Central Government Holidays in Kerala for 2013

List of Holidays and Restricted Holidays for 2013 for the Central Government Offices in Kerala

Holidays for 2013

SL No	Occasion	Date of Christian Era	Day of the Week
1	Pongal	January 14	Monday
2	*Prophet Mohammad's birthday (Id-e-Milad)	January 25	Friday
3	Republic Day	January 26	Saturday
4	Good Friday	March 29	Friday
5	Mahavir Jayanti	April 24	Wednesday
6	Buddha Purnima	May 25	Saturday
7	*Idu-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan)	August 09	Friday
8	Independence Day	August 15	Thursday
9	Vinayaka Chathurthi	September 09	Monday
10	Onam	September 16	Monday
11	Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday	October 02	Wednesday
12	Dussehra	October 13	Sunday
13	*Idu-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)	October 16	Wednesday
14	Diwali (Deepavali)	November 02	Saturday
15	*Muharram	November 14	Thursday
16	Guru Nanak’s Birthday	November 17	Sunday
17	Christmas Day	December 25	Wednesday

* Subject to change depending on the sighting of moon. 

For Orders Click on the link below

Holidays

Restricted Holidays

Download Calendar 2013

Kerala Region:Click Here

Delhi Region:Click Here

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Ban on new recruitment in Central Government Departments..!

Ban on new recruitment in Central Government Departments..!

Any ban order on recruitment in Central Government Services..?

Important reply as clarification by the concerned Ministry was submitted in the Parliament on 12.12.2012.

The Minister of Dopt has given reply to a question in Lok Sabha regarding the ban on new recruitment in Central Government Departments on 12th December 2012.

The Minister said that there is no ban on recruitment in Central Government. And the all Ministries and Departments concerned are required to fill up the vacancies within the framework of existing instructions and rules keeping in view functional requirement of the posts.

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Latest Current Affairs - December 2012

Current Affairs- December 2012

Current Affairs December 2012 -Second Week

Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar Maestro Passed away

Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, who spearheaded the worldwide spread of Indian music and had a major influence on Western musicians like The Beatles, passed away in San Diego city of California on 11 December 2012 at the age of 92. Pandit Ravi Shankar is survived by his wife Sukanya and musician daughters, sitar player Anoushka Shankar, singer Norah Jones, 3 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

Pandit Ravi Shankar was the sitar exemplar and was also called India`s musical ambassador who was responsible for making Indian classical music popular in the West. He had collaborated with several international artists including George Harrison of The Beatles which had earned him fame and adoration all over the world. A Magsaysay award winner, Shankar was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1986.

In his 60 years as a musician Pandit Ravi Shankar had won numerous national and international awards.

• He received the Padma Bhushan in 1967, Padma Vibhushan in 1981 and Bharat Ratna in 1999.

• He is also a three-time Grammy winner.

• He is a honourary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and is a member of the United Nations International Rostrum of composers.

• He is winner of Magsaysay award in year 1992.

•He received the music award of the UNESCO International Music Council in 1975.

Lional Messi breaks Gerd Muller's record for most goals in a calendar year

Lionel Messi, the renowned soccer player on 9 December 2012 set the record for most goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th goal of 2012. He set the record while scoring the winning goal against Real Betis. Messi's record included 12 for Argentina and 74 goals for Barcelona in 66 games.  The earlier record was made by Gerd Mueller who had scored 85 goals in 1972 which included 72 goals for his club Bayern Munich and 13 for his country West Germany. The record breaking performance has made Messi favourite to claim his fourth FIFA World Player of the Year award.

India Successfully test fired Agni I Ballistic Missile

India on 12 December 2012 successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test range off Odisha coast. The missile was test-fired under a practice trial by the Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army from a mobile launcher at about 8.30 am on 12 December 2012 from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from Balasore, defence .

Facts about Agni I Ballistic Missile

• Agni- I is a single-stage missile which is powered by solid propellants and has a specialised navigation system which ensures that it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision.

• It Weighs around 12 tonnes and is 15-metre-long which is capable of carrying payloads up to 1000 kg.

• Agni-I has been developed by advanced systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Defence Research Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

Bar code inventor Norman Woodland died at 91

Norman Woodland, the inventor of bar code, which revolutionised product labelling, died at 91 on 8 December 2012 at New Jersey. He died because of complications resulting due to Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife (61), two daughters, one brother and granddaughters.

Woodland was the co-inventor of bar code; the zebra pattern which stores information about the products.  He as well as his partner Bernard Silver (who died in 1963) patented this idea of bar code back in 1952 and also sold that to Philco, the electronics company for 15000 US dollar.

The code is today known as Universal Product Code (UPC). First bar code scan occurred on 26 June 1974 in Troy, Ohio. Today, there are 5 billion products which are scanned optically with the help of bar code or UPC. The laser scanner which is handheld is today used in industrial, transportation as well as shipping industries across the world. Today, the bar code saves countless hours of shoppers in the supermarkets

Vinod Rai re-elected as UN auditors panel head

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai has been re-elected as Chairman of United Nations Panel of External Auditors for 2013. The Panel of External Auditors plays an important role in promoting accountability and strengthening governance mechanisms in the UN organisations. Panel of the United Nations is the deciding body of the course as well as subject of audit of the different UN organisations which also include International Atomic Energy Agency. CAG of the UK, Amyas Morse was re-elected as the vice-chairman.

European Union receives 2012 Nobel Peace Prize

The European Union, received 2012Nobel Peace Prize for turning Europe "from a continent of war to a continent of peace" in the wake of two world wars. The award was conferred by Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland to EU President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

Bihar received the Silver Icon Web Ratna Award 2012

Bihar's public grievance redressal website received the Silver Icon Web Ratna Award 2012 on 10 December 2012. The public grievance redressal website -- http://bpgrs.in has been developed by the state government as an e-governance initiative and has various features for quick and transparent disposal of complaints. The complainant is also intimated on his/her e-mail about the action taken.

Australia Won the Hockey Champions Trophy for Fifth Consecutive Year, India Lost Bronze to Pakistan

Australia won Champions Trophy 2012 for the fifth consecutive year by defeating the Netherlands in the finals held in Melbourne, Australia. The bronze was claimed by Pakistan after they beat India 3-2 on a match on 9 December 2012. India missed the chance to win bronze, which would have been its second Champions trophy medal as well as the first since 1982.

Final Result:

1. Australia: Champions

2. The Netherlands: Silver

3. Pakistan: Bronze

Australia has won Champions trophy for a maximum 13 times.

Life of Pi was given two National Tourism Awards by the Ministry of Tourism

Life of Pi was given two National Tourism Awards by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on 8 December 2012 recognizing the impact it has had in promoting India as a tourism destination, especially Puducherry and Munnar (Kerala). These Awards will be given to Ang Lee, Director of the film ‘Life of Pi’ and  Yann Martel, writer of the book of the same name.

Apple Launched i pad mini and fourth-generation iPad in India

On 7 December 2012, Apple launched iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad in India. This comes less than a week after the company rolled out iTunes Store in the country.

The i Pad mini with its 7.9-inch touchscreen, display, FaceTime HD, and iSight cameras came to India at starting price of 21900 rupees for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only version. The 32 and 64GB Wi-Fi-only versions of the device cost 27900 and 33900 rupees respectively in Indian market. The fourth-generation i pad is Compatible with 4G networks and have 9.7-inch touchscreen with Retina display technology and runs on A6X dual-core processor. The 16, 32 and 64GB Wi-Fi-only variants of the latest iPad are priced at 31900, 37900 and 43900rupees respectively. Apple declared that the new iPad mini is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad.

Web Ratna Gold Award for Kerala CM Website

The Kerala Chief Minister’s website, keralacm.gov.in, has won the Web Ratna Gold Medal Award instituted by Central Government to promote innovative e-Governance initiatives. This website was launched on July 01, 2011. CM’s Press Secretary P T Chacko received the award from Union Minister for Communication & IT, Kapil Sibal at a function held at New Delhi. The award aims to honour initiatives taken by the Chief Minister who have leveraged upon the use of ICT to solicit active participation of public in the process of governance. The award secretariat consisting of three tier screening committee observed that the Kerala Chief Minister’s website has succeeded in bringing better public participation in governance. ‘The New York Times’ had applauded the live streaming of Chief Minister’s office as part of Oommen Chandy’s earnest efforts to bring transparency in governance by incorporating technological innovations.

“Change of Guard” Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan now open to public every Saturday

It would now be possible for common man to visit President’s House Rashtrapati Bhavan to witness ceremonial ‘Change of Guard’ conducted in precision by smartly dressed army men and caparisoned horses. As per the new changes which have been introduced after President Pranab Mukherjee’s instructions to open the house for common man, 200 public visitors will now be allowed every Saturday at its forecourt for witnessing the ceremony.

BB Nimbalkar, India’s Highest Scorer in First class cricket Passed away

Bhausaheb Babasaheb Nimbalkar, a giant of Indian domestic cricket who came close to breaking Sir Don Bradman's first-class score in the Ranji Trophy, passed away due to age related ailments in his residence in Kolhapur on 11 December 2012.The right-handed batsman holds the record of scoring the highest individual first-class score by an Indian - 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar at Poona Club in December 1948. With an aggregate of 3,687 runs at a healthy average of 56.72 with 11 centuries he is counted among the outstanding batsmen in the Ranji Trophy.

Yeddyurappa formally launches Karnataka Janata Party

Opening a new chapter in Karnataka politics, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa formally launched Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) on 09 December 2012 and took over as its president at a massive rally here in North Karnataka.

Prepared by: currentaffairs4examz.blogspot.com

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General Knowledge Questions

General Knowledge Questions

Useful for UPSC/ SSC/ Combined Graduate/ Secretariat Assistant/ RRB/ IBPS/ Postal-Sorting Assistant/ IB/ Probationary Officer/ Civil Service & other Competitive Examinations

1.      Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary is in the State of?         -Assam. It is a famous for one horned Rhinoceros.

2.      Bhopal Gas Tragedy was caused by? - Methyl Isocynate

3.      Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution on?- 26^th November 1949. The Constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950

4.      Who was the founder Ramakrishna Mission?- Swami Vivekananda.

5.      The Planning Commission was established in the year?- 1950

6.      The Oral Polio Vaccine was discovered by?- Jonas Salk

7.   Which wave does a TV remote control unit used to operate a TV set?- Micro wave.

8.      The most literate Union Territory in India is?- Lakshadweep

9.      Who is the present Railway Minister?- Pawan Kumar Bensal

10. Attorney General is appointed by?- President. He is the highest Law Officer in India.

11. The National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was originally composed in?- Bengali

12.  Which city is known as the garden city of India? - Bangalore

13. Who was the first captain of Indian Test Cricket Team? CK Nayudu. He led the India Cricket Team in four matches in 1932-34

14. The capital of India was transferred from Kolkata to Delhi in? -1911

15. The least densely populated state in India?- Arunachal Pradesh

16. The State/ Union Territory having French as its official language? -Pondicherry

17. ‘Dandia’ is a popular dance of?- Gujarat

18. Judges of High Court retires at the age of?- 65 Years

19. The President of India can be impeached by?- Parliament

20.   The greeting ’Jai Hind’ was started by which famous person?- Subhash Chandra Bose

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Postal/ Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) Examination Previous Questions

Postal/ Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) Examination Previous Questions

November 2006 Examination

Part III- General Knowledge

1. Who was India’s nominee for the post of U.N. Secretary General?

(a) Lalith Mansingh

(b) Chinmaya R. Gharekhan

(c) Indra Nooyi

(d) Shashi Tharoor

2. Which of the following is TRUE of Chikungunya?

(a) A viral illness spread by mosquito

(b) An illness spread by chicken

(c) A fungal illness spread by mosquito

(d) A bacterial illness spread by mosquito

3. Which country created news in October 2006 by announcing that it performed nuclear weapons test?

(a) France

(b) Israel

(c) South Korea

(d) North Korea

4. Which of the following is NOT TRUE of India?

(a) Smallest state is Goa

(b) Least populous state is Sikkim

(c) Area wise the largest state is Rajasthan

(d) Most populous state is Tamilnadu

5. As Rajghat is associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Santivan with Nehru, which place is associated with B.R. Ambedkar?

(a) Sakthisthal

(b) Veerbhoomi

(c) Chaithrabhoomi

(d) Vijayaghat

6. Who wrote the book ‘‘The annhilation of caste’?

(a) B.R. Ambedkar

(b) Kanshi Ram

(c) Mayawati

(d) Ram Vilas Paswan

7. ‘‘Self respect is a most vital factor in life. Without it man is a mere cipher. Who said this?

(a) Alexander Pope

(b) Erich Segal

(c) B.R. Ambedkar

(d) George Eliot

8. Which among the following mountain peaks is the highest?

(a) Nanda Devi

(b) Kanchenjunga

(c) Badrinath

(d) Nunkun

9. Which of the following is NOT TRUE of India’s national flag?

(a) It is a horizontal tri-colour

(b) The ratio between the width of the flag to its length is two to five

(c) Its design was adopted by the Constitutent Assembly on 22 July, 1947.

(d) Its use and display are regulated by a code

10. Which was the first political occassion when ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung?

(a) 1896 session of the INC

(b) 1912 session of the INC

(c) On 15 August 1947

(d) On 26 January 1950

11. Which of the following is TRUE of Indian Standard Time?

(a) 5.5 hours ahead of GMT

(b) 4.5 hours ahead of GMT

(c) 3.5 hours ahead of GMT

(d) 2.5 hours ahead of GMT

12. On May 11, 2000 India’s population was estimated to have reached:

(a) One billion

(b) Two billion

(c) Three billion

(d) Four billion

13. How many mother tongues are spoken in India?

(a) More than 1600

(b) Less than 500

(c) More than 2500

(d) 22

14. Some incidents in India’s freedom movement are arranged chronologicaly in the options below. Which of them is correct?

(a) First Meeting of INC, Formation of the Muslim League, Massacre of Jalianwallabagh, Moplah rebellion in Malabar.

(b) Moplah rebellion in Malabar, First meeting of INC, Formation of the Muslim League, Massacre of Jalianwallabagh.

(c) Massacre of Jalianwallabagh, First meeting of INC, Moplah rebelion in Malabar, Formation of Muslim League.

(d) Formation of Muslim League, First meeting of INC, Moplah rebellion in Malabar, Massacre of Jalianwallabagh.

15. Which of the following is NOT TRUE of the constitution of India?

(a) It was drawn up by a Constituent Assembly.

(b) It came into effect on 15 August 1947.

(c) It closely follows the British Parliamentary model.

(d) It differs from the British Parliamentary model in holding that the constitution is supreme and not parliament.

16. What is a group of owls called?

(a) A parliament of

(b) A bed of

(c) A shoal of

(d) A flock of

17. Which is India Post’s web site?

(a) indiapost.co.in

(b) indiapost.net

(c) indiapost.gov.in

(d) indiapost.com

18. Who among the following is given the credit of establishing the modern postal system in India?

(a) Lord Clive

(b) Lord Mountbatten

(c) Lalith Mansingh

(d) Dalhousie

19. Expand the abbreviation G.P.O

(a) Generic Post Office

(b) General Post Office

(c) Group Post Office

(d) Grand Post Office

20. PIN Code Zone No.6 includes besides Kerala:

(a) Karnataka and Tamilnadu

(b) Tamilnadu and Lakshadweep

(c) Tamilnadu

(d) Karnataka

Answers

1.   Shashi Tharoor

2.   A viral illness spread by mosquito

3.   North Korea

4.   Most populous state is Tamilnadu

5.   Chaithrabhoomi

6.   B.R. Ambedkar

7.   B.R. Ambedkar

8.   Kanchenjunga

9.   The ratio between the width of the flag to its length is two to five

10. 1896 session of the INC (Held at Kolkotha, translated in to English by Aurobindo Ghosh)

11.    5.5 hours ahead of GMT

12.       One billion

13.    More than 1600

14.   First meeting of INC (1885) Formation of the Muslim League (1906), Massacre of Jalianwallabagh (1919), Moplah rebellion in Malabar (1921).

15.     It came into effect on 15 August 1947 (Correct answer 26-1-1950)

16.    A parliament of owls

17.    Indiapost.gov. in

18.    Lord Clive in 1766

19.      General Post Office

20.    Tamilnadu and Lakshadweep

Prepared by: currentaffairs4examz.blogspot.com

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