Women Empowerment

Power is a relational dynamic between individuals or between groups of people and is often unequally distributed.This inequality results in control or domination.The pattern in which power is distributed in a society or the power structure of society is strengthened by the force of tradition ,values,history and by the prevalent ways of thinking and behaving.Any effort to change the balance of power entails change in the existing power structure.

Women's empowerment is the process by which women negotiate a more equitable distribution of power , a greater space in the critical decision making processes in the home ,in the community and in the economic and political life.The aim of empowerment of women is the fuller and wholesome development of both men and women. Empowerment of women is anti-men.It is against patriarchy.Changes in law pertaining to marriage ,property,sexual harassment ,dowry,rape and other forms of violence,so as to bring in laws favouring or supporting women's empowerment are necessary but not enough.Enabling women to actually access to the benefits of appropriate laws is the key task of the empowerment process.

The process of empowerment which seeks an equitable and active share for women has to deal with the burden of ideas and values which are passed on to women as part of their socialisation process from their very childhood.This social conditioning becomes part of her person and mindset and influences her behaviour.The empowerment process must begin with women changing their own ways of thinking and behaving .They must try to appreciate themselves more and to recognise and value their knowledge and skills and their contribution of the sustainability of the households and the community.

Women then,must wage a multi-prolonged battle at many levels and this battle has necessarily to begin with the women themselves at a personal and individual level .As the empowerment process advances ,men loose their traditional power and control over women and this process must begin within the family.Women setting out to empower themselves must be aware and also prepared for the backlash they might have to face from the men who suddenly find themselves losing their traditional power and control.The road to empowerment is long,lonely and often frightening.In fact ,the struggle is the process of empowerment.In recent decades, while individual women have been waging a very personal struggle ,they have not been alone.Women within communities ,within countries and across the globe have been linking within one another to expand and to sharpen their efforts for their own empowerment.

Economic Empowerment of women:

Poverty Eradication: Since women comprise the majority of the population below the poverty line and are very often in situations of extreme poverty, given the harsh realities of intra-household and social discrimination, macro economic policies and poverty eradication programmes will specifically address the needs and problems of such women. There will be improved implementation of programmes which are already women oriented with special targets for women. Steps will be taken for mobilization of poor women and convergence of services, by offering them a range of economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities

Micro Credit: In order to enhance women’s access to credit for consumption and production, the establishment of new, and strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and micro-finance institution will be undertaken so that the outreach of credit is enhanced. Other supportive measures would be taken to ensure adequate flow of credit through extant financial institutions and banks, so that all women below poverty line have easy access to credit.

Women and Economy: Women’s perspectives will be included in designing and implementing macro-economic and social policies by institutionalizing their participation in such processes. Their contribution to socio-economic development as producers and workers will be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions will be drawn up. Such measures could include:

Women and Agriculture: In view of the critical role of women in the agriculture and allied sectors, as producers, concentrated efforts will be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in proportion to their numbers. The programmes for training women in soil conservation, social forestry, dairy development and other occupations allied to agriculture like horticulture, livestock including small animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries etc. will be expanded to benefit women workers in the agriculture sector.

Women and Industry: The important role played by women in electronics, information technology and food processing and agro industry and textiles has been crucial to the development of these sectors. They would be given comprehensive support in terms of labour legislation, social security and other support services to participate in various industrial sectors.
Women at present cannot work in night shift in factories even if they wish to. Suitable measures will be taken to enable women to work on the night shift in factories. This will be accompanied with support services for security, transportation etc.

Social Empowerment of Women:

Education: Equal access to education for women and girls will be ensured. Special measures will be taken to eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a gender-sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to facilitate life-long learning as well as development of occupation/vocation/technical skills by women. Reducing the gender gap in secondary and higher education would be a focus area. Sectoral time targets in existing policies will be achieved, with a special focus on girls and women, particularly those belonging to weaker sections including the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes/Minorities. Gender sensitive curricula would be developed at all levels of educational system in order to address sex stereotyping as one of the causes of gender discrimination.

Health: A holistic approach to women’s health which includes both nutrition and health services will be adopted and special attention will be given to the needs of women and the girl at all stages of the life cycle. The reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality, which are sensitive indicators of human development, is a priority concern. This policy reiterates the national demographic goals for Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) set out in the National Population Policy 2000. Women should have access to comprehensive, affordable and quality health care. Measures will be adopted that take into account the reproductive rights of women to enable them to exercise informed choices, their vulnerability to sexual and health problems together with endemic, infectious and communicable diseases such as malaria, TB, and water borne diseases as well as hypertension and cardio-pulmonary diseases. The social, developmental and health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases will be tackled from a gender perspective.

Nutrition: Intra-household discrimination in nutritional matters vis-à-vis girls and women will be sought to be ended through appropriate strategies. Widespread use of nutrition education would be made to address the issues of intra-household imbalances in nutrition and the special needs of pregnant and lactating women. Women’s participation will also be ensured in the planning, superintendence and delivery of the system.

Violence against women: All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic or societal levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence. Institutions and mechanisms/schemes for assistance will be created and strengthened for prevention of such violence , including sexual harassment at work place and customs like dowry; for the rehabilitation of the victims of violence and for taking effective action against the perpetrators of such violence. A special emphasis will also be laid on programmes and measures to deal with trafficking in women and girls.

Rights of the Girl Child: All forms of discrimination against the girl child and violation of her rights shall be eliminated by undertaking strong measures both preventive and punitive within and outside the family. These would relate specifically to strict enforcement of laws against prenatal sex selection and the practices of female foeticide, female infanticide, child marriage, child abuse and child prostitution etc. Removal of discrimination in the treatment of the girl child within the family and outside and projection of a positive image of the girl child will be actively fostered. There will be special emphasis on the needs of the girl child and earmarking of substantial investments in the areas relating to food and nutrition, health and education, and in vocational education. In implementing programmes for eliminating child labour, there will be a special focus on girl children.

Mass Media: Media will be used to portray images consistent with human dignity of girls and women. The Policy will specifically strive to remove demeaning, degrading and negative conventional stereotypical images of women and violence against women. Private sector partners and media networks will be involved at all levels to ensure equal access for women particularly in the area of information and communication technologies. The media would be encouraged to develop codes of conduct, professional guidelines and other self regulatory mechanisms to remove gender stereotypes and promote balanced portrayals of women and men.

Operational Strategies:

Institutional Mechanisms: National and State Resource Centres on women will be established with mandates for collection and dissemination of information, undertaking research work, conducting surveys, implementing training and awareness generation programmes, etc. These Centers will link up with Women’s Studies Centres and other research and academic institutions through suitable information networking systems.While institutions at the district level will be strengthened, at the grass-roots, women will be helped by Government through its programmes to organize and strengthen into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at the Anganwadi/Village/Town level. The women’s groups will be helped to institutionalize themselves into registered societies and to federate at the Panchyat/Municipal level. These societies will bring about synergistic implementation of all the social and economic development programmes by drawing resources made available through Government and Non-Government channels, including banks and financial institutions and by establishing a close Interface with the Panchayats/ Municipalities.

Resource Management:

1. Assessment of benefits flowing to women and resource allocation to the programmes relating to them through an exercise of gender budgeting. Appropriate changes in policies will be made to optimize benefits to women under these schemes;
2. Adequate resource allocation to develop and promote the policy outlined earlier based on (a) above by concerned Departments.
3. Developing synergy between personnel of Health, Rural Development, Education and Women & Child Development Department at field level and other village level functionaries’
4. Meeting credit needs by banks and financial credit institutions through suitable policy initiatives and development of new institutions in coordination with the Department of Women & Child Development.

Women’s Component Plan: The strategy of Women’s Component Plan adopted in the Ninth Plan of ensuring that not less than 30% of benefits/funds flow to women from all Ministries and Departments will be implemented effectively so that the needs and interests of women and girls are addressed by all concerned sectors. The Department of Women and Child Development being the nodal Ministry will monitor and review the progress of the implementation of the Component Plan from time to time, in terms of both quality and quantity in collaboration with the Planning Commission.

Legislation

1. Strict enforcement of all relevant legal provisions and speedy redressal of grievances will be ensured, with a special focus on violence and gender related atrocities.
2. Measures to prevent and punish sexual harassment at the place of work, protection for women workers in the organized/ unorganized sector and strict enforcement of relevant laws such as Equal Remuneration Act and Minimum Wages Act will be undertaken,
3. Crimes against women, their incidence, prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution will be regularly reviewed at all Crime Review fora and Conferences at the Central, State and District levels. Recognised, local, voluntary organizations will be authorized to lodge Complaints and facilitate registration, investigations and legal proceedings related to violence and atrocities against girls and women.
4. Women’s Cells in Police Stations, Encourage Women Police Stations Family Courts, Mahila Courts, Counselling Centers, Legal Aid Centers and Nyaya Panchayats will be strengthened and expanded to eliminate violence and atrocities against women.
5. Widespread dissemination of information on all aspects of legal rights, human rights and other entitlements of women, through specially designed legal literacy programmes and rights information programmes will be done.

Gender Sensitization:

1. Promoting societal awareness to gender issues and women’s human rights.
2. Review of curriculum and educational materials to include gender education and human rights issues
3. Removal of all references derogatory to the dignity of women from all public documents and legal instruments.
4. Use of different forms of mass media to communicate social messages relating to women’s equality and empowerment.

Partnership with the voluntary sector organizations: The involvement of voluntary organizations, associations, federations, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, women’s organizations, as well as institutions dealing with education, training and research will be ensured in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and review of all policies and programmes affecting women. Towards this end, they will be provided with appropriate support related to resources and capacity building and facilitated to participate actively in the process of the empowerment of women.

Women Reservation Bill: Reservation for women at each level of legislative decision-making, starting with the Lok Sabha, down to state and local legislatures.If the Bill is passed, one-third of the total available seats would be reserved for women in national, state, or local governments.In continuation of the existing provisions already mandating reservations for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, one-third of such SC and ST candidates must be women. Political pundits, sociologists, political scientists, feminists and historians and almost everybody has said that if the bill becomes an act then it will be the biggest socio-political news since independence.
The central government cleared the Bill on February 25, 2010. For such a bill to pass, the Constitution has laid out an elaborate procedure. So, even if the Rajya Sabha passes the bill its real impact will be felt only when it passes through the Lok Sabha.On March 8, it's difficult to say how the government will manage order in the Upper House so that members favouring the bill can vote without disruption or chaos created by opposing members.

DIVISIONAL ACCOUNTS OFFICERS (24/2007 & 23/2008) - WRITTEN EXAMINATION RESULT

APPSC conducted DIVISIONAL ACCOUNTS OFFICER (WORKS) GRADE-II in A.P. Works Accounts Service Oral Test (Interview)  from 10/10/2011 to 13/10/2011.

FOR RESULT CLICK HERE

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2010-11 MCQs

1.     According to the Economic survey 2010-11 what percentage growth was recorded by the manufacturing sector in 2010?
a.    9.1% 
b.    8.6%
c.    7.3% 
d.    8%
Answer: a

2.     As per the economic Survey of India 2010-11, the production of food grains is estimated at over 232 million tonnes with record production of which food crop?   
a.    Rice 
b.    Wheat
c.    Bajra 
d.    Maize
Answer: b

3.    What is the percentage growth of GDP predicted by The Economic Survey for the financial year 2010-11?   
a.    8.6% 
b.    8.3%
c.    8.0%
d.    9.1%
Answer: a

4.      The Economic Survey estimated the Forex reserves of India at over 297 billion US dollars. The surge in Forex is attributed to growth in which of the following sector?
    a.    Export sector     
    b.    Foreign Direct Investments
    c.    Agricultural output
    d.    Industrial output
Answer: a

5.        Gross Fiscal Deficit stands at 4.8% of GDP. What was the percentage of Gross Fiscal Deficit in 2010?
 a.    6.3%
b.    5.8%  
 c.    5.0% 
d.    7.1%
Answer: a

6.   Agriculture is expected to grow by what percentage in 2010-11 as per the Economic Survey?
a.    5.0% 
b.    5.1%
c.    5.4% 
d.    5.5%
Answer: c

7.      What percentage of GDP growth at market prices was estimated by the Economic Survey 2010-11?    a.    9.0% 
b.    9.5%
c.    9.7% 
d.    10.0%
Answer: c

8.        Exports surged by what percentage in the period between April to December 2010?
 a.    25.0% 
b.    29.5%
c.    18.1% 
d.    33.0%
Answer: b

9.     Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed to increase the Income Tax Exemption Limit for individual tax payers from 1 lakh 60 to _? 
a.    1 lakh 80 thousand 
b.    1 lakh 90 thousand
c.    2 lakh 
d.    2 lakh 20 thousand
Answer: a 

10. Which of the following was not proposed in the Union Budget 2011-12 presented by pranab Mukherjee?
    1.    Special vehicles were proposed to be created in the form of Infrastructure Debt Funds to attract foreign funds.
    2.    Rs. 300 crore expenditure was proposed to promote horticulture centres in rain fed areas for increasing crop productivity.
    3.    For the manufacturing sector, the budget proposed reduction of basic customs duty on raw silk from 30 to 5 per cent.
    4.    Concessional 10 per cent Excise Duty was also proposed for fuel cell or Hydrogen cell-technology-based vehicles.
a.    1 & 3 
b.    Only 2
c.    Only 4 
d.    3 & 4
Answer: b

11.     In the Budget it was proposed to provide sum of money for implementation of vegetable initiative to set in motion a virtuous cycle of higher production and incomes for the farmers. What was the proposed amount?   
 a.    Rs 500 crore 
b.    Rs 300 crore
 c.    Rs 10000 crore 
d.    Rs 650 crore
Answer: b

12. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana was proposed to be being extended to the beneficiaries of which of the following Union Government schemes?   
    a.  Mahatma Gandhi NREGA beneficiaries
    b. Beneficiaries of Swavlamban pension scheme
    c. Indira Gandhi National old Age Pension scheme beneficiaries
    d.Beneficiaries of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana
Answer: a

13. Acknowledging the need for development of J&K and North-east, Mamata Banerjee introduced in the Railway Budget 2011 a number measures for these two regions. In which of the following North-eastern cities did the budget propose to set up a diesel locomotive centre?   
a.    Imphal 
b.    Manipur
c.    Guwahati 
d.    Tripura
Answer: b

14.    Read the two statements with regard to the passenger benefit plans proposed in the Railway Budget 2011.
    1.The budget proposed extension of Train Management System to New Delhi, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow stations to provide information on running of trains.
    2.Mamta Banerjee introduced a new concept of Smart Card - Go India for long distance travel by Indian railways.
    Which of the two statements are true?   
    a.    Only 1 
   b.    Only 2 
    c.    Both 1 & 2 
    d.    None of the above
Answer: c

15. According to Railway Budget 2011, railway card passes would be extended to the parents of the unmarried posthumous winners of which of the following Awards?
    1.    Param Vir Chakra
    2.    Bharat Ratna
    3.    Ashok Chakra gallantry award
    4.    Padma Shri
a.    1 & 2 
b.    2 & 3 
c.    1, 2 & 3 
d.    1 & 3
Answer: d

16. Which of the following schemes proposed in the Railway Budget 2011 is/are not meant for Railway Employees?
    1.    Expansion of Liberalized Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment
    2.    Railway Vidyalaya Prabandhan Board
    3.    Sukhi Griha Scheme
    4.    Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana
a.    1 & 3
b.    3 & 4 
c.    2 & 4 
d.    1 & 4
Answer: b

17. The electrical energy requirement of railways is growing rapidly with the expansion of the rail infrastructure and traffic. Considering the rising demand the Ministry of Railways proposed to set up 700 MW power plant at Thakurli in Maharashtra. The power plant is proposed to be based on what form of energy?     
a.    gas-based 
b.    coal-based
c.    solar power 
d.    nuclear energy based
Answer: a

18.     Ministry of Railways proposed to extend Anti Collision Device (ACD) to which of the following Railway zones in India?   
1.    Eastern zone 
2.    East Central
3.    North Eastern
4.    South Central
a.    1 & 4 
b.    2 & 4
c.    1 & 2 
d.    1 & 3
Answer: c

19.     With regard to the infrastructure development of Railways as proposed in Railway Budget 2011 which statement/statements is/are false?
    1.    The budget proposed to lay 40 new lines, covering 1075 km.
    2.    The Ministry has allocated Rs 5406 crore for doubling of 867 km of lines
    3.    A greater thrust was given to the expansion of the rail network with a larger allocation of Rs 9583 cr for new lines.
    4.    for gauge conversion over 1017 km. Rs 13820 crore was proposed
a.    Only 1 
b.    1 & 2
c.    Only 4 
d.    2 & 4
Answer: c

20.     Read the two statements mentioned with regard to the budgetary allocations for addressing environmental concerns.
    1.    The budget proposed that the solar lantern used in far-flung villages will attract no duty from 10 per cent charged earlier.
    2.    To provide green and clean transportation for the masses, National Mission for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles will be launched in the year 2011 in collaboration with all stakeholders.
    Which of them is true?
a.    Only 1 
b.    Only 2 
c.    Both 1 & 2 
d.    None of the above
Answer: b

21.     To enhance credit worthiness of economically weaker sections and LIG households, a Mortgage Risk Guarantee Fund was announced to be created under which of the following scheme or Yojana?  
    a. Rajiv Awas Yojana
    b. Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana
    c. Indira Awas Yojana
    d. Mahatama Gandhi NREGA
Answer: a

22.    Read the following statements with regard to the allocation in the Educational sector as proposed by Union Budget 2011-12.
    1. For Sarva Siksha Abhiyan the allocation was increased by 40 percent to 21000 crore rupees.
    2. All institutions of higher learning will be connected through optical fibers by March 2012.
    3. 500 crore rupees was proposed to be provided for national skill development fund.
    4. For the needy scheduled castes ad scheduled tribe candidates studying in class-IX and Xth pre-matric scholarship scheme was proposed to be introduced.
    Which of the above mentioned statements is not true?
    a.    1 
    b.    2   
    c.    3 & 4 
   d.    4
Answer: b

23. The Basic Customs Duty exemption was proposed to be extended to which of the following sectors?   
    a. art and antiquities for exhibition or display in private art galleries      
    b. Cinematographic film, factory-built ambulances
    c. syringes and needles
    d. agricultural machinery
Answer: a

24.    What amount of money was allocated for Bharat Nirman?
a. 1000 crore 
b.  58000 crore 
c. 55438 crore 
d.  14362 crore
Answer: b

25. Which of the following statement/statements is/are true with reference to the Railway Budget 2011?   
    1.    Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Annual Plan for the year 2011-12 at Rs 57630 cr which is the highest ever plan investment by the railways in a single year.
    2.    Under the proposed Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana the pending socially desirable lines would be completed and other similar new line projects would also be taken up.
    3.    Mamata Banerjee declared 2010-11 as the Year of Green Energy.
    4.    2 AC Double Decker Trains in the Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Ahmedabad routes were proposed.
    Choose Answers:
a. 1,2 & 3 
b. 1 & 4
c.  2 & 3 
d. 1 & 2
Answer: d

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUESTIONS

1. ‘Verna’ is the new model of the following car makers—
(A) Suzuki
(B) BMW
(C) Hyundai
(D) Honda
Answer: Hyundai

2. Which position did Sachin Tendulkar achieve in the ICC ranking in August 2011 ?
(A) First
(B) Sixth
(C) Third
(D) Eighth
Answer: Third

3. How many seats did the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bag on its own in the Uttar Pradesh state general assembly election in April-May 2007 ?
(A) 145
(B) 138
(C) 207
(D) 187
Answer: 207


4. Who among the following has been honoured with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2009 ?
(A) Mohd. El Baradei
(B) Dalai Lama
(C) Sheikh Hasina Wajed
(D) Barack Obama
Answer: Sheikh Hasina Wajed

5. The Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the year 2009 was conferred on—
(A) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
(B) Thomas A. Steitz
(C) Ada E. Yonuth
(D) All the above
Answer: All the above

6. Who among the following is heading the SEBI’s Committee on Corporate governance?
(A) Ratan Tata
(B) G. N. Bajpai
(C) Narayan Murthy
(D) J. S. Verma
Answer: Narayan Murthy

7. In which of the following states has the Tata Tele-service (TTSL) started its first operation under the new name Tata Indicom?
(A) Goa
(B) Kerala
(C) Tamil Nadu
(D) Maharashtra
Answer: Tamil Nadu

8. Who among the following has been honoured with Bharat Ratna for the year 2008 ?
(A) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(B) G. Madhavan Nair
(C) None of these
(D) Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Answer: Pt. Bhimsen Joshi

9. Which Hindi author has been selected for the K. K. Birla Vyas Samman 2010 for his poetry collection “Phir Bhi Kuch Rah Jayega” ?
(A) Sri Lal Shukla
(B) Gopal Das Neeraj
(C) Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari
(D) None of these
Answer: Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari

10. Who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in the year 2010 ?
(A) Ehud Barak
(B) Liu Xiaobo
(C) Linda Buck
(D) Both (B) & (C)
Answer: Liu Xiaobo

11. Which of the following companies is the world’s number one car maker ?
(A) Honda Motor
(B) Volvo Motor
(C) Suzuki Motor
(D) General Motor
Answer: General Motor

12. With what game is the name of Cara Black associated ?
(A) Lawn Tennis
(B) Badminton
(C) Table Tennis
(D) Chess
Answer: Lawn Tennis

13. The multinational company which has launched ‘Bio Colour Television’ in Indian market?
(A) L.G.
(B) Samsung
(C) BPL
(D) Philips
Answer: Samsung


14. Who was awarded the 83rd Oscar Award for the Best Director on 27th February, 2011?
(A) Jamie Foxx
(B) Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)
(C) Morgan Freeman
(D) None of these
Answer: Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)

15. Which one of the following countries of the world is worst affected by the economic meltdown currently plaguing the world ?
(A) China
(B) India
(C) The U.K.
(D) The U.S.A.
Answer: The U.S.A.

16. Name the magazine which has been circulated on the board of Indian Airlines after replacing ‘Swagat.’
(A) Cosmopolitan
(B) Darpan
(C) Welcome
(D) Flying World
Answer: Darpan

17. Government of India formed a new South-Western Command of the Indian land army. With this the number of commands will be raised to—
(A) 6
(B) 8
(C) 7
(D) 5
Answer: 7

18. How many states in the country have been chosen for a pilot project to introduce a new multipurpose national Identity Card ?
(A) 16
(B) 15
(C) 14
(D) 13
Answer: 13

19. With the admission of two new members into the European Union on January 1, 2007, the membership of the organisation has now risen to—
(A) 25
(B) 19
(C) 27
(D) 15
Answer: 27

20. The famous Akshardham Temple is situated in the city of—
(A) Madurai
(B) Gandhi Nagar
(C) Jammu
(D) Srinagar
Answer: Gandhi Nagar 

21. Which of the following parties does not form part of the United Progressive Alliance government formed following the elections to the 14th Lok Sabha ?
(A) DMK
(B) RJD
(C) JD (U)
(D) NCP
Answer: JD (U)

22. ‘India’s Gateway to the World’ the famous slogan is of—
(A) Air India
(B) BSNL
(C) VSNL
(D) Wipro
Answer: VSNL

23. ‘Vision India 2020’ is a book written by—
(A) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(B) I. K. Gujral
(C) Narendra Modi
(D) Shushil Kumar Shinde
Answer: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam


24. The company which sponsored the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the century is—
(A) Birla
(B) Onida
(C) Electrolux
(D) Sony
Answer: Electrolux

25. Who among the following won the Nobel Prize for Medicine 2010 ?
(A) Elizabeth H. Blackburn
(B) Carol W. Greider
(C) Jack W. Szostak
(D) Robert G. Edwards
Answer: Robert G. Edwards

26. Which Indian Scientist has had the distinction of receiving not only the Nobel Prize, but also Bharat Ratna ?
(A) Dr. Homi Bhabha
(B) Dr. J. C. Bose
(C) Dr. C. V. Raman
(D) Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
Answer: Dr. C. V. Raman

27. Who among the following was awarded Nobel Prize for Literature-2010 ?
(A) Mario Vergas Llosa
(B) Bill Clinton
(C) Paul Lauterbur
(D) Shirin Ebadi
Answer: Mario Vergas Llosa

28. Who got the Best Actor Award in the 58th National Film Awards announced on May 19, 2011 ?
(A) Amitabh Bachchan
(B) Shahrukh Khan
(C) Dhanush and Salim Kumar
(D) Nana Patekar
See Answer:

29. Who was awarded the UNESCO—Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Award for 2011 ?
(A) K.C. Vashishtha
(B) Ahmad Zeidabadi
(C) Mai Chidiac
(D) N. Swaminathan
Answer: Ahmad Zeidabadi

30. The Nuclear Security Summit was held between 12-13 April, 2010 at—
(A) Bucharest
(B) Dhaka
(C) Washington
(D) Islamabad
Answer: Washington

31. Who among the following is the USA’s new Foreign Secretary or Secretary of State in place of Condolezza Rice, following Presidential elections in Nov. 2008?
(A) James Rumsfeld
(B) Hillary Clinton
(C) Armitage
(D) None of these
Answer: Hillary Clinton

32. Which company recently hit the business headlines for striking a historic natural gas discovery near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh ?
(A) Gas Authority of India Ltd.
(B) ONGC
(C) Oil India Ltd.
(D) Reliance Industries
Answer: Reliance Industries

33. Who became the first Indian women to cross Gobi Desert in July 2011 ?
(A) Amrita Singh
(B) Ankita Singh
(C) Sucheta Kadethanker
(D) None of these
Answer: Sucheta Kadethanker


34. Which of the following is a recipient of Dhyan Chand Award, 2010 announced in August 2010 ?
(A) Hukam Singh
(B) Satish Pillai
(C) Mukh Bain Singh
(D) Gyan Singh
Answer: Satish Pillai

35. G-15 Summit concluded on 17 May, 2010 in—
(A) Kualalumpur
(B) Tehran
(C) Beijing
(D) Hanoi
Answer: Tehran

36. Where was the World Economic Forum meeting held in January, 2009 ?
(A) Jakarta
(B) Manila
(C) Kualalumpur
(D) Davos
Answer: Davos

37. India’s newly built and tested missile ‘Astra’ is meant for—
(A) Surface to air strike
(B) Air to air strike
(C) Ship to ship strike
(D) Surface to surface strike
Answer: Air to air strike

38. Who has been appointed the first woman Prime Minister of Tobago ?
(A) Kamla Das
(B) Kamla Devi
(C) Kamla Prasad Bissessar
(D) Kamla K. Singh
Answer: Kamla Prasad Bissessar

39. ‘Power’ a new variety of petrol has been introduced in the market by—
(A) BPCL
(B) ONGC
(C) IOC
(D) HPCL
Answer: HPCL

40. Who is the new President of the European Council ?
(A) Leszek Miller
(B) Marek Belka
(C) Gerhard Schroeder
(D) Herman Van Rompuy
Answer: Herman Van Rompuy

41. Identify Mullaithivu—
(A) It is the name of the town which was one of the strong holds of the LTTE in Sri Lanka
(B) It is a terrorist organisation in Sri Lanka
(C) It is a place of pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu
(D) None of these
Answer: It is the name of the town which was one of the strong holds of the LTTE in Sri Lanka

42. Which of the following is not a member of G-20 developing nations ?
(A) Argentina
(B) India
(C) Pakistan
(D) USA
Answer: USA

43. Which of the following was crowned Miss India worldwide 2010 ?
(A) Niharica Raizada
(B) Kajal Lutchminarain
(C) Cher Merchand
(D) None of these
Answer: Kajal Lutchminarain


44. Where did the 16th SAARC Summit take place in April 2010 ?
(A) Vientiane
(B) Kualalumpur
(C) Thimpu
(D) Hanoi
Answer: Thimpu

45. Which scientist received Shantiswarup Bhatanagar Award 2009 for Mathematical Sciences ?
(A) Dr. Probal Chaudhuri
(B) Dr. Kapil Hare Paranjape
(C) Dr. Mitali Mukherjee
(D) Dr. Atul Chawksi
Answer: Dr. Mitali Mukherjee

46. Which of the following has been not selected for Padma Bhushan Award for 2011 ?
(A) Satyadev Dubey
(B) Shashi Kapoor
(C) Waheeda Rehman
(D) Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra
Answer: Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra

47. The first Indian to win Nobel Prize was—
(A) C.V. Raman
(B) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(C) Hargovind Khurana
(D) Amartya Sen
Answer: Rabindra Nath Tagore

48. Who was awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize 2008 ?
(A) Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpai
(C) Tony Blair
(D) George W. Bush
Answer: Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

49. Julictte Binoche has begged best actress award in 63rd International Film Festival of Cannes for the film—
(A) A Screaming Man
(B) Of Gods and Men
(C) Certified Copy
(D) Ano Bisiesto
Answer: Certified Copy

50. Who has been awarded the Best Younger Player Award in FIFA World Cup Football 2010 ?
(A) Diego Forlan
(B) Thomas Muller
(C) Andres Iniesta
(D) Iker Casillas
Answer: Andres Iniesta

Leila Lopes of Angola crowned 60th Miss Universe

 

Leila Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe, smoothly handling an interview question about what physical trait she would change if could, while wearing a strapless cream-colored gown.

Lopes, Angola’s first winner, beat out 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world’s biggest beauty pageant. She replaces last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico. 

The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.

Contestants from 89 nations on six continents spent the past three weeks in Sao Paulo, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished children and kicking a football around for cameras as the globe’s biggest beauty contest is held in Brazil for the first time. 

The contestants, who must never have been married or had children and who must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by Feb. 1 of the competition year.  

Miss Universe 2011, the 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant, will be held at the Credicard Hall, in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011. Ximena Navarrete of Mexico will crown her successor. 89 contestants are participating in this year´s pageant, surpassing the previous record of 86 contestants in 2006.

Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers. The contest was founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills. The pageant became part of Kayser-Roth and then Gulf and Western Industries, before being acquired by Donald Trump in 1996.

In 1998, Miss Universe changed its name from Miss Universe, Inc. to Miss Universe Organization and the headquarters moved from Long Beach California, to New York City that year. Donald Trump brought in a new team of professionals to the contest headed by its new CEO, Molly Miles, and president Maureen Reidy. The contest would use the slogan "Redefined for Today" for promotion of the pageants.

             List of Miss Universe titleholders

Year	Country/Territory	Miss Universe	National title	Location
2011	Angola	Leila Lopes	Miss Angola	São Paulo, Brazil
2010	Mexico	Ximena Navarrete	Nuestra Belleza México	Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.
2009	Venezuela	Stefania Fernandez	Miss Venezuela	Nassau, Bahamas
2008	Venezuela	Dayana Mendoza	Miss Venezuela	Nha Trang, Vietnam
2007	Japan	Riyo Mori	Miss Universe Japan	Mexico City, Mexico
2006	Puerto Rico	Zuleyka Rivera	Miss Puerto Rico Universe	Los Angeles, California U.S.
2005	Canada	Natalie Glebova	Miss Universe Canada	Bangkok, Thailand
2004	Australia	Jennifer Hawkins	Miss Universe Australia	Quito, Ecuador
2003	Dominican Republic	Amelia Vega	Miss Dominican Republic	Panama City, Panama
2002	Panama	Justine Pasek	Señorita Panamá	Crowned by Donald Trump in NYC*
2002	Russia	Oxana Fedorova (Dethroned)	Miss Russia	San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001	Puerto Rico	Denise Quiñones	Miss Puerto Rico Universe	Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2000	India	Lara Dutta	Miss India	Nicosia, Cyprus

Important Parliamentary Terms

(1) "Act"--A Bill passed by both  Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President.

(2) “Ad hoc Committee”- A Committee constituted by the House or by the Chairman or by the presiding officers of both the Houses jointly to consider and report on specific matter and becomes functus officio as soon as the task is completed.

(3) "Adjournment of Debate"--Adjournment on a motion adopted by the House, of the debate on a Motion/Resolution/Bill on which the House is then engaged until a future day or sine die as specified in the motion.
(4) "Adjournment of the sitting of the House"- Termination of the sitting of the House which meets again at the time appointed for the next sitting.

(5) "Adjournment sine die"-Termination of a sitting of the House without any definite date being fixed for the next sitting.

(6) "Appropriation Bill"-  A Money Bill passed annually (or at various times of the year) providing for the withdrawal or appropriation from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India, of moneys, voted by  Lok Sabha and moneys charged on the Consolidated Fund for the services of a financial year or a part of a financial year.

(7) “Ballot”- A process to determine inter se priority of more than one notice through a draw of lot.

(8) "Bill"--The draft of a legislative proposal put in the proper form which, when passed by both Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President becomes an Act.

(9) "Budget"-Annual financial statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India in respect of a financial year. The Budget is laid in Rajya Sabha in two parts viz., the Railway Budget and the General Budget.

(10) "Bulletin"-Bulletin means the Bulletin of  Rajya Sabha. It is published in two parts. Part I contains a brief record of the proceedings of the House at each of its sittings; and Part II contains information on any matter relating to or connected with the business of the House or Committees or other matter which in the opinion of the Chairman may be included therein.

(11) "Calendar of Sittings"- A calendar showing the provisional days on which Rajya Sabha is to sit and the nature of business to be transacted by it on those days.

(12)  “Calling Attention” –  A procedure whereby a Member calls the attention of a Minister to a matter of urgent public importance , the  Minister makes a brief statement thereon and thereafter the Members seek clarifications.

(13) "Casting Vote"-The vote cast by the Chairman, or a Member acting as such in the House and by the Chairman or a Member acting as such in a Committee, in the case of an equality of votes on a matter.

(14) "Crossing the floor"--Passing between the member addressing the House and the Chair which is considered breach of Parliamentary etiquette.

(15) “Demand for Grants”-Earmarking of budgetary allocation for meeting the plan and non-plan expenditure of a Ministry/Department.

 (16) "Division"-The mode of arriving at a decision on a proposed measure or question before the House by recording votes for or against it.

(17) "Draw of lot" - A method applied to determine the relative precedence of private members' Bills and Resolutions, notices of questions, half-an-hour discussions or any other notice given by more than one member simultaneously for being taken up on the same day.

(18) "Expunction"-Deletion of words, phrases or expressions from the proceedings or records of  Rajya Sabha by an order of the Chairman for being defamatory or indecent or unparliamentary or undignified.

(19) "Finance Bill"-A Bill ordinarily introduced every year to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government of India for the following financial year and includes a Bill to give effect to supplementary financial proposals for any period.

 (20) "Financial Business" – The financial business of the House consists of the laying of the Railway and General Budgets and statements of supplementary Demands for Grants on the Table after they are presented to the Lok Sabha, general discussion on the General and Railway Budgets, consideration and return of connected Appropriate Bills and Finance Bills, laying of Budges, etc. of States which are under the President’s Rule.

(21) "Gazette"-The Gazette of India.

(22) “Half-an-Hour Discussion”-A Member with the permission of the Chairman may raise a discussion on a matter of sufficient public importance which has been the subject of a recent oral or written question and the answer to which needs elucidation on a matter of fact.

 (23) "Leader of the Council"-The Prime Minister, if he is a member of the Council or a Minister who is a member of the Council  and is nominated by the Prime Minister to function as the Leader of the Council.
(24) "Leader of the Opposition"-A Member of the House, who is, for the time being, the leader in that House of the Party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such by the Chairman.

(25) “Leave of absence”-A member wishing to obtain permission of the House for remaining absent from its sittings is required to make an application stating the reasons and the  period for which he may be permitted to be absent from the sittings of the House.

(26) "Legislative Business" – Introduction, consideration and passing of a bill, piloted by a Minister or a Private Member, in the House.

(27) "List of Business"- A list of items of business scheduled to be taken up in Rajya Sabha on a particular day of the sittings in the order in which they stand on it.
 
(28) "Lobby"-The covered corridor immediately adjoining the Chamber and co-terminus with it.

 (29) "Maiden Speech"-The first speech of a member after his election/nomination to the Rajya Sabha in the House.

(30) “Matters raised with permission”- Immediately after the Question Hour and laying of papers, a Member may raise an issue of urgent public importance with the prior permission of the Chairman.

(31) "Member in charge of the Bill"-The Minister/Private Member who has introduced the government/Private Members’ Bill.

(32) "Memorandum of business" – It is meant for the use of the Chair to help him while calling the items listed in the Agenda paper of the day.

(33) "Message"-A communication from the President to a House or Houses of Parliament under articles 86(2) and 111 of the Constitution and a communication sent from one House of Parliament to the other House.

 (34) "Motion"-A  formal proposal made to the House by a Minister or a member that the House do something, order something to be done or express an opinion with regard to some matter, and is so phrased that, if  adopted, it will purport to express the judgment or will of the House.

(35) "Motion of Thanks"-A formal motion moved in the House, expressing its gratitude to the President for the Address delivered by him/her under article 87(1) of the Constitution to both Houses of Parliament assembled together.

(36) "Naming a Member"-The drawing of attention of the House by the Chairman to the conduct of a member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the Rules of the House by persistently and willfully obstructing the business thereof, with a view to action being taken to suspend him from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.

 (37) "Ordinance"-A law made by the President in exercise of the powers vested in him under article 123 of the Constitution.

(38) "Panel of Vice-Chairmen"- A panel of six members of  Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman, any one of whom may preside over the House in the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman when so requested by the Chairman, or in his absence, by the Deputy Chairman.

(39) "Papers laid on the Table"-The papers or documents laid on the Table of the House for purpose of bringing them on the record of the House by a Minister or by a private member or by the Secretary-General with the permission of the Chairman in pursuance of the provisions of the Constitution or the Rules of Procedure of Rajya Sabha or an Act of Parliament and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder.

(40) "Personal explanation" -  A Member or a Minister against whom comments or criticism of a personal nature are made on the floor of the House is entitled to make, with the consent of the Chairman, personal explanation in his defence.

(41) "Point of Order"- A point relating to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of Procedure or such articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the House raised in the House and submitted for the decision of the Chair.

(42) "Precincts of Rajya Sabha"-This includes the Chamber, the Lobbies, the Galleries and such other places as the Chairman may from time to time specify.

(43) “Private Members’ Resolution”- A resolution, on a matter of general public interest, a Member, other than a Minister, on a day allotted for Private Members Resolutions which is in the form of a declaration of opinion by the House or in such other form as the Chairman may consider appropriate.

(44) "Prorogation"-The termination of a session of  Rajya Sabha by an order made by the President under article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution.

(45) "Putting the Question"-When debate on a question is closed, the Chairman, rising from the Chair, states or reads the question to the House, beginning with "The question is, that".

(46) "Question Chart"-A chart circulated to members, along with the Summons for a Session, which indicates the dates for answering questions and the last date for receiving notices of questions pertaining to various Ministries/ Departments.

(47) "Question Hour"-The first hour of a sitting of the House allotted for asking and answering of questions.

(48) "Question of Privilege"-A question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a Committee thereof or a contempt of the House.

(49) "Quorum"-The minimum number of members required to be present at a sitting of the House or a Committee for valid transaction of its business, which is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House, as provided under article 100(3) of the Constitution.

(50) "Rajya Sabha debate" – A verbatim record of everything said in the House is reported by the official Reporter for each of the sittings of the Rajya Sabha, except certain words, phrases and expression, if any, ordered by the Chair to be expunged or ordered by the Chairman not to be recorded, when Members speak without his permissions.

(51) "Roll of Members"-A register in which newly elected members sign, after making and subscribing the oath or affirmation and before taking their seats for the first time in the House.

(52) "Session"-A session of  Rajya Sabha comprises the period commencing from the date and time mentioned in the order of the President summoning  Rajya Sabha and ending with the day on which the President prorogues Rajya Sabha.

(53) “Short Duration Discussion”-For raising a discussion on a matter of urgent public importance for which a notice has to be given by a Member supported by two other Members specifying clearly and precisely the matter to be raised.

(54) "Short Notice Question"-A question relating to a matter of urgent public importance asked for oral answer by a Member with shorter notice than fifteen clear days by giving the reasons for asking the question with short notice.

(55) "Sitting of the House"-A sitting of the House is duly constituted when it is presided over by the Chairman or a member competent to preside over a sitting of the House  under the Constitution or the Rules of Procedure of  Rajya Sabha.

(56) “Special Mention”-A procedure available to a Member who wishes  to mention a matter of public importance in the House by reading out from the text not exceeding 250 words.

(57) “Standing Committee”- Committee constituted by election  by the House or nomination by the Chairman every year or from time to time which are permanent in nature.

(58) "Starred Question"-A question to which a member wishes to have an oral answer on the floor of the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk.

(59) "Statutory Resolution"-A resolution in pursuance of a provision in the Constitution or an Act of Parliament.

(60) "Subordinate Legislation"--Rules, regulations, orders, schemes, bye-laws,  etc. having the force of law, framed by the Executive or other subordinate authority in pursuance of the power conferred on it by the Constitution or delegated to it by an Act of Parliament.

(61) "Summons"--An official communication issued by the Secretary-General of  Rajya Sabha under the orders of the President to the Members of Rajya Sabha informing them of the place, date and time of the commencement of a session of Rajya Sabha.

(62) "Supplementary question" – A Question asked by any member when called by the Chairman for the purpose of further elucidating any matter of fact regarding which an answer has been given during the question hour.

(63) "Table of the House"--The Table just in front of the desk of the Secretary-General below the Chairman's Chair, on which papers which are required to be laid on the Table of the House, are deemed to be placed.

(64) "Unstarred Question"--A question which is not called for oral answer in the House and the  written answer to such a question is deemed to have been laid on the Table.

(65) “Valedictory remarks”-It is customary in every Session for the Chair to make the  Valedictory remarks at the end of Session thanking Members and leaders of parties and groups for their cooperation in the conduct of business of the House.

 (66) "Whips" – Members drawn from the party in power and the parties/groups in opposition to perform specified functions and form vital links in the internal organization of a party inside Parliament.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

The work done by the Parliament in modern times is not only varied in nature, but considerable in volume. The time at its disposal is limited. It cannot, therefore, give close consideration to all the legislative and other matters that come up before it. A good deal of its business is, therefore, transacted by what are called the Parliamentary Committees.

Ad hoc and Standing Committees

Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds: Ad hoc Committees and the Standing Committees. Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose and they cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them and submit a report. The principal Ad hoc Committees are the Select and Joint Committees on Bills. Others like the Railway Convention Committee, the Committees on the Draft Five Year Plans and the Hindi Equivalents Committee were appointed for specific purposes. Apart from the Ad hoc Committees, each House of Parliament has Standing Committees like the Business Advisory Committee, the Committee on Petitions, the Committee of Privileges and the Rules Committee, etc.

Other Committees

Of special importance is yet another class of Committees which act as Parliament’s ‘Watch Dogs’ over the executive. These are the Committees on Subordinate Legislation, the Committee on Government Assurances, the Committee on Estimates, the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Public Undertakings and Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). The Committee on Estimates, the Committee on Public Accounts, the Committee on Public Undertakings and DRSCs play an important role in exercising a check over governmental expenditure and Policy formulation.

COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEES

Select and Joint Committees

When a Bill comes up before a House for general discussion,it is open to that House to refer it to a Select Committee of the House or a Joint Committee of the two Houses. A motion has to be moved and adopted to this effect in the House in which the Bill comes up for consideration. In case the motion adopted is for reference of the Bill to a Joint Committee, the decision is conveyed to the other House requesting them to nominate members of the other House to serve on the Committee. The Select or Joint Committee considers the Bill clause by clause just as the two Houses do. Amendments can be moved to various clauses by members of the Committee. The Committee can also take evidence of  associations,  public bodies or experts who are interested in the Bill. After the Bill has thus been considered the Committee submits its report to the House. Members who do not agree with the majority report may append their minutes of dissent to the report.

Committee on Estimates

This Committee consists of 30 members who are elected by the Lok Sabha every year from amongst its members. A Minister is not eligible for election to this Committee. The term of the Committee is one year. The main function of the Committee on Estimates is to report what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency, or administrative reform, consistent with the policy underlying the estimates may be effected and to suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration. From time to time the Committee selects such of the estimates pertaining to a Ministry or a group of Ministries or the statutory and other Government bodies as may seem fit to the Committee. The Committee also examines matters of special interest which may arise or come to light in the course of its work or which are  specifically referred to it by the House or the Speaker.

Committee on Public Undertakings

The Committee on Public Undertakings consists of 15 members elected by the Lok Sabha and 7 members of Rajya Sabha are associated with it. A Minister is not eligible for election to this Committee. The term of the Committee is one year.

The functions of the Committee on Public Undertakings are—(a) to examine the reports and accounts of Public Undertakings; (b) to examine the reports, if any, of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Public Undertakings; (c) to examine in the context of the autonomy and efficiency of the Public Undertakings whether the affairs of the Public Undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices; and (d) such other functions vested in the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Estimates in relation to the Public Undertakings as are not covered by clauses (a), (b) and (c) above and as may be allotted to the Committee by the Speaker from time to time. The Committee does not, however, examine matters of major Government policy and matters of day-to-day administration of the Undertakings.

Committee on Public Accounts

This Committee consists of 15 members elected by the Lok Sabha and 7 members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with it. A Minister is not  eligible for election to this Committee. The term of the Committee is one year.

The main duty of the Committee is to ascertain whether the money granted by Parliament has been spent by Government "within the scope of the Demand". The Appropriation Accounts of the Government of India and the Audit Reports presented by the Comptroller and Auditor General mainly form the basis for the examination of the Committee. Cases involving losses, nugatory expenditure and financial irregularities come in for severe criticism by the Committee. The Committee is not concerned with questions of policy. It is concerned only with the execution of the policy laid down by Parliament and its results.

Business Advisory Committee (Lok Sabha)

The Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha consists of 15 members including the Speaker who is the ex-officio Chairman. The members are nominated by the Speaker. Almost all sections of the House are represented on the Committee as per the respective strength of parties in the House. The function of the Committee is to recommend the time that should be allotted for the discussion of such Government legislative and other business as the Speaker, in consultation with the Leader of the House, may direct to be referred to the Committee. The Committee, on its own initiative, may also recommend to the Government to bring forward particular subjects for discussion in the House and recommend  allocation of time for such discussions. The decisions reached by the Committee are always unanimous in character and representative of the collective view of the House. The Committee generally meets at the beginning of each Session and thereafter as and when necessary.

Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions (Lok Sabha)

This Committee consists of 15 members and the Deputy Speaker is its Chairman when nominated as a member of  he Committee. The Committee is nominated by the Speaker. The functions of the Committee are to allot time to Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions, to examine Private Members’ Bills seeking to amend the Constitution before their introduction in Lok Sabha, to examine all Private Members’ Bills after they are introduced and before they are taken up for consideration in the House and to classify them according to their nature,  urgency and importance into two categories namely, category A and category B and also to examine such Private Members’ Bills where the legislative competence of the House is challenged. The Committee, thus, performs the same function in relation to Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions as the Business Advisory Committee does in regard to Government Business. The Committee holds office for a term not exceeding one year.

Rules Committee (Lok Sabha)

The Rules Committee consists of 15 members including the Speaker who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee. The members are nominated by the Speaker. The Committee considers matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and recommends any amendments or additions to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha that are considered necessary.

Committee of Privileges (Lok Sabha)

This Committee consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. The function is to examine every question involving breach of privilege of the House or of the members of any Committee thereof referred to it by the House or by the Speaker. It determines with reference to the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and makes suitable recommendations in its report.

Committee on Papers Laid on the Table (Lok Sabha)

This Committee consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. Its function is to examine all papers laid on the Table of the House by Ministers (other than those which fall within the purview of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation or any other Parliamentary Committee) and to report to the House—(a) whether there has been compliance of the provisions of the Constitution, Act, rule or regulation under which the paper has been laid, (b) whether there has been any unreasonable delay in laying the paper, (c) if there has been such delay, whether a  statement explaining the reasons for delay has been laid on the Table of the House and whether those reasons are satisfactory, (d) whether both the Hindi and English versions of the paper have been laid on the Table, (e) whether a statement explaining the reasons for not laying the  Hindi version has been given and whether such reasons are satisfactory, (f) such other functions in respect of the papers laid on the Table as may be assigned to it by the Speaker from time to time.

Committee on Petitions (Lok Sabha)

The Committee consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. A Minister is not nominated to this Committee. The function of the Committee is to consider and report on petitions presented to the House. Besides, it also considers representations from individuals and associations, etc. on subjects which are not covered by the rules relating to petitions and gives directions for their disposal.

Committee on Subordinate Legislation (Lok Sabha)

The Committee consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. A Minister is not nominated to this Committee. The Committee scrutinizes  and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws etc. conferred by the Constitution or  delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised by the executive within the scope of such delegation.

Committee on Government Assurances (Lok Sabha)

This Committee consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. A Minister is not nominated to this Committee. While replying to questions in the House or during discussions on Bills, Resolutions, Motions etc., Ministers at times give assurances or undertakings either to consider a matter or to take action or to furnish the House further information later. The functions of this Committee are to scrutinize the assurances, promises, undertakings etc. given by Ministers from time to time and to report to Lok Sabha on the extent to which such assurances etc. have been implemented and to see whether such implementation has taken place within the minimum time necessary for the purpose.

 Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House (Lok Sabha)

The Committee consists of 15 members who hold office for one year. The members are nominated by the Speaker. This Committee considers all applications from members for leave of absence from the sittings of the House and examines every case where a member has been absent for a period of 60 days or more, without permission, from the sittings of the House. In its report it makes recommendations with respect to each case as to whether the absence should be condoned or leave applied granted or whether the circumstances of the case justify that the House should declare the seat of the member vacant.

Joint Committee on Offices of Profit

This Committee consists of 15 members. Ten members are elected from Lok Sabha and five from Rajya Sabha. The Committee is constituted for the duration of each Lok Sabha.

The main functions of the Committee are to examine the composition and character of the Committees appointed by the Central and State  Governments and to recommend what offices should disqualify and what offices should not disqualify a person for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament under article 102 of the Constitution.

Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes consists of 20 members elected by the Lok Sabha and 10  members of Rajya Sabha are associated with it. The term of the Committee is one year. A Minister is not eligible for election to this Committee. The main functions of the Committee are to consider all matters concerning the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, falling within the purview of the Union Government and the Union Territories, to consider the reports submitted by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to examine the measures taken by the Union Government to secure due representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in services and posts under its control.

Railway Convention Committee

The Railway Convention Committee is an ad-hoc Committee. It consists of 18 members. Out of these, 12 members are from Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 6 members are from Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman. By convention the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Railways are members of the Committee. Besides this, Ministers of State in the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Railways respectively are also its members.

The main function of the Committee is to review the Rate of Dividend payable by the Railways undertaking to General Revenues as well as   other ancillary matters in connection with the Railway Finance vis-a-vis the General Finance and make recommendations thereon. The Railway Convention Committee, 1949 was the first Committee after independence. This Committee and subsequent Committees confined themselves to determining the rate of dividend payable by Railways to General Revenues. Since 1971 the Railway Convention Committees have been taking up subjects for examination and report which have a bearing on the working of Railways.

Committee on Empowerment of Women

This Committee came into being on 29th April, 1997, as a consequence of identical Resolutions adopted by both the Houses of Parliament on the occasion of International Womens’ Day on 8th March, 1996. The Committee consists of 30 members, 20 nominated by the Speaker from amongst the members of Lok Sabha and 10 nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha from amongst the members of the Rajya Sabha. The term of the Committee is of one year. The Committee have been primarily mandated with the task of reviewing and monitoring the measures  taken by the Union Government in the direction of securing for women equality, status and dignity in all matters. The Committee would also suggest necessary correctives for improving the status/condition of women in respect of matters within the purview of the Union Government. Besides, another important function of the Committee is to examine the measures taken by the Union Government for comprehensive education and adequate representation of women in Legislative bodies/services and other fields. The Committee would also consider the report of the National Commission for Women. The Committee may also examine such other matters as may seem fit to them or are specifically referred to them by the Lok Sabha or the Speaker and the Rajya Sabha or the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

Departmentally Related Standing Committees

A full-fledged system of 17 Departmentally Related Standing Committees came into being in April, 1993. These Committees cover under their  jurisdiction all the Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India. These Committees are as under :

Name of the Committee

1. Committee on Commerce

2. Committee on Home Affairs

3. Committee on Human Resource Development

4. Committee on Industry

5. Committee on Science & Technology,

Environment & Forests

6. Committee on Transport, Culture and Tourism

7. Committee on Agriculture

8. Committee on Information Technology

9. Committee on Defence

10. Committee on Energy

11. Committee on External Affairs

12. Committee on Finance

13. Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and

Public Distribution

14. Committee on Labour and Welfare

15. Committee on Petroleum & Chemicals

16. Committee on Railways

17. Committee on Urban and Rural Development

Out of the 17 Committees, 6 Committees (Sl. No. 1 to 6) are serviced by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and 11 Committees (Sl. No. 7 to 17) by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Each of these Standing Committees consists of not more than 45 members—30 to be nominated by the Speaker from amongst the members of Lok Sabha and 15 to be nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha from amongst the members of Rajya Sabha. A Minister is not eligible to  be nominated to these Committees.

The term of members of these Committees is one year. With reference to the Ministries/Departments under their purview, the functions of these committees are:

(a) Consideration of Demands for Grants.

(b) Examination of Bills referred to by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha as the case may be.

(c) Consideration of Annual Reports.

(d) Consideration of national basic long term policy documents presented to the House and referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be. These Committees do not consider matters of day-to-day administration of the concerned Ministries/Departments.

The newly constituted departmentally related Standing Committee System is a path-breaking endeavour of the Parliamentary surveillance over administration. With the emphasis of their functioning to concentrate on long-term plans, policies and the philosophies guiding the working of the Executive, these Committees will be in a very privileged position to provide necessary direction, guidance and inputs for broad policy formulations and in achievement of the long-term national perspective by the Executive.

CIVIL SERVICES TIMES SEPTEMBER 2011 MAGAZINE

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APPSC Group-I Mains Model Papers

Geographical Epithets

    World's Loneliest Island                Tristanda Cuntra
    World's Bread Basket                   Prairies of N.America
    Windy City                                   Chicago, U.S.A.
    White Man's Grave                       Guinea Coast
    White City                                    Belgrade, Yugoslavia
    Venice of the North                       Stockholm, Sweden
    Venice of the East                          Alappuzha, India
    Sugar Bowl of the World              Cuba
    Spice Garden of India                  Kerala
    Sickman of Europe                      Turkey
    Saint of the Gutters                      Mother Teresa
    Roof of the World                        Pamirs, Central Asia
    Queen of the Adriatic                  Venice, Italy
    Queen of Arabian Sea                 Kochi
    Quaker City                               Philadelphia, U.S.A.
    Playground of India                    Kashmir
    Playground of Europe                 Switzerland
    Pink City                                    Jaipur
    Pillar of Hercules                        Gibraltar
    Pearl of the Pacific                     Guayaquil Port of Ecuador
    Pearl of the Antilles                    Cuba
    Never Never Land                    Prairies of N. Australia
    Manchester of Tamil Nadu         Coimbatore
    Manchester of India                    Mumbai
    Land of White Elephant             Thailand
    Land of Thunderbolt                  Bhutan
    Land of Thousand Lakes           Finland
    Land of Rising Sun                     Japan 
    Land of Morning Calm              Korea
    Land of Midnight Sun                Norway
    Land of Maples                        Canada
    Land of Lilies                           Canada          
    Land of Lakes                          Scotland         
    Land of Kangaroo                    Australia         
    Land of Golden Pagoda            Myanmar        
    Land of Golden Fleece              Australia         
    Land of Five Rivers                   Punjab, India  
    Lady with a lamp                      Florence Nightingale   
    Key to Mediterranean               Gibraltar         
    Island of Pearls                         Bahrain
    Island of Cloves                       Zanzibar         
    Island Continent                       Australia         
    Holy Land                               Palestine         
    Hermit Kingdom                      Korea
    Hearing Pond                         Atlantic Ocean
    Great Whiteway                     Broadway, New York
    Granite City                           Aberdeen, Scotland    
    Granary of South India           Tanjore          
    Gift of the Nile                        Egypt 
    Gateway of India                     Mumbai          
    Gate of Tears                         Bab - el - mandeb, Jerusalem  
    Garden of England                  Kent, England 
    Garden City                            Chicago          
    Forbidden City                        Lhasa, Tibet   
    Eternal City                             Rome 
    Empire City                            New York, U.S.A.     
    Emerald Island                        Ireland
    Dark Continent                       Africa
    Cockpit of Europe                   Belgium
    City of the Golden Gate           San Francisco (USA)
    City of Sky - Scrapers             New York
    Big Apple                               New York
    City of Seven Hills                  Rome
    City of Palaces                        Kolkata
    City of Magnificent Distance    Washington, DC, USA
    China's Sorrow                       Howang - Ho
    Britain of the South                 New Zealand
    Blue Mountains                        Nilgiri Hills
    Bengal's Sorrow                      Damodar River
   Mosquito Coast                        Nicargua
   City of Kings                             Lima