International Organisations and headquarters

Here is whole list of important International organisation which are normally asked in examinations. We are giving complete list of International organisations, their abbreviations, headquarters and their establishment year.
Few tricks to Remember the Headquarters:

• Always try to remember them in groups. e.g. Write Geneva on one side of paper and list all organisation having headquarter there. It will be much easier to remember this way.
• Every money related International organisation headquarters in Washington DC.

Name of International Organisation	Abbreviation	Headquarters	Established
United Nation	UN	New York, USA	1946
Food and Agriculture Organisation	FAO	Rome, Italy	1945
International  Atomic Energy Authority	IAEA	Vienna, Austria	1957
International Civil Aviation Organisation	ICAO	Montreal, Canada	1944
International Labour Organisation	ILO	Geneva, Swiss	1945
International Maritime Organisation	IMO	London, UK	1960
International Seabed Authority	ISA	Kingston, Jamaica	1994
International Telecommunication Union	ITU	Geneva, Swiss	1949
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea	ITLOS	Hamburg, Ger	1996
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation	UNESCO	Paris, France	1964
Universal Postal Union	UPU	Berne, Swiss	1874
World Health Organisation	WHO	Geneva, Swiss	1948
World Intellectual Property Organisation	WIPO	Geneva, Swiss	1986
World Meteorological  Organisation	WMO	Geneva, Swiss	1950
World Trade Organisation	WTO	Geneva, Swiss	1968

Current Affairs: Awards

1. RBI Governor Raghurama Rajan conferred Central Banker of the Year Award - 2016
On 7 January 2016 the RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan awarded with the central Banker of the Year Award for 2016. The award was given by the Financial Times Group's monthly publication The Banker. This award celebrates the officials and bankers who have best managed to stimulate growth and stabilise their country's economy.
R. Rajan is incumbent and 23 Governor of Reserve Bank of India and had taken charge in Sept 2013. He also honored with Fischer Black Prize (2003), Deutsche Bank Prize (2013) and Best Central Bank Governor award (2014).

2. Kate Atkinson got Costa Novel Prize - 2015 for A God in Ruins
On 4 january 2016 British writer Kate Atkinson won the novel of the year prize at Britain's Costa Book Awards 2015. With this, she became first British author to receive a Costa prize three times. Earlier she has won Costa prize for Behind the Scenes at the Museum (1995) and Life After Life (2013).

3. Syed Kirmani gets BCCI's C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award - 2015
On 5 January 2016 Former Indian Wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani awarded with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015. On the other hand Indian Test Captain Virat Kohli bagged Cricket of the Year award for 2015.

SAAF Suzuki Cup 2015 won by India

The 2015 SAAF Championship (South Asian Football Federation Cup) won by India.
India exacted sweet revenge of their last edition defeat as they beat defending champions Afganistan 2-1 in the summit clash in a dominating display to lift the SAAF (South Asian Football Federation) Cup for the seventh time on Sunday.
Final match held at Trivandrum, Kerala on Sunday. Jeje Lalpekhlua (72nd minute) and Sunil Chhetri (101th minute) had scored goals for India. For Afganistan single goal was scored by Zubayr Amiri (70th minute).
Indai is most successful team in this championship, earlier India had won the SAFF Football Championship in year 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009 and 2011.
What is SAFF Football Championship? 

• The SAFF Championship also known as South Asian Football Federation. Cup is the bienneal football competition of the men's national football teams of 8 Asian Football Federation.
• The championship was established in 1993 and is governed by the South Asian football Federation.
• SAAF championship held every two years.
• 8 Participating Countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maladives, Nepal, Pakistan Sri Lanka
• Previously SAAF Championship was known as South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup
• The 2017 edition will be host by hosted by Bangladesh.

Current Affairs - Quiz

1. In keeping with the spirit of Good Governance initiative this Union Ministry launched the e-office in the ministry on December 28, 2015 - Union Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. The new crude distillation unit of this public sector undertaking in Mumbai was dedicated to the nation on December 28, 2015 - Bharat Petroleum
3. The river in which an underwater tunnel was proposed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to connect Amaravati and Vijayawada - Krishna River

4. The airport which became country's first to offer e-boarding facility - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport,  Hyderabad
5. Who headed committee on revisiting & Revitalizing PPP model the report of which released by the Union Government on December 28, 2015? Vijay Kelkar
6. Who headed the RBI's committee on Medium-term path on financial inclusion the report of which released on December 28, 2015? Deepak Mohanty

7. Person appointed as the Group Medical Director of the Manipal Hospitals Ltd on December 29, 2015 - Nagendra Swamy
8. Oscar-winning american cinematographer who died on December 27, 2015 and was known for his work in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and American Graffiti - Haskell Wexler
9. The IAS officer of 1980 Batch of Kerala Cadre who was given the additional charge of being the CEO of NITI Aayog is - Amitabh Kant

10. Gautam Adani's son Karan Adani was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of - Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone
11. Marathi poet and Padma Bhushan recipient who passed away on December 30, 2015 - Mangesh Keshav Padgaonkar
12. Prayagraj Super Thermal Power Project  in Bara, Allahabad was commissioned by - Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

13. Russia's Rostech State Corporation tied up with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to manufacture - Kamov 226T Helicopters
14. The war ship from which the Long Range Surface-to-Air or BARAK 8 Missile was successfully test-fired on December30, 2015 - INS Kolkata
15. Tbe Union Cabinet approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road section of the trilateral highway in - Myanmar

Dances of Maharashtra

Folk dances of Maharashtra have evolved mainly from the rural areas. Several folk dances in Maharashtra are preformed during the time of festivals or other occasions. the state has been famous for its vibrant music and the folks forms like Tamasha, Koli, Povadas, Lavani, Kala, Dhangari Gaja etc.

Povada: Povadas are presented in the Marathi ballads form. This form form describes the events in the life of the great Maratha ruler, Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Through the Povada, people remeber Shivaji, a famous hero of his period.

Tamasha: The work tamasha in Persian language means fun and entertainment. The tamasha dance form has been believed to be delivered from the ancient form of Sanskrit drama the 'Prahasana' and the 'Bhana'. The instruments which are used in this dance form are 'Tuntuni', 'Dholaki', Manjeera', 'Harmonium', 'Halgi', 'Daf', Ghungaroos'.

Koli: Koli is another folk dance of Maharashtra which got its name from fisher folk of the state called 'Koli'. The koli are known for their lively dances and separate identity. The dances of these fishermen posses elements taken from their occupation, which is fishing. The dance incorporates elements that this community is most familiar with sea and fishing.

Dhangari Gaja: Dhangari Gaja is one of the most famous folk dance performed in the Maharashtra. As the dhangars of Solapur herd to green pastures for grazing for their cattle, they become acquainted with the nature. Inspired by the scenic beauty they compose poetry, called ovi writing about the nature and their god Biruba.

Lavani: Lavani is mixture of traditional dance and song, which is performed mainly to the beats of 'Dholaki' an instrument like a drum. This folk dance is executed by beautiful women wearing sarees of nine-yards. The word Lavani derived from Lavanya, meaning beauty. This form is combination of dance and music, which is dealt with different and varied topics such as society, religion, politics, romance etc.

Indian River System

India is the fifth country in the world with favorable water resources after Canada, Brazil, Russia and Congo. Rivers of India plays an important role in the lives of the Indian people. The river system provides irrigation, potable water, cheap transportation, electricity as well as provides live-hood for a large number of people all over the country. Indian rivers are mainly divided into following two types:

1. Himalayan Rivers
2. Peninsular Rivers

1. Himalayan Rivers: As the name suggests, these rivers originate from Himalayan Mountains. These rivers again divided into two types. Trans Himalayan & Himalayan. The Trans-Himalayan Rivers originate beyond the Himalayas e.g. the Indus, the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra. Himalayan rivers are those which originate in the Himalayas and flows the Northern planes e.g. the Ganga, the Yamuna.

The Ganga River System: The Ganga originates in Gangotri glacier, the river acquires its name after its head streams Alakhanda and Bhagirathi unite the Devaprayag. The total length of Ganga is over 2,525 kms, shared by Uttanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal. Later on Ganga flows into Bangladesh known as Padma. The Yamuna and the Sone are main right bank tributaries, on left hand tributaries includs Ramganga, Gomati, Gandak, Kosi.

The Indus River System: The Indus rises in Tibet near Manas sarovar lake (at an altitude of 5,180 meters). Flowing west-wards it enters India in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. It receives Himalayan tributaries such as the Gartang, Zaskar, Dras Shoyk, Shigar. Its well known Punjab tributaries which make the Panjnad are Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum. Indus with a length of 2,880 kms is considered as on of the longest rivers of the world. India can utilise 20% of its discharge under the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

2. Peninsular Rivers: These Rivers originate in Western Ghats and are dependent on rainfall for water. These rivers flow in valleys with steep gradients. Narmada, Tapi, Govdavari, Krishna, Cauvery and Mahanadi are the major rivers.

Narmada Basin: Its originates in Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh and flows towards west to join the Arabian Sea. It covers the states of Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat.

Tapi Basin: It originates in Madhya Pradesh and covering the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat joins the Arabian Sea.

Godavari Basin: The Godavari originates in Nashik in Maharashtra and covers the states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. It is known as Dakshin Ganga due to its area covered (1465 kms) and reaches Bay of Bengal.

Krishna Basin: Its rises near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and covers area of 1400 kms. It flow through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana,  Andhra Pradesh and reaches Bay of Bengal.

Caste System of India

Untouchability  and Caste system in India: India is having caste system based society not only among Hindus but also other castes also. Earlier, the people in the lower hierarchies are not accessible to all the resources and are exploited by upper hierarchies as well, they were victims of untouchability practices.
Besides, there were untouchable castes  also were involved in menial jobs as manual scavengers, Agricultural labors, Skinner of animal hides and so on. There was the concept of Yajmani System, that is little share of produce was given to the non-touchable people. With time, change come in the social behavior of untouchable people due to commercialisation of Agriculture, Emergence of contractual relations and increased employment in factories, Markets, Army etc.

Movements of Pre-Independence Time: In Pre-Independence times, leaders like Jyotiba Phule started Satya Shodak Samaj and also written book called Gulamgiri creating awareness in the minds of untouchables people. There were also movements to make the lower caste people to enter the temples such as Guruvayur Satyagraha.
Babu Jagjeevan Ram, The prominent Harijan leader started Khet Majadoor Sabha and depressed Class League to alleviate the problems of depressed classes. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar leader of depressed classes founded Independent Labor Party in 1936 and All India Scheduled Caste Federation in 1942. He also wrote a book called Annihiation of Castes against the caste system. Dr. Ambedkar tried to empower the depressed classes by providing them legal rights which can found the constitution.

Untuochability Movement after Independence:

• In 1956, Republican Party was formed to fight for the rights of Dalits under the leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan.
• In early 1970, a new trend called Dalit Panthers was emerged in urban areas showing waves of radical politics with student and youth support base.
• In 1978, there was an agitation to rename Marathwada University as Ambedkar university which resulted in anti-dalit riots.
• In 1980, in North India Bahujan Samajwadi Party was emerged under Kashiram with basic aim and strategy based on electroal power that is to empower the depressed classesin political manner.
• In 1990, Prakash Ambedkar tried to combine all dalit organisation for contesting Maharashtra assembly elections but was not successful.
• Non-Dalit parties and group like Ambedkar Sanghams and agricultural unions also played important role in fighting about the issues of Dalits.
• Break down of Yajmani System proved to be major break through.
• Conversion of dalits and reservation facilities are the obvious improvements in the status of depressed classes.

Subir Gokaran appointed as Executive Director of IMF

Renowed economist Subir Gokaran has been appointed as an Executive Director on the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr. Gokarn's name was cleared by Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime minister Narendra Modi. He will replace Rakesh Mohan whose 3 years tenure ends in November 2015.

He will represent grouping of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Bhutan on the IMF's Executive board with a total casting vote of 2.8 percent of which India has more than 2.3 percent. Earlier he had served as Deputy governor of RBI 2009 to 2012 and was the youngest Deputy Governors of the central bank at that time. He also had served as a nominee Board Member of the State Bank of India (SBI).

Executive Board of IMF:

• The executive Board of IMF is based in Washington and is responsible for conducting the day-to-day business of it.
• It comprises 24 Directors, who are appointed or elected by groups of countries or be member countries.
• It is headed by the Managing Director (MD) who serves as its chairman.
• The executive Board meets several times in each week and carries out its work largely on the basis of papers prepared by IMF management and staff.

Quiz: Current Affairs

1. Who has taken over as the Chairman of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on 1 Sept 2015?
Ans - Raghav Chandra
2. Who has been appointed as new Union Home Secretary on 31 Aug 2015?
Ans - Rajiv Mehrishi
3. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 31 Aug 2015 declared which as Domestic Systematically Important Banks (D-SIBs)?
Ans - SBI and ICICi
4. Highest mountain of North America was on 28 Aug 2015 renamed as?
Ans - Denail
5. Ratan P Watal on 31 Aug 2015 took charge as the?
Ans - Union Finance Secretary

6. Who was on 31 Aug 2015 appointed as CMD of India Trade Promotion Organisation?
Ans - L C Goyal
7. Which team won the Pro Kabaddi League in 2015?
Ans - U Mummba
8. Palakkad district in which state was recently declared as the first total HIV/AIDS literate district in country?
Ans - Kerala
9. Indian Cricket team on 1 Sept 2015 won the Test Series in Sri Lanka soil after how many years?
Ans - 22 years
10. Sports Minister recently recognized which among the following as sports discipline?
Ans - Yoga

Current Affairs: Awards

1. Mathematician Amalendu Krishna won 2015 Ramanujan prize for year 2015.
Mathematician Amalendu Krishna won 2015 Ramanujan prize for year 2015. He was bestowed with this award for his outstanding contributions in the area of algebraic cycles. Presently Krishna is mathematician professor at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.

2. Helena Ndume, Jorge Sampaio awarded with first-ever Nelson Mandela Prize.
Helena Ndume of Namibia and Jorge Sampaio of Portugal were on 24 July 2015 awarded  with the first-ever Nelson Mandela Prize by the United Nation at the Headquarters in New York.
Ndume, a female ophthalmologist was awarded for treating blindness and eye-related illness in Namibia and throughout the developing world.
While, Sampaio, the former president of Portugal from 1996 to 2006 and also the formal mayor of Libson from 1989 to 1995 was awarded for his contribution to his country for his struggle for the restoration of democracy in Portugal.

3. Ramachandra Guha selected for Fukuoka Asia Culture Prize 2015.
Historian Ramachandra Guha was on 24 July 2015 chosen for the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015 in the Academic Category. Guha was best known for his book India After Gandhi, will speak on Gandhi, India and the World at the event. The aim his lecture would be to increase awareness of the value of Asian cultures as well as to establish a framework within which Asians can learn from and share win each other.

Current Affairs

February Current Affairs:

1. Union government on 12 February 2015 constituted a three member special investigation team (SIT) to re-open and re-investigate 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Who will head the SIT? Pramod Asthana
2. Cricketer Brendon McCullum was named the country's Sportsman of the year on 11 February 2015. He belongs to which country? New Zelaand
3. Name the Indian-origin scientist who has recently won the prestigious $ 500,000 National Science Foundation Career award? Gurpreet Singh
4. Indian Navy had recently conducted Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) exercise at? Lakhadweep Islands
5. Unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was recently launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. This Satellite will be used by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) to monitor? Sun
6. Which tech giant announced on 11 February that it has acquired Sunrise Atelier, the New York City based maker of the popular and well-regarded Sunrise calender for iOS and Android? Microsoft
7. Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs is new heir of which Royal Family? Mysuru Royal Family
8. Which company recentaly became the first company to reach a market value of $ 700 billion? Apple
9. World Radio Day was observed every year on? 13 February
10. Which among the following train derailed on 13 February 2015 near the border between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, in which, ten passengers died and over 100 were injured? Bangalore-Ernakulam Intercity Express

Bhagat Singh

Bhagta Singh aka Shaheed Bhagat Singh aka Bhagat Singh Sandhu was an Indian socialist and a revolutionary. He is considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian Independence Movement. He was born in Sikh family. His family had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj. When Bhagat Singh was a teenager, he studied European revolutionary movements. He became attracted to anarchist and Marxist idoologies.

He became involved in numerous revolutionary activities. He quickly gained prominence in the Hindustan Republican Association and became on of the it's chief leaders. Eventually, the name of the organisation was changed to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. This happened in the year 1928. Lala Lajpat Rai was killed at the hands of the police. Bhagat Singh wanted revenge for this incidence. He became involved in the number of the British Police Officer John Saunders. The police tried to capture him. However, Bhagat Singh was successful in avoiding arrest.

He made a plan to bomb the Central Legislative Assembly. He partnered with Bhuwaneshwar Dutt for this task. He bombarded the assembly with the two bombs. They were shouting slogans of revolution and threw pamphlets. After the bombarding, they surrounded. He was held on this charge in prison. He underwent a 116 day fast in jail and so he did not have food for that long. He did this to demand equal political rights for both British and Indian political prisoners. In response to this determined protest, he gained nationwide support.

His mentor as a young boy was Kartar Singh Sarabha, whose photo he always carried in his pocket. Singh is himself considered a marter by Indians for acting to avenge death of Lala Lagpat Rai. After studying Russian Revolution, he wanted to die so that his death would inspire the youth of India which in turn will unite them to fight the British Empire. While in prison, Singh and other had written a letter to Lord Irwin, wherein they asked to be treated as prisoners of war and consequently to be executed by firing squad and not hanging. Prannath Mehta, Bhagat Singh's friend, visited him in the jail on 20 March, four days before his execution, with a draft letter for clemency, but he declined to sign it.

Facts: Indian Railways

Important facts about the Indian Railways:

• The first train on the Indian soil ran between Bombay and Thane on the 16 April 1853
• 42 Railway companies operated in the country before independence
• The total distance covered by the 14,300 trains on the Indian Railways everyday, equals to three and half times the distance to moon
• Indian Railways has about 63,028 route kms of track
• Indian Railways employs about 1.55 million people
• Indian Railways carries 13 million passengers and 1.3 million tonnes of freight everyday
• IR runs about 14,300 trains daily
• IR has about 7,000 railway stations
• The longest platform in the world is at Kharagpur and is 2,733 ft in length
• Nehru Setu on Sone River is the longest Railway Bridge
• Electric locomotives are manuactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Chittaranjan
• Coaches are manufactured at ICF/Chennai, RCF/Kapurthala and BEMP/Bengaluru
• The national Rail Museum at New Delhi was set-up in 1977
• People Employed in Indian Railway are about 1.6 million
• Stations across State Lines are Navapur (Maharashtra and Gujarat) and Bhawani mandi (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan)
• Classes of travel on Indian Railway: 1st AC, 2nd AC, 3rd AC, AC Chair Car, IInd sleeper and IInd ordinary
• Railway Station with all Three Gauges is Silguri Railway Station

First/Oldest/Longest in Indian Railways

• First Passenger Train Ran on - 16th April 1853 (between Bombay to Thane)
• First Railway Bridge - Dapoorie Viaduct on the Mumbai-Thane route
• First Railway Tunnel - Parsik Tunnel
• First Ghats Covered by the Rail lines - Thal and Bhore Ghats
• First Underground Railway - Calcutta METRO
• First Computerized Reservation System Started in - New Delhi, 1986
• First Electric Train Ran on - 3 Feb 1925 (between Bombay VT and Kurla)
• Toilets on Trains were introduced in - 1897 (1st Class) and 1907 (lower Classes)
• Shortest Station Name - IB, Odisha
• Longest Station Name - Sri Venkatanarasimharajuvariapeta, Tamilnadu
• Busiest Railway Station - Lucknow (64 trains everyday)
• Longest Run, Time - Vivek Express (3715 km in Approx 71 hrs)
• Shortest Run, Distance - Route between Nagpur to Ajni (3 km)
• Longest Run for Daily Train - Kerala Express (3054 km in 42.5 hrs)
• Longest Non-Stop Run, Distance - Trivandrum Rajdhani (528 km in 6.5 hrs)
• Oldest Preserved Locomotive - Fairy Queen (1855), still in working order
• Indian Railways's Fastest Train - Bhopal-Shatabdi (Runs at a speed up to 140 km/ph)
• Train with Maximum Number of Halts - Howrah-Amritsar Express (115 halts)

Goods and Services Tax

One of the biggest taxation reforms in India, the Goods and Service Tax (GST) is all set to integrate State economies and boost overall growth. GST will create a single, unified Indian Market to make the economy stronger. Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee while presenting the Budget on 6 July 2009, said that GST would come into effect from April 2010. The implementation of GSTN is set on August 2010. GST might not be implemented before 1 April 2013.

Goods and Service Tax - is comprehensive tax levy on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services at national level. Through a tax credit mechanism, this tax is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain. The system allows the set-off of GST paid on the procurement of goods and services against the GST which is payable on the supply of goods or services. However, the end consumer bears this tax as he is the last person in the supply chain. Experts say that GST is likely to improve tax collections and boost India's economic development by breaking tax barriers between States and integrating India through a uniform tax rate.

Under GST, the taxation burden will be divided equitably between manufacturing and services, through a lower tax rate by increasing the tax and minimizing exemptions. It is expected to help build a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. GST will be is levied only at the destination point, and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets) Currently, a manufacture needs to pay a tax when a finished product moves out from factory, and it is again taxed at the retail outlet when sold.

Benefits to State and Center - It is estimated that India will gain 15 billion US dollars a years by implementing the Goods and Service Tax as it would promote exports, raise employment and boost growth. It will divide the tax burden equitably between manufacturing and services.

Benefits to Individuals and Companies: IN the GST system, both Central and States taxes will be collected at the point of sale. Both components will be charged on the manufacturing cost. This will benefit individuals as prices are likely to come down. Lower prices will lead to more consumption, thereby helping companies.

Revolt of 1857

Causes for the failure of Revolt:
By July 1858, the revolt was completely suppressed. Following factors may be the reason for the failure of revolt:

• Lack of co-ordination and central leadership. The revolt was supposed to have started on 31 May 1857 as decided by Nana Saheb and his colleagues but the Merrut incidence led to early breaking of the revolt.
• Lack of forward looking program.
• Indian leaders lacked resources and experience as comapred to British.
• Lack of support and martial races of the North.
• British power have remained intact in the eastern, western and southern parts of India from where the forces were sent to suppress the revolt.
• Tacit support of certain sections of Indian public.
• Limited territorial and base.
• Many native Indian states, influenced by the example of powerful Hyderabad, did not join the revolt.
• Sikh soldiers of the Punjab are remained loyal to the British throughout.
• The aging Bahadur Shah was neither a brave general not an astute leader of people.

Impacts of the Revolt:

The impact of the 1857 Revolt may be summarized as:

• In august 1850 the British government passed an act for Better Governemnt of India, 1858 which put and end to the rule of yje Company. The control of the British government in India was transfered to the British Crown.
• A minister of British government, called the Secretary of State, was made responsible for the Government of India.
• The British Governor general of India was now also given the title of Viceroy,, who was also the representative of the Monarch.
• Marked the end of British imperialism and Princely states were assured against annexation. Doctrine of Lapes was withdrawn.
• Marked the end of peshwaship and the Mughal rule.
• After the revolt, the British pursued the policy of divide and rule.
• Far-reaching changes were made in the administration and increase of white soldiers in the army.
• Total expense of the supprression of the Revolt was borne by the Indians.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar also known as Swatantyraveer Savarkar was a Indian nationalist, pre-independence activist, fearless fighter, social reformer, writer, dramatist, poet, historian, political leader and philosopher.  He remains largely unknown to the masses because of the vicious propaganda against him and misunderstanding around him that has been created over several decades. Savarkar created term Hindutava and emphasized its distinctiveness from Hinduism which he associated with social and political communalism.

Founded the Abhinav Bharat Society and Free India Society, brought out an authentic informative researched work on "The Great Indian Revolt of 1857" also founded Hindu Sabha.Veer Savarkar occupies a unique place in the history of Indian freedom struggle.. His name evokes controversy. While some consider him as on of the greatest revolutionaries in the Indian freedom struggle. He was an extraordinary Hindu scholar. He coined Indian words for telephone, photography, the parliament and among others.

In Pune, Savarkar founded the "Abhinav Bharat Society". He was also involved in the Swadeshi movement and later joined Tilak's Swaraj Party. His instigating patriotic speeches and activities incensed the British Governemnt. As a result the British Government withdraw his B A degree. In June 1906, Veer Savarkar left for London to become Barrister. Once in London he united and inflamed the Indian students in England against Brtish rule in India. He founded the Free India Society. The Society celebrated important dates on the Indian calender including festivals, freedom movement landmarks and was dedicated to furthering discussion about Indian freedom. He believed and advocated the use of arms to free Indian from the British and created a network of Indians in England, equipped with weapons.

In 1909, Madanlal Dgingra, a keen follower of Savrkar shot Sir Wylie after a failed assassination attempt on the then Vioceroy, Lord Curzon. Savarkar conspicuously did not condemn the act. When the British Collector of Nashik, Jackson shot by a youth, Veer Savarkar finally fell under the of British authorities. He was implected in the murder citing his connections with India House. Savarkar was arrested in London on 13 March 1910 and sent to India. After a formal trial, Savarkar was charged with serious offences of illegal transportation of weapons, provocative speeches and sedition and was sentenced to 50 years of jail and deported to the Kalapani at Andaman cellular jail.

In 1920, many prominent freedom fighter including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Vitthalbhai Patel demanded the release of Savarkar. On 21 May 1921 Savarkar was moved to Ratnagiri jail and from there to the Yervada jail. In Ratnagiri he wrote the book "Hindutva". On 6 January 1924 he was freed under the condtion that he would not leave Ratnagiri disttrict and absatain from political activity for the next five years. On 23 January 1924 he founded Hindu Mahasabha.

The Hindu Mahasabha opposed creation of Pakistan, and took expection to Gnadhi's continued Muslim appeasement stances. Nathuram Godase, a volunteer of Hindu Mahasabha assassinated in 1948 and upheld his actions till his haning. Veer Savarkar was arrested and indicted by the Government of India in the Mahatma Gandhi assassinated case. But he was acquitted by the Supreme Court of India, for reasons of lack of evidence. Veer Savarkar died on 26 February 1966 at the age of 96.

Quiz -3 Current Affairs

1. Who was named as the best performing CEO in the world by Harvard Business Review (HBR)?
Ans - CEO of Amazon Jeff Bexos
2. Who was honored Czech Republic's Order of the White Lion?
Ans - Sir Nicolas Winton
3. Who announced to invest 627 million US dollor in Snapdeal.com?
And - Japanese telecom giant Softbank
4. When was World Polio Day observed across the world?
Ans - 24 October

5. Who was elected as vice-president (VP) of Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Macau?
Ans - Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sicar
6. Which petroleum product was de-regulated in India recently?
Ans - Diesel (Oct 2014)
7. Alan Eustache broke sound barrier and set several skydiving records recently. He is an employee of which organisation?
Ans - Google
8. The Defence Acquisition approved deals worth:
Ans - INR 78,000 crore

9. Recently, India offered to help which Polio affected country?
Ans - Bhutan
10. Parupalli Kashyap who beaten World No. 4 in French Open belongs to which sport?
Ans - Badminton
11. Pankaj Adwani who recently crowned "11th World Champion" title is related with which sport?
Ans - Billard
12. Indian Air Force (IAF) recently banned which Mobile Phone brand for its officers?
Ans - Xiomi

Maharashtra Wildlife

Maharashtra is home to many wildlife sanctuaries and national park. Theses national parks and sanctuaries are home to many rare species of flora and fauna.

• Bhamragarh Sanctuary: Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary is loacted in Chandrapur district in Vidarbha region. Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary has many types of wild animals like leopards, junglee fowl, wild bear and sloth bear, barking deer, blue bull, peacock and flying squirrel. The entire area is covered with the moist deciduous mix forests.
• Bor Wildlife Sanctuary: Bor Wildlife Sanctuary located at Hingni in Wardha in Maharashtra. It covers an area of 61.10 sq km. It includes 3,237 hectors of reserve forest. It has many types of wild animals like Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian bison, bule bull, chital, sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer, monkey, wild boor, sloth bear and wold dog.
• Chaprala Sanctuary: Chaprala Sanctuary located in Gadachiroli district in the Vidarbha region. Chaprala Sanctuary home to nearly 131 species of wild animals like tiger, leopard, junglee cat, sloth bear and wild dog. Many of the species are included under the endangered species of birds, two species of reptiles, Indian Python and common Indian monitor.
• Chikhaldara Sanctuary: Chikhaldara is in Amaravati district of Vidarbha region. It is belived that its name is derived from Keechka. Chikhaladara is situated at an altitude of 1,118 mtrs. This place is the only coffee-growing are in Maharashtra. Chikhaldara is full of deep valleys and these valleys are full of velvet list and majestic trees. Popular as the Melghat Tiger Project and Dhakana-Kolkaz National Park, this stations has wildlife like panthers, sloth bears, sambar, wild boar and wild dog.
• Dajipur Sanctuary: ajipur is situated on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Rugged mountains and dense forests surround this hilly area. Situating 1,200 mtrs above the sea level, it is an exciting and beautiful holiday gateway. Dajipur is home to bison, wild deer, chital, gava and many spectacular wild animals and birds.
• Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Satara district. It forms the northern portion of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve with Chandoli National Park forming the southern part of the reserve. The sanctuary has diverse variety of mammals including Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian bison, sloth bear, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, gray langoor, smooth-coated otters and giant Indian squirrels.
• Nagzira Sanctuary: Nagazira Wildlife Sanctuary has 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and four species of amphibians. Nagazira is home to tiger, pathers, bison, sambar, nilgai, chital, wild boar, sloth bear and wild dog.
• Navegaon National Park: Navegaon is very popular forest in the Vidarbha region. There is a watch-over at Navegaon National Park, from there one can get a panoramic view of the surroundings forest. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is home for almost 60 % of the bird species found in the entire Maharashtra. Thousands of beautiful migratory birds flock the lake every winter. This sanctuary is also home to leopards, sloth bear, gaurs, chital, sambar and langoor.
• Pench National Park: Pench National Park is located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which is at a distance of 70 km from Nagpur. Pench National Park comes under the Project Tiger network for special reserves. Tiger panthers, sambar, chital. barking deer, blue bull, macaque, langoor, wild boar, bear wild dog and civet cat are the wild animals are found in this National Park.
• Tadoba National Park: Tadoba National Park is a large covered with lush, green forestland. It is situated at a distance of 45 km from Chandrapur. Tiger, leopard, leopard cat, gaur, nilgai, sambar, chital, sloth bear, hyena, wild boar, sptted deer, blue bull, four-horned antelope, Indian pangolin and porcupine are the wild animals of this park.
• Tipeshwar Sanctuary: Tipeshwar Sanctuary located in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. Black buck, blue bull, sambar, peacock, wild boar, bear, wild cat, wolf and jackal are the wild animals that are seen at Tipeshwar Sanctuary.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Keshav Gangadhar Tilak also known as Bal Gangadhar Tilak aka Lokamanya Tilak, was an Indian nationalist, independence activist, journalist, lawyer, social reformer, teacher. He was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities called him "Father of the Indian unrest". He was also conferred with the honorary title of "Lokamanya", which literally means "accepted by the people as their leader". Tilak was on of the first and strongest advocates if "Swaraj" and a strong radical in Indian consiousness. He is known for his quote, "Swaraj is my birth-right, and I shall have it" in India. He formed close alliance eith Muhammad Ali Jinnah, later the founder of Pakistan, during the Indian Home Rule Movement.

Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He opposed its moderate attitude, especially towards the fight for self-government. He was one of the most eminent radicals at the time. Despite being personally opposed to early marriage, Tilak was against the 1890 Age of Consent bill, seeing it as interference with Hinduism and a dangerous precedent.

Tilak encouraged the Swadeshi movement and the Boycott movement. The movement consisted of the boycott of forigen goods and also the social boycott of any Indian who used foreign goods. The Swadeshi movement consisted of the usage of natively produced goods. Once foreign goods were boycotted, there was a gap which had to be filled by the production of those goods in India itself. Tilak said that Swadeshi and Boycott movements are two sides of the same coin.

Tilak opposed the moderate views of Gopal Krishna Gokhale and was supported by fellow Indian nationalist Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab. They were referred to as the "Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate" In 1907 the annual session of the Indian National Congress was held at Surat. Trouble broke out over the selections pf the party. The party split into the "Jahal Matwadi" led by the Tilak, Pal and Lajpat Rai and the "Maval Matwadi".

When World War-I started in August, Tilak cabled the King-Emperor in Britain of his support and turned his oratory to find new recruits for war efforts. He welcomed The Indian Council Act (1909), popularly known as Morley-Minto Reforms, which had been passed by British Parliament in May 1909, terming it as "a marked increase of confidence between the Rulers and the Ruled".

In 1916 Tilak re-unites with his fellow natinalist and re-joined the Indian National Congress. He also helped found the All India Home Rule League in 1916-18, with G S Khaparde and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Annie Beseant. After years of trying to reunite the moderate and radical factions, he gave up and focused on the Home Rule League, which sought self-rule. Tilak started his Home Rule League in Maharashtra, Central Provinces and Karnataka and Berar region.

Largest in India

Largest, tallest, longest, biggest, deepest in India

Significance	Achiever
Highest Award	Bharat Ratna
Highest Gallantry Award	Param Vir Chakra
Longest River in India	The Ganges
Longest Tributary River in India	Yamuna
Largest Lake	Wular Lake, Kashmir
Largest Lake (Brackish Water)	Chillar Lake, Odisha
Largest man-made Lake	Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, Rihad Dam
Highest Mountain Peak	Godwin Austin (K2)
Highest Dam	Tehri Dam, Uttarakhand
Highest Waterfall	Kunchikal Waterfall, Karnataka
Highest Gateway	Buland Darwaza, Uttar Pradesh
Highest Battle Field	Siachin Glacier
Highest Rainfall Place	Mawsynram, Meghalaya
Largest Populated City	Mumbai, Maharashtra
Largest State (Area)	Rajasthan
Largest State (Population)	Uttar Pradesh
Largest District (Ares)	Kutch (GJ)
Largest Delta	Sundarbans Delta (WB)
Largest River without Delta	Narmada and Tapi
Longest River Bridge	Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna
Longest Cantilever Span Bridge	Howrah Bridge
Biggest Cave Temple	Ellora (MH)
Longest Road	Grand Trunk Road
Tallest Statue	Statue of Gomateshwar (17 meters tall in KA)
Largest Public Sector Bank	State Bank of India
Longest Canal	Indira Gnadhi Canal or Rajasthan Canal
Largest Zoo	Zoological Garden at Alipur (WB)
Fastest Train	Shatabdi Express (Running between New Delhi and Bhopal)
State with Longest Coastline	Gujarat
Longest Electric Railway Line	Delhi to Kolkata via Patna
Longest Railway Route	Assam to Kanyakumari
Highest Railway Station	Ghum (WB)
Longest Tunnel	Jawahar Tunnel (J&K)
Largest Animal Fair	Sonpur (BR)
Biggest Hotel	Oberoi-Sheraton Hotel (Mumbai)
Largest Port	Mumbai
Largest Gurudwara	Golden Teple (PB)
Deepest River Valley	Bhagirathi
Largest Chruch	Saint Cathedral (GA)
Oldest Chruch	Saint Thomas Chruch (KL)
Longest Beach	Marina Beach (Chennai)
Highest Airport	Leh (Ladakh)
Largest River Island	Majuli (Brahmaputra River, Assam)
Largest Planetarium	Birla Planetarium (Kolkata)
Longest Highway	NH-7 (Kanyakumari to Varanasi)
Largest Building	Rashtrapati Bhavan
Largest Post Office	Mumbai GPO
Largest Lok Sabha Constituency (Area)	Ladakh
Largest Distance run Train	Vivek Express
Tallest Building	Imperial Building, Mumbai