Geographical Facts

1. Flora denotes plants of a particular region.

2. The term ‘Fauna’ is used to denote the species of animals of a particular region.

3. In 2001, the actual forest cover in India was only 20.55%.

4. Sundri trees are found in Ganga- Brahamputra delta. Royal Bengal Tiger is the famous animal in these forests.

5. ‘Sarpagandha’ is used to treat blood pressure & is found only in India.

6. The fresh juice of leaves of ‘Arjun’ is a cure of earache. It is also used to regulate blood pressure.

7. Leaves of ‘Babool’ are sued as a cure for eye sores. Its gum is used as a tonic.

8. ‘Neem’ has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties.

9. ‘Kachnar’ is used to cure asthma and ulcers. The buds and roots are good for digestive problems.

10. The natural habitat of the Indian lion is the Gir Forest in Gujrat.

11. Kiang – Tibetan wild ass – found in Ladakh region.

12. The easternmost longitude of India is 97^o25^/.

13. The southern most latitude of India is 6^o45^/.

14. Highest peak in India – Kanchenjunga – 8598m

15. Highest peak of Eastern Ghats – Mahendragiri (1501m).

16. Highest peak of Western Ghats – Anai Mudi (2695m).

17. Bhagirathi joined by Alaknanda at Devprayag and by Madakini at Rudraprayag.

18. Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarover lake. At Namcha Barwa (7757m), it takes U turn and enter India in A.P. through a gorge.

19. ‘Dakshin Ganga’ – Godavari is the largest river of Peninsular India.

20. Wular lake is the largest fresh water lake in India. It is formed as a result of tectonic activity.

21. The latitudinal extent influence the duration of the day and night as one moves from south to north.

22. India forms a part of South Asia.

Historical Facts

1. Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti – Fatehpur Sikri, UP

2. Dargah of Moin –ud-din Chisti – Ajmer.

3. Madhubani painting – Bihar

4. Warli paintings – Maharashtra.

5. Khajuraho temples were built by Chandellas in Chattarpur district of M.P.

6. Sun temple in Konark (Orissa) – Black Pagoda.

7. The Jain temples at Mt. Abu are the finest monuments of the Solanki kings of Gujrat.

8. Mahayana sect of Buddhism encouraged image worship.

9. Mahabalipuram is famous for the Rathas and the Shore temple (built by Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman II) .

10. The Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur has the largest dome in the world.

11. Brihadeswara is the Chola temple in Tanjore built by Rajaraja Chola.

12. National Museum – New Delhi , Indian Museum – Kolkatta , Prince of Wales Museum – Mumbai and Salarjung Museum – Hyderabad.

13. Congress Working Committee on 12 February 1922 decided to popularize Charkha, to promote Hindu- Muslim unity and to oppose untouchability.

14. The tabligh movement was started by the muslim communalists to promote conversion to Islam.

Historical Facts

1. Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti – Fatehpur Sikri, UP

2. Dargah of Moin –ud-din Chisti – Ajmer.

3. Madhubani painting – Bihar

4. Warli paintings – Maharashtra.

5. Khajuraho temples were built by Chandellas in Chattarpur district of M.P.

6. Sun temple in Konark (Orissa) – Black Pagoda.

7. The Jain temples at Mt. Abu are the finest monuments of the Solanki kings of Gujrat.

8. Mahayana sect of Buddhism encouraged image worship.

9. Mahabalipuram is famous for the Rathas and the Shore temple (built by Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman II) .

10. The Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur has the largest dome in the world.

11. Brihadeswara is the Chola temple in Tanjore built by Rajaraja Chola.

12. National Museum – New Delhi , Indian Museum – Kolkatta , Prince of Wales Museum – Mumbai and Salarjung Museum – Hyderabad.

13. Congress Working Committee on 12 February 1922 decided to popularize Charkha, to promote Hindu- Muslim unity and to oppose untouchability.

14. The tabligh movement was started by the muslim communalists to promote conversion to Islam.

Ecology and Environment quiz

1. Nagoya Protocol: - comprises a plan to protect biodiversity by setting targets for 2020. As per protocol, nations agree to make 10% of coastal and marine areas and 17% of the global’s land area into protected areas.

2. Manas National Park:- UNESCO has removed the ‘in-danger’ tag from the World Heritage Site in Assam.

3. Agent Orange:- Vietnam has kicked off the first phase of a joint plan with the US to clean up environment damage left over from the chemical defoliant, a lasting legacy from the Vietnam War.

4. Permafrost is the characteristic of the tundra.

5. The term ‘Green House Effect’ was coined by Arrhenius.

6. El Nino is a hot water current that appears after every 5 to 8 years in the east Pacific coast off Peru and Ecuador.

7. Methaemoglobinaemia is caused by presence of nitrate in drinking water.

8. Black Foot Diseases is caused by arsenic in drinking water.

9. 2,4-D, 2,3,4-T are examples of Weedicides or Herbicides.

10. The driving force for an ecosystem is solar energy.

11. Human hearing lies within the frequency of 50- 15000hz. Below 50Hz it is infra sound and above 15000Hz it is ultrasound.

12. Sound become uncomfortable above 100 dB.

13. Pollutant released by jet planes is aerosol.

14. DDT has been a major pollutant as it is non degradable.

15. Fertilisers passed on to fresh water will cause eutrophication.

16. Nitrogen oxides from automobiles and power plants form fine air particles which leads to photochemical smog.

17. The most effective method of conservation of biodiversity is tissue culture.

18. Silent valley having rare plants and animals is located in Kerala.

19. In a National Park protection is provided to Flora and Fauna.

20. Organisation responsible for maintain Red Data Book/ Red list is IUCN.

21. The concept of hot spot was given by Myers.

22. The First biosphere reserve to be established in India was Nilgiri.

23. The first National Park in India was Corbett.

24. In hilly areas , erosion is minimized by terracing.

25. Amount of alcohol allowed to be mixed with petrol in India is 5%.

26. Mulching is helpful in moisture conservation.

27. Land under occupation of meadoews and pastures is 18%.

28. Chipko movement was started in March, 1973 from Gopeshwar in Chamoli District of Tehri Garwal region of Uttrakhand by Sunderlal Bahuguna & Chandi Prasad Bhatt.

29. Transition zone between tow vegetational types is ecotone.

30. Deciduous forests are broad leaved trees.

Cine World New

2011 Oscar Award:-

1. Best Picture: - ‘The King’s Speech’

2. Best Actor: - Colin Firth, for his role in ‘The King’s Speech’

3. Best Actress: - Natalie Portman for her role in ‘Black Swan’.

4. Best Director: - Tom Hooper for his direction in ‘The King’s Speech’.

2011 Grammy Award: -

1. Album of the year : - The Suburbs, Arcade Fire.

2. Song of the Year: - ‘Need You Now’ , Lady Antebellum , Recovery, Eminem.

3. Female Pop Vocal Performance: - Lady Gaga, ‘Bad Romance’, The Fame Monster.

57^th National Film Awards: -

1. Best Picture: - ‘Kutty Srank’ (Malayalam)

2. Best Actor: - Amitabh Bachchan, for his role in ‘Paa’

3. Best Actress: - Ananya Chatterjee for her role in ‘Abohoman’ a Bengali film.

4. Best Director: - Rituparno Ghosh for ‘Abohoman’

5. Best Feature Film on National Integration: - Delhi-6.

6. Best Film of Social issues : - Well Done Abba .

58^th National Film Award: -

i). Best Feature Film: - Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam).

ii) Indira Gandhi Award For Best Debut film of a Director: - Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi).

iii) Award for Best Popular Film Providing wholesome Entertainment : - Dabang (Hindi).

iv) Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature film on National Integration: - Moner Manush (Bengali)

v) Best Direction : - Vetrimaran, Aadukalam (Tamil).

vi) Best Actor: - Dhanush, Aadukalam (Tamil)/ Salim Kumar, Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam).

vii) Best Actress: - Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar, Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)/ Saranya Ponvannan Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)

56^th Film Fare Award: -

1. Best Film – Dabang.

2. Best Director : - Karan Johar ( My Name is Khan)

3. Best Actor in a Leading Role: - Shahrukh Khan (My Name is Khan).

4. Best Actress in a leading Role: - Kajol (My Name is Khan).

Current events

1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple:- A treasure trove of gold, diamonds and precious stones estimated at Rs. One lakh crore has been found in Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvanthapuram. Morrocan traveller Ibn Batuta visited Tenavaram in the 14th century and described the Vishnu idol here as being made of gold and the size of a man with two large rubies as eyes ‘that lit up like lanterns during the night’. This revelation has solidified the status of the temple ass one of the wealthiest temples in India and with the final estimate of the wealth, it might overtake the Tirumala Venkateswara temple. Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple was restructured in 1773 by King Marthanda Varma of Travancore kingdom.

2. Pradeep Kumar:- Former defence secretary was sworn in as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner. He replaced P.J. Thomas, whose appointment was struck down by the Supreme Court. Kumar was chosen by consensus by a panel comprising PM, home minister P. Chidambaram and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

3. Ranjan Mathai:- India’s ambassador to France was named as the new Foreign Secretary. He replaced Nirupama Rao who is named as India’s next ambassador to the US.

4. R.K. Singh:- He has taken over as the new Home Secretary succeeding GK Pillai. Singh tenure as the home secretary is fixed for a period of two years.

5. Shashikant Sharma:- He has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary.

6. Christine Lagarde: - French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde was elected as the first woman head of the international Monetary Fund, succeeding Dominique Strauss Kahn, who resigned after being arrested on rape charges. Lagarde was the first woman ever to become minister of Economic affair of a G8 economy, and is the first woman to ever head the IMF.

7. DRS:- DRS stands for Decision Review System in cricket. Recently ICC had made the DRS mandatory for all tests and ODI matches.

8. Gopal Subramaniam:- India’s solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam has quit office in protest after Communications Minister Kapil Sibal asked senior lawyer Rohinton Nariman to represent him in the Supreme Court in the 2G case against him. Now Rohinton Nariman has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India.

9. Leon Panetta: - He has been sworn in as the new US secretary of Defence succeeding Robert Gates.

10. Yuri Ogorodonik :- Ukrainian coach of India’s track and field squad has been sacked after eight athletes were suspended within a week for failing doping tests.

11. SAIL: - This Maharatna company has received the prestigious Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the year 2011.

12. Jose Graziano da Silva : - has been elected as the Director General of the Food & Agriculture Organization, succeeding Senegal’s Jacques Diouf.

13. Manas National Park:- UNESCO has removed the ‘in-danger’ tag from the World Heritage Site in Assam.

14. Michael Jack Nobbs:- This former Australian hockey player has been appointed the coach of the Indian men’s hockey for a five year term.

15. Agent Orange:- Vietnam has kicked off the first phase of a joint plan with the US to clean up environment damage left over from the chemical defoliant, a lasting legacy from the Vietnam War.

16. The theme of the 17th SAARC summit that will be held in the Republic of Maldives is ‘Building Bridge for Peace, Friendship & Security’.

17. ‘Chavanni’ : - The 25 paise coin, popularly known as ‘chavanni’, died an official death on June 30, 2011. With the end of the era of 25 paise coins, the 50 paise shall now be the lowest denomination coin in public circulation.

18. The oldest commissioned ship of the Indian Navy, ‘Sharabh’, a landing ship tanker, was given a fond farewell recently after 35 years of service, with a guard of honour. INS Sharabh was commissioned in Poland.

19. PRAN:- Permanent Remittance Account Number.

20. Pyeongchang:- The International Olympic Committee has selected Pyeongchang, south Korea as the host of 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Sochi, Russia was selected in 2007 for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, giving Russia its first hosting of the Winter Games.

Persons of National Importance

1. National Human Right Commission is an autonomous statutory body established on October 13, 1993. Present Chairman of commission is Justice K.G. Balkrishnan.

2. Chairman of National Commission for Minorities – Mr. Wajahat Habibulah.

3. Chairman of National Commission for Schedule Caste – Sh. P.L.Punia.

4. Chairman of National Commission for Schedule Tribe - Mr. Rameshwar Oroan, a former Union Minister of State for Tribal Affair. Commission for Schedule Tribe was constituted in March, 2004 as per Art 338 of the constitution.

5. Chairman National Commission for Backward Classes- Justice M.N.Rao.

6. Chairman National Commission for women – Mamta Sharma

7. Chief Vigilance Commission was set up by Govt. of India in Feb. 1964 on the recommendation of the commiittee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K.Sanathan. N.S. Rau was first chief vigilance commissioner of India. After the removal of Mr. P.J.Thomas as C.V.C. of India by Supreme Court Pradeep Kumar defence secretary of India has been made C.V.C.

8. Chief Information Commissioner – Mr. Satyanand Mishra.

9. Census Commissioner and Registrar General of India – Mr. C. Chandramouli.

10. Chairman, 13^th Finance Commission – Mr. Vijay Kelkar.

11. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission- Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

12. Chairman Atomic Energy Commission – Sh. Srikumar Banerjee.

13. Chairman Indian Space Research Organisation – K. Radhakrishnan

14. Chief Election Commissioner – S.Y. Qurashi.

15. Secretary General , Lok Sabha – T.K. Viswanathan.

16. Chairman Sangeet Natak Academy – Leela Samson.

17. Chairman SEBI- U. K. Sinha

18. President FICCI-Harish C. Mariawala.

19. Chairman telecom regulatory authority of India- J.S. Sharma.

20. Director CBI- Amar Pratap Singh.

21. Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research- S. Ayyappan.