Aadhaar Number

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What is an Aadhaar Number?
Ans: Aadhaar Number is accepted name of Unique Identification Number to be issued by UIDAI (Nandan Nilekani). It is based on print of all ten fingers, Iris scan and face scan.
For a related news check the hitched link:

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Link to be used:
IT and UIDAI tie up for PAN cards

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Eyjafjallajökull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption has caused the air traffic disruption over Europe. It is one of the natural calamity which has effected all the continents. A brief study can be made from the contents of Wikipedia below:

Eyjafjallajökull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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BRIC and IBSA

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BRIC: Brazil, Russia, India and China: The probable world leading economies by 2050: A Theory discussed elsewhere on this blog.

Similarly, IBSA: India, Brazil and South Africa another economic group expected to influence the world economy.

These two non-European Economic groups (different from regional group) are being watched and pursued with great expectations. No doubt, our present government is also giving lot of significance to these economic group relations. BRIC has been included on this blog even for 2009. BRIC and IBSA remain important probable questions for 2010 Prelims as well as in Mains and even in ongoing interviews. It should be prepared with preparing small notes on each economic group (Good material is already available on Wikipedia), the core description of the state heads, the governments, the capitals of the countries and main economic ratios of these countries should be included. (Again take help of Wikipedia and CIA fact books: A better way than what you can buy from market. Most of them are merely recycling of what is given there expect for one or two publications.)

The hitched report is included which does not give much peep into the topic but discusses different angles. It is intently chosen because it is on one hand required higher understanding of the international relation to which Siddarth Varadaranjan refers to and on the hand given a glimpse of opinions of tricky international relations. A person who does not have taste for international relations and is an aspirant for Civil Services examinations, it can be a provocative introduction.

Apart from that I have included a link to a list of similar reports. However, take help of Wikipedia for main search option namely BRIC (already available on this blog) and IBSA.

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Hitched Links:
The Hindu : Front Page : From IBSA to CHIBSA? BRIC to BRICS? Not yet
Dump of related news Items

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Objectives of GSLV-D3 Mission:

Objectives of GSLV-D3 Mission:

As the The Hindu Report, there are three main objectives of GSLV - D3 Mission which is reproduced below.

The GSLV-D3 mission had three objectives: to develop and launch an indigenous cryogenic stage with the engine and associated systems; to evaluate the performance of the indigenous cryogenic stage and engine; and to put the communication satellite GSAT-4 into orbit.

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Source: The Hindu

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Prithvi II and Dhanush

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Prithvi III and Dhanush:

The following report on the test fires of Prithvi II and Dhanush in the Hindu is a good note on the above mentioned missiles system. DRDO achievements remain an important topic in General Studies papers at both the stages i.e. Prelims and and Mains. It also includes the names of important officials associated with the different DRDO projects. The Indian personalities section contains such names which are generally not part of active consciousness of general people. Hence, as a discerning aspirants and part of serious preparation, one should should must develop a list of such people who are contributing the development of Indian defense as well as Indian economy whether they are government officials or individual entrepreneurs.

Use the following link:
Dhanush and Prithvi II

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Chairperson of Prasar Bharti: Mirnal Pande

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Mirnal Pande, editor of Hindi daily Hindustan has been appointed Chairperson of Parsar Bharti. She has replaced Arun Bhatnagar after his resignation. She will hold the new office up to April 30, 2011.

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Remember, in GS the women personalities in news have been asked again and again.

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Study the link:
The Hindu : News / National : Mrinal Pande appointed Prasar Bharati chief

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The BASIC countries

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Which are BASIC countries?

To find answer check the hitched link.

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Link to be read:
The Hindu : News : Maintain BASIC unity, says Prime Minister

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India Year Book 2010 (Publication Division India)

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The India Year Book 2010 published by Publication Division India is now available in digital form online. The Hindi version Bharat 2010 is also available online. The print cost of the English edition is 345/-.

One can access the English version from the links given on the sidebar on your left hand side.

The Publication Divsion India Site link is http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/

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Update Source Acknowledgement: www.upscportal.com.
I am not their advertiser. I regularly check some of the major sites. However, this time, my attention to this release was directed by UPSC Portal. The book was released on January 15, 2010. Hence, I acknowledge the lead.

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What is Knesset?

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Knesset is the legislative branch of Israeli government.

For more details check Wikipedia Article.

Kindly remember such type of teasers are always there. It is beyond the perceivable limits to learn everything. It is generally said that anything below sky and even beyond it can be asked in general studies. Therefore, from this point onwards I am introducing a new label Tit Bits. Read the hitched articles but do not strain much. However, the students with Political Science Option must take it seriously.

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India and R&D

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The hinged link is an article by Shyamal Majumdar on Business Standard about the R&D scenario in India and future prospects. It is nicely written article with full of data. It can be used for preparing an essay topic for Mains as well gleaned for various research based organizations in India for Prelims as well as Mains 2010.
Check it below:

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The Hinged article:
Shyamal Majumdar: The missing scientists

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Civil Services Examination, 2010: Examination Notification

The notification of the Civil Services Examination 2010 has been issued. The notification has been issued in the Gazette in India Extraordinary of Department of Personnel & Training. The number of the notification for Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP is Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP. It can be accessed at the site of Union Public Service Commission.

The last date of receiving application is February 1, 2010 at Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069 by hand or by Post/Speed Post or by Courier.

The Date of Preliminary Examination is May 23, 2010.

In case the aspirants find difficulty (as it had happened earlier in some regions) in obtaining Common Application Form of the Commission from the designated Head Post office as detailed in the above Examination Notice, they can contact UPSC's "FORMS SUPPLY MONITORING CELL" over Telephone No. 011-23389366/FAX No. 011-23387310.

The cost of form is Rs. 20/- which contains the form, envelop, and acknowledgement card.

The fees for General Category and OBC Male Candidates is Rs. 50/- payable through a single Central Recruitment Fee Stamp available from the post offices from where the forms can be procured.

There is no fees for Female and SC/ST candidates.

There will be negative marking in Preliminary Papers.

There are 965 vacancies. (This gossip of 1000 vacancies has come true. The commission should check how do some people get the prior information even when it as not been published in the Gazette of India.)

The Administrative Aptitude Test as recommended by D. P. Aggarwal has not been implemented this time.

Maharatna Status to Steel Authority of India (SAIL)

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The following report has a brief description of the Maharatna Status, a fresh status to SAIL. There are 19 Navaratna PSUs.

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Make a note of the following link and its contents:
Moneycontrol.com - Govt gives 'maharatna' status to PSU giants

Wikipedia Reporting is fast

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Wikipedia reporting is quite fast. The given link is about Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino. The result was there by 10.57 pm IST (+5.30 GMT).

I am also watching Copenhagen UN Summit. The updates are coming regularly.

However, in case of BIMSTEC, the taking of Myanmar as the next chairman, was not updated even after 24 hours.

On the whole, the reporting is quite fast and must be giving the regular media run for their money.

I have found that even the bloggers are quite fast in reporting the new events. They are there with news just missing couple of seconds as compared to regular media. Wikipedia remains third but it is there within in couple of minutes.

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Check the news item.
Miss World 2009 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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What is BIMSTEC

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BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

The Member Countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand sharing the Bay of Bengal.

The present chairman is Myanmar. In 2009, India was the chairman. In 2008, Bangladesh was the chairman.

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Source used:
BIMSTEC ministerial meeting promotes subregional cooperation_English_Xinhua

Further Sources: Wikipedia Article

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Lessons on WPI and CPI.

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In the following link of Economic Times, there is brief description of Wholesale Price Index and Consumer Price Index. There is a brief explanation on their respective significance. The new base year which is going to come into force in 2010 is also discussed. It explains that how many goods/companies are included calculating the ratio of WPI.

For non-economic candidates, it is a good write up. Keep a note of it.

What is WPI?- Money & You-The Sunday ET-Features-The Economic Times

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For Wikipedia article on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) check HERE.

For Consumer Price Index (CPI) check HERE. It is more elaborate with US economy as it is pivotal economy. However, it can be skipped if not comprehensive as WPI is the basis of declaring the inflation for which Economic Times is giving this Lesson on Basics.The CPI is also used as such but as per ET, WPI is the basis in India. (Student with Economics background is requested to comment if the blogger is wrong. The blogger will be highly obliged.)

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Phyan cyclonic storm

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Climatic changes are now important topics and expect a good coverage in 2010 prelims as well as mains. After Copenhagen submit in December, there will further issues on environment changes and natural disasters. In short surface and atmospheric geographical phenomena must be given attention.

Use the following two reports

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Links to be used:
Phyan, first cyclonic storm to reach Mumbai in 43 years - Pune - City - The Times of India

The Hindu Report

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Civil Nuclear Energy Pacts receive land in India

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The peaceful use of nuclear energy is an important issue. After ending the isolation of India on this issue, India is receiving technology and material for peaceful use of nuclear energy. In the process, India has signed pacts with seven countries. The report hitched below is containing details about the different sites in India where different countries with which India is now having pacts are going to have nuclear energy plants.

A good note on it can be useful for 2010. It is a type of SURE question at least in 2010 Prelims.

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Hitched Link
The Hindu : Front Page : U.S. welcomes site allocation for nuclear plants

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Define Index of Industrial Production

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What is IIP?

What does it convey?

The answer to such questions are being given by Economic Times in the link given below. The Wikipedia link is also given.

It can be useful for October 2009.

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Links to be used:
What does Index of Industrial Production conveys?- Money & You-The Sunday ET-Features-The Economic Times
Index of Industrial Production-Wikipedia

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Working of RTI

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The following report can be nicely used to make a note the working of the RTI Act.

It is mere a report. However, there are many points in the report which can be taken out and an independent note on working of RTI can be made. It can be a good topic for interview. In GS there can be a question but it is my view not a suggestion.

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Use the following link.
Not yet a strong tool - Bangalore - City - The Times of India

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Obama gets Nobel Peace Prize 2009

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The Norwegian Nobel Committee for The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 has bestowed the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 upon Barrack Obama the President of United States of America.

It writes, "The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons."

For the complete text of the committee visit the Committee Recommendation HERE.

For Wikipedia Article click HERE I suggest you to check his writing works in site directory given at the lower site of the article. His writings may turn up in literature section in 2010 and with Nobel Prize in his bag, I believe it is going to win place for his writings in the MSQs. Any comment

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Baroness Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner: First Woman ever to get Peace Prize

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The Nobel Peace Prize 2009 has been bestowed upon Barrack Obama, the President of United States of America. On this occasion, the Nobel website is also displaying some of the history of Nobel Peace Prizes.

In 1905, the Nobel Peace prize was given to Baroness Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner, the first woman ever to get the prize.

Is there any other significance of 1905

Check the following link (Remember 2010 aspirant, glean last year papers and you may observe that UPSC Prelims has special liking of Nobel Prizes as well as UN. Make a note of it as by May 2010 you have to brush them again. )

Home | Nobels Prize Laureates

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Herta Müller -Nobel Prize for Literature: 2009

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Herta Muller, Romanian born German Novelist has won the Nobel Prize for literature 2009.

Nobel organization has written thus about her:
"who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed"

For biography; kindly check the following link. (It is being subjected to vandalism hence use caution.)
Herta Müller - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nobel Prize Official Site
Photograph Source: Wikiepdia link as given above.

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Venkatraman Ramakrishnan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Check the biography of Venkatraman Ramakrishnan on Wikipeida. He is a structural biologist who has been awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Thomas A. Steitz and Ada Zonath.

(Nobel Prize, Nobel Prize organization and United Nations are two such topics which have regularly given questions in Prelims GS. That means 150-2=148. Got it)

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Link to be used (Kindly note that the contents keep on changing in case of persons who are in news recently. Hence, try to maintain an update by revisiting the link.)

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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