Employment Schemes of India

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

 

• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) has been created by merging two schemes, Prime Minister's Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), which were in operation till 31.03.2008.
• It is a credit linked subsidy programme being implemented by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• It aims at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises by organizing traditional artisans and unemployed youth.
• The scheme will be implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) at the national level and by KVIC directorates, Khadi and Village Industries Board and Districts Industries Centres at the state level.
• The Government subsidy under the scheme will be distributed to the beneficiaries/entrepreuners through identified banks by KVIC.
• Individuals above 18 years of age, Self Help groups, Institutions registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860, Production Co-oerative Societies and Charitable Trusts are eligible for subsidy to set up projects under PMEGP.

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY)

 

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) started on 01.04.1999 is a major on going programme for self employment for the rural poor. The programme was developed after reviewing and restructuring the erstwhile Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and allied programmes namely

• Training Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM)
• Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)
• Supply of Toolkits in Rural Areas (SITRA)
• Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY)
• Millions Wells Scheme.

The other programmes are no more in operation with the launching of SGSY. The basic objective of the SGSY is to bring the assisted poor families above the poverty line by providing them income-generating assets through a mix of bank credit and governmental subsidy. The SGSY is being implemented by the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) with the active involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Banks, the Line Departments and the Non-Government Organisations. The programme is financed on 75 : 25 cost sharing basis between the Centre and the States. The SGSY aims to cover all aspects of rural employment, the chiefly the following

• Social mobilisation i.e. organisation of the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs)
• Activity Cluster, Planning and Selection i.e identifying and selecting a key activity in terms of its economic viability in an area.
• Financial Assistance in the form of credit and subsidy in which credit is a major component.
• Training of Swarozgaris through well-designed training courses.
• Infrastructure Development
• Marketing and Technology Support
  
   
  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
   
  The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, notified in 200 districts in the first phase on Feb 2, 2006 was renamed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on 02 Oct 2009. 130 districts were notified in 2007 and with the notification of the remaining districts on 01 April 2008, the entire country has been covered. Exception is given to district with a hundred percent urban population. The Act seeks to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year.
  Salient Features:
• Adult members of a rural household willing to do unskilled manual work are eligible to seek employment under the act.
• Employment is to be given within 15 days of application for work, otherwise daily unemployment allowance has to paid by the respective State.
• Wages are to be paid according to Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State unless otherwise notified by the centre
• Equal wages are to be paid to both men and women.
• At least one-third beneficiaries are to be women.
• No conractors and machinery is allowed.

The MGNERGA is a paradigm shift from previous wage employment programmes, the significant aspects which are given below:

• It provides a statutory guarantee of wage employment.
• It provides a rights-based framework for wage employment.
• The Act provides incentive to the State Govt for providing employment as 90% of the cost is borne by the Centre and at the same time discentive in the form of Unemployment Allowance falls on the State Govt which fails to provide employment within the stipulated time of 15 days of applying for work.

Transparency safeguards are provided in the form of

• Job cards in the custody of workers which monitor entitlements.
• Issue of dated receipts on application for work
• Citizen Information Boards at worksites.
• Vigilance Monitoring Committees.
   

  Hunar se Rozgaar Scheme

   

  Hunar Se Rozgaar Tak is an employment scheme launched by the Tourism Ministry, Govt. of India in 2009 for youth in the 18 - 25 years age group and who are at least 8th pass. These are training programmes to create employable skills in hospitality sector under the Capacity Building Scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Initially the programme was to be conducted by 25 Institutes of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism. Subsequently the programme has been allowed to be conducted by certain starred hotels. The programmes is intended to offer short but quality training courses covering i) Food & Beverage Service and ii) Food Production. The programme will target the youth of weaker sections of societies who are interested in joining the hospitality industry and are in need to acquire skills facilitating employment.
  
  

  Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana

   

  The Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY) originally launched in Dec 1997 is a unified Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched a fresh in lieu of the erstwhile Urban Poverty Alleviation Programmes viz., Nehru Rojgar Yojana (NRY), Prime Minister's Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme (PMIUPEP) and Urban Basic Services for the Poor (UBSP).
  The SJSRY has been comprehensively revamped with effect from 01.04.2009. The SJSRY has three key objectives namely:
  

  1. Addressing urban poverty alleviation through gainful employment to the urban unemployed or underemployed poor.
  2. Supporting skill development and training to enable the urban poor have access to employment opportunities provided by the market or undertake self-employment
  3. Empowering the community to tackle the issues of urban poverty through suitable selfmanaged community structures and capacity building programmes.

  The scheme is proposed to be implemented through Urban Local Bodies and community structures.
  The revamped SJSRY has five major components, namely
  

  1. Urban Self Employment Programme (USEP)
  2. Urban Women Self-help Programme (UWSP)
  3. Skill Training for Employment Promotion amongst Urban Poor (STEP-UP)
  4. Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP)
  5. Urban Community Development Network (UCDN)

  
  

  SWALAMBAN

   

  Swalamban Scheme has been launched on 26.09.2010 to encourage the workers of unorganized sector to voluntarily save for their retirement and to lower the cost of operations of the New Pension System (NPS) for such subscribers.
  It was announced in the Union Budget 2010-11. It is a co-contributory pension scheme in which the Government of India (GOI) will contribute a sum of Rs. 1,000 to each eligible NPS subscriber who contributes a minimum of Rs. 1,000 and maximum Rs. 12,000 per annum under the Swavalamban Scheme.
  The GoI contribution has been announced for the current year and the next three years i.e. upto the year 2013-14. The target of the Government is to cover around 10 lakh subscribers each during the 4 years of the Scheme, totaling to around 40 lakh subscribers.
  Workers of unorganized sector from any part of the country can join this Scheme. Implementation of the scheme has been entrusted to the Interim Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
  
  SABLA SCHEME
  

   

  SABLA scheme is the name for Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG].
  It merges the Nutrition Programme for Adolscent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY).
  An amount of Rs. 1000 crore has been allocated in budget of 2010-11.
  The scheme focuses on improving the nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills of adolscent girls of age 11 t 18 years.
  It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented through the State Governments/UTs with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs, except supplementary nutrition for which Government of India and States would share on 50: 50 basis.
  The scheme is proposed to be implemented using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme and delivered through Anganwadi centres.
  

  
  

  National Rural Livelihoods Mission

   

  National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), a new initiative under the Ministry of Rural Development to bring the poorest of the poor above the poverty line by ensuring viable livelihood opportunities to them was launched in Jun 2011 by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
  

  The core belief of NRLM

  The NRLM is based on the core belief that the poor have innate capabilities and a strong desire to come out of poverty. This intrinsic capability of the poor is unleashed only when they are organized into institutions which are truly owned by them, provided sufficient capacity building and handholding support.
  

  Background of NRLM

  The Integrated Rural Development Programme was launched in 1980 by the Government of India to help the people below poverty line. In 1999 the programme was transformed to Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). This programme followed the strategy of generating self employment through organizing poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs). In the last 10 years about 250 lakh rural BPL households have been organized and brought under the SHG network. It may also be noted that 450 lakh households still need to be organized into SHGs and the existing SHGs covering 250 lakhs also need further strengthening and greater financial support. Considering the enormity of the task, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India (GoI) set up a committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. R. Radhakrishna (Committee on Credit Related Issues under SGSY), which submitted its recommendations in the year 2009. The Ministry after widespread consultations accepted the major recommendation of the Radhakrishna Committee for restructuring the SGSY as National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). The Ministry’ proposal was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 24.6.10.
  

  Purpose of the Mission

  The basic purpose of National Rural Livelihoods Mission is to put in place a dedicated and sensitive support structure from the national level to the sub-district level which will focus on the poor, build and sustain their organizations at different levels. This will provide the poor a platform for collective action based on self help and mutual cooperation and they become a strong demand system, build linkages with mainstream institutions, including banks, and Government departments to address the various dimensions of poverty.
  

  The Mission

  The Mission aims to ensure that at least one member from each identified rural poor household, preferably a woman, is brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner. NRLM would reach out, mobilize and support 7 Crore BPL households across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, in 6 lakh villages across the country into their self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their federal institutions and livelihoods collectives. It would support them financially and institutionally in all their efforts to get them out of poverty. The poor would be helped to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements and public services, diversified risk and better social indicators of empowerment.
  

  Coverage of Weaker Sections of Society

  NRLM has been mandated to ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable sections of the society such that 50% of the beneficiaries are SC/STs, 15% are minorities and 3% are persons with disability, while keeping in view the ultimate target of 100% coverage of BPL families. A unique feature of the new initiative is that it would be led by the poor themselves. NRLM would utilize the services of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) who are women who have themselves come out of poverty through being a part of the Self Help Group. They will spread the concept of NRLM from one village to another and from one district to another making NRLM a people’s movement.
  NRLM will focus on women as we believe that the best way of reaching out to the whole family is through the woman. There will be a special focus on vulnerable sections: scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, minorities, women headed families, etc. The second focus of NRLM would be rural youth of the country who are unemployed. They will be supported through placement linked skill development projects through which their skills will be upgraded through short term training courses in sectors which have high demand for services.
  
  

Pradeep Kumar, Defence Secretary, to be the New CVC

Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar was unanimously chosen the next Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), four months after the Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of P.J. Thomas to the post.

Although there is no official announcement made yet, sources said Mr. Pradeep Kumar, who retires as Defence Secretary on July 31, was chosen by consensus by a panel comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar, who will be 62 in September, is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1972 batch. He was Secretary, Defence Production, before becoming the Defence Secretary. He will have a three year term as he will have to demit office on attaining age of 65 under the CVC Act.

Ms. Sushma Swaraj, who had opposed in writing the appointment of Thomas as CVC, had no objection to Mr. Kumar’s candidature.

The Supreme Court had on March 3 set aside the appointment of Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner and also laid down stringent guidelines for future appointments of CVC.

Since the high-powered committee did not consider the pending charge sheet against Thomas in the palmolein import scam, the apex court on September 3, 2010 had termed the recommendation for appointment of Thomas as CVC is “illegal”.

A list of probable candidates was prepared by the Department of Personnel and Training which placed it before the selection panel.

Those whose names figured in the initial list included Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, former Chemicals and Fertilisers Secretary Bijoy Chatterjee, former Secretary, Legislative Affairs V.K. Bhasin, former Urban Development Secretary M. Ramachandran and Personnel Secretary Alka Sirohi.

India achieves major breakthrough in solar thermal cooling system technology

The world’s highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system at the Solar Energy Centre in Gurgaon in Haryana.
The new 100 kw Solar Air-Conditioning System works at 30% higher efficiency than the current available systems and has several unique features. It is based on the new triple effect absorption cooling technology. The system has indigenously built medium temperature high efficiency parabolic troughs for collection of solar energy and effective solar thermal energy storage in the form of Phase Change Materials.

CECA between India-Malaysia comes into effect from 1 july 2011

The India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which will come into effect on 1 July 2011, is India’s fourth bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, after Singapore, South Korea and Japan. The CECA envisages liberalisation of trade in goods, trade in services, investments and other areas of economic cooperation.

Trade between India and Malaysia has reached US$ 10 billion in 2010-11, an increase of 26% from the previous year. It is expected that the implementation of this agreement will boost bilateral trade to US$15 billion by 2015.

The trade in goods package under India-Malaysia CECA takes the tariff liberalization beyond the India-ASEAN FTA commitments, which were implemented by both countries on 1 January 2010. Under India-Malaysia CECA, the items on which India has obtained market access from Malaysia include basmati rice, mangoes, eggs, trucks, motorcycles and cotton garments, which are all items of considerable export interest to India. At the same time, adequate protection has been provided by the Indian side for sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, textiles, chemicals, auto, etc.

Under the services agreement of the CECA, India and Malaysia have provided commercially meaningful commitments in sectors and modes of interest to each other which should result in enhanced services trade. The CECA also facilitates the temporary movement of business people including contractual service suppliers, and independent professionals in commercially meaningful sectors including accounting and auditing, architecture, urban planning, engineering services, medical and dental, nursing and pharmacy, Computer and Related Services (CRS), and Management Consulting Services.

The India-Malaysia CECA also facilitates cross-border investments between the two countries. It aims to promote investments and create a liberal, facilitative, transparent and competitive investment regime. The CECA creates an attractive operating environment for the business communities of both countries to increase bilateral trade and investment.

Himachal set to become India’s 1st carbon-free state

Himachal Pradesh, which has mandated all government departments to begin environment audit, is on its way to becoming the country's first and the world's second carbon-free state.

People of Himachal will be expected to undergo lifestyle changes, according to the environment master plan and 'Policy & Strategy on Climate Change & Harnessing Carbon Credits' . Beginning with audits, the policy will focus on the functioning of all departments, especially those involved in development.

PROJECT ARROW

Project Arrow has been launched with objective of modernizing the post offices and make visible, tangible and noteworthy differences in the post offices operations that matter to “Aam Aadmi”. It was launched initially on proof of concept basis in 50 post offices in Phase I. After the successful completion of the Phase I it was implemented in 450 post office in Phase II and in 500 post offices in Phase III across the country including the rural areas. Project Arrow aims at comprehensive improvement of the core operations of the post office as well as the ambience in which postal transactions are undertaken.

Project Arrow was launched by department of posts (DoP) in August 2008. This project is an initiative to transform India Post into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive difference in postal operations to benefit the customers.
The department has plans to implement the project in 500 post offices across the country. Initially the department identified 50 post offices across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, North East, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand covering all the 10 Postal Circles.
Objectives:
The project aims at revitalising the organisation, capitalising on its strengths and recognising and dealing with the weak areas of the department by sustained, sincere and honest team effort. Following are some of the objects of the project:
1. To bring the rural populace in direct communication with the outside world, what department of posts calls them ” Window to the World” for the people in the rural areas.
2. Bring benefits of development to the doorsteps of the rural customers
3. To emerge out as a one-stop shop for retail products
4. To offer a single window facility for banking, money remittances and other financial products and services including social and civic initiatives such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and National Old Age Pension Scheme.
5. To strengthen the business development and marketing division of department of posts.
Process:
1. ‘Project Arrow’ aims to transform the existing India Post infrastructure at an estimated investment of Rs 900 crore across the country. The
post offices would undergo a makeover with upgradation of its services through IT enabled procedures.
2. All the post offices under Project Arrow will look similar.
3. The most visible aspect would be the colour of the walls — white with a red border.
4. The counters at such post offices will also have uniformity as with the post boxes.
5. The counters would be painted red and the chairs and benches white.
6. The wall facing the writing ledge in the post office would be painted yellow.
7. The postmen would be given red bags and the staffers would wear red jackets to be worn over their dress.
8. The internal changes proposed are installation of departmental software, training postal staff and improving the services.
9. A “Blue Book” will guide the employees of the depeartment on how to do a particular activity and in what time.

Buffalo Breeds

Bhadavari
Uttar Pradesh

    Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Etawah

Jaffarabadi
Andhra Pradesh

    Buffalo Breeding Centre, NDDB, Nekarikallu

Gujarat

    Akshar Purushottam Mandir Gaushala, Gondal
    Gujarat Agril University, Junagadh
    Sabarmati Ashram Goushala, Bidaj

Maharashtra

    BAIF Development Research Foundation, Uruli-Kanchan

Mehsana
Andhra Pradesh

    Buffalo Breeding Centre, NDDB, Nekarikallu

Gujarat

    Gujarat Agril Univ, Sardar Krishinagar

Murrah
Andhra Pradesh

    Buffalo Breeding Centre, NDDB, Nekarikallu
    Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Vishakhapatnam
    Govt. Livestock Farms: Banavasi, Horesikullu, Kakinada, Karimnagar, Mamnoor, Reddipalli

Assam

    Govt of Assam: Barpeta, Berhampur, Guwahati, Jagdaur, Khanikar, Pochmile, Silchar

Bihar

    Govt. of Bihar: Sarakela, Sepaya

Goa

    Govt. of Goa, Dhat

Gujarat

    Amul Research & Dev Association, Ode
    Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, Bidaj

Haryana

    Central Inst for Res on Buffaloes, Hisar
    National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

Jammu & Kashmir

    Central Cattle Breeding & Research Farm, Beli Charana

Karnataka

    Govt of Karnataka: Bankapur, Hessarghatta, Koila, Kurikuppi, Torongal
    National Dairy Research Inst, Bangalore

Kerala

    Govt of Kerala, Kodapanakunnu
    Kerala Livestock Development Board Ltd: Dhoni, Kulathupuzha, Mattupetty, Peermade

Madhya Pradesh

    Govt of Madhya Pradesh: Anjora, Kiratpur, Ratona

Maharashtra

    BAIF Dev Res Foundation,Uruli Kanchan

   
Punjab

    Govt. of Punjab, Mattewara
    Punjab Agril University, Ludhiana
    Punjab State Coop Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd, Bhattian

Tamil Nadu

    Agril College & Res Inst, Coimbatore
    Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Madras
    Govt. of Tamil Nadu: Hosur, Ooty, Orthand, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli

Uttar Pradesh

    Govt. of Uttar Pradesh: Hastinapur, Lakhimpur, Manjhara, Neelgaon
    Pradeshik Coop Dairy Fed, Moradabad

West Bengal

    Govt. of West Bengal: Haringhatta

Nili-Ravi
Andhra Pradesh

    Buffalo Breeding Centre, NDDB, Nekarikallu

Haryana

    Central Inst for Res on Buffaloes, Hisar

Punjab

    Govt of Punjab, Mattewara
    Military Dairy Farm, Ferozepur
    Punjab Agril University, Ludhiana
    Punjab State Coop Milk Producers’ Federation, Bhattian


Surti
Andhra Pradesh

    Buffalo Breeding Centre, NDDB, Nekarikallu

Goa

    Govt of Goa, Dhat

Gujarat

    Amul Research & Dev Association, Ode
    Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Dhamrod
    Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand
    Kaira Dist Coop Milk Producers' Union, Anand
    Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, Bidaj

Karnataka

    Buffalo Breeding Station, Tegur
    National Dairy Research Inst, Bangalore
    Univ of Agricultural Scs, Dharwad

Kerala

    Buffalo Breeding Farm, Thiruvazhun
    Govt of Kerala, Kodapanakunnu

Maharashtra

    BAIF Development Research Foundation, Uruli-Kanchan
    Cattle Breeding Farm, Hingoli

Milking more profits with Mehsana buffalo breed

Buffalo husbandry is an important source of income and employment for a large number of the farmers. It is the main plank for the development of dairy industry in India, contributing a major share of total milk production.

Buffaloes occupy a prime place in the dairy economy of our country because they can adapt themselves to harsh climatic conditions, require minimal care, are generally tolerant to infections and can survive on low or poor feeding practices.
The dairy sector in the country is largely dependant on buffalo milk because of its rich fat content. Dairy farmers have always shown a preference for rearing buffaloes than cows.
Even in a herd of 10-15 cows three or four buffaloes will be usually reared as female buffaloes yield milk with a higher fat content than cows. Milk with a good fat content fetches a better price for the farmer.
Fat content

Though there are several buffalo breeds, which are reared for milk and meat, Mehsana buffaloes are mainly reared for their milk.
Their milk has a fat content of about 6.5 to 7 per cent and they can yield 7-9 litres of milk in a day.
Milk yield

With good management practices the milk yield can go up to even 10-15 litres according to researchers at the Livestock Research Station (LRS), S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat.
The breed is mainly distributed in Mehsana, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Patan districts of North Gujarat.
The animals are usually black or fawn grey in colour, some times with white markings on the face, legs and tip of the tail.

Animals weight

The horns are short and curved. The breed is reputed for regularity in breeding and persistent milk production. Adult male buffaloes weigh 530-600 kg and females 425-475 kg.
Unlike other breeds, Mehsana buffaloes require minimal care and attention. They can be reared in well-ventilated sheds as well as under tree shade in the open.
The animals can be fed green grass when available, and also with dry fodder such as wheat straw bajra, jowar and cotton seed cake.
Female buffaloes come to heat in 20-21 days. The gestation period lasts for about 310 days.
Though the breed is resistant to major infections that afflict cattle, farmers are advised to regularly deworm and vaccinate the animals against foot and mouth disease and Haemorrhagic septicemia, which is a common infection among dairy animals according to reseachers.
Heat detection in buffaloes is done by parading vasectomised bulls twice daily among the herd.
Buffaloes in oestrus (sexual impulse) are artificially inseminated.
Heat detection

Heat detection should be done on the 60th day from the date of last calving, and after 20 months of age.
The age at first calving is 41 to 45 months, which can be reduced to 34-35 months under intensive care.
Depending upon milk yield, the price of the animal ranges from Rs.30,000 - Rs. 40,000.

Paleontology

Paleontology is a rich field, imbued with a long and interesting past and an even more intriguing and hopeful future. Many people think paleontology is the study of fossils. In fact, paleontology is much more.
Paleontology is traditionally divided into various subdisciplines:

Micropaleontology: Study of generally microscopic fossils, regardless of the group to which they belong. Paleobotany: Study of fossil plants; traditionally includes the study of fossil algae and fungi in addition to land plants. Palynology: Study of pollen and spores, both living and fossil, produced by land plants and protists. Invertebrate Paleontology: Study of invertebrate animal fossils, such as mollusks, echinoderms, and others. Vertebrate Paleontology: Study of vertebrate fossils, from primitive fishes to mammals. Human Paleontology (Paleoanthropology): The study of prehistoric human and proto-human fossils. Taphonomy: Study of the processes of decay, preservation, and the formation of fossils in general. Ichnology: Study of fossil tracks, trails, and footprints. Paleoecology: Study of the ecology and climate of the past, as revealed both by fossils and by other methods.

In short, paleontology is the study of what fossils tell us about the ecologies of the past, about evolution, and about our place, as humans, in the world. Paleontology incorporates knowledge from biology, geology, ecology, anthropology, archaeology, and even computer science to understand the processes that have led to the origination and eventual destruction of the different types of organisms since life arose. The exhibits that we have set up here are created by paleontogists. More than just an overview of the diversity that has existed through time on this planet, the exhibits also highlight some of the research that paleontologists are conducting at the Museum of Paleontology.

National e-Governance Plan

Over the years, a large number of initiatives have been undertaken by various State Governments and Central Ministries to usher in an era of e-Government. Sustained efforts have been made at multiple levels to improve the delivery of public services and simplify the process of accessing them.
e-Governance in India has steadily evolved from computerization of Government Departments to initiatives that encapsulate the finer points of Governance, such as citizen centricity, service orientation and transparency. Lessons from previous e-Governance initiatives have played an important role in shaping the progressive e-Governance strategy of the country. Due cognizance has been taken of the notion that to speed up e-Governance implementation across the various arms of Government at National, State, and Local levels, a programme approach needs to be adopted, guided by common vision and strategy. This approach has the potential of enabling huge savings in costs through sharing of core and support infrastructure, enabling interoperability through standards, and of presenting a seamless view of Government to citizens.
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), takes a holistic view of e-Governance initiatives across the country, integrating them into a collective vision, a shared cause. Around this idea, a massive countrywide infrastructure reaching down to the remotest of villages is evolving, and large-scale digitization of records is taking place to enable easy, reliable access over the internet. The ultimate objective is to bring public services closer home to citizens, as articulated in the Vision Statement of NeGP.
The Government approved the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), comprising of 27 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) and 8 components, on May 18, 2006. The Government has accorded approval to the vision, approach, strategy, key components, implementation methodology, and management structure for NeGP. However, the approval of NeGP does not constitute financial approval(s) for all the Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) and components under it. The existing or ongoing projects in the MMP category, being implemented by various Central Ministries, States, and State Departments would be suitably augmented and enhanced to align with the objectives of NeGP.

CIVIL SERVICES MAINS ESSAY MODEL QUESTIONS

CIVIL SERVICES MAINS ESSAY 

MODEL QUESTION PAPER 2011

Write an essay on any one of the following topics:

• ‘Corruptionalism in India’
• “Mutual understanding make good neighbors”
• ‘haves’ and ‘have not’ of our Indian society”.
• How Geography save India?
• Fourth pillar of Indian’s
• Showcase Patriotism spread in India
• India’ as a global leader.
• Traditions importance in India.
• Science & Tech development story of current India.
• Role of social networks in any public movements?
• How to failed state impressed neighbors countries?

Important Lines and Boundaries

Durand Line is the line demarcating the boundaries of India and Afghanistan. It was drawn up in 1896 by Sir Mortimer Durand.

Hindenburg Line is the boundary dividing Germany and Poland. The Germans retreated to this line in 1917 during World War I.

Mason-Dixon Line is a line of demarcation between four states in the United States.

Marginal Line was the 320 km line of fortification built by France along its border with Germany before World War II, to protect its boundary from German attack.

Mannerheim Line is the line of fortification on the Russia-Finland border. Drawn up by General Mannerheim.

MacMahon Line was drawn up by Sir. Henry MacMahon, demarcating the frontier of India and China. China did not recognize the MacMahon line and crossed it in 1962.

Medicine Line is the border between Canada and the United States.

Order-Neisse Line is the border between Poland and Germany, running along the Order and Neisse rivers, adopted at the Poland Conference (Aug 1945) after World War II.

Radcliffe Line was drawn up by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, demarcating the boundary between India and Pakistan. Siegfried Line is the line of fortification drawn up by Germany on its border with France.

17th Parallel defined the boundary between North Vietnam and South Vietnam before the two were united.

24th Parallel is the line which Pakistan claims for demarcation between India and Pakistan. This, however, is not recognized by India.

26th parallel south is a circle of latitude which crosses through Africa, Australia and South America.

30th parallel north is a line of latitude that stands one-third of the way between the equator and the North Pole.

33rd parallel north is a circle of latitude which cuts through the southern United States, parts of North Africa, parts of the Middle East, and China.

35th parallel north forms the boundary between the State of North Carolina and the State of Georgia and the boundary between the State of Tennessee arid the State of Georgia, the State of Alabama, and the State of Mississippi.

36th parallel forms the southernmost boundary of the State of Missouri With the State of Arkansas.

36°30' parallel north forms the boundary between the Tennessee and Commonwealth of Kentucky between the Tennessee River and the Mississippi River, the boundary between Missouri and Arkansas west of the White River, and the northernmost boundary between the Texas and the Oklahoma.

37th parallel north formed the southern boundary of the historic and extralegal Territory of Jefferson.

38th Parallel is the parallel of latitude which separates North Korea and South Korea.

39th parallel north is an imaginary circle of latitude that is 39 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

40th parallel north formed the original northern boundary of the British Colony of Maryland.

41st parallel north forms the northern boundary of the State of Colorado with Nebraska and Wyoming and the southern boundary of the State of Wyoming with Colorado and Utah.

42nd parallel north forms most of the New York - Pennsylvania Border.

43rd parallel north forms most of the boundary between the State of Nebraska and the State of South Dakota and also formed the northern border of the historic and extralegal Territory of Jefferson.

The parallel 44° north is an imaginary circle of latitude that is 44 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

45th parallel north is often called the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. The 45th parallel makes up most of the boundary between Montana and Wyoming.

45th parallel of south latitude is the east-west line that marks the theoretical halfway point between the equator and the South Pole.

49th Parallel is the boundary between USA and Canada.

Towns Associated with Industries

• Agra : Stoneware, leather, carpets and marbles.
• Ahmedabad : Cotton-textiles.
• Aligarh : Cutlery, locks and dairy-industries.
• Ambala : Scientific goods.
• Amritsar : Cloth-printing, carpets, woollen goods, shawls.
• Bangalore : Watches, telephone, aircraft industry.
• Bareilly : Rubber factory, match factory, wood work.
• Bhagalpur : Silk.
• Chennai : Integral coach factory, leather, cigarette, cotton.
• Mumbai : Chemicals, oil refineries, fertilizers, film, industry, woollen goods, cotton manufacturing.
• Chittaranjan : Electrical locomotives.
• Churk : Cement.
• Cochin : Coffee, coconut oil, ship-building.
• Dalmianagar : Cement.
• Darjeeling : Tea, orange.
• Delhi : Textiles, chemicals, electronics, sewing machines.
• Dhariwal : Woollen goods.
• Ferozabad : Glass-bangles.
• Hardwar : Heavy electricals.
• Jamshedpur : Iron and steel works, train coaches locomotives.
• Jallandhur : Sports articles and surgical goods.
• Jaipur : Ivory work, brass work, jewellery, pottery, cloth painting.
• Kolkata : Iron and steel, jute, paper, pottery.
• Kanpur : Leather, cotton, aircraft factories, woollen mills, soap, iron, flour mills.
• Kolar : Gold-fields.
• Lucknow : Embroidery, gold, silver, lac work.
• Ludhiana : Hosiery, cycle.
• Mirzapur : Carpet, pottery, stoneware and brass.
• Moradabad : Brassware, cutlery, enamel industry.
• Karnataka : Sandalwood oil, ivory work, silk goods.
• Renukoot : Hindustan Aluminium Works.
• Saharanpur : Paper mill.
• Srinagar : H.M.T. factory, woodwork, embroidery, paper machine, woollen shawls.
• Surat : Cotton textiles.
• Tarapur : Atomic power plant.
• Titagarh : Paper and jute.
• Trombay : Oil refineries, atomic-reactors.
• Varanasi : Diesel-locomotives, brass-wares, lac bangles.
• Vishakhapatnam : Ship-building.

Major Industries and its Centres

Cotton Textiles
Mumbai, Sholapur, Nagpur, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Indore; Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, Kanpur and Kolkata.

Jute Textiles
West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, U.P. and M.P.

Silk Textiles
Asom, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Orissa, U.P., M.P., W. Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra and Punjab.

Woollen Textile
The chief centres of woollen textiles are Punjab, U.P., Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal.

Sugar Industry
U.P., Bihar and some centres are there in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab.

Cement Industry
Jharkhand, M.P., Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, U.P. and Orissa have some factories also.

Paper Industry
West Bengal, Maharashtra, U.P., Bihar, Orissa, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

Iron and Steel Industry
Jamshedpur, Bokaro (Jharkhand), Bhilai (Chattisgarh), Durgapur, Hirapur, Kulti, Burnpur (West Bengal), Rourkela (Orissa), Bhadrawati (Karnataka), Rourkela (Orissa) and Neyveli (Tamil Nadu).

Leather Industry
Chennai, Agra, Kolkata, Delhi, Kanpur, Mumbai, Deonaar, Deevaghat.

Aluminium
Alwaye (Kerala), Muri (Jharkhand), Hirakud (Orissa), Renukoot (U.P.), Bailur (W. Bengal), Koyna Mettur (Tamilnadu) and Hirakud (Orissa).
Matches
Bareilly, Kolkata, Chennai, Gwalior and Hyderabad.

Photo Film Industry
Ootacamund (Tamil Nadu).

Glass
Ferozabad, Shikohabad, Bahjoi, Naini, Haorah, Bangalore and Belgaon.

Chemical Industry
Delhi, Pimpri, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Rishikesh, Bangalore and Amritsar.

Rubber-Goods Industry
Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ballabhgarh, Shahaganj, Chamanacheri and Ambatoor.

Locomotive Industry
Chittaranjan (West Bengal), Varanasi in U.P., Perambur (Tamil Nadu).

Automobile Industry
Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jamshed<%0>pur, Pune and Gurgaon.

Antibiotic Industry
Rishikesh, Pimpri and Delhi.

Aircraft Manufacturing Industry
Bangalore, Kanpur, Nasik, Koraput and Hyderabad.

Fertilizers Industry
Durgapur, Kanpur, Foolpur (Uttar Pradesh), Haldia, Namrup, Rourkela, Vadodara, Barauni, Vishakhapatnam, Gorakhpur, etc.

Plastic Industry
Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Kanpur, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.

Petro-Chemical Industry
Vadodara and Mumbai, Bongaigoan, Asom

Human Body Facts

• In one day, a human sheds 10 billion skin flakes. This amounts to approximately two kilograms in a year.
• Every square inch of the human body has about 19,000,000 skin cells.
• Approximately 25% of all scald burns to children are from hot tap water and is associated with more deaths than with any other liquid.
• Forty-one percent of women apply body and hand moisturizer at least three times a day.
• Every hour one billion cells in the body must be replaced.
• The world record for the number of body piercing on one individual is 702, which is held by Canadian Brent Moffat.
• The small intestine in the human body is about 2 inches around, and 22 feet long.
• The human body makes anywhere from 1 to 3 pints of saliva every 24 hours.
• The human body has approximately 37,000 miles of capillaries.
• The aorta, which is largest artery located in the body, is about the diameter of a garden hose.
• The adult human body requires about 88 pounds of oxygen daily.
• It is very common for babies in New Zealand to sleep on sheepskins. This is to help them gain weight faster, and retain their body heat.
• An average women has 17 square feet of skin. When a women is in her ninth month of pregnancy she has 18.5 square feet of skin.
• The width of your armspan stretched out is the length of your whole body.
• 41% of women apply body or hand moisturizer a minimum three times a day.
• A human's small intestine is 6 meters long.
• There are as many hairs per square inch on your body as a chimpanzee. You don't see all of them because most are too fine and light to be noticed.
• Every hour one billion cells in the body must be replaced.
• Dead cells in the body ultimately go to the kidneys for excretion.
• By walking an extra 20 minutes every day, an average person will burn off seven pounds of body fat in an year.
• The human body is 75% water.

Heart Facts

• Women hearts beat faster than men.
• Three years after a person quits smoking, there chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked before.
• The human heart weighs less than a pound.
• The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.
• The first open heart surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Hall Williams in 1893.
• Scientists have discovered that the longer the ring finger is in boys the less chance they have of having a heart attack.
• The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart.
• The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
• Olive oil can help in lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing the risk of heart complications.
• In a lifetime, the heart pumps about one million barrels of blood.
• In 1967, the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa.
• People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
• Most heart attacks occur between the hours of 8 and 9 AM.
• The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
• At one time it was thought that the heart controlled a person's emotions.

Brain Facts

• Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States.
• The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons.
• From all the oxygen that a human breathes, twenty percent goes to the brain.
• People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
• Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced.
• It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.
• A women from Berlin Germany has had 3,110 gallstones taken out of her gall bladder.
• In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders.
• Your brain is 80% water.
• Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.

Bones Facts

• The smallest bone in the human body is the stapes bone which is located in the ear.
• There are 54 bones in your hands including the wrists.
• The only bone fully grown at birth is located in the ear.
• The human face is made up of 14 bones.
• The chances of getting a cavity is higher if candy is eaten slowly throughout the day compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth.
• If an identical twin grows up without having a certain tooth, the other twin will most likely also grow up with that tooth missing.
• Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone.
• Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for maintaining healthy bones.
• Enamel is hardest substance in the human body.
• Although the outsides of a bone are hard, they are generally light and soft inside. They are about 75% water.
• Adult human bones account for 14% of the body's total weight.
• In 2000 babies are born with a tooth that is already visible.
• Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!
• Your thigh bone is stronger than concrete.
• The strongest bone in your body is the femur (thighbone), and it's hollow!                            

Blood Facts

• Two million red blood cells die every second.
• There are approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body.
• Seven percent of a humans body weight is made up of blood.
• In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood.
• Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys.
• By donating just one pint of blood, four lives can be saved.
• Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint.
• The kidneys filter over 400 gallons of blood each day.
• The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days.
• Blood accounts for about 8% of a human's body weight.
• A woman has approximately 4.5 liters of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 liters.
• Your blood takes a very long trip through your body. If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 60,000 miles long. That's enough to go around the world twice.
• Half your body’s red blood cells are replaced every seven days.
• If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.

Eyes Facts

• We should never put anything in or near our eyes, unless we have a reason to use eye drops. We would only do that if our doctor or parent told us to use them.
• Blinking helps to wash tears over our eyeballs. That keeps them clean and moist. Also, if something is about to hit our eye, we will blink automatically.
• Our body has some natural protection for our eyes. Our eyelashes help to keep dirt out of our eyes. Our eyebrows are made to keep sweat from running into our eyes.
• Our eyes are very important to us, and we must protect them. We don't want dirt, sand, splinters or even fingers to get in our eyes. We don't want our eyes to get scratched or poked. That could damage our sight!
• The study of the iris of the eye is called iridology.
• The shark cornea has been used in eye surgery, since its cornea is similar to a human cornea.
• The number one cause of blindness in adults in the United States is diabetes.
• The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams.
• The eye of a human can distinguish 500 shades of the gray.
• The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.
• The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the human eye.
• Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight.
• Research has indicated that a tie that is on too tight cam increase the risk of glaucoma in men.
• People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper.
• Men are able to read fine print better than women can.
• In the United States, approximately 25,000 eye injuries occur that result in the person becoming totally blind.
• All babies are colour blind when they are born.
• A human eyeball weighs an ounce.
• If the lens in our eye doesn't work quite right, we can get glasses to help us see. Glasses have lenses in them that work with our eye's own lens to help us see better.
• Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
• The reason why your nose gets runny when you are crying is because the tears from the eyes drain into the nose.
• The most common injury caused by cosmetics is to the eye by a mascara wand.
• Some people start to sneeze if they are exposed to sunlight or have a light shined into their eye.
• The highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 165 km per hour.
• It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
• The space between your eyebrows is called the Glabella.
• Inside our eye, at the back, is a part called the "retina." On the retina are cells called "rods" and "cones." These rods and cones help us to see colors and light.
• Just behind the pupil is a lens. It is round and flat. It is thicker toward the middle.
• Over the front of our eye is a clear covering called the "conjunctiva."
• The white part of our eye is called the "sclera." At the front, the sclera becomes clear and is called the "cornea."
• Around the pupil is a colored muscle called the "iris." Our eyes may be BLUE, BROWN, GREEN, GRAY OR BLACK, because that is the color of the iris.
• Our eyes have many parts. The black part on the front of our eye is called the "pupil." It is really a little hole that opens into the back part of our eyes.
• Your eyes blinks over 10,000,000 times a year!

Mouth Facts

• In a month, a fingernail grows an eighth of an inch.
• People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.
• While sleeping, one man in eight snores, and one in ten grinds his teeth.
• It takes food seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus.

Tongue Facts

• Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue.
• There are approximately 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.
• Your tongue has 3,000 taste buds.
• 85% of the population can curl their tongue into a tube.                                                             

Hair Facts

• On average, a man spends about five months of his life shaving.
• On average, a hair strand's life span is five and a half years.
• On average redheads have 90,000 hairs. People with black hair have about 110,000 hairs.
• Next to bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body.
• In a lifetime, an average man will shave 20,000 times.
• Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
• Hair will fall out faster on a person that is on a crash diet.
• The average human head weighs about eight pounds.
• The reason why some people get a cowlick is because the growth of their hair is in a spiral pattern, which causes the hair to either stand straight up, or goes to a certain angle.
• The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour.
• The big toe is the foot reflexology pressure point for the head.
• The loss of eyelashes is referred to as madarosis.
• The longest human beard on record is 17.5 feet, held by Hans N. Langseth who was born in Norway in 1846.
• The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair.
• The average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.
• Hair and fingernails are made from the same substance, keratin.
• Hair is made from the same substance as fingernails.
• Eyebrow hair lasts between 3-5 months before it sheds.
• The first hair dryer was a vacuum cleaner that was used for drying hair.
• A Russian man who wore a beard during the time of Peter the Great had to pay a special tax.
• Everyday approximately 35 meters of hair fiber is produced on the scalp of an adult.
• Brylcreem, which was created in 1929, was the first man's hair product.
• Ancient Egyptians used to think having facial hair was an indication of personal neglect.
• A survey done by Clairol 10 years ago came up with 46% of men stating that it was okay to color their hair. Now 66% of men admit to coloring their hair.
• A lifespan of an eyelash is approximately 150 days.

Diseases Facts

• People that use mobile phones are 2.5 time more likely to develop cancer in areas of the brain that are adjacent to the ear they use to talk on the mobile phone.
• Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress.
• Over 436,000 U.S. Troops were exposed to depleted uranium during the first Gulf war.
• On average, 90% of the people that have the disease Lupus are female.
• Many cancer patients that are treated with chemotherapy lose their hair. For some when the hair grows back, it can grow back a different colour, or be curly or straight.
• Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for about 180,000 deaths per year.
• Chances of a women getting breast cancer are increased by excessive use of alcohol.
• A popular superstition is that if you put a piece of bread in a baby's crib, it will keep away diseases.
• A person that is struck by lightning has a greater chance of developing motor neurons disease.
• Every year in the U.S., there are 178,000 new cases of lung cancer.
• Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Asthma affects one in fifteen children under the age of eighteen.
• Every eleven minutes in the U.S., a woman dies of breast cancer.
• Due to eating habits in the USA, one in three children born in the year 2000 have a chance of getting type II diabetes.
• The oldest known disease in the world is leprosy.
• The number one cause of rabies in the United States are bats.
• Coughing can cause air to move through your windpipe faster than the speed of sound — over a thousand feet per second!
• A headache and inflammatory pain can be reduced by eating 20 tart cherries.
• The incidents of immune system diseases has increased over 200% in the last five years.
• The flu pandemic of 1918 killed over 20 million people.
• Each year in America there are about 300,000 deaths that can be attributed to obesity.
• Every three days a human stomach gets a new lining.
• The first owner of the Marlboro Company, Wayne McLaren, died of lung cancer.
• Soldiers disease is a term for morphine addiction. The Civil War produced over 400,000 morphine addicts.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a disease caused by ticks.
• A person afflicted with hexadectylism has six fingers or six toes on one or both hands and feet.
• A study indicates that smokers are likely to die on average six and a half years earlier than non-smokers.
• A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day will on average lose two teeth every ten years.
• Lady Peseshet is known to be the world's first known female physician. She practiced during the time of the pyramids, which was the fourth dynasty.
• The DNA of humans is closer to a rat than a cat.
• Teenage suicide is the second cause of death in the state of Wisconsin.
• Teenage cosmetic surgeries nearly doubled in the USA between 1996 and 1998.
• Studies indicate that weightlifters working out in blue gyms can handle heavier weights.
• Studies indicate that listening to music is good for digestion.
• Studies indicate that epileptic patients that listen to Mozart's Piano Sonata can dramatically decrease their chance of a seizure.
• Lack of sleep can affect your immune system and reduce your ability to fight infections.
• It takes about three hours for food to be broken down in the human stomach.
• Over 40 million Americans have chronic bad breath.
• Carbon monoxide can kill a person in less than 15 minutes.
• Fourteen people die each day from asthma in the United States.
• Every day the human stomach produces about 2 liters of hydrochloric acid.
• Nearly half of all Americans suffer from symptoms of burnout.In humans, the epidermal layer of skin, which consists of many layers of skin regenerates every 27 days.
• Native Americans used to use pumpkin seeds for medicine.
• In ancient Egypt, doctors used jolts from the electric catfish to reduce the pain of arthritis.
• The lining of the a person's stomach is replaced every 36 hours.
• The purpose of tonsils is to destroy foreign substances that are swallowed or breathed in.
• In the United States, poisoning is the fourth leading cause of death among children.
• The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as high in women that snore regularly compared to women who do not snore.
• The stomach of an adult can hold 1.5 liters of material.
• The stomach can break down goat's milk faster than the milk of a cow.
• The smoke that is produced by a fire kills more people than a burn does because of carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.
• It has been medically been proven that laughter is an effective pain killer.
• Influenza caused over twenty-one million deaths in 1918.
• In a year, there are 60,000 trampoline injuries that occur in the U.S.
• Even if you eat food standing on your head, the food will still end up in your stomach.
• A person infected with the SARS virus, has a 95-98% chance of recovery.
• 3000 children die every day in Africa because of malaria.                                                          

Pregnancy Facts

• The world's first test tube twins are Stephen and Amanda Mays born June 5, 1981.
• Some people drink the urine of pregnant women to build up their immune system.
• The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.
• Every day, over 1,300 babies are born prematurely in the USA.
• During pregnancy, the average woman's uterus expands up to five hundred times its normal size.
• Changing a cat's litter box can be dangerous to pregnant women, as cat feces sometimes carry a parasite that can cause harm to the developing baby.
• A pregnant woman's dental health can affect her unborn child.
• May babies are on avearge 200 grams heavier than babies born in other months.
• When a women is pregnant, her senses are all heightened.
• Studies show that couples that smoke during the time of conception have a higher chance of having a girl compared to couples that do not smoke.
   

Sex Facts

• There are approximately 100 million acts of sexual intercourse each day.
• The sperm count of an average American male compared to thirty years ago is down thirty percent.
  An adult esophagus can range from 10 to 14 inches in length and is one inch in diameter.
• Men sweat more than women. This is because women can better regulate the amount of water they lose.
• The average amount of time spent kissing for a person in a lifetime is 20,160 minutes.
• The average adult has approximately six pounds of skin.
• Infants spend more time dreaming than adults do.
• In one day, adult lungs move about 10,000 liters of air.
• The condom made originally of linen was invented in the early 1500's. Casanova, the womanizer, used linen condoms.
• Sex burns about 70-120 calories for a 130 pound woman, and 77 to 155 calories for a 170 pound man every hour.
• Impotence is grounds for divorce in 26 U.S. states.
• There are approximately 45 billion fat cells in an average adult.
• Kissing can aid in reducing tooth decay. This is because the extra saliva helps in keeping the mouth clean.
• During the female orgasm, endorphines are released, which are powerful painkillers. So headaches are in fact a bad excuse not to have sex.
• During World War II, condoms were used to cover rifle barrels from being damaged by salt water as the soldiers swam to shore.
• According to psychologists, the shoe and the foot are the most common sources of sexual fetishism in Western society.
• A kiss for one minute can burn 26.                                                                                                  

Other Human Body Facts

• The Gastric Flu can cause projectile vomiting.
• The Dutch people are known to be the tallest people in Europe.
• Studies have shown that the scent of Rosemary can help in better mental performance and make individuals feel more alert.
• Some brands of toothpaste contain glycerin or glycerol, which is also an ingredient in antifreeze.
• Soaking beans for twelve hours in water before they are cooked can reduce flatulence caused by beans.
• Scientists say that babies that are breastfed are more likely to be slimmer as adults than those that are not breastfed.
• Scientists have determined that having guilty feelings may actually damage your immune system
  Research has indicated that approximately eleven minutes are cut off the life of an average male smoker from each cigarette smoked.
• People have the tendency to chew the food on the side that they most often use their hand.
• Over 600,000 people died as a result of the Spanish influenza epidemic.
• Only one out of every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom.
• One ragweed plant can release as many as a million grains of pollen in one day.
• One out of 20 people have an extra rib.
• One average, men spend 60 hours a year shaving.
• On average, falling asleep while driving results in 550 accidents per day in the United States.
• On average, a person has two million sweat glands.
• On average, Americans spend 33% of their life sleeping.
• On average a person passes gas 14 times a day.
• On average 1,668 gallons of water are used by each person in the United States daily.
• Nerve impulses for muscle position travel at a speed of up to 390 feet per second.
• Nerve cells can travel as fast as 120 meters per second.
• Mummy powder was once thought to be a cure for all remedies. English men used to carry the powder with them in a tiny bag wherever they went.
• Men in their early twenties shave an average of four times a week.
• Medical research has found substances in mistletoe that can slow down tumor growth.
• Medical reports show that about 18% of the population are prone to sleepwalking.
• Manicuring the nails has been done by people for more than 4,000 years.
• Left-handed people are better at sports that require good spatial judgment and fast reaction, compared to right-handed individuals.
• Ironically, when doctors in Los Angeles, California went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18%.
• In the United States, 8.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were done in the year 2001.
• People with darker skin will not wrinkle as fast as people with lighter skin.
• People with allergies can lower allergy reactions by laughing.
• People who meet their calcium need reduce their risk of developing kidney stones.
• People that smoke have 10 times as many wrinkles as a person that does not smoke.
• People still cut the cheese shortly after death.
• People over the age of fifty will start to lose their dislike for foods that taste bitter.
• People of Ancient China believed that swinging your arms could cure a headache.
• The average weight of a newborn baby is 7 lbs. 6 oz. For a triplet baby it is 3 lbs. 12 oz.
• The average person spends two weeks of their life kissing.
• The average person falls asleep in about 12 to 14 minutes.
• There are approximately one hundred million people in the United States that have a chronic illness.
• There are approximately 60 muscles in the face.
• There are 50% more males that are left handed compared to females.
• There are 400 species of bacteria in the human colon.
• There are 10 million bacteria at the place where you rest your hands at a desk.
• In a lifetime, an average human produces 10,000 gallons of saliva.
• In a lifetime, an average driver will release approximately 912 pints of wind inside a car.
• In Canada, men are three times more likely than women to have seen a doctor in the last year.
• In 1832, in Paisley, Scotland the first municipal water filtration works was opened.
• Humans breathe in and out approximately one litre of air in ten seconds.
• Girls have more tastebud than boys.
• From the age of thirty, humans gradually begin to shrink in size.
• Flu shots only work about 70% of the time.
• Gases that build up in your large intestine cause flatulence. It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes for these gases to pass through your system.
• Fat is important for the development of children and normal growth.
• Every day, the average person swallows about a quart of snot.
• Eighty percent of 10 year old girls in the USA go on a diet.
• Air is passed through the nose at a speed of 100 miles per hour when a person sneezes.
• About twenty-five percent of the population sneeze when they are exposed to light.
• A yawn usually lasts for approximately six seconds.
• Children who are breast fed tend to have an IQ seven points higher than children who are not.
• Children grow faster in the springtime than any other season during the year.
• Eating chocolate three times a month helps people live longer as opposed to people who overeat chocolate or do not eat chocolate at all.
• Constipation is caused when too much water is absorbed in the large intestine and poops become dry.
• A ear trumpet was used before the hearing aid was invented by people who had difficulty hearing.
• The average human dream lasts only 2 to 3 seconds.
• The average person has at least seven dreams a night.
• Bile produced by the liver is responsible for making your feces a brownish, green colour.
• It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
• By the time you are 70 you will have easily drunk over 12,000 gallons of water.
• A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for approximately sixty-nine years.
• The average person walks the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime.
• The average person laughs about 15 times a day.
• The vocabulary of the average person consists of 5,000 to 6,000 words.
• About 10% of the world's population is left-handed.