Prime Minister's Abroad Visits

Atal Bihari Vajpee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya to receive Bharat Ratna

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpee and freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) will receive the Bharat Ratna. The decision to confer the highest civilian award of the country was announced by the Union Government on 24 December 2014.

Till now 43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna. In 2013, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C N R Rao were awarded Bharat Ratna for their contribution in their respective fields.

About Madan Mohan Malaviya
• He was a freedom fighter and educationist who was part of the Indian National Movement
• He was popularly known as Mahamana. 
• He was president of Indian National Congress (INC) for two terms in 1909 and1918.  He was one of the founders of the Hindu Mahasabha.
• He was one of the leading educationists of India before independence and he was founder of the Banaras Hindu University in 1916. 
• He was also the Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946. His efforts resulted in the launch of its Hindi edition in 1936
• Malviya was born in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India on 25 December 1861

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee
• Vajpayee is a three time Prime Minister of India who served the first term in 1996 for just 13 days. During his second term in 1998-1999 he served for 13 months. 
• In his final and third term he completed the full five-year from 1999-2004. Thus, he became the first Prime Minister from outside the Indian National Congress party to serve a full five-year term.
• When Janata government collapsed, Vajpayee restarted the Jana Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.
• He began a push for a full-scale diplomatic peace process with Pakistan and initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving the Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan. With this view he inaugurated Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999 and signed Lahore Declaration with Nawaz Sharif, the then PM of Pakistan.
• He was also the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1978. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.

About Bharat Ratna Awards
• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India that was instituted on 2 January 1954 by the order of Rajendra Prasad, the former President of India. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence, but constitution prohibits using the award name as title.
• The award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.  
• The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science and public services but the union government expanded the criteria to include any field of human endeavour in 2011.
• Recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion and award does not contain any monetary grant. 
• Original provisions of the Bharat Ratna did not allow any one to grant the posthumous awards. Later in January 1966, a provision posthumous was inserted.
• The former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first individual to be honoured posthumously in 1966.
• The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were C Rajagopalachari, scientist C V Raman and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan were honoured in 1954.

Symbols of Andhra Pradesh

Symbols of Andhra Pradesh
Emblem	Poorna kumbham
Language	Telugu
Song	Maa Telugu Talliki
Dance	Kuchipudi
Animal	Blackbuck
Bird	Indian Roller
Flower	Water Lily
Fruit	Mango
Tree	Neem
Sport	Kabbaddi

Nandi Award for Best Telugu Feature Film

Swarna (Gold) Nandi
Year Movie
2011 Sri Rama Rajyam
2010 Vedam
2009 Sontha Vooru
2008 Gamyam
2007 Mee Sreyobhilashi
2006 Bommarillu
2005 Pothe Poni
2004 Aa Naluguru
2003 Missamma
2002 Manmadhudu
2001 Preminchu
2000 Chirunavvutho
1999 Kalisundam Raa
1998 Tholi Prema
1997 Annamayya
1996 Pavithra Bandham
1995 Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa
1994 Bangaru Kutumbam
1993 Mr. Pellam
1992 No Award
1991 Yagnam
1990 Erra Mandaram
1989 Geetanjali
1988 Swarna Kamalam
1987 Sruthi Layalu
1986 Swathi Muthyam
1985 Mayuri
1984 Swathi
1983 Ananda Bhairavi
1982 Meghasandesam
1981 Seethakoka Chiluka
1980 No Award
1979 Sankarabharanam
1978 Naalaga Endaro
1976 Oorummadi Brathukulu
1975 Jeevana Jyothi
1974 Alluri Seetharama Raju
1973 Sharada
1972 Kalam Marindi
1971 Chelleli Kapuram
1970 Kathanayika Molla
1969 Kathanayakudu
1968 Bandhavyalu
1967 Sudi Gundalu
1966 Rangula Ratnam
1965 Antastulu
1964 Doctor Chakravarthy

Rajata (Silver) Nandi
Year Movie
2011 Rajanna
2010 Ganga Putrulu
2009 Baanam
2008 Vinayakudu
2007 Happy Days
2006 Godavari
2005 Anukokunda Oka Roju
2004 Anand
2003 Okkadu
2002 Nuvve Nuvve
2001 Murari
2000 Azad
1999 Nee Kosam
1998 Kante Kuthurne Kanu
1997 Sindhooram
1996 Little Soldiers
1995 Badili
1994 Subha Lagnam
1993 Money
1992 Rajeswari Kalyanam
1991 Pelli Pustakam
1990 Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
1989 Mouna Poratam
1988 Adade Adharam
1987 Abhinandana
1986 Repati Pourulu
1985 O Thandri Theerpu
1984 Kanchana Ganga
1983 Neti Bharatam
1982 Maro Malupu
1981 Tholi Kodi Koosindi
1980 Yuvatharam Kadilindi
1979 Maa Bhoomi
1978 Chali Cheemalu
1977 Tharam Marinidi
1976 Mahakavi Kshetrayya
1975 Muthyala Muggu
1974 O Seeta Katha
1973 Andala Ramudu
1972 Tata Manavadu
1971 Sri Krishna Satya
1970 Kodalu Diddina Kapuram
1969 Athmeeyulu
1968 Chinnari Papalu
1967 Chadarangam
1966 Chilaka Gorinka
1965 Sri Krishna Pandaviyam
1964 Keelu Bommalu

Kamsya (Bronze) Nandi
Year Movie
2011 Virodhi
2010 Prasthanam
2009 Kalavaramaye Madilo
2008 Parugu
2007 Lakshyam
2006 Ganga
2005 Gowtam SSC
2004 Grahanam
2003 Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi
2002 Santhosham
2001 Atu America Itu India
2000 Manoharam
1999 Prema kadha
1998 Ganesh
1997 Thodu
1996 Srikaram
1995 Ammai Kapuram
1994 Bhairava Dweepam
1993 Mathru Devo Bhava
1992 Aapathbandhavudu
1991 Aswani
1990 Hrudayanjali
1989 Suthradharulu
1988 Kallu
1987 Prajaswamyam
1986 Aruna Kiranam
1985 Vandematharam
1984 Suvarna Sundari
1983 Sagara Sangamam
1982 Keerthi Kantha Kanaka
1981 Ooriki Ichina Maata
1980 Sangham Marali
1979 Punadi Rallu
1978 Karunamayudu
1977 Oka Oori Katha
1976 Anthuleni Katha
1975 Swargam Narakam
1974 Theerpu
1973 Samsaram Sagaram
1972 Praja Nayakudu
1971 Amayakuralu
1970 Balaraju Katha
1969 Bangaru Panjaram
1968 Bangaru Gajulu
1967 Bhakta Prahlada
1966 Asthiparulu
1965 Aatma Gowravam
1964 Gudi Gantalu

CURRENT AFFAIRS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

CENSUS 2011 - IMPORTANT FACTS

Census 2011 is the 15th Census of India since 1872. The slogan of Census 2011 is "Our Census, Our Future". The present Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India is Dr. C. Chandramouli. Census 2011 covered 35 States/Union Territories, 640 districts, 5,924 Sub-districts, 7,933 Towns and 6, 40,930 Villages.  Total Population The total population of India at 0.00 hours of 1st March 2011 is 1210.6 million. India’s population accounts for 17.5 per cent of world population. The country’s population is almost equal to the populations of the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together. Out of the total increase of 182 million added in the last decade, the contribution of rural and urban areas is equal (91.0 million each). The absolute addition is slightly lower than the population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world. This makes 2001-2011 as the first decade with the exception of 1911-1921 which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade. The rural population is 833.5 million and the urban population 377.1 million. The rural population constitutes 68.8% and urban population 31.2% of the total population. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous State with 199 million people followed by Maharashtra at 112 million people and Lakshadweep is the least populated at 64,429 persons. Uttar Pradesh has the largest rural population of 155.3 million (18.6% of the country's rural population). Maharashtra has the highest urban population of 50.8 million (13.5% of country's urban population) in the country. Himachal Pradesh (90.0%) has the largest proportion of rural population. Delhi (97.5%) has the highest proportion of urban population. Thane of Maharashtra is the most populated District in India. Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, is the least populated District in India. Growth Rate The growth rate of population in India in the last decade is 17.7% (Rural - 12.3%; Urban - 31.8%). Meghalaya (27.2%) has recorded the highest decadal growth rate in rural population. Daman & Diu (218.8 %) recorded the highest decadal growth rate in urban population during 2001-2011. Population Density Population density in Census 2011 works out to be 382 showing an increase of 57 points from 2001. Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited followed by Chandigarh (9,258) among all States/UTs, both in 2001 and 2011 Census. Among the major States, Bihar occupies the first position with a density of 1106, surpassing West Bengal which occupied the first position during 2001. The minimum population density works out in Arunachal Pradesh (17) for both Censuses. Among districts in India, highest density district is North East Delhi (37,346 per Sq KM) and lowest density district is Dibang of Arunachal Pradesh (1 per Sq KM). Sex Ratio  The Sex Ratio in the country which was 933 in 2001 has increased by 7 points to 940 in 2011. In rural areas, the sex ratio has increased from 946 to 949. The corresponding increase in urban areas has been by 29 points from 900 to 929. Kerala has recorded the highest sex ratio (1084) in respect of total population. Daman and Diu recorded the lowest sex ratio (618) among States and UTs. The lowest sex ratio in rural areas has been recorded in Chandigarh (690). The corresponding value in urban areas has been returned in Daman & Diu (551). Child Population  The child population in the age group of 0-6 years stands at 164.5 million. Compared to Census 2001, the Child population has increased by 0.7 million in the country. The growth rate of child population works out to 0.4% in the last decade. However, there has been a decline of 4.1% in rural areas and an increase of 15.6% in urban areas. Census 2011 marks a considerable fall in child sex ratio (0-6 years) from 927 to 919 (-8 points) during 2001-2011. This is the lowest sex ratio since 1961. Scheduled Caste Population The total Scheduled Caste population returned in Census 2011 is 201.4 million. The Scheduled Caste population constitutes 16.6 % of the total population. The highest proportion of Scheduled Castes has been recorded in Punjab (31.9 %) and the lowest in Mizoram (0.1%). The highest number of Scheduled Castes has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh (41.4 million) and the lowest in Mizoram (1,218). Scheduled Tribe Population  The total Scheduled Tribe population returned in Census 2011 is 104.3 million. The Scheduled Tribe population constitutes 8.6 % of the total population. The highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes has been recorded in Lakshadweep (94.8 %) and the lowest in Uttar Pradesh (0.6%). The highest number of Scheduled Tribes has been recorded in Madhya Pradesh (15.3 million) and the lowest in Daman & Diu (15,363). Literacy Rate The number of literates in India is 763.5 million in Census 2011. Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent, showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points. The literacy rate for males and females works out to 82.14 per cent and 65.46 per cent respectively. The increase in literacy rate in males and females during 2001-2011 is in the order of 6.88 and 11.79 percentage points respectively. The highest number of rural literates has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of literates in urban areas. In percentage terms male literates were 56.9% of the total literates and the female literates were 43.1 % of the total literates. Kerala has the highest literacy rate (93.91) followed by Lakshadweep (92.28). Bihar has the least literacy rate (63.82) and least goes to Arunachal Pradesh (66.95) Undivided Andhra Pradesh Census 2011 The following census of Andhra Pradesh is of the undivided State prior to the formation of Telangana: Andhra Pradesh has population of 8.46 crore, an increase from 7.62 crore in 2001 census. The population of Andhra Pradesh forms 6.99 percent of India in 2011. The total population growth in this decade was 10.98 percent while in previous decade it was 13.86 percent. Density of Andhra Pradesh is 308 per sq km which is lower than national average 382 per sq km. In 2001, density of Andhra Pradesh was 277 per sq km, while nation average in 2001 was 324 per sq km. The Sex Ratio in Andhra Pradesh is 993 much better than the national average of 940. Literacy rate in Andhra Pradesh is 67.02 percent while male literacy stands at 74.88 percent and female literacy is at 58.68 percent.

CURRENT AFFAIRS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Current Affairs Practice Questions

Q1. Who has sworn in as Australia's new Prime Minister on 18 September 2013?

Ans. Tony Abbott

Q2. Who became the first Indian-origin contestant to win the Miss America pageant on 15 September 2013?

Ans. Nina Davuluri

Q3. Name the Bollywood actor who  was on 16 September 2013 conferred the Pride of the Nation award for his attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination through his role as a RAW agent in Madras Café film?

Ans. John Abraham

Q4. International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed on 16 September 2013 across the world to bring awareness about the depletion of Ozone layer in the atmosphere. What is the theme for the year 2013?

Ans. A healthy atmosphere, the Future We Want.

Q5. Who were jointly awarded with Amnesty International's Ambassador ofConscience Award for 2013 on 17 September 2013 in Dublin, Ireland?

Ans. Malala Yousafzai and Harry Belafonte

Q6. Name the Indian wrestler who has bagged a bronze medal in the 60 kilogram freestyle category at the World Wrestling Championships held in Budapest, Hungary on 17 September 2013?

Ans. Bajrang Kumar

Q7. Union Government of India on 17 September 2013 hiked the import duty on gold from 10 percent to ......... percent?

Ans. 15%

Q8. Name the movie which was on 21 September 2013 nominated as India’s official entry to 2014 Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category?

Ans. The Good Road, a Gujarati Movie

Q9. Who was on 19 September 2013 appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court?

Ans. Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant

Q10. Name the version of Finacle, an advanced universal banking solution that simplifies banking operations, launched by Infosys on 18 September 2013?

Ans. Finacle 11E

Q11. Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh and His Highness the Aga Khan, a Swiss-born philanthropist and Muslim spiritual leader, unveiled the restored Humayun’s Tomb on 18 September 2013. Where Humayun’s Tomb is situated?

Ans. New Delhi

Q12. Name the first nationalised bank for women expected to be operational from November 2013 which started the Recruitment Process recently?

Ans. Bhartiya Mahila Bank

Q13. Which club won the 126th Durand Foot ball tournament as it defeated ONGC 2-1 in the final at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on 19 September 2013?

Ans. Mohammedan Sporting club from Kolkata

Q14. Who was on 19 September 2013 named by Tata Steel Ltd as managing director-designate, India and South East Asia?

Ans. TV Narendran

Q15. Union Cabinet on 20 September 2013 approved setting up of a nine million tonne  refinery-cum-petrochemical complex by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, HPCL's in which place?

Ans.  Barmer in Rajasthan.

Q16. Union Government of India on 20 September 2013 finalised setting up world’s Largest Solar Power Project, the Ultra- Mega Green Solar Power Project in which state of India?

Ans. Rajasthan

Q17. Which airlines on 20 September 2013 got the all-important no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to start airline operations in India?

Ans. AirAsia India

Q18. India wrestling team on 20 September 2013 earned a maiden Wrestling World Cup berth on the back of its best-ever sixth-place finish in men’s freestyle at the World Championships. Where was the World Championships held?

Ans.  Budapest, Hungary.

Q19. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20 September 2013 increased the repo rate or the short term lending rate by 25 basis points to ............ per cent with immediate effect?

Ans. 7.50%

Q20. Who was elected as the Chairperson of the International Coffee Council recently?

Ans. Jawaid Akhtar

Q21. International Day of Peace observed on 21 September 2013 across the world to recognise the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. What is the theme for the year 2013?

Ans.  Education for Peace.

Q22. Who was appointed as member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a five-year term on 21 September 2013?

Ans. Justice Darmar Murugesan

Q23. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman Nandan Nilekani on 20 September 2013 launched its multi-lingual website to reach out to various sections of the society from the UIDAI Tech Centre Bangalore. Name the URL of the website?

Ans. www.uidai.gov.in

Q25. Union Cabinet on 20 September 2013 cleared a proposal for regulating and monitoring the quality of care and education provided to children at play schools and crèches across the country. Name the draft policy?

Ans.   National Early Childhood Care and Education (NECCE)

Cabinet Ministers of India 2014

Cabinet Ministers
● Narendra Modi – Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, All important policy issues and all other portfolios not allocated to any Minister 
● Rajnath Singh – Home Affairs 
● Sushma Swaraj – External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs 
● Arun Jaitley – Finance, Corporate (Additional charge – Affairs Information and Broadcasting)
● Manohar Parrikar – Defence
● M Venkaiah Naidu – Urban Development, Housing, Urban Poverty Alleviation, Parliamentary Affairs 
● Nitin Gadkari – Road Transport and Highways, Shipping
● Suresh Prabhu – Railways
● Uma Bharati – Water resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
● Dr Najma Heptulla – Minority Affairs
● Ramvilas Paswan – Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 
● Kalraj Mishra – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
● Maneka Gandhi – Women and Child Development 
● Ananthkumar – Chemicals and Fertilizers 
● Ravi Shankar Prasad – Communications and Information Technology
● Ashok Gajapathi Raju – Civil Aviation 
● Anant Geete – Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises 
● Harsimrat Kaur Badal – Food Processing Industries 
● Narendra Singh Tomar – Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment 
● Jual Oram – Tribal Affairs 
● Radha Mohan Singh – Agriculture 
● Thaawar Chand Gehlot – Social Justice and Empowerment 
● Smriti Irani – Human Resource Development 
● JP Nadda – Health and Family Welfare
● Birender Singh – Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation
● DV Sadananda Gowda – Law and Justice
● Dr Harsh Vardhan – Science and Technology Earth Sciences


Ministers of State (Independent Charge) 
● General VK Singh – Statistics and Programme Implementation (Independent Charge), External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs 
● Inderjit Singh Rao – Planning (Independent Charge), Statistics and Programme Implementation (Independent Charge), Defence 
● Santosh Gangwar – Textiles (Independent Charge), Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation 
● Shripad Naik – Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) 
● Dharmendra Pradhan – Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge) 
● Sarbananda Sonowal – Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) 
● Prakash Javadekar – Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge), Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Parliamentary Affairs 
● Piyush Goyal – Power (Independent Charge), Coal (Independent Charge), New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) 
● Dr Jitendra Singh – Science and Technology (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space 
● Nirmala Sitharaman – Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge), Finance, Corporate Affairs
● Bandaru Dattatreya – Labour and Employment
● Rajiv Pratap Rudy – Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), Parliamentary Affairs
● Mahesh Sharma – Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge), Civil Aviation

Ministers of State 
● GM Siddeshwara – Civil Aviation 
● Manoj Sinha – Railways 
● Nihalchand – Chemicals and Fertilizers 
● Upendra Kushwaha – Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation 
● Pon Radhakrishnan – Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises 
● Kiren Rijiju – Home Affairs 
● Krishan Pal – Road Transport and Highways, Shipping 
● Dr. Sanjeev Balyan – Agriculture, Food Processing Industries 
● Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava – Tribal Affairs 
● Raosaheb Danve – Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 
● Vishnu Deo Sai – Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment 
● Sudarshan Bhagat – Rural Development
● Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi – Minority Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs
● Ram Kripal Yadav – Drinking Water and Sanitation
● HP Chaudhary – Home Affairs
● Sanwar Lal Jat – Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
● Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya – Agriculture
● Giriraj Singh – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
● Hansraj Gangaram Ahir – Chemicals and Fertilizers
● Dr Ramshankar Katheria – Human Resource Development
● Jayant Sinha – Finance
● YS Chowdary – Science and Technology, Earth Science
● Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore – Information and Broadcasting
● Babul Supriyo – Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
● Niranjan Jyoti – Food Processing Industries
● Vijay Sampla – Social Justice and Empowerment