General Knowledge--

1) Who is the first President of the United States of America?
-George Washington

2) Who was born on August 15, 1769?
-Napoleon Bonaparte

3) Which city was previously known as Salisbury?
-Harare

4) Who is the author of “A streetcar named desire”?
-Tennessee Williams

5) Which film is in Aramaic and Latin?
-The Passion of the Christ

6) Who won Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship in 1977?
-Bjorn Borg

7) Who won the Olympic Gold Medal for hockey in 1980?
-India
8)What name was taken by Cardinal Joseph Sarto when he became pope?
-Pius X

9) How many metres is one mile?
-1609.344

10) What are vertebrates that live both under water and on land called?
-Amphibians

10) What does Yugoslavia mean?
-The land of the Southern Slavs

11) Which state of USA was once part of Russia?
-Alaska

12) What did the Greeks call the present day Amu River in Iran?
-Oxus

13) Which language is written in five scripts?
-Konkani

14) Which British monarch in 20th century was not crowned?
-Edward VIII

15) Who was told “Beware the Ides of March.”?
-Julius Caesar

16) Which country’s postal stamps have the name Helvetia?
  -Switzerland

17) Yen is the currency of which country?
-Japan

18) Which is the national flower of Australia?
-Golden Wattle

19) What is the number of squares on a chess board?
 -64

20) Which city was the summer capital of India during British Rule?

-Simla

21) The name of which city was changed to Petrograd and Leningrad?
-St. Petersburg

Pranab Mukherjee launched the Signature Tune of the Indian Customs

Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 11 January 2012 launched the signature tune of the Indian Customs, Pragati ki Dhadkan in New Delhi.  The signature tune composed by noted music director Adesh Srivastava was launched to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian Customs Act, 1962.
The signature tune is to be played alongside the tableau of the Central Board of Excise and Customs during the Republic Day Parade on Rajpath on 26 January 2012. For the first time the Central Board of Excise & Customs, on behalf of Ministry of Finance, will be participating in the Republic Day Parade 2012 through a tableau- Indian Customs - The Guardian of Our Economic Frontiers.
A tableau- Indian Customs - The Guardian of Our Economic Frontiers showcases the myriad facets of Indian Customs and its vigil at all frontiers.

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion notified 100% FDI in Single-brand Retail

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) ON 10 January 2012 notified the rules allowing 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail. Currently 51% FDI is permitted in this segment of retailing which was opened to foreign players almost six years ago.

Removal of the investment cap will help global fashion brands, especially from Italy and France, to venture alone in the growing Indian market.

Shares of retail giants Kishore Biyani-led Future Group firm Pantaloon Retail (India) surged by 10% to an early high of Rs 161.40, while Provogue (India) zoomed up by 14.22% to Rs 28.10 on the BSE following the announcement by the government. In a similar fashion, Koutons Retail gained 12.52%, Shopper's Stop rose by 9.38%, Tata Group retail venture Trent Ltd advanced by 5.50% and Vishal Retail jumped by 4.98%.

The decision to increase FDI in single-brand retail was taken by Cabinet on 24 November 2011 along with the decision to open the gates for overseas investment in multi-brand retail. The government was however forced to put FDI in multi-brand retail on hold in the face of opposition by several political parties, including UPA ally Trinamool Congress.

In respect of proposals involving FDI beyond 51%, the mandatory sourcing of at least 30% would have to be done from the domestic small and cottage industries which have a maximum investment in plant and machinery of USD 1 million (about Rs 5 crore).

Banks-Things to Know

The first bank in India to be given an ISO Certification
-Canara Bank

The first bank in Northern India to get ISO 9002 certification for their selected branches
-Punjab and Sind Bank

The first Indian bank to have been started solely with Indian capital
-Punjab National Bank

The first among the private sector banks in Kerala to become a scheduled bank in 1946 under the RBI Act
-South Indian Bank

India’s oldest, largest and most successful commercial bank, offering the widest possible range of domestic, international and NRI products and services, through its vast network in India and overseas
-State Bank of India

India’s second largest private sector bank and is now the largest scheduled commercial bank in India
-The Federal Bank Limited

Bank which started as private shareholders banks, mostly Europeans shareholders
-Imperial Bank of India

The first Indian bank to open a branch outside India in London in 1946 and the first to open a branch in continental Europe at Paris in 1974
-Bank of India, founded in 1906 in Mumbai

The oldest Public Sector Bank in India having branches all over India and serving the customers for the last 132 years
-Allahabad Bank

The first Indian commercial bank which was wholly owned and managed by Indians
-Central Bank of India

Bank of India was founded in 1906 in Mumbai. It became the first Indian bank to open a branch outside India in London in 1946 and the first to open a branch in continental Europe at Paris in 1974.

The 10th Pravsi Bhartiya Divas-2012 held in Jaipur

The 10th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) was held on 7-9 January, 2012 at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur. Highlights of the 10th PBD are as following:

• The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar was the Chief Guest of the event.

• The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh inaugurated the event.

• Over 1900 delegates from about 60 countries were participated this year’s PBD.

• The Global Indian: Inclusive Growth was the theme of the event and the focus was on India’s Social Development and the Overseas Indian community.

• Prime Minister announced a new Pension and Life Insurance Fund for overseas Indian workers. The scheme will encourage, enable and assist overseas workers to voluntarily save for their return and resettlement and old age. It will also provide a low-cost life insurance cover against natural death.

• Prime Minister also announced that pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable non-resident Indians to vote in national elections, the Government has issued notifications for registration of overseas Indians under the Representation of People Act, 1950. This constitutes the first major step to enable Indians resident abroad to participate in election processes.

• Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs announced that next Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2012 will be held in Dubai for the Gulf region.

• A Protector of Emigrants (POE) office was inaugurated in Jaipur during the event to facilitate overseas Indians and emigrating workers of this region.

• The Chief Minister of Rajasthan announced a new scheme, Know Rajasthan for NRI’s. Under this scheme 50 NRIs from 18-28 years of age annually would come on tour to the state. 90% expenditure of their Air Fare will be borne by the state Government. The expenditure on internal transport and residence will also be borne by the State Government.

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated in India on 9 January each year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The day commemorates the arrival of Mahatama Gandhi in India from South Africa. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the Government of India, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of India.