HISTORICAL EVENTS

HISTORICAL EVENTS
B.C
2500-1800	Indus valley civilization.
599	Birth of Mahavir; Nirvana in 523. B.C.
563	Birth of Gautam Buddha; Nirvana in 483 B.C.
327-26	Alexander's invasion of India and the opening of land route between India and Europe.
269-232	Ashoka's reign.
261	Battle of Kalinga.
57	Beginning of Vikrama era.
30	Satvahana dynasty in Deooan. Pandyan empire in for south.
326	Alexander defeated Poras in the Battle of Hydaspas
261	Ashoka defeated Kalinga in the Kalinga War
A.D
78	Beginning of Saka era.
320	Beginning of Gupta era.
360	Samudragupta conquers the whole of N. India and much of the Deccan.
380-413	Rule of Chandragupta Vikramaditya, age of Kalidasa, renewal of induism.
606-647	Rule of Harshavardhana.
629-645	Hieun Tsang's visit in India.
622	Beginning of Hijra era.
712	Arab invasion of Sind by Mohd. bin Qasim.
1001-27	Repeated attacks of Mehmud Ghazni.
1025	Sacking of Somnath temple by Mehmud.
1191	First battle of Tarain in which Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Mohd. Ghori.
1192	Second battle of Tarain in which Mohd. Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.
1206	Qutubuddin Aibak founded the Ilbari/Slave dynasty.
1290	Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji established Khilji dynasty.
1290	Marco Polo visited India.
1320	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded the Tughlaq dynasty.
1333	Ibn Batuta arrived in India.
1336	Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijaynagar empire.
1347	Bahmani kingdom founded.
1398	Timur invades India.
1451	Lodi dynasty comes in power in Delhi Sultanate.
1469	Birth of Guru Nanak Dev.
1498	Vasco da Gama lands at Calicut.
1510	Portuguese capture Goa-Albuquerque Governor.
1526	First Battle of Panipat in which Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi and established the Mughal dynasty.
1556	Second battle of Panipat in which Akbar defeated Hemu.
1565	Battle of Talikota in which Vijaynagar empire is defeated.
1571	Foundation of Fatehpur Sikri by Akbar.
1576	Battle of Haldighati in which Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap.
1582	Akbar started Din-i-llahi.
1600	English East India Company established.
1604	Compilation of Adi Granth.
1605	Death of Akbar.
1611	The English built a factory at Masulipatnam.
1627	Birth of Shivaji
1631	Death of Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal. The building of Taj Mahal.
1658	Aurangzeb became Emperor of Delhi.
1666	Birth of Guru Gobind Singh.
1699	Guru Gobind Singh creates 'Khalsa'.
1707	Death of Aurangzeb, fall of Mughal empire begins.
1739	Nadir Shah invaded India; the peacock throne and the Kohinoor Diamond taken away from India.
1757	Battle of Plassey in which the English defeated Siraj-ud- daula, Nawab of Bengal.
1760	Battle of Wandiwash, end of French power in India,
1761	Third Battle of Panipat in which Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas.
1764	Battle of Buxar in which the English defeated the triple alliance of Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Mughal emperor Shah Alam.
1793	Permanent settlement in Bengal.
1799	Fourth Anglo Mysore War, death of Tipu Sultan, Ranjit Singh occupied Lahore and made it his capital.
1817-19	Marathas finally crushed.
1828	Lord William Bentick becomes Governor General; Era of social reforms; Prohibition of Sati (1829), Suppression of thugs (1830).
1835	Introduction of English as medium of instruction. A.D 1853 First Indian railway from Bombay to Thane. 1857-58 First war of Indian Independence. 1858 British crown takes over the Indian Government; End of East India Company's rule. 1861 Birth of Rabindra Nath Tagore. 1869 Birth of M.K. Gandhi. 1885 Formation of Indian National Congress. 1905 Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon. 1906 Formation of All India Muslim League. 1909 Minto-Morley Reforms. 1911 Delhi durbar held, partition of Bengal cancelled, capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. 1914 World War I started. 1918 End of World War I. 1919 Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Montague- Chelmsford reforms. 1920 Non-cooperation Movement launched, 1921 Moplah rebellian in Malabar; visit of Prince of Wales. 1922 Chauri-Chaura incidence. 1923 Swaraj party formed. 1927 Simon Commission appointed. 1928 Visit of Simon Commission to India, death of Lala Lajpat Rai. 1929 Congress demanded'Poorna Swaraj'in Lahore session. 1930 January 26 celebrated as Independence Day throughout India, Dandi Salt Satyagraha, First Round Table conference. 1931 Gandhi-lrvin Pact, Second Round Table Conference. 1932 Suppression of Congress Movement, Third Round Table Conference, Communal Award, Poona Pact. 1935 Government of India Act. 1937 Inauguration of Provincial Autonomy. Congress ministries formed in 8 out of 11 provinces. 1939 Resignation of Congress ministries, beginning of World War II. 1942 Cripps Mission Plan, Quit India Movement, Formation of Indian National Army by S.C. Bose. 1945 Simla conference held and the failure of Wavell Plan, INA trials at Red Fort, Delhi. 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan, Formation of Interim Government, Direct Action Resolution by Muslim League. 1947 Mountbatten Plan of June 3 in which partition of India resolution is proposed, India divided, Pakistan created, both achieve independence, Jawarhar Lai Nehru becomes the I Prime Minister of India. 1948 Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (Jan. 30). 1950 India became republic (Jan. 26). 1951 First Five Year Plan implemented. 1952 First General Elections held. 1953 Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary conquer Mt. Everest (May 29). 1954 Panchsheel agreement between India and China. 1956 Life insurance nationalized, State Reorganising Act comes into force. 1957 Second General Elections. 1958 Metric system of weights and measures introduced. 1959 Dalai Lama exiled; enters India. 1961 Liberation of Goa. 1962 Chinese attack on India. (Oct 20). 1964 Jawaharlal Nehru dies; Lai Bahadur Shastri becomes PM. 1965 Indo-Pak war. 1966 Tashkent Agreement reached, Death of Lai Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi became PM. 1967 Dr. Zakir Hussain elected President. 1968 Hargovind Khurana shares the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology. 1969 Death of. President Zakir Hussain (May 3). V. V. Giri elected President, Nationalization of 14 leading banks, Split in Indian National Congress. 1970 Former Indian ruler's privy purses abolished. Dr. C. V. Raman died (Nov. 2). 1971 Indo-Pak War over Bangladesh. 1972 Shimla Agreement signed. 1973 Manekshaw named India's first Field Marshal 1974 Nuclear explosion at Pokhran (May 18). 1975 Indian satellite 'Aryabhatta' launched, National emergency declared. 1976 The four Indian News agencies merged into a single News Agency known as 'Samachar', life of Lok Sabha extended by an year. 1977 Defeat of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the election, Morarji Desai takes over as PM, emergency withdrawn. 1978 India launches world's biggest adult literacy plan (Oct. 2). 1979 Charan Singh became PM., Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. 1980 Indira Gandhi returns to power at centre, India launches first satellite using its own satellite launching vehicle (July. 18). 1981 India launched APPLE, Khalistan activists hijack Indian Airlines Boeing 737 to Lahore. 1982 Zail Singh sworn in as President, the 21-member Indian scientific expedition headed by Dr. S. Z. Qasim lands on Antarctica (Jan. 9), INSAT1 A launched, Ninth Asian Games held in New Delhi. 1983 The 7th Non Aligned Summit in New Delhi, Kalpakkam Atomic Energy plant goes critical (July 2), INSAT-1 B launched (Aug. 30), Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" wins 8 oscars. 1984 Rakesh Sharma becomes India's first spaceman (Apr. 5), Bachendri Pal become the first Indian woman to scale Mt. Everest (May 23), Operation Blue Star, Assassination of Indira Gandhi (Oct 31), Rajiv Gandhi becomes PM, Bhopal Gas tragedy (Dec. 3). 1985 Anti-defection Bill passed (Jan. 3), Azharuddin hits 3 centuries in 3 tests. 1986 The first wholly Indian test-tube baby bom at KEM Hospital, Bombay (Aug. 7). 1987 Sunil Gavaskar becomes the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in tests (Mar. 7), Goa becomes the 25th state of India (May 30). 1988 India's first remote sensing satellite IRS 1 -A launched from Russia (Mar. 17), INSAT 1-C launched from French Guyana (July 22). 1989 Successful test of Agni (May 22), laying of the foundation stone for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple of Ayodhya (Nov 10). V.P. Singh becomes the PM. 1990 Successful launching of INSAT 1-D (June 12), Mandal Commission recommendation implemented (Aug. 7), V.P. Singh tenders resignation (Nov. 7), S. Chandrashekhar becomes PM. (Nov. 10). 1991 Rajiv Gandhi killed in a bomb blast (May 21), P. V. Narsimha Rao became PM. (June 21), Earthquake in Uttarkashi region (Oct. 20), Satyajit Ray got special Oscar award. (Dec.16). 1992 Prithvi test fired (May 5), INSAT-2 A launched (July 10), Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma became President (July 25), the domes of Babri Masjid demolished (Dec 6). 1993 Panchayati Raj Act effective (Apr. 24), INSAT-2 B launched from French Guyana (July 23), Earthquake in Latur region (Sept. 30). 1994 First heart transplant in the country (Aug. 3), PSLV D-2 launched (Oct. 15). 1995 Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassinated (Agu. 31), INSAT-2 C launched (Dec. 7) 1996 A.B. Vajpayee became PM. (May 16), H.D. Deve Gowda became PM. (June 1), India-Bangladesh sign Ganga Water Pact (Dec. 12) 1997 I. K. Gujral became PM. (Apr. 21), K. R. Narayanan sworn in as President (July 25), Mother Teresa passes away (Sept. 5), Arundhati Roy wins Booker Prize (Oct. 14), I. K. Gujral resigns as PM. (Nov. 28) 1998 Konkan railway commissioned (Jan. 26), A. B. Vajpayee became PM. (Mar. 19), India conducted total 5 nuclear tests (May 11 and May 13), Severe cyclone in Gujarat (June 9), Amartya Sen won the Noble Prize in Economics (Oct. 14) 1999 P.M. Vajpayee arrived in Pakistan by Delhi-Lahore bus (Feb. 20), India successfully launched its first commercial telecom satellite INSAT-2 E from Kourou (Apr. 3), Intense fighting in Kargil (June-July), Devastating cyclone in Orissa and A. P. (Oct.) 2000 U. S. President Bill Clinton visited India (Mar.) INSAT-3 B launched from Kourou (Mar. 22), Successful test firing of 'Dhanush', the naval version of 'Prithvi' missile (Apr. 11), Karnam Malleshwari wins a bronze at Olympics, Chattisgarh formed (Nov. 1), Uttaranchal formed (Nov. 9), Jharkhand formed (Nov. 15) 2001 The pilotless target aircraft 'Lakshya' inducted into the Indian Air Force (Jan. 5), Severe earthquake in Gujarat (Ja. 26), the newly-constructed Ennore port dedicated to the nation (Feb. 1), India successfully launches GSLV D-1 from Sriharikota (Apr. 18), Indo-Pak summit at Agra (July 15-16), Lok Pal Bill introduced in Lok Sabha (Aug. 14), Attack on WTC, New York shakes the world (Sept. 11), Lok Sabha passes the bill on "Right to Education till 14" (Nov. 30), Terrorist attack on Indian Parliament (Dec. 13) 2002 INSAT-3 C launched on Ariane rocket from Kourou in French Guyana (Jan. 24), ISRO successfully tries the indegenious cryogenic engine (Feb. 5), POTO passed in the joint session of the Parliament (Mar. 26), LCA test flown successfully (June 6), Cabinet clears 26% FDI in print media (June 25), Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam elected the President of India (July 18), Bhairon Singh Shekhawat sworn in as Vice-President of India (Aug. 19), India launches METSAT by using PSLV-C4 (Sept. 12), Draft of the Tenth Five-Year Plan approved by the Planning Commission (Oct. 5), BSNL launches mobile phone service (Oct. 15), Vajpayee and Putin sign Delhi declaration (Dec. 4), Kelkar submitted modified report on tax reforms (Dec. 28) 2003 Kalpana Chawla killed in space shuttle Columbia burnup (Feb. 1); Large reserves of oil & gas discovered in Barmer district of Rajasthan (Feb. 4); US launched attack on Iraq (Mar. 20); INSAT-3A launched from Kourou (Apr. 10); Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) renamed 'Tejas' (May 4); GSLVD-2 launched from Sriharikota (May 8); First instance of power failure in modern USA (Aug. 15-16); Mars comes closest to Earth (Aug. 27); Govt. approves the purchase of Advanced Jet Trainers, Hawk, from Britain (Sept. 3); INSAT-3E launched from Kourou (Sept. 20); Pope John Paul-ll beautifies Mother Teresa (Oct. 19); First Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad (Oct. 24-Nov. 1); India & Pakistan agree to a formal cease-fire along the LOG (Nov. 25); 97th, 98th, 99th & 100th Constitutional Amendment Bills passed (Dec. 18-23) 2004 Sensex crosses the magical figure of 6000 (Jan. 2); India signs agreement with Russia for obtaining Admiral Gorshkov (Jan. 20); Delhi High Court clears Rajiv Gandhi from the Bofors deal (Feb. 4); 200 killed in Madrid train blast (Mar. 11); Nobel Medals of Rabindra Nath Tagore gets stolen from Shantiniketan (Mar. 25); NDA conducts election before time, but loses unexpectedly, UPA government comes in power, Dr. Manmohan Singh sworn-in as the new PM (May 22); 87 children killed in a fire in school in Kumbhkonam, Tamil Nadu (July 17); Olympics return to their homeland Athens, Rajyavardhan Rathode wins a silver for India (Aug. 13-29); Hamid Karzai wins the Presidential vote in Afghanistan (Oct. 14); Sandalwood King Veerappan is dead (Oct. 18); George W. Bush re-elected (Nov. 3); Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati arrested on murder charges (Nov. 11); Yasser Arafat is dead (Nov. 11); Parliament dismissses POTA (Dec. 9); Tsunami causes havoc in South and South East Asia killing more than a lakh (Dec. 26)

Classical, Folk and Tribal Dances in India

Classical, Folk and Tribal Dances in India

Classical Dance of India
Dance	State
Bharat Natyam	Tamil Nadu
Bihu	Assam
Bhangra	Punjab
Chhau	Bihar, Orissa, W. Bengal and Jharkhand
Garhwali	Uttaranchal
Garba	Gujarat
Hattari	Karnataka
Kathak	North India
Kathakali	Kerala
Kutchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Khantumm	Mizoram
Karma	Madhya Pradesh
Laho	Meghalaya
Mohiniattam	Kerala
Mando	Goa
Manipuri	Manipur
Nati	Himachal Pradesh
Nat-Natin	Bihar
Odissi	Orissa
Rauf	Jammu & Kashmir
Yakshagan	Karnataka
Folk and Tribal Dances
States	Dances
Maharashtra	Kathakeertan, Lezin, Dandaniya, Tamasha, Gafa, Dahikala, Lovani, Mauni, Dasavtar.
Karnataka	Huttari, Suggi Kunitha, Yakashagana
Kerala	Kaikottikali, Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali
Tamil Nadu	Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi, Karagam
Andhra Pradesh	Ghanta Mardala, Veedhi Natakam, Burrakatha
Orissa	Ghumara Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata, Chhau
West Bengal	Kathi, Chhau, Baul, Kirtan, Jatra, Lama
Assam	Bihu, Khel Gopal, Rash Lila, Tabal Chongli, Canoe
Punjab	Giddha (women), Bhangra (men)
J & K	Rauf, Hikat
Himachal Pradesh	Jhora, Jhali, Dangli, Mahasu, Jadda, Jhainta, Chharhi
Haryana	Jhumar, Ras Leela, Phag dance, Daph, Dhamal, Loor, Gugga, Khoria, Gagor
Gujarat	Garba, Dandiya Rass, Tippani, Gomph
Rajasthan	Ginad, Chakri, Gangore, Terahtaal, Khayal, Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini
Bihar	Jata Jatin, Jadur, Chhau, Kathaputli, Bakho, Jhijhiya, Samochakwa, Karma, Jatra, Natna
Uttar Pradesh	Nautanki, Thora, Chappeli, Raslila, Kajri.
Famous Dancer
Bharatnatyam	Bala Saraswati, C. V. Chandrasekhar, Leela Samson, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Padma Subramanyam, Rukmini Devi, Sanyukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Yamini Krishnamurti
Kathak	Bharti Gupta, Birju Maharaj, Damayanti Joshi, Durga Das, Gopi Krishna, Kumudini Lakhia, Sambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi
Kuchipudi	Josyula Seetharamaiah, Vempathi Chinna Sthyam
Manipuri	Guru Bipin Sinha, Jhaveri Sisters, Nayana Jhaveri, Nirmala Mehta, Savita Mehta Debaprasad Das, Dhirendra nath Pattnaik, Indrani Rahman, Kelucharan Mahapatra, Priyambaba Mohanty, Sonal Mansingh
Instrumentalists
Sarod	Ali Akbar Khan, Allaudin Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani, Zarin S. Sharma
Tabla	Alla Rakha Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Nikhil Ghosh, Zakir Hussain
Violin	Baluswamy Dikshitar, Gajanan Rao Joshi, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, M. S. Gopala krishnan, Mysore T. Chowdiah, T. N. Krishnan
Shehnal	Bismillah Khan
Sitar	Nikhil Banerjee, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Hara Shankar Bhattacharya
Flute	Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pannalal Ghose, T. R. Mahalingam
Veena	K. R. Kumaraswamy lyer, Doraiswami lyengar
Vocalists
Hindustani	Shubha Mudgal, Bheemsen Joshi, Madhup Mudgal, Mukul Shivputra, Pandit Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Naina Devi, Girija Devi, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Gangubai Hangal, Krishna Hangal, V. Rajput, Kumar Gandharva, Faiyyaz Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur.
Carnatic	M. S. Subbalakshmi, Balamuralikrishna, Bombay Jaishree, H. K. Raghavendra, H. K. Venkataram, Sitarajam, Mani Krishnaswamy, Akhil Krishnan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, M. D. Ramanathan, G. N. Balasubramaniam
Thumri	Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan, Ustad Zawad Ali Khan, Rita Ganguli, Poornima Chaudhary, Shanti Heerananda, Naina Devi
Quwwali	Ghulam Hasan Niyazi, Sultan Niyazi, Ghulam Farid Nizami, Chand Nizami, IqbalHussain Khan Bandanawaji, Aslam Sabari
Dhrupad	Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Zahiruddin Dagar, Waslfuddin Dagar, Bundecha Bandhu, Uday Bhawalkar, Pt. Abhay Narayan Mallick, Pt. Ritwik Sanyal

NEWS PAPERS IN INDIA

News Papers/ Journals	Founder/Editors
Bengal Gazette (India's first news paper, 1780)	J. K. Hikki
Amrit Bazar Patrika	Shishir Kr. Ghosh & Motilal Ghosh
Keshri	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Maharatta	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Sudharak	G. K. Gokhle
Vande Mataram	Aurobindo Ghosh
Native Opinion	V. N. Mandalik
Kavivachan Sudha	Bhartendu Harishchandra
Rast Goftar (First News Paper in Gujrati)	Dadabhai Naoroji
New India	Bipin Chandra Pal
Statesman	Robert Knight
Hindu	Vir Raghavacharya & G. S. Aiyar
Sandhya	B. B. Upadhyaya
Vichar Lahiri	Krishna Shastri Chiplunkar
Hindu Patriot	Girish Chandra Ghosh
Som Prakash	Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Yugantar	Bhupendra Nath Datta & Barindra Kumar Ghosh
Bombay Chronicle	Firoze Shah Mehta
Hindustan	Madan Mohan Malviya
Mooknayak	B. R. Ambedkar
Comrade	Mohammed Ali
Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq	Sir Syyed Ahmed Khan
Al-Hilal	Abul Kalam Azad
Al-Balagh	Abul Kalam Azad
Independent	Motilal Nehru
Punjabi	Lala Lajpat Rai
New India	Annie Besant
Commonweal	Annie Besant
Pratap	Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
Essays in Indian Economics	Mahadev Govind Ranade
Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali)	Ram Mohan Roy
Mirat-ul-Akhbar (First Persian News Paper)	Ram Mohan Roy
Indian Mirror	Devendra Nath Tagore
Nav Jeevan	M. K. Gandhi
Young India	M. K. Gandhi
Harijan	M. K. Gandhi
Prabudha Bharat	Swami Vivekananda
Udbodhana	Swami Vivekananda
Indian Socialist	Shyamji Krishna Verma
Talwar (in Berlin)	Birendra Nath Chattopadhyaye
Free Hinduatan	Tarak Nath Das
Hindustan Times	K. M. Pannikar
Kranti	Mirajkar, Joglekar, Ghate

Minerals and their Significance to a Human Body

Minerals and their Significance to a Human Body

Mineral Elements	Sources	Significance	Effects of deficiency.
Macro Elements
Calcium(Ca)#	Milk, cereals, Cheese, Green Vegetables.	Required for formation of teeth and Bones , blood clotting, function of nerves and muscles	Weak theeth and bones ; retarded body growth.
Phosphorus(P)			Weak theeth and bones ; retarded body growth and physiology.
Sulphur(S)	Many protiens of food.	Component of many amino acids.	Distributed protein metabolism.
Pottassium(K)	Meat, milk, cereals,fruits and vegetables.	Required for acid-base balance, water regulation nad function of nerevs..	Low blood pressure, weak muscles; risk of paralysis..
Chlorine(Cl)	Table salt	Required for acid base balance; component of gastric juice.	Loss of appetite; muscles cramps
Magnesium(Mg)	Cereals, green vegetables.	Cofactor of many enzymes of glycolysis anda number of another metabolic reactions dependent upon ATP	Irregularties of metabolism principally affecting nervous functions.
Iron(Fe)	Meat, eggs , cereals, green vegetables.	Component of haemoglobin and cytochromes.	Anaemia, weakness and weak immunity.
Iodine(I)	Milk, cheese, sea food, iodized salt	important component of thyroxine hormone	Goitre, Cretinism
Micro Elements
Fluorine(F)	Drinking water, tea , sea food	Maintence of bones and teeth.	Weak theeth, larger amount causes motting of teeth.
Zinc(Zn)	Cereals, Milk, eggs, meat, sea food	Cofactor of digestive and many other enzymes	Retarded growth, anaemia, rough skin, weak immunity and fertility
Copper(Cu)	Meat, dry fruits , POds , Green vegetables, sea food	Cofactor of cytochrome oxidase enzyme.Necessary for iron metabolism and development of blood vessels and connective tissues	Anaemia,weak blood vessels and connective tissues
Manganese(MN)	Dry fruits, cereals,tea fruits and green vegetables	Cofactor of some enzymes of urea synthesis and transfer of phosphate group	Irregular growth of bones, cartilages and connective tissues
Cobalt(Co)	MIlk, cheese, meat	Important component of vitamin B12	Anaemia
Selenium(SE)	Meat, cereals, sea food	Cofactor of many enzymes; assists vitamin E	Muscular pain; weakness of cardiac muscles
Chromium(CR)	Yeast, sea food, meat, some vegetables	Important for catabolic metabolism	Irregularities of catabolic meatbolism and ATP production
Molybdenum(MO)	Cereals, pods, some vegetables	Cofactor of some enzymes	Irregular excreation of nitrogenous waste products
Vitamin	Chemical Name	Properties	Deficiency disease
A	Retinol	General health giving vitamin, can be stored liver	Night blindness
B1	Thiamine	For Growth, carbohydrate metabolism, functioning of heart	Beri-Beri
B2	Riboflavin	For Keeping skin and mouth healthy	Cheilosis
B5	Niacin	For healthy skin, sound mental health	Pellagra
B6	Pyridoxine	Processing of proteins and for nervous system	Convulsions in child
B12	Cynacobalamin	Required for formation and maturation of RBCs	Pernicious anaemia
C	Ascorbic Acid	For keeping teeth , gums and joints healthy .Gets destroyed on heating	Scurvy
D	Calciferol	For normal bones and teeth, can be stored in liver	Rickets
E	Tocopherol	For normal reproduction , removes scars and wrincles	Sterility
K	Phylloquinone	For normal clotting of blood	Haemophilia

Facts About India

Facts About India

1. India is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area.

2. Indian mainland extends between latitudes 8 degree 4' and 37 degree 6' north, longitudes 68 degree 7' and 97 degree 25' east and measures about 3,214 km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from east to west between the extreme longitudes.

3. India has land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.

4. Countries having common border with India are: Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

5. Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura, Maikala and Ajanta are prominent hill ranges that lie between the Peninsular India and the plains of Ganga.

6. The Eastern and Western Ghats meet at the southern part of the Indian Peninsula which is formed by the Nilgiri Hills. .

7. Ghagra, Gomti, Gandak, Kosi and Yamuna are the major Himalayan rivers that join the Ganga. Chambal, Betwa and Sone are major rivers flowing north from central India that join Yamuna/Ganga.

8. After Ganga, Godavari has the second largest basin covering 10 per cent of the area of India. Next to it is Krishna, followed by the Mahanadi basin.

9. The climate of India can be described as Tropical monsoon type.

10. India is in tenth position in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity.

11. Botanical Survey of India, (BSI), Kolkata is the nodal agency that is studying the flora of the country. BSI brings out an inventory of the endangered plants in the form of a publication titled "Red Data Book".

12. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata and its 16 regional stations are responsible for surveying the faunal resources of India.

13. India has a great variety of fauna, numbering 89,451 species.

14. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on July 22,1947.

15. The State emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capitol of Ashoka. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the Capitol is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dizaram Chakra). There are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion, separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.

16. In the State emblem, adopted on January 26,1950, only three lions are visible. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The words, Satyameva Jayate, from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'truth alone triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagiri script.

17. The song Jana-gana-mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly, as the National Anthem of India, on January 24, 1950. It was first sung on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta session of Indian National Congress. The complete song consists of five stanzas. The first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem.

18. The national calendar of India is based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month. A normal year of 365 days was adopted from March 22, 1957, along with the Gregorian Calendar for the following purposes: (1) Gazette of India; (2) news broadcast by All India Radio; (3) calendars issued by Government of India; and (4) Government communications addressed to the members of the public.

19. Agriculture sector of India contributes 25 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 70 per cent of the population is dependent on it.

20. There are three main crop seasons in India, namely, kharif, rabi and summer.'

21. Major kharif crops are: rice, jowar, bajra, maize, cotton, sugarcane, soyabean, and groundnut.

22. Major rabi crops are: wheat, barley, gram, linseed, rapeseed, and mustard. Rice, maize and groundnut are grown in summer season also.

23. In Indian agriculture, oilseeds are next to food grains in area coverage, production and value. India is,one of the largest oilseeds growing countries, contributing about 15 per cent to the acreage under oilseeds in the world.

24. The Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, set up a Technology Mission on Oilseeds in May 1986 with the objective to increase the production of oilseeds, reduce the import of edible oils and to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils.

25. India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world, after China and USA. It contributes to 9.5 per cent of world production and 10.6 per cent of world consumption of NPK nutrients, but sustains one-sixth of the world population.

26. The National Biofertiliser Development Centre is located at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Its six regional centres are located at .labalpur, Nagpur, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Hissar and Imphal.

27. The Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute is located in Faridabad, Haryana. Its three regional centres are located at Mumbai, Chennai and Kalyani.

28. India accounts for about 10 per cent of the production of fruits in the world.

29. Mango is the most important fruit produced in India, covering about 39 per cent of the total area used for fruit production and accounting for 23 per cent of total fruit production of India.

30. India occupies first position in the total production of banana in the world.

31. India is next only to China in the area and production of vegetables. India contributes about 13 per cent of the world vegetable production and occupies first position in production of cauliflowers, second in onion and third in cabbage in the world.

32. India is the largest producer, processor, consumer and exporter of cashew nut in the world. India produces 45 per cent of the global production of cashew.

33. The Centrally-sponsored scheme of soil conservation in the catchments of River Valley Project (RVP) was started in the third Five-year Plan. Another scheme of FloodProne Rivers (FPR) was started in the sixth Plan. Both the schemes were clubbed during the ninth Plan and further subsumed under Macro Management Mode in November 2000.

34. The Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) is located in Jodhpur.

35. Seed sector in India consists of two national level corporations: National Seed Corporation (NSC) and State Farm Corporation of India (SFCI). The Seeds Act, 1966 provides for the legislative framework for regulation of quality of seeds sold in India.

36. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) launched a Central Sector Scheme during the ninth Plan to make available seeds for any contingent situation arising out of natural calamity.

37. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) advises the Central and State governments on agricultural marketing policies and programmes. It is located in Faridabad, Haryana.

38. The National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM) is located in Jaipur.

39. Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes are located at Budni (Madhya Pradesh), Hissar (Haryana), Garladinne (Andhra Pradesh) and Biswanath Chariali (Assam).

40. India accounts for 57 per cent of the world's buffalo population and 15 per cent of the cattle population. India possesses 27 acknowledged indigenous breeds of cattle and 7 breeds of buffaloes.

41. The present availability of animal protein in an Indian diet is 10 gm per person per day, as against a world average of 25 gm.

42. India is the largest producer of milk in the world and ranks fifth in egg production.

43. Central Sheep Breeding Farm is located in Hissar.

44. Reishi or Ling Zhi is a medicinal mushroom which has been successfully grown in India.

45. For rehabilitation of calcareous soils Tamarix articulate, Acadia nilotica, Prosopis Juliflora, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia tortills, Cassia siamea and Feronia limonia have been found promising for plantation with furrow planting methods in arid and semi-arid regions. Salvadora persica proved the ideal species for soil and water management in saline black soils.

46. Karzat 4, Indryani, Panvel 2, Palgarh 1 and 2 are names of various rice varieties sown in India.

47. Kankrej, Ponwar, Gangatiri and Kherigah are names of various cattle breeds in India.

48. Jalauni, Kheri, Mandya, Hassan and Mecheri are names of various sheep breeds of India.

49. C-ELISA is an indigenously developed kit for rinderpest which has been validated by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.

50. Feedbase-2001 is a data base that provides information on feed resources and feed balance sheet.

51. Okara is a by-product of soymilk.

52. Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan is located in Almora, Uttaranchal.

53. The Lalit Kala Academy (National Academy of Fine Arts) is located in New Delhi. It has regional centres, called Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendras, located at Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Garhi(New Delhi) and Bhubaneswar.

54. Bharata Natyam is a dance form of Tamil Nadu. Kathakali is a dance form of Kerala. Kathak is a classical dance form revitalised as a result of Mughal influence on Indian culture. Manipuri is a dance form of Manipur, while Kuchipudi owes its origin to Andhra Pradesh. Odissi, once practised as temple dance, has its origins in Orissa.

55. Kathak Kendra, Delhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal, are training institutes run by Sangeet Natak Academy, the National Academy of. Music, Dance and Drama. The Academy also supports training programmes in Chhau dance of Mayurbhanj and Seraikella, as also Koodiyattam of Kerala.

56. The National School of Drama (NSD) is one of the foremost theatre institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by Sangeet Natak Academy in 1959 and in 1975 it became an autonomous organization.

57. The Theatre-in education Company (renamed as Sanskar Rang Toli was founded by NSD in 1989. Since 1998, NSD has organized National Theatre Festival for Children, christened Jashne Bachpan, every year.

58. The first-ever National Theatre Festival, christened Bharat Rang Mahotsav, was held in March-April, 1999 to commemorate the 50th year of India's Independence.

59. Sahitya Academy has its Head Office in New Delhi. Besides, it has four offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. It also has four translation centres at Bangalore, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, besides a project office at Vadodra for promotion of oral and tribal literature and an Archives of Indian literature. It also maintains a multilingual library at New Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, stocking books in over 25 languages.

60. The highest honour conferred by Sahitya Academy on a writer is by electing him/her its Fellow. The honour is limited to 21 at any given moment.

61. The Sahitya Academy holds a 'Festival of Letters' every year, usually in February.

62. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions as an attached office of the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

63. The National Museum was established on August 15, 1949 in the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.It was formally inaugurated on December 18, 1960 on its present premises.

64. The National Council of Science Museums is located in Kolkata.

65. The Allahabad Museum is famous for its collection of Bharhut, Bhumara and Jamsot sculptors and for the terracotta from Kausumbi, Bhita, Jhusi, Patliputra, Sarnath, Rajghat and Ahichhatra. The Museum also has paraphernalia and family heirlooms of Nehrus, including manuscripts of' An Autobiography' by J.L. Nehru.

66. The National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) is located in Lucknow.

67. The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) was founded in 1954 to promote and develop contemporary Indian Art.

68. The National Archives of India (NAI), New Delhi, known until independence as Imperial Record Department, was originally established in Kolkata in March 1891. It is the official custodian of all non-current records of permanent / value to the government of India and its predecessor bodies. It has a regional office at Bhopal and three record centres at Bhubaneswar, ]aipur and Pondicherry.

69. Marine Archeology Centre has been established in the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa. Major exploration are being undertaken in the waters of ancient Dwarka, Poompuhar waters (Tamil Nadu) and around Lakshadweep.

70. National Library, Kolkata serves as a permanent repository of all reading and information material produced in India, as well.as printed material written by Indians and concerning India written by foreigners, wherever published and in whatever language.

71. Under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, four libraries-National Library, Kolkata, Central Library, Mumbai, Connemara Public Library, Chennai, and Delhi Public Library, Delhi-are entitled to receive a copy of new books and magazines published in the counuy.

72. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna has a rich collection of over 20,000 'Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Pali and Sanskrit manuscripts.

73. The Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal (TMSSM) Library, Thanjavur is one of the few medieval libraries that exist in the world.

74. The Rampur Raza Library, housed in Hamid Manzil in the fort of Rampur, is a treasure house of Indo Islamic learning and art.

75. Asiatic Society in Kolkata was founded by Sir William Jones in 1784, with the objective of inquiring into the history, science, arts and literature of Asia.

76. The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies is located in Varanasi. It was established with the objective of preservation of Tibetan culture and tradition, restoration of ancient Indian literature preserved in Tibetan language and to provide higher education in Buddhist studies.

77. The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies is located, in Leh.

78. The Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology is located in Sikkim. It has done significant work in promoting research in CHHO (Tibetan for Dharma).

79. Anthropological Survey of India is located in Kolkata.

80. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sanghrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind) is located in Bhopal. It is dedicated to the depiction of an integrated story of humankind in global perspective, with special focus on India.

81. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) has its headquarters in New Delhi and two regional Centres at Udaipur and Hyderabad.

82. With the aim of projecting in India cultural kinships transcending territorial boundaries, seven zonal cultural centres have been established at Patiala, Kolkata, Thanjavur, Udaipur, Allahabad, Dimapur and Nagpur.

83. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is a premier national institute engaged in the pursuit of knowledge on arts and culture. It is also the nodal agency for the setting up of a national data bank on arts, humanities and cultural heritage.

84. Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti has been set up primarily to maintain and look after the national memorial where Gandhiji was assassinated, now called Gandhi Smriti, and a permanent photo exhibition at Rajghat, called Gandhi Darshan.

85. The Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) is responsible for formulation and maintenance of statistical standards, work pertaining to national accounts, industrial statistics, consumer price indices, conduct of economic census and surveys and liaising with international agencies in statistical matters. It is located in New Delhi.

86. National income is defined as the sum of incomes accruing to factors of production, supplied by normal residents of the country before deduction of direct taxes. It is equal to net national product at factor-cost.

87. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) has been set up to conduct large scale surveys to meet the data needs of India as also for the estimation of national income and other aggregates. It has four divisions: (i) Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD), with headquarters in Kolkata; (ii) Field Operations Division (FOD) having its headquarters in Delhi; (iii) Data Processing Division (DPD) with headquarters in Kolkata; and (iv) Coordination and Publication Division (CPD), located in Delhi.

88. Summary results of NSSO surveys are published in the biannual technical journal Sarvekshana.

89. India has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq km. The EEZ provides India with more than 60 per cent of its oil and gas production and fishing valued at $ 1.15 billion.

90. The Army War College, earlier known as College of Combat, is located in Mhow.

91. The Infantry School, Mhow is the largest and oldest military training centre of Indian Army. This institute also trains the National Shooting team, under the aegis of Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU).

92. The Institute of Defence Management is located in Secunderabad.

93. The Defence Services Staff College is located in Wellington. It imparts training to middle level officers (Major and equivalent) of Army, Air Force and Navy.

94. The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) is located in Gulmarg.

95. The National Defence College is located in Delhi. It is the only institute of India that imparts knowledge on all aspects of national security and strategy.

96. Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, located in Hyderabad, was incorporated with the primary objective of ushering in self-reliance in special metals and alloys for strategic sectors like Defence, Space and Atomic energy.

97. The 86th Constitution Amendment Act, 2002, makes elementary education a Fundamental Right for children in the age-group of 6-14 years.

98. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme evolved I from the recommendations of the State Education Ministers' Conference held in October 1998. The main goals of SSA are: (a) All 6-14 age children complete five-year primary education by 2007; (b) Bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary education level by 2010; (c) Focus on elementary education of satisfactory quality with emphasis on education for life; and (d) Universal retention by 2010.

99. The National programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education is commonly known as Mid Day Meal Scheme. It was launched in August 1995.

100. Operation Blackboard was launched in 1987 with the aim of improving human and physical resources available in primary schools of India.

101. Janshala Programme is a collaborative effort of the government of India, and five UN agencies-UNDP, UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and UNFPA-to provide programme support to the ongoing efforts towards achieving Universal Elementary Education (UEE).

102. The National Council for Teacher Education was established by an Act of the Parliament in August 1995.

103. The University Grants Commission (UGC) serves as a coordinating body between the Union and State governments and the institutions of higher learning.

104. The National Literacy Mission (NLM) aims to attain a sustainable threshold level of 75 per cent literacy by 2007, by imparting functional literacy to non-literates in the age-group of 15-35 years.

105. The Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages is located in Hyderabad.

106. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system was introduced in India in 1985 by the Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Agency for ISBN. ISBN is a unique international publisher's identifier number.

107. Administering the Copyright Act, 1957 is the responsibility of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Secondary and Higher Education.

108. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was the first multipurpose river valley project to be undertaken after Independence. It was set up in July 1948.

109. The National Power Training Institute (NPTI) is located at Faridabad.

110. The Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) has its headquarters located at Bangalore. Other units are located at Bhopal, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ghaziabad, Thiruvanthapuram and Raichur.

111. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the nodal agency to promote efficient use of energy and its conservation in all sectors of economy of India.

112. Coal is the main source of energy in India and account for about 67 per cent of India's commercial requirement.

113. The coal reserves of India, as on January 1, 2003 were 2,40,748 million tonnes.

114. The Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India both have their headquarters in Kolkata.

115. The Forest Survey of India has its headquarters in Dehradun and has four regional offices at Bangalore, Kolkata, Nagpur and Shimla.

116. Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas to preserve the genetic diversity in representative ecosystem. 13 Biosphere reserves have been set up in India. These are: Nilgiri, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas, Sundebans, Similipal, Dibru, Daikhowa, Dehong Deband, Pachmarhi, Kanchunjunga and Agasthyamalai. Out of these, Nilgiri, Sunderbans and Gulf of Mannar have been recognized on World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO.

117. India is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity countries of the world.

118. The forest cover of India constitutes 20.55 per cent of its geographical area. Of this, dense forest constitutes 12.68 per cent and open forest 7.87 per cent. The mangrove cover occupies 0.14 per cent of geographical area. The total tree/forest cover is estimated as 81,472 sq km or about 2.48 per cent of the country.

119. G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development is located at Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttaranchal.

120. The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) network brings out a quarterly journal, Paryavaran Abstracts, which contains information about environmental research in the Indian context.

121. The ENVIS has been designated as National Focal Point (NFP) and Regional Service Centre (RSC) for South Asia sub-regional countries by INFOTERRA (a global information system on environment) of UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

122. The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) consists of nine main divisions, namely, (i) Economic; (ii) Banking; (iii) Insurance; (iv) Budget; (v) Foreign Trade and Investment; (vi) External Finance; (vii) Capital market; (viii) Fund Bank; and (ix) Currency and Coinage.

123. All revenues received, loans raised and money received in repayment of loans by the Union government form the Consolidated Fund of India. No money can be withdrawn from this Fund except under the authority of an Act of Parliament.

124. The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund, a Public Account and a Contingency Fund for each State.

125. The first bank of limited liability, managed by Indians, was Oudh Commercial Bank. It was founded in 1881. Punjab National Bank was established in 1894.

126. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was established under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 on April 1, 1935 and nationalized on January 1,1949.

127. RBI is the sole authority for issue of currency notes in India, other than one-rupee coins and subsidiary coins and notes.

128. India ranks third in the world, after China and USA, in terms of production of coal.

129. The three important gold fields of India are: Kolar (Karnataka), Hutti in Raichur district (Karnataka) and Ramgiri in Anantapur district (Andhra Pradesh).

130. Mains reserves of Tungsten are located at Degana, Rajasthan.

131. The Mangampet deposits, occurring in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh is the single largest deposit of Barytes in the world.

132. The main diamond-bearing areas in India are Panna belt in Madhya Pradesh, Munimadugu-Banganapalle conglomerate in Kurnool district, Wajrakarur Kimberlite pipe in Anantapur district and Krishna river basin in Andhra Pradesh.

133. Orissa is a major producer of Graphite in India.

134. Judges of the Supreme Court of India hold office until they attain the age of 65 years. Judges of the High Court hold office until they attain the age of 62 years.

135. The National Judicial Academy is located in Bhopal with its registered office in New Delhi.

136. V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida, is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Labour. It is engaged in research pertaining to labour and training of labour administrators, trade unions, public sector managers and other government functionaries concerned with labour.

137. The first radio programme was broadcast in India in 1923 by the Radio Club of Bombay.

138. All India Radio (AIR) operates on motto Bahujana Hitaya; Bahujana Sukhya (to promote the happiness and welfare of the masses through information, education and entertainment.

139. Cyan Darshan is the educational channel run by Doordarshan.

140. Press Trust of India (PTI) is India's largest news agency.

141. United News of India (UNI) became the first agency in India to launch a full-fledged Hindi wire service Univarta in 1982. In early 1990s, it launched the first-ever wire service in Urdu.

142. The Press Council of India has been established under the Act of Parliament for the purpose of preserving the freedom of the press, and of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.

143. India has one of the largest road networks in the world, aggregating to about 3.3 million kilometres.

144. Golden Quadrilateral comprises of National Highways connecting the four metro cities.

145. Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) is the biggest shipping line of India.

146. Indian Institute of Maritime Studies (IIMS) is located in Mumbai.

147. India has 12 major ports and about 184 other ports.

148. Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Kandla, Mormugao, New Mangalore and Cochin are the major ports on west coast.

149. Kolkata/Haldia, Para dip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin are major ports on the east coast.

150. Command Area Development (CAD) Programme was launched in 1974-75 with main objective of improving the utilization of created irrigation potential and optimizing agriculture production and productivity from irrigated lands on sustainable bases.

FIRST IN INDIA

FIRST IN INDIA (MEN)

• First American President to visit India: Dwight David Eisenhower
• First Asian to be elected president of Britain's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): Lord Navnit Dholakia
• First Asian to head a British university: Lord Swaraj Paul (when he was elected Chancellor of the Wolverhampton University on May 9, 2000)
• First British Prime Minister to visit India: Harold Macmillan
• First Chairman of the University Grants Commission: S.S.Bhatnagar
• First Chief Election Commissioner of India: Sukumar Sen (21.3.1950 to 19.12.1958)
• First Chief Justice of India: Harilal J.Kania (26.1.1950-6.11.1951)
• First Chief Minister of the tri-lingual Bombay Presidency: B.G.Kher
• First Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshall Sir Thomas Elmherst (1947-1950)
• First Chief of Army Staff: Gen. Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji (1.4.1955 to 14.5.1955)
• First Commander-in-Chief: Gen.Sir Roy Bucher (1.1.1948 - 14.1.1949)
• First Dalit Lok Sabha Speaker: G M C Balayogi
• First Defence Minister of Independent India: Sardar Baldev Singh
• First Deputy Prime Minister of India: Sardar Vallabhai Patel
• First Director General of ICAR: B.P.Pal
• First Eunuch to be elected as a Mayor of an Indian city: Kamla Jaan, who elected Mayor of Katni city in Madhya Pradesh in January 2000.
• First Eunuch to get elected to a state legislature: Shabnam Mausi, won the Sohagpur Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh in the February 2000 elections.
• First European to invade India: Alexander
• First Field Marshal: Gen. S.H.F.J. Manekshaw
• First fighter pilot to win the Param Vir Chakra: Flying Officer Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon (posthumous) for IAF in 1971 Indo-Pak conflict.
• First Foreign Secretary of Free India: K.P.S.Menon
• First Governor-General of Independent India: Lord Mountbatten
• First Indian bowler to get a hattrick in Test cricket: Harbhajan Singh
• First Indian Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee (April 1, 1954).
• First Indian Chief of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral R.D.Katari (1958-1962).
• First Indian Governor-General of India: C.Rajagopalachari
• First Indian to be awarded with the 'Victoria Cross': Khuda Dad Khan (for Gallantry in Belgium during the first World War)
• First Indian to be elected a member of British Parliament: Dadabhoi Naoroji
• First Indian to be elected to the US House of Representatives: Dilip Singh Saund
• First Indian to go in space: Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma. He went in the Soyuz 7-II Spacecraft on April 3, 1984 and returned on April 11, 1984.
• First Indian to hoist the National Flag over the North Pole: Squadron Leader Sanjay Thapar.
• First Indian to record a song on a gramophone disc: Sashi Mukhi of Classic Theatres, Calcutta (1902)
• First Indian to swim across the English Channel: Mihir Sen
• First Indian to win an Olympic Bronze: Khashaba Jadhav (wresting; 1952, Helsinki Olympics)
• First Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Tournament: Pullela Gopi Chand (March 11,2001)
• First Indian to win the World Billiards Championship: Wison Jones
• First Jnanpith Award Winner: G.Sankara Kurup (1965), for his work ‘Ottakkuzhal’ in Malyalam.
• First Minister without Portfolio: N.Gopalswami Ayengar in Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet. He, however, went on to become the Minister of Defence.
• First Photographer in India: Raja Deendayal
• First President of India: Dr Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962)
• First President of the Indian Union of Civil Liberties: Rabindranath Tagore (1930s).
• First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964)
• First Prime Minister to win a popular entertainment award: Atal Behari Vajpayee (when he won the Screen-Videocon "Best Lyricist" prize in the non-film music category for his collection of poems titled "Nayi Disha" in February 2000).
• First Secretary-General of South-South Commission: Dr Manmohan Singh
• First Surveyor General of India: Sir George Everest
• First Vice-President of India: Dr S.Radhakrishnan (1952-1962)
• First Winner of Param Vir Chakra: Maj.Somnath Sharma (posthumously) in November, 1947
• India's first Test-tube baby: Harsha (born on August 6, 1986).
• Indian Johann Sebastian Bach: Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
• India's longest serving Chief Minister : Jyoti Basu
• Only Army Chief to be awarded with Maha Vir Chakra twice: Late Gen. A.S.Vaidya


FIRST IN INDIA (WOMEN)

• First Woman President of India : Pratibha Patil
• Delhi’s First Mayor: Aruna Asaf Ali (1958)
• Delhi's First woman chief secretary: Shailja Chandra
• Fastest Asian to swim across the English Channel: Anita Sood
• First all-women crew to fly an air Force Chetak Helicopter: Flight Cadets Cheryl Dutta and Simran Sodhi of IAF (December, 1995).
• First Asian woman magistrate appointed in United Kingdom: Kantha Talwar
• First Asian woman mayor in United Kingdom: Lata Patel
• First Indian woman President of Indian National Congress: Sarojini Naidu (1925)
• First Indian woman producer and director: Fatima Begum, who produced and directed Bulbul-e-Parastan in 1926.
• First Indian woman to become Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen (1994)
• First Indian woman to become Miss World: Reita Faria (1966)
• First Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest: Bachendri Pal
• First Indian Woman to go in space: Kalpana Chawla
• First woman to head any Wakf board in India : Bader Sayeed (TN Wakf Board)
• First Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic event: P.T.Usha
• First Indian woman to win a medal in an Olympic event: Karnam Malleshwari (bronze medal, Sydney Olympics)
• First Indian woman boxer to win an international event : M.C.Merykom
• First Indian woman to swim across the English Channel: Arati Saha
• First Miss Universe of the new millennium: Lara Dutta
• First woman Ambassador from India: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (to USSR from 1947-49)
• First woman Central Minister: Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
• First woman chief justice of a High Court: Leila Seth (CJ of Himachal Pradesh, 1991)
• First woman Chief Minister of an Indian state: Sucheta Kriplani (Uttar Pradesh from 1963-1967)
• First woman film star to be a member of Rajya Sabha: Nargis Dutt
• First woman Governor of an Indian state: Sarojini Naidu (Uttar Pradesh from 1947-1948)
• First woman Governor of Tamil Nadu: Justice M. Fatima Beevi (1997)
• First woman IPS Officer of India: Kiran Bedi
• First woman Judge of the Supreme Court: Justice M. Fatima Beevi (1989)
• First woman judicial officer: Anna Chandy, who was appointed munsif in the Travancore state in 1937.
• First woman Minister of an Indian state: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (Uttar Pradesh)
• First woman officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be promoted to the rank of air commodore: 55-year old Padma Bandhopadhyay who was commissioned to the IAF in 1968.
• First woman President of Indian National Congress: Annie Besant (1917)
• First woman President of UN General Assembly: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (1953-54)
• First woman Prime Minister of India: Late Indira Gandhi (1966-1977 and 1980-1984).
• First woman Speaker of an Indian state: Shano Devi
• First woman Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly :Kavali Prathibha Bharati
• First woman winner of the Bharat Ratna: Indira Gandhi (1971)
• Grandma Madonna from India: Asha Bhonsle
• India's first commercial pilot: Durba Banerjee (1966, Indian Airlines)
• India's first Test-Tube Baby: Kruti Parekh
• India's first woman railway driver: Surekha Yadao
• India's first woman tabla maestro : Dr Aban Mistry
• India's officially recognized billionth citizen: Astha (She was born on May 11,2000 at New Delhi).
• World's first woman Airbus pilot: Durba Banerjee
• Youngest Indian to swim across the English Channel: Arati Pradhan

FIRST IN INDIA (MISCELLANIOUS)

• Earliest school of medicine known to humans: Ayurveda
• First Air Force in Asia to fly jets: Indian Air Force (1948)
• First Book in any Indian Language: It was printed in 1578 in Tamil.
• First Census in India: 1901
• First Cinema House in India: It was built by J.F.Madan in 1907 in Calcutta.
• First complete Technicolor film: Jhansi Ki Rani (1953)
• First Constitutional Amendment: 1950
• First country-wide agricultural census: 1970-71
• First English Newspaper in India: Bengal Gazette printed in 1790 by James Augustus in Calcutta.
• First Film Centre: Nandan. Located in Calcutta, it was inaugurated in September 1985.
• First Film with an all-female cast: Marathi Film Bindhast, directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni.
• First Five-Year Plan: Started in 1951
• First General Elections: They were held in 1952.
• First hydroelectric project in India: Shivasamudram, across the River Kaveri in 1902
• First Indian state to set up a women’s court: Andhra Pradesh
• First international co-production: Nala Damayanti (1921) made in collaboration with Italy.
• First Marine National Park: Jamnagar
• First Moonlit Animal House in Asia: Located in the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad.
• First Navodaya School: Navegaon-Khairi in Nagpur
• First Postage Stamp: It was issued in India in 1852 at Karachi.
• First Printing Press: It was set up in Goa in 1556 by the Portuguese.
• First Railway Line: It was opened on April 16, 1853 between Bombay and Thane.
• First Rupee in India: It was minted during the reign of Sher Shah Suri in 1542.
• First ship built in India: Jala Usha built by Vishakapatnam Shipyard was commissioned in 1948.
• First silent feature film in India: Pundalik made in 1912 by N.G. Chitre and R.G. Torney. It was half British in its make.
• First solar crematorium: It is proposed to be set up in Valsad, Gujarat.
• First Solar Energy Centre: Gwalpahar, Gurgaon, Haryana
• First song-less film: JBH Wadia's Naujawan (1937).
• First south Indian film to be released in Korea: Tamil Film Muthu Maharaja (June, 2000)
• First Talkie Film: Alam Ara (1931)
• First Telefilm: Satyajit Ray's Sadgati (telecast on Doordarshan in April 1981)
• First Telegraph Line: It was laid between Calcutta and Agra in 1854. This line was 1280 km long. It was extended up to Lahore in 1857.
• First Telephone system: It was started in 1881 from Calcutta.
• First Television Reception Centre: Arvi, located in Maharashtra
• First veterinary college: Opened in Parel in Bombay in 1885. It is still in existence and is the oldest veterinary college in Asia.
• First Wind farm: Mandvi, Kutch in Gujarat
• Highest Airfield in the world: Thoise, Ladakh
• Highest road in India: Khardung La Pass
• India’s first Antartica expedition: January 11, 1982
• India’s first Satellite: Aryabhatta, April 19, 1975
• India's first colour film: Prabhat's Sairandhri, which was processed and printed in Germany in 1933.
• India's first fully indigenous silent feature film: Raja Harishchandra produced by Dada Saheb Phalke on May 3, 1913.
• India's first indigenously built missile destroyer: INS 'Delhi' (commissioned on November 15, 1997 at Mumbai).
• India's first indigenously built submarine: INS 'Shakti' (commissioned on February 7, 1992)
• India's first indigenously made colour film: Ardashir Irani’s Kisan Kanya made in 1937.
• India's first manufacturer of light bulbs and electrical equipment: Bengal Lamps, Calcutta (1933)
• India's First Oil well: Digboi (1890)
• India's first radio programme: This was broadcast privately with a 40w transmitter by the Madras Presidency Club Radio in 1924.
• India's largest inland lake: Lake Chilika, Orissa
• Largest circulated multi-edition daily in India: Roudramukhi Swar in Hindi (12,92,277 copies in 1997).
• Largest circulated periodical in India: Malayala Manorama (11,27,414 copies)
• Largest circulated single edition newspaper in India: Hindustan Times from Delhi (5,40,919 copies in 1997).
• Largest Nandi in India: Nandi of the Leepakshi Temple at Andhra Pradesh
• Largest Stupa in India: Mahachaitya Stupa, Amravati, Andhra Pradesh
• Oldest era in the world: Hindu Era
• Oldest para-military force in India: Assam Rifles (1835) in Shillong
• Only Place in the world where a Brahmat Temple is found: Pushkar in Rajasthan
• Shortest era in the world: Christian Era
• State with the highest % of Scheduled Castes to total population: Punjab (28.31% - 1991 Census)
• State with the highest% of Scheduled tribes to total population: Mizoram (94.75%)
• State with the largest number of Scheduled Castes: Uttar Pradesh (29.276 million - 1991 Census)
• State with the largest number of Scheduled Tribes: Madhya Pradesh (15.399 million - 1991 Census)
• State with the largest number of towns: Uttar Pradesh (704)
• State with the largest number of villages: Uttar Pradesh (1,12,803 - 1991 Census)
• State with the least number of towns: Nagaland (7)
• State with the lowest % of Scheduled tribes to total population: Uttar Pradesh (0.21%)
• State with the lowest number of Scheduled Castes: Mizoram (1000 - 1991 Census)
• State with the lowest number of Scheduled Tribes: Sikkim (91,000)
• State with the lowest number of villages: Goa (360 - 1991 Census)
• World's First University: Taxila (700 B.C.)
• World's highest STD/PCO facilities: Siachen glacier (established in November 1997)
• World's largest school: The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes City Montessori School in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, as the world's largest school with 23,000 students on its rolls.
• Youngest para-military force in India: Coast Guard (1978)

BIOLOGY QUESTIONS

BIOLOGY QUESTIONS

1. Stem is modified into cladode :
(A) Casuarina
(B) Asparagus
(C) Opuntia
(D) Euphorbia

2. Verticillaster type of inflorescence is found in :
(A) Cotton
(B) Datura
(C) Lilium
(D) Ocimum

3. A simple one seeded fruit in which pericarp is fused with seed coat is :
(A) Achene
(B) Caryopsis
(C) Cypsela
(D) Nut

4. The portion of DNA which contains information for an entire polypeptide is called :
(A) Cistron
(B) Muton
(C) Recon
(D) Operon

5. Bicarpellary, syncarpous ovary with axile placentation is seen in :
(A) Solanaceae
(B) Caesalpinaceae
(C) Asteraceae
(D) Malvaceae

6. Alburnum is also called :
(A) Autumn wood
(B) Heart wood
(C) Sap wood
(D) Spring wood

7. The entry of pollen tube into the ovule through micropyle is called :
(A) Porogamy
(B) Mesogamy
(C) Anisogamy
(D) Chalazogamy

8. Type of pollination in Commelina is :
(A) Chasmogamy
(B) Geitonogamy
(C) Xenogamy
(D) Cleistogamy

9. The process of embryo formation without fertilization is known as :
(A) Apospory
(B) Apogamy
(C) Parthenocarpy
(D) Polyembryony

10. Which of the process Cholodny-Went theory is concerned with ?
(A) Photomorphogenesis
(B) Photoperiodism
(C) Phototropism
(D) Photorespiration

11. The hormone present in the liquid endosperm of coconut is :
(A) Cytokinin
(B) Gibberellin
(C) Ethylene
(D) Auxin

12. The phytohormone which influences apical dominance growth is :
(A) IAA
(B) ABA
(C) GA₃
(D) C₂H₄

13. An example of short day plant is :
(A) Wheat
(B) Maize
(C) Chrysanthemum
(D) Radish

14. The ovary after fertilization is converted into :
(A) Embryo
(B) Endosperm
(C) Fruit
(D) Seed

15. The molecular formula of Chlorophyll ‘a’ is :
(A) C₅₅H₇₂O₅N₄Mg
(B) C₅₅H₇₀O₅N₄Mg
(C) C₅₅H₇₂O₆N₄Mg
(D) C₅₀H₇₂O₅N₄Mg

16. The first compound that accepts CO₂ during dark phase is :
(A) NADP
(B) Ferrodoxin
(C) RUBP
(D) Cytochrome

17. Initiation codon for methionine is :
(A) AAA
(B) UUU
(C) UAA
(D) AUG

18. The deficiency of this micronutrient results in little leaf disease :
(A) Copper
(B) Zinc
(C) Boron
(D) Iron

19. Kranz anatomy is a morphological diversity in the leaves of :
(A) C_3-plants
(B) C_4-plants
(C) C₃ and C_4-plants
(D) CAM plants

20. Prechilling treatment to break seed dormancy is :
(A) Scarification
(B) Stratification
(C) Impaction
(D) Vernalization

21. The pyruvic acid formed during glycolysis is oxidized to CO₂ and H₂O in a cycle called :
(A) Calvin cycle
(B) Nitrogen cycle
(C) Hill reaction
(D) Krebs cycle

22. Respiratory quotient (RQ) is one in case of :
(A) Fatty acids
(B) Nucleic acids
(C) Carbohydrates
(D) Organic acids

23. An example of free living nitrogen fixing aerobic bacteria is :
(A) Clostridium
(B) Rhizobium
(C) Azotobacter
(D) Rhodospirillum

24. Identify the plant belonging to the Reed-Swamp stage in hydrarch succession :
(A) Juncus
(B) Sagittaria
(C) Salix
(D) Trapa

25. A gas produced by paddy fields and connected with global warming is :
(A) CO₂
(B) Chlorine
(C) H₂S
(D) Methane

26. If the strong partner is benefited and the weak partner is damaged, it is known as :
(A) Predation
(B) Allelopathy
(C) Symbiosis
(D) Commensalism

27. Acid rain is mainly caused due to increase in the levels of the gas(es) :
(A) SO₂ only
(B) CO₂ only
(C) SO₂, CO₂
(D) NO₂ and SO₂

28. The flow of energy among various trophic levels of an ecosystem is :
(A) Unidirectional
(B) Bidirectional
(C) Multidirectional
(D) Circular

29. Increase in atmospheric temperature due to CO₂ is called :
(A) Pasteur effect
(B) Green-house effect
(C) Blackman effect
(D) Emerson effect

30. The protective-ozone layer is present in :
(A) Ionosphere
(B) Stratosphere
(C) Troposphere
(D) Lithosphere

31. Decomposition of organic matter is brought about by :
(A) Protozoa
(B) Plants
(C) Micro-organisms
(D) None of these

32. The smallest taxon is called :
(A) Class
(B) Order
(C) Genus
(D) Species

33. Which one of the following is the first National Park in India ?
(A) Kanha National Park
(B) Periyar National Park
(C) Corbett National Park
(D) Bandipur National Park

34. Which one of the following is having ssRNA ?
(A) TMV
(B) T_2-bacteriophage
(C) Polio Virus
(D) CMV

35. In Whittaker’s system of classification, prokaryotes are placed in the kingdom :
(A) Protista
(B) Monera
(C) Plantae
(D) Animalia

36. Virus consists of :
(A) Nucleic acid and protein
(B) Nucleic acid
(C) Orotein
(D) None of these

37. This substance is present in the cell walls of Gram Positive bacteria only :
(A) Peptidoglycan
(B) Lipopolysaccharides
(C) Teichoic acids
(D) None of these

38. Highest degree of polymorphism is found in :
(A) Protozoa
(B) Cnidaria
(C) Platyhelminthes
(D) Arthropoda

39. Sea mouse belongs to phylum :
(A) Mollusca
(B) Cnidaria
(C) Arthropoda
(D) Annelida

40. One of the following animal belongs to Cyclostomata :
(A) Channa
(B) Loris
(C) Dodo
(D) Petromyzon

41. An egg laying mammal is :
(A) Delphinus
(B) Macaca
(C) Ornithorhynchus
(D) Macropus

42. In sharks, one of the following is absent :
(A) Claspers
(B) Placoid scales
(C) Cartilaginous endoskeleton
(D) Air bladder

43. The devil fish and sea hare are :
(A) Molluscs
(B) Crustaceans
(C) Coelenterates
(D) Marine fish and mammal

44. Endothelium of blood vessels is made up of :
(A) Simple cuboidal epithelium
(B) Simple squamous epithelium
(C) Simple columnar epithelium
(D) Simple non-ciliated columnar

45. In humans, sphincter of Oddi is associated with the opening of :
(A) Common hepatopancreatic duct
(B) Pyloric stomach
(C) Oesophagus
(D) Colon

46. In human beings, the duration of cardiac cycle is :
(A) 0•08 second
(B) 0•5 second
(C) 0•8 second
(D) 8•0 second

47. In which part of nephron, reabsorption is minimum from filtrate ?
(A) Henle’s loop
(B) Proximal convoluted tubule
(C) Distal convoluted tubule
(D) Collecting duct

48. Which hormone level reaches peak during luteal phase of menstrual cycle ?
(A) Luteinizing hormone
(B) Progesterone
(C) Follicle stimulating hormone
(D) Estrogen

49. The largest subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes is :
(A) 30S
(B) 40S
(C) 50S
(D) 60S

50. Which of the following is a part of endomembrane system of eukaryotic cell ?
(A) Peroxisomes
(B) Chloroplasts
(C) Mitochondria
(D) Golgi complexes

51. Inflammation of joints due to accumulation of uric acid crystals is called as :
(A) Gout
(B) Myasthenia gravis
(C) Osteoporosis
(D) Osteomalacia

52. Chromosomes are visible with chromatids at this phase of mitosis :
(A) Interphase
(B) Prophase
(C) Metaphase
(D) Anaphase

53. Inheritance of ABO blood grouping is an example of :
(A) Dominance
(B) Codominance
(C) Incomplete dominance
(D) All of these

54. In a dihybrid cross between RRYY and rryy parents, the number of RrYy genotypes in F2 generation will be :
(A) 4
(B) 3
(C) 2
(D) 1

55. Identify a 47, + 21 disorder from the following :
(A) Down’s syndrome
(B) Turner’s syndrome
(C) Phenylketonuria
(D) Klinefelter’s syndrome

56. Uracil is present in RNA at the place of :
(A) Adenine
(B) Guanine
(C) Cytosine
(D) Thymine

57. Copying genetic information from one strand of DNA into RNA is :
(A) Translation
(B) Transcription
(C) Transformation
(D) Transduction

58. S. L. Miller’s closed flask contained :
(A) CH₄
(B) H₂
(C) NH₃ and Water vapour
(D) All of these

59. Change of frequency of alleles in a population results in evolution is proposed in :
(A) Darwin’s theory
(B) Lamarck’s theory
(C) Hardy-Weinberg principle
(D) De Vries theory

60. One of the following is the vestigial organ in human beings :
(A) Nictitating membrane
(B) Spleen
(C) Femur
(D) Tibia

61. The golden age of reptiles is :
(A) Cenozoic era
(B) Palaeozoic era
(C) Mesozoic era
(D) Silurian period

62. The theory of use and disuse of organ was proposed by :
(A) Darwin
(B) Lamarck
(C) De Vries
(D) Hooker

63. One of the following theories were proposed by Weissman :
(A) Law of inheritance
(B) Theory of inheritance of acquired characters
(C) Theory of natural selection
(D) Theory of germplasm

64. Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny—
this theory is called :
(A) Biogenetic law
(B) Law of embryology
(C) Law of acquired characters
(D) Law of Bridges

65. The brain capacity of Homoerectus is :
(A) 800 cc
(B) 900 cc
(C) 1200 cc
(D) 1400 cc

66. An example of Innate immunity is :
(A) PMNL-neutrophils
(B) T-lymphocytes
(C) B-lymphocytes
(D) TH cells

67. Cocaine is extracted from :
(A) Erythroxylum coca
(B) Cannabis sativa
(C) Papaver somniferum
(D) Atropa belladonna

68. The enzyme that cuts DNA is :
(A) DNA-polymerase
(B) DNA-ligase
(C) DNA-lyase
(D) Restriction endonuclease

69. In the association between two organisms, if one organism is benefited and the other is not benefited, this relationship is known as :
(A) Symbiotism
(B) Mutualism
(C) Commensalism
(D) Parasitism

70. Opiate narcotics drugs are :
(A) Antianxiety
(B) Analgesic
(C) Hypnotic
(D) Antihistamine

71. The drug useful to increase cardiovascular effects in human beings is :
(A) Cocaine
(B) Barbiturate
(C) Benzodiazetine
(D) Insulin

72. In echolocation, the animal that produces high frequency sounds is :
(A) Monkey
(B) Butterfly
(C) Squirrel
(D) Bat

73. Two kingdoms constantly figured in all biological classifications are :
(A) Plantae and Animalia
(B) Monera and Animalia
(C) Protista and Animalia
(D) Protista and Plantae

74. The dioecious animal is :
(A) Liverfluke
(B) Hookworm
(C) Tapeworm
(D) Earthworm

75. Comb plates are found in :
(A) Adamsia
(B) Aurelia
(C) Nereis
(D) Pleurobrachia

Answers with Hints
1. (B) Cladode is a type of phylloclade consisting of one internode only. These are cylindrical (not fleshy) and are mistaken for leaves.
2. (D) Verticillaster is a complex inflorescence found in the Ocimum sanctum, a member of family Labiatae.
3. (B) 4. (A) 5. (A) 6. (C) 7. (A)
8. (D) Cleistogamy is seen in underground flowers of Commelina bengalensis which are small and inconspicuous. This plant also bears chasmogamous blue flowers above.
9. (B) 10. (C) 11. (A) 12. (A)
13. (C) Short day plant (SDP) requires a relatively short day light period (usually 8-10 hrs.) and a continuous dark period of about 14–16 hours for subsequent flowering.
14. (C) 15. (A) 16. (C) 17. (D) 18. (B)
19. (B) Kranz anatomy—It is a typical structure in the leaves of plants that have a C₄–pathway of CO₂ fixation. The leaves contain a ring of mesophyll cells, containing a few chloroplasts surroundings a sheath of bundle sheath cells having large chloroplasts involved in the Calvin cycle.
20. (B) 21. (D) 22. (C) 23. (C) 24. (B) 25. (D) 26. (A)
27. (D) Acid rain results from the emission into the atmosphere of various pollutant gases in particular sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and oxides of nitrogen (NO₂), which originate from the burning of fossil fuels and from motor-car exhaust fumes, respectively.
28. (A) 29. (B) 30. (B) 31. (C) 32. (D)
33. (C) The first National Park in India was set up in 1935 in the foot hills of Himalayas and was known as Hailey National Park. It is now known as Corbett National Park.
34. (A) Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a rigid rod-shaped ssRNA-containing virus that causes distortion and blistering of leaves in a wide range of plants.
35. (B) Kingdom Monera includes all prokaryotes. They are basically unicellular but can be mycelial, colonial and filamentous.
36. (A) 37. (A)
38. (B) A striking feature of cnidarians is the high degree of polymorphism often seen in a single species. Two basic types—sessile polyp and free-swimming medusa–occur.
39. (D) 40. (D) 41. (C)
42. (D) Members of Elasmobranchii subclass have no swim (air) bladders.
43. (D) 44. (B) 45. (A) 46. (C) 47. (C) 48. (B) 49. (C)
50. (D) Golgi complex is a part of endomembrane system, which is the system of internal membranes within eukaryotic cells that divide the cell into functional and structural compartments, or organelles.
51. (A) 52. (B)
53. (B) AB blood group in human is an example of codominance in which both the alleles I^A I^B are equally expressed. It means I^A I^B individuals have a phenotype that is essentially a combination of those shown by individuals with A and B blood groups.
54. (A)
55. (A) A small autosome, chromosome 21, added to the normal complement (47, + 21) causes Down syndrome. This is a trisomic for chromosome 21.
56. (D) 57. (B) 58. (D) 59. (C) 60. (A)
61. (C) The Mesozoic era is often known as the “Golden Age of Reptiles” as these animals, which included the dinosaurs and ichthyosaurs, became dominant lifeform.
62. (B) 63. (D) 64. (A) 65. (B) 66. (A) 67. (A)
68. (D) Restriction enzyme is a class of nucleases originally extracted from the E . coli. Type I restriction enzymes bind to a recognition site of duplex DNA, travel along the molecule and cleave one strand only. Type II cleaves the duplex at specific target site at or near the binding site.
69. (C) 70. (B) 71. (A) 72. (C) 73. (A) 74. (B) 75. (D)