Nanotechnology Research Centers In India

S.No.	Nanotechnology Research Center	Location	Year Of Estb.	Objective
1	Bhabha Atomic Research Center	Mumbai	1954	To fulfill its mandate of indigenous nuclear power programme and various other applications of nuclear energy, etc.
2	Center of Materials for Electronics Technology	Pune	1990	To establish technology strength in electronics materials for the present and future industrial requirement.
3	Central Electronics Research Institute	Rajasthan	1953	Advanced research and development in Electronics.
4	Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute	Kolkata	1977	To provide scientific industrial research and development in the area of glass, ceramics and related materials that maximizes the economic, environmental and societal benefit for the people of India
5	Central Scientific Instruments Organization	Chandigarh	1959	Promotion, guidance and coordination of scientific and industrial research in India including other institutions and financing the specific research activities.
6	Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE)	Gwalior	1973	Research and development of detection and protection against toxic chemical and biological agent.
7	Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences (IACS)	Kolkata	1876	To foster high quality fundamental research in frontier disciplines of the basic sciences.
8	Institute of Fundamental Research	Mumbai	1945	To conduct research primarily in natural sciences, mathematics and theoretical computer science.
9	National Center for Biological Sciences	Karnataka	1892	To conduct fundamental research in the frontier areas of biology.
10	National Chemical Laboratories	Pune	1950	To conduct research, development and consultancy services in the related field of science.
11	National Metallurgical Laboratory	Jamshedpur	1950	Progressive enhancement of its resources, generation and acquisition of ‘Intellectual Property Assets' and strives to maximise the business of R&D meeting the customer requirements through maintenance of sustainable growth
12	National Physics Laboratories	New Delhi	1947	To maintain standards of SI units in India and calibrates the national standards of weights and measures.
13	Raman Research Institute	Bangalore	1948	To conduct research in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Liquid Crystals, Theoretical Physics, Optics.
14	Regional Research Laboratories	Trivandrum	1961	To undertake externally funded projects and offers know-how, feasibility reports, analysis and testing facilities, consultancy and technical information services and human resource development in its various R&D Divisions.
15	S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences (DST)	Kolkata	1986	To foster, encourage and promote the growth of advanced studies in selected branches of basic sciences, etc.
16	Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics	Kolkata	1949	basic research and training in physical and biophysical sciences
17	Solid State Physics Laboratory	Delhi	1962	research in the field of Solid State Materials, Devices and Sub-systems.

Rural Development Programmes

S.No.	Rural Development Programme	Year of Beginning	Objective/Description
1	Community Development Programme (CDP)	1952	Over-all development of rural areas with people's participation.
2	Rural Electrification Corporation	1969	Electrification in rural areas
3	Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme(ARWSP)	1972-73	For providing drinking water in villages
4	Crash Scheme for Rural Employment	1972-73	For rural employment
5	National Institution for Rural Development	1977	Training, investigation and advisory organization for rural development
6	National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)	1980	To provide profitable employment opportunities to the rural poor
7	Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)	1982	To provide suitable opportunities of self-employment to the women belonging to the rural families who are living below the poverty line.
8	Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP)	1983	For providing employment to landless farmers and laborers
9	National Fund for Rural Development (NFRD)	1984	To grant 100% tax rebate to donors and also to provide financial assistance for rural development projects.
10	Council for Advancement of People's Actions and Rural Technology (CAPART)	1986	To provide assistance for rural prosperity.

Nuclear Research Centers In World

S.No.	Nuclear Research Center	Location	Year of Estb	Objective
1	Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)	US	1946	To apply a unique mix of world-class science, engineering and user facilities to deliver innovative research and technologies.
2	Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)	Australia	1987	To provide scientific and technical advice across the nuclear fuel cycle to government and to support Australia's national strategic and nuclear policy objectives, etc.
3	Belgium Nuclear Research Centre (SCN-CEN)	Belgium	1952	To promote Nuclear safety, radiation protection, etc.
4	Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)	India	1957	To fulfill its mandate of indigenous nuclear power programme and various other applications of nuclear energy, etc.
5	Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)	New York	1947	Nuclear and high energy physics, nonproliferation, structural biology, etc.
6	Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI)	Japan	1951	To serve as the comprehensive central research institution for the electric power industry.
8	Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR)	Bubna	1956	To unite the efforts, scientific and material potentials of its Member States for investigations of the fundamental properties of matter.
9	Austrian Research Centre, Siebersdorf (ARCS)	Austria	1956	It provides research and technological development to realize basic innovations for the next generation of infrastructure related technologies in the fields of health & environment, enery, mobility and safety & security.
10	Bulgarian Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE)	Bulgaria	1972	To connect the milestone problems Bulgaria in accordance with the modern world tendencies by carrying out scietific investigations.
11	Central Research Institute of Management, Economics and Information of Minatom of Russia (TSNIIATOMINFORM)	Russia	1967	To facilitate the management of the research and production branches of the nuclear industry and to provide reliable technical and economic information to the industry.
12	European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)	Switzerland	1954	To provide the particle accelerators and other infrastructure needed for high-energy physics research.
13	Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission) (CEA)	France	1945	To develop all applications of nuclear power, both civilian and military
14	Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA)	Egypt	1955	National research and development in the basic and applied peaceful nuclear research
15	European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)	Belgium	----	To focus on both nuclear safeguards and nuclear safety and includes work at the High Flux Reactor in Petten under a supplementary programme.
16	Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Jülich Research Centre)	Europe	1956	To provide impetus and are engaged as a partner throughout the entire value-adding process of research from basic research up to actual innovations, etc.
17	Government of India Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)	India	1948	To increase share of nuclear power through deployment of indigenous and other proven technologies, along with development of fast breeder reactors and thorium reactors with associated fuel cycle facilities
18	Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research  (IGCAR)	India	1971	conducting broad based multidisciplinary programme of scientific research and advanced Engineering, directed towards the development of sodium cooled Fast Breeder Reactor [FBR] technology
19	Institute for Energy Technology (IFE)	Norway	1948	To contribute to the extension of safe and profitable use of multiphase transportation systems.
20	Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University(IAE)	Japan	1971	To carry out research in advanced and socially acceptable energy systems in the entire processes of energy generation, conversion and utilization.
21	Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN)	Brasil	1956	To perform research and development of nuclear energy peaceful applications.
22	International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)	France	----	To demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power.
23	Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC)	Israel	1952	To focus in concerning the advancement of nuclear research and development, and the setting of nuclear policy and priorities.
24	Japan Atomic Energy Agency(JAEA)	Japan	2005	Long term energy security countermeasures to environmental problems, creation of advanced science and technology with competitive edges.
25	Jozef Stefan Institute(IJS)	Belgrade	1949	To provide expert scientific and applied output in the form of processes, products and consultancy, and to produce well-trained young scientists.
26	Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI)	South Korea	1959	To strengthen the competitive edge of the nation's science and technology by achieving technological self-reliance in nuclear technology and expanding its research activities to other related areas.
27	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL)	California	1952	To ensure the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons through the application of advanced science, engineering and technology.
28	Los Alamos National Laboratory(LANL)	United States	1943	To ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent.
29	Nuclear Materials Control Centre(NMCC)	Japan	1972	To promote improvement of nuclear material management industry and systems and international collaboration concerned with nuclear material management, and thereby to contribute to sound development of nuclear power industry and peaceful utilization of nuclear power
30	Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)	Oak Ridge, Tennessee	1943	To maintain the vitality of the Laboratory, enhance the Laboratory’s ability to address future DOE missions, and stimulate exploration at the forefront of science and technology.
31	Oxford Research Group(ORG)	United Kingdom	1982	Pioneering the idea of sustainable approaches to security as an alternative to violent global confrontation, through original research wide ranging dialogue and practical policy recommendations.
32	Paul Scherrer Institute(PSI)	Switzerland	1988	By conducting fundamental and applied research, we work on long-term solutions for major challenges facing society, industry and science.
33	Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology(CEIMAT)	Spain	1951	To contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the quality of life of its citizens, through the generation and application of scientific and technological knowledge in the area of energy.
34	Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) - Department of Energy Technology  (KTH-EGI)	Sweden	1827	To provide state-of-the-art education in the fields of power generation, solar energy, and energy utilization in the built environment by means of economically and environmentally sustainable systems and technologies.
35	Sandia National Laboratory	California	1948	To maintain the reliability and surety of nuclear weapon systems, conduct research and development in arms controland nonproliferation technologies, and investigate methods for the disposal of the United States' nuclear weapons program's hazardous waste.
36	Savannah River Site(SRS)	United States	1950	cleanup activities related to work done in the past for the nation's nuclear buildup.
37	South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)	South Africa	1999	To undertake and promote research and development in the field of nuclear energy and related technologies; to process and store nuclear material and other restricted material; and to co-ordinate with other organisations in matters falling within these spheres.
38	UK Atomic Energy Authority(UKAEA)	UK	1954	To develop fusion power as a commercially viable, environmentally sound energy source for the future.

Agricultural Research Centers In World

S.No.	Agricultural Research Center	Abbr.	Headquarter	Year Of Estb.	Objective
1	Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research	CGIAR	Centers with different headquarters	1971	To attempt to ensure maximum complementarity of international and regional efforts with national efforts in financing and undertaking agricultural research in the future
2	International Center For Tropical Agriculture	CIAT	Colombia	1969	To reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human health in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.
3	The Center for International Forestry Research	CIFOR	Indonesia	1993	To provide a scientific rationale for the sustainable management of forests, etc.
4	International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center	CIMMYT	Mexico	1943	The conservation and utilization of maize and wheat genetic resources, developing and promoting improved maize and wheat varieties
5	International Potato Center	CIP	Peru	1971	To work with partners to achieve food security, well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming, and food systems in the developing world
6	International Center For Agricultural Research In The Dry Areas	ICARDA	Syria	1977	To contribute to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through research and partnerships to achieve sustainable increases in agricultural productivity and income, while ensuring the efficient and more equitable use and conservation of natural resources.
7	International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics	ICRISAT	India	1972	To minimize land degradation and improve the food security and livelihood opportunities for rural people in rainfed area.
8	International Food Policy Research Institute	IFPRI	USA	1975	To enhance food security, reduce poverty, and improve environmental sustainability under global change
9	International Institute of Tropical Agriculture	IITA	Nigeria	1967	Primarily as a facilitator of germplasm movement, ensure  the production of good quality and healthy plants by intercepting and guarding against the introduction of exotic seed borne pests or races of pathogen, etc.
11	International Livestock Research Research Institute	ILRI	Kenya	1994	To work at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity-building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development for poor livestock keepers and their communities
12	International Rice Research Institute	IRRI	Laguna	1960	Make the world's elite breeding and genetic resources available to all rice scientists for direct use or in crosses within breeding programs, etc.
13	International Water Management Institute	IWMI	Sri Lanka	1985	To focus in improving how water and land resources are managed, with the aim of underpinning food security and reducing poverty while safeguarding vital environmental processes

Agricultural Research Centers In India

S.No.	Agricultural Research Center	Abbr.	Location	Year Of Estb.	Objective
1	Central Arid Zone Research Institute	CAZRI	Rajasthan	1952	To find ways to stabilising shifting sand dunes, establishing silipastoral and firewood plantations, planting windbreaks to reduce wind speed and subsequent erosion, rehabilitating degraded forests and starting afforestation of barren hill slopes.
2	Central Food Technological Research Institute	CFTRI	Mysore	1950	Employment generation, Food processing , Rural Development
3	Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute	CIFRI	West Bengal	1947	To conduct investigations for a proper appraisal of inland fisheries resources of the country and to evolve suitable methods for their conservation and optimum utilization.
4	Central Institute for Cotton Research	CICR	Maharashtra	1976	To characterize the bio-physical and socio-economic factors under the selected area of that Agro Ecological sub-region, To identify the agro-economic constraints in rainfed cotton based production system.
5	Central Institute for Research on Goats	CIRG	Uttar Pradesh	1929	To plan, undertake, aid, promote and co-ordinate education, research and its application in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences
6	Central Plantation Crops Research Institute	CPCRI	Kerala	1970	To develop appropriate production, protection and processing technologies for coconut, arecanut and cocoa through basic and applied research,etc.
7	Directorate of Maize Research	DMR	New Delhi	1994	To carry out basic, strategic and applied research aimed at enhancement of production and productivity of maize crop in the country, etc.
8	Directorate of Wheat Research	DWR	Haryana	1966	Organize, evolve, coordinate and supervise research to develop and identify superior and high yielding varieties.
9	Indian Agricultural Research Institute	IARI	New Delhi	1905	Agriculture research, education, extension and information.
10	Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute	IASRI	New Delhi	estb. as full fledged national institute of ICAR in1978	To provide statistical methodology for national agricultural statistics system of the country for generating crop statistics and livestock statistics.
11	Indian Institute of Forest Management	IIFM	Bhopal	1982	To fulfill the growing need for managerial human resource in forest and allied sectors. IIFM has developed as an educational, research, training and consultancy organization and is gradually acquiring an internationally visible name.
12	National Academy of Agricultural Research Management	NAARM	Andra Pradesh	1976	To build the capacity of India’s National Agricultural Research System in Research Management by providing online, non-formal, free and interactive learning opportunitie.
13	National Botanical Research Institute	NBRI	Uttar Pradesh	found as the National Botanic Gardens in 1948	Creation of website on "Plants and Pollution" with regional language interface for easy accession of information, To document information in the form of database, newsletters, reports, To generate and disseminate information on "Plants and Pollution", To respond to the user queries on the subject, To co-ordinate with the focal point for supplying relevant and adequate information to end users.
14	National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources	NBAGR	Haryana	1984	To conduct systematic surveys to characterise, evaluate and catalogue farm livestock and poultry genetic resources and to establish their National Data Base, etc.
15	National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources	NBPGR	New Delhi	1976	To plan, organize, conduct and coordinate exploration and collection of indigenous and exotic plant genetic resources, To undertake introduction, exchange and quarantine of plant genetic resources, etc.
16	National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research	NCAP	New Delhi	1991	Enhance the availability of reliable household, individual and field specific, high frequency, time series data in selected villages and meso-level.
17	National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management	MANAGE	Hyderabad	1987	To develop systematic linkages between state, regional, national and international institutions of outstanding accomplishments in the field of Agricultural Extension Management, et.
18	National Institute of Agricultural Marketing	NIAM	Rajasthan	1988	To undertake and study of applied and operational research in problem areas of agricultural marketing. To impart training, to various levels of functionaries involved in agricultural marketing activities.  To offer consultancy services to the State and Central Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Cooperatives etc; in formulation of Projects, preparing Master Plans for States, Export Institutions, Traders and Farmers.
19	Sugarcane Breeding Institute	SBI	Tamil Nadu	1912	To evolve superior varieties of sugarcane suitable for various agro climatic zones in India.
20	Directorate of Water Management	DWM	Bhubaneswar	1988	To develop improved water management technologies for sustainable agricultural production and disseminate it amongst researchers, government functionaries, NGOs and farmers.
21	Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering	CIAE	Bhopal	1976	To develop appropriate equipment and processes for modernization of agriculture utilizing animate and mechanical power sources, To develop technology for reducing post harvest losses and add value to agro-produce through processing.
22	Central Institute of Brackishwater Acquaculture	CIBA	Chennai	1987	To conduct research for development of techno-economically viable and sustainable culture systems for finfish and shellfish in brackishwater.
23	Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture	CIFA	Orissa	1949	To conduct investigations for a proper appraisal of inland fisheries resources of the country and to evolve suitable methods for their conservation and optimum utilization.
24	National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources	NBPGR	New Delhi	1976	To serve and promote the scientific cause and advance academic interests in the field of plant genetic resources, both in India and abroad.
25	National Dairy Research Institute	NDRI	Haryana	1923	To enhance animal productivity and also to develop cost effective technologies for the benefit of the teeming millions.

Interesting Facts about India

• India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history.
• When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)
• The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
• The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
• Chess was invented in India.
• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.
• The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.
• The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
• India is the largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.
• The game of Snakes & Ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. In time, the game underwent several modifications, but its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds take people to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
• The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
• India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
• The largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
• The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
• Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
• India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
• The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
• Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.
• The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India.Quadratic Equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e. 10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C.during the Vedic period.Even today, the largest used number is Terra: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).
• Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
  (Source: Gemological Institute of America).
• The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
• Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
• Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
• India exports software to 90 countries.
• The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
• Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.
• Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.
• There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
• The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.
• Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively
• The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat, a Hindu Temple in Cambodia built at the end of the 11th century.
• The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
• Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.
• Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
• India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political persecution.
• His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.
• Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

BOOKS - AUTHORS

Book                                                          Author

A House for Mr. Biswas                     V.S. Naipaul

A Passage to England                         Nirad C. Choudhari

A Prisoner`s Scrapbook                     L.K. Advani

A Suitable Boy                                   Vikram Seth

Agni Veena                                        Kazi Nazrul Islam

An Equal Music                                 Vikram Seth

Beginning of the Beginning                  Bhagwan Sri. Rajneesh

Coolie                                               Mulk Raj Anand

Devdas                                             Sharat Chandra Chatterjee

English August                                   Upamanyu Chatterjee

Fasting Feasting                                 Anita Desai

Ganadevata                                       Tara Shankar Bandopadhyaya

Ghasiram Kotwal                               Vijay Tendulkar

Gitanjali                                            Rabindra Nath Tagore

Guide                                                R.K. Narayan

Half a Life                                         V.S. Naipaul

Hinduism                                           Nirad C. Choudhuri

Ignited Minds                                     A.P.J Abdul Kalam

India - Another Millennium                 Romila Thapar

India Unbound                                   Gurcharan Das

India Wins Freedom                          Abul Kalam Azad

India`s Priceless Hertiage                   N.A. Palkhivala                               

Interpreter of Maladies                      Jhumpa Lahiri

Kalpana Chawla - A Life                   Anil Padmanabhan

Kamasutra                                        Vatsyayana

Kasmir : A Tragedy of Errors            Tavleen Singh

Lajja                                                 Taslima Nasreen

Malgudi Days                                   R.K Narayan

My India                                          S. Nihal Singh

My Life and Times                           V.V. Giri

My Music , My Life                          Pt. Ravi Shankar

Operation Bluestar : The True Story   Lt. Gen. K.S. Brar

Panchatantra                                     Vishnu Sharma

Pather Panchali                                 Bibhuti Bhushan

Plain Speaking                                  N. Chandrababu Naidu

Prison Diary                                     Jayaprakash Narayan

Riot: A Novel                                   Shashi Tharoor

Snakes and Ladders:Essays on India     Gita Mehta

Sunny Days                                          Sunil Gavaskar

Swami and Friends                               R.K. Narayan

The Death of Vishnu                             Manil Suri

The Degeneration of India                     T.N. Seshan

The Glass Palace                                  Amitav Ghosh

The God of Small Things                      Arundhati Roy

The Golden gate                                   Vikram Seth

The Interpreter of Maladies                  Jhumpa Lahiri

The Men Who Killed Gandhi                Manohar Malgaonkar

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success    Deepak Chopra

Train to Pakistan                                  Khushwant Singh

Yesterday and Today                          K.P.S Menon

You Can Win                                      Shiv Khera

White Tiger                                         Arvinda Adiga

Namesake                                           Jhumpa Lahiri

THE MINERAL WEALTH OF INDIA

1. Aluminium – Alwaye (Kerala), Koba (M.P.), Renukoot (U.P.), Ratnagiri (Maharashtra)
2. Coal – Raniganj (WB), Jharia, Bokaro and Giridh (Bihar), Lignite coal in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
3. Copper – Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Santhal Parganas (Bihar), Khetri, Alwar, Bhilwara (Rajasthan)
4. Diamond – Panna, Chhatrapur and Satna (MP), Banda (UP)
5. Gold – Anantpur (AP), Hutti and Kolar (Karnatak)
6. Graphite – Orissa, Tamilnadu, Rajasthan, AP, MP, Kerala and Karnatak
7. Iron Ore – Singhbhum (Bihar), Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj (Orisa), Goa, Kudremukh (Karnataka), and Magnesite in A.P.
8. Petroleum --- Digboi, Rudrapur (Assam) Ankleshwar, Kalol, Khambhat (Gujarat), Bombay High (Indian Ocean)
9. Natural Gas – Assam and Gujarat
10. Silver --- Kolar, Zawar (Rajasthan), Anantpur in Tamilnadu
11. Thorium – Kerala   
12. Tin – Bihar 
13. Uranium – Jadugoda (Bihar)
14. Marble – Makrana (Rajasthan), MP, AP, Tamilnadu, Karnataka

Important Battles And Wars In India

Battle of Hydaspes 326 B.C.—Alexander the Great, defeated Porus, the Paurava king. Impressed by the valour of Porus, ultimately Alexander returned his kingdom to him. 

Battle of Kalinga 261 B.C.—Ashoka defeated the king of Kalinga. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and preached it during the rest of his life after this war. 

First Battle of Tarain or Thaneswar A.D. 1191  Prithvi Raj Chauhan defeated Mohammed Ghori. Second Battle of Tarain A.D. 1192—Mohammed Ghori defeated Prithvi Raj Chauhan. Ghori’s victory paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in India. 

First Battle of Panipat 1526—Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi. This laid the foundation of the Mughal rule in India. 

Battle of Khanwah 1527— Babar defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar. This battle resulted in the defeat of the powerful Rajput confederacy. 

Second Battle of Panipat 1556—Bairam Khan (Akbar’s General) defeated Hemu (the Hindu General and right-hand man of Mohd. Adil Shah). It also ended the Afghan Rule and Mughal Rule began instead. 

Battle of Talikota 1564- 65—United alliance between Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmednagar and Golkonda under Hussain Nizam Shah defeated Ram Raja of Vijayanagar. It destroyed the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. 

Battle of Haldighati 1576—Akbar’s forces headed by Raja Man Singh defeated Rana Pratap, the brave Rajput king. Though defeated, Rana Pratap refused to accept Mughal authority and carried on warfare till his death. 

Battle of Plassey 1757— The English under Lord Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.It brought Muslim Rule in Bengal to an end and laid foundations of the British Rule in India. 

Battle of Wandiwash 1760—The English defeated the French. The battle sealed the fate of the French in India and paved the way for English rule in India. 

Third Battle of Panipat 1761—Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Marathas. It gave a terrible blow to the Maratha power. It made the field clear for the English. 

Battle of Buxar 1764— Fought in 1764 between the forces of the English and the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Oudh) and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam. The English victory at Buxar finally riveted the shackles of the Company’s rule upon Bengal. 

First Mysore War (1767- 68)—In 1768, Haider Ali was defeated by the English relinquishing all his rights over Mysore in favour of the English. 

Second Mysore War 1780— A grand alliance between Haider Ali, the Nizam and the Marathas was formed and Haider Ali. He defeated the English and took possession of Arcot and became the undisputed master of the Carnatic. 

Third Mysore War 1790- 92—Fought between the English and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had to submit and was compelled to sign the Treaty of Seringapattam stripped him of half his territory. 

Fourth Mysore War 1799— The British forces under Arthur Wellesley defeated Tipu Sultan, which brought the end of the Tipu Sultan. Maratha War 1803-05—It weakened the Maratha power. The English annexed Tanjore, Surat and Carnatic. 

Fourth Maratha War 1817- 18—The British forces defeated Marathas and this campaign finally extinguished the Maratha Empire. 

Battle of Cheelianwala 1849—Forces of the East India Company under Lord Hugh Gough defeated the Sikhs under Sher Singh. 

Burmese War 1885—As a result of this War, the whole of Burma was occupied by the English and made a part of India. 

Afghan War III 1919—As a result of this War, Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed by which Afghanistan was recognised as an independent State. 

lndo-Pak War 1965—This was Pakistan’s second attack on India. While India had the upper hand, the fighting was brought to a stop by a call for ceasefire issued by the Security Council. Later on, Tashkent accord was signed between the two nations. lndo-

Pak War Dec 1971— Pakistan started the war attacking India on Dec 3. India defeated Pakistan on all fronts. Pakistani occupation forces, numbering about one lakh, in East Bengal (Bangladesh) surrendered. Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

UPSC CDS 2011 general knowledge Questions

1. A devastating Cloud Burst swept over Lehn on August 2010. Which one of the following statements with regard to Cloud Burst is not correct?
(a) Cloud Burst is a localized weather phenomenon representing highly concentrated rainfall over a small area in a short duration of time
(b) Cloud Burst occurs due to upward movement of moisture laden air with sufficient rapidity to form cumulonimbus clouds
(c) Cloud Burst occurs only in hilly areas
(d) There is no satisfactory technique till now for predicting Cloud Burst
ANSWER: (c)


2. Ever greening of patents is done by
(a) Citing another use of the same product
(b) Citing another process of forming the same product
(c) Applying for extension of patent term
(d) Citing another product with same use
ANSWER: (c)

3. Consider the following passage and identify the three tribal principalities referred to therein using the code given below :
In the early history of the far south in India, three tribal principalities are mentioned in Ashokan inscriptions of the third century BC and in Kharavela inscription of the first century BC.
Code :
(a) Vakatakas, Cholas and Satvahanas
(b) Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras
(c) Ikshvakus, Vakatakas and Pandyas
(d) Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas
ANSWER: (b)

4. Why is Switzerland unable to join European Union (EU) till date (2010) despite its governments persistent effort to do so?
(a) Few EU countries like France and Germany are opposed to Switzerland’s joining the Union
(b) The Swiss people continue to vote against joining the EU as they do not want to lose Switzerland’s sovereignty
(c) EU rejected Switzerland’s application as Swiss Government did not agree to use Euro as currency
(d) All of the above
ANSWER: (b)

5. When we eat something we like, our mouth waters. This is actually not water but fluid secreted from
(a) Nasal glands
(b) Oval epithelium
(c) Salivary glands
(d) Tongue
ANSWER: (c)

6. Along with goods manufactured using child labour, some of the developed countries have started to boycott goods manufactured in developing countries using ‘sweat labour`. ‘Sweat labour’ implies goods produced by
(a) Female laborers at a very low wage
(b) Laborers working in inhuman/unhealthy Working conditions
(c) Laborers working for more than eight hours a day without any break
(d) Laborers where there is a wage discrimination between male and female laborers
ANSWER: (b)

7. Consider the following statements with regard to the mining industry of India :
1. The spatial distribution of minerals is uneven.
2. The mining industry since colonial days has been export-oriented.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: (c)

8. Which one among the following groups of items contains only biodegradable items?
(a) Wood, Grass, Plastic
(b) Wood, Grass, Leather
(c) Fruit peels, Lime juice, China clay cup
(d) Lime juice, Grass, Polystyrene cup
ANSWER: (b)

9. Which one among the following is not true for Special Economic Zones?
(a) No license is required for import
(b) Manufacturing and service activities are allowed
(c) No permission for suborn- tracing
(d) No routine examination of cargo for export-import by customs authorities
ANSWER: (c)

10. Consider the following statement and identify with the help of the code given below the person who made the statement :
“lt would be quite impossible for a few hundred British to administer against the active opposition of the whole of the politically minded of the population. ”
Code :
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru in April 1947 in an address to Congressmen at Lucknow
(b) Clement Attlee in January 1947 in a private letter addressed to Ernest Bevin
(c) Lord Mountbatten in December 1946 in a note given to British Parliament
(d) Viceroy Wavell in January 1946 in a letter to Secretary of State
ANSWER: (d)

11. Sukhoi-30MKl Squadron is not stationed at
(a) Tezpur
(b) Pune
(c) Jamnagar
(d) Bareilly
ANSWER: (c)

12. Dog bite can cause rabies. Which among the following other animals can also cause rabies?
(a) Donkey
(b) Bat
(c) Horse
(d) Crocodile
ANSWER: (b)

13. The interest of the Vijayanagar and Bahmani rulers clashed in three separate and distinct areas in Deccan. Which one among the following was not directly associated with this intense conflict?
(a) Tungabhadra drab
(b) Krishna-Godavari delta/basin
(c) Knavery interior delta
(d) Marathawada country
ANSWER: (c)

14. Which one among the following was not a reform measure carried out by Mahmud Gawan of Bahmani Kingdom?
(a) The Kingdom was divided into eight provinces or Tarafs
(b) Nobles were paid salaries and were asked to maintain contingents of horses
(c) A tract of land, Khalisa, was set apart for the expenses of the Tarafdar
(d) Lands were measured and land taxes were fixed on that basis
ANSWER: (d)

15. Most of the communication satellites today are placed in a geostationary orbit. In order to stay over the same spot on the Earth, a geostationary satellite has to be directly above the
(a) Tropic of Cancer
(b) Either North or South Pole
(c) Equator
(d) Tropic of Capricorn
ANSWER: (c)

16. SIMBEX is an annual joint maritime bilateral exercise conducted between
(a) China and India
(b) Singapore and Indonesia
(c) India and Singapore
(d) Malaysia and Thailand
ANSWER: (c)

17. Which one among the following is a function of the Pro-Tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
(a) Conduct of the proceedings of the House in the absence of the Speaker
(b) To check if the election certificates of the members of the House are in order
(c) Swear in the members of the House and hold the charge till a regular Speaker is elected
(d) Give his assent to the bills passed by the House
ANSWER: (c)

18. The term ‘demographic gap’ signifies the difference
(a) In sex ratio
(b) In age
(c) In child/woman ratio
(d) Between the birth and the death rate
ANSWER: (d)

19. When items of jewelry made of metals such as copper or nickel are placed in a solution having a salt of gold, a thin film of gold is deposited by
(a) Cooling to below 0° C
(b) Heating above 100° C
(c) Passing an electric current
(d) Just keeping it for 10 minutes
ANSWER: (b)

20. Due to contraction of eyeball, a long sighted eye can see only
(a) Farther objects which is corrected by using convex lens
(b) Farther objects which is corrected by using concave lens
(c) Nearer objects which is corrected by using convex lens
(d) Nearer objects which is corrected by using concave lens
ANSWER: (a)

21. To boost lndia’s power-generating capacity, the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission was launched in India in January 2010. Which of the following statements regarding this Mission is/are correct?
(1) lndia is fast exhausting reserves of fossil fuel resources.
(2) Solar energy is a clean source of energy.
(3) India lacks technology for development of other alternative sources of power generation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Code :
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only
ANSWER: (b)

22. Which of the following features is/are contrary to the norms of a federal polity?
1. Common All India Service
2. Single integrated judiciary
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Code :
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: (c)

23. Rainwater collected after 30 to 40 minutes of raining is not suitable for drinking because it
(a) Contains bacteria and dirt
(b) Contains dissolved toxic chemicals
(c) Is deficient in minerals
(d) Is acidic
ANSWER: (d)

24. Consider the following statements :
1. The five permanent members of the Security Council are the only countries recognized as nuclear-weapon states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
2. The term of non-permanent members of the Council is five years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: (a)

25. Mr. X was advised by an architect to make outer walls of his house with hollow bricks.
The correct reason is that such walls
(a) Make the building stronger
(b) Help keeping inside cooler in summer and warmer in winter
(c) Prevent seepage of moisture from outside
(d) Protect the building from lightning
ANSWER: (b)

26. Mr. X has been invited to participate in a conference to be held at Buenos Aires. He has chosen the following shortest flight route :
Mumbai to Frankfurt (non-stop) Frankfurt to Sao Paulo (non-stop) Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires (non-stop)
Which one of the following seas will likely to be flown over by Mr. X?
(a) Tasman Sea
(b) Labrador Sea
(c) Beaufort Sea
(d) Black Sea
ANSWER: (d)

27. Why do Fold Mountains have enormous thickness of sedimentary rocks?
(a) Due to deposition of sediments in a valley for millions of years
(b) Due to accumulation of sediments in a Geosynclines
(c) The plains were folded into mountains
(d) The sediments were folded into recumbent and nappe folds
ANSWER: (b)

28 Consider the following statements regarding lndia’s advocacy for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council ;
1. India is the largest democracy in the world.
2. India is among the top five largest growing economies in the world,
3. India has been the largest contributor to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.
4. India is one of the top ten contributors of the United Nations Budget.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
ANSWER: (a)

29. Water is a good coolant and is used to cool the engines of cars, buses, trucks, etc. It is because water has a
(a) High specific heat
(b) Low surface tension
(c) High boiling point
(d) Low expansively
ANSWER: (a)

30. The Vindhyan system of rocks is important for the production of
(a) Precious stones and building materials
(b) Iron ore and manganese
(c) Bauxite and mica
(d) Copper and uranium
ANSWER: (a)

31. Which of the following best explain why the lower course of a river is sometimes choked with sediments?
1. The valley of a river is widest in its lower course.
2. The velocity of a river in its lower course is low.
3. The delta sometimes develops in a river‘s lower course.
4. Much of the river water is drawn for irrigation in the lower course.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1, 2, 3and 4
(b) 1, 3and4only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 4 only
ANSWER: (c)

32. A close bottle containing water at room temperature was taken to the Moon and then the lid is opened. The water will
(a) Freeze
(b) Boil
(c) Decompose into oxygen and hydrogen
(d) Not change at all
ANSWER: (d)

33. Which one among the following statements regarding the constitutionally guaranteed Right to Education in India is correct?
(a) This right covers both child and adult illiteracy and therefore universally guarantees education to all citizens of India
(b) This right is a child right covering the age group of 6 to 14 years and becomes operational from the year 2015
(c) This right has been taken from the British Constitution which was the first Welfare State in the world
(d) This right has been given to all Indian children between the ages of 6 to 14 years under the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act
ANSWER: (d)

34. Which one among the following is not correct about Down‘s syndrome?
(a) It is a genetic disorder
(b) Effected individual has early ageing
(c) Effected person has mental retardation
(d) Effected person has furrowed tongue with open mouth
ANSWER: (d)

35. The rainfall distribution pattern over the Ganga basin decreases from the
(a) West to east and north to south
(b) East to west and north to south
(c) West to east and south to north
(d) East to west and south to north
ANSWER: (a)

36. Which one among the following elements/ions is essential in small quantities for development of healthy teeth but causes mottling of the teeth if consumed in higher quantities?
(a) Iron
(b) Chloride
(c) Fluoride
(d) Potassium
ANSWER: (c)

37. Currently half of the world’ s population live in just six countries. identify them from the following.
(a) India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia
(b) India, China, Bangladesh, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia
(c) China, India, United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan
(d) China, India, Bangladesh, United States, Pakistan, Indonesia
ANSWER: (c)

38. Half portion of a rectangular piece of ice is wrapped with a white piece of cloth while the other half with a black one. ln this context, which one among the following statements is correct?
(a) lce melts more easily under black wrap
(b) lce melts more easily under white wrap
(c) No ice melts at all under the black wrap
(d) No ice melts at all under the white wrap
ANSWER: (a)

39. Global positioning system (GPS) is associated with
1. Determining latitude and longitude
2. Constellation of satellites
3. US system of GPS and Russian system of GLONASS
4. Navigation
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Code :
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) I, 2, 3 and 4
ANSWER: (a)

40. What is the similarity between Milwaukee Deep, Java Trench and Challenger Deep?
(a) They all are trenches in the Pacific Ocean
(b) They are the deepest points of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, respectively
(c) They all are trenches in the Indian Ocean
(d) They all are deeps ofthe Atlantic Ocean
ANSWER: (b)

41. Contact lenses are made from
(a) Polyvinyl chloride
(b) Polystyrene
(c) Lucite
(d) Teflon
ANSWER: (c)

42. Which one among the following best explains the reason for the eastern and western boundaries of the Pacific Ocean experiencing frequent earthquake?
(a) There are deep ocean trenches along these margins
(b) High mountain stretch along the continental margins adjacent to this ocean
(c) The currents of the vast Pacific Ocean continue to dash against the continental margins
(d) These margins coincide with the plate Margins
ANSWER: (d)

43. The tenure of every Panchayat shall be for five years from the date of
(a) Its first meeting
(b) Issue of notification for the conduct of elections to the Panchayat
(c) Declaration of the election results
(d) Taking oath of office by the elected members
ANSWER: (a)

44. Which one among the following metals is used for making boats because it does not corrode by seawater?
(a) Tungsten
(b) Nickel
(c) Antimony
(d) Titanium
ANSWER: (d)

45. A special category State invariably
(a) Is a border State
(b) Has harsh terrain
(c) Has low literacy rate
(d) Has poor infrastructure
ANSWER: (d)

46. Which one among the following is a strong smelling agent. added to LPG cylinder to help
in the detection of gas leakage?
(a) Ethanol
(b) Thioethanol
(c) Methane
(d) Chloroform
ANSWER: (b)

47. In scuba-diving, while ascending towards the water surface, there is a danger of bursting the
lungs. It is because of
(a) Archimedes’ principle
(b) Boyle’s law
(c) Gay-Lussac’s law of combining volumes
(d) Graham’s law of diffusion
ANSWER: (b)

48. Which one among the following industries produces the most non-biodegradable wastes?
(a) Thermal power plants
(b) Food processing units
(c) Textile mills
(d) Paper mills
ANSWER: (a)

49. Which one of the following is nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile?
(a) Sagarika
(b) Shourya
(c) Prithvi
(d) Nag
ANSWER: (a)

50. Which of the following diseases are transmitted from one person to another?
1. AIDS
2. Cirrhosis
3. Hepatitis B
4. Syphilis
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Code :
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
ANSWER: (a)