibraltar
Land of Cakes Scotland
Land of Canals Netherlands
Land of Golden Pagoda Myanmar (Burma)
Land of Lilies Canada
Land of Maple Canada
Land of Midnight Sun Norway
Land of Morning Calm Korea
Land of Rising Sun Japan
Land of the Golden Fleece Australia
Land of the Golden Pagoda Myanmar
Land of Thousand Lakes Finland
Land of Thunderbolt Bhutan
Land of White Elephants Thailand
Land of Windmills Netherlands
Manchester of Japan Osaka
Never Never Land Prairies of N.Australia
Pearl of the Antilles Cuba
Pearl of the Orient Philippines
Perfidious Albion Great Britain
Pillars of Hercules Strait of Gibraltar
Playground of Europe Switzerland
Port of Five Seas Moscow
Powder Keg of Europe Balkans
Quaker City Philadelphia, USA
Queen of Adriatic Venice, Italy
B-60 Panorama

Roof of the World Pamirs, Central Asia

Sick Man of Europe Turkey
Sin City Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Sorrow of China River Hwang Ho
Sugar Bowl of the World Cuba
Taiwan Republic of China
The Antipodes Australia and New Zealand
The Battlefield of Europe Belgium
The Bayou City Houston, Texas, USA
The Big Apple New York City
The Big D Dallas, Texas, USA
The Big Easy New Orleans, Louisiana
The Big Smoke Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The City of Light Paris
The City or The City by the Bay San Francisco, California
The Dragon China (as an economy)
The Emerald City Seattle, Washington, USA
The Emerald Isle Ireland and Puerto Rico
The Enchanted Isle (from ‘la isla del encanto’) Puerto Rico
The Federal City Washington D.C.
The Fourth Estate The press
The Mother-in-law of Europe Denmark
The Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court in England
The Old Lady of Threadneedle The Bank of England
Street
The Old Smoke London
The Paris of the South São Paulo and Buenos Aires
The Paris of the West San Francisco, USA
Tie Rock (prison) Alcatraz Prison
The Steel City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Windy City Chicago, Illinois, USA
Tinseltown Hollywood, California, USA
Venice of the North Stockholm
Westminster The British Parliament
White City Belgrade, Yugoslavia
White House The executive branch of the government of the
United States
White Man’s Grave Guinea Coast
Whitehall The British government including Parliament
but excluding the monarchy
World’s Breadbasket Prairies of N. America
World’s Loneliest Island Tristan De Gunha (Mid-Atlantic)
Yellow River Hang He (China)
Panorama B-61

ADDITIONAL FACTS •• The biggest stadium in the world

•• The largest coffee growing is the - Strahov Stadium, Prague
country in the World is - Brazil •• The world’s largest diamond
•• The biggest delta in the World is producing country is - South
Africa
the - Sunderbans •• The Eggel tower was built by -
•• The Japanese call their country Alexander Eiffel
as - Nippon •• The Red Cross was founded by -
•• The biggest Island of the World Jean Henri Durant
is - Greenland •• The permanent secretariat
•• The river which carries of the SAARC is located at -
maximum quantity of water into Kathmandu
•• The earlier name of Sri Lanka
the sea is the - Mississippi was Ceylon
•• Mount Everest was named after •• The founder of the Republic of
Sir George - Everest China was - San Yat Sen

FIRST IN THE WORLD

The first person to reach Mount Everest Sherpa Tenzing, Edmund Hillary
The first person to reach North Pole Robert Peary
The first person to reach South Pole Amundsen
The first religion of the world Hinduism
The first country to print book China
The first country to issue paper currency China
The first country to commence competitive China
examination in civil services
The first President of the U.S.A George Washington
The first Prime Minister of Britain Robert Walpole
The first Governor General of the United Trygve Lie
Nations
The first country to win football World cup Uruguay
The first country to prepare a constitution U.S.A
The first Governor General of Pakistan Mohd. Ali Jinnah
The first country to host NAM summit Belgrade (Yugoslavia)
The first European to attack India Alexander, The Great
The first European to reach China Marco Polo
The first person to fly aeroplane Wright Brothers
The first person to sail round the world Magellan
The first country to send man to the moon U.S.A
The first country to launch Artificial satellite Russia
in the space
The first country to host the modern Olympics Greece
The first city on which the atom bomb was Hiroshima (Japan)
dropped
The first person to land on the moon Neil Armstrong followed by Edwin
E. Aldrin
The first shuttle to go in space Columbia
B-62 Panorama

The first spacecraft to reach on Mars Viking-I

The first woman Prime Minister of England Margaret Thatcher

The first Muslim Prime Minister of a country Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan)

The first woman Prime Minister of a country Mrs. S. Bandamaike (Sri Lanka)
The first woman to climb Mount Everest Mrs. Junko Tabei (Japan)
The first woman cosmonaut of the world Velentina Tereshkova (Russia)
The first woman President of the U.N. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
General Assembly
The first man to fly into space Yuri Gagarin (Russia)
The first batsman to score three test century in Mohd. Azharuddin
three successive tests on debut
The first man to have climbed Mount Everest Nawang Gombu
twice
The first U.S. President to resign Presidency Richard Nixon

SUPERLATIVES
Tallest Animal on (land) Giraffe
Biggest Bell Great Bell at Moscow
Fastest Bird Swift
Largest Bird Ostrich
Smallest Bird Humming Bird
Longest Bridge (Railway) Lower Zambeji (Africa )
Tallest Building Burj khalifa, Dubai (U.A.E)
Tallest office Building Patronas Twin Towers Kuala Lampur (Malaysia)
Longest Big Ship Canal Seuz Canal (Linkin red sea & Mediterranean)
Busiest Canal (Ship) Baltic White Sea Canal (152 miles)
Biggest Cinema House Roxy (New York)
Highest City Wen Chuwan (Tibet, China) 16,732 ft.
Largest City (in population) Tokyo [(3,42,00000), Est. population in 2006]
Biggest City in (area) Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia (41225 sq. km.)
Largest Continent Asia
Smallest Continent Australia
Largest Country (in population) China
Largest Country (in area) Russia
Largest Coral Formation The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
Largest Dam Grand Coulee- Concrete Dam (U.S.A)
Longest Day June 21 (in Northern Hemisphere)
Shortest Day Dec. 22(in Northern Hemisphere)
Largest Delta Sundarbans, India (8000 sq. miles)
Longest Desert (World) Sahara, Africa (84, 00,000 sq. km.)
Largest Diamond The Cullinan (over 1 ½ 1b.)
Biggest Dome Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur), (Old archi) 144 ft. diameter.
Biggest Dome (New Archi) Astrodome, Sports
Panorama B-63

Longest Epic The Mahabharata

Largest Island Greenland (renamed Kalaallit Nunaat)
Largest Lake (Artificial) Lake Mead (Bouler)
Deepest Lake Baikal (Siberia); average depth2300 ft.
Highest Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) 12645 ft. above sea level.
Largest Lake (Fresh Water) Lake Superior, U.S.A
Largest Lake (Salt Water) Caspian Sea 3, 71,000 sq. km.)
Largest Mosque Jama Masjid, Delhi, (area 10,000 sq. ft.)
Biggest Library National Kiev Library,Moscow & Library of the
Congress, Washington)
Highest Mountain peak (World) Himalayas
Longest Mountain Range Andes (S.America) 5,500 miles in length
Biggest Museum British Museum (London)
Tallest Minaret (Free Standing) Qutub Minar, Delhi 238 ft.
Tallest Minaret Great Hassan Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco
Deepest & Biggest Ocean The Pacific
Largest Palace Imperial Palace (Gugong), Beijing (China)
Largest Park National Park, Greenland
Largest Peninsula Arabic (32,50,000 sq. km.)
Coldest Place or Region Verkhoyansk (Syberia), Temperature – 85° C
Driest Place Death Valley (California); rainfall 1 ½ inch.
Hottest Place (World) Al-Aziziyah (Libya, Africa) 136°F
Largest Planet Jupiter
Brightest and Hottest Planet Venus
(also nearest to Earth)
Farthest planet (from the Sun) Neptune
Nearest Planet (to the Sun) Mercury
Smallest Planet Mercury
Highest Plateau Pamir (Tibet)
Longest Platform (Railway) Kharagpur W.B, India (833m)
Largest Platform (Railway) Grand Central terminal, New York (U.S.A)
Largest Port Port of New York & New Jersey (U.S.A)
Busiest Port Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
Longest Railway Trans-Siberian Railway (6,000 miles Long)
Longest River Nile (6690 km), Amazon (6570 km.)
Longest River Dam Hirakund Dam (Orissa), India 15.8 miles.
Largest sea-bird Albatross
Largest Sea (inland) Mediterranean
Brightest Star Sirius (also called Dog star)
Tallest statue Statue of Liberty, New York (U.S.A), 150 ft. high.
Tallest Statue (Bronze) Bronze Statue of Lord Buddha, Tokyo (Japan).
Longest Swimming Course English Channel
Tallest Tower C.N Tower Toronto (Canada)
Longest Train nonstop Flying Scoutsman
Longest Tunnel (Railway) Seikan Rail Tunnel (Japan), (53.85 km.)
Longest & Largest Canal Tunnel Le Rove Tunnel (South of France)
B-64 Panorama

Longest Tunnel (Road) Laerdal, Norway

Highest Volcano Ojos Del Salado, Andes Argentine-Chile (6,885 m.)
Largest Volcano Mauna Lao (Hawaii)
Longest Wall Great Wall of China (1500 miles)
Highest Waterfall Salto Angel Falls (Venezuela)
Longest Strait Tartar Strait (Sakhalin Island & the Russian
mainland)
Broadest Strait Davis Straits (Greenland & Baffin Island, (Canada)
Narrowest strait Chaliks-45 yards (Between the Greek mainland the
island of Euboea in the Aegean Sea)
Largest Bay Hudson Bay, Canada (Shore line 7623 miles)
Largest Gulf Gulf of Mexico,( shoreline 2100 miles)
Largest Archipelago Indonesia (over 3,000 Islands)
Tallest Active Geyser Giant (Geyser ) yelowstone park U.S.A 200 ft. high
Largest River Basin Amazon Basin- 27, 20,000 sq. mile.
World Rainiest Spot Cherrapunji (Mawsynram), India
Largest Gorge Grand Canyon, on the Colorado River, U.S.A
Lightest gas Hydrogen
Lightest Metal Lithium
Highest Melting Point Tungsten, 3,410`C
Hardest Substance Diamond
Longest Animal Blue Whale, (recorded length 106 ft. weight-195
tons)
Longest Life Span of an Animal 190 to 200 years, (Giant tortoise)
Largest Land Animal African Bush Elephant
Fastest Animal Cheetah (Leopard ) 70 m.p.h
Longest Jump Animal Kangaroo
Longest wing Spread Bird Albatross
Slowest Animal Snail
Domestic Dog Irish Wolf Hound
Fastest Dog Persian Grey Hound (speed 43 m.p.h)
Longest poisonous snake King cobra
Biggest Flower Raffesia (Java)
Largest Stadium Strahov stadium in prague, (the Czech Republic)
Largest Church Basilica of st. peter, vetican city, Rome Italy
Largest Temple Angkor Vat (combodia)
Largest Diamond mine Kimbarley (S.Africa)
Largest River in volume Amazon, Brazil
Longest Corridor Rameshwaram Temple’s Corridor (5000 ft.)
Highest Straight Dam Bhakhra Dam
Highest Capital City La Paz (Bolivia)
Largest Asian Desert Gobi, Mongolia
Largest Democracy India
Longest Thoroughfare Verazano-Narrows, New York City Harbour
Largest Neck Animal Giraffe
Largest Animal of the Cat Lion
Family
Panorama B-65

Most Intelligent Animal Chimpanzee

Bird, that never makes its nests Cuckoo
Wingless Bird Kiwi
Reptile which changes its colors Chameleon
Largest Mammal whale
FAMOUS LANDMARKS 11. Acropolis of Athens: Greece
AROUND THE WOrld 12. Niagara Falls : Border of Ontario
(Canada) and New York (USA)
1. The Statue of Liberty in New
13. Angkor Wat : Cambodia
Your: USA
14. St. Peter’s Cathedral : Vatican
2. The Eiffel tower in Paris: France
City
3. St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow : 15. Mount Rushmore: South Dakota
Russia 16. The Grand Canyon : Arizona
4. The Great Sphinx at Giza, The 17. Sydney Opera House : Australia
Pyramids of Giza: Egypt 18. Forbidden City : Beijing
5. Neptune and the Place of 19. The Colosseum: Rome, Italy
Versailles: France 20. The Empire State Building :
6. The Great wall of China : China New York
7. The Taj Mahal in Agra : India 21. Abu Simbel : Egypt
8. Christ the Redeemer: Rio de 22. Tower of Pisa : Italy
Janeiro 23. The Burj al Arab Hotel : Dubai
9. Mecca: Saudi Arabia 24. Stonehenge: Wiltshire, United
10. Brandenburg Gate in Berlin: Kindom
Germany 25. Big Ben : London
THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Country Emblem Country Emblem
Australia Kangaroo Bangladesh Water Lily
Barbados Head of a Trident Belgium Lion
Canada White Lily Chile Candor & Huemul
Denmark Beach Dominica Sisserou Parrot
France Lily Germany Corn Flower
Guyana Canje Pheasant Hong Kong Bauhinia (Orchid Tree)
India Lioned Capital Iran Rose
Ireland Shamrock Israel Candelabrum
Italy White Lily Ivory Coast Elephant
Japan Chrysanthemum Lebanon Cedar Tree
Luxembourg Lion with Crown Mongolia The Soyombo
Netherlands Lion New Zealand Southern Cross, Kiwi, Fern
Norway Lion Pakistan Crescent
Papua New Bird of paradise Spain Eagle
Guinea Sierra Leone Lion
Sri Lanka Lion Sudan Secretary Bird
Syria Eagle Turkey Crescent & Star
U.K. Rose
B-66 Panorama
Panorama B-67

IMPORTANT DAYS OF THE YEAR

9th January: NRI Day 7th April: World Health Day
10th January: World Laughter Day 18th April: World Heritage Day
12th January: National Youth Day 22nd April: World Earth Day
15th January: Indian Army Day 25th April: World Malaria Day
23rd January: Netaji Subhash 30th April: World Jazz Day
Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary
1st May: International Labour Day
24th January: National Girl Child
Day 3rd May: World Asthma Day
25th January: National Tourism 5th May: World Athletics Day
Day
8th May: International Red Cross
26th January: Republic Day Day
29th January: National Newspaper 11th May: National Technology
Day Day
30th January: Martyr’s Day 17th May: World Telecommunica-
2nd February: World Wetlands Day tions Day
4th February: World Cancer Day 20th May: World Refugee Day
13th February: World Radio Day 21st May: Anti-terrorism Day
14th February: St. Valentine’s Day 24th May: Commonwealth Day
21st February: International Mother 31st May: World No Tobacco Day
Language Day
1stJune: World Milk Day
28th February: National Science
Day 5th June: World Environment Day
8th March: International Women’s 8th June: World Ocean Day
Day and Mother’s day
20th June: International Refugee
13th March: No Smoking Day Day
15th March: World Consumer 21st June: International Yoga Day
Rights Day
23rd June: International Olympic
22nd March: World Water Day Day
23rd March: World Meteorological
27th June: World Diabetes Day
Day
24th March: World Tuberculosis 1st July: World Doctor’s Day Van
Day Mahotsav Week (1stJuly to 7thJuly)

27th March: World Theatre Day 11th July: World Population Day
2nd April: World Autism Awareness 26th July: Kargil Victory Day
Day 28th July: World Hepatitis Day
B-68 Panorama

29th July: International Tiger Day 31st October: National Integration

30th July: International Day of Day
Friendship 7th November: World Cancer
6th August: Hiroshima Day Awareness Day
12th August: International Youth 11th November: National
Day Education Day
15th August: India’s Independence 14th November: Children’s Day
Day 16th November: National Press Day
19th August: World Humanitarian
21st November: World Fisheries
Day
Day, World Hello Day, World
29th August: National Sports Day Television Day
5th September: Teacher’s Day 25th November: International Day
8th September: International for the Elimination of Violence
Literacy Day against Women
14th September: Hindi Day 26th November: National
15th September: World Engineer’s constitution day
Day 26th November: National Milk day
16th September: World Ozone Day 30th November: Flag Day
18th September: International Day 3rd December: World Conservation
of Peace Day
21st September: Biosphere Day 5th December: World Soil Day
24th September: Girl Child Day 7th December: Armed Forces Flag
25th September: Social Justice Day, Day
World Maritime Day
9th December: International Day
27th September: World Tourism against Corruption, National
Day Immunization Day
1st October: International Music 10th December: World Human
Day Rights Day, International
2nd October: Gandhi Jayanti, Broadcasting Day
International Non-Violence Day 11th December: UNICEF Day
3rd October: World Habitat Day
14th December: National Energy
8th October: National Air force Day Conservation Day
9th October: World PostalDay 16th December: Vijay Diwas
National Postal Week (9thOctober
to 14th October) 22nd December: National
Mathematics Day
12th October: World Sight Day
23rd December: Kisan Diwas
16th October: World Food Day (Farmers’ Day)
MOST FAMOUS
PEOPLE OF ALL
TIME
B-70 Most famous people of all time

Albert Einstein (14th March was 32. He is regarded as one of

-1879 -April 18, 1955) : Albert history’s brilliant military leaders
Einstein was a German-born and most powerful rulers.
physicist who gave the Abraham Lincoln (12th February,
theory of relativity. He 1809- 15th April, 1865): Abraham
is considered the most Lincoln was the 16th President of
influential physicist of
the United States, serving from
the 20th century and is
March 1861 until his assassination
best known for his
in April 1865. Lincoln led the United
mass–energy equivalence formula E
States through its Civil War—its
= mc2. He received the Nobel Prize
bloodiest war and its greatest moral,
in 1921 in Physics for his ‘services to
constitutional and political crisis. In
theoretical physics’, in particular the
doing so, he preserved the Union,
discovery of ‘the law of the
abolished slavery, strengthened the
photoelectric effect’.
federal government, and modernized
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC) : the economy.
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher
and scientist born in the Macedonian Alfred Nobel (October 21, 1833-
city of Stagira, Chalkidice. He December 10, 1896): Alfred Nobel
was one of the greatest intellectual was a Swedish chemist, engineer,
figures of Western history. He entrepreneur and industrialist,
was the author of a philosophical who invented dynamite and other,
and scientific system that became more powerful explosives. He
the framework and vehicle for had 355 patents to his name and
both Christian Scholasticism and posthumously his was assets were
medieval Islamic philosophy. used to institute the Nobel Prizes.
Adolf Hitler (20th April- April Aryabhatta (476 CE-550 CE):
30th 1945): Hitler was the leader Aryabhata was an acclaimed
of the National Socialist Party mathematician-astronomer, born in
(from 1920/21) and chancellor Kusumapura (present
(Kanzler) and Führer of Germany day Patna) in Bihar. He
(1933–45). He initiated World War contributed immensely in
II and oversaw fascist policies that the field of mathematics,
resulted in around 6 million deaths. science and astronomy.
Hitler committed suicide with wife Some of his written
Eva Braun on April 30, 1945, in his works are ‘Aryabhatiya’
Berlin bunker. and Arya-siddhanta.
Alexander the Great (356- Ashoka the Great (August 304
323 BC): Alexander was the BC- 232 BC): Ashoka was one
King (Basileus) of the Ancient of the greatest emperors of the
Greek kingdom of Macedon and Maurya dynasty. Ashoka renounced
a member of the Argead dynasty. armed conquest and adopted a
He went on to conquer Persia and policy called ‘conquest by dharma’
Egypt, his kingdom ranging from and embraced Buddhism after
the Mediterranean to the border of witnessing the destruction caused
India. He died of malaria when he during the Kalinga war.
Most famous people of all time B-71

Annie Besant (1st October 1847 Ang Dorjee (1970-): Ang Dorje
– 20th September 1933): Annie (Chhuldim) Sherpa is a Nepali sherpa
Besant was a prominent British mountaineering guide, climber and
socialist, theosophist, women’s rights porter from Pangboche, Nepal.
activist, and a supporter of Irish and He has climbed to the summit of
Indian self-rule. She was appointed Mount Everest 17 times, Cho Oyu
as the first female President of the seven times since 1995, Broad Peak
Indian National Congress in 1917. (1995), Gasherbrum II (1997) and
Ama Dablam (1996).
Agatha Christie (15th September
1890 – 12th January 1976): Amir Khusro (1253–1325 CE):
Agatha Christie was a novelist, short Amir Khusro was a Sufi musician,
story writer, playwright, and a poet. poet and scholar. He is credited for
She is best known for her numerous the invention of the
detective novels and short story
musical instruments
collections. She has also written
like tabla and sitar. He
the world’s longest-running play, a
murder mystery, The Mousetrap. is also regarded as the
‘father of Qawwali’. He
Azim Premji (24th July 1945):
Azim Premji is a business tycoon, was associated with the
investorand philanthropist. He is the royal empires of seven rulers of
chairman of Wipro Delhi.
Limited. Premji owns Anne Frank (12th June, 1929 –
73% percent of Wipro February 1945): Anne Frank was
and also owns a private a German-born diarist and writer.
equity fund called She is one of the most discussed
PremjiInvest. Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Alberuni (4/5th September 973 – Her wartime diary ’The Diary of a
13th December, 1048): Al-Biruni Young Girl’ has been the basis for
a Khwarezmian Iranian Muslim several plays and films. She gained
scholar and polymath was a great international fame posthumously
philosopher, mathematician and after her diary was published.
historian. In 1017 he travelled to the Arnold Schwarzenegger (30th July,
Indian subcontinent and authored 1947-): Arnold Schwarzenegger
‘Tarikh Al-Hind’ (History of India) is an Austrian-American actor,
after exploring the Hindu faith producer, director, activist,
practised in India. He is also called businessman, former professional
the ‘founder of Indology’. bodybuilder, and politician. He
Andre Agassi (29th April, was nicknamed the ‘Austrian Oak’
1970-):Andre Agassi is an American as bodybuilder and ‘Arnie’ as an
tennis player. Agassi is an eight-time actor. Schwarzenegger gained
Grand Slam champion and a 1996 worldwide fame as a Hollywood
Olympic gold medallist in singles action film icon with his movies
tennis. Agassi was nicknamed as like ‘The Terminator’, which was
‘The Punisher’.
B-72 Most famous people of all time

a massive critical and box-office Akbar (15 October 1542 – 27

success. He appeared in a number of October 1605): Akbar was third
successful films, such as Commando Mughal Emperor. He succeeded his
(1985), Predator (1987), Total father, Humayun, under
Recall (1990) and True Lies (1994). a regent, Bairam Khan,
Schwarzenegger served two terms at an early age of 13
as the 38th Governor of California years. He expanded his
empire gradually covering
from 2003 until 2011.
nearly all of Indian
Ala-ud-din Khilji (died 1316): Subcontinent north of Godavari
Ala-ud-din Khilji was the second river.
ruler of the Khilji dynasty (1296 to He was a great administrator and in
1316). He is considered the most order to preserve peace and order in
powerful ruler of the dynasty. He was a religiously and culturally diverse
a strategist and military commander empire, he adopted policies that won
who commanded forces across the him the support of his non-Muslim
Indian subcontinent. He is noted subjects. He promulgated Din-i-
Ilahi.
in history for being one of the few
rulers in the world who repeatedly Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (15th
defended his empire against Mongol December 1832 – 27th December
invasions. Alauddin died in January 1923): Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
1316, of oedema. It is said that his was a French civil engineer and
lieutenant Malik Naib hastened architect. He graduated from the
prestigious École Centrale des Arts
his death. His tomb and madrasa
et Manufactures, France usually
exist at the back of Qutb complex,
associated with various bridges for
Mehrauli, in Delhi. the French railway network most
Albert Camus (7th November famously the Garabit viaduct. He
1913 – 4th January 1960): Albert is best known for the world famous
Camus was a French philosopher Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889
and writer. Born in Algeria, he had Universal Exposition in Paris, and
French parents. In 1941, Camus his contribution to building the
wrote his first novel, which was Statue of Liberty in New York. After
his retirement from engineering,
called The Stranger. His other novels
Eiffel concentrated on research into
and plays include The Plague and
meteorology and aerodynamics.
The Fall. Camus also wrote books He died on 27th December 1923 in
about philosophy (ways of thinking) Paris, France.
which said that life was ‘absurd’
(makes no sense, or has no meaning). Alfred Hitchcock (13th August
1899 – 29th April 1980): Sir
Camus won the Nobel Prize in
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was an
Literature in 1957 and became the
English film director and producer.
second youngest recipient of the
He was nicknamed as ‘The Master
Nobel Prize in Literature, after of Suspense’ as he was pioneer of
Rudyard Kipling. He died at an early many elements related to suspense
age in an automobile accident on 4 and psychological thriller genres. He
January 1960.
Most famous people of all time B-73

pictured many successful silent films He entered company’s board in 1986

and early talkies. He was known as and became chairman in 2007. He
England’s best director. Hitchcock became EY Entrepreneur of the
directed more than fifty feature films Year 2011.
in a career. He was named as the Angela Merkel (17th July 1954-)
most influential filmmaker of all Angela Dorothea Merkel has been
time by Movie Maker magazine in the Chancellor of Germany since
2002. He died on 29 April, 1980 at 2005 and the Leader of the Christian
Los Angeles in California. Democratic Union since 2000.
Allan Border (27th July 1955-): Before beginning her political career
Allan Border was an Australian Merkel was a research scientist and
former cricketer. His playing got doctorate degree as a physical
nickname was ‘A.B.’. chemist from University of Leipzig.
Throughout his career She became the spokesperson for
he played 156 Test the first democratically elected East
matches. He still holds German Government in 1990. In
the world record of her political career, she served as
playing 153 test Minister for Women and Youth in
matches in a row and the number of 1992, Minister for Environment in
Tests as captain. He was a left hand 1994 and was elected Secretary-
batsman but also performed well as General of the CDU in 1998. On 26
a part-time left arm spinner. Border March 2014, she became the longest-
amassed 11,174 serving head of government in the
runs and 27 centuries in his Test European Union. Currently she is
career. He retired as Australia’s most the Senior G7 leader and ranked as
capped player and leading run-scorer most powerful woman of world by
in both Tests and ODIs. Forbes.
Anand Burman (1986-): Dr. Anna Hazare (15th June, 1937-):
Anand C Burman is an Indian Anna Hazare is a socialist who
entrepreneur and chairman of started movements to promote rural
Dabur. He is also the cofounder of development, increase government
Asian healthcare fund. He serves as a transparency, investigations and
board of directors for 33 companies punish corrupt. As a
including Hero Motocorp, Aviva socialist he organises
Life Insurance, Ester Industries and encourages
and Interx Laboratories. He is grassroots movements.
the chairman of Fresenius Kabi He practises non-
Oncology Ltd and an Independent violence following the
Non-Executive Director of path of Gandhi. His strong agitation
Hindustan Motors Ltd. He has also led to the development and structuring
invested in different sectors like of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in
healthcare and education. Sundesh, Parner taluka of Ahmednagar
a non-profit organisation was set up district, Maharashtra. He also
by him. He joined his family business exerted pressure on the Indian
Dabur as manager in Research and government to enact on anti-
Development department in 1980. corruption law and Lokpal Bill,
B-74 Most famous people of all time

2011. He was awarded the Padma Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and
Bhushan in 1992 for his efforts in thirteen Filmfare Awards (South).
establishing Ralegan Siddhi village He is nicknamed as ‘the Mozart of
as a model for others. Madras’ but Tamil commentators
Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (4th June and fans call him Isai Puyal (the
1959-): Anil Dhirubhai Ambani is Musical Storm). Songlines magazine
a business tycoon and investor. He named him one of ‘Tomorrow’s
serves as the chairman of Reliance World Music Icons’ in August 2011.
ADA Group. With a degree in Arundhati Bhattacharya (18th March
MBA from Wharton, University 1956-): Arundhati Bhattacharya is
of Pennsylvania he joined his the first woman Chairperson of
family business, in 1983 as co-chief State Bank of India.
executive officer. After the death She started her career
of his father he took hold of the as a probationary
Reliance Group with interests in officer by joining State
Telecom, Entertainment, Financial Bank of India in 1977.
Services, Power and Infrastructure. She has served at
He has produced a large number various positions in the bank such as
of Bollywood films and is also chief executive of the bank’s
associated with 44 FM radio merchant banking arm- State Bank
stations, nationwide DTH business, of India Capital Markets; chief
animation studios, and several general manager in charge of new
multiplex cinemas throughout India. projects. Different projects which
Ambani’s net wealth is estimated involved her were SBI General
to be $5.9 billion according to the Insurance, SBI Custodial Services
Forbes billionaire list for 2014. and the SBI Macquarie Infrastructure
Business India in 1997 announced Fund. She has been termed as 30th
him to be ‘Businessman of the Year most powerful woman in the world
1997’. Then in 2004 he became the by Forbes and 4th most powerful
‘CEO of the Year 2004’ in the Platts woman in Asia Pacific by Fortune in
Global Energy Awards. 2015.
A. R. Rahman (6th January Aung San Suu Kyi (19th June
1967-) : A. R. Rahman is a 1945-): Aung San Suu Kyi is a
composer and songwriter. He is politician and opposition leader of
renowned for incorporate Eastern Myanmar. She is the chairperson of
classical music with electronic the National League for Democracy
music, world music and traditional (NLD) in Burma. She was under
orchestral arrangements. Rahman’s house arrest since 20th July, 1989 till
film career began with a Tamil 13th November 2010 and became
one of the world’s most prominent
movie ‘Roja’. Few of his well known
political prisoners. She has been
films are Rangeela, Dil Se, Slum
bestowed with Rafto Prize, Sakharov
dog millionaire etc. His award list Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990
includes two Academy Awards, two and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, In 1992, government of India and
a Golden Globe, four National Film government of Venezuela honoured
Most famous people of all time B-75

her with Jawaharlal Nehru Award Amartya Sen (3rd November

for International Understanding 1933-): Amartya Sen is an Indian
and the International Simón Bolívar economist and philosopher. Sen
Prize respectively. Aung San Suu is a professor of Economics and
Kyi published her books known Philosophy at the Thomas W.
as ‘Freedom from Fear, and Other Lamont University and the Harvard
Writings’, and Letters from Burma University. He was awarded the
(1997; reissued 2010). Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th Sciences in 1998 and Bharat Ratna
December 1924-): Atal Bihari in 1999 for his work in welfare
Vajpayee was the 10th Prime economics.
Minister of India. He
Barack Obama (4th August, 1961-)
was the first Prime
Barack Obama is the 44th President
Minister from outside
the Indian National of the United States of America.
Congress party who He is the first African American to
served for a full tenure serve as President of USA. He was
of 5 years. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
elected to Lok Sabha nine times 2009.
from Lucknow constituency serving Bob Dylan (24th May, 1941-):
parliament for over four decades. In Bob Dylan is an American singer,
2009, he retired from active politics artist and writer. ’Blowin’ in the
due to his deteriorating health. He Wind’, ‘The Times They Are
was appointed as a Minister of a-Changing’ and ‘Like a Rolling
External Affairs in the cabinet of Stone’ are some of his most popular
Morarji Desai. His birthday, 25 songs. He received the Pulitzer Prize
December, has been declared as jury in 2008 and the Presidential
‘Good Governance Day’. Bharat Medal of Freedom from President
Ratna was given to him on 27th Barack Obama in May 2012.
March 2015. Bill Gates (28th October, 1955-):
Amitabh Bachchan (11th October Bill Gates is an American business
1942-): Dubbed as India’s magnate, philanthropist, and
first “angry young man” for his on- computer programmer.
screen roles in Bollywood, In 1975, Gates co-
Amitabh Bachchan gained founded Microsoft,
popularity in the Hindi the world’s largest PC
cinema with movies like software company
Deewar and Zanjeer. He with Paul Allen, and
has since appeared in subsequently became
over 180 Indian films in one of the richest men in the world.
a career spanning more than four Benito Mussolini (29th July 1883
decades. Bachchan is regarded as – 28th April 1945): Mussolini was
one of the greatest and most an Italian politician and dictator.
influential actors in the history of He was the leader of the National
Indian cinema. He was awarded the Fascist Party and also considered the
Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma founder of fascism. He was executed
Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma by the Italian partisans when he was
Vibhushan in 2015. attempting to escape north.
B-76 Most famous people of all time

Benazir Bhutto (21st June, 1953 – Baba Ramdev (25th December,

27th December 2007): Benazir 1965-): Baba Ramdev is a spiritual
Bhutto was the 11th Prime Minister leader. However, in
of Pakistan (1988–90 and 1993– recent years, his
96). Bhutto was assassinated in interest in politics and
a bombing on 27th December agriculture has grown.
2007. Daughter of Destiny is the He was born as
Ramkrishna Yadav in
autobiography written by her.
Haryana. He is best known for
Bachendri Pal (24th May 1954): popularising yoga among Indians
Bachendri Pal, an Indian through his mass yoga camps. He
mountaineer, is the first Indian also founded the Divya Yog Mandir
woman to scale the summit of Trust in 1995 for this purpose. The
Mount Everest in 1984. She has Patanjali Group of Institutions was
authored her autobiography ‘Everest established for the promotion and
– My Journey to the Top’. She is also practice of yoga and ayurveda. Since
the recipient of Padma Shri (1984) 2003, he is being featured in morning
and Arjuna award (1986). yoga slot of Aastha TV. Ramdev has
more recently become a vocal
Baichung Bhutia (15th December advocate on Indian political issues.
1976-): Baichung Bhutia is a
Bahadur Shah Zafar (28th
professional Indian footballer of
September 1837 – 14th September
Sikkimese-Bhutia
1857): Bahadur Shah Zafar was
descent. Bhutia is the last Mughal emperor and the
considered to be the successor of Akbar II. He was a
torchbearer of Indian poet, musician, and calligrapher. He
football in the had more of an aesthete bend than
international arena. a political leader. His pen name was
He is also India’s most capped Zafar. He was a nominal Emperor,
player, with 104 international caps as the Mughal Empire existed in the
to his name. He is honoured with the name only and his authority was
Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri limited only to the city of Delhi.
for his contribution to Indian He played a part in the revolt of
football. 1857. He was captured and exiled to
Rangoon, Burma by the British.
Bob Hope (29th May, 1903 –
27th July, 2003): Bob Hope was a Ban-ki-moon (13th June 1944-):
British-born American entertainer Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and
current Secretary-General of the
and comic actor known for his
United Nations. His diplomatic
rapid-fire delivery of jokes and one-
career started as soon as he
liners. He was successful in almost
graduated. Ban’s first overseas
all entertainment media and toured posting was to New Delhi where he
overseas to entertain American served as vice consul and impressed
troops. Hope was awarded five many of his superiors in the foreign
honorary awards by the Academy of ministry with his competence.
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He served as foreign minister of
Most famous people of all time B-77

South Korea, from January 2004 to for his participation in the murder at
November 2006. On 1 January 2007, the age of 23 on 23 March, 1931 at
he succeeded Kofi Annan. Ban Lahore.
diplomatically took strong outlook Begum Khaleda Zia (15th August
on global warming and issues related 1945-): Begum Khaleda Zia is a
Darfur conflict. He was listed to be Bangladeshi politician who served
world’s 32nd most powerful person as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
by the Forbes in 2013 and first for two tenures (1991 to 1996 and
among South Koreans. 2001 to 2006). Her government
Banabhatta (601 – 649 AD): attempted to tackle the country’s
Banabhatta was a Sanskrit prose economic problems by privatizing
writer and poet in the court of King industry; improving educational
Harsha Vardhana. His principal system and expanding the economic
works include a biography of Harsha opportunities available to women.
(the Harshacharita), and one of the She is the first woman of Bangladesh
world’s earliest novels, Kadambari. and second Muslim woman to head
He died before finishing Kadambari a democratic government as prime
and later it was completed by his son minister. She even became the
Bhusanabhatta. Both these works First Lady of Bangladesh during
are distinguished texts of Sanskrit her husband Ziaur Rahman’s
literature. His other works include presidentship. At present she is
the Chandikasataka and a drama, he chairperson of the Bangladesh
the Parvatiparinaya. Nationalist Party (BNP). She is also
known as Khaleda Majumdar and
Bhagat Singh (September 28, Khaleda Zia ur-Rahman.
1907 - 23 March 1931): Bhagat
Singh was an Indian socialist and a Sir Ben Kingsley (31st December
revolutionary. He was a 1943-): Sir Ben Kingsley is an
leader of Hindustan English actor who is known for
Republican Association his role as Gandhi in film Gandhi
(HRA). Bhagat Singh (1982). He got Academy Award
killed John Saunders a for Best Actor for playing this role.
police officer seeking
In a career of 40 years, he has won
revenge the death of
Lala Lajpat Rai. All the efforts of an Oscar, a Grammy, a BAFTA,
police had failed to capture him. two Golden Globes and Screen
Then he along with his companion Actors Guild awards. He is also
Batukeshwar Dutt surrendered to known for his performances in the
British police as they threw two films Schindler’s List (1993), Sexy
bombs and leaflets which explained Beast (2000), Lucky Number Slevin
their motives, inside the Central
(2006), Shutter Island (2010), Prince
Legislative Assembly. This led to his
arrest and subsequently jailed on the of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010),
charge of murder. He gained Hugo (2011), and Iron Man 3 (2013).
widespread support of people as he Kingsley was made a Commander
fasted for 116 days demanding equal of the Order of the British Empire
rights for Indians prisoners. He was in 2000, and a Knight Bachelor
convicted and subsequently hanged in 2002. In 2013 he received the
B-78 Most famous people of all time

BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia the Backbench’, ‘The Future Of

Award for Worldwide Contribution India: Politics, Economics, And
to Filmed Entertainment. Governance’, ‘The Indian Economy:
Problems And Prospects’, ‘India’s
Bill Clinton (August 19, 1946-):
Economic Policy’, ‘Emerging India:
Bill Clinton is an American
Economics, Politics and Reforms’
politician who served
and ‘India’s Economic Crisis: The
as the 42nd President
Way Ahead’.
of the United States
from 1993 to 2001. He Binny Bansal (17th August 1941-):
served as Governor of Binny Bansal is a co-founder of
Arkansas from 1979 to e-commerce platform Flipkart with
1981 and 1983 to 1992, and as Sachin Bansal in 2007. He worked
Attorney General of state from 1977 with Sarnoff Corporation for 1.5
to 1979. He created the William J. years where he developed a lane
Clinton Foundation addressing sensor device for cars. Then before
international causes such as getting rejected by Google twice,
prevention of AIDS and global he was associated with Amazon.
warming. In 2004, he published his There he realized that the market
autobiography My Life. In 2009, he for E-commerce in India was very
was named as United Nations small and led the foundation of
Special Envoy to Haiti, and after the Flipkart. There he serves as the
2010 Haiti earthquake he teamed Chief Operating Officer.
with George W. Bush to form the
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Bhisham Sahni (8 August 1915 –
11 July 2003): Bhisham Sahni was
Bimal Jalan (17 August 1941-): a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor.
Bimal Jalan is a former Governor of He was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Reserve Bank of India and a for literature in 1998 and Sahitya
nominated member of Akademi Fellowship in 2002. He
the Rajya Sabha made his appearance in films like
(2003–2009). He held
Saeed Mirza’s Mohan Joshi Hazir
several administrative
Ho! (1984), Tamas (1986), Bernardo
and advisory positions
Bertolucci’s Little Buddha (1993)
in the government,
and Aparna Sen’s Mr. and Mrs.
namely, Chief Economic Adviser in
Iyer (2002). His novel and television
the 1980s, Banking Secretary (1985-
1989) and Finance Secretary, screenplay Tamas (‘Darkness,
Ministry of Finance. The Ignorance’) is a powerful and
government reappointed Jalan as passionate account of the Partition
Governor of the Reserve Bank of of India which in1975, won Sahitya
India, firstly between 22 November Akademi Award for literature. Two
2000 to 21 November 2002 and of his masterpiece stories, ‘Pali’
again commencing from 22 and ‘Amritsar Aa Gaya Hai’, also
November 2002 and ending 21 elaborate the time of partition. His
November 2004. He is the writer of other famous Hindi novels include
many books such as ‘The Future of Jharokhe (1967), Kadian (1971),
India’, ‘India’s Politics: A View from
Most famous people of all time B-79

Basanti (1979), Mayyadas Ki Madi Bismillah Khan (21 March 1913 –

(1987), Kunto (1993) and Neeloo, 21 August 2006): Ustad Bismillah
Nilima, Nilofar (2000). He died on Khan was an Indian
July 11, 2003, Delhi. musician credited with
Birbal (1528–1586): Raja Birbal, popularizing the
was an advisor in the court of the shehnai. Khan is
Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was credited with elevating
appointed as a poet and singer shehnai’s status and
in around 1556–1562. He was bringing it to the concert stage. He
considered one of the navaratnas or was awarded India’s highest civilian
nine jewels in the court of Emperor
honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.
Akbar. The folk tales of India has
He became the third classical
made him famous as he influenced
Akbar by his witticism. In 1586, musician after M. S. Subbulakshmi
Birbal led an army to crush conflict in and Ravi Shankar to receive such an
the north-west Indian subcontinent, honour. He was awarded the Padma
which failed tragically when he was Vibhushan way back in 1968 for his
killed along with many troops, in an contribution in Indian classical
ambush by the rebel tribe. music. He died on 21 August 2006,
Brijmohan Mishra (4 February at Varanasi due to a cardiac arrest.
1938-): Birjumohan Maharaj is the Brijmohan Lall Munjal (1st
leading exponent of July, 1923-1st November 2015):
the Lucknow Kalka- Brijmohan Lall Munjal is the
Bindadin gharana of
founder of Hero Group. He is
Kathak dance in India.
considered as a prominent figure of
He is a descendant of
Indian two-wheeler industry. Hero
the legendary Maharaj
family of Kathak dancers. Even cycle was officially born in 1956 at
though dancing is his first love, he Ludhiana. Before 1956 he along
also has an excellent command over with his four brothers was engaged
Hindustani classical music and is an in bicycle spare parts business. Hero
accomplished vocalist as well. He MotoCorp remained as world’s
took Kathak to new heights by largest two-wheeler company for
choreographing new Kathak dance 14 years in a row. In 1984, Hero
dramas. He remained as the head of joined hands with Honda a Japanese
Bhartiya Kala Kendra (Kathak company and became the world’s
Kendra) New Delhi till his retirement single-largest motorcycle maker.
in 1998. Then after retirement he
This partnership ended in 2011. He
opened his own dance school,
was awarded Padma Bhushan in
Kalashram, in Delhi. He received
Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar in 2002 2005 and Lifetime Achievement for
and National Film Award for Best the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship in
Choreography Vishwaroopam 2011. He died on 1 November 2015
(2012). in New Delhi.
B-80 Most famous people of all time

B. K. S. Iyengar (14th December Charles Dickens (7th February,

1918 – 20th August 2014): B.K.S 1812- 9th June, 1870): Charles
Iyengar was one of the Dickens was an English novelist,
most renowned Yoga and considered the greatest of the
gurus in the world. He Victorian era. Some of his notable
is also known the works are Oliver Twist, A Christmas
founder of the style of Carol, Bleak House, David
yoga known as Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities
“Iyengar Yoga”. Iyengar was one of and Great Expectations.
the contemporaries of the Tirumalai Charlie Chaplin (16th April,
Krishnamacharya, who is often 1889- 25th December, 1977):
referred to as “the father of modern Charlie Chaplin, a British comedian,
yoga”. His most popular books producer, writer, director,
include ‘Light on Yoga’, ‘Light on and composer is
Pranayama’ and ‘Light on the Yoga widely regarded as the
Sutras of Patanjali’. He has been greatest comic artist of
awarded the Padma Shri (1991), the the screen and one of
Padma Bhushan (2002) and the the most significant
Padma Vibhushan (2014). figures in motion picture history.

Charles Darwin (12th February, Chanakya (350 – 275 BCE): Chanakya

was a philosopher, economist and
1809- 19th April 1882): Charles
royal advisor to the Maurya Empire.
Darwin was an English naturalist
He is also known as Kautilya or
and geologist, is best known for his
Vishnu Gupta. He authored the
work as a naturalist, developing
Arthashastra (Economics). He
a theory of evolution to explain
served as the chief advisor to
biological change. His studies of Emperor Chandragupta and his son
specimens around the globe led him Bindusara.
to formulate his theory of evolution
and his views on the process of Chandragupta Maurya (340 BCE
– 297 BCE): Chandragupta Maurya
natural selection. In 1859, he
was the founder of the Maurya
published On the Origin of Species.
Empire. He became the first emperor
He died on 19 April 1882 at the age
to unite most parts of India into one
of 73 at Kent, England.
secular state. Chandragupta was
Christopher Columbus (1451- succeeded his throne by his son
1506): Christopher Columbus was Bindusara.
an Italian explorer who sailed across Charlotte Bronte (21st April 1816
the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, hoping – 31st March 1855): Charlotte
to find a route to India (in order to Bronte was an English novelist and
trade for spices). He made a total poet. She is best known for her novel
of four trips to the Caribbean and Jane Eyre and published most of her
South America during the years works under the pen name Currer
1492-1504. Bell.
Most famous people of all time B-81

Chinua Achebe (16th November She joined Board of Directors of

1930 – 21st March 2013): Chinua ICICI Bank in 2001. Under
Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, Kochhar’s leadership, ICICI
poet, and professor. His debut received ‘Best Retail Bank in India’
novel Things Fall Apart (1958) award in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
is considered his greatest work. Kochhar was selected in Time
He was awarded the Man Booker magazine’s list of the 100 Most
International Prize (2007) and the Influential People in the World
2015.
Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize
(2010). Chhatrapati Shivaji (9 February,
1630 -3 April 1680): Chhatrapati
Charles Babbage (26th
Shivaji was the king of Raigad. He
December 1791 –18th October
was of Bhonsle
1871): Charles Babbage was a
Maratha clan and
mathematician, philosopher, inventor
famous for his rivalry
and mechanical engineer. He is
with Aurangzeb. The
also known as the ‘father of the
Muslim oppression and
computer’ for inventing the first
religious harassment
mechanical computer.
on Hindus was witnessed by him
Cyrus Mistry (4th July 1968-): since an early age. At the age of 16,
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry is an he got ready to fight for this cause
eminent Irish entrepreneur and and pursued it throughout his life.
the current Chairman of India’s He was famous for his gorilla war
largest conglomerate, Tata Group and won a number of battles against
of Companies. The Economist Mughals following this practice.
has described him as ‘the most Charles Lamb (10 February 1775
important industrialist’ in both India – 27 December 1834): Charles
and Britain. He is the youngest son lamb was a writer and an essayist.
of Indian construction magnate He is best known for his Essays of
Pallonji Mistry. Elia and the children’s book Tales
Chanda Kochhar (17th November, from Shakespeare. He was a member
1961-): Chanda Kochhar is the of literary circle in England. He
managing director and chief published his first poem in 1796.
executive officer of His best-known poem is ‘The Old
ICICI Bank. It is Familiar Faces’ (1789), although
India’s second largest ‘On an Infant Dying As Soon As It
commercial bank and Was Born’ (1828) is his finest poetic
the largest in the achievement. In 1792 Lamb worked
private sector. She as a clerk at East India House and
started her career in got retirement in 1825. He died Dec.
Industrial Credit and Investment 27, 1834, in Edmonton, Middlesex,
Corporation of India (ICICI) as a England.
management trainee in 1984. It was Christine Lagarde (1 January
after ten years she became Assistant 1956-): Christine Lagarde is a
General Manager (1994) and French lawyer and the Managing
Deputy General Manager in 1996. Director (MD) of the International
B-82 Most famous people of all time

Monetary Fund (IMF) since 5 has also experimented with cars and
July 2011. In past she worked for built sports car modelled on the
French Government as a Minister D-type Jaguar.
of Economic Affairs, Finance
Dr. B. R Ambedkar (14th April,
and Employment, before that as a
Minister of Agriculture and Fishing 1891- 6th December 1956 ): Dr B.
(2007) and Minister of Trade (2005) R. Ambedkar also popularly known
in the government of Dominique as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one
de Villepin. She has the honour of of the architects of the Indian
being first woman finance minister Constitution. He was awarded the
of a G8 economy and first woman Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1990.
to head the IMF. On 16 November He was the nation’s first law minister
2009, the Financial Times ranked in the cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru.
her the best Minister of Finance in Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (15th
the Eurozone.
October 1931- 27th July, 2015):
Cleopatra (69- 12th August, 30 A scientist and an administrator,
BC): Cleopatra was the Egyptian APJ Abdul Kalam served as the
queen succeeding her father Ptolemy 11th President of India from 2002
XII. She ruled from 51- 30 BC until 2007. He was popularly tagged
successively with her two brothers as the ‘Missile Man of India’ and
Ptolemy XIII (51–47) and Ptolemy was honoured with great laurels and
XIV (47–44) and her son Ptolemy XV awards like Padma Bhushan, Padma
Caesar (44–30). She is considered
Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna.
to be last active pharaoh. After her
reign Egypt went into the hands of Dhirubhai Ambani (28th December,
Roman Empire under the kingship 1932- 6th July, 2002): Dhirubhai
of Octavian. She committed suicide Ambani was an Indian
at the age of 39 on 12th August, 30 business tycoon and
BC. She remained as a queen for 22 visionary. He was the
year. founder of Reliance
Cyrus S. Poonawalla (1945-): Industries Limited,
Cyrus S. Poonawalla is the chairman established in 1966.
of Poonawalla Group. Dhirubhai was named the ‘Man of
This group includes a 20th Century’ by the Federation of
biotech company that Indian Chambers of Commerce and
manufactures paediatric Industry (FICCI).
vaccines. Forbes ranked Dalai Lama (17th November
him the 9th and 208th 1950-): The 14th Dalai Lama
richest person in India and world (Tenzin Gyatso) is the current Dalai
respectively. He was awarded the Lama. He received the Nobel Peace
Padma Shri in 2005 for his Prize in 1989. Dalai Lamas are the
contribution in medicine. His monks of the Gelug School which
interest in horse racing made him is the newest school of Tibetan
the chairman of the Royal Western Buddhism, nominally headed by the
India Turf Club. At the early age he Ganden Tripas.
Most famous people of all time B-83

Dhyan Chand (29th August, India. He was the President of the

1905- 3rd December, 1979): Constituent Assembly that drafted
Dhyan Chand was one of the the Indian Constitution.
greatest hockey players of all time. Don Bradman (27th August
He was the member of the team 1908 – 25th February 2001): Don
which won three Olympic gold Bradman was a legendary Australian
medals in the years 1928, 1932 and cricketer and is acknowledged as the
1936. Dhyan Chand was nicknamed greatest Test batsman of all times.
as ‘The Wizard’ owing to his superb During his test career, his batting
ball control. He was awarded the average was a staggering 99.4 which
Padma Bhushan in 1956. is often highlighted as one of his
Dev Anand (26th September greatest achievement.
1923 – 3rd December 2011): Dev Dadabhai Naoroji (4 September
Anand was an actor, writer, director 1825- 30, June 1917): Dadabhai
and producer. He was Naoroji is known as the Grand Old
awarded the Padma Man of India. He is an early Indian
Bhushan (2001) & the political and social leader known for
Dadasaheb Phalke criticising British economic policy
Award (2002) for his in India. He was an intellectual,
contribution to Indian educator and Parsi cotton trader. He
cinema. His career spanned more presided over the annual sessions
than 65 years with working in 114 of the Indian National Congress, in
Hindi films and 2 English films. 1886, 1893, and 1906. He remained
Dr. C.V. Raman (7th November as a member of Liberal Party
1888 – 21st November 1970): between 1892 and 1895. He was the
Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman first Indian to be a British MP. He is
well known for his writing skills and
was an Indian Physicist. He won
wrote number of books of which
the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930
Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
for his ground breaking work on
became most famous.
the scattering of light and for the
discovery of the Raman Effect. India David Beckham (2nd May, 1975-):
celebrates National Science Day on David Beckham is a
28th February to commemorate his professional English
discovery of the Raman Effect. He soccer player. He is
was awarded the Bharat Ratna in the first English player
1954. to win league titles
in four countries:
Dr Rajendra Prasad (3rd
England, Spain, the United States
December 1884 – 28th February
and France. Beckham announced
1963): Dr Rajendra Prasad was an
his retirement in May 2013 after a
Indian politician and lawyer. He was
20-year career, during which he won
the first president of Independent
19 major trophies.
B-84 Most famous people of all time

David Cameron (9th October, a member of Rajya Sabha. He

1966-): David Cameron is the 53rd passed away on 12 July 2012 in
Prime Minister of Britain since Mumbai following a protracted
2010. He is the illness.
youngest Prime Minister Derek Walcott (23rd January
ever since 1812. He 1930-): Derek Walcott is a Professor
is leader of the of Poetry at the University of Essex.
Conservative Party In 1992 he received Nobel Prize in
since 2005 and has Literature. Other renowned awards
been working as the Member of bestowed on him were 2011 T. S.
Parliament for Oxfordshire
Eliot Prize and 2015 Griffin Trust
constituency of Witney since 2001.
for Excellence in Poetry Lifetime
After Winston Churchill of
Recognition Award. His few of the
Conservative Party during Second
famous works include Dream on
World War he is the only one to
Monkey Mountain and Other Plays
form coalition government. His
(1970), Omeros (1990), Tiepolo’s
government introduced Welfare
Hound (2000) and White Egrets
Reform Act of 2012, the Education
(2010). He laid down the foundation
Act of 2011, the Health and Social
Care Act of 2012 and the of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in
Immigration Act of 2014. In 2011 1981.
he became the first British Prime Desmond Tutu (7th October,
Minister to ‘veto’ an EU treaty. He 1931-): Desmond Tutu is an
received Order of Abdulaziz al Saud African Archbishop who received
Medal of Excellence in 2012. the Nobel Prize for Peace for his
Dara Singh (19th November, role in the opposition to apartheid
1928-12th July, 2012): An Indian in South Africa. From 1972 to
wrestler and actor, Dara Singh is 1975 he served as an associate
famous for his signature director for the World Council of
role of Hanuman in Churches. He has campaigned
Ramayana (1987–88). to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis,
His debut Bollywood poverty, racism, sexism, the
movie was Saat imprisonment of Chelsea Manning,
Samundar Paar in 1967. He even homophobia and transphobia. He
directed and produced a number of received the Nobel Peace Prize in
movies. Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met 1984; the Albert Schweitzer Prize
marked the last movie of his career.
for Humanitarianism in 1986; the
In 1996 he was inducted into the
Gandhi Peace Prize in 2007; and
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall
the Presidential Medal of Freedom
of Fame. His wrestling earned him
two titles: Rustam-E-Punjab in 1966 in 2009.
and Rustam-E-Hind in 1978. He Dilip Shanghvi (1st October
announced his retirement from 1955-): Dilip Shanghvi is the
active wrestling in 1983. From founder and managing director
August 2003 to August 2009 he was of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
Most famous people of all time B-85

Ltd. He is one of the richest and also received the Grammy

businessmen in India. He started his Lifetime Achievement Award at the
career by helping his father in his age of 36. He acted in films such
wholesale generic drugs business in as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls!
Kolkata. In 1997, he acquired USA, Girls! (1962), and Viva Las Vegas
Caraco Pharma and Israel’s Taro (1964).
Pharma in 2007 and brought Sun Edgar Allan Poe (19th January,
Pharmaceuticals to fifth place in the 1809 –7th October 1849): Edgar
global generic drugs market. On 19 Allan Poe was an American writer,
February 2015, he is said to surpass editor, and literary critic. He is
Mukesh Ambani as the richest considered to be the inventor of
person of India. He won CNN- detective and science fiction. Some
Indian Broadcasting Network’s of his famous works include ‘The
Indian of the Year award, 2011 in Raven’, and ‘The Fall of the House
the business category. of Usher.’
Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai Edmund Hillary (20th July, 1919
(12th August 1919 – 30th – 11th January 2008): New
December 1971): Vikram Ambalal Zealand mountain climber Edmund
Sarabhai an Indian Hillary was the first to
scientist who is widely reach the summit of
regarded as the father Mount Everest. He
of India’s Space also explored Antarctic
Programme. He received (South Pole) in 1958.
Padma Bhushan in He began climbing
1966 and Padma Vibhushan in 1972. south Alps when in high school only.
He built a number of institutions like He served the Royal New Zealand
the Physical Research Laboratory Air Force as a navigator during
(PRL), Indian Institute of World War II. From 1985 to 1988 he
Management (IIM), Ahmedabad; served as New Zealand’s high
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, commissioner to India, Nepal, and
Thiruvananthapuram; Electronics Bangladesh. The second-highest
Corporation of India Limited mountain range on Pluto is named
(ECIL), Hyderabad and many in his honour as Hillary Montes. He
eminent institutes. Establishment of was added to the UNESCO Memory
Indian Space Research Organization of the world archive in 2013. Hillary
(ISRO) in 1962 was one of his was named by Time as one of the
greatest achievements. He died on 100 most influential people of the
30 December, 1971 in Kovalam. 20th century. He died on 11 January
Elvis Presley (8th January, 1935 2008, in Auckland. In 2003, he was
–16th August 1977): Elvis Presley made an honorary citizen of Nepal
was a musician and actor. He is often as a part of observance of the 50th
referred to as the King of Rock and anniversary of his climbing to
Roll. He has won three Grammys Mount Everest.
B-86 Most famous people of all time

Edmund Spenser (1552/53- 13th and United Kingdom Government

January 1599): Edmund Spenser Communications Headquarters
was an English poet known for long (GCHQ) while working in CIA.
allegorical poem. Spenser is called These informations were related
as a Poets’ Poet. His famous work to numerous global surveillance
‘The Faerie Queene’ came to be programs, many run by the NSA
known as Spenserian stanza. It was and Five Eyes with the cooperation
a long epic explaining the Tudor of telecommunication companies
dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is said and European governments. In
to be a craftsman of nascent Modern June 2013, he gave these classified
English verse and is considered NSA and GCHQ documents to
as one of the greatest poets in the
journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura
English language. He died on 13
Poitras and Ewen MacAskill who
January, 1959 in London.
published it in The Guardian on 6th
Elizabeth Taylor (27th February, June, 2013. Right now he stays as
1932- 23rd March 2011): Oscar a refuge in an undisclosed location
winning Elizabeth Taylor started her in Russia, seeking for asylum
career as a child actress when MGM elsewhere. A documentary on his
Studios signed her to
story, Citzenfour, won an Oscar in
cast in Lassie Come
Home (1943). She is 2015.
considered as a last star Elattuvalapil Sreedharan (12
of classical Hollywood June 1932-): A retired Indian
cinema and even Engineering Service officer
regarded as one of the Elattuvalapil Sreedharan is popularly
first modern celebrities. She won the known as the ‘Metro Man’. He
Academy Award twice for her
is credited with the leadership of
performance in Butterfield 8 (1960)
building the Konkar Railways and
and Who’s Afraid Of Virginia
Woolf (1966). One of her most bringing Metro to Delhi. In 1970,
famous roles was in Cleopatra he worked as the deputy chief
(1961). She was the first celebrity to engineer of the first ever metro in
take part in HIV/AIDS activism in India, Kolkatta. He worked as a
1984. She co-founded the American managing director of Delhi Metro
Foundation for AIDS Research between 1995–2012. Sreedharan
(amfAR) in 1985 and The Elizabeth was appointed as Principal Advisor
Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. of the Kochi Metro Rail Project
She was honoured by the queen of after retiring from Delhi Metro. He
England in 1999 as Dame Elizabeth was awarded the Padma Shri by
Taylor. She died on 23rd March, the Government of India in 2001,
2011.
the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the
Edward Joseph Snowden Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur
(21st June 1983-): Edward in 2005. He served in a High level
Joseph Snowden is a computer Advisory Group on Sustainable
professional who copied classified Transport (HLAG-ST) by United
information from the United States Nation for the period of three year.
National Security Agency (NSA)
Most famous people of all time B-87

Ferdinand Magellan (1480 – 27 nuclear war after his retirement.

April 1521): Magellan was a He is politically a Marxist–Leninist
Portuguese explorer who organised and Cuban nationalist. He served
the Spanish expedition as Prime Minister of Cuba from
in which he assembled 1959 to 1976. In 1976 he became
a fleet of ships which President of Cuba and relinquished
despite huge setbacks the presidency in February 2008
and Magellan’s death, because of health problems. Ever
accomplished the first since, he has been engaged meeting
circumnavigation of Earth in a the leaders of world emphasizing
single voyage. the need to eliminate nuclear war.
Castro was the Secretary-General of
Franklin D. Roosevelt (30th
the Non-Aligned Movement from
January, 1882-12th April, 1945):
1979 to 1983 and from 2006 to 2008.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, commonly
known as FDR was an American Florence Nightingale (12th May
statesman and political leader who 1820 – 13th August 1910):
served as the 32nd President of the Florence Nightingale was a
United States. Assisted by his top celebrated English social reformer
aide Harry Hopkins, and with very and statistician, and
strong national support, he worked the founder of modern
closely with British Prime Minister nursing. She was often
Winston Churchill and Soviet leader referred to as ‘The
Joseph Stalin in leading the Allies Lady with the Lamp’
against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy because she used to
and Imperial Japan in World War make rounds of wounded soldiers at
II. He is often rated by scholars as night during the Crimean War.
one of the top three U.S. Presidents,
Firdausi (934-1020): Firdausi is
along with Abraham Lincoln and
known for his contribution to Persian
George Washington.
poetry. He wrote one of the greatest
Fa-hien (399-414 AD): Fa-hien national epics in world literature.
was a Chinese Buddhist monk, Firdausi was the pen name of the
pilgrim traveller, and writer, author poet called as Mansur ben Hasan
of one of the earliest and most according to al-Bundari. He studied
valuable Chinese accounts of India. philosophy, astronomy, poetry,
He travelled India during the reign and astrology. His remarkable
of Chandragupta II. work Shahnameh (Books of King),
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13th consists of epic of nearly 60,000
August, 1926-): Fidel Alejandro couplets. It covers the history of
Castro Ruz, is a political leader Iran covering four dynasties, the
of Cuba who won the Confucius Pishdadian, the Kayanian, the
Peace Prize 2014, for his important Ashkanian, and the Sassanian. He
contributions in eliminating died in 1020–26, in Iran.
B-88 Most famous people of all time

Francis Xavier (7th April 1506 – States Constitution, which replaced

3rd December 1552): Francis the Articles of Confederation.
Xavier was the co-founder of the Washington was unanimously
Society of Jesus. He elected President by the electors
was a doctorate in law in both the 1788–1789 and 1792
at the University of elections.
Bologna and severed Genghis Khan (1162- 18th
as privy counsellor and August, 1227): Genghis Khan
finance minister to was the founder and Great Khan
King John III of Navarre. Francis (emperor) of the Mongol Empire,
which became the largest contiguous
studied theology and arrived in Goa,
empire in history after his demise.
then capital of Portuguese India on
Many people were slaughtered
6 May 1542. Francis Xavier devoted in Genghis Khan’s invasions, but
much of his life to missions in Asia, he granted religious freedom to
mainly in four centres: Malacca, his subjects, abolished torture,
Amboina and Ternate, Japan, and encouraged trade and created the
China. He died on 3 December, first international postal system.
1552 at Shangchuan and was buried George Orwell (25th June 1903-
there. His relics are kept in a silver 21st January 1950): George
casket, elevated inside the Bom Jesus Orwell was one of the sharpest
Basilica, Goa. satirical fiction writers of the 20th
century with works such as Animal
Galileo Galilei (15th February
Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four,
1564 – 8th January 1642): Galileo the latter a profound anti-utopian
was an Italian novel that examines the dangers of
astronomer, physicist, totalitarian rule. He was a man of
engineer, philosopher strong opinions who addressed some
and mathematician of the major political movements of
who played a major his times, including imperialism,
role in the scientific fascism and communism.
revolution during the Renaissance. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 25th
Galileo has been called the ‘father of October 1400): Chaucer was one
modern observational astronomy’ of the greatest English poets of
and the ‘father of modern physics’ the Middle Ages. The Canterbury
and ‘the father of modern science’. Tales was his best known and most
George Washington was the first acclaimed work. He is also known as
President of the United States, the Father of English Literature.
the Commander-in-Chief of the Graham Bell (3rd March, 1847
Continental Army during the –2nd August, 1922): Graham Bell
American Revolutionary War, and was a Scottish inventor, engineer
one of the Founding Fathers of the and innovator. He was one of the
United States. He presided over the primary inventors of the telephone
convention that drafted the United and did some groundbreaking work
Most famous people of all time B-89

in the field of communication for the George Eliot (22 November 1819
deaf. He held more than 18 patents. – 22 December 1880): George Eliot
Gamal al-Ghitani (9th May was as English Victorian novelist.
1945 – 18th October 2015): She is known as Marian Evans and
Gamal al-Ghitani was an Egyptian Marian cross. She developed the
historical and political novelist. method of psychological analysis
characteristic of modern fiction. Her
He was also involved in cultural
major works include Adam Bede
and political commentaries. He
(1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860),
served as the editor-in-chief of the
Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch
literary periodical Akhbar Al-Adab
(1871–72), and Daniel Deronda
(‘Cultural News’) till 2011. He
(1876). The Death of Moses, 1879,
started writing at the early age and
From a London Drawing Room and
published his first short stories at
Count That Day Lost were few of
the age of 14. He was trained to be
hers poems she wrote. She is known
a carpet designer and even received
to be writing with a politically astute
diploma in it, in1962. Gamal was
pen. She died on 22 December 1880
imprisoned from October 1966
in Chelsea, Middlesex, England.
through March 1967 for his critical
commentary on the regime of Girish Karnad (19th May 1938-)
Gamal Abd el-Nasser (President of Girish Karnad is an Indian actor, film
Egypt). In 1969 he switched career director, writer and playwright. He
and became a journalist for the predominantly worked for South
Egyptian newspaper Akhbar El Yom Indian cinema but
(‘The Day’s News’). In 1980, he was his contribution to
awarded with the Egyptian National Bollywood is also
Prize for Literature, and in 1987, remarkable. His
the French Chevalier de l’Ordre des started his career as a
Arts et des Letters. He died on 18 playwright in 1960s.
October 2015 in Cairo, Egypt at the His plays are mostly
based on history and mythology
age of 70 years.
to tackle contemporary issues. He
Garry Kasparov (13th April, 1963):
wrote his first play, Yayati (1961)
Garry Kasparov began playing chess
followed by Tughlaq (1964) which is
at the age of 6 and became Soviet
regarded as his best works. His Hindi
youth champion at 13. He won his
movies are Iqbal (2005) and Dor
first international tournament at
(2006) as an actor. He directed Utsav
age of 16 in 1979. Kasparov had the
in 1984. He played a role of Swami’s
title of international grandmaster in
Father in Malgudi Days (1987). He
1980. In twenty years of time (1986
served as the director of Film and
- 2005) he was ranked world No. 1
Television Institute of India (1974–
for 225 out of 228 months. Kasparov
1975) and chairman of the Sangeet
also holds records for consecutive Natak Akademi, (1988–93). He is
professional tournament victories a recipient of many awards such as
(15) and Chess Oscars (11). He took Padma Shri (1974), Padma Bhushan
his retirement from chess world in (1992) and Jnanpith Award (1998).
2005.
B-90 Most famous people of all time

Graham Greene (2 October 1904 Guru Nanak (15 April, 1469-

– 3 April 1991): Graham Greene 1539): Guru Nanak was the first
was an English novelist and author Guru of the Sikhs. He has been
regarded as one of the greatest regarded as ‘one of the greatest
writers of the 20th century. He religious innovators of
worked as a private tutor for some all time’. He travelled
time and then turned to journalism. extensively preaching
He first joined the Nottingham
the concept of ‘One’
Journal then shifted to Times as a
God dwells in every
sub-editor. His first published work
was a book of verse, ‘Babbling April’ one of his creations.
in 1925. Then his first novel came Through his preaching he set up a
out in 1929 ‘The Man Within’. He unique spiritual, social, and political
got his first true success with the platform based on equality, fraternal
publication of ‘Stamboul Train’ in love, goodness, and virtue. He
1932. He wrote thriller stories. The rejected the authority of the Vedas
Third Man, the Ministry of Fear and and attacked the Hindu Caste
Brighton Rock were few of his novels System. He also rejected the path of
which were later filmed. He died in renunciation (Tyaga or Yoga). He
1991 at age of 86 of leukaemia, in emphasized a householder’s (family)
Vevey, Switzerland. life based on honest conduct, selfless
Gulzari Lal Nanda (4th July 1898 service (Sewa), and constant
– 15th January 1998): Gulzari Lal devotion and remembrance of God’s
Nanda acted as the interim Prime name. His words are registered in
Minister of India Guru Granth Sahib in the form of
twice. Firstly in 1964 974 poetic hymns. He died on 22
he succeeded Jawarhal September 1539 at Kartarpur, India.
lal Nehru after his
death and second time Guru Gobind Singh (22th
after the death of Lal December 1666 – 7th October
Bahadur Shastri in 1966. Nanda 1708): The tenth and the last Guru
initiated his career as a research Sikh faith Guru Gobind Singh
scholar working on labour problems was a Prophet and teacher of Sikh
at Allahabad University (1920– faith. The sacred shrine ‘Takht Sri
1921), and became a Professor of Harimandar Sahib’, (place where he
Economics at National College in was born) is situated at Patna. Five
Bombay (Mumbai) in 1921. In 1922, elements of faith that Khalsa Sikhs
he became the secretary of the wear at all times (Five Ks), was
Ahmedabad Textile Labour initiated by him in 1699. He fought
Association and worked there till
11 battles. The most famous among
1946. He took part in non-
them was Battle of Bhangani.
corporation and was imprisoned for
Satyagraha in 1932, and 1942 to He died on 7th October 1708 at
1944. He was awarded the Bharat Nanded, India and passed Guruship
Ratna in 1997. He died on 15 to Eleventh and Eternal Sikh Guru,
January, 1998, Ahmadabad, Pakistan. the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Most famous people of all time B-91

Guru Dutt (9th July 1925 – 10th 1995 to 2000. Bush led the United
October 1964): Guru Dutt was a States’ response to the 9/11 terrorist
Hindi motion-picture attacks and initiated the Iraq War.
producer, director, He is currently a public speaker, has
writer, and actor. A
written a memoir titled Decision
postage stamp, bearing
Points.
his face, was released
by India Post to Hillary Clinton (26th October,
honour him on 11 October 2004. He 1947): Hillary Clinton is an
made classics such as Pyaasa, American Government Official,
Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur U.S. First Lady,
Ghulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand. Women’s Rights
Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool are Activist. She served
now included among the greatest as the 67th United
films of all time, both by Time States Secretary of
magazine’s “All-TIME” 100 best State under
movies and by the Sight & Sound President Barack Obama from 2009
critics’ and directors’ poll. to 2013. She is the wife of the 42nd
President of the United States Bill
Gopal Krishna Gokhale (9th May
Clinton.
1866 – 19th February 1915):
Hellen Keller (27th June, 1880 – 1st
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of
the social and political leaders during June, 1968): Helen Keller was an
the Indian Independence Movement American author, political activist,
against the British Empire in India. and lecturer. She was
Gokhale was famously a mentor to the first deaf blind
Mahatma Gandhi in his formative person to earn a
years. He is the founder of the Bachelor of Arts
Servants of India Society (1905). degree. Her birthday
is celebrated as Helen
Gunter Grass (16th October Keller Day in the U.S. state of
1927 – 13th April 2015): Gunter Pennsylvania.
Grass was a German novelist, poet,
playwright, illustrator, graphic Ho Chi Minh (19 May 1890 – 2
artist, sculptor, and recipient of September 1969): Ho Chi Minh
the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature. was a Vietnamese Communist
His extraordinary first novel revolutionary leader. He became
Die Blechtrommel (1959; The the Prime Minister (1945–55)
Tin Drum), became the literary and President (1945–69) of the
spokesman for the German Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
generation that grew up in the Nazi He started Vietnamese independent
era and survived the war. movement from 1941 an established
Communist-ruled Democratic
George W Bush (6th July, 1946-): Republic of Vietnam in 1945.
George Walker Bush served as the He achieved a major success by
43rd President of the United States defeating the French Union in the
from 2001 to 2009. He acted as battle of Dien Biên Phu (1954).
the 46th Governor of Texas from Though he officially resigned from
B-92 Most famous people of all time

his post in 1965 due to health he became the first person to win six
problems but remained involved in gold medals. Till now he has eleven
motivational work and inspiration World Championship gold medals
for those Vietnamese fighting for which the third-highest among the
his cause of a united, communist swimmers. He is the first person
Vietnam until his death. He died on to be named as Swimming World
2nd September 1969, of heart failure Swimmer of the Year four times and
at his home in Hanoi, aged 79. had been the Australian Swimmer
of the Year from 1999 to 2003. His
Isaac Newton (25 December
achievements as a swimmer made
1642 – 20 March 1727): English
him one of Australia’s most popular
physicist and mathematician Sir
athletes. He was recognised as the
Isaac Newton, most famous for his
Young Australian of the Year in
law of gravitation, was instrumental
2000.
in the scientific revolution of the
17th century. His book Philosophiæ Inder Kumer Gujral (4 December,
Naturalis Principia Mathematica 1919- 30 November, 2012): Inder
(‘Mathematical Principles of Kumer Gujral was the
Natural Philosophy’), first published prime minister of
in 1687, laid the foundations for India from April 21,
classical mechanics. 1997, to March 19,
1998. He was the third
Indira Gandhi (19th November
Prime Minister who
1917 – 31st October 1984): Indira
was elected from the Rajya Sabha.
Gandhi was the first female Prime
He is primarily remembered for the
Minister of India and
Gujral Doctrine, a policy grounded
also one of the main
on India’s unilaterally reaching out
figures of the Indian
diplomatically to its neighbours
National Congress.
without the expectation of
She was India’s third
reciprocity. He acted as an
Prime minister and
Ambassador of India to U.S.S.R.
served from 1966 to 1984, when she
(Cabinet Rank) from 1976-1980 and
was assassinated by her bodyguards.
held various ministerial positions
She was also the recipient of the
from 1967-1976. During the
Bharat Ratna.
government of Prime Minister V.P.
Ian Thorpe (13th October 1982-): Singh, he happened to be the
Ian Thorpe is a freestyle Australian Minister of External Affairs and
swimmer. He also competes in again in 1996 when Janata Dal-led
backstroke and as an individual United Front government came to
medley. He is the first to win five power. He died out of lung infection,
Olympic gold medals in Australia. on 30th November, 2012 at Gurgaon,
He also considered as the most Haryana.
successful athlete at the 2000
Ibn Battuta (1304-1369): Ibn
Summer Olympics with three gold
Battuta, was a geographer, explorer
and two silver medals. 2001 World
and traveller. In history, he is known
Aquatics Championships was his
for his extensive journeys. He
major success as an athletic where
travelled different parts of Islamic
Most famous people of all time B-93

world covering North Africa, She joined PepsiCo in 1994 and

West Africa, Southern Europe and became its president and CFO in
Eastern Europe in the West, to the 2001. Nooyi purchased Tropicana
Middle East, Indian subcontinent, in 1998, Quaker Oats Company
Central Asia, Southeast Asia and and brought them under PepsiCo.
China in the East. It took him a Padma Bhushan was awarded to her
period of almost thirty years. After in 2007. She has consistently been
his travel he returned to Morocco ranked among the World’s 100 Most
and gave account of his experiences Powerful Women and in 2014, she
to Ibn Juzay. This account has been was ranked 13. She is first woman
recorded in ‘A Gift to Those Who to lead the soft-drink and snack-food
Contemplate the Wonders of Cities’ company.
and ‘the Marvels of Travelling’ or Indu Jain (8th September 1936-):
simply called as ‘Rihla’. He was Indu Jain, the 79-year-old industrialist
appointed a judge in Morocco and handles the philanthropic genre
died in 1368. of the Times foundation. She is
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (26 chairperson of The Times Group
September 1820 – 29 July 1891): and known for her Oneness Forum.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a She is an active supporter of women’s
philosopher, academic educator, rights. Times Foundation runs
writer, reformer and community services, research groups
philanthropist. He and relief funds for various disaster
is known for his reliefs such as floods, cyclones,
efforts to simplify earthquakes and epidemics. She
and modernize the encourages budding entrepreneurs
Bengali Literature. He and believes in their abilities to shine.
simplified and reconstructed the She is also founder President of the
Bengali alphabet. He even reformed Ladies wing of FICCI. The Oneness
Bengali typography into an alphabet Forum was given the Mahatma-
(actually abugida) of twelve vowels Mahavira Award. International
and forty consonants. He was very Lifetime Achievement Award was
Liberal in his outlook though born awarded to her by Indian Congress
in an orthodox Brahman family. of Women.
Vidyasagar championed the uplift James Watt (19th January 1736-
of the status of women in India. His 25th August 1819): James Watt
‘Barna Porichoy’ is still considered was a Scottish instrument maker
a classic work. His popular books and inventor whose steam engine
were Betaal Panchabinsati (1847), contributed substantially to the
Upakramanika (1851) and Sitar Industrial Revolution
Bonobas, 1860. He died on 29 July in his native Great
1891 in North Calcutta, Bengal. Britain and the rest of
Indra Nooyi (28th October 1955-): the world. He
Indra Nooyi Indra Krishnamurthy developed the concept
Nooyi is a business executive, of horsepower, and the
currently acting as a chairperson and SI unit of power, the watt, was
chief executive officer of PepsiCo. named after him.
B-94 Most famous people of all time

John F. Kennedy (29th May, 1917 charitable works and causes. He has
– 22nd November, 1963): John F. received stars on the Hong Kong
Kennedy was the 35th President of Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood
the United States. He served from Walk of Fame.
1961 until his assassination in 1963. Jan Koum (24th February, 1976-) :
Major events during his presidency Jan Koum is an internet
include the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the entrepreneur and computer engineer
Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of of America. Apart from being CEO
the Berlin Wall, the Space Race, the and co-founder with Brian Acton of
American Civil Rights Movement WhatsApp, he entered the Forbes list
and early events of the Vietnam War. of the 400 richest Americans in 2014
positing 62nd rank. He was hired by
Javed Aktar (17th January 1945-): Yahoo as an infrastructure engineer
Javed Aktar is an Indian scriptwriter, way back in 1998. He met Acton
lyricist, poet and an accomplished while working at Ernst & Young
mainstream writer. He as a security tester. In September
is a recipient of the 2007 Koum and Acton left Yahoo.
Padma Shri (1999), Both applied, and failed, to work
Padma Bhushan at Facebook. Then Feb. 24, 2009,
(2007), the Sahitya he incorporated WhatsApp Inc. in
Akademi Award as California.
well as thirteen Filmfare Awards. Jagdish Chandra Mahindra
He along with Salim Khan wrote (1892-1951): J. C. Mahindra was
classical ‘Sholay’ which was released an Indian industrialist who co-
in 1975 and proved to be an all time founded Mahindra &
hit. Mahindra. In 1929, he
started with Tata Steel
Jawahar Lal Nehru (14th November, as his first job. There
1889- 27th May, 1964): Pandit he worked as a senior
Jawahar Lal Nehru became first Sales Manager. World
Prime Minister of independent War II was the critical time of steel
India; a central figure in Indian industry it was then when he was
politics for much of the 20th century appointed as the first Steel Controller
and one of the main architects of of India. Later in 1945 he founded
Non-aligned Movement. He was Mahindra along with K. C.
very fond of children and they Mahindra and Malik Ghulam
affectionately called him Chacha Mohammed. After independence
Nehru. In India, his birthday is when Ghulam Mohammad left
celebrated as Children’s Day. India and the company to be first
Finance Minister of Pakistan,
Jackie Chan (7th April 1954-): Mahindra brother decided to
Jackie Chan is an actor, martial manufacture the Willey Jeep form
artist, film director, producer. Mumbai. Soon, the company’s
Chan is a UNICEF Goodwill name changed to Mahindra &
Ambassador, and has championed Mahindra. He died of a heart attack
in 1951.
Most famous people of all time B-95

Jack Dorsey (19th November, of lovers’ attraction, estrangement,

1976-): Jack Dorsey is an American yearning, and final reconciliation.
CEO and co-founder of Twitter. Two hymns, composed by Jayadeva,
He also serves as the founder and have been incorporated in the
CEO of Square, a mobile payments Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book
company. In 2008, MIT Technology of the Sikh religion. He is known
Review TR35 named him as one for popularizing Dasavatara, the
of the top 35 innovators in the ten incarnations of Vishnu. He
world under the age of 35. He got also institutionalized the Devadasi
‘Innovator of the Year Award’ in system in Oriya temples. He died in
2012, for technology. He has been Odisha, India.
acting as a board member for Walt Jean Jacques Rousseau (28th
Disney Company since 2013. June 1712 – 2nd July 1778):
Jamshedji Tata (3rd March 1939- Jean Jacques Rousseau was a
19th May 1904): Founder of Tata philosopher, writer, and composer.
Group, ‘Jamshedji Tata’ was the His novels inspired the leaders of
pioneer of industrialization in India. the French Revolution and the
He worked in his Romantic generation. It led a way
father’s company till to development of modern political
29 years of age, then and educational thought. His
initiated his first famous works Emile, Julie, or the
business by founding a New Heloise, Solitary Walker and
trading company in Confessions moulded the opinion
1868. Next year he bought an oil of masses. His works were mostly
mill and converted it to a cotton mill related with the notable ideas of
and named it as Alexandra Mill. He general will, moral simplicity of
sold that mill two years later for humanity, child-centred learning,
profit. Then again in 1874 he civil religion, popular sovereignty,
established another cotton mill at and positive liberty. He died in 1778
Nagpur in 1874 and named it as at Ermenonville in France.
Empress of India. He had four goals Jimmy Wales (7th August 1966-):
in life: setting up an iron and steel Jimmy Wales is a co-founder and
company, a world-class learning promoter of the online non-profit
institution, a unique hotel and a encyclopaedia Wikipedia and
hydro-electric plant. He laid down the for-profit Wikia web hosting
the foundation of Tata Group, Tata company. His first job was related in
Sons, Taj Hotels Resorts and finance. Later he chose to work as the
Palaces, Indian Institute of Science. research director of Chicago futures
He died on19th May, 1904 at Bad and options firm. In 1996, he with
Nauheim in Germany. two other partners founded Bomis (a
Jayadeva (1200-): Jayadeva was male-oriented web portal featuring
an Indian Sanskrit poet famous entertainment and adult content). It
for his epic poem Gita Govinda brought him initial funding for the
which is a depiction of the divine peer-reviewed free encyclopaedia
love of Krishna, and Radha. The Nupedia (2000–03) and its successor,
poem presents the dramatic form Wikipedia. Wikipedia was available
B-96 Most famous people of all time

in a number of languages and theorem, theory of nonlinear

became one of the Internet’s most parabolic partial differential
popular sites by 2006. In 2008 Wales equations and to singularity theory.
served as a co-chair of the World His theories are used in economics,
Economic Forum on the Middle computing, evolutionary biology,
East. Same year he received Global accounting, computer science,
Brand Icon of the Year Award. In games of skill, politics and military.
February 2014, Wales was named as On May 23, 2015 Nash and his wife
one of ‘25 Web Superstars’ by ‘The were killed in a road accident on
Daily Telegraph’. their way home after receiving the
J.K. Rolling (31st July 1965-): Abel Prize.
J.K. Rolling is famous for her novel John Napier (1st February 1550-
Harry Potter series. Earlier she 4th April 1617): John Napier was
worked as a researcher and bilingual a mathematician, physicist, and
secretary for Amnesty astronomer. He is best known as the
International. One day inventor of logarithms. He invented
on a delayed train from ‘Napier’s bones’ and made common
Manchester to London the use of the decimal point in
in 1990 she conceived arithmetic and mathematics. He
the idea of Harry also made important contributions
Potter series. She completed the first to spherical trigonometry. A Plaine
book of this world famous series in Discovery of the Whole Revelation
1997 with the title Harry Potter and of St. John (1593) is regarded to be
the Philosopher’s Stone. Then in his most important contribution. He
2007 she produced the final six died at Edinburgh in Scotland on 4th
sequels, the last, Harry Potter and April 1617. The crater Neper on the
the Deathly Hallows. Since then, she Moon is named after him.
has written four books for adult Jonathan Swift (30th November,
readers, The Casual Vacancy (2012); 1667- 19th October, 1745):
the crime fiction novels The Jonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish
Cuckoo’s Calling (2013), The satirist, essayist, poet
Silkworm (2014) and Career of Evil and cleric who became
(2015). In 1999 she was honoured Dean of St Patrick’s
with National Book Awards Cathedral located at
Children’s Book of the Year. Dublin. He wrote
John F Nash (13th June, 1928- some of the most
23rd May 2015): John F Nash memorable novels such as Gulliver’s
was a mathematician who was Travels, A Modest Proposal, A
awarded the 1994 Nobel Prize for Journal to Stella, Drapier’s Letters,
his contribution in Economics. His and The Battle of the Books etc. He
contribution to game theory made is regarded as the foremost prose
him Nobel Prize winner and got satirist in the English language by
the Abel Prize for his contributions the Encyclopædia Britannica. He
to the study of partial differential originally published all of his works
equations. His work in mathematics under pen name such as Lemuel
includes the Nash embedding Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff, Drapier’s
Most famous people of all time B-97

Letters as MB Drapier – or United States since then. In the same

anonymously. He is also known for year, the Swedish Director of Public
being a master of two styles of satire Prosecution opened the case against
(the Horatian and Juvenalian). He him related to four sexual offences
died on 19th October, 1745 in that Assange allegedly committed. In
Dublin, Republic of Ireland. 2012, facing extradition to Sweden,
Jyoti Basu (8th July 1914- 17th he sought refuge at the Embassy of
January 2010): Jyoti Basu was an Ecuador in London and was granted
Indian politician belonging to the political asylum by Ecuador.
Communist Party of Julius Caesar (13 July 100 BC-
India (Marxist) from 15 March 44 BC): Julius Caesar
West Bengal. He was was a Roman statesman, general
the longest-serving and notable author of Latin prose.
Chief Minister in He is well known for overthrowing
country’s history. He Roman Republic and the rise of the
served as a Chief Minister of West Roman Empire. He was the first
Bengal from 1977 to 2000. He Roman general to build a bridge
started his political career as a across the Rhine and cross it for
student by organizing Indian conducting the first invasion to
students studying in United Britain. He is considered as one of
Kingdom for the cause of Indian the greatest military commanders in
independence. Basu was elected to history by many historians. Julius
the Bengal Legislative Assembly in Caesar was posthumously granted
1946, contesting the Railway the title Divus Iulius or Divus Julius
constituency. In 1977, Jyoti Basu by decree of the Roman Senate on 1
became the Chief Minister and held January 42 BC.
this position continuously for more
Karl Marx (5th May, 1818 –
than 23 years. He died on 17 January
14th March 1883): The German
2010 at Kolkata due to pneumonia.
philosopher, social scientist,
Julian Assange (3rd July 1971-): historian and revolutionary, Karl
Julian Assange is an Australian Marx, was undoubtedly most
computer programmer, publisher influential socialist thinker to
and journalist. He is known as emerge in the 19th century. In
the editor-in-chief of the website 1848, he published The Communist
WikiLeaks. In 2006, he co-founded Manifesto with Friedrich Engels
this company. WikiLeak produces and was exiled to London, where
what is called scientific journalism i.e. he wrote the first volume of Das
providing primary source materials Kapital (1867-1894) and lived the
with a minimum of editorial rest of his life.
commentary. It came into limelight Khushwant Singh (2nd February
in 2010 when it published U.S. 1915 – 20th March 2014):
military and diplomatic documents Khushwant Singh was an Indian
leaked by Chelsea Manning. He novelist, journalist and lawyer. Some
has been under investigation in the of his acclaimed works include ‘Train
B-98 Most famous people of all time

to Pakistan’ (1956), ‘Delhi: A Novel’ He gave up his career as a teacher

(1990), ‘The Company of Women’ to become secretary general for the
(1999), ‘Truth, Love and a Little Bonded Labour Liberation Front in
Malice’ (2002), and ‘The Good, the 1980. He started ‘save the childhood’
Bad and the Ridiculous’ (2013). He movement. He has received various
was awarded the Padma Bhushan national and international honours
(1974), Punjab Rattan Award (2006) and awards including the Nobel
and Padma Vibhushan (2007). Peace Prize of 2014, which he shared
Kalpana Chawla (March 17, with Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan.
1962- February 1 2003): Kalpana In 1999 Satyarthi was among the co-
Chawla was the first Indian-born founders of the Global Campaign
woman astronaut in space. She first for Education. He came up with a
flew on Space Shuttle book ‘Globalisation, Development
Columbia in 1997 as a and Child Rights in loss’ in 2006.
mission specialist and Kanishka (127–163 AD): Kanishka
primary robotic arm was the emperor of the Kushan
operator. Later in dynasty, who was famous for his
2003, Chawla was one military, political, and spiritual
of the seven crew members killed in achievements. His devotion and
the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. conquest for Buddhism led to the
Kabir (1398 or 1440 CE-1448 or development of the Silk Road.
1518 CE): Kabir was a saint and a Images of the Buddha based on 32
poet. His writings influenced the physical signs were made during his
Bhakti movement in Hinduism. He time. He encouraged both Gandhara
is revered by Hindus, Muslims, and school of Greco-Buddhist Art and
Sikhs alike. the Mathura school of Hindu art.
The coin of his regime depicted
Kiran Bedi (9th June 1949-): image standing Buddha.
Kiran Bedi is an Indian politician,
social activist, former tennis player Kiran Mazundar Shaw (23rd
and a retired police officer. She was March 1953-): Kiran Mazundar
the first Indian woman to join the shaw is the chairman and managing
Indian Police Services. She was BJP’s director of biotechnology company
CM candidate for the 2015 Delhi Biocon India Group.
Assembly elections against Arvind She is also the current
Kejriwal. She lost the election from chairperson of IIM-
Krishna Nagar constituency. Bangalore. In 2014,
she was awarded the
Kailash Satyarthi (1 January Othmer Gold Medal
1954-): Kailash Satyarthi works for her outstanding contributions in
for children’s rights and education the field of science, especially
in India. He also advocates against chemistry. The Financial Times
child labour. He is commonly known ranked her among top 50 women in
for founding the Bachpan Bachao business list. In 2014, she is listed as
Andolan in 1980. He has acted the 92nd most powerful woman in
to protect the rights of more than the world by Forbes. She initiated
83,000 children from 144 countries. her career with a consulting work.
Most famous people of all time B-99

Then in 1978 she became the partner He took over Aditya Birla Group
of Auchincloss (owner of Biocon in 1995, after the sudden death of
Biochemicals) in a new venture, his father. Under his leadership the
Biocon India. It produced enzymes Aditya Birla Group has expanded
for alcoholic beverages, paper, and into new sectors including telecom,
other products. Within a year it software and BPO including textile
became the first Indian company to and garments, cement, aluminium,
export enzymes to the United States fertilizer etc which existed during
and Europe. his father time. Apart from handling
Kofi Annan (April 8, 1938-): Kofi Aditya Birla Group, he worked as
Annan served the United Nations a Director on the Central Board of
(UN) as secretary-general from Directors of the Reserve Bank of
1997 to 2006. He began his career India. He was the Chairman of the
in 1962 as a budget officer of World Advisory Committee constituted
Health Organization. Since then he by the Ministry of Company
has spent whole of his professional Affairs and also served on The
career working with UN at different Prime Minister of India’s Advisory
administrative levels. He was Council on Trade and Industry. At
appointed as a secretary-general of present he serves National Council
UN twice; for the first time in 1997 of the Confederation of Indian
and then in 2001. He introduced a Industry and the Apex Advisory
reform plan that sought to reduce the Council of the Associated Chambers
organization’s budget and streamline of Commerce and Industry of India.
its operations. His other priorities as Kapil Dev (6th January 1959-):
a secretary-general of UN included Kapil Dev is a former Indian
restoring public confidence in the cricketer best known
UN, combating the AIDS virus, for leading his team to
especially in Africa, and ending a World Cup victory in
human rights abuses. He along with 1983. He is regarded as
the United Nations was the co- one of the greatest all-
recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace rounders of all time.
Prize ‘for their work for a better He has received the Arjuna Award,
organized and more peaceful world. Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and
He is the founder and the Chairman many more awards for his
of the Kofi Annan Foundation and contribution to the game of cricket.
chairman of The Elders, a group He was inducted to ICC Hall of
founded by Nelson Mandela. Fame in 2010.
Kumar Birla (14th June 1967-): Leonardo da Vinci (April 15,
Kumar Birla is the Chairman of the 1452 – May 2, 1519): Leonardo
multinational Aditya Birla Group da Vinci was an Italian polymath,
which operates in 36 countries being a scientist, mathematician,
across the globe. It is India’s third engineer, inventor, anatomist,
largest business group. He also painter, sculptor, architect, botanist,
serves as the Chancellor of the Birla musician and writer known for his
Institute of Technology & Science. enduring works ‘The Last Supper’
and ‘Mona Lisa’.
B-100 Most famous people of all time

Louis Pasteur (27th December, Lal Krishna Advani (8th November

1822- 28th September 1895): 1927-): Lal Krishna Advani is an
French Chemist and Microbiologist Indian politician and one of the
Louis Pasteur who came up with most senior leaders of the Bharatiya
the food preparing process known Janata Party (BJP). He served as
as pasteurization also developed Deputy PM of India from 2002 to
vaccination for anthrax and rabies. 2004 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He
He is popularly known as the ‘father was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
in 2015.
of microbiology’. His scientific
accomplishments earned him Lal Bahadur Shastri (2nd October,
France’s highest decoration, the 1904- 11th January 1966): Lal
Legion of Honour, as well as election Bahadur Shastri was the Prime
to the Académie des Sciences. Minister of India (1964–66) after
Jawaharlal Nehru. He was the leader
Louis Braille (4th January 1809 of the Indian National Congress and
– 6th January 1852): Braille was was elected to the legislature of the
a French educator and Inventor. United Provinces in
He devised the Braille system of 1937 and 1946.
printing and writing for the blind. During first five year
He was blinded accidentally in his plan he served as a
early childhood. Railways Minister
(1951–56) followed by
Lata Mangeshkar (28th September
various functions, including Home
1929-): Lata Mangeshkar is one of Minister (1961-63) and External
the most renowned female playback Affair Minister (1964-66). He led the
singers in Bollywood. She has also country during the Indo-Pakistan
been nicknamed as Nightingale of War of 1965 with the slogan of ‘Jai
Bollywood. She has been awarded Jawan Jai Kisan’. The war formally
with numerous awards, including ended with the Tashkent Agreement
Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan of 10th January 1966. He died there
(1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), in Tashkent of a heart attack the
Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), following day.
Maharashtra Bhushan Award Larry Page (March 26, 1973-):
(1997), NTR National Award (1999), Larry Page is the cofounder of
Bharat Ratna (2001), ANR National Google Inc. He is the computer
Award (2009), three National scientist, internet entrepreneur
Film Awards, and 12 Bengal Film along with being CEO of Alphabet
Journalists’ Association Awards. (parent company of Google). In
1998, PC Magazine ranked Google
Lakshmi Mittal (15th June 1950-):
among the Top 100 Websites and
Lakshmi Mittal also known as the
Search Engines. The following year
‘Iron Man of Calcutta’ is the Indian it awarded Google the Technical
steel mogul. He is the Chairman and Excellence Award for Innovation
Chief Executive Officer of Arcelor in Web Application Development.
Mittal, the biggest steel producing Then, in 2001 Page gave up his
company of the world. post as CEO of Goggle and
Most famous people of all time B-101

became president of the company. work, Detstvo (1852; Childhood),

He announced his rejoining as a was a fictionalized and nostalgic
CEO of Alphabet. He is the board account of his early years. Tolstoy
member of the X Prize Foundation is best known for his two longest
(XPRIZE). The National Academy works, War and Peace (1865–69)
of Engineering in 2004 elected him and Anna Karenina (1875–77). In
as the winner of the Marconi Prize. shorter works, The Death of Ivan
In October 2015, Forbes’ named Ilyich (1886) is considered to be his
him as number one ‘America’s Most best novel. Boyhood, and Youth and
Popular Chief Executives’. Sevastopol Sketches (1855) were
Lenin (22nd April 1870- 21st based upon his experiences in the
January 1924): Lenin, a Russian Crimean War. He even wrote plays
communist revolutionary, served as and numerous philosophical essays.
head of government of the Russian Tolstoy’s final years have been
Soviet Federative Socialist Republic presented in the movie ‘The Last
from 1917 to 1924 and Station’ based on the novel by Jay
of the Soviet Union Parini.
from 1922 to 1924. He Lord Mountbatten (25th June
was ideologically a 1900- 27th August 1979): Lord
Marxist and his Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of
political theories are India and the first Governor-General
known as Leninism. He promoted of the independent Dominion of
socialization of all property as India (1947–48). He joined navy in
public property during his 1913 and subsequently, in 1932 was
administration. He overthrew promoted to captain. He served as
Provisional Government and brought the Supreme Allied Commander
in Bolshevik administration. He also South East Asia Command during
abolished the Russian Constituent
Second World War, (1943–46).
Assembly and suppressed both left
Serving as a viceroy of India he very
and right-wing rivals and established a
efficiently administered the transfer
one-party state under the new Russian
of power from Britain to the newly
Communist Party. In 1921, New
Economic Policy, a mixed economic independent nations of India and
system was introduced by him. He is Pakistan. As the governor-general of
considered as one of the most India, he helped in persuading Indian
significant and influential historical princes to merge their states into
figures of the 20th century. He died either India or Pakistan. He became
on 21st January, 1924 at Gorki in the admiral in 1956 and governor in
Russian. 1965. In 1979, Mountbatten along
with his grandson Nicholas, and two
Leo Tolstoy (9th September
others were killed by the Provisional
1828 – 20th November 1910):
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian author Irish Republican Army (IRA).
and the master of realistic fiction. Larry King (19th November
He is regarded as one of the world’s 1933): Larry King is an American
greatest novelists. His first published television and radio host, actor,
B-102 Most famous people of all time

and comedian. From 1985 to 2010, Munshi Premchand (31th July

he hosted the nightly interview 1880 – 8th October 1936):
television program Larry King Live Munshi Premchand was a novelist,
on CNN. short story writer, and dramatist.
Mahatma Gandhi (2nd October His famous works include Godaan,
1869- 30th January 1948): Mohandas Bazaar-e-Husn, Karmabhoomi and
Karamchand Gandhi, most Shatranj ke khiladi. He is one of the
commonly known as most celebrated writers of the Indian
‘Mahatma’ was the subcontinent.
preeminent leader of
Indian nationalism in M.S. Dhoni (7th July 1981-):
British-ruled India. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an
Employing nonviolent Indian cricketer and the captain of
civil disobedience, Gandhi led India the Indian cricket team in limited-
to independence and inspired overs format. The middle order
movements for civil rights and wicketkeeper and batsman is known
freedom across the world. Indians for his attacking batting style. He
widely describe Gandhi as the father was awarded the ICC ODI Player of
of the nation. the Year award in 2008 and 2009 (the
first player to win the award twice),
Martin Luther King Jr. (15th the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award
January, 1929 – 4th April, 1968): in 2007 and the Padma Shri in 2009.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist
minister and social activist, who led Mother Teresa (26th August
the Civil Rights Movement in the 1910 – 5th September 1997):
United States from the mid-1950s Mother Teresa was a Roman
until his death by assassination Catholic religious sister
in 1968. King was posthumously and missionary and
awarded the Presidential Medal of the founder of the Order
Freedom and the Congressional of the Missionaries of
Gold Medal. Charity, a Roman
Mark Twain (30th November, Catholic congregation
1835- 21st 1910): Mark Twain was of women dedicated to the poor,
a pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne particularly to the destitute of India.
Clemensas, an American humorist, She received numerous honours,
journalist, lecturer, and novelist including the 1979 Nobel Prize for
who acquired international fame for Peace.
his travel narratives, especially The Mirza Ghalib (27th December
Innocents Abroad (1869), Roughing 1797 –15th February 1869):
It (1872), and Life on the Mississippi Mirza Asadullah Khan Beg was an
(1883), and for his adventure eminent Urdu and Persian language
stories of boyhood, especially The poet. He wrote under the pen names
Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) of Ghalib and Asad. He was one
and Adventures of Huckleberry of the most popular and influential
Finn (1885). poets of the Urdu language.
Most famous people of all time B-103

Michael Jackson (29th August, Manna Dey (1st May 1919 – 24th
1958 – 25th June, 2009): Michael October 2013): Manna Dey was an
Jackson was a singer, songwriter, Indian playback singer. He debuted
dancer and an actor. in the film Tamanna in 1942, and
He is often referred as went on to record more than 4000
the king of Pop. Some songs from 1942 to 2013. The
of his awards include Government honoured him with
Guinness World the Padma Shri in 1971, the Padma
Bhushan in 2005 and the Dadasaheb
Records, 13 Grammy
Phalke Award in 2007.
Awards, the Grammy Legend Award,
the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Mick Jagger (26th July 1943-):
Award and 26 American Music Sir Michael Philip ‘Mick’ Jagger is
Awards. an English singer, songwriter and
actor. He is best known as the lead
Mukesh Ambani (19th April vocalist and the co-founder of The
1957): Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani Rolling Stones. He was knighted for
is an Indian business magnate. He his services to the music industry in
is the chairman, managing director 2003.
and largest shareholder of Reliance Mohammed Rafi (24th December
Industries Limited (RIL). He also 1924 – 31th July 1980):
owns the Indian Premier League Mohammed Rafi was one of the
franchise Mumbai Indians. most acclaimed playback singers of
Mulk Raj Anand (12th December the Hindi film industry.
1905 – 28th September 2004): He has won six
Mulk Raj Anand was a prominent Filmfare Awards and a
Indian author who wrote numerous National Film Award.
He has also been
novels, short stories, and critical
honoured with the
essays in English. He is known
Padma Shri in 1967.
for his realistic and sympathetic
portrayal of the poor in India. Marco Polo (15th September,
1254 – January 8 1324): He was
Marie Curie (7th November an Italian merchant traveller. His
1867 – 4th July 1934): Marie book ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’,
Curie was a Polish-born French 1300 A.D. introduces Europeans
physicist, famous for her work to Central Asia and China. He was
on radioactivity. She was the first the first to leave a detailed chronicle
woman to win a Nobel Prize, the experience of his China visit. He
first person and only woman to win died in 1324 and was buried in the
twice, the only person to win twice in church of San Lorenzo in Venice.
multiple sciences. Her achievements Muhammad Yunus (28 June
include a theory of radioactivity (a 1940-): Muhammad Yunus is a
term that she coined), techniques Bangladeshi social entrepreneur,
for isolating radioactive isotopes, banker and economist. Yunus and
and the discovery of two elements, the Grameen Bank were jointly
polonium and radium. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
B-104 Most famous people of all time

in 2006 for creating economic In 1802 she exhibited her work

and social development from alongside Paul Philidor show at the
below. They provided loans to Lyceum Theatre in London. She
too poor entrepreneurs to qualify travelled and exhibited her collection
for traditional bank to establish throughout Britain and Ireland.
a business. He was honoured Finally, in 1835 she established a
with United States Presidential permanent home in Baker Street,
Medal of Freedom in 2009 and London, where she worked until
the Congressional Gold Medal in eight years before her death. She
2010. Yunus along with three others died on 16th April, 1850 in London,
in 2011 co-founded Yunus Social England.
Business – Global Initiatives (YSB).
Mark Zuckerberg (14th May,
YSB creates and empowers social
1984-): Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, an
businesses to address and solve
American computer programmer
social problems around the world.
and Internet entrepreneur is best
He was a professor of economics
known as one of five
at Chittagong University in
co-founders, chairmen
Bangladesh and he joined Glasgow
and chief executives of
Caledonian University in Scotland
the social networking
as a Chancellor in 2012.
website Facebook. He
Maria Sharapova (19th April launched Facebook
1987-): Maria Yuryevna Sharapova from Harvard University’s dormitory
a Russian professional tennis player, rooms. At the age of 23, in 2007,
who is ranked world Facebook’s success made him a
No. 4 by the Women’s billionaire. He was ranked 7th
Tennis Association richest American as his personal
(WTA) is United wealth was estimated to be $44.6
States resident since billion by Forbes in October 2015.
1994. She has been As CEO of Facebook he receives a
ranked world No. 1 in singles by the one-dollar salary a year.
WTA on five separate occasions, for Madan Mohan Malviya (25th
a total of 21 weeks. She is the tenth December 1861- 12th November
women and the only Russian to hold 1946): Madan Mohan Malviya
Grand Slam. was an Indian educationist and
Madame Tussaud (1st December, politician. He was
1761- 16th April, 1850): Madame respectfully addressed
Tussaud was a French and the as Pandit Madan
founder of Madame Tussaud’s Mohan Malaviya and
museum of wax figures, in central ‘Mahamana’. He
London. She learned this art of became the president
making wax figures from Philippe of Indian National Congress four
Curtius at an early age. Her first wax times. He founded Banaras Hindu
sculpture was of Voltaire, in 1777. University (BHU) at Varanasi in
During the French Revolution she 1916 and served as its Vice
modelled many prominent victims. Chancellor from 1919–1938. He left
Most famous people of all time B-105

Congress in 1934 and joined Hindu fought in 1813, 1823, 1834 and 1837.
Mahasabha. He acted as the For his efforts he has been known as
president of special session of the Lion of the Punjab. He was free
Mahasabha in Gaya (1922) and in from religious bigotry, and was mild
Kashi (1923). He founded ‘The in the treatment of his adversaries.
leader’ an English newspaper He completely renovated the
published from Allahabad in 1909 Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
and was the Chairman of Hindustan at Amritsar. He died on 27th June
Times from 1924 to 1946. He was 1839 at Lahore in Pakistan.
awarded Bharat Ratan in 2014. He Malala Yousafzai (12th July
died on 12th November 1946 at 1997-): Malala Yousafzai is a
Varanasi, UP. Pakistani activist for female
Madhubala (14th February 1933 education. She is the
– 23rd February 1969): Madhubala youngest among the
was one of the most influential Nobel Prize winners.
personalities and beautiful actresses Malala is a campaigner
of Hindi movies. She of the right to
worked in Bollywood education, especially female
between 1942 and education. The movement started in
1960. Her performance Swat Valley (her native) a northwest
in Mughal-e-Azam region of Pakistan, where the local
established her as an Taliban had at times banned girls
iconic actress of Hindi Cinema. She from attending school, became an
did her first movie Basant (1942) at international movement. She was
the age of nine. Her first lead role former blogger for BBC Urdu which
debut was at the age of 14 in Neel she used to share the prevailing
Kamal opposite to Raj Kapoor in condition in Swat valley with world.
(1947). Mumtaz Jehan Dehlavi was Time magazine featured her as one
her real name. After Neel Kamal she of “The 100 Most Influential People
assumed her screen name in the World” in year 2013, 2014 and
‘Madhubala’. She died at the age of 2015.
36 years on 23 February 1969 after a Manoj Night Shyamalal (6th
prolonged illness (ventricular septal
August 1970): Manoj Night
and pulmonary pressure of the
Shyamalal is an Indian-American
lungs) in Mumbai.
film director famous for his movies
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (13th ‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999) and
November 1780 – 27th June ‘Unbreakable’ (2000) and ‘Signs’
1839): Maharaja Ranjit Singh (2002). He worked as screenwriter,
was the founder of Sikh empire in producer and occasional actor.
Punjab which existed between1799 His first film was a semi-
to 1849. He was first Indian in a autobiographical drama ‘Praying
millennium to prevent the invasion with Anger’ (1992) as a student.
of the Pashtuns (Afghans) and ‘Wide Awake’ came in1998 followed
re-conquered the homelands. He by The Sixth sense in 1999 in which
fought a large number of battles his work was recognized worldwide.
most significant among them were
B-106 Most famous people of all time

He is known for making movies with to be known as Marconi’s law.

contemporary supernatural plots He got Nobel Prize in Physics
along with psychological thriller in 1909 which he shared with
and science fiction. He is known to Karl Ferdinand Braun. He even
filming his movies in and around founded The Wireless Telegraph
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his & Signal Company (which became
home town. His films are mostly the Marconi Company) in Britain
co-produced and released by the in 1897. Marconi made radio a
Walt Disney Studios’ Touchstone commercial success. He was sent
and Hollywood film imprints. as plenipotentiary delegate to the
Shyamalan in 1998 was awarded the peace conference in Paris (1919),
Padma Shri. where he signed the peace treaties
Martina Hingis (30th September with Austria and with Bulgaria. He
1980-): Martina Hingis is a Swiss was made marchese and nominated
professional tennis player, known for to the Italian senate (1929) and
winning five Grand chosen president of the Royal Italian
Slam singles titles the Academy (1930). He died on 20th
Australian Open July 1937 at Rome, Italy due to heart
(1997, 1998, 1999), attack.
Wimbledon (1997), Marry Kom (1st March 1983-):
and the United States Marry Kom is an Indian boxer from
Open (1997). Throughout her career Manipur. Her win at the First State
she has won 43 singles titles and 37 Level Invitation at the women’s
doubles titles. She has spent a total boxing championship 2000 in
of 209 weeks as world No. 1. Hingis Manipur initiated her
became youngest ever Grand Slam boxing career. She
champion and youngest ever world won five national
No. 1 setting a youngest ever series. Championships from
Then in 2002, at the age of 22 she 2000 to 2005. In 2008,
got ligament injuries in both ankles at the Asian Women’s
which forced her to withdraw Boxing Championship in India, she
temporarily from professional won a silver medal. In the same year
tennis. She returned back in 2013, at AIBA Women’s World Boxing
July to play the North American Championship in China she earned
hard court season, partnering the Gold medal which was her
Daniela Hantuchová. Time in June fourth successive gold medal at the
2011 named her among one of the championship. In 2012 at Summer
“30 Legends of Women’s Tennis: Olympics in London she won bronze
Past, Present and Future”. medal. In 2014 Asian Games, she
Marconi (25th April 1874 – 20th won a Gold Medal in Flyweight
July 1937): Marconi was an Italian category. She had been given Arjuna
electrical engineer who invented Award (Boxing), 2003, Padma Shree
long-distance radio transmission (Sports), 2006 and Padma Bhushan
and a radio telegraph system. He (Sports), 2013 along with many
even developed a law which came other honours.
Most famous people of all time B-107

Marilyn Monroe (1st June, 1926 work Indica became famous. He was
– 5th August 1962): Marilyn the ambassador of Seleucus I of the
Monroe is an American actress. Seleucid of the Mauryan emperor
She became a major sex symbol in Chandragupta. He gave a detailed
1950s and began to be considered as account of India of that time. He is
popular culture icon. She stated her regarded as one of the founders of
modelling career in the year 1944 the study of Indian history in the
after meeting a photographer. Her West.
acting career started with two short- Michael Faraday (22nd September
lived film contracts with Twentieth 1791 – 25th August 1867):
Century-Fox (1946–47) and Michael Faraday was the most
Columbia Pictures (1948). After a influential scientists in history.
series of minor film roles, she signed He began his career as a chemist.
a new contract with Fox in 1951. His main contribution is in field
She played a lead role in the noir of electricity and magnetism.
Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes He discovered electromagnetic
and How to Marry a Millionaire induction, diamagnetism and
which established her as a star. After electrolysis. Inventions of
this she was imaged as a “dumb electromagnetic rotary devices
blonde”. Monroe was found dead by him formed the foundation of
in the bedroom of her Brentwood electric motor technology. Faraday
home on 5th August, 1962 due to was the first and leading Fullerian
acute barbiturate poisoning. Professor of Chemistry at the
Medha Patkar (1st December Royal Institution of Great Britain.
1954-): Medha Patkar is a It is a lifetime position. The SI
renowned Indian social activist and unit of capacitance is named in his
reformer who initiated honour: the farad. He died in 1867
Narmada Bachao in London.
Andolan. She is the Michael Schumacher (3rd January
founder of National 1969-): Michael Schumacher is a
Convener of National retired German racing driver. He is
Alliance of People’s known to win the
Movements (NAPM). She left her highest number of
Ph.D. to take part in the agitation by world championship
tribals and peasants of Maharashtra, and races than any
Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. She other driver in a career
was a representative to the World which spanned 19
Commission on Dams. Patkar was a seasons. Michael Schumacher is a
recipient of Right Livelihood Award seven-time Formula One World
(1991), Human Rights Defender’s Champion. He was named Laureus
Award and Mother Teresa Awards World Sportsman of the Year twice.
for Social Justice (2014) along with Michael won two titles with
many other awards. Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Then he
Megasthenes (350 – 290 BC): shifted to Ferrari and drove eleven
Megasthenes was a Greek years for them. He won five
ethnographer and explorer. His book consecutive titles between 2000 and
B-108 Most famous people of all time

2004. UNESCO named him as the second highest record holders),

‘Champions for sport’ in 2002 for his Olympic gold medals in individual
contributions to sport and raising events (11), and Olympic medals in
awareness of child education. individual events for a male (13).
Schumacher played voice role as Mihir Sen (16th November 1930
Ferrari F430 in the Disney/Pixar – 11th June 1997): Mihir Sen was
film Cars. The French film Asterix a long distance swimmer and the
and Obelix at the Olympic Games first Indian to conquer the English
features Schumacher in a cameo Channel from Dover to Calais in
role. 1958. He became the only man to
Milkha Singh (1930-): Milkha swim across the Oceans of the five
Singh has been the greatest Indian continents in the year (1966). Mihir
Athlete the nation has was inspired by Florence Chadwick,
ever had. He has been the first American woman to swim
nicknamed as the the English Channel in 1950 and
Flying Sikh. Milkha started learning swimming. He was
Singh initiated awarded the Padma Shri in 1959.
practicing sport after Sen initially practised Criminal Law
he joined Army in 1954. Under the at the Calcutta High Court as he
guidance of his mentor Havaldar was a law graduate but later became
Gurdev Singh, he received rigorous businessmen. The Government
training. Milkha completed 2nd in of India regarded his company as
the 200m and 400m race events at the country’s second largest silk
Services Athletic Meet 1955. At exporter and was thus awarded. He
Melbourne Olympic Games 1956 he died suffering from Alzheimer’s and
represented the nation. Milkha won Parkinson’s disease on 11th June
Gold Medals in Tokyo Asian Games 1997.
1958 and 1962. At the Cardiff Mira Nair (15th October 1957-):
Commonwealth Games he won Mira Nair is an accomplished film
Gold Medal the same year. In Rome director, writer and producer. Her
Olympic Games (1960) he finished film career began as
second there. He was awarded the an actor and then she
Padma Shri in 1956. turned to directing
Michael Phelps (30th June 1985): award-winning
Michael Phelps is the most decorated documentaries. Nair
Olympian of all time who won 22 made her debut with
medals in three Olympiads. He Salaam Bombay which won the
began swimming at the age of seven. Camera D’Or (for best first feature)
He held a national record for his and the Prix du Publique (for most
age group at the age of 10. Michael popular entry) at the Cannes Film
qualified for the 2000 Summer Festival. Mississippi Masala (1988),
Olympics at the age of 15 and Monsoon Wedding (2001), Vanity
become the youngest male to make Fair (2004), The Namesake (2006)
a U.S. Olympic swim team in 68 and 11’9”01 September 11were few
years. He holds the all-time records of her best movies. She won Padma
for Olympic gold medals (18, double Bhushan in 2012.
Most famous people of all time B-109

Madurai Subbulakshmi (16th Muhammad Iqbal (9th November

September 1916-11th December 1877- 21th April 1938): Muhammad
2004): Madurai Subbulakshmi was Iqbal was known as a poet,
a Carnatic vocalist and philosopher, and politician, as
the first musician ever well as an academic, barrister and
to be awarded the scholar. He is widely regarded
Bharat Ratna (1998). as having inspired the Pakistan
She is the first Indian Movement. He is regarded as one
musician to receive the of the most important figures in
Ramon Magsaysay award, often Urdu and Persian literature. His first
poetry book, Asrar-e-Khudi came
considered Asia’s Nobel Prize, in
in 1915. Apart from his poetry, his
1974. At the age of ten she made her
Urdu and English lectures along
debut at Madurai Sethupati High
with letters have significant effect
School singing a Marathi song
on cultural, social, religious and
Anada Ja on the request of her political disputes. Iqbal is regarded
mother. She did her first recording as the Shair-e-Mashriq in South
Maragatha Vadivum for Twin Asia and Urdu speaking world.
recording company in the same year. The Pakistan government officially
She was capable of giving solo named him a “national poet”. He
performances even at the age of was the one to author the song
seventeen. She got Padma Bhushan ‘Saare Jahaan Se Achcha’. He died
in 1954. on 21st April 1938, at Lahore.
Mike Tyson (June 30, 1966-): Naina Lal Kidwai (1957-): Naina
Mike Tyson is an American former Lal Kidwai is an Indian banker. She
professional boxer. He holds the is currently the Group
record of the youngest boxer to General Manager and
win the WBC, WBA and IBF Country Head of
heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 HSBC India. She is the
months, and 22 days old. Tyson first woman to guide
successfully defended the world the functioning of a
heavyweight championship nine foreign bank in India. Naina is also a
times. In 1992, he was convicted qualified chartered accountant. Her
of raping Desiree Washington first job was of an associate in Price
and sentenced to six years but was Waterhouse (1977–1979) and then
worked in ANZ Grindlays Bank
released after serving three years.
(1982–1985) as an investment
After that he tried to make his
banker. She worked in Morgan
comeback and in 1996, he won the
Stanley (India) between1994-2002.
WBC and WBA titles. These wins
Naina joined as vice chairman,
put him in the category of the men managing director, and head of
in boxing history who regained a investment banking in 2002. She has
heavyweight championship after also received ALL Ladies League’s
having lost it. Tyson retired from Delhi Women of the Decade
professional boxing in 2006. He got Achievers Award 2013 for
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012). Excellence in Banking.
B-110 Most famous people of all time

Narendra Modi (17th September Nitish Kumar (1st March 1951-):

1950-): Narendra Modi is an Indian Nitish Kumar has been the Chief
politician. He is the Minister of Bihar since 2005. He
15th and current Prime belongs to the Janata Dal (United)
Minister of India since party. He became General Secretary
26th May 2014. He of the Janata Dal at the national
served as the Chief level. In 2001-04 he became Union
Minister of Gujarat
Cabinet Minister for Railways in the
from 2001 to 2014. He is the Member
NDA Government of Atal Bihari
of Parliament (MP) from Varanasi
constituency. Modi is known for his Vajpayee. In 2005, he defeated
unique initiatives like Swachh Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Bihar
Bharat Mission and Make in India assembly elections. He has won
and Digital India. He was named as three consecutive Bihar assembly
the Best Chief Minister in a 2007 elections and remained as the Chief
survey by India Today. He was Minister of Bihar since 2005.
ranked fifth on Fortune magazine’s Noam Chomsky (7th December,
second annual list of ‘World’s 1928): Noam Chomsky is an
Greatest Leaders’ in 2015. American linguist, political
Niccolo Machiavelli (3 May commentator and social justice
1469- 21 June 1527): Niccolo activist. He is known for his
Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat. groundbreaking contributions to
He was a Renaissance historian and linguistics and his penetrating
a politician who is known as the critiques of political systems. In 1955,
founder of modern political science. professorial staff at Massachusetts
Machiavelli is most notably known Institute of Technology invited
for The Prince containing several him to join their rank. There
maxims concerning politics. The he introduced transformational
grammar to the linguistics field.
Catholic Church banned The Prince.
Chomsky was awarded the Sydney
His other works include On the Art
Peace Prize, 2011. The same year he
of War (1521) and satirical The
was inducted into IEEE Intelligent
Mandrake (1524’s). He died in the Systems’ AI’s Hall of Fame for the
city of Florence on 21st June, 1527. “significant contributions to the field
Nelson Mandela (18th July, 1918 of AI and intelligent systems”.
- December 5 2013): Nelson Norgay Tenzing (May 1914- 9th
Rolihlahla Mandela was a South May 1986): Norgay Tenzing was
African anti-apartheid revolutionary, a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer
politician, activist, lawyer, and who is first to climb world’s
philanthropist who highest mountain (Mt. Everest).
served as nationalist He started climbing at the age of
and the first black 19 years. Norgay participated as a
president of South high-altitude porter in three British
Africa (1994–99). He officials attempts to climb Everest
was the symbol of from the northern Tibetan side in
global peacemaking; and won the the 1930s. In 1947, Norgay he again
Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. participated in an unsuccessful
Most famous people of all time B-111

summit attempt of Everest. He got N. R. Narayana Murthy (20th

success in climbing Mt. Everest August 1946): Narayana Murthy
in 1953, with along with Edmund is an industrialist and the co-founder
Hillary. TIME named him as one of Infosys. He started
of the 100 most influential people Infosys in 1981 and
of the 20th century. He died 7 May, served as its CEO from
1986 at Darjeeling, West Bengal. 1981 to 2002 and
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose served as the chairman
(23 January 1897- August 18 from 2002 to 2011.
1945): Subhash Chandra Bose was Murthy has been awarded the
one of India’s greatest Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri
freedom fighters. He awards.
revived the Indian Nayantara Sahgal (10th May
National Army, 1927-): Nayantara Sahgal is an
popularly known as Indian Journalist and author. Her
‘Azad Hind Fauj’ in writings are fictional based on
1943 which was initially formed in India’s elite responding to the crises
1942 by Rash Behari Bose. engendered by political change. She
Napoleon Bonaparte (15th belongs to the Nehru-Gandhi family
August, 1769 – 5th May, 1821): and is the daughter of Jawaharlal
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French Nehru’s sister, Vijaya Lakshmi
military and political leader who Pandit. Some of her notable works
rose to prominence during the later include Rich like us (1985), Plans for
stages of the French Revolution and Departure (1985), Mistaken Identity
its associated wars in Europe. As (1988) Relationship, Extracts from
Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the a Correspondence (1994) and Point
French from 1804 to 1814. Napoleon of View: A Personal Response to
dominated European affairs for Life, Literature, and Politics (1997).
over a decade while leading France She was awarded the 1986 Sahitya
against a series of coalitions in Akademi Award for English. Sahgal
the Revolutionary Wars and the was recently in news on for returning
Napoleonic Wars. He won most her Sahitya Akademi Award to
of these wars and rapidly gaining protest what she called, “increasing
control of continental Europe before intolerance and supporting right to
his ultimate defeat in 1815. dissent in the country”.

Neil Armstrong (5th August, Naseeruddin Shah (20th July

1930 – 25th August, 2012): Neil 1950-): Naseeruddin Shah is a
Armstrong was an astronaut and the renowned Indian film and stage
first man to walk on the moon. He actor. Shah has acted
was the commander of Apollo 11 in movies such as
which was the first manned moon Nishant, Aakrosh,
landing mission in July 1969. He Sparsh, Mirch Masala,
was awarded the Presidential Medal Albert Pinto Ko Gussa
of Freedom by President Richard Kyon Ata Hai,
Nixon. Junoon, Mandi etc. The Government
B-112 Most famous people of all time

has honoured him with the Padma 1986 to 2011 which achieved
Shri and the Padma Bhushan. He internationally popularity. She was
has been awarded the life both the youngest news anchor and
membership of International Film the first black female news anchor at
and Television Club of Asian Nashville’s WLAC-TV in 1976. She
Academy of Film & Television. He even acted in films like The Colour
won National Film Award for Best Purple (1985), Beloved (1998), The
Actor twice for his role in Sparsh Bee (2007) and The Princess and the
and Paar. He also played the part in Frog (2009). She became the narrator
television series such as Mirza Galib of the US version of the BBC nature
(as Mirza Galib) and Bharat Ek program Life for Discovery, 2010.
Khoj (as Shivaji). He won Sangeet Winfrey published O, The Oprah
Natak Akademi Award in 2000. The Magazine from 2004 to 2008. She
was awarded the Presidential Medal
same year he also got International
of Freedom in 2013.
Indian Film Academy Awards —
Artistic Excellence for Performance Osho (11th December 1931-
in a Negative Role for Sarfarosh. 19th January 1990): Osho is an
Indian spiritual leader with a
Om Prakash Jindal (7 August
worldwide recognition
1930 – 31 March 2005): Om
for his preaching on
Prakash Jindal is known for
doctrine of Eastern
establishing business enterprise
mysticism, individual
‘Jindal Steel and Power’. He was
appointed as the Minister of Power devotion, and sexual
in the Government of Haryana. freedom. He is also
He won Legislative Assembly seat known as Acharya Rajneesh. He
of Haryana for three consecutive travelled throughout India in 1960s
years. He also served as a Member as a public speaker. He was criticized
of the Committee on Food, Civil for his views on socialism, Mahatma
Supplies and Public Distribution Gandhi and institutionalized
from 1996 to 1997. Om Prakash religions. He also advocated a more
was elected to Vidhan Sabha of open attitude towards sexuality. He
Haryana in February 2005. He was took a role of spiritual teacher
in service as the Minister of Power having remarkable impact on
in the Government of Haryana at Western New Age which increased
the time of his death in 2005. He markedly since his death. He died
received Life Time Achievement on 19th January 1990 in Pune
Award in 2004, for his exceptional because of heart failure.
input to the Indian Steel Industry by Oscar Wild (16 October 1854- 30
the Bengal Chamber of Commerce November 1900): Oscar Wild was
and Industry. an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist,
Oprah Winfrey (29th January, and poet. He is remembered for his
1954-): Oprah Winfrey is an great novel ‘The Picture of Dorian
actress, a philanthropist, publisher Gray’, his plays, as well as the
and producer. She is famous for circumstances of his imprisonment
hosting her own talk show from and early death. He published his
Most famous people of all time B-113

first collection of poems in 1881. Roy Emerson’s pre-Open Era record

In 1882, he undertook an American of 12 Grand Slam singles titles and
lecture tour, delivered a staggering retired with 14 titles which includes
140 lectures in just nine months. His seven Wimbledon, five US Open,
work ‘The Happy Prince and Other and two Australian Open. He also
Tales’ were a collection of children won five of ATP World Tour Finals
stories. His most notable plays were and two Grand Slam Cups and still
A Woman of No Importance (1893), holds the ATP record of six year-
end No. 1 rankings, which were in
An Ideal Husband (1895) and The
consecutive years from 1993 through
Importance of Being Earnest (1895).
1998.
Plato (428 BCE- 348 BCE): Plato Pele (23rd October 1940-): Pele
was a philosopher, as well as is the retied football player who
mathematician, in Classical Greece. played forward for Brazil. He is
He is considered an essential figure considered to be most successful
in the development of league goal scorer in the world, with
philosophy, especially 541 league goals. In 1999, Pelé was
the Western tradition, elected as an Athlete of the Century.
and founded the Time named him in their list of 100
Academy in Athens, most influential people of the 20th
the first institution of century. In 2013 he received the
higher learning in the Western FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur
world. in recognition of his career and
Pope Francis (17th December, achievements as a global icon of
1936- ): Jorge Mario Bergoglio is football.
the 266th and current Pope of the Pingali Venkayya (2nd August,
Catholic Church (becoming Pope 1876- 4th July, 1963): Pingali
Francis), a title he holds ex officio as Venkayya was an Indian freedom
Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of fighter. He was designer of the
the Vatican City. national flag. The AIR (All India
Pierre Cardin (2nd July, 1922): Radio) Vijayawada building was
Pierre Cardin is an Italian-born named after Pingali in 2015 to
French fashion designer. He honour his contribution in the
was appointed as the UNESCO designing of the Indian flag.
Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. A postage stamp was issued to
News of Pierre Cardin’s death commemorate him in 2009.
spread quickly in December which Pope Benedict 16th (16th April
was a complete hoax. 1927-): Pope Benedict 16th is a
Petros Sampras (12th August religious figure and served as Pope
1971): Petros Sampras was one of of the Catholic Church from 2005
the greatest American tennis players till his resignation in 2013. He was
who started his career in1988. He elevated to the papacy on 19th
holds the title of world No. 1 earning April, 2005, upon the death of Pope
the nickname ‘Pistol Pete’. He John Paul II, and celebrated his
played his last game against Andre Papal Inauguration Mass five days
Agassi in US Open’s final and won. later. He resigned from his post on
He is the first professional to break February 28, 2013 and became the
B-114 Most famous people of all time

first pope to step down from his post Pt. Ravi Shankar (7th April 1920
after Gregory XII in 1415. He was – 11th December 2012): Ravi
succeeded by Pope Francis on 13 Shankar was an Indian musician
March 2013. and composer. He is
Pranab Mukherjee (11th December best known for
1935-): Pranab Mukherjee is an popularizing the sitar
and Indian classical
Indian politician and
music in Western
government official.
culture. After serving
He is the 13th and
as director of All-India Radio, he
current President of
began to tour India and the United
India. He succeeded States, winning three Grammy
Pratibha Patil (2007– Awards and collaborating with
12), India’s first woman president. many notable American musicians,
Mukherjee has also served as the including George Harrison and
Union Finance Minister from 2009 Philip Glass. Shankar wrote two
to 2012. He has authored several autobiographies named My Life,
books, including Beyond Survival: My Music (1969) and Raga Mala
Emerging Dimensions of Indian (1999). He was awarded the Bharat
Economy (1984) and Challenges Ratna in 1999.
Before the Nation (1993).
P.C. Sorcar (23th February
Prof. Max Mueller (6th December 1913 – 6th January 1971): P.C.
1823 – 28th October 1900): Max Sorcar was a famous magician
Mueller was a renowned German in the mid-1930s. He preformed
indologist and Sanskrit scholar. internationally throughout 1950s
He was scholar of comparative and 1960s. He is often regarded as
language, religion, and mythology. the Leonardo De Vinci of India as
Müller’s special areas of interest he was mathematician, musician, an
were Sanskrit philology and the accomplished aviator and an Indian
religions of India. The Goethe classical ballet dancer. He even
Institutes in India are named Max wrote a book “Histroy of Magic”
Müller Bhavan in his honour. Some which was published in 1970. Sorcar
of his most important works include died of a heart attack at the age of
Essays on the Science of Religion 58 in Ashaikawa, Hokkaido, Japan,
(1869), vol. 1 of Chips from a on January 6, 1971, where he was
German Workshop; Introduction to performing.
the Science of Religion (1873); and Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry (1929):
Lectures on the Origin and Growth Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry is a
of Religion (1878). Parsi, Irish Indian construction
Pythagoras (C 570 – C 495 BC): tycoon and chairman of Shapoorji
Pythagoras of Samos was a Greek Pallonji Group Forbes Textiles and
mathematician and philosopher. He Eureka Forbes Limited. He is the
is considered as the founder of the single largest shareholder in India’s
movement called Pythagoreanism. largest private conglomerate Tata
He is remembered today for his Group. He is titled as the Phantom
famous theorem in geometry, the of Bombay House. Pallonji is also
‘Pythagoras Theorem’.
Most famous people of all time B-115

the former Chairman of Associated real estate holdings, and stakes in

Cement Companies. He gave up his other companies. Allen has financed
Indian citizenship in 2003 to obtain a variety of wildlife conservation
Irish citizenship, because India did projects. He was conferred with the
not yet allow dual citizenship. His Champion for Global Health Award
son Cyrus is chairman of Tata Sons. (2015) by Centre for Infectious
A short biography of Mistry was Disease Research, for his leadership
written in a 2008 book by Manoj and efforts to fight Ebola.
Namburu titled The Moguls of Real Rabindranath Tagore (7th May
Estate.
1861 – 7th August 1941):
PT Usha (27th June 1964-): P T Rabindranath Tagore was a painter,
Usha is an Indian field and track author, screenwriter,
athlete. She is one of poet, and playwright.
the most famous and Tagore became the
successful female first non-European
athlete India has ever person to win the
produced. She earned Nobel Prize in
the titles such as Literature in 1913. Some of his best-
Queen of Indian Track and Payyoli known works are Gitanjali (Song
Express owing to her extra-ordinary Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and
performance at the track. She has Ghare-Baire (The Home and the
won 101 international medals so far. World). His compositions were
She has been conferred with the taken up as the national anthem for
Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award India and Bangladesh.
in 1984.
Rudyard Kipling (30th December
Panini (450–350 B.C.): Panini 1865 – 18th January 1936):
is known for his contribution to Kipling was a poet, novelist and a
classical Sanskrit grammar. Panini’s short story writer. His famous works
rules of grammar rely on two simple include The Jungle Book (1894),
concepts: that all nouns are derived Kim (1901), and many short stories
from verbs, and that all words including ‘The Man Who Would
derivation takes place through Be King’ (1888). Some of known
suffixes. Panini’s work became poems include ‘Mandalay’ (1890),
known in 19th century Europe.
‘Gunga Din’ (1890). He received the
India released a stamp in honour of
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.
Panini in 2004.
Raja Rammohan Roy (22nd May
Paul Allen (21st January 1953-):
1772 – 27th September 1833):
Paul Allen is the founder and
Raja Rammohan Roy was an Indian
chairman of Vulcan Inc but best
religious, social, and educational
known as a co-founder of Microsoft,
reformer. He is renowned for his
alongside Bill Gates. He was
efforts in the abolishment of the
estimated to be the 51st richest person
practice of sati. He is often called the
in the world. He has also invested in
father of modern India.
technology and media companies,
B-116 Most famous people of all time

R. K. Narayan (10th October at US $5 billion in July 2015. He

1906 – 13th May 2001): R. K. became a founding sponsor of the
Narayan was an Indian writer and International Centre for Missing &
journalist. Some of his Exploited Children in 1999.
notable works include Raghuram Rajan (3rd February
The English Teacher 1963-): Raghuram Rajan a financial
(1945), Waiting for the economist, is the current and the
Mahatma (1955), The 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank
Guide (1958), The of India. He succeeded Duvvuri
Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961), The Subbarao on 5th September 2013.
Vendor of Sweets (1967), and A He was appointed as the Economic
Tiger for Malgudi (1983). He Counsellor and Director of Research
received AC Benson Medal from the at the International Monetary Fund
Royal Society of Literature, the in 2003. His biggest achievement
Padma Bhushan and the Padma as s RBI governor was his success
Vibhushan. in bringing down retail inflation to
Razia Sultan (1205 – 13th 3.78% in July 2015 from 9.8% in
October, 1240): Razia Sultan was September 2013. Rajan was awarded
the female Muslim female ruler. She the Fischer Black Prize in 2003.
was the Sultan of Delhi from 1236 Raj Kapoor (14th December 1924
to May 1240.
– 2nd June 1988): Raj Kapoor was
Robert Clive (29th September a film actor, director
1725 – 22nd November 1774): and producer of Hindi
Robert Clive was the Commander- films. He was also
in-Chief of British India. He known as ‘the show
defeated the French and made man’ of Indian
possible 200 years of British rule Cinema. He has won
in the Indian subcontinent. He two National Film Awards and nine
defeated Siraj-ud-Daula at the Battle Filmfare Awards. He was nominated
of Plassey in 1757. twice for the Palme d’Or grand prize
Richard Branson (18th July at the Cannes Film Festival for his
1950-): Sir Richard Charles films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish
Nicholas Branson, founder of Virgin (1954).
Group is an English businessman
Rahul Bajaj (10th June 1938-): Rahul
and investor. His first business
Bajaj is an Indian businessman,
project was a magazine called
industrialist, politician, and a
‘Student’ at the age of sixteen. Then
member of the Indian Parliament.
in 1970, he set up a mail-order record
Bajaj is the Chairman of the Bajaj
business and in 1972, he opened
Group, which ranks among the top
a chain of record stores. Virgin
10 business houses in India. He
Records, later came to be known
was awarded the Padma Bhushan
as Virgin Megastores. In 1980s he
in 2001. In 2015, Forbes estimated
set up Virgin Atlantic expanding
his net worth to be US $ 2.7 Billion
Virgin Records music label. Forbes
making him one of India’s top 50
listed Branson’s estimated net worth
richest persons.
Most famous people of all time B-117

Raja Ravi Varma (29th April Ratan Tata (28th December -):
1848 – 2nd October 1906): Raja Ratan Tata is an Indian businessman,
Ravi Varma was a renowned Indian investor, philanthropist and
painter who greatly influenced chairman Emeritus of Tata Group
the future generations of Indian (1991–2012). He was
painters. He is known for his succeeded by Cyrus
amazing paintings, which revolve Mistry on 28th
mainly around the great epics of December, 2012.
Mahabharata and Ramayana. Under his leadership,
Varma was awarded the Kaisar-
Tata Tea acquired
i-Hind Gold by Lord Curzon, on
Tetley, Tata Motors acquired Jaguar
behalf of the British King Emperor.
In 2013, a crater on Mercury was Land Rover and Tata Steel acquired
named in the honour of this greater Corus. Tata was awarded the Padma
Indian painter. Bhushan in 2000 and Padma
Vibhushan in 2008. He was also
RK Laxman (24th October 1921 – awarded the Lifetime Achievement
26th January 2015): R. K. Laxman Award by Rockefeller Foundation in
was an Indian cartoonist who
2012.
created the comic strip ‘You Said It’,
featuring the “Common Man”—a Ram Manohar Lohia (23rd March
silent observer representing the 1910 – 12th October 1967): Ram
average Indian. He was awarded Manohar Lohia was an Indian
The Ramon Magsaysay Award in Freedom Fighter, Socialist and
1984 in the category of Journalism, Political Leader. Lohia sparked
Literature, and the Creative controversy when he wrote a
Communication Arts (JLCCA). pamphlet “25000 rupees in a day”
He was also awarded the Padma stating that the amount of money
Vibhushan in 2005. He wrote few spent on then prime minister
novels such as The Hotel Riviera Jawahar Lal Nehru was way more
(1988) and The Messenger (1993),
than the country could afford when
the short-story collection Servants of
majority of the population lived on 3
India (2000), and an autobiography,
The Tunnel of Time (1998). annas a day. He was bestowed with
numerous nobilities including the
Rakesh Sharma (13th January naming of Dr. Rammanohar Lohia
1949-): Rakesh is a former Indian Hospital after him to honour his
Test Pilot and Cosmonaut. He was memory.
the first Indian, and
the only Indian Robert Boyle (25th January
national to travel in 1627 – 31st December 1691):
space. He was Robert Boyle was an Anglo-Irish
conferred with the philosopher, inventor and writer. He
honour of Hero of discovered Boyle’s Law – the first of
Soviet Union upon his the gas laws relating the pressure of
return from space. The Hero of a gas to its volume. Boyle is regarded
Soviet Union and the Ashoka as the first modern chemist, and
Chakra Award were two of the also as one of the founders of
accolades given to honour his modern chemistry. Among his
achievements in space travel. most influential writings was The
B-118 Most famous people of all time

Sceptical Chymist (1661) which is Ronald Reagan (6th February,

seen as a cornerstone book in the 1911 – 5th June, 2004): Ronald
field of chemistry. As a founder of Wilson Reagan was the 40th
the Royal Society, he was elected a President of the United States and
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) the Governor of California. Reagan
in 1663. initially had chosen a career in
Ruskin Bond (19th May 1934-): entertainment, appearing in more
Ruskin Bond is an eminent than 50 films. He was honoured
contemporary Indian writer of with numerous prestigious awards
British descent. The Indian Council worldwide, including American
for Child Education Presidential Medal of Freedom,
recognized his role in Republican Senatorial Medal of
the growth of Freedom, Congressional Gold
children’s literature in Medal, Honorary Knight Grand
India. Some of other Cross of the Order of the Bath- one
notable works of of the highest British order, and
Ruskin Bond include Blue Umbrella,
Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order
A Flight of Pigeons, The Room on
of the Chrysanthemum.
the Roof, Vagrants in the Valley, The
Lamp is Lit and Funny Side Up. He Steve Jobs (24th February 1955-
was awarded the Sahitya Academy 5th October 2011): Steve Jobs was
Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still as an American trailblazer of the
Grow in Dehra, for his published personal computer revolution of
work in English, the Padma Shri in the 1970s along with an engineer,
1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2014. inventor. He co-founded Apple
Socrates (470 BCE- 399 BCE): Computers with Steve Wozniak.
Socrates was a classical Greek In 2007, Jobs was named the most
(Athenian) philosopher credited powerful person in business by
as one of the founders of Western Fortune magazine.
philosophy known chiefly through Sigmund Freud (6th May, 1856 –
the accounts of classical writers, 23rd September, 1939): Sigmund
especially the writings of his students Freud was a physiologist,
Plato and Xenophon and the plays psychologist and influential thinker
of his contemporary Aristophanes. of the early twentieth
At the age of 70, he was put to
century. Freud was the
trial on a charge of impiety and
founding father of
sentenced to death by poisoning (the
Psychoanalysis (the
poison probably being hemlock) by a
talking cure), a method
jury of his fellow citizens.
for treating mental
Rohit Bansal (not available): illness and also a theory which
Rohit Bansal is one of the youngest explains human behaviour.
entrepreneurs of India. Bansal
cofounded Snapdeal along with his Sarojini Naidu (13th February
school friend Kunal Bahl on 4th 1879- 2nd March 1949): A poet,
February, 2010. Currently he is the freedom fighter and great orator,
COO of the e-commerce platform Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian
Snapdeal. woman to become the President
of the Indian National Congress
Most famous people of all time B-119

and also the first woman to be the Patel was the first Deputy Prime
governor of a state in India. She Minister and Home Minister of
was famously known as Bharatiya India. He was also referred to as
Kokila (The Nightingale of India). ‘Iron Man of India’. Vallabhbhai
Some of her famous works are ‘The was posthumously awarded the
golden threshold (1905)’, ‘The bird
Bharat Ratna in 1991. His birthday
of time (1912)’, and ‘The broken
wing (1912)’ which attracted huge is celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta
readership. Diwas (National Unity Day).
Srinivasa Ramanujan (22nd Sachin Tendulkar (24th April
December 1887- 26th April 1920): 1973-): Sachin Tendulkar is a
Noted Indian mathematician and former Indian cricketer and captain.
autodidact Srinivasa Ramanujan He is considered to be the greatest
is known for his extraordinary cricketer in the world of cricket.
contributions to mathematical He is the first sportsperson and
analysis, number theory, infinite
youngest person to be conferred the
series, and continued fractions. His
papers were published in English Bharat Ratna. He received a number
and European journals. In 1918, he of awards including Arjuna Award
was elected to the Royal Society of (1994), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
London. (1997), Padma Shri (1999) and
S. Radhakrishnan (5th September Padma Vibhushan (2008).
1888 – 17th April 1975): Sarvepalli Salim Ali (12th November 1896 –
Radhakrishnan, was a philosopher 20th June 1987): Salim Ali is one
and statesman. He was the first Vice of the greatest Indian ornithologists
President of India (1952–1962) and and naturalists of all time. He is also
the second President of India (1962
known as the ‘birdman of India’. Ali
to 1967). His birthday is celebrated
as Teachers’ Day on 5th September. was one of the very first scientists to
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in carry out systematic bird surveys in
1954. India and abroad.
Swami Vivekanand (12th January Shabana Azmi (18th September
1863 – 4th July 1902): Swami 1950-): Shabana Azmi is a
Vivekanand, was a monk and renowned actress of film, television,
philosopher. He founded the theatre and a social activist. She has
Ramakrishna Math and the the record of five National Film
Ramakrishna Mission. He is best Awards for Best Actress. She is also
known for his speech, ‘Sisters and the Goodwill Ambassador of the
brothers of America ...,’ at the United Nations Population Fund
World’s Religions in Chicago in (UNPFA).
1893. His birthday is celebrated
there as National Youth Day. Sabeer Bhatia (30th December
1968-): Sabeer Bhatia is an Indian
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31st
entrepreneur and co-founder of
October 1875 – 15th December
Hotmail, one of the first free e-mail
1950): Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was
services in the world.
an Indian barrister and statesman.
B-120 Most famous people of all time

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (22nd Stephen Hawking (8th January

May 1859 – 7th July 1930): Sir 1942-): Stephen Hawking is a
Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was physicist, cosmologist, author and
a British writer and physician. the Director of Research at the
He is renowned for his fictional Centre for Theoretical Cosmology
at the University of Cambridge. He
stories about the detective Sherlock
is the member of the Royal Society
Holmes, which are generally
of Arts, a lifetime member of the
considered milestones in the field of Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and
crime fiction. a recipient of the Presidential Medal
Steffi Graf (14th June 1969-): of Freedom, the highest civilian
Steffi Graf is a former German award in the United States. He
tennis player who won 22 Grand authored the book ‘A Brief History
Slam singles titles. She and Margaret of Time’.
Court are the only players, male Shah Jahan (5th January 1592 –
or female, to win 3 grand slams 22nd January 1666): Shahabuddin
in a calendar year 5 times (1988, Muhammad Shah Jahan was the
1989, 1993, 1995 and 1996). Graf fifth Mughal Emperor of India. He
was son of Jahangir and his Hindu
dominated women’s tennis in the
wife, Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani and
late 1980s and ’90s.
became emperor after the death of
Satyajit Ray (2nd May 1921 – his father in 1627. His reign was
23rd April 1992): Satyajit Ray one considered as the golden age of
of the greatest filmmakers of the Mughal architecture. The Jama
20th century, started his career as a Masjid, the Wazir Khan Mosque,
commercial artist. He was a director, the Moti Masjid, the Shalimar
producer, screenwriter, Gardens, sections of the Lahore
Fort, the Jahangir mausoleum are
and writer. Ray
the renowned building built by him.
directed 36 films,
including feature films, Saadat Hassan Manto (11th
documentaries and May 1912 – 18th January 1955):
shorts. Ray’s first film, Sadat Hasan Manto was a Pakistani
Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven writer. He was one of the greatest
writers of short stories and author
international prizes, including the
of over 100 radio plays and features,
Best Human Document at the 1956
remains a model for 21st-century
Cannes Film Festival. Ray was
writers for plot construction, bitter
honoured with Bharat Ratna in 1992
realism, and whimsical dialogue.
and Dadasaheb Phalke Award Some of his well-known Urdu
in1965 and with the Padma Bhushan short stories include Bu, Khol Do,
in 1965. He received an honorary Thanda Gosht, and Toba Tek Singh.
‘Hommage à Satyajit Ray’ award at On 18th January 2005, the fiftieth
the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. He anniversary of his death, Manto
died on 23 April 1992 at the age of was commemorated on a Pakistani
71. postage stamp.
Most famous people of all time B-121

Sachin Bansal (5th August 1981): the Governor of Riyadh for 48 years
Sachin Bansal is an Indian from 1963 to 2011. He was also
software engineer and a successful appointed as Minister of Defence
entrepreneur. He is the cofounder in 2011. He received the Lifetime
of the Indian e-commerce Achievement Award of Al-Turath
giant Flipkart. Sachin won the Charity Foundation in the field of
Entrepreneur of the Year award for urban heritage in 2013.
the year 2012-2013. Sachin along Saina Nehwal (17th March 1990-):
with Binny Bnasal, the other co- Saina Nehwal is an ace Indian
founder were named the 86th richest badminton player. She is currently
person in India with a net worth of ranked no. 1 in the
$1.3 billion by Forbes India Rich world by Badminton
List. World Federation
Women’s Singles 2015.
Saeed Jaffrey (8th January 1929
She became the first
– 15th November 2015): Saeed
Indian player to win a
Jaffrey was an Indian actor. He was
medal in Olympics by winning the
considered to be Britain’s highest-
Bronze medal at the London
profile Asian actor and
Olympics 2012 on 4th August 2012.
played the leading
Saina also became the first Indian
roles in the movie My
woman to win at medal at the BWF
Beautiful Laundrette
World Championship by winning
(1985) and television
silver at the 2015 edition of the
series Tandoori Nights
championship. She is the recipient
(1985–1987) and Little Napoleons
of the Arjuna award (2009), Padma
(1994). His famous Bollywood
Shri (2010) and the Rajiv Gandhi
outings include “Chashme Buddoor”,
Khel Ratna award (2009–2010).
“Masoom”, “Kissi Se Na Kehna”,
“Mandi”, “Mashaal” “Ram Teri Ganga Satish Dhawan (25th September
Maili”, “Ram Lakhan”, “Ajooba” and 1920 – 3rd January 2002):
“Henna”. In 1995 he was awarded Satish Dhawan was an Aerospace
an OBE (Order of the British engineer. He is known as the father
Empire) in recognition of his of experimental fluid dynamics
services to drama, the first Asian to research in India and one of the
receive this honour. most eminent researchers in the field
of turbulence and boundary layers.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
He succeeded Vikram Sarabhai,
(31st December 1935-): Salman
the founder of the Indian space
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the King of
programme, as Chairman of the
Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two
Indian Space Research Organisation
Holy Mosques and the head of the
(ISRO) in 1972. He was also the
House of Saud. Salman was crowned
Chairman of the Space Commission
as the new King of Saudi Arabia
and Secretary to the Government
on 23rd January 2015 following
of India in the Department of
the death of his half brother, King
Space. After his death in 2002, the
Abdullah. Previously he has served
Indian satellite launch centre at
as the Deputy Governor and then
Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, was
B-122 Most famous people of all time

renamed as the Prof. Satish Dhawan understanding and democracy in

Space Centre. He was awarded with Bangladesh. She was also awarded
the Padma Vibhushan (1981) and the ‘Mother Teresa Award’ by the
Padma Bhushan (1971). ‘All India Peace Council’ in 1998.
Salman Rushdie (19th June Serena Williams (26th September
1947-): Salman Rushdie is one of 1981-): Serena Williams is one of
the most prominent the most dominant names in the
writers of the twentieth world tennis. She is an American
century. He is known tennis player and currently ranked as
to combine magical the World’s no. 1 in women’s singles
realism with historical tennis. She has won 21 Grand Slam
fiction. Some of his singles titles and stands third on the
best known novels are Midnight’s all-time list behind Margaret Court
Children (1981), Joseph Anton (24) and Steffi Graf (22). Her win
(2012), The Moor’s Last Sigh (1995) at Wimbledon 2015 made her the
and The Satanic Verses (1988), for oldest Grand Slam singles champion
which he was accused of blasphemy in the Open era.
against Islam. Rushdie received the Sania Mirza (15th November
Booker Prize in 1981 for Midnight’s 1986-): Sania Mirza is India’s ace
Children. Rushdie is also a Fellow tennis player. She is currently ranked
of the British Royal Society of as World no. 1 in the women’s
Literature. doubles. Mirza is the
Samudragupta (335 – c. 375 CE): most successful female
Samudragupta was the third ruler Indian tennis player
of the Gupta Dynasty and one of and also one of the
the greatest monarchs in the Indian highest paid athletes in
history. He generally is considered the country. She has
the epitome of an “ideal king” of the been awarded with many awards
“golden age of Hindu history,” as the including the Arjuna award (2004),
period of the imperial Guptas (320– Padma Shri (2006), Rajiv Gandhi
510 ce) is often called. The western Khel Ratna (2015) and many more.
scholars equate him with Napoleon Shashi Tharoor (9th March
and call him Indian Napoleon due 1956-): Shashi Tharoor is an author,
to his extensive military conquests. politician, and former international
Sheikh Hasina (28th September civil servant. He is the member of
1947-): Sheikh Hasina is a politician the Indian National Congress and
and leader of the Awami League served as an official spokesperson for
political party. Hasina is the current the party from January to October
Prime Minister of Bangladesh and 2014. Some of his famous books
has previously served as Prime are The Great Indian Novel (1989),
Minister from 1996 to 2001. She Riot (2001) and Show Business
is sometimes referred-to as Sheikh (1992). He was also appointed as
Hasina Wazed. In 1998, she was the International Adviser to the
awarded the ‘M K Gandhi Award’ International Committee of the Red
by Norway’s ‘Mahatma M K Gandhi Cross in Geneva for the period 2008-
Foundation’ for promoting peaceful 2011.
Most famous people of all time B-123

Satya Nadella (19th August, Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can,

1967-): Satya Narayana Nadella is Lincoln and Bridge of Spies. He co-
an Indian American businessman. founded the studio DreamWorks
He was appointed as SKG in 1994, which was purchased
the CEO of Microsoft by Paramount Pictures in 2005.
on 4th February 2014. Spielberg has won three Academy
He has been working Awards.
with Microsoft since Suchitra Sen (6th April 1931 –
1992, after he left Sun 17th January 2014): Suchitra Sen
Microsystems. was an Indian actress who starred in
more than 50 Bengali films as well
Shiv Nadar (14th July 1945-): as 7 Hindi movies. She was the first
Shiv Nadar is the noted Indian Indian actress to be honoured by an
business tycoon. He is the founder international film festival. She won
of Hindustan Computers Limited the silver prize for best actress at the
(HCL) and Shiv Nadar Foundation. Moscow International Film Festival
He is nicknamed ‘magus’, which for her film Saat Paake Bandha. Sen
in Old Persian stands for ‘wizard’. was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972
He was presented with the Padma and Banga Bibhushan in 2012.
Bhushan in 2008 for his great Shekhar Kapur (6th December
contributions to the IT industry. 1945-): Shekhar Kapur is an Indian
According to Forbes richest people actor and director. Kapur is best
list, Nadar has a net worth of $12.2 known for his films
billion. Bandit Queen (1994)
Sir Edwin Lutyens (9th March and Elizabeth (1998).
1869 – 1st January 1944): Sir Edwin His movies Elizabeth
Lutyens was one of England’s most (1998) and The Golden
prominent and innovative architects Age (2007) won the
belonging to the 19th and early BAFTA Award for Best Film, and
20th centuries. Lutyens along with two Academy Awards. He was
Sir Herbert Baker were the chief awarded the Padma Shri in 2000. He
architects of the India Gate and
was also appointed as one of the
Rashtrapati Bhavan. Lutyens is
Jury Members (International
also known as “the greatest British
architect” and to recognise his Competition) at the 63rd Cannes
contribution, New Delhi is also Film Festival.
known as “Lutyens’ Delhi”. He Sylvester Stallone (6th July
was knighted in 1918 and elected 1946-): Sylvester Stallone is an
a Fellow of the Royal Academy in American Film Actor, Screenwriter,
1921. Director and Producer. Stallone is
Steven Spielberg (18th December best known for portraying boxer
1946-): Steven Spielberg is one of Rocky Balboa, Vietnam War veteran
the most renowned screenwriters, John Rambo and Barney Ross in
Directors and Producers. Some the three The Expendables films
of his famous films include as from 2010 to 2014. In 1977, Stallone
Schindler’s List, The Color Purple, was nominated for two Academy
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Awards for Rocky, Best Original
Screenplay and Best Actor.
B-124 Most famous people of all time

Sundar Pichai (12th July 1972-): also known as ‘the Wizard of the
Sundar Pichai is a Menlo Park’.
computer engineer Tansen (1506 - 1589): Tansen
and the current CEO was one of the most renowned
of Google Inc. Pichai Indian classical music composers,
had joined Google musicians and vocalists. He is
in 2004 as a product regarded as the greatest of all
manager and led the innovative musicians India has ever produced
efforts for several of Google’s till date. Tansen was considered as
products including Google Chrome one of the Navaratnas (Nine Gems)
and Chrome OS which were highly in the court of Emperor Akbar. He
successful. has also composed several Ragas that
Sunil Gavaskar (10th July 1949-): have been the foundation of classical
Sunil Gavaskar is a former Indian music like Bhairavi, Darbari Todi,
cricketer considered to be among Darbari Kanada, Malhar, Sarang
the best opening batsmen in cricket and Rageshwari.
history. His record for most centuries Shakuntala Devi (4th November
(34) in test cricket was broken by
1929 – 21st April 2013):
Sachin Tendulkar in December 2005.
Shakuntala Devi was a
He became the first player to score
writer and a mental
10000 runs in Test Cricket. Gavaskar
calculator. She was a
is recipient of awards such as Padma
Shri, Padma Bhushan and Col CK mathematical prodigy,
Nayudu Lifetime Achievement also known as the
Award for Cricket in India. ‘human computer’.
Shakuntala Devi was famous for her
Sunita Williams (19th September, complex problem-solving skills
1965-): Sunita Williams is an without the aid of any mechanical
American astronaut. She holds the device. Her mathematical talent
records for total spacewalks by a earned her a place in the 1982
woman (seven) and most spacewalk
edition of The Guinness Book of
time for a woman (50 hours, 40
World Records. Some of her best-
minutes).Williams worked for the
known works are ‘Figuring: the Joy
International Space Station as a
of Numbers’, ‘Astrology for You’,
member of Expedition 14 and
Expedition 15. She also served as a ‘Perfect Murder’ and ‘The World of
flight engineer on Expedition 32 and Homosexuals’.
then commander of Expedition 33 Tim Cook (1st November 1960-):
in the year 2012. Tim Cook is an American business
Thomas Edison (February 11 executive, and is the Chief Executive
1847- October 18, 1931): Thomas Officer (CEO) of Apple Inc. Cook
Alva Edison was an American took control of Apple after its
inventor and businessman. Some founder and long-time leader Steve
of his most famous inventions were Jobs died in 2011. Cook joined Apple
the phonograph, motion picture in 1998 as senior vice president of
camera and electric light bulb which worldwide operations. Cook has
influenced the day to day life of also served as the executive vice
people around the world. Edison is president of worldwide sales and
Most famous people of all time B-125

operations and was chief operating Usian Bolt (21st August 1986-): Usain
officer until he was named the CEO Bolt is a world renowned sprinter
of Apple on August 24, 2011, when and an Olympic gold winner. He has
he succeeded Steve Jobs. won gold medals in the 100-metre
and 200-metre races at both the
Tipu Sultan (20th November Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and
1750 – 4th May 1799): Tipu the London 2012 Games. He is the
Sultan was the ruler of the kingdom first man to win six Olympic gold
of Mysore. He won medals in sprinting, and an eleven-
against the British in time World champion. At the 2009
the Second Anglo- world championships, Bolt shattered
Mysore War, and his own 100-metre world record of
negotiated the 1784 9.69 sec, by winning the event final
Treaty of Mangalore in 9.58 sec. He has been nicknamed
with them after his father Hyder Ali as ‘Lightning Bolt’, and awarded
suddenly died from cancer in with the IAAF World Athlete of the
Year, Track & Field Athlete of the
December 1782 during the Second
Year, and Laureus World Sportsman
Anglo-Mysore War. He is known for
of the Year.
the use of the Mysorean rockets and
also wrote a military manual known Tulsidas (1497/1532–1623):
as Fathul Mujahidin, which is Goswami Tulsidas was a great
considered a pioneer in the use of Hindu poet saint, reformer and
rocket artillery. Tipu was killed on philosopher. He composed various
4th May 1799 while defending his popular books. He is best known as
fort of Srirangapatna. the author of the epic
Ramcharitmanas. Tulsidas was
Todar Mal (died in 8th November
believed in his lifetime
1589): Raja Todar Mal was a Khatri
Rajput, an able administrator and to be a reincarnation
an exemplary finance minister. of Valmiki, the
He was one of the ‘Navratnas’ of composer of the
Akbar’s courts. He introduced an original Ramayana in
excellent land revenue system. In Sanskrit. He is also
1582, the title Diwan-I- Ashraf was considered to be the composer of the
bestowed upon him by the Emperor. Hanuman Chalisa, a popular
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple was devotional hymn dedicated to
rebuilt in 1585 by Todar Mal. Hanuman, the divine devotee of
Toni Morrison (18th February Rama.
1931-): Toni Morrison is a Nobel Vincent Van Gogh (30th March
Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning 1853 – 29th July 1890): Vincent
American novelist, editor and van Gogh was a Dutch painter and
professor. Some of her best known one of the most well known post-
novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of impressionist artists; for whom
Solomon and Beloved. She has won colour was the chief symbol of
the Pulitzer Prize and the American expression was born in Groot-
Book Award in 1988 for Beloved Zundert, Holland. He remained
and the Nobel Prize in 1993. She poor and virtually unknown
received the Presidential Medal of throughout his life.
Freedom on May 29, 2012.
B-126 Most famous people of all time

V. S. Naipaul (17th August 30 cooperative institutions like

1932-): Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad AMUL, IRMA, and NDDB thrived.
Naipaul is a Trinidadian-British He is the recipient of awards such as
writer of Indian descent. Some of Padma Shri (1965), Padma Bhushan
his best known novels are A House (1966) and Padma Vibhushan (1999)
for Mr. Biswas (1961), A Bend in by the Government of India, the
the River (1979) and A Way in the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1963),
World (1994). He was awarded and World Food Prize (1989).
Nobel Prize in 2001 for his novel, Vijay Tendulkar (6th January
Half a Life. 1928 – 19th May 2008): Vijay
Varahamihira (505–587 CE): Tendulkar was a playwright and
Varahamihira is an Indian screenwriter who wrote more than
philosopher, astronomer, and 30 full-length Marathi-language
mathematician. He is considered plays and numerous one-act plays,
to be one of the nine jewels short stories, and movie scripts.
(Navaratnas) of the court of Some of Tendulkar’s most famous
legendary ruler Yashodharman plays include Shantata! Court Chalu
Vikramaditya of Malwa. The most Ahe (1967; “Silence! The Court
famous work by Varahamihira is is in Session”), Sakharam Binder
the Pancasiddhantika (The Five (1971) and Ghashiram Kotwal
Astronomical Canons). (1972; “Ghashiram the Constable”).
Tendulkar was awarded the Padma
Ved Vyas: Ved Vyas was the first and
Bhushan (1984) and the Sangeet
greatest acharya of Sanatan Dharma.
Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1998.
He is responsible for classifying the
four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas Vinoba Bhave (11th September
and recited the great Mahabharata. 1895 – 15th November 1982):
Vyasa is also considered to be one Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a freedom
of the seven Chiranjivins (long fighter and a spiritual teacher. He is
lived, or immortals), who are still in best known as the founder of the
existence according to Hindu belief. ‘Bhoodan Movement’ (Land-Gift
The festival of Guru Purnima is movement). He is considered to be
dedicated to him. the National Teacher of India and
the spiritual successor of Gandhiji.
Verghese Kurien (26th November
Vinoba was the first recipient of the
1921 – 9th September 2012):
international Ramon Magsaysay
Verghese Kurien was the founder
Award for Community Leadership
Chairman of the National Dairy
in 1958. He was awarded the Bharat
Development Board.
Ratna posthumously in 1983.
Kurien is better known
as the Father of the Virginia Woolf (25th January
White Revolution in 1882 – 28th March 1941): Virginia
India. He is also called Woolf was a British writer and
as the Milkman of essayist. She was one of the foremost
India. He led the Operation Flood modernists of the twentieth century.
which made India, a previously Her most famous works include the
milk-deficient nation the largest milk novels Mrs Dalloway (1925), To
producer in the world. Under his the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando
able direction and guidance, around (1928), and the book-length essay A
Most famous people of all time B-127

Room of One’s Own (1929), with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2005),

its famous dictum, “A woman must WH Smith Literary Award (1994)
have money and a room of her own and Crossword Book Award (1999).
if she is to write fiction.” Seth was conferred with a Poet
Vladimir Putin (7th October Laureate Award 2015 at the Mumbai
1952-): Vladimir Putin has been Literature Festival.
the President of Russia since 7 May William Shakespeare (23rd April,
2012, succeeding 1564- 23rd April, 1616): William
Dmitry Medvedev. He Shakespeare was an English poet
has served as president and playwright, widely
(1999–2008, 2012–) of regarded as the
Russia and also was greatest writer in the
the country’s prime English language and
minister (1999, 2008–12). Putin’s the world’s pre-
first presidency was marked by high eminent dramatist. He
economic growth: the Russian is often called England’s national
economy grew for eight straight poet and the ‘Bard of Avon’. His
years, seeing GDP increase by 72% extant works, including some
in PPP. A number of Putin’s actions collaboration, consist of about 38
are regarded by the observers as plays, 154 sonnets, two long
undemocratic and it was stated that narrative poems, and a few other
Russia was in “a long process of verses, the authorship of some of
regression [that] culminated in a which is uncertain.
move from a hybrid to an
authoritarian regime” in view of Walt Disney (5th December,
Putin’s candidacy and flawed 1901-15th December, 1966):
parliamentary elections. In 2014, Walt Disney was an American
Russia was suspended from the G8 entrepreneur, animator, and film
group due to its annexation of producer. Along with his brother
Crimea. The China International Roy O. Disney he co-founded The
Peace Research Center awarded the Walt Disney Company. Disney has
Confucius Peace Prize to Putin on won 22 Academy Awards and 7
15th November 2011. Emmy Awards.

Vikram Seth (20th June 1952 -): Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30,
Vikram Seth is an Indian poet, 1912) & Orville Wright (August
novelist, and travel writer. Some 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948):
of his notable works include The Wilbur and Orville Wright were
Golden Gate (1986), A Suitable American inventors and pioneers of
Boy (1993), An Equal Music (1999), aviation. The Wright brothers are
From Heaven Lake: Travels through credited with inventing and building
Sinkiang and Tibet, Mappings and world’s first successful airplane.
Beastly Tales and many more. He They are also considered as the
is the recipient of several awards fathers of modern aviation. From
including Padma Shri (2007), 1905 to 1907, the brothers developed
Sahitya Akademi Award (1988), their flying machine into the first
practical fixed-wing aircraft.
B-128 Most famous people of all time

Yash Chopra (27th September films with a career-span of over 60

1932 – 21st October 2012): Yash years. She has been the recipient of
Chopra was an Indian director, many awards including the Sangeet
Script Writer, and Producer in the Natak Akademi Award (1963),
Hindi cinema. He is also known as Padma Shri (1998), Padma Bhushan
the ‘King of Romance’ of the Indian (2002), Padma Vibhushan (2010)
cinema. He received the Dadasaheb and many more.
Phalke Award in 2001 and the Zakir Hussain (9th March 1951):
Padma Bhushan in 2005. Chopra Zakir Hussain is an Indian tabla
was also presented with the lifetime player, musical producer, film actor
membership for his contribution to and composer. He has been conferred
films by BAFTA. with numerous awards including the
Yuri Gagarin (9th March 1934 – Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan
27th March 1968): Yuri Gagarin (2002), Sangeet Natak Akademi
was a soviet cosmonaut who in Award (1990), and the United States
1961 became the first man to travel National Endowment for the Arts’s
into space. His Vostok spacecraft National Heritage Fellowship, the
completed an orbit of the Earth on highest award given to traditional
12 April 1961. Gagarin was awarded artists and musicians in 1999.
the Order of Lenin and given the Zoroaster (628 BC-551):
titles Hero of the Soviet Union Zoroaster is an Iranian prophet. He
and Pilot Cosmonaut of the Soviet was the founder of Zoroastrianism,
Union. He died in 1968 when the or Parsiism, as it is known in India.
MiG-15 training jet he was piloting He is credited with the authorship
crashed. of the Yasna Haptanghaiti as well
Zohra Sehgal (27th April 1912 – as the Gathas, hymns which are at
10th July 2014): Zohra Sehgal was the liturgical core of Zoroastrian
an Indian actress and choreographer. thinking.
She has acted in many Bollywood
GEOGRAPHY
`` Physical
`` India
`` World
B-130 Geography

 Theories of Development
 Big bang Theory
 Steady State theory
 Osclilating Universe Therory
 Galaxy
Universe

 Solar Systems
 Planets and Moons
 Cosmic Bodies
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY–MIND MAP

 Seasons and Their Formation.

 Earth
 Chronology of the Earth
 Geological Era
 Internal Structure

Rocks and their classification

Geomorphology


 Movement of Earth
 Factors Affecting movement of Earth
(Endogenetic and Exogenetic Forces)
 Outcomes of Earth's Movement (Folded
Mountains, Earthquake, Volcanoes)
 Mountain, Plains, Plateau
 Process of Formation and their types

 Ocean Structure
Oceanography

 Temperature
 Salinity
 Ocean Deposits
 Ocean Tides
 Ocean Currents
 Coral Reef and Atolls

 Atmospheric Structure
 Insolation and Heat Budget
 Winds and their type
 Planetary Wind (Polar winds, westerlies,
Atmosphere

Trade winds)
 Seasonal Winds (Monsoon)
 Local Winds
 Cyclones and Anti Cyclones
 Recent Major Cyclones
 Air masses
 Clouds and their types
 Precipitation
 Conventional, Cyclonic, Orogenic
Geography B-131

UNIVERSE
•• All existing matters and space as •• Dark matters are neither
a whole forms Universe. It was antimatter nor black hole. Back
termed as cosmos when first holes are gravity lenses that bend
conceived as an orderly unit and light. The instruments which
it study called as cosmology. It are used by the scientists for
is believed to be expanding since these discoveries are cosmology
its creation in the Big Bang about instrument (WMAP and Plank),
13 billion years ago. direct detection experiments
•• The word universe derives from include CDMS, XENON, Zeplin,
the old French word univers, WARP, ArDM and other; indirect
which in turn derives from the detection experiments like Gamma
Latin word universum. The Latin ray detectors, antimatter detectors,
word was used by Cicero and X-rays and radio facilities.
later Latin authors in many of
the same senses as the modern
English word is used.
Fast Fact
Diameter 8.8×1026 m (28.5
Gpc or 93 Gly)
Volume 4×1080 m3
Theories of Development
Mass 1053 kg
(ordinary Big Bang Theory
matter) •• Big bang theory was proposed
Density 9.9×10–30 g/cm3 by Georges Lemaitre in1927.
(equivalent to 6 •• According to this theory billion
protons per cubic of years ago cosmic matters were
meter of space) in highly compressed state and
Age 13.799±0.021 billion expansion started with premordial
years explosion which was bang in
Average 2.72548 K superdense ball. These exploded
temperature particles are still travelling at a
Contents ordinary (baryonic) speed of thousands miles per
matter (4.9%) second and gave rise to our galaxies.
dark matter (26.8%) Steady State Theory
dark energy (68.3%) •• The steady state theory was
• Normal matters all that are governed by Hermann Boudi
visible (star, planet and galaxies) and Thomas Gold.
make up less than 5 % of the •• It is also known as theory of
total mass of the universe rest continuos creation. According to
are made of dark matters. These this theory universe has always
dark matters are not seen by the existed and will always exist
astronomers but can study their and will always look essentially
effects. the same, so there is no over
B-132 Geography

all evolution thus balancing •• According to Michael McDonald

the average density despite the “Central galaxies have typically
exapansion. been referred to as ‘red and dead’
•• As old galaxies move apart the - just a bunch of old stars orbiting
new galaxies are being formed. a massive black hole, and there’s
nothing new happening.”
Oscillating Universe Theory
Sturcture and composition of
•• The Oscillating Universe Theory Galaxy
was advocated by Dr. Alan Elliptical Galaxies :
Sandage. •• Elliptical galaxies can be classified
•• This theory postulates that the on the basis of their ellipticity,
universe not only expands but it ranging from nearly spherical
also contracts. The time interval (E0) to highly elongated (E7).
between the two phases are These have low portion of open
presumed to be billions of years. clusters and low rate of new star
It is a mixture of both Big Bang formation.
an Big Crunch theory. Spiral Galaxies:
•• According to Dr. Sandage •• Spiral galaxies have a central
the universe started with an nucleus with great spiral arms
trailing round it resembling pin
expolsion nearly 12 milion years
wheel Andromeda Galaxy and
ago and continues to expand.
Milky Way are the example of
He was of view that it would such galaxies. The spiral arms are
expand for another 17 milion thought to be areas of high-density
years or more. The process of matter, or “density waves”.
contraction would intiate after Irregular Galaxies:
the completion of expansion and •• Irregular galaxies are youthful in
would continue upto 41million nature with no sharp and boundary
years. The stage of contraction is thinning out gradually, these
called as ‘implosion’. compress galaxies contain large amount of
would result into extremely gas and dust. This type of galaxy
suspended state and then it will is the result of gravitational
expolde once again. It is the interaction or collision between
latest theory given on evolution formerly regular galaxies.
of Universe till now. Solar System
Galaxy •• Solar System constitute of
heavenly bodies revolving
•• A Galaxy is a large collection of around an average star known
stars, gas, dust, and dark matter as SUN. The measurement
bounded by gravitational force. unit used for large distance is
At times they are so big that they astronomical unit (AU). One
are called as Island Universe. AU represents the distance of
•• The studies related to the distant 150 million Kms (the distance
spaces with optical and radio between earth and sun).
telescopes indicate that about •• Heliosphere is a region of space
100 galaxies are visible universe. of bubbles dominated by the Sun
It can be group of clusters and extending beyond the orbit of it’s
super clusters. planets. Bubble in Heliosphere is
Geography B-133

created by sun wind, which is a 6. Brightest Planet outside Solar

stream of charged gas blowing System-Sirus
out of sun. 7. Closest Star of Solar System-
•• The area where sun wind Proxima
abruptly slows due to the pressure 8. Coldest Planet-Neptune
from gas between the stars is 9. Evening Star-Venus
called as termination shock. The 10. Farthest Planet From Sun-Neptune
entire Solar system consists of
11. Planet with maximum no. of
devoius. Eight Planets (Mercury,
satellites-Saturn
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) ; 12. Fastest revolution in solar system-
Asteroids (planet like objects); Mercury
Meteors (Chunks of iron and 13. Hottest Planet-Venus
stones); Comets (bodies of the 14. Densest Planet- Earth
dust and forign gases). 15. Fastest Rotation in Solar System-
Jupiter
16. Morning Star-Venus
17. Nearest Planet to Earth-Venus
18. Nearest Planet to Sun-Mercury
19. Red Planet-Mars
20. Slowest Revolution in Solar
System-Neptune
Planets Superlatives 21. Slowest Rotation in Solar
1. Biggest Planet-Jupiter System-Venus
2. Biggest Satellite-Jupiter 22. Smallest Planet-Mercury
3. Blue Planet-Earth 23. Smallest Satellite-Deimos
4. Green Planet-Uranus 24. Earth’s Twin-Venus
5. Brightest Planet-Venus 25. Atmosphere like Earth-Titan
INFORMATION BULLETIN
•• Human population of the : Seven billion as of No. 2011, 7.389
Earth billion (as of Dec 2015)
•• World Population Growth : 1.13% as of (2015-16) - 2014 estimate
•• Countries of the world : 196 (195 Excluding Taiwan)
•• Earth’s Circumference at the : 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 km)
Equator
•• Earth’s Circumference between : 24,859.82 miles (40,008 km)
the North and South Poles
•• Earth’s Diameter at the : 7,926.28 miles (12,756.1 km)
Equator
•• Average Distance from the : 92, 935, 700 miles
Earth to the Sun
•• Average Distance from the : 238.900 miles/384, 400 km
Earth to the Moon
•• Highest Elevation on Earth : Mt. Everest, Asia : 29,035 feet (8850 m)
B-134 Geography

•• Tallest Mountain on Earth : Mauna Kea. Hawaii: 33,480 feet (rising

from Base to Peak to 13.796 feet above sea level) (10204 m,
4205 m)
•• Point Farthest from the Center : The peak of the volcano chimborazo
of the Earth in Ecoador at 20.561 feet (6267 m) is
farthest from the center of the Earth due
to its location near the equator and the
oblateness of the Earth.
•• Lowest Elevation on Land : Dead Sea: 1369 feet below sea level
(417,27 m)
•• Deepest Point in he Ocean : Challenger Deep. Mariana Trench.
Western Pacific Ocean: 36,740 feet
(11022 m)
•• Highest Temperature Recorded : 135.80F - A1 Aziziyah, Libya, Sep.
13,1922 (57.7°C)
•• Lowest Temperature Recorded : –128.5°F - Vostok, Antarction. July 21,
1983 (–89.2°C)
•• Water Vs Land : 4.5 to 4.6 billion years
•• Atmosphere content : 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1%
traces of argon, carbon dioxide and
water.
•• Rotation on Axis : 23 hours and 56 minutes and 04.09053
second. But, it takes an additional four
minutes forthe earth to revolve to the
some position as the day before relative
to the sun (i.e., 24 hours)
•• Revolution Around Sun : 365 . 2425 day
•• Chemical Composition of the : 34.6% Iron, 29.5% Oxygen, 15.2% Silicon,
Earth 12.7%, Magnesium, 2.4% Nickel, 1.9%
Suffer and 0.05% Titanium.
Cosmic World size, are found between the orbits of
Moon: 176 Mars and Jupiter, though some have
There are 181 known natural moons more eccentric orbits. The asteroid
orbiting planets in our Solar System. is categorized by their spectra, with
173 moons orbit the “full-size” most falling into three basic groups:
planets, while 8 moons orbit the carbonaceous (C-type), silicate
smaller “dwarf planets”. (S-type), and metal-rich (M-type).
Asteroid: 645,118 Meteor: A meteoroid is a small
A small rocky body orbiting the sun rocky or metallic body travelling
is termed as asteroid. Large numbers through space and range in size from
of these, ranging enormously in small grains to 1 meter-wide objects.
Geography B-135

When it enters the atmosphere to

Pluto as dwarf planet
become visible is called as a meteor.
It is also known as “shooting star” Pluto is called a “dwarf planet.”
or “falling star.” One can see nearly A dwarf planet orbits the sun
20 million of meteors in a day. On just like other planets, but it is
an average nearly each day nearly smaller. A dwarf planet is so
one to two reaches Earth. In Huba small it cannot clear other objects
the largest meteorite was found
out of its path. Similarly, Pluto
(Namibia – 60 tons).
is in a region called the Kuiper
The rings of Saturn are made
(KY-per) Belt. Thousands of
up of countless small particles,
ranging in size from micrometres small, icy objects like Pluto are
to metres and orbit about Saturn. in the Kuiper Belt. The orbit of
They are most extensive planetary which Pluto follows takes 248
ring system of any planet in the days to revolve round the sun
Solar System. The ring particles are once and it oval in nature. There
made almost entirely of water ice,
are moments when it is nearest to
with a trace component of rocky
the sun causing the ice present on
material. There is still no consensus
the planet to melts. Pluto having
as to their mechanism of formation;
some features of the rings suggest about one-fifteenth the gravity of
a relatively recent origin, but Earth, its atmospheres altitude
theoretical models indicate they are rises more than any other planet.
likely to have formed early in the
Solar System’s history. Oort Clouds: roughly spherical,
A dwarf planet is a planetary-mass shell of icy found in the outermost
object that is neither a planet nor a reaches of the solar system is called
natural satellite. It orbits the Sun,
as Oort Clouds. Astronomers
and is massive enough for its shape
believe that it is remains of the disc
to be in hydrostatic equilibrium
under its own gravity, but has not of material that formed the Sun and
cleared the neighborhood around planets. Estimates put it at around 2
its orbit. The term dwarf planet trillion. It is also referred to as Trans-
was adopted in 2006. Currently, the
Neptunian object applied to objects
International Astronomical Union
in the Kuiper Belt. Astronomers
(IAU) recognizes five dwarf planets:
Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, think that long-period comets have
Seden and Eris. their origins in the Oort Clouds.
B-136 Geography

Seasons Formation the Sun, therefore experiencing

Revolution of the Earth around the summer. The Southern Hemisphere
Sun along with its spins around on the other hand, is tilted away
from the Sun and thus, experiences
its axis, which is tilted at an angle
winter. The opposite occurs around
of 23.5 degrees, is the main cause
the December Solstice, when the
of season’s formation. Around
Southern Hemisphere is tilted
the June Solstice, the Northern
towards the Sun, while the Northern
Hemisphere is tilted towards Hemisphere is tilted away.
Seasons and their Formation
Northern summer/Southern winter Northern fall/Southern spring
21. March
Periapsis
ill.
Equinox 47 m 3. January
1 m
k
21. June Line of Solstice
21. December
es
sid
ap
e of
Lin
km
ill.
2m 23. September
15
Apoapsis 3. July

Northern summer/Southern winter Northern fall/Southern spring

There are four seasons: Summer tropic of cancer and secondly when
when the Sun’s ray falls directly over tropic of Capricorn.
over the tropic of cancer. In autumn An eclipse is a natural phenomenon.
the Sun’s ray falls directly over the Eclipse is related to obscuring light
equator. During winter it is over of the sun or the moon by any other
tropic of Capricorn and during body. There are two types of eclipse.
spring it falls back on equator. Lunar eclipse occurs when the earth
Equinoxes are the days and nights comes in middle of the sun and the
are equal. The sun’s ray falls directly moon. It occurs on full moon day but
over equator. March 21 is called as not every full moon day experiences
Vernal equinox and 23 September is
rd
lunar eclipse. Solar eclipse occurs
autumnal equinox. In the same ways when the moon comes in middle of
Solstice occurs when the difference the sun and the earth. it occurs on
between the lengths of day and night the new moon day when the moon
are maximum. Occurs twice in a is in line with sun.
year firstly when the sun’s ray falls
Geography B-137

Chronological age of the Earth

Millions of
EON ERA PERIOD EPOCH
Years Ago
Holocene 0.011477
Quaternary
Pleistocene 1.806
Pliocene 5.332
Neogene
Cenozoic Miocene 23.03

Tertiary
Oligocene 33.9
Paleogene Eocene 55.8
Paleocene 65.5
Cretaceous 145.5
Mesozoic Jurassic 199.5
Phanerozoic

Triassic 251
Permian 299
Charboniferous

Pennsylvanian 318.1

Paleozoic Mississippian 359.2

Devonian 416
Silurian 443.7
Ordiviclan 488.3
Cambrian 542
Ediacaran 630
Neoproterozoic Cryogenian 850
Tonian 1000
Stenian 1200
Proterozoic

Mesoproterozoic Ectasian 1400

Calymmian 1600
Precambrian

Statherian 1800
Orosirian 2050
Paleoproterozoic
Rhyacian 2300
Siderian 2500
Neoarchean 2800
Archean

Mesoarchean 3200
Paleoarchean 3600
Eoarchean 4000
Hadean 4567
B-138 Geography

Internal Structure
The thickness and deepness of the earth is the study of seismology. The
interior structure of the Earth is layered in spherical shells. It was Edmund
Halley (1692) who put forth the idea of earth consisting of a hollow shell about
500 miles thick, with two inner concentric shells around an innermost core. These
shells can be divided by mechanical properties such as Rheology, or chemically.
Mechanically, are divided into lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesospheric mantle,
outer core, and the inner core. The interior of Earth is divided into 5 important
layers. Chemically, are divided into the crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer
core, and inner core.

Upper crust Depth (Km) Layers

er cr ust
Low
0-60 Lithosphere (locally varies between
Uppe
r Mantl
e 5 and 200 km) (density 2.9-3.3)
m
0k m Meso
sphere 0-35 Crust (locally varies between 5
k
20 m
40
k and 70 km)
r Mantl
Lowe
km
e
35-60 Uppermost part of mantle
400 km
650 D” Layer 35–2,890 Mantle
0k
m Oute
r Core 100–200 Upper mesosphere (density 3.3-4.3)
270 0 km
289
r
660–2,890 Lower mesosphere (density 4.3-5.5)
Inne Core
m
515
0k 2,890–5,150 Outer core (density 10.00-13.3)
5,150–6,360 Inner core (density 13.3-13.6)
6378 km

INTERIOR THE EARTH

Crust (6-11 km oceanic,
25-90 km
continental)

Lower 6300 km
Mantle
id 3500 Upper
qu
Li re km Mantle
co down to
1200 about
km
100 km
Solid (the upper
inner core mantle
Fe Fe + Ni
+ and crust
S (?) form the
rigid
lithosphere)
Geography B-139

GEOMORPHOLOGY

Rock
Rock is a naturally occurring mineral and relatively hard.
Proportion of Elements Found in Rock in Rock
7 % Others 5.5 % Others
13 % 3 % Sodium
Magnesium 8 % Aluminium
15 % Silicon 28 % Silicon
30 % Oxygen
47 % Oxygen
35 % Iron
In Earth In Earth Crust

Type of Rocks of the earth. This melting of rocks

Sedimentary Rocks : Sedimentary is caused by one or more processes
rocks are formed through lithification, namely: increase in temperature,
compression and cementation of decrease in pressure, or a change in
sediments deposited in a particular composition e.g. Basalt, Granite.
place mainly aquatic areas. Metamorphic Rocks : When the change
Igneous / Primary Rocks : Igneous occurs in the form or composition
rocks are formed from solidification of the pre-existing rock (igneous or
and cooling of magma. Usually this sedimentary) without any disintegration
magma is partial melts of pre-existing taking place is called as metamorphic
rocks derived from mantle or crust rock.

CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS

Sedimentary Igneous Metamorphic

Chemical Intrusive Extrusive

Clastic Biloggic Foliated Non-foliated
Gabbro Basalt
Limestone
Diorite Andesite
Dolostone
Granodiorite Dacite
Evaporites
Granite Rhyolite
Conglomerate Coal
Breccia Chert Slate Quartzite
Sandstone Schist Marble
Siltstone Gneiss
Mudstone Shale
B-140 Geography

Earth Movement
The forces affecting earth’s crust and the resultant movement can be
categorized into two broad categories and further into sub-categories. The
fig given below demonstrates different types of earth movement.
Forces which affects the Earth’s Crust

Endogenetic Forces Exogenetic Forces

Diastrophic Forces Catastrophic Forces

Epeirogenetic Forces Orogenetic Forces Volcanic Eatthqukes

Eruption
Upward Downward
Movement Movement
(Emergence) (Submergence)

Tensional forces Compressional Forces

Crustsal Fracture Crustal Bending

Cracking Faulting Warping Folding

(Faults) (Folds)

Upwarping Downwarping
Endogenetic Forces Folds are the wave like structure
The forces which originate within formed in the crustal rock due
to tangential compressive force
the Earth surface are defined as
resulting from horizontal movement
endogenetic forces. They can result
caused by endogenetic forces.
in both horizontal and vertical
Types of Folds
movement of the earth surface.
•• Symmetrical fold is the simple
Internal heat causing chemical
fold, the limbs of which incline
reactions inside the earth and transfer uniformly.
of rock materials on the surface of •• Asymmetrical Fold is the folds
the earth by external forces results in with unequal and irregular
release of endogenetic energy. inclination and length.
Endogenetic forces are of two •• Monoclinal Fold is the
folds with one limb inclined
types: Diastrophic movements and
moderately with regular slope
Sudden movements. while the other limb inclines
Sudden movement causes fold, fault, steeply at right angle and the
earthquake and volcanic activities. slope is almost vertical.
Geography B-141

•• Isoclinical Fold is a fold where hot vapor and gases are ejected.
compressive force, forces both A volcano begins to form when
the limbs of the fold to become magma, which is hot molten
parallel but not horizontal to its rock from deep within the earth,
axis. rises toward the earth’s surface
•• Recumbent Fold is formed when and collects in magma chambers.
compression force is strong
enough to make both the limbs
of the fold parallel as well as
horizontal to its axis.
•• Faults are the slippage or
displacement occuring in the
crust along the fracture plane.
Four types of faults: i) normal,
ii) reverse, iii) lateral and iv) step Types of Volcanoes:
faults. (a) Active Volcanoes: Alive now
•• Volcano is a fissure or vent in (b) Dormant Volcanoes: have not
the earth’s crust communicating erupted for quite some time
with the interior, from which (c) Extinct Volcanoes: have not
flows of lava, rock fragments, erupted for several centuries
B-142 Geography

•• Earthquake Motion ranging (iii) Conservative/ Transform Plates

from faint terror to wild shaking occur where two lithospheric
of the earth surface is called as plates slide and grind past
earthquake. It occurs mainly each other along faults. Here
due to tectonic activities caused plates are neither created nor
by continuous endogenetic destroyed.
processes inside earth’s crust.
The place from where it starts Types of Plates
is called as focus or hypocenter Minor Plates Minor Plates
and the point directly above
Africa Plate Cocos Plate
it is known as epicenter. It
is measured in Richter scale Pacific Plate Filipino Plate
varying from 0 to 9. There are North American Juan de Fuca
five Seismic Zone in India. Plate Plate
•• Primary Wave (P) is a wave Antarctic Plate Caribbean Plate
which travels both through solid
and liquid part of the earth Eurasian Plate Scotia Plate
interior. Australian Plate Nazca Plate
•• Secondary Wave (S) is a wave
South American Arabian Plate
which travels only through the
Plate and
solid the earth interior.
•• Long Wave (L) is a wave Indian Plant
confined to the earth crust, Exogenetic/Denudational/
causing structural damage only. Destructional Forces
Plate Tectonic Theory: Our earth The forces which act above the earth
surface is made up of plates which surface changing relief of earth surface
are in motion due to the convection are known as exogenetic forces. These
current flowing beneath it. This processes are continuously engaged
movement in the earth’s plate in destructing the relief features
is called as tectonic movement. created by endogenetic forces. These
This movement has been widely forces are carried on by the agents of
accepted cause of continental drift, erosion such as wind, water, glacier
earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, etc. the process through which these
and oceanic trenches. There are agent work of the earth surface are
three type major types of plates weathering and erosion.
(i) Constructive Plates is a place •• Weathering is a process in which
of divergent boundary where breaking down of the earth surface
two plates slide apart from each takes place but the debris do not
other. Here seafloor spreading move from their place.
occurs i.e. new plates are formed. •• Erosion refers to the movement
(ii) Destructive Plates is a convergent in the weathered material
boundary where two (or more) Denudation is a long-term sum of
tectonic plates move toward one processes that cause by weathering
another and collide. E.g. The leading to a reduction in elevation
east coast of Pacific Ocean near and relief of landforms and landscapes
South America. and erosion.
Geography B-143

Major Land Forms •• Volcanic Mountain formed by

Mountains are the second order relief accumution ofvolcanic materials
e.g. Mount Mauna Loa in Hwaai,
features having an abrupt natural rise
Mt,Fuji Yoma in Japan and Mt.
from the adjacent surrounding area. Popa in Central Myanmar.
Collective system of long, narrow •• Residual mountain e.g.
elevated land for some distance is Vindhyacha, Aravalli, Eastern
a Mountain Ridge. Several parallel and Western Ghats.
long narrow mountains of different Plateau
period is called as Mountain
A second order relief feature
chain. Mountain Range is a series
characterized by flat and rough top
of mountain ridges, peaks, and surface and steep wall with a height
summits and the valley of same age difference of at least 300 m from it
but structurally different. Cordilleras surrounding areas.
are the huge set of several mountain Type of Plateau:
groups and systems having different (i) Intermontane Plateau (Tibetan,
ridges, ranges, mountain chains etc. Bolivian, Peru, Columbian
Types of Mountain : Plateau, Mexiacan, Iranian)
(ii) Piedmont Plateau (Appalachian
•• Folded Mountains are originated Piedmont Plateau. Patagonian
by compressive forces. Young, Plateau)
mature and old are its sub types. (iii) Continental Plateau (Deccan
Its e.g. Alps in Europe, Rockies in Plateau of India, Ranchi, Shillong)
north America, Andes in South (iv) Coastal Plateau (Coromandal
America and the Himalayas in Coastal upland of India)
Asia. Lake
•• Block fault Mountain are originated Lakes are static bodies of water
by tensile and comperessional forces. surrounded by land from all sides.
E.g. Black forest mountains on the These are not permanent features
boader of France and Germany. on the earth surface. Sometimes
•• Dome Mountain are originated by lakes are found near along the sea
magnetic intrusion and unwraping coast. There are two type lakes e.g.
of the crustal surface. freshwater lakes and saline lake.

OCEANOGRAPHY
Ocean Structure would, followed by Atlantic
•• Ocean can be divided into two (29.9%), Indian (21%).
main groups (i) the ocean (ii) the •• Arctic is strictly not an ocean
sea. Covers 70 per cent of the and not navigable.
earth surface and has an average •• The longest mountain range in
depth of more than 12,400 feet the world is under water “Mid-
•• Geographically ocean has been Oceanic Ridge”.
divided into (i) the Pacific (ii)
the Atlantic (iii) the Indian (iv) Continental shelf
the Arctic. •• Continental margin submerged
•• Pacific Ocean the largest and under ocean water upto 100
oldest occupies 50% of the ocean fathoms (600 feet) with slope of
B-144 Geography

1° to 3° and often determined (i) First layer upto 500 m from top
by the coastal reliefs. High having temperature of 20° - 25°C
mountainous coast have narrow (ii) Thermocline layer - below 500 m
self. In Atlantic Ocean it is 2 km where temperature decreases at
to 80 km. a rapid rate with the increase in
•• They are rich in plankton, it depth.
forms food for fish. Thus they (iii) Third layer very cold and extend
are rich source of fish like Grand upto deep ocean floor. Polar
Bank of New Foundland, North region has only this layer from
Sea and Sunda Shelf.
surface to deep ocean form.
Continental slope Daily Range of temperature is
•• Steep slope, beyond continental the difference of maximum and
slope towards ocean are called as minimum temperature of a day
continental self. Its slope varies which is 0.3°C Low latitude and 0.2°
from 2° to 5° and depth of water to 0.3°C at higher latitudes.
is 200 m to 2,000 m. Occupies Annual Range of temperature:
8.5% of the total area of ocean
Maximum temperature is recorded
basin. Due to erosion, tectonic
in August and minimum in February
and aggradations
in northern hemisphere. Average
Deep Sea Plain / Abyssal Plain annual range of temperature of
•• Most extensive relief, covering ocean water is - 12°C usually.
75.9% of the total area of ocean Factors affecting distribution of
basin. Flat and rolling submarine temperature
having depth from 3000 m to •• Minor factors include: Latitude,
6000 m. The greatest Deep in Unequal distribution of land and
Mariana Trench near Guam sea, Prevailing wind and Ocean
Island is the deepest of all.
current
Submarine Canyons •• Minor factors include: Submarine
•• Long, narrow and very deep ridges, local weather, location and
valley or trenches, located on the shape of sea.
continent shelves and slope with Horizontal distribution: average
vertical walls temperature 26.7°C and gradual
•• The continental shelf in Pacific decrease from equator towards poles,
Ocean varies between 160 km to 0.5° F per latitude.
1600 km of width on an average Vertical Distribution: Solar energy
there it 80 km wide.
effectively penetrates 20m and nearby
•• On an average Indian ocean’s
reach beyond 200 m depth.
continental shelf is 640 km wide
Increase in depth decrease the
in the west and in the east near
Java and Sumatra is as narrow temperature. And there is rapid fall
as 160 km and further narrower in temperature upto 200 m dividing
along the coast of Antarctica Ocean into two layers
(i) Photic/ Euphotic zone is the
Temperature of Ocean upper surface upto the depth
•• Ocean is divided into three layers of 200 m and receive solar
according to temperature. radiation.
Geography B-145

(ii) Alphatic zone goes beyond Salinity of the Ocean

200 m depth to the bottom and •• Average salinity of ocean water
receive no solar rays. is 35%. Salinity of ocean water is
affected by marine organism, plant
Density of Ocean
community and physical properties
•• Amount of mass upper unit of ocean such as temperature density,
volume of substance, measured waves, pressure and currents.
in g/cm3 •• Highest salinity is observed
•• Density of pure water is 1 g/cm3 between 20° - 40° N (36%).
at 4°C. and of ocean water is •• Boiling point of saline water is
1.0278 g/cm3 (2-3% higher than higher than pure water.
water) at 4°C. •• The line with same salinity is
•• It increases with lowering of joined by Isohalines.
temperature of ocean. Highest
density is recorded at -1.3°C. Source of Salinity
Density stratification of Ocean Salts brought by rivers is the main
Three layered structure: Surface layer, source It contains 60% of calcium
Pychocline layer and Deep layer sulphate, 2% of sodium chloride
Distribution of Salinity
Latitudinal zones salinity (%) Latitudinal zones Salinity (%)
70º- 70º N 30-31 10º- 30º S 35-36
50º- 40º N 33-34 30º- 50º S 34-35
40º- 15º N 35-36 50º- 70º S 33-34
15º- 10º N 34.5-35
Ocean Deposits
One the bases of origin can be classified into the following groups:
Terrigenous deposits, (ii) Volcanic deposits, (iii) Biotic matter and deposits
(iv) Abiotic matter and deposit
Coral Reefs and Atoll
It is accumulated and compact skeleton of lime secreting organisms
known as coral polyps. They are confined between 25°N - 25°S latitude.
They live on lime and in colony form. High mean annual temperature
between 68°F to 70°F (20°C - 21°C) is required for the growth of corals.
They do not grow in more than 250 feet (60-77 m) of water as they require
oxygen and sunlight. Grow in open sea as fresh water is harmful for corals
Types of Coral Reef: (i) fringing reef (ii) barren reef and (iii) atoll

•• Average salinity of the sea water : 35%

•• Average salinity of Atlantic Ocean : 35.67%
•• Maximum salinity of occurs between : 20° N and 40° Nand 10° S and 30°S
•• Highest salinity is found : Lake Van (330%)
•• Average temperature of Pacific Ocean : 19.10°C
•• Average temperature of Indian Ocean : 17°C
•• Average temperature of Atlantic Ocean : 16.91°C
•• Average annual temperature of oceans : 17.2°C
•• Average temperature of surface water : 26.7°C
B-146 Geography

Ocean Tide (i) Warm current and (ii) Cold

•• Alternative rise and fall in current
the sea level is known as tide. On the bases of velocity, dimension
The rise of sea water and its and direction.
movement towards coast is a tide (i) Drift (ii) Current and (iii) Streams
is high tide. The fall of seawater Pacific Ocean
and moving towards sea is called 1. North Equatorial Current (Warm)
ebb/low tide. The difference 2. South Equatorial Current (Warm)
between high and low is water is 3. Counter Equatorial Current
called as tidal range. (Warm)
•• The variation in the height of 4. Kuroshio System (warm)
both low and high tide from (i) Kuroshio Current
place to place depends on depth (iii) North Pacific Drift
of ocean water, configuration (iv) Tsushima Current
of sea coasts and coastlines and (v) Counter Kuroshio Current
openness or closeness of the 5. Oyashio Current (Cold)
sea. Everyday tide is delayed by 6. California Current (Cold)
26 minutes. 7. Peur Current (Cold)
Types of Tide 8. El Nino or Counter Current
(warm)
(i) Spring tide: When the sun, the 9. Eastern Australian Current (warm)
moon and the earth are n the 10. West Wind Drift (Cold)
same line, there is formation of Origin of Currents
spring tide. The position when Origin of ocean current occurs due
all three are in a straight line is to following factors
called as syzygy. When the sun, (i) Rotation of earth
the moon and the earth are in (ii) Temperature difference in ocean
sequential order in a straight line (iii) Salinity difference in ocean
is called as conjunction. It occurs (iv) Density Difference
on new moon day. When the (v) Air pressure and wind
earth is in between the moon and (vi) Rainfall and Evaporation
the sun are called as opposition. (vii) Direction, shape and
It occurs on full moon day. configuration of coast
(ii) Neap tide: It’s a quadrature (90o) (viii)Bottom relief
position between the earth, the (ix) Seasonal variation
sun and the moon on seventh Atlantic Ocean
or eighth day of the fortnight. 1. North Equatorial Current
During this time the forces of (warm)
the sun and the moon acts in 2. South Equatorial Current
Opposite direction (warm)
3. Counter Equatorial Current
Ocean Currents (warm)
The movement of a mass of ocean 4. Gulf stream (warm)
water parallel to the coast is called as 1. Gulf stream
ocean current. 2. Gulf stream
Currents are of two types on the 3. North Atlantic Current
bases to temperature. 5. Conary Current (Cold)
Geography B-147

6. Labraclor Current (Cold) Indian Ocean 28,400,000

7. Brazil Current (Cold)
Southern Ocean 20,327,000
8. Talk land Current (Cold)
9. South Atlantic Drift (Cold) Arctic Ocean 5,100,000
10. Benguela Current (Cold) Arabian Sea 1,491,000
Name Length South China Sea 1,148,000
(square miles) Caribbean Sea 971,000
Pacific Ocean 64,196,000 Mediterranean Sea 969,000
Atlantic Ocean 33,400,000 Bering Sea 873,000

ATMOSPHERE
The gaseous envelop which covers earth surface, generally associated
a celestial body or planet is called with 90 % atmospheric phenomena.
as its atmosphere. Air is a mixture Here temperature decreases at the rate
of gases in various proportions. It of 6.5°C per km with the increase in
has a mass of 5.15 × 1018 kg. ¾ of height. This is called normal lapse
which are concentrated within 11 rate. The transition layer separating
km of the surface of the earth. The troposphere from stratosphere is
gravity plays a vital role in holding known as tropopause which is between
the atmosphere close to the earth. 16 km at equator to 8 km at pole.
Gases which contributes to the Stratosphere
formation of atmosphere are Nitrogen
The layer which extends from 18
(78.084%) Oxygen (20.946%), Argon to 50 km above the earth surface is
(0.93%), Carbon dioxide (0.0397), called as stratosphere. In this layer
Neon (0.001818), Helium (0.000024), temperature increases as altitude
Methane (0.000179) along with water increases as the ultra violet ray by
vapour (0.001% – 0.005%). ozone. Ozone forms to be the outer
Proportion of gas in limit for this layer. Turbulence free
the Atmosphere
other zone hence is ideal for flying of jet
1% air crafts.
Mesosphere
Oxygen
21% Mesosphere lies from 50 to 80 km
above the ground level with the
temperature below – 100°C at 80 km.
Nitrogen Even pressure drops to 1 mb at 50 km
78 % to 0.01 mb at 90 km. Mesopause are
the upper transitional layer separating
mesosphere from ionosphere. It is the
zone of meteorites activities.
Structure of Atmosphere
Ionosphere
Troposphere The layer between mesosphere
The first layer of atmosphere from the and thermosphere is known as
earth surface is known as troposphere. ionosphere. Aurora Austrialis
It is at the height of 12 km from the and Aurora Borealis occur due to
B-148 Geography

penetration of ionizing particles in 2. Distance from Sun: The path

this layer. Temperatures rise with that is followed by the earth around
increasing height here owing to the the sun is not at the same distance
absorption of ultra-violet radiation throughout the year. The orbit of
by atomic oxygen. Above 100 km the the earth is elliptical in shape. The
atmosphere is increasingly affected shortest distance of the earth from
by solar X-rays and ultra-violet the sun is called as Perihelion (147
radiation, which causes ionization. million km) and Apehelion is time
when the earth farthest from the
Thermosphere sun. The former occurs in January
The thermosphere is the second and the latter in July.
highest layer of earth’s atmosphere 3. Altitude of the Sun: Solar
just above mesopause. It forms lower altitude is this relative angle of the
boundary of exosphere is known sun with respect to earth’s horizon.
as exobase. Gradual increase of The angle formed between the sun
temperature is witnessed with height and the earth surface varies with the
reaching up to 1500°C (2700°F). latitude at which a place is situated.
The area closer to equators receive
Exoshpere greater amount of solar insolation
Outer most layer extending between than at poles.
of 700 km to 10000 km. Gases like 4. Length of Day: the amount of
nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide insolation received by place also
are found. No meteorological depends on the length the day. Longer
phenomenon is possible. Sometimes the duration of the day more will be
Aurora Borialis and Aurora the amount of radiation received.
Austrialis occur overlapping into the Heat Budget:
thermosphere. Earth balances the incoming
Insolation solar radiation with the outgoing
terrestrial radiation and is called as
•• The sun is primary source of heat budget. The energy received if
energy on earth. It enters earth’s not returned back to the space in the
atmosphere in the form of form of long waves would increase
short waves. This is known as the temperature of the earth surface.
insolation. The earth receives This balancing of heat affects the
solar radiation at the rate of 1.94 amount of insolation absorbed.
calories per cm2/m.
•• The amount of solar radiation Adiabatic Changes
received by earth is affected by When the air parcel moving towards
four factors which are as follows: a low pressure zone without the
1. Solar Constant: is rate at which exchange of heat with surrounding
incoming solar radiation is received air. It increases volume and reduces
per unit area of earth surface when the heat available per unit volume
the sun is at its mean distance and hence temperature falls. Such
from the earth. Increase in the sun- a change of temperature, where
spot increases the amount of solar neither addition nor subtraction of
radiation hence affecting insolation heat involves is known as ‘adiabatic
as well. change’.
Geography B-149

Inversion of Temperatures earth surface causing thermal

It refers to a condition where induced atmosphere. It is also
temperature increases with a convergences zone of north-
increasing height of the atmosphere. east and south-east trade winds.
There five causes of inversion of The area is calm with no wind
temperature are radiation, drainage, movement thus known as Belt of
frontal, advection, subsidence. Calm or Doldrums.
•• General tendency to •• Sub-Tropical High Pressure:
decrease in temperature with The sub tropical high pressure
increasing latitude is known as belt extends between 25° to 35°
‘temperature gradient’. Not in both the hemisphere. The air
only the temperature but even its upraises in equatorial region.
nature with latitude changes. The They start descending as they
rate of change of temperature become heavy after cooling at a
is comparatively low between certain height and are deflected
tropics. On the other hand the towards poles because of earth’s
gradient is high at the poles. rotation causing a zone of high
pressure.
Isotherms : The line which •• Sub Polar Low Pressure Belt: The
joining places having equal zone is situated between 60° to
temperature is called ‘Isotherms’. 65° in both the hemisphere. The
temperature of this area is generally
low throughout the year. It is a
Atmospheric Pressure
convergence zone where winds
•• Atmospheric pressure is the from sub-tropical low and polar high
pressure exerted by the weight of meets together to produce Polar
air in the atmosphere of Earth. front.
The standard air pressure at sea •• Polar High: The Polar High
level is 1013.25 mb. Air pressure Pressure zone is situated near
decreases with increase is altitude the pole. As the name suggests the
at the rate of 0.1 inch or 3.4 mb zone is originated due to thermally
per 600 feet. The rate of decrease induced factor as very low
is confined to the height of few temperature is solely responsible
thousand feet. Line joining places for the creation of a high pressure
with equal pressure at sea level are zone over the polar areas.
called isobars.
•• The areas affect by high pressure
are called as High Pressure zone or
Anticyclones and the low pressure
are called as Low or depression or
Cyclone. There are seven pressure
belts across the globes.
•• Equatorial Low Pressure Belt :
The region geographical situated
between 5° N to 5°S is known as
Equatorial Low Pressure Belt.
This belt gets longer duration of
sunshine and sun’s ray falls at a
straight angle on earth surface.
Intense heat is received by the Major Pressure
B-150 Geography

Wind Belts
Wind can be defined as the movement large volume of gases from
high pressure area to low pressure area. There are two types of winds 1)
Permanent/ Prevailing Winds (blow throughout the year) and 2) Seasonal
Wind (blow in particular period of the year)
Permanent/ Planetary/Prevailing Winds
Types Sub Types Characteristics
Tropical Doldrum (5 •• It is called as “equatorial calms” because wind
0

Winds N - 50 S) over there has no motion and cumulonimbus

Equatorial cloud are formed bring daily rainfall.
westerlies •• It is not continues belt. Equatorial fronts are
(150N – formed and equatorial westerlies blow there. It is
350N) associated with strong atmospheric disturbances
or cyclonic storm.
Trade •• A wind flowing from subtropical high pressure
Winds to equatorial low pressure belt is termed as Trade
Winds. It moves in north east and south east in
north and south hemisphere respectively.
Sub Westerlies Blowing from subtropical high pressure belt (300
Tropical (350-650N -350 N and S) to the sub polar low pressure belt (600
wind and S) -650 N and S) is called Westerlies. In the northern
hemisphere these wind blow from south west to
north east and in southern hemisphere from north
west to south east. 400S to 500S-Roaring Forties,
500S to 600S- Furious Fifties and 600S onwards –
Shriecking Sixties are its name.
Polar •• A low pressure zone is created in between 600 to
Wind 650 in both the hemisphere due to the dynamic
factor of the earth.
•• It blows from north easterly and south easterlies
in northern and southern hemisphere respectively.

Variable Wind
Sub Types Seasonal Winds Characteristics
Monsoon •• It blows from the south west in summer and from north
east in winter. It is consistent and bi-directional regular
flow of wind over a year. It is thermally induced complex
air circulation where all layers of air circulation that is
surface, middle and upper layer are involve.
Local Winds
Sea Breeze •• During the day time land is heated quickly than the sea
and Land water. Low pressure is created over the land and wind rise
Breeze up creating vacuum over land. Thus the wind from sea
rushes to take its place. This breeze is called as Sea Breeze.
Geography B-151

•• It blows during night as the land losses the heat faster than
the sea, this cool and denser wind rushes towards sea. This
breeze is called as land breeze.
Valley and •• During day time sunlight warms the mountain slope more
Mountain than mountain valley. Thus a high pressure is created on
Breeze the top of mountain. The cold wind from the valley rushes
up. This movement of air is called as valley breeze giving
precipitation through cumulus cloud.
•• After sunset the air above the mountain cools faster due to
density than the air in the valley and descends down into
the valley is called as mountain breeze causing inversion
of temperature.
Chinook and It blowing on the leeward side of the mountain in USA and
Foehn is called as Foehn in Switzerland. It’s a warm air (4.40 C) and
melts snow (Snow Eater).
Harmattan This is a warm and dry wind blows from north to east and
east to west over Sahara desert. Harmattan is known to be
the Doctor in Guinea Coastal Area of western Africa.
Sirocco A warm, dry and dusty wind blows in the north easterly
direction from Sahara Desert. As it crosses Mediterranean
picks up water vapour and yield rainfall southern part of
Italy. It is called as “blood rain” rain fall laden with red sand
from Africa Desert.
Mistral Mistral is a cold local wind blowing over Spain and France in
north-west to south-east direction during winters creates high
pressure over Europe and low pressure over Mediterranean
Sea. It average velocity is 56-64 km/hour.
Bora Extremely cold and dry north-easterly wind blows along
the coast of Adriatic Sea. The velocity of the wind ranges
between 128 to 196 km/hr
Blizzard It is a violent stormy wind that carries large amount of dry
snow, mainly prevalent over both north and south poles. Its
velocity ranges from 80-96km an hour.
Abrolhos An Abrolhos squall blow from May through August (austral
squall winter) near the Abrolhos Islands off the coast of eastern
Brazil near 18°S latitude.
Pampero The pampero is a burst of cold polar air from the west,
southwest or south on the pampas in the south of Brazil,
Argentina and Uruguay. It is common during winter in the
southern hemisphere (principally between May and August).
Maestral or Maestral or maestro is mostly northwestern wind in the
maestro Adriatic Sea blowing in summer characteristic for beautiful
and stable weather
B-152 Geography

Levante It blows in western Mediterranean, near to the Strait of

Gibraltar. It is called as the Viento de Levante or the Levanter
and even Solano. It blows moderately or strongly bringing
rain and damp smell to the region.
Norte The Norte is a strong cold northeasterly wind which blows in
Mexico along the Gulf of Mexico. It results from an outbreak
of cold air from the north.
Etesian Etesians blow as winds of northeasterly to northerly direction
over Northern Agean Sea while, in the southern Aegean
along with the Cretan and the Carpathian Sea, they blow as
northern westerlies.
Helm Generally seen in Columbia and England these strong north-
easterly wind blows down the south –west slope of the Cross
Fell Escarpment
Buran/ Extremely cold wind full of ice and snow blowing across
Purga Russia and eastern Asia. In tundra region, it is also known as
Purga. In Alaska this severe north-easterly wind is known as
Burga bringing snow and ice pellets.
Brickfielder It is a hot and dry summer wind blowing in coastal regions
of South Australian desert. Blows strongly, for several days
at a time, along with dust, and parching all vegetation. In one
sense it is a healthy wind, as it destroys many injurious germs
due to its hotness.
Air Mass
A large volume of air defined by constant physical properties i.e. temperature
and water vapor, spreading over hundreds or thousands of square miles is
called as air mass.
Types of Air mass
Continental Polar (cP) forms over cold and dry land mass during winter
near poles north of 50-600N.
Maritime Polar (mP) is associated with cool or cold, damp and gray day’s
weather, near polar coastal areas.
Continental tropical (cT) form over deserts and plains. It is hot and dry
during summer and only dry during winter.
Maritime Tropical (mT) is hot and humid sticky weather on the tropical
coastal regions.
Cyclones
Cyclones are the low pressure centers surrounded by closed isobars having pressure
increasing outwards. Blows inward from high pressure to low pressure and hence
wind movement is anti-clockwise in northern hemisphere and clock wise in southern
hemisphere. They are also termed as atmospheric disturbances. There shape varied
from circular to elliptical and sometimes even V shaped. On basis of place of origin
there are two types cyclones which are as follows:
Geography B-153

Tropical Cyclone Temperate / Extra-tropical cyclone

The tropical cyclones have a thermal Formed in middle or high latitudes,
origin, exclusively over the tropical due to the development of front (350-
seas. 650 N and S).
A low pressure zone is created due to Develops when a frontal surface
extreme heat and further intensifies separates two opposing air masses
with the increase in temperature (warm and cold). As the amplitude
(above 270C) The winds from of the wave increases, the pressure
surrounding high pressure region at the centre of disturbance falls,
rushes to the central low pressure eventually intensifying to the point at
(eye) area developing a powerful and which a cyclonic circulation begins.
destructive storm. The velocity of the
cyclone varies from 32-180 km/hour.
Its velocity decreases and finally When the cold air from the poles
decays as they cross more land mass. sweeps off all the warm tropical air
Usually ends with heavy down pour and entire cyclone is composed of the
rain and wind bringing devastation to cold air mass temperate cyclone dies.
the coastal areas.
Clouds •• Stratocumulus : Large globular
Clouds are the visible mass of masses
condensed water vapour floating in •• Nimbostratus : Dark grey and
rainy looking give continuous
the atmosphere, typically high above
rain.
the general level of the ground. It
•• Stratus : low clouds foggy in
plays a major role in the heat budget
appearance
of the earth and the atmosphere as •• Cumulus : Round topped and
they reflect, absorb and diffuse the flat based
incoming short wave and outgoing •• Cumulonimbus : special type of
long wave terrestrial radiation. cumulous clouds spread out in
According to the height there are form of an anvil. Often indicate
three type of cloud such as (i)High convectional rain,lightening and
Clouds (height 6 km to 20 km), (ii) thunder.
Medium Clouds (height 2.5 km to Precipitations
6 km) and (iii)Low Clouds (height It is a process in wherein water in the
ground surface to 2.5 km) form of droplets which condenses
•• A cloud is a mass of small water from water vapor after reaching a
droplets or thin ice crystals. height and falls when they become
•• Different types of clouds are as heavy enough in the form of rain.
follow: Rain is a major component of the
•• Cirrus : Feather like water cycle and is responsible for
•• Cirrocumulus : Ripples like depositing most of the fresh water
on the Earth. Different forms of
•• Cirrostratus : Transparent sheet
precipitation are rain, snowfall, hale
like causes sun and moonto have
storm and drizzle. Precipitation
‘halos’.
occurs through different processes
•• Altocumulus : Have bumpy-look
which are Convectional, Cyclonic
•• Altostratus : Sheet like
and Orographic.
B-154 Geography

 Himalayan Mountain Range

 Indian Desert
India  Northen Plain
Physiography  Coastal Plain
 Peninsular Plateau
 Island

 Himalayan Rivers (The Indus, The Ganges & The

Brahmaputra)
Drainage  Peninsular Rivers (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY–MIND MAP

Cauvery, Narmada, Tapi)

 Lakes in India

 Alluvial  Arid
 Red  Saline
Soil  Black  Peaty and Marshy
 Laterite  Mountain and Forest

 Factors Affecting Climate in India

Climate  State wise Rainfall Distribution

Natural  Classification of Natural Vegetation

 Spatial Distribution of Natural Vegetation in India
Vegetation
Language  Languages spoken in different parts of India

 Major Crops
 Land use Pattern
Agriculture  Agro-Climatic Zone
 Major Growing Season and its Associated
Crops
 Major Industrial Regions in of India
Industry  Types of Industry

Minerals  Minerals & their distribution

 Conventional Energy
 Hydroelectricity
Energy
 Thermal Electricity
 Wind Energy

 Population density and Sex Ratio

Census  ST & SC Population
2011  Rural Urban Distribution
Geography B-155

INFORMATION BULLETIN
1. Official name: Republic of India •• Pakistan : 2,910 km (1,808 mi)
2. Capital: New Delhi Bordering States- Jammu and
3. Nationality: Indian Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
4. Continent: Asia Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat
5. Region: South Asia Indian •• Nepal : 1,751 km (1,088 mi)
subcontinent B o r d e r i n g S t a t e s – B i h a r,
6. Area: Ranked 7th Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
•• Total 3,287,263 km2 (1,269,219 Sikkim, and West Bengal
•• Myanmar : 1,643 km (1,021 mi)
sq mi)
Bordering States – Manipur and
•• Land 90.08%
Nagaland
•• Water 9.92%
•• Bhutan : 699 km (434 mi)
7. Borders : Total land borders :
Bordering States : West Bengal,
15,106.70 km (9,386.87 mi)
Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
•• Bang ladesh : 4,096.70 km
8. Highest point: K2 or Godwin
(2,545.57 mi) Au s t i n ( c l a i m e d ) 8 , 6 1 1 m
Bordering States - West Bengal, (28,251.3 ft)
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and 9. Kangchenjunga (administered)
Mizoram 8,598 m (28,208.7 ft)
•• China (PRC) : 3,488 km (2,167 mi) 10. Lowest point : Kuttanad; –2.2 m
Bordering States - Jammu & (–7.2 ft)
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, 11. L o n g e s t r i ve r : G a n g e s,
Uttaranchal, Sikkim, and Brahmaputra
Arunachal Pradesh) 12. Largest lake : Chilka Lake

MAJOR PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISONS

The landmass of India can be divided There are four parallel ranges in its
into following major physiographic longitudinal extent. Zaskar range
divisions: lies west of Himalayas and Indus
gorge is beyond it.
The Himalayan Mountains
The Himalayas are the youngest
mountains in the world. They are
structurally folded mountains, form
an arc of about 2,400 km long from
west to east. The width varies from
400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in
Arunachal Pradesh. The altitudinal
variations are greater in the eastern
part than in the western part.
B-156 Geography

•• The Great or Inner Himalayas: MAJOR MOUNTAIN PEAKS OF INDIA

Known as ‘Himadri, it is the
most continuous range with Peak Country Height
loftiest peaks. Average height in
of peaks here is 6,000 meters. meters
Asymmetrical folds having Mt. Everest Nepal 8848
granite in the core are snow Kanchenjunga India 8598
covered throughout the year. Makalu Nepal 8481
•• The Lesser Himalaya or Dhaulagire Nepal 8172
Himachal: This lies south of the Nanga Parbat India 8126
Great Himalayas and north of Annapurna Nepal 8078
Shiwalik with altitude varying
Nanda Devi India 7817
from 3,700 m to 4,500 m.
Average width of this range is Kamet India 7756
60-80 km. This range is mainly Namcha Barwa India 7756
composed of highly compressed Gurla Mandhata Nepal 7728
and altered rocks. Pir Panjal,
Dhaula Dhar, Mahabharat and The Northern Plain
Mussorie ranges are found as we The northern plain of India is
move west to east.
formed by three river systems,
•• The Shiwaliks outer
viz. the Indus, the Ganga and the
Himalayas: It is an outermost
Brahmaputra along with their
range and is also known as
tributaries. Alluvial soil has been
lesser Himalayas. The altitude
deposited over millions of years.
varies between 900 - 1100
The total area of the northern plain
km and the width varies
is about 7 lakh square kilometer. It
between 10 -50 km in this
is about 2400 km long and about
range. The longitudinal valleys
240 to 320 km broad. The northern
lying between the Himachal
plain is divided into three sections,
and Shiwaliks are called
viz. the Punjab Plain, the Ganga
‘Dun’ and are composed of
Plain and the Brahmaputra Plain.
unconsolidated sediments.
•• Punjab Plains: western part
•• Trans Himalayas : It includes most part of the northern plain.
Karakoram and Laddakh Formed by the Indus and its
Ranges. Karakoram Range tributaries like Jhelum, Chenab,
(Krishnagiri) lies north of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
Indus. Extended from Pamir •• Ganga Plains: This plain
crossing Gilgit river reaches extends between Ghaggar and
Laddakh. Elevation is above Tista rivers. The northern states,
5500 m and width is 120-140 Haryana, Delhi, UP, Bihar, part
Km. Laddakh Range is situated of Jharkhand and West Bengal
lie in the Ganga plains.
in Kashmir between Indus and
•• Brahmaputra Plains: This plain
its tributary Shyok. Highest forms the eastern part of the
peak is Mt. Rakaposhi (7880). northern plain and lies in Assam.
Geography B-157

•• Based on the relief features the The Indian Desert

northern plain can be divided It lies towards the western
into four regions, viz. bhabar,
terai, bhangar and khadar.
margins of the Aravali Hills.
This region gets scanty rainfall
The Peninsular Plateau which is less than 150 mm in a
The peninsular plateau is a tableland. year. Hence the climate is arid
It is composed of the oldest rocks and vegetation is scanty.
and drifted from Gondwana land
with elevation of 600-900 Km. The Coastal Plains
Broad and shallow valleys with Towards the west and east of
rounded hills are the characteristic Peninsular stretches narrow coastal
features of this plateau. The plateau strips are situated. They run along
can be broadly divided into two the Arabian Sea in west and along
regions, viz. the Central Highlands the Bay of Bengal in east. The
and the Deccan Plateau. The slope western coast lies between the
of the Deccan Plateau is from west Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
to east as the rivers flows.
It is divided into three sections. The
•• The Central Highlands: lies to the
Konkan is northern part, comprised
north of Narmada river (Satpura
of Mumbai and Goa. The Kannada
range), covering portion of Malwa
Plain makes the central part and the
plateau. It is wider in west and
Malabar coast is the southernmost
narrower in east. Bundelkhand
coast. The eastern coastal plain is
and Baghelkhand mark the
eastward extension. The plateau wider and runs along the Bay of
further extends eastwards into the Bengal.
Chhotanagpur plateau. Touches The Islands
Aravilli in the west covering
Rajasthan uplands. The Lakshadweep Islands are in the
•• The Deccan Plateau: Triangular Arabian Sea. Its area is 32 sq km.
in shape, Satpura range makes This group of islands is rich in terms
its northern boundary. The of biodiversity. The Andaman and
Mahadev, Kaimur Hills and Nicobar Islands group of islands
Maikal ranges make its eastern can be divided into two groups.
part. It extends into the north east The Andaman is in the north and
which encompasses Meghalaya, the Nicobar is in the south. These
Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North islands too have rich biodiversity.
Cachar Hills. Garo, Khasi and ISLANDS OF INDIA
Jaintia hills are the prominent
ranges starting from west to east.
•• The Western and the Eastern
Ghats: The average elevation
of Western Ghats is 900 – 1600
metres compared to 600 metres
in case of Eastern Ghats. The
Eastern Ghats stretch from
Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris
in the south.
B-158 Geography

DRAINAGE IN INDIA
The pattern of Drainage in India obtain water from the large ice cover
is mostly influenced by its varied of great Himalayan range. Major
physiological divisions. Thus they rivers of this section are the Indus, the
are classified into three major types Ganges and the Brahmaputra. Other
such as: important tributaries of this section
are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and
Himalayan Rivers Sutlej of Indus river system, Yamuna,
The Himalayan Rivers are mostly Son, Ramganga, Ghaghara, Gantak,
originated from Himalayan mountain Kosi of the Ganges river System, and
range. These are mostly perennial in Tista, Lohit, Manas, Subansiri River,
nature which means availability of Dhansiri River of the Brahmaputra
water throughout the year as they River System.

Peninsular Rivers Lakes

The Peninsular Rivers are mostly Lakes of India are of high
having their origin from Western importance as they prevent
Ghats running parallel with western flooding during high rain and
coast from north to south. They are on the other hand it stimulate an
even water flow during dry seasons.
seasonal in nature as the source of
India is bestowed with some really
water is rainfall only. The rivers form
beautiful lakes which are not only
deltas at their mouth. Some of the
of geomorphologic importance but
rivers such as Mahanadi, Godavari,
also attracts a large no of tourists
Krishna and Cauvery are drained
every year. Many such lakes are Dal
into the Bay of Bengal where as the Lake,Wular, Chilka, Loktak, Nakki,
other prominent rivers like Narmada Kodaikanal, Sukhna, Puskar, Nakki,
and Tapi both fall into the Arabian Sukhna, Manasbal, Bhojtal, Hussain
Sea. Sagar, Tam dil, Pulicat etc.
Geography B-159

SOIL
As a prime natural resource soil plays •• Texture: Sandy to clay and
an important role in the in the growth loamy.
of human activities of a specific •• Suitable for: Production of
location. The type of soil found in Wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco,
India can be classified in number of oilseeds, potato.
ways but as per All India Soil Survey Black / Regur soil
Committee of Indian Council of
•• Spatial Distribution: Most of
Agricultural Research there are 8
the Deccan is occupied by Black
types of soil found in India. soil.
Alluvial soil •• Property: Mature soil with
•• Spatial Distribution: wide high water retaining capacity,
spread in northern plains and become sticky when wet and
river valleys such as Indus-Ganga- shrinks when dried. Iron, lime,
Brahmaputhra plain, Narmada- calcium, potassium, aluminum
Tapi plain, deltas and estuaries and magnesium.
of Peninsular India. •• Colour: Deep black to light black.
•• Property: Mixture of Humus, •• Texture: Clayey.
lime and organic matters and •• Suitable for: Best soil for cotton
hence highly fertile. production.
•• Colour: Light Grey to Ash Grey. Arid / Desert soil
•• Texture: Sandy to silty loam or •• Spatial Distribution: Seen
clay. widely under Arid and Semi-Arid
•• Suitable for: Production of conditions such as Rajasthan,
Wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, Parts of Haryana and Punjab.
pulses, oilseed. •• Property: Lack of moisture and
Red soil Humus and contains impure
•• Spatial Distribution: Mainly Calcium Carbonate.
found in the areas of low •• Colour: Red to Brown.
•• Texture: Sandy
rainfall. The states with red
•• Suitable for: Salt tolerant crops
soils are Tamilnadu, Karnatake,
like barley , rape, wheat , millet,
South-east part of Maharashtra,
maize.
Eastern Part of Andhra Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh, Chota Laterite soil
Nagpur in Jharkhand, Orissa, •• Spatial Distribution: mostly
Chhattishgarh Parts of South found in Eastern Ghats, the
Bihar, Birbhum and Bankura Rajmahal Hills, Vidhyas,
districts of West Bengal, Mirzapur, Satpura and Malwa Plateau.
Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur district •• Property: Prone to leaching of
of UP, Aravali Hills and eastern lime and silica from soil, rich
half of Rajasthan. iron and aluminum,
•• Property: Abundance of Ferric •• Deficient in Nitrogen, Potash,
oxide Absence of lime matters Potassium, Lime, Humus
and hence highly fertile. •• Colour: Red colour due to iron
•• Colour: Red oxide
B-160 Geography

•• Texture: Clayey rocky and Tamilnadu, Sunderbans of

•• Suitable for: Rice, Ragi, West Bengal, Bihar and Almora
Sugarcane and Cashew nuts are district of Uttaranchal
cultivated mainly. •• Property: heavy and highly
Saline soil acidic in Nature, deficient in
Potash and Phosphate.
•• Spatial Distribution: mostly
•• Colour: Black
found Andhra Pradesh and
•• Suitable for: paddy Cultivation.
Karnatak, in Drier parts of Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Forest soil and Mountain Soil
Rajasthan and Maharashtra. In •• Spatial Distribution: Mostly
Gujrat the area around gulf of found in Himalayan Region
Khamart, vast estuaries of the mainly in valley basins, and
Narmada, Tapi and Mahi river Western and Eastern Ghats of
•• Property: mainly saline and Penninsular India
alkaline in nature, rich in sodium, •• Property: rich in humus,
magnesium, and calcium salt, deficient in Potash, Phosphorous
and sulphurous acid. and lime.
•• Not Suitable for agricultural •• Suitable for: wheat, maize,
productivity. barley in southern India and
Peaty/marshy soil temperate fruit in Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and
•• Spatial Distribution: generally
Uttaranchal
found Coastal areas of Orissa

CLIMATE
Although India is basically a tropical which which generally hits
country, it experiences wide variation the south west coast of India
in climatic condition depending generally in June and known
upon the altitude, latitude, distance as onset of Monsoon. The
from sea and relief. The variability wind then starts circulating via
can be observed in number of factors the Bay of Bengal covering the
such as: entire eastern, north eastern
•• Western Rajasthan experiences and parts of central India. The
a high temperature during highest rainfall is experienced
June where as the areas close in Mawsynram in Meghalaya
to Kashmir are relatively i.e. 1221 cm of annual rainfall
experiencing a much lower every year. On the other hand
temperature. The coastal lands in the month of October and
are comparatively having a November the monsoon trough
moderate climate due to the of Low pressure starts receding
nearness of sea. from Northern Plain results into
•• The amount of rainfall also rain in Southern India. About
varies throughout the country. 50% to 60% of rainfall in Tamil
The rainfall in India is primarily Nadu is caused due to Retreat
governed by Monsoon wind of Monsoon form North East.
Geography B-161

Rain fall Distribution in India

Amount Heavy Rainfall Moderately Less Rainfall Scanty
of Rain (> 200cm) Heavy Rainfall (50-100 cm) Rainfall
fall (100-200 cm) <50cms
States West coasts, Southern Parts Upper Ganga Northern
on the western of Gujarat, East valley, eastern part of
Ghats, Sub- Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kashmir,
Himalayan North-eastern Punjab, Western
areas in North Peninsular, Southern Rajasthan,
East and Western Plateau of Punjab and
Meghalaya Ghats, eastern Karnataka, Deccan
Hills. Assam, Maharashtra, Andhra Plateau
West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Pradessh and
Southern slopes Orrisa, the middle Tamil Nadu.
of eastern Ganga valley.
Himalayas.

NATURAL VEGETATION
Natural Vegetations or the forest type of India vary from place to place
depending upon several factors such as climate, soil, rainfall, temperature
as well as their seasonal variation along with varied edaphic and biotic
conditions. Various botanist and ecologist have given different classification
on the basis of climatic and adaptive factors. On the basis of such suggestion
a generalised classification can be done with 5 main types and 16 sub types
of vegetation.
Classification of Natural Vegetation
Type Sub- Types
Moist Tropical Forest •• Tropical wet Evergreen
•• Tropical semi evergreen
•• Tropical Moist Deciduous
•• Littoral and Swamp
Dry Tropical Forest •• Tropical dry evergreen
•• Tropical dry deciduous
•• Tropical Thorn
Montane Sub –tropical •• Sub tropic Broad leaved hill
Forest •• Sub tropical Moist hills (pine)
•• Sub tropic dry evergreen
Montane Temperate •• Montane Wet Temperate
Forest •• Himalayan Moist Temperate
•• Himalayan Dry Temperate
Alpine Forest •• Sub- Alpine
•• Moist – Alpine Scrub
•• Dry Alpine Scrub
B-162 Geography

Spatial Distribution of Natural vegetation in India

LANGUAGES
According to the schedule eight Manipur, Dogari and Konkani
of our constitution, there are 22 are the languages which have least
officially recognized languages in speakers in India. Bodo, Dogri,
India; among all, Hindi dominates Maithili and Santali were added to
the scene as it is spoken by 41.03 the Eighth Schedule with the passing
per cent of people followed by of the 100th Amendment to the
Bengali (8.11 %), Telugu (7.19 %), Constitution of India in 2003, taking
Marathi (6.99), Tamil (5.91 %) the total number of Scheduled
and Urdu (5.01%). Sanskrit, Bodo, languages to 22 in 2001. There are
Geography B-163

total 234 identifiable mother tongues particular language are included in

which have returned 10,000 or more “others” under that language.
speakers each at the all-India level, Official languages in India: Article
comprising 93 mother tongues 343 of the Indian Constitution
grouped under the Scheduled considers Hindi to be the official
Languages (Part A) and 141 mother language of the country along
tongues grouped under the Non- with English to be an additional
Scheduled languages (Part B). Those language. Other than these two
mother tongues which have returned French and Portuguese are the
less than 10,000 speakers each and official languages of Ponducherry
which have been classified under a and Goa respectively.

AGRICULTURE IN INDIA
A wide range of crops can be grown Pradesh and the hill region of
in India as the land is supported by Uttarakhand fall into it. Valley
element essential for crop growth floors grow rice, while the hilly
such as relief, soil, climate, abundant tracts grow maize in the kharif
sun shine and long growing seasons. season. Winter crops are barley,
The major Indian crop can be oats, and wheat. Apple orchards
divided into following categories. and other temperate fruits such
Food Crops: Rice, Wheat, Maize, as peaches, apricot, pears,
Millet,Jower, Bajra, Ragi, and pulses cherry, almond, litchis, walnut,
like Gram, Tur (Arhar)
etc. Saffron is grown in this
Cash Crops: Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane,
Tobacco, Oilseeds, Ground Nut, region.
Linseed, Sesame, Castor seed, Rape (ii) Eastern Himalayan Region:
seed, Mustard Arunachal Pradesh, hills of
Plantation Crops: Tea, Coffee, Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya,
Spices, Cardamom, Chilles, Ginger, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram,
Turmeric, Coconut, Areca nut and Tripura, and the Darjeeling
Rubber district of West Bengal come
Horticulture: Apple, Peach, Pear, into this region. Annual rainfall
Apricot, Almond, Strawberr y, is 200-400 cm. The main crops
Walnut, Mango, Banana, Citrus Fruit, are rice, maize, potato, tea.
Vegetables. Orchards of pineapple, litchi,
Land Use Pattern in India oranges and lime are also found.
(iii) Lower Gangetic Plain Region:
Reporting area for land utilisation
located in West Bengal (except
statistics in India was recorded to be
305611, out of which only 45.84 per the hilly areas), eastern Bihar
cent of it is net sown area. 17.07 are and the Brahmaputra valley lie
sown more than ones in a year. Total in this region with the rainfall of
cropped area accounted for 62.89 100 cm-200 cm. Rice is the main
per cent. crop which at times yields three
successive crops (Aman, Aus
Agro-climatic Regions and Boro) in a year. Jute, maize,
(i) Western Himalayan Region: potato, and pulses are other
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal important crops.
B-164 Geography

(iv) Middle Gangetic Plain Region: (v) Upper Gangetic Plains Region:
large parts of Uttar Pradesh and Central and western parts of Uttar
Bihar are covered and recieve100 Pradesh and Hardwar and Udham
cm and 200 cm of rainfall. Rice, Nagar districts of Uttarakhand fall
into it. Rainfall is between 75 cm-
maize, millets grow in kharif;
150 cm. Wheat, rice, sugarcane,
wheat, gram, barley, peas,
millets, maize, gram, barley,
mustard and potato in rabi are oilseeds, pulses and cotton are
important crops. the main crops.

AGRO-CLIMATIC
ZONES OF INDIA

I. Western Himalayan Region IX. Western Plateau and Hills

II. Eastern Himalayan Region X. Southem Plateau and Hills
III. Lower Gangetic Plain Region XI. Eastern Coastal Plains and Hills
IV. Middle Gangetic Plain Region XII. Western Coastal Plains and Ghats
V. Upper Gangetic Plains Region
XIII. Gujarat Plains and Hills
VI. Trans-Ganga Plains Region
XIV. Western Dry Region
VII. Eastern Plateau and Hills
XV. Island Region
VIII. Central Plateau and Hills

(vi) Trans-Ganga Plains Region: oilseeds etc. The region faces the
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, threat of water logging, salinity,
Delhi and the Ganganagar alkalinity, soil erosion and fall of
district of Rajasthan come under water table.
it. Rainfall varies between 65 cm (vii) Eastern Plateau and Hills:
and 125 cm. The main crops are Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh
wheat, sugarcane, cotton, rice, and Dandakaranya come under
gram, maize, millets, pulses and it. 80 cm-150 cm of annual
Geography B-165

rainfall is received. Rice, millets, cm. Rice, coconut, oilseeds,

maize, oilseeds, ragi, gram, sugarcane, millets, pulses and
potato, tur, groundnut and cotton are the main crops. The
soyabean grow on rainfed areas. region is famous for plantation
(viii) Central Plateau and Hills: crops and spices.
Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, (xiii) Gujarat Plains and Hills: They
Bhander Plateau, Malwa includes hills and plains of
Plateau, and Vindhyachal Hills Kathiawar, and the fertile valleys
receive rainfall 50 cm-100 cm. of Mahi and Sabarmati rivers.
Crops like millets, wheat, gram, Annual rainfall varies between
oilseeds, cotton and sunflower 50 cm and 100 cm. Groundnut,
grow in this region. cotton, rice, millets, oilseeds,
(ix) Western Plateau and Hills: wheat and tobacco are the main
Malwa plateau and Deccan crops. It is an important oilseed
plateau (Maharashtra), 25 cm- producing region.
75 cm. Wheat, gram, millets, (xiv) Western Dry Region: Extended
cotton, pulses, groundnut, and over Rajasthan, West of the
oilseeds are the main crops in Aravallis, this region has an
the rain-fed areas, while in the erratic rainfall of an annual
irrigated areas, sugarcane, rice, average of less than 25 cm.
and wheat, are cultivated. Horticultural crops like water
(x) Southern Plateau and Hills: melon, guava and date palm
Interior Deccan includes parts grow here.
of southern Maharashtra, the (xv) Island Region: It includes
greater parts of Karnataka, Andaman-Nicobar and Laksha-
Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil dweep which have typically
Nadu uplands from Adilabad equatorial climate (annual
district in the north to Madurai rainfall less than 300 cm). Main
district in the south. Annual crops are rice, maize, millets,
rainfall is between 50 cm and pulses, turmeric and cassava.
100 cm. Millets, oilseeds, pulses Nearly half of the cropped area
grows here. is under coconut. The area is
(xi) Eastern Coastal Plains and Hills: covered with thick forests and
Coromandal and northern Circar agriculture is in backward stage.
coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Major Growing Seasons in India:
Orissa come into it. Annual
rainfall here varies between 75 cm Kharif (July to October): Major
and 150 cm. Main crops include crops are rice, maize, sorghum,
rice, jute, tobacco, sugarcane, pearl millet/bajra, finger millet/ragi
maize, millets, groundnut and (cereals), arhar (pulses), soyabean,
oilseeds. Cultivation of spices groundnut (oilseeds), cotton etc.
(pepper and cardamom) and Rabi (October to March): Major
development of fisheries is also crops wheat, barley, oats (cereals),
done. chickpea/gram (pulses), linseed,
(xii) Western Coastal Plains and mustard (oilseeds) etc.
Ghats: Malabar and Konkan Zaid (March to June): Muskmelon,
coastal plains and the Sahyadris Watermelon, Vegetables of
are included in it. Annual cucurbitacae family such as bitter
rainfall is more than 200 gourd, pumpkin, ridged gourd etc.
B-166 Geography

INDUSTRY

Major Industrial Regions of India

There are eight major industrial regions in India.
1. Mumbai-Pune Industrial Region
2. Hugli Industrial Region
3. Bangalore-Tamil Nadu Industrial Region
4. Gujarat Industrial Region
5. Chotanagpur Industrial Region
6. Vishakhapatnam-Guntur Industrial Region
7. Gurgaon-Delhi-Meerut Industrial Region
8. Kolfam-Thiruvananthapuram Industrial Region
Geography B-167

Major Industrial Type •• Metallurgical Industry

As per the type raw materials used ¾¾ Iron and Steel Industry
in the industry and its finished ¾¾ Aluminum smelting Industry
product, the categories of Indian •• Engineering Industry
Industry can be divided into: •• Fertilizer Industry
•• Agro Based Industry •• Aircraft Industry
¾¾ Cotton Textile •• Glass Industry
¾¾ Jute Textile •• Cement Industry
¾¾ Sugar
•• Chemical Industry
¾¾ Silk

MINERALS IN INDIA
Minerals are the natural resources building materials, cement materials,
which are used in many industries as clay, chromite, lime, dolomite, and
raw materials. Iron ore, manganese, gold, but deficient in copper, lead,
bauxite, copper, etc. are such minerals. mercury, zinc, tin, nickel, petroleum
Minerals are of two types: metallic and products, rock phosphate, sulphur,
non-metallic. Iron ore and copper are and tungsten.
metallic minerals while limestone and Mineral resources like potassium are
dolomite are non-metallic minerals. totally absent and have to be imported.
Metallic minerals are further Minerals like crude petroleum (which
sub-divided into ferrous and accounts for about 80 per cent of
non-ferrous minerals. Those metallic the total value of Indian imports)
minerals which have iron content diamonds (uncut), sulphur, and rock
belong to ferrous group. The metallic phosphorus are imported.
minerals belonging to non-ferrous The state with the highest
group do not have iron content. mineral output is Jharkhand.
India is rich in iron, mica, manganese, India is rich in ferrrous metals but its
bauxite; self sufficient in antimony, reserves of non-ferrous metals are poor.
Mineral Ore Found in Features
Iron Magnetite—the best Odisha (Sonai, Mayubhanj, India has the
quality of iron ore and Keonjhar), Jharkhand world’s largest
contains 72% pure iron. and Bihar (Singhbhum reserves,
Haematite-contains Hazaribagh, Palamau, approximately
60 to 70% pure iron. Shahbad), Chhattisgarh and one-fourth of
Limonite-contains world’s known
Madhya Pradesh (Raipur,
40 to 60% pure iron. reserves;
Durg, Bastar, Raigarh,
Siderite-contains many Jharkhand
Bilaspur, Jabalpur, Balaghat),
impurities and has just has the largest
40 to 50% pure iron. Andhra Pradesh (Krishna, reserves
Kurnool, Chittor, Cuddapha, accounting
Warangal, Guntur), Tamil for about 25%
Nadu (Salem, of the total
Tiruchirapalli), Karnataka reserves of
(Ballary, Chitradurg, iron ore in
Chikmagalur), Maharashtra India.
(Ratnagiri, Chanda), Goa
B-168 Geography

Coal (Black Anthracite Coal—the Bihar-Jharkhand-Bengal belt “About

Gold) best quality of coal (Raniganj, Jharia, Giridih, one-fourth
and contains 80 to 95% Bokaro, Karanpur), Madhya of India’s
carbon. It is found only Pradesh and Chhattisgarh coal reserves
in Jammu and Kashmir belt (Singrauli, Korba, lie in the
in small quantity. Raigarh, Sonhat, Sohagpur. modarValley,
Bituminous coal—The Umaria), Odisha (Desgarh, across Bihar,
most widely used coal Talcher), Maharashtra Jharkhand,
and contains 40 to 80% (Chand), Andhra Pradesh and West
carbon. It is found in (Singreni), Assam (Makum, Bengal. India
Jharkhand, Orissa, West Lakhimpur); in small is the fourth
Bengal, Chhattisgarh quantities in Arunachal largest coal
and Madhya Pradesh. Pradesh, Meghalaya, Jammu producing
Lignite– Also known as and Kashmir, and Nagaland country in
brown coal. It is a lower the world
grade coal and contains according
about 40 to 50% carbon. to 1992 coal
It is found in Palna of production
Rajasthan, Neyveli of in the
Tamil Nadu, Lakhimpur country.”
of Assam and Karewa
of Jammu and Kashmir.
Peat–It is the first stage
of transformation of
wood into coal and
contains less than 40%
carbon.
Manganese India has the second Odisha (Keonjhar, Odisha is
largest manganese ore Kalahandi, Mayurbhaj, the leading
reserves in the world Talcher) Madhya producer of
after Zimbabwe. India is Pradesh (Balaghat, Seoni, manganese in
the fifth largest producerChhindwara, Jabalpur), the country.
in the world after Brazil,Maharashtra (Nagpur, India ranks
Gabon, South Africa Bhandara, Ratnagiri), third in world
and Australia. Gujarat (Panchmahal), in manganese
Karnataka (Chitradurg, production.
Tumkur, Shimoga,
Chikmagalur, Belgaum,
North Canara, Dharwar),
Jharkhand (Singbhum),
Andhra Pradesh
(Visakhapatnam), Rajasthan
(Udaipur, Bansawara)
Mica The three major types of Bihar (Gaya Monghyr), India has largest
mica found in India are Jharkhand (Hazaribagh), deposits of
– Muscovite, Phlogopite Rajasthan (Ajmer, Shahpur, mica in world
and Biotite. Tonk, Bhilwara, Jaipur), India alone
Andhra Pradesh (Nellore) contributes
about two-
thirds of
the world’s
production
Geography B-169

Bauxite Jharkhand (Palamu), Gujarat Third largest

(aluminium (Kaira), Madhya Pradesh producer in
ore) (Katni, Jabalpur, Balaghat, the world.
Bilaspur, Bastar), Tamil
Nadu (Salem), Karnataka
(Chitradurg, Belgaum),
Maharashtra (Kolhapur),
Jammu and Kashmir (Kotli)
Copper India contributes to Jharkhand (Singhbhum, Very meager
about 3.5 to 4% of the Hazaribagh), Rajasthan reserves;
world’s total production (Khetri, Alwar, Bhilwara, almost all
of copper. Jhunjhunu, Sirohi), Andhra copper
Pradesh (Guntur, Khamman, comes from
Agnigundala), Karnataka Singbhum and
(Chitradurg, Hassan, Hazaribagh
Chikmagalur, Raichur), in Jharkhand
Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat), and Khetri in
Gujarat (Banaskantha); Rajasthan.
some quantities also found
in Sikkim, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Crude oil 51.08 crore tones Assam, Tripura, Manipur,
West Bengal, Ganga Valley,
Himachal Pradesh, Kutch
of West Bengal coast,
Orissa, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Lignite 429 crore tones Tamil Nadu (Neyveli fields) Maximum
Some deposits also found deposits of
in Gujarat, Punducherry, about 383
Rajasthan (Palana fields), crore tones,
Jammu and Kashmir (Riasi are found in
fields). Tamil Nadu.
Gold India’s contribution to Karnataka (Kolar gold Karnataka
gold production across fields, Hutti Mines), in small was the
the world is less than one quantities in Andhra Pradesh leading
percent (0.75%). (Ramgiri gold fields and producer
Anantpur). of gold
accounting
for 99% of
the total
production.
The remaining
production
came from
Jharkhand.
Magnesite 23.91 crore tones Tamil Nadu (Salem),
Uttranchal (Almora,
Chamoli, Pithoragarh),
Karnataka (Mysore, Hassan)
B-170 Geography

CENSUS 2011
The 15th Indian National census billion with a decadal growth of
was conducted in two phases, 17.64%. Adult literacy rate increased
houselisting and population to 70.04% with a decadal growth of
enumeration. Information for 9.21%.
National Population Register was The exercise, conducted every 10
also collected in the first phase, years, faced big challenges, not least
which will be used to issue a 12-digit India’s vast area and diversity of
unique identification number to cultures and opposition from the
all registered Indians by Unique manpower is involved. Information
Identification Authority of India. on castes was included in the census
According to the provisional reports following demands from several
released on March 31, 2011, the ruling coalition and opposition
Indian population increased to 1.21 parties.
Census Data
Population Statistics
Total Population 1,21,01,93,422 (persons)
Males 62,37,24,248
Females 58,64,69,174
Ratio 940 Females/1000 Males
Decadal Growth (2001-2011) 18,14,55,986 (17.64%)
Density of Population 382 per sq. km.
Literacy (in percent) Total; 74.04, Males: 82.14, Females: 65.46
HIGHEST/LOWEST POPULATION
State with Highest Population Uttar Pradesh 166,197,921
State with Lowest Population Sikkim 540,851
UT with Highest Population Delhi 13,850,507
UT with Lowest Population Lakshadweep 60,650
District with Highest Population Medinipur (West Bengal) 9,610,788
District with Lowest Population Yanam (Pondicherry) 31,394
Population Density Persons/Sq. Km.
India 325
State with highest Population Density West Bengal 903
State with lowest Population Density Arunachal Pradesh 13
UT with Highest Population Density Delhi 9,340
UT with Lowest Population Density Andaman & Nicobar 43
Islands
District with Highest Population Density North East (Delhi) 29,468
District with Lowest Population Density Lahul & Spiti 2
(Himachal Pradesh)
Geography B-171

Sex Ratio (Females per Thousand Males)

India 933
Rural 946
Urban 900
State with Highest Female Sex Ratio Kerala 1,058
State with Lowest Female Sex Ratio Haryana 861
UT with Highest Female Sex Ratio Pondicherry 1,001
UT with Lowest Female Sex Ratio Daman & Diu 710
District with Highest Female Sex Ratio Mahe (Pondicherry) 1,147
District with Lowest Female Sex Ratio Daman (Daman & Diu) 591
Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Population
Population Percentage
Scheduled Castes 166,635,700 16.2%
Scheduled Tribes 84,326,240 8.2%
Scheduled Castes
State with highest proportion of Scheduled Castes Punjab (28.9%)
State with lowest proportion of Scheduled Castes Mizoram (0.03%)
UT with highest proportion of Scheduled Castes Chandigarh (17.5%)
UT with lowest proportion of Scheduled Castes D&N Haveli (1.9%)
District with highest proportion of Scheduled Castes Koch-Bihar (50.1%)
District with lowest proportion of Scheduled Castes Mizoram (0.01%)
Lawngtlai
Scheduled Tribes
State with highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes Mizoram (94.5%)
State with lowest proportion of Scheduled Tribes Goa (0.04%)
UT with highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes Lakshadweep (94.5%)
UT with lowest proportion of Scheduled Tribes A & N Islands (8.3%)
District with highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes Sarchhip, Mizoram (98.1%)
District with lowest proportion of Scheduled Tribes Hathras, Uttar Pradesh (0.01%)

Religion Based Data

Religious Composition Population * (%)
Hindus 827,578,868 80.5
Muslims 138,188,240 13.4
Christians 24,080,016 2.3
Sikhs 19,215,730 1.9
Buddhists 7,955,207 0.8
Jains 4,225,053 0.4
Other Religions & Persuasions 6,639,626 0.6
Religion not stated 727,588 0.1
Total * 1,028,610,328 100
B-172 Geography

Rural Urban Distribution

Rural-Urban Distribution Population (%)
Rural 742,490,639 72.18%
Urban 286,119,689 27.82%
State with highest proportion of Urban Population Goa 49.8
State with lowest proportion of Urban Population Himachal Pradesh 9.8
UT with highest proportion of Urban Population Delhi 93.2
UT with lowest proportion of Urban Population Dadra & Nagar 22.9
Haveli

QUICK FACTS
•• India’s population has jumped to children in the age group of 0–6
1.21 billion, an increase of more is now 158.8 million, less by five
than 181 million during 2001-11, million since 2001.
according to provisional data of •• The literacy rate has gone up
Census 2011 released. from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to
•• Though the population is 74.04 per cent, an increase of
almost equal to the combined 9.21 percentage points.
population of the U.S, Indonesia, •• Kerala, with 93.91 per cent,
Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and continues to occupy the top
Japan (1,214.3 million). position among States as far
•• The percentage decadal growth as literacy is concerned, while
rates of the six most populous Mizoram’s Serchhip district
States have declined during 2001- (98.76 per cent) and Aizawl
(98.50 per cent) recorded the
11 compared with 1991-2001.
highest literacy rates among
•• The overall sex ratio nationwide
districts. Madhya Pradesh’s
has increased by seven
Alirapur district has the lowest
percentage points to 940 against
literacy rate of 37.22 per cent
933 in Census 2001. Sex ratio is as also the naxalite-affected
defined as the number of females Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district,
per 1,000 males. An increase in where the literacy rate is 41.58
sex ratio was observed in 29 per cent. Lakshadweep followed
States/Union Territories. Kerala kerala with a literacy level of
with 1,084 has the highest sex 92.28 per cent, while Bihar
ratio followed by Puducherry remained at the bottom of the
with 1.038. With 618, Daman ladder at 63.82 per cent, followed
and Diu has the lowest ratio. by Arunachal Pradesh at 66.95
•• An increasing trend in the child per cent.
sex ratio was seen in Punjab, •• A significant milestone reached
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, in the 2011 census is the fall in the
Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram number of illiterate persons by
and the Andaman and Nicobar 31,196,847. Of the total decrease
Islands, but in the remaining in the number of illiterates,
States/UTs, the ratio showed women comprise 17,122,197
a decline. The total number of and men, 14,074,650.
Geography B-173

 Chinese  Portuguese
Language  Spanish  Bengali
 English  Russian
 Hindi  Japanese
 Arabic  Javanese

 Christianity
Religion
WORLD GEOGRAPHY–MIND MAP

 Islam
 Hinduism
 Chinese Folk Religion
 Buddhism

 Equatorial Zone
Climatic

 Hot Zone
Zone

 Warm Temperate Zone

 Cool Temperate Zone
 Cold Zone
 Alpine Zone
Industrial
Region

 USA and Canada Industrial Region

 European Industrial region
 Asian Major Industrial Region

 Asia
Continents

 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Europe
 Australia
 Antarctica
Things to Remember

 Continent’s Highest & Largest Points

 Highest Mountain Peaks
 Deepest Oceans
 Some important Boundary lines
 Longest Rivers
 Deepest Lakes
 Largest Deserts
 Deepest Trenches
 Some important Tribes and their Homeland
B-174 Geography

INFORMATION BULLETIN
•• Total Surface Area - 510, •• Least populated continent-
072,000 km² Antarctica (no native population)
•• Land Area - 148,094,000 km² •• Largest country - Russia
•• Water Area - 361,132,000 km² (17,075,400 km²)
•• Most populated country - China
•• Percentage of Land - 29.2%
(1,401,586,609) 2015
•• Percentage of Water - 70.8%
•• Smallest country - Vatican City
•• Water Type - 97% salt water, 3% (0.44 km²)
fresh water •• Least populated country -
•• Circumference - 40,066 km at Vatican City (842) 2014
Equator, 39,992 km at Poles •• Highest point - Mount Everest
•• Continents - 7 recognized (8,848 m)
•• Countries - 193 recognized •• Lowest point - Dead Sea (-409 m)
•• Largest Ocean - Pacific
•• Oceans - 5
(155,557,000 km²)
•• Population - 7,214,958,996 (2015)
•• Smallest Ocean - Arctic
•• Largest continent - Asia (43,810,582 (14,056,000 km²)
km²) •• Largest Sea - South China
•• Most populated continent - Asia (2,974,600 km²)
(4,361,416,312) 2015 •• Largest Lake - Caspian Sea
•• Smallest continent - Australasia/ (371,000 km²)
Oceania (8,112,000 km²) •• Longest River - Nile (6,695 km)

LANGUAGES
There are numerous languages in Major Languages Spoken in the
the world but they have varying World
number of speakers for each one
Language Approx. number
of them. Approximately 2,300 of speakers
languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140,
1. Chinese 1,197,000,000
in Africa, 1,300 in the Pacific, 1,060
in the Americas, and 280 in Europe 2. Spanish 414,000,000
(2015). Their existence depends on 3. English 335,000,000
the number of speakers the language 4. Hindi 260,000,000
has. There are chances that nearly
5. Arabic 237,000,000
90% of the 7, 080 languages would
extinct. Chinese tops the list of most 6. Portuguese 203,000,000
popular world languages, with over 7. Bengali 193,000,000
one billion speakers. English trails 8. Russian 167,000,000
in third place, with 335 million
9. Japanese 122,000,000
speakers. This data represents first-
language speakers. 10. Javanese 84,300,000
Geography B-175

MAJOR RELIGION OF THE WORLD

Religion Followers (in millions)
Christianity 2,200
Islam 1,600
Hinduism 1,100
Chinese folk religion 754 — 1,000
Buddhism 488 — 535
WORLD CLIMATIC TYPES
Climate Latitude Climate Type Rainfall Natural Veg
Zone Regime
Equatorial 0°-10°N 1. Hot we equatorial Rainfall all year Equatorial rain
zone and S 2. (a) Tropical round forests
Hot Zone 10°-30°N Monsoon Heavy summer Monsoon forests
and S (b) Tropical Marine rain Savana (Tropical
3. Sudan Type Much summer grassland)
4. Desert : (a) Sahara rain Desert vegetation
type (b) Mid- 70 inches and scrub
latitude type Rain mainly in
summer
30 inches
Little
rain : 5 inches
Warm 30° - 45°N 5. Western Margin Winter rain : 35 Mediterranean
Temperate and S (Mediterranean inches forests and shrub
zone types) Light summer Steppe or
6. Central Continental rain temperate
(Stepe type) 20 inches grassland
7. Eastern Margin Heavier Warm, wet forests
(a) China type summer rain : bamboo
(b) Gulf type 45 inches
(c) Netal type
Cool 48°-65°N 8. Western Margin More rain in Deciduous forests
Temperate and S (British type) autumn and Evergreen
zone 9. Central Continental winter, 30 confierous forests
(Siberian type) inches Mixed forests
10. Eastern Margin Light summer (coniferous and
(Laurentian type) rain: deciduous)
25 inches
Moderate
summer rain
40 inches
Cold zone 65°-90°N 11. Arctic or Polar Very light Tundra, mosses
and S summer rain lichens
10 inches
Alpine 12. Mountain climate Heavy rainfall Alpine, mosses
Zone (variable) lichens Alpine
pastures, conifers,
fern, snow
B-176 Geography

MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD

Industrial regions are those areas, – The Saar Region, the
where the focus of industries has Hamburg Region, Berlin
occurred due to favourable geo- Region & Leipzig Region
economic conditions. These are areas with iron & steel heavy
where manufacturing industries chemicals, textiles & different
are carried out on a relatively large consumer goods Industries.
scale and employ a relatively large – France’s industrial region
proportion of population. The produces iron & steel, textile,
industrial regions of the world are glass, leather, automobiles
very unevenly distributed. With the with Northern, Lorraine
development of machinery, many & Paris Industrial Regions.
industrial centres have come up Other European countries
where there is abundance of coal, like Italy, Switzerland,
iron, and extensive water-power are Holland Belgium and
in abundance. Sweden are industrial giants.
The major industrial regions of the – Eastern Europe has six
world are as follows: major industrial regions
•• USA and Canada Industrial Out of which four are in
Regions Russia, one in Ukraine, and
one in southern Poland and
Industrial region of USA and
northern Czech Republic.
Canada comprises the New
•• Asian major
England Regions, The New York
– China is most dominant
- Mid-Atlantic Region, North -
and powerful industrial
Eastern Region. The Southern
agglomerations of Asia.
Region, Western Region &
The regions of Manchurian
Pacific Region. These regions
region, Yangtze region,
include several major American North-china region, South
industrial cities & Metropolitans China region, etc. with
like Hartford, New Havan, areas manymanufacturing units
from New York to Baltimore producing steel, heavy
with New Jersey, Chicago, chemical's textiles, paper,
Detroit, Houston, etc. cement, automobiles, toys,
•• European Industrial Region etc are major industrial
– Western Europe major regions.
industrial regions. – Japan has several industrial
– United Kingdom’s industrial cities producing steel,
regions are located in Pedro-chemical, cement,
Lancashire, London's basin, footwear. toys, etc. at Tokya-
Scotland, Midland,South- Yokohama region, Osaka -
Wales, etc. producing Kobe region, north Kyushu
manufacturing products region.
like engineering, ferrous, – India’s conurbation of
chemical textile,food & Calcutta, the Mumbai-
beverages, etc. Pune Industrial belt,
Geography B-177

Ahemadabad-Vadodara belt, Southern industrial regions with

Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore industrial belt, Damodar Valley
industrial belt, Northern regions with centers like Delhi, Ambala,
Gaziabad, Mathura, etc. Other major industrial regions include
Allahadad, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Patiala, Jaipur, Bilaspur,
Jullundhar, Meerut, Lucknow, Kanpur, etc.
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CENTRES OF THE WORLD
Country Major Industrial Centers Industries
Britain Birmingham Iron & Steel, Heavy Machinery
(Midland is the Coventry Automobile
largest Industrial Burton-on-Trent Brewing (largest brewery town
of
region centered Britain)
at Birmingham) Stoke-on-Trent Pottery (Pottery capital of
Britain)
New Castle Shipbuilding
Middlesbrough Iron & Steel
Bradford
Halifax Worsted textile
Leeds Garments
Shefield (World’s largest Cutlery, Iron & Steel
cutlery town)
Manchester
(Lancashire region) Cotton textile
Liverpool & Birkenhead Shipbuilding
Along Manchester Canal Heavy chemicals
Glosgow
Hamilton Iron & Steel
Motherwell
Coatbridge
Pot Glasgow Shipbuilding
Belfast region (Main Shipbuilding &
industrial region of Ireland) Linen industry
France Lille Textiles
Dunkirus Iron & Steel
St. Etienne Armaments & Bicycle
Limoges Pottery
Lyone Silk making
Marseilles Oil refineries
Paris Aircraft & Transport
Champaque Wine
Lorrensar Iron & Steel
Germany Frankfurt Railway engineering
(Ruhr-Westphalia Mainz Leather, Brewing, Engineering
region, served by Mannheim Chemical, electrical engineering
Rhine River, is the Ludwigshafen Iron & Steel.
largest industrial
B-178 Geography

region of Germany
This industrial Hamburg Shipbuilding
region is connected Munich Photographic equipment, Musical
to North sea by instrument
Dortmund-Ems
canal)
Stuttgart Automobile
Aachen Iron & Steel, Textile
Leipzig Optical instrument
Jena Zeiss Photographic equipment
Dresden Porcelain
Karl Marx Stadt Textiles
Belgium Liege Iron & Steel, Guns, pistols &
other firearms
Antwerp Diamond cutting
Ghent Linen textiles
Luxemberg Luxemberg city Engineering
Netherland Rotterdam Shipbuilding and marine engineering
Amsterdam Diamond cutting
Arnhem Tin smelting
Sweden Goteborg Shipbuilding
Stockhom Shipbuilding
Switzerland Zurich Engineering and Textiles
Basel Engineering
Baden
Denmark Kopenhagen Dairy
Italy Milan (main industrial region) Silk textile
Turin (Detroit of Italy) Motor Car
U.S.A. Boston Shipbuilding
(Great Lake region) Pittsburg Iron and Steel
is the most (Iron & Steel capital of the
important industrial world)
region
Akron World’s largest synthetic
rubber and tyre making centre
Motor car and Aeroplane
Detroi
Pontiac Cars and it’s spare parts
Flint
Gary Iron and Steel
Chicago
Toledo Automobile
Birmingham Iron and Steel
Troy Garment
Buffalo Iron and Steel, Machine
(It is also the largest flour
milling centre of U.S.A.)
San Fransisco (Silicon Valley) Oil refining, Shipbuilding,
Computer technology
Geography B-179

Los Angels (Hollywood) Film and Aircraft

Canada Montreal Shipbuilding and Aircraft
Toronto Engineering and Automobile
Otawa Paper
Hamilton Birmingham) Iron and Steel, Engineering
of Canada)
Quebec Shipbuilding & Marine
Engineering
Russia Moscow and Gorky Iron and Steel, Chemicals
Magnitogost Iron and Steel, Oil refining
Leningrad (St. Petersberg) Textile, Chemical, Paper
Ukraine Krivoyrog Iron & Steel and Heavy
Machinery
Argentina Bueons Aires Shipbuilding
China Shanghai Textile and Machinery
Wuhan Textile, Machinery,
Shipbuilding,
Iron and Steel
Japan Nagoya (Detroit of Japan) Aircraft, Car, Machinery
Osaka (Manchester of Japan) Shipbuilding, Textile, Iron &
Steel
Kyoto and Kobe Shipbuilding, Testtile, Iron &
Steel
Tokyo Shipbuilding, Engineering, and
Textile
Nagasaki Shipbuilding, Iron and Steel,
Machinery

CONTINENTS OF WORLD
A continent is one of the large landmasses on Earth generally identified by
convention rather than any strict criteria, with up to seven regions commonly
regarded as continents. They are Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, south
America, Australia and Antarctica.
Continent % of Earth Area Continents (by the number
of countries)
1. Asia 29.5 44
2. Africa 20.4 54
3. North America 16.3 23
4. South America 11.8 12
5. Europe 7.1 46
6. Australia or oceania 5.3 14
7. Antarctica 9.6
B-180 Geography

Asia •• Desert Vegetation

Asia is the world’s largest continent, •• Monsoon Region:
having an area of 44,444,100 sq km. •• Tropical Rainforest
Asia covers to the east of the Suez •• Vegetation in the Mountains
Canal, the Ural River, and the Ural Africa
M o u n t a i n s,
Africa is the second largest continent
and south of
the Caucasus in area (30,330,000 sq Km), covers
Mountains six percent of
and the Earth's total
Caspian and surface area
Black Seas. It and 20.4
is bounded percent of its
on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on total land
the south by the Indian Ocean and area. Algeria
on the north by the Arctic Ocean. is Africa's largest country by area,
and Nigeria by population. Africa's
Physical Features
population is the youngest among all
Region-wise it can be classified the continents; 50% of Africans are
into 6 regions which are as follow: 19 years old or younger. Separated
•• Central Asia : Kazakhstanb, from Europe by the Mediterranean
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Sea, it is joined to Asia at its
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan northeast extremity by the Isthmus
•• Eastern Asia :China, Hong Kong, of Suez 163 km wide.
Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
Macau, Mongolia, Taiwan Physical Features
•• Northern Asia : Russia Region-wise it can be classified into
•• Southeastern Asia: Brunei, 6 regions which are listed below.
Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, •• Northern Africa : Algeria,
Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de
Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tenerife, Ceuta, Egypt, Libya,
Vietnam Madeira, Melilla, Morocco,
•• Southern Asia: Afghanistan,
Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka •• Northeast Africa : Djibouti,
•• Western Asia : Armeniae, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia
Azerbaijana, Bahrain, Cypruse, •• Eastern Africa : Burundi,
Georgiaa, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte,
State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Mozambique, Reunion, Rwanda,
Arabia, Syria, Turkeya, United Seychelles, South Sudan,
Arab Emirates,Yemen. Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,
Natural Vegetation of Asia Zimbabwe.
•• The Tundra •• Central Africa : Angola,
•• The Taiga Cameroon, Central African
•• Temperate Grasslands, the Republic, Chad, Republic of the
Steppes Congo, Democratic Republic of
•• Mediterranean Scrubland and the Congo, Equatorial Guinea,
Forest Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe.
Geography B-181

•• Southern Africa: Botswana, region of France, Spain, and

Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Portugal.
Swaziland •• Central Uplands : Central
•• Western Africa: Benin, Burkina Europe and include western
Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, France and Belgium, southern
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Germany, the Czech Republic,
Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, and parts of northern Switzerland
Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, and Austria.
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo •• Alpine Mountains : The Italian
and Balkan peninsulas, northern
Natural Vegetation of Africa
Spain, and southern France. The
•• Tropical Rain Forests region includes the mountains of
•• Tropical Savannas the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines,
•• Tropical Steppes and Deserts Dinaric Alps, Balkans, and
•• Mediterranean Forests Carpathians.
•• Montane Forests •• North European Plain : France,
•• Mangrove Forests Belgium, the Netherlands,
Europe Germany, Denmark, Poland, the
Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and
The continent comprises the
Lithuania), and Belarus.
westernmost part of Eurasia bordered
•• Island : British Isles, Corsica,
by Arctic Ocean in north, the Atlantic
Alba, Sardinia, Crete , Malta ,
Ocean in west, and the Mediterranean
Cyprus, are some of the major
Sea to the south. To the east and
Islands of Europe.
southeast, it is separated from Asia
•• Deserts : Accona Desert,
by the watershed divides of the Ural
and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural Bardenas Reales, Bdowska
River, the Desert, The Stone Desert, Larzac,
Caspian and Santorini and Anafi, Piscinas
Black Seas, are some of the major deserts
and the of Europe
waterways of Natural Vegetation of Africa
the Turkish •• Sub tropical dry forest
Straits. The •• Subtropical Mountain Forest
coastline of Europe is 80500 km, •• Temperate Oceanic Forest
which is longer than Africa. It is the •• Temperate continental Forest
second smallest continent in the world. •• Boreal Coniferous forest
Physical Features •• Boreal Tundra Forest
•• Boreal Mountain
Region-wise classification of
Europe can be as follows North America
•• European High lands North America covers about 4.8%
•• Western Uplands : Landscape of of the planet's surface or about
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, 16.5% of its land area, having the
and Denmark), Finland, Iceland, population of 565 million (2013) in
Scotland, Ireland, the Brittany 23 independent states. It is the third
B-182 Geography

largest continent by area, following than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs,

Asia and and cays. The region’s islands
Africa and and smaller islets are varied in
fourth largest their topography.
in terms of Natural Vegetation of Africa
population •• Arctic/ Tundra Forests:
with the •• Boreal Forests/ Taiga/
density of 24 Coniferous forests:
•• Eastern Deciduous Forests:
million/sq km. It extends from 7o N
•• Grasslands:
to 85o N latitudinal-wise and •• Desert Scrub:
longitude-wise 20oW to 179oW. It •• Mediterranean and Madrean
has 5 time zones. Scrublands and Woodlands:
Physical Features •• Pacific Coast Coniferous Forests
Region-wise it can be classified into •• Western Montane Coniferous
5 regions which are listed below. Forests:
•• Western Region : Young •• Tidal Wetlands
Mountains rise in the west. The
most familiar of these mountains South America
are probably the Rockies, North This is a triangular shape continent,
America’s largest chain. They
stretch from the province of stretching from 12° N to 55°S
British Columbia, Canada, to latitude. Towards its west lies Pacific
the U.S.state of New Mexico. Ocean, Atlantic Ocean on the east
•• Great Plains : In the middle and, North
of the continent lies the Grate America and
Plain. Deep, rich soil blankets
the Caribbean
large areas of the plains in
Canada and the United States. Sea lie to the
Grain grown in this region, northwest. It
called the “Bread basket of is the fourth
North America,” feeding a large l a r g e s t
part of the world.
continent of the world with smooth
•• Canadian Shield : The
Canadian Shield is a raised but and inlet coastline.
relatively flat plateau. It extends Physical Features
over eastern, central, and north
Region-wise it can be classified into
western Canada. The Canadian
Shield is characterized by a 5 regions which are listed below.
rocky landscape pocked by an •• The Pacific coastal strip lies
astounding number of lakes. between the west Pacific and
•• Eastern Region : This varied Andes.
region includes the Appalachian •• The Andes stretches through
Mountains and the Atlantic entire continent in length
coastal plain. NorthAmerica’s running in north-south direction
older mountain ranges, including from Isthmus of Panama to
the Appalachians, rise near the Strait of Magellan.
east coast of the United States •• The Central Lowland: two great
and Canada river system are covered under it
•• Caribbean Region : The namely the Amazon-Orinoco
Caribbean Region includes more and Parana-Paraguay rivers.
Geography B-183

•• The Eastern Highland consists • The central lowland extends

of Brazilian and Guiana from the shallow Gulf of
Highlands along with Patagonia. Carpentaria in the north to the
Natural Vegetation of South America Southern Ocean.
•• Equatorial Forest • The eastern highlands stretch
•• Temperate Forests along the eastern edge of
•• Mediterranean Forests Australia, all the way from Cape
•• Savanna Grasslands York to Tasmania.
•• Pampas Natural Vegetation
•• Desert
•• The tropical Rain forest
Australia •• The deciduous forest Savanna
•• The dry desert and desert scrub
Thousands of islands combined
form Oceania region, mostly Antarctica
covering the The continent of Antarctica is the
Central and fifth–largest
South Pacific continent in
Ocean. The
term s of
region is
geographical
dominated by
area, and it is
w o r l d ’ s
biggest island situated in a
and two other major landmasses, remote cold
micro-continent of Zealandia location of Southern. The continent
(including New Zealand) and the covers approximately 20 percent of
western half of the island of New the hemisphere.
Guinea, made up of the nation of As such there are no countries in
Papua New Guinea. Oceania also this continent except some parts
includes three island regions: of few nations such,New Zealand,
Melanesia, Micronesia, and Australia, France, Norway, the
Polynesia (including the U.S. state of United Kingdom, Chile, and
Hawaii). It stretches from the Strait Argentina.
of Malacca to the coast of Americas.
Physical Features
Tropic of Capricorn divides it into
almost two halves. As a frozen continent it has only a
There are 28 countries and Island few prominent physiographic units
groups in Australasia/Oceania such as:
covering 5.3% of the Earth's land •• Trans – Antarctic Mountain
and 1.5% of the Earth's surface. The dividing the continent into West
largest cities of this region includes: Antarctica and East Antarctica.
Jakarta, Manila, Sydney, Bandung, •• The Antarctic Peninsula
Melbourne, Surabaya, Medan etc. •• The islands of the Antarctic
Physical Features region which contains South
Region-wise it can be classified Orkney Islands, South Shetland
into 3 regions such as: Islands, South Georgia, and
• The great western Plateau the South Sandwich Islands, all
covers two third of Australia claimed by the United Kingdom.
B-184 Geography

THINGS TO REMEMBER
CONTINENT’S HIGHEST AND LOWEST POINTS
Continent Highest Point Lowest Point
1. Asia Everest (8848 m) Dead Sea (–396.8m)
2. Africa Kilimanjaro (5894 m) Lake Assai (–156.1 m)
3. North America Mckinley (6194 m) Death Valley (–85.9 m)
4. South America Aconcagua (6960 m) Valdis Penin (–39.9 m)
5. Europe Elbrus (5663 m) Caspian Sea (–28.0 m)
6. Australia Koscisko (2228 m) Lake Eyre (–15.8 m)
7. Antarctica Vinson Massif (5140 m) (Unexplored)

HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS (WORLD)

Name Height (in metres) Range
1. Mount Everest 8848 Himalayas
2. K2 (Godwin Austen) 8611 Karakoram
3. Kanchenjunga 8598 Himalayas
4. Lhotse 8511 Himalayas
5. Makalu I 8481 Himalayas
6. Dhaulagiri I 8167 Himalayas
7. Manaslu I 8156 Himalayas
8. Cho Uyo 8153 Himalayas
9. Nanga Parvat 8126 Himalayas
8. Annapurana I 8091 Himalayas
THREE DEEPEST OCEANS

Name Greatest depth (in metres) Greatest depth location

1. Pacific Ocean 11,033 Mariana Trench
2. Atlantic Ocean 9,460 Puerto Rico Trench
3. Indian Ocean 7,542 Java Trench
SOME IMPORTANT BOUNDARY LINES
Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Hindenberg Line between Germany and Poland
49th Parallel between USA and Canada
Mac Mahon Line between India and Tibet/China
Maginot Line between France and Germany
38th Parallel between North and South Korea
Oder Neisse Line between Germany and Poland
Radcliffe Line between India and Pakistan
17th Parallel between India and Pakistan (as claimed by Pakistan)
Geography B-185

LONGEST RIVERS
Name, Nation/Continent Length in kms Basin Area m2km
Nile Africa 6695 3.25
Amazon, South America 6516 6.14
Yangtze Kiang, China 6380 1.72
Mississippi Missouri, USA 5959 3.20
Ob Irtysh, Russia 5568 2.97
Yenisey Angari a Selenga, Asia 5550 2.55
Yellow (Hwang Ho), China 5464 –
Congo (Zaire), Africa 4667 –
Parana Rio de la Plata, S. Am 4500 2.58
Irtysh, Asia 4440 –
Mekong, Asia 4425 –
India
Indus Asia 3180
Brahmaputra Asia 2948
Ganga-Hooghly-Padma India 2620
Godawari India 1465
Sutlej India 1372
Krishna India 1300
Narmada India 1289
Chenab India 1086
Ghaghara India 1080
Shortest River (metres)
Europe Ombia river, Croatia 30
North America, Roe River, Montana, USA 61
South America – Azvis River, Brazil 147
Deepest Lakes
Baikal, Russian Fedn 1620 m
Tanganyika, Africa 1463 m
Caspian Sea, Asia-Europe 1025 m
Malawi of Nyasa, Africa 706 m
Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan 702 m
LARGEST DESERTS OF THE WORLD
Subtropical
Sahara, North Africa 8,600,650 sq. km
Arabian, Middle East 2,300,000 sq. km
Great Victoria, Australia 647,475 sq. km
Kalahari, Southern Africa 582,727 sq. km
Chihuahuan, Mexico 453,232 sq. km
Thar, India/Pakistan 453,232 sq. km
Great Sandy, Australia 388,485 sq. km
B-186 Geography

Gibson, Australia 310,788 sq. km

Sonoran, S.W. USA 310,788 sq. km
Simpson/Stony, N Africa 145,034 sq. km
Mohave, S.W. USA 139,854 sq. km
Cool Coastal
Atacama, Chile SA 139,854 sq. km
Namib, S.W. Africa 33,668 sq. km
Cold Winter
Gobi, China 1,166,450 sq km
Patagonian, Argentina 673,374 sq km
Great Basin, S.W. USA 492,081 sq. km
Kara-kum, West Asia 349,636 sq. km
Colorado, Western USA, also called the Painted Desert 336,687 sq. km
Kyzyl-kum, West Asia 297,838 sq. km
Taklamakan, China 271,939 sq. km
Iranian, Iran 258,990 sq. km
DEEP-SEA TRENCHES
Name Length Depth Deepest Pt.
Mariana* 2250 10.924 Challenger Deep
Tonga Kermadec (S. Pacific) 2575 10.850 Vityaz 11 (Tonga)
Kuril-Kamchatka 2250 10.542 -
Philippine 1350 10.539 Galathea Deep
Java-Indian** 2250 7725 Planet Deep
SOME IMPORTANT TRIBES AND THEIR HOME AND (WORLD)
Aleuts : Alaska Koryaks : N. Siberia, Eurassian
Ainus : Japan Tunda, N.E. Asia
Aeta : Phillip Cines Kalmuk : Central Asia
Bushman : Kalahari Kareus or Meos : Myanmar
Buryak : Central Asia Kirghiz : Asiatic steppes
Berbers : N. Africa Kazakhs : Kazakhistan
Bedouin : Sahara and Middle East Lapps : N. Finland, Scandinavian,
Bindibu or Aborigins : Australia
country
Chukchi : N.E. Asia, U.S.S.R.,
Maoris : New Zealand
North Siberia
Eskimos : Greenland, North Masai : East and Central Africa
Canada, Alaska, N. Siberia Orange Asli : Malaysia
Fulani : Western Africa Pygmies : Congo basin, Zaire
Gobi Mongols : Gobi Red Indian : N. America
Guicas : Amazon forest area Somoyeds : Siberia
Hausa : North Nigeria Semangs : East Sumatra
Hotten tots : Hot tropical Africa Turregs : Sahara
Ibans : Equatorial rain forest region Tapiro : Papua New Guinea
of South-East Asia Yoakuts : Siberia
India Tribes : Amazon basin Zulus : South Africa
HISTORY
`` India
`` World
B-188 History

INDIAN HISTORY MIND MAP

ANCIENT MEDIEVAL MODERN

 Indus Valley  Delhi Sultanate  Trade Initiation of British

Civilization  Vijayanagar  Establishment of British
 Harappa Empire in India Company in
 Mohenjodro
1600 Ad
 Religious  India under British Rule
 Chanhu-daro
movement in before 1857
 Kalibangan
India  Indian Rebellion against
 Lothal
 Bhakti & Sufi British in 1857 (Sepoy
 Banawali
Movement Mutiny)
 Amri
 Freedom Struggle of
 Dholavira  Mughal Dynasty India
 Rangpur  Advent of  Major Events of Indian
 Ropar European Freedom struggle
 Alamgirpur Commerce  Rowlatt Act (1919)
 Vedic Period/ Aryan  The  Jallianwala Bagh
 Jainism & Buddhism Portuguese Massacre(1919)
 The Dutch  Chauri Chaura
 Mahajanpad
 The French Incident(1922)
 Magadh Empire  Non Cooperation
 Kingdom of
 Maurya Dynasty Movement(1920-22)
Great Marathas
 Sunga Dynasty  Civil Disobedience
Movement or
 Satyahana dynasty
Satyagraha(1930)
 Kushan Dynasty  Quit-India Movement
 Gupta Empire (1942)
 Reign of  Azad Hind Fauz (1943)
Harshvardhan  Partition of India and
formation of a new
 Pala Empire country Pakistan
 Southern Kingdoms (1947)
 Pallav  India got
 Chalukya Independence(1947)
 Chola Dynasty  End of Drafting of
Indian Constitution on
26 November 1949
 The Indian
Constitution came into
effect on 26th Jan,
1950
History B-189

ANCIENT INDIA
Pre Historic Ages Bronze Age
Stone Age It began with the development of
Indus valley civilization around 3000
•• Pre - historic period is divided
BC and continued up to 1300 BC.
into three sections- Stone age,
Bronze age and Iron age •• People started using weapons
•• Stone age is divided into three and agricultural tools made of
periods i.e., Palaeolithic Age, Bronze, an alloy of copper and
Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age. tin.
•• Lower Palaeolithic Age covers •• It had opened the trade networks
the greater part of the Ice Age. of Mesopotamia civilization to
•• Its people used to eat fruits, birds reach out in various directions.
and raw animal flesh etc. •• The age came to an end primarily
•• The tools were usually made of because of the fact that the metals
hard rock.
used as alloy in manufacturing
•• In Middle Palaeolithic age a bit
change occurred in the shape of bronze were not very common
tools made of stones or bones. and widely found. More over the
•• In Upper Palaeolithic age, expenses of making bronze were
human lived as nomadic hunter high at that time.
gatherers.
•• Mesolithic Age was an
intermediate stage in the stone
age. It ended with the introduction
of agriculture.
•• Neolithic age was an age of
polished tool culture.
•• Tool making became an
important profession and a
variety of polished tools were
manufactured. Iron Age
•• It was the last principal period
among the three-age system of
prehistoric societies, preceded by
the Bronze age.
•• The development of this era
was due to the fact that people
started using weapons and tools
made by iron marked by other
•• They learnt the art of pottery prominent changes in the society
and their pots were well made such as agricultural practices,
and decorated with paintings. religious belief and inclinations
•• They discovered the art of towards art.
producing fire by the friction of •• The age began in the 6th century
stones and the wheel was also an BCE in northern Europe and 8th
important discovery of this age. century BCE in central Europe
B-190 History

followed by12th century BCE in Northern Black Polished Ware

the ancient Near East, ancient (700 to 200 BCE).
Iran, ancient India, and ancient
Greece.
•• In India the late Harappan
Culture was marked with the
Iron Age archaeological cultures
of India with emphasis given on
the Painted Grey Ware culture
(1200 to 600 BCE) and the

Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization was the most ancient urban civilization in this world
which flourished on the bank of Indus River during Bronze Age Period. The
important cities under this civilizations were given below.
IMPORTANT SITES
Name of Year of Excavators Region/River Features
Sites Excavation
Harappa 1921 Daya Ram Montgomery 1. City followed grid planning
Sahni district of 2. Row of six granaries
Punjab (Now
3. Only place having evidences
in Pak) on the
of coffin burial
left bank of
4. Evidence of fractional
Ravi
burial and coffin burial
5. Cemetery-H of alien people.
Mohenjodaro 1922 R.D. Larkana 1. City followed grid planning
Banarjee district in Sind 2. A large granary and Great
on the right Bath, a college
bank of Indus 3. Human skeletons showing
(Now in Pak) invasiona and massacre.
4. Evidence of Horse come
from superficial level.
5. A piece of woven cotton
alongwith spindle whorls
and needles
6. Town was flooded more
then seven times.
Chanhu-daro 1931 N. Gopal Situtated in 1. The city has no citadal
Majumdar, Sind on the 2. Famous for bead makers
Mackey bank of Indus shop
3. A small pot, possibly an
inkpot
4. Foot prints of a dog chasing
a cat
5. Three different cultural layers,
Indus, Jhukar and Jhangar
History B-191

Kalibangan 1953 A. Ghosh Situated in 1. Shows both Pre Harappan

Rajasthan on and Harappan phase
the Bank of 2. Evidence of furrowed land
Ghaggar 3. Evidence of seven fire
altars and camel bones
4. Many houses had their
own well
5. Kalibangan stand for black
bangles
6. Evidence of wooden furrow
Lothal 1953 S.R. Rao Situated in 1. A titled floor which bears
Gujarat on intersecting design of
Bhogava river circles
near Gulf of 2. Remains of rice husk
Cambay 3. Evidence of horse from a
terracotta figurine
4. A ship designed on a seal
5. Beads & trade ports
6. An instrument for measuring
angles,pointing to modern day
compass
Banwali 1974 R.S. Bisht Situated in 1. Shows both Pre-Harappan
Hissar district and Harppan phase
of Haryana 2. Good quantity of barley
found here
Amri 1935 N.G. Situated in 1. Evidence of antelope
Majumdar Sind on the
bank of Indus
Dholavira 1985-90 R.S. Bisht Situated in 1. Seven cultural stages
Gujarat in 2. Largest site
Rann of 3. Three party of city
Kutch 4. Unique water management
Rangpur 1953 M.S. Vats, Situated on 1. Rice was cultivated
B.B. Lal & the bank of
S.R. Rao Mahar in
Gujarat
Ropar 1953 Y.D. Situated in 1. Evidence of burying a dog
Sharma Punjab of below the human bural
the banks of 2. One example of rectangular
Sutlej mudbrick chamber was
noticed
3. Five fold cultures - Harappan,
PGW, NBP, Kushana - Gupta
and Medieval
Alamgirpur 1958 Y . D . Situated on 1. The impression of cloth on
Sharma Hindon in a trough is discovered
Ghaziabad 2. Usually considered to be
the eastern boundary of
the Indus culture
B-192 History

Early Vedic period/ Aryan bank of river Parusni, identical

(c. 1500–500 BCE) to river Ravi and was won by
Bharatas.
•• Kurus were the ruling tribe which
was formed after this battle,
when Bharatas joined hands
with Purus (most important tribe
among defeated tribes).
•• Samgrama meant that gram
clashed with one another and
•• The earliest specimen of Indo- caused war.
European language is Rig Veda. •• The Aryans were pastoral people
Aryans were the people who and fought most of the war for
spoke Indo-European languages it. Rig Veda is “gavisihthi” or
basically belonging to Central search for cows as they were the
Asia, migrated to India. most important form of wealth.
•• They settled themselves in Sapta •• The concept of women slave
Sindhu the land of seven rivers was most common. Women and
in north-western region of India cows were gifted to the priests in
which included Kubha river of those days.
Afghanistan along with Indus •• Voluntary offering to the chief
and its five tributaries. was known as bali.
•• According to the oldest Vedic •• Two priests who played important
literature (Rig Veda) the Aryan role during this time were
king came into conflict with Vasishtha and Vishvamitra.
Dasa (branch of early Aryans) •• The people of Vedic period were
and Dasyus (original inhabitants theists. Vedic literature shows
of the country). They were soft the existence of god and some
to Dasas but strongly hostile to invincible powers. Atharvaveda
Dasyus. time or Kala has been described
•• Gradually the region came to be as the originator of everything.
known as Bharatavarsha named Vedic people worshipped many
after the tribe Bharata. This clan gods not out of fear but for
consists of 5 Aryan chiefs and gaining their favours. The
5 non-Aryan chiefs. Dasrajna religion of the Vedic Aryan
Yudha or Battle of ten Kings has worshipped nature with one in
been mentioned in hymns of Rig many concepts.
Veda. •• Indra (rain god) was important
•• The battle of ten kings was as he played role of a warlord.
between Sudas, Bharata king 250 hymns were devoted to him.
of Tritsu family (belonging to Agni (fire god) was devoted 200
Aryan clan) and ten well-know hymns. Varuna, Soma (plant
tribes ---Puru, Yadu, Turvasa, god), female divinities like Aditi
Anu, Druhyu, Alina, Parktha, and Usha were also worshipprd
Bhalanas, Shiva and Vishanin. but were not given importance as
The battle was fought on the the male gods.
History B-193

•• The administrative machinery •• Yajur Veda Samhita contains not

worked under tribal chief called only hymns but also rituals which
as Rajans. Clan based assemblies have to accompany their recitation.
were found such as sabha, •• Atharva Veda Samhita contains
samiti, vidatha, gana. Saba and charms and spells to ward off
samiti were most important to evil and diseases.
the chief as the places of wining •• All these were complied in the
support. Women attended sabha upper Ganga basin in circa 1000-
and vidatha. 600 B.C.
•• Social structure of the society was
Jainism
based on the kinship. Common
term for nephew, grandson and •• Mahavira (540-468 B.C.) was
cousin was naptri. born in Kundagrama village, of
Muzzafarpur, Bihar. He belonged
Later Vedic Period to Jnatrika clan and Trishal clan
•• The hymns or mantras were from his father’s and mother’s side
known as Samhitas. Rig Veda respectively. At the age of 30 he
text were tune and its modified gave up his crown and became an
collection was known as Sama ascetic. He attained the supreme
Veda Samhita. Two other knowledge after thirteenth year of
collections were added in Sama his asceticism outside the town
of Jrimbhikgrama. Then on he
Veda during post Rig Vedic time.
was called as Jaina or Jitendriya
These were – The Yajur Veda
(one who conquered his senses),
Samhita and the Atharva Veda
Nragrantha (free from all bonds)
Samhita.
and Mahavira (the brave). His
teaching included:
•• He advocated an austere and simple
life with the aim of Kaivalya.
•• He believed that the universe was
the product of nature— outcome
of cause and effect; Karma and
transmigration of soul. Atma
(soul) is eternal and is born and
reborn. Ultimate aim of the jiva
Later Vedic Period (conscious) should be getting rid
•• Rig Veda contained 1017 hymns of the birth cycle.
and was divided into ten •• He laid great stress on equality.
mandalas. The first and tenth •• Five vows includes: Ahimsa
hymns are said to be added later (non-violence), Satya, Asateya
as their language differ from (non-stealing), Aparigraha (non-
other eight mandalas. It’s the possession) and Brahmacharya.
tenth mandala which explains •• Jains devotees were categorized as
the four varnas. a) Tirthankara b) Arhat c) Acharya
•• Sama Veda consist of 1603 verses d) Upadhyaya and e) Sadhu.
and after 99 all the rest have been •• There are two sect of Jainism:
borrowed from Rig Vedas. Digambara and Shvetambara.
B-194 History

During first century A.D. image of

Buddha was developed in Greek and
Indian form which created a new
form of art called as Gandhara Art.

Buddhism
Gautama Buddha was the founder
of Buddhism. He was a prince in the
kingdom of Kapilavastu in 563 B.C.
At the age of 29 he left his home in Mahajanapadas
search of enlightenment, which he
During the age of Buddha whole of
attained at the age of 35 at Bodh Gaya
northern territory especially north
under the peepal tree. He delivered
his first sermon at Sarnath, Banaras. of Vindyan was divided into sixteen
He passed away at the age of 80 (483 states called Sodasha Mahajanapadas
B.C.) at Kushinaga. He recommended either monarchical or republican
an eight fold path (ashtangika marga) in character. The kingdoms of
which included right observation, right Magadh, Koshala, Vatsa and Avanti
determination, right speech, right were considered powerful. Buddhist
action, right livelihood, right exercise, literature “Anguttara Nikaya” listed
right memory and right meditation. them as:
Mahajanapadas Capital Present place
Gandhara Taxila A part of Afghanistan
Kamboja Rajauri Part of Kashmir and Afghanistan
Asmaka Potana Godavari Valley
Vatsa Kaushambi Allahabad
Avanti Ujjain Malwa and a part of M.P
Surasena Mathura Mathura in U.P
Chedi Shuktimati Bundelkhand in M.P
Malla Kushinara, Pawa Eastern U.P
Kurus Hstinapur/Indraprashta Delhi and Meerut
Matasya Virat Nagari Jaipur and Alwar
Vajjis Vaishali North Bihar
Anga Champa Bhagalpur and Monghyr in Bihar
Kashi Banaras Banaras
Kosala Shravasti Oudh in U.P
Magadha Girivraja/Rajgriha Patna and Gaya in Bihar
Panchala Ahichhatra/Kampilya Rohilkhand in U.P
History B-195

Magadha Empire •• Nanda Dynasty (344-321 BC):

Magadha roughly represents the Mahapadma Nanda established
present Patna and Gaya districts of the Nanda dynasty. They had a
Bihar. It was situated between the huge army of 2, 00,000 infantry,
Ganga (north), Son (west), Vindhyan 60,000 cavalry and 2,000 war
range (south) and Champa (east). Its chariots and 6,000 war elephants.
earliest capital was Girivraja (Now Dhanananda was the last ruler of
Rajagriha). King Bimbisara was the this dynasty. He was contemporary
founder of this empire. of Alexander, who invaded India
Three dynasties ruled over Magadha in 326 B.C. during his reign.
are as follow: Mauryan Empire (322–185 B.C)
•• The Haryanaka Dynasty (544- Rulers of Mauryan Dynasty:
412 BC) : Bimbisara was the first Chandragupta Maurya (322 BC-298 BC);
ruler (544 B.C.-492 B.C.) and Bindusara (298 BC-272 BC); Ashoka
founder of Haryanka dynasty. (274 BC-232 BC) Dasaratha (232 BC-224
He was contemporary to Buddha BC); Samprati (224 BC-215 BC) Salisuka
and located his capital at Rajgir (215 BC-202 BC); Devavarman (202
(Girivraja). He strengthened his BC-195 BC); Satadhanvan (195 BC-
empire by conquest and aggression 187 BC); Brihadatha (187 BC-185 BC).
even using matrimonial alliances •• Chandragupta Maurya defeated
Dhanananda with the help of
for this purpose. He had three
Chanakya.
wives: daughter of the king Kosala, •• Greek and Latin name of
Chellana (Lichhavi Princess) and Chandragupta was Sandracottos”
daughter of the chief of the Madra or “ ndracottus.
clan of Punjab. Bimbisara sent Jivaka •• Megasthenes was the ambassador
to Ujjain for the treatment of King sent by Seleucus.
Pradyota, (king of Avanti). He was •• Chandragupta Maurya was
killed and succeeded by his son succeeded by his son Bindusara.
Ajatasatru. He built the fort upon the Greek sources refer him as
Amitrochates or amitraghata
confluence of the Ganga and Son
(destroyer of foes) in Sanskrit.
at Patna. He shifted his capital from
•• Ashoka was the son of Bindusara,
the Rajgir to Pataliputra. Ajatasatru who fought the battle of Kalinga in
was killed by his son Udayin. 261B.C. The scene of mass death
•• Shishunaga Dynasty (412-344 BC) : of battle altered his mind and thus
The last Haryanka ruler, Nagadasaka became the follower of Buddhism.
killed by his courtier Shishunaga in Ashok Stambh at sarnath was
adopted as national emblem of
430 B.C. thus becoming the king and
India. Ashoka built Dhamek
founded Shishunaga dynasty. He Stupa (Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh),
was succeeded by his son Kalashoka Bharhut stupa (Madhya Pradesh),
who organized the second Buddhist Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar).
Council at Vaishali in 383 B.C. The •• Last Mauryan King was Brihadratha
last ruler of Shishunaga dynasty (Killed by his general Pushyamitra).
was Nandivardhan. Pushyamitra founded Sunga Dynasty.
B-196 History

Sunga Dynasty (185 to 73 B.C.) rivers. Most powerful king of

Rulers of Sunga Dynasty: Pushyamitra the dynasty was Gautamiputra
Satakarni (A.D. 106-130). He
Sunga, Agnimitra, Vasujyeshtha,
defeated the Sakas, Yavanas (Greeks)
Vasumitra, Andhraka Pulindaka,
and Pahlavas (Parithans).
Ghosha, Vajramitra, Bhagabhadra,
Devabhuti. Kushan dynasty (30–375 AD)
•• Pushyamitra Sunga was the Kanishka was the greatest ruler of this
senapati of last king of Mauryan dynasty and is known for his military
Empire Brihadratha. He killed powers. The Capital of Kushans is
Brihadratha and founded the Purushpura (Peshawar). Kanishka
Sunga dynasty in 185 B.C. The is considered to have conflicted with
kingdom extended upto eastern the Pataliputra. He was a patron
Punjab. of Buddhism and convened the 4th
Buddhist council in the Kundalvana
of Kashmir in 78 AD. Scholars in
the Court of Kanishka were Parsva,
Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna,
Charaka and Mathara. Sushruta who
wrote Sushruta Samhita, has also
been connected to Kanishka.
The Gupta Empire (320-550AD)
•• It was a Magadha dynasty and This period is known as Golden Era
its capital was Pataliputra but •• Chandragupta I (319-335 AD) –
later Vidhisha was the capital of was the founder and an important
Sunga rulers. ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
•• Patanjali (grammarian of Sanskrit) He married to Kumaradevi
was patronized by Pushyamitra princess of lichchhavi in order to
Sunga. They performed vedic strengthen his position.
sacrifices trying to bring back •• Samudragupta (335-380 A.D.)
Brahmanical way of life. expanded the kingdom as he
•• Other Sunga Rulers are Bhumimitra, was very much delighted in
Narayana, Susarman. Susarman violence. The poet in his court
was put to death by Satavahana “Harishena” in his works Prayag
ruler. and Prashasti have described
•• They were succeeded by Kanva glowing account of the military
dynasty: Vasudeva Kanva was exploits of the patron. Thus was
the founder of Kanva dynasty. known as “Indian Napoleon”.
He was a Brahmin and follower
of lord Vishnu.
Satvahana dynasty (167–196 AD)
Simuka was the founder of this
dynasty. It was situated between
the region of Krishna and Godavari
History B-197

•• Chandragupta II succeeded Harshavardhana (606-647 A.D.)

Samundragupta. Extended his •• Fall of Gupta’s and Humu invasion
empire by marriage alliances and left northern India in a disorder
conquers. He married his daughter and chaotic situation. It gave rise to
Prabhavati with a Vakataka prince small kingdoms and Thaneswar, near
who belonged to the Brahmana Kurukshetra under the leadership
caste and ruled in central India. He of Prabhakarvardhana and his son
patronized the famous Nav Ratan. Harsha.
Kalidasa and Amarasimha were •• He made Kanauj his capital
among them. He conquered western and his kingdom spread over
Malwa and Gujarat, ruled by the northern India except Kashmir.
Saka Kshatrapas for about past four •• Banabhatta was a poet in his court
centuries and adopted the title of who wrote Harshacharita describing
Vikramaditya after conquering early history of his reign.
Ujjain. Chinese pilgrim Fa-hsien •• Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang
came to India during his reign. who visited India during his
•• His son Kumaragupta succeeded reign has thrown great deal
him. Kumaragupta’s dominion of light on the administrative,
suffered severely from the invasion political and social life of that
of Huna Hordes, all over North time. He spent his six years of
India. Skandagupta son of life in India (606-612 A.D.).
Kumaragupt defeated Pushyamitra •• Harsha himself wrote the Ratnavali,
who became powerful during Naganandam and Priyadarshika
Kumaragupta time. He also plays in Sanskrit.
defeated the White Hunas.
The Pala Empire (750–1174
•• Nalanda University was built by
B.C.) Golden era of Bengal
Kumargupt.
•• The great Mathematician Aryabhata
lived during this period. He
discovered the number “0” and
value of Pi. He wrote “Aryabhatiya”
and “Suryasiddhanta.
•• Poets Kalidasa, Dandi, Visakhadatta,
Shudraka, and Bharavi, all belonged
to the Gupta Age.
•• Tamralipti, a port in Bengal ,
•• It was Buddhist dynasty from
was an important trade centre
Bengal founded by Gopala I. The
during Gupta period
empire reached its peak under
•• The empire was divided into
Dharmapala and Devapala.
divisions: bhuktis (under the Dharmapala conquered Kanauj
charge of an uparika) and vishayas and extended his sway up to the
(Districts) under the charge of farthest limits of India in the
vishyapati. northwest.
B-198 History

•• Palas were followers of the •• The Chalukyas setup their sovereign

Mahayana and Tantric schools of state at Vatapi (modern Bijapur
Buddhism, they also patronised district). Pulakesin I (543-567
Shaivism and Vaishnavism. A.D.) established this dynasty
•• Dharmapala founded the and Pulakesin II (608-647) was
Vikramashila and revived Nalanda. greatest of all rulers.
Nalanda reached its height under •• Well known Kasivisvesvara Temple
the patronage of the Pala Empire. at Lakkundi, the Mallikarjuna
The Palas also built many viharas. Temple at Kuruvatti, the Kallesvara
They maintained close cultural and Temple at Bagali and the Mahadeva
commercial ties with countries of Temple at Itagi were built during
Southeast Asia and Tibet. Sea trade Chalukyas reign.
added greatly to the prosperity of the •• The Pallavas and Chalukyas were
Pala kingdom. The Arab merchant in conflict during Pulakesin II.
Suleiman notes the enormity of the Narasimhavarman captured his
Pala army in his memoirs. capital during their second clash
Southern Kingdoms between the two. Narasimhavarman
then assumed the title of vatapikonda
•• The Pallavas of Kanchi, the
(conquer of Vatapi).
Chalukyas of Badami and the
Pandyas of Madurai emerged as Chola Dynasty
powerful states in southern India
Vijayalaya was the founder of Chola
in the beginning of seven century.
Dynasty. Most powerful kings of
•• Pallavas constructed temples of
Chola Dynasty was Rajaraja (985-
Shiva and Vishnu in Tamil Nadu.
1014) and his son, Rajendra I.
•• Epigraphs found in Andhra and
Karnataka between second and Rajendra I founded a new capital
third century B.C. were mostly of Gangai Kondacholapuram. He
written in Prakrit but around 400 defeated the kings of Sumatra in
A.D. Sanskrit became official a naval campaign and annexed a
language. part of Sumarata kingdom to his
•• Pallavas ruled over southern Andhra kingdom. Rajendra Chola III was
and northern Tamil Nadu. Made the last king of the dynasty. Under
Kanchi their capital identical to the Cholas, the South India reached
present Kanchipuram and made it new heights of excellence in art,
a city of temple and vedic learning. religion and literature.

MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Delhi Sultanate
Delhi sultanate begins with Turkish invasion in India by Muhammad Ghori
in1173 to 1202. He nominated his faithful slave Qutubbudin Aibak as the
governor of the newly possessed region called India. During this period
Delhi became the centre of Turkish and Afghan Power.
History B-199

Dynasty Sultan / Agent Event Highlights

Mamluk •• Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210) •• Construction of world
(1193- •• Aram Shah (1210–1211) famous monument Qutub
1290) •• Shams ud din Iltutmish (1211– Minar by Qutb-ud-din
1236), Aibak and finished by
•• Rukn ud din Firuz (1236) his successors. They have
•• Raziyyat-ud-din Sultana (1236– also attacked temples of
1240) Ajmer, Samana, Kuhram,
•• Muiz ud din Bahram (1240–1242) Delhi, Kol, Benaras
•• Alaud din Masud (1242–1246),
•• Nasir uddin Mahmud (1246–1266),
•• Ghiyas uddin Balban (1266–1286),
•• Muiz uddin Qaiqabad (1286–1290),
Khilji •• Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji (1290– •• Known for their cruelty
(1290- 1296) as they levied taxes on
1320) •• Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316) the defeated community.
•• Umar Khan Khilji (1316) During the period of
•• Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah (1316- Alauddin Khilji the
1320) famous Koh-i-noor
•• Khusro Khan (1320) Diamond of Warangal
was looted somewhere
around 1310
Tughluq •• Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq (1320- •• Geographically the largest
(1320- 1325) dynasty; Muhammad
1395) •• Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325- bin Tughluq one of the
1351) powerful sultans changed
•• Mahmud Ibn Muhammad (March the capital from Delhi
1351) to Daulatabad (present
•• Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351–1388) Deogir in Maharashtra)
•• Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq II (1388– to rule the empire more
1389) proficiently thus ordered
•• Abu Bakr Shah (1389–1390) for forceful migration of
•• Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III common masses. Though
(1390–1393) a good idea but he failed
•• Sikander Shah I (March-April 1393) to execute.
•• Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah •• Secondly his ideas to
Tughluq (1393–1413) introduce bronze coin
•• Nasir-ud-din Nusrat Shah Tughluq instead of silver coin also
(1394–1414), failed as the bronze coins
were easy to forge
Sayyid •• Khizr Khan (1414–1421) •• The vast Tughlaq dynasty
(1400- •• Mubarak Shah (1421–1434) shrunk within 10 miles of
1442) •• Muhammad Shah (1434–1445) Delhi during this period.
•• Alam Shah (1445–1451)
B-200 History

Lodi •• Bahlul Lodi (1451–1489) •• The dynasty had fought

(1457- •• Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517) one of the greatest
1518) •• Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526), battles in India- Battle
of Panipat in 1526 with
Babur who was invited
by Daulat Khan Lodi
to enter India and at the
end Ibrahim Lodi lost
the battle
Vijayanagara Empire
Dynasty Emperors Important Highlights
Sangama •• Harihara Raya I(1336–1356) •• The rise of Vijayanagar dynasty
Dynasty •• Bukka Raya I (1356–1377) was the result of political and
•• Harihara Raya II (1377–1404) cultural movement against the
•• Virupaksha Raya (1404–1405) Tughlaqs.
•• Bukka Raya II (1405–1406) •• Presumably Harihar I and
•• Deva Raya I (1406–1422) Bukka I were the founders
•• Ramachandra Raya(1422) of this dynasty.
•• Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya •• This dynasty had to face the
invasion from Bhamani Sultan
(1422–1424)
Ahmed Lin.
•• Deva Raya II (1424–1446)
•• The kings of this dynasty were
•• Mallikarjuna Raya (1446–
generous and worked for the
1465)
social welfare of the people.
•• Virupaksha Raya II (1465–
•• Some of the kings were great
1485)
patronage of literature.
•• Praudha Raya(1485)
Saluva •• Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya •• The Saluva started ruling soon
Dynasty (1485–1491) after Saluva Narasimha had
•• Thimma Bhupala(1491) a fight with the Sambetas of
•• Narasimha Raya II(1491– Peranipadu and the Paligers of
1505) Ummattur but they couldn’t
sustain power for a very long
period
Tuluva •• Tuluva Narasa Nayaka (1491– •• Founded by Tuluva Narasa
Dynasty 1503) Nayak, the third Hindu
•• Vira Narasimha Raya dynasty of Vijayanagar Empire
(1503–1509) seemed to be the most powerful
•• Krishna Deva Raya (1509– dynasties.
1529) •• Krishan Deva Raya the
•• Achyuta Deva Raya (1529– most powerful king of this
1542) dynasty.
Aravidu •• Venkata I 1542 •• Believed to be the golden
Dynasty •• Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) period of Telugu literature
•• Worshipped Nagaraja Vasuki
hence called as Nagavanshis
History B-201

•• Aliya Rama Raya 1542–1565 •• The last dynasty of Vijayanagar

•• Tirumala Deva Raya 1565– empire founded by Tirumal
1572 Deva Raya
•• Sriranga I 1572–1586 •• The battle of Raksa –Tangadi
•• Venkata II 1586–1614 happened hence the Aravidu
•• Sriranga II 1614 dynasty as well as Vijayanagar
•• Rama Deva Raya 1617–1632 empire came to an end by the
•• Venkata III 1632–1642 combined forces of Bijapur
•• Sriranga III muslims
Religious Movement •• The devotees of Kabir were
During fifteenth and sixteenth century known as Kabir Panthis.
religious movements have emerged •• Namdeva was a waterman by
birth. He composed beautiful
in India so as to liberate people
hymns in Marathi.
from dogmatic beliefs, ritualism,
•• Nanak was the founder of the
caste and communal hatred etc.
Sikh religion.
Two major movements that carried
•• Nanak’s teachings were in
out juxtaposing by both Hindu and the form of verses. They were
Muslim communities were Bhakti collected in a book called the Adi
and Sufi Movement. Granth.
Bhakti Movement •• Later Adi Grantham was written
in a script called Gurmukhi.
•• Bhakti means personal devotion •• Chaitaniya, a great devotee of
to God. It stresses the Union of
Lord Krishna, was a saint from
the individual with God.
Bengal.
•• Bhakti movement originated in
•• Meerabai was a Rajput princess.
South India between the 15th and
She married the Rana of Mewar.
the 17th centuries AD.
She was a pious devotee of Lord
•• The Nayanars, who worshipped
Krishna.
Siva, and the Alwars, who
•• Chatrapati Shivaji, the great
worshipped Vishnu, preached the
Maratha ruler, was a follower of
idea of Bhakti
Ramdas.
•• Saints like Sankara, Ramanuja
•• Tukaram was a saint who lived
and Madhwa gave their concepts
in Maharashtra. He composed
of God and the individual soul.
•• Teachings of Ramanuja were a large number of verses called
based on the Upanishads and Abhangas
Bhagwad Gita. •• Tulsidas composed the famous
•• Ramananda was disciple of Ramcharitamanas in Hindi,
Ramunaja. He was the first expounding the various aspects
reformer to preach in Hindi. of Hindu dharma.
•• Kabir was an ardent disciple of •• Surdas was a devotee of Lord
Ramananda. He wanted unity Krishna and Radha. His works
between the Hindus and the include Sursagar, Sahitya Ratna
Muslims and Sur Sarawali.
•• He preached that both the Hindus •• Dadu Dayal was a disciple of
and the Muslims are the children Kabir. His followers were known
of a single God. as Dadu Panthis.
B-202 History

•• Eknath was a devotee of Vithoba. •• The prominent sufi saints were

He wrote commentary on verses Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia, Ganj-
of the Bhagavad Gita. e-Shakar Fariduddin, Qutubuddin
The Sufi Movement Bakhtiyar Kaki and Hamuddin
Nagori .
•• Sufism is basically a religion
based on the truth of life. The •• Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din was the
mystics of Islam are called Sufis. disciple of Fariduddin Ganj-i-
•• The founders of the most Shakkar.
important Sufi lineage Chisti,
Suhrawardi, Qadiri, Naqshbandi •• Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki
originally came from central and was the disciple and the spiritual
west Asia. successor of Moinuddin Chishti.
MUGHAL DYNASTY
Sultans Important accomplishments
•• Babur won Delhi sultanate by defeating the last king
of Lodhi dynasty.
•• Two major battles won by Babur were Battle of Panipat
I (April 1526) and Khanwa Battle (March 1527)
•• Continued to conquer places in the coming years and
his territory extended almost up to the northern part
Babur of India.
(1526-1530)
•• Came to power soon after the death of his father
Babur in 1530.
•• Forcefully driven to Afghanistan by the Muslim rebel
Sher Shah and returned to India after twelve years.
•• Encouraged Persian artists for their fine arts; brought
two of them from the school of Bihzad to teach Akbar,
Humayun the lessons of drawing.
(1530-1556) •• Died accidentally by falling down from stone stair case
•• Ruled from 1555 till his death.
•• His power influenced entire country because of the
dominance of Mughal military, politics, culture and
economy.
•• Was quite different from other mughal emperors
in terms of his liberal behaviour with the society,
religious practices and administrative policies
Akbar
•• Abolished pilgrimage tax which the common people
(1556-1605) had to pay while visiting to pilgrim spots
•• Rajputs were made equal partners in government.
•• Driven by the thought of religious equality,
formulated his own religion Din-i-Ilahi which focused
on universal harmony.
•• His great passion about knowledge made him appoint
intellectual people in his court and name them as Navratna.
History B-203

•• The only heir survived and ruled the mughal dynasty

after Akbar.
•• First military expedition was against Rana Amar
Singh, son of Rana Pratap of Mewar.
•• Art, literature, and architecture prospered under
Jahangir Jahangir’s rule, and the Mughal gardens in Srinagar
(1605-1627) remain an enduring testimony to his artistic taste.
•• The fifth ruler of Mughal dynasty and famous for his
great administration
•• Not liberal for other religions like Akbar, ordered to
abolish the churches and temples of the then society.
•• As a great lover of art and culture took interest in the
construction and architecture and the master piece is
Shahjahan Taj Mahal built in the memory of his beloved wife
(1628-1658) Mumtaz Mahal
•• Started ruling the dynasty as its sixth emperor.
•• Was a ruler with religious orthodoxy and used to
support Islam
•• Was not much passionate about art and culture, so
during his tenure only few monuments have been
developed - gateway of the Red Fort and the exquisite
Aurangzeb Moti (Pearl) Mosque at Delhi.
(1658-1707) •• Reintroduced Jaziya i.e. taxation on non-muslims.
Advent of European Commerce The Dutch
in India The first Dutch expedition reached
The Portuguese East Indies under the leadership
Cornelius Houtman in the year1565. The
Vasco de Gama discovered new sea expedition aimed at opening spice roots
route to India via coast of South to India. However, in between 1595 to
Africa and reached Calicut coast 1601 several such expeditions were made
on 20th May 1498 and established to monopolize the entire spice trade to
factories at Cochin. Successively Europe with their skill administration
Francis co de Almeida reached India and vigour commercialization.
in September 1505 and became the The French
Portuguese governor in India. He built The very first attempt of the French
a fort and settled there and named community to enter Indian coast was
it as Anjadiav. Like him his other in the early days of sixteenth century
but they failed to do so due to the
successors continued the same practice
monopoly of Dutch Territory. Later
of building forts and expanding their on they discovered land routes through
territory from Malabar port in South Asia minors under the guidance of
to the northern ports of Gujarat. Richelieu. They were permitted to sail
The territory of Portugal was based to Madagascar and the neighbouring
on the command of the sea and the islands and establish colonies and trade
possession of ports along the sea coast. there.
B-204 History

THE KINGDOM OF THE GREAT MARATHA

Eminent Persons Notable accomplishments
•• Known as the father of Maratha nation,
•• Before killing Adilshahi general Afzal Khan in 1647,
he gradually started capturing forts in the region like
Purandar, Rajgad, Torna.
•• The guerrilla tactics and brilliant military strategies
was his key to success in every war
Shivaji Bhonsle
•• Fought with Jai Singh, general of Aurangzeb in which
(1630-80 A.D)
he lost and arrested in 1666, but soon he escaped and
regained his lost territory
•• Assumed the title of “Chhatrapati” at his elaborate
coronation in 1674.
•• Died in 1680 and at that time had control over most of
western Maharashtra and had made ‘Raigad’ capital.
•• Was the first son of Chhatrapati Shivaji and succeeded
his father after his death in the first week of April 1680.
•• Gave shelter to Sultan Muhammad Akbar, the fourth
son of Aurangzeb, who sought Sambhaji’s aid in
winning the Mughal throne from his emperor father.
•• During this period Mughals sieged the Maratha fort
Sambhaji
of Ramsej in 1682, but after five months of failed
attempts, including planting explosive mines and
building wooden towers to gain the walls, the Mughal
siege failed.
•• Was imprisoned and executed by Aurangzeb, in 1689
•• After the execution of Shambhaji, Rajaram, the second
son of Shivaji had taken the charge of Marathas in
1689 but soon died in 1700.
•• Tarabai the widow of Rajaram, put her young son
Sambhaji II on the throne after his father’s death,
at the tender age of ten, and continued the fight
Rajaram
against Mughals until the death of Aurangzeb in 1707.
•• Sahuji the son of Sambhaji was released from Mughals
captivity in 1707.
•• He attacked Tarabai and Sambhaji II from the
throne of Maratha with the help of Peshwa Balaji
Biswanathan and won the battle. Soon had his own
territory.
Sahuji
•• Didn’t posses a strong affinity towards politics he
settled down in Satara.
History B-205

•• He was appointed as Prime Minister of Sahuji and

assisted him on political issues.
•• This was the beginning of another great dynasty in
1718 known as Peshwa dynasty.
•• He was died in 1721.
Balaji
Vishwanath
•• As the eldest son to his father Balaji Vishwanath,
Bajirao Peshwa I took the charge of Peshwa dynasty
after his death in 1721.
•• During his tenure, Pune regained the status of capital
Maratha Kingdom from Raigad.
Bajirao •• In 1734, captured the Malwa territory in the north,
Peshwa I and in 1739, drove out the Portuguese from nearly all
their possessions in the Western Ghats.
•• He was died in 1740.
•• Succeeded as Peshwa after his father Bajirao Peshwa’s
Death.
•• Fought the third war of Panipat with Ahmad Shah
Abdalli in 1761 but lost the war.
•• Was shattered by the loss of his elder son and brother
in the war and died soon after the war ended.
Balaji Bajirao
(Nanasaheb)
•• Assumed the title of Peshwa in 1761.
•• His leading achievements included the defeat of
Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyder Ali of Mysore and
Bhosle of Nagpur.
•• Defeated Jats and took the hold of Agra and Mathura
in 1769 with the help of Mahadaji Shinde and Nana
Madhav Rao
Phadnis.
•• In 1772, died at an early age of 27 years.
•• Was a trusted lieutenant of the Peshwa and one of the
three pillars of Maratha Resurrection
•• Wiped out the power of Jats of Mathura and during
1772-73 and destroyed the power of Pashtun Rohillas
in Rohilkhand and captured Najibabad.
•
Mahadaji Shinde Died of typhoid fever, at his camp at Wanavdi near
•
Pune on 12 February 1794 while he was at the zenith
of power.
B-206 History

•• Was a prominent minister and statesman of the

Maratha Empire during the Peshwa administration in
Pune.
•• Handled the Peshwai well and with great unity among
Maratha chiefs.
•• The then rising powers have been halted by his great
Nana Phadnavis efforts and continued to serve the Peshwas until his
death in 1800AD.

MODERN HISTORY
British India (1612–1947) The border dispute between Nepal
In 1617 the British East India and British India, which sharpened
Company was given permission after 1801, had caused the Anglo-
by Mughal Emperor Jahangir to Nepalese War of 1814–16 and
trade in India. As a result of three brought the defeated Gurkhas under
Carnatic Wars, the British East British influence. In 1854, Berar was
India Company gained exclusive annexed, and the state of Oudh was
control over the entire Carnatic added two years later. Their policy
region of India. The Anglo-Mysore was sometimes summed up as
Wars (1766–1799) and later the Divide and Rule, taking advantage
Anglo-Maratha Wars (1772–1818) of the enmity festering between
led to control of the vast regions of various princely states and social
India. Ahom Kingdom of North- and religious groups.
east India first fell to Burmese In 1757, Clive was appointed by
invasion and then to British after the company as its first ‘Governor
Treaty of Yandabo in 1826. Punjab, of Bengal’. In same year Treaty of
North-West Frontier Province, and Allahabad was concluded by which
Kashmir were annexed after the the Mughal Emperor granted the
Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849;
Diwani rights to the English East
however, Kashmir was immediately
sold under the Treaty of Amritsar to India Company. Thus the British
the Dogra Dynasty of Jammu and power in India was thoroughly
thereby became a princely state. established.

Governors (1757–1854)
• Robert Clive 1757–1760
• Henry Vansittart 1760–1764
• Robert Clive 1765–1766
• Harry Verelst 1767–1769
• John Cartier 1769–1772
• Warren Hastings 1772–1774
• Charles Cornwallis 1786–1793
• Richard Wellesley 1798–1805
• Charles Cornwallis 1805–1805
• James Broun-Ramsay 1848–1854
History B-207

East India Company before 1857

Event Involved Consequences
First French La Bourdonnais British victory
Carnatic and British Admiral
War (1746- Edward Peyton fought
1748) at Negapatam
Second Nasir Jung aided by •• Ended with the Treaty of
Carnatic France while England Pondicherry in 1754 and Muzafar
War (1749- aided Muzaffar Jung Jung became the Nizam.
1754) •• Dupleix was replaced by Godeheu
as the French governor.
Third At Wandiwash (1760) •• Defeat of French
Carnatic Count de Lally French •• Treaty of Paris (1763) was signed,
War (1758- commander was defeated which returned Chandernagore
1763) by British General Sir and Pondichéry to France.
Eyre Coote
Battle of French supported Siraj- •• Paved way for British mastery of
Plassey (23 ud-Daula and East Bengal and eventually whole of
June 1757) India Company led by India.
Robert Clive. •• Rich revenue of Bengal helped
British to maintain strong army.
Battle of East India Company •• Treaty of Allahabad secured
Buxar, 22nd led by Hector Munro Diwani Rights for the Company
October, and Mughal Emperor to collect and manage the revenues
1764 along with the Nawab of real estate.
of Bengal
1781 War Forces of the Kingdom •• Eyre Coote defeated Haider Ali at
of Mysore and Great Port Novo.
Britain.
1784, Pitt’s •• British government supreme got
Act control over the company’s affair
and its administration.
War 1789 Tipu Sultan and East •• Treaty of Seringapatam was
-1792 India Company signed. Tipu had to cede half of
his territories to English and paid
` 330 lakhs as indemnity.
Awadh Lord Dalhousie •• Introduced the famous Doctrine
annexation of Lapse.
1856
The East India Company and united force of Indian leaders like
rebellion of (Bahadur Shah, Bakt Khan, Begum Hazart Mahal of Avadh,
1857 Sepoy Tanti Tope, Nana Saheb, Azimullah, Rani Lakshmibai,
Mutiny Kunwar Singh etc.), The revolt marked the end of the East
India Company’s rule, now India came under the direct rule
of the British Crown.
B-208 History

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REFORMS

Date Person Event
1815 Raja Rammohan Roy Established Atmiya Sabha. He was
the first Indian to start an agitation for
social, religious and political reforms.
1828 Raja Rammohan Roy Established Brahmo Samaj to preach
monotheism and purify Hinduism.
1839 Debendranath Tagore Founded Tatvabodhini Sabha to
propagate Ram Mohan Roy’s ideas.
1850 Vidyasagar Protest against child-marriage and
promoted women education.
1850 Vishnu Shankar Founded widow remarriage
Pundit association.
1851 Naoroji Furdonji, Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha or
Dadabhai Naoroji and Religious Reform Association.
S.S.Bengalee
1852 Kassondas Mulji In Gujarat advocated widow
remarriage.
1866 Dadabhai Naoroji Established East India Association in
London.
1872 Baba Ram Singh Namdhari Movement originated in
north-west corner of Sikh kingdom. It
was also known as Kuka movement.
23 Mahatma Jyotirao Formed Satyashodhak Samaj (Society
September, Govindrao Phule of Seekers of Truth).
1873
1875 Swami Dayanand Founded Arya Samaj in Bombay.
Saraswathi Called Vedas to be source of “true
knowledge” and gave the motto “back
to Vedas”. Was against idol worship,
child marriage and caste system.
History B-209

1897 Vivekananda Founded the Ramakrishna Mission

to carry out humanitarian relief and
social work.
1902 Swami Shradhananda Started Gurukul near Hardwar to
propagate more traditional idea of
education.
THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE TIME LINE
1885 Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Badruddin Tyabji formed
Bombay Presidency Association.
28 Dec. Indian national congress was formed by Allan Octavian Hume
1885
28-31 Dec. First session of Indian national congress was attended by 72
1885 delegates under the presidency of W.C. Bannerjee.
1896-97 Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated a no-tax campaign in
Maharashtra.
20 July, Partition of Bengal order was passed by lord Curzon.
1905
Dec. 1905 Gokhale then the president of Congress condemned the
partition of Bengal and supported Swadeshi and Boycott
movement.
1906 Dadabhai Naoroji became the president of National Congress
and clearly declared their goal to be self-government or Swaraj
like the other colonies.
30 Dec. All India Muslim League was formed by Aga Khan III and
1906 the founding meeting was hosted by Nawab Sir Khwaja
Salimullah.
1909 The Indian councils Act or Morley-Minto Reform was
announced.
1911 Government announced the withdrawal of Partition of Bengal.
1913 Ghadar Party founded by Punjabi Indians in the United States
and Canada aiming at securing India’s independence.
April, 1915 First session of Hindu Mahasabha was held under the
presidentship of Maharaja of Kasim Bazar.
26 Dec. Lucknow Pact was signed dealing with the structure of the
1916 government of India and with relation to the Hindu and
Muslim communities.
1917 Satyagraha started by M.K. Ghandhi in Champaran, Bihar.
1918 Edwin Montagu, then the Secretary of State and lord
Chelmsford, the Viceroy produced a scheme of constitutional
reform which was called as the Montague-Chelmsford reforms.
1919 Enactment of the Government of India Act.
March, Rowlatt Act was passed which enabled government to imprison
1919 people without trial.
B-210 History

13 April, Unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest

1919 against the arrest of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal
was attacked by the British army as commanded by Gerneral
Dyer.
31 August, Khilafat Committee launched a non-cooperation movement.
1920
1 February, M.K. Ghandhi announced mass civil disobedience.
1922
5 Feb. 1922 Protesters participating in the Non-cooperation movement
turned violent, leading to police opening fire in Chauri Chaura.
Congress as a result halted the non-cooperative movement
1925 Communist Party came into existence.
Nov. 1927 Simon headed commission was set up to submit report on
working of Indian constitution established by Government of
India Act, 1919.
17 Nov. Lala Lajpat Rai died due to the injuries by the beating of local
1928 police during a protest demonstration at Lahore.
Dec. 1928 Gandhi joined back the active politics at Calcutta session.
26 Jan.1930 Was fixed as the first independences day and since then was
celebrated every year up to 1947.
Feb. 1930 Chandra Shakhar Azad was shot dead in a park called Azad
Park at Allahabad, in an encounter with police.
12 March, Dandi March lead by M.K.Ghandhi took place. Together with
1930 78 companions he walked 375 km from Sabarmati Ashram to
Dandi.
6 April, Gandhi reached Dandi and broke the Salt law.
1930
12 Nov. 1930 First round table conference was held in London, was chaired
by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
5 March, Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed between Gandhi and then
1931 viceroy of India Lord Irwin. According to which British
agreed to withdraw all ordinances and end prosecutions and
release all political prisoners.
24 August, Poona Pact was signed between Gandhi and Dr. B.R.
1932 Ambedkar at Yerwada Central Jail.
1935 Government of India Act was passed according to which All
India Federation was established including British India and
Princely States (representative were appointed by the rulers)
forming a bicameral federal legislature.
October, Gandhi gave an order for a limited satyagraha (for few
1940 individuals only).
8 August, Quit India Movement was launched by M.K.Gandhi.
1942
1945 Congress working committee adopted a resolution to abolish
landlordism.
History B-211

2 Sept. 1946 Interim government of India was formed the newly elected
Constituent Assembly of India. This Idea was rejected by
Muslim league.
9 Dec. 1946 The Constituent Assembly met for the first time.
INTERIM GOVERNMENT
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations : Jawaharlal Nehru
Defence : Baldev Singh
Home (including Information and Broadcasting) : Vallahbhai Patel
Finance : Liaquat Ali Khan
Posts and Air : Abdur Rab Nishtar
Food and Agriculture : Rajendra Parsad
Labour : Jagjivan Ram
Transport and Railways : M. Asaf Ali
Industries and Supplies : John Matthai
Education and Arts : C. Rajgopalacharia
Works, Mines and Power : C.H. Babha
Commerce : I.I. Chundrigar
Law : Jogindar Nath Mandal
Health : Ghazanfar Ali Khan
Mountbatten Plan and Pakistan a dominion status.
The Act received the royal assent
The Indian Independence Act
on 18 July 1947. The boundaries
1947 also called 3 June Plan or
between the two dominion states
Mountbatten Plan, declared that
were determined by a Boundary
power would be handed over by
Commission which was headed by
15 August 1947. It gave India
Sir Cyril Radcliff.

List of Presidents of the Party

C. Vijayaraghavachariar 1920 Nagpur
Hakim Ajmal Khan 1921 Ahmedabad
Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das 1922 Gaya
Mohammad Ali Jouhar 1923 Kakinada
Abul Kalam Azad 1923 Delhi (Special Session)
Mohandas Gandhi 1924 Belgaum
Sarojini Naidu 1925 Kanpur
S. Srinivasa Iyengar 1926 Gauhati
Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari 1927 Madras
Motilal Nehru 1928 Calcutta
Jawaharlal Nehru 1929 & 30 Lahore
Vallabhbhai Patel 1931 Karachi
Madan Mohan Malaviya 1932 Delhi
B-212 History

Madan Mohan Malaviya 1933 Calcutta

Nellie Sengupta 1933 Calcutta
Rajendra Prasad 1934 & 35 Bombay
Jawaharlal Nehru 1936 Lucknow
Jawaharlal Nehru 1936& 37 Faizpur
Subhas Chandra Bose 1938 Haripura, Gujarat
Subhas Chandra Bose (resigned) 1939 Tripuri, Madhya Pradesh
Rajendra Prasad replaced Bose / Chhatisgadh
after the session.
Abul Kalam Azad 1940–46 Ramgarh
J. B. Kripalani 1947 Meerut
Pattabhi Sitaraimayya 1948 & 49 Jaipur
Purushottam Das Tandon 1950 Nasik
Jawaharlal Nehru 1951 & 52 Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru 1953 Hyderabad
Jawaharlal Nehru 1954 Calcutta
NEWPAPER/JOURNAL NAME
Newspaper/Journal Name Founder
Bengal Gazette (1780) (India’s First J.K.Hikki
Newspaper)
Kesari B.G.Tilak
Amrita Bazar Patrika Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal
Ghosh
Vande Mataram Aurobindo Ghosh
Kavivachan Sudha Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar(first newspaper in Dadabhai Naoroji
Gujarati)
Statesman Robert Knight
Hindu Vir Raghavacharya and G.S. Aiyar
Yugantar Bhupendranath Data and Barinder
Kumar Ghosh
Bombay Chronicle Firoze Shah Mehta
Hindustan M.M. Malviya
Mooknayak B.R. Ambedkar
Comrade-1914 Mohammad Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Al-Hilal-1914 Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh Abul Kalam Azad
History B-213

Independent Motilal Nehru

Punjabi Lala Lajpat Rai
New India(Daily) Annie Besant
Pratap Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali) Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akbhar Ram Mohan Roy (first Persian
Newspaper)
Young India-1919 M.K Ghandhi
Harijan-1933 M.K Ghandhi
Hindustan Times K.M. Pannikar
GREAT TRAVELERS IN INDIAN HISTORY
Identity: Greek ethnographer & ambassador.
Time of Visit to India: during the rule of Chandragupta
Maurya.
Duration of Stay: 302-298 BC.
Contribution: wrote the book Indica.
Megasthenes
Identity: a Buddhist Monk who came from China.
Time of Visit to India: reign of Chandragupta II.
Duration of Stay: 405-411 AD.
Contribution: wrote ‘Record of Buddhist kingdoms’.
Fa Hsien
Identity: Chinese Buddhist monk.
Time of Visit to India: reign of Chandragupta II.
Duration of Stay: 630-645 AD.
Contribution: wrote Si-yu-ki or the ‘Records of Western
World.
Husuain-tsang/
Xuanzang
Identity: Muslim scholar and polymath from Persia
Time of Visit to India: Came along with Mahmud of
Ghazni.
Duration of Stay: 1024-1030 AD
Contribution: wrote Taharikh-al-Hind, about social
Al-Biruni/ religious, political nature of India this time.
Abu Rayhan
Muhammad
Identity: Italian merchant traveler
Time of Visit to India: Came during the Period of
Rudramani Devi of Kakatiya Dynasty.
Duration of Stay: 1292-1294 AD
Contribution: wrote “The book of sir Marcopolo”,
Marco Polo describing about Indian Economy at that time.
B-214 History

Identity: Traveller of Morocco

Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of
Muhammad bin Tughluq.
Duration of Stay: 1333-1347 AD
Contribution: write Rihla, relating geographical,
Ibn Battuta social and economical behaviour of this time.
Identity: Russian merchant Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came in India in Bahmani
Sultanate.
Duration of Stay: 1469-1472
Contribution: ‘The Journey beyond Three Seas’.
Nicolo Conti
Identity: Ambassador of James II, king of England
Time of Visit to India: Came in India at the reign of
Jahangir, the great mogul along with William finch
came with him.
Duration of Stay: First Visit: 1421 Revisited: 1430
William
Hawkins
Identity: Italian Traveller
Time of Visit to India: Came during the rule of Devaraya
I of Sangam dynasty of vajay nagar empire.
Duration of Stay: First Visit :1421 Revisited: 1430
Contribution: Author of “Voyage aux Indes.
Afanasy Nikitin
Identity: Persian traveller
Abdur Razzaq Time of Visit to India: Came in India in Bahmani
Sultanate.
Duration of Stay: 1443-1444 AD
History B-215

ANCIENT  Mesopotamian Civilization (5000 – 900 BC)

 Egyptian Civilization (500 – 30 BC)

 Israel Kingdom (1300 – 63 BC)

 Greek Civilization (776 – 388 BC)

 Roman Civilization (753 BC - 476 AD)

WORLD HISTORY MIND MAP

 Medieval Europe Civilization

MEDIEVAL

 Feudalism
 Crusades
 African Civilization
 Mongol Empire Civilization
 Arab civilization

 Renaissance
 Reforms
 Major Revolutions of World
 Glorious Revolution
 Industrial Revolution
 American Revolution
 French Revolution
MODERN

 Russian Revolution
 An insight into World Wars
 Major wars of World
 Trojan War
 Persian War
 Peloponnesian War
 Punic Wars
 Hundred Years War
 Russo-Japan War
 Vietnam War
 Iraq War
B-216 History

ANCIENT HISTORY

MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
5000-3500 BC The first city built by Sumerian people in southern
Mesopotamia.
3500 BC Writing started with pictogram based script and took about
a thousand year to be evolved in full cuneiform script
2300 BC The first akkadian ruler Sargon started to conquer
Sumerian cities
2112-2095 BC The central city of Ur was built by Ur-Nammu and called
as the third dynasty of Mesopotamian.
1792-49 BC Development of Babylonian civilization by king
Hammurabi along Euphrates River.
1530 BC Kassite came into being in Hammurabi’s rule in 1750 BC
and categorized into minorities of Mesopotamia.
1500 BC Northern Mesopotamia is conquered by an Indo-European
ruler called Mittani. He has also conquered Syria and Asia
Minor.
1200 - 900 BC Assyria started to lose its importance due to political
instability engulfing Anatolia, Syria, and the Levant coast.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
5000 BC Farming started along the bank of Nile River.
3500-3000 BC Starting of Pre dynastic period which was characterized by
permanent settlement.
2650 BC Old kingdom began to flourish which was known to be the
era of dynamic development of Egyptian art.
2575-2465BC Pharaoh Khufu built Great pyramid of Giza having a
height of 481 feet.
2381-2345BC The Old Kingdom ended during the realm of Unas.
2055 BC-c. The era of middle kingdom started with reunion of Egypt.
1650 BC
1539 BC With the expulsion of the Hyksos and reunification of
Egypt, it became the leading power in the Middle East.
1344-1328BC The first ever instance of monotheism had been illustrated
by the religious reforms of pharaoh Akhenaton.
1336-1327BC The realm of Tutankhamen.
1279-1213BC The existence of Ramses Realm when Egypt experienced
the height of its power.
728BC Nubian kings took over the power of Egypt.
History B-217

639BC The period of revival started with the expulsion of

Assyrians by Egyptians.
525BC Persians started ruling the Egypt.
332BC Alexander the great conquered Egypt.
305BC A greek-speaking dynasty was established by one of the
generals of Alexander the Great.
30BC the last queen of independent Egypt died and Roman
empire occupied Egypt.
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
Time Period Events
1300-1200 BC The land of Canaan occupied by the Israelites
1050-970BC The kingdom was ruled by Soul followed by David
970BC David’s son Solomon became the new king
931BC The kingdom divided into north (Israel) and south(Judah)
parts
722BC The Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom,
620BC A religious revival took place in southern kingdom of
Judah
597-582 The destruction of both Judah and Jerusalem occurred

538BC The Persian king Cyrus repatriated the kings of Judah and
Jerusalem and encouraged them to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem
164BC The revolution broke out against the Seleucid kings under
the leadership of the Maccabbees brothers by Jews
63BC Judaea was conquered by Romans and the family of Herod
the Great started ruling.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
776 BC The first official date of Olympic Games
750BC Greek started planting colonies on the Mediterranean
coast
490-479 Athens and Sparta took lead for defending their land
against invasion from the huge Persian Empire
447BC Athenian Empire was at the height of its power
431-404 Athens was defeated by Sparta in the Second Peloponnesian
War
399 Socrates, the famous philosopher of Athens was sentenced
to death as he was questioning conventional ideas
338 The Greek city-states were defeated by King Phillip II of
Macedon
B-218 History

ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
753 BC Rome was founded
509BC Roman republic was built
390BC Rome was sacked by the Gauls
264-241BC First Punic War between Carthage and Rome took place
218-202 BC Second Punic War consisting of several small battles took
place where Rome was the ultimate winner
83-31 BC Decline of Roman Republic due to the continuous phase
of civil wars
27 BC Augustus established himself as the first of the Roman
emperors
117AD Roman Empire became the largest empire of its time
312AD Constantine the great got converted to Christianity
410AD Goths sacked Roman Empire
476AD The last Roman emperor was thrown out by German
Tribes

MEDIEVAL HISTORY

MEDIEVAL EUROPE CIVILIZATION

Time Period Events
500-600AD •• A monastery was built in Italy.
•• Christianity was introduced in England.
•• The foundation stone of Roman Catholic Church was
laid by Gregory the Great.
650-700AD History of the English Church and People was written by
Bede
800AD Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, was crowned as
Holy Roman Emperor.
850-900AD First Russian states founded at Kiev and Novgorod
900-950AD Viking raids across Western Europe
1000-1050 Medical school set up in Salerno, Italy (1030)
1050-1100 AD •• William of Normandy invaded England and becomes
king
•• First Crusade was proclaimed
1150-1200 AD Construction of the cathedral of Notre Dame
1200-1250 AD •• St Francis of Assisi sets up a monastic order,
emphasizing austerity and compassion
•• Rebellion against the king by the Lords of England
as he signed the Magna Carta, accepting to rule
according to law.
1250-1300 AD Establishment of the Hapsburg dynasty that continued to
rule Austria till 1918
History B-219

Feudalism was a socio-political hierarchy which started in 8th century AD

in Europe and ended in 14th century AD.
Crusades were the series of military campaign organized under the banner
of the cross so as to recover the holy places of Palestine from Muslim
occupation.
AFRICAN CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
830AD Ghana Empire was created
1050-1100AD Expansion of Almoravid kingdom from Ghana to
southern Spain
1100-1150AD Emergence of Zimbabwe as a centre for producing gold
and copper artifacts and long distance trade.
1200-1250 AD •• Christian churches established in Ethiopia
•• Kingdom of Mali was established in West Africa, with
Timbuktu as a centre of learning
1375 AD Gao rebelled against and Songhai started to expand its realm
1465 AD Songhai conquered Mema and after three years seized
Timbaktu
1588–91 AD Songahi was attacked by Moroccan forces with firearms
and they kept on conquering Tondibi, Timbuktu and Gao
one after the other
MONGOL EMPIRE
Time Period Events
1206 AD Temüjin from the Orkhon Valley received the title Genghis
Khan, and started ruling the unified nomads of Mongolia
homeland
1227 AD Death of Genghis Khan
1250–1350 AD Pax Mongolica or stabilization of Mongol empire
1260-1294 AD Fragmentation of Mongol Empire into Ilkhanate Yuan
dynasty, Chagatai Khanate, Golden Horde
1368 AD Fall of Yuan dynasty
1687 AD Collapse of Chagatai Khanate
ARAB CIVILIZATION
Time Period Events
571AD •• The great Prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca
•• With the rise of new religion Islam, the Arab
civilization started expanding its realm
632AD After the death of Mohammad his successors continued
to spred his teachings and were known as Caliphs or
Khalifas
13th Century The Islamic Empire came to end with the defeat of
AD Abbasids by Seljuq Turks
B-220 History

MODERN HISTORY
Renaissance technological aids such as spinning
The European era between 14th to jenny by James Hargreaves in 1764,
17th centuries AD was designated water-powered spinning frame by
as the Age of Renaissance generally Richard Arkwright in 1769, spinning
known for “Revival of Learning”. mule by Samuel Crompton in 1779,
The Florence city of Italian region power loom by Edmund Cartwright
Tuscany was well known as the birth in 1785, steam engine by James Watt
place of Renaissance. in 1769 etc.
American Revolution It was the
Reformation mutiny of people leaving in thirteen
Reformation It was a social colonies of England in North
movement initiated by Martin America in late eighteenth century.
Luther during 16th century in Europe Various factors such as French and
against Roman Catholic Church. He Indian War, stamp act, Townshend
started criticizing the selling of self Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston
indulgence of higher authorities Tea Party/Intolerable Acts, can be
in the church by highlighting the considered as the triggering fact of
fact that the Pope had no authority this revolution in 1775-83.
over the purgatory and there was no French Revolution It was one of the
evidence of catholic doctrine of the greatest revolutions of eighteenth
merits of the saints in the gospel. century which put an end to French
monarchy. It was lasted from 1789
Major Revolutions of Modern until 1799, and partially carried
World forwarded by Napoleon during
Glorious Revolution It was the later expansion of the French
otherwise known as the Bloodless Empire
Revolution primarily focused on Russian Revolution Based on the
securing freedom of worship from ideology of Marxism, Russian revo-
Catholics and unifying Whigs and lution took place in1917 and eventu-
Tories of Anglican church against ally ended up in creating the Russian
the Roman Catholic ruler James II. Soviet Union. The prime causes of
Industrial Revolution It was these revolutions were the autocratic
the process of change in earning rule Czars, inefficient and vigorous
livelihood by adopting industrial use of power, low living standard
processes rather than agriculture. It of people in the society, to support
started during mid 18th century in church forcefully.
Britain with the invention of several
AN INSIGHT INTO WORLD WARS
Event World War I World War II
Countries Germany, Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, USSR, US,
Involved Bulgaria, Turkey vs. France, Other nations vs. Germany,
Russia, Britain, US, Italy. Italy, Japan
Duration of July 28, 1914 – November 11, September 1, 1939 –
War 1918 September 2, 1945
History B-221

Causes Immediate Immediate

Murder of Austrian King Germany’s ultimatum and
Archduke Ferdinand at Poland’s rejection for surrender of
Serajevo by a Serbian which Port Dazing.
resulted in strong hostility Refusal of Poland to establish rail
between Austria-Hungary and link between Germany and West
Serbia. Prussia through Polish corridor
Associated
Associated •• The treaty of Versailles (1919)
•• Militarism •• Nationalist movement of
•• Nationalism or Competitive Germany & Italy.
Patriotism •• Ideological conflict between
•• Economic Imperialism Dictatorship and Democracy
•• Anglo-German Rivalry and •• Inefficiency of League of Nation
the charter of William II •• Colonial and commercial rivalry
•• Lack of International •• Aggressiveness of Berlin-Rome
Organization –Tokyo axis
Consequences •• End of the German, •• Collapse of Nazi Germany
Russian, Ottoman and •• Fall of Japanese and Italian
Austro-Hungarian empires Empires
•• Formation of new countries •• Creation of the United Nations
in Europe and the Middle •• Emergence of the United
East. States and the Soviet
•• Transfer of German Union as superpowers
colonies and regions of the •• Beginning of the Cold War
former Ottoman Empire to
other powers
•• Establishment of the League
of Nations

Major Wars in History

Trojan War:
•• Participants: City of Troy Vs City of Sparta
•• Duration of War: 10 years
•• Causes of War: The war resulted due to the kidnapping of Queen Helen
from her husband, the king of Sparta by the Trojan Prince
•• Outcome of war: The war ended with victory of Greek and destruction
of Troy.
Persian War
•• Participants: Greek vs. Persia
•• Duration of War: 499 BC–449 BC
•• Causes of War: The king of Persia, Darius I attacked Athens when the
series of Greeek uprisings were suppressed.
•• Outcome of war: The Greek made its victory against Persia,
Peloponnesian War:
•• Participants: Athens vs. Sparta
•• Duration of War: 431 BC – 404 BC
B-222 History

•• Causes of War: The war occurred •• Causes of War: The war broke
due to the political fragmentation out after King Edward III of
and mutual two city states of England invaded the country of
Greece, Athens and Sparta . France and continued to seize its
•• Outcome of War: Eventually land and became its ruler.
Sparta registered its victory by •• Outcome of War: At the end
defeating Athens in Decelean France managed to defy the
war (known to be the third phase England’s reign with the help of
of Peloponnesian War), with the Scotland.
help of Persian Empire. Russo-Japan War
Punic Wars: •• Participants: Russia vs. Japan
First •• Duration of War: 1904 – 05 AD
•• Participants: Rome vs. Carthage •• Causes of War: The war fought
•• Duration of War: 264 BC -241 BC for having imperial authority
•• Causes of War: the war broke over Manchuria and Korea
out as the Carthaginians •• Outcome of War: Japanese won
established a base of Island that the war.
seemed to be a potential threat to Vietnam War
Rome.
•• Participants: Democratic Republic
•• Outcome of War: the Romans
won the war. of Vietnam allied with Soviet
Second Union vs. China.
•• Participants: Greek vs. Trojan •• Duration of War: 1955 – 75 AD
•• Duration of War: 218 BC- 201 BC •• Causes of War: The war fought
•• Causes of War: The war for checking communism to
occurred when Carthage started spread all over South-Asia
expanding its power in Spain •• Outcome of War: the war
and striving for the coastal city ended with the victory of
of Saguntum (the present day North Vietnam by empowering
Sagunto) which was allied with the Communist government
Rome. in South Vietnam, Laos and
•• Outcome of War: Finally Cambodia with annexure of
Rome won over Carthage in South Vietnam. The American-
the battle of Zama forcing the led forces had to back out from
Carthaginians to give up Spanish Indochina.
territories and its navy. Iraq –Iran War
Third •• Participants: Islamic Republic
•• Participants: Greek vs. Persian of Iran and the Republic of Iraq
•• Duration of War: 149 BC- 146 BC •• Duration of War: 1980 – 88 AD
•• Causes of War: The fear of •• Causes of War: The war started
Carthaginian resurgence led with the invasion of republic
to the war in the city streets of of Iran resulting from a border
Carthage dispute of two Republics
•• Outcome of War: Ultimately •• Outcome of War: Iraq failed to
Romans destroyed the city of take over the east bank of the
Carthage Shatt al-Arab and strengthen
Hundred Years War Arab separatism in the region of
•• Participants: France vs. England Khuzestan. The Iranian invasion
•• Duration of War: 1337 BC failed and the idea of deposing
-1453 BC Saddam Hussein was shattered.
POLITY
`` India
`` World
B-224 Polity

 Important Acts
Making of  Constituent Assembly
Constitution  Enactment & Enforcement

 Introduction
Salient Features  Basic Features
of Constitution  Important Quotes
 Sources
Structure of  List of Articles
Indian  List of Schedules
Constitution  List of Amendments (Till date)
INDIAN POLITY - MIND MAP
Indian Constitution

 Preamble
 Union & Territories
 Citizenship
 FRs, FDs, & DPs.
 Union & State Executives
 Union & State Composition
Constitutional  Supreme Court & High Court
Framework  Indian Penal Code
 Panchayati Raj System & Municipalities
 Centre State Relations
 List I, II, III
 Interstate Council
 Zonal Council
 Article 370 - Jammu & Kashmir
 Uniform Civil Code

 Election Comm.  CAG

Constitutional  UPSC / SPSC  AG
Bodies  Finance Comm.  Advocate General
 National Comm.

Statutory  Lokpal & Lokayukta  NDC

Bodies  NITI Ayog  NHRC

 Democratic
Types of  Parliamentary
Government  Federal

 Legislature
Institutional
Indian Government

 Executive
Framework
 Judiciary

 Union
Levels of
 State
Government
 Local
 Electoral System
Elections  Electoral Reforms
Political Parties &  Composition
Pressure Groups
 Principles &  Look - East
Foreign Objectives  Gujaral Doctrine
 Nuclear Policy

Modi's Visit to Nation

Polity B-225

INDIAN CONSTITUTION
Making of Constitution
Important Acts
Constitutional Important Provisions
Landmark
Pitts India Act, 1784 •• Indian affairs under direct control of British government.
•• Board of control was established.
Government of India, •• Company rule replaced by British crown.
1858 •• Secretary of state for India appointed to exercise the
power of the crown. He was a member of British cabinet,
responsible to it & was assisted by council of India with
15 members.
•• Governor General became the agent of the crown and
now known as Viceroy of India.
Indian Councils Act, •• Parliamentary system started in India.
1861 •• Indians become non-official members of the legislature.
•• Started decentralization of power.
Indian Councils Act, •• Central legislative council becomes imperial legislative
1909 (Morley-Minto council with officials forming the majority.
Reforms. Lord Morley •• Provincial legislative councils had a majority of non-official
was the then secretary members.
of state for India and •• Introduced communal representation for Muslims with a
Lord Minto was then separate electorate system. Legalized communalism. Lord
Viceroy of India). Minto created a communal electorate.
Government of India •• Separated central subjects from provincial subjects.
Act, 1919/ Montague •• Provincial subjects were: transferred and reserved.
- Chelmsford Reforms. •• Transferred subjects were administered by Governor with
Montague was the help of ministers who were responsible to the legislature.
secretary of state •• Reserved subjects were administered by Governor
for India and Lord and executive council who were not responsible to the
Chelmeford was the legislature.
Viceroy of India. •• Diarchy/ Dual system of government was introduced.
•• Bicameral legislature with upper and lower houses were
formed with direct elections.
•• Majority of members in both houses were directly elected.
•• 3 of the 6 members of governor-general’s council had to
be Indians.
Government of India •• Established All India federation of provinces & princely
Act, 1935 states as constituent units.
•• Federal, provincial & concurrent were introduced.
•• Abolished diarchy in provinces which now had provincial
autonomy.
•• Introduced diarchy at the centre & bicameralism in the
provinces.
•• Introduced responsible governments in provinces.
B-226 Polity

The August Offer, •• Expansion of the Governor-General’s Executive council

1940 to include more Indians.
•• Establishment of an advisory war council.
Cripps Proposals, 1942 •• Provision made up for participation of Indian states in the
constitution making body.
•• The leaders of the principle sections of the Indian people
were invited to take active and effective participation in the
councils of their country.
Cabinet Mission Plan, •• There should be a Union of India, embracing both British
1916 India and the states which should deal with foreign affairs.
•• A Constituent Assembly should be set up to draw up the
future constitution of the country.
Indian Independence •• Declared India as independent & sovereign state.
Act, 1947 •• Established responsible government at the center &
provinces.
•• Designated Governor General of India & Provincial
Governors as Constitutional heads or nominal heads.
Objective Resolution •• On Jan 22, 1947 the Constituent Assembly adopted
Objective resolution as advocated by Jawahar Lal Nehru.
It contained fundamental propositions of the constitution
& set forth the political ideas that should guide its
deliberations.

Constituent Assembly
•• The Constituent Assembly was constituted in Nov. 1946 under the scheme
formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946.
•• Total members – 389
•• Members elected indirectly from British India – 296
•• Members nominated by princely states. – 93
•• The Constituent Assembly had both Nominated & Elected members. The
elected members were indirectly elected by members of the Provincial
Assemblies.
•• 1st meeting of Constituent Assembly –Dec.9, 1946.
•• Muslim League boycotted the Constituent Assembly.
•• Temporary president of the Assembly – Dr. Sachidanand.
•• Permanent President of the Assembly – Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Vice President of the Assembly – H.C. Mukherjee.
Constitutional Advisor to the Assembly – Sir B.N.Rau

Important Committees
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Drafting Committee Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Flag Committee J. B. Kriplani
Union Constitution Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
Provincial Constitution Committee Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
Union Powers Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
Polity B-227

Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

Special Committee to Examine the Draft Constitution (Chairman: Alladi
Krishnaswamy Iyer)
Expert Committee on Financial Provisions
Ad-hoc Committee on Supreme Court
Ad-hoc Committee on National Flag
Committee on Chief Commissioners’ Provinces

Drafting Committee
It consisted of 7 members –
1 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
2 N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
3 Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar.
4 Dr. K.M. Munshi
5 Syed mohammad Saadullah.
6 N. Madhava Rau
7 T.T Krishnamachari
The Drafting Committee took less than 6 months to prepare its draft. In all
it sat only for 141 days. Indian Constitution was formed by a Constituent
Assembly in a long time of 2 years, 11 months & 18 days.
Enactment & Enforcement of the Constitution
The constitution was adopted on Nov. 26,1949, contained a Preamble, 395
Articles & 8 Schedules. Now, it increased to 447 Articles & 12 Schedules. It
came into force on January 26,1950. This day is celebrated as the Republic Day.
Salient features of the Constitution
The term Constitution is derived from Latin word “Constituere” which means
“to establish”. A Constitution is something established as the basis of government
(whether by a constitutional convention or by process of evolution). The
Constitution of our country is a collection of legal rules which provides the
framework of the governmental machinery & also it is an effective instrument
of orderly social change .
Lengthiest
Written Constitution Combination
Supremacy of Constitution of Rigidity &
Flexibility
Republican form of govt. Emergency
Provisions
Secularism Federal System
Basic with Unitary Bias
Federal character Features
Structure
Sovereignty of the Country Integrated and
Independent
Parliamentary Democracy Judiciary
Parliamentary System
Fundamental Rights, DPs. of Government
Synthesis of Parliamentary
Sovereignty & Judicial Supremacy
Features of Indian Constitution
B-228 Polity

Sources of Indian Constitution

Indian constitution has borrowed its provisions from following sources.
Country Provisions Borrowed
Government of Federal scheme
India Act, 1935 Declaration of emergency powers
Ordinance defining the power of the President and Governors
Office of the Governor
Power of federal judiciary
Administration at the centre and state level
United Parliamentary system
Kingdom Bicameral parliament
Prime minister
Council of ministers
Single citizenship
Office of CAG
Writ jurisdiction of courts
Rule of law

USA Written constitution

Fundamental rights
Supreme Court
President as executive head of the state
Impeachment of the president, removal of S.C and HC judges
Vice President as chairman of Rajya Sabha
Judicial review, independence of judiciary
Australia Concurrent list
Cooperative federalism
Centre State relationship
Joint sitting of two houses of parliament

USSR Fundamental duties

Weimer Suspension of fundamental rights during emergency
Constitution of Ballot system
Germany
Canada Federal system
Residuary powers
Appointment of Governor
Advisory jurisdiction of S.C.
South Africa Procedure of constitutional amendment.
Electing member to Rajya Sabha
Ireland Concept of Directive Principles of State Policy.
Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha by the President.
Presidential election.

Schedules of the Constitution

Numbers Subject Matter Articles Covered
First Names of the States and their territorial jurisdiction. 1 and 4
Schedule Name of the Union Territories and their extent.
Polity B-229

Second Provisions relating to the emoluments, allowances, 59, 65, 75, 97, 125, 148,
Schedule privileges and so on of: 158, 164, 186 & 221
The President of India
The Governors of States
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the
Rajya Sabha
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the
Legislative Assembly in the states
The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the
legislative Council in the states
The Judges of the Supreme Court
The Judges of the High Courts
The Comptroller and Auditor - General of India
Third Forms of Oaths or Affirmations for: 75, 84, 99, 124, 146, 173,
Schedule 188 and 219
The Union ministers
The candidates for election to the Parliament
The members of Parliament
The Judges of the Supreme Court
The Comptroller Auditor - General of India
The state ministers
The candidates for election to the state legislature
The members of the state legislature
The judges of the High Courts
Fourth Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the states 4 and 80
Schedule and the union territories.
Fifth Provisions relating to the administration and control 244
Schedule of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes.
Sixth Provisions relating to the administration of tribal 244 and 275
Schedule areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura
and Mizoram.
Seventh Division of power betweeen the Union and the 246
Schedule States in terms of List I (Union List), List II (State
List) and List III (Concurrent List). Presently, The
Union List contains 100 subjects (originally 97),
The State list contains 61 subjects (Originally
66) and the concurrent list contains 52 subjects
(originally 47).
Eighth Languages recognized by the Constitution. 344 and 351
Schedule Originally, it had 14 languages but presently there
are 22 languages. They are: Assamese, Bengali,
Bodo Dogri (Dongri), Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada,
Kashmiri, Konkani, Mathili(Maithili), Malayalam,
Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, sanskrit,
Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Sindhi
was added b the 21st Amendment Act of 1967:
Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by the
71st Amendment Act of 1967; Konkani, Manipuri
and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment Act
of 1992; And Bodo, Dongri, Maithili and Santhali
were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.
B-230 Polity

Ninth Acts and Regulations (originally 13 but presently 31 - B

Schedule 282) of the state legislatures dealing with land
reforms and abolition of the zamindari system
and of the Parliament dealing with other matters.
This schedule was added by the 1st Amendment
(1951) to protect the laws included in it from judicial
scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental
rights. However, in 2007, the Supreme Court ruled
that the laws included in this schedule after April
24, 1973, are open to judicial review.
Tenth Provisions relating to disqualification of the 102 and 191
Schedule members of Parliament and State Legislatures
on the ground of defection. This schedule was
added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985, also
known as anti defection Law.
Eleventh Specifies the powers, authority and responsibilities 243 - G
Schedule of Panchayats. It has 29 Matters. This schedule
was added by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992.
Twelfth Specifies the powers, authority and responsibilities 243 - W
Schedule of Municipalities. It has 18 matters. This schedule
was added by the 74th Amendment Act of 1992.

List of Important Amendment

No Amendments Enforced since Objectives
1 Amend articles 66 and 19 December Election of Vice President by Electoral
71. 1961 College consisting of members of
both Houses of Parliament, instead
of election by a Joint Sitting of
Parliament. Indemnify the President
and Vice President Election procedure
from challenge on grounds of existence
of any vacancies in the electoral college
2 Amend article 31. 20 April 1972 Restrict property rights and
Insert article 31C. compensation in case the state takes
over private property
3 Amend articles 81, 330 17 October 1973 Increase size of Parliament from 525 to
and 332. 545 seats. Increased seats going to the
new states formed in North East India
and minor adjustment consequent to
1971 Delimitation exercise
4 Amend article 371. 1 July 1974 Protection of regional rights in
Insert articles 371D Telangana and Andhra regions of State
and 371E. of Andhra Pradesh
Amend schedule 7.
Polity B-231

5 Amend articles 31, 1 April 1977 Amendment passed during internal

31C, 39, 55, 74, 77, 81, emergency by Indira Gandhi. Provides
82, 83, 100, 102, 103, for curtailment of fundamental
105, 118, 145, 150, 166, rights, imposes fundamental duties
170, 172, 189, 191, 192, and changes to the basic structure of
194, 208, 217, 225, 226, the constitution by making India a
227, 228, 311, 312, 330, “Socialist Secular” Republic
352, 353, 356, 357, 358,
359, 366, 368 and 371F.
Insert articles 31D,
32A, 39A, 43A, 48A,
131A, 139A, 144A,
226A, 228A and 257A.
Insert parts 4A and
14A.
Amend schedule 7.
6 Amend articles 330 16 June 1986 Provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes
and 332. in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram
and Arunachal Pradesh Legislative
Assemblies
7 Amend article 326. 28 March 1989 Reduce age for voting rights from 21
to 18
8 Amend article 356. 16 April 1990 Article 356 amended to permit President’s
rule up to three years and six months
in the state of Punjab
9 Amend article 338. 12 March 1990 National Commission for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes formed
and its statutory powers specified in
The Constitution.
10 Amend article 16. 9 June 2000 Protect SC / ST reservation in filling
backlog of vacancies
11 Amend article 335. 8 September 2000 Permit relaxation of qualifying marks and
other criteria in reservation in promotion
for SC / ST candidates
12 Amend articles 45 and 12 December Provides Right to Education until the
51A. 2002 age of fourteen and Early childhood
Insert article 21A. care until the age of six
13 Amend article 338. 28 September The National Commission for
Insert article 338A. 2003 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes was bifurcated into The National
Commission for Scheduled Castes
and The National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes
B-232 Polity

14 Amend Art 19 and 12 January 2012 Added the words “or co-operative
added Part IXB. societies” after the word “or unions” in
Article 19(l)(c) and insertion of article
43B i.e., Promotion of Co-operative
Societies and added Part-IXB i.e., The
Co-operative Societies.
The amendment objective is to
encourage economic activities of
cooperatives which in turn help
progress of rural India. It is expected
to not only ensure autonomous and
democratic functioning of cooperatives,
but also the accountability of the
management to the members and other
stakeholders.
15 Insertion of new 13 April 2015 The amendment provides for the
articles 124A, 124B and [103] formation of a National Judicial
124C. Amendments to Appointments Commission. 16 State
Articles 127, 128, 217, assemblies out of 29 States including
222, 224A, 231. Goa, Rajasthan, Tripura, Gujarat
and Telangana ratified the Central
Legislation, enabling the President of
India to give assent to the bill.[104]
The amendment is in toto quashed by
Supreme Court on 16 October 2015.
16 Amendment of 1 August 2015 Exchange of certain enclave territories
First Schedule to with Bangladesh and conferment of
Constitution[105] citizenship rights to residents of
enclaves consequent to signing of
Land Boundary Agreement (LBA)
Treaty between India and Bangladesh.

PREAMBLE
Meaning •• Introduction or preface to the constitution.
•• Summary or essence of the Constitution
Components •• Source of Authority – People of India
•• Nature of Indian State – Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic
& Republican.
•• Objectives of Constitution –Justice, Liberty, Equality & Fraternity.
Amendment •• 42nd Amnd Act 1976 added 3 new words – Socialist, Secular & Integrity.
Part of the •• In kesavananda Bharati case (1973), Supreme court held that
Constitution preamle is an integra part of the constitution.

The Union & Its Territory

•• Article 1 stipulates that India, that is Bharat, shall be Union of states.
•• The country is described as ‘Union‘ beacuse it is indestructible.
•• The ‘territory of India’ includes the entire area over which the Sovereignty
of India extends.
•• Under Articles 2 &3, Parliament has the power to establish new States,
form a new State from the territory of any State or by uniting two or more
Polity B-233

States, increase or decrease the area of any State, or after the boundaries
or the name of any State.
•• First Linguistic State – Andhra Pradesh.
State Recorganisation Act 1956
States Recorganisation Act 1956 was adopted by the Govt. of India that resulted
in the formation of new states & UTs.
LIST OF NEW STATES & UTs CREATED AFTER 1956
STATES/UTs YEAR
1. Maharashtra & Gujarat 1960
2. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1961
3. Goa, Daman & diu 1962
4. Goa (Statehood) 1987
5. Puducherry 1962
6. Nagaland 1963
7. Haryana, Chandigarh 1966
8. Himachal Pradesh (Statehood) 1971
9. Manipur, Tripura & Meghalaya (Statehood) 1972
10. Sikkim (full – fledged State) 1975
11. Arunachal Pradesh & Mizoram 1987
12. Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand & Jharkhand 2000
13. Telangana 2014

Citizenship
Person domiciled
Single Citizenship in India
3 Categories entitled Refugees who migrated
to citizenship to India from Pakistan
Indian Indians living in other
Citizenship Act (1955)
Citizenship Countries.
Provides for acquisition
& loss of Citizenship
after commencement of
the Constitution.
Dual Citizenship for PIOs

Acquisition of Citizenship

By Birth By Descent By By By
Registration Naturalisation Incorporation
of Territory
Loss of Citizenship

By Renunciation By Termination By Deprivation

 Can be Suspended FRs available only to citizens
Magna Carta Part III (Article Borrowed from during Emergency & Not to Foreigners- Art. 15,
B-234

of India 12 to 35) USA & France except Art. 20 & 21 16, 19, 29, 30

Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality Right to Freedom Right Against Exploitation Right to Freedom of Curtural and Right to Constitutional
Religion Educational Rights Remedies

Articles Articles Articles Articles Articles Articles

14-18 19-22 23-24 25-28 29-30 32
(14) Equality before Law (19) 6 Rights: Freedom of (23) Prohibition of traffic (25) Freedom of conscience & (29) Protection of Includes writs:
& Equal protection speech & expression, in human beings & free profession, practice & interests of (1) Habeas Corpus
of law. Assembly, Association, forced labour. propagation of religion. minorities. (2) Mandamus
Movement, Residence (3) Prohibition
& Profession. (4) Certiorari
(5) Quo–warranto
Fundamental Rights

(15) Prohibition of (20) Protection in respect of (24) Prohibition of (26 ) Manage religiour affairs. (30) Right of minorities
discrimination on conviction for offences. employment of to establish
grounds of religion, children in factories & administer
race, sex etc. etc. educational
institutions.
(16) Equality of (21) Protection of life & (27) Freedom from payment of
opportunity in personal liberty. taxes for promotion of any
public employment religion.
(17) Abolition of (22) Protection against arrest (28) Freedom from attending
untouchability. & detention in certain religious instruction
cases. or worship in certain
educational institutions.
(18) Abolition of titles.
Polity
Polity B-235

Directive Principles
Promote concept
Part IV, Article
“Instrument of instructions” of welfare state
36 – 51
– B.R. Ambedkar
Mixture of
socialist
Directive Non-justiciable
Gandhian &
Principles
Liberal
principles

Fundamental Borrowed from

Aim to economic
guidelines in country’s Ireland & social justice
governance

ARTICLES RELATED TO DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

AT A GLANCE
Article No. Subject - matter

36 Definition of State

37 Application of the principles contained in this part

38 State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people

39 Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State

•• Means of livelihood to all.
•• Use of resources for common good.
•• Prevention of concentration of wealth
•• Equal pay for equal work
•• Protection of workers, children & youth

39 A Equal justice and free legal aid

40 Organisation of village panchayats

41 Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases

42 Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief

43 Living wage, etc., for workers

43 A Participation of workers in management of industries

43 B Promotion of co-operative societies

44 Uniform civil code for the citizens

45 Provision for early childhood care and education to children below

the age of six years
B-236 Polity

46 Promotion of educational and economic interests of scheduled Castes,

Scheduled Tribes and other weaker section.

47 Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of
living and to improve public health

48 Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry

48 A Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests

and wildlife

49 Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance

50 Separation of judiciary from executive

51 Promotion of international peace security

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
Fundamental Duties

Covered Part IV A, Article 51–A

Borrowed from USSR

Amendment 42nd Amendment 1976, introduced Article 51 A in the

constitution.

Recommended by Swaran Singh Committee.

Numbers Originally–10 duties

Now–11 duties (added bye 86th Amendment ACT, 2002)

List of F.Ds 51 A (a) Abide by the Constitution and respect National Flag
& National Anthem
B Follow ideals of the freedom struggle
C Protect sovereignty & integrity of India
D Defend the country and render national services when
called upon
E Spirit of common brotherhood
F Preserve composite culture
G Protect natural environment
H Develop scientific temper
I Safeguard public property
j Strive for excellence
K Duty of all parents & guardians to send their children
in the age group of 6-14 years to school..
 President
Polity

Position Term Oath Emolument Qualification Election Vacancy Powers

Executive
• Executive • 5 years • By chief • ` 1.5 lakh • Citizen of • Elected • On expiry of Legislative
Head of • Eligible for justice per month India indirectly by term Judicial
the state Re-election of India • Pension • Completed 35 electoral college • By death Emergency
• First citizen or senior ` 75,000 years consisting • By resignation
of the most per month • Qualified for elected members • By impeachment
country judge of election as a of both houses
supreme member of of parliament &
court Lok Sabha state’s legislative
• Not hold any assemblies
President

office of profit • Following

under GOI formula is
adopted first
stage:
Total population of state 1
=Value of vote of an MLA ×
Total no.of elected members in the state legislative assembly 1000
UNION & STATE EXECUTIVES

Total value of votes of all MLAs of all states

Value of vote of an MP =
Total no.elected MPs
•• At second stage, a complex system of calculating Quota of individual candidate is used which
is based on the order of preference of candidates.
B-237
 Powers of President
B-238

Executive Legislative Judicial

Appoints PM, Directly Dissolution Address Nominates Assent Laying Issue Seek Power to
Council of administers or & Send Members on Bills down some Ordinance Advice of grant
ministers, UTs Prorogation messages of passed by reports Supreme pardon
Attorney_General, Court
of to houses Parliament Parliament before
CAG, Judges of
Supreme Court Parliament Parliament Emergency
& High Courts,
Governors,
Administrators Miscellaneous National Failure of Financial
of UTs, Chairman Emergency Constitutional Emergency
& Members of
(Art. 352) Machinery (Art. 360)
Public service
Commission, in States
Supreme Conclude (Art. 356)
Chairman &
Commander & Approve
Members of.
finance Commission, of Armed International
Chief Election Forces Treaties &
Commissioner Agreements
& Election
commissioners,
Inter - State
Council,
Commission
investigate the
condition of SCs,
STs & OBCs.
Polity
Polity B-239

List of Presidents till date

List of President Joining date Leaving date
Dr.Rajendra Prasad 1/26/1950 5/13/1962
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan 5/13/1962 5/13/1967
Zakir Hussain 5/13/1967 5/3/1969
Varahagiri Venkata Giri 5/3/1969 7/20/1969
Muhammad Hidayatullah 7/20/1969 8/24/1969
Varahagiri Venkata Giri 8/24/1969 8/24/1974
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed 8/24/1974 2/11/1977
Basappa Danappa Jatti 2/11/1977 7/25/1977
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy 7/25/1977 7/25/1982
Giani Zail Singh 7/25/1982 7/25/1987
Ramaswamy Venkataraman 7/25/1987 7/25/1992
Shankar Dayal Sharma 7/25/1992 7/25/1997
Kocheril Raman Narayanan 7/25/1997 7/25/2002
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 7/25/2002 7/25/2007
Smt. Pratibha Patil 7/25/2007 7/25/2012
Pranab Mukherjee 7/25/2012 Incumbent

Vice President
Qualification Proportional representation by
(1) Citizen of India. means of the single transferable
(2) Completed 35 years. vote.
(3) Qualified for election as a member Functions
of of Rajya Sabha. (1) Ex-officio chairman of Rajya
(4) Not hold any office of profit under Sabha.
Union/State government or any (2) Suspend or adjourn the business
Local Authority. of the House.(Rajya Sabha)
Term (3) Issues direction to the Chairman
(1) 5 years. of various committees.
(2) Elegible for re-election. (4) Acts as President when vacancy
Oath occurs in the office of the President
due to his resignation. Removal,
(1) Administered by the President.
death, or otherwise.
Emoluments
Removal
(1) ` 1.25 Lakh per month salary.
(1) He can be removed by a resolution
Election of the Rajya Sabha passed by an
(1) Indirectly elected absolute majority & agreed to
(2) Elected by an electoral college by the Lok Sabha. But, no such
consisting of the members of resolution can be moved unless at
both Houses of Parliament & in least 14 days advance notice has
accordance with the system of been given.
B-240 Polity

Prime Minister
Appointment
(1) By President
Position
(1) Real executive authority (de facto executive).
(2) Head of the government.
(3) Leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha.
Election
(1) Elected directly by the people.
Term
(1) 5 years
(2) The PM actually stays in office as long as he enjoy the confidence of the
parliament, but the normal term is automatically reduced if the Lok sabha
is dissolved earlier.
Powers
(1) Advise the president to summon & prorogue the Parliament & dissolve
the Lok Sabha.
(2) Act as a Link between the cabinet & the President.
(3) All the members of the council of ministers are appointed by the president
on the recommendations of the Prime Minister.
(4) Allocates Portfolios among the various ministers & reshuffles them.
(5) Presides over the meetings of the council of Ministers.
(6) Ask a minister to resign.
(7) Coordinates the policies of the various departments & Ministries.
List of Prime Ministers of India Till Date Party Name
Narendra Modi 2014 till date Bharatiya Janata Party
Manmohan Singh 2004-14 Indian National Congress
Atal Bihari Vajpayee 1998-2004 Bharatiya Janata Party
IK Gujral 1997-98 Indian National Congress
HD Deve Gowda 1996-97 Janata Dal (Secular)
AB Vajpayee 1996 Bharatiya Janata Party
PV Narasimha Rao 1991-96 Indian National Congress
Chandra Shekhar 1990-91 Samajwadi Janata Party
VP Singh 1989-90 Janata Dal (National Front)
Rajiv Gandhi 1984-89 Indian National Congress
Indira Gandhi 1980-84 Indian National Congress
Charan Singh 1979-80 Janata Dal (Secular)
Morarji Desai 1977-79 Janata Dal
Indira Gandhi 1966-77 Indian National Congress
Gulzarilal Nanda 1966-66 Indian National Congress
Lal Bahadur Shastri 1964-66 Indian National Congress
Gulzarilal Nanda 1964 Indian National Congress
Jawaharlal Nehru 1947-64 Indian National Congress
Polity B-241

Governor
Position •• Chief Executive of the State.
•• Act as an head agent of the Central Government.
Qualification •• Citizen of India.
•• Completed 35 years.
•• Not hold any office of profit under government.
•• Not a member of Parliament or State legislature.
Appointment & •• Appointed by President.
Tenure •• Term is 5 years.
Oath •• Administered by chief justice of high court
Powers and •• (A) Executive Powers –
Functions •• Appoints Chief Minister & other ministers, Advocate
General, chairman & Members of State PSC, State Election
Commissioner & Finance Commission, Vice Chancellors of
Universities in State.
•• Nominate one member of Anglo Indian Community to the
legislative Assembly of his State & 1/6th members of Sate
legislative council.
•• Recommend President that government of the Sate cannot
be carried on in accordance with the Provisions of the
Constitution.
•• (B) Legislative Powers –
•• Summon, adjourn & Prorogue State legislature & Dissolve the
State legislative assembly.
•• Address the state legislature at the commencement of the first
session after each general election and the first session of each
year.
•• Give or withold Assent to the bill.
•• Return or reserve the Bill.
•• Submission reports from auditor General, State PSC, State
finance commission before the legislature.
•• (C) Discretionary Powers –
•• Appointing a new Chief Minister when no Single Party
Commands a clear-cut majority in legislative Assembly.
•• Dismissal of ministry if he is convinced that it has lost
majority support.
•• (D) Other powers –
•• Grant Pardons & Suspend the sentence of any person but
cannot Pardon in case of death sentence.
•• No demand of grants can be made except on the
recommendation of the governor.
•• Ensures that Budget of State is laid before State legislature
every year.
 Assist Ministers with
whom they are attached
B-242

Tenure
& perform administrative
duties

Qualification
Appointment

Powers & Functions

Collective No Separate charge
Responsibility to
T Y M I N IS T
Lok Sabha at central PU ER
E Head Important

D
level and Legislative

S
Ministries of central
Assembly at State ST
ERS O F S
T

I
/ State Government
level

N
5 years

AT
Attend Cabinet’s

MI
E
CABINET meetings & decide
By Governor

MINISTERS
Ministers.

policies
Supreme
Individual (Independent Executive
Chief Minister

Responsibility to Charge) authority

President at central
level & Governor at
Ministries & Departments.

State level.
Independent charge of
Ministries / Departments.
(2) Head of the Council of Ministers.

(4) Allocates portfolios among Ministers.

Work under Supervision &

guidance of Cabinet ministers.
Member of either house of the State legislature

Not members of Cabinet &

(1) Chief link between the Governor & the council of

be appointed as members of the Council of Ministers

(5) Supervises & coordinates Policies of the several

(3) Recommends to the Governor the names of persons to

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (AT CENTRE & STATE LEVEL) : COMPOSITION

donot attend Cabinet meeting.

Polity
Polity B-243

COUNCIL OF MINSTERS IN 12TH FIVE YEAR PLAN

Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Space
Cabinet Ministers
1 Shri Raj Nath Singh Home Affairs
2 Smt. Sushma Swaraj External Affairs
Overseas Indian Affairs
3 Shri Arun Jaitley Finance
Corporate Affairs
Information & Broadcasting
4 Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Urban Development
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Parliamentary Affairs
5 Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari Road Transport and Highways Shipping
6 Shri Manohar Parrikar Defence
7 Shri Suresh Prabhu Railways
8 Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda Law & Justice
9 Sushri Uma Bharati Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation
10 Dr. Najma A. Heptulla Minority Affairs
11 Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
12 Shri Kalraj Mishra Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
13 Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi Women and Child Development
14 Shri Ananth Kumar Chemicals and Fertilizers
15 Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad Communications and Information Technology
16 Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Health and Family Welfare
17 Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Civil Aviation
Pusapati
18 Shri Anant Geete Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
19 Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal Food Processing Industries
20 Shri Narendra Singh Tomar Mines, Steel
21 Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh Rural Development
Panchayati Raj
Drinking Water and Sanitation
22 Shri Jual Oram Tribal Affairs
23 Shri Radha Mohan Singh Agriculture
24 Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot Social Justice and Empowerment
25 Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Human Resource Development
26 Dr. Harsh Vardhan Science and Technology
Earth Sciences
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
1 General V. K. Singh Statistics and Programme Implementation
External Affairs
Overseas Indian Affairs
B-244 Polity

2 Shri Inderjit Singh Rao Planning Defence

3 Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar Textiles
4 Shri Bandaru Dattatreya Labour and Employment
5 Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
Parliamentary Affairs
6 Shri Shripad Yesso Naik AAYUSH Health & Family Welfare
7 Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Petroleum and Natural Gas
8 Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
9 Shri Prakash Javadekar Environment, Forest and Climate Change
10 Shri Piyush Goyal Power
Coal
New and Renewable Energy
11 Dr. Jitendra Singh Development of North Eastern Region
Prime Minister’s Office
Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Space
12 Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Commerce and Industry
13 Dr. Mahesh Sharma Culture
Tourism
Civil Aviation
Ministers of State
1 Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Minority Affairs
Parliamentary Affairs
2 Shri Ram Kripal Yadav Drinking Water and Sanitation
3 Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Home Affairs
Chaudhary
4 Shri Sanwar Lal Jat Water Resources
River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
5 Shri Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Agriculture
Kundariya
6 Shri Giriraj Singh Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
7 Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir Chemicals & Fertilizers
8 Shri G. M. Siddeshwara Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
9 Shri Manoj Sinha Railways
10 Shri Nihalchand Panchayati Raj
11 Shri Upendra Kushwaha Human Resources Development
12 Shri Radhakrishnan P Road Transport & Highways, Shipping
13 Shri Kiren Rijiju Home Affairs
14 Shri Krishan Pal Social Justice & Empowerment
15 Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan Agriculture
16 Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Tribal Affairs
Vasava
17 Shri Raosaheb Dadarao Danve Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
18 Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Mines
Steel
Polity B-245

19 Shri Sudarshan Bhagat Rural Development

20 Prof. (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria Human Resource Development
21 Shri Y. S. Chowdary Science and Technology
Earth Science
22 Shri Jayant Sinha Finance
23 Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Information & Broadcasting
24 Shri Babul Supria (Babul Supriyo) Urban Development
Baral Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
25 Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Food Processing Industries
26 Shri Vijay Sampla Social Justice & Empowerment

Parliament
Indian Legislature

Union Leg
State Leg
(Parliament)

President Rajya Sabha Lok Sabha Bicameral Unicameral

Legislative
Upper House Lower House Council

Also known as House of People

council of states Maximum Leg. Council Leg. Assembly
Strength - 552 or Vidhan or Vidhan
Total members
Parishad Sabha
- 250

238 12 530 20 2 (Nominated Lower House

Indirectly Nominated (States) (UTs) members Upper House
elected from Anglo- Maximum
Indian Maximum Strength - 500
Permanent Body Community) Strength - 1/3 rd
of total strength Minimum
Members are Strength - 60
Term of of Assembly.
directly elected
individual Minimum Members are
member - 6 years Term - 5 years
Strength - 40 directly elected
1/3 rd members Presiding Officers by people
Members
retires at are indirectly Term - 5 years
expiration of Speaker Deputy elected
every 2nd year. Speaker Permanent body
Presiding officers Qualification
1/3rd of its
members retire
Chairman Deputy Citizen Not less every second year.
Chairman of India than 25
Term - 6 years
years.
Qualification

Citizen of Not less

India than 30
years
B-246 Polity

Sessions of Parliament

Budget Session Monsoon Session Winter Session

February- May July-September November–December

Indian Judicary

INTEGRATED JUDICIARY

President

Supreme Court
1. Chief Justice
Governor 2. Judges Parliament

High Courts
1. Chief Justice
2. Judges

COURTS
The Supreme Court
Delhi
High Courts
(In States)

(In Districts) Metropolitan

District and Areas
Session Courts

Metropolitan City - Civil and Presidency Small

Magistrate Courts Session Courts Cases Courts

(Civil) Provincial (Criminal)

Subordinate Small Cases Session Courts
Courts Courts

Subordinate Panchayat
Munsif Nyaya Magistrate Courts Courts
Courts Panchayat

Judicial Executive
Magistrate Magistrate
Polity B-247

Supreme Court •• According to Article 129, SC is

•• Supreme court is the final a “Court of Record”. It means:-
interpreter & guardian of our (a) Court records are
constitution. It is the highest court admitted to be of
of appeal in India. evidentiary value.
•• Presently there are 31 judges (b) It can punish for
(including Chief justice) in Contempt of the court.
Supreme Court. •• Qualification for appointment as
•• The CJI is appointed by the a Judge of SC :-
President. The present CJI is (1) Citizen of India.
Hon’ble Mr. TS Thakur. (2) Either be a distinguished jurist,
•• There is no fixed period of office or one who has been a High
for SC judges. Once appointed, Court Judge for atleast 5 years
they hold office till the age of 65 or an advocate of a High Court
years. ( or 2 or more such courts in
•• A judge of SC can be removed Succession ) for atleast 10
from his office only by the process years.
of impechment.
JURISDICTION OF SUPREME COURT

Types of Jurisdiction

Original Appellate Advisory Review

Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Jurisdiction

Disputes Disputes
relating to involving
Give its legal
union and the vialation of opinion on matters
fundamental
states referred to it by the
rights (writ
jurisdiction) president

Appeal in
Appeal in Appeal in Special leave
constitutional
civil cases Criminal cases to Appeal
cases

Power of Judicial Review (means it can

pronounce upon the constitutional validity
of laws passed by legislature and actions
taken by administrative authority.
B-248 Polity

High Court
•• The judiciary in a State consists of a HC & a hierarchy of Subordinate courts.
•• The judges of HC are appointed by the President .
•• The judge of a HC holds office until he attains the age of 62 years. He can
be removed by the process of Impeachment.
•• Qualification a person appointed as a judge of HC should
(1) Citizen of India.
(2) Held a judicial office in the territory of India for 10 years or have
been on advocate a high court for 10 years.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Types of Jurisdiction

Original Writ Appellate Court of

Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Juristiction Record

Issue writs for

Appeal against
enforcement of FRs
of citizens judgements of
subordinate courts
in civil and criminal
Matters of Disputes Revenue matters
Admirality relating to matter
election of
parliament
and state
legislature

Review its own Judgements

Power to
judgement Proceedings
punish for
and Acts are
contempt
recorded for legal
of court
references

Crime Broad classification of crimes

under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
The Indian Penal Code was passed
in the year 1860 and came into effect 1. Crimes Against Body: Murder, Its
from January 1, 1862. The Indian attempt, Culpable Homicide not
Penal Code applies to the whole of
India except for the state of Jammu amounting to Murder, Kidnapping
& Kashmir. It contains 23 Chapters & Abduction, Hurt, Causing
and 511 Sections. Before the Indian Death by Negligence;
Penal Code came into effect, the
2. Crimes Against Property: Dacoity,
Mohammedan Criminal Law was
applied to both Mohammedans and its preparation & assembly,
Hindus in India. Robbery, Burglary, Theft;
Polity B-249

3. Crimes Against Public order: Section 369: Kidnapping or abducting

Riots, Arson; child under ten years with intent to
4. Economic Crimes: Criminal steal from its person
Breach of Trust, Cheating, Section 372: Selling minor for
Counterfeiting; purposes of prostitution, etc.
5. Crimes Against Women: Rape, Section 373: Buying minor for
purposes of prostitution, etc.
Dowry Death, Cruelty by Husband
Section 378 : Theft
and Relatives, Molestation, Sexual Section 375: Rape
harassment and Importation of Section 376: Punishment against rape
Girls; Section 383: Extortion
6. Crimes Against Children: Child Section 390: Robbery
Rape, Kidnapping & Abduction Section 397: Robbery, or dacoity, with
of Children, Procreation of minor attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
girls, Selling/Buying of girls for
LEGAL TERMS
Prostitution, Abetment to Suicide,
Exposure and Abandonment, Affidavit: This is a sworn statement
made by a party, in writing, made in
Infanticide, Foeticide;
the presence of an oath commissioner
7. Other IPC crimes. or a notary public which is used either
Few Known Sections in support of applications to the Court
Section 120: Concealing design to or as evidence in court proceedings.
commit offence punishable with Alimony : The maintenance given by
imprisonment a husband to his divorced wife.
Section 120-A and B: Definition of Amicus curiae : Translated from
criminal conspiracy and Punishment the Latin as ’friend of the Court’.
of criminal conspiracy An advocate appears in this capacity
Section 141: unlawful assembly when asked to help with the case by
Section 146 and 147: Rioting and the Court or on volunteering services
Punishment for rioting to the Court.
Section 169: Public servant unlawfully Arbitration : Settling disputes by
buying or bidding for property referring them to independent third
Section 171-B: Bribery parties as an alternative to court
Section 279: Rash driving or riding proceedings.
on a public way Audi alteram partem : This is a rule
Section 295: Injuring or defiling place of natural justice which translates from
of worship with intent to insult the the Latin as ‘hear the other side’ or
religion of any class ’hear both sides’.
Section 298: Uttering, words, etc., Bequeath : To dispose of personal
with deliberate intent to hurt the property by Will.
religious feelings of any person Caveat : Where it is apprehended that
Section 300: Murder an opposite party may file a case, a
Section 304-B: Dowry death party may file a document requesting
Section 307: Attempt to murder the court that no order be made in
Section 317: Exposure and the case without hearing the caveator.
abandonment of child under twelve Cognizable offence : An offence in
years, by parent or person having care which arrest can be made without a
of it. warrant.
B-250 Polity

Dasti Notice : Dasti is a persian Litigation : The totality of the legal

word, which means ‘by hand’. Dast proceedings in any dispute.
Notice means service of the notice by Locus Standi : Translated from Latin
the Petitioner on the Respondent(s) as ’place of standing’, locus standi
in person, and not by the Registry gives the right to pursue a litigation.
through post. Under this rule, only a person or group
Decree : The formal expression of an of persons affected by the issue may
adjudication which, so far as regards petition the Court.
the Court expressing it, Ordinance : A codified law made, as
Estoppel : A legal principle that bars a temporary measure, by the President
a party from denying or alleging a of India or the Governor of a State
certain fact owing to that party’s when the Parliament or legislature of
previous conduct, allegation, or denial. a state is not in session.
Habeas Corpus : A writ requiring Perjury : This occurs when a person
a person under arrest to be brought gives false evidence or false affidavit
before a judge or into court, especially in a case.
to secure the person’s release unless Petition : A written document filed
lawful grounds are shown for their in a court asserting a claim or a right
detention. and seeking relief on legal grounds.
In pari delicto : When both the parties Pleadings : A collective noun for
are equally in fault.lk all the petitions, affidavits, replies,
rejoinders drafted by or on behalf of
Interim Order : Any order by a court
the parties to a case.
before a final order is made.
Prima facie : At first sight; on the
Interlocutory Application : Petition
face of it.
seeking a relief even while the main
petition remains in the Court. Pro bono publico : Translated from
the Latin as ’for the public good’. In
Intervenor : A person who is not a
PIL, this refers to a petitioner acting
party to the proceedings may, with the bonafide in the public interest.
permission of the court, intervene if it
Respondent : A party against whom
is shown that the outcome of the case
a petition is filed. A proforma
will affect such person in some way.
respondent is a party against whom
Judgment-debtor : Any person against no relief is sought.
whom a decree has been passed or an Stare decisis : The principle that
order capable of execution has been decisions of Courts in previous cases
made; must be followed in subsequent cases
Judicial Review : A term that of similar nature.
describes the function of the judiciary Statute : A codified law that is
being able to examine and correct the enacted by the Parliament or a State
actions of all the organs of State— Legislature.
the executive, the legislature and the Stay Order : A party filing a petition
judiciary itself. may require some immediate relief,
Justiciable : A matter is justiciable even before the respondents can be
if it lends itself to adjudication by a heard or a final decision given.
court. This is determined by criteria Suo Motu : The Court may take action
laid down in law. on its own when facts requiring legal
Polity B-251

intervention reach its notice. The Court Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)
is then said to be acting suo moto. The term Panchayati Raj (PRI) in
Void : One that law regards as never India signifies the system of rural
having taken place. local self government. It has been
Vox populi : Translated from the Latin established in all the States of India
as ’the voice of the people’. by the Acts of the state Legislatures to
Writ : A writ is a direction that the build democracy at the grassroot level.
Court issues, which is to be obeyed It is entrusted with rural development.
by the authority/person to whom it It was constitutionalised through the
is issued. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act
Writ Petition : A petition seeking 1992.
issuance of a writ is a writ petition.
COMMITTEES ON PANCHAYATI RAJ
Committee Year Important Recommendations
1. Balwant Rai 1957 •• Three – tier Panchayati Raj System – Gram Panchayat
Mehta at Village level, Panchayat Samiti at Block level & Zila
Parishad at district level.
2. Ashok Mehta 1977 •• Two – tier PR System – Mandal Panchayats at Village
level & Zila Panchayat at district level.
•• Official representation of Political Parties at all levels
of Panchayat elections.
•• Seat for SCs & STs should be reserved.
•• Constitutional recognition to PRIs.
3. GVK Rao 1985 •• Regular elections to the PRIs.
4. LM Singhvi 1986 •• Regular, Free & fair elections to PRIs.
•• Establishment of Nyaya Panchayats.
•• More financial resources to village Panchayats.

Constitutionalisation 2. Reservation of seats for women,

SCs, STs & OBCs in Panchayats,
73rd Amendment Act 1993
at all levels.
The Parliament has passed 73rd and
3. Elections to the panchayats shall be
74th Constitutional Amendment Acts in
1993 to ensure the effective participation held with in a period of 6 months
of rural & urban people in the from the date of dissolution.
institutions of local Self government. 4. Members of Block Panchayat &
•• Added part -IX (Articles 243 to Zilla Panchayats are to be elected
243-0) & the 11th Schedule to the by people directly along with the
Constitution.
election of members of Gram
•• 11th Schedule contains 29
functional items & deals with Panchayat. The heads of Gram
Article 243 – G. Panchayat shall be elected by the
•• The important provisions of 73rd directly elected members of these
Constitutional Amendment Act bodies.
are as Follows – 5. Establishment of an independent
1. It made mandatory to hold the
elections of Panchayats in due State Election commission in
time on regular basis. every State.
B-252 Polity

6. Power to the Panchayats to impose relations. A total of 56 Articles, from

and collect taxes in accordance Article 245 to 300 deal with the centre
with the provisions made by the state relations.
State government. Committees Appointed to study
7. Establishment of a State Finance Centre -state relation.
Commission. 1. Setalvad committee (1966).
2. Rajamannar committee (1969)
8. Prepare & implement the plans
3. Sarkaria committee (1983).
for economic development.
Division of Legislative Powers
Municipalities
between Centre & the States
For the establishment of self-
government in urban areas urban I. Three Lists
bodies have been established. 1. Union List – List I – 97 subjects
The urban institutions have been 2. State List – List II – 66 subjects
granted constitutional status by 74th 3. Concurrent List – List III – 52
constitutional Amendement (enforced subjects
with effect from January 1,1993). In IMPORTANT SUBJECTS IN
the Part IX A of the Constitution the VARIOUS LISTS
provisions for Municipalities have Union List (List I)
been made from Article 243 P to 243 1. Atomic energy and mineral
ZG. Besides a 12th Schedule also has resources.
been incorporated in the Constitution, 2. Extradition.
which contains 18 subjects relating to 3. Banking.
the jurisdiction of Municipalities. 4. Insurance.
As per this Constitutional Amendment 5. Stock exchanges and futures
3 types of urban institutions have been markets.
established on the basis of population 6. Patents, inventions and designs;
copyright; trade-marks and
they are –
merchandise marks.
1. Nagar Panchayat for a transitional
7. Census.
area.
8. Corporation tax.
2. Municipal council for a smaller 9. Any other matter not enumerated
urban area. in List II or List III including any
3. Municipal corporation for a larger tax not mentioned in either of
urban area. those lists.
Centre – State Relations State List (List II)
The basic provisions regarding the 1. Public order.
distribution of powers between the 2. Local government.
central & provincial governments are 3. Public health and sanitation.
in Part XI & XII of the Constitution. 4. Libraries, museums and other
Both the Union & the States derive similar institutions.
their authority from the Constitution, 5. Agriculture.
which divides all powers Legislative, 6. Fisheries.
executive & financial between them. 7. Gas and gas-works.
Our Constitution makers elaborate 8. Markets and fairs.
provisions to govern centre state 9. Captivation taxes.
Polity B-253

Concurrent List (List III) (b) For providing cooperation for the
1. Criminal law. implementation of development
2. Criminal procedure. plans & progress.
3. Preventive detention. Composition : The Union Home
4. Marriage and divorce. Minister is the ex–officio chairman
5. Transfer of property other than of all the Zonal Councils. Each
agricultural land. Zonal council includes the Chief
6. Contracts. Ministers of the member states &
7. Civil procedure. the Administrators of the Union
8. Contempt of court, but not Territories. The chief secretaries of
including contempt of the the member states are also included.
Supreme Court. Uniform Civil Code
9. Prevention of cruelty to animals.
No specific definition is available
10. Economic and social planning.
on UCC. All we know is that some
11. Legal, medical and other
common law covering issues relating
professions.
to marriage, succession and property
12. Electricity.
is called Uniform Civil Code but what
13. Archaeological sites.
these laws would be is anyone’s guess.
II. Inter state Council In article 44, our constitution clearly
Inter–State Council is one of the specifies the UCC: “The State shall
important extra judicial bodies formed endeavour to secure the citizen a
in 1990 on the recommendation of Uniform Civil Code throughout the
Sarkaria Commission. The Article territory of India”. The constitution is
263 of Constitution empowers the thus, very clear that unless a uniform
President to appoint or establish an civil code is followed, integration
Inter–State Council for (1) enquiring cannot be imbibed. However, the fact
into & advising upon inter–state is that it is only a “directives principle”
disputes. (2) Investigate & Discuss laid down in the constitution and as
on subjects in which states alone or Article 37 of the Constitution itself
states & union have common interest. makes clear, the directive principles
The Council is headed by the Prime “shall not be enforceable by any court”.
Minister & its members include 6 Nevertheless, they are “fundamental in
Cabinet Ministers & Chief Ministers the governance of the country”. This
shows that although our constitution
of States.
itself believes that a Uniform Civil
III. Zonal Council Code should be implemented in
Zonal Councils were constituted some manner, it does not make this
on the recommendation of States implementation mandatory. Hence,
Reorganization Commission 1956. the debate on having a uniform civil
In 1956, five zonal councils were code for India still continues. The
established – North, South, East, demand for a uniform civil code
West & Central. In 1971, the 6th zonal essentially means having one set of
council was established i.e. North–east laws that will apply to all citizens of
zonal council. Its objectives are:– India irrespective of their religion.
(a) To promote collective approach & Though the exact contours of such a
sorting out common problems of uniform code have not been spelt out,
the member states. it should presumably incorporate the
B-254 Polity

most modern and progressive aspects Nehru’s promise that Article 370 will
of all existing personal laws while be gradually abrogated, it has not
discarding those which are retrograde. happened even after more than six
decades have whiled away.
Article 370 It is not known to many that the article
Under Article 370 of the Indian 370 has been eroded time and again
Constitution, Jammu & Kashmir is due to a series of Presidential Orders.
granted autonomy. It is a ‘temporary These orders over a period of time
provision’ that accords special status have made almost all Union laws
to the state. All the provisions of applicable to J&K. Today, the state
is within the “scope and jurisdiction”
the Constitution are not applicable
of almost every institution of India.
to J&K, unlike other states. Except
finance, defence, communications, How J&K Different from Other
and foreign affairs, central government States?
needs the state government’s consensus •• Directive Principles of State
for applying all other laws. Because Policy (DPSP) are not applied to
of this article, residents of Kashmir J&K but applied to other states.
follow separate set of laws in terms of DPSP = states are required to do
citizenship, property ownership, and some things for the welfare of
other rights. community.
•• President can’t declare financial
Moreover, as per Article 370, the power
emergency (salaries and allowances
of Parliament to make laws for the said reduction etc.) in relation to J&K.
State is “limited to those matters in •• High Court of J&K can issue
the Union List and the Concurrent writs only for enforcement of
List.” It doesn’t have the authority Fundamental Rights.
to increase or reduce the borders of •• Right to property is still guaranteed
the state. For those uninitiated, the in J&K.
article was drafted by N. Gopalaswami •• Permanent residents of J&K have
Ayyangar in 1949 against the wish some special fundamental rights.
of Dr BR Ambedkar, who found •• Although Supreme Court, EC and
it discriminatory and against the CAG are applicable to J&K along
interest of India. Despite Jawaharlal with all other states.

CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES
Election Commission are appointed by the President for
It is a permanent & an independent a term of 6 years. The Regional
Commissioners may also be appointed
body established by the Constitution by the President in consultation with
of India directly to ensure free & fair the Election Commission for assisting
elections in the country. Elections to the Election Commission. The CEC
Parliament, State legislatures, President can be removed from office before
& Vice–President are vested in it. expiry of his term by the President
Composition: The Election on the basis of a Resolution passed by
Commission consists of a Chief the Parliament by a special majority
Election Commissioner & such other on the ground of proved misbehavior
commissioners as the President may, or incapacity. The other Election
form time to time, decide. Commissioners may be removed by
Appointment & Term: The CEC the President on the recommendation
& other Election Commissioners of the CEC.
Polity B-255

Powers & Functions:

Current Chief Election Commissioner is Mr. Nasim Zaidi

Public Service Commissions (c) On all disciplinary matters

person serving under the
I. Union Public Service goverment of India.
Commissions (UPSC) 4. Presents annually to the President
•• Independent Constitutional body. a report on its performance. The
•• Recruitment of civil servants at President places this report before
the union level. both the Houses of Parliament.
•• Chairman & members are II. State Public Service
Commission
appointed by the President & have
tenure of 6 years or until age of •• Recruitment of Civil Services at
the state level.
65 years.
•• Two or more states, if parliament
•• The President can also remove provides by law, may have a Joint
them before expiry of their term on Public Service Commission.
grounds of proved misbehaviour. •• Service conditions of SPSC’s
The President can issue orders for members are determined by
the removal of the members of the Governor whereas service
UPSC only after the Supreme court conditions of Joint PSC are
makes such a recommendation on determined by President.
the basis of an enquiry. •• Chairman & members of SPSC
are appointed by Government &
Functions: in case of JPSC by the President.
1. Conduct examinations for •• Chairman & members of SPSC &
appointment to the services of JPSC have tenure of 6 years or
the union. until age of 62 years.
2. Assists the states in framing •• Members may resign by writing to
Governor. It is only the President
& operating schemes of joint
who can make a reference to the
recruitment. Supreme Court & make an order
3. Advises the President of India– of removal in pursuance of the
(a) All matters relating to report of the Supreme court.
methods of recruitment in Functions
civil services & for civils posts.
1. Conduct examinations for
(b) Suitability of Candidates for appointments to the services of
appointments for promotions. the state.
B-256 Polity

2. Advise on matter that may be National Commission for

referred by the Governor. Scheduled Castes & Tribes
3. Present Annual report to the The President has power to appoint
Governor who shall cause it to a National Commission for SCs &
be laid before the state legislature. STs. The Commission shall consist
4. Any other function that state of a Chairman, a Vice–Chairman &
legislature may by law assign.
5 other members. This Commission
Finance Commission was given contitutional status by the
An instrument which the constitution 65th Amendment Act 1990.
has evolved for the purpose of Functions
distributing financial resources 1. To investigate & monitor all
between centre & states is the Finance matters relating to the safeguards
Commission,. According to Article provided for SCs & STs under the
280 of the Constitution, it is to be Constitution of India & to evaluate
constituted by the President once every the working of such safeguards.
5 years consisting of a chairman & 2. To enquire specific complaints
four other members appointed by the with respect to the deprivation
President. of rights & safeguards of SCs &
Functions STs.
The duty of the Commission is 3. To submit its Annual Report to
to make recommendations to the the President.
President as to–
National Commission for
1. The distribution between the
Union & the States of the net
Backward Classes
proceeds of taxes which are to Article 340 empowers the President to
be divided between them and appoint a Commission to investigate
the allocation between the states the conditions of the socially &
themselves of the respective shares educationally backward classes. The
of such proceeds. Commission recommends removal of
2. The principles which should all difficulties of Backward Classes
govern the grant– in–aid of the & raising them to a higher social,
revenue of the states out of the educational & economic standard.
Consolidated fund of India. After constitution was adopted two
3. The measures needed to augment ‘Backward Class Commissions’
the consolidated fund of a state to were appointed – (1) Kaka Saheb
supplement the resources of the Kalelkar Committee & (2) B.P. Mandal
Panchayats & the Muncipalities Committee.
in the state on the basis of the
recommendation by the State Comptroller & Auditor –
Finance Commission. General (CAG)
4. Any other matter referred to the The CAG is the custodian of public
commission by the President in purse & controls the entire financial
the interests of sound finances. system of the country. He is appointed
Polity B-257

by the President for a period of 6 years Attorney General (AG)

or till he attains the age of 65 years The AG is the highest legal officer
whichever is earlier. It is his duty to
of the Goverment of India. He is
see that no money is spent out of the
appointed by the President & holds
Consolidated fund of India or of a
office during the pleasure of the
State without the authority of the
President. He must have the same
appropriate legislation. The reports
qualifications as are required to be a
of the CAG are presented to the
judge of the Supreme Court.
President or the Governor, as the case
Though the AG of India is not a
may be, & laid before the Parliament member of the Cabinet, he shall have
& the respective State legislatures. the right to address in the House of
In Lok Sabha, the Public Accounts Parliment but shall have no right to
Committee considers this Report. vote. In the performance of his official
The current CAG of India is duties the AG is entited to audience
Shashikant Sharma. in all Courts in the territory of India.
Functions Functions:
He can audit & report on:– 1. Give advice on all such legal
1. All expenditure from consolidated matters & to perform all such other
fund of India & each state & duties of a legal character as may,
each Union Territories having from time to time, be referred to
a legislative Assembly & see him by the President.
whether expenditure has been in 2. Discharge the functions conferred
accordance with the law. on him by the constitution or any
2. All expenditure from the other law for the time being in
Contingency Funds & Public force.
Accounts of the Union & the 3. Appear before the Supreme Court
states. & various High Courts in cases
3. All trading, manufacturing, profit involving the Goverment of India.
& loss accounts etc.., Kept by any Advocate General
Department of the Union or a Each state shall have an Advocate
State. General. He is the state’s counter
4. The receipts & expenditure of part of the Attorney General of India.
the Union & of each state to He is appointed by the Governor of
satisfy himself that the rules the State who holds office during the
& procedures are designed to pleasure of the Governor. A person
secure an effective check on the qualified to be a High Court Judge can
assessment, Collection & proper be appointed Advocate– General. He
allocation of revenue. has the right to address & take part
5. The receipts & expenditure of all in the proceedings of the House of
bodies & authorities substantially the State Legislature. But he has no
financed from the Union or state right to vote. His functions are similar
Revenues. to those of the Attorney – General.
B-258 Polity

NON–STATUTORY BODIES

PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of India was established on March 15, 1950 on
the basis of a resolution of the Cabinet to that effect. It is a non–statutory/
extra constitutional body. Prime Minister is the ex–officio Chairman of the
Planning Commission. The Deputy Chairman of planning Commission is
of Cabinet rank.
Assessment of material, capital and
human resources and prepare plans for
Examine Achievements of effective and balanced utilisation of these
Plans & suggest Corrective resources
measures

Functions of Determine Priorities

Determine appropriate & Define stages in
planning
machinery required for which plan should be
Commission
successful implement action carried out

Indicate factors which

Advise the retard Economic
Government development

National Development Council Functions

(NDC) •• Lays down the guidelines for the
NDC is one of the key organizations formulation of 5 year plans.
of the Planning system in India. It •• Approving & Reviewing the Plan
was set up by a resolution of Central from time to time.
goverment on August 6, 1952. It is •• Securing Corrdinated
an extra–constitutional body. It is implementation of the plans.
described as a Super Cabinet. It should •• Consider important questions of
meet atleast twice every year. social & economic policy affecting
Composition = Prime minister national development.
(Chairman) + Chief Minister of all
states + Administrators of all union NITI Aayog
territories The government of India has
All Union Cabinet Ministers + replaced Planning Commission with
Members of Planning Commission a new institution named NITI Aayog
Objectives (National Institution for Transforming
•• Strengthen & mobilize the efforts India).
for national planning & the The institution will serve as ‘Think
national resources. Tank’ of the Government - a
•• Prescribe common economic directional and policy dynamo.
policies. NITI Aayog will provide Governments
•• Ensure rapid & balanced economic at the Central and State Levels with
development of all parts of relevant strategic and technical advice
country. across the spectrum of key elements
Polity B-259

of policy, this includes matters of The chairperson & members of

national and international importance Lokpal shall be appointed by a
on the economic front, dissemination Selection Committee consisting of
of best practices from within the PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader
country as well as from other nations, of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief
the infusion of new policy ideas and Justice of India & an eminent jurist to
specific issue-based support. be nominated by the President based
Composition: NITI Aayog will have on the recommendations of the other
Prime Minister as its chairman, one members of the Selection Committee.
Vice-Chairman cum chief-executive The jurisdiction of Lokpal extends
officer, 5 fulltime members and 2 part to the PM, Ministers, Current &
time members, apart from 4 central former MPs & members of legislative
government ministers. assemblies, government employees
& employees of companies funded
Lokpal or controlled by the control or state
In India, the institution of government.
Ombudsman (Swedish word meaning It specifies a time limit of 60 days for
Commissioner) has given the name of completion of inquiry & 6 months for
Lokpal & use it as an anti-corruption completion of investigation by CBI.
institution. The Dictionary defines
the Ombudsman as ‘an official to
Lokayukta
investigate complaints by individual The anti-corruption institution of
against maladministration by public Lokayukta is set up at the state level.
authorities. Lokpal is visualised He is appointed by the Governor of
as the country’s watch dog. The the state. In most of the states, the
idea of creating Lokpal was first term of office fixed for Lokayukta is
conceptualized in 1968 in 4th Lok of 5 years duration or 65 years of age,
Sabha. Thereafter in 1971, 1977, 1985, whichever is earlier.
1989, 1996, 1998 & 2001 efforts were National Human Rights
made to enact legislation to create the Commission (NHRC)
institution of Lokpal. The Bill received
NHRC is a statutory body, established
Parliaments assent on 1st Jan 2013.
in 1993, to act as the watch dog of
The Bill as passed by Parliament
human rights in the country, that is the
creates a Lokpal at the centre which
rights relating to life, liberty, equality
shall consist of a chairperson &
& dignity of the individual guaranteed
upto 8 members. Half of these by the constitution or embodied in the
members should have higher judicial international covenants & enforceable
experience & other half should have by courts in India. The commission
experience in public administration, is a multi-member body consisting of
finance, insurance & banking laws, a chairman and four members. The
anti corruption & vigilance. It also Chairman and members are appointed
provides that half the members of by the President. They hold office for
Lokpal shall be from amongst SCs, a term of 5 years or until they attain
STs, OBCs, minority & women. the age of 70 years.
 FEATURES OF INDIAN GOVERNMENT
B-260

Democracy Parliamentary Federal

Representatives Ensure Responsive Government Party 2 Heads Distribution Decentralisation

are elected by Political to the public governs through Repre- of powers of Authority
people indirectly freedom & opinion assembly or sentation
or directly. socio-economic parliament P.M. President
development (Head (Head
of of State)
Govt.)

Government is
responsible
INDIAN GOVERNMENT

to parliament
Union State Concurrent
List List List

Central State Local

Govt. Govt. Govt.
Polity
Polity B-261

Institutional Framework

Legislature Executive Judiciary

Law-making Law-Implementation Law-Adjudication

Body Body

Includes Ministers Settlement Judicial

Introduction, Make
Discussion & Laws & Civil Servants of Disputes Review
passing of
the bills
Formulation
Guardian
& Implementation
Responsible of Fundamental
of Plans & Policies
to the electorate Rights

LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

Union Govt.

State Govt.
PM Council Responsible for
of Administration
Ministers & Governance of
whole Country Chief Council of Responsible for
Minister Ministers Administration &
• District Level unit Governance of
• Examine the Budget State
• Organise meeting Local Govt.
& supervise work
of panchayat samiti
Panchayati Raj Institutions Municipalities
• Adopt measures for (Rural) (Urban)
completion of
activities
• Block level Zila Nagar
• Executive Organ Panchayat Panchayat
of Gram Sabha Panchayat Municipal
• Prepare Plans Samiti Council
• Perform social Gram
welfare & Municipal
Sabha Corporation
Developmental
of activities
• Lowest Unit
• Directly Elected
Members
B-262 Polity

ELECTIONS

3 Types Procedure Basis

Steps

General Mid term Adult Geographical Single Member

By Election
Election Election Suffrage Representation Territorial
1. Nomination Constituencies
of Candidates

Elections Election Election 2. Declaration

of Lok to till due to of final list
Sabha vacant Dissolvement of candidates
& State seat of of Lok Sabha or
Vidhan Sabha 3. Allotment
Assemblies a member of symbols to
of Lok before its tern
is over political
Sabha or parties &
State Independent
Legislative Candidates
Assembly
Election
Manifesto
& campaign

Polling

Counting
of votes

Declaration
of Result

Committees for Electoral Reform :

1. Tarkunde Committee (1974)
2. Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990)
3. Vohra Committee (1993)
4. Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998)
5. Election Commission of India Report on Proposed Electoral Reforms
(2004)
6. Tankha Committee (2010)
Important Electoral Reforms :
•• Lowering of voting age from 21 years to 18 years.
•• Use of Electronic Voting Machines.
•• Adjournment of poll or countermanding of elections in case of Booth
capturing.
•• Candidates of
Recognised
Parties
Listing of Candidates of
candidates Registered
Names Unrecognised
Parties
Other Independent
Candidates
Polity B-263

•• Contestants restricted to Two constituencies.

•• Campaigning period reduced from 20 to 14 days.
•• Declaration of criminal antecedents, assets, etc., by candidates on nomination
paper.
•• Ceiling on Election Expenditure Increased.
Political Parties & Pressure Group
Political Parties
•• Meaning : Group of persons who agree on some ideology & seek to capture
the power & form the government on the basis of collective leadership.
•• Type of Party System in India : Multi Party System :
•• Functions
(i) Representation
(ii) Elite Formation & Recruitment
(iii) Goal Formulation
(iv) Interest Articulation & Aggregation
(v) Socialization & Mobilization
(vi) Organization of Government.
•• Category of Political Party in India:-
Category

National Party State Party

6% of valid 2% seats in lok 6% of valid 3% of total

votes in 4 states sabha & members votes in state no. of seats
or more OR are elected from + OR or 3 seats
+ 3 different states in assembly,
2 seats in
4 seats in lok whichever is
sabha from any assembly
more
state or states
Pressure Groups
•• Represents socio-economic & political interests of a particular section in
political system. Eg. farmers, industrial workers etc.
•• Organised on basis of common goals & share similar values.
•• Seek support of party leaders, legislators & bureaucracy in vigorous pursuit
of their goals.
•• Exert pressure on government in order to obtain laws and administrative
measures in favour of their specific interests.
•• Termed as a “Anonymous Empire”
B-264 Polity

Types of Pressure Group in India

Types

Associational
Pressure Groups Non-Associational Institutional Anomic Pressure
Pressure Groups Pressure Groups Groups
Industry, Labour,
Agriculture, etc. Religion, Caste, Civil Services, Police, Adhoc interest
(Eg. ASSOCHAM, Tribe, language Defence services, Groups set up for
AITUC) or culture Public Sector specific objective
(Eg. Anglo-Indian Employees (Eg. All Assam
Christians Association) (Eg. AISA) Students Union)

NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES OF INDIA

No. Name Abbreviation Symbol Foundation Current
Year Leaders
1. Bharatiya BJP Lotus 1980 Amit Shah
Janata Party
2 Indian National INC Hand 1885 Sonia Gandhi
Congress
3 Communist CPI-M Hammer, 1964 Sitaram
Party of India Sickle and Yechury
(Marxist) star
4 Communist CPI Ears of 1925 Suravaram
Party of India corn and Sudhakar
sickle Reddy
5 Bahujan Samaj BSP Elephant 1984 Mayawtai
Party
6 Nationalist NCP Clock 1999 Sharad Pawar
Congress Party
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTY & PRESSURE GROUP
Political Party Pressure Group
1. Strive to organise public opinion Specific or sectional interets (united
in issues of public concern. (Wider objectives)
objectives)
2. Represents aggregation of interests. Represents specific interest. (Limited
(Large membership) Membership)
3. Generalist in organisation of Specialist in organisation of opinion.
opinion.
4. Contest Elections. Do not contest Elections.
5. Intention of gaining political power. No intention of gaining political power.
6. Help in formulating policies. Tend to influence the policies of
government.
Polity B-265

FOREIGN POLICY OF INDIA propounded & initiated in 1996 by

I.K. Gujral, the then Foreign Minister
I. Principles and objectives
in the Deve. Gowda Government. The
1. Preservation of India’s sovereign Doctrine is a 5-point roadmap to guide
independence. the conduct of India’s foreign relations
2. Non-alignment. with its neighbours.
3. Opposition to Imperialism, These 5 principles are as follows
colonialism & Racial discrimination. 1. With the neighbours India should
4. Opposition to discriminatory not ask for reciprocity, but give to
international regimes & hedonistic them what it can is good faith.
policies. 2. No south asian country should
5. Panchsheel allow its territory to be used
•• mutual respect for each other’s against the interest of another
territorial integrity &sovereignty. country of the region.
•• non-aggression 3. No, country should interfere in the
•• Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs of another country.
internal affairs. 4. All South Asian Countries should
•• equality & mutual benefit. respect each other’s territorial
•• peaceful co-existence. integrity & sovereignty.
6. Support for United Nations & 5. All South Asian countries should
international peace. settle all their disputes through
7. Promotion of unity & solidarity peaceful bilateral negotiations.
of Third world for securing an
IV. Nuclear Policy of India
equitable share in world politics.
India adopted its Nuclear doctrine in
II. Look East Policy
2003. Its main objectives are:-
India’s ‘Lok East’ Policy was first 1. India shall pursue a doctrine
initiated in 1992 by the then Prime of credible minimum nuclear
Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. Since deterrence.
then, the policy has been one of 2. India will not resort to the use or
the cornerstones of India’s foreign threat of use of nuclear weapons
policy. It lays emphasis on improving against states which donot
cooperation with India’s neighbouring possess nuclear weapons, or are
south-east & east. Asian countries not aligned with nuclear weapon
(eg. China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, powers.
Thailand etc.) & also engagement 3. Deterrence requires that India
with various regional organisations maintain:-
such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, (a) Sufficient, survivable &
BIMSTEC & Mekong Ganga operationally prepared nuclear
Cooperation (MGC). The policy is forces.
pursued in a multi faceted manner (b) Robust command & control
in diverse areas such as improved system.
connectivity, promotion of trade, (c) Effective intelligence & early
investment & cultural exchanges. warning capabilities.
III. Gujral Doctrine India’s first nuclear test - 18 May 1974.
The Gujral Doctrine is a milestone India second nuclear test- 11 May &
in India’s foreign policy. It was 13 May, 1998.
B-266 Polity

MODI’S VISIT TO NATIONS

1
Place Victoria, Seychelles
Date 10th-11thMarch
Purpose To strengthen maritime and bilateral ties
Agreements Cooperation in:
•• hydrography
•• renewable energy
•• infrastructure development
•• Sale of navigation charts and electronic
navigational charts.

2
Place Port Louis, Mauritius
Date 11th -13th March
Purpose To build strategic asset with the island nation.
Agreements Cooperation in:
•• MoU in the field of Ocean Economy.
•• Programme for Cultural Cooperation for the
year 2015-18.
•• MoU on Cooperation in the field of
Traditional System of Medicine and
Homeopathy.

3
Place Colombo, Sri Lanka
Date 13th -14th March
Purpose State Visit.
Agreements The two sides signed four agreements on :
•• visa
•• customs
•• youth development,
•• And building Rabindranath Tagore memorial
in Sri Lanka.

4
Place Paris, Toulouse, Neuve-Chapelle in France
Date 9th-12th April
Purpose Strengthening International Relations.
Agreements •• MoU between L&T and AREVA to improve
the financial viability of Jaitapur project.
•• MoU between ISRO and CNES on Megha
Tropiques, the joint project for sharing and
use of data from the satellite.
•• Railway protocol between Indian Ministry
of Railways and French National Railways
(SNCF) for semi-high speed rail and station
renovation.
Polity B-267

5
Place Singapore
Date 29th March
Purpose State funeral of Lee Kuan Yew
Agreements Along with attending the state funeral of Lee
Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Modi met several world
leaders including the Israeli President.

6
Place Berlin, Hannover in Germany
Date 12th-14th April
Purpose Strengthening Bilateral relations
Agreements No agreement signed until German Chancellor
Angela Merkel visits India in October 2015.

7
Place Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada
Date 14th-16th April
Purpose Bilateral Visit
Agreements •• Commercial agreements and announcements
worth 1.6 Billion Canadian Dollars under
which Saskatchewan-based Cameco will
supply India with over seven million pounds
of uranium over the next five years.

8
Place Xi’an, Beijing, Shanghai in China
Date 14th-16th May
Purpose Strengthen the Bilateral ties
Agreements •• MoU of skill development and
entrepreneurship of India and the ministry of
human resources and social security of China
focussing on vocational education and skill
development.
•• MoU on consultative mechanism for
cooperation in trade negotiations.
•• MoU on education exchange programme.
•• MoU of Niti Aayog and the Development
Research Centre, State Council of China.
•• MoU between Doordarshan and China
Central Television on cooperation in the field
of broadcasting.

9
Place Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Date 16th-17th May
Purpose International Relations
B-268 Polity

Agreements •• Agreement for avoidance of Double Taxation

and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with
Respect to Taxes on Income.
•• MoU for Cooperation of National Security
Council Secretariat of India and the Office of
National Security of Korea.
•• MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports of India and the Ministry of
Gender Equality and Family of Korea on
Cooperation in Youth Matters.

10
Place Seoul, South Korea
Date 18th-19th May
Purpose Promote Make in India
Agreements •• Cooperation in audio-visual co-production
enabling the co-production of films, animation
and broadcasting programmes.
•• MoU with Ministry of Power and the Ministry
of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea
on cooperation in the field of electric power
development and new energy industries.
•• MoU in the fields of maritime transport
and logistics including through sharing of
technologies, information and experiences.

11
Place Dhaka. Bangladesh
Date 6th-7th June
Purpose Expand the cordial relationship
Agreements •• Memorandum of Understanding between Coast
Guards
•• MoU on Prevention of Human Trafficking
•• MoU on Prevention of Smuggling and
Circulation Fake Currency Notes
•• MoU between Bangladesh and India and for
Extending a New Line of Credit (LoC) of US$ 2
billion by Government of India to Government
of Bangladesh
•• MoU on Blue Economy and Maritime
Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the
Indian Ocean
•• MoU on Use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports
•• MoU for a Project under IECC (India
Endowment for Climate Change) of SAARC
•• Agreement on Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati Bus
Service and its Protocol
•• Agreement on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus
Service and its Protocol.
Polity B-269

12
Place Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Date 6th July
Purpose To improve Bilateral and regional issues.
Agreements •• Cooperation in Law Enforcement to Counter-
Terrorism.
•• Cooperation in the field of defence and cyber
security.
•• UN Security Council Reforms to reaffirm India’s
candidature for permanent membership of UN
Security Council.

13
Place Astana, Kazakhstan
Date 7th July
Purpose Boosting trade, energy, defence and security
cooperation
Agreements •• MoU by JSC Kazxnex Invest and JSC Invest
India to establish bilateral trade and economic
relations.
•• MoU on Technical Cooperation in the sphere
of railways between the NC Kazakhstan Temir
Zholy JSC and India’s railways ministry.
•• MoU on defence cooperation which includes
supply of 5,000 tonnes of uranium to India
during 2015-19.
•• Transfers of sentenced persons.

14
Place Ufa, Russia
Date 8th -10th July
Purpose BRICS summit
Agreements •• MoU between Quality Council of India (QCI)
and Federal Accreditation Service of Russian
for elimination of technical barriers in trade
and economic cooperation.
•• MoU by Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) and the Russian Foundation for Basic
Research (RFBR) for cooperation in various
areas of health research.
•• MoU between TATA Power and Russian
Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) exploring
opportunities in the energy sector.
•• MoU between ACRON of Russia and
NMDC of Indiato acquire stake in a potash
mine in Russia.
•• MoU between ESSAR and ROSNEFT to
ensure ten year supply and purchasecrude oil
and feed stocks/productsby India.
B-270 Polity

•• Agreement for Training of Indian Armed

Forces Personnel in the Military Educational
Establishments of the Defence Ministry of the
Russian Federation establishing understanding
between the two forces.

15
Place Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Date 10th-11th July
Purpose To enhance cooperation among the two
nations.
Agreements •• MoU on Supply of Chemical Products between
the Indian Public Sector Undertaking ‘Rashtriya
Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited’ and the
Turkmen State concern ‘Turkmenhimiya’
•• MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of
the Ministry of External Affairs of India and
the Institute of International Relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
•• MoU between India and Turkmenistan on
Cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine.

16
Place Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan
Date 12th July
Purpose To counter threat of terrorism and extremism
Agreements •• Agreement on Defence Cooperation in
relation to matters of defence, security,
military education and training.
•• MoU and Cooperation in the field of
Electionsrelating to legislation on elections
and referendums.
•• Agreement on cooperation in culture
ensuringpreservation of cultural heritage,
organisation of folk arts, theatre.

17
Place Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Date 12th-13th July
Purpose Bilateral ties
Agreements •• Programme of Cooperation (POC) between
Ministries of Culture of India and Tajikistan
in the field of Culture for the years 2016-18
for greater cultural understanding between the
countries.
•• Exchange of Note Verbale (NV) on setting up
of Computer Labs in 37 Schools in Tajikistanto
set up computer labs in 37 schools in Tajikistan
for supporting Tajikistan’s human resource and
skill development efforts.
Polity B-271

18
Place Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Date 16th -17th August
Purpose To counter threat of terrorism and enhance
trade
Highlights •• UAE’s ‘landmark’ decision to allocate land
for a temple.
•• UAE to invest 4.5 lakh crore rupees in India.
•• UAE - India to boost trade and establish a
security dialogue.

19
Place Dublin, Ireland
Date 23rd September
Purpose To enhance trade and commerce and aviation.
Highlights •• Promotion of business links and cooperation to
boost tourism ties, which are already growing
at a yearly rate of 14 per cent.
•• Economic partnership in the fields of
information technology, biotechnology and
pharmaceuticals, agricultural and clean energy.
•• Ireland to provide support for India’s
membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group
and permanent seat in the UNSC.
•• Exchange of views on important international
issues like, terrorism, radicalism and the challenges
emerging out of it in Europe and Asia.

20
Place New York, San Francisco in USA
Date 24th-30thSeptember
Purpose United Nations General Assembly
Highlights •• PM Narendra Modi addressed the Indian
diaspora at the SAP Center in Silicon Valley.
•• Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced
a proposal for introduction of broadband
connectivity, through Wi-Fi hotspots, at 100
railway stations.
•• Qualcomm Incorporated announced
establishment of $150 million India-specific
Venture Fund formed to foster promising
Indian start-ups.
•• Modi launched Bharat Fund at India-
U.S. StartUp Konnect programme. It is
aimed at providing seed funding to Indian
entrepreneurs.
•• Modi answered questions from the audience
at a Townhall at the Facebook headquarters at
Menlo Park, California.
B-272 Polity

21
Place London, Chequers in United Kingdom
Date 12th-14th November
Purpose To enhance and deepen economic engagement.
Highlights •• India and the UK have announced commercial
deals worth 9 billion pounds in London.
•• OPG Power Ventures plc will further invest in
India by £2.9 billion to a total of £3.4 billion,
creating around 100 UK jobs over next few years.
•• Merlin Entertainments to open a Madame
Tussauds wax attraction in New Delhi in 2017.
•• Genus ABS to invest £1 million in India, creating
latest dairy genetics and constructing a state-of-
the-art facility near Pune.
•• Solar PV generator in the UK and Europe,
Lightsource, has announced a £2 billion
investment in India.
•• Vodafone has announced a range of further
investments in India totalling £1.3 billion
(` 13,000 crore) to support the Government
of India’s ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’
campaigns.
•• Holland & Barrett International has partnered
with Apollo Hospitals in a deal worth £20
million.
•• Bharti Airtel intends issuing its maiden sterling
bond of up to £500 million to be listed on the
London Stock Exchange.
•• Wipro has increased its investment in the UK
with the opening of its newest office for Wipro
Digital.
•• MoU signed between the two countries on tech
cooperation in the rail sector.

22
Place Antalya, Turkey
Date 15th–16th November
Purpose G-20 Summit
Highlights •• PM Modi met the leaders of Australia and
Spain, and also the Saudi Arabia’s King
Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the G20
Summit.
•• India and Turkey to team up for infrastructure
projects and tackling the problem of terrorism.
•• Modi urged the G20 nations to fulfil the global
aspirations for clean energy.
•• India promised to increase renewable power
capacity four-folds to 175 gigawatt by 2022
and cut fossil subsidies.
•• Nuclear-deal procedure for supplying uranium
has been sealed between India and Australia.
Polity B-273

23
Place Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date 21-22 November
Purpose ASEAN-India summit and East Asia Summit
Highlights •• MoU was signed on Performance Management
Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) to ensure excellent
cooperation in Public Administration and
Governance.
•• PM urged Malaysian government for co-
operation and enhanced participation in projects
like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Smart city’ initiatives.
•• PM Modi also announced the inauguration of
Torana Gate at the entrance of Little India in
Bricksfield, Kuala Lumpur.
•• India and Malaysia to deepen their cooperation
on security challenges and terrorism.

24
Place Singapore
Date 23rd-25th November
Purpose To elevate bilateral relations of both countries.
Highlights •• MoUs on curtailing drug trafficking and
improving cyber security.
•• Collaboration in urban planning and wastewater
management.
•• MoU for cooperation in civil aviation services
and airport management beginning with Jaipur
and Ahmedabad airports.
•• Extending of long-term loan of Indian artefacts
to the Asian Civilisations Museum of Singapore.

25
Place France
Date 30th November – 1st December
Purpose 2015 United Nations Climate Change
Conference COP21
Highlights •• PM Modi inaugurated India Pavilion
showcasing India’s harmony with nature,
environment and commitment to mitigate
climate change.
•• PM Modi and French President Francois
Hollande jointly unveiled the International
Solar Alliance.
•• PM Modi also attended ‘Mission Innovation’
hosted by President of the United States.

26 Place
Date
Russia
23rd December – 24th December

27 Place
Date
Afghanistan
25th December

28 Place
Date
Pakistan
25th December
B-274 Polity

World Polity
Cold War Era
Contemporary world politics is the
direct outcome of World War II.
In 1945, the Allied Forces, led by
the US, Soviet Union, Britain and
France defeated the Axis Powers led by
Germany, Italy and Japan, ending the
Second World War (1939- 1945). The
war had involved almost all the major
powers of the world and spread out
to regions outside Europe including Cuban Missile Crisis
Southeast Asia, China, Myanmar and The Cuban Missile Crisis is a time
parts of India’s northeast. when the United States and the Soviet
The First World War had earlier shaken Union almost had a nuclear war.
the world between 1914 and 1918. The When the U.S. discovered offensive
nuclear missiles in Cuba, it started
end of the Second World War was
a tense period of 13 days while the
also the beginning of the Cold War.
world watched to see if the Soviets
The world war ended when the United would remove the missiles, just 90
States dropped two atomic bombs on miles from the U.S.
the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and President Kennedy did not dare to
Nagasaki in August 1945, causing invade Cuba, because that action could
Japan to surrender. With the defeat of have started a world war - yet he could
Germany and Japan, the devastation not let the missile sites be completed.
of Europe and in many other parts With his advisers, he decided on a
of the world, the United States and naval blockade to prevent Russian
the Soviet Union became the greatest ships delivering the missiles for the
powers in the world with the ability to Cuban sites.
influence events anywhere on earth. Khrushchev warned that Russia
would see the blockade as an act
The Cold War — in spite of being an
of war. Russian forces were put on
intense form of rivalry between great
alert; US bombers were put in the air
powers — remained a ‘cold’ and not carrying nuclear bombs; preparations
hot or shooting war. The dominance were made to invade Cuba. There was
of two superpowers, the United States massive tension in both Washington
of America and the Soviet Union, was and Moscow. Everybody thought the
central to the Cold War. As a result world was going to come to an end.
Non Aligned Movement (NAM) as Secretly, the Americans suggested a
a challenge to the dominance of the trade-off of missile bases - US bases
two superpowers was born. in Turkey for Russian bases in Cuba.
Polity B-275

The Russians made the first public states which declared that armed
move. The ships heading for Cuba attack on any one of them in Europe or
turned back, and Khrushchev sent North America would be regarded as
a telegram offering to dismantle the an attack on all of them. It was created
Cuban bases if Kennedy lifted the in 1955 and its principal function was
blockade and promised not to invade to counter NATO’s forces in Europe.
Cuba. Then, as though having second In East and Southeast Asia and in
thoughts, he sent a second letter West Asia (Middle East), the United
demanding the dismantling of the States built an alliance system
Turkish bases. At the vital moment, called — the Southeast Asian Treaty
Organisation (SEATO) and the Central
a US U2 spy plane was shot down.
Treaty Organisation (CENTO). The
However, Kennedy ignored the U2
Soviet Union and communist China
attack and agreed publicly to the first responded by having close relations
letter, and secretly to the second. The with regional countries such as
crisis was over. North Vietnam, North Korea and
The Emergence of Two Power Iraq. The Cold War threatened to
divide the world into two alliances.
Blocs
Communist China quarrelled with the
The two superpowers were keen on USSR towards the late 1950s, and, in
expanding their spheres of influence 1969, they fought a brief war over a
in different parts of the world. In a territorial dispute. The other important
world sharply divided between the two development was the Non-Aligned
alliance systems, a state was supposed Movement (NAM), which gave the
to remain tied to its protective newly independent countries a way
superpower to limit the influence of of staying out of the alliances.
the other superpower and its allies. The Cold War did not eliminate
The smaller states in the alliances rivalries between the two alliances,
used the link to the superpowers for mutual suspicions led them to
their own purposes. They got the arm themselves to the teeth and to
constantly prepare for war. Huge stocks
promise of protection, weapons,
of arms were considered necessary
and economic aid against their local
to prevent wars from taking place.
rivals, mostly regional neighbours with In time, therefore, the US and USSR
whom they had rivalries. The alliance decided to collaborate in limiting or
systems led by the two superpowers, eliminating certain kinds of nuclear
therefore, threatened to divide the and non-nuclear weapons. A stable
entire world into two camps. This balance of weapons, they decided,
division happened first in Europe. could be maintained through ‘arms
Most countries of western Europe control’. Starting in the 1960s, the
sided with the US and those of eastern two sides signed three significant
Europe joined the Soviet camp. That agreements within a decade. These
is why these were also called the were the Limited Test Ban Treaty,
‘western’ and the ‘eastern’ alliances. Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
The western alliance was formalised and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
into an organisation, the North Thereafter, the superpowers held
Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), several rounds of arms limitation
which came into existence in April talks and signed several more treaties
1949. It was an association of twelve to limit their arms.
B-276 Polity

India and the Cold War on 1 July 1968. Entered into force on
As a leader of NAM, India’s response 5 March 1970. Extended indefinitely
to the ongoing Cold War was two-fold: in 1995.
At one level, it took particular care in Strategic Arms Limitation TalksI
staying away from the two alliances. (SALT-I): The first round of the
Second, it raised its voice against the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks began
newly decolonised countries becoming in November 1969. The Soviet leader
part of these alliances. India’s policy Leonid Brezhnev and the US President
was neither negative nor passive. Richard Nixon signed the following in
During the Cold War, India repeatedly Moscow on 26 May 1972 – a) Treaty
on the limitation of Anti-Ballistic
tried to activate those regional and
Missile Systems (ABM Treaty); and
international organisations, which
b) Interim Agreement on the limitation
were not a part of the alliances led
of strategic offensive arms. Entered
by the US and USSR.
into force on 3 October 1972.
Arms Control Treaties Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II
Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT): (SALT-II): The second round started
in November 1972. The US President
Banned nuclear weapon tests in the
Jimmy Carter and the Soviet leader
atmosphere, in outer space and under
Leonid Brezhnev signed the Treaty
water. Signed by the US, UK and
on the limitation of strategic offensive
USSR in Moscow on 5 August 1963.
arms in Vienna on 18 June 1979.
Entered into force on 10 October 1963. Strategic Arms Reduction TreatyI
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (START-I): Treaty signed by the
(NPT): Allows only the nuclear USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev
weapon states to have nuclear weapons and the US President George Bush
and stops others from aquiring them. (Senior) on the reduction and
For the purposes of the NPT, a limitation of strategic offensive arms
nuclear weapon state is one which in Moscow on 31 July 1991.
has manufactured and exploded a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
nuclear weapon or other nuclear II (START-II): Treaty signed by the
explosive device prior to 1 January Russian President Boris Yeltsin and
1967. So there are five nuclear weapon the US President George Bush (Senior)
states: US, USSR (later Russia), on the reduction and limitation of
Britain, France and China. Signed in strategic offensive arms in Moscow
Washington, London, and Moscow on 3 January 1993.

UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations is an international Quick Facts
organization founded in 1945 after the •• Membership: 193 Member States
Second World War by 51 countries •• Established: 24 October 1945
committed to maintaining international •• Current UN peacekeeping
peace and security, developing operations : 16
friendly relations among nations •• Official languages: Arabic,
and promoting social progress, better Chinese, English, French, Russian,
living standards and human rights. Spanish.
Polity B-277

•• The first day approved by the UN Aims and Objectives

General Assembly was United
The Main objectives of the UN are :
Nations Day, 24 October (by
(1) To maintain peace and security in
resolution 168 (II) of 31 October
the world.
1947).
(2) To work together to remove
•• Based on five principal organs
poverty, disease and illiteracy and
(formerly six–the Trusteeship
encourage respect for each other’s
Council suspended operations
rights of basic freedom.
in 1994, upon the independence
(3) To develop friendly relations among
of Palau, the last remaining UN
nations.
trustee territory); the General
(4) To be a centre to help nations
Assembly, the Security Council,
achieve these common goals.
the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), the Secretariat, and The six main organs of the
the International Court of Justice. United Nations System are :
•• General Assembly: 193 Member
States General Assembly
•• Security Council: 5 permanent The General Assembly is the main
members and 10 non-permanent deliberative assembly of the United
Nations. Composed of all United.
The Permanent Members of the Nations member states, the assembly
Security Council meets in regular yearly sessions under
•• The Peoples’ Republic of China; a president elected from among the
•• The Republic of France; member states.
•• The United Kingdom of Great Security Council
Britain and Northern Ireland; The Security Council is charged
•• The Russian Federation; and with maintaining peace and security
•• The United States of America. among countries. While other organs
Official Language of United Nations : of the United Nations can only
There are six official languages make ‘recommendations’ to member
of the United Nations, used in governments, the Security Council has
intergovernmental meetings and the power to make binding decisions
that member governments have agreed
documents. They are Arabic, Chinese,
to carry out, under the terms of Charter
English, French, Russian and Spanish. Article 25. The decisions of the Council
The UN Flag and the Emblem are known as United Nations Security
Council resolutions.
The UN General Assembly adopted The Security Council is made up of
the UN flag on 20 Oct. 1947. The 15 member states, consisting of 5
white UN emblem is super-imposed on permanent members–China, France,
a light blue back ground. The emblem Russia, UK, USA and 10 non-
consists of the globe map projected permanent members.
from the North pole and embraced in Secretariat
twin olive branches (symbol of peace). The United Nations Secretariat is
The UN emblem was approved on 7 headed by the Secretary-General,
Oct. 1946. assisted by a staff of international
B-278 Polity

civil servants worldwide. It provides United Nations Charter, the Court

studies, information, and facilities began work in 1946 as the successor to
needed by United Nations bodies the Permanent Court of International
for their meetings. It also carries out Justice.
tasks as directed by the UN Security Economic and Social Council
Council, the UN General Assembly, Economic and Social Council
the UN Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC) assists the General Assembly
and other UN bodies. in promoting international economic
The Secretariat is headed by the and social cooperation and development.
Secretary-General, who acts as the ECOSOC has 54 members, all of which
spokesperson and leader of the UN. are elected by the General Assembly
The current Secretary-General is Ban for a three-year term.
Ki-moon, who took over from Kofi
Trusteeship Council
Annan in 2007 and will be eligible
for reappointment when his first term It is one of the principal organs of
expires in 2011. United Nations which armed at ensuring
the fact that the trust territories were
International Court of Justice administered in the best interest of their
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in habitant and of international peace
located in The Hague, Netherlands, is and security. It was formed in 1945
the primary judicial organ of the United council the mission of the was fulfilled,
Nations. Established in 1945 by the it collapsed on 1 November 1994.
Secretaries-General of the United Nations
No. Name Country of Took office Left office
origin
1 Trygve Lie Norway 2-Feb-46 10-Nov-52
2 Dag Hammarskjold Sweden 10-Apr-53 18-Sep-61
3 U Thant Burma 30-Nov-61 1-Jan-72
4 Kurt Waldheim Austria 1-Jan-72 1-Jan-82
5 Javier Pérez de Cuéllar Peru 1-Jan-82 1-Jan-92
6 Boutros Boutros-Ghali Egypt 1-Jan-92 1-Jan-97
7 Kofi Annan Ghana 1-Jan-97 1-Jan-07
8 Ban Ki-moon South Korea 1-Jan-07 Incumbent

SPECIALIZED AGENCIES OF
THE UNITED NATIONS
United Nations Educational, Members : 195 member states
Scientific and Cultural and 9 associate
Organization (UNESCO) members
Functions:
Headquarters : Place de Fontenoy,
•• Mobilizing for education by
Paris, France
providing every child, irrespective
Established : 16 November 1945
of its gender quality education as
Head : Irina Bokova,
a fundamental human right
Polity B-279

•• Creation of World Heritage Members : 188 states (187

Sites to support cultural diversity UN countries and
and protect sites of outstanding Kosovo)
universal value. Functions :
•• Pursuing scientific cooperation •• World Bank provides various
•• Protecting freedom of expression technical services to the member
countries.
The United Nations Children’s •• Bank can grant loans to a member
Fund (UNICEF) country up to 20% of its share in
Headquarters : New York City the paid-up capital.
Established : 11 December 1946 •• Quantities of loans, interest rate
Head : Anthony Lake and terms and conditions are
Members : 36 Member States determined by the Bank itself.
Functions : •• Bank grants loans for a particular
•• Child protection from violence, project duly submitted to the Bank
exploitation and abuse along with by the member country.
social inclusion for disabled.
•• Basic education and gender The International Monetary
equality through programmes Fund (IMF)
like girls education innovation for Headquarters : Washington, D.C.
education learning for the peace Established : 27 December 1945
out-of-school initiative. Head : Christine Lagarde
•• Policy advocacies and partnership Members : 188 countries
through data analysis, leveraging Functions :
resources and child participation. •• Surveillance over Members’
International Labour Economic Policies
Organization (ILO) •• Financing Temporary Balance of
Payments Needs
Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland •• Combating Poverty in Low-
Established : 1919 Head: Guy Income Countries
Ryder •• Mobilizing External Financing
Members : 185 of the 193
member states of the The World Health Organization
United Nations plus (WHO)
the Cook Islands are Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
members of the ILO Established : 7 April 1948
Functions : Head : Margaret Chan,
•• Creation of international labour Director General
standards Members : 194 member states
•• Formulation of international
Functions :
policies,
•• Technical assistance training, •• Providing leadership on matters
•• Education, research and publishing critical to health and engaging in
activities partnerships where joint action is
needed;
World Bank (WB) •• Shaping the research agenda
Headquarters : Washington, DC, USA and stimulating the generation,
Established : July 1944 dissemination of valuable
Head : Jim Yong Kim knowledge
B-280 Polity

•• Providing technical support, Functions :

catalyzing change, and building •• Peaceful uses: Promoting the
sustainable institutional capacity; peaceful uses of nuclear energy
•• Monitoring the health situation by its member states.
and assessing health trends. •• Safeguards: Implementing
International Fund for safeguards to verify that nuclear
Agricultural Development energy is not used for military
Objective (IFAD) purposes.
•• Nuclear safety: Promoting high
Headquarters : Rome, Italy
standards for nuclear safety.
Established : 1977
Head : Kanayo F. Nwanze United Nations Industrial
Members : 176 member statesv Development Organization
(174 UN members (UNIDO)
states along with
the Cook Islands and Headquarters : Vienna, Austria
Niue) Established : 1966(converted to a
Functions : specialized agency in
To ensure that poor rural mass have 1985)
access to: Head : Li Yong
•• Natural resources, especially Members : 172 States
secure access to land and water Functions :
•• Improved agricultural technologies •• Assists developing countries in
and effective production services. the formulation of development,
•• A broad range of financial services institutional, scientific and
The Food and Agriculture technological policies and
Organization of the United programmes in the field of
industrial development;
Nations (FAO)
•• Analyzes trends, disseminates
Headquarters : Palazzo, Rome, Italy information and coordinates
Established : 16 October 1945, in activities in their industrial
Quebec City, Canada
development;
Head : José Graziano da
•• Acts as a forum for consultations
Silva
and negotiations directed towards
Members : 197 members
Functions: the industrialization of developing
•• Help eliminate hunger, food countries;
insecurity and malnutrition. The United Nations World
•• Make agriculture, forestry and Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
fisheries more productive and
sustainable. Headquarters : Madrid, Spain
•• Reduce rural poverty Established : 1957
Head : Taleb Rifai
International Atomic Energy Members : 157 states
Agency (IAEA) Functions :
Headquarters : Vienna, Austria To promote and develop sustainable
Established : July 29, 1957 tourism so as to contribute to
Head : José Yukiya Amano economic development, international
Members : 166 member states understanding, peace, prosperity etc.
Polity B-281

The World Food Programme in contributing to the safety and

(WFP) welfare of humanity
Headquarters : Rome, Italy •• Under WMO, National
Established : 1961 Meteorological and Hydrological
Head : Ertharin Cousin Services contribute substantially to
Members : 36 member states. the protection of life and property
Functions : against natural disasters
•• Save lives and protect livelihoods The United Nations
in emergencies. Development Programme
•• Support food security and nutrition
(UNDP)
and (re) build livelihoods in fragile
settings Headquarters : New York City
•• Reduce risk and enable people, Established : 1965
communities and countries to Head : Helen Clark
meet their own food and nutrition Members : 177 countries
needs. Functions :
•• Poverty reduction
The World Intellectual Property •• Crisis prevention and recovery
Organization (WIPO) •• Environment and Energy
Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
The United Nations High
Established : July 14, 1967
Head : Francis Gurry
Commissioner for Refugees
(Director-General) (UNHCR)
Members : 188 member states Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
Functions : Established : 14 December 1950
•• Promoting creative intellectual Head : António Guterres
activity and for facilitating the Members : 98 members
transfer of technology related Functions :
to industrial property to the •• To lead and co-ordinate
developing countries international action to protect
refugees and resolve refugee
World Meteorological problems worldwide.
Organization (WMO) •• To protect and providing
Headquarters :Geneva, Switzerland humanitarian assistance to whom
Established : 1950 HeadMichel it describes as other persons “of
Jarraud (Secretary- concern,” including internally
General) displaced persons
Members : 191 Member States
and Territories The United Nations
Functions : Environment Programme
•• Provides a frame work for (UNEP)
international cooperation in the Headquarters : Nairobi, Kenya
development of meteorology and Established : 5 June 1972
operational hydrology and their Head : Achim Steiner
practical application. Members : 54 countries on the
•• played a unique and powerful role African Continent
B-282 Polity

Functions : •• Universal primary education

•• Assessing global, regional and and closing the gender gap in
national environmental conditions education by 2015
and trends •• Reducing maternal mortality by
•• Developing international and 75 per cent by 2015
national environmental instruments •• Reducing infant mortality
•• Strengthening institutions for
the wise management of the United Nations Conference on
environment Trade and Developmental
The United Nations Population Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
Established : 1964
Fund (UNFPA)
Head : Dr. Babatunde
Headquarters : New York City Osotimehin
Established : 1969 Members : 194 member states
Head : Dr. Babatunde
Functions :
Osotimehin
•• To formulate policies relating to all
Members : 36 countries
aspects of development including
Functions :
trade, aid, transport, finance and
•• Universal access to reproductive
technology.
health services by 2015
UN INTERNATIONAL YEARS
Since 1959 the UN has designated International years in order to draw attention
to major issues and to encourage international action to address concerns
which have global importance and ramifications.
2000 International Year for the Culture of Peace; and
International Year of Thanksgiving
2001 International Year of Volunteers; and
United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations; and
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and
Related Intolerance
2002 International Year of Mountains; and
International Year of Culture Heritage; and
International Year of Ecotourism
2003 International Year of Freshwater
2004 International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and Its Abolition;
and
International Year of Rice
2005 International Year of Microcredit; and
International Year for Sport and Physical Education
2006 International Year of Deserts and Desertification
2008 International Year of the Potato; and
International Year of Planet Earth; and
International Year of Sanitation; and
International Year of Languages
Polity B-283

2009 International Year of Human Rights Learning - from 10 December 2008 (Human
Rights Day) to
10 December 2009
International Year of Reconciliation; and
International Year of Natural Fibres; and
International Year of Astronomy
2010 International Year of Biodiversity; and
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding - from 12
August 2010 (International Youth Day) to 11 August 2011
2011 International Year of Forests; and
International Year of Chemistry; and
International Year for People of African Descent
2012 International Year of Cooperatives
2013 International Year of Water Cooperation.
2014 International Year of Family Farming International Year of Crystallagraphy

International decades
2011–2020 Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
Decade of Action for Road Safety.
2010–2020 United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification.
2008–2017 Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty.
2006–2016 Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions
(third decade after the Chernobyl disaster).
2005–2015 International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”.
2005–2014 United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Second
International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
2003–2012 United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All.
2001–2010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the
Children of the World.
Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in
Africa.
Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

International U.N. Week

•• March 21–27 Week of Solidarity (International) Peace Week.

with the Peoples Struggling against •• October 4–10 - World Space Week,
Racism and Racial Discrimination, recognized by the UN.
recognized by the UN. •• October 24–30 - Disarmament
•• April 25 – May 2 (2009) — Week, recognized by the UN.
Vaccination Week In The Americas. •• October 25–31 - International
•• May 25–31 Week of Solidarity with Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness
the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Week.
Territories, recognized by the UN. •• Road Safety Week - November
•• 4th week of September - •• Shark Week - Summer
B-284 Polity

UN WOMEN The World Trade Organization

The United Nations agreed to the (WTO) is the only global international
formation of a new institution organization dealing with the rules of
trade between nations. The goal is to
named “UN Women” on 2nd July
help producers of goods and services,
2010. The main objective will be the
exporters, and importers conduct
sexual/gender equality and women
their business.
empowerment.
Facts :
The fifty-ninth session of the
Location : Geneva, Switzerland
Commission on the Status of
Established : 1 January 1995
Women took place at United
Created by : Uruguay Round
Nations Headquarters in New
negotiations (1986-
York from 9 to 20 March 2015.
94)
Representatives of Member States ,
Membership : 161 members
UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited
Head : Roberto Azevedo
non-governmental organizations
Functions :
(NGOs) from all regions of the
•• Administering WTO trade
world attended the session. The
agreements
main focus of the session was on the
•• Forum for trade negotiations
Beijing Declaration and Platform for •• Handling trade disputes
Action, including current challenges •• Monitoring national trade policies
that affect its implementation and the •• Technical assistance and training
achievement of gender equality and for developing countries
the empowerment of women. •• Cooperation with other international
The sixtieth session of the Commission organizations
on the Status of Women will take place Event: Tenth WTO Ministerial
at the United Nations Headquarters in Conference (15th to 19th Dec, 2015)
New York from 14 to 24 March 2016. Place : Nairotri, Kenya
World Trade Organization Agenda: Decision on agriculture,
(WTO) cotton and issues related to least
developed countries.

OTHER AGENCIES
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Movement and are not Oceanian (with
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) the exception of Papua New Guinea
is an intergovernmental organization and Vanuatu).
of states considering themselves not The organization was founded in
aligned formally with or against any Belgrade in 1961, and was largely
major power bloc. As of now, the the brainchild of Yugoslavia’s first
organization has 120 members and 17 President, Josip Broz Tito, India’s first
observer countries. Generally speaking Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru,
the Non-Aligned Movement members Egypt’s second President, Gamal
can be described as all of those countries Abdel Nasser, and Indonesia’s first
which belong to the Group of 77 (along President, Sukarno. All four leaders
with Belarus and Uzbekistan), but were prominent advocates of a middle
which are not observers in Non-Aligned course for states in the Developing
Polity B-285

World between the Western and The symbol of their free association
Eastern blocs in the Cold War. is the Head of the Commonwealth,
The purpose of the organisation as which is a ceremonial position currently
stated in the Havana Declaration held by Queen Elizabeth II.
of 1979 is to ensure “the national Member countries span six continents
independence, sovereignty, territorial and oceans from Africa (19), Asia (8),
integrity and security of non-aligned the Americas (2), the Caribbean (12),
countries” in their “struggle against Europe (3) and the South Pacific (10).
imperialism, colonialism, neo- The Commonwealth Heads of
colonialism, racism, and all forms Government Meeting, abbreviated to
of foreign aggression, occupation, CHOGM, is a biennial summit meeting
domination, interference or hegemony of the heads of government from all
as well as against great power and Commonwealth nations. Every two years
bloc politics.” They represent nearly the meeting is held in a different member
two-thirds of the United Nations’s state, and is chaired by that nation’s
members and 55% of the world respective Prime Minister or President,
population, particularly countries who becomes the Commonwealth
Chairperson-in-Office.
considered to be developing or part
Event: Young Professional Programme
of the third world.
(2015)
Event: Working group meeting (14-
Place: London
July, 2015)
Agenda: Recruit young professionals in
Place: Egypt Agenda total elimination the division such as Economic Policy,
of nuclear weapons. Rule of Law, Human Resources and
THE COMMONWEALTH Youth.
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally European Union
referred to as the Commonwealth The European Union (EU) is an
and previously known as the British economic and political union of 28
Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental member states which are located
organisation of fifty-four independent primarily in Europe.
member states. All except two The Maastricht Treaty established the
(Mozambique and Rwanda) of these European Union under its current name
countries were formerly part of the in 1993. The last amendment to the
British Empire. constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty
The member states co-operate within of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.
a framework of common values and Event: European Council, (17-18
goals. These include the promotion December 2015)
Place: Brussels
of democracy, human rights, good
Agenda: Focused on migration, fight
governance, the rule of law, individual against terrorism, the five presedent’s
liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, report on the Economic and Monetary
multilateralism and world peace. The Union the completion of the single market
Commonwealth is not a political union, and the UK plans for the referendum.
but an intergovernmental organisation
through which countries with diverse SAARC
social, political and economic The South Asian Association for
backgrounds. Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an
B-286 Polity

organization of South Asian nations, 8th New Delhi 2-4 May 1995
founded in 1985. Its seven founding 9th Malé 12-14 May 1997
members are Bangladesh, Bhutan,
10th Colombo 29-31 July 1998
India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined the 11th Kathmandu 4-6 January
organization in 2007. Meetings of 2002
heads of state are usually scheduled 12th Islamabad 2-6 January
annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, 2004
twice annually. Headquarters are in 13th Dhaka 12-13 November
Kathmandu, Nepal. 2005
•• The concept of SAARC was first 14th New Delhi 3-4 April 2007
adopted by Bangladesh during 15th Colombo 1-3 August 2008
1977, under the administration 16th Thimphu 28-29 April 2010
of President Ziaur Rahman. 17th Maldives November 2011
•• Afghanistan was added to the 18th Nepal 2014
regional grouping on 13 November
19th Pakistan 2016
2005.
•• On 2 August 2006 the foreign DESIGNATED SAARC YEARS
ministers of the SAARC countries
1989 SAARC Year of Combating
agreed in principle to grant
Drug Abuse and Drug
observer status to the US, South
Trafficking
Korea and the European Union.
•• The SAARC Secretariat was 1990 SAARC Year of Girl Child
established in Kathmandu on 16 1991 SAARC Year of Shelter
January 1986 and was inaugurated 1992 SAARC Year of
by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Environment
Shah of Nepal. 1993 SAARC Year of Disabled
•• The SAARC Secretariat and Persons
Member States observe 8 December
1994 SAARC Year of the Youth
as the SAARC Charter Day .
1995 SAARC Year of Poverty
SAARC SUMMITS Eradication
No. Location Date 1996 SAARC Year of Literacy
1st Dhaka 7-8 December 1997 SAARC Year of
1985 Participatory Governance
2nd Bangalore 16-17 November
1999 SAARC Year of Biodiversity
1986
3rd Kathmandu 2-4 November 2002- SAARC Year of
1987 2003 Contribution of Youth to
Environment
4th Islamabad 29-31 December
1988 2004 SAARC Awareness Year for
5th Malé 21-23 November TB and HIV/AIDS
1990 2005 South Asia Tourism Year
6th Colombo 21-Dec-91 2006 South Asia Tourism Year
7th Dhaka 10-11 April 1993 2007 Green South Asia Year
Polity B-287

NATO organization facilitating international

The North Atlantic Treaty police cooperation. It was established
Organization or NATO also called as the International Criminal Police
the (North) Atlantic Alliance, is an Commission in 1923 and adopted its
intergovernmental military alliance telegraphic address as its common
based on the North Atlantic Treaty name in 1956.
which was signed on 4 April 1949. The Its membership of 190 countries
NATO headquarters are in Brussels, provides finance of around $78
Belgium, and the organization million through annual contributions.
constitutes a system of collective The organization’s headquarters is in
defence whereby its member states Lyon, France.
agree to mutual defense in response Its current Secretary-General is
to an attack by any external party. Jiirgen Stock. Mireilli Ballestrazzi is
On 1 April 2009, membership was
the current president.
enlarged to 28 with the entrance of
Events: Conference on strengthening
Albania and Croatia.
Meetings of NATO Ministers of law enforcement capacity in the
Foreign Affairs Americas (14-15 December, 2015)
Place: Brussels Place: Trenidad and Tabago.
Agenda: Open door policy Agenda: Discuss strategic and
operational policing issues affecting
SEATO the Americas region and to identify
The Southeast Asia Treaty the ways to strengthen collaborating
Organization (SEATO) was an partnerships.
international organization for
collective defense which was signed GROUP OF 8
on September 8, 1954 in Manila. The The Group of Eight is a forum, created
formal institution of SEATO was
by France in 1975, for governments
established at a meeting of treaty
of six countries in the world: France,
partners in Bangkok in February
1955. It was primarily created to block Germany, Italy, Japan, the United
further communist gains in Southeast Kingdom, and the United States. In
Asia. The organization’s headquarters 1976, Canada joined the group (thus
were located in Bangkok, Thailand. creating the G7). In 1997, the group
SEATO was dissolved on June 30, added Russia thus becoming the G8.
1977. In addition, the European Union
SEATO was planned to be a Southeast is represented within the G8, but
Asian version of the North Atlantic cannot host or chair. “G8” can refer
Treaty Organization (NATO), in to the member states or to the annual
which the military forces of each summit meeting of the G8 heads of
member would be coordinated to government.
provide for the collective defense of
Event: G8 Elmau Summit (7-8 June,
the members’ country.
2015)
INTERPOL Place: Germany
Interpol (the International Criminal Agenda: Biodiversity: A vital found-
Police Organization) is largest ation for sustainable development.
B-288 Polity

Group of 77 countries in the areas of investment,

The Group of 77 (G-77) was trade, and technology.
established on 15 June 1964 by Group of 20
seventy-seven developing countries The Group of Twenty Finance
signatories of the “Joint Declaration Ministers and Central Bank Governors
of the Seventy-Seven Countries” from 20 economies: 19 countries
issued at the end of the first session plus the European Union, which
of the United Nations Conference on is represented by the President of
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) the European Council and by the
in Geneva. Beginning with the first European Central Bank. Their
“Ministerial Meeting of the Group heads of government or state have
of 77 in Algiers (Algeria) on 10 - 25 also periodically meet at summits
October 1967, which adopted the since their initial meeting in 2008.
Charter of Algiers”, a permanent Collectively, the G-20 economies
institutional structure gradually comprise 85% of global gross national
developed which led to the creation product, 80% of world trade (including
of Chapters of the Group of 77 with EU intra-trade) and two-thirds of the
Liaison offices in Geneva (UNCTAD), world population.
Nairobi (UNEP), Paris (UNESCO), The G-20 was proposed by former
Rome (FAO/IFAD), Vienna Canadian Finance Minister Paul
(UNIDO), and the Group of 24 (G-24) Martin (later, Prime Minister) for
in Washington, D.C. (IMF and World cooperation and consultation on
matters pertaining to the international
Bank). Although the members of the
financial system.
G-77 have increased to the original
Event: Years Summit (15-16
name was retained because of its November, 2015)
historic significance. Place: Antalya, Turkey
GROUP OF 15 Agenda: Concrete action to slrengthen
the global economy, make goal growth
The Group of Fifteen (G-15) was more inclusive, enhance the resilience
established at a Summit Level Group of international financial system,
of Developing Countries in September mobilize investment for long-term
1989, following the conclusion of the growth and implement previous
Ninth Non-Aligned Summit Meeting commitments on economic reforms
in Belgrade. The Group was originally and labour markets.
founded by 15 developing countries.
While there are now 17 member Asian Development Bank
countries, the original name of the The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Group has been retained. is a regional development bank
This forum was set up to foster established on 22 August 1966 to
cooperation and provide input for facilitate economic development of
other international groups, such as countries in Asia. The bank admits
the World Trade Organization and the members of the UN Economic
the Group of Eight. It is composed Commission for Asia and the Far East
of countries from North America, (now UNESCAP) and nonregional
South America, Africa, and Asia with developed nations.
a common goal of enhanced growth Event: Loan Support Program to
and prosperity. The G-15 focuses Improve Urban Health in India (28
on cooperation among developing May 2015)
Polity B-289

Arab League Agenda: Discuss the significant

The Arab League is a regional achievements in the implementation
organisation of Arab states in North of the Road map for an ASEAN
and Northeast Africa, and Southwest community (2009-2015)
Asia. It was formed in Cairo on 22 OPEC
March 1945 with six members:
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi The Organization of the Petroleum
Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as Exporting Countries is a cartel of
a member on 5 May 1945. The Arab twelve developing countries made
League currently has 22 members up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador,
and four observers. The main goal Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria,
of the league is to “draw closer the Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
relations between member States and Emirates and Venezuela. OPEC has
co-ordinate collaboration between maintained its headquarters in Vienna
them, to safeguard their independence since 1965, and hosts regular meetings
and sovereignty, and to consider in a among the oil ministers of its Member
general way the affairs and interests Countries. Indonesia withdrew in 2008
of the Arab countries. after it became a net importer of oil,
Event: Arab League Summit 2015
but stated it would likely return if it
Place: Egypt
became a net exporter in the world
Agenda: Yeman, Libya and Joint
military force among tropics were again.
discussed. Event: OPEC 168th Meeting (4
December, 2015)
ASEAN Place: Vienna
The Association of Southeast Agenda: Negotiated the importances
Asian Nations is a geo-political and COP-21/CMP-11 for all OPED
economic organization of 10 countries member countries.
located in Southeast Asia, which
was formed on 8 August 1967 by APEC
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Singapore and Thailand. Since then, (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific
membership has expanded to include Rim countries that seeks to promote
Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, free trade and economic cooperation
Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
the acceleration of economic growth, Established in 1989 in response to
social progress, cultural development the growing interdependence of Asia-
among its members, the protection
Pacific economies and the advent of
of the peace and stability of the
regional economic blocs (such as
region, and to provide opportunities
for member countries to discuss the European Union and the North
differences peacefully. American Free Trade Area) in other
If ASEAN were a single country, it parts of the world, APEC works to
would rank as the 9th largest economy raise living standards and education
in the world and the 3rd largest in Asia levels through sustainable economic
in terms of nominal GDP. growth and to foster a sense of
Event: 27th ASEAN summit (18-22 community and an appreciation of
November, 2015) shared interests among Asia-Pacific
Place: Kuala Lumpur countries. Members account for
B-290 Polity

approximately 40% of the world’s Amnesty International

population, approximately 54% of Amnesty International was established
world GDP and about 44% of world on 28 May 1961, with its headquarters
trade. at London, by Peter Benson, a British
OECD lawyer.
A worldwide organization, it
The Organisation for Economic Co- investigates violations of human
operation and Development is an rights. It campaigns for the release of
international economic organisation all prisoners of conscience, provided
of 34 countries founded in 1961 to they have not used or advocated
stimulate economic progress and violence, fair, and prompt trails for all
world trade. It defines itself as a prisoners, and abolition of torture and
forum of countries committed to capital punishment. It now has more
democracy and the market economy, than 1,100,000 members in over 150
providing a platform to compare countries, with 6,000 local groups in
policy experiences, seeking answers 70 countries in Africa, the Americas,
to common problems, identifying Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. It
good practices, and co-ordinating won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1977.
domestic and international policies Red Cross
of its members.
Red cross was established in 1864
The OECD originated in 1948 as
by Jean Henri Durant. In 1859,
the Organisation for European
J.H. Durant, a Swiss businessman,
Economic Co-operation (OEEC),
travelling through Italy witnessed the
led by Robert Marjolin of France, Battle of Solferino, when France tried
to help administer the Marshall Plan to free Italy from Austrian domination,
for the reconstruction of Europe after in which about 30,000 soldiers were
World War II. Later, its membership wounded of killed. He organized relief
was extended to non-European work for the wounded soldiers and
states. In 1961, it was reformed into subsequently called for the formation
the Organisation for Economic Co- of a permanent relief society for those
operation and Development by the wounded in war. Durant’s appeal had
Convention on the Organisation immediate results. An international
for Economic Co-operation and conference took place in Geneva in
Development. Most OECD members 1864 where 26 governments were
are high-income economies with a represented. The Conference led
high Human Development Index to the Geneva Convention and the
(HDI) and are regarded as developed emblem of Red Cross was adopted.
countries (Chile being the only OECD Each year World Red Cross and Red
member which is also a member in the Crescent Day is celebrated on May
organisation of developing countries, 8, the birthday of its founder Henri
the Group of 77). Dunant. Its motto is Charity in War.
Event: OECD Forum 2015 A red cross on a white background
is its symbol (it is the reverse of the
Place: Paris
flag of Switzerland). The Red Cross
Agenda: Idea factories a new age and
completed 132 years on 8 May 1994
the future of the internet.
Polity B-291

and in it 126th year, it adopted the which is 40% of the world population,
slogan ‘125 Years at Work — and Stilll with a combined nominal GDP of
Developing’ US$16.039 trillion (20% world GDP)
In the Middle Fast, a Red Crescent and an estimated US$4 trillion in
replaces The Red cross. ICRC combined foreign reserves. As of
(International Committee of the Red 2014, the BRICS nations represented
Cross) together with the League of 18 percent of the world economy.
Red Cross Societies, constitutes the Brazil held the chair of the BRICS
International Red Cross. The League group in 2014, having hosted the
of Red Cross Societies was founded group’s sixth summit in 2014.
in 1929. Russia chaired the 7th BRICS summit
on 8-9th july 2015.
BRICS Events: 7th annual diplomatic summit
BRICS is the acronym for an (8-9 July, 2015)
Place: Ufa, Russia
association of five major emerging
Agenda: Inaugural meetings of
national economies: Brazil, Russia,
New Development Bank were held
India, China, and South Africa.
and BRICS contingent Reserve
The grouping was originally known Arrangement were discussed.
as “BRIC” before the inclusion of
South Africa in 2010. The BRICS MDG – 2015
members are all developing or newly The united Nation organisation started
industrialised countries, but they or fixed the millenium development
are distinguished by their large, fast- Goal (MDG-2015) in 2000. There
growing economies and significant are eight main aims mentioned in the
influence on regional and global goal. These goals range from halving
affairs; all five are G-20 members. extreme poverty rates to halting the
As of 2014, the five BRICS countries spread of HIV/AIDS and providing
represent almost 3 billion people universal primary education.
LIST OF PARLIAMENT OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Country Parliament Name Country Parliament Name
India Sansad/Parliament Maldeep Majlis
Pakistan National Assembly Span Cortes
Bangladesh Jatiya Sansad Nepal Rastriya Panchayat
China National Peoples Congress Russia Duma
Bhutan Tsondu France National Assembly
Srilanka Parliament of Sri Lanka Iran Majlis
Afganistan Shora Malasiya Diwan Nigara
England Parliament Switzerland Fedral Assembly
Canada Parliament Turkey Grand National Assembly
Australia Parliament
USA Congress
Germany Wondstag
Taiwan Yuan
Japan Daet
Israil Neset
B-292 Polity

Country Ruling Party or Coalition Parties in opposition

India National Democratic Alliance led by UPA, NDA and Other non-
Bharatiya Janata Party UPA, non-NDA parties
Pakistan Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiyo Sangshad
China Communist Party of China National Assembly of
Pakistan
Bhutan Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party People’s Democratic Party
United Kindoms Conservative Party Labour Party
Canada Liberal Party of Canada Loyal Opposition
Australia Social Democratic Party of Austria, Freedom Party of Austria
Austrian People’s Party
US Democratic Party (President),
Republican Party (Legislature)
Germany Christian Democratic Union, Christian
Social Union, Social Democratic Party
of Germany
Srilanka National Unity Government (consists Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
of All Ceylon Muslim Congress,
Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka
Freedom Party, Up-Country People’s
Front, National Union of Workers,
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, United
National Party, Democratic People’s
Front)
Taiwan Kuomintang Democratic Progressive Party
Japan Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Democratic Party
Burma National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi
Iraq State of Law Coalition, Al-Muwatin,
Al-Ahrar Bloc, Kurdistan Democratic
Party, Iraq Alliance
Israel Likud, The Jewish Home, United The Knesset
Torah Judaism, Kulanu, Shas
Spain People’s Party Congress of Deputies
Nepal Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Nepali Congress
Marxist–Leninist), Unified Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist), Rastriya
Prajatantra Party Nepal, Madhesi Jana
Adhikar Forum, Nepal (Loktantrik)
Russia United Russia Shadow Cabinet
France Socialist Party, Radical Party of the National front
Left
Iran Moderation and Development Party Tudeh Party
Malaysia National Front Barisan Nasional
Turkey Justice and Development Party Republican Reople’s Party
ECONOMY
B-294 Economy

ECONOMY
Micro-Macro
Public Finance Indian Economy
Economics

 Demand  Budget  National Income

 Supply
 Revenue  Terms
 Price
 Expenditure  Measurement
 Elasticity
 Deficit  Human Development
 Marginal
Utility  Tax Index
 Equilibrium  Five Year Plans
 Types
 Revenue &  Poverty
 Classification
Cost  Unemployment
 Methods
 Profit & Loss  Type
 Recession &  Banking &
 Schemes
Depression Insurance  Foreign Trade
 Market  Deficit Financing  Foreign Exchange
 Factors of in India  Balance of Payment
Production Government
  Export – Import
 Land
Subsidies  Agriculture
 Labour
 Finance  Green Revolution
 Capital
Commission  NABARD
 Entrepreneur
 Food Security
 Inflation  Stock Exchanges
 Industries
 SEBI
 Manufacturing
 Services
Economy B-295

MICRO–MACRO ECONOMICS
Demand Price
Demand refers to how much Price is the amount of money that
(quantity) of a product (goods) or has to be paid to acquire a given
service is desired by buyers. The product. Price mechanism is based
quantity demanded is the amount of on the principle that only by allowing
a product people are willing to buy prices to move freely will the supply
at a certain price; the relationship of any given commodity match
between price & quantity demanded demand. If supply is excessive,
is known as the demand relationship. prices will be low & production will
The law of demand states that as be reduced, this will cause prices
the price of a good increases (or to rise until there is a balance of
decreases), the quantity of that good demand & supply. In the same way,
demanded will decrease (increase). if supply is inadequate, prices will
Supply be high, leading to an increase in
Supply represents how much the production that in turn will lead to a
market can offer. The quantity reduction in prices until both supply
supplied refers to the amount of a & demand are in equilibrium.
certain good producers are willing Elasticity
to supply when receiving a certain The concept of elasticity is
price. The correlation between price intended to measure the degree of
& how much of a good or service is responsiveness of a buyer or seller
supplied to the market is known as to a change in a key determinant, in
the supply relationship. particular price.
The law of supply states that as OR
the price of a good increases (or Elasticity is a ratio of relative
decreases), the quantity of that good changes in quantity demanded/
supplied will increase (decrease). supplied & price.
Elasticity – I
(Price is determinant)

Demand Supply

Elastic  (buyer response) → Inelastic Elastic  (seller response) → Inelastic

Quantity Supply is
Price↑
OR
Price↓ Demanded Price↑ Price↓ unaffected
⇓ ⇓ ⇓ OR ⇓
is same at when price
Demand↓ Demand↑ any price Supply  Supply  changes
B-296 Economy

Elasticity – II
(Demand/supply is determinant)

Demand Supply

Elastic  (seller response) → Inelastic Elastic  (buyer response) →Inelastic

Price is
Demand↑ Demand↓ constant Supply ↑ Supply↓
⇓ ⇓ OR ⇓
OR ⇓ irrespective
Price↑ Price↓ of demand Price  Price ↑

Marginal Utility Supply

Marginal utility is the additional
satisfaction a consumer gains from Equilibrium
consuming one more unit of a goods
Price

or service. It is used by the economist Demand

to determine how much of an item a
consumer will buy.
Equillibrium
Quantity
When supply & demand are equal
Revenue
(i.e. when the supply function &
demand function intersect) the Revenue refers to the amount
economy is said to be at equilibrium. received by a firm or an individual
from the sale of a given quantity
At this point, the suppliers are selling
of a commodity in the market. It
all the goods that they have produced
is directly influenced by sales level,
& consumers are getting all the i.e. as sales increases, revenue also
goods that they are demanding. increases.

REVENUE

Total Revenue (TR) Average Revenue (AR) Marginal Revenue (MR)

↓ ↓ ↓
TR = Quantity of TR MR = TR from number of
commodity sold AR = units sold – TR from
No.of units sold
× Price of sale of one more
commodity unit of commodity
Cost
Cost is defined as the money expenditure incurred by the producer to
purchase ( or hire) factors of production & raw materials to produce goods
& services.
Economy B-297

TYPES OF COST

Fixed cost Variable cost Explicit cost Implicit cost

Expenditure on Expenditure on Expenditure in- Cost of self

hiring/purchasing of variable inputs curred on both fixed supplied
fixed inputs (eg. land) (eg. labour) & variable inputs factors
Concepts

Total Cost (TC) Average Cost (AC) Marginal Cost (MC)

↓ ↓ ↓
TC = Total fixed AC = Total cost MC = Increase in total
cost + Total variable cost Total output cost due to increase in
one extra unit of output
Profit Loss = Total cost – Total revenue
Profit is the surplus of revenue over
total cost of production. Recession
A period of temporary economic
Profit = Total Revenue – Total Cost decline during which trade and
Normal profit: This occurs when industrial activity are reduced,
total revenue is equal to total cost. generally identified by a fall in GDP
This is the Break-even Point for a in two successive quarters.
firm. It is the minimum profit level Depression
to keep the firm in the industry in the
A period during which business,
long run.
employment, & stock-market values
Supernormal profit: This occurs
decline severely or remain at a very
when total revenue is more than
low level of activity.
total cost
MARKET
Loss
Market is a place where forces of
Loss is a situation in which a demand & supply operate, & where
producer does not earn the level of buyers and sellers interact to trade
profit that would justify remaining goods, services, or contracts or
in business in the long run. instruments, for money or barter.
FEATURES OF MARKET STRUCTURE
S. Market Types of Numbers of Entry & exit Price
No. product sellers/firms determination
1. Perfect Homogeneous Many Freedom of entry Firms are price-
competition product & exit takers
2. Monopoly Unique One Barriers to entry Firm is price-
makers
3. Oligopoly Differentiated Few Barriers to entry Firm are price-
products makers
4. Monopolistic Differentiated Many Freedom of Firms are price -
Competition products entry & exit makers
B-298 Economy

Factors of Production make an economic profit from it

by combining all other factors of
An economic term to describe the
production.
inputs that are used in the production
of goods or services in the attempt to Inflation
make an economic profit are called
factors of production. The factors of In a broad sense, inflation is that
production include – land, labour, state in which the prices of goods &
capital & entrepreneurship. services rise on the one hand & value
•• Land: Represents all natural of money falls on the other.
resources used in the production Types of Inflation
of goods.
•• Labour: All work that labourers 1. Demand Pull Inflation: It is that
& workers perform at all levels inflation when prices rise due
of an organization. to higher demand for goods &
•• Capital: All of the tools, services over the available supply.
machinery, cash used to produce 2. Cost Push Inflation: It is the
a goods or service.
type of inflation in which prices
•• Entrepreneur: Individual who
rise due to increased inputs costs.
takes an idea & attempts to
Degree of Inflation

Creeping Trotting Running Hyper Inflation/

Inflation Inflation Inflation Runaway/Galloping
↓ ↓ ↓ Inflation
Price rise at Price rise moderately Price rise rapidly ↓
very slow rate (Less than 10%) (10 - 20%) Price rise at very fast
less than 3% (Between 3 – 7%) rate (20 – 100%)
Measurement of Inflation measures the increase in prices a
1. General Price or Wholesale Price consumer will have to pay for the
designated commodity basket
Index: It measures the changes in which may be revised every
average prices of goods & services. 4 – 5 years to factor in changes in
A base year is selected & its index consumption pattern.
is assumed as 100 & on this basis
Price Index = Current year’s
price index for the current year
price/base year’s price × 100
is calculated. If the index of
the current year is below 100 it In India, inflation is measured in
indicates the state of deflation terms of the WPI.
&, on the contrary, if index of Causes of Inflation
the current year is above 100 it The inflation occurs due to two
indicates the state of inflation.
main broad factors :-
2. Consumer Price Index (CPI):
It measures the average change
in prices paid by ultimate (a) (b)
consumers for a particular Increase in demand Decrease in
basket of goods & services over for goods & services the supply
of goods &
a period of time. CPI actually services
Economy B-299

(a) Factors causing an increase in management is achieved by measures

demand for goods & services: such as postponing public expenditure,
(i) Increase in public expenditure reducing up excess liquidity either
(ii) Increase in pvt. expenditure through taxes or saving schemes and
(iii) Increase in exports restrictions on ad hoc treasury bills.
(iv) Reduction in taxation While such measures help contain the
(v) Rapid growth of population money supply, there is a danger that
(vi) Black money these will contract the economy and
(vii) Deficit financing lead to an increase in unemployment.
(viii) Cheap money policy Rationalisation of excise and import
(ix) Increase in consumer spending duties of essential commodities to
(x) Department of Tax internal higher the burden on poor.
debts. RBI assists in controlling inflation
(b) Factors causing decrease in
through monetary measures such
supply of goods & services:
(i) Shortage of supplies of factors as quantitative and selective credit
(ii) Industrial disputes controls and by manipulating the
(iii) Natural calamities Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and the
(iv) Loop-sided Production Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR).
(v) Hoarding by traders These are the monetary policies
(vi) Operation of Law of adopted by government.
Diminishing Returns. On the supply side, the mechanism
Impact of Inflation of Public Distribution System (PDS)
ensures availability of essential
Inflation is the most regressive form commodities for the vulnerable
of taxation as it affects the poor and sections of society. This helps to
vulnerable sections of the society
maintain price levels. Fixation of
the most. Such a situation leads to
increasing income disparities. maximum prices to eliminate the
incentive for hoarding and speculative
Inflation dampens exports by
activity in foodgrains. Control over
making our products expensive and,
conversely, makes imports attractive. private trade in foodgrains. Adoption
Such a situation may warrant formal of Open General Licence (OGL) to
or informal devaluation of the ease the imports of sugar, pulses,
currency in order to make our exports etc.,in case of shortages. Coupled with
competitive. this is the open market sale of rice
Inflation leads to recession, as people and wheat resorted to by FCI from
with fixed incomes set apart an its buffer stock in times of price rise.
increasing share of their income to Related Terms
meet the growing costs of essential 1. Deflation: Deflation is that state
commodities, leaving very little for in which the value of money rises
expenditure on non-essential terms. & the price of goods & services
The production of such items has to
falls.
be reduced, leading to shutdowns and
recession. 2. Stagflation: It refers to the
situation of coexistence of
Policy measure to control stagnation & inflation in the
inflation economy. Stagnation means low
The issue of inflation is addressed National Income growth & high
from both demand and supply sides. unemployment.
Demand management implies putting 3. Disinflation: The rate of
a check on the demand of the public inflation at a slower rate is called
for goods and services. Demand disinflation.
 B-300

Budget
Budget

Revenue A/C Capital A/C

Receipts Expenditure Expenditure

Tax Non – Tax loans to Economic, Defence

General Services Economic Services states & Social & & Others
(Police, Judiciary, (Agriculture Industries, UTs Community
Defence) Transportation, Trade) development
2 parts – Revenue Account & Capital Account.

Income & Commodities

Expenditure & Services
PUBLIC FINANCE

Currency Social & Community

Coinage Others Services (Education, Receipts
Property & Mint Medical, Employment)
& Capital
Interest
Receipts &
Dividends Net Recoveries Net Market Net Small Others
of Loans & Borrowing Savings
Advances Collections
Budget is an annual financial statement. The Budget in India is divided into
Economy
 Public Expenditure
Economy

Non–Plan (Expenditures Plan (Expenditures

not envisaged in envisaged in
5 year plan documents) 5 year plan documents)

Central Assistance
Central Palns for Plans of States
Revenue Capital & UTs.
New Classification of Expenditure

Police Social Services

Interest Pensions Loans to public
Payments Enterprises Transport & others
Broadcasting Agriculture
Education Technology &
Loans to States Environment
Industries & UTs & Foreign
Agriculture Governments. Rural Development
Defence Revenue Subsidies
Expenditure
Grants to States &,
UTs & Foreign
Governments
B-301
B-302 Economy

Important Terms
(1) Revenue– It is the income received by the government.
(2) Expenditure– It is the amount incurred by the government to meet day to
day & regular needs.
(3) Deficit– It means shortage. The gap between the Receipts & Expenditure
is called Deficit. The important types of Deficit are as follows:–
(a) Budget Deficit = Total Expenditure – Total Receipts
(b) Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure – Revenue Receipts
(c) Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure – Total Receipts except Borrowing &
Other Liabilities.
(d) Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit – Interest Payment
Tax
The money which public have to pay to the government so that it can pay for
public services is called tax.
(i) Types of Taxes

Direct Tax Indirect Tax

Income
Tax Wealth Minimum Excise Value added Goods & Services
Tax Alternate Tax Duties Tax (VAT) Tax (GST)
Corporate Commodities Custom Service
Tax Transaction Tax Duties Tax
(ii)
Broad Areas of Tax

Tax on Income Tax on Tax on Property &

& Expenditure Commodities Property Transaction

Personal Income, Excise Wealth Tax,

Corporate Income, Duty Estate &
Sales Tax Succession Duties.
(iii)
Classification of Taxation

Proportional Progressive Regressive Taxation

Taxation Taxation

Tax levied as Tax rate increase Tax rate decrease

a% of tax base with increase in with increase in
at a uniform size of Tax base. Tax base.
Economy B-303

Types of Taxes •• MAT (Minimum Altemate Tax) –

•• Direct Tax– The tax that people Imposed on zero tax companies
(companies pay very low tax by
pay directly to the government is
using the provisions of exemptions,
called tax. deductions, incentives, etc.
•• Indirect Tax– The tax burden •• Excise Duties– Tax on
when shifted to another persons production of commodities.
that tax is called indirect tax. •• Custom Duties– Tax on Import
•• Income Tax– Tax on the personal & Export of commodities.
income of the individuals. •• VAT (Value Added Tax) –Tax
•• Corporate Tax– Levied on on sale of commodities. It is a
state level tax. The tax rate is
Company’s profit income.
imposed as a% of value added.
•• Wealth Tax– Imposed on the •• GST– It is a uniform tax on
accumulated wealth or property goods & services throughout the
of every individual. country.
METHODS OF TAXATION OF GOODS
Methods of Eg. Price of car Tax Amount
Taxation on Goods ` 2 lakh ` 20,000
` 4 lakh ` 40,000
(2) Specific Duty– If tax is levied
Ad– Valorem Specific Duty at a flat rate per unit of goods
produced/ sold/ imported
(1) Ad Valorem– If tax is levied as regardless of the value then it is
A% of the value of the goods called specific Duties.
regardless of number of units Eg. Car’s Price Tax
produced/ sold/ imported, then ` 2 lakh ` 10,000
it is called ad valorem. ` 4 lakh ` 10,000
INCOME TAX SLAB FOR FY 2015 -16
1. For Individual/HUF/Association of person
Income tax slab (in Rs.) Tax
0 to 2,50,000 Nil
2,50,001 to 5,00,000 10%
5,00,001 to 10,00,000 20%
Above 10,00,000 30%
2. For Senior Citizen (who is 60 years or more but less than 80 years)
Upto Rs 3,00,000 Nil
Rs. 3,00,00 – Rs. 5,00,000 10%
Next Slabs are same as general
3. For Super Senior citizen (80 years of age or more).
Upto Rs 5,00,000 Nil
Next Slabs are same asa general
B-304 Economy

Banking System

Unscheduled Banks

Other
Public
Sector Bank

Reserve Bank of India which the majority of ownership

•• It is the apex ragulatory body is with government. The majority
of Indian Banking system. Also of ownership means, shareholding
called as the Central Bank. of more than 51%.
•• It keeps the cash reserves of •• State Bank Group: State Bank
all scheduled Banks & hence is group means State Bank of India
know as the ‘Reserve Bank’. (SBI) and its Associates. Previous
•• It was inaugurated in April 1935. name of SBI was Imperial Bank
of India. It was created in 1921
Functions of RBI– by amalgamating the three
(a) Bank of Issue (All notes except Presidency Banks of Bengal
` 1 note & coins are issued by (1806), Bombay (1840) and
RBI. One rupee note & coins are Madras (1843). Imperial Bank of
issued by Ministry of Finance but India was partially nationalized
circulated by RBI. on July 1, 1955 and renamed as
(b) Banker & debt manager to State Bank of India (SBI).
Government. •• Other Nationalised Bank: The
(c) Banker’s Bank. public sector banks other than
(d) Custodian and manager of SBI and its associates are other
Foreign Exchange. nationalised Banks. For examples
(e) Controller of credit – PNB, BOI, etc.
(f) Supervision over commercial & •• The Regional Rural Banks
cooperative Banks. (RRB) : These banks were
•• Commercial Banks: Accept established since 1975, under
deposits, give loans and provide RRBs Act 1976. These banks
other financial services to earn were set up by public sector banks.
profit. Consist of both public RRBs were established to lend to
sector and private sector banks. weaker section called target group
•• Public Sector Banks : Public like landless labour, artisan and
sector banks are those banks in craftsmen at concessional rate.
Economy B-305

•• Co-Operative Banks : Cooperative charge higher interest rate from

banks are established by State customer. If banks borrow fewer
laws. These banks are called amounts, the credit creating
as cooperative banks because capacity of banks will come
these have cooperation of stake down and money supply will
holders as motive. Along with come down. If bank borrows
lending, cooperative banks accept and charges higher interest rate,
deposits. NABARD (National the customer will borrow less.
Bank for Agriculture and Rural The money supply will come
Development) is the apex body of down. If the rate is decreased the
cooperative sector in India. reverse will be the case.
•• NABARD : The functions of (4) Reverse Repo Rate– It is the
NABARD viz., financing of rate at which RBI borrows from
agriculture and refinancing of commercial Banks by mortgaging
cooperative banks and RRBs. its dated Government securities
NABARD was set up in July 1982. and Treasury bills. If the reverse
Tools of Credit Control– repo rate is increased, the banks
RBI acts as controller of credit. have two options either to lend
Control of Credit means control of to RBI or lend to customer at
lending & deposit creating capacity higher interest rate. If banks lend
of the Banks. These controls result to RBI, the money available with
in control of money supply which is the bank to lend to its customer
essential to control inflation & there will come down. The credit
by promote economic growth. creating capacity of banks and
Some of the important measures or money supply will come down.
tools of credit control are as follows– If the banks raise interest rate on
(1) Bank Rate– It is the rate charged loans to customers at higher rate,
by the central Bank for lending the customer will borrow lesser
funds to commercial Banks. amount. So, the money supply
(2) CRR– Cash Reserve Ratio will come down.
(CRR) is a specified minimum
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan
fraction of the total deposits of
Yojana has set an ambitious target
customers which commercial
banks have to hold as reserves of bringing more than 7.5 crore
with the Central Bank. un-banked families into India’s
(3) Repo Rate – It is the rate at banking system by opening more
which commercial banks borrow than 15 crore bank accounts at
from RBI by mortgaging their the rate of two bank accounts per
dated government securities household by 15 August 2015.
and Treasury bills. If repo rate The remaining hilly areas and
is increased, the banks have the other 75 naxalite-affected
two options either to reduce the distrricts will be covered under
borrowing from RBI or borrow the Yojana by the end of August
at higher rate from RBI and 2016.
B-306 Economy

Insurance (b) Automobile Insurance: Protects

•• Insurance: It is a form of risk policy holder against financial
management primarily used loss in the event of an incident
involving a vehicle they own.
to hedge against the risk of a
(c) Health Insurance: Cover
contingent, uncertain loss.
the expenditures associated
•• Insurance policy: It is a financial
to treatment & medical
contract between the insurer expenditures.
& the policy holder where the (d) Property Insurance: Provide
details of the policy is mentioned protection from risks associated
including the benefits & the to theft, fire, floods, etc.
premium that policy holder has •• Insurance Industry in India
to pay. The Indian government passed
•• Premium: It is the periodic an ordinance on January 19, 1956
payment made on an insurance whereby the life insurance sector
policy. Insurance premiums are was nationalised & the life Insurance
Corporation India (LIC) came into
collected in monthly or quarterly
existence. The Indian Parliament
or half-yearly or yearly mode.
passed the General Insurance
•• Major Types of Insurance:
Business (Nationalisation) Act in
(a) Life Insurance: Descendent’s 1972 & the general insurance sector
family receives financial was brought under governmental
benefits. control from January 1, 1973.
Insurance Companies in India
(IRDA - regulatory authority)

Life Insurance General Insurance

Public Sector Private Sector Public Sector Private Sector

(LIC) (24 Companies) (5 G.I Cos) (23 G.I. Cos.)
Insurance Regulatory and The agency operates from its
Development Authority of India headquarters at Hyderabad, Telangana
(IRDAI) is an autonomous apex where it shifted from Delhi in 2001.
statutory body which regulates and The key objectives of the IRDA
develops the insurance industry include promotion of competition so
in India. It was constituted by
as to enhance customer satisfaction
a Parliament of India act called
Insurance Regulatory and through increased consumer choice
Development Authority Act, 1999 and lower premiums, while ensuring
and duly passed by the Government the financial security of the insurance
of India. market.
 Insurance Plans
Economy

Life Insurance Plans General Insurance Plans

Whole life plan Term Plan Endowment Money Back ULIP Personal Rural Industrial Commercial

Taken for entire Nominee Provide lump Used as Unit linked Taken by For rurally Avail by Security
duration of receives sum once a form of Insurance individual bases companies to against theft,
insured’s life. It a fixed the policy investment plans are to cover business or get protection liability, &
is a pension plan. payment holder dies that produces one where against individuals, for important property
once the to nominee good financial the financial accidental provide projects, damage.
policy or when returns in worth of a death, coverage construction,
holder dies the policy future for policy is injury, from life contracts &
during matures using in dependent on health. & health equipments
policy various present net to natural
period. purposes. asset value disasters.
of the core
investment
assets related
to it in the
share market.
B-307
B-308 Economy

India’s Public Debt or priority sector loans to

Public Debt– The Public Debt of the individuals to buy a taxi, an
govt. of India is composed of – (a) auto-rickshaw or to set up some
Internal Debt & (b) External Debt. small enterprise by buying some
Internal Debt comprises of market equipment.
loans, compensation bonds, prize (3) Tax subsidies can be in the form
bonds & 15–year annuity certificates. of tax exemption of medical
It also includes borrowings of a expenses, postponing collection
temporary nature, viz treasury of tax arrears.
Bills issued to the RBI, commercial (4) Procurement subsidies –It is
banks, etc & also non– negotiable, the purchase of food grains at
non–interest bearing securities an assured price which is higher
issued to international financial than the prevailing market price.
institutions like the IMF, World (5) In-Kind subsidies – Provision
Bank & the Asian Development of free medical services through
Bank. g ove r n m e n t d i s p e n s a r i e s,
External Debt includes borrowings provision of equipment to
by Central Government from external physically handicapped persons.
sources & are based upon historical (6) Regulatory subsidies – Fixation
rates of exchange. of prices of goods produced
The total Public Dept & other by the public sector at less
liabilities of the Indian Government than the cost with a view to
would come to `68,94, 691 crores by providing inputs to industry or
end March 2016; it was only `15, 58, helping certain other categories
900 crores in March 2003, Central of consumers. Examples are
Govt’s public debt & other liabilities making steel, coal or other
has increased by nearly 4.5 times. minerals available to industry,
providing electricity to farmers
Government Subsidies at a rate much lower than the
It is the money paid by government cost.
to help an reganisation industry to
reduce its costs, so that it can provide Finance Commission
products services at lower prices. The Finance Commission – Under
Subsidies– A sum of money granted the provisions of Article 280 of
to support an undertaking held in the Constitution, the President is
public interest. required to constitute a Finance
Types of Subsidies – commission every fifth year for the
(1) Cash Subsidies – Providing food specific purpose of devolution of
or fertilizers to the consumer non- plan revenue resources. The
at prices lower than those at functions of the Commission are
which government procures the to make recommendations to the
commodities. President in respect of
(2) Interest or credit subsidies – (i) the distribution of net proceeds
relate to loans given at rates of taxes to be shared between
lower than market rates. This the Union and the States and
takes the form of concessional the allocation of share of such
credit to small scale industries proceeds among the States,
Economy B-309

(ii) the principles which should 6. Hongkong Stock Exchange

govern the payment by the 7. Euronext
Union Govt. as grants-in-aid to
8. Shenzhen Stock Exchange
the States, and
9. TMX Group
(iii) any others matter concerning
financial relations between the 10. Deutsche Borse
Union and the States. Like wholesale price index which
The appointment of the Finance measures the rise/fall in the price
Commissioner is of great importance, of commodities, there are share
for it enables the financial relation price indices. The most prominent
between the Centre and the units to indices in India are Sensex, Nifty
be altered in accordance with changes and Nifty Junior.
in need and circumstances. Sensex stands for Sensitive index.
Stock Exchange in India This is an index of Bombay Stock
Exchange. This measures the price
In India, there are small and big movement of top 30 company
stock exchanges. The most prominent shares. The top 30 companies are
exchanges are National Stock called Blue chip companies.
Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Nifty stands for National Index
Exchanges (BSE). for fifty. This and Nifty Junior
National Stock Exchange NSE are indices of National Stock
The NSE is the leading stock Exchange. Nifty measures price
exchange of India, located in movement of top fifty companies.
Mumbai. nIt was established in 1993 Nifty Junior is an index of next 50
on the recommendation of Pherwani top companies.
Committee, Industrial Development The top companies are selected
Bank of India (IDBI) is the main on the basis of total value of all
shares that are traded in the stock
promoter of this exchange. The
exchange.
number of listings in NSE is 1696.
Bombay Stock Exchange BSE
SEBI (Security and Exchange
It is an Indian stock exchange located
Board of India)
at Dalal street, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.
Established in 1875, the BSE in Asis’s SEBI was established in 1988 for the
first stock exchange and the World’s development & regulation of securities
fastest stock exchange with a median market (Shares & Debentures) through
trade speed of 6 micro seconds. More a resolution of government. It was
than 5000 companies are publicly given statutory status in 1992. Its
listed in the BSE. head office is in Mumbai. Its regional
Top 10 Stock Exchanges of World offices are in Kolkata, Delhi &
1. New York Stock Exchange Chennai. SEBI was authorized to
regulate all merchant banks on issue
2. NASDAQ
activity, lay guidelines & supervise
3. London Stock Exchange
& regulate the working of mutual
4. Japan Exchange Group
funds & oversee the working of stock
5. Shanghai Stock Exachange exchanges in India.
B-310 Economy

INDIAN ECONOMY
National Income X = Export of goods & services
National Income of a country is the M = Import of goods & services
total value of all final goods and X – M = Net Factor Income
services produced in the country in from Abroad (NFIA)
a particular period of time usually,
one year. The growth of National So, GNP = GDP + NFIA
Income helps to know the progress 3. Net National Product (NNP):
of the country. National Income is a can be calculated in 2 ways:-
flow, not a stock. In India, National (i) NNP at market price:
Income estimates are related with NNP = GNP – Depreciation
the financial year, i.e. April 1 to
March 31. Depreciation means wear & tear
Measures/Concepts of National of goods produced.
Income NNP at market price includes
1. Gross Domestic Product Indirect taxes and excludes
(GDP): GDP is the total subsidies.
money value of all final goods
(ii) NNP at factor cost: NNP
& services produced within the
geographical boundaries of the at factor cost calculates National
country (produced by resident Income only on the basis of
citizens + foreign nationals) cost incurred to produce the
during a given period of time, goods & services. This cost is the
generally one year. payment made to the factors of
GDP = Q × P, production.
Q = Total quantity of final goods
NNPfc = NNPmp – Indirect Taxes +
& services.
Subsidy
P = Price of final goods &
services.
When NNP is obtained at factor
2. Gross National Product (GNP):
GNP is the money value of total cost, it is known as National Income.
output or production of final Likewise, GDP at factor cost
goods & services produced by also can be calculated.
the nationals of a country during GDPfc = GDPmp – Indirect Taxes
a given period of time, generally + Subsidy
a year. In this case, the income
of all the resident & non-resident 4. Personal Income : It is that income
citizens of a country is included which is actually obtained by
whereas the income of foreign nationals in one year.
nationals who reside within the P.I. = National Income –
geographical boundary of the
Undistributed Profits of
country is excluded.
Corporation – Payments for
GNP = GDP + (X – M)
Social Security Provisions –
Economy B-311

Corporate Taxes + Government 6. National Income at constant

Transfer payments + Business price & current price
Transfer payments + Net Interest NI CONSTANT PRICE
paid by government. = Total quantity of all final
SOCIAL SECURITY PROVISIONS goods & services produced in a
= Payments made by employees particular year × Price of base
towards pension & provident fund year.
TRANSFER PAYMENTS = Base year of National Income
payments made not against any accounts is the year chosen to
productive activity. eg. – old
enable inter – year comparisons.
age pension, unemployment
compensation, disaster relief The new series changes the base
payment, etc. to 2011–12 from 2004–05
5. DISPOSAL PERSONAL NI CURRENT PRICE =
INCOME (DPI): Income that is Total quantity of all final goods
available to individuals that can & services produced in a par-
ticular year × Price of goods &
be disposed at their will.
services in that particular year.
DPI = Personal Income –
Direct Taxes.

Measurement of National Income

Methods of Measurement

Product/Output/Pro- Income Consumption/Expendi-

duction method method ture method

1. Gross value added = N.I. = Total Rent + GDP = Consumption

Output of final goods & Total wages + Total Expenditure of Con-
services – Intermediate Interest + Total profit sumers + Consumption
Consumption Expenditure of investors
or entrepreneur called
2. GDP = Gross value added investment + consump-
+ Indirect Taxes – Subsidy tion of government

Human Development Index Very High → High → Medium →

Low Human Develoment Components
The UNDP Human Development
of HDI
Report ranks countries on basis of
HDI
measuring human development
by combining indicators of the (a) Health : Life Expectancy at Birth
Health, Education & Income into (b) Education : Mean years of schooling,
a composite Human Development Expected years of schooling
Index (HDI). The HDI classifies the (c) Living standards : Gross National
World into 4 broad segments : Income Per Capita
B-312 Economy

India has been classified in the Medium Human Development Category,

placed at 130 rank out of 187 countries (Human Development Report 2015)
The first Indian Human Development Report was formally released by
Prime Minister Mr. Bajpai on April 23, 2002. Madhya Pradesh was the first
state to release state-level Human Development Report.
FIVE YEAR PLANS
Plans Period Growth Performance Themes
(% p.a.)
Target Actual
1st Plan (1951 - 56) 2.1 3.5 Development of primary sector
2nd Plan (1956 - 61) 4.5 4.2 Development of public sector
(Industries)
3rd Plan (1961 - 66) 5.6 2.8 Agricultural Development,
Defence Industry, Price
stabilization
Annual Plan (1966 - 69) – 3.9 Growth with stability &
Progress Towards Self-Reliance.
(Nationalisation of Banks, Green
Revolution).
4th Plan (1969 - 74) 5.7 3.2 Employment, Poverty Alleviation
5th Plan (1974 - 78) 4.4 4.7 Economic Liberalisation
Annual Plan (1979 - 80) – – 5.2 Growth, Modernisation, Self-
Reliance & Social Justice
6th plan (1980 - 85) 5.2 5.5 Human Development in various
aspects, Beginning of Liberaliza-
tion - Privatisation- Globalization
7th plan (1985 - 90) 5.0 5.6 Growth with Equity &
Distributive Justice
Annual Plan (1990 - 92) – 3.4 Equity with Social Justice
8th Plan (1992 - 97) 5.6 6.5 Towards more Inclusive Growth
9th Plan (1997 - 2002) 6.5 5.5 Faster more Inclusive & Sustain-
able Growth
10th Plan (2002 - 07) 7.9 7.7
11th Plan (2007 - 12) 9.0 8.0
12th Plan (2012 - 17) 8%
Poverty Type of Poverty
Poverty can be defined as a social 1. Absolute
phenomenon in which a section of 2. Relative
the society is unable to fulfil even its Rural & Urban Poverty
basic necessities of life. I. Rural Poverty
Magnitude of Poverty in India Main Reasons for Rural Poverty
The planning commission of India 1. Rapid population growth.
has estimated rural and urban 2. Lack of capital.
poverty in India from the sixth Five 3. Lack of alternative employment
year plan ownwards. opportunities other than agricultural.
Economy B-313

4. Excessive population pressure on 22. Rural Housing Programme

agriculture. 23. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya
5. Illiteracy Yojana (PMGY)
6. Regional disparities. 24. Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar
7. Joint family system. Yojana
8. Child marriage tradition. 25. Sampurna Gramin Rojgar Yojana
9. Indifferent attitude towards 26. Indira Awaas Yojana
investment. 27. Samagra Awaas Yojana.
10. Lack of proper implementation of 28. Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana.
public distribution system. 29. Agriculture Income Insurance
Government Efforts for Eliminating Scheme.
Rural Poverty 30. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
1. Legal elimination of bonded Employment Guarantee Scheme
labourers. (MGNREGS).
2. Preventing the centralisation of II. Urban Poverty
wealth by modifying the law. Main Reasons for Urban Poverty
3. Antyodaya plan. 1. Migration of rural youth towards
4. Small Farmer Development cities.
Programme (SFDP). 2. Lack of vocational education /
5. Drought Area Development training.
Programme (DADP). 3. Limited job opportunities of
6. Twenty Point Programme employment in the cities.
7. Food for Work Programme 4. Rapid increase in population.
8. Minimum Needs Programme 5. Lack of housing facilities.
(MNP). 6. No proper implementation of
9. Integrated Rural Development public distribution system (PDS).
Programme (IRDP).
10. National Rural Employment Government Efforts for Eliminating
Programme (NREP). Urban Poverty
11. Rural Labour Employment Guarantee 1. Emphasis on vocational education.
Programme (RLEGP). 2. Nehru Rozgar Yojana (NRY).
12. Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana 3. Self-Employment Programme for
(JGSY) (Formerly known as Jawahar the Urban Poor (SEPUP).
Rojgar Yojana). 4. Financial assistance for constructing
13. TRYSEM scheme. houses.
14. Family Planning/Welfare 5. Self-Employment to the Educated
programme for population control. Urban Youth (SEEUY) programme.
15. Employment Assurance Scheme. 6. Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana
16. Scheme for Rural artisans / (Also implemented in rural areas).
craftsmen. 7. National Social Assistance
17. DWCRA programme. Programme.
18. Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar 8. Urban Basic Services for the Poor
Yojana. (UBSP) programme.
19 Mahila Samriddhi Yojana. 9. Prime Minister's Integrated Urban
20 National Social Assistanc Programme Poverty Eradication Programme
(NSAP) (PMIUPEP).
21 Group Life Insurance Scheme for 10. Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar
Rural Areas. Yojana.
B-314 Economy

Unemployment Educated and unskilled labouress

In broad sense a state of unemployment are included in
unemployment appears when a open unemployment.
labour does not obtain employment NREGS (National Rural
opportunity despite his willingness Employment Guarantee Scheme)
to work on existing wage rate. NREGS was started by the
Different Types of Unemployment UPA Government as a national
in India programme to provide 100 days of
1. Structural Unemployment: employment to begin with through
This type of unemployment is asset-creating public works every
associated with economic structure year at minimum wages to one-
of the country, i.e. rapidly growing able bodied person in every poor
population, technological change class household.
and their immobility fall in rate of The National Rural Employment
capital formation. Guarantee Act came into force in
2. Under-employment: Those 2006 in India’s 200 most backward
labourers are under-employed districts. In 2007, it was extended
who obtain work but their to another 130 districts. With
efficiency and capability are not effect from April 1,2008, the Act is
utilised at their optimum and as to cover all districts.
a result they contribute in the The following are the major short-
production upto a limited level. comings of NREGS:
3. Disguised Unemployment: If Lack of adequate professional
a person does not contribute staff
anything in the production •• Lack of project planning
process or in other words, if he •• Bureaucratic resistance of
can be removed from the work NREGA on account of
without affecting the productivity the widely held belief that
adversely, he will be treated as it is much more difficult to
disguisedly unemployed. The make money under NREGS
marginal productivity of such as compared with other
unemployed person is zero. employment programmes.
4. Open Unemployment: When •• Lack of transparency and
the labourers live without any absence of social audit
work and they don’t find any •• Inappropriate rates of
work to do, they come under the payment.
category of open unemployment.

VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES

IN INDIA – AT A GLANCE
Programme/Plan/ Year of Objective/Description
Institution beginning
Command Area Development 1974-75 To ensure better and rapid utilisation of
Programme (CADP) irrigation capacities of medium and large
projects
Twenty Point Programme 1975 Poverty eradication and raising the
(TPP) standard of living
Economy B-315

Programme/Plan/ Year of Objective/Description

Institution beginning
National Institution of Rural 1977 Training, investigation and advisory
Development organisation for rural development
Antyodaya Yojana 1977-78 To make the poorest families of the
village economically independent (only in
Rajasthan)
Training Rural Youth for Self- 1 August Programme of training rural youth for self-
Employment (TRYSEM) 15,1979 employment.
Integrated Rural Development October 2, All-round development of the rural poor
Programme (IRDP) 1980 through a programme of asset endowment
for self-employment
National Rural Employment 1980 To provide profitable employment
Programme opportunities to the rural poor
Rural Landless Employment August 15, For providing employment to landless
Guarantee Programme 1983 farmers and labourers
(RLEGP)
Self-Employment to the 1983-84 To provide financial and technical assistance
Educated Unemployed Youth for self- employment
(SEEUY)
National Fund for Rural February To grant 100% tax rebate to donors and
Development (NFRD) 1984 also to provide financial assistance for rural
development projects
Industrial Reconstruction March To provide financial assistance to sick and
Bank of India 1985 closed industrial units for their reconstruction
Council for Advancement of September To provide assistance for rural prosperity
People’s Action and Rural 1, 1986
Technology (CAPART)
Self-Employment Programme September To provide self-employment to urban poor
for the Urban Poor (SEPUP) 1986 through provision of subsidy and bank credit
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana April 1989 For providing employment to rural
unemployed
Nehru Rozgar Yojana October For providing employment to urban
1989 unemployed
Members of Parliament Local December To sanction Rs. 1 crore per year to every
Area Development Scheme 23, 1993 Member of Parliament for various
(MPLADS) development works in their respective areas
through DM of the district
Scheme of Infrastructural 1993-94 To provide capital through special institutions
Development in Mega Cities for water supply, seewage, drainage, urban
(SIDMC) transportation, land development and
improvement of slum projects undertaken
in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai
and Hyderabad
District Rural Development 1993 To provide financial assistance for rural
Agency (DRDA) development
Mahila Samridhi Yojana October 2, To encourage the rural women to deposit
1993 in Post Office Saving Account
Kasturba Gandhi Education August 15, To establish girls schools in districts having
Scheme 1997 low female literacy rate
B-316 Economy

Programme/Plan/ Year of Objective/Description

Institution beginning
Swarna Jayanti Shahari December To provide gainful employment to
Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) 1997 urban unemployed and under employed
poor through self-employment or wage
employment
Annapurna Yojana March To provide 10 kg. foodgrains to senior
1999 citizens (who did not get pension)
Swarna Jayanti Gram April 1999 For eliminating Rural poverty and
Swarozgar Yojana. unemployment and promoting self-
employment
Jan Shree Bima Yojana Aug. 10, Providing Insurance Security to people
2000 living below poverty line
Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya 2000 To fulfil basic requirements in rural areas
Yojana
Antyodaya Anna Yojana Dec. 25, To provide food security to poor
2000
Pradhan Mantri Gram Dec. 25, To line all villages with Pacca Road
Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) 2000
Valmiki Ambedkar A was Dec. Constructing Slum houses in urban areas.
Yojana (VAMBAY) 2,2001
Vande Matram Scheme Feb. 9, Major initiative in public-private partnership
2004 during pregnancy check-up.
National Food for Work Nov. 14, Programme to intensify the generation of
Programme 2004 supplementary wage employment.
Janani Suraksha Yojana April 12, Providing care to expectant mothers.
2005
Bharat Nirman Programme Dec. Development of Rural Infrastructure
16,2005 including six components : Irrigation,
Water Supply, Housing, Road, Telephone
and Electricity.
National Rural Employment Feb. 2, To provide at least 100 days wage
Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) 2006 employment in rural areas.

FOREIGN TRADE
Foreign Trade deals with export and import of goods & services between
nations.
Composition of India’s Foreign Trade
Export-Items Import-Items
I. Agricultural & Allied (coffee, tea, I. Food & Allied Products
fruits & vagetables) ↓
Cereals, Pulses, Edible oils
II. Ores & Minerals II. Fuel
III. Manufactured Goods III. Fertilizers & Capital Goods
↓ ↓
Gems & Jwellery, Drugs & Machinery (except electrical &
Pharmaceuticals, manufactures of machinery, Transport Equipment
metals, Transport Equipment, Machinery
& Instruments, Electronic Goods,
Readymade Garments, Handicrafts
Economy B-317

IV. Crude & Petroleum IV. Others

↓
Chemicals, Pearls, precious & semi-
precious stones, gold & silver.
V. Others Electronic Goods

Balance of Trade = Export – Import Related Terms

Balance of payment: The BOP of a 1. Exchange Rate: It is the rate
country is a systematic record of all at which home currency is
economic transactions between the exchanged for one unit of foreign
‘residents’ of a country and the rest currency.
of the world. It presents a classified For example `50 = US $1
record of all receipts on account of 2. Depreciation: Increase in the
good exported, services rendered exchange rate, i.e. fall in external
& capital received by ‘residents’ & value of domestic currency
payments made by them on account because of more demand for
of goods imported & services foreign currency (less supply of
received from the capital transferred foreign currency) more supply
to ‘non-residents’. of (less Demand of) Domestic
BOP accounts consists of 2 accounts currency is called depreciation.
– Current & capital A/c. Current 3. Appreciation: Fall in the
A/c includes all the debit & credit exchange rate, i.e increase in
entries of invisible items side-by-side the external value of domestic
with trade items, while the capital currency, due to more demand
A/c is related with the entries of for home currency (or less
capital transactions in the country. supply of home currency) or
BOP: At a Glance less demand for (or more supply
A. Current A/c: of) foreign currency is called
1. Visible Balance of trade appreciation.
(merchandise) 4. Devaluation: Reduction in the
2. Invisible BOT – a. Service: external value of home currency
Tourism, Transport, Software. is called Devaluation. For
b. Private transfers example changing the exchange
c. Account of Investment rate from `50 = US $1 to `75
Income = US $1 is called devaluation.
B. Capital A/c Devaluation is aimed at
a. FDI: India & Abroad increasing export of the country.
FDI: Foreign Direct Investment 5. Foreign Exchange Reserves:
is considered to be the most Also called forex reserves are
attractive type of capital flow assets held by a central bank
or other monetary authority,
for emerging economy as it is
usually in various reserve
expected to bring latest technology
currencies, mostly the US dollar,
& enhance production capabilities
& used to back its liabilities.
of the economy.
6. Foreign Exchange: System
b. Portfolio Investment: Loans, of trading in & converting the
Banking Capital, NRI currency of one country into of
Deposits, shares, debentures. another.
B-318 Economy

AGRICULTURE
Features of Indian Agriculture Evergreen Revolution
Sector The pioneer of Indian green
(1) Accounts for almost 27% of GDP revolution Mr. M.S. Swaminathan,
(2) Contributes 21% of total exports presently chairman of National
(3) Provides employment to around Commission on farmers gave a new
65% of the total workforce call for ‘Evergreen Revolution’ for
(4) Provides raw materials to several doubling the present production
industries level of foodgrains from 210 million
GREEN REVOLUTION IN INDIA tonnes to 420 million tonnes. For
making ‘Evergreen Revolution’
Since the mid-1960’s, the traditional
agricultural practices are gradually a success, he stressed on adopting
being replaced by modern organic farming. He also mentioned
technology & farm practices in India four pre-requistes for getting the
& veritable revolution is taking place success:
in our country. American Scientist i. Promoting soil health.
Dr. William Grande termed it as ii. Promoting ‘Lab to Land
Green Revolution. During the exhibitions.
middle of 60s, Indian agricultural iii. Making rainwater harvesting
scientists developed a number of compulsory.
new high yielding varieties of wheat iv Providing credit to farmers on
by processing wheat seeds imported suitable conditions.
from Mexico. These varieties were
having production potentialities of AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
60 – 65 quintals per hectare. IN A NUT SHELL
As a result Green Revolution ensured
India’s self-dependence in foodgrains. Revolution Area
The credit for it goes not only to Nobel 1. Green Foodgrain production
Laureat Dr. Norman Borlaug but also 2. White Milk
to Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. 3. Yellow Oil seeds
Second Green Revolution 4. Blue Fisheries
(Strategy Adopted in 11th Plan)
5. Red Meat/Tomato
The urgent need for taking agriculture 6. Golden Fruits apple
to a higher trajectory of 4 per cent
annual growth can be met only with 7. Grey Fertilisers
improvement in the scale as well 8. Black/ Brown Non-conventional &
as quality of agricultural reforms Energy Sources
undertaken by the various States 9. Silver Eggs
and agencies at the various levels.
10. Round Potato
These at efficient use of resources
and conservation of soil, water and
ecology on a sustainable basis, and in FOOD SECURITY
a holistic framework. Such a holistic World Development Report defined
framework must incorporate financing food security as “access by all people
of rural infrastructure such as water, at all times to enough food for an
roads and power. Active, healthy life”.
Economy B-319

Main components of the food NABARD

security system A National Bank for Agriculture
1. Promoting domestic production and Rural Development (NABARD)
to meet the demands of the or the National Bank, for short,
growing population as also to was, therefore; set up in July 1982
reduce under-nutrition among by an Act of Parliament to take
quite a large section of the over the functions of ARDC and
population. the refinancing functions of RBI
2. Providing minimum support
in relation to co-operative banks
prices for procurement & storage
and RRBs. NABARD is linked
of food items.
originally with the RBI by the latter
3. Operating a Public Distribution
System. contributing half of its share capital
4. Maintaining buffer stocks so as the other half being contributed
to take care of natural calamities by the Government of India and
resulting in temporary shortage nominating three of its Central
of food. Board Directors on the board
Public Distribution System (PDS) of NABARD, besides a Deputy
Governor of RBI being appointed as
•• It is established by the
Chairman of NABARD.
Government of India in an Indian
Food Security system. Functions of NABARD
•• It distributes subsidized food & (i) It provides refinance facilities
non-food items to India’s poor. to all banks and financial
•• Scheme was launched in India institutions lending to agriculture
on June 1997. and rural development.
•• Major commodities distributed (ii) It provides short-term, medium-
include staple foodgrains, term and long-term credits
such as wheat, rice, sugar, and to State Co-operative Banks
kerosene oil, through a network (SCBs), RRBs, LDBs and other
of public distribution shops, financial institutions approved
(also known as ration shops) by RBI.
established in several states (iii) NABARD gives long-term
across the country. loans (up to 20 years) to State
•• Food Corporation of India Governments to enable them to
procures and maintains the subscribe to the sharre capital of
PDS. co-operative credits societies.
Minimum Support Price of (iv) NABARD gives long-term loans
Agriculture Production to any institution approved by
the Central Government.
Minimum Support Price announced
(v) NABARD has the responsibility
by the government is that price of co-ordinating the activities of
at which government is ready to Central and State Governments,
purchase the crop from the farmers the Planning Commission and
directly if crop price becomes lower other all- India and State level
to MSP. As a result, market price of institutions entrusted with the
the crop never comes down from the development of small scale industries,
levels of MSP. The minimum price village and cottage industries, rural
security gives incentives to farmers crafts, industries in the tiny and
to increase their production. decentralised sectors, etc.
B-320 Economy

(vi) It has the responsibility to (vii)It maintains a Research and

inspect RRBs and co-operative Development Fund to promote
banks, other than primary co- research in agriculture and rural
operative societies; and development.

INDUSTRIES
Types of Industries

Primary Secondary Tertiary

(Manufacturing) (Services)

Production of Transform raw material into Provide services to other

goods with help finished product with the help people & industries
of nature of manpower machines.

Eg. Agriculture, Heavy & Light Industries, Travel & Tourism,

Forestry, Fishing, Automobile, Oil Refining, Information Technology,
Horticulture Textile, Energy Production etc.
Liberalisation: Liberalisation is of (iii) Average annual turnover of more
human resources commonly known than Rs. 25,000 crore, during the
as free trade. It implies removal of last 3 years.
restrictions & barriers to free trade. (iv) Average annual net worth of more
1. Privatisation: Privatisation can than Rs. 15,000 crore, during the
be partner and players in the
last 3 years.
global defined as the transfer
(v) Average annual net profit after
of ownership arena & control
of public sector units to private tax of more than Rs. 5,000 crore,
individuals or companies. during the last 3 years.
2. Globalisation: It refers to a (vi) Should have significant global
process whereby there are presence/international operations.
social, cultural, technological Companies:
exchanges across the border. 1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
MAHARATNA CPSEs (Central 2. Coal India Limited
Public Sector Enterprises) 3. GAIL (India) Limited
4. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Criteria for grant of Maharatna
5. NTPC Limited
status :
6. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation
The CPSEs fulfilling the following
Limited
criteria are eligible to be considered
7. Steel Authority of India Limited
for grant of Maharatna status.
(i) Having Navratna status. Navratna CPSEs (Central Public
(ii) Listed on Indian stock exchange Sector Enterprises)
with minimum prescribed public Criteria for grant of Navratna
shareholding under SEBI regulations. status :
Economy B-321

The Miniratna Category – I and 15. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited

Schedule ‘A’ CPSEs, which have 16. Rural Electrification Corporation
obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ Limited
rating under the Memorandum of 17. Shipping Corporation of India
Understanding system in three of the Limited
last five years, and have composite INDUSTRIAL POLICY 1991: AN
OVERVIEW
score of 60 or above in the six
(A) Main Features (objective)
selected performance parameters, •• to maintain a sustained growth
namely, in productivity.
(i) net profit to net worth, •• to enhance gainful employment.
(ii) manpower cost to total cost of •• to achieve optimum utilisation
production/services, of human resources.
•• to attain international
(iii) profit before depreciation,
competitiveness
interest and taxes to capital •• to transform India into a major
employed, partner and players in the global
(iv) profit before interest and taxes to arena.
turnover, (B) Main Focus on
(v) earning per share and •• deregulating Indian industry.
(vi) inter-sectoral performance. •• allowing the industry freedom
& flexibility in responding to
Companies:
market forces
1. Bharat Electronics Limited •• providing a policy regime which
2 Bharat Petroleum Corporation facilitates and fosters growth of
Limited Indian industry
3. Container Corporation of India (C) Policy Measures
Limited (i) Liberalisation of Industrial
4. Engineers India Limited Licensing Policy.
(ii) Introduction of Industrial
5. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Entrepreneur’s Memorandum (i.e.
6. Hindustan Petroleum no industrial approval is required
Corporation Limited for industries not requiring
7. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam compulsory licencing).
Limited (iii) Liberalisation of Locational Policy.
8. National Aluminium Company (iv) Liberalised policy for Small Scale
Sectors.
Limited
(v) Non-Resident Indians Scheme
9. National Buildings Construction (NRIs are allowed to invest upto
Corporation Limited equity on non-repatriation basis
10. NMDC Limited in all activities except for a small
11. Neyveli Lignite Corporation negative list).
Limited (vi) Electronic Hardware Technology
12. Oil India limited. Park (EHTP)/ Software
Technology Park (STP) Scheme
13. Power Finance Corporation for building up strong electronic
Limited industry to enhance exports.
14. Power Grid Corporation of (vii) Liberalised policy for Foreign
India Limited Direct Investment (FDI).
B-322 Economy

AGRICULTURE
Agriculture plays a vital role in is the season’s main crop. Rabi
India’s economy. Over 58 per cent season lasts from October to March
of the rural households depend on (winter); wheat is the season’s main
agriculture as their principal means crop. Total food grains production
of livelihood. Agriculture, along in India reached an all-time high of
with fisheries and forestry, is one of 257 million tonnes in FY14.
India has the second largest
the largest contributors to the Gross agricultural land in the World with
Domestic Product (GDP). 157.35 million hectares of land
There are two major agricultural available.
seasons in India: Kharif and Rabi. Agriculture sector in India
Kharif season lasts from April to contributes 16% of GDP & 10% of
September (summer); rice (paddy) export earnings.
INDIA GDP FROM AGRICULTURE
5500
5217.45
5160.49
5026.56
5000
4637.96
4500
4211.93
4035.75 4152.28
4000
3500.52 3622.12
3500
2862.99 2920.28 2956.92
3000

2500
Jan 2013 Jul 2013 Jan 2014 Jul 2014 Jan 2015 Jul 2015
Agricultural export constitutes 10 per importer of pulses at 19.0 MT and
cent of the country’s exports and is 3.4 MT, respectively. India, the
the fourth largest exported principal second-largest producer of sugar,
commodity. The agro industry in accounts for 14 per cent of the global
India is divided into several sub output. It is the sixth-largest exporter
segments such as canned, dairy, of sugar, accounting for 2.76 per
processed, frozen food to fisheries, cent of the global exports.
meat, poultry, and food grains. Spice exports from India are
As per the 4th Advance Estimates, expected to reach US$ 3 billion by
food grain production is estimated at 2016–17 due to creative marketing
252.68 million tonnes (MT) for 2014- strategies, innovative packaging,
15. Production of pulses estimated at strength in quality and strong
17.20 million tonnes. distribution networks. The spices
With an annual output of 138 MT, market in India is valued at ` 40,000
India is the largest producer of crore (US$ 6.16 billion) annually, of
milk. It also has the largest bovine which the branded segment accounts
population. India is the largest for 15 per cent.
Economy B-323

The procurement target for rice •• India and Lithuania have

during marketing season (MS) agreed to intensify agricultural
2015–16 has been finalised as 30 cooperation, especially in sectors
MT. like food and dairy processing.
100 percent FDI is permissible under •• Gujarat Government has planned
automatic route for development of to connect 26 Agricultural Produce
seeds. Market Committees (APMCs) via
Given the importance of the electronic market platform, under
agriculture sector, the Government the National Agriculture Market
in its Budget 2015–16, planned (NAM) initiative.
several steps for the sustainable •• The State Government of
development of agriculture. It has Telangana plans to spend Rs
already taken steps to address two 81,000 crore (US$ 12.1 billion)
major factors (soil and water) critical over the next three years to
to improve agriculture production. complete ongoing irrigation
Steps have been taken to improve projects and also undertake two
soil fertility on a sustainable new projects for lifting water from
basis through the soil health card the Godavari and Krishna river.
scheme and to support the organic •• The National Dairy Development
farming scheme ‘Paramparagat Board (NDDB) announced 42
Krishi Vikas Yojana’. Other dairy projects with a financial
steps include improved access to outlay of Rs 221 crore (US$ 34.02
irrigation through ‘Pradhanmantri million) to boost milk output and
Gram Sinchai Yojana’; enhanced increase per animal production of
water efficiency through `Per Drop milk.
More Crop’; continued support
The 12th Five-Year Plan estimates
to Mahatma Gandhi National
the foodgrains storage capacity to
Rural Employment Guarantee Act
expand to 35 MT. Also, a 4 per cent
(MGNREGA) and the creation of a
growth would help restructure the
unified national agriculture market
agriculture sector in India in the next
to boost the incomes of farmers.
few years.
The Government of India recognises
the importance of microirrigation, Biotechnology Industry in India
watershed development and
India is among the top 12 biotech
‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai
destinations in the World and ranks
Yojana’. Therefore, it has allocated
third in the Asia-Pacific region.
a sum of ` 5,300 crore (US$ 815
The Indian biotech industry holds
million) for it.
about 2 per cent share of the
Given the correlation between global biotech industry. The Indian
improvement in agriculture and biotechnology sector is expected
the development of the country, to grow from the current US$ 5-7
the Government of India adopted billion to US$ 100 billion by 2025,
several initiatives and programmes growing at an average rate of 30 per
to ensure continuous growth. cent.
Some of the recent major Biopharma is the largest sector
government initiatives in the sector contributing about 64 per cent
are as follows: of the total revenue followed by
B-324 Economy

bioservices (18 per cent), bioagri (14 the growth in the bioservices sector.
per cent), bioindustry (3 per cent), India has all the ingredients to
and bioinformatics contributing (1 become a global leader in affordable
per cent). healthcare. If there is an annual
The high demand for different investment of US$ 4.01 billion to
biotech products has also opened US$ 5.02 billion in the next five
up scope for the foreign companies years, the biotech industry can grow
to set up base in India. India has to US$ 100 billion by 2025, with a 25
emerged as a leading destination for per cent return on investment, and
clinical trials, contract research and set a growth rate of 30 per cent year-
manufacturing activities owing to on-year.

12 th Five-Year Plan fund allocation

Medical biotect
21 % 26 %
Agri biotech

Basic bio & emerging areas

Biodiversity, bioresources
14 % & Environment
22 % Capacity building

17 %

Soruce : Deptt. Of science and Technology,

Planning Commission, Aranca Research
Cement Industry in India Vicat have invested in the country in
India is the second largest producer the recent past.
of cement in the World. India’s India’s cement demand is expected
cement industry is a vital part of its to reach 550-600 million tonnes
economy, providing employment to per annum (MTPA) by 2025. The
more than a million people, directly housing sector is the biggest demand
or indirectly. driver of cement, accounting for
Some of the recent major government about 67 per cent of the total
initiatives such as development of consumption in India.
100 smart cities are expected to In the 12th Five Year Plan, the
provide a major boost to the sector. Government of India plans to
Expecting such developments in increase investment in infrastructure
the country and aided by suitable to the tune of US$ 1 trillion and
government foreign policies, several increase the industry’s capacity to
foreign players such as Lafarge- 150 MT.
Holcim, Heidelberg Cement, and
Economy B-325

Gems and Jewellery Industry in It contributed US$ 39.9 billion in

India terms of foreign exchange earnings
•• Contributor to semi-skilled in FY 2014-15.
employment. Consists of 3 The industry grew 4.3 per cent, with
segments – Diamonds, Gold exports worth US$ 36.2 billion in
Jewellery & Coloured Gemstones. 2014–15.
It is extremely export oriented and In 2014–15, export of cut and
labour intensive. It contributes to 6 polished diamonds declined 5.0 per
– 7 percent of the GDP. cent to US$ 23.2 billion.
The gems and jewellery sector It is expected that gems and jewellery
in India is engaged in sourcing, exports could reach US$ 58 billion
manufacturing, and processing, by 2015.
which involves cutting, polishing According to a report by Research
and selling precious gemstones and and Markets, the Jewellery Market
metals such as diamonds, other in India is expected to grow at a
precious stones, gold, silver and CAGR of 15.95 per cent over the
platinum. period 2014-2019.

Gems & Jewellery Exports Cut & Polished Diamond Exports

(USS Billion) (USS billion)
2014-15
2014-15 (P) 36.2 23.2
(P)
2013-14 35.0 2013-14 24.5
2012-13 39.2 2012-13 17.4
2011-12 43.2 2011-12 23.4
2010-11 43.0 2010-11 28.2
2009-10 29.4 2009-10 18.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Source Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion

Council (G.EPC) Notes : P.Provisional

Manufacturing Industry in India In a major boost to the ‘Make in

Indian Manufacturing sector India’ initiative, the Government
currently contributes 16% to GDP of India has received investment
(2015) and gives employment to 12% proposals of over US$ 3.05 billion
(2014) of the country’s workforce. till end of August 2015 from
Studies have estimated that every various companies. India has
job created in manufacturing has a become one of the most attractive
multiplier effect, creating 2–3 jobs in destinations for investments in the
the services sector. manufacturing sector.
Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi,
Clean energy investments in India
has launched the ‘Make in India’
increased to US$ 7.9 billion in 2014,
initiative to place India on the world
map as a manufacturing hub to give helping the country maintain its
global recognition to the Indian position as the seventh largest clean
economy. energy investor in the world.
B-326 Economy

Oil and Gas Industry in India has allowed 100 per cent foreign
The oil and gas sector is among direct investment (FDI) in many
the six core industries in India and segments of the sector, including
natural gas, petroleum products, and
plays a major role in influencing
refineries, among others.
decision making for all the other
Presently, domestic production
important sections of the economy.
accounts for more than three-
In 1997–98, the New Exploration
quarters of the country’s total gas
Licensing Policy (NELP) was consumption. India increasingly
envisaged to fill the ever-increasing relies on imported LNG. The
gap between India’s gas demand and country was the fifth-largest LNG
supply. A recent report points out importer in 2013, accounting for
that the Indian oil and gas industry 5.5 per cent of global imports.
is anticipated to be worth US$ 139.8 India’s LNG imports are forecasted
billion by 2015. to increase at a CAGR of 33 per
The Government of India has cent during 2012–17. However, net
adopted several policies to fulfil the imports of Natural Gas fell from
increasing demand. The government 13.14
Energy Consumption Pattern in 2014

2.18 % 1.23 %
4.64 %

7.14 % Coal

Oil
Natural Gas

Hydro Electric
28.33 %
56.47 % Renewables
Nuclear Energy

Source: US Energy Information Administration (EIA),

BP Statistical Review 2015
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas 11, 2014 and expanded to rest of
Corporation (ONGC) dominates the country on January 1, 2015
the upstream segment (exploration will cover 15.3 crore active LPG
and production), accounting for consumers of the country. 24 7 LPG
approximately 68 per cent of the service via web launched to provide
country’s total oil output (FY14). LPG consumers an integrated
PAHAL - Direct Benefit Transfer solution to carry out all services at
for LPG consumer (DBTL) scheme one place, through MyLPG.in, from
launched in 54 districts on November the comfort of their home.
Economy B-327

The Government of India launched Under the Sardar Patel Urban

the ‘Give It Up’ campaign on LPG Housing Mission, 30 million houses
subsidy that helped it save ` 140 will be built in India by 2022, mostly
crore (US$ 21.11 million) as on for the economically weaker sections
22nd July 2015 with nearly 12.6 lakh and low-income groups, through
Indians registering for the cause. public-private-partnership (PPP)
Subsidised cooking gas will no and interest subsidy.
longer be provided to consumers
Textile Industry in India
earning ` 10 lakh or more a year
from January 1, 2016. The rule India’s textiles sector is one of the
will initially be implemented on oldest industries in Indian economy
self-declaration basis for cylinders dating back several centuries. Even
booked from January 2016 onwards. today, textiles sector is one of
India has proven oil reserves of 5.7 the largest contributors to India’s
billion barrels, and gas reserves of exports. India is the world’s second
1.4 trillion cubic meters, yet given largest exporter of textiles and
the low production base, the country clothing contributing approximately
remains a net importer of energy. 11 per cent of total exports. The
textiles industry is also labour
Real Estate Industry in India intensive and is one of the largest
India is the second largest employer employers.
of Real estate after agriculture and is The industry realised export
slated to grow at 30 per cent over the earnings worth US$ 41.4 billion in
next decade. 2014-15, a growth of 5.4 per cent,
The real estate sector comprises as per The Cotton Textiles Export
four sub sectors - housing, retail, Promotion Council (Texprocil).
hospitality, and commercial. The Indian textiles industry,
Bengaluru is expected to be the currently estimated at around US$
most favoured property investment 108 billion, is expected to reach US$
destination for NRIs, followed by 223 billion by 2021.
Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Goa, The Indian Textile Industry
Delhi and Dehradun. contributes approximately 5 per cent
The Indian real estate market is to India’s gross domestic product
expected to touch US$ 180 billion (GDP), and 14 per cent to overall
by 2020. The housing sector alone Index of Industrial Production
contributes 5-6 per cent to the (IIP). Readymade garments are the
country’s Gross Domestic Product largest contributor to total textile
(GDP). and apparel exports from India in
Mumbai is the best city in India for FY15. The segment had a share of
commercial real estate investment, 40 per cent in overall textile exports.
with returns of 12-19 per cent likely Cotton and handmade textiles were
in the next five years, followed by also major contributors with shares
Bengaluru and Delhi-National of 31 per cent and 16 per cent,
Capital Region (NCR). respectively.
B-328 Economy

Share of India’s textile exports (Fy15)

3%
10 % Ready Made Garments

Coton Textiles
40 %
Natural Gas
16 % Man Made Textiles
Handicrafts (Carpet,
Handloom, Coir, Handicrafts
excluding carpets)
31 % Others (Silk, Wool, Jute)

Soruce : Ministry of Textiles, Budget 2015, TechSci Research

Foreign direct investment (FDI) Association of Software and

in textile sector increased to US$ Services Companies (NASSCOM).
1,587.8 million in FY15 from India’s internet economy is expected
US$ 1,424.9 million in FY14. The to touch Rs 10 trillion (US$ 151.6
Ministry of Textiles is encouraging billion) by 2018, accounting for
investments through increasing focus 5 per cent of the country’s gross
on schemes such as Technology Up- domestic product (GDP), according
gradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). to a report by the Boston Consulting
Group (BCG) and Internet and
IT & ITeS Industry in India Mobile Association of India
India is the world’s largest sourcing (IAMAI). India’s internet user base
destination for the information reached over 350 million by June
technology (IT) industry, accounting 2015, the third largest in the world,
for approximately 67 per cent of the while the number of social media
US$ 124-130 billion market. users grew to 143 million by April
India’s IT industry amounts to 12.3 2015 and smartphones grew to 160
per cent of the global market, largely million.
due to exports. Export of IT services Indian start-ups are expected to
accounted for 56.12 per cent of total receive funding worth US$ 5 billion
IT exports (including hardware) by the end of 2015, a 125 per cent
from India. The Business Process increase in a year, according to a
Management (BPM) segment report by IT Industry association
accounted for 23.46 per cent of total NASSCOM.
IT exports during FY15. The Government of India has
The IT industry has also created launched the Digital India program
significant demand in the Indian to provide several government
education sector, especially for services to the people using IT
engineering and computer science. and to integrate the government
The Indian Information Technology departments and the people of India.
(IT) sector is expected to grow 11 per The adoption of key technologies
cent per annum and triple its current across sectors spurred by the ‘Digital
annual revenue to reach US$ 350 India Initiative’ could help boost
billion by FY 2025, as per National India’s gross domestic product
Economy B-329

(GDP) by US$ 550 billion to US$ 1 can register high growth and is
trillion by 2025, as per research firm expected to reach 150,000 units by
McKinsey. 2020.
SMAC, increasing at a CAGR of
Coal Industry in India
approximately 30 per cent to around
US$ 650-700 billion by 2020. The Coal is one of the important parts
social media is the second most of India’s energy mix. India is
lucrative segment for IT firms, third-largest producer of coal with a
offering a US$ 250 billion market production of 565.6 million tonnes
opportunity by 2020. (MT) in FY14. It has the fifth largest
The Indian e-commerce segment coal reserves in the world at 301.6
billion tonnes (BT). It is a major
is US$ 12 billion in size and is
source of electricity production in
witnessing strong growth and
India.
thereby offers another attractive
Coal India Limited (CIL) was
avenue for IT companies to develop formed as a holding company
products and services to cater to the in 1975, incorporating the state-
high growth consumer segment. owned companies that were created
Indian Automobile Industry following the nationalisation of
The Indian automobile industry India’s coal assets.
registered a growth of 8.68 percent Coal India Limited accounts for
in the FY 2014 – 15 over last year around 80 per cent of India’s total
coal production. CIL’s production
and produced 23.37 million vehicles.
target for the 2015–16 financial year
The automobile industry accounts
(April 2015 to March 2016) has been
for 7.1 per cent of the country’s set at 550 million tonnes, up 8.5 per
gross domestic product (GDP). cent from the previous year’s target.
Two-wheeler production is projected In the previous fiscal year CIL
to rise from 18.5 million in FY15 to produced 494 million tonnes, 3 per
34 million by FY20. Furthermore, cent below its target of 507 million
passenger vehicle production is tonnes (Bahuguna 2015). To achieve
expected to increase to 10 million in the new target, CIL will need to
FY20 from 3.2 million in FY15. produce an extra 56 million tonnes
The government aims to develop during the 2015–16 financial year.
India as a global manufacturing as Although the central government
well as a research and development has primary carriage over India’s
(R&D) hub. It has set up National coal sector, state governments retain
Automotive Testing and R&D some influence over developments
Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) through approval of mining licences
centres as well as a National and leases.
Automotive Board to act as Iron & Steel Industry
facilitator between the government Started by TISCO at Jamshedpur
and the industry. in 1907. India is world’s 3rd largest
Alternative fuel has the potential producer of crude steel. Provide
to provide for the country’s energy employment to large number of
demand in the auto sector as the people. Steel sector contributes
CNG distribution network in India nearly 2% of GDP. Key industry
is expected to rise to 250 cities for construction. Backbone of all
in 2018 from 125 cities in 2014. industries. SAIL – largest public
Furthermore, the luxury car market sector steel producing company.
B-330 Economy

Travel & Tourism Industry exchange earner for the country. The
According to world Economic Forum’s direct contribution of Tourism &
Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Hospitality sector to GDP totalled
Report 2013, India ranks 11th in the US $ 44.2 billion in 2015. Over 7.757
Asia Pacific region and 65th globally million foreign tourist arrivals were
out of economies ranked on Travel reported in 2015. Important Travel
& Tourism Competitiveness Index. Companies in India Cox Kings
Tourism in India accounts for 6.8% Ltd., India Tourism Development
of the GDP & is the 3rd largest foreign Corporation Ltd., Thomas Cook Ltd.

WORLD ECONOMY
By the term world economy, we mean during the Industrial Revolution
that comprehensive economy which is in Europe, because of huge energy
based on national economies of every conversion taking place. Economic
country of the world. In other words it growth spread to cover the entire
is the economy of global community world during the twentieth century
encompassing economies of every and world GDP per capita multiplied
local society across the entire globe. by five times. Maximum growth took
The 20th century world witnessed two
world wars, the Great Depression of place in the 1960s the period of post
the 1930s, the end of colonial rule, war reconstruction. Trade revolution
robust scientific and technological brought in by container ships after
developments, the Cold War between the 1950’s, paved way for cheap
the Western alliance and the Warsaw transportation of goods.
Pact nations, living standards So far as the 21st century is concerned
enrichment in North America, Europe, the continued advancement in
and Japan; increased concerns about science and technology has both its
environmental degradation, energy inherent merits and demerits- merits
conservation, declining biological in terms of advances in medicine,
diversity, etc., the emergence of the agriculture beneficial to humankind
US as world superpower, continued
population explosion. and propagation of lethal weapons
As for global economic history, of war, mass destruction harmful for
economic growth took place first mankind.
BUSINESS
B-332 Business

BUSINESS ENTITIES
•• Sole Proprietorship: It is an manner as may be prescribed for
unincorporated business with one obtaining the status of a Dormant
owner who pays personal income company.
tax on profits from the business. •• Family Owned Business: It is a
•• Partnership: A type of business kind of business in which two or
organisation in which two or more more family members are involved
individuals pool money, skills, & & the majority of ownership or
other resources, & share profit & control lies within a family.
loss in accordance with terms of •• Private Limited Company: A type
the partnership agreement. of company that offers limited
•• Limited Liability Partnership liability, or legal protection for its
(LLP): It is a partnership in which shareholders but that places certain
some or all partners have limited restrictions on its ownership.
liabilities. •• Small Company: It is a company
•• Hindu Undivided family that satisfies either of the following
(HUF): It is an extended family conditions:
arrangement prevalent throughout (i) Paid-up share capital which
the Indian subcontinent consisting does not exceed 50 lakh rupees
of many generations living in or such higher amount as may be
the same household, all bound prescribed which shall not be more
than 5 crore rupees.
by the common relationship. A
OR
huf is a legal term related to the
(ii) Turnover of which as per
Hindu Marriage Act. The female
its last profit & loss account
members are also given the right of
does not exceed 2 crore rupees
share to the property in the HUF.
or such higher amount as may
•• Cooperative: It is a firm owned,
be prescribed which shall not be
controlled, & operated by a group
more than 20 crore rupees.
of users for their own benefit. Each •• Public Limited Company: A
member contributes equity capital, company whose securities are
& shares in the control of the firm traded on a stock exchange & can
on the basis of one-member, one- be bought & sold by anyone. Its
vote principle. formation, working & its winding
•• Dormant Company: The up, in fact, all its activities are
Companies Act 2013 (section 455) strictly governed by laws, rules &
introduces a concept of a dormant regulations.
company withein its ambet. The •• Public Sector Unit (PSU): The
Dormant Company is a company government owned corporations
formed & registered under this are termed as public sector
act for a future project or to hold undertakings (PSUs) in India. In
an asset or intellectual property a PSU majority (51% or more) of
& has no significant accounting the paid up share capital is held
transaction, such a company or by Central Government or by any
an inactive company may make an state government & partly by one
application to the registrar in such or more state governments.
Business B-333

•• One Person Company: It is a generates, regardless of how

registered company who has much capital each contributes.
only one shareholder. It is a •• Incorporated Company: A
private company. company that has been granted
•• Unlimited Company: It is a a charter legally recognizing it as
company in which all members a separate entity having its own
or shareholders have total & joint privileges, rights, & liabilities
responsibility to cover all debts distinct from other business &
& other liabilities the company persons.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The framework of rules & practices stakeholders for distribution of
by which a Board of Directors ensures responsibilities, rights & rewards.
accountability, fairness, & transparency 2. procedures for reconciling the
in a company’s relationship with its sometimes conflicting interests of
all stakeholders (financiers, customers,
stakeholders in accordance with
management, employees, government,
their duties, privileges & roles.
& the community).
The corporate governance framework 3. procedures for proper supervision,
consists of control & information-flows to
1. explicit & implicit contracts serve as a system of checks &
between the company & the balances.

COMPANY ACT 2013

Companies Act, 2013 is an act •• Woman Director: Every Listed
which regulates incorporation of Company /Public Company with
a company, responsibilities of a paid up capital of `100 Crores
company, directors, dissolution of a or more/Public Company with
company. turnover of `300 Crores or more
The Act has replaced The Companies shall have at least one Woman
Act, 1956 (in a partial manner) after Director.
receiving the assent of the President •• Corporate Social Responsibility:
of India on 29 August 2013.
Every company having net worth
Brief description of new concepts
of rupees five hundred crore or
introduced in Companies Act 2013
more, or turnover of rupees one
•• One Person Company is a
thousand crore or more or a net
company with only one person
as a member. That one person profit of rupees five crore or more
will be the shareholder of the during any financial year shall
company. It avails all the benefits constitute a Corporate Social
of a private limited company Responsibility Committee of the
such as separate legal entity, Board consisting of three or more
protecting personal assets from directors, out of which at least one
business liability, and perpetual director shall be an independent
succession. director.’
B-334 Business

•• Registered Valuers : Where a valuation is required to be made in respect

of any property, stocks, shares, debentures, securities or goodwill or any
other assets (herein referred to as the assets) or net worth of a company or
its liabilities under the provision of this Act, it shall be valued by a person
having such qualifications and experience and registered as a valuer in
such manner, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed and
appointed by the audit committee or in its absence by the Board of
Directors of that company.
•• A Class Action Suit refers to a law suit that allows a large number of
people with a common interest in a matter to sue or be sued as a group. It
is a procedural device enabling one or more plantiffs to file and prosecute
a litigation on behalf of a larger group or class, wherein such class has
common rights and grievances.
•• Fast Track Merger : Under fast track merger processes Central
Government has the power to sanction all such scheme and there will be
no requirement to approach National Company Law Tribunal (powers
presently exercised by the High Court).

New Pension System

Pension Plans provide financial security & stability during old age when
people don’t have a regular source of income. To provide social security
to more citizens the government of India has started the National Pension
System. Government of India established Pension Fund Regulatory
& Development Authority (PFRDA) on 10th October 2013 to develop &
regulate pension sector in the country. The National Pension System (NPS)
was launched in 1st January, 2004 with the objective of providing retirement
income to all the citizens. With effect from 1st may 2009, NPS has been
provided for all citizens of the country including the unorganised sector
workers on voluntary basis. Additionally, Central Government launched
a co-contributory pension scheme, ‘Swavalamban Scheme’ in the Union
Budget of 2010-11, under which the government will contribute a sum of
` 1,000 to each eligible NPS subscriber who contributes a minimum of
` 1,000 & maximum ` 12,000 per annum.
The NPS is structured in 2 tiers. A Tier-1 account is a basic retirement
pension account available to all citizens from 1 May 2009. It doesnot
permit withdrawal of funds before retirement. A Tier-2 account is a
prospective payment system account that permits some withdrawal of
pension prior to retirement under exceptional circumstances, usually
related to the provision of health care.
Business B-335

MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

MCA regulates corporate affairs in India through the Companies ACT, 1956,
2013 and other allied Acts, Bills and Rules. MCA also protects investors and
offers many important services to stakeholders.
The Ministry is also responsible for administering the Competition Act,
20002 to prevent practices having adverse effect on competition, to promote
and sustain competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers
through the commission set up under the Act.
Besides, it exercises supervision over the three professional bodies, namely,
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) which are constituted
under three separate Acts of the Parliament for proper and orderly growth
of the professions concerned
Registrar of Companies
Registrars of Companies (ROC) appointed under Section 609 of the
Companies Act covering the varuous States and Union Territories are vested
with the primary duty of registering companies and LLPs floated in the
respective states and the Union Territories and ensuring that such companies
and LLPs comply with statutory requirements under the Act. These offices
function as registry of records relating to the companies registered with
them, which are available for inspection by members of public on payment
of the prescribed fee. The Central Government exercises administrative
control over these offices through the respective Regional Directors.
Income Tax Department
The Income Tax Department, also referred to as IT Department, is a
government agency in charge of monitoring the income tax collection by
the Government of India. It functions under the Department of Revenue of
the Ministry of Finance. It is responsible for administering following direct
taxation acts passed by Parliament of India.
•• Income Tax Act
•• Wealth Tax Act
•• Gift Tax Act
•• Expenditure Tax Act
•• Interest Tax Act
•• Various Finance Acts (Passed Every Year in Budget Session)
The IT Department is also responsible for enforcing the Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreements and deals with various aspects of international
taxation such as Transfer Pricing.

BALANCE SHEET
A financial statement that summarizes a company’s assets, liabilities and
shareholders’ equity at a specific point in time. These three balance sheet
segments give investors an idea as to what the company owns and owes, as
well as the amount invested by shareholders.
B-336 Business

The balance sheet adheres to the following formula:

Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders’ Equity

SOURCES OF FUNDS

Debt : A duty or obligation to pay funding is done, generally, after a

money delivery goods or render company has a proof of concept and
service under an express or implied has crossed early stages of business.
agreement. IPO : Initial public offering of IPO
Debentures : It is a medium- to is the first sale of a company’s shares
long-term debt instrument used by to the public, leading to a stock
large companies to borrow money, market listing. A lot of venture funds
at a fixed rate of interest. adopts this route to exit a company
Shareholder’s Equity : It represents in which they have invested.
the amount by which a company Shares : A unit of ownership that
is financed through common and represents an equal proportion of
preferred shares. a company’s capital. It entitles its
Seed Funding : It is a type of holder( the shareholder) to an equal
securities contribution in which and claim on the company’s profits & an
investor invests capital in exchange equal obligation for the company’s
for an equity stake in the company. debts & losses.
This sort of funding is done in the There are 2 major types of shares-
initial stages of a business. •• Ordinary shares : entitle the
Venture funding : It is the capital shareholder to share in the
invested, or available for investment, earnings of the company & to
in an enterprise that offers the vote at the company’s annual
probability of profit along with general meatings & other official
the possibility of loss. This sort of meetings.
Business B-337

•• Preference shares : entitle the Loans : A loan is a debt pronded

shareholder to a fixed periodic by entity (organisation of
income but generally donot give individual) to another entity at
him/her voting rights. an interest rate.

PERFORMANCE OF A COMPANY
Debt/Equity ratio : It is a debt Turnover ratio : The turnover ratio
ratio used to calculate company’s measures how well a company is
financial leverage. It is calculated by utilizing its capital to support a given
dividing a company’s total liabilities Level of Sales. A high turnover ratio
by its stockholder’s equity. It shows indicates that management is being
how much debt a corporation is extremely efficient is using a firm’s
using to fund its assets relative to short term assets & liabilities to
the amount of value represented in support sales. Conversely, a low ratio
shareholder’s equity. indicates that a business is investing
P/E ratio : The price-to earnings in too many accounts receivable &
ratio is an equity valuation multiple. inventory assets to support its sales,
It is defined as market price per which could eventually lead to an
share divided by annual earnings excessive amount of bad debts &
per share, (EPS = total income of
obsolete inventory
company divided by number of
shares issued)

SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

Small and medium-sized enterprises than 6,000 products contributes
(SMEs; sometimes also small and about 8% to GDP besides 45% to
medium enterprises) or small and the total manufacturing output and
medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are 40% to the exports from the country.
businesses whose personnel numbers The SME sector has the potential to
fall below certain limits. Indian spread industrial growth across the
Small and Medium Enterprises country and can be a major partner
(SME) sector has emerged as a in the process of inclusive growth.
highly vibrant and dynamic sector SMEs also play a significant role in
of the Indian economy over the Nation development through high
last five decades. SMEs not only contribution to Domestic Production,
play crucial role in providing large Significant Export Earning, Low
employment opportunities at Investment Requirements, Operational
comparatively lower capital cost Flexibility, Location Wise Mobility,
than large industries but also help Low Intensive Imports, Capacities
in industrialization of rural areas. to Develop Appropriate Indigenous
SMEs are complementary to large Technology, Import Substitution,
industries as ancillary units and this Contribution towards Defence
sector contributes enormously to the
socio-economic development of the Production, Technology – Oriented
country. The sector consisting of 36 Industries, Competitiveness in
million units, as of today, provides Domestic and Export Markets thereby
employment to over 80 million generating new entrepreneurs by
persons. The Sector through more providing knowledge and training.
B-338 Business

E–COMMERCE IN INDIA
E-commerce or electronic commerce retail goods on the internet conducted
deals with the buying & selling of by the B2C category.
goods & services, or the transmitting As of Q1 2015, six Indian E-commerce
of funds or data, over an electronic companies have managed to achieve
platform, mainly the internet. These billion–dollar valuations, namely
business transactions are categorised Flipkart, Snapdeal, Inmobi, Quikr,
into– Ola cabs & Paytm.
•• Business to Business (B2B)
•• Business to Consumers (B2C) Mobile Commerce
•• Consumer to Consumer (C2B) (M – Commerce)
•• Consumer to Business(C2C) M–Commerce is the buying & selling
Business to Business to Consumer of goods & services through wireless
E–commerce processes are conducted handheld services such as cellular
using applications, such as Email, telephone & personal digital assistants.
fax, online catalogues & shopping The phrase mobile commerce was
carts, electronic data interchange, originally coined in 1997 by Kevin
file transfer protocol & web services Duffey at the launch of the Global
& e–newsletters to subscribers. E– Mobile Commerce Forum. Mobile
Travel is the most popular form of Commerce transaction continues
E–commerce, followed by e–Tail to grow, & the term includes online
which essentially means selling of banking, Bill payment & so on.
‘MNC’
A corporation that has its facilities agencies — i.e., non-governmental
and other assets in at least one organizations — to be awarded
country other than its home country. observer status at its assemblies
Such companies have offices and/ and some of its meetings. Later
or factories in different countries the term became used more widely.
and usually have a centralized head Today, according to the UN, any
office where they co-ordinate global kind of private organization that is
management. It can also be referred independent from government control
as an international corporation, a can be termed an “NGO”, provided it
“transnational corporation”, or a is not-for-profit, nonprevention, and
stateless corporation. not simply an opposition political
party.
NGO Examples include improving the
A non-governmental organization state of the natural environment,
(NGO) is an organization that is encouraging the observance of human
neither a part of a government nor a rights, improving the welfare of the
conventional for-profit business. disadvantaged, or representing a
The term “non-governmental corporate agenda. However, there are
organization” was first coined in a huge number of such organizations
1945, when the United Nations and their goals cover a broad range
(UN) was created.The UN, itself of political and philosophical
an inter-governmental organization, positions. This can also easily be
made it possible for certain approved applied to private schools and athletic
specialized international non-state organizations.
Business B-339

FICCI (Federation of Indian the Directorate of Marketing &

Chamber of Commerce & Inspection, an agency of the
Industry) Government of India.
Established in 1927, FICCI ISI Mark
is the largest and oldest apex
ISI (Indian Standards Institute) mark
business organisation in India. A
non-government, not-for-profit is a certification mark for industrial
organisation, FICCI is the voice of products in India. The mark certifies
India’s business and industry. From that a product confirms to the
influencing policy to encouraging Indian Standard, mentioned as IS:
debate, engaging with policy makers xxxx on top of the mark, developed
and civil society, FICCI articulates by the Bureau of Indian Standards
the views and concerns of industry. (BIS). The ISI mark is mandatory
AGMARK for certifying products to be sold in
It is a certification mark employed India, like many of the electrical
on agricultural products in India, appliances, kitchen appliances, other
assuring that they confirm to products like LPG valves, LPG
a set of standards approved by cylinders, automotive tyres, etc.

IMPORTANT BUSINESS TERMS

Term Meaning
Ahead of the Curve To be more advanced than the competition
Backroom Deal An agreement or decision that is made without the public
knowing about it.
Go broke To go bankrupt or to loose all the money a person or business
had.
In the black If a company is “in the black”, it means that they are making
a profit
In the red If a company is “in the red” it means that they are not
profitable & are operating at a loss.
Lose – Lose situation When someone has to choose between various options & all
the options are bad.
Pink Slip If someone gets the “pink slip”, it means they have fired.
Snail Mail Letter or messages that are not sent by email, but by regular
post.
Blue Collar Worker Someone who works with his/her hands (manufacturing
construction, maintenance, etc.).
White Collar Worker Someone who works in an office (customer service,
management, sales, etc.)
Win – Win situation A situation where everyone involved gains something.
Corner a market To dominate a particular market.
Downsizing A planned reduction in the number of employees needed in
a firm in order to reduce costs & make the business more
efficient.
Venture Capital money that is invested in new or emerging companies that are
perceived as having great profit potential.
B-340 Business

Term Meaning
Opportunity Cost Cost in terms of foregone alternatives.
Logistics Process of strategically managing the efficient flow & storage
of raw materials, in-process inventory, & finished goods from
point of origin to point of consumption.
Equity Difference between market value of a property & claims held
against it.
Merger Combination of two or more companies into a single firm.
Acquisition Taking over the control of one company by another.
Hedging A Risk management Strategy used in limiting or offsetting
probability of loss from fluctuations in the prices of
commodities, currencies, or securities.
Intellectual Property Knowledge, creative ideas, or expressions of human mind that
have commercial value & are protectable under copyright,
patent, servicemark, trademark, or trade secret laws from
imitation infringement, & dilution.
Swap Exchange of one type of asset, cash flow, investment, liability,
or payment for another.
Bankrupt When individual/company cannot pay their debts & are not
able to reach an agreement with their creditors.
Liquidity How quickly assets can be converted into cash.

BUSINESS CONCEPTS
Agent : A business entity that finished goods or materials to be used
negotiates, purchases, and/or sells, to manufacture goods.
but does not take title to the goods. Outsourcing – Purchasing an item or
Doing Business As (DBA) – DBA a service from an outside vendor to
stands for “Doing Business As,” replace performance of the task with
which is a company name, also an organization’s internal operations.
commonly called a “Fictitious SWOT analysis – A formal
business name.” When a sole framework of identifying and framing
proprietor operates a company using organizational growth opportunities.
any name except his or her own given SWOT is an acronym for an
name, then the DBA or ficticious organization’s internal Strengths
business name registration establishes and Weaknesses and external
the legal ownership to satisfy banks, Opportunities and Threats.
local authorities, and customers. CRM- C-R-M stands for Customer
Ideas vs opportunities – Ideas Relationship Management. At its
are the basis of potential business simplest, a CRM system allows
opportunities. Good ideas do businesses to manage business
not necessarily represent good relationships and the data and
opportunities. information associated with them.
Initial Public Offering (IPO) – A Supply Chain Management
corporation’s initial efforts of raising (SCM) is the oversight of materials,
capital through the sale of securities information, and finances as they
on the public stock market. move in a process from supplier
Inventory – Goods in stock, either to manufacturer to wholesaler to
Business B-341

retailer to consumer. Supply chain there in the ESI Act 1948,

management involves coordinating which oversees the provision
and integrating these flows both of medical and cash benefits to
within and among companies. the employees and their family
Memorandum of Association through its large network of
(MoA) : branch offices, dispensaries and
MoA is a legal document prepared hospitals throughout India.
in the formation & registration •• Provident Fund (PF)
process of a limited liability It is a fund which is composed
company to define its relationship of contributions & made by the
with shareholders. employee during the time he/
Articles of Association : It is a she worked along with an equal
document of a company which contribution by his employer.
defines the responsibilities of the Its purpose is to help employees
directors, the kind of business to be
save a fraction of their salary
undertaken, & the means by which
every month, to be used in
the shareholders exert control over the
board of directors. an event that the employee is
temporarily or no longer fit to
Start – ups work or at retirement.
A start-up company is an
TDS
entrepreneurial venture or a new
business in the form of a company, a Tax deducted at source (TDS),
partnership or temporary organization as the very name implies aims at
designed to search for a repeatable collection of revenue at the very
and scalable business model. These source of income. It is essentially
companies, generally newly created, an indirect method of collecting
are innovative in a process of tax which combines the concepts of
development, validation and research “pay as you earn” and “collect as
for target markets. it is being earned.” Its significance
to the government lies in the fact
Boot Strap
that it prepones the collection of
A situation in which an entrepreneur tax, ensures a regular source of
starts a company with little capital.
revenue, provides for a greater reach
An individual is said to be boot
and wider base for tax. At the same
strapping when he or she attempts
time, to the tax payer, it distributes
to found and build a company
the incidence of tax and provides for
from personal finances or from
the operating revenues of the new a simple and convenient mode of
company. payment.
•• Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) The concept of TDS requires that
ESI is a self-financing social the person on whom responsibility
security & health insurance has been cast, is to deduct tax at the
scheme for Indian workers. appropriate rates, from payments of
The ESI is managed by the ESI specific nature which are being made
Corporation (ESIC) according to to a specified recipient. The deducted
rules and regulations stipulated sum is required to be deposited to the
B-342 Business

credit of the Central Government. rentals paid by the lessee;

The recipient from whose income •• the lessee has the option to
tax has been deducted at source, gets acquire ownership of the asset
the credit of the amount deducted (e.g. paying the last rental, or
in his personal assessment on the bargain option purchase price);
basis of the certificate issued by the The finance company is the legal
deductor. owner of the asset during duration
of the lease.
‘Lease ‘ E-FILING
A legal document outlining the Electronic tax filing, or e-filing,
terms under which one party agrees is a system for submitting tax
to rent property from another documents to a revenue service
party. A lease guarantees the lessee electronically, often without
(the renter) use of an asset and the need to submit any paper
guarantees the lessor (the property documents. E-filing has manifold
benefits; the taxpayer can file a tax
owner) regular payments from the
return from the comfort of home,
lessee for a specified number of at any convenient time, once
months or years. Both the lessee and the tax agency begins accepting
the lessor must uphold the terms of returns. E-filing saves the tax
the contract for the lease to remain agency time and money, because
valid. the tax data is transmitted directly
Financial Leasing into its computers, significantly
reducing the possibility of keying
As one of the most popular and input errors.
financing tools in modern business
world, Financial Leasing Services
uses finance leases to leverage assets.
Corporate tax
A Finance Lease (or Capital Lease) Corporate taxes are taxes against
profits earned by businesses during a
is a lease that is primarily a method given taxable period. Corporation tax
of raising finance to pay for assets, is a tax imposed on the net income of
rather than a genuine rental. the company. The present corporate
It is a commercial arrangement for is 30% on the Net Income of the
where: company.
•• the leases (customer or borrower) It was announced in Union Budget
2015 that corporate tax rate will be
will select an asset (equipment,
gradually reduced from 30% to 25%
vehicle, software); over the period of 4 years, starting
•• the lessor (finance company) will in April 2016. 2% surcharge was
purchase that asset; introduced on earnings above 10 crores.
•• the leassee will have use of that Surcharge is applied in the
asset during the lease; following cases:
•• If the company has a total
•• the lessess will pay a series of
income less than Rs. 1 crore,
rental or installments for the use then it does not have to pay any
of that asset; income tax.
•• the lessor will recover a large •• If the net income of the company
part or all of the cost of the for that year is in the range of Rs.
asset plus earn interest from the •• 10 crore then 5% surcharge is
Business B-343

applied on its net income. technology or biotechnology sectors

•• If the net income of the company rarely offer dividends because all of
for that year exceeds Rs. 10 crore their profits are reinvested to help
then 10% surcharge is applied on sustain higher-than-average growth
its net income education cess and expansion. Larger, established
companies tend to issue regular
Profitability of company dividends as they seek to maximize
Profitability is the ability of a shareholder wealth in ways aside from
business to earn a profit. A profit is supernormal growth.
what is left of the revenue a business
generates after it pays all expenses Issued Capital
directly related to the generation of The share capital that has been
the revenue, such as producing a issued to the shareholders. This
product, and other expenses related is part of a company’s authorised
to the conduct of the business capital.
activities.
Paid up capital
Dividend The amount of a company’s capital that
A share of the after-tax profit has been funded by shareholders. Paid-
of a company, distributed to its up capital can be less than a company’s
shareholders according to the number total capital because a company may
and class of shares held by them. not issue all of the shares that it has
Start-ups and other high-growth been authorized to sell. Paid-up capital
companies such as those in the can also reflect how a company depends
on equity financing.
TOP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BRANDS IN INDIA, 2014-15
Rank Company Revenues (` Cr)
1 TCS 94,648
2 Cognizant Technology Solutions 65,779
3 Infosys Technologies 53,319
4 Wipro 47,318
5 Hewlett-Packard India 37,985
6 HCL Technologies 35,709
7 Tech Mahindra 22,621
8 IBM India 20,442
9 Ingram Micro India 15,823
10 Redington India 14,610
11 Dell India 13,984
12 Oracle India 12,440
13 SAP India 9,896
14 Cisco Systems India 9,740
15 Microsoft India 8,624
16 IGATE 7,879
17 APC by Schneider Electric India 6,848
18 Capgemini India 6,305
19 Intel India 6,292
20 HCL Infosystems 6,270
Source: NASSCOM
B-344 Business

LIST OF TOP 10 RICHEST PERSON OF INDIA

(AS ON 21ST JULY, 2015), SOURCE: FORBES
S. No. Name Net worth (USD) Company
01 Mukesh Ambani $19.9 Reliance Industries
02 Dilip Shanghvi $18.0 Sun Pharma
03 Azim Premji $15.9 Wipro
04 Hinduja brothers $14.8 Hinduja Group
05 Pallonji Mistry $14.7 Shapoorji Pallonji Group
06 Shiv Nadar $14.7 HCL Technologies
07 Godrej family $11.4 Godrej Group
08 Lakshmi Mittal $11.2 ArcelorMittal
09 Cyrus Poonawalla $7.9 Serum Institute of India
10 Kumar Birla $7.8 Aditya Birla Group
WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE BRANDS
Rank Brand Industry
01 Apple Technology
02 Microsoft Technology
03 Google Technology
04 Coca-cola Beverages
05 IBM Technology
06 Mc Donald’s Restaurants
07 Samsung Technology
08 Toyata Automotive
09 General Electric Diversified
10 Facebook Technology
TOP 10 BRANDS OF BRANDZ 2015 REPORT
Rank 2015 Brand Category Brand Value 2015
(SM)
1 HDFC Bank Bank 12,577
2 Airtel Telecoms 11,039
3 SBI Banks 9,374
4 ICICI Bank Banks 5,122
5 Asian Paints Paints 3,867
6 Bajaj Auto Automobiles 3,345
7 Hero MotoCorp Automobiles 2,907
8 Axis Bank Banks 2,494
9 Kotak Mahindra Bank Banks 2,394
10 Maruti Suzuki Automobiles 2,318
MAJOR E-COMMERCE ACQUISITIONS IN 2015

1 wehive by flipkart.com 5 unicommerce by snapdeal.com

2 babyoye... by Mahindra Retail 6 martmobi by snapdeal.com
3 Taxi for sure by OLA 7 app ITERATE by flipkart.com
4 AdiQuity by flipkart.com 8 car sale by CARTRADE
GENERAL SCIENCE
`` Physics
`` Chemistry
`` Life Science
`` Everyday Science
B-346 General Science

Physics
MECHANICS
Physical Quantities (v) 1 ltr. = 1000 cc = 10-3 m3
Those quantities which can describe (vi) 1 cm2 = 10-4 m2
the laws of physics and possible to (vii) 1 mm = 10-3 m
measure are called physical quantities. (viii) 1 atomic mass unit 1 (amu) =
The physical quantities which do not 1.67 × 10-27
depend upon other physical quantities (ix) 1 slug = 14.57 kg
are called fundamental quantities. (x) 1 tonne = 10 quintal = 1000kg
In Standard International (S.I.) system
(xi) 1 kg/m3 = 1000 g/cm3
the fundamental quantities are mass,
length, time, temperature, luminous 5
(xii) 1 km/h = m/s and 1 m/s
intensity, electric current and amount 18 18
of substance. = km/h
5
The physical quantities which depend on (xiii) 1 newton = 105 dyne, 1 kg wt
fundamental quantities are called derived = 9.8 N and 1 g wt = 981 dyne
quantities e.g. speed, acceleration, force, (xiv) 1 joule = 107 erg,
etc.
1 eV = 1.6 × 10–19 J
Units
(xv) 1 atm = 76 cm of Hg = 1.01
The unit of a physical quantity is the
reference standard used to measure it. N dy
× 105 = 1.01 × 2
1. Fundamental Units: The units m2 cm
defined for the fundamental (xvi) 1 h.p. = 746 watt
quantities are called fundamental (xvii) 1 kw h = 3.6 × 106 J
or base units. (xviii) 1 tesla = 1 web/m2 = 104 gauss
Fundamental Unit for Mass- Path Length or Distance: The length
Kilogram (Kg), Length-metre (m), of the actual path between initial and
Time-second(s), Temperature-
final positions of a particle in a given
kelvin (K), Electric Current-
interval of time is called distance
ampere (A), Luminous intensity
- Candela (cd), Amount of covered by the particle.
Substance - mole (mol). Displacement: The shortest distance
2. Derived Units: The units defined from the initial position to the final
for the derived quantities are position of the particle is called
called derived units. e.g. unit displacement.
of speed or velocity (metre per Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
second), acceleration (metre per Distance travelled
second2) etc. Speed =
TimeTaken
Some Important Conversions
Displacement
(i) 1 yard = 0.9144 m ≅ 0.91m Velocity =
(ii) 1 foot (1’) = 0.305 m Time interval
(iii) 1 inch (1”) = 2.54 cm = 0.025 m Change in velocity
Acceleration =
(iv) 1 mile - 1609 m = 1.609 km Time interval
General Science B-347

Kinematic Equations for Uniformly Relation between momentum and

Accelerated Motion kinetic energy:
Motion under uniform acceleration Consider a body of mass m moving
is described by the following equations. with velocity v. Linear momentum
1 of the body, p = mv.
v = u + at ; s = ut + at2 and KE of a particle can be expressed as
v = u + 2as
2 2 2
P2
Distance Travelled in nth Second = E = and p 2mE
of Uniformly Accelerated Motion 2m
a 2 nd law: The rate of change of
S th = u + (2n - 1) momentum of a body is directly
n 2   proportional to the unbalanced external
Relative Velocity: If v A and v B be force applied on it.
the respective velocities of object  
A and B then    
 relative
 velocity
 of A i.e., F ∝ dp or, F = k dp or F = ma
w.r.t. B is v A= B v A - vB dt dt
Similarly, relative Impulse: If a large force acts on a
 velocity
 of B w.r.t.
body or particle for a smaller time,
A is = vB - v A
v BA then impulse = product of force and
Scalars and Vectors time. 
The physical quantities which require only Impulse = F∆t
magnitude to express, are called scalar 3rd law: According to this law,
quantities. Ex. Mass, distance, time, every action has equal and opposite
speed, volume, density, pressure, reaction. Action and reaction act
work, energy, power, charge, electric on two different bodies and they
current, temperature, potential, are simultaneous. There can be no
specific heat, frequency, etc. Certain reaction without action.
physicsl quantities have both magnitude Law of Conservation of Linear
and direction, they are called vector Momentum
quantities. Ex. Displacement, velocity, If the total external force acting on a
acceleration, force, momentum, system is equal to zero, then the final
impulse, electric field, magnetic field, value of the total momentum of the
current density, etc. system is equal to the initial value of
Newton’s Laws of Motion the total
 momentum of the system.

1st law: Every body continues to be in p = constant or pf = pi
its state of rest or of uniform motion in Motion in a Lift
a straight line unless compelled by an Let a man of weight W = Mg be
external force to change its state. This standing in a lift.
fundamental property of the body is Case (a): If the lift is moving with
called inertia. This law is known as constant velocity v upwards or
Newton’s first law of motion or law downwards.
of inertia.
Inertia: Inertia is the property of a body
due to which it opposes the change in its a=0
state. Inertia of a body is measured
by mass of the body. It is directly
proportional to the mass of the body g
i.e., Inertia ∝ mass.
Momentum: The linear momentum

of a body ( p ) is defined as the
product of the mass of  thebody (m)
and its velocity. i.e., P = mv . W = Mg
B-348 General Science

In this case there is no accelerated acts parallel to the surface of contact

motion hence no pseudo force and opposes the relative motion.
experienced by observer ‘O’ inside This opposing force is called friction.
the lift. Centripetal force: The force
So apparent weight, W’ = actual directed towards the centre required
weight W for traversing a circular path is called
Case (b): If the lift is accelerated centripetal force.
i.e., a = constant and in upward mv 2
direction. Centripetal force = F= = mω2 r .
r
Then net forces acting on the man are • In a banked path with curvature
(i) weight W = Mg downward (q) with friction, the safe
(ii) fictitious force F0 = Ma downward. velocity is given by
So apparent weight, v = √ [rg (tan θ + µ) / (1 – µ tan θ)].
W’ = W + F0 = Mg + Ma • Bending of cyclist: In order to
= M (g + a) take a circular turn of radius r
with speed v, the cyclist should
bend himself through an angle
a q from the vertical such that
v2
tan θ =
rg
g Work: Work done by a force on a body
is defined as the product of force and the
displacement of the body in the direction
of force. SI unit of work is joule.

W’ = M(g+a) = F.S
W = FScos θ where θ is the
 
Case (c): If the lift is accelerated angle between F and S .
downward with acceleration a < g: Power: Power is the rate of doing work.
 
dW F.dS  
Power == P = = F.v
a<g dt dt
Its SI unit is watt.
1 Horse power [1HP] = 746 W,
1 calorie = 4.2J and 6
1 kW h = 3.6 × 10 J
g Energy
Energy is the capacity of doing work.
It is also a scalar quantity. The SI
unit is joule.
W’ = M (g – a) Work-energy theorem states that
The fictitious force F0 = Ma acts the work done on a body is equal to
upward while weight of a man the change in its kinetic energy.
W = Mg always acts downward, Kinetic energy: K.E. is the energy
therefore apparent weight, possessed by the body due to its motion.
W ‘ = W + F0 = Mg – Ma = M (g – a) 1 2
K.E. = mv
Friction 2
Whenever a body moves or tends Potential energy: P.E. is the energy
to move over the surface of another possessed by the body due to its
body, a force comes into play which position or shape.
General Science B-349

Gravitational P.E. = mgh (due to  

Angular momentum L = r × p =: S.I
change in position) unit kg m /s 2
Law of conservation of energy Relation between torque and angular
states that energy can neither be momentum,
created nor be destroyed but it can  dL
be transformed from one form to T=
another. dt
Mass-energy equivalence: According Moment of Inertia
to this theorem mass and energy are It is equivalent to mass in rotational
inter-convertible. motion. It is defined as the sum of
E= mc2. the product of the constituent masses
where c = 3 × 10 ms–1 is velocity of
8
and the square of their perpendicular
light in vaccum or air. distances from the axis of rotation.
Collision For an n-particle system having
If the path of a body is affected mass points m1, m2, m3, ...............,
by another body when two bodies mn at perpendicular distances
physically come in contact, then r1, r2, ............, rn, moment of inertia,
collision is said to have taken place. I = m1r12 m2r22............ + mnrn2
Elastic collision: Both momentum n
and K.E. are conserved.
For elastic collision in one
= ∑ mi ri 2
i =1
dimension, S.I. unit is kgm2 and it is a scalar quantity.
Inelastic collision: Only momentum Gravitation
is conserved. It is the force of attraction between
Coefficient of restitution is defined any two bodies.
as the ratio of velocity of separation to Newton’s Universal Law of
the velocity of approach. Gravitation: Every body in this
Coefficient of restitution
universe attracts every other body with
v -v a force which is directly proportional
=e= 2 1
u1 - u 2 to the product of their masses and
e = 1 for perfectly elastic collision inversely proportional to the square
e = 0 for perfectly inelastic collision of the distance between them.
Centre of Mass: It is an imaginary 1 mm
F ∝ m1m 2 and F ∝ 2 ⇒ F ∝ 12 2
point at which the whole mass of a body r r
mm
is supposed to be concentrated. ∴F = G 12 2
Torque and Angular Momentum r
Torque is the moment of force. It is G = Universal gravitational constant
the cross product of the force with = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
the perpendicular distance between Acceleration due to gravity: The
the axis of rotation and the point of acceleration produced in a body due
application of force withthe force. to gravitational force of the earth is
 
Torque = t = r × F ; S.I. unit called acceleration due to gravity (g).
is N – m GM e
Angular momentum is the moment g= (on the surface of the earth);
of linear momentum. It is also the Re 2
product of the linear momentum Me = mass on the earth and Re =
and the perpendicular distance of radius of the earth.
the mass from the axis  of rotation. gR2e
   Me = = 6 × 1024 kg,
t = r × p where p = position G
relative to origin
= linear momentum at position. Re = 6400 km;
 B-350 General Science

Acceleration due to gravity. g is (c) Height of a satellite above

maximum at poles and least (zero) the surface of the planet:
at equator.  T 2 R 2g 
Gravitational Potential: Gravitational H =  
2  –R
potential at a point in a gravitational  4π 
field is defined as the work done in (d) “Total energy of a satellite
taking a unit mass from infinity to the orbiting on a circular path
point. is negative” with potential
–GM energy being negative but
Gravitational potential = V = twice as the magnitude of
Escape Speed: Minimum speed r
positive kinetic energy.
required to escape the earth’s (e) Binding energy of a satellite is
gravitational pull. the energy required to remove
it from its orbit to infinity.
v=
e =
2gr 2 × vo (For earth
GMm
ve = 11.2 km/s) B.E. = No energy is
2r
where v0 = orbital speed required to keep the satellite in
Satellite its orbit.
It is a heavenly body or an artificial Geostationary satellites: The satellites
object which revolves round a planet in a circular orbit around the earth
in a particular orbit. The required in the equatorial plane with a time
centripetal force is provided by the period of 24 hours, appears to be
gravitational force. Kepler’s laws of fixed from any point on earth are
planetary motion are applicable to called geostationary satellite.
them. For geostationary satellite, height
(a) Orbital velocity of a satellite: above the earth’s surface = 35800
Velocity with which the km and orbital velocity = 3.1 km/s.
satellite orbits around the Polar Satellites: A satellite that
planet. revolves in a polar orbit along north-
GM south direction while the earth
vo = rotates around its axis in east west
R+h direction.
(b) Time period of a satellite: Weightlessness: A situation where
Time taken by it to complete the effective weight of the object
one revolution around the becomes zero. An astronaut
planet. experiences weightlessness in space
3 satellite because the astronaut as
=T
3π ( R + h )
=
2π ( R + h )3 well as the satellite are in a free fall
3 R g state towards the earth.
GρR

PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Elasticity and Plasticity removal of deforming force the body is
The property of the body to regain its called plastic body and this property is
original configuration (length, or shape) called plasticity.
when the deforming forces are removed Perfectly elastic body: A body which
is called elasticity. On the other hand, regains its original configuration
if the body does not have any tendency immediately and completely after
to regain its original configuration on the removal of deforming force from
General Science B-351

it, is called perfectly elastic body. materials. These materials break

Quartz and phosphor bronze, are as soon as the stress is increased
closed to perfectly plastic body. beyond the elastic limit. e.g.,
Perfectly plastic body: A body glass, ceramics, cast iron, etc.
which does not regain its original (iii) Elastomers: The materials which
configuration at all on the removal can be stretched to large values of
of deforming force, however small strain are called elastomers. e.g.,
the deforming force may be is called rubber, elastic tissue of aorta, etc.
perfectly plastic body. Putty and mud Young’s modulus of elasticity (Y):
are closed to perfectly plastic body. It is defined as the ratio of normal
Stress: The internal restoring force acting stress to the longitudinal strain within
per unit area of a body is called stress. the elastic limit.
i.e., Stress = Restoring force/ Area Normal stress
Thus, Y =
Strain: The ratio of change in Longitudinal strain
configuration to the original Fluids
configuration is called strain. Fluids are the substances that can
Change in configuraion flow. Therefore liquids and gases
i.e., Strain = both are fluids. The study of fluids
Original configuration at rest is called fluid statics or
Strain being the ratio of two hydrostatics and the study of fluids
like quantities has no units and in motion is called fluid dynamics
dimensions. or hydrodynamics. Both combined
Elastic Limit are called fluid mechanics.
Elastic limit is the upper limit of Density (r)
deforming force up to which, if Mass per unit volume is defined as
deforming force is removed, the density. So density at a point of a
body regains its original form fluid is represented as
completely and beyond which, if dm dm
deforming force is increased, the ρ = lim =
body loses its property of elasticity ∆v →0 dV dV
and gets permanently deformed. Relative Density
Hooke’s law It is defined as the ratio of the density
It states that within the elastic limit of the given fluid to the density of pure
stress is directly proportional to strain. water at 4°C.
i.e., Stress ∝ strain Relative density (R.D).
or Stress = E × strain Density of given liquid
Here E is the coefficient of =
Density of pure water at 4°C
proportionality and is called
The density of water is maximum at
modulus of elasticity or coefficient
4°C and is equal to 1.0 × 103 kgm–3
of elasticity of a body.
Pressure
Materials-Ductile, Brittle and
If a uniform force is exerted normal
Elastomers
to an area (A), then average pressure
(i) Ductile materials: The materials
(pav) is defined as the normal force (F) per
which have large range of plastic
unit area.
extension are called ductile
materials. They can be drawn F
i.e., Pav =
into thin wires, e.g., copper, A
silver, aluminium, iron, etc. In limiting sense, pressure
(ii) Brittle materials: The materials ∆F
p = lim Pressure is a scalar
which have very small range of ∆A →0 ∆A
plastic extension are called brittle quantity.
B-352 General Science

SI unit: pascal (Pa), 1 Pa = 1 N/m2 path then in its path at every point, the
Practical units: atmospheric sum of pressure energy, kinetic energy
pressure (atm), bar and torr and potential energy per unit volume
1 atm = 1.01325 × 105Pa = 1.01325 remains constant.
bar = 760 torr = 760mm of Hg 1
column pressure. i.e., P1 + ρgh1 + ρv12
2 1 2
Pascal’s Law of Transmission of = P2 + ρgh 2 + ρv 2
Fluid Pressure 2
Pascal’s law is stated in following ways: ρv 2
\ P + rgh + = constant
• The pressure in a fluid at rest is Viscosity 2
same at all the points if gravity The property of a fluid due to which it
is ignored. opposes the relative motion between its
• A liquid exerts equal pressures different layers is called viscosity (or
in all directions. fluid friction or internal friction)
• If the pressure in an enclosed and the force between the layers
fluid is changed at a particular opposing the relative motion is
point, the change is transmitted called viscous force.
to every point of the fluid and to Terminal Velocity
the walls of the container without It is maximum constant velocity
being diminished in magnitude. acquired by the body while falling freely
Applications of Pascal’s law: in a viscous medium.
Hydraulic machines, lifts, presses and 2r 2 ( ρ - σ ) g
brakes, are based on the Pascal’s law. VT =
Atmospheric Pressure 9η
Surface Tension
Force exerted by air column on unit
Surface tension is basically a
cross-section area of sea level is called
property of liquid. The liquid
atmospheric pressure (P0)
surface behaves like a stretched
F
P=0 = 101.3kN / m 2 elastic membrane which has a
A natural tendency to contract and
Barometer is used to measure tends to have a minimum possible
atmospheric pressure which was surface area. This property of liquid
discovered by Torricelli. is called surface tension.
Atmospheric pressure varies from Force F
place to place and at a particular Surface tension T =
Length L
place from time to time.
Examples of surface tension
Buoyancy and Archimed Principle
(i) Raindrops are spherical in shape.
If a body is partially or wholly (ii) The hair of a shaving brush cling
immersed in a fluid, it experiences together when taken out of water.
an upward force due to the fluid (iii) Oil spread on cold water but
surrounding it. This phenomenon of remains as a drop on hot water etc.
force exerted by fluid on the body is Capillarity
called buoyancy and force is called A glass tube with fine bore and open
buoyant force or upthrust. at both ends is known as capillary
Archimedes’ Principle: It states that the tube. The property by virtue of which
buoyant force on a body that is partially a liquid rise or fall in a capillary tube
or totally immersed in a fluid equal to the is known as capillarity. Rise or fall
weight of the fluid displaced by it. of liquid in tubes of narrow bore
Bernoulli’s Principle (capillary tube) is called capillary
When incompressible, non-viscous, action. Rise of kerosene in lanterns,
irrotational liquid i.e., ideal liquid flow rise of ink in fountain pen etc. are
from one position to other in streamline due to capillary action.
 General Science B-353

HEAT
Temperature and Heat (i) Boyle’s law: When temperature
Temperature is defined as the degree of is held constant, the pressure is
hotness or coldness of a body. It is a scalar inversely proportional to volume.
quantity. Its S.I. unit is kelvin (K). i.e., P ∝ 1 ( at constant temperature)
Heat is a form of energy which causes V
sensation of hotness or coldness. The (ii) Charle’s law: When the pressure
flow of heat is always from higher is held constant, the volume of the
temperature to lower temperature. gas is directly porportional to the
No heat flows from one body to other, absolute temperature.
when both the bodies are at the same i.e., V ∝ T (at constant pressure)
temperature. The two bodies are said (iii) Avogadro’s law: When the
to be in thermal equilibrium. The SI pressure and temperature are kept
unit of heat is joule. Its CGS unit is constant, the volume is directly
calorie, 1 cal = 4.2 joule proportional to the number of
Measurement of Temperature moles of the ideal gas in the
A branch of science which deals with container.
the measurement of temperature of i.e., V ∝ n (at constant pressure
a substance is called thermometry. and temperature)
Ther mometer is a device used Absolute Temperature
t o m e a s u r e t h e t e m p e r a t u r e. The lowest temperature of –273.16
Thermometer used for measuring °C at which a gas is supposed to have
very high temperatures are called zero volume and zero pressure and at
pyrometer. which entire molecular motion stops is
Relationship Between Different called absolute zero temperature. A new
Scales of Temperature scale of temperature starting with
–273.16°C by Lord Kelvin as zero.
C -0 F - 32 K - 273.16
= = This is called Kelvin scale or absolute
100 212 - 32 373.16 - 273.16 scale of temperature.
R-0 Ra - 460 T(K) = t°C + 273.16
= =
80 - 0 672 - 460 Thermal Expansion
T°(K) = (t°C + 273.16) The increase in the dimensions of a body
Normal temperature of human body due to the increase in its temperature is
is 310.15 k (37°C = 98.6°F) called thermal expansion.
STP or NTP implies 273.15 K (0°C Linear expansion: The fractional
= 32°F) increase in length per ºC rise in temperature
Ideal-gas Equation and Absolute is called coefficient of linear expansion.
Temperature Coefficient of linear expansion,
The equation, PV = nRT  ∆l 
 
where, n = number of moles in the  l  = dl
α=
sample of gas ∆T l.dT
R = universal gas constant; (its value Superficial expansion: On increasing
is 8.31 J mol–1 K–1), is known as ideal- the temperature of a solid, its area
gas equation increases. This increase in area is
It is the combination of following referred as superficial expansion.
three laws Coefficient of superficial expansion is
B-354 General Science

defined as the fractional increase in area state to another is called a change

per ºC rise in temperature. of state.
i.e., Coefficient of a real expansion Some common changes of states:
DA / A dA (i) Melting: When heat is supplied,
β= = solid substance changes into
DT A.dT
Cubical expansion: On increasing liquid, this change of state of
the temperature of a solid, its volume substance is called melting.
increases. This increase in volume Heat
Solid  → Liquid
with increase in temperature is called The temperature at which the
cubical or volume expansion. solid and the liquid states of
Coefficient of volume expansion is a substance coexist in thermal
defined as the fractional increase in volume equilibrium with each other is
per ºC rise in temperature. called its melting point.
i.e., Coefficient of volume expansion, (ii) Freezing: When heat is released,
∆V / V dV liquid changes into solid, this
γ= = change of state of substance is
∆T V.dT
Relation between coefficient of called freezing.
Cool
linear expansion (α), coefficient Liquid 
→ Solid
of superficial expansion (β) and (iii) Condensation: When vapour
coefficient of cubical expansion (γ) is cooled, it changes into liquid,
b γ this change of state is called
a= = ⇒ a : b : γ= 1: 2 : 3
2 3 condensation
Anomalous Expansion of Water Cool
Vapour 
→ liquid
Almost all liquids expand on heating
but water when heated from 0°C to (iv) Evaporation: Conversion of
4°C its volume decreases and hence liquid into gaseous state at
density increases until its temperature all the temperatures is called
reaches 4°C. Its density is maximum evaporation or boiling.
at 4°C on further heating its density Liquid 
Heat
→ Vapour
decreases. This behaviour of water is
called anomalous behaviour of water. The temperature at which the
Specific Heat Capacity liquid and vapour states of a
It is the amount of heat energy needed substance coexsist in thermal
to raise the temperature of unit mass of equilibrium with each other is
substance by 1ºC (or 1K). called its boiling point.
It is denoted by s or c. It is a phenomenon that occurs
Cwater = 1 cal/g °C = 1 cal/g K = 1 kcal/kg at the surface of liquids. The
K=4200 joule/kg K rate of evaporation increases
Latent Heat or Hidden Heat with rise in temperature. Heat
When state of a substance changes, required to change unit mass
change of state takes place at constant of liquid into vapour at a given
temperature (m.pt. or b.pt.) heat is temperature is called heat of
released or absorbed and is given by, evaporation at that temperature.
Q = mL (v) Sublimation: It is the conversion
where L is latent heat. of a solid directly into vapours.
Change of State Heat
Solid 
→ Vapour
Any state of a substance (solid/
liquid/ gas) can be changed into Sublimation takes place when
another by heating or cooling. The boiling point is less than the
transition of a substance from one melting point.
General Science B-355

Heat transfer: Heat energy transfer vapour in equilibrium. The pressure

from a body at higher temperature corresponding to triple point of water
to a body at lower temperature is 6.03 × 10–3 atmosphere or 4.58 mm
by three different methods. They of Hg and temperature corresponding
are conduction, convection and to it is 273.16 K.
radiation. Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Conduction: Conduction is that If objects A and B are separately in
mode of transmission of heat in which thermal equilibrium with a third object
heat is transferred from a region of C then objects A and B are in thermal
higher temperature to a region of lower equilibrium with each other.
temperature by the aid of particles of First Law of Thermodynamics
the body without their actual migration. If some quantity of heat is supplied to a
Conduction requires material medium. system capable of doing external work,
C o nve c t i o n : C o nve c t i o n l i k e then the quantity of heat absorbed by the
conduction requires a material system is equal to the sum of the increase
medium. It is the process in which heat in the internal energy of the system and
is transferred from one place to other by the external work done by the system.
actual movement of heated material i.e., δQ = δU + δW
particles. The first law of thermodynamics
Radiation: When a body is heated is essentially a restatement of the
and placed in vacuum, it loses heat law of conservation of energy, i.e.,
even when there is no medium energy can neither be created nor be
surrounding it. destroyed but may be converted from
The process by which heat is lost one form to another.
in this case is called radiation. This Heat Engines
does not require the presence of any Heat engine is a device which converts heat
material medium. It is by radiation energy into work.
that the heat from the sun reaches Efficiency of heat engine,
the earth. Work done (W )
Newton’s Law of Cooling η=
Heat taken from source (Q1 )
The rate of cooling of a body (rate of
loss of heat) is directly proportional to T -T Q1 - Q 2 Q
η= 1 2 = = 1- 2
the excess of temp. of the body over the T1 Q1 Q1
surroundings, provided that this excess is Refrigerators and Heat Pumps
small and loses of heat by radiation only. A refrigerator is the reverse of a heat
If θ and θ 0 are the temperatures engine. A heat pump is the same as
of the body and its surroundings a refrigerator.
respectively, then according to The coefficient of performance of a
Newton’s law of cooling, refrigerator or heat pump.
dQ Q1 Q2
Rate of loss of heat, - ∝ ( θ - θ0 ) = [∴ W = Q1 – Q2 ]
Thermodynamics dt W Q1 - Q 2
The thermodynamics is the branch of Carnot Theorem
science in which the conversion of heat No irreversible engine (I) can have
into mechanical work and vice versa is efficiency greater than Carnot reversible
studied. engine (R) working between same hot and
Triple point of water: The triple cold reservoirs.
point of water represents the co- T2 Q2
existence of all the three phases i.e., ηR > ηI or 1 - T > 1 - Q
1 1
of water ice, water and water
B-356 General Science

SOUND
Periodic Motion sound wave in air, waves in a solid
Any motion that repeats itself in equal rod produced by scrabbing etc.
intervals of time is called periodic motion. These waves travel in the form of
A periodic motion can be represented compressions and rarefactions. These
in terms of sines and cosines, so it waves can travel in solids, liquids and
is called a harmonic motion. The gases.
uniformly rotating earth represents a Electromagnetic Waves
periodic motion that repeats itself at The waves which do not require
every 24 hours. medium for propagation are called
An oscillatory motion is always electromagnetic waves. This means
periodic but a periodic motion may that these waves can travel through
not be oscillatory. vacuum also. For example, light
Examples of S.H.M. (i) clock pendulum, waves, X-rays, γ-rays, Infrared waves,
(ii) oscillating liquid in a U-tube, (iii) radio waves, microwaves, etc. These
oscillating block in a liquid, (iv) waves of transverse type.
oscillating frictionless piston fitted Difference between sound waves
in a cylinder filled with ideal gas, etc. and electromagnetic waves
Sound (i) Sound waves are longitudinal
Sound is a form of energy which produces and electromagnetic waves are
a sensation of hearing in our ears. transverse.
Sound Needs a Material Medium for (ii) Sound waves travel at a speed of
its Propagation 340 m/s whereas electromagnetic
In the absence of medium (air) waves travel at a speed of 3 × 108
around the source, sound is not m/s
being propagated and light (electro- (iii) Sound waves do not pass through
magnetic) waves travel through the a vacuum but electromagnetic
vacuum. waves (light) do.
Mechanical Waves Characteristics of Sound Waves
A mechanical wave is a periodic Sound is characterised by three
disturbance which requires a material parameters:
medium for its propagation. (i) Pitch (ii) Loudness (iii) Quality
(a) Transverse wave: When the (i) Pitch: Pitch is the sensation
particles of the medium vibrate (brain interpretation) of the
in a direction perpendicular to the frequency of an emitted sound
direction of propagation of the wave, and is the characteristic which
the wave is known as the transverse distinguishes a shrill (or sharp)
wave. For example, waves produced sound from a grave (or flat)
in a stretched string, waves on the sound.
surface. These waves travel in form (ii) Loudness: Loudness or softness
of crests and troughs. These waves of a sound wave is the sensation
can travel in solids and liquids only. that depends upon its amplitude.
(b) Longitudinal wave: When the The loudness of sound is a
particles of the medium vibrate measure of the sound energy
along the direction of propagation of reaching the ear per second.
the wave then the wave is known as The loudness of sound is
the longitudinal wave. For example measured in ‘decibel dB’. The
General Science B-357

loudness of sound of people Echo

talking quietly is about 65 Phenomenon of hearing back our own
dB, the loudness of sound in sound is called an echo. It is due to
a very noisy factory is about successive reflection from the surface
100 dB. of obstacles of large size.
(iii) Quality (Timber): Quality or Conditions for the formation of
timber of a sound wave is that Echoes
characteristic which helps us in (i) The minimum distance between
distinguishing one sound from the source of sound and the
another having same pitch and reflecting body should be 17.2
loudness. We recognise a person metres.
(without seeing) by listening to his (ii) The wavelength of sound should
sound as it has a definite quality. be less than the height of the
A pure sound of single frequency reflecting body.
is called a tone. (iii) The intensity of sound should be
An impure sound produced by sufficient so that it can be heard
mixture of many frequencies after reflection.
is called a note. It is pleasant to Reverberation
listen. Persistence of sound after its production
Reflection of Sound stopped, is called reverberation.
When sound waves strike a surface, they When a sound is produced in a big
return back into the same medium. This hall, its wave reflect from the walls
phenomenon is called reflection. and travel back and forth. Due to
Laws of reflection of sound waves this energy does not reduce and the
(i) Angle of incidence is equal to sound persist.
the angle of reflection. A short reverberation is desirable
(ii) The incident wave, the reflected in a concert hall (where music is
wave and the normal all lie in being played) because it gives ‘life’
the same plane. to sound.

OPTICS
Optics burning candle, electric lights. Non-
The branch of physics which deals luminous objects do not give out its own
with the propagation, nature and light but are visible only when light from
behaviour of light is known as optics. a luminous object falls on it. e.g., moon,
Light earth, table, paper, etc.
Light is a form of energy which enables Transparent, Translucent and
human beings and creatures to ‘see’ things. Opaque materials
Light is an electromagnetic radiation Transparent materials are those
which exhibits properties like a which allow most of light to pass
wave as well as a particle. It always through them. Example: Glass,
propagates in a straight line. water, air.
Light travels with a speed nearly Translucent materials allow only a
equal to 3 × 108 m/s. According to part of light to pass through it. We
current theories, no material particle cannot see distinctly through them.
can travel at a speed greater than the Example: greased paper, paraffin
speed of light. wax, etc.
Luminous and Non-luminous Objects Opaque materials do not allow any
Luminous objects are those which emit light to pass through it. They reflect
its own light e.g., sun, glowworm, or absorb all the light that falls on
B-358 General Science

them. Example: Books, desk, stone, Characteristics of images formed

rubber, trees, etc. by a plane mirror
Reflection of Light The image formed by a plane mirror is
The turning back of light in the same (a) virtual (the image cannot be
medium is called reflection of light. formed on a screen)
Laws of reflection (b) upright
1. The angle of incidence ‘i’ is (c) laterally inverted (the left side of
equal to the angle of reflection ‘r’. an image is formed by the right
2. At the point of incidence, the side of an object)
incident rays, the normal to the (d) the same size as the object
surface and the reflected ray all (e) the same distance behind the
lie in the same plane. mirror as the object is in front
Images and their properties of the mirror
An ‘image’ is defined as the Concave and Convex Mirror
impression of an object carried over Concave mirror: If the reflection
and formed by light reflected from it. takes place from the inner surface of
An image is said to be a real image a spherical mirror, then the mirror is
if it can be caught on a screen, and a called concave mirror.
virtual image if it cannot be caught Convex mirror: If the outer surface
on the screen. For example, the of the spherical mirror acts as a
image on the screen in a theatre is reflector then the mirror is called
a real image and the image observed convex mirror.
in a plane mirror is a virtual image. Uses of concave mirrors:
Real image (i) In torches, search-lights and
1. When the rays of light actually vehicles headlights to get
meet, the image so formed is powerful beams of light.
known as real image. (ii) As a shaving mirror to see a
2. A real image can be caught on large image of the face.
a screen since it is formed by (iii) As a dentists mirror to see large
actual meeting of rays. images of the teeth of patients.
3. A real image is always inverted. (iv) Large sized concave mirror is
4. A real image is formed by a used to concentrate sunlight to
convergent reflected beam. produce heat in solar furnaces.
5. In ray diagrams, for real image, Uses of convex mirrors:
the rays are represented by full (i) As a rear -view mirrors in vehicles.
lines. (ii) For security purposes.
Virtual image Mirror Formula
1. When the rays of light appear If an object is placed at a distance
to meet, the image so formed is u from the pole of a mirror and its
known as virtual image. image is formed at a distance v (from
2. A virtual image cannot be the pole) then,
caught on a screen since it is 1 1 1
+ =
formed by meeting of imaginary v u f
rays. Magnification
3. A virtual image is always erect. If a thin object linear size O situated
4. A virtual image is formed by a vertically on the axis of a mirror at
divergent reflected beam. a distance u from the pole and its
5. In ray diagrams, for virtual image of size I is formed at a distance
image, the rays are generally v (from the pole), magnification
represented by dotted lines. (transverse) is defined as
General Science B-359

(+ve means erect image)

 I  v (–ve means inverted image)

m  
O  u  (|m| >1 means large image)

(|m| < 1 means small image)

Refraction of Light curved and refractive index of used
When a ray of light passes from one material is different from that of the
medium to another medium it bends – surroundings.
towards the normal when goes from rarer Refraction through a thin lens (lens
to denser and away from the normal formula)
when goes from denser to rarer medium. If an object is placed at a distance u
This phenomenon is called refraction of from the optical centre of a lens and
light. its images is formed at a distance v
Twinkling of stars, sun is visible to (from the optical centre) and focal
us about 2 minutes before the actual length of this length is f then
sunrise, and about 2 minutes after 1 1 1
- =
actual sunset etc. due to atmospheric v u f
refraction. This is called lens formula.
Refractive index Power of a lens
Refractive index of medium II with The power of a lens is defined as
respect to medium I 1
Speed of light in medium I P= . The unit of power is
µ 21 = f ( in m )
Speed of light in medium II diopter.
Laws of Refraction Focal length of a lens (lens maker’s
(i) Snell’s law: For any two formula)
media and for light of a given 1 1 1 
= (mµ –1)  - 
wavelength, the ratio of the sine f R R
of the angle of incidence to the  1 2

sine of the angle of refraction is where mµ refractive index of lens

with respect to medium.
a constant.
R1 = radius of curvature of first
sin i surface of lens, R2 = radius of
i.e., = constant where i =
sin r curvature of second surface of lens.
incidence angle, r = refraction Total Internal Reflection
angle. When the object is placed in an
(ii) The incident ray, the refracted optically denser medium and if the
ray and the normal at the incident angle is greater than the
incident point all lie in the same critical angle then the ray of light
plane. gets reflected back to the originating
When object is in denser medium medium. This phenomenon is called
and observer is in rarer medium: total internal reflection.
Real depth Critical angle (ic): When a ray
Refractive index µ = passes from an optically denser
Lens Virtual depth medium to an optically rarer
A lens is a piece of transparent medium, the angle of refraction r is
material with two refracting greater than the corresponding angle
surfaces such that atleast one is of incidence i. From Snell’s law.
B-360 General Science

Let µ1 =µ 2 µ 2 =1 and let for i = Scattering of Light

and
As sunlight travels through the
ic, r = 90º then sin ic= 1 / µ earth’s atmosphere it gets scattered
1 by the small particles present in the
∴ ic = sin -1 ; ic is called the critical atmosphere.
µ
angle. According to Rayleigh law, the
amount of scattering is inversely
This phenomenon takes place in
proportional to the fourth power of
shining of air bubble, sparkling
the wavelength   .
of diamond, mirage, looming, in 1
optical communication, endoscopy  λ4 
using optical fibre. Phenomenon based on scattering
Dispersion of Light of light
When a white ray of light or sunlight (i) Blue colour of sky: Blue colour
passes through a prism it breakes into has a shorter wavelength than
its seven constituents colours violet, red colour therefore blue colour
indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and is scattered strongly. Hence the
red (VIBGYOR). This phenomenon is bluish colour predominates in a
called dispersion of light. The band clear sky.
(ii) White colour of clouds: Clouds
of seven constituents colours is
contain large dust particles,
called spectrum. The deviation is water droplets or ice particles.
maximum for violet colour and least These large sized Particles
for red colour. do not obey Rayleigh law of
The Rainbow scattering. All wavelengths are
A rainbow is a spectrum of scattered nearly equally. Hence
white light from the sun. This is clouds are generally white.
a phenomenon due to combined (iii) Sun looks reddish at the
effect of dispersion, refraction and Sunset or Sunrise: At sunset or
reflection of sunlight by spherical sunrise, the sun’s rays have to
water droplets of rain. pass through a larger distance
(i) Primary rainbow: It is formed in the atmosphere. Most of
due to two refractions and one the blue and other shorter
total internal reflection of the wavelengths are scattered. The
light incident on the droplet. least scattered light reaching
Sunlight is first refracted as it our eyes, therefore the sun looks
enters a raindrop which cause reddish.
Power of Accomodation of Eye
different colours of light to
The ability of the lens to change its shape
separate. The observer sees a
to focus near and distant objects is called
rainbow with red colour on the accommodation.
top and violet on the bottom. A normal human eye can see
(ii) Secondary rainbow: It is formed objects clearly that are between
due to two refractions and two 25 cm and infinity.
total internal reflection of light Microscope: It is an optical
incident on the water droplet. It instrument used to see magnified
is due to four - step process. The image of a tiny objects.
intensity of light is reduced at Resolving power (R.P.) of a microscope
the second reflection and hence Resolving power of a microscope is
the secondary rainbow is fainter defined as the reciprocal of the least
than the primary rainbow. separation between two close objects, so
General Science B-361

that they appear just separated, when Conditions for sustained interference:
seen through the microscope. (i) Two sources must be coherent.
Telescope (Astronomical): It is an (ii) Amplitudes of waves should be
optical instrument used to increase the either equal or approximately
visual angle of distant large objects. equal.
It is used to see far off objects clearly. (iii) Light should be monochromatic.
Resolving power (R.P.) of a telescope Polarisation
Resolving power of telescope is defined It is the phenomenon of restricting the
as the reciprocal of the smallest angular vibration of light in a particular plane.
separation between two distant objects, Light waves are transverse in
so that they appear just separated, when nature i.e., the electric field vector
seen through the telescope. associated with light wave is always
D at right angles to the direction of
Resolving power of telescope = propagation of the wave. When
1.22λ
Interference of Light Waves unpolarised light is incident on a
The phenomenon of redistribution of light polaroid (Nicol Prism), the light
energy in a medium due to superposition wave gets linearly polarised i.e., the
of light waves from two coherent sources is vibration of electric field vector are
called interference of light. along a single direction.

ELECTRICITY
Electric Charges conductors of electricity.
Charge is something associated with The materials which do not allow electric
matter due to which it produces and charge to flow through them are called
experiences electric and magnetic effects. nonconductors or insulators.
The study of charges at rest is called For example, most plastics, rubber,
static electricity or electrostatics non-metals (except graphite), dry
while the study of charges in motion wood, wax, mica, porcelain, dry air
is called current electricity. There etc., are insulators.
are two types of electric charge: Coulomb’s Law
(i) Positive charge and (ii) Negative charge It states that, the electrostatic force
of interaction (repulsion or attraction)
The magnitude of elementary
between two electric charges q1 and q2
positive or negative charge is same
separated by a distance r, is directly
and is equal to 1.6 × 10–19 C. proportional to the product of the charges
Charge is a scalar quantity and its SI and inversely proportional to the square
unit is ampere second or coulomb (C). of distance between them.
Basic Properties of Electric Charge i.e., F ∝ q1 q2 and F ∝ 1/r2
(1) Similar charges repel and opposite
charges attract. or F = k q1q2
(2) A charged body attracts light r2
1 Nm 2
uncharged bodies. K= = 9 ×109 ⇒ ε0
(3) Accelerated charge radiates energy.
4 πε0 coul 2
Conductors and Insulators coul 2
The materials which allow electric = 8.85×10-12
NM 2
charge (or electricity) to flow freely Electric Field
through them are called conductors. The region surrounding an electric charge
Metals are very good conductors of or a group of charges in which another
electric charge. Silver, copper and charge experiences a force of attraction or
aluminium are some of the good repulsion is called ‘electric field’.
B-362 General Science

 
 F  F ∆q
=E = , E lim average current I av =
q0 q0 → 0 q0 ∆t
The S.I. unit of electric field Instantaneous current
intensity is N/coul or volt/metre. = ∆q dq
I = lim
Electric Lines of Force ∆t →0 ∆t dt
An electric line of force is that imaginary Electric current is measured in
smooth curve drawn in an electric field ampere (A).
along which a free isolated unit positive Types of electric current:
charge moves. (a) Direct current: The current
Two lines of force never intersect. If whose magnitude and direction
they are assumed to intersect, there does not vary with time is called
will be two directions of electric field direct current (dc). The various
at the point of intersection, which is sources are cells, dc dynamo,
impossible. etc.
Capacitors and Capacitance It’s symbol is
A capacitor or condenser is a device
that stores electrical energy. It consists (b) Alternating current: The current
of conductors of any shape and size whose magnitude continuously
carrying charges of equal magnitude changes with time and periodically
and opposite signs and separated by an changes its direction is called
insulating medium alternating current. It has constant
The symbol of a capacitor is amplitude and has alternate
or positive and negative halves. It
is produced by ac dynamo.
The net charge on a capacitor is zero. It’s symbol is
Capacitance or capacity of a Resistance, Conductance and
capacitor is a measure of ability of the Resistivity Resistance (R): It is the
capacitor to store charge on it. property of a substance due to which it
When a conductor is charged then opposes the flow of current through it.
its potential rises. The increase in Its SI unit volt/ampere called ohm
potential is directly proportional to (Ω).
the charge given to the conductor. 1 L
Q R ∝ L and R ∝ so, R ∝
i.e., Q ∝ V or Q = CV or, C = A A
V L
The constant C is known as the or R = ρ
capacitance of the conductor. A
Its SI unit is farad (F) or coulomb/ where L = length, A = area of
volt cross-section of wire and ρ is called
Capacitance of the conductor resistivity or specific resistance.
depends upon: The reciprocal of specific resistance
(i) Size of conductor 1
(ii) Surrounding medium is conductance i.e. σ =
ρ
(iii) Presence of other conductors Superconductors
At a very low temperature, the
nearby
resistance of the conductor may
Electric Current
vanish completely. When it
The time rate of flow of charge through
happens, the conductor is called
any cross-section is called electric current.
a superconductor. For example,
If ∆q charge passes through a cross-
helium is a super conductor at
section in time ∆t then,
4.2 K (– 268.8°C).
General Science B-363

Ohm’s Law Voltmeter: A voltmeter is a high

It states that if the physical state i.e. resistance galvanometer used to
temperature, nature of material and measure potential difference.
dimensions of a conductor remain Conversion of galvanometer into
unchanged then the ratio of potential voltmeter:
difference applied across its ends to A galvanometer is converted to a
current flowing through it remains voltmeter by connecting a high resistance
constant. in series with the coil of galvanometer.
V Alternating Current
i.e., V ∝ I or V = I R, where R = is When an alternating voltage is applied
I
across a coil or a bulb, it sends a similar
the resistance of conductor.
varying current (i.e., of the same nature
Electrical Energy, Power
as that of voltage) through the coil. The
When a current is passed through
current is called alternating current
a resistor energy is wasted in
(A.C.).
overcoming the resistance of the
The current flowing in only one
wire. This energy is converted into
direction in a circuit is called
heat.
direct current (D.C.). Batteries,
The heat generated (in joule) when
thermocouples and solar cells
a current of I ampere flows through
are some of the sources of direct
a resistance of R ohm for T second
current.
is given by:
Advantages of Alternating Current
V2 Over Direct Current
=H I 2 RT= VIt = t joule
R (i) A.C. can be obtained over a
I 2 RT wide range of voltages. These
= calorie voltages can be easily stepped
4.2 up or stepped down with the
This is the joule’s law of heating help of transformers.
1 unit of electrical energy (ii) The generation of A.C. is found
= 1 Kilowatt hour (1 KWh) = 3.6 × 106 joule to be economical than that of
This is known as Board of trade D.C.
(B.O.T) unit of electrical energy. Transformers
Energy liberated per second is called It is a device used for transforming a low
its power. The electrical power alternating voltage of high current into
P delivered or consumed by a high alternating voltage of low current
an electrical device is given by and vice versa, without increasing power
P = VI, where V = Potential or changing frequency.
difference across the device and Principle: It works on the
I = current. phenomenon of mutual induction.
Ammeter : An ammeter is a low If a low voltage is to be transformed
resistance galvanometer used to measure into a high voltage, then the number
strength of current in an electrical circuit. of turns in secondary is more than
Conversion of galvanometer into those in primary. The transformer is
ammeter: called a step up transformer.
A galvanometer can be converted If a high voltage is to be transformed
to an ammeter by connecting a low into a low voltage, then the number
resistance or shunt in parallel to coil of of turns in secondary is less than
galvanometer. those in primary. The transformer is
called a step-down transformer.
B-364 General Science

Uses of Transformer DC Motor

A transformer is used in almost all A D.C. motor converts direct current
ac operation. energy from a battery into mechanical
(i) In voltage regulators for TV, energy of rotation.
refrigerator, computer, air Principle: It is based on the fact that
conditioner etc. when a coil carrying current is held
(ii) In the induction furnaces. in a magnetic field, it experiences a
(iii) Step down transformer is used torque, which rotates the coil.
for welding purposes. Efficiency of the d.c. motor:
(iv) In the transmission of ac over EI E Back e.m. f .
long distance. η= = =
VI V Applied e.m. f .
AC Generator/Dynamo/Alternator
An electrical machine used to convert Uses of D.C Motor
mechanical energy into electrical energy 1. The D.C. motors are used in
is knownm as AC generator/alternator D.C. fans (exhaust, ceiling or
or dynamo. table) for cooling and ventilation.
Principle: It works on the principle 2. They are used for pumping
of electromagnetic induction, i.e., water.
when a coil is rotated in uniform 3. Big D.C. motors are used for
magnetic field, an induced emf is running tram-cars and even
produced in it. trains.

MAGNETISM
Magnetism
The phenomenon of attracting magnetic S N
substances like iron, cobalt, nickel etc. is L=
e 2 l
called magnetism. A body possessing the Lg
property of magnetism is called magnet. Bar magnet
Lodestone or magnetite is natural
magnet. Earth is also a natural Properties of Magnet
(i) Attractive property: The places
magnet.
where its attracting power is
In magnetised substance all the
maximum are called poles.
atomic magnets are aligned in
(ii) Directive property: When
same direction and thus resultant a magnet is suspended its
magnetism is non-zero. length becomes parallel to N-S
direction. The pole pointing
north is called the north pole
while the other pointing in the
geographical south is called the
Bar Magnet: A bar magnet consists south pole of the magnet.
of two equal and opposite magnetic (iii) Poles of a magnet always exist
poles separated by a small distance. in pairs: In a magnet the two
Poles are not exactly at the ends. The poles are found to be equal in
shortest distance between two poles is strength and opposite in nature.
called effective length (Le) and is less (iv) Repulsive property: A pole of
than its geometric length (Lg). For bar a magnet attracts the opposite
magnet Le = 2l and Le =(5/6) Lg. pole while repels similar pole.
General Science B-365

Demagnetisation of Magnet (b) A piece of soft iron buried in

A magnet gets demagnetised, i.e., N-S direction inside the earth
loses its power of attraction if it is acquires magnetism.
heated, hammered or alternating current Geographic meridian: It is a vertical
is passed through a wire wound over it. plane passing through geographic
Permanent and Temporary Magnets north and south pole of the earth.
(Electromagnets) Geographic equator: A great circle
The permanent artificial magnets on the surface of the earth in a plane
are made of some metals and alloys perpendicular to geographical axis is
like Carbon-steel, Alnico, Platinum- called geographic equator. All places
cobalt, Alcomax, Ticonal etc. The
on geographic equator are at equal
permanent magnets are made of
ferromagnetic substances with large distances from geographical poles.
coercivity and retentivity Magnetic meridian: It is a vertical
The temporary artificial magnets plane passing through the magnetic
like electromagnets are prepared by north and south pole of the earth.
passing current through coil wound Magnetic equator: A great circle on
on soft iron core. These cannot the surface of the earth in a plane
retain its strength for a long time. perpendicular to magnetic axis is
These are made from soft iron, non- called magnetic equator. All places
metal and alloy. Electromagnets are on magnetic euqator are at equal
stronger than permanent magnet. distance from magnetic poles.
Some Applications of Electromagnets Magnetic Elements
(i) Electric motors The physical quantities which determine
(ii) Doorbells the intensity of earth’s total magnetic
(iii) In scrapyards to separate iron field completely both in magnitude and
from other metals direction are called magnetic elements.
Magnetic Field Angle of declination (φ): The angle
The space around a magnet (or a between the magnetic meridian and
current carrying conductor) in which geographical meridian at a place is called
its magnetic effect can be experienced is angle of declination.
called the magnetic field.
Angle of dip or inclination (θ):
Magnetic Lines of Force
Magnetic line of force is an imaginary The angle through which the N pole
curve tangent to which at a point gives dips down with reference to horizontal
the direction of magnetic field at that is called the angle of dip. At magnetic
point or the magnetic field line is the north and south pole angle of dip is
imaginary path along which an isolated 90°. At magnetic equator the angle
north pole will tend to move if it is free of dip is 0°.
to do so. Horizontal component of earth’s
Magnetic lines of force do not magnetic field: The total intensity
intersect each other. Because if they of the earth’s magnetic field makes
do, there will be two directions of an angle θ with horizontal. It has
magnetic field which is not possible. (i) component in horizontal plane
The Earth’s Magnetism called horizontal component
The branch of Physics which deals BH.
with the study of earth’s magnetic (ii) component in vertical plane
field is called terrestrial magnetism. called vertical component BV.
William Gilbert suggested that earth BV = B sin θ BH = B cos θ
itself behaves like a huge magnet.
(a) A freely suspended magnet BV
always comes to rest in N-S So, =
tan θ and B =B 2 +B 2
BH H V
direction.
B-366 General Science

Comparison of properties of soft magnetic field are feebly magnetised

iron and steel: in a direction opposite to that of the
(1) The area of hysteresis loop for magnetising field are called diamagnetic
soft iron is much smaller than substances.
for steel, so energy loss per unit Some diamagnetic substances are
volume per cycle for soft iron is Cu, Zn, Bi, Ag, Au, Pb, He, Ar,
smaller than steel. NaCl, H2O, marble, glass, etc.
(2) The retentivity of soft iron is Paramagnetic Substances: The
greater than that of steel. substances which when placed in a
(3) The coercivity of steel is much magnetic field are feebly magnetised in
larger than that of soft iron. the direction of magnetising field are
(4) The magnetisation and called paramagnetic substances.
demagnetisation is easier in soft Some paramagnetic substances are
iron than steel. Al, Na, Sb, Pt, CuCl2, Mn, Cr, liquid
(5) Soft iron acquires saturation oxygen, etc.
magnetisation for quite low Ferromagnetic Substances: The
value of magnetising field than substances which when placed in a
in case of steel or soft iron is magnetic field are strongly magnetised in
much strongly magnetised than the direction of the magnetising field are
steel. called ferromagnetic substances.
Diamagnetic Substances: The Iron, cobalt, nickel, etc. are some
substances which when placed in a examples of ferromagnetic substance.

SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS
Metals, Semiconductors and Insulators the examples of pure semiconductors.
On the basis of electrical conductivity In pure or intrinsic semiconductor,
(σ) or resistivity (ρ = 1/σ) the solids ne = nh = ni where, ne = no. of
are classified as electrons; nh = no. of holes
(i) Metals – have low resistivity and ni = no. of intrinsic carrier
ρ ∼ 10–2 to 10–8 Ωm concentration.
σ ∼ 102 to 108 Sm–1 (a) n – type semiconductor: Si or
(ii) Semiconductors – have Ge with pentavalent doping.
intermediate resistivity (b) p - type semiconductor: Si or
ρ ∼ 105 to 100 Ωm Ge with trivalent doping. The
σ ∼ 10–5 to 100 Sm–1 trivalent atom is negatively
(iii) Insulators – have high resistivity charged as it acquires an
ρ ∼ 108 Ωm electron and is called acceptor
σ ∼ 10–8 Sm–1 atom or impurity.
i.e. the Semiconductors are the Formation of p – n junction: Part
materials whose conductivity is of p-type can be converted into n –
more than insulators but less than type by adding pentavalent impurity.
conductors.
There is concentration gradient
Types of Semiconductors
between p and n sides, holes diffuse
Intrinsic semiconductors or Pure
from p side to n side (p → n) and
semiconductors
electrons move from (n → p) creating
In semiconductors forbidden energy
a layer of positive and negative
gap Eg is more than metals or
charges on n and p side respectively
conductors and less than insulators.
Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) are called depletion layer.
General Science B-367

Symbol of p-n junction diode forward bias increases, current

increases till light intensity
reaches maximum.
Junction Transistor:
n Types: (i) n-p-n type, (ii) p-n-p type.
p Structure: (i) Emitter (E), (ii) Base
Special purpose p – n junction diode: (B), (iii) Collector (C)
Zener diode: It is fabricated by heavy Symbol:
doping of p and n sides of p – n E
junction. Depletion region is thin <
10–6 m. Electric field of junction is C
high ~ 5 × 106 V/m. Reverse bias ~
5V.
It is used as voltage regulator.
p-n junction diode is used as a B
rectifier. n-p-n type
Rectifier is a device which converts
A.C. into D.C. E
Inverter converts D.C. into A.C. C
Optoelectronic junction devices:
(a) Photodiode: It is a p – n
junction fabricated with a
transparent window to allow
light photons to fall on it. These B
photons generate electron hole p-n-p type
pairs upon absorption. The AC parameters:
generation of electron hole pair (i) Input resistance
is near the junction and due
to junction field they remain Changein base - emitter voltage
=
separated till external load is Basecurrent
connected. The electron are
collected on n–side and holes  ∆VBE 
on p–side near junction and give ⇒ ri =  
 ∆I C  I B
rise to an emf.
When external load is  → dynamic resistance
connected, current flows. The (ii) Output resistance, r0
magnitude of current depends  ∆VCE 
on intensity of incident =  
radiation.  ∆I C  I B
(b) Light emitting diode (LED):
It consists of heavily doped (iii) Current amplification factor (β)
p – n junction in forward bias.  ∆I C 
Electrons move from n → p bac =  ;
and holes from p → n (minority  ∆I B V CE
carriers). Thus, near junction,
minority carrier concentration IC
increases (under no bias it is less) bdc
= ⇒ bac  bdc
IB
and they combine with majority
carriers near the junction to Uses of Transistor:
release energy in form of As a switch, an amplifier, an
photons with energy equal to or
oscillator, etc.
less than band gap energy. As
B-368 General Science

Chemistry
NATURE OF MATTER
• Substance (or chemical e.g. H2O (water), NaCl
substance): A “substance” is a (sodium chloride) etc.
kind of matter that can not be • Mixture: A mixture is a
separated into other kinds of substance which consists
matter by any physical process. of two or more elements or
e.g. gold, silver, iron, sodium compounds not chemically
chloride, calcium carbonate etc. combined together.
• Pure substance: is one that is a • Types of mixtures: Mixtures
single substance and has a uniform are impure substances. They are
composition. Such a substance of two types:
always have the same texture and (i) Homogeneous mixture:
taste. e.g. water, salt, sugar etc. It has a uniform composition
• Testing the purity of a substance: throughout and its components
The purity of substance can can not be distinguished visually.
easily be checked by checking e.g. a well mixed sample of
its melting points in case of a vinegar.
solid substance or by checking (ii) Heterogeneous mixture:
its boiling points in case of a It is one that is not uniform
liquid substance. throughout. Different samples
• Types of pure substances: of a heterogeneous mixture may
Two different types of pure have different composition. e.g.
substances are a mixture of salt and pepper.
(i) Element: An element is • Solution: It is a homogeneous
a substance which can mixture of two or more
not be split up into two or substances whose composition
more simpler substances can be varied. e.g. solution of
by usual chemical methods common salt in water, solution
of applying heat, light of ammonia in water. Some
or electric energy. e. g. other examples are lemonade,
hydrogen, oxygen, sodium, coke, pepsi etc.
chlorine etc. • Separating the components of
(ii) Compound: A compound a mixture: Depending upon the
is a substance made up type of mixture (i.e. whether it
of two or more elements is a homogeneous mixture or
chemically combined in heterogeneous mixture) different
a fixed ratio by weight methods used are given below:
S No. Mixture Separation Method
1. Insoluble solid in Sedimentation followed by filtration. In
solvent case of a fine solid centrifugation is used
instead of filtration
2. Solution of solid in Evaporation, crystallization, distillation
liquid
General Science B-369

3. Miscible mixture of Fractional distillation

liquids.
4. Immiscible mixture of Separating funnel
liquids.
5. Mixture of two solids Sublimation
one of which is
sublime
6. Mixture of substances Chromatography
in solution.
• Solute: The component of it the solute particles do not
solution that is dissolved and dissolve but remains suspended
present in smaller quantities in through out the bulk of the
a solution is known as solute. medium.
• Solvent: The component of • Colloids or colloidal solution:
solution in which solute is Colloid is a heterogeneous mixture.
dissolved is known as solvent. The size of particles of a colloid
It is always present in larger is intermediate between true
amount in a solution. solutions and suspensions (i.e
• Saturated Solution: A solution between 1nm and 100 nm). The
in which no more solute particles of a colloid can not be
can be dissolved at the same seen with naked eye.
temperature is called saturated • Types of colloidal solution:
solution. Since colloidal solution is
• Unsaturated Solution: It is a heterogeneous mixture it
solution in which more solute consists of two phases. These are
can be dissolved at the same (i) dispersed phase (colloidal
temperature. particles)
• Super-saturated Solution: It is (ii) dispersion medium (The
a solution which contains more medium in which colloidal
mass of the dissolved solute particles are dispersed.)
than the saturated solution • Emulsion: Emulsions are
at the same temperature and liquid-liquid colloids.
pressure. • Types of Emulsion: Emulsions
• Concentration of a solution: are of two types:
Concentration of a solution is the (i) water in oil (ii) oil in water
amount of solute present in a • Emulsifiers are those substances
given amount (mass or volume) that help in forming stable
of a solution or the amount of emulsions of oil and water, e.g.
solute dissolved in a given mass milk, cod-liver oil, cold creams,
or volume of a solvent. vanishing creams, moisturising
Amount of solute cream, paints, etc.
Concentration= • Physical change: During such
Amount of solvent
a change no new substances is
• Solubility: It is defined as the formed and there is no change
amount of solute dissolved in the chemical properties of the
in 100g of solvent to form a substances.
saturated solution. • Chemical change: Such a change
• Suspension: It is a non- is accompanied by change
homogeneous mixture in which in chemical properties and
solids are dispersed in liquids. In formation of new substances.
B-370 General Science

STRUCTURE OF ATOM
• Law of conservation of mass: (v) Atoms of different
This law was stated by Lavoisier elements may combine
in 1744. It states that “In all with each other in a fixed
physical and chemical changes, the simple, whole number ratio
total mass of reactants is equal to to form compound atoms.
total mass of products.” (vi) Atoms can neither be
• Law of constant proportions created nor destroyed i.e.,
(or constant composition): This atoms are indestructible.
law was first stated by Proust in • Atom: It is the smallest particle
1797. According to the law “a of an element which can take
chemical compound is always found part in a chemical change. It
to be made up of the same elements may or may not be capable of
combined together in the same independent existence.
proportions by weight” e.g. the • Symbol: The abbreviation used
ratio of hydrogen and oxygen for lengthy names of elements
in pure water is always 1: 8 by are termed as their symbols.
weight. This law is also called The symbol of an element is
law of definite proportions. the first letter or the first and
• Law of multiple proportions: another letter of English name
This law was given by John or Latin name of the element.
Dalton (1803) and states that While writing a symbol, the first
“when two elements combine to letter is always capital and the
form two or more compounds, second is always small.
the different mass of one of the • Molecule : It is the smallest
elements and the fixed mass of particle of an element or
the one with which it combines compound that is capable of
always form a whole number
independent existence land
ratio”. This law explains the
shows all the properties of that
concept of formation of more
substance.
than one compound by two
• Atomicity: The number of
elements.
• Dalton’s Atomic theory: atoms present in a molecule of
Postulates of Dalton’s Atomic an element or a compound is
Theory known as its atomicity. e.g. the
(i) Matter is made up of atomicity of oxygen is 2 while
extremely small indivisible atomicity ozone is 3.
particles called atoms. • Formula of simple and
(ii) Atoms of the same molecular compounds
substance are identical Binary compounds are those
in all respects i.e., they compounds which are made up
possess same size, shape, of two different elements e.g.
mass, chemical properties etc. NaCl, KBr, CaO etc. Following
(iii) Atoms of different rules are to be followed for
substances are different writing the formula.
in all respects i.e., they (i) The valencies or charges on
possess different size, the ions must be balanced.
shape, mass etc. (ii) For a compound made up
(iv) Atom is the smallest of a metal and a non-metal
particle that takes part in a the symbol of metal is
chemical reaction. written first.
General Science B-371

(iii) In compounds formed numbers are known as Isotopes

with polyatomic ions, the 35 36
ion is enclosed in a bracket
e.g. 17 Cl
and 17 Cl , and 11 H
before writing the number and 2 , 12 and 14 etc.
1H 6 C 6 C
to indicate the ratio. • Applications of Isotopes:
• Valency: The electrons present Isotopes are used in various
in the outermost shell of an fields. For example.
atom are known as valence (i) Isotope of uranium is used
electrons. These electrons as a fuel in nuclear reactor
determine the valency of an (ii) Isotope of cobalt is used in
atom. treatment of cancer
Valency is equal to the number of (iii) Isotope of iodine is used in
valence electrons. treatment of goitre.
In case the number of valence • Isobars: Atoms of different
electrons is close to its full elements having same mass
capacity. Then, numbers are known as Isobars,
Valency=8 - valence electrons e.g K-40 and Ar-40
• The discovery of cathode rays
• Atomic number (Z): Atomic was done by J.J. Thomson an
number of an element is equal English physicist.
to the number of protons Sub-atomic Particles:
present in the nucleus of an
Electron, proton and neutron are
atom.
subatomic particles.
Atomic number (Z) = number of
protons = number of electrons. The credit for discovery of these
• Mass number (A): It refers to particles goes to
the total number of neutrons Electron — J.J. Thomson
and protons (i.e., sum of and Proton — E. Goldstein.
protons and neutrons) called Another subatomic particle
collectively as nucleus, present which is neutral and has a
in an atom. mass approx. equal to that of a
Mass number (A) = number of proton was called neutron and
protons + number of neutron was discovered by chadwick.
• Isotopes: Atoms of the same The neutron is a neutral particle
element having same atomic found in the nucleus of an
number but different mass atoms.
Properties of atomic particles (Comparative)
Particles Electron Proton Neutron
(i) Symbol e or e– p n
(ii) Nature Negatively charged Positively charged neutral (no
charge)
(iii) (a) Charge (a) –1.6 × 10 –19 C (a) +1.6 × 10 0
(b) Unit (b) –1 –19 C 0
charge (b) + 1
(iv) Mass (a) amu (a) 0.0005486 amu (a) 1.00753 amu (a) 1.00893 amu
(b) kg (b) 9.1 × 10–31kg (b) 1.67265× (b) 1.67495 ×
10–27 kg 10–27 kg
(v) Location Extra nuclear space nucleus nucleus
(vi) Notation e0 1 1
-1 1P 0n
(vii) Relative mass 1/1840 1 1
B-372 General Science

GENERAL CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY

• Definition Formula of compound: A
Chemistry is a branch of molecule of a compound may
science which deals with study be made up of atom of different
of matter and various changes elements linked up together
it undergoes. It deals with chemically and in definite
the preparation, properties, proportion by weight.
reactions and structures • Chemical formula: It is of two
of chemical elements and
types:
compounds.
(i) Molecular formulae:
For convenience the study of
chemistry is sub-divided into Chemical formulae
various branches such as: that indicate the actual
(i) Inorganic chemistry number and type of atoms
(ii) Organic chemistry in a molecule is called
(iii) Physical chemistry molecular formulae.
(iv) Analytical chemistry (ii) Empirical formulae:
(v) Industrial chemistry Chemical formulae that
• Ions or radicals indicate only the relative
An ion is formed when electrons number of atoms of each
are removed from or added to type in a molecule is called
an atoms or group of atoms. empirical formulae.
When electron(s) is/are • Equivalent weight
removed the resulting ion is
(i) Equivalent weight of
called a cation or basic radical.
element
A cation is positively charged
ion. (e.g. Na+). Molecular mass
=
When electron(s) is/are added Basicity of acid / Acidity of base
the resulting ion is called an (ii) Eq. wt of an acid/base =
anion or acidic radicals. An
Molecular mass
anion is negatively charged ion
(e.g. Cl–, O22–) Basicity of acid / Acidity of base
An ion or radical is classified as (iii) Eq. wt of salts =
monovalent, divalent, trivalent
Formula mass
or tetravalent when the number
of charges over it is 1, 2, 3 or 4 (Valency of cations)(No.of cations)
respectively. • Expression of strength /
• Formula of elements and concentration of solution
compounds (i) Mass percent
Formula of elements: The
molecule of an element is Weight of solute(gm)
= × 100
denoted by writing the symbol Weight of solution (gm)
of the element and, to the (ii) Normality =
right and below it, a number
Number of gram equivalents of solute
expressing the number of atoms
in the molecule. Volumeof solution (lit.)
General Science B-373

(iii) Molarity • Types of chemical reactions

Various types of chemical
Number of gram moles of solute reactions are:-
=
volumeof solution (lit.) (i) Combination reactions:
(iv) Molality Combination reactions are
Gram moles of solute those in which one element
= reacts with another to form
Weight of solvent (kg) a compound.
(v) Mole fraction: Mole (ii) Decomposition reactions:
fraction of solute Decomposition reactions
nA are those reactions in which
= X= A
nA + nB a compound breaks down
into simpler compounds
Mole fraction of solvent (or substances). These
nB reactions require energy
= X= B
nA + nB in the form of heat, light,
XA + XB = 1 electricity, etc.
(iii) Simple displacement reaction
• Chemical change: A chemical and simple substitutions: A
change is generally accompanied displacement reaction is a
by a change of state, change of reaction in which an atom,
colour, evolution of a gas or change or group of atoms, present
of temperature etc. in a molecule is displaced by
• Chemical equation: The another atom. This type of
qualitative representation of reaction can be represented
a chemical reaction in a short as follows:
hand or concise form in term of AB + C → AC + B
symbols and formulae, is called (Compond) (New compound)
a chemical equation.
• Skeletal chemical equation or (iv) Double displacement reactions
symbol equation: A chemical or Double decomposition:
equation written in the form of The reactions in which mutual
symbols and formulae is called exchange of radicals takes
a skeletal chemical equation. place are known as double
• Balanced chemical equation: decomposition reactions.
A chemical equation in (v) O x i d a t i o n - R e d u c t i o n
which number of atoms of Reactions
each elements on L.H.S. Oxidation: Oxidation is
(i.e. reactants) and R.H.S. defined as a process which
(i.e.products) is equal is called a involve addition of oxygen
balanced chemical equation. or removal of hydrogen.
• Balancing of chemical equations: Reduction: The term reduction
The process of making the is defined as a process which
number of different elements involve the removal of oxygen
on both side of the equation or addition of hydrogen.
equal is known as balancing of (vi) Redox reactions: Those reactions
chemical equation. in which oxidation and reduction
B-374 General Science

takes place simultaneously, are ‘exothermic reaction’ and when

known as redox reactions. it absorbs the heat from the
Example: surroundings, it is said to be
(vii) Exothermic and endothermic endothermic reaction.
reaction: Chemical reactions • Rancidity: The most important
usually proceed with either cause of deterioration in fats
liberation of heat or the and fatty foods is oxidation
absorption of heat. of fats. What we perceive is
When a chemical reaction an unpleasant change in the
liberates heat to the flavour and odour of a food,
surroundings, it is said to be called rancidity.

CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS AND

PERIODICITY IN PROPERTIES
• Doberiner’s law of triads: whose properties did not fit
According to this law, “in certain into law of octaves.
triads (group of three elements) the (ii) In order to fit new elements
atomic mass of the central element into his table Newland
was the arithmetic mean of the adjust two elements in the
atomic masses of the other two same column, but put some
elements.” unlike elements under the
Limitations of Doberiner’s same column.
Triads: He could identify only Thus, Newland’s classification
a few such triads and so the was not accepted.
law could not gain importance. • Mendeleev’s periodic table:
In many traids like in the triad Mendeleev arranged 63
of Fe, Co, Ni, all the three elements known at that time in
elements have a nearly equal the periodic table. According to
atomic mass and thus does not Mendeleev “the properties of the
follow the above law. elements are a periodic function of
• Newland’s law of octaves: their atomic masses.” The table
According to this law “the consists of eight vertical column
elements are arranged in such a called ‘groups’ and horizontal
way that the eighth element starting rows called ‘periods’.
from a given one has properties Merits of Mendeleev’s periodic
which are a repetition of those of table:
the first if arranged in order of (i) At some places the order
increasing atomic weight like the of atomic weight was
eight note of musical scale.” changed in order to justify
Drawback of Newland’s law the chemical and physical
of octaves: nature.
(i) According to Newland (ii) Mendeleev left some gap
only 56 elements exists for new elements which
in nature and no more were not discovered at that
elements would be time.
discovered in the future. (iii) One of the strengths of
But later on several new Mendeleev’s periodic table
element were discovered was that, when inert gases
General Science B-375

were discovered they could Limitations of Mendeleev’s

be placed in a new group classification:
without disturbing the (i) He could not assign a correct
existing order. position of hydrogen in his
Characteristics of the periodic table: periodic table, as the properties
Its main characteristics are: of hydrogen resembles both
(i) In the periodic table, the with alkali metals as well as
elements are arranged in with halogens.
vertical rows called groups and (ii) The isotopes of the same
horizontal rows called periods. element will be given different
(ii) There are eight groups position if atomic number
indicated by Roman Numerals is taken as basis, which will
disturb the symmetry of the
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. The
periodic table.
elements belonging to first seven
(iii) The atomic masses do not
groups have been divided into
increases in a regular manner
sub-groups designated as A and
in going from one elements to
B on the basis of similarities. the next. So it was not possible
Group VIII consists of nine to predict how many elements
elements arranged in three could be discovered between
triads. two elements.
(iii) There are six periods (numbered • Modern periodic law: This law
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6). In order to was given by Henry Moseley in
accomodate more elements, the 1913. It states, “Properties of the
periods 4, 5, 6 are divided into elements are the periodic function of
two halves. The first half of the their atomic numbers”.
Cause of periodicity: Periodicity
elements are placed in the upper may be defined as the repetition
left corners and the second half of the similar properties of the
occupy lower right corners in elements placed in a group and
each box. separated by certain definite gap of
Achievements of Mendeleev’s atomic numbers.
periodic table • Modern periodic table
(i) The arrangement of elements Moseley proposed this modern
periodic table and according to
in groups and periods made the
which “the physical and chemical
study of elements quite systematic properties of elements are periodic
(ii) Prediction of new elements function of their atomic number
and their properties: Many and not the atomic weight.”
gaps were left in this table for (i) The modern periodic table
undiscovered elements. The has 18 vertical columns called
elements silicon, gallium and “groups” and seven horizontal
germanium were discovered in rows called “periods”. The
this manner. groups have been numbered 1,
2, 3.......18 from left to right.
(iii) Correction of doubtful atomic
(ii) The elements belonging
masses: Mendeleev corrected to a particular group make a
the atomic masses of certain family and usually named after
elements with the help of the first member. In a group all
their expected positions and the elements contain the same
properties. number of valence electrons.
B-376 General Science

(iii) In a period all the elements its outermost shell containing

contain the same number of electrons.
shells, but as we move from left The atomic radius decreases on
to right the number of valence moving from left to right along a
shell electrons increases by one period. This is due to an increase
unit. in nuclear charge which tends to
The maximum number pull the electrons closer to the
of electrons that can be nucleus and reduces the size of
accommodated in a shell can be the atom.
calculated by the formula 2n2 In a group atomic size decreases
where n is the number of the from top to bottom due to
given shell from the nucleus. increase in number of shells.
• Trends in modern periodic (iii) Metallic and non-metallic
table: The trends observed in properties: In a period from
some important properties of left to right metallic nature
decreases while non-metallic
the elements in moving down
character increases.
the group (from top to bottom
In a group metallic character
of the table) and across a period increases from top to bottom
(from left to right in a period) while non-metallic character
are discussed below: decrease.
(i) Valency: Valency may be (iv) Electronegativity: The relative
defined as “the combining capacity tendency of an atom to attract
of the atom of an element with the shared pair of electrons
atoms of other elements in order to towards itself is called
acquire the stable configuration (i.e. electronegativity.
8 electron in valence shell. In some In a period from left to right,
special cases it is 2 electrons).” the value of electronegativity
(ii) Atomic size: It refers to the increases while in a group from
distance between the centre of top to bottom the value of
nucleus of an isolated atom to electronegativity decreases.

ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

• Acids and Bases: The term Basic oxide + Acid →
acid, in fact, comes from the Salt + Water (neutralisation
latin term acere, which means reaction)
“Sour”. In everyday life we (iii) Action with metal
come across many compounds carbonates and metal
that chemists classify as acids. hydrogen carbonates
Bases are compounds which Carbonate/bicarbonate +
Acid → Salt + water +
taste bitter eg. milk of magnesia.
carbon dioxide.
• Properties of acids and bases
B. Properties of bases
A. Properties of acids Chemical Properties:
Chemical properties: (i) Reaction of metals with
(i) Action of metals bases: Metals (e.g. Zn, Al,
Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen Sn) dissolve in NaOH (an
(ii) Action with metal oxides alkali) to liberate hydrogen
(Basic oxides) gas.
General Science B-377

(ii) Action with acids: It is a stomach. However excess

neutralisation reaction. of acid causes indigestion
Base + Acid → Salt + Water and leads to pain as well
Non - metallic oxides react in as irritation. To get rid of
the same way hence non-metallic this people use bases called
oxides are acidic in nature. “antacids”.
• Strength of Acids and Bases (iv) pH of the soil: For their
The strength of an acid or a healthy growth plants
base can be easily estimated require a specific pH. Soils
by making use of universal with high peat content
indicator which is a mixture of or iron minerals or with
several indicators. The universal rotting vegetation tend to
indicator show different colours become acidic and the soil
at different concentrations of pH can reach as low as 4.
hydrogen ions in solution. (v) pH change as the cause of
• pH Scale: It is a scale that is tooth decay: Tooth decay
used for measuring H+ ion starts when the pH of
(hydrogen ion) concentration of mouth is lower than 5.5
a solution. • Salts: A salt is an ionic compound
The term pH stands for which dissociates to yield a
“potential” of “hydrogen”. It is positive ion other than hydrogen
the amount of hydrogen ions in a ion (H+) and negative ion other
particular solution. than hydroxyl ion (OH–) e.g.
For acids pH < 7 NaCl
For bases pH > 7 Salts are formed by the reaction
For neutral substances pH = 7 of acid and base which is also
• Importance of pH in Daily known as neutralisation.
Life (i) Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
(i) Blood pH: For proper or Caustic soda: It is
functioning our body prepared on commercial
needs to maintain blood scale by the electrolysis of
pH between 7.35 and 7.45. strong solution of sodium
Values of blood pH greater chloride (NaCl) also called
than 7.8 or less than 6.8 brine. The process is called
often results in death. chlor-alkali process.
(ii) Acid rain: When pH of The overall reaction taking
rain water is less than 5.6, place is:
it is called acid rain, when 2NaCl(aq) + 2 H2O(l) →
acid rain flows into rivers, H2(g) + Cl2(g) + 2NaOH(aq)
it lowers the pH of river Uses:
water. (a) Sodium hydroxide is
(iii) pH in our digestive system: most used base in the
We know that hydrochloric laboratory.
acid (HCl) produced in our (b) It is used in many
stomach helps in digestion industries, mostly as
of food without harming strong chemical base
B-378 General Science

in manufacture of pulp Uses:

and paper, textiles, (a) Sodium carbonate
drinking water, soap (washing soda) is used
and detergents etc. in glass, soap and paper
(ii) Baking soda, Sodium hydrogen industries.
carbonate, (NaHCO3) (b) It is used for removing
NaCl + H2O + CO2 + NH3 → permanent hardness of
NH4Cl + NaHCO3 water.
When heated the following (iv) Bleaching powder:
reaction occurs Calcium hypochlorite is
Heat a chemical compound
2NaHCO3 
→ with formula CaOCl2.
Na 2 CO3 + H 2 O + CO2 It is a yellowish powder
The above reaction occurs with smell of chlorine.
when baking soda is heated It is widely used for
during cooking. water treatment and as a
Uses: bleaching agent (bleaching
(a) In baking powder: powder)
The most practical 2Ca(OH)2 + 2Cl2 →
use of baking soda is CaOCl2 + CaCl2 + 2H2O
as a leavening agent in Calcium hypochlorite is
baking. used for the disinfection
(b) As an antacid: Baking of drinking water or
soda reacts with acid swimming pool water.
due to its alkaline (v) Plaster of Paris,
nature and neutralizes CaSO4 .1/2 H2O
It can be obtained by heating
acidity (i.e. acts as an
gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O)
antacid)
(c) In fire extinguishers: It (CaSO 4 .2H 2O + heat →
is used in soda-acid fire  1  3
extinguisher.  CaSO 4 . H 2O  + H 2O
 2  2
(iii) Washing soda, Na2CO3. Plaster of paris is a white
10H2O, Sodium carbonate powder and on mixing
Sodium carbonate can be with water it changes to
obtained by heating baking gypsum once again giving
soda; recrystallisation of a hard solid mass
sodium carbonate gives 1 1
washing soda. It is also a CaSO 4 • H 2O + 1 H 2O →
2 2
basic salt. CaSO 4 .2 H 2 O
Na 2CO3 + 10H 2O 
→
sodium Uses: It is used
carbonate (a) for making moulds or
Na 2CO3 + 10H 2O casts for toys, pottery,
Hydrated Sodium Carbonate cermics etc.
(WashingSoda ) (b) in surgical bandages for
setting fractured bones.
General Science B-379

METALS AND NON-METALS

• Metals and Non-metals: There for the economy of a country.
are more than 114 elements Some metals, such as titanium,
present in the periodic table. chromium, manganese and
These elements can be broadly zirconium are strategic metals.
classified into two categories These metals and their alloys
i.e., metals and non-metals. Out find wide applications in atomic
of 114 elements, 22 are non- energy, space science projects,
metals. jet engines and high grade steels.
• Physical properties of metals: Gold and silver ornaments are
(i) They are usually shiny i.e. obtained from small pieces of
have a metallic luster. metals by hammering.
(ii) Metals have a high density • Noble metal: Noble metals
(iii) Metals are ductile i.e. they are metals that are resistant to
can be drawn into wires. corrosion or oxidation, unlike
(iv) Metals are malleable i.e. most base metals. Examples
they can be founded into include tantalum, gold,
thin sheets. platinum, and rhodium.
(v) Metals are good conductors • Precious metal: A precious
of electricity. metal is a rare metallic
(vi) Metals have high melting chemical element of high
point and are generally economic value precious metals
in solid state at room include the platinum group
temperature. metals: ruthenium, rhodium,
(vii) Metals are good conductors palladium, osmium, iridium,
of heat and sound. and platinum, of which
• Uses of metals: platinum is the most widely
Metals are used in traded.
manufacturing of bridges, • Alloy: An alloy is a mixture
railways, aeroplanes, diesel of two or more elements
mobile units (DMU), electric in solid solution in which
mobile units (EMU), motor the major component is a
cars, electric motors, telephones, metal. Combining different
televisions, interplanetary space ratios of metals as alloys
vehicles, or even common modify the properties of pure
articles like cooking utensils and metals to produce desirable
coins. Metals are very important characteristics.
Alloy Composition Uses
1 Brass Cu = 80%, Zn = 20% For making utensils and
cartridges.
2 Bronze Cu = 90%, Sn = 10% For making statues, medals,
ships, coins and machines
3 Solder Sn = 50%, Pb = 50% For joining metals, solding wire
and electronic components etc.
B-380 General Science

4 Duralumin Al = 95.5%, Cu = 3%, Used in bodies of aircrafts,

Mn = 1.0%, Mg = 0.5% kitchen ware and automobile
parts etc.
5 German Cu = 60%, Zn = 20%, For making utensils and
Silver Ni = 20% ornaments
6 Gun metal Cu = 90%, Sn = 10% For gears and castings etc.
7 Bell metal Cu = 80%, Sn = 20% For bells, gangs etc.
8 Magnalium Al = 90%, Mg = 10% For balance beams, light
instruments.
9 Type metal Pb = 82%, Sb = 15%, Sn For casting type
= 3%
10 Stainless Fe, Ni, Cr, C For utensils, cutlery etc.
steel
• Physical properties of non- rocks and in the form of
metals: graphite as electrode and
(i) They are dull, however in manufacturing of lead
diamond, graphite and pencils.
iodine are lustrous. (v) Sulphur is used in
(ii) They are poor conductors of vulcanization of rubber,
heat and electricity. Graphite as fungicide and in
is a good conductor. manufacture of dyes, gun
(iii) They are weak and brittle powder etc.
(they easily break or shatter). (vi) Chlorine is used as water
(iv) They have a low density disinfectant and in the
(they feel light for their manufacture of pesticides
size). like gammaxene.
(v) They do not make a ringing
• Extraction of Metals
sound when they are hit.
(i) Minerals: The natural
(vi) Melting points and boiling
substance in which the
points are usually low.
metals or their compounds
(vii) Non-metals are usually
occur in the earth is called
soft. (Diamond is an
minerals.
exception, it is quite hard.
(ii) Ores: The minerals
It is a crystalline solid).
from which the metals
(viii)They exist in allotropic
can be conveniently and
forms.
economically extracted are
8. Uses of Non-Metals called ores.
(i) Oxygen is essential for (iii) Native ores: These ores
survival of life. contain metals in the free
(ii) Hydrogen is used to convert state, e.g., silver, gold,
vegetable oil into vegetable platinum, etc.
ghee by hydrogenation. (iv) Metallurgy: The whole
(iii) Nitrogen is used to preserve process of obtaining a pure
food and for manufacturing metal from one of its ore is
proteins by plants. known as metallurgy.
(iv) Carbon in the form of (v) Gangue or matrix: Ores
diamond is used for cutting usually contain soil, sand,
General Science B-381

stones and others useless reagent as to make it

silicates. These undesired soluble while impurities
impurities present in remain insoluble. The
ores are called gangue or ore is recovered from
matrix. the solution by suitable
(vi) The removal of unwanted chemical method.
earthy and silicious (viii) Extraction process used to
impurities from the ore obtain metals in free state
is called ore-dressing or from concentrated ores is
concentration of ores called extraction.
and the process used to (ix) Extraction of crude metal
concentrate an ore is called from the concentrated
the benefication process. ore involves following
(vii) Concentration of ore is chemical processes.
achieved by (a) Conversion of ore into
(1) Physical methods: metallic oxides.
(a) Hand-picking: It is • Calcination involves
used in the case when heating the ore
the impurities are below its fusion
quite distinct from temperature in the
the ore so that these absence of air. It can
may be differentiated remove moisture
by naked eye. from hydrated
(b) Hydraulic washing oxide or CO2 from
or Levigation or carbonates. It makes
Gravity separation: the ore porous.
The separation • Roasting is the
is based on the heating of the ore
difference in the in the presence of
specific gravities of air below its fusion
the gangue particles temperature.
and the ore particles. (b) Reduction to free metal:
(c) Electromagnetic • Smelting: This
separation: When involves the reduction
one component of the ore to the
either the ore molten metal at a
or impurity is high temperature. For
magnetic in nature, the extraction of
this method can be electropositive metals
used for separation. such as Pb, Fe, Sn,
(d) Froth floatation powerful reducing
process: This agent like C, H2, CO,
method is used for Al, Mg, etc., are used.
the concentration • Self reduction process:
of sulphide ores. These processes are
(2) Chemical method also called auto-
(Leaching) involves reduction process.
the treatment of the • Electrolytic pro-
ore with a suitable cess: The oxides of
B-382 General Science

highly electroposi- alumina mixed with

tive metals like Na, cryolite.
K, Mg, Ca, Al, etc., (x) Refining is the process
are extracted by of purifying the extracted
electrolysis of their metals.
oxides, hydroxides (xi) Chromatography is based
or chlorides in fused on the principle that the
state. For example, different components of
Al is obtained by a mixture are adsorbed
the electrolysis of to different extents on an
adsorbent.
S. Name of the ore Formula of the Types of ore Metal obtained
no. ore from the ore
1 Bauxite Al2O3.2H2O Oxide Aluminium (Al)
2. Haematite Fe2O3 Oxide Iron (Fe)
3. Magnetite Fe2O4 Oxide Iron (Fe)
4. Zincite ZnO Oxide Zinc (Zn)
5. Cuprite Cu2O Oxide Copper (Cu)
6. Litharge PbO Oxide Lead (Pb)
7. Malachite CuCO3.Cu(OH)2 Carbonate Copper (Cu)
8. Magnesite MgCO3 Carbonate Magnesium (Mg)
9. Lime stone CaCO3 Carbonate Calcium (Ca)
10. Cinnabar HgS Sulphide Mercury (Hg)
11. Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 Sulphide Copper (Cu)
12. Zinc blende ZnS Sulphide Zinc (Zn)
13. Galena PbS Sulphide Lead (Pb)
14. Common salt NaCl Chloride Sodium (Na)
(Halide)
15. Fluorspar CaF2 Fluoride Calcium (Ca)
(Halide)
16. Horn silver AgCl Chloride Silver (Ag)
(Halide)
17. Chalcocite Cu2S Sulphide Copper (Cu)
• Corrosion of Metals: Corrosion and steel (alloy of iron) are most
is an oxidation reaction with easily protected by paint which
atmospheric oxygen in the provides a barrier between the
presence of water on the surface metal and air/water. Moving
of a metal. Rusting is parts on machines can be
3 protected by a water repellent oil
Fe(s) + O 2 (g) + xH 2O(l ) → or grease layer. Other important
2
Fe 2 O3.xH 2O(s) methods are
(i) Alloying: Iron or steel along
i.e., rust is hydrated iron (III) with other metals can also
oxide. be protected by ‘alloying’
• Prevention of Corrosion: Iron or mixing with other metals
General Science B-383

(e.g., chromium) to make • Purity of Gold:

non-rusting alloys. 24-Carat gold: The carat
(ii) Galvanizing: Coating iron (abbreviation ct or Kt) is a
or steel with a thin zinc measure of the purity of gold
layer is called ‘galvanizing’. alloys. Carat is used to refer
to the measure of mass for
gemstones.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
• The pollutants may be inorganic, is greatly affected by air
biological or radiological in pollution.
nature. Note: The other two layers are
(i) Bio-degradable pollutants Thermosphere and Mesosphere.
are domestic wastes which • Air pollution: The major air
are rapidly decomposed by pollutants are
micro-organisms. (i) Carbon monoxide (CO): It
(ii) Non-biodegradable pol- is produced by incomplete
lutants include chemicals, combustion of gasoline in
mercuric salts, lead com- motor vehicles, wood, coal,
pounds, pesticides, etc. inceneration and forest fires.
(iii) Natural pollution is caused It is treacherous and deadly
by radioactive substances, poisonous gas. It induces
volcanic eruptions, forests headache, visual difficulty
and mines fires floods, etc. coma and death. It blocks
(iv) Artificial pollution is the normal transport of
caused by industries, oxygen from the lungs to
thermal plants, automobile,
other parts of the body.
exhausts, sewage, etc.
(ii) Sulphur dioxide (SO2):
• Environment: The conditions
It is produced by petrol
existing around animal or
combustion, coal
human life.
combustion, petrol refining
Atmosphere: The gaseous
and smelting operations.
envelop surrounding the
It hinders the movement of
earth. It has been classified
air in and out of lungs. It
into following regions:-
is particularly poisonous to
(i) Stratosphere: The layer
trees causing chlorosis and
of the earth’s atmosphere
dwarfing. In presence of
above the troposphere and
air it is oxidised to which is
below the mesosphere.
also irritant.
(ii) Troposphere: The lowest
2SO2 + O2 (air) → 2SO3
region of the atmosphere
In presence of moisture
extending from earth’s
is converted into highly
surface to the lower boundary
corrosive sulphuric acid.
of the stratosphere. In this
SO3 + H2O (moisture) → H2SO4
region, human beings along
It attacks marble, limestone,
with other organisms live. It
vegetation, paper and textiles
contains water vapour and
and injurious to human beings.
B-384 General Science

(iii) Oxides of nitrogen: and It is oxidising in nature

NO, Source - combustion and causes irritation
of coal, gasoline, to eyes, lungs, nose,
natural gas, petroleum asthamatic attack and
refining, chemical plants, damage plants.
manufacturing explosives Acid rain: The oxides
and fertilizers, tobacco of C, N and S present
smoke. in the atmosphere,
Breathing NO2 causes dissolve in water and
chlorosis to plants and produce acids and
chronic lung conditions lower the pH of water
leading to death. reacts below 5.5.
with moisture to form The acids are toxic to
acids. vegetation, react with marble
2NO2 + H2O → HNO2 + HNO3 and damage buildings.
3HNO2 → 2NO + HNO3 + H2O CaCO3 + H2SO4 → CaSO4 +
(iv) Smoke, dust: H2O +CO2
Sources: cement works, Acids corrode water pipes
iron and steel works, gas and produce salts with
works, power generating heavy metals ions viz Cu,
stations. Pb, Hg and Al toxic in
Smog: It is a mixture nature.
of smoke and fog in (v) Green House effect: The
suspended droplet form. It retention of heat by the
is of two types: earth and atmosphere from
(a) London smog or the sun and its prevention
classical smog: It is to escape into the outer
coal smoke plus fog. space is known as green
The fog part is mainly house effect.
SO2 and SO3. It has Global warming is average
sulphuric acid aerosol. increase in the temperature
It causes bronchial of earth due to increase
irritation and acid rain. in concentration of green
It is reducing in nature. house gases (CO2, O3, NOx
etc).
(b) Photochemical smog
Consequences of global
or Los Angeles
warming:
smog: The oxidised
(i) Global warming would
hydrocarbons and
result in rise in sea level
ozone in presence
due to increased rate of
of humidity cause
melting of glaciers and
photochemical smog.
floods.
Hydrocarbons + O2,
(ii) Increase in infectious
NO2, NO, O, O3 → Per-
diseases like malaria,
oxides, formaldehyde, dengue, etc.
p e r ox ya c e t y l n i t r a t e (vi) Ozone layer and its
(PAN), acrolein etc. depletion: The ozone
General Science B-385

layer, existing between 20 purposes (domestic, industrial or

to 35 km above the earth’s agriculture etc.) is known as water
surface, shield the earth pollution. The polluted water may
from the harmful U. V. have offensive odour, bad taste,
radiations from the sun. unpleasant colour, murky oily, etc.
The U. V. radiations cause (i) Sources of water pollution
skin cancer, cataract of eye, (a) Domesticsewage:Discharges
and harm to vegetation. from kitchens, baths,
Depletion of ozone is caused lavatories, etc.
by oxides of nitrogen (b) Industrial waters:
N2O + hυ → NO + N Wastes from manu-
reactive nitric oxide facturing processes
NO + O3 → NO2+ O2, which includes acids,
O3 + hυ → O2+ O, alkalines, pesticides,
NO2 +O → NO + O2 insecticides, metals like
2O3 + hυ → 3O2 (Net reaction) copper, zinc, lead, mer-
The presence of cury, fungicides, etc.
chlorofluorocarbons also (c) Oil: from oil spills
increase the decomposition or washings of
of O3. automobiles.
CF2Cl2 + hυ → + CF2Cl + Cl (d) Atomic explosion
CFCl3 + hυ → CFCl3 + Cl, and processing of
Cl + O3 → ClO+ O, radioactive materials.
ClO + O → Cl + O2 (e) Suspended particles
O3 + O → O2 (Net reaction) (organic or inorganic)
(vii) Control of air pollution: viruses, bacterias,
It can be controlled by algae, protozoa, etc.
1. Dissolving HCl, HF, in (f) Wastes from fertilizer
water and , , in alkaline plants such as
solution. phosphates, nitrates
2. Adsorbing gas and ammonia, etc.
liquid molecules over (g) Clay: Ores, minerals,
activated charcoal and fine particles of soil.
silica gel. (ii) Aerobic and anaerobic
3. Chemical reactions. oxidation: The oxidation
4. Use of precipitators to of organic compounds
settle charge particles. present in sewage in
5. Use of settling chambers presence of good amount
under the action of of dissolved or free
gravity. oxygen (approx. 8.5 ml/l)
6. Use of natural gas in by aerobic bacterials is
place of diesel, petrol, called aerobic oxidation.
etc. When dissolved or free
• Water pollution: The contamination oxygen is below a certain
of water by foreign substances value the sewage is called
which would constitute a health stale. Anaerobic bacterias
hazard and make it harmful for all
B-386 General Science

bring out putrefaction • Soil pollution: The addition

producing H2S, NH3, CH4, of substances in an indefinite
(NH4)2S, etc. This type of proportion changing the
oxidation is called anaerobic productivity of the soil is known
oxidation. as soil or land pollution.
(iii) Biological Oxygen Sources of soil pollution:
Demand (BOD): It is (i) Agricultural pollutants:
defined as the amount of Chemicals like pesticides,
free oxygen required for fertilizers, bacteriacides,
biological oxidation of the fumigants, insecticides,
organic matter by aerobic herbicides, fungicides.
conditions at 20°C for a (ii) Domestic refuge and
period of five days. Its unit industrial wastes.
is mg/l or ppm. An average (iii) Radioactive wastes from
sewage has BOD of 100 to research centres, and hospitals.
150 mg/l. (iv) Soil conditioners containing
(iv) Chemical Oxygen Demand toxic metals like Hg, Pb, As,
(COD): It is a measure Cd, etc.
of all types of oxidisable (v) Farm wastes from poultries,
impurities present in the dairies and piggery farms.
sewage. COD values are (vi) Improper disposal of
higher than BOD values. human and animal extreta.
(vii) Pollutants present in air
from chemical works.

SOME IMPORTANT MAN MADE MATERIALS

• Glass CaCO3(s) + SiO2(s) →
It consists of a mixture of two CaSiO3(s) + CO2(g)
or more silicates. Hard glass: For preparation
Preparation of glass: of hard glass K2CO3 is used in
Common glass (or soft glass): place of Na2CO3. It consists
It is used to make bottles, glass of a mixture of calcium and
potassium silicates.
wares etc. and is obtained by Physical properties of glass:
heating together silica (in the Hard, rigid, high viscosity,
form of sand), sodium carbonate bad conductor of heat and
or sodium sulphate and chalk or electricity, brittle, etc.
lime stone (calcium carbonate). Blowing: It is a method to cast
Some broken glass and a little the molten glass into different
coke are usually added. The moulds. There are two different
methods of glass blowing
glass so prepared consists of (i) Free blowing and ( ii) mould
silicates of sodium and calcium. blowing
Na2CO3(s) + SiO2(s) → Free blowing: It involves the
        (silica) blowing of air to inflate the
Na2SiO3(s) + CO2(g) molten glass which is gathered
Na2SO4(s) + SiO2(s) → at one end of the blow pipe to
Na2SiO3(s) + SO3(g) give the desired shape.
General Science B-387

Mould blowing: This method is generally used to make

was developed after the gums and adhesives.
technique of free blowing. (iii) Lead glass: For this type
In this method, molten glass of glass lead oxide is
is inflated into a wooden or added to ordinary glass.
metal carved mould with the The addition of lead oxide
help of blow pipe which gives increases the density and
the molten glass the shape and also the refractive index.
design of the interior of the This type of glass is used
mould. for the manufacture of
Chemical properties of glass ornamental glass ware,
(i) It is resistant to action decorative articles etc.
of air and acids except (iv) Optical glass: This
hydroflouric acid. type of glass is used
(ii) It is alkaline in nature. in the manufacture of
(iii) It slowly reacts with water optical instruments like
to form alkaline solution. binoculars, spectacles,
Types of glass
lenses, prisons, telescopes,
(i) Silica glass: For this type
microscopes etc. It is
of glass the raw material
used is 100% pure form of transparent and can be
quartz. It is quite expensive. It grounded into the required
is used in the manufacture shape. It generally contains
of laboratory apparatus. It phosphorus, and lead
has low thermal expansion. silicates with little cerium
Its softening point is very oxide which absorbs UV
high and it is resistant to a radiations.
wide variety of chemicals. (v) Processed glass: The
(ii) Alkali silicate glass: For it properties and applications
the raw materials used are of glass also depend upon
sand and soda. It is also the processing of glass.
called water glass because Some types of processed
it is soluble in water and glass and their applications
used only as a solution. It are given here:
Processed glass Applications
1. Laminated glass Used for doors and windows of automobiles. (It
has high strength).
2. Fibre glass Used for reinforcing purpose (It has enough tensile
strength)
3. Foam glass Used for civil construction and insulation purposes
(it is light weight).
4. Opaque glass In it non-transparent glass filters the light entering
into it. Thus provides an aesthetic look.
(vi) Borosilicate glass: It aluminium. It is resistant to
contains silica and Boron a wide variety of chemicals
oxide and small amount due to this property it is
of oxides of sodium and used in the manufacture of
laboratory ware.
B-388 General Science

• Fertilizers Both soaps and detergents are

Fertilizers are chemical soluble in water and act as
compounds which when added surfactants which reduce the
to the soil increase their fertility surface tension of water to a
and directly supply the need of great extent. This increases the
essential elements [N, P, K] of water - fabric interaction as
primary importance. a consequence of which dirt
Classification: Chemical particles, grease spots etc are
fertilizers are broadly classified washed away effectively. In other
into the following three types: words soaps and detergents
(i) Nitrogenous fertilizers: enhance the cleansing action of
Ammonium sulphate, urea water.
etc. • Portland cement: It was first
(ii) Phosphatic fertilizers: Super discovered in England. It is
phosphate, ammonium essentially a mixture of lime
phosphate stone and clay. It was called
(iii) Potash fertilizers: Potas- Portland cement because in
sium chloride, potassium presence of water it sets to a
sulphate. hard stone-like mass resembling
• Soaps and detergents with the famous Portland rock.
Soap: Fatty acid salts of sodium The approximate composition
and potassium are known as of Portland cement is
soaps. These are prepared by Calcium oxide (CaO) 62%
the action of fatty acids with Silica (SiO2) 22%
sodium hydroxide or potassium Alumina (Al2O3) 7.5%
hydroxide. Magnesia (MgO) 2.5%
Fatty acid + sodium hydroxide Ferric oxide (Fe2O3) 2.5%
→ Soap + glycerol. The above compounds are
Detergents are sodium salt of provided by the two raw
long chain sulphonic acids or materials, namely lime stone
alkyl hydrogen sulphate. (which provides CaO) and
Advantages of detergents over clay (which provides SiO2,
soaps Al2O3 and Fe2O3). In cement,
(i) Detergents can be used for almost entire amount of lime
laundering even with hard in present in the combined state
water as they are soluble as calcium silicate (2CaO. SiO2
even in hard water. and 3CaO. SiO2) and calcium
(ii) Detergents possess better aluminates (3CaO. Al2O3 and
cleansing properties than 4 CaO. Al2O3).
soaps.
(i) Cement containing excess
Disadvantages of detergents
over soap: Detergents are amount of lime cracks
prepared from hydrocarbons, during setting; while
while soaps are prepared from cement containing less
edible fatty oils. Thus they are amount of lime is weak in
non biodegradable. strength.
Saponification: It is the process (ii) Cement with excess of
of making of soap by the silica is slow-setting and
hydrolysis of fats and oils with that having an excess of
alkalis. alumina is quick-setting.
General Science B-389

(iii) Cement containing no iron is added to slow down the setting

is white but hard to burn. of the cement so that it gets
Cement is manufactured by two sufficiently hardened. Setting of
processes, viz. wet and dry. A cement is an exothermic process
small amount (2–3%) of gypsum and involves hydration of calcium
aluminates and calcium silicates.

Lime stone and

clay are powdered
and mixed
Addition of
Burnt at
Calcium silicates + Portland Cement
1770-1870K gypsum
in a rotatory kiln calcium aluminates

GENERAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are defined as the optically active polyhydroxy aldehydes or
ketones or substances which yield these on hydrolysis.
Classification of Carbohydrates
Based on Molecular Size
CARBOHYDRATES

MONOSACCHARIDES OLIGOSACCHARIDES
Based on Nature PROTEINS
Carbohydrates are also classified as Proteins are highly complex, natural
reducing and non-reducing sugars compounds, composed of a large
depending on whether they reduce number of different a-amino acids
Fehlings and Tollen’s reagent or not. joined together with peptide linkage,
i.e., they are naturally occurring
Based on Taste polypeptides. The biological
Carbohydrates with sweet taste are importance of proteins can be
judge by the fact that the animals
called sugars while those without a can live for a long time without fat
sweet taste are called non-sugars. or carbohydrate, but not without
LIPIDS protein.
Lipids are organic compounds NUCLEIC ACIDS
soluble in non-polar fat solvents Nucleic acids are colourless,
such as acetone, ether, chloroform,
benzene, etc. and insoluble in water. complex, amorphous, compounds
The most important role of lipids is made up of three units: bases, sugar
that of biological fuel. Lipids supply and phosphoric acid. These are
more energy than carbohydrates, macro-molecules of high molecular
excess of lipids is stored in the body weight and are present in every
and used at the time of starvation. living cell.
B-390 General Science

Life Science
CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
Cell is a basic structural and functional membranous covering of plant
unit of life. and animal cells.
•• Robert Hooke in 1665 coined the
word ‘cell’. Fluid mosaic model of plasma
•• Anton von Leeuwenhoek first saw membrane
and described a live cell. •• S.J.Singer and G. Nicolson in
•• Robert Brown later had discovered 1972 proposed the most accepted
the nucleus. model of membrane structure.
•• Cell theory was proposed by The plasma membrane is a lipid-
Schleiden and Schwann in 1855 to bilayer with proteins embedded
explain the concept of the cellular in it.
nature of living organism. •• Lipids are amphipathic, i.e., they
are structurally asymmetric with
Prokaryotic Cells polar hydrophilic and non-polar
•• Prokaryotic cells are hydrophobic group.
morphologically most primitive. •• One of the most important
•• Prokaryotic cells are devoid of function of plasma membrane
membrane bound organelles is the transport of the molecules
like plastids, mitochondria and across it.
advanced (9+2) flagella. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
•• Prokaryotic cells are represented
There are two types of endoplasmic
by bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue
reticulum i.e.,
green algae) mycoplasma and
•• Smooth or agranular ER – They
PPLO (pleuro-pneumonia like
do not have attached ribosomes
organisms). on their surface.
Eukaryotic Cells •• Rough or granular ER – They
bear ribosomes on their surface,
•• A eukaryotic cell consists of the
for protein synthesis.
following components:
Golgi Apparatus
Cell Wall
•• Golgi apparatus or Golgi
•• The cell wall is a non-living, complex is a stack of flattened,
semi-rigid, external protective membrane bounded, parallely
covering of the cell. arranged organelles that occur in
•• Cell wall is entirely lacking in the association of endoplasmic
animals. reticulum in the cytoplasmic
•• It is made up of cellulose matrix.
secreted by the cell itself. •• The golgi apparatus principally
performs the function of packaging
Cell Mebrane
materials to be delivered either to
•• The cell membrane is a living, the intra-cellular targets or secreted
thin, elastic and semi-permeable outside the cell.
General Science B-391

Lysosomes Nucleolus
•• Lysosomes are popularly called •• It is present inside the nucleus.
“suicide bags”. •• It is the site of active ribosomal
Vacuoles RNA synthesis.
•• In plant cells, the vacuoles can Study of heredity and variation is
occupy up to 90 percent of the called genetics.
volume of the cell. The vacuole •• Term genetics was given by -
is bound by a single membrane Bateson.
called tonoplast. They are •• Father of genetics - Gregor
responsible for maintenance of Johann Mendel.
turgour pressure. •• Father of experimental genetics -
Mitochondria Thomas Hunt Morgan.
•• Father of human genetics -
•• Mitochondria are also called as
powerhouse of cells. Archibald Garrod.

Plastids Some Terms in Genetics

•• Plastids are found in plants and Gene : It is segment of DNA. It is
few protists Euglena. basic unit of heredity.
Back cross : It is cross which is
Ribosomes performed between hybrid and one
•• Ribosomes are smallest cell of its parents.
organelles. They are protein Test cross : Test cross is crossing of
synthesising factories.
offspring with unknown dominant
There are two types of
ribosomes viz., phenotype with the individual
– Prokaryotic or 70S ribosomes homozygous recessive for the trait.
– Eukaryotic or 80S ribosomes Monohybrid cross : It is a cross
between two organisms of a
Nucleus species which is made to study the
•• Nucleus is centrally located, inheritance of a single pair of alleles
spherical and largest component or factors of a character.
of the all eukaryotic cell. It Monohybrid ratio : Monohybrid
contains the genetic material of ratio is usually 3 : 1 (phenotypic
the cell.
ratio) or 1 : 2 : 1 (genotype ratio)
Structure of Nucleus in which 25% of the individuals
•• A typical nucleus consists of carry the recessive trait, 25% pure
four structures: (i) nuclear dominant and 50% have hybrid
membrane, (ii) nucleoplasm (iii) dominant trait.
chromatin and (iv) the nucleolus. Dihybrid cross : It is a cross between
Satellite
Secondary
two organisms of a species which is
constriction made to study the inheritance of
two pairs of factors or alleles of two
Short arm Short arm
Centromere
Centromere genes.
Dihybrid ratio : Dihybrid ratio is 9
Long arm
Telocentric Acrocentric Sub-
: 3 : 3 : 1 (phenotypic ratio) where
Metacentric
metacentric 9/16 first recessive and second
Fig. : Types of chromosomes based dominant and 1/16 carry both the
on the position of centromere recessive traits.
B-392 General Science

•• Mendel conducted cross generations without any change

hybridization experiments on or separation due to their being
Garden Pea plant (Pisum sativum). present on the same chromosomes.
The first was the Principle of •• Linkage in the genes can be
segregation, which claimed that identified by test cross.
each trait was specified by paired •• The rearrangements of linked genes
hereditary determinants (alleles due to crossing over is known as
of genes) that separate from each recombination. Recombination
other during gamete formation. also occurs due to chance
This law is also called Law of separation of chromosomes
purity of gametes or Law of
during gametogenesis and their
splitting of hybrids.
random coming together during
•• Gregor Mendel was the first
fertilization.
individual to apply a modern
scientific approach to the study Sex Determination
of heredity. Mendel proposed
•• Henking discovered X body in
two basic principles of trasmission
genetics. spermatogenesis of few insects
•• Mendel’s second basic conclusion and it was given name of X
was the Principle of independent chromosome. Due to involvment
assortment, which stated that the of X and Y chromosomes in
segregation of one pair of genes- determination of sex, they were
controlling a given trait - was not called sex chromosomes.
influenced by the segregation of •• Rest of the chromosomes which
other gene pairs. The chormosome determine other metabolic
theory provided a physical basis character of the body are called
for the principle of independent autosomes.
assortment. Genes located on
different chromosomes move to Mutation
gametes independently of each •• Phenomenon that results in
other during meiosis. alteration of DNA sequence and
consequently results in change in
Human Blood Groups and genotype and phenotype of an
Multiple Allele organism is called mutation.
•• The system of blood groups in •• Mutagens are various chemical
humans was discovered by Karl and physical factors that induce
Landsteiner in 1900s. mutations, e.g., UV radiations,
•• There are four phenotypes of carcinogenic chemicals like
Blood namely A, B, AB and nicotine, nitric oxide (NO).
O produced by three different
alleles IA, IB and i of a gene. Genetic Disorder
•• The allele IA and IB are equally •• A genetic disorder is a disease
dominant and do not interfere that is caused by an abnormality
with expression of each other in an individual’s DNA.
hence the allele IA IB are said to
be co-dominant because both are Haemophilia
expressed in the phenotype AB. •• A protein involved in clotting of
•• Linkage is the phenomenon of blood is affected in an affected
certain genes staying together individual; if person gets a cut,
during inheritance through will result in non-stop bleeding.
General Science B-393

•• Females are heterozygous and •• It is an excellent example of

carriers of haemophilia. single mutation.
Sickle Cell Anaemia Phenylketonuria
•• It is due to inheritance of defective •• Affected individual lacks enzyme
allele coding for b-globin. It phenylalanine hydroxylase that
results in the transformation of converts amino acid phenylalanine
HbA into HbS in which glutamic to tyrosine.
acid is replaced by valine at 6th •• It is characterized by severe mental
position in each of two b-chains retardation, hypopigmentation of
of haemoglobin. skin & hair, eczema, etc.

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Photosynthesis Citric acid cycle/Kreb’s cycle
occur in mitochondrial matrix and
•• Photosynthesis occurs in
3NADH2, 1FADH2 and 1 GTP
specialized cells called mesophyll
(ATP) produced by each turn of
cell which contain chloroplast.
TCA cycle. In Electron transport
•• Photosynthesis follows two main
step Light dependent reaction system electron are passes in
which occur in grana of the a downhill journey releasing
chloroplast and Light dependent energy at every step that is used
reaction which occur in stroma in generating electrochemical
region of the chloroplast. proton gradient which help in
•• It is actually oxidation reduction synthesizing energy.
process in which water is Transpiration
oxidized and CO2 is reduced to
•• Loss of water in the form of
carbohydrates.
water vapour from plant through
•• The reduction of CO2 to
the small pore (stomata) present
carbohydrates needs assimilatory
on leaves is called transpiration.
powers, ie., ATP and NADPH2.
Respiration Nitrogen metabolism
•• Plants obtain Nitrogen from the
•• Carbohydrates are broken down
soil in the form of nitrites (NO2—),
through the process of oxidation
nitrates (NO3—) and ammonium
and releasing of energy for
cellular use, is called respiration. (NH4)+ salts. Nitrogen assimilation
Respiration occurs in three steps is carried out by plants in three
as Glycolysis, Kreb’s Cycle and steps.
Electron transport system. •• Ammonification: It is the
C6H12O6 + 6CO2 → 6CO2 + process of conversion of complex
6H20 + energy organic compounds like protein
•• Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm into ammonia in the presence of
of the cell and the final product is ammonifying bacteria.
pyruvate which is transported from •• Proteins → Amino acids →
the cytoplasm to mitochondria. Organic acids → Ammonia
B-394 General Science

•• Nitrification: Ammonia is flowering. It also causes the

rapidly converted first to nitrite phenomenon of apical dominance.
and then nitrates by the process •• Gibberellines: It causes an
of nitrification. Nitrification increase in length of axis of
is brought about by nitrifying the plant. It delay senescence
bacteria such as Nitrosomonas and help in induction of seed
and Nitrobacter. germination.
•• Denitrification: It is the process •• Cytokinins: It promotes cell
of conversion of nitrate salts division and growth of lateral
present in the soil and water to branches by inhibiting apical
gaseous nitrogen which escapes dominance. It also promotes
into atmosphere. It takes place formation of adventitious shoot.
with the help of bacteria called •• Ethylene: It is synthesized in the
Pseudomonas. tissue undergoing senescence
Plant Growth Regulators and ripening of fruits. It
promtes in ripening of fruits
Some chemical molecules secreted
and accelerate the abscission of
by the plants which affect the growth
flower.
of the plant known as Plant growth
•• Abscisic acid: It causes ageing
regulators.
and abscission of leaves and
•• Auxin: It controls division in the
fruits. It also regulates bud and
vascular cambium and xylem
differentiation. It Promotes seed dormancy.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Digestion of Food
Name of the Name of the Substrate End product
Digestive enzymes
juice
Saliva Ptyalin (Salivary Starch Maltose
amylase)
Pancreatic Amylopsin Starch, Maltose and Glucose
iuice (pancreatic amylase) Glycogen
Intestinal Sucrase (invertase), Sucrose; Glucose and fructose, Glucose,
juice Maltase, Lactase Maltose, Glucose and galactose
Lactose
Gastric Juice Pepsin, Rennin Proteins, Proteoses and peptones,
Casein Calcium caseinate
Pancreatic Trypsin, Proteins, Proteoses and peptides
Juice Chymotrypsin, Proteins Peptides Amino acid.
Carboxyl peptidases Peptides
Intestinal Amino peptidase, Peptides Amino acids, Amino acids
juice Dipeptidase
General Science B-395

Vitamin required by the body

Vitamin Chemical Function in Deficiency Sources
Name Body Disease
B1 Thiamine Part of Beri-beri: Found in whole
pyrophosphate coenzyme for nerve and heart grain cereals,
respiration disorders legumes, beans,
nuts, brewer’s
yeast, wheat
germ, pork,
ham, and liver.
B2 Riboflavin Part of Ariboflavinosis: Milk, yogurt,
coenzyme skin and eye other dairy,
FAD disorders meat, leafy
needed for greens, whole
respiration grains.
B12 Cyanoco- Coenzyme Pernicious Animal
balamin needed for anaemia products (meat,
making red fish, poultry,
blood cells, shellfish, eggs,
bone, blood cheese, milk).
and nerve
changes
B5 Nicotinic Part of Pellagra: skin, Widespread in
acid (‘niacin’) coenzymes gut and nerve foods.
NAD, disorders
NADP used
in respiration
C Ascorbic acid Not precisely Scurvy:
known degeneration of
skin teeth and
blood vessels.
A Retinol Not fully Xeropthalmia: Milk, eggs,
known but ‘dry eyes’ meat, fish liver
forms part oilsz: Green
of visual leafy vegetables
pigment, - kale, spinach,
rhodopsin broccoli Yellow
Vegetables -
carrots, sweet
potatoes
Fruits- mango,
papaya and
apricot
B-396 General Science

D Cholecalciferol Stimulates Rickets: bone Formed in skin

calcium deformity when exposed
absorption to sunlight.
by small Also found in
intestine, dairy products,
needed for egg yolk, fish
proper bone liver oils,
growth oysters, yeast.
E Tocopherol Not precisely Infertility Found
known primarily in
plant oils,
green, leafy
vegetables,
wheat germ,
whole grains,
egg yolk, nuts,
seeds, and liver.
K Phylloquinone Involved Possible Bacterial
in blood haemorrage synthesis in the
clotting digestive tract.
Diet generally
supplies
remaining
need.
Green, leafy
vegetables,
cabbage-type
vegetables and
milk

Minerals Source Function

Sodium (Na) Table salt large amounts is Needed for proper
present in processed foods, fluid balance, nerve
small amounts in milk, breads, transmission, and muscle
vegetables, and meats contraction

Chloride Table salt, large amounts is Needed for proper fluid

present in processed foods, small balance, stomach acid
amounts in milk, meats, breads,
and vegetables

Potassium Meats, milk, fresh fruits and Needed for proper

vegetables, whole grains, legumes fluid balance, nerve
transmission, and muscle
contraction
General Science B-397

Calcium Milk and milk products, canned Important for healthy bones
fish with bones (salmon, and teeth, helps muscles
sardines), fortified tofu and relax and contract, important
fortified soy milk, greens in nerve functioning, blood
(broccoli, mustard green), clotting, blood pressure
legumes regulation, immune system
health
Phosphorus Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, Important for healthy
processed foods bones and teeth, found
in every cell, part of the
system that maintains acid-
base balance
Magnesium Nuts and seeds; legumes, leafy, Found in bones, needed
green vegetables, seafood, and for making protein,
chocolate muscle contraction, nerve
transmission, immune
system health
Sulfur Occurs in foods as part of Found in protein molecules
protein, meats, poultry, fish,
eggs, milk, legumes, nuts
Iron Organ meats; red meats, fish, Part of a molecule
poultry, shellfish (especially hemoglobin found in red
clams), egg yolks, legumes; dried blood cells that carries
fruits dark, leafy greens, iron- oxygen in the body, needed
enriched breads and cereals, and for energy metabolism
fortified cereals
Iodine Seafood, foods grown in iodine- Found in thyroid hormone,
rich soil, iodized salt, bread, which helps regulate
dairy products growth, development, and
metabolism

Inorganic Elements in the Human Diet

Element Common Functions in human body
ions
Calcium Ca2+ Calcium ions are needed for stability of cell
membranes, as cofactors for some enzymes and
are involved in muscle contraction and blood
clotting.
Phosphorus H2PO4 Bones component of many organic molecules
like DNA, RNA and ATP.
Potassium K+ These ions are important in determining the
Sodium Na+ balance of electrical charges in body fluids.
Chlorine CI–
B-398 General Science

Iron Fe2+, Fe3+ Component of haemoglobin and cytochrome

molecules.
Iodine I– Component of hormone thyroxin.
Copper Cu2+ Trace elements as enzyme cofactors, for example,
Manganes Mn2+ Cu2+ is co-factor for cytochrome oxidase.
Zinc Zn2+
•• Marasmus is produced by a Transport of gases
simultaneous deficiency of proteins •• 97% of oxygen is transported
and calories. In Marasmus, protein from the lungs to the tissues in
deficiency impairs growth and combination with haemoglobin
replacement of tissue proteins; (Hb + O2 HbO2,
extreme emaciation of the body oxyhaemoglobin). 3% is transported
and thinning of limbs results, in dissolved condition by the
the skin becomes dry, thin and plasma.
wrinkled. Growth rate and body
weight decline considerably. There are three ways of
•• Kwashiorkar is produced by transport of CO2.
protein deficiency unaccompani- •• 5%–7% (approximately) of CO2
ed by calorie deficiency. Like is transported, being dissolved in
marasmus, kwashiorkor shows the plasma of blood.
wasting of muscles, thinning •• CO2 react with the water to
of limbs, failure of growth and form carbonic acid (H2CO3) by
brain development. the enzyme carbonic anhydrase
(present in RBC).
Human Respiratory System •• CO2 reacts with amine radicals
•• Human respiratory system consists (NH2) of haemoglobin molecule
of external nostrils, nasal cavity, and forms a carbamino –
nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, haemoglobin (HbCO2) molecule.
bronchiole and lungs. Nearly 23% of CO2 is transported
through this mode.
Circulatory Pathways
nasal cavity The circulatory patterns are of two
types –
windpipe •• Open circulatory system is
larynx (trachea)
present in arthropods and
molluscs in which blood pumped
bronchial tree
by the heart passes through large
lobes
alveoli are in
here
vessels into open spaces or body
cavities called sinuses. Annelids
of lung

and chordates have a closed

circulatory system in which
the blood pumped by the heart
is always circulated through
a closed network of blood
General Science B-399

vessels. All vertebrates possess the ventricular depolarisation. T

a muscular chambered heart. wave indicate an repolarisation
Fishes have a 2-chambered of ventrcle.
heart with an atrium and a
ventricle. Amphibians and the
Excretion
reptiles (except crocodiles) •• The process of excreting
have a 3-chambered heart with ammonia is -Ammonotelism.
two atria and a single ventricle, kidney plays a minor role in the
whereas crocodiles, birds and elimination of ammonia e.g.,
mammals possess a 4-chambered teleost fishes, tadpoles, aquatic soft
heart with two artia and two bodied invertebrates. Organism
ventricles. undergoing ammonotelism are
called ammonotelic.
Heart beat and pulse
•• The process of excreting urea
•• The human heart beats at the is - Ureotelism. Examples are
rate of about 72-80 per minute in mammals, many terrestrial adult
the resting condition. amphibians and cartilaginous
Electrocardiograph fishes (shark).
•• The process of elimination of uric
•• ECG is the graphic record of
acid is Uricotelism Examples are
electronic current produced by
land snails, insects, birds and many
the excitation of cardiac muscles.
•• A normal electrocardiogram reptiles.
is composed of a p wave, QRS •• Each kidney has nearly one
complex and T wave. P wave million complex tubular structures
indicate the depolarisation of the called nephrons, which are the
atria. QRS complex expresses functional units of kidney. These
filter the blood to produce urine.
Skeletal System
Human Skeleton (comprising 206 bones)
divided into

Axial Skeleton Appendicular Skeleton

made up of made up of

Skull Vertebral Sternum Ribs

column Girdles Limbs
Axial Skeleton : Skeleton which •• Facial bones (14 in number) :
occurs in the mid axial or longitudinal Nasal-2; Maxillae - 2; Zygomatic
part of the body. -2; Lacrymals-2; Mandibles - 1;
(i) Skull is made up of 29 bones. It
Inferior turbinals-2; Vomer-1;
is composed of
•• Cranium (8 bones) : Frontal -1; Palatines-2. Hyoid Tongue bone-1
Parietal-2; Occipital-1; Temporal •• Ear ossicles (6 bones) : Malleus
- 2; Sphenoid - 1; Ethmoid - 1. -2; Incus - 2; Stapes - 2.
B-400 General Science

(ii) Vertebral column : 33 in babies, Fore limbs : Humerus (1); Radius-

26 in adults. Grouped into 5 Ulna (2); Carpals (8); Metacarpals
categories : (5); Phalanges (14); Phalanges
•• Cervical-7; Thoracic-12; formula = 2, 3, 3, 3,
Lumber-5; Sacral - 5; Coccygeal (iii) Hind limbs : Femur (1); Tibia-
- 4 (fused in adults). Fibula (2); Patella (1); Tarsals (7);
(iii) Sternum : Composed of 3 parts Metatarsals (5); Phalanges (14).
→ Manubrium, body of sternum
and xiphoid process . Joints
(iv) Ribs : They are twelve pairs. First •• A joint is a location at which
seven pairs are true ribs. The 8th, two bones make contact and
9th and 10th ribs are called false is essential for all types of
ribs or vertebrochondrial ribs. movements, involving the bony
The last 11th and 12th pairs are parts of the body.
called floating ribs. Synovial joints - Movable joints:
They are characterised by the
presence of a closed space or cavity
between the bones.
•• This kind of joint are classified
into six major categories.
– Plane (gliding joint) : Present
between carpals. Only sliding
motion in all direction is
allowed.
– Hinge joint : Present between
Knee joint
– Pivot joint : Present between
atlas and axis
– Saddle joint : Present between
carpal and metacarpal
– Ball and Socket joint : Present
between humerus and pectoral
girdle.
Neural Control and
Coordination
•• The neural sysem is the control
Appendicular Skeleton : Present system of the body which
laterally or attached to the axial consists of highly specialized
skeleton. cells called neurons.
(i) Girdles : 2 types - pectoral and •• A neuron consists of main cell
pelvic.
body and cytoplasmic processes
Pectoral girdle : made of two
parts - clavicle and scapula. arising from it.
Pelvic girdle : made of three The human brain is divisible into
bones - ilium, pubis and ischium. three parts:
(ii) Limb bones : Hind limbs and fore •• Forebrain : It comprises the
limbs - both made up of 30 bones olfactory lobes, cerebrum and
each. diencephalon.
General Science B-401

Cerebrum is the largest and the cerebral cortex with other parts
complex part. It consists of of brain and spinal cord.
the left and right hemispheres •• Hind brain : It comprises of :
connected by a bundle of – Cerebellum : It controls the
myelinated fibres, called corpus balance and posture of the body.
callosum. The outer layer of the – Pons varolii - The pons is
cerebrum is called the cortex. concered with maintenance of
•• Diencephalon : The main normal rhythm of respiration.
parts of the diencephalon are – Medulla oblongata - Medullary
epithalamus, thalamus and centres (reflex centres) are
hypothalamus. present for controlling the
The hypothalamus is the highest functions of important organs,
centre of autonomic nervous e.g., cardiac centres (heart),
system. It governs emotional respiratory centre, vasomotor
reactions and exercise control centre (for regulating diameter
over sleep mechanism. of blood vessels) and reflex
•• Midbrain : It is formed of corpora centres (for swallowing,
quadrigemina and cerebral vomiting, peristalsis, secretion
peduncles. Cerebral penduncles and activity of alimentary canal,
are bundles of fibres connecting salivation, coughing etc.)
Chemical Coordination in Animal (Hormones)
Endocrine Gland Hormone Principal action Disorders
Thyroxine (T4) and Maintains calcium level Cretinism,
Triiodothyronine (T3)
normal in the body. myxoedema goiter
Thyroid
Calcitonin Increases rate of
metabolism in the body.
Parathyroid Parathormone (PTH) Increases plasma Parathyroid tetany
calcium osteoporosis
“Adrenal gland “Adrenaline and Increases heart beat,
(medulla)” Noradrenaline” blood sugar and also
constricts blood vessel
“Mineralocorticoids Increases reabsorption “Addison’s disease
(aldosterone)” of sodium and Adrenal virilism”
excertion of potassium
Adrenal cortex Glucocorticoids Increases blood Cushing’s
(cortisol) sugar and affects syndrome
carbohydrate, fat and
protein metabolism
ARH Regulates corticotropin
secretion
TRH Thyrotropin secretion
Hypothalamus SRH Stimulates secretion of
gonadotropins
(Growth hormone Regulates secretion of
releaing factor) prolactin
B-402 General Science

(Prolactir releasing Control secretion of

hormone) and MSH
(Prolactin inhibitory
hormone)
Pituitary gland Stimulates general Pituitary dwarfism,
anterior lobe growth gigantism,
Acromegaly
Prolactin Stimulates milk
production and secretion
(Follicle stimulating Stimulates ovarian follicle
Pituitary gland hormone) and spermatogenesis
anterior (Lutemizing Stimulates corpus luteum
lobe hormone) and ovulation in females
and interstitial cell in
males
(Thyroid stimulating Stimulates thyroid gland
hormone) to secrete hormones
Adrenocorticotropic Stimulates adrenal cortex
hormone to secrete glucocorticoids
Intermediate Melanocyte Growth and development
lobe stimulating hormone of melanocyte
Oxytocin Contraction of uterine
muscles and mammary
gland cells
Posterior lobe
“Vasopressin Promotes reabsorption Diabetes insipidus
(ADH)” of water from collecting
ducts of kidneys

DIVERSITY IN LIVING ORGANISM

•• Biodiversity refers number and types of wide variety of plants and
animals present on earth.
•• In 1773, Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus formulated the system of
binomial nomenclature in his book ‘Species plantarum’. In binomial
system, each name is expressed in two parts i.e., generic name and
specific name.
•• Taxonomy is the branch of biology that deals with the framing of
laws and principles for classifying the organisms on the basis of their
characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
•• The hierarchial system of classification was introduced by Linnaeus.
Kingdom → Phylum or Division → Class → Order→ Family → Genus
→ Species
General Science B-403

Basic Features of Whittaker’s Five Kingdoms

Kingdom Cellular Movement Nutrition Reproduction
Organisation
1. Monera (All Unicellular, By flagella Absorptive or Asexual
Prokaryotes) without (tubulin-dynein photosynthetic
nucleus or system)
membranous
organelle.
2. Protista Unicellular, By flagella, cillia, Absorptive, Both sexual
(Protozoans, eukaryote with pseudopodia photosynthetic and asexual
unicellular nucleus and and mucilage & holozoic
algae) membranous propulsion
organelles.
3. Fungi Multicellular Non-motile Heterotrophic Asexual and
(Multicellular eukaryote (saprophytic/ sexual both
decomposers) coenocytic, parasitic)
no plastids,
cells wall of
cellulose,
chitin.
4. Plantae Multicellular, Non-motile Autotrophic or Asexual and
(All plants) higher photosynthetic sexual both
organisation
eukaryotes,
cellulosic cell
wall, plastids
present.
5. Animalia Multicellular, Highly motile Heterotrophic Both sexual
(All animals) higher with all type of (holozoic or and asexual
organization, motile machinery saprozoic) but in higher
eukaryotes forms only
without cell sexual
wall and
chlorophyll.

Plant Kingdom
DIVISIONS OF ALGAE AND THEIR MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
Classes Common Major Stored Cell Wall Flagellar Habitat
Name Pigments Number
Food and
Position of
Insertions
Chlorophyceae Green Chlorophyll Starch Cellulose 2-8, equal, Fresh
algae a, b apical water,
brackish
and salt
water.
B-404 General Science

Phaeophyceae Brown Chlorophyll Mannitol, Cellulose 2, unequal, Fresh

algae a, c, laminarin and algin lateral water
fucoxanthin (rare),
brackish
water, salt
water
Rhodophyceae Red algae Chlorophyll Floridean Cellulose Absent Fresh
a, d, starch water
phycoerythrin (some),
brackish
water,
salt water
(most)

Bryophytes •• Roots in some genera have

•• Bryophytes are also called fungal association in the form
of mycorrhiza (Pinus), while
amphibians of the plant
in some other (Cycas) small
kingdom because these plants
specialised roots called coralloid
can live in soil but are dependent
roots are associated with N2–
on water for sexual reproduction. fixing cyanobacteria.
They usually occur in damp,
humid and shaded localities. Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
•• Species of Sphagnum, a moss, •• Angiosperms are seed bearing,
provide peat that have long been flowering vascular plants in
used as fuel, and because of their which seeds are enclosed in
capacity to hold water as packing fruits.
material for trans-shipment of •• The flower is the most
living material. characteristic structure of the
angiosperms. The male sex
Pteridophytes organ in a flower is the stamen.
•• Evolutionarily, they are the Each stamen consists of a
first terrestrial plants to possess slender filament with an anther
vascular tissues – xylem and at the tip. The anthers, following
phloem. meiosis, produce pollen grains.
•• The main plant body is a •• The female sex organ in a flower
sporophyte which is differentiated is the pistil or the carpel. Pistil
into true root, stem and leaves. consists of an ovary enclosing
These organs possess well- one to many ovules. Within
differentiated vascular tissues. ovules are present highly reduced
Examples are Psilotum, Equisetum, female gametophytes termed
Dryopteris, Marsilea, etc. embryo sacs.
Each embryo-sac has a seven-
Gymnosperms celled egg apparatus – one
•• Gymnosperms are plants which egg cell and two synergids,
bear naked seeds i.e., the ovules three antipodal cells and two
and the seeds that develop from polar nuclei. The polar nuclei
these ovules after fertilization eventually fuse to produce a
are not enclosed in fruit wall. diploid secondary nucleus.
General Science B-405

•• Pollen grain, after dispersal from Phylum-Ctenophora

the anthers, are carried by wind
•• These are diploblastic, radial
or various other agencies to the
symmetrical animals with tissue
stigma of a pistil. This is termed
level of organization.
as pollination.
•• Examples–Hormiphora (sea walnut),
•• The pollen tubes enter the
Pleurobranchia (sea gooseberry),
embryo-sac where two male
Cestum (venus girdle), Beroe.
gametes are discharged. One
of the male gametes fuses with Phylum-Platyhelminthes
the egg cell to form a zygote •• These are mostly endoparasites,
(syngamy). The other male bilateral symmetrical, triploblastic
gamete fuses with the diploid and acoelomate animals with
secondary nucleus to produce organ level of organisation.
the triploid primary endosperm •• Examples– Taenia (Tape worm),
nucleus (PEN). Because of the Fasciola (liver fluke).
involvement of two fusions,
this event is termed as double Phylum-Aschelminthes
fertilisation, and event unique •• They may be free-living, aquatic
to angiosperms. and terrestrial or parasitic in
plants and animals.
Animal Kingdom
•• Examples: Ascaris (Round worm),
•• Animals are the most diverse Wuchereria (filarial worm), Ancylostoma
groups of organisms. Multicellular, (Hook worm), Enterobius (Pin worm).
heterotrophs characterised by
mobility, sensory and nervous Phylum-Annelida
systems. •• It is characterised by metameric
Phylum-Porifera segmentation forming ring like
segments.
•• Sponges are aquatic, mostly •• Example: Neries, Pheretima
marine, solitary or colonial and (Earthworm) and Hirudinaria
sessile. (Blood sucking leech).
•• Examples of some sponges are :
Sycon (scypha), Spongilla (fresh Phylum-Arthropoda
water sponge) and Euspongia •• They are bilateral symmetry,
(bath sponge). triploblastic animals, which
Phylum-Coelenterata (Cnidaria) have organ-system level of
organisation.
•• All are aquatic and are mostly •• Example: Apis (Honey bee),
marine (exception-Hydra are Bombyx (Silkworm), Laccifer (Lac
found in fresh-water), solitary insect).
or colonial, sessile, or free-
swimming and radially Phylum-Mollusca
symmetrical animals. •• They are aquatic (marine or
•• Example-Physalia (Portuguese fresh water), or terrestrial
man of war), Adamsia (Sea having an organ-system level of
anemone), Pennatula (Sea- organisation.
pen), Gorgonia (Sea-fan) and •• Ex. Pila, Octopus (devil fish),
Meandrina (Brain coral). Loligo (sea squid).
B-406 General Science

Phylum-Echinodermata Class : Osteichthyes

•• All existing echinoderms are •• They have a bony skeleton.
marine, generally live at sea •• Examples : Marine – Exocoetus
bottom. (Flying fish), Hippocampus (Sea
•• Ex. Asterias (star fish), Cucumaria horse), Lophius (Angler fish), Fresh
(commonly called as sea water fishes – Labeo (Rohu), Catla
cucumber), Antedon (water lily (Katla).
or feather star). Superclass : Tetrapoda (Bear
Phylum-Hemichordata Limbs)
•• They are bilaterally symmetrical, Class : Amphibia
triploblastic, and entrocoelous •• Adapted for both water and land
animals. life.
•• Ex. Balanoglossus (acorn worm or •• They are oviparous and
tongue worm), Saccoglossus. development indirect through
distinct larval stage called tadpole.
Phylum-Chordata Exambles : Bufo (Toad), Rana
•• The fundamental four characters (Frog), Hyla (Tree frog), Salamandra
of phylum chordata are presence (Salamander), Ichthyophis (Limbless
of notochord, a dorsal hollow amphibia).
nerve cord, paired pharyngeal Class: Reptilia
gill slits and post anal tail either
in the embryonic or adult stage. •• The class name refers to their
creeping or crawling mode of
•• Examples: Herdmania (sea squirt),
locomotion.
Branchiostoma. •• They are oviparous ; Development
Subphylum vertebrata is direct.
Examples: Crocodilus (Crocodile),
divided into two sections:
Bangarus (Krait)
Section 1 Agnatha (The jawless
vertebrates)
Class: Aves
•• Birds are bipedal feathered
Class : Cyclostomata
animals.
•• Mouth jawless suctorial and •• Endoskeleton is fully ossified
round. (bony) and the long bones are
•• All living members are hollow with air cavities (pneumatic).
ectoparasites on some fishes. Examples : Corvus (crow), Pavo
•• Ex. Petromyzon (lamprey), Myxine (Peacock).
(hag fish).
Class: Mammalia
Section 2 Gnathostomata (The
•• These are warm blooded
jawed vertebrates) (homiothermous) animals having
Superclass : Pisces (Bear fins) hair and mammary glands.
•• They are viviparous with few
Class : Chondrichthyes exceptions and development is
•• They have a cartilagenous skeleton. direct.
•• Some of them possess electric Example : Oviparous –
organs e.g. Torpedo. Tachyglossus = Echidna (spiny
•• Examples: Scoliodon (Dog fish), Anteater). Viviparous – Pteropus
Trygon (Sting ray). (Flying fox), Camelus (Camel),
Macaca (Monkey).
General Science B-407

DISEASE AND DEFENCE MECHNANISM

Pratozoan diseases Cholera Vibrio cholerae
Disease Pathogen Tuberculosis Mycobacterium
1. Malaria Plasmodium tuberculosis
2. Amoebiasis Enta moeba Tetanus Clostridium tetani
histolylica Whooping cough Bordetella pertussis
3. Giardiasis Giardia Lambia
4. Sleeping Trypanosoma Leprosy Mycobacterium
Sickness leprae
5. Leshmanis Leishmania Anthrax Bacillus anthrasis
6. Trichomoniasis Trichomonas Weil’s disease Leptospira
Vaginalis
Fungal diseases Viral Diseases

Disease Pathogen Disease Pathogen

1. Aspergillosis Aspergillus Rabies Rabies virus
fumigatuo Dengue Dengue virus
2. Candidiasis Candida albicens
Influenza Influenza virus
3. Ringworm Trichoplyton
4. Blastomycosis Blasto myces Measles Rubeola virus
dermatitidis German measles Rubella virus
5. Sporotnichosis Sporothrix Mumps Mumps virus
Schenckii
Chicken pox Varicella zoster
Bacteria Diseases Small pox Variola virus
Disease Pathogen Polio Polio virus
Dysentery Shigella Chikungunya Chikungunya
Plague Pasteurellapestis (CHIK) Virus
Diphtheria Corynebacterium Avian flu H5N1 virus
diphtheriae H1N1(Swine flu) H1N1 virus

Select nutrient-deficiency diseases

Vitamin/ Diseases Symptoms Food Sources
nutrients
Vitamin A xerophthalmia blindness from chronic liver, fortified milk,
eye infections, poor sweet potatoes,
growth, dryness and spinach, greens, carrots,
keratinization of cantaloupe, apricots
epithelial tissues
Vitamin D rickets weakened bones, fortified milk, fish oils,
bowed legs, other bone sun exposure
deformities
B-408 General Science

Thiamin beriberi nerve degeneration, pork, whole and

altered muscle enriched grains, dried
coordination, beans, sunflower seeds
cardiovascular
problems
Niacin pellagra diarrhoea, skin mushrooms, bran, tuna,
inflammation, chicken, beef, peanuts,
dementia whole and enriched
grains
Vitamin C scurvy delayed wound citrus fruits,
healing, internal strawberries, broccoli
bleeding, abnormal
formation of bones
and teeth
Iron iron-deficiency decreased work meat, spinach, seafood,
anemia output, reduced broccoli, peas, bran,
growth, increased whole-grain and
health risk in enriched breads
pregnancy
Iodine goitre enlarged thyroid iodized salt, saltwater
gland, poor growth fish
in infancy and
childhood, possible
mental retardation,
cretinism
Immunity (ii) Resistance of skin to invading
micro-organisms (called physical
•• The term immunity refers to the
barrier).
specific resistance exhibited by
(iii) Destruction of micro-organisms
the host towards infections by
swallowed with food by the HCl
micro-organisms (pathogens)
and their products. of gastric juice & by digestive
enzymes and tear from eye
Innate or Natural Immunity (called physiological barriers).
•• Innate immunity is developed (iv) Virus infected cells secrete proteins
in an individual without having (called interferons) which protect
the disease or immunization, non-infected cells from further
e.g., recreation of sweat glands viral infection (cytokine barriers)
contain certain chemical
Acquired Immunity
substances which prevent the
entry of micro-organisms. •• It is a third line defence and
•• It is present from birth. developed by an animal in
•• It is the general defence of body response to a disease caused by
including the following four infections of microbes.
mechanism — •• The resistance against infectious
(i) Phagocytosis of invaders by disease that an individual
leucocytes and macrophages acquires during life is known as
(called cellular barrier). acquired immunity.
General Science B-409

Antibody Mediated Immunity Ebola: Ebola hemorrhagic fever

•• B cells produce specialized (Ebola HF) is a severe, often-fatal
proteins called antibodies disease in humans and nonhuman
(immunoglobulin) which are primates (monkeys, gorillas, and
chimpanzees). The disease is caused
glycoproteins.
by infection with Ebola virus,
Classification of Antibodies : named after the Ebola River found
(a) Ig A – Protects from inhaled or in Democratic Republic of Congo
ingested pathogens. (DRC). Ebola is spread through
(b) Ig D – Present on lymphocyte direct contact (through broken skin
surface as receptors, activation or unprotected mucous membranes
of B cells. in, for example, the eyes, nose, or
(c) Ig E – Mediator in allergic mouth). The symptoms appears
response. for Ebola HF from 2 to 21 days.
(d) Ig G – Stimulation of phagocytes Symptoms are characterized by
and complement system, passive fever, headache, joint and muscle
aches, sore throat, and weakness,
immunity to foetus.
followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and
(e) Ig M – Activation of B cells.
stomach pain.
MERS : Middle East Respiratory AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (MERS) is new viral Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by Human
disease related to respiratory illness. Deficiency Virus (HIV) which destroys
It has been reported to World Health the CD4 Cells that are essential for
Organization (WHO) since 2012, the body immune symptoms. HIV
first reported in Saudi Arabia. To is transmitted (spread) through the
date most of the affected countries blood, semen, genital fluids, or breast
is Middle East include Egypt, Iran, milk of a person infected with HIV.
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Unprotected sex and sharing of drug
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. injection equipment with the person
People affected with MERS-CoV infected with HIV are the most
developed severe acute respiratory common ways of HIV transmission.
illness including fever, cough and It takes many years to develop the
shortness of breath. HIV symptoms but the HIV infected
SARS : Severe Acute Respiratory person can spread the virus at any
Syndrome (SARS) is one of the stage of HIV infection. 1st December
severe and readily transmissible new is also remembered as World AIDS
disease emerged in the 21st Century. day globally people unite together to
SARS is caused by coronavirus fight against HIV showing support to
called, SARS-associated coronavirus the people infected with HIV.
(SARS-CoV). First time this disease Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease
was reported in November 2002 which is endemic in most African
in Guangdong province, China. and Asian countries and it affects
In general SARS begins with high the central nervous system of warm
fever headache an overall feeling of blooded animals, including human.
discomfort, and body aches. Some This fatal zoonotic viral disease
people also have mild respiratory transmitted to human through
symptoms at the outset. contact (mainly bites and scratches)
B-410 General Science

with infected animals both domestic among middle-aged and elderly

and wild. Clinical signs of rabies person.
in animals will vary depending •• Heart Failure (congestive heart
on the effect of the virus on the failure): It is the condition in
brain. Typical signs include sudden which heart is not pumping
behavioral changes and progressive blood enough to meet the need
paralysis leading to death. of the body. Congestion of the
Dengue: Dengue fever occurs lung is the main symptom.
through 1 to 4 types of dengue virus. •• Arteriosclerosis: It is the state
It is spread by the bite of an infected of hardening of arteries and
dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti). arterioles due to thickening of
Dengue fever is more commonly the fibrous tissue and consequent
seen in older children and adult. It loss of elasticity. It leads to
is characterized by high fever lasting hypertension.
3-7 days frontal headache pain
behind the eyes and muscle and joint Common Lung diseases
pain. There is no specific treatment •• Asthma: It is a disease caused
for Dengue fever till now. due to an allergic reaction to
Chikungunya: Chikungunya fever foreign substances that affect the
(CF) is a viral illness caused by an respiratory tract. In people with
arbovirus transmitted by the Aedes asthma, the walls of these airways
mosquitoes. Chikungunya disease become inflamed (swollen)
does not often result in death, but and oversensitive. The airways
the symptoms can be severe and
overreact to things like smoke,
disabling. Symptoms appear after
air pollution, mold, and many
3-7 days after infected by the virus.
chemical sprays. Bronchioles
Most common symptom is fever and
can constrict (narrow) because
joint pain. Other symptoms may
of muscle spasms. Drugs called
include headache, muscle pain, joint
bronchodilators (inhalers).
swelling, or rash.
These devices help dilate (open
Common Heart diseases up) the bronchioles.
•• Coronary artery disease or •• Bronchitis (Inflammation of
Arthrosclerosis: In this disorder the Bronchi): A condition where
the deposition of calcium, fat, the bronchi and bronchioles
cholesterol and fibrous tissue get inflamed and their cavities
occur in coronary arteries which become narrow so that air cannot
makes the lumen of arteries pass in and out of lungs easily.
narrower and thereby affect the The bronchial pathway gets
blood supply. blocked with the accumulation
•• Angina (angina pectoris): Angina of mucus on the wall of bronchi
is an acute chest pain due to oxygen due to which walls inflammation
deficiency to heart muscles. It of the wall occur. Bronchitis
occurs due to oxygen deficiency occurs due to cough and cold
to heart muscles. It occurs due to smoking and exposure to air
improper blood flow. It is common pollutant like carbon monoxide.
General Science B-411

Common Brain diseases diagnosed in women in developed

•• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a condition countries and the second most
where a person has recurrent common type diagnosed in developing
seizures, abnormal discharge of countries. In 2003, Indian Council of
electrical activity in the brain cells Medical Research (ICMR) reported
which may give rise to abnormal that oral cancer is very common in
behavior such as involuntary India. There has been great increase
muscle movements, unusual in oral sub-mucous fibrosis especially
perceptions and disturbed level in youngsters.
of consciousness. Epilepsy can Rotavirus: Rotavirus is a double
occur due to brain injury, brain stranded RNA belongs to the family
tumor, chemical abnormalities of Reoviridae. Rotavirus was first
and alcohol or drug effects. time identified as a cause of diarrhea
•• Loss of Consciousness: Faintness in 1973. Virus get enter through
includes the sensation of dizziness mouth and its replication occur in
lightheadedness and weakness. the villous epithelium of the small
The majority of attack is due to intestine. The incubation period for
altered reflex affecting cardiac rate, rotavirus diarrhea is short, usually
vascular tone and some time due to less than 48 hours. The confirmation
severe cardiac disturbances. of rotavirus infection is detection of
Cancer : Cancer is a complex genetical rotavirus antigen in stool by enzyme-
disease which occurs due to the linked immunoassay (EIA). There are
environmental factors. Cancer causing two live oral Rotavirus vaccine RV5
agent (carcinogen) may be present in (RotaTeq) and RV1 (Rotarix).
food and water, in air in sunlight and
in chemicals. Since epithelial cells Various Transplantation
cover our body surface and internal
Transplantation of Organ: Organ
organs also like respiratory organ
and alimentary tract which are more transplantation is technique in which
exposed to the carcinogens and more surgical removal of an organ or tissue
than 90% of cancer occur in epithelia. from donor to the recipient has been
Tumors are of two main types ‘benign’ done. Most donated organs and tissues
and ‘malignant’. Benign tumors are are from people who have died but
slow growing and are located at a living person can also donate the
place and compress the surrounding organ. Newborns as well as senior
tissue by their expensive mass of cells. citizens have been organ donors.
Whereas malignant tumors are rapidly Skull transplantation: Doctor of
growing, invading surrounding tissue US has successfully performed the
and most significantly colonizing world’s first partial scalp and skull
the distant organ. Five common transplantation of James Boysen.
types of cancer in India are breast He also had the kidney and pancreas
cancer, stomach cancer, oral cancer transplantation at the same time.
and cervical cancer. Breast cancer is Boyson was suffering from the
the most common malignancy type leiomyosarcoma a rare form of cancer
B-412 General Science

that affects the smooth muscles of his Anvay Mulay. Recipient was 22 yrs
scalp. Radiation therapy for the cancer who suffered a stroke because of
destroyed part of his head, immune cardiomayopathy and later his heart
suppression drugs kept his body from got failure. Donor was 42 year old
repairing the damage. Texas doctors woman declared brain dead in Pune
have done the world’s first partial skull after brain stroke. Donated organ
and scalp transplant to make him free flown from Pune was rushed 20 km
from cancer treatment. More than to a Mulund hospital along a green
50 doctors assisted or supported the corridor created during peak hours by
surgery, including transplant surgeon, the police in as little as one-fifth of
plastic surgeon, neurosurgeon and an the usual time. The operation took
anesthesiologist. This surgery is very five hours and now the patient’s new
complex as surgeons had to transplant heart is beating and his kidney and
the tissues utilizing microsurgery. liver that had got affected in the last
few months after heart failure showed
the signs of normalcy.

Kidney transplantation: Kidney

Liver transplantation: Liver
transplantation is the treatment
transplantation is a very effective
preferred for the patients who have
form of treatment for chronic liver
developing end-stage renal disease
disease as well as for acute liver failure.
or undergoing, chronic dialysis
Living Related Liver Transplantation
therapy. Large number of patients (LRLT) is an important advancement
of kidney failure and high success in liver transplantation. Generally liver
rates of transplantation is a result transplantation is done in Cholestatic
of ongoing research studies to disorders and chronic parenchymal
advance transplantation technique. diseases. There are three types of
A successful kidney transplant may liver transplantation viz., coventional
improve the patient blood count and liver transplantation, expanded
energy level. It may also improve the criteria donor and living donor liver
bone strength, growth, and appetite. transplantation.
But still some risk are there as of blood •• Conventional liver transplantation:
transfusions, immunosupressions and This type of liver transplantation is
wound healing. performed to replace the diseased
Heart transplantation: In 1968, liver with healthy liver from
Dr. P. K. Sen carried out first heart deceased person
transplantation in India. In Mumbai •• Expanded Criteria donor: In
after 47 years first successful heart this type the donor are over the
transplantation was done by Dr. age of 60, or a donor over the age
General Science B-413

of 50 with two of the following: donor’s lung. Some of the diseases due
a history of high blood pressure, to which lung transplantation favored
a creatinine (blood test to show are chronic obstructive pulmonary
kidney function). The term disease, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,
“expanded” is used because cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary
an expansion of the donor hypertension. Generally there are three
pool is considered to increase types of lung transplantation.
transplantation. •• Single lung transplant: Single
•• Living donor liver transplantation donated lung comes from the
(LDLT): In this type of liver brain dead donor.
transplantation healthy living •• Double lung transplant: In
person donates a portion of his this type both the lungs are
liver to the recipient.
transplanted especially in case
Lung Transplantation: Lung
of cystic fibrosis.
transplantation is a surgical procedure
•• Heart-lung transplant: In severe
in which a patient’s diseased lungs are
cardiac disease both heart and
partially or totally replaced by the
lungs have been transplanted.

BIOLOGY IN HUMAN WELFARE

Animal Husbandry production of honey. It also
It deals with the care, breeding produces beeswax and bee
pollen. Beeswax is used for the
& management of domesticated
preparation of cosmetics and
animals that are useful to humans. polishes of various kinds.
Poultary Farming •• The commonest species of
honeybee is Apis indica.
•• Poultary is a rearing of
domesticated fowls, ducks, geese Animal Breeding
turkeys guinea fowls and pigeons.
•• Poultry birds exclusively grown •• Animal breeding is the production
for meat are called broilers, of new breeds of domesticated
layers are for egg production, animals with improved traits.
cockerel for young male fowls Breeding is the modification
and rooster are mature male of genotype of an organism to
fowls. make that organism more useful
to human.
Fisheries ¾¾ Inbreeding: Mating between
•• Pisciculture is the rearing, the closely related animals of
breeding and catching of fishes. same breed.
•• Aquaculture is rearing and ¾¾ Out-breeding: Mating between
management of useful aquatic the animals which are not
plants and animals like fishes, closely related.
oysters, mussels and prawns etc. ¾¾ Out-crossing: Mating between
the animals of the same
Apiculture breed which do not have a
•• Apiculture is rearing and common ancestor.
breeding of honeybees for the
B-414 General Science

¾¾ Cross-breeding: Mating •• MOET (Multiple Ovulation

between the superior animals Embryo Transfer) technique is a
of different breeds of the programme which improves the
same species. chances of successful production
of hybrids.
Plant Breeding
•• Plant breeding refers to the modification and improvement of genetic
material of plants resulting in the development of crops which are more
beneficial to human beings.
Crop Variety Resistance to diseases
Wheat Himgiri Hill bunt & leaf and stripe rust
Cauliflower Pusa snowball Blight black rot Black rot and
K-1 Pusa shubra curl
Brassica Pusa Swarnim (Karan rai) White rust
Cowpea Pusa Komal Bacterial blight
Chilli Pusa Chilly mosaic virus, Tobacco
Sadabahar mosaic virus and leaf curl.
Table : Crop varieties bred by hybridization and selection for disease
resistance to fungi, bacteria and viral disease.
•• Examples of insect pest resistance processes using living organism,
crops bred by hybridization are cells or enzymes. This technology
(i) Pusa Gaurav variety of has application in agriculture,
Brassica is resistant to food processing industry,
aphids. bioremediation, medicine
(ii) Pusa Sawani and Pusa A-4 diagnostics, waste treatment and
varieties of Okra (Bhindi) energy production.
are resistant to shoot and •• Biotechnology deals with:
fruit borer. ¾¾ Microbe-mediated processes
(iii) Pusa sem 2 and Pusa sem (making curd, bread, wine
3 varieties of flat bean are etc.)
resistance to aphids and fruit ¾¾ In vitro fertilization (‘test
borer. tube’ baby programme)
¾¾ Synthesis and using of gene
Biotechnology and its
¾¾ Preparation of a DNA vaccine
application
¾¾ Correcting a defective gene
•• It deals with large scale production
and marketing of products and
Genetically Modified Plants
1. Golden Rice It is a genetically modified variety of Rice, Oryza
sativa which has been developed as fortified food for
areas where there is shortage of dietary vitamin A.
2. Bt Cotton Bacillus thuringiensis forms protein crystals during
the particular phase of their growth. These crystals
contain a toxic insecticidal protein. BT toxin gene
were isolated from B. thuringiensis and genetically
transferred to several crop plants such as cotton.
General Science B-415

3. Flavr savr variety Flavr savr is the first genetically engineered crop in
of tomato which tomatoes have longer shelf life.
Benefits of Transgenic Animals
1. Transgenic animals Study of insulin-like growth factor helps to study the
are used to study biological role of the factor in the body.
gene regulation
2. Biological products (a) Human protein (α-1-antitrypsin) used to treat
emphysema.
(b) Protein for the treatment of Phenylketonuria
(PKU) and cystic fibrosis etc.

DISCOVERIES IN BIOLOGY
•• Willaim Harvey discovered the •• Edward Jenner first time
double circulatory system of demonstrated the vaccination
blood also known as Systemic against the small pox in year
Circulation. 1798.
•• Marcello Malpighi discovered •• George Kohler and Cesar
the link between arteries and Milstein discovered the
veins. monoclonal antibodies.
•• Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister •• Francis Crick and James
discovered role of microorganism Watson discovered the double
in causing infectious diseases. helical structure of DNA
•• Daniel Nathens and Hamilton molecule in year 1953.
Smith discovered Restriction •• Matthias Jacob Schleiden
endonuclease enzyme used in and Theodor Schwann (1939)
Genetic engineering. proposed the Cell theory.
•• Hargovind Khorana showed the •• Van Niel postulates that in green
order of nucleotides in nucleic plants, water is utilized in place
acid and also shared Noble prize of H2S and O2 evolved in place
for Physiology or Medicine with of sulphur and this discovery
Marshall W. Nirenberg and was confirmed by Ruben and
Robert W. Holley. Kamen in 1941 using Chlorella,
•• Viroids were discovered by a green alga.
T.O.Diener. •• Brtish Scientist Arthur Tansley
•• Stanely Prusiner did most of the coined the term ecosystem
work on Prions and was awarded which was later adopted by
Noble Prize in 1998. Eugene Odum.
•• Nerinberg and Philip Leder •• Morgan in 1910, showed
discovered the triplet nature of that genes reside on specific
the genetic code. chromosomes
B-416 General Science

HEALTH GUIDE
CALORIE CHART MAIN DISH
Food Categories Measure Calories Biryani (Mutton) 1 Cup 225
MILK & MILK PRODUCTS Biryani (veg.) 1 Cup 200
Curry (Chicken) 100 gms 225
Milk (Cow) 90 ml 50 Curry (Veg.) 100 gms 130
Milk (Buffallo) 45 ml 50 Fried Rice 85 gms 140
Cheese 15 gms 50 Pullao (Veg.) 100 gms 130
Butter 1 tbsp 50 SWEET DISH
Ghee 1 tbsp 50 Carrot Halwa 50 gms 300
FRUITS Jalebi 20 gms 100
Apple 1 small 50-60 Kheer 100 gms 180
Banana ½ Medium 50-60 Rasgulla 150 gms 140
Grapes 20 small 50-60 BEVERAGES
Mango 1 small 50-60 Beer 12 Fl. oz 150
Musambi 1 Medium 50-60 Cola 200 ml 90
1 small 50-60 Wine 3.5 Fl. oz 85
Orange
CEREAL HEIGHT & WEIGHT CHART
Cooked Cereal ½ Cup 80 Height Weight Height Weight
Rice Cooked 25 gms 80 Cms Kgs Cms Kgs
+ Men + Women
Chapatti 1 Medium 80
STARCY VEGETABLES 157.5 53.5-57.1 147.5 43.5-48.5
Potato 1 Medium 80 160.0 54.8-60.3 150.0 44.4-49.9
Dals 1 Large 80 162.5 56.2-61.6 152.5 45.8-51.2
165.0 57.8-63.0 155.5 47.1-52.6
Katori
167.5 59.0-64.8 157.5 48.5-53.9
Mixed 150 gms 80
170.0 60.7-66.6 160.0 49.9-55.3
Vegetables
172.5 62.6-68.9 162.5 51.2-57.1
PROTEIN / MEAT 175.0 64.4-70.7 165.0 52.6-58.9
Fish 50 gms 55 178.0 66.2-72.5 167.5 54.4-61.2
Mutton 1 oz 75 180.0 68.0-74.8 170.0 56.2-63.0
Egg (Hen) 2 pieces 100 183.0 69.8-77.1 172.5 58.0-64.8
COOKED FOOD 185.5 71.6-79.3 175.0 59.8-66.6
Biscuit (Sweet) 15 gms 70 188.0 73.4-81.6 178.0 61.6-68.4
Cake (Plain) 50 gms 135 190.5 75.7-83.9 180.0 63.5-70.3
Cake (Rich 50 gms 225 193.0 78.0-86.1 183.0 65.3-72.1
Chocloate) +For Medium Frame Persons
Dosa (Masala) 1 Medium 120
Pakoras 1 Medium 175
Puri 1 Large 85
Samosa 1 Piece 140
Vada (Medu) 1 Small 70
General Science B-417

Everyday Science
1. Why does a ball bounce upon 5. On the moon, will the weight
falling? of a man be less or more than
When a ball falls, it is his weight on the earth?
temporarily deformed. Because Since the moon is smaller
of elasticity, the ball tends to than Earth, it has a weaker
regain its original shape for gravitational pull. In fact, the
which it presses the ground and moon only has 1/6 the gravity
bounces up (Newton’s Third that Earth does. This means
Law of Motion). you weigh six times less on the
2. Why is standing in boats moon than you do on Earth!
or double decker buses not
6. Why can we see ourselves in a
allowed, particularly in the
mirror?
upper deck of buses?
We see objects when light rays
On tilting the centre of gravity
of the boat or bus is lowered from them reach our eyes. As
and it is likely to overturn.If mirrors have a shiny surface, the
you stand in a boat, you change light rays are reflected back to
the center of gravity making the us and enter our eyes.
boat more likely to roll if struck 7. Why is cooking quicker in a
by a wave and if you stand up pressure cooker?
on the second deck of a double The trapped steam increases the
decker bus (which has no roof) atmospheric pressure inside the
and are looking at where you’ve cooker by 15 pounds per square
been, you probably won’t see inch (psi), or 15 pounds above
that low bridge ahead of you. normal sea-level pressure. At
3. Why is it recommended to add that pressure, the boiling point
salt to water while boiling dal? of water is increased from
By addition of salt, the boiled 212°F to 250°F. This higher
point of water gets raised temperature is what cooks
which helps in cooking the food faster. The trapped steam
dal sooner. Salt is added to increases the atmospheric
improve the taste; also sodium pressure inside the cooker by
is indispensable for the life. 15 pounds per square inch (psi),
4. Why is the sky blue?
or 15 pounds above normal sea-
A clear cloudless day-time sky
level pressure. At that pressure,
is blue because molecules in the
the boiling point of water is
air scatter blue light from the
sun more than they scatter red increased from 212°F to 250°F.
light. When we look towards This higher temperature is what
the sun at sunset, we see red and cooks food faster.
orange colours because the blue 8. Ice wrapped in a blanket or
light has been scattered out and saw dust does not melt quickly.
away from the line of sight. Why?
B-418 General Science

Both wood and wool are bad outside of the glass. This stress
conductors of heat. They do not is sometimes too much and the
permit heat rays to reach the ice glass cracks.
easily. 14. Why is a compass used as an
9. Why does a balloon filled with indicator of direction?
hydrogen rise in the air? The compass needle aligns
Since the density of hydrogen with the Earth’s magnetic field
is lower than that of the air, direction and points north-
balloon will go up in the air south.
10. Why does an electric bulb 15. Why is water from a hand
explode when it is broken? pump warm in winter and cold
The bulb is a partial vacuum and in summer?
as it breaks, air rapidly enters in In winter the outside
resulting in a small explosion.
temperature is lower than that of
11. Why do we lean forward while
water flowing out of the pump,
climbing a hill?
We lean forward while climbing and therefore , the water feels
up a hill, so that the warm. Whereas in summer, the
vertical line drawn through the outside temperature is higher
center of the gravity of the than the water of the pump, and
body should fall within the base. therefore, it feels cold.
12. Why does a man fall forward 16. Why does a swimming pool
when he jumps out of a running appear less deep than is
train or bus? actually is?
When the person is sitting The refraction of light at the
inside a train, his complete body surface of water makes ponds
was in a state of motion with and swimming pools appear
the train. The moment he jumps shallower than they really are.
out of the moving train, his feet 17. Why is one’s breath visible in
touches the ground, and the winter but not in summer?
lower portion of his body comes Absolute dew point in cold
to rest. But the upper portion
weather is lower than in warm
remains in motion due to inertia
weather. water from your breath
of motion. That’s why he falls
condenses and freezes in cold
in the direction of motion of the
train. weather.
13. Why does an ordinary glass 18. Why does water remain cold in
tumbler crack when very hot an earthen pot?
tea or milk is poured in it? In an earthen pot, water gets
The crack is caused by evaporated quickly through
differential thermal expansion. the pores. Cooling is caused by
The part of the glass that the evaporation
boiling water touches first 19. Why do we place a wet cloth
expands due to the heat, but the on the forehead of a patient
heat doesn’t conduct through suffering from high temperature?
the glass quickly so there is stress Water evaporating from the wet
between the expanded inside cloth produces a cooling effect
of the glass and unexpanded and brings the temperature down.
General Science B-419

20. To prevent multiplication of 25. Why are white clothes more

mosquitoes, it is recommended comfortable in summer than
to sprinkle oil in the ponds dark or black ones?
with stagnant water. Why? White clothes are good reflectors
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant and bad absorbers of heat,
water. The larvae of mosquitoes whereas dark or black clothes
keep floating on the surface of are good absorbers of heat.
water due to surface tension. Therefore, white clothes are more
However, when oil is sprinkled, comfortable because they do not
the surface tension is lowered
absorb heat from the sun rays.
resulting in drowning and death
26. Why does a rose appear red
of the larvae.
grass green in daylight?
21. Why is it dangerous to sleep
under trees at night? The rose absorbs all the other
Because plant on respiration color light and reflects or gives
gives CO2, because the absence out red so we see it in red color.
of light. So in nights if we sleep Simliar is the condition with
under big trees we do not have grass, Green grass absorbs blue
sufficient amount of oxygen. and red light, but reflect green
22. Why is a new quilt warmer light. So it is the reflected light
than an old one? which gives color what we see.
A quilt feels warm because 27. If a highly pumped up bicycle
the air trapped in the cotton tyre is left in the hot sunlight,
or woolen batting acts as an it bursts. Why?
insulator and does not allow The air inside the tube increases
the heat of the body to escape. in volume when heated up. As
However, when the quilt gets sufficient space for the expansion
old - the cotton/wool gets of the air is not available because
compressed and the airspace the tube is already highly pumped,
are done away with. It does not it may result in bursting of the
remain as good an insulator to
tyre.
heat as it was earlier. Hence it
28. What will be the color of green
feels less warm.
in blue light?
23. How do bats fly in dark?
In dark, bats’ ears are more Grass will appear dark in color
important than their eyes - because it absorbs all other
they use a special sonar system colors of the light except its
called ‘echolocation,’ meaning own green color. The blue light
they find things using echoes. falling on grass will be absorbed
24. Water pipes often burst at hill by it, and hence, it will appear
stations on cold frosty nights. dark in color.
Why? 29. Why do two eyes give better
The temperature may fall below vision than one?
0°C during cold frosty nights Because two eyes do not form
which converts the water inside exactly similar images and the
the pipes into ice, resulting in an fusion of these two dissimilar
increase in volume. This exerts images in the brain gives three
great force on the pipes and as a dimensions of the stereoscopic
result, they burst. vision.
B-420 General Science

30. When a man fires a gun, he is fire it uses up all the oxygen in
pushed back slightly. Why? the little space quickly and is
Newton’s 3rd law says ‘Every extinguished.
action has an equal and 36. A parachute enables a person
opposite reaction’.. So when a to descend in safety in case of
man fires in forward direction, an accident to aircraft ?
he is generating a force on the A man falls to the earth because of
gun. As a result of that action the gravitational pull of the earth.
the gun returns the force.. Or The parachute offers considerable
make a reaction in the backward resistance to that gravity, thereby
direction..Hence, the man is slowing down the speed of the
pushed back slightly. descending man. The parachute
31. Why is a small gap left at the thus enables a person to descend
joint between two rails? in safety.
The gap in the joint between 37. Why does tea cool more rapidly
two rails is to compensate for in a saucer than in a cup ?
the expansion of the material of Cooling is caused by evaporation.
rail during summer. In a saucer evaporation takes
32. Who will possibly learn swimming place more rapidly than in a cup.
faster—a fat person or a thin 38. It is advisable to work electric
person?
appliances when they are
The fat person displaces more
earthed suitably. Why ?
water which will help him float
In case of short-circuiting, the
much more freely compared to
current passess to the earth
a thin person.
without harming the user, if an
33. Why is a flash of lightening
electrical appliance is properly
seen before thunder?
We see the lightning before we earthed.
hear the thunder because light 39. Explain why the planets do not
travels faster than sound. The twinkle.
light from the lightning travels Planets are much closer to earth
to our eyes much quicker than as compared to stars. They are
the sound from the lightning. so extended source of light. They
we hear it later than we see it. behave like a number of point
34. Why are ventilators in a room sources so that the average
always made near the roof ? variation is zero. Thus, planets
The hot air being lighter in do not twinkle.
weight tends to rise above and 40. Why does the Sun appear
escape from the ventilators at reddish early in the morning?
the top. This allows the cool air In the morning, the sun is nearer
to come in the room to take its to the horizon. Blue light have
place. shorter wavelength, so, it scatters
35. A burning candle gets extinguished more. Therefore the red light
when covered with a tumbler. which have longer wavelength
Why ? reaches upto the eye of the
Fire needs oxygen to burn and observer and the sun appears
when the tumbler covers the reddish.
General Science B-421

41. Which is more elastic, rubber 47. When we drink soft drink
or steel? through a straw, why does the
Steel is more elastic for the same liquid go up into our mouth?
stress produced, compared to When a person sucks air from
rubber. the straw, the pressure of air
42. Why do some liquids burn inside the straw is reduced as
while others do not?
compared to the atmospheric
A liquid burns if its molecules
pressure acting on the surface
can combine with oygen in the
air with the production of heat. of the liquid. Therefore, the soft
Hence, oil burns but water does drink rushes up into the straw
not. and to the mouth.
43. Why do we bring our hands close 48. Explain why it takes more time
to the mouth while shouting to cook meat and vegetables at
across to someone far away? hill stations.
By keeping hands colose to mouth The boiling point of water
the sound is not allowed to spread depends upon the pressure
(phenomenon of diffraction of on its surface. It increases
sound) in all directions but is with the increase of pressure
directed to a particular direction and decreases on lowering of
and becomes louder.
pressure. At higher altitudes,
44. Why does silver acquires a
blackish tinge when exposed to the atmospheric pressure is
air for a long time? low as compared to that in the
Silver on exposure to air plains, therefore, water boils
acquires a blackish tinge due to below 100ºC. Hence, sufficient
the formation of silver sulphide. heat is not supplied for cooking
45. In chilled winters the nose the meat and vegetables at hill
and ears turn red. Explain the stations. This difficulty may be
advantage of this response? overcome by using a pressure
In cold days, skin blood vessels cooker. Water can be made to
of the ears and nose can dilate, boil at any desired temperature
bringing warm blood to the with the help of this appliance.
ears and nose, to prevent the
49. Why does blotting paper
tissue damage from cold. The
absorb ink?
increased blood flow makes the
ears and nose appear red. Blotting paper has fine pores
46. What would happen if the force which act like capillaries. When
of gravity were to disappear a portion of blotting paper is
suddenly? brought in contact with ink, ink
In the absence of the force of enters the pores due to surface
gravity all living objects on the tension (capillary action of liquids)
earth will be practically in a and is absorbed.
floating condition. They will 50. Why does kerosene float on
be thrown away because of the water?
centrifugal force caused by the Because the density of kerosene
rotation of earth. Thus, one will is less than that of water.
not be able to eat, drink, move 51. Why is a metal tyre heated
and continue to live.
B-422 General Science

before it is fixed on wooden carbon monoxide which is

wheels? suffocating and can cause death.
On heating, the metal tyre expands 57. Why does ENO’s salt effervesce
by which its circumference also on addition of water?
increases. This makes fixing It contains tartaric acid and
the wheel easier and thereafter sodium bicarbonate. On adding
cooling down shrinks it ; thus water, carbon dioxide is produced
fixing the tyre tightly. which when released into water
52. Why is it easier to swim in the causes effervescence.
sea than in a river? 58. Eskimos live in double-walled
The density of sea water is ice houses. Why?
higher; hence the upthrust is Because the air in between two
more than that of river water. ice walls does not allow heat to
53. Why does oil rise on a cloth pass.
tape of an oil lamp? 59. Why is sunlight so hot and
The pores in the cloth tape suck moonlight so cool?
oil due to the capillary action of The Sun is millions of times
oil. brighter than the Moon. All of
54. Why are air–coolers less effective the Moon’s light is just scattered
during the rainy season? sunlight; it does not emit any
During the rainy reason the light of its own. The fact that we
atmospheric air is saturated can discern objects in moonlight
with moisture. Therefore, the is due to the remarkable
process of evaporation of water capacity of our eyes to adjust to
from the moist pads of the extremely low levels of light. Of
cooler slows down thereby not course, moonlight differs from
cooling the air blown out from sunlight in its basic character
the cooler. as well; it also depends on the
55. Why does grass gather more scattering properties of the
dew in nights than metallic Moon surface.
objects such as stones? 60. What is DNA finger printing?
Grass being a good radiator what are its uses?
enables water vapour in the air The sequence of bases of DNA
to condense on it. Moreover, in each of our cells is the same,
grass gives out water constantly but differs from that of any other
(transpiration) which appears living thing except possibly an
in the form of dew because identical twin. This difference
the air near grass is saturated makes the DNA break at different
with water vapour and slows places when certain proteins
evaporation. Dew is formed on called enzymes are added to
objects which are good radiators it, resulting in smaller DNA
and bad conductors. fragments of different sizes. These
56. Why is it dangerous to have fragments migrate at different
charcoal fire burning in a closed rates in an electric field, resulting
room? in a unique pattern; this pattern is
When charcoal burns it produces referred to as a DNA fingerprint.
Our DNA is inherited from our
General Science B-423

parents. Some parts come from 62. If you press the upper lid of
the father and some from the one of your eyes you see two
mother. DNA fingerprinting can images. Why?
help identify parentage, since a The two eyes send independent
son or daughter would always image signals to the brain,
exhibit a pattern identifiable which has the mechanism
as coming from both parents. to combine them to give the
DNA fingerprinting analysis is sensation of a single 3D image.
very useful in forensic science; When we press on one eyelid,
from a single hair or a tiny we are essentially tilting its
sport of blood, it is possible to lens, and therefore moving the
prove the innocence or guilt of image on the retina. The brain
a murder suspect. Similarly, it is remains unaware and two
also possible to identify human visualised images are the result
remains after violent accidents of improper superposition.
have caused disfigurement. 63. Why does an air conditioner
61. How does cooking happen in a “ leak” water?
microwave? An air conditioner sucks in the
Passage of microwaves through outside air and passes it over
food results in increased agitation fin-like projections, which have
of molecules. If we can increase been cooled by the compressor.
the amplitude of the random It cools the inside of a room
movements of molecules, we while heating the outside. The
are doing nothing but heating outside air is not only hot but
the food. But how do microwaves often it is also quite humid.
increase the agitation? At When passed over the cold fins,
microwave frequencies, the the temperature of air drops
alternating electric field of the below the dew point and excess
radiation interacts with the moisture condenses out.
electric dipole moment of water 64. Why do stars twinkle and the
molecules, making them vibrate planets do not?
faster. The absorption length of Starlight passes through the
the microwave energy is long, atmosphere before reaching us.
meaning that not all energy falling If the air above us were a passive,
on a chunk of cooking food well-behaved and completely
gets absorbed while traversing homogenous medium. we will not
through it. It also means that have any twinkling. Fortunately
for microwaves, in the simplest for us, our atmosphere is active
approximation, there is no inside and vibrant. Air masses are
or outside of the food chunk; always on the move. It is natural,
heating occurs all through the therefore, that there would be
body of the food. That is the pockets of slightly higher density,
reason you do not get a crisp and others of slightly lower
surface on the outside, as you density, flitting around. Starlight
would in normal cooking where passing through these pockets is
the heat has to travel inwards from minutely deflected higher and
outside. thither.
B-424 General Science

To an observer, the star will thousands upon thousands tiny,

seem to come into view and protruding hair-like projections
then disappear, many times a stick to surfaces due to good old
second. We poetically refer to molecular forces.
this phenomenon as twinkling. 66. What are the benefits of using
On the other hand, planets GSLV to launch satellites into
are not point objects like stars. geostationary orbit?
A spatially extant bundle of Communication satellites are
rays comes to us from various usually placed in a geo-stationary
parts of the planet surface and orbit. This is an orbit over the
there never is a time when all equator at a height such that
the rays are bent out of our eye. the period of revolution of the
Therefore, where planets are satellite around the Earth is
exactly the same as the period of
concerned, we do not see any
rotation of the Earth - namely 24
twinkling. hours. The advantage is that the
65. How is it possible for insects satellite in such an orbit appears
and spiders to walk on water to be stationary with respect to
or on the walls? the Earth. The communication
Tiny insects can walk on water antennas on the ground can then
because of the phenomenon of be pointed in a fixed direction
surface tension. The unbalanced without worrying about the
intermolecular force makes the rotation of the Earth. We already
surface behave like a stretched have several such satellites
membrane. The classical providing communication,
demonstration of the carrying including television broadcast and
capacity of this membrane is to networking services. The demand
gently lay flat a shaving blade for such services is continuously
increasing. Therefore, we do need
(to ensure that the weight per
more satellite transponders in
unit area is kept low) upon the orbit. We also need to replace
surface of still water; the blade satellites that are close to the end
does not sink. The blade is of their lives.
heavier than an equal volume So far, we have depended
of water and would surely sink on European or American
if the force of surface tension launchers to raise our satellites
were absent. Thus, one can into the geo-stationary transfer
easily understand why little orbit. However, we are now
insects and larvae can float on beginning to use our own
launch vehicle. Some of the
the surface of water.
rocket stages and associated
As regards the ability of technologies already developed
insects to walk on walls, several for putting satellites in polar
explanations are provided. The orbits around the Earth (for
most popular is the hypothesis that remote sensing) were upgraded
such creatures have suction cups and modified for GSLV ( Geo-
on their feet using which they can stationary Satellite Launch
stick to walls and ceilings. Some Vehicle). A new rocket stage
recent investigations indicate a using liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen was added, in
special construction of the feet;
General Science B-425

addition to other modifications 69. Water is colourless, water

in the launch systems previously vapour is colourless, so why
developed for polar launches. are clouds white or black and
67. What is the use of the glass not colourless?
sheet in a solar cooker? You must have noticed that
To raise the temperature within, clouds are not only white or
a solar cooker you have to allow black; at sunrise or sunset, they
maximum possible energy are also pink and red. This is
from sunlight to come in and because the colour of the cloud
lose the least amount through is dominated by the light that is
re-radiation to the environment. scattered from the surface of a
Most of the Sun’s energy is large number of tiny droplets.
concentrated in the visible That colour is the same as that
range of radiation. A glass sheet
of the light falling on them.
is transparent in this range,
During the day when the sun
so it allows a large fraction
of the Sun’s energy to enter is up, it is the scattered light
the cooker. The temperature that filters through; after many
inside the cooker may rise to scatterings of water droplets.
100 degrees Celsius, at the This makes the clouds white.
most. At this temperature, When the sky is almost covered
most of the radiation is in the with thick clouds, little of the
infrared range; in other wards, scattered light from the cloud
it is heat radiation. Glass is comes down, and the dark
not very transparent at these colour of the clouds is due to
wavelengths. This radiation is absence of light.
trapped inside the cooker, thus 70. Why does the Universe appear
raising the temperature. Of black to us?
course, ultimately, the energy From out in space, the Universe
going out must become equal does look black except for the
to the energy coming in. This stars and galaxies with which it
balance is achieved only after is studded. This is so because no
the cooker temperature has visible light is scattered in our
been elevated. direction from positions and
68. Is it true that body weight directions that do not have a
increases after death? star.
A dead body is heavier to 71. Why do we dream?
carry, much like a person who The phenomenon of dreams
is unconscious or drunk. The has been studied in detail by
perception is probably due to many experts. There are a large
the fact that a dead person does number of books on this subject.
not cooperate in distributing
It is clear that our body
his weight on to different parts
needs sleep; the brain and the
of your body - for example,
by putting an arm around your central nervous system need
shoulder or clasping his legs rest. We also know that our
around your middle. After a brain, does not shut down
while, the remains of a dead while we are asleep. There is an
body must weigh much less enormous amount of delegation
because much of the body of power and autonomy. We do
degrades through the action of not stop breathing when we are
bacteria. sleeping. The heart rate might
B-426 General Science

slow down a bit, yet it’s beat on the way; at lower altitudes,
keeps our blood flowing; our the crystals melt into water
digestive system keeps working droplets. In colder climates,
as well. Many of our senses are the crystals reach the ground as
given a holiday and yet kept on snowflakes.
alert should there be a need to 74. Is there a method of counting
take action. There are a lot of all the stars of the Universe?
images and stories residing in We can’t even see all the stars.
some structures of the brain. Some are hidden by dust clouds,
When we are awake, these are many more are in galaxies so
under conscious control. On far away that they cannot be
the other hand, when we fall resolved as separate entities
asleep, they are still present even by the most powerful of
but they are unsupervised and telescopes. So how do we say
have some freedom to combine that there might be a hundred
in odd ways, often responding billion stars in our galaxy and a
to strong experiences - some hundred billion galaxies? Not by
very recent and others very counting, but by estimating on the
old, fished out from the bottom basis of sample counts in some
of the storage file. The editing small representative parts of the
and serialisation of images and Universe. For example, for some
thoughts might seem random parts of our own galaxy, we might
but even the randomness seems count the stars in a tiny bit of an
to have some logic. Those angle of view. Then it becomes a
impulses that are suppressed problem of repeating this exercise
while we are awake become free on selecting representative bits of
to operate and be experienced. the sky in all directions and doing
72. Why does hair stand on end on the same. What remains then is
a chilly morning? to estimate the total volume in
When it is cold the body reduce various representative bits.
the loss of heat, particularly due 75. Why do clouds look reddish-
to evaporation. This is due to orange in the evening?
closing of the pores on the skin In the late evening, when it
tends to make the hair stand up begins to get dark on the Earth’s
like little poles. surface, the clouds can still
73. Why does the rain fall in drops? catch the Sun’s rays for a while
Rain is the result of longer, since they are high up.
condensation of vapour when But, to reach the clouds, the
the air is cooled below the dew rays of the Sun have to pass
point. All the vapour in a cloud through the atmosphere almost
cannot condense at the same tangentially. This distance
time and turn into a large pool travelled through air is therefore
of water. Pockets of air move very large. You This long path
up independently and slowly through air leads to excessive
cool till condensation begins molecular scattering. Orange
and water droplets form. It is and red light scatters away
believed that most raindrops much less than the blue and
start out as tiny ice crystals green colours. Therefore, the
- so tiny that they float down, clouds are illuminated by light
slowly accreting more moisture that appears mainly orange-red.
ECOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENT
B-428 Ecology & Environment

ECOLOGY
Ecology is a distribution and Biosphere
abundance of living organisms and The global conglomeration of all
their relationship with environment. the ecosystem i.e. a zone where
It is a branch of biological science. all the living organisms on earth
There are four basic concepts of together with the dead organic
ecology which are as follows: matter produced by them exist.
•• Holism: is a philosophy term It is the key component of earth
which conceived as a directive systems, intermingle with and
and creative principle operating exchange matter and energy with
from initial to last level in the other spheres, helping to drive
ecology. the global biogeochemical cycling of
•• Ecosystem: involve both the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur
living and non-living factors and other elements. It includes
working together, working in a the lithosphere, hydrosphere,
complex web. atmosphere and other “spheres”
•• Succession: the living organisms (e.g. cryosphere, anthrosphere, etc.).
and its environment commonly
reactive and influence each other Ecosystem
in different ways. Increase in the
capacity of tolerance towards
changing environment by
modifying their environment as
the process of growth, dispersal,
reproduction, death and decay
follows changing the abiotic Ecosystem is defined as a specific
component of ecosystem is and recognizable landscape such
called as succession. assuch as forest, wetland, coastal
•• Conservation: Regulation of the area, grass lands, deserts etc having
population through naturally- both living and non living elements
operating trophism ensures
Components of Ecosystem
resilience of the system.
Realm of Ecology •• Abiotic components are the non-
living elements of an ecosystem
ecology as a basic division of biology
as air, water, climate and soil
explains patterns within and among
etc containing both organic and
organism. The hierarchical level of
inorganic matters.
ecology is shown below.
•• Biosphere •• Biotic components consist of
•• Ecosystem all the living community of
•• Communities plants and animals in any area
•• Population togetherwith the non-living
components of the environment
•• Organism
such as soil, air and water.
Ecology & Environment B-429

Function of Ecosystem
The function of ecosystem can
be referred a producer consumer
arrangement of nutrients known as
energy cyclesand each food level of
this pyramid is known as trophic
level. The three major aspects of
energy cycles are food chain, food
web and ecological pyramids.
Food chain is a chain or series
Energy Flow in Ecosystem
of feeding relationship among
different living things in a particular •• Ecosystem obtains energy
from sun, which, is trapped by
environment or habitat. Plant is
producers via photosynthesis and
always the first step of food chain as
is converted into chemical energy.
it produces its own food from non •• The chemical energy is converted
living things and eventually eaten by into mechanical and heat energy
the next higher level of living orgasm in cellular activities.
such as herbivores who only takes •• Energy enters is the ecosystem as
plant as their food item.The plants light and exits as heat.
are the known as producers and •• Energy flows in a one way
the animal depend upon producers direction through ecosystem i.e.
are known as primary consumer. not recycled
The next level in this hierarchy is •• Herbivores are primary consumers
known as secondary consumer who and can store only 10% of
depends on primary consumer for producers’s energy in their biomass
and they use the remaining 90%
food.
in life activities.
Food Web is defined as the system •• In the same way carnivores store
of interlocking and interdependent only 10% of the stored energy of
food chains. herbivore.
Types of Ecosystem
Ecosystems are classified on the
basis of climate, habitat and plant
communities.
•• Aquatic ecosystem : The aquatic
ecosystem has been classified in
a number of ecological ways.
On the basis of salt content in
water they are further divided
Energy Pyramid is a graphical
into fresh water, estuarine and
presentation of the trophic levels
marine ecosystem.
in an ecosystem where the energy
•• Terrestrial ecosystem : It is futher
from the sun is transferred through
divided into Forest, Grassland,
the ecosystem by passing through
Desert ecosystem and artificial
various trophic levels. Only 10%
of energygets transferred from one ecosystems such as crop fields,
trophic level to the next. gardens etc.
B-430 Ecology & Environment

Aquatic Ecosystem conditions so support specialized

On the basis of salt content in water vegetation and fauna. Often
a prime breeding habitat for
they are further divided into:
waterfowl, many migratory birds
•• Wet lands
and other aquatic or semi aquatic
•• Estuarine and
vertebrates.
•• Marine ecosystem.
Wetlands
•• Wetlands are lands which,
due to geological or ecological
factors, have a natural supply of
water – either form tidal flows, •• Helps in controlling flood by
flooding rivers, connections with holding excess water, and the
groundwater, or because they are flood water stored in wetlands
perched above aquifers. then drains slowly back ino the
•• Wetlands are coverd or soaked for rivers, providing a steady flow of
at least a part, and often all, of the water throughout the year.
year and thus are intermediaries •• Serve as groundwater recharging
between terrestrial and aquatic areas.
ecosystems. •• Provide important commercial
•• The periodicity of water level products, including wild rice and
fluctuations is termed as various types of berries (such as
hydroperiod and it is the key factor black berries, blue berries etc.).
that determines the productivity •• Hold sediments and accumulate
and species composition of the soil slong the shoreline.
wetland community. •• National Wetland Conservation
•• Generally low lying areas, Programme(NWCP) has been
covered by shallow water and initiated for indentified wetland
have charachteristic soils and which are at present 66 covering
water toierant vegetation. 21 states.
•• Wetlands occupy only 2 per cent Estuaries
of the surface area of earth and •• An estuary (from Latin aestus,
they are estimatted to contain 10 “tide”) is a semi-enclosed coastal
to 14 percent of carbon. body of water, which has a free
•• They may be either freshwater or connection with the open sea.
salt water (coastal). •• Nutrients from the river enrich
•• Man made wetlands : paddy estuarine waters, making estuaries
fields, fishery ponds, Trapa & one of the most biologically
Euryale cultivation ponds and productive environments on
other aquaculture habitats. earth and thus have more
Significance of Wetlands biodiversity in unit area.
•• It is strongly affected by tidal
•• Nutrient rich and have high
action which is an important
primary productivity.
physical regulator and an energy
•• Since they have both aquatic
subsidy.
and semi-aquatic environmental
Ecology & Environment B-431

•• Variability is a key characteristic Mangroves

of most of the estuaries. Since •• Found in tropical and sub
temperature and salinity varies tropical land - sea ecotones.
spatially within estuaries, from •• They are potential “land builders”
nearly that of fresh water to that that help to form islands and to
of the ocean and also on a daily
extend seashores.
cycle with the rise and fall of the
•• On the basis of salinity, five
tides so tha organisms inhabiting
zones of mangrove distribution
such habitats are eurythermal
are considered, namely euhaline,
and euryhaline.
polyhaline, mesohaline, oligohaline
•• They are transitional zones/
ecotones between the freshwater and limnetic zones.
and marine habitats. •• Indian coastline covers about
•• Examples include river mouths, 7500km and it accounts for 8%
coastal bays tidal marshes and of the world’s mangrove area
bodies of water behind barrier which is approximately 700,000
beaches and extensive interidal ha.
mudflats or salt marshes often •• The Gulf of kachchh & the
border them. Gulf of khambhat constitute the
•• They are considered in a major mangrove zones of the
“youthful” stage with regard Gujarat Coast.
to their productivity and often Significance of Mangroves:
generate more fertility than they
•• Mangroves perform a variety of
can use (P exceeds R), resulting
productive as well as protective
in the export of nutrients and
functions. The resilient mangroves
organic detritus into the ocean.
protect the hinterland against
•• Outwelling : Movement of
cyclonic storms during cyclones,
nutrient rich estuarine water out
to the sea. super cyclones, and ingress of
•• Estuary provides the “nursery seawater during tidal surges and
grounds” for most coastal other natural catastrophes acting
shellfish and other fishes. e. g. as an effective shelterbelt.
Several kind of commercially
important shrimp live and spawn
as adults offshore and come into
the estuaries as larvae. Fishes
such as salmon and eels also
depend on estuaries where they
may reside for considerable
lengths of time during their
migrations from salt to fresh
water.
•• Estuaries are also crucial •• Are considered as “land
feeding areas for many semi- builders”. It is belived that the
aquatic vertebrates, particularly roots of mangroves secretea
wtaerfowl. substance, which modifies the
B-432 Ecology & Environment

coarse particles into fine ones from the zooxanthellae and

and help in soil formation. The the carbohydrates are also used
tangles of stilt roots also trap the by the polyp to make calcium
sediments. carbonate via calcification.This
•• Support a range of interconnected material forms the skeleton of
food webs, which directly sustain the coral and eventually the
the fisheries. Algae and detritus framework known as the coral
sustain shrimps and prawns, reef.
which provide a food source for •• Polyps secrete hard limestone
fishes and prawns. deposits (calcium carbonate that
•• They are repositories of ramain when polyps die.
immense biological diversity. •• Coral reefs are sometimes
•• The mangrove conservation referred to as ‘tropical rainforests
programme was launched in
of the deep’.
1987 and so far 35 mangrove
•• Bleaching: Under enviornmental
areas have been identified for
stress much of the algae are
intensive convervation and
lost and corals appear white in
management in our county.
colour. If the symbiotic green
•• Sunderbans has been included
in the world list of Biosphere algae leave the coral animal and
Reserves by UNESCO. the mutumlism is not restored
•• A mangrove genetic resource then the coral slowly dies of
center is established in the starvation.
Pichavaram mangrove area, Importance of Coral reefs
Chidambaram, India where the •• Apart from tropical rain
endangered mangrove species forests, they are the other most
are being conserved. productive natural ecosystems in
Coral Reefs the world.
•• Coral is plant-animal super
organism, an algae called
zooxanthellae, grow inside the
tissues of the animal polyp, thus
exhibits mutualism between
polyps & algae
•• Located generally between 30 •• They protect coastline from
degrees North and 30 degrees storms & high waves by breaking
South latitudes. the force of the waves, thereby
•• Found scattered in coastal zones allowing mangroves and sea
above contineantal shelves grass to flourish.
throughout the tropical and •• They serve as nurseries for
subtropical western Atlantic and many fish species and provide
Indo-pacific oceans. resources for fisheries.
•• The polyp is able to feed itself •• Coral skeletons are being
using stinging cells found on its used as bone substitutes in
tentacles, but is able to feed itself reconstructive bone surgery. The
partially. The ramainder comes pores and channel in certain
Ecology & Environment B-433

corals resemble those found in interactions is defined as community.

human bone. Bone tissue and The species may be plant,animal or
blood vessels gradually spread micro organism.
into the coral graft. Eventually, Characteristics:
bone replaces most of the coral
implant. •• Biodiversity
Terrestrial Ecosystem 1. Species richness
Biomes can be defined as major 2. Relative abundance
ecological communities of flora and •• Dominant vegetation
fauna, which generally extend over •• Stability/disturbance
a large part of the earth surface and •• Succession
usually characterized by a distinct Population
type of vegetation. A population is a summation of
The main terrestrial biomes are: all the organisms of the same
•• Tundra group or species, which live in
•• Coniferous forests/Temperate aparticular geographical area, and
evergreen forests have the capability of interbreeding.
•• Temperate Broadlead deciduous Population Dynamic is the change
forests in the number of individuals in a
•• Mediterranean Shrublands population or the vital rates of a
•• Grasslands population over time.It is the key
•• Deserts to
•• Tropical deciduous forests •• Examine the response of species
•• Tropical scurubs/Thornwoods to ecosystem manipulation,
•• Tropical rain forests •• Analyzetheendangered species
•• F.E elements and V.E shelford •• Understand ecosystem dynamics
(1939) introduced the biome and ecology
concept. Theories of Population Dynamics
•• Ecotone: boundary between two •• Exponential population growth
biomes. is when the birth rate is constant
•• Bailey (1976) developed the over a period of time and isn’t
concept of ecoregion. limited by food or disease. A
•• Ecoregions: Ecosystems based species growing exponentially
on a continous geographical or would also affect other species
landscape area across which directly due to competition
the inderactions of climate, for food and other resources.
soil and topography are Exponential growth can be
sufficiently uniform to permit the affected by modern medicine,
development of similar types of quality and quantity of food and
vegetation the overall standard of living for
Community a species.
A group of population of different •• Logistic growth describes
species living togetherin a given area a sustainable growth of
with mutual tolerance and beneficiary populations which slows down
B-434 Ecology & Environment

after a period of significant measure of population growth

development as the availability than the exponential model
of living space and resources, because it accounts for the
along with other factors, limits real-world factors that inhibit
its growing ability. The logistics population growth.
growth model is a more reliable

(a) Exponential (b) Logistic (restricted)

(unrestricted) growth growth
Carrying capacity of
environment

The growth rate The rate

Population size

Population size
of the population slows down
accelerates

The rate Point of

accelerates maximum
growth
0 Time 0 Time

Organism The important levels of biodiversity

are
An organism, is any form of
1. Genetic diversity, 2. Species
contiguous living system such as
diversity, 3. Ecological diversity
an animal, plant orbacterium with
cell as its basic units. Allorganism 1. Genetic diversity
have developed with some degree of It is the diversity at genetic level, or
response to to stimuli,reproduction, at subspecies level, i.e. below species
growth and development and level, in a single species.
homeostasis. As the basic unit of The genetic diversity helps the
every organism is cell it can be population to adapt. If a population
categorized into both uni cellular and has more diversity it can adapt
multi cellular depending upon the better to the changed environmental
no. of cells present in the organism. conditions. The low diversity leads
Mostly the unicellular organisms are to uniformity. The genetic variability
microscopic by nature. is therefore, considered to be the raw
Biodiversity means diversity material for speciation.
or heterogeneity at all levels of 2. Species diversity
biological organization, i.e., from The measurement of species
macromolecules of the cells to the diversity is its richness, i.e. the
Biomass. The term Biodiversity number of species per unit area. The
was popularized by the sociologist- greater is the species richness the
Edward Wilson. more will be the species diversity.
Ecology & Environment B-435

In nature, the number and kind of conservationists, on global basis,

species, as well as the number of have identified certain Biodiversity
individual per species, vary, and this Hot Spots
leads to greater diversity. The 3-biodiversity hot spots of
India, that cover rich-biodiversity
3. Ecological diversity
regions, are
It is the diversity at community level. 1. Western Ghat
It can be of 3-types 2. Himalaya
1. Alpha (α) diversity : It is the 3. Indo-Burma
diversity of organisms within the The in situ conservation in India,
same community or habitat. is done through 15– Biosphere
2. Beta (b) diversity : It is the di- reserves, 90-National Parks, more
versity between communities than 450 sanctuaries and several
or different habitats. Higher the Sacred Groves or the tracts of
heterogenecity in the altitude, forests.
Humidity and Temperature of 1. Biosphere reserves
a region, the greater will be the They represent natural biomes
dissimilarity between communi- which contain unique biological
ties, and higher will be the β di- communities. They include land as
versity. well as coastal environment.
3. Gamma (γ) diversity : It is the (i) Core (natural) zone – It is inner
diversity of organisms over the most zone
entire geographical area, cover- (ii) Buffer zone - In this zone limited
human activity is allowed for
ing several ecosystems or habi-
research and education purposes.
tats and various trophic levels
(iii) Transition (manipulation) zone
and food webs. Such diversity is
– It is the outermost zone of
most stable and productive. biosphere reserve in which large
Causes of Loss of Biodiversity number of human activities are
permitted,
The accelerated rate of species-
extinction is largely due to human 2. National Parks
activities. There are 4-major causes, They are reserved for the betterment
called of wild life, both fauna and flora.
‘The Evil Quartet’, for the loss of In national parks private ownership
biodiversity – is not allowed. The grazing,
1. Habitat loss and fragmentation cultivation, forestry etc. is also not
2. Overexploitation permitted. The first national park of
3. Invasion of Alien or exotic the world, Yellow stone, in U.S.A.,
species was founded in 1872.
4. Co-extinctions 3. Sanctuaries
The Conservation of biodiversity
can be in situ (on site) or ex situ (off In sanctuaries the protection is given
site)– to fauna only. The activity like
In such conservation the endangered harvesting of timber, collection of
species are protected in their natural forest products and private ownership
habitat with entire ecosystem. The rights are permitted so long as they
B-436 Ecology & Environment

do not interfere with the well being 4. The sacred groves are found in
of the animals. The important wild Khasi and Jaintia hills (Meghalaya),
life sanctuaries are Chilka wild life Aravalli hills (Rajasthan), Western
sanctuary (Odisha), Bharatpur Bird ghats (Karnataka and Maharashtra)
Sanctuary (Rajasthan), and Sarguja, Chanda and Bastar
areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Biodiversity conservation

In-situ conservation Ex-situ conservation

National Parks Biosphere Sacred Zoos, Seed Bank/ Sacred

and Sancturies reserves lakes and Botanical Gardens, Gene bank plants
forests Arboreta and (Cryopres-
Aquaria ervation)
Terrestrial Marine
2. Ex situ conservation and are protected in special parks
In such type of conservation the or areas like, Zoological parks,
threatened animals and plants are Wild life safari parks and Botanical
taken out of their natural habitat gardens etc. The ex situ conservation
also includes Cryopreservation.

BIO-GEOGRAPHY
Bio-geographic classification of India and evergreen tall trees. Oak,
is the division of India according chestnut, conifer, ash, pine, deodar
to bio-geographic characteristics. are abundant in Himalayas. There
Biogeography is the study of the is no vegetation above the snowline.
distribution of species (biology), The chief species of fauna include
organisms, and ecosystems in wild sheep, mountain goats, ibex,
geographic space and through shrew, and tapir. Panda and snow
geological time. There are ten bio- leopard are also found here.
geographic zones in India. 3. Semi-Arid Areas
1. Trans-Himalayan Region In transitional zone between the
The range lies north of the Great desert and the denser forests of the
Himalayan range is called the Trans- Western Ghats lies the semi- arid
Himalayas. Its sparse vegetation area. This region is characterized
has the richest wild sheep and goat by discontinuous vegetation cover
community in the world. The snow with open areas of bare soil and
leopard and the migratory black- soil-water deficit throughout the
necked crane are found here. year. The main vegetation of the
2. Himalayas region includes thorny scrubs,
grasses and some bamboos along
The youngest and loftiest mountain
with few species of xerophytic
chains in the world are found here.
herbs and some ephemeral herbs are
The high altitude, steep gradient and
found in this semi-arid tract. Birds,
rich temperate flora of the Himalaya jackals, leopards, eagles, snakes, fox,
contain extensive growth of grass buffaloes are found in this region.
Ecology & Environment B-437

4. Western Ghats shisham, mahua, khair etc. The region

Extend from the southern tip of has agro-based economy. It extends
from arid and semi-arid landscapes
the peninsula (8°N) northwards
of Rajasthan Plains in west to Assam
about 1600 km to the mouth of the
valley in the east.
river Tapti (21°N) lies the Western
Ghats between the west coast and 8. North-East India
peninsular India. The Western Ghats Being the richest flora region in the
are amongst the 25 biodiversity hot- country it has numerous species of
spots constitute one of the unique orchids, bamboos, ferns and other
biological regions of the world. plants. Many wild relatives of cultivated
The climate varies with topography. plants such as banana, mango, citrus
Mountain side facing Arabian Sea and pepper can be found.
gets heavy rainfall and evergreen
9. Islands
forest is found there in contrast with
the other side of the mountain that There are two groups of islands in
lies in rain shadow. India, i.e., the Arabian Sea islands
5. North-West Desert Regions and Bay Islands. The islands of
Arabian Sea (Laccadive, Minicoy,
This landmass comprised Rajasthan, etc.) belong to the old landmass
Kutch, Delhi and parts of Gujarat. remnants (590 Km nearest main
It experiences less rainfall and land mass) as compared to the Bay
very hot and dry summer and cold Islands which lay only about 220
winter. Plants are mostly xerophytic km. Some of the islands are fringed
in nature. Moderate rainfall regions with coral reefs. Many of them are
grow Babul, Kikar and wild palm.
covered with thick forests and some
Indian Bustard, a highly endangered
are highly dissected.
bird is found here. Camels, wild
asses, foxes, and snakes are found in 10. Coasts
hot and arid deserts. The coastline of India extends over
6. Deccan Plateau 5,500 km. Most of the area here
To the east and west of Ghats lies has fertile soil with different crops
the Deccan Plateau, having semi- growing. Narrow coast is found
arid vegetation laying in rain shadow in the west than east I.e. Gulf of
region of Western Ghats. This is the Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch
largest unit of the Peninsular Plateau and extreme south- however, it is
of India. The highlands of the somewhat wider along the south
plateau are covered with different Sahyadri. The western coast is
types of forests, which provide a characterized by the backwaters.
large variety of forest products. The east coast plains have broader
7. Gangetic Plain coast due to depositional activities
Gangetic plain extending up to of the east-flowing rivers owing
Himalayan foothills forms the largest to the change in their base levels.
plain of India. Main rivers of this plain Extensive deltas of the Mahanadi,
are the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are the
covering about 72.4mha area. Thick characteristic features of this coast.
alluvial sediments are found with Mangrove vegetation is characteristic
varying thickness across plain with of estuarine tracts along the coast for
highest density in India. The trees
instance, at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.
belonging to these forests are teak, sal,
B-438 Ecology & Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Deforestation
It is the conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction
of the tree canopy cover. This includes conversion of natural forest to tree
plantations, agriculture, pasture, water reservoirs and urban areas but excludes
timber production areas managed to ensure the forest regenerates after logging
(WWF, 2015).
Causes Impact
Subsistence farming •• Physical and ecological processes, (e.g. disruption
(48%) of hydrological regimes and loss of watershed
Commercial protection).
•• Soil and water resources, (e.g. soil erosion, loss of
agriculture (32%)
nutrients and increase in sediment loads in river
Logging (14%)
systems)on local and global climate, e.g. albedo
Fuel wood removals changes, changes in surface energy budget, and
(5%) alteration of biogeochemical cycles (such as the global
carbon cycle) leading to an increase in atmospheric
CO2 and other trace gases, affecting the climate and
causing global temperature change, Diversity and
abundance of terrestr ial species through destruction
and fragmentation of habitats and the “edge effects”,
decreasing ecological complexity.

Desertification
The U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines it as “land
degradation in arid, semiarid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various
factors, including climatic variations and human activities.” This process is
the result of a long-term failure to balance human demand for ecosystem
services and the amount the ecosystem can supply. The stress mounts on dry
land ecosystems for providing services related to basic human existence. The
situation worsens when combined with human factors (such as population
pressure and land use patterns) and climatic factors (such as droughts).
Causes Effects Measures
Overgrazing Soil Afforestation and planting of soil
becomes binding grasses can check soil
less usable erosion, floods and water logging
Farming of Average Land Vegetation Crop rotation and mixed cropping
is Lacked or improve the fertility.
Damaged
Destruction of Plants in Causes Artificial bunds or covering the
Dry Regions Famine area with vegetation.
Ecology & Environment B-439

Incorrect Irrigation in Arid Food Loss Salinity of the soil can be checked
Regions Causes a Build-up by improved drainage
of Salt in the Soil

Ozone Layer Depletion: Causes and Effects

Chlorofluoro carbons or
associated hydrocarbons
start dissociating in
presence of UV rays which
release chlorine, which
is catalyst of destroying
ozone.
Ozone Layer
Depletion:
A process wherein oxygen
molecules are photolyed
splitting into 2 atoms,
weakening the ozone as
solar UV
enters accentuating
conversion
Effects on Effects on
Human Health: Biogeochemical
Causes nonmelanoma Cycles: Increased
skin cancer, UV radiation affects
malignant melanoma terrestrial and aquatic
development and biogeochemical
clouding of cycles
eyes

Effects on
Effects on Marine Materials:
Ecosystem: Synthetic polymers
Phytoplankton lead and naturally
aquatic food webs occurring
which are effected by biopolymers are
amount of sunlight Effects on affected by UVB
received Plants: amount
of UVB in
present-day
sunlight affecting
the plant growth
directly
B-440 Ecology & Environment

Pollution Types and measures of their Control

Pollution: process which contaminants natural

environment that resulting in adverse change

Air Pollution Light pollutionlight trespass,

Photochemical smog, Acidrain over- illumination and astronomical
interference

Primary Pollutant enter the

atmosphere directly from various
sources (CO, HCs, SO2, NO) How to Control
Secondary Pollutantformed during
chemical reaction between primary •• recycling
pollutant and other atmospheric
constitution (water vapour) •• reusing
Anthropogenic Sources Combustion
from power plant, vehicles, •• Waste
household fuel etc. minimization

•• mitigating
Pollution control
devices
•• preventing
•• Vapor recovery systems
•• Phytoremediation
•• Sewage /industrial •• compost
waste treatment
•• Scrubber (Baffle spray,
Cyclonic spray, Ejector
venture, mechanically
aided Spray tower,
Wet)
•• Bag houses

Noise pollution created by Vehicles,

Litteringman-made objects, piling
aircraft, sonar, underground leakage
onto public and private properties.
etc.

Radioactive contamination nuclear Thermal pollution temperature

power generation and nuclear weapons change in natural water bodies(using
research, manufacture and deployment water as a coolant)

Visual pollution overhead power Water Pollution waste disposal to

line, motorway billboard, municipal the water bodies (sewage, commercial
solid waste, debris, scarred landforms. by-products, surface runoff)

Plastic pollutionplastic products in Soil Pollution Chemical spill or

the environment, adversely affects underground leakage (hydrocarbons,
wildlife, wildlife habitat, or humans heavy metals, MTBE, pesticides)
Ecology & Environment B-441

Green House Effect and Global Warming

Greenhouse effect is the phenomenon of heating of Atmosphere as a result
of short wave radiations transmitted inward through earth atmosphere owing
to its absorption by atmospheric carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane,
and other gases. It’s a natural process that keeps the temperature suitable
for sustenance of life. But the matter of concern is enhanced greenhouse
effect which refers to intensification of the effect due to increase in the toxic
gaseous envelop of these gases and ultimately lead to the rise of temperature.
The process of rise in temperature is known as Global Warming.
Greenhouse gas emission is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits
radiation within the thermal infrared range. The primary green house gases
in Earth’s atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and ozone.

WHO IS DOING WHAT FOR CLIMATE?

GHG Country
emission
CHINA : Envisages a peak in emissions by around 2030, and reducing carbon
intensity (CO2 emitted per unit of GDP) by 60-65 per cent by 2030 compared
with 2005 levels. The world’s most populous nation will boost the share of
24% non-fossil fuel in primary energy consumption from 11.2 per cent in 2014 to
20 per cent, and boost the volume of CO2-absorbing forest by about 4.5 billion
cubic metres.
INDIA : Plans to reduce carbon intensity by 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005
6.4% levels, and generate 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by
the same date.
IRAN : Iran has made an unconditional pledge to reduce its greenhouse
gas emissions in 2030 by four per cent compared with a “business as usual”
1.6% secnario. In addition. Tehran said it would reduce emissions by another eight
per cent if it receves financial and technology support, and if what it describes
as :unjust sanctions’ where lifted.
RUSSIA : Has mooted cutting emissions by 25-30 per cent by 2030 from 1990
4.9% levels, Conditional on the pledges of other “major emitters”.
JAPAN : Has pledged a 26 per cent reduction in emissions from 2013 levels
by 2030, with nuclear energy – offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster
2.9% – providing 20- 22 per cent of electricity by then. Renewable electricity
production, including hydro power, would be expanded to a 22-24 per cent
share, from 11 per cent in 2014.
INDONESIA : A 29 per cent cut in emissions by 2030 compared with what
1.6% the level would have been with our any action. With financial and other help,
this could be raised to 41 per cent.
EUROPEAN UNION : The 28-member bloc in tends to cut emissions by at
10.8% least 40 per cent by 2030 over 1990 levels, and has set 27 per cent targets for
renewable energy supply and efficiency gains.
BRAZIL : Will cut emissions by 37 per cent by 2025 from 2005 and 43 per
2.1% cent by 2030.
UNITED STATES : Has pledged a 26-28 per cent reduction in emissions from
15.5% 2005 levels by 2025. Power plants are to cut carbon dioxide pollution by 32 per
cent by 2030.
B-442 Ecology & Environment

CANADA : Will seek to cut emissions by 30 per cent from the 2005 levels by
1.5% 2030. Canada has done its bit by cutting carbon emission and putting a curb on
pollution in major cities in the country.
Source: TOI

Source: TOI
Ecology & Environment B-443

ENDANGERED SPECIES IN INDIA

White-bellied heron
Great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
Forest owlet (Athene blewitti)
Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri)
Spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus)
Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus)
White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
Birds
Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)
Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
Pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
Sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)
Bugun liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum)
Knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
Fish Deccan labeo (Labeo potail)
Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon)
Longcomb sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
Humpback mahseer
Northern river terrapin (Batagur baska)
Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga)
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
Ghats wart frog (Fejervarya murthii)
Gundia Indian frog (Indirana gundia)
Toad-skinned frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
Charles Darwin’s frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini)
Rao’s torrent frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
Reptiles and
Amboli bush frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
Amphibians White-spotted bush frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
Griet bush frog (Raorchestes griet)
Munnar bush frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
Ponmudi bush frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
Sacred Grove bush frog (Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus)
Shillong bubble-nest frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
Resplendent shrubfrog (Raorchestes resplendens)
Anaimalai flying frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
Patinghe Indian gecko (Geckoella jeyporensis)
Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)
Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
Himalayan wolf (Canis himalayensis)
Mammals Andaman Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
Jenkins’ shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
Nicobar shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
Northern Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis lasiotis)
B-444 Ecology & Environment

Kondana soft-furred rat (Millardia kondana)

Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
Indian Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis)
Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina)
Elvira rat (Cremnomys elvira)
Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
Kashmir stag (Cervus canadensis hanglu)
Fire corals (Millepora boschmai)
Spiders
Coral Rameshwaram Ornamental or Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria
hanumavilasumica)
Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or (Poecilotheria metallica)

INDIA INITIATIVES TOWARDS

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
•• National Solar Mission: the where glaciers that are a major
NAPCC aims to promote the source of india’s water supply are
development and use of solar energy projected to recede as a result of
for power generation and ohter global warming.
usees with the ultimate objective •• National Mission for a “green
of making solar competitive with India”: Goals include the
fossil-based energy options. afforestation of 6 million hectares
•• National Water Mission: with of degraded forest lands and
water scarcity projected to expanding forest cover from 23%
worsen as a result of climate to 33% of India’s territory.
change, the plan set a goal of a
•• National Mission for Sustainable
20% improvement in water use
Agriculture: the plan aims to support
efficiency through pricing and
climate adapation in agriculture
other measures.
through the develoment of climate-
•• National Mission on Sustainable
resilient crops, expansion of
Habitat: To promote energy
weather insurance mechanisms,and
efficiency as a core component
agricultural practices.
of urban planning.
•• National Mission for Enhanced •• National Mission on Srategic
Energy Efficiency: Current knowledge for Climate Change:
initiatives are expected to yield To gain better understanding of
saving of 10,000 MW by 2012. climate science, impacts and
•• National Mission for Sustaining challenges, the plan envisions a
the Himalayan Ecosystem: The new Climate Science Research
plan aims to conserve biodiversity, Fund, improved climate modeling,
forest cover, and other ecological and increased international
values in the Himalauan region, collaboration.
Ecology & Environment B-445

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Convention Place Crucial documents
United nation Rio de Janeiro, •• Draft Earth Charter
Conference on Brazil •• Convention on climate change and Biological
environment and Diversity
Development or •• Convention on Forest
Earth Summit
•• Agenda 21
(1992)
The United Kyoto, Japan •• Gather and share information on greenhouse
Nations gas emissions, national policies and best
Framework practices
Convention on •• Launch national strategies for addressing
Climate Change
greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to
(1994)
expected impacts, including the provision
of financial and technological support to
developing countries
•• Cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the
impacts of climate change
Convention on •• The conservation of biological diversity
Biological Diversity •• The sustainable use of the components of
(1993) biological diversity
•• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
Ramsar Ramsar, Iran •• Halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and
Convention on •• To conserve, use and management, those that
Wetland (1971) remain.
•• This requires international cooperation, policy
making, capacity building and technology
transfer.
Convention on Washington, •• Help in conservation of species
International Trade U.S.A.
in Endangered
Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
(1963)
Convention on the Bad •• It is an intergovernmental treaty
Conservation of Godesberg, •• should promote, cooperate in and support
Migratory Species Germany research relating to migratory species
of Wild Animals •• hall endeavour to provide immediate protection
(1976) for migratory species
•• conservation and management of migratory
species included in Appendix II
International Geneva •• Provide an effective framework for cooperation
Tropical Timber between tropical timber producers and
Organization consumers
(1983) •• To encourage the development of national
policies aimed at sustainable utilization
•• Conservation of tropical forests and their
genetic resources
B-446 Ecology & Environment

United Nations •• Implementation of agreements and foster a

Forum on Forests common understanding on sustainable forest
(2000) management;
•• To provide policy development and dialogue
among Governments and international
organizations,
•• To enhance cooperation
•• To foster international cooperation and
•• To monitor, assess and report on progress of
the above functions and objectives
•• To strengthen political commitment to the
management, conservation and sustainable
development.
Global tiger forum New Delhi, •• Set up to embark on a worldwide campaign
(1994) India to save the wild tiger
Stockholm Stockholm, •• It develops a risk management evaluation
Convention on Sweden •• Determines whether the substance fulfills POP
Persistent Organic screening.
Pollutants (2001) •• Manage and dispose of POPs wastes in an
environmentally sound manner
Basel Convention Basel, •• To reduce hazardous waste generation and
on the Control of Switzerland promote environmental sound management
Trans boundary system for their disposal.
Movements of •• Restrict trans boundary movement of such
Hazardous Wastes wastes and
and Their Disposal •• Provide regulatory system applying to cases
(1989) where such movement is allowable.
Rotterdam Rotterdam, •• convention promotes open exchange of
Convention Netherlands information
(2004) •• calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to
use proper labeling
•• inform purchasers of any known restrictions
or bans
United Nations •• promotes a global response to desertification,
Convention land degradation and drought
to Combat
Desertification
(1994)
International Washington, •• to keep under review and revise as necessary
Whaling D.C., United the measures laid down in the Schedule to
Commission States, the Convention which govern the conduct of
(1946) whaling throughout the world
Montreal Helsinki, •• Play role in controlling the ozone depletion
Protocol on Finland
Substances that
Deplete the
Ozone Layer
(1987)
Ecology & Environment B-447

NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA

Name State Notability
Bandipur National Karnataka Chital, gray langurs, Indian giant squirrel, Gaur,
Park leopard, Sambar deer, indian elephants, honey
(1974) buzzard, red-headed vulture and other animals.
Bannerghatta Karnataka White Tiger, Royal Bengal Tiger, Bear, other
National Park animals
(Bannerghatta
Biological Park)
(1974)
Betla National Park Jharkhand Tiger, Sloth Bear, Peacock, Elephant, Sambar
(1986) deer, mouse deer and other animals.
Bhitarkanika Odisha Mangroves, Saltwater crocodile, white crocodile,
National Park Indian python, black ibis, wild pigs, rhesus
(1988) monkeys, chital and other animals
Buxa Tiger Reserve West Bengal Tiger
(1992)
Dachigam National J&K Only area where Kashmir stag is found
Park (1981)
Dudhwa National U.P Swamp deer, sambar deer, barking deer, spotted
Park (1977) deer, hog deer, tiger, Indian rhinoceros,
Gir Forest National Gujarat Asiatic lion
Park (1965)
Great Himalayan Himachal UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Park (1984) Pradesh,
Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Green turtles and Olive Ridley turtles and
Marine National whales.
Park (1980)
Indravati National Chhattisgarh Wild Asian Buffalo, Tiger Reserve, Hill Mynas
Park (1981)
Jaldapara National West Bengal Indian one horned rhinoceros
Park (2012)
Jim Corbett Uttarakhand Tiger
National Park (1936)
Kanha National M. P. Swamp Deer, Tigers
Park (1955)
Kaziranga National Assam Indian rhinoceros, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1905)
Keibul Lamjao Manipur only floating park in the world
National Park (1977)
Keoladeo National Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1981)
Manas National Assam UNESCO World Heritage Site
Park (1990)
Mandla Plant Fossils M. P Plant Fossils National Park
National Park (1983)
Marine National Gujarat 70 species of sponges, Coral 52 species along
Park, Gulf of Kutch with puffer fishes, sea horse and sting ray
(1980)
B-448 Ecology & Environment

Namdapha National Arunachal Snow Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Common

Park (1974) Pradesh Leopards and Tigers
Nanda Devi Uttarakhand UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Park (1982)
Neora Valley West Bengal clouded leopard, red panda and musk deer
National Park (1986)
Nokrek National Meghalaya UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
Park (1986)
Periyar National Kerala Tigers
Park (1982)
Ranthambore Rajasthan Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer
National Park (1981) and Chital.
Sariska Tiger Rajasthan Tiger
Reserve (1955)
Simlipal National Odisha Tiger, Leopard, Asian elephant, Sambar,
Park (1980) Barking deer, Gaur, Jungle cat, Wild boar, and
other animals.
Sultanpur National Haryana Siberian crane, greater flamingo, ruff, black-
Park (1989) winged stilt, common teal, northern pintail, and
yellow wagtail.
Sundarbans West Bengal UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Park (1984)
Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand Flying squirrel, Himalayan black bear, red
National Park (1982) fox, Himalayan weaseland Himalayan yellow-
throated marten, and Himalayan goral

WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES

India has 515 animal sanctuaries referred to as wildlife sanctuaries category
IV protected areas. Among these, the 48 tiger reserves are governed by
Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger.
WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA
Name of the Location Major Species
Sanctuary
Gir Wild Life Sasan Gir, Lion, Leopard, Chausinga, Chital, Hyena,
Sanctuary Junagadh, Sambar, Chinkara, Herpetofauna, Crocodiles
Amreli and birds
Wild Ass Little Rann of Wild Ass, Chinkara, Blue bull, Houbara bustard,
Sanctuary Kachchh Wolf, Waterfowls, Herpetofauna
Hingolgadh Hingolgadh, Chinkara, Blue bull, Wolf, Hyena, Fox, Birds,
Sanctuary Rajkot Herpetofauna
Marine Gulf of Sponges, Corals, Jellyfish, Sea horse,
Sanctuary Kachchh, Octopus,Oyster, Pearloyster, Starfish, Lobster,
Jamnagar Dolphin, Dugong, waterfowls
Simlipal Odisha Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Cheetal
Sactuary
Kutch Desert Great Rann of Chinkara, Hyena, Fox, Flamingo, Pelicans &
Sanctuary Kachchh other waterfowls, Herpetofauna
Ecology & Environment B-449

Rampara Rampara, Rajkot Blue bull, Chinkara, Wolf, Fox, Jackal, Birds,
Sanctuary Herpetofauna
Ghana Bird Rajasthan Water Bird, Black-buck, Cheetal, Sambar
Sanctuary
Panchmarhi Madhya Pradesh Tiger, Panther, Sambhar, Nilgai, Baskeng, Deer
Dandeli Karnataka Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Cheetal, Sanbhar,
Sanctuary Wild Boar
Kutch Bustard Near Naliya, Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Houbara
Sanctuary Kachchh bustard, Chinkara, Blue bull, Herpetofauna

BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA AREA-WISE

Name State Key Fauna
Nilgiri Biosphere Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque
Reserve Kerala and
Karnataka
Nanda Devi National Uttarakhand
Park & Biosphere
Reserve
Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Dugong or sea cow
Nokrek Meghalaya Red panda
Sundarbans West Bengal Royal Bengal tiger
Manas Assam Golden langur, red panda
Simlipal Odisha Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, elephant
Dihang-Dibang Arunachal
Pradesh
Pachmarhi Biosphere Madhya Pradesh Giant squirrel, flying squirrel
Reserve
Achanakmar- Madhya Pradesh, Four horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis),
Amarkantak Chhattisgarh Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus), Saras crane
Biosphere Reserve (Grus antigone), Asian white-backed vulture
(Gyps bengalensis), Sacred grove bush frog
(Philautus sanctisilvaticus)
Great Rann of Kutch Gujarat Indian wild ass
Cold Desert Himachal Snow leopard
Pradesh
Khangchendzonga Sikkim Snow leopard, red panda
AgasthyamalI Kerala, Tamil Nilgiri tahr, elephants
Biosphere Reserve Nadu
Great Nicobar Andaman and Saltwater crocodile
Biosphere Reserve Nicobar Islands
Dibru-Saikhowa Assam Golden langur
Seshachalam Hills Andhra Pradesh
Panna Madhya Pradesh Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambhar and sloth
bear
B-450 Ecology & Environment

ANIMAL WELFARE
People for the Ethical •• Promoting the reduction
Treatment of Animals (PETA) of pollution and wasteful
It is a non-profitable American consumption.
animal rights organization based At present WWF’s current strategy
in Norfolk, Virginia. Led by of achieving its mission which is
Ingrid Newkirk, its international related to restoring populations
president, founded in 1980 with a of 36 species (species or species
slogan of “Animals are not ours to groups that are important for their
eat, wear, experiment on, use for ecosystem or to people, including
entertainment, or abuse in any other elephants, tunas, whales, dolphins
way.” It focuses its attention on and porpoises), and ecological
the four areas in which the largest footprint in 6 areas (carbon
numbers of animals suffer the most emissions, cropland, grazing land,
intensely for the longest periods fishing, forestry and water).
of time: on factory farms, in the
Animal Welfare Board of India
clothing trade, in laboratories, and
in the entertainment industry. Functions

World Wide Fund for Nature •• To keep the law in force in India
for the Prevention of Cruelty to
The organisation was conceived Animals under constant study
in Morges, Switzerland (29, April, and to advise the government
1961). It is an international non- on the amendments to be
governmental organization in undertaken in any such law from
nature. Works in the field related time to time.
to biodiversity conservation, •• To advise the Central
and the reduction of humanity’s Government on the making
footprint on the environment. It of rules under the Act with a
is the world’s largest conservation view to preventing unnecessary
organization with the slogan of pain or suffering to animals and
“For a Living Planet.” The method transported.
of its working involves Lobbying •• To advise in the design of
Research and Consultancy. Basically vehicles so as to lessen the
it’s a charitable trust. WWF’s giant burden on draught animals.
panda logo originated from a panda •• To take all such steps as the Board
named Chi Chi. It has been designed may think fit for amelioration
by Sir Peter Scott from preliminary of animals by encouraging, or
sketches made by Gerald Watterson. providing for the construction of
The main missions of WWF are as sheds, water troughs and the like
follows: and by providing for veterinary
•• conserving the world’s biological assistance to animals.
diversity •• To advise in the design
•• ensuring that the use of renewable of slaughter houses or its
natural resources is sustainable maintenance.
Ecology & Environment B-451

INDIA INITIATIVES TOWARDS

ANIMAL PROTECTION
Project Tiger an government of were on the verge of extinction
India initiative for conserving its by the seventies. The funds and
national animal, the tiger. The technical support for the project
project was launched in 1973. came from UNDP/ FAO through
Since then the no of tiger reserve the Government of India.
has been increased from 9 to 47 Project Elephant (PE) is a central
which accounts for 2.08% the total government initiative to provide financial
geographical area of our country. and technical support to major elephant
bearing states of India. It was launched
The area of tiger projects have been
in February 1992. It aims at protecting
developed on core/ buffer strategy.
the elephants, their habitat and corridor.
The core areas are legally termed
It also looks after the human elephant
as National Parks and the buffering issues. It is implemented in 13 States /
areas are a mixture of forest and UTs, viz. Andhra pradesh, Arunachal
non-forest land managed as a Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka,
multiple used area. The project aims Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa,
at fostering an exclusive tiger agenda Tamil Nadu, Uttranchal, Uttar Pradesh
in the core areas of tiger reserves, and West Bengal.
with an inclusive people oriented SAVE i.e. Saving Asia’s Vultures from
agenda in the buffer Extinction is a consortium of regional
Project Rhino was joint venture and international organization to
of the Assam Forest Department co-ordinate conservation, campaigning
and Wildlife Trust of India - and fundraising activities to help the
InternationalFund for Animal plight of south Asia’s vultures. The
Welfare (WTI-IFAW) and initiated key strategies of vulture conservation
SAVE is involved in a wide range of
in February 2006 with the trans
conservation activities across South
location of a hand-raised rhino
Asia including:
calf to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. •• breeding vultures in captivity
The projects aims at repopulatimg so that their offspring can be
the one horn rhino by displacing released back in to the wild
them to Manas wild life sanctuary when the environment is free
from Kaziranga National Park. from diclofenac
The whole project is supported by •• an active advocacy programme
Bodoland Territorial Council and targeting the vets and farmers
the Assam Forest Department. using diclofenac
Project Crocodile Conservation •• legislation controlling the
was launched in 1975 in different manufacture and sale of
States for protecting the endangered veterinary drugs
crocodile species like Gharial, •• in-situ conservation actions
Gavialis gangeticus; Mugger focused around the small but key
crocodile, Crocodylus palustris and remaining vulture populations in
Saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus the wild
B-452 Ecology & Environment

•• an active research programme of dams and barrages, direct killing,

that underpins these activities indiscriminate fishing and pollution
and monitors their effectiveness of rivers.
Project Dolphin Gangetic river For conservation of dolphins,
dolphins is India’s national aquatic India’s first Dolphin Community
animal and is often known as the Reserve established in West Bengal
‘Tiger of the Ganges’. This dolphin to protect the endangered mammal,
species is an indicator animal which Gangetic river dolphins. The reserve
would be set up in the Hooghly River
represent healthy river ecosystem in
between Malda and Sundarbans as
a same position as a tiger in a forest.
per provisions of Wildlife Protection
Their population is estimated to be
Act, 1972. State Forest department
less than 2,000 in the country. Some
also has announced that it would
of the major threats are habitat also conduct a census to estimate the
fragmentation due to construction population of dolphins.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

•• The Water (Prevention and •• The Forest (Conservation) Rules,

Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 1981
•• The Water (Prevention and •• The Wildlife Protection Act,
Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975 1972
•• The Water (Prevention and Control •• The Wildlife (Transactions and
of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 Taxidermy) Rules, 1973
•• The Water (Prevention and •• The Wildlife (Stock Declaration)
Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, Central Rules, 1973
1978 •• The Wildlife (Protection)
•• The Air (Prevention and Control Licensing (Additional Matters
of Pollution) Act, 1981 for Consideration) Rules, 1983
•• The Wildlife (Protection) Rules,
•• The Air (Prevention and Control
1995
of Pollution) Rules, 1982
•• The Wildlife (Specified Plants
•• The Environment (Protection)
- Conditions for Possession by
Act, 1986
Licensee) Rules, 1995
•• The Environment (Protection) •• The Public Liability Insurance
Rules, 1986 Act, 1991
•• Hazardous Wastes (Management •• The Public Liability Insurance
and Handling) Rules, 1989 Rules, 1991
•• Manufacture, Storage and •• The National Environment
Import of Hazardous Chemical Tribunal Act, 1995
Rules, 1989 •• The National Environment
•• The Forest (Conservation) Act, Appellate Authority Act, 1997
1980
Ecology & Environment B-453

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hazards are the situations which demolition of buildings, rupture
occur on the earth surface and have in the roads etc.
the capability of impacting life,
Nepal earthquake killed over
health, property and environment
9,000 people and injured more
negatively. When they really start
impacting they turned into disasters. than 23,000 occurred on 25th
Major types of natural disasters are: April 2015 with intensity of 7.8
 Drought is a period of on Richter Scale.
unexpected rainfall deficit which  Tornadoes are the localized gust
results in a shortage of water, of wind moving in a circular
which develops slowly affecting motion over the land surface.
an extensive area. The associated Generally they form funnel like
impacts of drought are the lack structure and commonly termed
of adequate drinking water, loss as thunder storm as well.
of vegetation, loss of farmland, A major torando broke out in Eads,
loss of livestock and loss of life Colorado tornado on May 9, 2015.
due to famine or dehydration.
 Floods are the overflow of  Hurricanes are the typical
water from rivers and streams disturbance of the North
which submerge the connected Atlantic and East Pacific
dry lands caused due to Oceans. In other ocean basins
excessive precipitation driven by they are known as Typhoons,
atmospheric factors. They can Tropical Cyclones, or Cyclones.
be divided into two types, river These are the low pressure zones
over the ocean surface which
flood and sea flood basing upon
continues to intensify as long as
their place of occurrence.
they are moving on it. Once they
The capital city 'Chennai' of Tamil hit the coast they start to weaken
Nadu along with its surrounding and result into heavy down pour
areas had faced one of the most with high velocity of wind.
dangerous and catastrophic flood Typhoon Soudelor was one of the
situation during 1st and 2nd week biggest disaster which hit Japan
of December 2015 as a result and Taiwan in August 2015 with
heavy down pour which had a wind speed of 241km/h.
occurred from 28th, Nov to 4th Cyclonic storm ‘Komen’ hit
Dec 2015. Bangladesh coast on 30 th July
 Tsunamis are the series of huge 2015, bringing heavy rainfall
sea waves that strike a coast with to Gangetic West Bengal and
the massive amount of water in Odisha. The wind speed was
the coastal areas as a result of approximately 300km/h.
underwater seismic disturbances. •• Land Slide is a downward
Hurricanes, movement of rock and soil
 Earthquakes are the vibration debris that becomes detached
of the earth surface caused due from the underlying slope.
to the convergence of two plates The material can move by
under the earth crust giving falling, toppling, sliding,
rise to physical damage such as spreading and flowing.
B-454 Ecology & Environment

•• These are applied management

Uttarakhand faced one of the practices with systematic
toughest situations of the century observation and analysis of
in form of a natural disaster with the types of disaster, measures
landslides and flash floods on 16 of improvement related
June 2013. to prevention, emergency
response, recovery and
mitigation and finally planning
Managing a Disaster
for and responding to disasters
•• Disaster management practices including both pre and post
are the policies, initiative or disaster activities.
operational activities, that
pertains to various stages of
disasters at all levels.
Integrated Disaster Management

Preparedness Response Recovery Recovery

Activities prior Activities dur- Activities Activities that
to a disaster. ing a disaster following a reduce effects of
•• Preparedness •• Public disaster. disasters
plans Warning •• Temporary •• Building codes
•• Emergency system housing & Zoning
exercises •• Emergency •• Claims •• Vulnerability
•• Training, Operations processing analyses
•• Warning •• Search and •• Grants •• Public
Sytem rescue •• Medical care education

Institutional Framework for Centre Level

Disaster Management •• Central Ministries; National
Disaster Management
The disaster management practice
Authority,
is an integrated effort of several •• National Institute of Disaster
institution who joins hand together to Management
mitigate the problem and rehabilitate •• National Disaster Response
the victims in best possible way. Force (NDRF).
The top down approach of the
State Level
institutional framework for disaster
management cell is as follows: •• SDMA headed by Chief
Disaster Management Structure Minister.
•• NDMA Apex Body •• State Executive Committee
(SEC).
with Prime Minister as
Chairperson. District Level
•• National Executive Committee •• DDMA headed by District
- Secretaries of 14 Ministries Magistrate.
and Chief of Integrated •• Interface between Govt. and
Defence Staff. Public.
ART & CULTURE
B-456 Art & Culture

ART & CULTURE

Culture plays an important role in plurality of its culture.
the development of any nation. It India has one of the world’s largest
represents a set of shared attitudes, collections of songs, music, dance,
values, goals and practices. Culture theatre, folk traditions, performing
and creativity manifest themselves arts, rites and rituals, paintings and
in almost all economic, social writings that are known, as the
and other activities. A country as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH)
diverse as India is symbolized by the of humanity.
Art forms in India
The vibrant and colorful land of India is also famous for its versatility of its
art and culture as each of the forms are different from each other in terms of
their place of origin, creativity and raw materials used.
FAMOUS ART FORMS
Names State of Origin Materials Used
The art form has its origin Canvas made of fine gauze-
dates back in 5th century BC like cloth fortified with
and and since then it has been tamarind paste, chalk powder
lovingly nurtured in the areas and gum and natural dyes for
like Raghurajpur Village in Puri intricate painting over it
Patachitra painting district of Odisha
The indigenous art form belongs Artists use dye that are made
to Bengal and very interestingly of spices, earth, soot etc, and
it depicts spoofs on retrograde particularly red, indigo, green,
black and ochre colours are
social practices, thus attempting
seen widely in such painting
Bengal pat painting to highlight them for change.
This art form comes under the Traditionally people were using
cultural legacy of Madhubani mud coated wall as canvas for
district of Bihar depicting painting. But with time the
mythological stories of Lord canvases modified into cloth,
Krishna. Various geometric handmade paper to give the
shapes have given emphasis on painting the same authentic
Madhubani the colourful environment of look. The colors used in the
painting Madhubani Painting Canvas. painting are derived from
natural element like bamboo
shoots, turmeric powder, Rice
powder, flower extracts, pollens
etc.
Developed during Mughal Period The intricate designs are given
i.e. 16th – 19th century this style form by using colours using
of painting are very small in size precious stones conch shells,
but having a lot of niceties of gold and silver
court life and the contemporary
personalities, events and actions
Miniature painting
of the Mughal times.
Art & Culture B-457

As the name indicates this form Semi-precious stones, glass

of art has its origin in Tanjore and gold are used to give the
district of Southern Tamil Nadu painting a royal look with
depicting the stories of gods embellished designs
and goddess with an aristocratic
touch.
Tanjore art
This ethnic painting is a The art is executed by fine
patronage of Golkonda pens made of bamboo and
and Mughal Sultanate and natural colours extracted from
flourished near Kalahasti region vegetables
of Chennai an Masulipatnam
Kalamkari area of Hyderabad
This is a rudimentary wall painting Typical natural elements such
with emphasis on graphical pattern as Rice paste, mix with Gum
and legacy of North Sahyadri and Water Red clay (Geru),
Range in India. It’s an age old cow dung, mud are used to
tribal painting started during the give the painting an authentic
2500 or 3000 BCE depicts the tribal look
Warli Painting nature, celestial body and human
invention with different graphical
shape
This is a tribal art form developed These art forms are generally
by Gond Tribes of Central India. drawn on made on walls,
The typical design Gond art with ceilings and floors of village
dots and lines depict the nature houses
and social customs of the tribal
community

Gond art
FAMOUS INDIAN PAINTERS
Rabindranath Tagore 7 May 1861 – 7 Aug 1941
Abanindranath Tagore 7 Aug 1871 – 5 Dec 1951
Amrita Sher-Gil 30 Jan 1913 – 5 Dec 1941
Jamini Roy 1 Apr 1887 – 24 Apr 1972
Francis Newton Souza 12 Apr 1924 -28 Mar 2002
S.H. Raza 22 Feb 1922 - Till date
Tyeb Mehta 25 Jul 1925 – 2 Jul 2009
Satish Gujral 25 Dec 1925 - Till date
Nandalal Bose 3 Dec 1882 – 16 Apr 1966
Manjit Bawa 1941-29 Dec 2008
M. F. Husain 17 Sep 1915 – 9 Jun 2011
B-458 Art & Culture

Indian Music
The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk music, pop and
classical music. India’s classical music tradition, including Hindustani music
and Carnatic, has a history spanning millennia and developed over several
eras. Music in India began as an integral part of socio-religious life.
LEGENDS OF INDIAN MUSIC
Legends Life Span Forte Awards
7 April 1920 – Sitar Grammy Award, Padma Bhushan,
11 Dec 2012 Magsaysay award, Padma Vibhushan,
UNESCO International Music,
Légion d’honneur, Sangeet Natak
Akademi Award, Kalidas Samman,
Bharat Ratna
Pandit Ravi
Shankar
1st July 1938 Bansuri Sangeet Natak Academy, Padma
Bhushan, Konark Samman, Yash
Bharati Sanman, Padma Vibhushan,
Dinanath Mangeshkar Award,
Akshaya Sanman
Pandit Hariprasad
Chaurasia
January 13, Santoor Sangeet Natak Akademi Award,
1938 honorary citizenship of the city
of Baltimore, Padma Vibhushan,
Padma Shri
Pandit Shivkumar
Sharma
9 October Sarod UNESCO Award, Padma Bhushan,
1945 Padma Vibhusha, Unicef ’s National
Ambassadorship, The Crystal Award
by the World Economic Forum,
Ustad Amjad Ali Commander of the Order of Arts
Khan and letters
21 March Shehnai Bharat Ratna, Fellow of Sangeet
1913- 21 Natak Akademi, Bharat Ratna, Talar
August 2006 Mausiquee from Republic of Iran,
Padma Vibhushan
Ustad Bismillah
Khan
Art & Culture B-459

9 March 1951 Tabla Padma Bhushan,Padma Shri,

Grammy, Sangeet Natak Akademi,
Indo-American Award, India’s
National Academy of Music,
Dance & Drama, National Heritage
Fellowship of National Endowment
for the Arts, National Heritage
Ustad Zakir
Fellowship of National Endowment
Hussain
for the Arts, Kalidas Samman
4 February Indian Padma Bhushan, National Film
1922 – 24 classical Award for Best Male Playback
January 2011 vocalist Singer, Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award, First platinum disc, Padma
Vibhushan, Aditya Vikram Birla
Pandit Bhimsen Kalashikhar Puraskar, Karnataka
Gururaj Joshi Ratna by Government of Karnataka,
Maharashtra Bhushan, Maharashtra
Bhushan
28 January Indian Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak
1930-till date classical Akademi Award, Padma Bhushan,
vocalist Sangeet Kala Ratna, Master
Dinanath Mangeshkar Award,
Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar,Swathi
Sangeetha Puraskaram, Sangeet
Pandit Jasraj Natak Akademi Fellowship
16 September Classical Padma Bhushan, Sangeet Natak
1916 – 11 vocalist Akademi Award, Sangeetha
December Kalanidhi, Ramon Magsaysay
2004 award, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeetha
Kalasikhamani, Kalidas Samman,
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Indira Gandhi Award for National
Integration, Bharat Ratna
23 July 1947- Classical, Lifetime Achievement Award,
till date Carnatic, Limca Book of Records, GiMA
jazz (Best Carnatic Instrumental Album
fusion, – Innovations), Asthana Vidwan,
Indo jazz, ISKCON, Bangalore , Viswa Kala
world Bharathi Bharat Kalachar, Chennai
Dr. fusion, (2004), Sangeetha Kalaratna,
Lakshminarayana Western Sangeetha Kalaa Shiromani, Padma
Subramaniam music Bhushan, Sangeeta Ratna Mysore,
T. Chowdaiah Memorial National
Award, Sangeeta Sagaram, Cultural
Centre of Performing Arts, and many
6 July 1930- Carnatic Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan,
till date music Sangita Kalanidhi by The Music
Academy, “Sangeetha Virinchi”

M.Balamurali
Krishna
B-460 Art & Culture

2 April 1902 – Sarangi, NA

25 April 1968 Hindustani
classic
vocal

Bade Ghulam Ali

Khan

Indian dance and folk music and dances. Some of

There are many types of dance forms the world-famous dance forms that
in India which are deeply religious in originated and evolved in India are
content to those which are performed Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali,
on small occasions. The Indian Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam
dances are broadly divided into and Odissi. All these dance forms
Classical dances and folk dances. The use basically the same ‘mudras’ or
Classical dances of India are usually
signs of hand as a common language
spiritual in content. Though the folk
dances of India are also spiritual and of expression and were originally
religious in content but the main performed in the temples to entertain
force behind the folk dances of India various Gods and Goddesses.
is the celebratory mood. Indian Folk Dances
The most popular classical dance
styles of India are Bharatnatyam of India is a land of varied cultures
Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohini- and traditions. Indian folk and tribal
attam of Kerala, Odissi of Odisha, dances are product of different socio-
Kathak of Uttar Pradesh, Kuchipudi economic set up and traditions. Indian
of Andhra Pradesh and Manipuri of folk and tribal dances are simple and
Manipur. are performed to express joy. In India
Indian Classical Dances we have festivals and celebrations
India has thousands of year old virtually every day. This has added
tradition of fine arts and classical to the richness of Indian culture.
VARIOUS DANCE FORMS
Dance Forms Origin Lagends
Odissi is believed to be the Kelucharan MohapatraSonal
oldest form of Indian dance Mansingh Mayadhar Raut ,
from the state of Odisha, It Jhelum Paranjape, KumKum
is considered a dance of love, Mohanty, Madhumita Raut,
joy and intense passion, pure, Aloka Kanungo, Ileana Citaristi
divine and human. It divides
the body into three parts,
head, bust and torso
Odissi
Art & Culture B-461

Bharatnatyam is more Alarmel Valli, Yamini

popular in South Indian Krishnamurthy, Rukmini Devi,
states. This dance is almost Padma Subramanyam, Yamini
2,000 years old. This dance Krishnamurthy, Mrinalini
flourished in the Hindu Sarabhai, Meenakshi Sundaram
Bharat Natyam
temples of South India. Pillai, Padma Subramanyam,
Balasarswati
It presents scenes from Hindu Bhavana Reddy, Yamini Reddy,
Epics and mythological Raja & Radha Reddy, Kaushalya
tales through dance-dramas Reddy
combining music, dance and
acting.
Kuchipudi
This north Indian dance form Pandit Birju Maharaj, Kumudini
is inextricably bound with Lakhiya, Sitara Devi, Shovana
classical Hindustani music, Narayan, Malabika Mitra,
and the rhythmic nimbleness Kumudini Lakhiya, Kartik Ram
of the feet is accompanied by - Kalyan Das, Manisha Gulyani
the tabla or pakhawaj
Kathak
It literally means story play
Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad,
and is an elaborate dance Kavungal Chathunni Panicker,
depicting the victory of truth
Kavungal Chathunni Panicker,
over false-hood Kalamandalam Ramankutty
Nair, Kalamandalam Kesavan
Kathakali Namboodir, Kottakkal Sivaraman,
Kalamandalam Gopi
It is a very graceful dance Smitha Rajan, Sunanda Nai,
meant to be performed as a Jayaprabha Menon, Pallavi
solo recital by women. Krishnan, Gopika Varma,
Vijayalakshmi

Mohiniattam
The most striking part of Poushali Chatterjee , Rajkumar
Manipur dance is its colorful Singhajit Singh, Sohini Ray, Guru
decoration, lightness of Nileswar Mukharjee, Guru Bipin
dancing foot, delicacy of Singha
abhinaya (drama), lilting
music and poetic charm

Manipuri
B-462 Art & Culture

THEATRES AND FILMS

The rich Indian theater culture has its origin dates back in first century, CE, and
started being nurtured by the society as means of expressing, communicating
and sharing the ideas-opinions-emotions-believe of mankind. Since then it
has gone through many ups and downs but the culture remain undaunted.
Today many of Indian theatre have internationally acclaimed fraternity.
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT THEATRES OF MODERN INDIA
Name Founder Year and Place of People Associated with it
Establishment
National School of Ministry 1959, New Delhi Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan
Drama of Culture, Khan, Anupam Kher,
(Deemed Government Nawazuddin Siddiqui,
University) of India. Pankaj Kapur, Himani
Shivpuri and many more
Bhartendu Academy Padma Shri 1975, Lucknow, Rajiv Jain, Raajpal Yadav,
of Dramatic Arts Raj Bisaria. Anupam Shyam
Theatre Arts Raj Bisaria 1966, Lucknow
Workshop (TAW)

Hindi Films
Bollywood is the Hindi Language film industry which is based in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. They are one of the largest film producers in India and one
of the largest centres of film production in the world. Raja Harishchandra
(1913), by Dadasaheb Phalke, is known as the first silent feature film made in
India. The first Indian sound film, Ardeshir Irani’s Ara (1931), was a major
commercial success. In 1937, Ardeshir Irani, of Alam ara fame, made the
first colour film in Hindi, Kisan Kanya.
INDIA’S HIGHEST GROSSING FILMS
Movie Year Studio(s)/ Language Worldwide gross
Producers
PK 2014 Vinod Chopra Hindi ` 735 crore (US$110 million)
Films
Bajrangi 2015 Saliman Khan Hindi ` 626 crore (US$93 million)
Bhaijaan Films/Kabir Khan
Films
Baahubali The 2015 Arka Media Works Telugu ` 600 crore (US$90 million)
Begining and Tamil
Dhoom 3 2013 Yash Raj Films Hindi ` 536 crore (US$80 million)
Cheennai 2013 Red Chillies Hindi ` 423 crore (US$63 million)
Express Entertainment
Prem Ratan 2015 Rajshri Hindi ` 400 crore (US$ 60 million)
Dhan Payo Productions
3 Idiots 2009 Vinod Chopra Hindi ` 392 crore (US$ 59 million)/
Films ` 395 crore (US$59 million)
Happy New 2014 Red Chillies Hindi ` 383 crore (US$57 million)
Year Entertainment
Art & Culture B-463

TOURISM
India has become a popular tourist Beaches of Goa: Goa is famous
destination with thousands of people for its beautiful beaches, wonderful
visiting different parts of India each churches, wildlife sanctuary, goan
year. It has much to offer to travelers cuisine, water sports and most
and tourists. It is a land of hills, happening night life. The well-
rivers, plateaus, plains, beaches, known beaches of Goa are Baga
deltas and deserts. Some of the major Beach, Aguada Beach, Arambol
tourist destinations in India are the
Beach, Palolem Beach, Calangute
Himalayas, Agra, Jaipur,Goa, Kerala,
Beach, Calangute Beach, Butterfly
Delhi, Odisha and Maharshtra.
Beach, Colva Beach etc and the
Famous Tourist Destination in magnificent churches are Basilica
India of Bom Jesus, Rachol Seminary and
Akshardham Temple: The 108 Church, St. Alex Church, Church
feet tall temple was built on 2nd, of St Francis of Assisi, Immaculate
November 1992 in memory of Conception Church, Se Cathedral.
Pramukh Swami in Gandhinagar Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary:
district of Gujarat. Established in 1947 Bandipur
Ajmer Sharif: It is sufi shrine Wildlife sanctuary is well known
dedicated to the sufi saint for its tiger reserve. The entire area
Moinuddin Chishti. It is situated constitute the vast Nilgiri Biosphere
Ajmer, Rajasthan. The Dargah Reserve which comprises the tracts
attracts people from different faith of protected forest.
Badrinath: It is located in the
who come and worship here.
Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. It
Amarnath Cave: It is situated in is the most
Jammu and Kashmir and is one of important
the ancient of the four
pilgrimages sites in
in India. It India’s Char
is famous D h a m
for the pilgrimage.
Linga which It is also gateway to several
is created mountaineering expeditions headed
naturally by ice every year. The to mountains like Nilkantha.
Amarnath Yatra is an annual event Bodhgaya: It is one of the most
taken up by Hindu pilgrims who
important and sacred Buddhist
reach the temple after a rigorous trek
to the cave temple. pilgrimage center in the world situated
Ajanta and Ellora Caves: They in Gaya district in Bihar. It is famous
contain a cluster of Hindu and Jian as the place where Gautama Buddha
temples along with cave monuments. is said to have obtained Enlightenment
Ajanta along with Ellora caves are under the Bodhi Tree.
one of the major tourist attraction Dwarkadhish Temple : The temple
of Maharastra, Primarinly for their is situated o the bank of river Gomti
cave paintings. and dedicated to lard Krishna, The
B-464 Art & Culture

temple is constructed of limestone of river Ganga in the state of

which is still in immaculate condition. Uttarakhand. The Kumbha Mela
Dal Lake, Ladakh: The enchanting which happens once in every 12
lake of Jammu and Kasmir bordered years attracts millions to the city
by ice covered mountains from three with devotees thronging the place all
sides is famous for its gardens, year round.
shikara rides and house boat stay. Incredible India
Golden Temple: A symbol of
brotherhood and equality the
Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara, is
commonly called as Golden Temple
is located in
Incredible India is thae name of an
Amritsar is international marketiing compaign by
famous for its the government of India to promote
sanctity and tourism in India to an audience of
is the main global appeal
pilgrimage of sikh community but it Jagannath Temple, Puri: It is a
welcomes a large no. of tourist every sacred Hindu temple dedicated to
years despite of their religion cast and Lord Jagannath situated in Odisha
creed. and is one of
Gateway of India: It is a crude jetty the char dham
made by British People in the year pilgrimages
1914 in Mumbai which is a basalt that every
arc and having a height of 26 feet.
Hindu intends
Haji Ali Dargah: The very famous
to visit.
dargah (tomb) is located on an Jama Masjid: It is situated in Delhi
islet of the coast of Worli in the and is one of the largest mosques
Southern part of Mumbai built in in india. It was built by Shah Jahan
1431 in the memory of a wealthy between 1644 and 1656.
merchant Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Kerala Backwaters: A chain of
Shah Bukhari, who gave up all his brackish water lagoons lying parallel
worldly possessions before making a to the Malabar Coast of Kerala in
pilgrimage to Mecca southern part of India which is a
Hemkund Sahib: It is a Sikh place large web of water bodies i.e. five
of worship situated in Chamoli large lake interconnected natural and
district, Uttarakhand, India, devoted manmade canals and fed by 38 rivers.
to Guru CiObind Singh Ji, the tenth Kanyakumari : The southernmost
part of Tamilnadu which was
Sikh Guru. The scenic beauty of the
formerly known as Cape Comorin
place is astounding as this shrine is
and famous for place of tourist
located amidst lofty hills that are
interests like Vivekananda Rock
covered with snow. Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue,
Haridwar: It is one of the most Our Lady of Ransom Church,
ancient cities located on the banks Tsunami Memorial Park.
Art & Culture B-465

Kaziranga National Park: This Rishikesh: It is the starting point of

national park was established in the the chardham pilgrimage situated
year 1904 in Golaghat and Nagaon in the Uttarakhand. The city is
districts of the state of Assam are regarded as one of the holiest places
famous for the heavy population to Hindus and also referred as the
Yoga Capital of the World. It has
of one-horned rhinoceros. Among
innumerable Hindu temples and the
the other specialties of this national heavy settlement of yoga centers.
park tall elephant grass, marshland, The Great Rann of Kutch: It is
and dense tropical moist broadleaf a seasonal salt marsh is spread
forests, river crisscross of four major over an area of 7,505.22 square
rivers, including the Brahmaputra, kilometers (2,897.78 sq mi) in Thar
and the park includes numerous Desert. It is the land of various well
small bodies of water are well- known sanctuaries such as Wild Ass
known. Sanctuary, bird-rich Nawa Talao
Khajuraho Group of Monuments: lake, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary.
Somnath Mahadev Temple : Adding
It is a group of Hindu and Jain
to the beauty of western ghat the
temples situated in Madhya famous Somnath Mahadev Temple
Pradesh. The temples are famous of Prabhas Patan is believed to be
for the nagara style architecture and the first among twelve Jyotirling of
erotic sculptures. Shivas. The age old temple was
Konark Sun Temple: It is situated in initially built in the 11th century by
Odisha. The iconic temple is in the Solanky rajput . but it was rebuilt in
form of a gigantic chariot, built in 1951.
the 13th century. It also features on Siddhivinayak Temple: It is one of
the list of seven wonders of India. the richest hindu
Lotus Temple: It is located in New temple built in
the heart of
Delhi, is a Bahai House of Worship
Mumbai city on
constructed in 1986. 19 November,
Mahabaleshwar: It is a vast 1801 built by
magnificent plateau located at a Laxman Vithu and Debubai Patil.
distance of 120 km south west of Taj Mahal: It is a white marble
Pune with an average height of 1353 mausoleum located on the southern
meters. It is bound by valley from bank of the yamuna
all sides and having some beautiful river is Agra, Uttar
high rise peaks. The highest peak is Pradesh. It was
known as Wilson or Sunset Point. built by Shah Jahan
in 1632 in the
Mathura: It is known as the
memory of his loving wife Muntaz
birthplace of Lord Krishna located Mahal.
50 km North of Agra in Uttar
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple:
Pradesh. The Krishna Janbhoomi
It is an iconic vaishnavite temple
temple is visited by a large number located in Tirumala at Tirupati in
of devotees throughout the year. Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
During Janmashtami the town It is one of the most visited Hindu
becomes overcrowded with devotees temples in India with a footfall of
from all over India. 60,000 pilgrims each day.
B-466 Art & Culture

Valley of flowers: A national park Varanasi: It is one of the most popular

situated in West Himalaya and pilgrimages for the
renowned for its meadows of endemic Hindus. It houses
alpine flowers and the variety of flora. one the Shakti
Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu Peethas and one
Kashmir: The temple is recognized as of the twelve
one of the “Shakti Peeths” of goddess Jyotir Linga sites in India. The Ganga
Durga. The holy shrine is situated in Arti performed ritualistically every
the folds of mighty ‘Tirkuta’ Hills’ morning and evening at the Ganga
which attracts lakhs of devotees from ghats which enhances its divinity.
all parts of India and abroad.

TOP TEN MONUMENTS WITH HIGHEST DOMESTIC VISITORS IN INDIA

S. No. Monuments No. of Domestic % age share
Visitors
1. Taj Mahal, Agra 5139640 11.9
2. Qutub Minar, Delhi 2980710 6.9
3. Red Fort, Delhi 2736699 6.4
4. Sun Temple, Konark 2334556 5.4
5. Agra Fort, Agra 1794737 4.2
6. Golconda Fort, Hyderabad 1471232 3.4
7. Charminar, Hyderabad 1397000 3.2
8. Ellora Caves, Aurangabad 1336367 3.1
9. Bibi – ka – Maqbara, Aurangabad 1276206 3.0
10. Gol – Gumbaz, Bijapur 1064265 2.5

TOP TEN STATES WITH HIGHEST FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVAL IN INDIA

S. No. State Number % age share
1. Maharashtra 4156343 20.8
2. Tamil Nadu 3990490 20.0
3. Delhi 2301395 11.5
4. Uttar Pradesh 2054420 10.3
5. Rajasthan 1437162 7.2
6. West Bengal 1245230 6.2
7. Kerala 858143 4.3
8. Bihar 765835 3.8
9. Karnataka 636378 3.2
10. Goa 492322 2.5
Art & Culture B-467

HANDICRAFTS
India has got international acclamation in terms of its beautiful and creative
handicrafts. Given below are the states with diversified crafts.
State Handicrafts
Odisha Weaving craft, palm leaf writing, patachitra- the chitrakar’s foray,
applique, stone carving, metal craft,
Delhi Zardozi, lacquer work, clay and paper made dolls
Maharastra Paithani saris, sawantwadi crafts, warli paintings, kolhapuri
chappals, narayan peth
West Bengal Artistic leather craft, brass & bell metal, pottery, mat making, dhokra
metal casting, cane & bamboo, fine arts, clay dolls, horn work, jute
products, shell & conch shell, sholapith, famous handloom sarees
like dhakai jamdani, tangail etc
Gujrat Bead-work, jewellery, inlay work, embroidery, wood carving, cloth
printing, dyeing, patola fabric, zari work
Rajasthan Tie-and-dye textiles, hand block printing, quilting, jewellery, gems
and stones, blue pottery, leather craft, woodcarving
Himachal Jewelry, leather craft, woodcarving, architecture, kangra paintings
Pradesh
Goa Pottery & Terracotta, Brass metal ware, Crochet & Embroidery,
Bamboo Craft, Fiber Craft, Jute Macrame Craft, Coconut Mask
carving, sea shell craft
Andhra Pradesh Priceless Pearls

Karnataka Woodcarving, Ivory carving

Jharkhand Wood craft, paitkar paintings, metal work, stone carving,
ornaments, toy making

Manipur Wood carving, textile weaving, stone-carving, block printing, kauna

(water reed) mat, hand-embroidery
Jammu & Carpets, Basket Weaving, Namdas, pashmina shawls, Papier-
Kashmir Mchie, Leather and fur, wood carvings

TOP INTERNATIONAL EVENTS OF ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Events Significance
Yale International The event was organized to team up outstanding choir
Choral Festival throughout the world in a five day ceremony of singing,
learning and exploring the connections that choral music
fosters between people
International Kinetic The exhibition gave a platform to the kinetic art exhibitor
Art (Exhibit and to display their art work to the public throughout the world
Symposium)
B-468 Art & Culture

The International This set of awards presented annually by the International

Indian Film Academy Indian Film Academy to honour both artistic and technical
Awards excellence of professionals in Bollywood, the Hindi
language film industry
Global Indian Music An event for giving honor and recognition to Indian Music
Academy Awards
The Oscars Night The highest honour of international film fraternity
Cannes Film Festival A festival for showcasing the internationally acclaimed film
from countries throughout the world
TOP TEN STATES
Rank Area Population Density UA Literacy
1 Rajasthan UP Delhi Delhi Kerala
2 MP Maharashtra Chandigarh Gr. Mumbai Lakshadweep
3 Maharashtra Bihar Puducherry Kolkata Mizoram
4 AP WB Daman & Diu Chennai Tripura
5 UP AP Lakshadweep Bangalore Goa
6 J&K MP Bihar Hyderabad Daman & Diu
7 Gujarat TN WB Ahmedabad Puducherry
8 Karnataka Rajasthan Kerala Pune Chandigarh
9 Odisha Karnataka UP Surat Delhi
10 Chhattisgarh Gujarat D&NH Jaipur A&N

TOP TEN MONUMENTS WITH HIGHEST FOREIGN VISITORS IN INDIA

Monuments No. of Foreign % age share
Visitors
1. Taj Mahal, Agra 695702 23.2
2. Agra Fort, Agra 363823 12.1
3. Qutub Minar, Delhi 307043 10.2
4. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi 276641 9.2
5. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra 255129 8.5
6. Red Fort, Delhi 141498 4.7
7. Mattancherry place Museum, Kochi 104717 3.5
8. Western Group of Temple, Khajuraho 89511 3.0
9. Excavated site, Sarnath 85991 2.9
10. Group of Monuments, Mamallapuram 70840 2.4
SPORTS
B-470 Sports

TROPHIES ASSOCIATED WITH SPORTS

NATIONAL Uber Cup World Badminton
(women)
Name of the Trophy Related game
US-Open Lawn Tennis
Aga Khan Cup Hockey
French-Open Lawn Tennis
Barna Bellack Cup Table Tennis
Australian Open Lawn Tennis
Beighton Cup Hockey
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis
Bombay Gold Cup Hockey
Masters Champions Hockey
Burdwan Trophy Weight Lifting
Trophy
D.C.M. Trophy Football
British Open Golf
Dhyan chand Trophy Hockey
Malaysian Open Badminton
Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy Football
Tata Open Lawn Tennis
Duleep Trophy Cricket
Durand Cup Football NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON EACH
Ezra Cup Polo SIDE
I.F.A Shield Football Badminton 1 or 2 Polo 4
Lady Ratan Tata Hockey Baseball 9 Rugby 15
Trophy Football
Moin ud daula Gold Cricket Basketball 5 Tennis 1 or 2
Cup and Table
Rangaswami Cup Hockey tennis
Ranji Trophy Cricket Cricket 11 Water Polo 7
Santosh Trophy Football
Football 11 Volleyball 6
Scindia Gold Cup Hockey
Hockey 11 Kabaddi 7
Subroto Mukherjee Football (Inter-
Cup School) Chess 1
Wellington Trophy Rowing
NATIONAL SPORTS OF FAMOUS
INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES

Name of the Related game Name National game

Trophy Australia Cricket
Nehru Trophy Hockey Brazil Football
American Cup Yatch Racing Canada Ice Hockey
Ashes Cup Cricket (Australia- China Table Tennis
England) England Cricket
Azlan Shah Hockey India Hockey
US Masters Golf Japan Judo or Ju Jitsu
Hopman Cup Lawn Tennis Malaysia Badminton
Colombo Cup Trophy Football Pakistan Hockey
Davis Cup Lawn Tennis Russia Chess, Football
Kings Cup Race Air Races Scotland Rugby, Football
(England)
Spain Bull Fighting
Merdeka Cup Football (Asia)
United States of Baseball
Thomas Cup World Badminton
(Men) America
Sports B-471

TERMS USED IN SPORTS AND Pitch, Run, Silly point,

GAMES Stumped, Wicket
keeper.
Badminton Deuce, Double, Drop, Football Dribble, Drop Kick,
Fault, Game, Let, Foul, Hattrick, Off-
Love, Smash. side, Penalty, Throw
Baseball Bunt, Diamond, in, Touch Down.
Home, Pitcher, Put Golf Bogey, Caddie, Hole,
out, Strike. Links, Put, Putting the
Billiards Break, Cannons, Cue, green, Stymie, Tee.
In off, Jigger, Scratch, Hockey Bull, Carry, Centre
Boat Race Cox Forward, Carried,
Boxing Hook, Jab, Knock-out, Dribble, Goal, Hat
Punch, Upper cut. trick, Penalty corner,
Bridge Diamonds, Dummy, Scoop, Short corner,
Grand slam, Little Sticks, Striking circle,
slam, Revoke, Ruff, Under cutting.
Tricks, Trump. Horse Racing Jockey, Place, Protest,
Chess Check, Checkmate, Punter, Win.
Gambit, Stalemate Lawn Tennis Back-hand-drive, Service,
Cricket Bowling, Bouncer, Smash, Volley, Deuce,
Crease, Cover point, Game, Set, Love.
Drive, Duck, Follow Polo Bunder, Chuckker,
on, Googly, Gulley, Mallet.
Hat Trick, Hit wicket, Rifle Shooting Bull’s eye.
L.B.W. (Leg Before Rugby Drop kick, Screen.
Wicket), Leg Break, Swimming Stroke.
Leg spinner, Leg bye Volley ball Booster, Deuce, Love,
Maiden over, No ball, Service, Spikers.
Wrestling Half Nelson, Heave.
HOCKEY
A game resembling hockey was first level originated in a joint proposal
played in ancient Egypt around 2050 made by India and Pakistan at an
BC. The modern game was evolved International Hockey Federation
in the British Club established FIH council meeting on March 30,
in 1861. The English Hockey 1969. The first world cup was held
Association was formed at Cannon in Barcelona (Spain) in 1971. From
Street Hotel, London in 1875. 1978 onwards, the tournament has
Hockey World Cup been held once in four years. India
has won the tournament only once
The concept for an international
in 1975.
hockey competition at the world
A LOOK AT HOCKEY WORLD CUP
Year Host Winner Runner-up
1971 Spain Pakistan Spain
1973 Netherlands Netherlands India
1975 Malaysia India Pakistan
B-472 Sports

1978 Argentina Pakistan Netherlands

1982 India Pakistan West Germany
1986 England Australia England
1990 Pakistan Netherlands Pakistan
1994 Australia Pakistan Netherlands
1998 Netherlands Netherlands Spain
2002 Malaysia Germany Australia
2006 Germany Germany Australia
2010 India Australia Germany
2014 Netherlands Australia Netherlands
2018 India – –

COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The Commonwealth Games are a festival of sports of the commonwealth
countries. The games are held once in four years but only in between the Olympic
years. When the games first began in 1930, only 11 countries participated.
The Games were originally known as the British Empire Games. These have
undergone a change of name and expanded into a major multiracial and
cultural event.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES SINCE 1930
Year Places Participant Competitions First India’s Medal
Countries Place
1930 Hamilton 11 6 England Not participated
(Canada)
1934 London 16 6 England 1 Bronze Medal
(England)
1938 Sydney 15 7 Australia No medal
(Australia)
1950 Auckland 12 9 Australia Not Participated
(New Zealand)
1954 Vancouver 24 9 England No medal
(Canada)
1958 Cardiff 35 9 England Gold-2, Silver-1
(Wales)
1962 Perth 35 9 Australia Not Participated
(Australia)
1966 Kingston 34 9 England Gold-3,Silver-
(Jamaica) 4,Bronze-5
1970 Edinburgh 42 9 Australia Gold-5,Silver-3
(Scotland)
1974 Christchurch 38 9 Australia Gold-4,Silver-
(New Zealand) 8,Bronze-3
1978 Edmonton 46 10 Canada Gold-5,Silver-
(Canada) 4,Bronze-6
1982 Brisbane 46 10 Australia Gold-5,Silver-
(Australia) 5,Bronze-3
Sports B-473

1986 Edinburgh 26 10 England Not Participated

(Scotland)
1990 Auckland 55 10 Australia Gold-13,Silver-
(New Zealand) 8,Bronze-7
1994 Victoria 63 10 Australia Gold-6,Silver-
(Canada) 11,Bronze-10
1998 Kuala Lumpur 70 16 Australia Gold-07,Silver-
(Malaysia) 10,Bronze-8
2002 Manchester 72 17 Australia Gold-32,Silver-
(England) 21,Bronze-
19(Third
Position)
2006 Melbourne 71 16 Australia Gold-22,Silver-
(Australia) 17,Bronze-
11(Fourth
Position)
2010 Delhi 71 17 Australia Gold-74,Silver-
(India) 55,Bronze-
48(Second
Position)
2014 Glasgow 71 18 England Gold-15,Silver-
(Scotland) 30,Bronze-
19(Fiveth
Position)
2018 Gold Coast Proposed
(Australia)

SAF GAMES
The SAF games was first held in 1984 as South Asian Games, according to
at Kathmandu, Nepal. The seven a decision taken by the South Asian
participating countries are India, Sports Federation at its 32nd meeting
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, held in Islamabad (Pakistan) on April
Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. The motto 2, 2004.
of SAF games is “Peace, Prosperity Year Games Host Country
and Progress”. The games year 1986
City
edition was not staged as it was a year
of Commonwealth and Asian Games. 2010 XI Dhaka Bangladesh
New Name For SAF Games: The 2013 XII New Delhi India
SAF Games have been rechristened 2014 XIII Kathmandu Nepal
2016 XIV Hambantota Sri Lanka

OLYMPIC GAMES
Olympic Games are an international sporting event which is organised in the
form of summer and winter sports. The Summer Olympic Games were first
held in 1896. The Winter Olympic Games were created after the huge success
of the Summer Olympics. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The Olympic Games are held after every
four years, with the Summer and Winter Games alternatively occurring every
four years but two years apart from each other.
B-474 Sports

The Olympics games originated in Blue Europe

the city of Olympia, an ancient city Yellow Asia
of Greece. These games were held Black Africa
at Mount Olympia. India officially Red America
participated in the Olympics for the Green Australia and Ocenia
first time in the year 1920, in the 6th
edition of the games at Antwerp, Winter Olympic Games
Belgium. Winter Olympic games were
The Olympic flag is made up started in the year A.D. 1924. The
of white silk and contains five first game, were held at chamonix
intertwined rings as the Olympics (France). The winter games are
emblem. numbered in rotation as they are
held. The programme at the winter
games includes ice hockey, figure
skating, speed skating, alpine sking,
skiting, etc. Like the summer games,
The colour of rings represents the winter games are also awarded
different continents as given below: gold silver and bronze medals.

Year Venue Year Venue

1924 Chamonix, France 1980 Lake placid, New York
1928 St. Moritz, Switzerland 1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
1932 Lake Placid, New York 1988 Calgary, Canada
1936 Garmisch – Parten/Kirchen, Germany 1992 Albertville, France
1948 St. Mortiz, Switzerland 1994 Lillehammer, Norway
1952 Oslo, Norway 1998 Nagano, Japan
1956 Cortina d’ Ampezz, Italy 2002 Salt Lake City, USA
1960 Squaw Valley, United States 2006 Turin, Italy,
1964 Innbruck, Austria 2010 Vancouver, Canada
1968 Grenoble, France 2014 Sochi, Russia
1972 Sapporo, Japan 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea
1976 Innsbruck, Austria 2022 Beijing, China

SUMMER OLYMPICS
Year Host Opened by Nations
1896 Athens, Greece King George I 14
1900 Paris, France – 24
1904 St. Louis, United States Governor David R. Francis 12
1908 London, United Kingdom King Edward VII 22
1912 Stockholm, Sweden King Gustaf V 28
1920 Antwerp, Belgium King Albert I 29
1924 Paris, France President Gaston Doumergue 44
1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands 46
1932 Los Angeles, United States Vice President Charles Curtis 37
1936 Berlin, Germany Chancellor Adolf Hitler 49
Sports B-475

1948 London, United Kingdom King George VI 59

1952 Helsinki, Finland President Juho Kusti Paasikivi 69
1956 Melbourne, Australia Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 72
1960 Rome, Italy President Giovanni Gronchi 83
1964 Tokyo, Japan Emperor Hirohito 93
1968 Mexico City, Mexico President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz 112
1972 Munich, West Germany President Gustav Heinemann 121
1976 Montreal, Canada Queen Elizabeth II 92
1980 Moscow, Soviet Union Chairman Leonid Brezhnev 80
1984 Los Angeles, United States
President Ronald Reagan 140
1988 Seoul, South Korea President Roh Tae-woo 159
1992 Barcelona, Spain King Juan Carlos I 169
1996 Atlanta, United States President Bill Clinton 197
2000 Sydney, Australia Governor-General Sir William 199
Deane
2004 Athens, Greece President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos 201
2008 Beijing, China President Hu Jintao 204
2012 London, United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II 204
2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 206

PARALYMPIC GAMES
•• Back in 1948, Sir Ludwig •• The Paralympic Games are
Guttman, a neurologist who always held in the same year as
was working with World War the Olympic Games. The name
II veterans with spinal injuries
comes from the fact that it runs
at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
in Aylesbury, began using sport parallel to the Olympic Games
as part of the rehabilitation hence the name Paralympics.
programmes of his patients. He •• The first Paralympic Games
set up a competition with other were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960
hospitals to coincide with the and involved 400 athletes from
London Olympics in that year.
23 countries. Originally, only
•• The Paralympics are elite
sport events for athletes from wheelchair athletes were invited
six different disability groups. to compete.
Athletes include those with •• The Paralympics are held in two
mobility disabilities, intellectual seasons: summer and winter.
disabilities, visual impairments, •• Athletes with disabilities have
cerebral palsy and amputees. been competing in the Winter
•• This event focuses on the Games since 1976. Sweden
athletes’ achievements rather hosted the first Winter Games,
than their disabilities. which included 12 countries
•• Paralympic sports include competing in Alpine and Cross-
athletics, cycling, judo, rowing, Country Skiing events.
swimming, and volleyball. •• International Paralympic Com-
B-476 Sports

mittee: (IPC) is the global gov- 2010 - Paralympics X - Vancouver

erning body of the Paralympic Canada
Movement. The IPC organizes 2014 - Paralympics XI - Sochi - Russia
the Summer and Winter Para-
lympic Games, and serves as the Summer Paralympic Games
International Federation for nine 2000 - Paralympics XI - Sydney -
sports, for which it supervises and Australia
co-ordinates the World Champi- 2004 - Paralympics XII - Athens -
onships and other competitions. Greece
2008 - Paralympics XIII - Beijing-
Winter Paralympic Games China
2002 - Paralympics VIII - Salt Lake 2012 - Paralympics XIV - London -
City - United States United Kingdom
2006 - Paralympics IX - Turin - Italy 2016 - Paralympics XV - Rio de
Janeiro - Brazil
ASIAN GAMES
The idea of the Asian Games Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that it
was first conceived by Prof. G.D. be called ‘Asian Games’. The first
Sondhi. The suggestion for holding Asian Games were held at New
the Asian Games was first made Delhi in March 1951. Since then
in a conference of Asian countries Asian Games are held after every
held in New Delhi in 1947 and four years.

ASIAN GAMES SINCE 1951

Games Year Places Number of Number of Number

Serial Countries Sports of Players
1 1951 New Delhi(India) 11 6 491
2 1954 Manila(Philippines) 18 8 1021
3 1958 Tokyo(Japan) 20 13 1422
4 1962 Jakarta(Indonesia) 16 13 1545
5 1966 Bangkok(Thailand) 18 14 1945
6 1970 Bangkok(Thailand) 18 13 1752
7 1974 Tehran(Iran) 25 16 2869
8 1978 Bangkok(Thailand) 25 19 3000
9 1982 New Delhi(India) 33 21 3447
10 1986 Seoul(S.Korea) 27 25 3883
11 1990 Beijing(China) 37 27 4500
12 1994 Hiroshima(Japan) 42 34 7300
13 1998 Bangkok(Thailand) 41 38 7000
14 2002 Busan(S.Korea) 44 38 7711
15 2006 Doha(Qatar) 45 39 9524
16 2010 Guangzhou(China) 45 42 9704
17 2014 Incheon(South Korea) 45 36 9501
18 2018 Jakarta (Indonesia) Scheduled
Sports B-477

FIFA World Cup 2014 final in extra time– the same result
as the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final.
The FIFA World Cup 2014 was
The tournament
the 20th FIFA World Cup, the
began on 12 June
tournament for the association
with a group stage
football world championship,
and concluded
which took place at several venues
on 13 July with
across Brazil. Germany was the
the championship
finalist and won the tournament
match. Brazil hosted
and grabbed its fourth title, it was
this championship
first after its reunification of West
for second time, the
and East Germany in 1990. It
first was in 1950.
defeated Argentina by 1–0 in the

TENNIS GRAND SLAMS

The four Grand Slam tournaments ATP/WTA No ATP/WTA
also called majors, are the most Rankings Rankings
important annual tennis events. The
Grand Slam itinerary consists of the ATP world tour Davis Cup
‘Australian-open’ in mid January,
finals Fed Cup
the ‘French open’ in May/June
‘Wimbledon’ in June/July, and the WTA Tour World Team Cup
‘US open’ in August /September. Championships Hopman Cup
Each tournament is played over a ATP Masters 1000
period of two weeks. olympics
Grand Slams Nature of Court ATP 500 Series
1. Australian open Hard court ITF Men’s Circuit
2. French open Clay court (Red) ITF Women’s
3. Wimbledon Grass court Circuit
4. U.S. Open Hard court
US OPEN 2015
Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s Singles: Flavia Pennetta (Italy)
Men’s Doubles: Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut (France)
Women’s Doubles: Martina Hingis (Switzerland) & Sania Mirza (India)
Mixed Doubles: Martina Hingis (Switzerland) & Leander Paes (India)
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2015
Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s Singles: Serena Williams (USA)
Men’s Doubles: Simone Bolelli & Fabio Fognini (Italy)
Women’s Doubles: Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) & Lucie Šafárová (Czech
Republic)
Mixed Doubles: Martina Hingis (Switzerland) & Leander Paes (India)
B-478 Sports

FRENCH OPEN 2015

Men’s Singles: Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)
Women’s Singles: Serena Williams (USA)
Men’s Doubles: Ivan Dodig (Croatia) & Marcelo Melo (Brazil)
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) & Lucie Šafárová (Czech
Women’s Doubles:
Republic)
Mixed Doubles: Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) & Mike Bryan (USA)

WIMBLEDON 2015
Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s Singles: Serena Williams (USA)
Men’s Doubles: Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) & Horia Tecau (Romania)
Women’s Doubles: Martina Hingis (Switzerland) & Sania Mirza (India)
Mixed Doubles: Leander Paes (India) & Martina Hingis (Switzerland)

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP

The four time winner of the ICC
Cricket World Cup once again
proved their dominance over the
World cricket by defeating New
Zealand in the 11th edition of
the Cricket World Cup to bag their
5th World Cup title which was
jointly hosted by Australia and New
Zealand. Australia defeated New
Zealand in a nail biting finale by 7
wickets in day night match played at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Scores : New Zealand 183 all Man of the Match: JP Faulkner
out (Grant Elliot 83, Taylor 40, (Australia)
Mitchell Johnson 3 for 30 and James Player of the series: MA Starc; 22
Faulkner 3 for 36) Australia 186-3 in
33.1 overs (Steve Smith 56, Michael wickets (Australia)
Clarke 74, Warner 45, MJ Henry 2 Highest Run getter: Martin Guptill,
for 46 and Boult 1 for 40) 547 runs (New Zealand)
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final

A1 New Zealand 393/6

B4 West Indies 250
B2 South Africa 281/5
A1 New Zealand 299/6
A3 Sri Lanka 133
B2 South Africa 134/1
A1 New Zealand 183
A2 Australia 186/3
B3 Pakistan 213
A2 Australia 216/4
A2 Australia 328/7
B1 India 233
B1 India 303/6
A4 Bangladesh 193
Sports B-479

IPL 2015
The Mumbai Indians team led 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 57, Suresh
by Rohit Sharma outshone the Raina 28, Mitchell McClenaghan 3
consistent performance of the for 25)
Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings by
winning the final of the Pepsi IPL-
8 at the Eden Gardens. Led by the
fiery batting performances of opener
Lendl Simmons (68) and skipper
Rohit Sharma (50), the Mumbai
Indians notched 202 runs in the
allotted 20 overs. Chennai Super
Kings succumbed to 161 for eight in Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma
its quota of 20 overs while chasing Orange Cap for the tournament:
the mammoth score. David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Score: Mumbai Indians 202 for 5 in (562 runs)
20 overs (Lendl Simmons 68, Rohit Purple Cap for the tournament:
Sharma 50, Dwayne Bravo 2 for 36) Dwayne Bravo, Chennai Super
Chennai Super Kings 161 for 8 in Kings (26 wickets)

INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE

The Indian Super League (ISL) also in an effort to make football a top
known as the Hero Indian Super sport in India and to make Indian
League is a professional football a major player worldwide.
football league in India. The inaugural season of the league
The league consists of eight started on 12th October 2014 and
franchise teams from all concluded on 20th December 2014.
around India. The Indian The inaugural season was won by
Super League was founded in 2013 Atlético de Kolkata when it defeated
the Kerala Blasters in the final 1–0.
TEAMS
Team City/State Stadium
Atlètico de Kolkata Kolkata, West Bengal Salt Lake Stadium
Chennaiyin Chennai, Tamil Nadu Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Delhi Dynamos Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Goa Margao, Goa Fatorda Stadium
Kerala Blasters Kochi, Kerala Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Mumbai City Mumbai, Maharashtra DY Patil Stadium
North East United Guwahati, Assam Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
Pune City Pune, Maharashtra Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex

Top Scores
The defending champions Atlético de Kolkata were defeated in the semi-
finals by Chennaiyin. The final was played between Goa and Chennayin
on 20th December 2015 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. Chennayin
became the champions by defeating Goa 3-2 in the final.
B-480 Sports

Rank Player Club Goals

1 Stiven Mendoza Chennalyin FC 13
2 Iain Hume Atlètico de Kolkata 11
Reinaldo Goa
3 7
Sunil Chhetri Mumbai City
Antonio German Kerala Blasters
5 Chris Dagnall Kerala Blasters 6
Jeje Lalpekhlua Chennalyin
Nicolàs Vèlez NorthEast United
8 5
Arata lzumi Atlètico de Kolkata

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

UEFA Champions League also drawn into eight groups of four
known as Champions League is a teams each and play each other in a
yearly continental club football double round-robin system. The
competition organised by the Union current champions are Barcelona,
of European Football Associations who secured their
(UEFA), played by top-division fifth title in the
European clubs. The club
competition after
competition was launched one
month after UEFA’s first Congress, defeating Juventus
held in Vienna on 2 March 1955. 3–1 in the 2015
There are total of 32 teams who are Final.

ALL-TIME TOP SCORES

Rank Player Goals Appearances Years Clubs
Cristiano 88 121 2003- Manchester United, Real
1
Ronaldo Madrid
2 Lionel Messi 80 102 2005- Barcelona
Raùl 71 142 1995- Real Madrid, Schalke 04
3
2011
Ruud van 56 73 1998- PSV, Manchester United, Real
4
Nistelrooy 2009 Madrid
Thierry 50 112 1997- Manaco, Arsenal, Barcelona
5
Henry 2010
Alfredo Di 49 58 1955- Real Madrid
6
Stèfano 1964
Andriy 48 100 1994- Dynamo Kyiv, Milan, Chelsea
7
Shevchenko 2012
Eusèbio 46 65 1961- Benfica
1974
Karim 46 77 2006- Lyon, Real Madrid
8
Benzema
Fllippo 46 81 1997- Juventus, Milan
Inzaghi 2012
HEALTHCARE
B-482 Healthcare

HEALTHCARE IN INDIA
The healthcare services of India have seen tremendous growth in the past few
years which can be revealed by different indicators and health parameters.
Inspite of this fact, the expenditure on healthcare is very less i.e. 4% of the
GDP and private parties have the dominance over the sector.
Healthcare Infrastructure in India
•• Primary, secondary and tertiary care institutions, manned by medical and
paramedical personnel;
•• Medical colleges and para-professional training institutions to train the
needed manpower and give the required academic input;
•• Programme managers managing ongoing programmes at central, state
and district levels.
Health Sector In India

Public Private Indigenous system Voluntary health

of Medicine agencies
• Rural • Private Hospital • Ayurveda and • Indian Red Cross
 Sub Centers • Polyclinic Siddha Society
(SCs) • Nursing Homes • Unani • Hind Kusht
 Primary Health • Dispensaries • Homeopath Nivaran Sangh
Centres (PHCs) • General • Un-registered • Indian council for
 Community Practitioners and Practitioners child Welfare
Health Centres clinics • Tuberculosis
(CHCs) Association of
• Urban India Etc
 District • Bharat Sevak
Hospitals Samaj
 Teaching
Hospitals

Problems in India •• Poor facilities in large Government

•• Poor Sanitation institutions compared to corporate
•• Infectious and non-communicable hospitals.
diseases •• Increasing cost of curative
•• High Infant Mortality Rate medical services, high tech
•• Malnutrition curative services not free.
•• India leading the world in
Major Concerns in last decade dengue,most rapidly spreading
•• India ranked 67th among the mosquito-borne viral disease.
top developing countries with •• Malaria is still a major concern
a doctor patient ratio of 0.7 for Indian Health sector.
doctors per 1000 patient (The •• Tuberculosis is the biggest threat to
World Bank). India with 2.2 million tuberculosis
•• A wide gap between urban patients.
and rural population in terms •• Hepatitis C patients lack access
provision of medical facilities. to affordable treatment and care.
Healthcare B-483

NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES

National AIDS Control •• To train professional and ancillary
Programme (AIDS) personnel required for the
programme.
A division of Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare,was established National Leprosy Eradication
in 1992 to prevent and control HIV/ Programme (NLEP)
AIDSinfectionthrough35HIV/AIDS Launched in 1955 is a centrally
Prevention and Control Societies. sponsored Health Scheme of the
National Cancer Control Ministryof HealthandFamilyWelfare,
Govt. of India with an objective of
Programme (Cancer)
eliminating Leprosy with the use
Launched in 1975 with an initiation of Multidrugtherapy(MDT)inphases.
of giving priority for equipping the
premier cancer hospital/institutions. Eliminate Kala-azar
The further evolution has added few A part of National Heath Policy
other important aspects which include envisaged in 2010 to eradicate the
recognition of new Regional Cancer dreaded disease ‘Kala-azar’ or
Centre, strengthening of existing Visceral Leishmaniasis, also known
RegionalCancerCentres,development as ‘Black Fever’ and ‘Dumdum Fever’
of oncologyunits,DistrictCancerControl from India by 2015.
Programme etc.
National TB Control
Pulse Polio Campaign (Do Programme
Boond Zindegi Ke) Launched in 1962 with an objective
Initiated in 1978 the programme of eradication of the disease but till
aimed at preventing polio by 1992 only 30% of the country had
vaccinating against the disease. It been covered. So the programmes has
was the extended programme of been revised in 1993 with an objective
Universal Immunisation Program of achieving and maintaining a cure
which successfully covered 95% of rate of 85% among newly detected
the country and as a result India was infectious (new sputum smear
declared Polio free in 2014. positive) cases. This resulted in the
coverage of 450 million populations
National Filaria Control which is more than 80% in 2004.
Programme (filariasis)
TB-Mission 2020
Launched in the state since 1957 with
an objective: •• TB Mission 2020 was announced
•• To carry out surveys in different by the Union Ministry of Health
parts of the state where the and Family Welfare on 28th
problem was known to exist in October 2014 at WHO’s Global
order to determine the extent of TB Symposium in Barcelona
prevalence, types of infection and with an initiative to eliminate
their vectors. Tuberculosis in India by 2020.
•• To undertake large scale pilot •• The Indian government will take
studies to evaluate the known up projects of providing free
methods of filariasis control in diagnosis, treatment, nutrition
selected areas in different parts support and financial aid to the
of states. affected patients.
B-484 Healthcare

National Tobacco Control •• Involve the community and urban

Programme local bodies in healthcare delivery.
•• Supplement the National Rural
Launched in 2007 by the Ministry Health Under a unified National
of Health and Family Welfare with Health Mission.
objectives: Special Focus on:
•• To bring about greater awareness •• Urban Poor Population living in
abouttheharmfuleffectsof tobacco listed and unlisted slums.
use and about the Tobacco Control •• All other vulnerable populations
Laws. such as homeless, rag-pickers,
•• To facilitate To facilitate effective street children, rickshaw pullers,
implementation of the Tobacco construction site workers, sex
Control Law. workers and any other temporary
migrants.
National Rural Health Mission
Mission Indradhanush
(NRHM)
•• MissionIndradhanushwaslaunched
Launched on 5th April,2005. The to immunize all children against
mission initially started for: sevenvaccinepreventablediseases
•• Creation of cadre of Accredited including diphtheria, whooping
Social Health Activist (ASHA) cough (Pertussis), tetanus, polio,
•• StrengtheningalltheCHCs,PHCs tuberculosis,measlesandhepatitis
and Sub centres B by the year 2020.
•• Mainstreaming AYUSH (Indian •• The mission involves four special
System of Medicine) vaccination campaigns which will
•• Integrating health and family be conducted between the months
welfare programme of AprilandJuly2015,focussingon
•• Developingcapacitiesforpreventive intensive planning and monitoring
health care at all levels of these campaigns.
•• Promotion of public private •• The campaigns will be planned
partnerships for achieving public and executed in accordance with
health goals the learning from the successful
•• Strengthening capacities for data implementation of the polio
collection, assessment and review programme.
for evidence based planning, •• The focus of the systematic
monitoring and supervision immunization drive will be
comprehended through a “catch-
National Urban Health Mission up” campaign mode with the aim
(NUHM) to cover the left out children who
missed out immunization.
Launched by the former Union Health •• The mission will be carried out
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azadin 2014 in 2 phases in 2015 in which the
underNationalHealthMission(NHM). first phase will cover 201 districts,
The scheme will focus on primary while the second phase will cover
healthcare needs of the urban poor. 297 districts.
The main objectives are to: •• The Government has recognised
•• Improve the health care status of 201 districts across 28 states in the
the urban population particularly countrywith82districtsfromBihar,
the poor and other disadvantaged Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
sections. UttarPradeshhaving25%children
•• Strengthen public health care who are unimmunized or partially
system.
immunized.
Healthcare B-485

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative. L&T has announced the

•• The Swachh Bharat Mission construction of 5000 toilets across
was officially launched by Prime the nation as the part of their CSR
initiative.
Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd
October 2014, covering 4041 National Bal Swachhta Mission
statutory towns with the purpose •• The National Bal Swachhta
to clean the streets, roads and MissionwaslaunchedbytheUnion
infrastructure of the nation. Government on 14th November
•• The mission aims to make the 2014,onthe125thbirthanniversary
nation ‘open defecation free’ by of India’s first prime minister
2019throughconstructionof IHHL Jawahar Lal Nehru.
(individual household latrines), •• The Bal Swachhta Mission is an
clustertoiletsandcommunitytoilets. integralpartof thefamoussanitation
•• SBH also aims at eradication of drive ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’.
manual scavenging. •• The six themes to be included in
•• It also involves 100% collection the mission are:
and processing/disposal/reuse/ 1. Clean Anganwadis
2. Clean Surroundings like
recycling of municipal solid waste.
Playgrounds
•• The campaign involves generation 3. Clean Self (Personal Hygiene/
of awareness among the citizens Child Health)
regarding sanitation and public 4. Clean Food
health. 5. Clean Drinking Water.
•• Themissionencouragesprivatesectors 6. Clean Toilets
to participate in construction and •• Bal Swachhta Week will be
maintenanceof sanitaryfacilitiesasa observed from 14th to 19th
partof corporatesocialresponsibility November under this mission.
RECENT OUTBREAK OF MAJOR DISEASES IN INDIA
Disease Time of Symptom Recommended Treatment
Outbreak
Influenza A 2009 • Chills Use of anti viral drugs such as
(H1N1) virus • Fever • Oseltamivir (brand name
• Cough Tamiflu®),
• Sore Throat • Zanamivir (brand name
• Runny or Stuffy Nose Relenza®)
• Body Aches • Peramivir (brand name
• Fatigue Rapivab®)
• Diarrhea
Swine flu 2014-2015 • Cough • Vaccination to prevent
• Fever infection.
• Headache • Oseltamivir (brand name
• Sore Throat Tamiflu®),
• Muscle Pain • Zanamivir (brand name
• Chills Relenza®)
• Vomiting Or Diarrhea.
Hepatitis 2009 • Liver Inflammation, • Lamivudine (Zeffix®)
• Vomiting • Adefovir (Hepsera®)
• Jaundice. • Entecavir (Baraclude®)
• Tenofovir (Viread®)
• Pegylated Interferon (Pegasys®)
B-486 Healthcare

Dengue 2014-2015 • High Fever, Possibly • As such there is no such specific

As High As 105°F drugs for treating Dengue.
(40°C) However doctors prescribe
• Pain Behind The Acetaminophen (Tylenol,
Eyes And In The others) for alleviating pain and
Joints, Muscles reduce fever.
And/Or Bones
• Severe Headache
• Rash Over Most Of
The Body
• Mild Bleeding From
The Nose Or Gums
• Bruising Easily
Cholera 2010 • Mild fever • Antibiotic
• Body ache • Oral Health drink to prevent
• Abdominal pain dehydration
and cramps
• Lethargy and
fatigue
• Excessive thirst
• Headaches
• Loss of elasticity of
the skin
Plague 1994 • Sudden onset of • Streptomycin
fever • Gentamicin
• Headache • Tetracycline
• Chills • Chloramphenicol
• Weakness and one • Doxycycline
or more swollen, • Oxytetracycline
tender and painful • Sulfamethoxazole/ trimethopri
lymph nodes (called
buboes)
Chikungunya 1963-1973 • Arthritis like pain • Aspirin
around the joints • Non-steroidal inflammatory
• Muscle aches drugs
• Fever • Chloroquine Phosphate
• Malaise
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting

YOGA and its Health Benefit

A healthy lifestyle is a function of healthy mind and body, and so as to keep a
person really healthy, YOGA is just a master stroke. It’s an ascetic Hindu discipline
which involves practices like controlling breath with prescribed body position and
meditation with an objective to attain a state of deep spiritual insight and tranquility.
These practices in turn promote good health, fitness and control of mind. Sage
Patanjali was known to be the founder of this practice and the knowledge he had
given was known as Yoga Sutra. In recent years, this age-old practice has been
revitalized by several spiritual leaders like Baba Ramdev, Sadhguru who have made
tireless efforts to propel yoga to each and every corner of India for improving health
condition of India and make the people strong and immune enough to combat day
to day or serious health issues. The United Nations has declared June 21 as the
International Day of Yoga.
COMMUNICATION,
TRANSPORT, NEWS
& MEDIA
B-488 Communication, Transport, News and Media

COMMUNICATION
Post Office 2013 and April 2015 respectively
•• The Department of Posts was due to the increasing pressure of
founded in India on 1st April, 1774. electronic communication media,
•• This department serves as an agent but still continues with the services
of Govt. of electronic money order (eMO)
•• It provides services like letter post, and instant money order (IMO)
parcel service, EMS, delivery, which were introduced in 2008.
freight forwarding, third-party
logistics, and deposit accounts,
saving banks, retailing, life
insurance, remittance etc.
•• Indian Post has been terminated
two of its major services such as
Telegram and Money order in July

Quick Facts
Founder of Telegraph and Postal : Governor General Lord System
in India Dalhousie
First General Post Office opened in India : 1774 (Kolkata)
First postage stamp of India : Sinde Dawk (1852)
Pin system started in India : 1972
The First Indian Post Office Outside India : Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica
(1983), Indian Territory
Speed Post started in India : 1986
Money Order System : 1880
Postal Life Insurance started : 1884
Postal Staff College situated at : Ghaziabad (UP)
World Postal Day is observed on : 9th October
Indian Postal Day is observed on : 10th October

Telecommunication semaphore telegraphs, signal flags,

and optical heliographs.
•• Telecommunication occurs when
•• Other examples of pre-modern
the exchange of information
long-distance communication
between two or more entities included audio messages such
includes the use of technology. as coded drumbeats, lung-blown
•• Communication technology uses horns, and loud whistles.
channels to transmit information •• Modern technologies for long
(as electrical signals), either over -distance communication usually
a physical medium (such as involve electrical and electromagnetic
signal cables), or in the form of technologies, such as telegraph,
electromagnetic waves. telephone, and teleprinter, networks,
•• Early means of communicating over radio, microwave transmission,
a distance included visual signals, fiber optics, and communications
such as beacons, smoke signals, satellites.
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-489

•• A revolution in wireless Mobile Communication

communication began in the •• A mobile phone is a telephone that
first decade of the 20th century can make and receive calls over a
with the pioneering developments radio frequency carrier while the
in radio communications by user is moving within a telephone
Guglielmo Marconi, who won service area.
the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909. •• Modern mobile phones support
•• Other highly notable pioneering a variety of services, such as
inventors and developers in the text messaging, MMS, email,
field of electrical and electronic Internet access, short-rangewireless
telecommunications include communications (infrared,
Charles Wheatstone and Samuel Bluetooth), business applications,
Morse (telegraph), Alexander gaming, and photography. Mobile
Graham Bell (telephone), Edwin phones which offer these and more
Armstrong, and Guglielmo general computing capabilities are
Marconi (radio), as well as Vladimir referred to as Smartphone.
K. Zworykin, John Logie Baird The first handheld mobile phone
and Philo Farnsworth (television). was demonstrated by John F.
Mitchell and Martin Cooper of
Motorola in 1973, using a handset
weighing c. 4.4 lbs (2 kg). In 1983,
the DynaTAC 8000x was the first
commercially available handheld
The Telecommunications system in mobile phone.
India is the 2nd largest in the world.
•• Mobile computing
Telephone services was introduced
is human–computer
in 1881-82 in Kolkata for the first interaction by which
time and first automatic exchange a computer is expected
was opened up at Shimla in 1913-14 to be transported during
with a capacity of 700 lines only. In normal usage. Mobile
1850, the first experimental electric computing involves
telegraph line was started between mobile communication, mobile
Calcutta and Diamond Harbour. hardware, and mobile software.
In 1851, it was opened for the use •• Wireless data connections used
of the British East India Company. in mobile computing take three
The construction of 4,000 miles general forms. Cellular data service
(6,400 km) of telegraph lines was uses technologies such as GSM,
started in November 1853. These CDMA or GPRS, 3G networks such
connected Kolkata and Peshawar in as W-CDMA, EDGE or CDMA
200 and more recently 4G networks
the north; Agra, Mumbai through
such as LTE, LTE-Advabced.
Sindwa Ghats, and Chennai in the •• GSM (Global System for Mobile
south; Ootacamundand Bangalore. Communications, is to describe the
William O’Shaughnessy pioneered protocols for second-generation
the telegraph and telephone in India. (2G) digital cellular networks used
A separate department was opened in by mobile phones, first deployed
1854 when telegraph facilities opened in Finland in July 1991.
to the public.
B-490 Communication, Transport, News and Media

•• Code division multiple access •• The first artificial Earth satellite

(CDMA) is a channel access was Sputnik 1. Put into orbit by the
method used by various radio Soviet Union on October 4, 1957,
communication technologies. it was equipped with an on-board
CDMA is used as the access method radio-transmitter that worked on
in many mobile phone standards two frequencies: 20.005 and 40.002
such as cdmaOne, CDMA2000 MHz. Sputnik 1 was launched as
(the 3G evolution of cdmaOne), a step in the exploration of space
and WCDMA (the 3G standard and rocket development.
used by GSM carriers), which are
often referred to as simply CDMA.
•• 3G, short form of third generation,
is the third generation of mobile
telecommunications technology.
3G telecommunication networks
support services that provide an
information transfer rate of at least
200 kbit/s. India has launched 80 Indian
•• 4G, short for fourth generation, satellites (as of 11th November 2015)
is the fourth generation of mobile
of many types since its first in 1975.
telecommunications technology,
succeeding 3G. A 4G system must The organisation responsible for
provide capabilities defined by India’s satellite program is the Indian
ITU in IMT Advanced. Potential Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
and current applications include On 11 November 2015, India’s latest
amended mobile web access, communication satellite GSAT-15
IP telephony, gaming services, was successfully launched at 03:04
high-definition mobile TV, video am by Ariane-5 rocket in the early
conferencing, 3D television, and
hours from the spaceport of Kourouin
cloud computing.
French Guiana in South America.
Bharti Airtel launched India’s first 4G
service, using TD-LTE technology, Electronics and Information
in Kolkata on 10 April 2012. Technology
Communications Satellite National Knowledge Network
•• A communications satellite is an •• The objective of the National
artificial satellite that relays and Knowledge Network (NKN) is
amplifies radio telecommunications to interconnect all institutions of
signals via a transponder; it creates a higher learning and research with
communication channel between a
source transmitter and a receiver(s) a high speed data communication
at different locations on Earth. network to facilitate knowledge
•• Communications satellites are used sharing and collaborative research.
for television, telephone, radio, •• It will bridge the existing
internet, and military applications. knowledge gap in the country.
•• There are over 2,000 communi- It will help the country evolve
cations satellites in Earth’s orbit, as a Knowledge Society and
used by both private and govern- spur economic activities in the
ment organizations.
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-491

Knowledge domain. Under this develop innovative user products

Network, it is proposed that and services.
the core and associated links to •• The primary objectives include
around 1500 institutions shall be developing and promoting
established in 2-3 years time. Software Tools and Applications
Application Areas for all 22 officially recognized
•• Agriculture Indian Languages, contributing
•• Education to collaborative development of
•• Health futuristic technologies leading to
•• e-governance innovative products and services,
•• Grid Computing (High Perfor- acting as a catalyst for proliferating
mance Computing) Language Technology products
TDIL and providing solutions and
standardization across all levels.
•• The Department of Information
•• Some of the other major initiatives
Technology initiated the ambitious
undertaken are in the realm
programme of (Technology
of Cross Lingual, Information
Development for Indian Languages)
Access and Retrieval, Human
with the aim of developing
Machine Interface systems,
Information Processing Tools and
Text to Speech system (TTS),
Techniques to facilitate human-
Language processing and Web
machine interaction without
tools, adapting IT Tools and
language barrier; creating and
solutions in Indian languages,
accessing multilingual knowledge
Human Resource Development
resources and integrating them to
in Language Technology etc.

TRANSPORT
Indian Road Network Highways through three agencies.
•• India has a road network of over viz. National Highways Authority of
approx. 4,689,842 kilometers. India (NHAI), State Public Works
•• The Central Government is Department (PWDs) and Border
responsible for development and Road Organization (BRO).
maintenance of the National •• National Highways Development
Highways system. Project (NHDP) is the largest
•• The Ministry carries out development highway project ever taken in the
and maintenance work of National country.
Quick Facts
Categories Dimensions in Kms Responsible Authority
(up to 2011)
National Highways 92,851 Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways (Central government)
State governments (State’s public
State Highways 1,63,898
works department)
Major and Other Local governments, Panchayats
17,05,706
District Roads and Municipalities
27,49,805 Local governments, Panchayats and
Rural Roads
Municipalities
B-492 Communication, Transport, News and Media

National Highways Development Projects

Golden Quadrilateral : It comprises construction of 5,846 km long 4/6 lane,
high density traffic corridor, to connect India’s four big metro cities of Delhi-
Mumbai-Chennai and Kolkata. With the construction of Golden Quadrilateral,
the time- distance and cost of movement among the mega cities of India will
be considerably minimised.
North-South and East-West Corridors: North-South corridor aims at connecting
Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kaniyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including
Kochchi-Salem Spur) with 4,076 km long road. The East-West Corridor has
been planned to connect Silchar in Assam with the port town of Porbandar
in Gujarat with 3,640 km of road length.
Important National Highways
NH Connects
NH 1 New Delhi-Ambala-Jalandhar-Amritsar
NH 2 Delhi-Mathura-Agra-Kanpur- Allahabad-Varanasi-Kolkata
NH 3 Agra-Gwalior-Nasik-Mumbai
NH 4 Thane and Chennai via Pune and Belgaum
NH 5 Kolkata-Chennai
NH 6 Kolkata-Dhule
NH 7 Varanasi-Kanyakumari
NH 8 Delhi-Mumbai (via Jaipur, Boroda & Ahmedabad)
NH 9 Mumbai-Vijaywada
NH 10 Delhi-Fazilka
NH 24 Delhi - Lucknow
NH 26 Lucknow-Varanasi

Indian Railways
Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise and one of the world’s largest
railway networks comprising 115,000 km of track over a route of 65,808 km
and 7,112 stations.Indian Railways is the second most important means of
communication in India contributing 1% to the gross domestic product from
transportation point of view. It was founded on April 16, 1853.
In terms of gauge the Indian railway is divided into three types.
•• Broad gauge contributing 63%
•• Meter gauge contributing 31%
•• Narrow gauge contributing 6%
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-493

INDIAN RAILWAYS ZONES AND TOP TEN STATES WITH

THEIR HEADQUARTERS LONGEST RAIL NETWORK IN
IN INDIA
Route
Name Headquarters
(km) Rank State Route Km.
1. Uttar Pradesh 8832
Southern (SR) 5098 Chennai
2. Rajasthan 5872
Central (CR) 3905 Mumbai 3. Maharashtra 5725
4. Andhra Pradesh 5322
Western (WR) 6182 Mumbai
5. Gujarat 5257
Eastern (ER) 2414 Kolkata 6. Madhya Pradesh 4955
7. West Bengal 4037
Northern (NR) 6968 Delhi 8. Tamil Nadu 4027
North Eastern 9. Bihar 3656
3667 Gorakhpur
(NER) 10. Karnataka 3228

South Eastern TOP TEN COUNTRIES WITH

2631 Kolkata
(SER) LONGEST RAIL NETWORK IN
THE WORLD
Northeast
3907 Maligaon Rank Country Route Km.
Frontier (NFR)
1. USA 250000
South Central
5951 Secunderabad 2. China 100000
(SCR)
3. Russia 85500
East Central
3628 Hajipur 4. India 65000
(ECR)
5. Canada 48000
North Western
5459 Jaipur 6. Germany 41000
(NWR)
7. Australia 40000
East Coast 8. Argentina 36000
2677 Bhubaneswar
(ECoR) 9. France 29000
North Central 10. Brazil 28000
3151 Allahabad
(NCR)
Metro Rail
South East Metro Rail was started in India on
2447 Bilaspur
Central(SECR) 24th October, 1984 in Kolkata. By far
it has covered the major metropolitan
South
3177 Hubli cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad,
Western(SWR) Chennai, Kochi and Bangalore. With 8
West Central operational metro systems, metro rail
2965 Jabalpur lines are composed of both standard
(WCR)
gauge and broad gauge.
B-494 Communication, Transport, News and Media

SCENARIO OF METRO RAIL IN P FOUR METROPOLIS

City Owner Began Distance in Kms
Operation
Kolkata Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation 24 October 1984 28.14 km
Delhi Delhi Metro Rail Corporation 24 December 213 km
Limited (DMRCL) 2002
Mumbai Mumbai Metropolitan Region 8 June 2014 11.4 km
Development Authority (MMRDA)
Chennai Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) 29 June 2015 10km

in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka.

Mumbai Metro : Mumbai, the
financial and commercial capital of
India is all set to provide another mode
of transport to the people. Mumbai is
already running Monorail system, the
first monorail in India. Mumbai metro
is opened and over 10 lakh commuters
Kolkata Metro: Kolkata Metro is traveled on the city’s first Metro train.
the first mass rapid transit system It covers the 11.4 km-long journey
in the country and India’s Oldest from Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar
Metro Railway. The Line 1 North- corridor.
South Metro of 25 kilometers is in Hyderabad Metro : Hyderabad Metro
the operation with 23 stations of which is under construction with 3 lines and
15 are underground station. Kolkata covering a distance of around 71 km
Metro is also the first in country to for the city. The Hyderabad Metro
build an operational underground is the first public-private partnership
railway. There are 5 more railway lines metro project in India. Hyderabad
under construction at the different is already running a Multi-Modal
corner of Kolkata, West Bengal. Transport System for particular routes.
Chennai Metro: Chennai is second Jaipur Metro: The pink city of
city in India to run a rapid transit Rajasthan is got its first metro line of
system in 1995, Chennai Mass Rapid 9.2 km from Mansarovar to Chandpole
Bazaar in November 2010. Rajasthan
Transit System is an elevated railway
is one of the most visited tourist place
line run within the city from Chennai
in India, specially international tourist
Beach to Velachery.Chennai Metro
and Jaipur is best place to enjoy royal
Rail project consist both elevated and
Rajasthan.
underground section.
Delhi Metro: Delhi Metro has 6 lines Aviation industry
of 189.63 kilometers with 142 railway Aviation industry is the highly growing
stations of which 35 are underground. market, in terms of World Economy.
Delhi Metro consist combination of at- It targets to be the third largest market
grade,underground and elevated lines. by 2020 and to be in the first position
Bangaluru Metro: Bengaluru Metro by 2030. Over the next five years, the
also known as Namma Metro is industry will experience an increase
recently started rapid transit rail system in the domestic and international
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-495

passenger traffic at an annual average

rate of 12 per cent and 8 per cent,
respectively.
Air transport in India made a beginning
in 1911 when airmail operation
commenced over a little distance of
10 km between Allahabad and Naini.
But its real development took place in
post-Independent period. The Airport
Authority of India is responsible for 5/20 rule : The rule allows an
providing safe, efficient air traffic and Indian carrier to fly abroad only
aeronautical communication services after it has completed five years of
in the Indian Air Space. The authority domestic operations and maintains
a fleet of 20 aircrafts.
manages 125 airports.
Major Aviation Commenced Owner
Industry operations

IndiGo 8 April 2006 Rahul Bhatia of Inter Globe Enterprises

and Rakesh Gangwal
Jet Airways and Jetlite 1st April, 1992 Naresh Goyal
SpiceJet 5th May, 1993 ModiLuft
Air India 15th October, 1932 JRD Tata
Go Air November 2005 Bombay Dyeing and Britannia
Air India Express 29th April, 2005 Govt. of India
AirAsia India 28th March 2013 Tony Fernandes
Air Costa 15 October, 2013 LEPL group

100 Golden Years of Civil Director General of Civil Aviation

Aviation in India: (DGCA).
1911:The first commercial civil 1934:Formation of Indian Aircraft
aviation flight in India took place in Act.
1937:Regulation of Indian Aircraft
India between Allahabad and Naini,
Act.
covering a distance of 6 miles.
1948:Prem Mathur became the first
1912:The first London-Karachi-Delhi
female commercial pilot to start flying
flight was introduced by Indian State for Deccan Airways, as she obtained
Air Services in collaboration with UK her commercial pilot’s license in 1947.
based Imperial Airways. 1953:Nationalization of entire airline
1924:Construction of civil airports industry under the Air Corporations
in India in Calcutta at Dum Dum, Act.
Allahabad at Bamrauli and in 1956:Ms. Durba Banerjee was
Bombay in Gilbert Hill. inducted as the first woman pilot of
1929:JRD Tata became the first Indian Airlines.
licensed pilot of Federation 1972:Airport Authority of India
Aeronautique International on behalf constituted.
of the Aero Club of India and Burma. 1976:Airbus A300 was introduced
1931:Lt Col. Shelmerdine became the for domestic services.
B-496 Communication, Transport, News and Media

1990-93:Entry of private airlines after 2010:The colossal Terminal 3 (T-3)

the de-regulation of the civil aviation integrated terminal was inaugurated
sector. at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi
2006:Government approved International Airport.
restructuring and modernisation 2012:In September foreign airlines
of Mumbai and Delhi Airport have given permission to attain a stake
through Public Private Partnership. of up to 49% in domestic airlines.
BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN INDIA
Rank Name City State IATA Code
1. Indira Gandhi International Airpot Delhi Delhi DEL
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Mumbai Maharashtra BOM
Airport
3. Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore Karnataka BLR
4. Chennai International Airport Chennai Tamil Nadu MAA
5. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Kolkata West CCU
International Airport Bengal
6. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad Telangana HYD
7. Cochin International Airport
8. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Ahmedabad Gujarat AMD
Airport
9. Pune International Airport Pune Maharashtra PNQ
10. Goa International Airport Dabolim Goa GOI

Water Ways
India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, contributing about 1% to the
country’s transportation. It comprises rivers,canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.
At present, 5,685 km of major rivers are navigable by mechanised flat bottom
vessels.For the development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways
in the country,the Inland Waterways Authority was set up in1986.
NATIONAL WATERWAYS OF INDIA
Waterways Stretch Specification
NW 1 Allahabad-Haldia It is divided into three parts for
stretch (1,620 km) developmental purposes– (i) Haldia-
Farakka (560 km), (ii) Farakka-Patna
(460 km), (iii) Patna- Allahabad (600 km).
NW 2 Sadiya-Dhubri stretch Brahmaputra is navigable by steamers up
(891 km) to Dibrugarh (1,384 km) which is shared
by India
and Bangladesh.
NW 3 Kottapuram-Kollam It includes 168 km of west coast canal
stretch (205 km). along with Champakara canal (23 km)
and Udyogmandal canal (14 km).
NW 4 Specified streches of Godavari
and Krishna rivers along with
Kakinada Puducherry stretch of
canals (1078 km)
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-497

NW 5 Specified stretches of river

Brahmani along with Matai
river, delta channels
of Mahanadi and Brahmani
rivers and East Coast canals
(588km).

Ports •• The Major Ports are administered

Indian coastline is about 7516.6 by the central government’s
kilometers and it is one of the biggest shipping ministry.
•• The Minor and Intermediate ports
peninsulas in the world. It is serviced
are administered by the relevant
by 12 major ports, 200 notified minor
departments or ministries in the
and intermediate ports. Maharashtra
nine coastal states.
(48) has the maximum number of The Coastal States in India are Andhra
non-major ports followed by Gujarat Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil
(42) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa,
(23). Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Name of the Port Coast State
Kandla Western Coast Gujarat
Mumbai Western Coast Maharashtra
Jawaharlal Nehru Western Coast Maharashtra
Marmugoa Western Coast Goa
Manglore Western Coast Karnataka
Kochi Western Coast Kerala
Haldia Eastern Coast West Bengal
Paradip Eastern Coast Odisha
Vishakapatnam Eastern Coast Andhra Pradesh
Chennai Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu
Ennore Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu
Tutikorin Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu

Interesting Facts about Major

Ports of India
•• Kandla Port is located on the Gulf
of Kutch. It is the largest port of
India by volume of cargo handled.
It is a tidal port having a free trade
zone.
•• Mumbai Port is the biggest
port in our country. It handles
one-fifth of India’s foreign trade
with predominance in dry cargo
and mineral oil from the Gulf
countries.
B-498 Communication, Transport, News and Media

•• Jawaharlal Nehru is the trend- •• Paradip Port is an artificial and

setter of port development in India deep-water port.
through new initiatives like private •• Ennore Port, officially renamed
sector participation. Kamarajar Port Limited, is the
•• Mormugao Port is the leading iron only corporatised major port and
ore exporting port of India with is registered as a company.
an annual out-put of around 27.33 •• Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the
million tonnes of iron ore traffic. largest container port in India.
•• New Mangalore Port is an all
It was formerly known as Nhava
weather port and the only major
Sheva port.
port of Karnataka. Panambur is
•• Tuticorin Port is an artificial deep-
the site of sea port called New
sea harbour of India. Tuticorin
Mangalore Port.
Port is officially known as VO
•• Kochi port is a natural harbour
on the west coast. It largely Chidambaranar Port.
handles coal, petroleum products, •• Madras Port is the one of the
fertilisers, raw materials and oldest port of India and the second
general cargo. largest port in the country.

NEWS & MEDIA

Newspaper
Newspaper is the print media usually prints information, the activities and
happenings around us, generally categorized into daily and weekly basis. It
was introduced way back in 1780.
Quick facts
Event Publishing Name of the Publication
Year
First newspaper in India 1780 Hicky’s Bengal Gazette or
Calcutta General
First newspaper from Bombay 1789 Bombay Herald
First newspaper in Hindi 1854 Samachar Sudha Varshan

Registrar of Newspapers is a statutory body of Government of India which is

popularly known as RNI. It was established on 1st July 1956 with an objective
of regulating and monitoring the printing and publication of newspapers based
on the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. It has both statutory and
non-statutory functions.

E-paper : It is a display technology which is the reusable and refreshable ver-

sion of a traditional newspaper that hold information electronically. This type of
newspaper is available free of cost on internet and can be accessed anywhere.
Communication, Transport, News and Media B-499

TOP DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN INDIA (ACCORDING INDIAN

READERSHIP SURVEY 2014)
Newspaper Language Owner
1 Dainik Jagran Hindi Owned by Jagran Prakashan Ltd.
2 Hindustan Hindi Owned by Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd.
owned by HT Media Ltd
3 Dainik Bhaskar Hindi Owned by D B Corp Ltd.
4 Malayala Manorama Malayalam Owned by Malayala Manorama Company Ltd.
5 Daily Thanthi Tamil Founded by S. P. Adithanar
6 Rajasthan Patrika Hindi Owned by Rajasthan Patrika Pvt. Ltd.
7 Amar Ujala Hindi Owned by Amar Ujala Publications Ltd.
8 Times of India English Owned by Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd.
9 Mathrubhumi Malayalam Owned by The Mathrubhumi Group
10 Lokmat Marathi Owned by Lokmat Media Limited
11 Ananda Bazar Bengali Owned by Ananda Publishers
Patrika
12 Hindustan Times English Owned by HT Media Ltd

TOP TEN INTERNATIONAL DAILY NEWSPAPERS

Name of the Newspaper Country of Publication
The New York Times United States
The Daily Mail United Kingdom
The People’s Daily China
The Washington Post United States
The Daily Telegraph United Kingdom
The Guardian United Kingdom
USA Today United States
The Wall Street Journal United States
China Daily China
Los Angeles Times United States
The Independent United Kingdom
The Times of India India
The Examiner United States
Daily News United States
Financial Times United Kingdom
Press Trust of India (PTI) was located at Sansad Marg, New Delhi
incorporated in Madras on, 27th and D N Road, Mumbai respectively.
August, 1947 but started providing It has a news channel known as PTI-
full-fledged news and information both TV featuring documentaries.
in Hindi and English medium from 1st United News of India (UNI) was
February,1949.It’s a non-profit sharing founded on December 1961under
cooperative organization and known the company acts. However its
for its unbiased news coverage. The commercial application started on
corporate and registered officesare 21st March 1961.
B-500 Communication, Transport, News and Media

Samachar Bharti came into being largest in the world (after Associated
in 1967. It was supported by states Press and Reuters). AFP has regional
like Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and offices in Nicosia, Montevideo, Hong
Karnataka. Samchar Bharti is well Kong, and Washington, D.C., and
known for its services of news, sports, bureaus in 150 countries. It transmits
entertainment image stories and many news in French, English, Arabic,
more. It merged with other three Portuguese, Spanishand German.
agencies to form a nationalized news AP (Associated Press) is one of the
agency Samachar inFebruary 1976. largest and most trusted sources of
Prasar Bharti is an autonomous body independent newsgathering. It is neither
set up by an Act of Parliament on 23 privately owned nor government-
Nov, 1997. It has two major divisions funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news
Doordarshan Television Network and cooperative owned by its American
All India Radio. It is known to be the newspaper and broadcast members.
largest broadcasting agency in India. Founded in 1846, AP has covered all
All India Radio (AIR) or Akashwani the major news events of the past 165
was formed in 1930 as a part of Prasar years, providing high-quality, informed
Bharti. It is considered to be one of reporting of everything from wars and
the nation’s premier Public Service elections to championship games and
Broadcasters which truly lives up to royal weddings.Since the Pulitzer
its motto of ‘Bahujan Hitaya: Bahujan Prize was established, in 1917, AP
Sukhaya’.At the beginning AIR started has received 51 Pulitzers, including
broadcasting in 23 languages and 146 31 photo Pulitzers.AP headquartered
in New York, operates in more than
dialects.
280 locations worldwide.
Doordarshan was launched on 15
BBC (The British Broadcasting)
September, 1959 as a part of Prasar
Corporation is the public service
Bharti with the motto Satyam Shivam
broadcaster of the United Kingdom,
Sundaram. It provides television, head-quartered at Broadcasting House
radio, online and mobile services in London. It is the world’s oldest
throughout metropolitan and regional national broadcasting organisation and
India with more than 60 channels the largest broadcaster in the world. The
which broadcast programmes in BBC is established under a Royal Charter
almost all regional languages along and operates under its Agreement with
with Hindi and English. It has also a the Secretary of State for Culture, Media
wide spread network in the overseas and Sport. The history goes back to June
also. 1920 when Britain’s first live public
Reuters is an English news service broadcast from the Marconi factory in
opened in London by Julius Reuter Chelms ford took place.
in 1851, and now the most important Al Jazeera It is a Doha-based state
institution of its kind in the British Empire. funded broadcaster owned by the Al
It has correspondents in all the great Jazeera Media Network, Partly funded
news centres of the world and furnishes by the house of Thani, the ruling
telegraph and other news features family of Qatar. It is one of the largest
throughout the eastern hemisphere and, news organizations with 80 bureaus
to some extent, to Latin America, the around the world. The channel was
United States and Canada. launched on 1st November 1996
A F P Agence France-Presse (AFP) following the closure of the BBC’s
is an international news agency. The Arabic language telivision station.
head-quarter of AFP is located in Paris. Hamid bin Thamer Al thani is the
It was founded in 1944. It is the third chairman of the channel.
EDUCATION AND
CAREER
B-502 Education and Career

UPSC
Union Public Service Commission Indian Forest Service
(UPSC) is one of the many Examination
constitutional bodies in India. It is
IFS officers are recruited through
authorized to conduct competitive
examinations and interviews for the IFS examination conducted
recruitment of civil services, defence annually by the Union Public Service
services and posts under the Union Commission. The examination is
Government or Central Government. open to graduates in any science
Some of the most sought after or engineering discipline and has a
exams are as follows: three-stage selection process including
•• Civil Services Examination Preliminary Examination (Objective-
•• Indian Forest Service examination type questions), Main Examination
•• Engineering Services Examination (Written and Interview) spanning
•• Combined Defence Services nearly seven months. The officers
Examination while in field postings in their
•• National Defence Academy state cadres work for conservation,
Examination protection and development of forests
and wildlife along with an aim to
•• Combined Medical Services
enhance livelihood opportunities of
Examination
forest dependent communities of rural
Civil Services Examination and tribal areas.
It is conducted by the UPSC. Top Engineering Services
services offered by this examination Examination
are: IAS (Indian Administrative
Union Public Service Commission
Service), IPS (Indian Police Service),
(UPSC) conducts Engineering Services
IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IRS Examination as a combined competitive
(Indian Revenue Service), Indian examination for recruitment to
Customs and Central Excise Service the services or posts of Electrical
etc. There are total twenty-four Engineering, Civil Engineering,
services offered through this single Mechanical Engineering, and
examination. Considering the Electronics and Telecommunication
importance and the nature of the Engineering. The exam is conducted for
jobs, UPSC takes utmost care in selection of engineers for government’s
selecting the right people. A three engineering organizations, such as
level examination is conducted to Indian Railway Service of Engineers
achieve this purpose which include (IRSE), Central Engineering Service
Preliminary Examination (Objective- (CES), Military Engineering Services
type questions), Main Examination (MES), etc. The entrance comprises
(Descriptive-type questions), and of a Written Exam (section I and II)
interview test. and an Interview.
Education and Career B-503

Combined Defence Services Executive and Technical Branches

Examination of the Navy subject to availability
CDS Exam or Combined Defence of vacancies. The examination
Service Examination is an exam consists of 2 Papers-Mathematics
conducted twice every year by (300 marks) and General Ability
Union Public Service Commission Test (600 marks) with objective
(UPSC). It is an exam to induct type questions, inclusive of negative
marking for every wrong answer.
officers into the Indian Defence
Forces i.e. the Army and the Air Combined Medical Services
force. The entrance comprises of Examination
a Written Exam followed by and The “Combined Medical Services”
Intelligence and Personality Test. Examination or the CMS Exam
National Defence Academy is conducted by the Union
Examination Public Service Commission for
recruitment as Medical Officer in
This exam is conducted for various organizations such as the
admission to the Army, Navy and Indian Ordnance Factories, Indian
Air Force wings of the NDA and Railways functioning under the
for Indian Naval Academy Course Government of India. There is an
(INAC) by UPSC. It is an exam to objective-type written examination
induct cadets into the Indian Defence with two papers of two hours
Forces i.e. the Army and the Air duration, each carrying a maximum
force. The candidates Joining Indian of 250 marks. This is followed by a
Naval Academy would undergo Personality Test carrying 100 marks
4 years B.Tech Course and would of candidates who qualify on the
be given an opportunity to join results of the written examination.

SSC
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Officer, one Assistant Director (OL),
is an Indian organization to recruit 24 Section Officers and more than 183
staff for various posts in the various supporting officers / staff working
Ministries and Departments of at the Headquarters for discharging
the Government of India and in the duties and responsibilities of the
Subordinate Offices by administering Commission.
various competitive exams. SSC (like UPSC) is an organization
Headquartered in Delhi, this entrusted with the task of conducting
commission is an attached office of the examinations and/or interviews,
Department of Personnel and Training whenever required for recruitment
(DoPT) which consists of Chairman, people for government jobs at
two Members and a Secretary-cum- subordinate (Non-Gazetted) levels.
Controller of Examinations. Besides, The examinations which are
there are post of one Director, one conducted under the purview off SSC
Deputy Secretary, two Joint Directors, are broadly categorized as:
nine Under Secretaries, four Deputy 1. Open Examinations
2. Departmental Examinations
Directors, one Finance & Budget
B-504 Education and Career

OPEN EXAMINATION Career options after choosing

S. No. Name of the Examinations SSC or its branches
1 Combined Graduate Level Ever since its inception in
Examination November 1975, the Staff Selection
2 Tax Assistant Examination Commission recruits Indians to
3 Statistical Investigators (SSS) Group B governmental posts, Group
Grade IV Examination C technical posts, and more. SSC
4 Junior Engineers(Civil and has announced the prospective
Elect) Examination job vacancies open for suitable
5 Junior Translators (CSOLS) candidates in 2015. Indian citizens
Examination have the option to apply for 62,390
6 Section Officer (Commercial job vacancies across governmental
Audit) Examination organizations like:
7 Deputy Field Officer (Cab Sect) •• Assistants, in CSS, AFHQ, MEA
Examination etc, Inspectors in Central Excise/
8 Data Entry Operator (DEO) Preventive Officer/Income Tax,
Examination Inspector of Posts, Sub Inspector
9 Sub Inspector in CPOs in CBI, Divisional Accountants,
Examination Auditors, UDC etc
10 Section Officer (Audit) •• Tax Assistant in CBDT and CBEC
Examination •• Statistical Investigators (SSS)
11 Combined Matric Level
Grade IV in Dept. of Statistics
Examination
•• Junior Engineers (Civil and
Elect) in CPWD/Dept. of Posts,
12 Section Officer (Accounts) Military Engineering Service
Examination •• Junior Translators of CSOLS
DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATIONS Cadre in DOL
•• Section Officer (Commercial Audit )
S. No. Name of the Examinations •• Deputy Field Officer (Cabinet
1 Grade ‘C’ Stenographers Ltd. Sect)
Depttl. Compt. Examination •• Data Entry Operator (DEO)
2 UD Grade Ltd. Depttl. Compt. •• Sub Inspector in CPOs
Examination •• Section Officer (Audit)
•• Steno Grade “C”, Steno Grade
3 Clerks Grade (For Group ‘D’ “D”, and LDC
Staff only) Examination
•• Section Officer (Accounts)
BANKING
IBPS PO & Clerk SBI PO & CLERK
Candidates aspiring for a Probationary State Bank of India (SBI) accepts
Officer (PO) and Clerk in any Indian application form through offline or
Public Sector banks have to go online for recruitment of Probationary
through the compulsory IBPS exams. Officer (PO). Candidates who have
Recruitment under the IBPS includes completed their graduation or above
a three-tier process consisting of a qualification from any recognized
Preliminary exam of 100 marks of 60 university are eligible to apply.
minutes duration, followed by a mains The selection of the candidates is
exam of 200 marks with duration done in three phases which include
of 120 minutes for the shortlisted Preliminary Examination, Main
candidates and finally the third tier Examination, and Group Discussion
is an Interview. and Interview.
Education and Career B-505

The SBI Clerks selection is based on sections carries 40 marks, which

an online objective test consisting of makes it a total of 200 marks and
General English, General Awareness, the candidates have to complete the
Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning test within a span of 2 hours and 15
Ability, and Marketing Aptitude/ minutes.
Computer Knowledge. Each of the
VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL TESTS
SAT GRE GMAT IELTS TOEFL
Reason Used by most Used as Required for An Required for
to take U.S. colleges a judging admissions international testing the
the test to determine parameter in graduate test of English language
whether by most U.S. management English proficiency
students colleges to programs of language of non-native
should be determine most business Proficiency English speakers
accepted into admissions schools. for non- wishing to enrol
the institution’s to master’s native in American
undergraduate and doctoral English universities.
programs. degree language
programs. speakers
for higher
education
and
immigration.
Structure The SAT The GRE The GMAT The IELTS Has internet
of the consists of a consists of consists of test has four based test and
test 70 minutes Analytical analytical sections paper based test.
Critical Reading Writing writing Listening (30 The internet
section (one section assessment minutes plus based test has
20-min section (1 hour), (30 min), 10 minutes’ reading (60–100
and two 25- Verbal integrated transfer min), listening
min sections); Reasoning reasoning (30 time), (60–90 min),
a 70 minutes section (20 min for 12 Reading (60 speaking (20 min)
Math section questions in questions), the minutes), and writing (50
(one 20-min 30 minutes) quantitative Writing (60 min). And the
section and and 2 section (75 minutes) and paper based test
two 25-min sections of min for 37 Speaking Listening (30 – 40
sections) and Quantitative questions), (11–14 min), Structure
a 60 minutes Reasoning and the verbal minutes) and Written
Writing section (20 section (75 Expression (25
(one 25-min questions in min for 41 min), Reading
essay, one 35 minutes) questions) Comprehension
25-min section, (55 min) and
and one 10- Writing (30 min).
min section)
Format It is a The test is a The GMAT is The test The TOEFL
paper-based Computer- a computer- involves 2 is either
standardized based or based modules Internet-based
test. paper-based standardized of the or paper-based
standardized test. IELTS: the standardized test.
test. Academic
Module and
the General
Training
Module.
B-506 Education and Career

Scoring 200–800 Analytical The total score The test is The iBT test
(in 10-point writing ranges from scored on a is scored on a
increments) on scored from 200 to 800 nine-band scale of 0 to 120
each of three 0.0 to 6.0 and Scores scale, with points whereas
sections (total (in 0.5 point are given in each band the PBT score
600–2400). increments), increments equivalent to ranges between
Essay scored Verbal of 10. a specified 310 and 677 and
on scale reasoning competence is based Listening
of 0–12, and in English. (31–68), Structure
in 1-point Quantitative (31–68), and
increments. reasoning Reading (31–67).
marked on
the scale of
130 to 170
(in 1 point
increments)
each.
Test 3 hours and 45 Around 3 3.5 hours 2 hours, 45 Internet-based
duration minutes hours and 45 minutes test: 3 hours 10
minutes minutes to 4
hours 20 minutes
Paper-based
test: 2 hours 20
minutes to 2
hours 30 minutes.
Validity 5 years 5 years 5 years 2 years 2 years

TOP TEN UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA
2. University of Cambridge UK
3. Imperial College London UK
4. Harvard University USA
5. University of Oxford UK
6. UGL (University College London) UK
7. Stanford University USA
8. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) USA
9. Princeton University USA
10. Yale University USA
CAREER OPTIONS
Management
MBA, Brand management, Hotel Management, Corporate communication, customer
relationship management, Disaster Management, Event Management, Finanace
management, Hospital management, HR, Foreign trade, Investment management,
Library mangement, Logistics management, Museology - Museium management,
Purchase management, Quality Assurance management, Real estate management,
Retail management, Rheumatology, Rural management, Scurities analyst, Sports
management, Telemarketing
Education and Career B-507

Medical
MBBS, BDS, BAMS, Anesthesiology, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Cardiology, Clinical
research, Dermatology, Epidemiology, Gastroentology, Gynecology, Hydro therapy,
Magnetic therapy, Medical transcription, Music therapy, Naturopathy, Nephrology,
Neurology, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietics, Occupational therapy, Optometry,
Osteopathy, ENT, Pediatrics, Physiotherapy, Psychiatry, Psychology, Radiography,
Reflexology, Veterinary science
Other Science Courses
BSc, BSc - Bio technology, BSc - Micro biology, BSc- Criminology, BSc- Genetics,
BSc. - Nursing, BSc. - Information technology, Agriculture Sciense, Anthropology,
Archaelogy, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Biotechnology,
Botany, cartography, criminology, Entomology, Environmental science, Fishery
science, Floriculture, Forestry/ wildlife, Fragrance chemists/perfumers, Geophysics,
Gerontology, Home science, Horticulture, Marine biology, Microbiology,
Oceanography, Poleontology (study of fossils), Photonics, Political science,
Sericulture, Speech pathology and audilogy, Toxicology, Cosmetology, Behavioural
science
Engineering
Aeronautical Engineering, Agriculture Engineering, Animation, Automobile
Engeenering, Biomedical engineering, Broadcast Engineering, Architecture,
Chemical, Civil, Cloud computing, CAD, Computer, Computer system analyst, Dairy
technology, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental engineering, Ethical hacking, Fire
engineering, Food technololgy, Footwear technology, Gaming industry, Gemology,
Genetic engineering, Graphic Designing, Industrial Engineering, Instrumentation
Engineering, Leather Technology, Marine engineering, Mechanical engineering,
Mechatronics engineering, Medical laboratory technology, Mining engineering,
Nanotechnology, Nuclear engineering, Ocean engineering, Paint technology,
Petroleum engineering, Pharmaceutical technology / engineering, Polymer/
plastic engineering, Robotics engineering, Rotoscoping, Strutural engineering,
Surgical technology, Telecommunication engineering, Textile technology, Thermal
engineering, Transportation engineering, VLSI/chip designing, Web designing
Accountancy/Economics
Agriculture Economics, Auditing, Issurance, CS, Banking, CA
Sports
Adventure Sports, Fitness trainer, Coach
Arts
Dance, Music, DJ, Fashion choregraphy, Interior desigining, Jewellery designing,
Makeup artist, Photography, Photojournalism, Radio jockey, Video jockey
Food/ Catering
Chef, Chocolatier, Food critic, Oenology,
Education and training
Corporate training, Counselling, Creative writing, Foreign language, Lexicography
Other Professions
Adventure Tourism, Mass Communication, Advertising, Air Hostess, Fashion
Designing, Anchoring, Modelling, Cinematography, Film making, Commercial pilot,
Detectives/private investigators, Merchant navy
Defence
Chief of Army Staff, Flying Branch, Technical Branch, Ground duty branch, Pilot,
Air traffic Controller, Logistic Cadre, Adjutant General, Quarter Master General,
Master General of Ordnance, Military Secretary, Engineer- in-Chief
B-508 Education and Career

MOST SOUGHT-AFTER COURSES

Engineering Course Duration: 4 years for B.E
Premier institutions: The Indian or B. Tech in Electronics and
Institutes of Technology (IITs), Communication Engineering.
Birla Institute of Technology & Electrical Engineering: Electrical
Science (BITS), Indian Institutes Engineering deals with the study and
of Information Technology (IIITs), application of electricity, electronics,
National Institutes of Technology and electromagnetism. The focus of
(NIT) and many more. the course remains on designing and
Major Branches of Engineering: testing ICs, inductors, capacitors and
Mechanical Engineering: The resistors.
branch applies the principles of Eligibility: Must have appeared in
engineering, physics and material the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry
science for the design, analysis, and Mathematics as core subjects.
manufacturing and maintenance of Course Duration: 4 years for B.E or
mechanical systems. B.Tech in Electrical Engineering.
Eligibility: Aspirants must have Civil Engineering: The discipline
appeared in the 10+2 with Physics, of Civil Engineering deals with the
Chemistry and Mathematics as core various aspects of planning, designing,
subjects. construction, maintenance and
Course Duration: 4 years for B.E or modification of physical structure
B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. and naturally built environment.
Computer Science Engineering: Eligibility: Should have passed 10+2
Computer Science engineering deals from a recognized board with Science-
with design, implementation, and Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
management of information system of with 50 percent.
both software & hardware processes.
Course Duration: 4 years for B.E or
A computer engineer specializes in
theory of computation and design of B.Tech in Civil Engineering.
computational systems. Information Technology:
Eligibility: Must have appeared in Information Technology is the
the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry study of utilizing computers and
and Mathematics as core subjects. telecommunications in order to
Course Duration: 4 years for B.E control, gather, store and circulate
or B.Tech in Computer Science information.
engineering. Eligibility: Should have passed
Electronics and Communication 10+2 from a recognized board with
Engineering: This branch of Science- Mathematics, Physics and
engineering develops everyday devices Chemistry with 50 percent.
such as transistors, integrated circuits Course Duration: 4 years for B.E or
and printed circuit boards (PCBs) B.Tech in Information Technology.
which can be used in computers, Aeronautical Engineering: Aeronautical
MP3 players, cell phones, television
engineering is the specialized branch of
to name a few.
engineering for the aviation industry.
Eligibility: Must have appeared in It involves studying, designing,
the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry construction and science of the airplanes
and Mathematics as core subjects. and other spacecraft.
Education and Career B-509

Eligibility: Should have passed Major courses of Medical:

10+2 from a recognized board with M.B.B.S: MBBS (Bachelor of
Science- Mathematics, Physics and Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
Chemistry with 50 percent. is the bachelor degree in medical
Course Duration: 4 years for B.Tech field for cure & diagnose.
in Aeronautical Engineering. Eligibility: Should have secured
Architecture Engineering: Architecture 50% marks in physics, chemistry,
Engineering is the area of study, which biology and English in the ‘10+2’
deals with the designing, and planning examinations.
of buildings and structures and the Course Duration: The course
spaces between them. duration is 5½ years (4½ years of
Eligibility: Should have passed classroom study followed by a year
10+2 from a recognized board with of rotating internship)
Science- Mathematics, Physics and B.D.S : The BDS (Bachelor of Dental
Surgery) is the only educational and
Chemistry with 50 percent.
professional programme of dental
Course Duration: 5-year Bachelor of
surgery in India.
Architecture degree programme.
Eligibility : Candidates should have
Chemical Engineering: Chemical
passed the 10+2 examination with
Engineering is concerned with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and
the design, construction, and English.
operation of machines and plants Course duration: The BDS is a 5
that perform chemical reactions to year (4 years academic education +
solve practical problems or make 1 year mandatory internship) UG
useful products. It deals with the degree programme.
application of physical science and B.H.M.S: BHMS (Bachelor of
life sciences with mathematic, to the Homeopathic Medicine and
process of converting raw materials Surgery) is an undergraduate degree
or chemicals into more useful or programme in medical field. This
valuable forms. degree covers the medical knowledge
Eligibility: Should have passed of the homeopathic system.
10+2 from a recognized board with Eligibility: Students should have
Science- Mathematics, Physics and passed 10+2 examination with
Chemistry with 50 percent. physics, chemistry and biology.
Course Duration: 4 years for B.Tech Course Duration: 5.5 years academic
in Chemical Engineering. programme containing the 4 and
1/2 year academic session and one
Medical year internship programme.
Premier institutions: All India B.A.M.S: Bachelor of Ayurvedic
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
Delhi, Armed Forces Medical College is an integrated Indian Degree
(AFMC), Pune, Christian Medical in the medical field. This degree
College (CMC), Vellore, Maulana programme is conferred to those
Azad Medical College (MAMC), students who studied the modern
Delhi, (JIPMER) Jawaharlal Institute medicines and traditional Ayurveda.
of Postgraduate Medical Education Eligibility: Should have passed 10+2
& Research, Pondicherry, and many examination with physics, chemistry
more. and biology.
B-510 Education and Career

Course Duration: 5 years and 6 month classes in journalism, writing and

degree programme containing the 4 communications. Students must
and 1/2 year academic session and complete both a broad liberal arts
one year internship programme. education and rigorous writing
B. Pharma: Bachelor of Pharmacy course work.
or B.Pharma is an undergraduate Eligibility: Pass with 50% aggregate
degree course in Pharmacy. After marks in 10+2 or equivalent (with
the completion of this degree, English)
the students can practise as a Course Duration: 3 years
Pharmacist. Master of Journalism and Mass
Eligibility: Must have passed Communication (MJMC):
10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, It is an academically-oriented degree
Mathematics or Biology and must that prepares students for doctoral
have scored minimum of 50%
studies or a career in research.
marks.
Eligibility: Graduation.
Course Duration: This duration of
Course Duration: 2 years
this course is 4 years.
M.D: M.D (Doctor of Medicine) Law
is awarded to the doctors who are
Premier Institutions: National Law
physicians.
School of India University (Bangalore);
Eligibility: The minimum eligibility
National Academy of Legal Studies
for this course is MBBS.
Course Duration: 3 years and Research (Hyderabad); National
M.S: This degree is awarded to Law University (Delhi); Faculty Of
the doctors who master course in Law, BHU; Faculty of Law, Aligarh
surgery. Muslim University; University School
Eligibility: The minimum eligibility of Law & Legal Studies, GGSIPU and
for this course is MBBS. many more.
Course Duration: 3 years Major courses of Law:
LLB (Bachelor of Law): It is an
Mass Communication undergraduate law course. The degree
Premier Institutions : Symbiosis felicitates a student to become a lawyer
Institute of Media & Communication or work in a legal department.
(Pune); Amity School of Eligibility: Graduate or equivalent
Communication (Noida); Delhi Course of Duration: 3 years
College of Arts & Commerce; LLM (Masters in Law): The
Manipal Institute of Communications; University Grants Commission
Department of Media Studies, Christ approved one-year LLM courses in
University (Bangalore); St. Xavier’s India on 6 September 2012 and the
College (Mumbai); Institute of Mass guideline for the same was notified
Communication Media Technology in January, 2013.
(Kurukshetra) and many more. Eligibility: Should have cleared LL.B./
Main Branches of Mass Five-Year Integrated LL.B./any other
Communication equivalent examination with minimum
Bachelor of Journalism and 55% marks for General/OBC/PWD
Mass Communication (BJMC): categories and minimum 50% marks
Bachelor’s programs in journalism for SC/ST categories
and mass communication combine Course of Duration: 2 years
Education and Career B-511

Business & Management Centre of Learning and Development,

Premier Institutions: Christ Welcomgroup Graduate School of
University; Symbiosis Centre Hotel Administration (WGSHA)
for Management Studies; Amity Manipal, Christ College Bangalore.
International Business School; Indian Major courses of Hotel Management
Institutes of Management (IIMs); Bachelor of Hotel Management
XLRI (Xavier Labour Relations (BHM)
Institute) Jamshedpur; FMS (Faculty Eligibility: The candidate should
of Management Studies) Delhi; have passed 10+2 stage examination
JBIMS (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Course duration: 3 years
Management Studies) Mumbai. Bachelor of Science in Hotel
Major courses of Business & Management: The program teaches
students the necessary technical,
Management
organizational, and communication
Bachelor of Business Administration
skills needed to manage restaurants,
(BBA) : It is a bachelor’s degree in
hotels, and other places where
commerce and business administration.
hospitality is essential to the nature
Eligibility: Should have passed 10+2
of the business.
with at least 50% marks.
Eligibility: Must have passed Class 10+2
Course Duration: 3 years
examination with at least 50% marks.
Master of Business Administration
Course Duration: 4 years
(MBA): It is a master’s degree in
business administration (management). TOP TEN EDUCATIONAL
Eligibility: The minimum eligibility INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA
criterion for admission is at least a
3-year bachelor’s degree with at least 1. Indian Institute of Technology
50 per cent marks or equivalent. Delhi (IITD)
Course Duration: 2 years 2. Indian Institute of Technology
The following are the list of some of Bombay (IITB)
the specialization in MBA Courses 3. Indian Institute of Technology
in India: Kanpur (IITK)
•• Finance 4. Indian Institute of Technology,
•• Marketing Madras (IITM)
•• Human Recourse (HR) 5. Indian Institute of Technology
•• International Business (IB) Karagpur
•• Health Care Management 6. Indian Institute of Technology
•• Operations Roorkee (IITR)
•• Banking and Finance 7. University of Delhi
•• Sales and Marketing 8. Indian Institute of Technology
Hotel Management Guwahati (IITG)
Premier Institutions: Institutes of 9. University of Calcutta
Hotel Management (IHM), Oberoi 10. University of Mumbai

UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

The University Grants Commission Governments on the measures which
(UGC) is a constitutional organization are necessary for the development of
established in 1956 by an Act of Higher Education. Its headquarters
Parliament. It provides grants to is situated in New Delhi and the
eligible universities and colleges, and other six Regional offices are located
also advises the Central and State in Bangalore, Bhopal, Guwahati,
B-512 Education and Career

Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. Indian government has set a National Institutional
of Ranking Framework under UGC which will rank all educational institutes
by April 2016. Prof. Ved Prakash is the incumbent Chairman of UGC. The
commission along with CSIR conducts NET for appointments of teachers
in colleges and universities. It has made NET qualification mandatory for
teaching at Graduation level and at Post Graduation level since July 2009.
ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR
TECHNICAL EDUCATION (AICTE)
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the statutory body
and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of
Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development. The council
was established in November 1945 as an advisory body but 1987 was given
statutory status by an Act of Parliament. It is responsible for proper planning
and coordinated development of the technical education and management
education system in India. The AICTE accredits postgraduate and graduate
programs under specific categories at Indian institutions as per its charter.
What is a deemed university?
Deemed university, or “Deemed-to-be-University”, is a status of autonomy
granted by the Department of Higher Education in the Union Human
Resource Development Ministry, on the advice of the UGC, under Section
3 of UGC Act, 1956. The status allows full autonomy in courses, syllabus,
admissions and fees. The first institute to be granted deemed university
status was Indian Institute of Science which was granted this status on
12th May 1958.

CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY

EDUCATION (C.B.S.E)
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a Board of Education
for public and private schools which functions under the under supervision
of the Union Government of India. CBSE affiliates Kendriya Vidyalayas,
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, private schools and most of the schools
approved by central government of India. It conducts 10th and 12th boards
every year in the month of March. It also conducts AIPMT (All India Pre
Medical Test) for admission to major medical colleges in India. In 2014,
the conduct of the National Eligibility Test for grant of junior research
fellowship and eligibility for assistant professor in institutions of higher
learning was outsourced to CBSE. With the addition of NET in 2014, the
CBSE has become the largest exam conducting body in the world. Vineet
Joshi is the current chairman of the board.

COUNCIL FOR THE INDIAN SCHOOL

CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS (CISCE)
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is a national
level, private, Board of School education in India which conducts the Indian
Certificate of Secondary Education and the Indian School Certificate
examinations for 10th and 12th standard respectively. The board was established
in 1958.
 INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY &
COMPUTERS
B-514 Information Technology & Computers

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information technology is playing vital
role in India today and has transformed What is Digital India Programme?
India’s image from a slow moving Digital India is an initiative of
bureaucratic economy to a land of Government of India to make the
innovative entrepreneurs. government services available to
citizens of India electronically. It
The IT sector in India is generating 2.5 is to be done by improving the web
million direct employment. India is now services and internet connectivity
one of the biggest IT capitals of the all over India. The programme was
modern world. Information technology launched on July 1, 2015 by Prime
in India is an industry consisting of Minister Narendra Modi. The
two major components: core components of the initiative
a. IT services are to create digital infrastructure,
b. Business process outsourcing (BPO). digital literacy and delivery of
services digitally. DigiLocker is
The IT sector has increased its
another feature of the programme
contribution to India’s GDP from
through which Indian citizens will
1.2% in 1998 to 9.5% in 2015.
be able to digitally keep in reserve
According to NASSCOM (The their important documents like
National Association of Software passport, mark sheets, certificates
and Services Companies) is a trade and Election card and Aadhaar
association of Indian Information Card. These electronic documents
Technology (IT) and Business Process safe has been introduced to
Outsourcing (BPO) industry), the sector avoid the hassle of submitting
aggregated revenues of US$147 billion the documents physically with
in 2015, where export revenue stood at government agencies. The other
US$99 billion and domestic at US$48 features of Digital India also include
billion, growing by over 13%. the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)
Indian Government Initiatives Mobile app that will enable people
Some of the major initiatives taken and Government organisations
by the government to promote IT and to achieve goals of SBM. eSign
ITeS sector in India are as follows: framework is a feature that would
enable nationals to digitally sign
1. The Government of India has launched
documents only by making use of
the Digital India programme to provide
Aadhar authentication. E-Hospital
several government services to the
system is yet another important
people using IT and to integrate the
feature that would enable online
government departments and the
people of India. The adoption of key registration, fee payment, fixing
technologies across sectors spurred appointments, checking blood
by the ‘Digital India Initiative’ availability and medical reports
could help boost India’s gross for the users. It is a wholesome
domestic product (GDP) by US$ package to connect citizens with
550 billion to US$ 1 trillion by 2025, many services without having to
as per research sources. India and avail them physically.
the United States (US) have agreed
to jointly explore opportunities for
collaboration on implementing
India’s ambitious Rs 1.13 trillion
(US$ 18.22 billion) ‘Digital India
Initiative’.
Information Technology & Computers B-515

2. Human Resource Development •• PARAM Yuva II: Unveiled on 8

Ministry has launched the National February, 2013, this supercomputer
Web Portal for promotion of was made by Centre for Development
National Apprenticeship Scheme of Advanced Computing and will
for graduates, diploma holders be used for research in space,
and 10+2 pass-outs vocational bioinformatics, weather forecasting,
certificate holders, with a view seismic data analysis, aeronautical
to bridge the gap between the engineering, scientific data
students and the industry. processing and pharmaceutical
3. The Government of Telangana has development. Educational
begun construction of a technology institutes like the Indian Institutes
incubator in Hyderabad—dubbed
of Technology and National
T-Hub—to make the city as a
technology destination. The state Institutes of Technology can be
government is initially investing linked to the computer through
` 35 crore (US$ 5.3 million) to set the national knowledge network.
up a 60,000 sq ft space, labelled This computer is a stepping
the largest start-up incubator stone towards building the future
in the county, at the campus petaflop-range supercomputers in
of International Institute of India. It ranks 174th among the
Information Technology-Hyderabad world’s top 500 supercomputers.
(IIIT-H). Once completed, the IT Trends
project is proposed to be the world’s
biggest start-up incubator housing (a) Internet.org
1,000 start-ups. Social networking services company
Supercomputing in India Facebook along with Samsung,
Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera Software,
India’s supercomputer programme was
Nokia and Qualcomm have moved
started in late 1980s. PARAM 8000 is
considered India’s first supercomputer. into a partnership which is named as
It was indigenously built in 1990 by Internet.org. This coming together of
Centre for Development of Advanced companies is to attain the objective of
Computing and was replicated and bringing affordable access to selected
installed at ICAD Moscow in 1991 services of Internet in countries.
under Russian collaboration. Internet.org was launched in August
Supercomputers of India: 20, 2013 by Mark Zukerberg to
•• Aaditya: It is used for climate improve internet access for people
research and operational forecasting. across the world. In May 2015, it was
It ranks 96th among the world’s announced that Internet.org users
top 500 supercomputers. would be able to use third-party apps
•• Anupam: Anupam is a series of soon. The platform would be made
supercomputers designed and available to all developers to have
developed by Bhabha Atomic their apps on the portal subject to
Research Centre (BARC) for their fulfilling the technical criteria like
internal use. It is mainly used for websites requiring high-bandwidth
molecular dynamical simulations, will be excluded, partner services
reactor physics, theoretical should be optimized for smart
physics, computational chemistry, phones and services should promote
computational fluid dynamics, and the exploration of broader internet
finite element analysis. The latest in wherever possible. The first summit
the series is Anupam-Aagra clocked of Internet.org was held in New
at 150 TFlops. Delhi, India on October 9, 2014.
B-516 Information Technology & Computers

Internet.org has launched its Free personal assistant for the user by
Basics Android application to offer aiding in the easy management of
free web services to its users. calendar, file finding, chatting, telling
(b) Net Neutrality jokes and tracking packages. It gives
Network Neutrality, Internet Neutrality a complete personalized experience
or Net neutrality is a term that was to the user. Office app is of two types
first given by media law professor of for desktop and mobile. The desktop
Columbia University, Tim Wu, in office app enables the users to enjoy
the year 2003. The principle makes advanced features of the traditional
it necessary for the Internet service programmes. Office mobile app are
providers and governments to treat deigned to work in both mobiles and
all Internet data as same. There will tablets. Microsoft Edge on Windows
not be any charges imposed on by 10 allows users to surf the web. It
user, application, type of enclosure, has the feature of Hub that stores
content, website, etc. It is the best way all the stuff the user collects on the
for all to enjoy the usefulness of internet web and when the user signs in with
without any charges. It is a feature of a Microsoft account, all favourites,
net neutrality to allow different websites browsing history, current downloads
to exist side-by-side without affecting and reading lists are available across
others. At the same time and same the Windows 10 devices the user has.
speed, all the websites are accessible Xbox offers games streaming from
for users. Net neutrality will support Xbox. Another appealing feature is
competitive market place by providing Continuum that allows optimization
a chance to each firm irrespective of of the look and behaviour of apps
its size. Net Neutrality has enabled according to users’ preferences.
Google, Facebook and Zomato to
reach various places around the globe. Mobile Trends
Until now, India has had no laws to (a) 4G
govern the net neutrality. Although
Fourth generation, also called as 4G,
Telecom Regulatory Authority of
is the succeeding generation of 3G
India (TRAI) has released rules
in mobile telecommunications. It is
for unified access service license to
encourage net neutrality, they do not an advanced system with advanced
execute them. capabilities of telephony, mobile web,
gaming services, high definition TV,
Free Basics by facebook is video conferencing, 3D television and
a free step to connecting one cloud computing. It is faster and has
billion Indians to jobs, education, better features than its successor 3G.
and opportunities online, and Mobile generations began in 1981
ultimately a better future. with analogue (1G) moving to digital
transmission (2G) in the year 1992.
(c) Windows 10 Then, in 2001, multi-media supported
Windows 10 is a personal computer 3G was introduced. It had peak bite
operating system developed by rate of 200 kb/s. 4G is assumed to
Microsoft. It has launched new have a five times faster speed than its
features to facilitate the users. predecessor 3G. 4G aims at providing
Cortana is a feature that acts as a download speed of 100MB/s.
Information Technology & Computers B-517

(b) Android M management system. Doze is a brainy

Android M is the code name of battery manager that identifies when
Android 6.0 Marshmallow, a version your mobile is not in use and enters
of Android mobile operating system. hibernation to save power. Android
It was first unveiled in May 2015 and Marshmallow takes about 3-5 per
cent of battery life overnight as
officially released in October 2015.
compared to other devices that lose
It offers to improve user experience
about 15-25 per cent. App Standby is
of Lollipop. The system has a new yet another feature that identifies and
“Assist” API that allows sending a disables them when found not in use
screenshot of the application to the for a while. It has also a fingerprint
assistant application for analysis. recognition procedure that is necessary
It has an application ‘Google Now on for allowing third-party application
Tap’ that allows user to search Google installation.
in one step. Alphabet Inc.: At a glance
This version of android has a different
American search engine company,
application permission model like
founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin and
applications do not automatically take Larry Page that is a subsidiary of the
permissions in one click at the time holding company Alphabet Inc. More
of installation. Users can now grant than 70 per cent of worldwide online
or deny individual permissions while search requests are handled by Google,
installing an application. placing it at the heart of most Internet
Marshmallow has introduced ‘Doze’ users’ experience. Its headquarters are
and ‘App standby’ as a new power in Mountain View, California.
Alphabet

Calico Fiber
Fights ngo-rolated Google X Providing super-fast
disooso internet
Worldng on big
Google Ventures bronkthroughs
Google Capital
Calico Funding for “bold
Invosts in long-term
“Smart home” now companlos” toch tronds
products Google

Android Search YouTube Apps Maps Ads

Calico: Calico is a research and

Project Loon: Project Loon
development company whose mission is a research and development
is to harness advanced technologies project. It is developed by Google
to increase our understanding of the X with the mission of providing
biology that controls lifespan. Internet access to rural and
Google X: Google X is a semi-secret remote areas. The project uses
research and development facility high-altitude balloons placed in
created by Google and operated as the stratosphere at an altitude of
a subsidiary of Alphabet. Google about 18 km (11 mi) to create an
Life Sciences, a former division of
Google X became a direct independent aerial wireless network with up to
subsidiary of Alphabet. 4G-LTE speeds.
B-518 Information Technology & Computers

Google Ventures: GV is the venture on Google’s equipment. This type of

capital investment arm of Alphabet deployment, in which both the data and
Inc. It provides seed, venture, and the programs are located somewhere
growth stage funding to technology on the Internet, is often called cloud
companies. The firm operates computing. In 2008 Google released
independently from Google and Chrome, a Web browser with an
makes financially driven investment
advanced JavaScript engine better
decisions. GV seeks to invest in
startup companies in a variety of fields suited for running programmes within
ranging from Internet, software, and the browser.
hardware to life science, healthcare, Android Operating System: Android
artificial intelligence, transportation, is the operating system that powers
cyber security and agriculture. more than one billion smart phones
Google Capital: It is the late-stage and tablets. Since these devices make
growth venture capital fund financed our lives so sweet, each Android version
by Google. It was founded in 2013. is named after a dessert. Whether it’s
It focuses on larger, growth stage getting directions or even slicing virtual
technology companies, and invests fruit, each Android release makes
for profit rather than strategically something new possible. Google’s
for Google. Google Capital’s entry into the lucrative mobile
approach includes giving portfolio operating system market was based on
companies access to Google’s people,
knowledge, and culture to support the its acquisition in 2005 of Android Inc.,
companies’ growth and offer them which at that time had not released
guidance. This includes connecting any products. Two years later Google
them with a roster of advisors. announced the founding of the Open
Handset Alliance, a consortium of
Nest Labs: A Subsidiary of alphabet
dozens of technology and mobile
this is a home automation producer of
telephone companies, including Intel
programmable, self-learning, sensor- Corporation, Motorola, Inc., NVIDIA
driven, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats, Corporation, Texas Instruments
smoke detectors, and other security Incorporated, LG Electronics, Inc.,
systems. It introduced the Nest Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel
Learning Thermostat in 2011 as its Corporation, and T-Mobile (Deutsche
first product. The Nest Protect smoke Telekom).
and carbon monoxide detector was
then introduced in October 2013. Nest Google Earth: In 2004 Google bought
Cam was introduced in June 2015. Keyhole Inc., which was partially
funded by the Central Intelligence
Google Apps and Chrome: In Agency’s venture capital arm, In-
2006, in what many in the industry Q-Tel. Keyhole had developed an
considered the opening salvo in a war online mapping service that Google
with Microsoft, Google introduced rebranded in 2005 as Google Earth.
Google Apps—application software This service let users find detailed
hosted by Google that runs through satellite images of most locations on
users’ Web browsers. The first free Earth and also create combinations
programmes included Google Calendar (known as “mashups”) with various
(a scheduling programme), Google Talk other databases, incorporating details
(an instant messaging programme), and such as street names, weather patterns,
Google Page Creator (a Web-page- crime statistics, coffee shop locations,
creation programme). In order to use real-estate prices, and population
these free programmes, users viewed densities into maps created by Google
advertisements and stored their data Earth.
TECHNOLOGY
B-520 Technology

TOP TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

Biotech & Medical neuronal signals travelling from brain
Breakthroughs to vocal cords.
Tissue Engineering: Tissue engineering Absorbable Heart Stent: The bio-
is a field that applies the principles absorbable version made by Abbott
and methods of bioengineering Laboratories in
and life sciences that will restore, Illinois does its job
maintain, and improve tissue. Current and disappears.
approaches of tissue engineering are After six months
undergoing on organ transplantation the stent begins to
on much emphasis on the application dissolve, and after two years it’s
of stem cells. completely gone, leaving behind a
healthy artery.
Gene Editing: Gene editing is a tool
for the CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Stem cell treatment: Stem cell has
been used to treat range of diseases,
Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)
injuries and other health related
which are the segment of prokaryotic
conditions. The widely used stem cell
DNA containing short repetitions treatment is the transplantation of
of base sequences. Genome editing blood stem cells used to treat disease
techniques were concurrent with other and immune system.
approaches over the years to manipulate
Nanomedicines: Nanomedicine is one
gene function, including homologous of the applications of nanotechnology
recombination and RNA interference. which is used for diagnosing, treating,
Cancer Spit Test: Forget biopsies—a and preventing diseases. Nanomedicine
device designed by researchers at the shoes, the promising use in disease
University of California-Los Angeles diagnosis, drug delivery on a targeted
detects oral cancer from a single drop site in the body and molecular imaging.
of saliva. Nanosensors: Today detection of
Smart Contact Lens: Contact lenses biological and chemical species is the
developed at the University of centre of area in the field of health
California-Davis contain conductive care. Nanosensors are any biological,
wires that continuously monitor chemical, or surgical sensory points
pressure and fluid used to convey information about
flow within the eyes nanoparticles to the macroscopic world.
of at-risk people. Biosensors: Biosensor is a device for the
The lenses then detection of biological component with
relay information a physiochemical detector component.
to a small device Biosensors can convert the biological
worn by the patient; data to electrical signal which can be
the device wirelessly transmits it to a later used to detect enzymes, receptors
computer. antibodies and microbial cell.
Speech Restorer: For people who have
Artificial brain: Artificial brain is a
lost the ability to talk, a new “phonetic
speech engine” from Illinois-based collection of interconnected neural net
Ambient Corporation provides module which is evolved in a special
an audible voice. Developed in electronic hardware downloaded into
collaboration with Texas Instruments, PC and interconnected according to
the Audeo uses electrodes to detect the design of human brain.
Technology B-521

Artificial Intelligence: It is the field Bio-printing: 3D bio-printing is the

of science in which we study how process of creating spatially-controlled
computers and computer softwares cell patterns, in
can be created that are capable of which the behaviour
intelligent behaviour. of biological tissues
can be reproduced.

PHYSICS DISCOVERIES
Physicists compressed quantum Robot for testing the lifetime of
data: If today’s classical computers human-machine interfaces:
could not compress the information Keypads and touchscreens make a
we’re constantly sending back and wide range of
forth, then your Internet connection
different devices
would have been infinitely slower.
easy and intuitive
The nuclear fusion reaction that
produced more energy than it to operate. However,
used up: Scientists at Lawrence the material is
Livermore’s National Ignition subject to especially
Facility (NIF) brought us one step high loading through constant use and,
closer to the cleaner, more economical at some point, becomes impaired in
power of nuclear fusion — by finally its functionality. A robot system
making more energy than they used
to start the fusion reaction. They developed by Fraunhofer IPA now
compressed a small amount of fuel allows device manufacturers to
enough to induce nuclear fusion and realistically simulate such loading in
they extracted more energy from the order to determine how durable their
fuel than they put in. devices are.

CHEMISTRY INVENTIONS
Polythene : In 1933 a method for and hydrogen into ammonia. This in turn
making the plastic was discovered can be used as crop fertiliser, eventually
by chemists at, the now defunct filtering up the food chain to us.
chemical company, ICI. ICI turned Penicillin: Alexander Fleming generally
this serendipitous discovery into a gets the credit for penicillin when, in
practical method for producing the 1928, he observed how a mould growing
common plastic that’s almost certainly on his petri dishes suppressed the growth
within easy reach of you now. of nearby bacteria. Full-scale production
The Haber-Bosch process : In 1910, of penicillin started in 1944 by Margaret
German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Hutchinson Rousseau who converted it
Bosch combined atmospheric nitrogen into a full-scale production plant.

SPACE
Artificial gravity: It is the increase or is a set of telescopes, arranged in a
decrease of apparent gravity (g-force) large lens-shape, working together
by artificial means, particularly in to resolve astronomical images at
space as well as on Earth. much higher angular resolutions than
Hyper Telescope: Hyper-telescope possible with each telescope alone.
B-522 Technology

Geo-stationary satellite: A geostationary (iv) Planetary Probes : It travel in

satellite is an earth-orbiting satellite, orbits around the sun. They may
placed at an altitude fly past the target planet, go into
of approximately orbit around it, or land.
35,800 kms (22,300 Orbits : Selecting the orbit is one of
miles) directly over the first steps in planning the launch
the equator, that of an earth - orbiting spacecraft. Early
revolves in the same direction the earth manned space craft usually orbited
rotates (west to east). less than 320 Kilometres high. In this
Polar Orbit: It is an orbit in which a way, they avoided the radiation in the
satellite passes above or nearly above Van Allen-belts. A communication
both poles of the body being orbited satellite may orbit at a much greater
(usually a planet such as the Earth, distance in order to serve many
but possibly another body such as the ground stations.
Sun) on each revolution. Remote Sensing : The term ‘remote
Space shuttle : The primary vehicle sensing’ refers to the process of
for research and exploration is the sensing, identifying and delineating
space shuttle. The space shuttle takes various objects on ground from a
off like a rocket, orbits the earth like a distance without coming into direct
spacecraft and lands, like an aeroplane. physical contact with them. ISRO and
It consists of an orbiter, an external the Indian Council of Agricultural
tank and two solid rocket boosters. Research conducted during 1974-
Artificial Satellites : An artificial 75 a joint experiment called the
satellite is a manufactured ‘moon’. It Agricultural Resources Inventory and
circles the earth in space along a path Survey Experiment (ARISE). Indian
called an orbit. An artificial satellite
experimental satellites, Bhaskara I
may be designed in almost any space.
It does not have to be streamlined, and II carried out remote sensing
because there is little or no air where it for land cover mapping, geology
travels in space. Artificial satellite may be and vegetation cover of the country.
classified according to the jobs they do Today, India has the largest group of
as : weather satellites, communications remote sensing satellites providing
satellites, navigation satellites, scientific services at both the national and
satellites and military satellites. global levels.
Space Probes : Space probes are used Launch Vehicle Technology :
to explore space at various distances
from the earth. Four main kinds of •• SLV : The indigenous capability for
probes are : the development of satellite launch
(i) Sounding rockets : It carry vehicle (SLV), was demonstrated
instruments into the upper through the first successful launch
atmosphere and into space near of SLV-3 in July 1980, carrying
the earth. the 40-kilogram Rohini satellite.
(ii) Lunar Spacecraft : It explores •• ASLV : The Augumented Satellite
the moon to prepare the way for Launch Vehicle (ASLV), basically
astronauts to land there. derived from SLV-3, was originally
(iii) Interplanetary Probes : It explore meant for putting 150 Kilogram
space between the planets. They do class technological/ scientific
not reach a specific body in space. payloads into near-circular orbit.
Technology B-523

•• PSLV : The PSLV, GSLV was commissioned after its

the country’s first successful second flight in 2003.
operational launch Cryogenic Engine : The cryogenic
vehicle, is a four- engine is crucial to the development of
stage rocket. The GSLV. Cryogenics refers to technology
first stage is a solid of sub-zero temperatures, and cryogenic
propellant, the engines use liquid oxygen as the oxidiser
second stage is and liquid hydrogen as the fuel. India
based on the liquid was to acquire the cryogenic engine
engine technology, and technology from the Russian space
the third stage is a solid propellant agency, Glavkosmos.
motor and the fourth, a liquid The advantage of the cryogenic engine
propellant stage. is that it would develop one-and-a-
half times the thrust of conventional
•• GSLV : On March 28, 2001, liquid rocket engines using fuel
the ISRO’s efforts to launch the storable at room temperature. It
geosynchronous satellite launch is a high risk high technology and
vehicle ended in failure. On April would help bridge the gap between
18, ISRO managed to prepare the number of satellite being made
the GSLV again and launch it by India and the vehicles needed for
successfully from Sriharikota. The their launch.

DEFENCE
Ballistic Missiles: Ballistic Missiles board computer. These missiles are
are generally used to combat land used for long distance warheads
attacks. These missiles follow a with high accuracy. These are self-
trajectory path with an objective of corrected avionic missiles with high
delivering one or more warheads to tech aeronautics using transistor and
a predetermined target. Long range computer technology. BrahMos and
intercontinental ballistic missiles Nirbhay missiles of Indian origin are
(ICBM) are launched at a steep, under this category.
sub-orbital flight trajectory and Submarine-launched ballistic missiles:
spend most of their flight out of the
atmosphere. Shorter range ballistic are the type of ballistic missiles which
missiles are restricted only within can be launched form submarine. They
Earth’s Atmosphere. Prithvi missile can efficiently strike multiple targets
series and Agni missile series are the at time using multiple independently
example of Indian ballistic missiles.
targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV). The
Cruise Missiles : Cruise Missiles are
low flying missiles, which are Indian origin SLBMs, K-15 (aka B0-5)
programmed to target by an on and K-4 are the examples.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Construction robotics startup robotics system that can reconfigure a
develops revamping building process: room in minutesand is called “like 3-D
Construction robotics startup Asmbld, printing upside down.” The “Project
based in Brooklynis working on a Dom Indoors” process involves tiny
B-524 Technology

robots living inside cubes created from Parking lot ‘drinks’ 1,000 gallons
5-inch tiles and aluminium studs that of water in 1 minute: To prevent
make up the floor of a room. Those devastating damage caused by
cubes can rise out of the floor to create stormwater runoff, a parking lot
walls, surfaces and tables, and then
paved with a product called Topmix
slide back into their original position
in the floor. Permeable absorbs more than 1,000
Self-driving crash trucks at roadside gallons of water in a minute.
work zones: A Coopersburg, PA, Robot replaces construction crews:
equipment company launched a self- A Japanese construction equipment
driving truck which can be used by maker proposed replacing crews with
highway construction crews in Florida.
The driverless vehicles will serve as robots as a solution to the labour
construction-site “crash trucks” — shortage. Komatsu also introduced a
the barrier-surrounded vehicles that team of driverless, robotic excavation
lead the roving construction crews that vehicles that are guided by drones,
paint highway lines, inspect bridges which create a real-time 3-D map of
and pave roads. the area to track the work site.

TELECOM
LiFi delivers speeds 100x faster than current data, with what data there is then
WiFi : A super-fast alternative to WiFi mapped to tell the story of a region. This
known as ‘LiFi’ has moved beyond the story is effectively written in the dirt,
research lab and into a real-world test the soil. The Africa Soil Information
after Estonian startup Velmenni has
begun to offer the technology in a Service (ASIS) is developing continent-
commercial setting. Velmenni is using wide digital soil maps for sub-Saharan
LiFi to send data at up to 1Gbps – more Africa using new analysis, statistics, field
than 100x using light bulbs. trials and crowdsourcing.
Small chip solves rural coverage Greens fed on rainbow waste:
issues: A small chip designed by Hydroponicsis a growing method
Saankhya Labs in Bengaluru could be
a feasible solution in the short-term based on use of mineral-enriched
of connecting people in remote areas water, whereas aquaponics takes
to the rest of the world. The chip, matters a step further, bringing
called Pruthvi, beams an internet together fish and plant farming in
connection to households which can one recirculating system.
receive a TV signal but are unable
to benefit from a fixed broadband ‘Genetically Modified Food (GMF)’:
infrastructure. Pruthvi harnesses Genetically modifying a food involves
unused TV spectrum – known as introducing a gene
White Space – to bring more people into a fruit, vegetable,
online than ever before. or animal from
another organism.
Agriculture Broad scientific
Data preserved in soil: For traditional consensus suggests
farming models, the primary that genetically modified foods present
no more danger than conventional food.
determinantsare the availability and
GMFshave been commercially available
suitability of land. However, any idea
since the 1990s and are most often
of future potential must be built on associated with fruits and vegetables.
Technology B-525

Education portal or software-based and require a

E-learning: eLearning is learning downloadable executable file.
or utilizing electronic technologies Displays
to access educational curriculum
outside of a traditional classroom. OLED: An organic light-emitting
m-Learning: m-Learning is one of diode (OLED) is a light-emitting
the latest developments in e-Learning diode (LED). They are used to
which takes advantage of mobile create digital displays in devices
devices for learning on accessible such as television screens, computer
monitors, portable systems such
portable platforms. It is ideal for
as mobile phones, handheld game
people on the go or for those who
consoles and PDAs.
can’t access a regular computer.
3-d display: A stereo display also
Virtual classroom: A virtual known as3D display is a display
classroom is an online learning device capable of conveying depth
environment. The environment can perception to the viewer by means
be web-based and accessed through a of stereopsis for binocular vision.

SPORTS
Kinetic Energy Recovery System The Headset-Football: The headset
(KERS)- Auto Racing: Used in is the best technology football has
Formula One racing, this 35-kilogram to offer.Coaches up in the press box
car part “recovers the kinetic energy that can see aerial views of the game,
is present in the waste heat created by and with the headset they can relay
the car’s braking process.” It takes the information to the head honcho who
energy used when a car brakes and uses may not be able to get that look at
it later on to boost acceleration. ground-level.
Computerized Scoring- Bowling: The Heart Monitor-Training : Heart
difficulty of keeping score manually monitors help out the average joggers
can put people off of the game. as well as the elite athletes. These
Bowling, in particular, can be difficult
devices can be used to alert athletes of
for the infrequent alley visitor to score.
dehydration and malnutrition. This is
However, using a computer eases the
pain of scoring by 100 percent. Having a simple wrist or strap-on mechanism
a computer keeping the score can keep that can warn people of an unsafe
all your focus on your next ball rather workout.
than adding and multiplying pins. Advancements in protective gear :
Above the Net Camera-Hockey: One With bigger hits than ever on the field,
of the most game-changing devices, a athletes want to be more protected.
camera above the net will primarily Rob Vito guarantees that players
be used to see what goals passed the won’t get hurt on game day. Another
line, if it beat the clock, etc., just very company, evoSHIELD, creates gear
basic events. The camera-evidence has for all 32 NFL teams. The technology
changed the outcome of numerous is dubbed a ‘second skin’ and doesn’t
games, all for the better. add a ton of bulk.
B-526 Technology

TRANSPORT
Maglev Trains : The maglev train appropriate outlet and then they are on
has no wheels. So, these locomotives the road. The cars do almost no harm
levitate. The tracks they run on are to the environment and are also
magnetized. The trains use the force economical. One study published by
this creates to propel themselves IDC Energy Insights stated that by the
upward and forward at high speeds. end of 2015 there will be three million
Running these engines requires cars on the road.
the consumption of only a small Driverless Cars: A large and
amount of fuel. Thus, in addition complex camera is mounted to the
to being faster than traditional style roof of driverless cars which is used
locomotives, these ones are more eco- to navigate the road. These cars are
friendly and less costly to operate. safer, if the technology is right, to ride
in as a precisely calibrated robot is
Electric Cars : The electric car is a good at the wheel. The automobiles also
solution to the allow people to work or relax during
transportation crisis at a trip, as they eliminate the need to
hand. These automobiles focus on the road. However, they are
are just plugged in to the bad for the environment.

PRINTING
3D Printing : Printing is no longer IT & Communication:
limited to flat sheets of paper. 3D
4G:4G (fourth generation) is
printing or additive manufacturing is
a process of making 3-dimensional the fourth generation of mobile
solid objects from a digital file. telecommunications technology,
The creation of a 3D printed succeeding 3G. It is an IP-based and
object is carried out using additive packet-switched evolution of 3G
processes. In an additive process technologies like WCDMA, HSDPA,
an object is created by laying down CDMA2000 and EVDO that uses
successive layers of material until voice communications.
the entire object is made. Each of 5G:5G (5th generation mobile
these layers can be seen as a thinly
networks or 5th generation wireless
sliced horizontal cross-section of the
eventual object. systems) denotes the next major
phase of mobile telecommunications
Hybrid Printing: Hybrid printing is
where a mix of printing technologies standards beyond the current4G/
are used on a press or finishing system IMT-Advanced standards.
to allow for adding variable data to Voice Recognition: It is the field of
offset or flexo printed content. computational linguistics to develop
Print-on-demand : It is a book methodologies and technologies
distribution method made possible that enable the recognition and
by, and inseparable from, digital translation of spoken language into
printing. It prints books only in text by computers and computerized
response to orders, and only prints devices such as Smart Technologies
the exact amount ordered. With the and robotics.
capabilities of digital printing, print Cloud Technology : Cloud technology
on demand is capable of filling an or cloud computing is the practice of
order for one book economically. storing, processing and managing data
Technology B-527

in remote server connected

through internet rather than
a local server or personal
computers. Cloud Computing
benefits the user in no of ways
like, companies can scale up
their computing needs with
increasing demand of their
product and service in the
market and then scale down
again as demands decrease.
The users only need to pay
the amount for the services (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS)
they will use rather than paying for and software as service (SaaS). In a
the whole infrastructure unnecessarily. recent study it has been declared that
The the wider acceptance of cloud as a result of increasing demand and
technology is due to the reason that it wider acceptance of cloud services, it
can provide multi-level services, such will touch the market of 250 billion
as private, public and hybrid i.e. from dollar in 2017.
local to global host. Ambient computing: ‘Ambient
The leaders of cloud service provider computing’ is the backdrop of sensors,
are Amazon Web Services (AWS), devices, intelligence and agents that
Microsoft Azure, IBM/SoftLayer and can put the concept to work. For
Google Compute Engine. Keeping in example, getting a vending machine
view the type and extent of services, to book an order replenishment from
there are three basic models of cloud the supply chain, through embedded
computing, infrastructure as a service sensors tracking stock levels.

BUSINESS
Dimensional marketing: Marketing on their own terms and find new
has evolved significantly in the last patterns of discoveries), or advanced
half-decade. The evolution of digitally- analytics mobile solutions (such as
connected customers lies at the core, those embedded inside smartphones
reflecting the dramatic change in or tablets) are the examples.
the dynamic between relationships CRM (customer relationship
and transactions. This modern era management): CRM software is a
for marketing is likely to bring new category of enterprise software that
challenges in the dimensions of covers a broad set of applications and
customer engagement, connectivity, software designed to help businesses
data and insight. manage customer data and customer
Amplified intelligence: Amplified interaction, access business information,
intelligence is focused on deploying automate sales, marketing and customer
tools at points when a business really support. It also manages employee,
needs it for effective decision-making. vendor and partner relationships.
Natural language processing techniques Enterprise resource planning (ERP) :
(allowing conversational interaction Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
with a complex system), visualisation is the business process management
tools (letting individuals explore data software that allows an organization to
B-528 Technology

use a system of integrated applications resources. ERP software integrates

to manage the business and automate all facets of an operation, including
many back office functions related product planning, development,
to technology, services and human manufacturing, sales and marketing.

BANKING
Satellite Banking : Satellite banking is Electronic Funds
an upcoming technological innovation Transfer (EFT)
in the Indian banking industry, which is System. The
expected to help in solving the problem EFT System was
of weak terrestrial communication operationalized
links in many parts of the country. in 1995 covering
The use of satellites for establishing 15 centres where the Reserve Bank
connectivity between branches will managed the clearing houses.
help banks to reach remote areas in A new variant of the EFT called
a better way, and offer better facilities, the National EFT (NEFT) was
particularly in relation to electronic started (November 2005) to broad
funds transfers. base the facilities of EFT. This was
Introduction of Biometrics: A a nation-wide retail electronic funds
number of banks have started the transfer mechanism between the
process of setting up ATMs enabled networked branches of banks. While
with biometric technology to tap the RTGS is a real time gross settlement
potential of rural markets. People in funds transfer product, NEFT is a
deferred net settlement funds transfer
such areas do not adopt technology
product.
as fast as the urban centres due to the
large scale illiteracy. Development RTGS: The other payment and
of biometric technology has made settlement systems deployed were
mostly aimed at small value repetitive
the use of self service channels like
transactions, largely for the retail
ATMs viable with respect to the transactions. The introduction of
illiterate population. RTGS in 2004 was instrumental in
Electronic Funds Transfer Systems: the development of infrastructure
The beginning of the electronic funds for Systemically Important Payment
transfer mechanisms began with the Systems (SIPS).

FILM PRODUCTION
Virtual reality: Virtual reality (VR), Depth Sensors : Developed as a
is a technology that offers new and CGI-video hybrid, the software
exciting ways to consume information repurposes the depth-sensing camera
and entertainment. As a non-linear from the Microsoft Kinect to capture
medium, VR brings a very different and visualise the world as wireframe
forms.By syncing the Depth Kit to the
viewing experience to the table.
camera with which shooting is done,
VR offers exciting possibilities: as a a 3D CGI sculpture for every frame
dynamic new storytelling medium; of the film is captured, essentially
as a rich narrative device within producing a file of 3D animation
conventional film; and as a practical, that perfectly lined up to the film’s
time-saving preproduction tool. characters and action.
 GENERAL
KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
B-546 General Knowledge Quiz

1. Which was the largest site of Indus (b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Civilization? (c) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
(a) Mohenjodaro (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(b) Lothal 11. Bannerghatta National Park is
(c) Chanhudaro situated in
(d) Dholavira (a) Meghalaya
2. Which of the following sites is (b) Rajasthan
famous for stupas, monasteries, (c) Madhya Pradesh
temples and pillars? (d) Karnataka
(a) Gooty 12. The zonal soil type of peninsular
(b) Hatta India belongs to
(c) Sanchi (a) red soils
(d) Amarjpura (b) yellow soils
3. Babur established Mughal rule in (c) black soils
India through his victory in 1526, over (d) older alluvium
(a) Rana Sanga 13. The oldest rocks in India are
(b) Sikandar Lodi reported from
(c) Daulat Khan Lodi (a) Dharwar region, Karnataka.
(d) Ibrahim Lodi (b) Aravalli range, Rajasthan.
4. The cavalry of Shivaji was known as (c) Vindhyan range, Madhya
(a) Risala (b) Sir-i-Naubat Pradesh.
(c) Bergir (d) Paga (d) Siwalik range, Punjab.
5. The first jute mill was set up in 14. Which of the following crops is
India in – regarded as a plantation crop?
(a) 1920 (b) 1850 (a) Coconut (b) Cotton
(c) 1855 (d) 1755 (c) Sugarcane (d) Rice
6. Who among the following created 15. The most ideal region for the
the Khalsa Panth? cultivation of cotton in India is
(a) Guru Teg Bahadur (a) the Brahmaputra valley
(b) Guru Hargobind (b) the Indo-Gangetic valley
(c) Guru Gobind Singh (c) the Deccan plateau
(d) Guru Arjan Dev (d) the Rann of Kutch
7. Who was the first Governor 16. Albedo effect would be relatively
General of Bengal? higher in
(a) Warren Hastings (a) Early morning and late evening
(b) Robert Clive (b) Early Morning only
(c) William Bentinck (c) Noon
(d) Lord Cornwallis (d) Late evening only
8. Who was the founder of Indian 17. The Aravallis mountain ranges are
National Congress? the example of-
(a) Gopal Krishna Gokhle (a) old fold mountains
(b) Allen Octavian Hume (b) young fold mountains
(c) Feroz Shah Mehta (c) Volcanic mountains
(d) Bipin Chandra Pal (d) block mountains
9. Who is regarded as the ‘ Mother 18. The only state in India that
of the Indian Revolution’ ? produces saffron is-
(a) Devika Rani (a) Assam
(b) Madam Bhikaji Cama (b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Rani Laxmibai (c) Jammu and Kashmir
(d) Begum Hazrat Mahal (d) Meghalaya
10. Arya Samaj was started by- 19. The India’s highest annual rainfall
(a) Swami Vivekananda is reported at
General Knowledge Quiz B-547

(a) Namchi, Sikkim (a) Samrat (b) Rajdoot

(b) Churu, Rajasthan (c) Maharaja (d) Badshah
(c) Mawsynram, Meghalaya 27. The novel ‘Q & A’, on which
(d) Chamba, Himachal Pradesh 8 Oscar awards winning film
20. The typical area of sal forest in the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008) is
Indian peninsular upland occurs based, was authored by which
(a) on the western ghats Indian civil servant?
(b) between the Tapti and the (a) Vikas Swarup
Narmada (b) Vikram Seth
(c) to the north-east of the (c) Amitav Ghosh
Godavari (d) Aravind Adiga
(d) on the Malwa plateau 28. Ghatigaon Sanctuary, set up for the
21. Who created fictional detective conservation of the Son Chiriya
‘Feluda’? (great Indian bustard), is located
(a) R.K. Narayan in which state?
(b) Satyajit Ray (a) Haryana
(c) Mulk Raj Anand (b) Rajasthan
(d) V.S. Naipaul (c) Madhya Pradesh
22. Which mythological weapon is (d) Karnataka
depicted on the Param Vir Chakra 29. Which Indian state is the largest
medal? producer in the world of the
(a) Vajra golden coloured ‘Muga’ silk ?
(b) Khatvanga (a) Assam
(c) Sudarshan Chakra (b) Odisha
(d) Kaumodaki (c) West Bengal
23. Shankar’s International Dolls (d) Karnataka
Museum, founded by renowned 30. Under Annapurna Scheme by
cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai Central Government, how much
which has the largest collection food grain (wheat or rice) per
of costume dolls in the world, is month is given free to senior
located in which city? citizens (65 years or above age),
(a) Mumbai who though eligible but remained
(b) New Delhi uncovered under the National Old
(c) Chennai Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)?
(d) Kolkata (a) 10 Kgs (b) 12 Kgs
24. Which gas is the main constituent (c) 15 Kgs (d) 20 Kgs
of ‘Gobar Gas’, the biogas 31. Which among the following
generated by de-composition of is manufactured at Avadi
cow dung? (abbreviation for ‘Armoured
(a) Butane (b) Propane Vehicles and Ammunition Depot
(c) Methane (d) Hydrogen of India’) town in Tamil Nadu?
25. Which is the oldest football club (a) Maruti Cars
in India? (b) HMT Tractors
(a) Mohun Bagan (c) Tejas Aircrafts
(b) East Bengal (d) Arjun Tanks
(c) Mohammedan Sporting 32. Which was the first Indian company
(d) Churchill Brothers to list on the Nasdaq in 1999?
26. What name has been given to the (a) Wipro
first Boeing 747/700 jet, inducted (b) Infosys
into Indian Air Force, designed (c) Satyam Computers
to work as the Indian President’s (d) Tech Mahindra
office-in-the-sky? 33. ‘Goal’ is the autobiography of
B-548 General Knowledge Quiz

which Indian sportsman? (a) Consumer Price Index (CPI)

(a) Wilson Jones (b) Consumer Confidence Index
(b) Dhyan Chand (CCI)
(c) K.D. Singh Babu (c) Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
(d) Chunni Goswami (d) Index of Industrial Production
34. Which state is known as the ‘Spice (IIP)
Garden of India’? 41. Directed by Satyajit Ray, the Apu
(a) Kerala Trilogy films - ‘Pather Panchali’,
(b) Karnataka ‘Aparajito’ and ‘Apur Sansar’ -
(c) Andhra Pradesh were based on the novels of which
(d) Tamil Nadu Bengali writer?
35. In addition to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, (a) Rabindranath Tagore
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya (b) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra (c) Sharat Chandra Chatterjee
Pradesh, which is the sixth Indian (d) Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay
state to have both houses i.e. Vidhan 42. In addition to Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Sabha and Vidhan Parishad ? Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
(a) Tamil Nadu Jharkhand and West Bengal, the
(b) Madhya Pradesh Tropic of Cancer passes through
(c) West Bengal which north eastern states of
(d) Jammu & Kashmir India?
36. Who is the first Indian sportsman (a) Assam and Meghalaya
whose wax statue was inducted at (b) Meghalaya and Manipur
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
(c) Manipur and Nagaland
in London?
(d) Tripura and Mizoram
(a) Pankaj Advani
43. In 1965, at which port was the India’s
(b) Sachin Tendulkar
first Free Trade Zone established?
(c) Vishwanathan Anand
(a) Kandla (Gujarat)
(d) Abhinav Bindra
37. In which town of Uttar Pradesh (b) Kochi (Kerala)
did Gautam Buddha attain (c) Falta (West Bengal)
Mahaparinirvana (salvation)? (d) Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
(a) Lumbini 44. By what name is the Irish lady
(b) Kushinagar Margaret Elizabeth Noble, a
(c) Nanded disciple of Swami Vivekananda,
(d) Pavapuri better known?
38. Who wrote the patriotic song (a) Meera Ben
`Saare Jahan Se Achcha’ ? (b) Mother Teresa
(a) Rabindranath Tagore (c) Savitri Khanolkar
(b) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (d) Sister Nivedita
45. Which among the following is
(c) Muhammad Iqbal
the indigenously developed Light
(d) Kavi Pradeep Combat Aircraft (LCA) of India?
39. In which hill station is the (a) Saras (b) Tejas
Himalayan Mountaineering (c) Kiran (d) Chetak
Institute (HMI) located? 46. Who authored the ‘Gitanjali’, an
(a) Darjeeling (b) Srinagar anthology of poems?
(c) Nainital (d) Shimla (a) Sumitranandan Pant
40. In India, the inflation rate (b) Makhanlal Chaturvedi
represents the annual change (in (c) Rabindranath Tagore
percentage) in which index? (d) Maithili Sharan Gupt
General Knowledge Quiz B-549

47. To have legal rights for (d) Hussain Sagar Lake

self-employed women like 54. In which city is the dargah (tomb)
industrial workers, which lady of sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti
activist founded Self-Employed located ?
Women’s Association (SEWA)? (a) Mumbai
(a) Aruna Roy (b) Srinagar
(b) Ela Bhatt (c) New Delhi
(c) Medha Patkar (d) Ajmer
(d) Teesta Setalvad 55. Who was the first person to address
48. Kailash Temple at Ellora in the United Nations in Hindi?
Maharahstra, the epitome of Indian (a) Morarji Desai
rock-cut architecture, was built by (b) Atal Behari Vajpayee
the rulers of which dynasty? (c) V.P.Singh
(a) Kadamba (d) P.V. Narasimha Rao
(b) Rashtrakuta 56. ‘Ao’, ‘Sema’ and ‘Konyak’ are
(c) Chalukya the principal languages of which
(d) Satavahana north-eastern Indian state?
49. Anamudi Peak, located in the
(a) Manipur
Idukki district of Kerala, is the
(b) Meghalaya
highest peak of which Indian
mountain range? (c) Mizoram
(a) Aravali (d) Nagaland
(b) Vindhyas 57. Which princely state was the
(c) Sahyadri (W.Ghats) first to be annexed to the British
(d) Satpura East India Company under the
50. Which Indian state was originally Doctrine of Lapse policy, devised
known as the North East Frontier by Lord Dalhousie?
Agency (NEFA) ? (a) Satara
(a) Manipur (b) Sambalpur
(b) Meghalaya (c) Jhansi
(c) Arunachal Pradesh (d) Awadh
(d) Nagaland 58. ‘Gyandarshan’ is an educational
51. Which Ramon Magsaysay Award TV channel of which Indian open
winner, popularly known as Water university?
Man, founded an NGO called (a) Nalanda Open University,
‘Tarun Bharat Sangh’ near Alwar Patna
in Rajasthan to work on watershed (b) Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open
projects and rain-water harvesting? University, Hyderabad
(a) Sandeep Pandey (c) Indira Gandhi National Open
(b) Rajendra Singh University, New Delhi
(c) Mahesh Chandra Mehta (d) Netaji Subhas Open
(d) Arvind Kejriwal University, Kolkata
52. What is the minimum age limit to 59. Which one of the following
become the President of India? organisation was launched to
(a) 25 years (b) 30 years help the poor in rural area to make
(c) 35 years (d) 40 years them self employed
53. Which lake separates the (a) DPAP (b) IRDP
Hyderabad, capital of Andhra (c) TRYSIM (d) DDP
Pradesh, from its twin city 60. Who among the following is called
Secunderabad? the “guardian of the public purse”
(a) Loktak Lake of India?
(b) Chilka Lake (a) Governor of Reserve bank of
(c) Wular Lake India
B-550 General Knowledge Quiz

(b) Finance Minister of India (a) Mihir Sen

(c) Comptroller & Auditor (b) S.N. Banerji
General of India (c) Mukesh Bandhopadhyaya
(d) Supreme Court of India (d) Nandalal Bose
61. The National Optic Fibre Network 69. The oath of office is administered
(NOFN) project is to link the to the Governor by the
optical fibre for offering a 100 (a) Chief Justice of India
mbps broadband service to which (b) President
among the following levels? (c) Chief Justice of high court
(a) District (d) Speaker of legislative assembly
(b) Tehsil / Taluka 70. In which Constitutional Amendment
(c) Gram Panchayat Act Sikkim was made full-fledged
(d) Block Gram Panchayat State of the Union of India?
62. Setting up a supreme court in (a) 21st Constitutional
Calcutta was a part of ? Amendment Act
(a) Regulating Act of 1773 (b) 31st Constitutional
(b) Pitts India Act of 1784 Amendment Act, 1973
(c) Charter Act of 1793 (c) 35th Constitutional
(d) Charter Act of 1893 Amendment Act, 1974
63. In which Constitutional Amendment (d) 36th Constitutional
Act Goa was made a full-fledged Amendment Act, 1975
State with a State assembly? 71. When Right to Information Act
(a) 43rd Constitutional came into force in India?
Amendment Act, 1977 (a) 10th October 2005
(b) 44th Constitutional (b) 11th October 2005
Amendment Act, 1978 (c) 12th October 2005
(c) 56th Constitutional (d) 13th October 2005
Amendment Act, 1987 72. In which Constitutional Amendment
(d) 57th Constitutional Act, seats of Lok Sabha were
Amendment Act, 1987 increased from 525 to 545?
64. How many articles are there in (a) 21st Constitutional
Constitution of India? Amendment Act, 1967
(a) 395 (b) 397 (b) 24th Constitutional
(c) 448 (d) 410 Amendment Act, 1971
65. Which of the following is not a (c) 25th Constitutional
constitutional body? Amendment Act, 1971
(a) Election Commission (d) 31st Constitutional
(b) Planning Commission Amendment Act, 1973
(c) National Advisory Council 73. Article 44 is related to?
(d) Inter State Council (a) Uniform civil code for citizens.
66. Which article ensures Abolition (b) Provision of early childhood
of Titles? care and education to children
(a) Article 16 (b) Article 17 below the age of 6 years.
(c) Article 18 (d) Article 19 (c) Duty of the state to raise the
67 Who was India’s Constitutional level of nutrition.
Advisor? (d) Organization of agriculture
(a) B L Mitter and animal husbandry.
(b) K M Munshi 74. Who among the following is a
(c) B N Rao famous Santoor player?
(d) A.K.Iyer (a) Hari Prasad Chaurasia
68. Which Indian artist decorated (b) Ravi Shankar
the handwritten Copy of the (c) Zakir Hussain
Constitution? (d) Shiv Kumar Sharma
General Knowledge Quiz B-551

75. Natya Shastra the main source of (c) Tulsi Das

India classical dances was written by (d) Purandava Das
(a) Bharat Muni 84. Who wrote ‘Poverty and Un-British
(b) Tandu Muni Rule in India’?
(c) Narad Muni (a) R.C Datt
(d) Abhinav Gupt (b) Charlies Wood
76. Kalaripayattu is a form of - (c) M.N Roy
(a) Classical Dance (d) Dadabai Navaroji
(b) Folk Dance 85. Who wrote Charaka Samhita?
(c) Martial Art (a) Kautiliya (b) Charaka
(d) Dance Drama (c) Aryabatta (d) Chanakya
77. The words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ 86. Who is the Sanskrit Scholar in the
inscribed below the base plate of court of Chandragupta II?
the emblem of India are taken (a) Bimbisara
from which scripture. (b) Ariean
(a) Ramayana (c) Amarsimba
(b.) Mundaka Upanishad (d) Bindu Sar
(c) Rigveda 87. Who was the founder of Mourya
(d) Satpath Brahmana dynasty?
78. Where is the largest concentration (a) Karikala
of Stupas in India? (b) Raja Raja
(a) Himachal Pradesh (c) Chandragupta Mourya
(b) Andhra Pradesh (d) Ashok
(c) Madhya Pradesh 88. Which city is known as the
(d) Arunachal Pradesh Pittsburg of India?
79. Who wrote “Lehar” (Wave)? (a) Jamshedpur
(a) Suryakanth Tripathi (b) Kerala
(b) Jaishankar Prasad (c) New Delhi
(c) Maithili Sharan Gupt (d) Punjab
(d) Yashpal 89. India’s first Defence University is
80. Where is the Brihadeswara or set up in-
Rajarajeshwara temple situated? (a) Haryana
(a) Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu (b) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Murshidabad in West Bengal (c) Punjab
(c) Jamnagar in Gujarat (d) Delhi
(d) Thiruvananthapuram in 90. “Pahla kadam , pahli udan”
Kerala account is launched by which
81. Which one of these schools of the bank ?
performing arts was founded in (a) SBI
1953? (b) Andhra Bank
(a) Sangeet Natak Academy (c) Bank of Baroda
(b) Margi (d) Canara Bank
(c) Kerala kalamandalam 91. Which one of the following
(d) School of Drama Constitutes limitation upon the
82. Manusmrithi was translated into concept of ‘judicial review’ in
English by- India?
(a) Macauely
(a) Rule of Law
(b) J.S Mill
(c) William Jones (b) Due Process
(d) Max Muller (c) Procedure established by law
83. Who wrote Gita Govinda? (d) Equal Protection of law
(a.) Jayadeva 92. When, for the first time, did
(b) Tuka Ram the Prime Minister of India
B-552 General Knowledge Quiz

announce the 20-point Economic 96. The committee on Cauvery water

Programme? dispute was known as:
(a) 1973 (b) 1974 (a) P. Sathasivam
(c) 1975 (d) 1976 (b) H. L. Dattu
93. How much a customer will have (c) B.S Chauhan
to pay for using Automated (d) K. G. Balakrishnan
Teller Machines (ATMs) beyond 97. RBI Adjusts Liquidity by which
the permitted numbers of tool?
transactions in Delhi, Mumbai, (a) Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and (b) Statutory Liquidity Ratio
Hyderabad? (SLR)
(a) `50/- (b) `15/- (c) Liquidity Adjustment Facility
(c) `20/- (d) `22/- (LAF)
94. Name the Card launched by (d) Market Stabilisation Scheme
Indian Railways to avoid payment (MSS)
transaction during ticket booking? 98. IFSC Code contains how many
(a) Go India smart Card digits:
(b) Metro Card (a) 5 (b) 11
(c) Smart Citizen Card (c) 14 (d) 17
(d) Adhar Card 99. In NSDL, the letter S stands for
95. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme (a) Scheme (b) Statistics
was launched by which ministry? (c) Security (d) Service
(a) Ministry of Women and Child 100. Which of the following organizations
Development look after the credit needs of
(b) Ministry of Human Resource agriculture and rural development
Development in India
(c) Ministry of Home Affairs (a) FCI (b) IDBI
(d Ministry of Health and (c) NABARD (d) ICAR
Family Welfare
Answer Key
1 (a) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4 (d) 5 (c) 6 (c)
7 (a) 8 (b) 9 (b) 10 (c) 11 (d) 12 (a)
13 (a) 14 (a) 15 (c) 16 (a) 17 (a) 18 (c)
19 (c) 20 (d) 21 (b) 22 (a) 23 (b) 24 (c)
25 (a) 26 (b) 27 (a) 28 (c) 29 (a) 30 (a)
31 (d) 32 (b) 33 (b) 34 (a) 35 (d) 36 (b)
37 (d) 38 (c) 39 (a) 40 (c) 41 (d) 42 (d)
43 (a) 44 (d) 45 (b) 46 (c) 47 (b) 48 (b)
49 (c) 50 (c) 51 (b) 52 (c) 53 (d) 54 (d)
55 (b) 56 (d) 57 (a) 58 (c) 59 (c) 60 (c)
61 (c) 62 (a) 63 (c) 64 (c) 65 (c) 66 (c)
67 (c) 68 (d) 69 (c) 70 (d) 71 (c) 72 (d)
73 (a) 74 (d) 75 (a) 76 (c) 77 (b) 78 (c)
79 (b) 80 (a) 81 (a) 82 (c) 83 (a) 84 (d)
85 (b) 86 (c) 87 (c) 88 (a) 89 (a) 90 (a)
91 (d) 92 (c) 93 (c) 94 (a) 95 (a) 96 (c)
97 (c) 98 (b) 99 (c) 100 (c)
General Knowledge Quiz B-537

INTERNATIONAL
1. Who wrote the famous (a) 1679 (b) 1680
novel “Alice’s Adventures in (c) 1694 (d) 1991
Wonderland”? 7. In which year was the first
(a) Rudyard Kipling officially recognised cricket Test
(b) John Keats match played?
(c) Lewis Carroll (a) 1905 (b) 1971
(d) H G Wells (c) 1877 (d) 1977
2. Who is referred to as the Father 8. The Nobel prize was instituted by
of Comedy? which country?
(a) USA (b) UK
(a) Aeschylus
(c) Russia (d) Sweden
(b) Sophocles
9. Which of the following is an award
(c) Aristophanes
instituted by UNESCO?
(d) Philip
(a) Kalinga Award
3. Who was the first to complete the
(b) Pulitzer prize
circumnavigation of Earth?
(c) Stirling prize
(a) Francis Drake
(d) Pritzker prize
(b) Columbus
10. Magsaysay award is given by
(c) Magellan
(a) USA
(d) Vasco da Gama
(b) UK
4. How many lines are there in a
(c) Malaysia
Sonnet?
(d) Philippines
(a) 8 (b) 10
11. What is the meaning of term
(c) 12 (d) 14 “Mohenjodaro”?
5. Which historical events are in the (a) Mound of the sorrow
correct chronological order?
(b) Mound of the life
(a) CrusadesRenaissance
(c) Mound of the struggle
Neolithic Revolution 
(d) Mound of the dead
Roman Empire
12. Which place is referred to as ‘roof
(b) Roman Empire Neolithic
of the world’?
Revolution  Crusades 
(a) Mt. Kilimanjaro
Renaissance
(b) The Pamirs, the Himalayas
(c) Renaissance Neolithic
Revolution  Crusades  (c) Godwin Austen
Roman Empire (d) Broad Peak
(d) Neolithic Revolution 13. Which of the following
Roman Empire  organisations is not associated
Crusades  Renaissance with the UNO?
6. Habeas Corpus was first codified (a) ILO   (b) WHO
in which year? (c) ASEAN   (d) All of the above
B-538 General Knowledge Quiz

14. Where is the headquarters of 20. The humidity of the air depends
UNESCO situated? upon
(a) Rome (a) Temperature
(b) Geneva (b) Location
(c) New York (c) Weather
(d) Paris (d) All of the above
15. The main aim of SAARC is 21. The least explosive type of volcano
is called
(a) Regional Cooperation
(a) Cinder cone
(b) Internal affairs
(b) Basalt plateau
(c) Non-alignity
(c) Shield volcanoes
(d) Peaceful Coexistence (d) Composite volcanoes
16. The five permanent members of 22. Which is the largest country of
UN Security Council are the world in terms of geographical
(a) Japan, West Germany, USSR, area?
UK and USA (a) Vatican City
(b) Canada, China, France, USSR (b) Australia
and USA (c) USA
(c) Germany, China, USSR, UK (d) Russia
and USA 23. The highest average salinity
(d) China, France, USSR, UK amongst the following seas is
and USA reported from
17. Which of the following is the (a) Dead Sea
headquarters of World Trade (b) Red Sea
Organisation (WTO)? (c) Black Sea
(a) New York (d) Mediterranean Sea
(b) Geneva 24. Who invented the ball point pen?
(c) Madrid (a) Waterman Brothers
(d) Paris (b) Bicc Brothers
18. The Great Victoria Desert is (c) Biro Brothers
located in (d) Wright Brothers
(a) Canada 25. Which scientist discovered the
radioactive element radium?
(b) West Africa
(a) Isaac Newton
(c) Australia
(b) Albert Einstein
(d) North America (c) Benjamin Franklin
19. Which of the following is tropical (d) Marie Curie
grassland? 26. Who invented Dynamite?
(a) Taiga (a) Sir Alexander Graham Bell
(b) Savannah (b) Benjamin Franklin
(c) Pampas (c) Thomas Alva Edison
(d) Prairies (d) Alfred B. Nobel
General Knowledge Quiz B-539

27. Who is considered to be the (a) Marie Curie

founder of the modern frozen (b) Bertha von Suttner
food industry? (c) Selma Lagerlöf
(a) F. Rozenosh (d) Grazia Deledda
(b) G. Findus 35. Who is called as “The Father of
(c) R. Scott History”?
(d) C. Birdseye (a) Euclid
28. Who invented Bakelite? (b) Herodotus
(a) Charles Goodyear (c) Aristotle
(b) Roy Plunkett (d) Julius Caesar
(c) Leo Henricus Baekeland 36. Who is the creator of the famous
(d) Henry Ford character “Sherlock Holmes”?
29. When was the toothbrush first (a) Arthur Conan Doyle
mass-produced? (b) Ian Fleming
(a) 1742 (b) 1790 (c) Dr. Watson
(c) 1765 (d) 1780 (d) Shakespeare
30. Who invented capillary feed 37. Who wrote the novel “Anna
Fountain Pen? Karenina”?
(a) John J. Loud (a) Lewis Carroll
(b) Sir Frank Whittle (b) Leo Tolstoy
(c) Lewis E. Waterman (c) Victor Hugo
(d) Kirkpatrick Macmillan (d) Boris Pasternak
31. Who is the father of English 38. Who directed the world famous
Poetry? film ‘The Gandhi’?
(a) Charles Dickens (a) Satyajit Ray
(b) John Milton (b) Mrinal Sen
(c) Geoffrey Chaucer (c) Richard Attenborough
(d) William Wordsworth (d) Ben Kingsley
32. Who wrote the novel War and 39. Who has written the book “The
Peace? Famished Road”?
(a) Leo Tolstoy (a) Zola Emile
(b) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Ben Okri
(c) Charles Dickens (c) V.S. Naipaul
(d) Rudyard Kipling (d) Ian Austin
33. When was the Nobel Prize 40. Who wrote the novel “A Farewell
instituted? to Arms”?
(a) 1927 (b) 1895 (a) Charles Dickens
(c) 1901 (d) 1896 (b) Ernest Hemingway
34. Who was the first woman to win (c) Thomas Hardy
the Nobel Prize? (d) Aldous Leonard Huxley
B-540 General Knowledge Quiz

41. Who wrote the controversial novel 48. Anthropology is the study of ?
“The Satanic Verses”? (a) Science
(a) William Golding (b) Psychology
(b) Gunnar Myrdal (c) Literature
(c) Salman Rushdie (d) Humanity
(d) Agatha Christie 49. The working languages of the
42. Who is the author of the novel UNESCO is/are
Les Misérables? (a) French only
(a) Victor Hugo (b) English only
(b) ALium tofler (c) English and French
(c) G.Wynne
(d) English, French and Russian
(d) Agatha Christie
50. ‘World Cancer Day’ is observed
43. Who wrote the book ‘Gulliver’s on
Travels’?
(a) 19th February
(a) Jonathan Swift
(b) 4th February
(b) Charles Dickens
(c) 12th February
(c) Charles Lamb
(d) 17th January
(d) Alexandra Dumas
51. Who invented Mobile phone?
44. Who wrote the book ‘Tom
Sawyer’? (a) Graham Bell
(a) William Shakespeare (b) Martin Cooper
(b) John Ruskin (c) Edison
(c) Mark Twain (d) Larry Page
(d) Leo Tolstoy 52. Who among the following is the
45. Who wrote the 16th-century co-founder of Google?
political treatise “The Prince”? (a) Larry Page
(a) George Bernard Shaw (b) Time Berners-Lee
(b) V.S. Naipaul (c) Philippe Kahn
(c) Emile Zola (d) Richard Davis
(d) Niccolo Machiavelli 53. Who is regarded as the inventor
46. Who wrote the novel “Crime and of Denim Jeans?
Punishment”? (a) Levi Strauss
(a) Vladimir Nabakov (b) Jacob Davis
(b) Lewis Carrol (c) William P. Pants
(c) Fyodor Dostoevsky (d) Flinders Petrie
(d) Alexander Solzhenitsyn 54. The Last Super, a famous
47. Who was the first woman to go renaissance painting was a master
to space? piece of
(a) Valentina Tereshkova (a) Leonardo da Vinci
(b) Sally Ride (b) Raphael
(c) Sunita Williams (c) Michael Angelo
(d) Liu Yang (d) Titian
General Knowledge Quiz B-541

55. The terms Liberty, Equality and 61. Where was Napolean sent in exile
Fraternity are associated with after the battle of waterloo?
which of the following? (a) St. Helena (b) Elba
(a) Industrial Revolution (c) Capri (d) Corsica
(b) Russian Revolution 62. Who defined Democracy as the
(c) French Revolution Government of the people, by the
(d) Olympic Games people and for the people?
(a) George Washington
56. Who was the author of the
American Declaration of (b) John Stuart mill
Independence? (c) Abraham Lincoln
(a) George Washington (d) Winston Churchill
(b) Thomas Paine 63. Das Capital and Communist
Manifesto were written by
(c) Thomas Jefferson
(a) Engels
(d) Marquis de Lafayette
(b) Trotsky
57. Who painted the world famous
(c) Karl Marx
painting Guernica?
(d) Lenin
(a) Van Gogh
64. The Battle of Waterloo in the year
(b) Michelangelo
1815 was fought between
(c) Pablo Picasso
(a) Britain and France
(d) Leonardo-da-Vinci
(b) Britain and Germany
58. Who authored the book The Social
(c) Japan and China
Contract?
(d) Austria and Russia
(a) Voltaire
65. When was the Magna Carta Signed
(b) Denis Diderot by King John of England?
(c) Jean-Jacques Rousseau (a) 1212 (b) 1217
(d) Aristotle (c) 1215 (d) 1066
59. Who discovered the sea-route 66. When did the Second World War
from Europe to India? end?
(a) Christopher Columbus (a) 1918 (b) 1946
(b) Vasco-da-Gama (c) 1939 (d) 1945
(c) Marco Polo 67. The Boston Tea Party took place
(d) Magellan in which year?
60. What was the codename of the (a) 1776 (b) 1773
atom bomb dropped by the USA (c) 1774 (d) 1770
on Hiroshima in Japan during the 68. Which style of painting was used
Second World War? by early renaissance artists?
(a) Little Boy (a) Graeco-Roman
(b) Little Angel (b) Catholic Art
(c) Little Fly (c) Gothic
(d) Little Devil (d) None of these
B-542 General Knowledge Quiz

69. Where was John F. Kennedy 76. What is the longest River in the
assassinated? world?
(a) Seattle (a) Nile (b) Amazon
(b) Dallas (c) Thames (d) Ganges
(c) Chicago 77. Who invented the game of
(d) Boston basketball?
70. Who developed the first successful (a) James Naismith
printing press? (b) Bruce Ames
(a) Johannes Gutenberg (c) Edwin Howard Armstrong
(b) Albert Einstein (d) Amos Alonzo Stagg
(c) Benjamin Franklin
78. Which country held the first
(d) Issac Newton Olympic Games?
71. Which two countries fought in the
(a) England
Hundred Years’ War?
(b) Greece
(a) France and Germany
(c) Peru
(b) England and Germany
(c) Italy and France (d) Canada
(d) England and France 79. What was the name of the first
72. Which country do the Vikings person to set foot on the moon?
belong? (a) Neil Armstrong
(a) England (b) Edwin Aldrin
(b) France (c) Yuri Gagrin
(c) Italy (d) Buzz Aldrin
(d) Scandinavia 80. World War I began in which year?
73. In what year did American women (a) 1923
win the right to vote? (b) 1914
(a) 1905
(c) 1909
(b) 1920
(d) 1917
(c) 1875
81. Which general famously stated ‘I
(d) 1930
shall return’?
74. Who was the first woman to run
(a) Bull Halsey
for President in USA?
(a) Belva Ann Lockwood (b) George Patton
(b) Sonia Johnson (c) Douglas MacArthur
(c) Linda Jenness (d) Omar Bradley
(d) Victoria Woodhull 82. Which disease ravaged and killed
75. Who was the first woman to be a third of Europe’s population in
U.S. Secretary of State? the 14th century?
(a) Condoleezza Rice (a) The White Death
(b) Madeleine Albright (b) Malaria
(c) Carol Moseley Braun (c) Smallpox
(d) Elizabeth Dole (d) The Bubonic Plague
General Knowledge Quiz B-543

83. Which theatre in London associated 90. Grammy award is given in the
with William Shakespeare? field of
(a) Oxford University Theatre (a) Acting
(b) Broadway (b) Music
(c) The London Palladium (c) Singing
(d) The Globe (d) Boxing
84. What famous 5th century A.D 91. The religious text of the Jews is
conqueror was known as ‘The named as
Scourge of God’? (a) The Analectus
(a) Atila the hun (b) Torah
(b) William the conqueror (c) Tripitika
(c) Julius Caesar (d) Zend-Avesta
(d) Hannibal 92. Which country’s currency is
85. Where is the headquarters of FIFA Ngultrum?
situated? (a) Laos
(a) Zurich (b) Nepal
(b) Sao Paulo (c) Bhutan
(c) London (d) Bangladesh
(d) Dubai 93. The Crimean War came to an end
86. Which is the oldest Grand Slam by the
tennis tournament? (a) Treaty of St. Germain
(a) Wimbledon (b) Treaty of Trianon
(b) French open (c) Treaty of Versailles
(c) Australian open (d) Treaty of Paris
(d) US open 94. The name of Pierre Cardin is
87. When was the first Summer associated with
Olympic Games held? (a) Painting
(a) 1900 (b) Films
(b) 1902 (c) Pop Music
(c) 1894 (d) Fashion Designing
(d) 1896 95. What is the second largest desert in
88. The “Mein Kampf ” was written by the world after the Sahara desert?
(a) Adolf Hitler (a) Arabian Desert
(b) Mussolini (b) Gobi Desert
(c) Bismarck (c) Kalahari Desert
(d) Mazzini (d) Libyan Desert
89. The parliament of Russia is known 96. World Environment Day run by
as the UNEP on
(a) Federal Assembly of Russia (a) 11th Dec.
(b) Shora (b) 20th Dec.
(c) National Assembly (c) 15th Sept.
(d) Folketing (d) 5th June
B-544 General Knowledge Quiz

97. International Human Rights Day 99. WTO came into existence in the
is observed on year
(a) 10th Dec. (a) 1977
(b) 24th Oct. (b) 1985
(c) 25th Nov. (c) 1995
(d) None of these (d) 1950
98. When is the World Population Day 100.The first summit of SAARC was
observed? held at
(a) July 8 (a) Kathmandu
(b) July 10 (b) Colombo
(c) July 11 (c) New Delhi
(d) July 19 (d) Dhaka

Answer Key
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (a)
7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (d) 11. (a) 12. (b)
13. (c) 14. (d) 15. (a) 16. (d) 17. (b) 18. (c)
19. (b) 20. (d) 21. (b) 22. (d) 23. (a) 24. (c)
25. (d) 26. (d) 27. (d) 28. (c) 29. (d) 30. (c)
31. (c) 32. (a) 33. (b) 34. (a) 35. (b) 36. (a)
37. (b) 38. (c) 39. (b) 40. (b) 41. (c) 42. (a)
43. (a) 44. (c) 45. (d) 46. (c) 47. (a) 48. (d)
49. (d) 50. (b) 51. (b) 52. (a) 53. (a) 54. (a)
55. (c) 56. (c) 57. (c) 58. (c) 59. (b) 60. (a)
61. (a) 62. (c) 63. (c) 64. (a) 65. (c) 66. (d)
67. (b) 68. (a) 69. (b) 70. (a) 71. (d) 72. (d)
73. (b) 74. (d) 75. (b) 76. (a) 77. (a) 78. (b)
79. (a) 80. (b) 81. (c) 82. (d) 83. (d) 84. (a)
85. (a) 86. (a) 87. (d) 88. (a) 89. (a) 90. (b)
91. (b) 92. (c) 93. (d) 94. (d) 95. (a) 96. (d)
97. (a) 98. (c) 99. (c) 100.(d)
CURRENT AFFAIRS UPDATE CA-1

BUDGET 2017
CA-2 Budget 2017
Budget 2017 CA-3
CA-4 Budget 2017
CA-5
CA-6 Emerging Trends in 2016
CA-7
CA-8 Global Economic outlook
Global Economic outlook CA-9
CA-10 Global Economic outlook
Global Economic outlook CA-11
CA-12
Game Changers 2016 CA-13
CA-14 Game Changers 2016
GST 2016
CA-15
CA-16 GST 2016
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 CA-19

BOOKS AND AUTHORS 2016

The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad– Twinkle Khanna
Driven: The Virat Kohli Story–Vijay Lokapally
Democrats and Dissenters–Ramachandra Guha
One Indian girl–Chetan Bhagat
Six Machine (I Don’t Like Cricket I Love It)–Chris Gayle
His Bloody Project–Graeme Macrae Brunet
AB The autobiography–AB De Villiers
Citizen and Society–Hamid Ansari
The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History–Sanjeev Sanyal
R D Burmania: Panchamemoirs–Chaitanya Padukone
India Rising: Fresh Hope, New Fears–Ravi Velloor

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable–Amitav Ghosh

Courage & Commitment–Margaret Alva

India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t we just be Friends?–Husain Haqqani

Chaos and Caliphate: Jihadis and the West in the Struggle for the Middle East–Patrick Cockburn

A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve–Mother Teresa

The Unseen Indira Gandhi–Dr KP Mathur
A Life in Diplomacy–Maharajakrishna Rasgotra
Blood on my Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounters–Kishalay Bhattacharjee
The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprises–Kartar Lalvani
A State in Denial–BG Verghese
The Kiss of Life–Emraan Hashmi
Anything But Khamosh: The Shatrughan Sinha Biography–Bharathi S Pradhan
Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography–Pramod Kapoor
Fixed! Cash and Corruption in Cricket–Journalist Shantanu Guha Ray
“Who was Shivaji?”–Govind Pansare
A Kingdom for His Love–Vani Mahesh, Shinie Antony
Nathuram Godse: The Story of an Assassin–Anup Ashok Sardesai
The Turbulent Years, Volume II–President Pranab Mukherjee
The Z Factor–Subhash Chandra
Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective–Hamid Ansari
Maru Bharat Saru Bharat–Jain Acharya Maharaj
CA-20 Popular Terms

POPULAR TERMS

Augmented Reality: Augmented reality relationships between business people and

(AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a government officials. It may be exhibited by
physical, real-world environment whose favoritism in the distribution of legal permits,
elements are augmented (or supplemented) government grants, special tax breaks, or
by computer-generated sensory input such other forms of state interventionism.
as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is CIVETS: An acronym given to the
also known as the computer term, Kudzi 3.0. countries Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam,
It is related to a more general concept called Egypt, Turkey and South Africa, which
mediated reality, in which a view of reality are predicted by some to be among the
is modified (possibly even diminished
next emerging markets to quickly rise in
rather than augmented) by a computer.
economic prominence over the coming
Benami properties: Benami essentially decades.
means property without a name. In this
Democratic socialism: It is a political
kind of transaction the person who pays for
ideology that advocates political democracy
the property does not buy it under his/her
alongside social ownership of the means
own name. The person on whose name the
of production, often with an emphasis on
property has been purchased is called the
democratic management of enterprises
benamdar and the property so purchased
within a socialist economic system.
is called the benami property. The person
who finances the deal is the real owner. Decacorn: A decacorn is a word used for
companies valued over $10 billion.
Black Friday: Black Friday is the day
following Thanksgiving Day in the United EAGLES: Emerging and growth-leading
States (the fourth Thursday of November). economies of Korea, Indonesia, Mexico,
Since 1952, it has been regarded as the Turkey, Egypt and Taiwan along with the
beginning of the Christmas shopping season BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India and
in the U.S., and most major retailers open very China. BBVA expected these countries
early (and more recently during overnight to generate 50% of the global economic
hours) and offer promotional sales. growth through 2020, whereas it expected
the G7 countries of France, Germany, the
COP22: COP 22 (Conference of the Parties)
United States, Canada, Italy, Japan and the
was held in Marrakech, Morocco, on
United Kingdom to generate just 14%.
7–18 November 2016. Main issues: water
scarcity, water cleanliness, and water- Extracorporeal membrane oxyge-
related sustainability, a major problem nation (ECMO): It is an extracorporeal
in the developing world, including many technique of providing both cardiac and
African states. respiratory support to persons whose heart
and lungs are unable to provide an adequate
China’s Singles Day: Singles’ Day or
amount of gas exchange to sustain life.
Guanggun Jie is an entertaining festival
widespread among young Chinese people, Frontier market: A frontier market is
to celebrate the fact that they are proud a type of developing country which is
of being single. The date, November 11th more developed than the least developing
(11/11), is chosen because the number “1” countries, but too small to be generally
resembles an individual that is alone. considered an emerging market.
Crony-Capitalism: Crony capitalism Geneva III (Geneva peace talks on
is a term describing an economy in which Syria): The Geneva peace talks on Syria,
success in business depends on close also known as Geneva III, are intended
Popular Terms CA-21

peace negotiations between the Syrian used when standard monetary policy has
government and opposition in Geneva become ineffective. Quantitative easing is
under the auspices of the UN. considered when short-term interest rates
Hectocorn: A Hectocorn is the appropriate are at or approaching zero, and does not
term for such a companies valued over involve the printing of new bank notes.
$100 billion. Servergate: The term refers to the
Liquid biopsy: A medical test in which controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton’s
blood cells are taken from the body and private server. The term comes from the
examined to find out if they are healthy. combination of “server” and “watergate”,
MINTs: An acronym coined by the major which was the political controversy that led
investment firm Fidelity in 2011 for a group to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
of four countries—Mexico, Indonesia, TIMP: TIMP’ stands for ‘Turkey, Indonesia,
Nigeria and Turkey—that are expected Mexico and Philippines.’ Similar to BRIC
to show strong growth and provide high (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the
returns for investors over the coming acronym was coined by an investor/
decade. The MINTs have been grouped
economist to group fast-growing emerging
together because of their large populations,
market economies in similar states of
favorable demographics and emerging
economic development.
economies. The MINTs have smaller
economies than the BRICs. Trans Pacific Partnership: The Trans-
Mercalli intensity scale: The Mercalli Pacific Partnership (TPP) or Trans Pacific
intensity scale is a seismic scale used for Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a trade
measuring the intensity of an earthquake. It agreement among twelve of the Pacific Rim
measures the effects of an earthquake. countries—notably not including China.
Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB): A Thanksgiving Day: Thanksgiving Day is
zero-energy building, also known as a zero a national holiday celebrated in Canada, in
net energy (ZNE) building, net-zero energy the United States, in some of the Caribbean
building (NZEB), or net zero building, is a islands and in Liberia. It was originally
building with zero net energy consumption, celebrated as a day of giving thanks for
meaning the total amount of energy used by the blessing of the harvest and of the
the building on an annual basis is roughly preceding year. Similarly named festival
equal to the amount of renewable energy holidays occur in Germany and Japan.
created on the site, or in other definitions Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second
by renewable energy sources elsewhere. Monday of October in Canada and on the
Populism: It is a political doctrine that fourth Thursday of November in the United
stems from a viewpoint of struggle between States, and around the same part of the year
the populace and ruling faction. Populism is in other places. Although Thanksgiving has
most common in democratic nations. historical roots in religious and cultural
Political radicalism: The term denotes traditions, it has long been celebrated as a
political principles focused on altering secular holiday as well.
social structures through revolutionary
Unicorn: A unicorn is a start-up company
means and changing value systems in
valued at over $1 billion. According to
fundamental ways.
VentureBeat, there were 229 unicorns
Quantitative Easing: Quantitative easing as of January 2016. The largest unicorns
(QE) is a monetary policy used by central included Uber, Xiaomi, Airbnb, Palantir,
banks to stimulate the economy. It is usually Snapchat, Dropbox and Pinterest.
CA-22

IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS 2016

JANUARY
Amitabh Kant appointed CEO of NITI (National Institution for
Jan 1, 2016
Transforming India) Aayog.
Jan 4, 2016 RK Mathur sworn in as 8th Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).
Jan 25, 2016 K Durga Prasad appointed as DG of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force).
FEBRUARY
Feb 2, 2016 Archana Ramasundram becomes 1st woman DG of Sashastra Seema Bal.
DJ Pandian appointed AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) Vice-
Feb 3, 2016
President.
Ashok Chawla appointed as new Chairman of TERI (The Energy and
Feb 13, 2016
Resources Institute).
Feb 23, 2016 KN Vyas appointed as Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Feb 25, 2016 Rajendra Singh appointed as DG of Coast Guard.
Former CJI HL Dattu takes over as Chairman of NHRC (National Human
Feb 29, 2016
Rights Commission).
MARCH
Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain appointed as Chief of Staff of Eastern Naval
Mar 2, 2016
Command.
Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan appointed as Chairman of 21st Law
Mar 11, 2016
Commission of India.
Mar 12, 2016 Lt Gen N P S Hira appointed Deputy Chief of Army.
Mar 15, 2016 Htin Kyaw elected as first civilian President of Myanmar.
Justice Permod Kohli appointed as Chairman of Central Administrative
Mar 23, 2016
Tribunal.
APRIL
CP Gurnani appointed as Chairman of NASSCOM (National Association of
April 7, 2016
Software and Services Companies).
MAY
Bhupendra Kainthola takes charge as FTII (Film and Television Institute
May 3, 2016
of India) Director.
May 31, 2016 Admiral Sunil Lanba takes charge as Navy chief.
JUNE
June 3, 2016 Navin Agarwal appointed as DG of NADA (National Anti Doping Agency).
Peter Thomson elected as President of 71st session of United Nations
June 15, 2016
General Assembly.
Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway appointed as UN Women Goodwill
June 15, 2016
Ambassador.
Important Appointments 2016 CA-23

June 22, 2016 Ken Miyauchi appointed as President and COO of SoftBank Group.
June 23, 2016 BCCI appoints Anil Kumble as the head coach of Indian Cricket Team.
Sujoy Bose appointed as first CEO of NIIF (National Investment and
June 27, 2016
Infrastructure Fund).
June 28, 2016 NS Vishwanathan appointed as deputy governor of RBI.
JULY
July 4, 2016 Sudarshan Sen appointed Executive Director of RBI.
July 11, 2016 D Rajkumar appointed as CMD of BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd).
July 13, 2016 Theresa May appointed as PM of the United Kingdom.
July 14, 2016 Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi appointed as Chairman of CBSE.
July 19, 2016 Guruprasad Mohapatra appointed as Chairman of Airports Authority of India.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as CEO of UIDAI (Unique Identification
July 21, 2016
Authority of India).
AUGUST
Aug 1, 2016 Rani Singh Nair appointed as Chairman of CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes).

SEPTEMBER
Sep 4, 2016 Urjit Patel assumes charge as 24th Governor of Reserve Bank of India.
Sep 19, 2016 Alka Sirohi appointed UPSC chairman.

Sep 28, 2016 World Bank reappoints Jim Yong Kim for second term as President.

OCTOBER
Oct 3, 2016 S Sivakumar appointed as full-time member of 21st Law Commission of India.

Oct 6, 2016 Sushil Chandra appointed CBDT Chairman.

Oct 14, 2016 Portugal’s Antonio Guterres appointed UN Secretary-General.

Amandeep Singh Gill appointed as India’s Ambassador to UN Conference
Oct 18, 2016
on Disarmament, Geneva.
Vice Admiral SV Bhokare assumes office as the Commandant of Indian
Oct 21, 2016
Naval Academy.
Oct 27, 2016 Karnal Singh appointed as Director of Enforcement Directorate.

NOVEMBER
Nov. 7, 2016 M Rajeshwar Rao new RBI Executive Director.
Nov. 24, 2016 Yudhvir Singh Malik appointed as new Chairman of NHA.
DECEMBER
Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam appointed as the new AIADMK
Dec 5, 2016
chief and the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
CA-24

AWARDS & HONOURS 2016

Gallantry Awards
President Pranab Mukherjee has conferred the country’s highest peacetime gallantry
award Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously.
On the eve of 67th Republic Day celebrations President has approved 365 Gallantry
awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and
others. It includes one Ashoka Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya
Chakras.
Ashok Chakra: Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami (Posthumous). He
belonged to 9 PARA (Special Force) and laid down his life while fighting
LeT militants in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kirti Chakra: Subedar Mahendra Singh of 9 PARA (Special Force).
Sepoy Jagdish Chand (Posthumous) of 546 DSC Platoon.
Shaurya Chakra: Colonel Santosh Mahadik (Posthumous) of 41
Rashtriya Rifle (PARA). Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj of 12 PARA
(Special Force). Major Sandip Yadav of 55 Rashtriya Rifle (Armed). Major
Anurag Kumar of 9 PARA (Special Force). Lieutenant Harjinder Singh of
3 KUMAON. Naik Satish Kumar (Posthumous) of 21 Rashtriya Rifle
(Guards). Naik Kheem Singh Mehra of 21 KUMAON. Sepoy Dharma Ram
(Posthumous) of 1 Rashtriya Rifle(MAHAR).

73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards

The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony was organized at Beverly Hills,
California, United States (US) on January 10, 2016. Golden Globe Awards are the annual
awards that honour the best in Motion Pictures and Television for the previous year.
In this edition of awards, The Revenant won the maximum 3 awards followed by The
Martian and Steve Jobs winning 2 awards each.
The winners of various awards are as follows:
Best Motion Picture Drama: The Revenant.
Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: The Martian.
Best Director in Motion Picture-Drama: Alejandro Inarritu
for The Revenant.
Best Actor in Motion Picture-Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio for
The Revenant.
Best Actress in Motion Picture-Drama: Brie Larson for Room.
Best Actor in Motion Picture or Musical or Comedy: Matt Damon for The Martian.
Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Lawrence for Joy.
Best Actor in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Sylvester Stallone for Creed.
Best Actress in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Kate Winslet for Steve Jobs.
Best Original Score Motion Picture: Ennio Morricone for The Hateful Eight.
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul (Hungary).
Awards & Honours 2016 CA-25

Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2015

Veteran Film Actor and Director Manoj Kumar has been selected for the prestigious
47th Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2015. He was unanimously selected by a
five member jury consisted of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh
and Anup Jalota. This award was given by the president Pranab Mukherjee at the 63rd
National Film Awards on 3rd May 2016 in New Delhi.

Saraswati Samman 2015

Dogri Poetess and novelist Padma Sachdev (76) has been chosen for the prestigious
Saraswati Samman for the year 2015. She has been chosen for her autobiography ‘Chitt-
Chete’ written in Dogri language and published in 2007.

51st Jnanpith Award 2016

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on renowned Gujarati
writer and litterateur Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari on July 11, 2016 at a function in New
Delhi. He was awarded with the India’s highest literary honour carrying a cash prize, a
citation plaque and a bronze replica of Goddess Saraswati for the year 2015.
Mr. Chaudhary is the fourth Gujarati litterateur to bag this prestigious award after Uma
Shankar Joshi (1967), Pannalal Patel (1985) and Rajendra Shah (2001)

Nobel Prize 2016

Peace: The current President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, was awarded Nobel
Peace Prize for his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50-year-long civil
war to an end, a war that took away the lives of at least 2,20,000 Colombians and dis-
placed nearly six million people.
Physics: British trio of physicists David Thouless, F Duncan M Haldane and Michael
Kosterlitz have won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Economics: Two economists Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom have won the 2016 No-
bel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Chemistry: Trio of Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L Feringa have
won the prestigious 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Literature: American singer-songwriter, artist and writer Bob Dylan (75) has won the
2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is the first American to win the prize since novelist
Toni Morrison in 1993.
Medicine: Yoshinori Ohsumi (71) of Japan has won the 2016 Nobel Prize for physiology
or Medicine for his pioneering work on autophagy.
CA-26 Awards & Honours 2016

National Sports Awards 2016

The Union Government bestows National Sports Awards every year to recognize and
reward excellence in sports in India.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
Recipients are: PV Sindhu (Badminton), Sakshi Malik (Wrestling), Dipa Karmakar
(Gymnastics) and Jitu Rai (Shooting). 2016
Dronacharya Award
Recipients are: Nagapuri Ramesh (Athletics), Sagar Mal Dhayal (Boxing), Raj Kumar
Sharma (Cricket), Bishweshwar Nandi (Gymnastics), S. Pradeep Kumar (Swimming)
and Mahabir Singh (Wrestling) 2016
Arjuna Award
Recipients are: Rajat Chauhan (Archery), Lalita Babar (Athletics), Sourav Kothari
(Billiards & Snooker), Shiva Thapa (Boxing), Ajinkya Rahane (Cricket), Subrata Paul
(Football), Rani (Hockey), Raghunath V.R. (Hockey), Gurpreet Singh (Shooting), Apurvi
Chandela (Shooting), Soumyajit Ghosh (Table Tennis), Vinesh (Wrestling), Amit Kumar
(Wrestling), Sandeep Singh Mann (Para-Athletics) and Virender Singh (Wrestling).
2016 Dhyan Chand Award
Recipients are: Satti Geetha (Athletics), Sylvanus Dung Dung (Hockey) and Rajendra
Pralhad Shelke (Rowing). 2015-16
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy
Recipient: Punjabi University, Patiala.
 CA-27

BILLS AND ACTS 2016

Benami Transaction Bill 2016 • The Bill will make all the stakeholders
responsive and accountable for
• The Benami Transactions (Prohibition)
upholding the principles underlying the
Amendment Bill, 2016 was passed by
Bill.
the Rajya Sabha. It was already passed
• It will bring greater accountability on
by Lok Sabha in the last week of July the part of the Union Government and
2016. State Governments/UT administrations
• The bill has provision for confiscating for issues concerning Transgender
‘benami’ (proxy) assets. persons.
• The bill seeks to establish adjudicating • Background Transgender community
authorities and an appellate tribunal to is among one of the most marginalized
deal with benami transactions as also communities in the country because
specify penalty for entering into benami they don’t fit into the stereotypical
transactions. categories of gender of ‘men’ or ‘women’.
• The bill is part of measures planned by • They face problems ranging from social
exclusion, ostracism and discrimination,
the Government to tackle the problem
as well as verbal, physical and sexual
of black money. abuse.
• A transaction is considered as benami • They also lack of access to education and
(meaning nameless) where a property employment opportunities, ending up
is transferred to or is held by a person into organised groups, forced begging
and the consideration for such property or demanding money.
has been provided or paid by another
person.
Aadhaar Act, 2016
• People keeping ‘benami’ properties to The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of
evade taxes will get up to seven years Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and
rigorous imprisonment and fine, as services) Act, 2016 has been notified by the
per a new law aimed at checking black Union Government on March 28. The Act
money in real estate sector. will provide statutory backing for transfer
of subsidies and benefits to eligible people
Transgender Persons (Protection of having Aadhaar (UID) number.
Rights) Bill, 2016 Key facts
• The act seeks to provide efficient,
• The Transgender Persons (Protection transparent and targeted delivery of
of Rights) Bill, 2016 was approved by subsidies, benefits and services to
the Union Cabinet on July 21 to protect individuals residing in India by assigning
transgenders from discrimination. Through them unique identity numbers (UID) or
this Bill the Union Government has evolved a Aadhaar number.
holistic mechanism for the social, economic • It will be used for all benefit that will be
and educational empowerment of linked to consolidated fund of India or
marginalized transgenders community. the expenditure incurred from it.
Key Facts • Both Central and state governments can
• The Bill will benefit a large number use Aadhaar for disbursal for benefits
of transgender persons, mitigate the and subsidies. However the Aadhaar
stigma, discrimination and abuse number cannot be used as a proof of
citizenship or domicile.
against them and also bring them into
the mainstream of society. • The Act gives statutory for establishment
of the Unique Identification Authority of
• It will lead to greater inclusiveness
India consisting of a Chairperson (part
and will make the transgender persons
time or full time) and two Members
productive members of the society.
(part time).
CA-28 Bills and Acts 2016

• Those individuals not having Aadhaar Custodian, it shall continue to be vested

number shall be offered alternate in it as enemy property irrespective of
and viable means of identification for whether the enemy, enemy subject or
delivery of the subsidies, benefits or enemy firm has ceased to be an enemy
service. due to reasons such as death.
• The new Bill ensures that the law of
Enemy Property (Amendment and succession does not apply to enemy
Validation) Bill, 2016 property; that there cannot be transfer
• Lok Sabha passed the Enemy Property of any property vested in the Custodian
(Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016 by an enemy or enemy subject or enemy
on 9th March 2016. firm and that the Custodian shall
• The Bill seeks to amend the Enemy preserve the enemy property till it is
Property Act, 1968 and the Public disposed of in accordance with the Act.
Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised
Occupants) Act, 1971. The Juvenile Justice (Care and
• The Enemy Property Act 1968 was Protection of Children) Act, 2015
enacted to take over the properties • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
owned by people who left for Pakistan of Children) Act, 2015 has come into
or China when India was at war with force from January 15, 2016 and repeals
the two countries. Such properties were the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
vested in the Mumbai-headquartered of Children) Act, 2000.
Custodian of Enemy Properties (CEP).
• The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on
• Approximately 16,000 properties 7th May, 2015 and Rajya Sabha on
across the country have either been or
22nd December, 2015 and received
are being taken over by the CEP under
Presidential assent on 31st December,
the 1968 Act. Of these, the process to
take over 9,400 properties –estimated 2015.
to be worth ` 1 lakh crore, or ` 1,000 • Under Section 15, special provisions
billion – has been completed. have been made to tackle child offenders
• The amendments states that once committing heinous offences in the age
an enemy property is vested in the group of 16-18 years.
 CA-29

POLICIES AND SCHEMES 2016

KVK Portal and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It

The Union Minister of Agriculture and provides for incentivizing employers
Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh to engage apprentices. 25% of the total
stipend payable to an apprentice would
formally launched Krishi Vigyan Kendra
be shared with employers directly by
(KVK) portal (http://kvk.icar.gov.in) on 8th
Government of India. It is for the first
July in New Delhi.
time a scheme has been designed to
Features of the Portal offer financial incentives to employers
• The portal provides provisions for to engage apprentices. In addition, it
online monitoring of KVKs which will also supports basic training, which is an
include reporting of major events on essential component of apprenticeship
regular basis and submission of monthly training. 50% of the total expenditure
reports online. incurred on providing basic training
• The portal will also provide information would be supported by Government of
on different services being provided by India.
different KVKs. • The Scheme will catalyze the entire
• Weather and Market related apprenticeship ecosystem in the country
informations can also be accessed by and it will offer a win-win situation
the farmers and others. for all stakeholders. It is expected to
• The forthcoming programmes will also become one of the most powerful skill-
be available on the website which will delivery vehicle in the country.
benefit farmers and youth in joining • The National Policy of Skill
different training programmes being Development and Entrepreneurship,
organized by KVKs. 2015 launched by the Prime Minister
focuses on apprenticeship as one of
• Question and answer facility will also be
the key components for creating skilled
available for the farmers.
manpower in India. The present scheme
• Agriculture related information of the
also aims to achieve the objective as
districts will also be available on the
stated in the National Policy, 2015. The
portal. policy proposes to work pro-actively
• The farmers and the Agricultural with the industry including MSME to
Officers may register themselves and facilitate ten fold increase opportunities
seek different informations related to in the country by 2020.
KVKs.
UJALA Scheme
National Apprenticeship Promotion The National LED programme – Unnat
Scheme Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime was launched by the Union Government on
Minister Narendra Modi approved a May 1. The scheme was launched by Union
National Apprenticeship Promotion Minister for State (IC) for Power, Coal and
Scheme on 5th July. The Scheme has an Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal in Bhopal,
outlay of ` 10,000 crore with a target of 50 Madhya Pradesh.
lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20. Key facts
Features of the scheme • The UJALA scheme is being implemented
• The Scheme would be implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited
by Director General of Training (DGT) (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under
under Ministry of Skill Development the Union Ministry of Power.
CA-30 Policies and Schemes 2016

• It is LED based Domestic Efficient from VI to XII along with free uniforms
Lighting Programme (DELP). and other study materials.
• Under the scheme, 3 crore LED Bulbs • These schools will be affiliated under the
will be distributed in Madhya Pradesh Central Board of Secondary Education
in the next 6 months. (CBSE) and shall have hostel facility in
• People of Madhya Pradesh will get future.
subsidised 9W energy efficient LED • Under this project, one Adarsh Vidyalaya
bulbs by paying just 85 rupees per LED will be set up in each of the 314 revenue
bulb. blocks of the state.
• The scheme will help reduce electricity • They will be managed by the Odisha
bills of consumers, contribute to the Adarsh Vidyalaya Sangathan (AVS)
energy security of India and also help in and will be formed on the lines of the
environment protection. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
• It will help in saving energy around 24 • In these schools, English will be the first
crore units every year. language and Odia will be the second
language as medium of instruction.
Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana
• The project will be implemented in
The Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana for phases and in the first phase 100 such
widows was launched on 14 April by the schools will start functioning on 5 April
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das. 2016.
The objective of the scheme is to create • The teacher-pupil ratio of these schools
equality and harmony in society, ensuring will be 1:25 and classroom-student ratio
all round development. of 1:40. 50 per cent of total seats will be
Highlights of the Yojana reserved for the girls and scheduled
• The programme is with a budget categories.
allocation of 80 crore rupees and a One Rank One Pension Scheme
target of 11000 units (houses) for
One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme was
widows was set in 2016-17 financial
given ex-post facto approval on 7 April by
year.
the Union Cabinet for implementation of
• An amount of 75000 rupees would be
retrospectively with effect from 1st July,
granted to build a house in districts in
2014. Decision in this regard was taken by
hilly terrains and 70000 rupees in plains
Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime
and the amount would be distributed
Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. OROP
among the beneficiaries in three
will provide ex-servicemen of the same rank
instalments in their bank accounts.
and same length of service uniform pension
• The widows would also get pension.
regardless of date of retirement.
Adarsh Vidyalaya Project Key facts
• The benefits of OROP will be given
Adarsh Vidyalaya (AV) project was
with effect from 1st of July 2014 and it
launched by the Odisha Government on
will benefit ex-servicemen of all three
April 7 to provide modern schools facilities
services- Army, Navy and Air Force.
on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas in the • The benefits will also be extended
underdeveloped rural areas of the state. to family pensioners including war
It was launched by Odisha Chief Minister widows and disabled pensioners.
Naveen Patnaik at Sasan Ambagaon village • All arrears will be paid in four half-
in his home constituency Hinjli in Ganjam yearly instalments. However all widows,
district. family pensioners including those in
Key features receipt of Gallantry award will be paid
arrears in one instalment.
• Schools under AV project will provide • Pension will be re-fixed every five years
free education to students of the classes and future enhancements in rates of
Policies and Schemes 2016 CA-31

pension would be automatically passed Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin

to the past pensioners. The implementation of the rural housing
• Armed forces personnel who retire scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-
voluntarily would be not covered Gramin was given approval by the Union
under OROP scheme. However, it will Cabinet on March 25. Under the scheme,
be applicable to personnel who have financial assistance will be provided
already retired prematurely. for construction of pucca houses to
all houseless and households living in
Stand up India scheme for SC/ST & dilapidated houses.
Women Key facts
The Stand-up India scheme was launched • The expenditure involved in implementing
on April 6 by Prime Minister Narendra the project is ` 81975 crore in a span of
Modi to provide credit to Scheduled 3 years from 2016-17 to 2018-19.
Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and • Under the scheme, it is proposed
women borrowers in the non-farm sector. to provide assistance to one crore
The scheme is intended to promote households for construction of pucca
entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women house.
and further gives a push to government’s • It will be implemented in rural areas
financial inclusion programme. throughout the country except in Delhi
and Chandigarh.
Main features of the scheme • The beneficiaries will be identified
• Composite loan between 10 lakh using Socio Economic and Caste Census
rupees and up to 1 crore rupees will be (SECC)-2011 data ensuring total
provided to SC/ST and women and also transparency and objectivity.
inclusive of working capital component • The cost of houses would be shared
for setting up any new enterprise. between Centre and States Governments
• Debit Card (RuPay) for withdrawal in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and
of working capital: Credit history of 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.
borrower to be developed of these • Under this scheme, annual list of
under-banked sections of society. beneficiaries will be identified from the
• Refinance window through Small total list through participatory process
Industries Development Bank of India by the Gram Sabha.
(SIDBI) with an initial amount of 10,000 • Funds will be transferred electronically
crore rupees. directly to the account of the beneficiary.
• Creation of a corpus of 5,000 crore • He will be able to track the progress
rupees for credit guarantee through of his payments through the app.
National Credit Guarantee Trustee Inspection will be done through a
Company (NCGTC). mobile app.
• Handholding support for borrowers • Locally appropriate house designs,
with comprehensive support for pre will be mainly practised to address the
loan training needs, facilitating loan, natural calamities.
factoring, marketing, etc. • The beneficiary is entitled to 90 days of
• Web Portal for online registration and unskilled labour from MGNREGA. This
support services will be provided. will be ensured through a server linkage
• Under the scheme, 1.25 lakh bank between PMAY and MGNREGA.
branches will provide loans up to 1 • The additional requirement of building
crore rupees to SC/ST and women materials, bricks using cement
entrepreneurs. Thus it will help in stabilised earth or fly ash will be taken
creating 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs up under MGNREGA.
throughout the country. • National Technical Support Agency
will be established to provide
CA-32 Policies and Schemes 2016

technical support to the Centre and • Its objective is to showcase Himachal’s

States to ensure their quality of beauty as India’s cleanest and greenest
construction of the houses. state.
• Under the scheme, the game of cricket
Mukhyamantri Santwana Harish will be linked with Swatch Bharat
Yojana Abhiyan and youth will be termed as
Mukhyamantri Santwana Harish Yojana Swatch Captain and teachers as Swatch
was launched on March 8 by the Karnataka Coach. They will start cleanliness
Government to provide free treatment drive with the help of students from
to road accident victims for the first 48 universities, educational institutes and
then in their local neighbourhood.
hours in the nearest government or private
hospital. Udyam Aakansha scheme
The scheme is named after Harish Nanjappa, Chhattisgarh Government has launched
who donated his eyes moments before his ‘Udyam Aakansha’ Scheme for promoting
death in a road accident in February 2016. micro, small and medium enterprises in the
Highlights of the scheme state on February 9.
• The scheme will provide assistance to Highlights of the scheme
victims of road accidents across the
• The scheme would facilitate free online
state irrespective of their financial
registration and self-certification to the
status or nationality. investors interested in investment on
• Immediate medical relief will be micro, small and medium enterprises
provided to victims during the Golden and service businesses.
Hour with financial aid up to 25000 • The investors can enrol themselves
during the first 48 hours of treatment. online through website of the Industries
• The victims will receive medical care for department which will be based on self-
first 48 hours and get treatment at any certification process.
hospital. All hospitals will be directed • For the online registration, investors
not to reject accident victims. need not submit any documents nor
have to pay any fee.
• A software covering hospital registration, • Chhattisgarh is among some leading
patient registration, claims submission states where this scheme has been
and packages will be installed for the initiated.
proper implementation of the scheme. • Keeping in view the objective of
• Emergency toll free helplines will also promoting the ease of doing business,
the process of registration and self-
be set up to help accident victims.
certification for entrepreneurs has been
simplified.
Swachh Himachal Padhai bhi, Safai bhi
‘Swachh Himachal – Padhai bhi, Safai bhi’ National Capital Goods Policy 2016
campaign was launched by Himachal National Capital Goods Policy 2016 was
Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) on unveiled by Union Ministry of Heavy
February 20 in Dharamsala. With this Industries on 15 February 2016. The policy,
unique campaign, HPCA became the first with the theme Building India of Tomorrow,
seeks to achieve the vision of Make in
cricket association in the country to work
India initiative and establishes India as a
towards Swatch Bharat Abhiyan initiated by
global manufacturing hub by unlocking the
the Union Government.
potential for capital goods sector.
Key facts Main Features
• The campaign aims at involving youth to • Vision: To increase the share of capital
promote good health and sanitation in goods contribution from present 12 to
urban and rural areas in the Himalayan 20% of total manufacturing activity by
state. 2025.
Policies and Schemes 2016 CA-33

• Mission: To become one of the top • The balance 778 crore rupees outstanding
capital goods producing nations of the debt will be re-priced or issued as state
world by raising the total production to guaranteed DISCOM bonds at coupon
over twice the current level. rates of around 3%.
• To raise exports to a significant level • The debt restructuring of state
of at least 40% of total production and DISCOMs will lead to annual saving
thus gain 2.5% share in global exports in interest cost to the tune of around
of capital goods. ` 117 crore.
• To improve technology depth in Indian • The financial restructuring of debt under
capital goods from the current basic and this scheme will help Bihar to speedily
intermediate levels to advanced levels. provide power to around 160.60 lakh
• Objectives: Increase total production households in 1,152 villages that are
to achieve total production in excess of still without electricity.
5 lakh crore rupees by 2025 from the
current 2.2 lakh crore rupees. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
• To increase domestic employment Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was
from the current 15 lakhs to at least 50 introduced by the Union Finance Minister
lakhs by 2025 thus providing additional Arun Jaitley on 29 February 2016 in the
employment to over 35 lakhs people. Union Budget for 2016-17. The scheme
• To increase the share of domestic is aimed at energising rural India and
production in India’s capital goods transforming lives of rural population.
demand from 56% to 80% by 2025
Key Features of the scheme
and in the process improve domestic
capacity utilization to 80-90%. • The scheme seeks to develop
• To improve skill availability by training governance capabilities of Panchayat
50 lakhs people by 2025. Raj Institutions (PRIs) to deliver on the
• To improve ‘technology depth’ in Sustainable Development Goals.
capital goods sub-sectors by increasing • Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has
research intensity in India from 0.9% to been proposed with allocation of ` 655
at least 2.8% of GDP. crore.
• The scheme will help Panchayat
Bihar joins UDAY Scheme Raj Institutions deliver Sustainable
• Bihar has become the sixth state to Development Goals.
join Union Government’s UDAY (Ujwal • It will cover 52,000 village panchayats.
Discom Assurance Yojana) Scheme for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen
financial restructuring of debt of power
Kaushalya Yojana
distribution companies.
• Other 5 states are Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Under the Yojana, the Union Ministry of Rural
Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to Development will launch skill development
become part of the scheme. training centres on a large scale to address
• A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding the problem of unemployment particularly
in rural India.
(MoU) was signed between Bihar
government, State Power Distribution Main Highlights of the Rural Scheme
companies (DISCOMs) and Union Power • The Yojana aims at training 10 lakh (1
ministry. million) rural youths for jobs in three
• Under the scheme, Bihar government years, that is, by 2017.
would take over 75% or 2,332 crore • The minimum age for entry under the
rupees of the state DISCOM’s total debt Yojana is 15 years compared to 18 years
of 3,110 crore rupees as of September under the Aajeevika Skills Programme.
2015. • Skill development training centres
to be launched so as to address the
CA-34 Policies and Schemes 2016

unemployment problem in the rural • Training urban poor to meet the

area. huge demand from urban citizens
• The skills imparted under the Yojana by imparting market oriented skills
will now be benchmarked against through City Livelihood Centres.
international standards and will • Enabling urban poor form Self-Help
complement the Prime Minister’s Make Groups for meeting financial and social
In India campaign. needs with a support of 10000 rupees to
each group.
• The Kaushalya Yojana will also address
the need for imparting training to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
differently-able persons and chip in
On May 1, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
private players including international
Yojana (PMUY) was launched. The scheme
players to impart the skills to the rural
will benefit the poor, especially the women.
youths.
The scheme aims to provide cooking gas
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya connections to five crore below-poverty-
Yojana for urban areas line beneficiaries over the next three years.
Salient features of the scheme
It extends the coverage to all the 4041
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
statutory cities and towns, there by covering (CCEA) approved 8000 crore rupees for
almost the entire urban population. the next 3 years starting from financial
Currently, all the urban poverty alleviating year 2016-17.
programmes covered only 790 towns and • PM Ujjwala Yojana will provide 5 crore
cities. LPG connections to BPL Families.
Main Highlights of the Urban Scheme • A budgetary provision of the scheme is
The scheme will focus on 2000 crore rupees.
• Imparting skills with an expenditure of • 5 crore LPG connections will be
15000 rupees to 18000 rupees on each provided to BPL families with a support
urban poor. of 1600 rupees.
• Promotion of self-employment through • Connections will be given in the name of
setting up individual micro-enterprises women beneficiaries.
and group enterprises with interest • Identification of BPL families will
subsidy for individual projects costing be made in consultation with State
2 lakhs rupees and 10 lakhs rupees for Governments and Union territories.
group enterprises. • EMI Facility for meeting the cost of
Stove and Refill cost.
 CA-35

INDIA TOP 10 PEOPLE – 2016

Social/Science & Tech. Political Economic

• Pusarla Venkata (P.V.) • PM- Narendra Modi • Vijay Mallya (Business)

Sindhu
• Dipa Karmakar • Arvind kejriwal (CM-Delhi) • Cyrus Mistry (TATA)
(Gymnast)
• Rohit Vermula (Ph.D • Irom Chanu Sharmila • Urjit R. Patel (RBI)
student) (Social work)
• Justice J.S. Khehar (CJI) • Jayalalitha Jayaraman • Pankaj Patel (FICCI)
(AIADMK)
• Ravichandran Ashwin • Mufti Mohammad Sayeed • Amit Mitra (GST)
(cricket) (J&K)
• Aparna Kumar (Antarctic • O.Panneerselvam (CM-Tamil • Binny Bansal (Flipkart)
expedition) Nadu)
• Alok Kumar Verma (IPS) • H.L. Dattu (chairman-HRC) • Aditya Puri (HDFC)

• Anuradha Roy (writer) • Mehbooba Mufti (CM-J&K) • Abid Ali Neemuchwala

(Wipro)
• Sakshi Malik (wrestling) • Jagdish Singh Khehar (CJI) • Satyanand Munjal
(Herocycle)
• Bezwada Wilson (social • Vinod Rai (Banks Board • Dinesh Sharma (Banking)
work) Bureau)

INDIA TOP 10 EVENTS

Social/Science & Tech. Political Economic

• 103rd Indian Science • President’s Rule in • India overtakes Thailand as
Congress on 03-01-2016 Arunachal Pradesh world’s largest rice exporter on
on 26-01-2016 28-01-2016
• Padma Awards to 112 • India’s 67th Republic • Incredible India Tourism
recognised people on Day on 26-01-2016 investors summit on 21-09-2016
26-01-2016
• India’s first Aviation • National Conference • Yes Bank won Green Bond Award
Park in Gujarat on of women Legislator in London on 25-02-2016
10-02-2016 in nation building on
05-03-2016
• Setu Bharatam Project • National Waterway • Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage
on railway crossing on Bill passed on 09-03- Project on 27-02-2016
04-03-2016 2016 by Rajya Sabha
• ARIES-Asia’s largest • India ranked 70th in • 9th Defence Expo 2016 unveiled in
optical Telescope with good country index Goa on 28-03-2016
Belgium on 30-03-2016 list of 163 on
03-06-2016
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala • Afghan-India • India at top in FDI destination by
Yojana (PMUY) for LPG friendship Dam on Financial Times Report on 22-
on 01-05-2016 04-06-2016 04-216
CA-36 Top 10

• E-library Sugamya • 8th BRICS summit in • Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code

Pustakalaya for blind on Goa on 15-10-2016 Bill passed on 11-05-2016
24-08-2016
• India’s First LIGO • India’s 1st amphibious • Simhastha Declaration at Ninora
laboratory in Hingoli bus project at Harike Village in Ujjain on 14-05-2016
(Maharashtra) on 10- (Amritsar) on 12-12-
09-2016 2016
• Super Computer PARAM- • India-Indonesia • GST Bill passed on 8th August
ISHAN (IIT-Guwahati) strategic partnership 2016 by Rajya Sabha
inaugurated on 20-09- on 12-12-2016
2016
• Smart India Hackathon • Rights of persons • 2016-17 Global Competitiveness
by MHRD on 10-11- with disabilities bill- Index by world Economic Forum
2016 2016 passed by Rajya on 27-09-2016
Sabha on 14-12-2016

INDIA TOP 10 ISSUES 2016

Social/Science & Tech. Economic Political

• Sex ratio in Haryana is • Organic farming-food • Uniform Civil Code
903 per 1000 as per 2011 quality & soil fertility
Census
• Cauvery Water dispute • Net neutrality Facebook’s • Electoral reforms
between Karnataka and free basics
Tamil Nadu
• JNU controversy and its • E-commerce in India • Age for UPSC civil services
effects aspirants
• Haryana Jat Agitation for • UIDAI and sharing of • CBI raid and arrest of Delhi
consideration as OBC Aadhaar data government principal
category secretary
• Combat Drug resistant TB. • Black money in India • Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Vs
Delhi Police
• Child Labour Prohibition • TATA’S Mistry Controversy • 7th Pay Commission and IAS
and Regulation Vs. IPS officers increments
• Commercial Surrogacy • Tax structure and GST • Unrest in Kashmir
• National Waterways • Demonetization of `500 • Punjab government and
Project Threatens and `1000 currency new castes inclusion in
Gangetic Dolphins notes OBC list
• BCCI-Lodha Committee • Enemy property • Armed Forces Special
recommendation Ordinance Power Act (AFSPA) in 3
more district of Arunachal
Pradesh
• NDTV goes off the air • Limited withdrawal of • Delhi Government Vs LG-
own money from ATM Najeeb Jung
and banks
Top 10 CA-37

INDIA TOP 10 IDEAS 2016

Social/Science & Tech. Economic Political

• Smart cities • Credit Guarantee Fund for • Metrino Pod Taxi Project
MUDRA Loans
• HPV Vaccine Programme • Stand-up India scheme for • Doubling farmers’ income
in schools women & SC/ST
• 112- new single • SBI in Cube • Water Metro Rail
emergency number for
India
• Hologram Technique to • Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 • Solar Power Tree
check liquor’s purity in
Maharashtra
• India’s longest Bridge • Mahila E-Haat • Single Budget
• Panic Button-GPS in • India Post Payments Bank • Election Commision on
mobile Facebook to register
young voters
• Educational Institution • Unified Payments Interface • Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on
open to public scrutiny (UPI) Sardar V. Patel’s birthday
• E-bidding portals • Living in cashless/less • Caterpillar train to bust
cash society tourism in Punjab
• Digital Locker • Islamic Banking in India • Union Health Ministry
with AIIMS start National
Death Registry
• Online Platform “Nyaaya” • Incentives to digital • PM –Modi launched UPI
payments based mobile payment
app BHIM

TOP TRENDS 2016

Sociological Economic Political Scientific Ecological

Trends Trends Trends Trends Trends
• Water Crisis/ • Demonetization • World Politics • Hacking • Climate
Scarcity Swinging to the sites change
the right
• Living in • Goods & • Surgical Strike • R-Jio a • Global
relationship Services Tax trend Warming
(GST) setter
• Love Jihad • Blackmoney & • ISIS/Terrorism • Digital • Swachh
Corruption India Bharat
• Ghar Wapsi • e-commerce, • Politics & • e-wastes • Carbon Sinks
e-wallet & Education
Internet together
• Farmers’ • Oil wars • Servergate • Digital • Green peace
suicide locker
• Demographic • Benami • Populism • Live on • Smart cities
dividend Properties e-office
CA-38 Top 10

• Surrogacy • Globalization • One Rank One • e-wallet • Green

Vs. Pension Technology
Protectionism
• Juvenile • Insolvency & • Patidar Quota • Medipark • Interlinking of
Justice Bankruptcy Agitation rivers
• Social Boycott • Cashless/Less- • BREXIT • Monorail • Solar impulse
cash Economy
• Uniform Civil • Paytm • Blood & water • Indigenous • CorodiaiLint
Code not together
• Lodha • Product Recall • Burhan Wani • e-courts •Rise in sea
Committee Vs & J&K unrest level
BCCI
• Europe’s • South China Sea • Ae Dil Hai • Mahila • Clean energy
Refugee Muskil e-Haat
Crisis
LGBT Rights • Unified • NSG (Nuclear • LIGO India • Biodiversities
Payments Suppliers
Interface (UPI) group) &
MTCR (Missile
Technology
Control
Regime)
• Islamic Banking • Bullet • Endangered
train species
• Single Budget • Pokemon • Deforestation
Go Vs
aforestation
• Robotic • Air pollution
Surgeon

WORLD TOP 10 PEOPLE, EVENTS, ISSUES & IDEAS

People Events Issues Ideas

• Boutros Boutros • World economic • World’s most • Japan’s ASTRO-H
Ghali-former UN Forum (WEF) expensive train satellite to study
secretary general meeting held station near Black holes.
died on 16-02- in Swiss resort World Trade
2016. of Davos, Centre in New
Switzerland on York (USA) at a
20 to 23 January cost of $ 4 billion
2016. with 11 subway
lines began in
February 2016.
• Htin Kyaw • 12th South Asian • 2016 World • Laser
appointed as first Games start at Tuberculosis interferometer
civilian president IGAS in Guwahati Day is 20th March Gravitational
of Myanmar on 05-02-2016. 2016 with a Wave Observatory
after 50 years of theme –unite to (LIGO) India project
military rule. end TB. for research on
gravitational
waves.
Top 10 CA-39

• Juan Manuel • 4th Nuclear • India is 5th largest • Solar impulse-2, the
Santos-colombian Security producer of first plane powered
president was given Summit held in e-waste in world by renewable
Nobel Peace Prize Washington, D.C. expected to touch energy.
for ending ‘50 on 31st March to 4.7 lakh tones.
years Civil War’. 1st April 2016.
• Ray Tomlinson- • Saudi Arabia’s • Pakistani Artists • BRICS women
inventor of e-mail highest civilian controversy in forum.
died on 05-03- award (i.e. King bollywood.
2016. Abdulaziz Sash)
was given to PM
Narendra Modi on
03-04-2016.
• Muhammad Ali- a • Group-7 (G-7) • India ranked • Chabahar Port in
boxing symbol countries foreign 112th in world south-eastern
died on 03-06- ministers issued Economic Iran in the Gulf of
2016. Hiroshima Freedom Index. Oman.
declaration for
a world without
nuclear weapon
on 11-04-2016.
• Jim Yong Kim • Summer Olympic • Oil water Vs • First e-commerce
reappointed as at Rio de Janero US shale gas satellite planned
president of world (Brazil) started on revolution. by China’s giant
Bank on 01-07-2016. 05-08-2016. Alibaba.
• Mother Teresa was • Micius-the world’s • South China • Tackling illegal
declared saint on first quantum Sea and United immigration led
04-09-2016. satellite was Nations Donald Trump’s
launched by China Convention on victory.
on 16-08-2016. the law of the sea
(UNCLOS).
• Donald Trump • 2016 G-20 summit • Europe’s refugee • India’s strong
elected 45th held in Hangzhou, crisis led BREXIT. neighbourhood
president of USA China from 4 to 5th policy.
on 8-11-2016. September 2016.
• Fidel castro-cuba’s • Rio Paralympics • India surgical • Tsunami early
former president began on 07-09- strikes on Terror warning-system
passed away on 2016 at Rio de launch pads for South China Sea
25-11-2016. Janero (Brazil). across LOC. countries.
• Antonio Guterres • 6th Heart of Asia • India’s NSG bid, • Hafnium Carbide
former Portugese Conference began UN security (HFC)- world’s most
PM sworn in as on 3rd Dec. 2016 at council and heat resistant
UN secretary general Amritsar, Punjab MTCR. material identified
on 12-12-2016. with Amritsar by researchers of
declaration. imperial College,
London.
CA-40 Top 10

Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement came during COP21/CMP11 of United Nations
Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) held in Paris (France) from 30
November to 11 December 2015. It was the outcome of 20 previous
Conferences of Parties (COPs) on behalf of United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) first held in Rio de Janeiro
(Brazil) Earth Summit in 1992. The Paris Agreement for the first time
brings all nations(Developed & developing) into a common cause to
undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its
effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As
such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.
The Parties acknowledged, “climate change is a common concern of
humankind, so Parties should, when taking action to address climate
change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on
human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local
communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people
in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender
equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity”.
Some of the key aspects of the Agreement are:
Long-term Temperature Goal (Art. 2), Global Peaking (Art.4), Mitigation
(Art. 4), Sinks and Reservoirs (Art.5), Market and Non-markets (Art. 6),
Adaptation (Art. 7), Loss and Damage (Art. 8),Support (Art. 9, 10 and 11),
Transparency (Art. 13), Global Stocktake (Art. 14), etc.
 CA-41

MAJOR POLICIES/ACTS –
AT A GLANCE

VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES

IN INDIA – AT A GLANCE
Programme/Plan/ Year of Objective/Description
Institution beginning
National Institution of 1977 Training, investigation and advisory organisation for
Rural Development rural development.
Rural Landless August 15, For providing employment to landless farmers and
Employment Guarantee 1983 labourers.
Programme (RLEGP)
Self-Employment to the 1983-84 To provide financial and technical assistance for
Educated Unemployed self- employment.
Youth (SEEUY)
Self-Employment September To provide self-employment to urban poor through
Programme for the Urban 1986 provision of subsidy and bank credit.
Poor (SEPUP)
District Rural 1993 To provide financial assistance for rural
Development Agency development.
(DRDA)
Valmiki Ambedkar Awas December Constructing slum houses in urban areas.
Yojana (VAMBAY) 2, 2001
Community Development 1952 Overall development of rural areas with people’s
Programme (CDP) participation.
Intensive Agriculture 1960-61 To provide loan, seeds, fertilizer tools to the
Development Programme farmers.
(IADP)
Green Revolution 1966-67 To increase the foodgrains, specially wheat production.
Nationalisation of 14 July 1969 To provide loans for agriculture, rural development
Banks and other priority sectors.
Drought-Prone Area 1973 To try an expedient for protection from drought
Progr-amme (DPAP) by achieving environmental balance and by
developing ground water.
Crash Scheme for Rural 1972-73 For rural employment.
Employment (CSRE)
Food for Work 1977-78 Providing food grains to labour for the works of
Programme development.
CA-42 Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance

Programme/Plan/ Year of Objective/Description

Institution beginning
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana April 1989 For providing employment to rural unemployed.
Agricultural and Rural 1990 To exempt bank loans upto ` 10,000 of rural
Debt Relief Scheme artisans and weavers.
(ARDRS)
Scheme of Urban Micro 1990 To assist the urban poor people for small
Enterprises (SUME) enterprise.
Scheme of Urban Wage 1990 To provide wage employment after arranging the
Employment (SUWE) basic facilities for poor people in the urban areas
where population is less than one lakh.
National Renewal Fund February To protect the interest of the employees of Public
(NRF) 1992 Sector.
Employment Assurance October 2,
To provide employment of at least 100 days in a
Scheme (EAS) 1993 year in villages.
Scheme of Integrated Sixth Five
To provide resource and create employment in
Development of Small and Year Plansmall and medium towns for prohibiting the
Medium Towns migration of population from rural areas to big
cities.
Child Labour Eradication August 15, To shift child labour from hazardous industries to
Scheme 1994 schools.
Prime Minister’s November To attack urban poverty in an integrated manner
Integrated Urban Poverty 18, 1995 in 345 town having population between 50,000 to
Eradication Programme 1 lakh.
(PMIUPEP)
National Social Assistance 1995 To assist people living below the poverty line.
Programme
Ganga Kalyan Yojana 1997-98 To provide financial assistance to farmers for
exploring and developing ground and surface
water resources.
BhagyaShree Bal Kalyan October 19, To uplift the conditions of girls.
Policy 1998
Sampurna Gramin Rojgar September Providing employment and food security.
Yojana 25, 2001
Social Security Pilot January 23, Scheme for labourers of unorganised sector for
Scheme 2004 providing family pension, insurance and medical.

WOMEN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES

Name of the Year of Objective/Description

Programmes Beginning
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh- 1993 It extends micro-finance services through a client
(National Credit Fund for friendly and hasslefree loaning mechanism for
Women) livelihood activities, housing micro-enterprises,
family needs, etc to bring about the socio-economic
upliftment of poor women.
Support to Training and 2003-04 To increase the self-reliance and autonomy of
Employment Programme women by enhancing their productivity and
for Women (STEP) enabling them to take up income generating
activities.
Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance CA-43

Ujjawala December A comprehensive scheme for prevention

4th, 2007 of trafficking with 5 specific components :
prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration
and repatriation of victims.
Dhan Laxmi March Conditional cash transfer scheme for the girl child
2008 to encourage families to educate girl children and
to prevent child marriage.
National Mission for 2010 To achieve empowerment of women socially,
Empowerment of Women economically and educationally by securing
(NMEW) convergence of schemes.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for November It aims at empowering adolescent girls of 11 to 18
Empowerment of Adolescent 19th, 2010 years by improving their nutritional and health
Girls (RGSEAG)- ‘Sabla’ status, upgradation of home skills, life skills and
vocational skills.
Saakshar Bharat September National Literacy mission has been recased as
8th, 2009 ‘Saakshar Bharat’. The aim is to cover all adults,
in the age group of 15 and above, with its primary
focus on women.

POLICIES

Policy Year of Objective/Description

Beginning
New Pension System January,  To provide retirement income to all the citizens.
2004  Structured in 2 tiers –
 Tier-1 account is a basic retirement pension
account available to all citizens and does not
permit withdrawal of funds before retirement.
 Tier-2 account is a prospective payment system
account that permits some withdrawal of
pension prior to retirement under exceptional
circumstances.
National Food Security 2007  To increase production and productivity of
Mission wheat, rice and pulses.
 To bridge the yield gap through spreading of
improved technologies and farm management
practices.
Mega Food Parks Scheme 2008  To set up modern infrastructure facilities for
(MFPs) food processing.
 To reduce wastage of perishables.
Unique Identification 2009  To assign a 12-digit UID number (Aadhaar) to
Authority of India (UIDAI) all residents of India.
Direct Benefit Transfer 2013  Direct transfer of subsidy under various social
schemes into beneficiaries’ bank accounts
through Aadhar Payment Bridge
Digital India July, 2015  Creation of digital infrastructure.
 Delivering services digitally.
 Digital literacy.
CA-44 Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance

Smart Cities Mission June, 2015  To promote, cities that provide core
infrastructure, and give a decent quality of life
to its citizens.
 A clean & sustainable environment and
application of smart solutions.
 Cover 100 cities and its duration will be 5 years
(2015-16 to 2019-20).
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2 October,  To have a cleaner India.
2014  Introduce modern and scientific municipal
solid waste management practices.
MUDRA Bank Yojana April 8,  Regulate the micro finance to the rural and
2015 needy population.
Payment Banks 2015  RBI granted ‘in principle’ approval for payment
banks to 11 entities, including Reliance
Industries, Airtel, Vodafone etc.
 New stripped - down type of banks, which are
expected to reach customers mainly through
their mobile phones rather than traditional
bank, branches.
 These banks can’t offer loans but can raise
deposits of upto ` 1 Lakh, and pay interest on
these balances.
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram 2015  To provide 24×7 uninterrupted electricity
Jyoti Yojana supply to each rural household across the
nation by 2022.
Soil Health Card Scheme February,  To help farmers to improve their farm
2015 productivity by evaluating the quality by of the
soil.
Citizenship (Amendment) February  The bill allows the central government to
Bill 27, 2015 register a person as an Overseas Citizen of India
cardholder even if he/she does not satisfy the
given eligibility under special circumstances
only.
The Constitution (119th May 2015  Constitution (119th Amendment) Act, 2015
Amendment) Act is related to the Land Boundary Agreement
(LBA) between India and Bangladesh.
 The bill aims to amend the 1st schedule of
the constitution for the exchange of disputed
territories occupied by both the nations in
agreement with the 1974 bilateral LBA(Land
Boundary Agreement)
Motor Vehicles March,  The bill describes “e-cart or e-rickshaw” as a
(Amendment) Bill 2015 special purpose battery powered vehicle of
power not exceeding 4000 watts, having three
wheels for carrying goods or passengers.
 The bill empowers Union Government to make
the rules on the specifications for e-carts and
e-rickshaws with conditions and manner for
issuing driving licenses.
Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance CA-45

The Rights of Transgender April 2015  The Bill guarantees reservation in education,
Persons Bill jobs, financial aid and social inclusion.
• The bill promises for creation of welfare
boards at the Centre and State level for the
community with two per cent reservation
in government jobs along with providing for
pensions and unemployment allowances; and
establishment of Transgender rights court.
Insurance Laws March  The Amendment will hand over the
(Amendment) Bill 2015 responsibility of selecting insurance agents to
insurers and provides for IRDAI to standardize
their eligibility, qualifications and other
aspects. It allows agents to work for variety
of companies in various business categories;
upholding the conflict of interest that would
not be allowed by IRDAI via suitable rules.
• The amendments provide a comparatively
easier process for payment to the nominee
of the policy holder, as the insurer would
be discharged of its legal liabilities once the
payment is made to the nominee.
Land Acquisition 11th May,  The Right to Fair Compensation and
Rehabilitation 2015 Transparency in Land Acquisition,
and Resettlement Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment)
(Amendment) Bill Bill, 2015 was introduced on 11th May, 2015.
• The Bill seeks to amend the principal Act
(LARR Act, 2013) passed in 2013.
• The bill empowers the government to excuse
five categories of projects including defence,
rural infrastructure, affordable housing,
industrial corridors and infrastructure
including PPPs, from the requirements of: (i)
social impact assessment, (ii) restrictions on
acquisition of multi-cropped land, and (iii)
consent for private projects and public private
partnerships (PPPs) projects.
• The bill eliminated the provisions from the
principal act which deemed the head of a
government department guilty for an offence
conducted by the department and added the
requirement of a prior sanction to take legal
action against a government employee.
• The government allowed this ordinance
on the land acquisition act to lapse on 31st
August 2015.
SAHAJ Scheme 2015  Under the SAHAJ scheme, people are required
to fill up forms online for a new LPG connection
and avoid visiting the LPG distributors. It
involves filing the KYC form by uploading bank
account details and photographs.
CA-46 Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance

‘SAMANVAY’ portal 2015  ‘SAMANVAY’ web portal was launched by

the Union Ministry of Rural Development
to supervise the progress and execution of
the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) for
development of Gram Panchayats.
USTAAD Scheme 2015  The USTAAD scheme was launched in order to
improve the degrading condition of the world
renowned Banaras Saree weavers belonging to
various minority communities.
• The Scheme seeks to upgrade the Skills and
Training of the minority communities by
preservation of their customary ancestral Arts
and Crafts.
• It also focuses on improving upon the skills
of craftsmen, weavers and artisans who are
already engaged in the traditional ancestral
work.
Namami Gange Project May, 2015  Namami Gange Project was launched as an
intergrated effort by the Union Government
for the conservation and improvement of the
Ganga River.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan 9 May,  Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
Jyoti Bima Yojana 2015 (PMJJBY) was launched by the Union finance
minister Arun Jaitley with the aim to extend life
insurance cover to people both in the cases of
natural deaths or accidents.
Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao January  Union Government launched one of its most
campaign 22nd, ambitious projects Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao
2015 (BBBP) on 22nd January 2015 whose prime
objective is to create awareness about the
diminishing child sex ratio in the country.
Sukanya Samridhi Yojana January  Sukanya Samridhi Yojna was launched by Prime
22nd, Minister Narendra Modi on 22nd January 2015
2015 as a girl child prosperity scheme to ensure the
bright future of the girl child in India.
• Under the scheme, parents need to deposit `
1,000 at the time of her birth and thereafter
deposit multiples of ` 100 with the maximum
deposit of ` 1,50,000.
• The yojana permits the girl child to access
her account after she is 10 years old and
a withdrawal of 50% from the account is
permitted at the age of 18 years for higher
education purpose.
Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance CA-47

Nai Manzil scheme August  The scheme seeks to deal with educational
8th, 2015 and livelihood needs of minority communities
in general and Muslims in particular as it lags
behind other minority communities in terms of
educational attainments.
• The focus of the scheme is to provide
educational intervention by offering bridge
courses to the trainees, getting them
certificates for class XII and X through distance
educational system and facilitate them with
trade basis skill training in 4 courses namely
manufacturing, engineering, services and soft
skills.
Thari Pension, Thare Pass August,  Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
2015 launched the Thari Pension Thare Pass in
Chandigarh, seeking to directly transfer
pension into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
• Over 10 lakh beneficiaries from 1,744 villages
and 81 towns in the state would get pensions
through banks and post offices under the first
phase of the scheme.
‘Aapki Beti Hamari Beti’ January  Haryana government launched the ‘Aapki
Scheme 22nd, Beti Hamari Beti’ scheme aiming to combat
2015 the problem of declining child sex ratio and
promote girls’ education.
 The scheme is to be implemented in both rural
and urban areas of the state covering first-born
girl child of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Below
Poverty Line (BPL) families.
Green Highways Policy 2015 • The aim of the policy is to promote greening
of Highway corridors with participation of the
community, farmers, private sector, NGOs, and
government institutions.
• The target for the first year is to plant trees
along 6,000 km of highways, for which 12,000
hectares of land allotted.
‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal 2015 • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched
Vikas Yojana’ ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana’, which
aims to offer 24 lakh Indian youth meaningful,
industry relevant, skill based training.
One Rank One Pension September  To provide uniform pension to ex-servicemen
(OROP) 5, 2015 of the same rank and the same length of
service, regardless of their date of retirement.
Swadesh Darshan Yojana 2015  Develop world class tourism infrastructure.
CA-48 Major Policies/Acts – at a Glance

National Heritage January  Bringing together urban planning, economic

City Development and 21, 2015 growth and heritage conservation to preserve
Augmentation Yojana the heritage character of each Heritage City.
(HRIDAY)
Udaan Scheme November,  Encouraging girls for higher technical
2014 education and aims to provide them with
better learning opportunities.
Gold Monetisation Scheme November,  To reduce the reliance on gold imports.
2015
UJWAL Discom Assurance November,  To reduce the interest burden, cost of power,
Yojana (UDAY) 20, 2015 power losses in distribution sector, and
improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs.