No.
|
Period
|
Name
|
Country
|
1
|
1948–1954
|
AlbertoLlerasCamargo
|
Colombia
|
2
|
1954–1955
|
Carlos Dávila
Died while in office |
Chile
|
3
|
1956–1968
|
José A. Mora
|
Uruguay
|
4
|
1968–1975
|
Galo Plaza
|
Ecuador
|
5
|
1975–1984
|
Alejandro Orfila
|
Argentina
|
6
|
1984–1994
|
João ClementeBaena Soares
|
Brazil
|
7
|
1994–2004
|
César Gaviria
Re-elected to a second term at the 1999 General Assembly |
Colombia
|
8
|
15 September 2004 – 15 October 2004
|
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
Resigned |
Costa Rica
|
–
|
15 October 2004 – 26 May 2005
|
Luigi R.Einaudi(acting)
|
United States
|
9
|
26 May 2005 – present
|
José Miguel Insulza
Elected 2 May 2005 (see: OAS Secretary General election, 2005) |
Chile
|
Monday, March 25, 2013
List of Secretaries General of The Organization of American States
List of Secretaries General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
No.
|
Name
|
Country of origin
|
Took Office
|
Left Office
|
1
|
Tunku Abdul Rahman
|
Malaysia
|
1971
|
1974
|
2
|
Hassan Al-Touhami
|
Egypt
|
1974
|
1975
|
3
|
Amadou Karim Gaye
|
Senegal
|
1975
|
1979
|
4
|
Habib Chatty
|
Tunisia
|
1979
|
1984
|
5
|
Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada
|
Pakistan
|
1984
|
1988
|
6
|
Hamid Algabid
|
Niger
|
1988
|
1996
|
7
|
Azeddine Laraki
|
Morocco
|
1996
|
2000
|
8
|
Abdelouahed Belkeziz
|
Morocco
|
2000
|
2004
|
9
|
Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu
|
Turkey
|
2004
|
2014
|
10
|
Iyad bin Amin Madani
|
Saudi Arabia
|
2014
|
List of Secretaries General of Organization of American States
S.No. | Period | Name | Country |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1948–1954 | Alberto Lleras Camargo | Colombia |
2 | 1954–1955 | Carlos Dávila Died while in office | Chile |
3 | 1956–1968 | José A. Mora | Uruguay |
4 | 1968–1975 | Galo Plaza | Ecuador |
5 | 1975–1984 | Alejandro Orfila | Argentina |
6 | 1984–1994 | João Clemente Baena Soares | Brazil |
7 | 1994–2004 | César Gaviria Re-elected to a second term at the 1999 General Assembly | Colombia |
8 | 15 September 2004 – 15 October 2004 | Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Resigned | Costa Rica |
– | 15 October 2004 – 26 May 2005 | Luigi R. Einaudi (acting) | United States |
9 | 26 May 2005 – present | José Miguel Insulza Elected 2 May 2005 (see:OAS Secretary General election, 2005) | Chile |
List of Secretaries General of the European Commission
S.No. | Name | Start period | End period |
1 | Catherine Day | 2005 | Present |
2 | David O'Sullivan | 2000 | 2005 |
3 | Carlo Trojan | 1997 | 2000 |
4 | David Williamson, CB | 1987 | 1997 |
5 | Emile Noel | 1957 | 1987 |
Saturday, March 9, 2013
NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES
MALARIA
The National Anti-Malaria Programme is the world’s biggest health programme against a single communicable disease and continues to be the country’s most comprehensive and multi-faceted public health activity. Earlier deaths due to malaria were completely eliminated. Unfortunately, due to various factors, these achievements could not be maintained. Resurgence of malaria necessitated renewed vigourous anti-malaria activities and the programme was modified in the context of escalating malaria incidence. During the year 2008, 1.52 million cases and 0.76 million pf. cases with 935 deaths have been reported.
FILARIA
Lymphatic Filariasis is a serious debilitating and incapacitating. The infected person may develop swelling limbs and genitals which keep on increasing making the person incapacitated. This disease has been reported from over 250 districts in 20 states and UTs wherein over 590 million people live. The National Filaria control programme is being implemented since 1955. The national health policy has envisaged the goal of lymphatic filariasis elimination by the year 2015. In 2005, in 229 districts, 346.89 million persons were administered a dose of DEC against targeted population of 434.49 million, showing a coverage rate of 79.84%.
KALA-AZAR
Kala-azar is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by sandflies phlebotomus orgentipes. Kala-azar is endemic in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and parts of Uttar Pradesh. National Health Policy, has envisaged the goal of Kala-azar elimination by the year 2010. The disease incidence has come down from 77,099 cases in 1992 to 44553 cases in 2007 and deaths from 1416 to 203 respectively. During the year 2008,33234 cases and 146 deaths have been reported. While till March, 2009, 2254 cases and 5 deaths were reported.
TUBERCLUOSIS
TB is serious public health problem in India. India accounts for nearly onefifth of Global TB burden. Every year there are approximately 19 lakh new cases in the country of which approximately 8 lakh are new smear positive and therefore highly infectious. To control TB, national TB control programme (NTCP) is in operation in the country since 1962. Two persons die from TB in India every three minutes more than 900 persons every day. In the year 2008, there were 3.8 million bacillary pulmonary cases, 3.9 million abacillary cases and 0.8 million extra-pulmonary cases.
LEPROSY The National Leprosy Control programme was launched by the Government of India in 1955. It was redesignated as the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in 1983. The second phase of National Leprosy elimination project was started from 1 April 2001 for a period of three years with the objective to achieve elimination of Leprosy as a public health problem by 2005, thereby reducing the case load to less than 1/10,000 population. In the year 1981, the country had a prevalance of 57.6 cases per 10,000 population which has come down to 0.72 per 10,000 population in March 2009.
BLINDNESS
The national programme for control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in the year 1976 with the goal of reducing prevalence of blindness to 0.3 percent. As per survey in 2001-02, prevalence of blindness is estimated to be 1.1%. As per the survey conducted during 2006-07, the estimated prevalence of blindness has come down to 1%.
AIDS The AIDS programme implementation has been completely decentralized to States and Union Territories. Each state and Union territory has registered a state AIDs control society (SACS) responsible for implementating the programme at the State/UT level. In 2006, the country is estimated to have 3.1 million HIV positive persons, with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 0.36%. Trends of HIV infection in 2006 indicate a mixed response in the country. While there is increase in some areas, in other areas it has shown decline. India continues to be in the category of concentrated epidemic. A total of 1,82,787 AIDS cases have been reported since 1986 till 31st March 2007.
MENTAL DISEASE
The national health programme was started in 1982 for providing community based mental health care using the existing public health infrastructure. The WHO report on Global Burden diseases has projected mental illness to be the fourth major cause of morbidity. Several mental disorders that include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, organic psychosis and major depression affect nearly 20 per 1000 population.
CANCER
Cancer is an important public health problem in India with nearly 8-9 lakh new cases occurring every year in the country. It is estimated that there are 25 lakh cases of cancer in the country at any given point of time.According to a survey 40% of the cancer cases are due to comsumption of tobacco. With the objectives of prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, the National Cancer, Control programme (NCCP) was launched in 1975-76. The programme was revised in 1984-85 and subsequently in December 2005. There are 23 regional Cancer Centres recognized under the programme in different parts of countries to provide the specialized treatment and undertake research in the field of cancer.
The National Anti-Malaria Programme is the world’s biggest health programme against a single communicable disease and continues to be the country’s most comprehensive and multi-faceted public health activity. Earlier deaths due to malaria were completely eliminated. Unfortunately, due to various factors, these achievements could not be maintained. Resurgence of malaria necessitated renewed vigourous anti-malaria activities and the programme was modified in the context of escalating malaria incidence. During the year 2008, 1.52 million cases and 0.76 million pf. cases with 935 deaths have been reported.
FILARIA
Lymphatic Filariasis is a serious debilitating and incapacitating. The infected person may develop swelling limbs and genitals which keep on increasing making the person incapacitated. This disease has been reported from over 250 districts in 20 states and UTs wherein over 590 million people live. The National Filaria control programme is being implemented since 1955. The national health policy has envisaged the goal of lymphatic filariasis elimination by the year 2015. In 2005, in 229 districts, 346.89 million persons were administered a dose of DEC against targeted population of 434.49 million, showing a coverage rate of 79.84%.
KALA-AZAR
Kala-azar is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by sandflies phlebotomus orgentipes. Kala-azar is endemic in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and parts of Uttar Pradesh. National Health Policy, has envisaged the goal of Kala-azar elimination by the year 2010. The disease incidence has come down from 77,099 cases in 1992 to 44553 cases in 2007 and deaths from 1416 to 203 respectively. During the year 2008,33234 cases and 146 deaths have been reported. While till March, 2009, 2254 cases and 5 deaths were reported.
TUBERCLUOSIS
TB is serious public health problem in India. India accounts for nearly onefifth of Global TB burden. Every year there are approximately 19 lakh new cases in the country of which approximately 8 lakh are new smear positive and therefore highly infectious. To control TB, national TB control programme (NTCP) is in operation in the country since 1962. Two persons die from TB in India every three minutes more than 900 persons every day. In the year 2008, there were 3.8 million bacillary pulmonary cases, 3.9 million abacillary cases and 0.8 million extra-pulmonary cases.
LEPROSY The National Leprosy Control programme was launched by the Government of India in 1955. It was redesignated as the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in 1983. The second phase of National Leprosy elimination project was started from 1 April 2001 for a period of three years with the objective to achieve elimination of Leprosy as a public health problem by 2005, thereby reducing the case load to less than 1/10,000 population. In the year 1981, the country had a prevalance of 57.6 cases per 10,000 population which has come down to 0.72 per 10,000 population in March 2009.
BLINDNESS
The national programme for control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in the year 1976 with the goal of reducing prevalence of blindness to 0.3 percent. As per survey in 2001-02, prevalence of blindness is estimated to be 1.1%. As per the survey conducted during 2006-07, the estimated prevalence of blindness has come down to 1%.
AIDS The AIDS programme implementation has been completely decentralized to States and Union Territories. Each state and Union territory has registered a state AIDs control society (SACS) responsible for implementating the programme at the State/UT level. In 2006, the country is estimated to have 3.1 million HIV positive persons, with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 0.36%. Trends of HIV infection in 2006 indicate a mixed response in the country. While there is increase in some areas, in other areas it has shown decline. India continues to be in the category of concentrated epidemic. A total of 1,82,787 AIDS cases have been reported since 1986 till 31st March 2007.
MENTAL DISEASE
The national health programme was started in 1982 for providing community based mental health care using the existing public health infrastructure. The WHO report on Global Burden diseases has projected mental illness to be the fourth major cause of morbidity. Several mental disorders that include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, organic psychosis and major depression affect nearly 20 per 1000 population.
CANCER
Cancer is an important public health problem in India with nearly 8-9 lakh new cases occurring every year in the country. It is estimated that there are 25 lakh cases of cancer in the country at any given point of time.According to a survey 40% of the cancer cases are due to comsumption of tobacco. With the objectives of prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, the National Cancer, Control programme (NCCP) was launched in 1975-76. The programme was revised in 1984-85 and subsequently in December 2005. There are 23 regional Cancer Centres recognized under the programme in different parts of countries to provide the specialized treatment and undertake research in the field of cancer.
REGIONAL RURAL BANKS
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) had been established to take the banking
services to the doorsteps of rural masses especially in remote rural
areas with no access to banking services. These banks were originally
intended to provide institutional credit to those weaker sections of the
society at concessional rate of interest, who depend on private
money-lenders. The banks were also intended to mobilise and channelise
rural savings for supporting productive activities in the rural areas.
However, with effect from 22 March 1997, the RRBs were allowed to lend
outside the target group by classifying their advances into ‘Priority
Sector’ and ‘others’. Similarly the interest rates on term deposits
offered by RRBs have also been freed. Subsequently, it has been decided
to permit RRBs at their discretion to offer differential rate of
interest on their term deposits of maturity subject to certain
conditions. The credit outstanding of all the 196 RRBs stood at Rs.
32,870 crore as at the end of March 2005 and Rs. 62,143 crore was
mobilized as deposits by RRBs till that date.
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
The
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was established under the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934 on 1 April 1935 and nationalised on 1 January 1949. The
Bank acts as banker to the Central Government, state governments,
commercial banks, state co-operative banks and some of the financial
institutions. It formulates and administers monetary policy with a view
to ensuring stability in prices while promoting higher production in the
real sector through proper deployment of credit. RBI plays an important
role in maintaining the stability of exchange value of the rupee and
acts as an agent of the Government in respect of India’s membership of
International Monetary Fund. The Reserve Bank also performs a variety of
developmental and promotional functions. These apart, the Reserve Bank
also handles the borrowing programme of the Government of India.
The Reserve Bank is the sole authority for issue of currency in India other than one rupee coins and subsidiary coins and notes.
As
the agent of the Central Government, the Reserve Bank undertakes
distribution of one-rupees notes and coins, as well as small coins
issued by the Government.
Countries by rail transport network size
Rank | Country | Railway Length (km) |
1 | India | 65,000 |
2 | Russia | 128,000 |
3 | China (PRC) | 93,000 |
4 | United States | 226,427 |
5 | Canada | 46,552 |
6 | Australia | 38,445 |
7 | Germany | 37,679 |
8 | Argentina | 35,897 |
9 | South Africa | 31,000 |
10 | France | 29,901 |
11 | Brazil | 29,817 |
12 | Mexico | 26,704 |
13 | Italy | 24,179 |
14 | Japan | 23,474 |
15 | Ukraine | 22,300 |
16 | Romania | 22,298 |
17 | Poland | 19,627 |
18 | United Kingdom | 16,321 |
19 | Kazakhstan | 15,079 |
20 | Spain | 15,064 |
21 | Sweden | 12,821 |
22 | Iran | 11,106 |
23 | Turkey | 10,991 |
24 | Czech Republic | 9,487 |
25 | Indonesia | 8,529 |
26 | Hungary | 7,942 |
27 | Pakistan | 7,791 |
28 | Egypt | 6,700 |
29 | Finland | 5,919 |
30 | Chile | 5,898 |
31 | Austria | 5,927 |
32 | Belarus | 5,491 |
33 | Sudan | 5,478 |
34 | North Korea | 5,235 |
35 | Cuba | 5,076 |
36 | Switzerland | 5,063 |
37 | Algeria | 4,316 |
38 | Uzbekistan | 4,230 |
39 | Bulgaria | 4,159 |
40 | New Zealand | 4,128 |
41 | Norway | 4,114 |
42 | Thailand | 4,071 |
43 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 4,007 |
44 | Myanmar (Burma) | 3,955 |
45 | Serbia | 3,809 |
46 | Slovakia | 3,658 |
47 | Nigeria | 3,528 |
48 | Belgium | 3,513 |
49 | South Korea | 3,381 |
50 | Turkmenistan | 3,181 |
51 | Vietnam | 3,147 |
52 | Mozambique | 3,116 |
53 | Zimbabwe | 3,000 |
54 | Uruguay | 2,993 |
55 | Netherlands | 2,896 |
56 | Bolivia | 2,866 |
57 | Portugal | 2,842 |
58 | Bangladesh | 2,835 |
59 | Kenya | 2,778 |
60 | Angola | 2,761 |
61 | Tanzania | 2,722 |
62 | Croatia | 2,974 |
63 | Greece | 2,552 |
64 | Namibia | 2,382 |
65 | Latvia | 2,269 |
66 | Tunisia | 2,218 |
67 | Syria | 2,139 |
68 | Denmark | 2,667 |
69 | Azerbaijan | 2,918 |
70 | Iraq | 2,032 |
71 | Peru | 2,020 |
72 | Morocco | 1,989 |
73 | Republic of Ireland | 1,919 |
74 | Malaysia | 1,849 |
75 | Mongolia | 1,810 |
76 | Lithuania | 1,766 |
77 | Colombia | 1,663 |
78 | Taiwan (Republic of China) | 1,661 |
79 | Georgia | 1,513 |
80 | Sri Lanka | 1,508 |
81 | Saudi Arabia | 1,412 |
82 | Zambia | 1,237 |
83 | Slovenia | 1,228 |
84 | Moldova | 1,156 |
85 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,103 |
86 | Israel | 1,001 |
87 | Cameroon | 974 |
88 | Ecuador | 966 |
89 | Ghana | 953 |
90 | Senegal | 906 |
91 | Botswana | 888 |
92 | Guatemala | 885 |
93 | Madagascar | 854 |
94 | Armenia | 869 |
95 | Guinea | 837 |
96 | Estonia | 816 |
97 | Gabon | 810 |
98 | Malawi | 797 |
99 | Republic of the Congo | 795 |
100 | Djibouti | 781 |
101 | Benin | 758 |
102 | Mali | 733 |
103 | Mauritania | 728 |
104 | Honduras | 699 |
105 | Macedonia | 699 |
106 | Ethiopia | 699 |
107 | Cambodia | 650 |
108 | Côte d'Ivoire | 639 |
109 | Burkina Faso | 622 |
110 | Tajikistan | 616 |
111 | Fiji | 597 |
112 | Togo | 568 |
113 | El Salvador | 562 |
114 | Dominican Republic | 517 |
115 | Liberia | 490 |
116 | Philippines | 479 |
117 | Albania | 423 |
118 | Kyrgyzstan | 417 |
119 | Lebanon | 401 |
120 | Panama | 355 |
121 | Venezuela | 336 |
122 | Eritrea | 306 |
123 | Swaziland | 301 |
124 | Costa Rica | 278 |
125 | Luxembourg | 275 |
126 | Jamaica | 272 |
127 | Uganda | 259 |
128 | Jordan | 251 |
129 | Montenegro | 249 |
130 | Hong Kong (People's Republic Of China) | 210 |
131 | Singapore | 199.4 |
132 | Guyana | 187 |
133 | Suriname | 166 |
134 | Puerto Rico (US) | 96 |
135 | Sierra Leone | 84 |
136 | Antigua and Barbuda | 77 |
137 | Afghanistan | 75 |
138 | Nepal | 59 |
139 | United Arab Emirates | 52 |
140 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 50 |
141 | Haiti | 40 |
142 | Paraguay | 36 |
143 | Brunei | 13 |
144 | Liechtenstein | 9 |
145 | Nicaragua | 6 |
146 | Nauru | 5 |
147 | Western Sahara | 5 |
148 | Laos | 4 |
149 | Lesotho | 3 |
150 | Monaco | 1.7 |
151 | Vatican City | 0.862 |
World | 1,370,782 |
IMPORTANT FACTS
1. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the lower house (Lok Sabha) of Parliament of India.
2. The Speaker holds office from the date of election till immediately before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha. He/She is eligible for re-election.
3. On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker ceases to be a member of the House, he/she does not vacate her office.
4. The Speaker may, at any time, resign from office by writing under his/her hand to the Deputy Speaker.
5. He/she decides whether a bill is a money bill or a non money bill.
6. He/she maintains discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for their unruly behaviour by suspending them.
7. He/she permits the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions like themotion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice as per the rules.
8. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting.
9. The first speaker of the Lok Sabha was Shri G.V. Mavalankar.
10. Meira Kumar is the first women speaker of the Indian Parliament.
11. The UK is a country in north-western Europe. It is bordered to the south by the English Channel; to the east by the North Sea; to the west by the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
12. The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
13. England, Scotland and Wales together forms Great Britain.
14. Great Britain and Northern Ireland together form the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (UK).
15. The UK is a developed country and has the world's seventh-largest economy by nominal GDP and eighth-largest economy by purchasing power parity.
16. It was the world's first industrialised country.
17. The UK is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946. It has been a member of the European Union and its predecessor the European Economic Community since 1973.
18. The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London is the defining point of the Prime Meridian.
19. The UK's de facto official language is English (British English). According to the 2011 census, Polishhas become the second largest language spoken in England.
20. England's national sport is cricket although some of England's football teams are world famous, such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
21. A mountain pass is a saddle point between two areas of higher elevations and makes a path for crossing between the chains of mountains.
22. The Khardung la's pass is located at the Ladakh range of the Himalayan ranges. It is a gateway to the valleys of Shyok and Nubra.
23. The Karakoram pass is located in the Karakoram Ranges between Jammu and Kashmir border and the Xingjiang region of China.
24. Bara-lacha la is present in Zanskar range connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, situated along the Leh-Manali highway.
25. Jelep La is a high mountain pass between India and Tibet in East Sikkim District of Sikkim. It connects Lhasa to India.
26. Nama Pass is located in eastern Kumaun region of the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, India. It links Kuthi and Darma Valley.
27. Nathu La connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
28. Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
29. Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post on the India-China border. The river Sutlej enters India (from Tibet) through this pass.
30. Zoji La is a high mountain pass in India, located on the Indian National Highway 1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range.
31. A credit card is a payment card issued to users to pay for goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for them to banks within stipulated time.
32. The credit card issuer gives a certain amount of time to pay back all of what holder has borrowed before they charge interest. This period of time is called the grace period and is usually between 20 and 25 days.
33. Zero interest credit cards or interest free credit cards help customers to avoid paying interest on credit, if they repay the debt within a specified period of time.
34. In 1950, Diners Club became the first company to offer a credit card that could be used at multiple locations.
35. A Debit card is essentially like an ATM card. When a person makes any purchases using a debit card, then bank account is instantaneously debited to the extent of the purchase amount.
36. Benefits to customers include: convenience; rewards and benefits packages; also offer reward points which may be redeemed for cash, products, or airline tickets.
37. Credit Card associations are an association of card-issuing banks such as Discover, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. that set transaction terms for merchants, card-issuing banks, and acquiring banks.
38. Visa International has the largest global ATM network in over 113 countries.
39. According to 2009-10, credit card users in India are 18.3 million whereas debit card users are 181.4 million.
40. On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
41. It was done on the executive order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
42. The atomic bomb was equivalent of 20,000 tons of TNT, it has flattened the city and killed tens of thousands of civilians.
43. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people.
44. Later Japan's Emperor Hirohito announced his country's unconditional surrender in World War II on August 15, citing the devastating power of "a new and most cruel bomb."
45. Since then, more have died from leukemia and solid cancers attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs.
46. The effects of the bombing of Hiroshima are still felt today. For generations after the bombing, children were born with severe health defects that are believed to be connected to the effects of the bomb's radiation.
47. Hiroshima was chosen because it had not been targeted during the US Air Force's conventional bombing raids on Japan and it was also an important military base.
48. After the war, Hiroshima was rebuilt as a peace memorial city and the closest surviving building to the epicentre was designated the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
49. Hiroshima has been declared a City of Peace by the Japanese Parliament.
50. Rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a group of seventeen elements in the Periodic Table from Atomic no. 57 to 71.
2. The Speaker holds office from the date of election till immediately before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha. He/She is eligible for re-election.
3. On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker ceases to be a member of the House, he/she does not vacate her office.
4. The Speaker may, at any time, resign from office by writing under his/her hand to the Deputy Speaker.
5. He/she decides whether a bill is a money bill or a non money bill.
6. He/she maintains discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for their unruly behaviour by suspending them.
7. He/she permits the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions like themotion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice as per the rules.
8. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting.
9. The first speaker of the Lok Sabha was Shri G.V. Mavalankar.
10. Meira Kumar is the first women speaker of the Indian Parliament.
11. The UK is a country in north-western Europe. It is bordered to the south by the English Channel; to the east by the North Sea; to the west by the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
12. The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
13. England, Scotland and Wales together forms Great Britain.
14. Great Britain and Northern Ireland together form the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (UK).
15. The UK is a developed country and has the world's seventh-largest economy by nominal GDP and eighth-largest economy by purchasing power parity.
16. It was the world's first industrialised country.
17. The UK is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946. It has been a member of the European Union and its predecessor the European Economic Community since 1973.
18. The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London is the defining point of the Prime Meridian.
19. The UK's de facto official language is English (British English). According to the 2011 census, Polishhas become the second largest language spoken in England.
20. England's national sport is cricket although some of England's football teams are world famous, such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
21. A mountain pass is a saddle point between two areas of higher elevations and makes a path for crossing between the chains of mountains.
22. The Khardung la's pass is located at the Ladakh range of the Himalayan ranges. It is a gateway to the valleys of Shyok and Nubra.
23. The Karakoram pass is located in the Karakoram Ranges between Jammu and Kashmir border and the Xingjiang region of China.
24. Bara-lacha la is present in Zanskar range connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, situated along the Leh-Manali highway.
25. Jelep La is a high mountain pass between India and Tibet in East Sikkim District of Sikkim. It connects Lhasa to India.
26. Nama Pass is located in eastern Kumaun region of the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, India. It links Kuthi and Darma Valley.
27. Nathu La connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
28. Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
29. Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post on the India-China border. The river Sutlej enters India (from Tibet) through this pass.
30. Zoji La is a high mountain pass in India, located on the Indian National Highway 1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range.
31. A credit card is a payment card issued to users to pay for goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for them to banks within stipulated time.
32. The credit card issuer gives a certain amount of time to pay back all of what holder has borrowed before they charge interest. This period of time is called the grace period and is usually between 20 and 25 days.
33. Zero interest credit cards or interest free credit cards help customers to avoid paying interest on credit, if they repay the debt within a specified period of time.
34. In 1950, Diners Club became the first company to offer a credit card that could be used at multiple locations.
35. A Debit card is essentially like an ATM card. When a person makes any purchases using a debit card, then bank account is instantaneously debited to the extent of the purchase amount.
36. Benefits to customers include: convenience; rewards and benefits packages; also offer reward points which may be redeemed for cash, products, or airline tickets.
37. Credit Card associations are an association of card-issuing banks such as Discover, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. that set transaction terms for merchants, card-issuing banks, and acquiring banks.
38. Visa International has the largest global ATM network in over 113 countries.
39. According to 2009-10, credit card users in India are 18.3 million whereas debit card users are 181.4 million.
40. On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
41. It was done on the executive order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
42. The atomic bomb was equivalent of 20,000 tons of TNT, it has flattened the city and killed tens of thousands of civilians.
43. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people.
44. Later Japan's Emperor Hirohito announced his country's unconditional surrender in World War II on August 15, citing the devastating power of "a new and most cruel bomb."
45. Since then, more have died from leukemia and solid cancers attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs.
46. The effects of the bombing of Hiroshima are still felt today. For generations after the bombing, children were born with severe health defects that are believed to be connected to the effects of the bomb's radiation.
47. Hiroshima was chosen because it had not been targeted during the US Air Force's conventional bombing raids on Japan and it was also an important military base.
48. After the war, Hiroshima was rebuilt as a peace memorial city and the closest surviving building to the epicentre was designated the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
49. Hiroshima has been declared a City of Peace by the Japanese Parliament.
50. Rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a group of seventeen elements in the Periodic Table from Atomic no. 57 to 71.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Lakes and Rivers
- Lake Baikal (Russia) is the deepest lake of the world.One of the biggest and most ancient lakes of world is situated nearly in the center of Asia in a huge stone bowl set 445 m above sea level. Everyone who has been to its shores is impressed and charmed by the grandeur, size, and unusual might of this Siberian miracle of nature. Other important lakes in Russia are Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga.
- Lake Eyre is a important lake of Australia.
- Lake Onakal (Uganda) and Lake Aswan (Egypt) are man made lakes.
- Lake Tso Sekuru located on the Tibetan Plateau is the highest lake of the world.
- Lake Titicaca, located at the boundary of Bolivia and Peru is the highest navigable lake of the world.
The highest lake in India is Devtal, located at a height of 17,745 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas. - Dead Sea is the lowest lake of the world, its base is located 2500 ft below the sea level.
- Lake Van (Turkey) is the most saline lake of the world, with salinity of330%. It is followed by Dead Sea (238%) Jordan, and Great Salt Lake (220% salinity) USA.
- Caspian Sea is the largest lake of the world. It is a salt water lake. Ural and Volga rivers drain into it from the north, therefore its northern part is less saline.
- Lake Victoria, forms the border between Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.
- Lake Nyasa or Lake. Malawi forms the border of Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
- Lake Tanganyika forms the border of Zaire. Tanzania and Zambia.
- Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake of the world.
- The nuclear test range of China is located near the lake Lop Nor.
- Lake Chad forms the border of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Camroon.
- Lake Great Bear it is famous as Port Radium.
- Lake Athabasca famous as Uranium City.
- LakeVolta in Ghana is a largest man made lake.
- Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is famous for oil reserves.
- Wular Lake: Wular Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and the largest in India, is located in Jammu and Kashmir. It is measures 24 kms across and surrounded by towering mountains, The green water of the Wular Lake is an important natural habitat for fish, a rich population of birds and wildlife. Thousands of people living on its shores and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley depend on Wular Lake for fishing to earn their livelihood.
- Dal Lake: The Kashmir valley is blessed with exotic natural beauty of landscape and water bodies, out of them one of the best is Dal Lake. Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of India and is the second largest in the J&K valley. This is one of the most famous lakes in India and an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. Apart from the natural beauty, Dal Lake attractions are The floating gardens, colorful shikaras and houseboats. The east of Dal Lake was the residence of goddess Maa Durga. The Dal lake is situated in the beautiful city of Srinaga,Some of the most famous mosques are also located in Srinagar city to visit.
- Loktak Lake: Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, located in Manipur. It is also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis. This ancient lake plays an important role in the economy of Manipur. It serves as a source of water for hydro power generation, irrigation drinking water supply and wildlife. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai now found only in manipur.
- Chilka Lake: Chilka Lake is the brackish water lake and is the largest coastal lake in India. The Chilka Lake in situated in Orissa and is Asia’s largest inland salt-water lagoon. Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. Chilika Lake, popularly known as Chilka, is the queen of natural scenery in the tribal state Orissa, also known as the Swiss-lake in the continent. Attraction of chilika lake are fishing boats, migratory birds and an entertaining baba. The beautiful chilka lake is paradise for the migratory birds.
- Pulicat lake: It is a saline backwater lake lying along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coast; part extending to Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. It has an area of 481 sq.KM and it is the 2nd largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilka lake in Orissa.
Rivers
- The Ganga : The source of Ganga is at Gaumukh (the shape of the ice formation is like a cow's mouth), where the mighty river emerges from the depths of Gangotri glacier. The Gangotri glacier is situated at the height of4255 m above sea level and is approximate 24 km in length and 7-8 km in width. Here the river is known as Bhagirathi after King -Bhagirath. Rising in the icy caves of Gangotri glacier, the gushing , tossing and gurgling Bhagirathi starts its long journey downwards where later it joins river 'Alaknanda' and becomes Ganga. There are many legends associated with river Ganga, some of which are even mentioned in the ancient holy scriptures.
- The Godavari : It is the only river in India that flows from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India after the Ganges river. .It is also known as "Dakshin ganga (Southern Ganges)" or "Budi Ganga". Godavari originates near Trimbak in Nashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
- The Kavery : The origin of this river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths. The Kaveri basin is estimated to be 27,700 square miles (72,000 km2)
- Krishna River starts its journey in the Western Ghats at an altitude of about 1300 metres above sea level in Mahabaleshwar. The river passes through Sangli District and enters the sea in the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaledevi in Andra Pradesh. It passes through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andra Pradesh.
- Narmada River : This river rises on the summit of Amarkantak Hill in Madhya Pradesh state .It traverses the first 320 kilometres course around the Mandla Hills, which form the head of the Satpura Range; then moves towards Jabalpur passing through the `Marble Rocks`, it enters the Narmada Valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, and moves westwards towards the Gulf of Cambay. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, and finally meets the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch District of Gujarat. Narmada River flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh 1,077 km (669.2 miles), Maharashtra, 74 km (46.0 miles)), 35 km (21.7 miles) border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and 39 km (24.2 miles) border between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and in Gujarat 161 km (100.0 miles)).
- The river Brahmaputra is one of the major river in the world. It originates from Mansarovar near Mount Kailash in the Himalayas, flows via Tibbet, China, India and Bangladesh to Bay of bangal. The total length it travels from Himalayans to the Bay is 2900 Km. In Tibbet the river is known as 'Tsangpo'. It follows the great Himalayans in its course till India with an avergae height of 4000 meters. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh where it is called 'Siang'. It then flows down to the plains of Assam, where it is called Dibang. It joins with other two giant rivers, Dibang and Lohit.
- The Mahanadi River rises in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh and then flows in the eastward direction, cutting a ravine in the Eastern Ghat. Before joining the Bay of Bengal at False Point through several channels, the river enters the plains of Orissa near Cuttack and forms a delta. This delta is one of the largest mangrove forests in peninsular India, and also a rice producing area. The term `Mahanadi` means Great River and it is truly one of the largest rivers in southeast India and the sixth largest in India. The Tel and the Hadso are the main tributaries of the Mahanadi. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa share are drained by the Mahanadi.
- Tapti is a river of western India and the history of this river starts with its origin in the Betul district. It rises in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and flows between two spurs of the Satpura Hills, across the plateau of Khandesh, and thence through the plain of Surat to the sea. It has a total length of around 724 km. and drains an area of 30,000 sq. m. For the last 32 m. of its course, it is a tidal flow, but is only navigable by vessels of small tonnage; and the port of Swally at its mouth. The history of this river is closely associated with the Anglo Portuguese history. The upper reaches of the river are now deserted, owing to silting at the outflow of the river. The waters of the Tapti are usually not used for irrigation.
- Yamuna River : The main stream of the river Yamuna originated from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandar Punch in the Mussorie range of lower Himalayas in the district of Uttar Kashi in Uttarakhand. Some say the source of the river is the Saptarishi Kund, a glacial lake. There is a sacred shrine of Yamunotri or Yamnotri, near this source at an altitude of 3235 m. The Tons and Giri rivers are the important tributaries of Yamuna and principal source of water in mountaineous range. The river Yamuna traverse a route length of about 1200 km in the plain from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh to the confluence with river Ganga at Allahabad.
- Nile River (4,132 miles 6,650 km.) : The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It has its origins in Burundi, south of the Equator, and flows northward through north eastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea. Three principal streams form the Nile. In Ethiopia's highlands, water flows from the Blue Nile and the Atbara. Headstreams of the White Nile flow into Lake Victoria and Lake Albert. The Nile River basin is immense and occupies an area about one-tenth of the continent of Africa. It includes portions of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, The Sudan, and Egypt. It is estimated to drain an area of 1,293,000 square miles (3,349,000 sq. km.)
- Amazon : The length of the Amazon River is approximately 6400 kilometres (4000 miles). The Amazon River is located in South America. It runs through Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.
- Mississippi-Missouri River : The Mississippi is the world's fourth-longest river at 3,870 miles, including the Missouri River. It flows from its source, at Lake Itasca, in Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the longest river in the United States. This river forms the Bird-foot Delta.
- Rio-Grande : This river forms the border between the USA and the Mexico.
- St Lawrence River : This river forms the biggest inland waterway of the world. Niagara Fall is located on this river.
- Colorado River : World famous Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are located on this river. Rhine River. This river forms the busiest waterway in Europe. This river is also called 'Coal River'. The busiest port of the Europe, Rotterdam, is situated on the mouth of this river.
- Danube River : This river, originating from the Black Forest Mountains of Germany and flowing through the capitals of five European nations - Belgrade (Yugoslavia), Bratislava (Slovania), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary) and Vienna (Austria) - falls into the Black Sea.
- Volga River : This is the longest river of Europe. It originates from the Voldai Hills and drains into the Caspian Sea.
- Niger River : The river Niger, draining into the Gulf of Guinea, is also known as the 'Oil River'.
- Zambezi River : Victoria Fall and Kariba dam are located on this river.
- Congo/Zaire River : This river intersects the Equator twice. Stanley and Livingston Falls are located on this river.
- Amur River : This river forms the border of Russia and China.
- Mekong River : This is the longest river of South-East Asia.
- Murray-Darling River : This river originates from the Mt Kosciusko and is the largest river of Australia.
- R. Limppo : This river which originates from the high velds of South Africa, cuts across the tropic of Capricorn twice.
- R. Mahe : This river of India cuts across the tropic of Cancer twice.
- Seine River: The Seine is a 776 km (482 mi)-long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Source-Seine, 30 kilometres northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre.
- Tigris River: River that was a boundary of Mesopotamia, or the "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates) The Tigris was the eastern of the two rivers and flowed from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, about 1,200 miles. Both rivers were the lifeblood of Mesopotamian civilizations, giving them water and a vehicle for their trade and defense.
- Euphrates River: River that was a boundary of Mesopotamia, or the "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates) The Euphrates was the western of the two rivers and flowed from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, almost 1,800 miles. Both rivers served as means of defense and trade for every civilization in this area.
- The Huang Ho River: The Huang Ho is the world's sixth-longest river at 3,395 miles. Its source is the Kunlun Mountains, in western China. Its mouth is the Gulf of Bohai. The river is called the Yellow River, named for the color of the silts that are carried downstream in its flow. The earliest civilization in China settled on the banks of the Huang Ho. Ever since, the river has been a source of life and death. The river has flooded so often that is has become known as the River of Sorrow. Possibly the worst flood in written history occurred in 1931. Between July and November of that year, the river overflowed its banks, flooding about 34,000 square miles of land completely and about 8,000 square miles partially. Entire villages and huge amounts of agriculture and farmland were washed away. About 80 million people were left homeless. Nearly 1 million people died in the flood itself and in the famines and epidemics that resulted from the flooding.
- Rhine River: The Rhine River is 1,230 kilometres (760 mi) long. It is one of the longest rivers in Europe. The Rhine is an important waterway. Many goods are transported over the Rhine, and the Rhine valley is also an important wine producing region. The river Rhine begins at Tomasee, a lake in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland, and runs through Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. It is also the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein and also the border between Germany and France.
- Irrawaddy River: Irrawaddy River, Burmese Ayeyarwady, principal river of Myanmar (formerly Burma), running through the centre of the country. Myanmar’s most important commercial waterway, it is about 1,350 miles (2,170 km) long. The river flows wholly within the territory of Myanmar. Its total drainage area is about 158,700 square miles (411,000 square km). Its valley forms the historical, cultural, and economic heartland of Myanmar.
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