Ancient Dynasties of India & their
Capitals
1.Maurya - Pataliputhra
2. Guptha - Prayag
3. Kusana - Purushapuram
4. Pallava - Kanchipuram
5. Chalukya - Vathapi
6. Pandya - Madhurai
7. Chera - Vanchi
8. Rashtrakuta - Manyaketham
9. Sathavahana - Prathishtanam
10. Hoysala – Dwarasamudram

HEADQUARTERS OF VARIOUS BANKS

-State Bank of India—Mumbai
-Allahabad Bank—Kolkata
-Bank of India—Mumbai
-Bank of Maharashtra— Pune
-Canara Bank— Bangalore
-Central Bank of India—Mumbai
-Corporation Bank—Mangalore
-Dena Bank—Mumbai
-Indian Bank—Chennai
-Indian Overseas Bank—Chennai
-Oriental Bank of Commerce—New Delhi
-Punjab National Bank—New Delhi
-Punjab & Sind Bank— New Delhi
-Syndicate Bank—Manipal
-UCO Bank—Kolkata
-Union Bank of India—Mumbai
-United Bank of India— Kolkata
-Vijaya Bank—Bangalore
-Andhra Bank—Hyderabad
-Bank of Baroda—Mumbai

EIGHT TYPES OF URBAN LOCAN GOVERNMENT IN INDIA

i) Municipal corporation
ii) Municipality
iii) Notified Area Committee
iv) Town area committee
v) Cantonment Board
vi) Township
vii) Port Trust
viii) Special Purpose Agency

BIGGEST

01)               Most populous City in the world---Shanghai

02) Longest Railway Platform---Kharagpur (India),2733 ft.

03) Longest Railroad Tunnel---Seikan
(Japan),33.5 miles

04) Longest Suspension Bridge---Verrazano- Narrows, 13700 ft.long,USA

05) Longest Dam-- Hirakund(India),15.8 miles

06) Highest Dam---Rogusky (U.S.S.R.),1066ft.

07) Largest Dam Kariba---(Rhode
sia),149000000 acre ft.in volume 

08) Longest Road Highway Tunnel---St.Goldhard (Switzerland),10.01 miles

09) Longest Seaway---St.Lawrence seaway (U.S.A.-Canada),189 miles

10) Largest Passenger Ship---Queen Elizabeth II (83000 tonnes)(U.K.)

11) Largest Merchant Ship---Pierre Guillaumat (france),555031DWT Tonnage

12) Largest Diamond Mine---At Kimberly,South Africa

Largest In the World

1. Largest continent # Asia
2. Largest ocean # Pacific
3.Largest river (length) # Nile
4.Largest river basin # Amazon
5. Largest lake (salt water) # Caspian sea
6. Largest lake (fresh water) # Lake Superior (North America)
7. Largest artificial lake # Lake Mead at Hoover Dam, (USA).Originally known as Boulder.
8. Largest bay # Hudson Bay (North Canada)
9. Largest gulf # Gulf of Mexico
10. Largest gorge # Grand Canyon (USA)
11. Largest sea # South China sea
12. Largest delta # Sundarbans (India & Bangladesh)
13. Largest peninsula # Arabia
14.Largest island # Greenland
15.Largest country (in area) # Russia
16.Largest country (in population) # China
17. Largest temple # Angkorwat (Cambodia)
18. Largest archipelago # Indonesia

Interesting Facts About Windows from the History

1.More than 70.39% of Internet users are currently running Windows, and there are 1,693,244,385 users. (As per 2012)

2.Bill Gates started Microsoft with Paul Allen in Gates’ 500-square-foot garage in 1975 with a huge vision—a computer on every desktop and in every home.

3.Microsoft currently employs 88,180 people who work across 32,404,796 square feet of Microsoft’s premises.

4.Microsoft shipped out the first copy of Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985. Its TV commercial featured current CEO Steve Ballmer as an enthusiastic salesman.

5.Windows 1.0 only required a minimum of 256 kilobytes (KB), two double-sided floppy disk drives, and a graphics adapter card.

6.Control Panel made its first appearance in Windows 2.0.

7.Windows XP was compiled from 45 million lines of code.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TEA

1. Whether it is white tea, green tea, oolong, pu-erh tea and black tea, All tea comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis.

2. Tea is a rich source of antioxidants and flavonoids which are scientifically proven to aid in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.

3. Tea can also help regulate cholesterol. Drinking tea is alsogood for the heart.

4. A cup of tea may keep the dentist away. This is because tea helps fight cavities.

5. The Camellia sinensis tea plant can produce tea for 50 years !!!

Important Committees in India 

·                  Committee Set Up On Uttarakhand Floods: The committee will be headed by AK Ganju (Chairman, Ganga Flood Control Commission, Patna)

·                      JS Mathur committee : to revise Newspaper Advertisement Rates.

·                     K. Ratna Prabha : Committee on indecent depiction of women in media

·                      Mukul Mudgal Committee: looking into US giant Walmart's lobbying activities to enter India

·                     Mukul Mudgal Committee: to look at process of film clearance

·                     MBN Rao Committee: to prepare the blueprint of India’s first women’s bank

·                      SK Srivastava Committee: to formulate a policy on public-private partnership model to raise coal output

·                      K M Chandrasekhar Committee – for rationalization of foreign investment norms

·                      Arvind Mayaram Committee –for giving clear definitions to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investment (FII),

·                      Janakiraman Committee - To investigate the security transactions of the bank

·                     MS Ahluwalia committee - to evaluate aspects related to set up of Nalanda University

·                      Sitakant Mahapatra committee - for inclusion of Bhojpuri language in eighth schedule of constitution

·                      N R Narayana Murthy committee - for evaluation of corporate sector participation in Higher Education.

·                     C Rangarajan committee - for poverty scale estimates in the country

·                      MB Shah committee - for inspection of illegal mining activities

·                      N Rangachary committee - to examine taxation policies for I.T. sector

·                      Parthasarathi Shome committee - implementation of GAAR (General Anti Avoidance Rule).

·                      Deepak Parekh committee – for Financing Infrastructure sector

·                      Naresh Chandra committee - 14 member task force on security issues

·                      Bhandari Committee - Reconstruction of RRBs 21. RS Gujral Committee - suggest measures to boost MSME exports.

·      Malhotra Committee - Insurance Reforms

·      Janaki Raman Committee - Security Scam

·      Ajay Vikram Singh Committee - Faster promotions in Army

·      RajinderSachar Committee 1 - Companies and MRPT Act

·      RajindarSachar Committee 2 - Report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims of India.

·      JyotiBasu Committee - Report on Octroi abolition.

·      BalwantRai Mehta Committee – Recommendations on decentralization system

·      Sawant Committee - Enquiry on corruption, charges against ministers & Anna Hazare

·      Chelliah Committee - Eradicating black money

·      Wanchoo Committee - Tax enquiry

·      BhanuPratap Singh Committee – Agriculture

·      Agarwal Committee - Nepotism in granting petrol pump, LPG connections

·      Rangarajan Committee - Reforms in private sector

·      Naresh Chandra Committee - Corporate governance

·      Chakravarti Committee - Banking sector reforms

·      Rekhi Committee - Structure of indirect taxation

·      G.V.Ramakrishna Committee - Disinvestment in PSU shares

·      Kelkar Committee 1 - First committee on backward castes

·      P.C.Hotha Committee - Restructuring of civil services

·      Justice B.N.Kirpal Committee - 1st chairman National Forest Commission

·      Godbole Committee - Enron Power Project

·      J.C.Kumarappa Committee - Congress agrarian Reforms Committee

·      Swaminathan Committee - Population policy

·      Rangaraju Committee – Statistics

·      Wardha Committee - Inquiry on murder of Graham Staines

·      Vohra Committee - Criminalization of politics

·      Kelkar Committee 2 - Direct-Indirect Taxes

·      Alagh Committee - Civil Service Examinations

·      AbidHussain Committee - Recommendations on Small scale industries

·      Narasimham Committee - Banking sector reforms

·      Chelliah Committee - Tax reforms

·      Mashelkar Committee - National Auto Fuel Policy

·      Boothalingam Committee - Recommendations on integrated wages, income and price policy.

·      OmkarGoswami Committee -  Industrial sickness

·      Yashpal Committee - Review of School Education system

·      Ram Nandan Prasad Committee - Constitution of creamy layers among Backward Castes.

·      Kelkar Committee 3 - Enquiry on Kargildefense deals.

·      Saharya Committee - Tehelka tapes

Dual system of government in Bengal from 1765 to 1772

• The Dual system in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive. 

• During the Dual Government in Bengal the Nawab depended for his internal and external security on the British. As the dewan, the company directly collected its revenues, while though the right to nominate the Deputy subahdar, it controlled the nizamat or the police and judicial powers. This Dual Government in Bengal held a great advantage for the British: they had power without responsibility. 

• The Nawab and his officials had the the responsibility of administration but not the power to discharge it.

• Nawab was granted Rs.53 Lakhs per annum for the administration but later on this amount was reduced to 32 Lakhs. Thus all the responsibilities were with the Nawab and all the powers with the British.

• This dual system was proved to be unsuccessful and in 1772 it was ended by Lord Warren Hastings on the orders of the directors of the company.

Indian Council Act of 1861

• The three separate presidencies (Madras, Bombay and Bengal) were brought into a common system

• System of legislative devolution in India was inaugurated.

• The Act added to the Viceroy's Executive Council a fifth member - a jurist.

• For purposes of legislation, the Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded by the addition of not less than six and not more than 12 additional members, who would be nominated by the Governor-General and would hold office for two years. Therefore, the total membership increased to 17.

• Not less than half of these members were to be non-officials.

• The legislative power was to be restored to the Council of Bombay and Madras, while Councils were allowed to be established in other Provinces in Bengal in 1862 and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1886, Burma and Punjab in 1897.

• In 1859, Canning had already introduced the Portfolio system. Under this portfolio system, the work of the Government, divided into several branches, was entrusted to different members of the Governor General's council. The act of 1861 envisaged that the member in-charge of his department could issue final orders with regard to matters which concerned his department. In 1861, the portfolio system led to creation of some kind of cabinet system.

• In 1862, Lord Canning nominated three Indians to his legislative council-the Raja of Benaras, the Maharaja of Patiala and Sir DinkarRao.

• The Act added to the Viceroy's executive council a fifth member who was a jurist. For the purpose of legislation, the Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded by the addition of not less than 6 and not more than 12 additional members who would be nominated by the Governor-General and would hold office for two years. Not less than half of these members were to be non-officials.

Indian Council Act of 1909

• Councils were enlarged and direct elections were introduced. 

• An Indian was to be appointed member of Governor General's executive council. 5 nominated by Governor General

• 27 elected which consisted of: (2 by special electorates, 13 by general electorates, 12 by class electorates consisting of (a) 6 elected by land holders and (b) 6 elected by Muslim constituencies.

• Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy's Executive Council')

• The separate electorate was introduced. Lord Minto has been known as 'Father of Communal Electorate'

The Charter Act of 1853

• Laid foundation of Parliamentary system of Government, the executive and legislative separated. Legislative Assembly functioned in the model of British Parliament.

• Renewed the term of East India Company for an indefinite period;

• Reduced the number of Board of Directors from 24 to 18 and 6 out of them were nominated;

• The 4th member became at par with other membersasright to vote was conferred; and further added, 6 members known as 'Legislative Councillors'. Six Members were the Chief Justice and a puisne judge of Calcutta Supreme Court, and four representatives, one each from Bengal, Madras, Bombay and NWFP. Therefore, the total number of members became 10.

• Now it became: Governor-General, 6 members (Legislative Councillors), 4 members (Governor-General-in-Council),Commander-in-Chief.

• Indian Civil Service became an open competition. Macaulay made Chairman of the Committee.

• The Act for the first time introduced local representation in the Indian (Central) Legislative Council. The Governor-General's Council had six new legislative members were appointed by the local (provincial) governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal and Agra.

• The Act separated, for the first time, the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's Council.

Battle of Panipat 1526

• The Battle of Panipat was fought between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi Empire, which took place on 21 April 1526 in North India.

• It marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire. This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery.

• In 1526, the Mughal forces of Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabulistan, defeated the much larger ruling army of Ibrahim Lodi,Sultan of Delhi.
Battle of Khanwa

• Battle of Khanwa was fought between the armies of RanaSanga (ruler of Mewar) and Babar (Mughal). 

• RanaSanga was betrayed by one of his allies, the King of Malwa, resulting into victory of Babar.

• The Battle was fought near the village of Khanwa, about 60 km west of Agra on March 17, 1527.

• Babur's grandson Akbar, established the city and fort of FatehpurSikri in honor of his grandfather's victory in this battle.
Sher Shah Suri 

• Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan, "The tiger King") was the founder of the Sur Empire in North India, with its capital at Delhi. 

• An ethnic Afghan, Sher Shah took control of the Mughal Empire in 1540. He first served as a private before rising to become a commander in the Mughal army under Babur and then as the governor of Bihar.

• In 1537, when Babur's son Humayun was elsewhere on an expedition, Sher Khan overran the state of Bengal and established the Sur dynasty.

• His reorganization of the empire laid the foundations for the later Mughal emperors, notably Akbar the Great, son of Humayun. 

• During his five year rule from 1540 to 1545, he set up a new civic and military administration, issued the first Rupee and re-organised the postal system of India

• . He further developed Humayun's Dina-panah city and named it Shergarh and revived the historical city of Pataliputra as Patna which had been in decline since the 7th century CE.

• He is also famously remembered for killing a fully grown tiger with his bare hands in a jungle of Bihar. 

• He extended the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong in Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan.
Second Battle of Panipat 

• The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the army of Akbar, on November 5, 1556. 

• It was a decisive victory for Akbar's generals Khan Zaman I and Bairam Khan

NATIONAL SPORTS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES
Country -Sport 

USA – Baseball

Spain - Bulls Fighting

Canada - Ice Hockey

India - Hockey

Russia - Football, Chess

China - Table Tennis

Brazil - Football

France - Football

England - Cricket

Japan - Judo

Australia - Cricket

Pakistan - Hockey

Malaysia - BadMinton

Scotland - Rugby, Football

Indonesia - Badminton

Bhutan – Archery