Which party emerged as the largest party in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections of 2014, results for which were declared on 23 December 2014?
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Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP)
JKPDP won 28 out of total 87 assembly seats that went to polls. It was closely followed by the BJP which won 25 seats. Ruling National Conference (NC) was at third place with 15 seats while Congress was able to save itself from being decimated by winning 12 seats. JKPDP was formed in 1998 by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. It had captured power in the state in 2002 assembly elections. BJP was the biggest gainer in these elections as it was able to significantly increase its tally from just 1 seat in 2002 and 11 seats in 2008 to 25 seats now. However, it was clear that any govt. in state would be formed only by a coalition.
Party Name No. of Seats (Total Seats 87)
Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party 28
Bharatiya Janata Party 25
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference 15
Indian National Congress 12
Jammu & Kashmir People Conference 2
Independents and others 5
JKPDP won 28 out of total 87 assembly seats that went to polls. It was closely followed by the BJP which won 25 seats. Ruling National Conference (NC) was at third place with 15 seats while Congress was able to save itself from being decimated by winning 12 seats. JKPDP was formed in 1998 by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. It had captured power in the state in 2002 assembly elections. BJP was the biggest gainer in these elections as it was able to significantly increase its tally from just 1 seat in 2002 and 11 seats in 2008 to 25 seats now. However, it was clear that any govt. in state would be formed only by a coalition.
Party Name No. of Seats (Total Seats 87)
Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party 28
Bharatiya Janata Party 25
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference 15
Indian National Congress 12
Jammu & Kashmir People Conference 2
Independents and others 5
Jharkhand got first stable government since it was formed in 2000 when the results for state’s Assembly Elections were declared on 23 December 2014. BJP-led coalition was able to win 42 seats out of total 81 seats in Jharkhand Assembly. BJP won 37 seats on its own while its coalition partner was able to win 5 seats. What is the name of BJP’s coalition partner?
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All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU)
AJSU was formed in 1986 and was modelled after All Assam Student’s Union (AASU) of Prafulla Mahanta. It is led by Sudesh Mahto. Party won 5 seats despite Sudesh Mahto losing from his Silli seat which he represented for around 15 years. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 19 seats and its partner in government Congress won 6 seats. While BJP numbers more than doubled from 18 in 2009 to 37 this election, JMM’s numbers improved by one from 18 to 19 despite the loss of government. Chief Minister Hemant Soren won from Barhait by a good margin of 24,087 votes while lost in Dumka by a 5,262 votes. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) of former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi won 8 seats. Jharkhand has seen a long series of unstable politics since it was formed 14 years ago in 2000. It has seen nine governments and three stints of President’s rule in these 14 years.
Party Name No. of Seats (Total Seats 81)
Bharatiya Janata party 37
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha 19
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) 8
Indian National Congress 6
All Jharkhand Students Union 5
Bahujan Samaj Party 1
Others 5
AJSU was formed in 1986 and was modelled after All Assam Student’s Union (AASU) of Prafulla Mahanta. It is led by Sudesh Mahto. Party won 5 seats despite Sudesh Mahto losing from his Silli seat which he represented for around 15 years. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 19 seats and its partner in government Congress won 6 seats. While BJP numbers more than doubled from 18 in 2009 to 37 this election, JMM’s numbers improved by one from 18 to 19 despite the loss of government. Chief Minister Hemant Soren won from Barhait by a good margin of 24,087 votes while lost in Dumka by a 5,262 votes. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) of former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi won 8 seats. Jharkhand has seen a long series of unstable politics since it was formed 14 years ago in 2000. It has seen nine governments and three stints of President’s rule in these 14 years.
Party Name No. of Seats (Total Seats 81)
Bharatiya Janata party 37
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha 19
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) 8
Indian National Congress 6
All Jharkhand Students Union 5
Bahujan Samaj Party 1
Others 5
Veteran director and filmmaker K. Balachander passed away on 23 December 2014 at private hospital in Chennai. He was 84. In which year he was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke award, the highest recognition for excellence in cinema in the country?
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2010
K. Balachander was an institution in himself and was revered for being a talent-spotter both among artistes and technicians. Apart from directing over 150 films he was known for nurturing innumerable talents in film industry. The two greatest talents he has nurtured are Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. Balachander’s most prolific years were in the three decades from 1960s to the 1980s. Among Balachander’s best-known films are ‘Aval Ora Thodar Kathai’, ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, ‘Avargal’, ‘Varumayin Niram Sigappu’ and ‘47 Natkal’. He also directed Bollywood hit ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ starring Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri.
K. Balachander was an institution in himself and was revered for being a talent-spotter both among artistes and technicians. Apart from directing over 150 films he was known for nurturing innumerable talents in film industry. The two greatest talents he has nurtured are Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. Balachander’s most prolific years were in the three decades from 1960s to the 1980s. Among Balachander’s best-known films are ‘Aval Ora Thodar Kathai’, ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, ‘Avargal’, ‘Varumayin Niram Sigappu’ and ‘47 Natkal’. He also directed Bollywood hit ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ starring Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23 December extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations including Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000. What is the new deadline?
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30 June 2015
Earlier in March 2014 the RBI had set 1 January 2015 as the deadline to exchange pre-2005 currency notes. Thus it extended this deadline by 6 months. RBI also clarified that all such notes will continue to remain a legal tender. These notes can be exchanged for their full value. Currency notes issued before 2005 do not have the year of printing on the reverse side. In notes issued after 2005, the year of printing is visible at the bottom on the reverse. Post-2005 notes have added security features and help in curbing the menace of fake currency. Seeking cooperation for withdrawing pre-2005 currency notes from circulation, the RBI has asked the public to deposit the old design notes in their bank accounts or exchange them at a bank branch convenient to them.
Earlier in March 2014 the RBI had set 1 January 2015 as the deadline to exchange pre-2005 currency notes. Thus it extended this deadline by 6 months. RBI also clarified that all such notes will continue to remain a legal tender. These notes can be exchanged for their full value. Currency notes issued before 2005 do not have the year of printing on the reverse side. In notes issued after 2005, the year of printing is visible at the bottom on the reverse. Post-2005 notes have added security features and help in curbing the menace of fake currency. Seeking cooperation for withdrawing pre-2005 currency notes from circulation, the RBI has asked the public to deposit the old design notes in their bank accounts or exchange them at a bank branch convenient to them.
The Union Government on 23 December 2014 constituted a committee to examine the possibility of constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for reinvestigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Who is heading this committee?
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Justice (retired) G.P. Mathur (former Judge of the Supreme Court)
The committee will submit its report within 3 months. The 1984 riots had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Many parties including the BJP were demanding reinvestigation into all cases related to these riots. Supreme Court lawyer H.S. Phoolka, who has been fighting the anti-Sikh riot cases, had in an open letter to then Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanded that an SIT be set up to probe the riots. The committee will also oversee the implementation of the payment of enhanced compensation of Rs. 5 lakh per person killed during the riots, as approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 December 2014.
The committee will submit its report within 3 months. The 1984 riots had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Many parties including the BJP were demanding reinvestigation into all cases related to these riots. Supreme Court lawyer H.S. Phoolka, who has been fighting the anti-Sikh riot cases, had in an open letter to then Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanded that an SIT be set up to probe the riots. The committee will also oversee the implementation of the payment of enhanced compensation of Rs. 5 lakh per person killed during the riots, as approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 December 2014.
US retail major Walmart announced opening a new cash and carry store in India after a gap of two years. The last store opened by it was in Bhopal in 2012. Where is this new cash and carry store being opened?
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Agra
Walmart runs 20 cash and carry stores under brand ‘Best Price’ across 9 states. The company is focusing only on cash and carry business in India in the absence of clarity on FDI in multi-brand retail trade. Earlier this year, Walmart announced plans to open 50 wholesale stores in the next 4-5 years to expand its footprint across the country.
Walmart runs 20 cash and carry stores under brand ‘Best Price’ across 9 states. The company is focusing only on cash and carry business in India in the absence of clarity on FDI in multi-brand retail trade. Earlier this year, Walmart announced plans to open 50 wholesale stores in the next 4-5 years to expand its footprint across the country.
Which committee recommends autonomous status for Vidarbha?
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Kelkar
The committee headed by the well-known economist Vijay Kelkar has recommended autonomous status for Vidarbha, noting that the region’s population feels neglected. It has also recommended shifting of the state secretariat to Nagpur, the state’s second capital, for the month of December every year.
Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today tabled the committee’s report in the Legislative Assembly. The committee, appointed to study the issue of balanced development of various regions of Maharashtra, has said that Vidarbha should get autonomous status on the lines of Meghalaya which was granted an autonomous status in 1969, when it was apart of Assam.
The autonomous status can be an alternative for separate statehood for the region, the report says, adding that all the important finance-related portfolios should be allocated to the leaders from Vidarbha.
The committee headed by the well-known economist Vijay Kelkar has recommended autonomous status for Vidarbha, noting that the region’s population feels neglected. It has also recommended shifting of the state secretariat to Nagpur, the state’s second capital, for the month of December every year.
Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today tabled the committee’s report in the Legislative Assembly. The committee, appointed to study the issue of balanced development of various regions of Maharashtra, has said that Vidarbha should get autonomous status on the lines of Meghalaya which was granted an autonomous status in 1969, when it was apart of Assam.
The autonomous status can be an alternative for separate statehood for the region, the report says, adding that all the important finance-related portfolios should be allocated to the leaders from Vidarbha.
Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today tabled the committee’s report in the Legislative Assembly. The committee, appointed to study the issue of balanced development of various regions of Maharashtra, has said that Vidarbha should get autonomous status on the lines of Meghalaya which was granted an autonomous status in 1969, when it was apart of Assam.
The autonomous status can be an alternative for separate statehood for the region, the report says, adding that all the important finance-related portfolios should be allocated to the leaders from Vidarbha.
Longest and Largest
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Longest river (India) Ganges Longest river (World) Nile Longest Railway(World) Trans-Siberian railway Longest Railway Station (World) Grand Central Terminal, Chicago (U.S.A.) The longest tributary rive of India Yamuna The longest river of the south India Godavari Longest Electric railway line in India From Delhi to Kolkata via Patna Longest Road Grand Trunk Road State with longest coastline in India Gujarat Longest railway route in India Dibrugarh in Assam to Kannyakumari in Tamil Nadu Longest tunnel Jawahar tunnel (Jammu & Kashmir) Longest national highway in India NH-7 which runs from Varanasi to Kanyakumari Longest Dam in India Hirakund Dam (Orissa) Longest River Bride in India Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna Longest populated city Mumbai (1.60 crore) Longest Railway Platform Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) Longest river which forms estuary in India Narmada State with longest coastline of South India Andhra Pradesh Longest Railway Bridge in the World Huey P. Long Bridge, Louisiana (U.S.A.) Longest Irrigational Canal The Kalakumsky Canal Longest Canal in World Suez Canal Longest Beach in India Marina Beach, Chennai Longest Tunnel in World (Railway) Tanna (Japan) Longest Tunnel in World (Road) Mont Blanc Tunnel between France and Italy Longest Wall (World) Great wall of China Largest Zoo (World) Kruger National Park, South Africa Largest Bird Ostrich Largest Archipelago Indonesia Largest Church Saint Cathedral (Goa) Largest Museum National Museum, Kolkata Largest Delta Sunderban Delta, W. Bengal Largest Dome Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur (Karnataka) Largest Zoo (India) Zoological Gardens, Alipur, Kolkata Largest man-made Lake Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam) Largest Desert Thar (Rajasthan) Largest lake (Fresh water) Wular lake (Kashmir) Largest Mosque Jama Masjid, Delhi Largest State (Area) Rajasthan Largest cave temple Kailash temple, Ellora (Maharashtra) Largest animal Fair Sonepur (Bihar) Largest State (Population) Uttar Pradesh Largest corridor Rameshwaram temple corridor (Tamil Nadu) Largest cantilever span bride Howrah Bridge (Kolkata) Largest forest state M.P. Largest Stadium Salt lake (Yuva Bharti), Kolkata Largest Port Mumbai Largest Gurudwara Golden Temple, Amritsar Largest river island Majuli (Brahmaputra river, Assam) Largest Planetarium Birla Planetarium (Kolkata) Largest Lake (Saline water) Chika lake, Orissa Largest City in Population Tokyo Largest Continent Asia Largest (Population) Country China Largest (Electorate) Country India Largest Creature Blue Whale Largest Delta Sunderban (Bangladesh & India) Largest Desert (World) Sahara (Africa) Largest Desert (Asia) Gobi Largest Dam (World) Grand Coulee Dam (U.S.A.) Largest Diamond The Cullinan Largest Dome Astrodome, in Housten (U.S.A.) Largest Epic Mahabharat Largest Irrigation Scheme Lloyd Barrage, Sukkur (Pakistan) Largest Island (World) Greenland Largest Sea Mediterranean sea Largest Lake (Artificial) Lake Mead (Boulder Dam) Largest Lake (Fresh water) Superior Largest Lake(Salt water) Caspian Largest Library United State Library of Congress, Washington D.C. Largest Museum British Museum, London Largest Ocean Pacific Largest Park Yellow Stone National Park (U.S.A.) Largest Peninsula Arabia Largest River Amazon (S. America) Largest Sea-bird Albatross Largest Radio Telescope New Mexico (U.S.A.) Highest City Van Chuan (China) Tallest Statue Statue of Motherland, Volgagrad (Russia) Highest Volcano Ojos del Salado (Andes, Ecuador) Highest Waterfall Angel (Venezuela) Highest Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) Highest Dam (World) Hoover Dam (U.S.A.) Highest Capital La Paz (Boliva) Highest Tower (India) Pitampura Tower, Delhi Highest Waterfall Gersoppa waterfall (Karnataka) Highest mountain peak in India Godwin Austin (K2) Highest Dam in India Tehri Dam on Bhagirathi River Highest Gateway Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur Sikri (Agra) Highest straight gravity Dam Bhakra Dam Highest Lake Devatal (Garhwal) Highest Award Bharat Ratna Highest Gallantry Award Paramveer Chakra Highest Battle field Siachin Glacier Highest Airport Len (Laddakh) Tallest Animal Giraffe Fastest Bird Swift Smallest Bird Humming Bird Tallest in the World Building Burj, Dubai (UAE) Biggest City in Area Mount Isa Australia Costliest City Tokyo Smallest Continent Australia Biggest Country(Area) Russia Deepest Lake Baikal (Siberia) Highest Mountain Peak Mount Everest (Nepal) Longest Mountain Range Andes (S. America) Biggest Palace Vatican (Italy) Coldest Place(Habitated) Verkhoyank (Siberia) Dryest Place Iqique (In Atacama Desert, Chile) Hottest Place Azizia (Libya, Africa) Biggest Planet Jupiter Brightest Planet Venus Highest Plateau Pamir (Tibet) Smallest Planet Mercury Rainiest Place Mausinram (Meghalaya, India) Brightest Star Sirius World’s first Tramway New York Most Active Volcano Maunaloa (Hawail-U.S.A.) Lowest body Water Dead Sea Densest populated State West Bengal Biggest Hotel Oberal –Sharaton (Mumbai) Smallest State (Area) Goa Smallest State (Population) Sikkim Place of heaviest rainfall Mausinram (Meghalaya) Deepest river valley Bhagirathi & Alaknanda
| Longest river (India) | Ganges |
| Longest river (World) | Nile |
| Longest Railway(World) | Trans-Siberian railway |
| Longest Railway Station (World) | Grand Central Terminal, Chicago (U.S.A.) |
| The longest tributary rive of India | Yamuna |
| The longest river of the south India | Godavari |
| Longest Electric railway line in India | From Delhi to Kolkata via Patna |
| Longest Road | Grand Trunk Road |
| State with longest coastline in India | Gujarat |
| Longest railway route in India | Dibrugarh in Assam to Kannyakumari in Tamil Nadu |
| Longest tunnel | Jawahar tunnel (Jammu & Kashmir) |
| Longest national highway in India | NH-7 which runs from Varanasi to Kanyakumari |
| Longest Dam in India | Hirakund Dam (Orissa) |
| Longest River Bride in India | Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna |
| Longest populated city | Mumbai (1.60 crore) |
| Longest Railway Platform | Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Longest river which forms estuary in India | Narmada |
| State with longest coastline of South India | Andhra Pradesh |
| Longest Railway Bridge in the World | Huey P. Long Bridge, Louisiana (U.S.A.) |
| Longest Irrigational Canal | The Kalakumsky Canal |
| Longest Canal in World | Suez Canal |
| Longest Beach in India | Marina Beach, Chennai |
| Longest Tunnel in World (Railway) | Tanna (Japan) |
| Longest Tunnel in World (Road) | Mont Blanc Tunnel between France and Italy |
| Longest Wall (World) | Great wall of China |
| Largest Zoo (World) | Kruger National Park, South Africa |
| Largest Bird | Ostrich |
| Largest Archipelago | Indonesia |
| Largest Church | Saint Cathedral (Goa) |
| Largest Museum | National Museum, Kolkata |
| Largest Delta | Sunderban Delta, W. Bengal |
| Largest Dome | Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur (Karnataka) |
| Largest Zoo (India) | Zoological Gardens, Alipur, Kolkata |
| Largest man-made Lake | Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam) |
| Largest Desert | Thar (Rajasthan) |
| Largest lake (Fresh water) | Wular lake (Kashmir) |
| Largest Mosque | Jama Masjid, Delhi |
| Largest State (Area) | Rajasthan |
| Largest cave temple | Kailash temple, Ellora (Maharashtra) |
| Largest animal Fair | Sonepur (Bihar) |
| Largest State (Population) | Uttar Pradesh |
| Largest corridor | Rameshwaram temple corridor (Tamil Nadu) |
| Largest cantilever span bride | Howrah Bridge (Kolkata) |
| Largest forest state | M.P. |
| Largest Stadium | Salt lake (Yuva Bharti), Kolkata |
| Largest Port | Mumbai |
| Largest Gurudwara | Golden Temple, Amritsar |
| Largest river island | Majuli (Brahmaputra river, Assam) |
| Largest Planetarium | Birla Planetarium (Kolkata) |
| Largest Lake (Saline water) | Chika lake, Orissa |
| Largest City in Population | Tokyo |
| Largest Continent | Asia |
| Largest (Population) Country | China |
| Largest (Electorate) Country | India |
| Largest Creature | Blue Whale |
| Largest Delta | Sunderban (Bangladesh & India) |
| Largest Desert (World) | Sahara (Africa) |
| Largest Desert (Asia) | Gobi |
| Largest Dam (World) | Grand Coulee Dam (U.S.A.) |
| Largest Diamond | The Cullinan |
| Largest Dome | Astrodome, in Housten (U.S.A.) |
| Largest Epic | Mahabharat |
| Largest Irrigation Scheme | Lloyd Barrage, Sukkur (Pakistan) |
| Largest Island (World) | Greenland |
| Largest Sea | Mediterranean sea |
| Largest Lake (Artificial) | Lake Mead (Boulder Dam) |
| Largest Lake (Fresh water) | Superior |
| Largest Lake(Salt water) | Caspian |
| Largest Library | United State Library of Congress, Washington D.C. |
| Largest Museum | British Museum, London |
| Largest Ocean | Pacific |
| Largest Park | Yellow Stone National Park (U.S.A.) |
| Largest Peninsula | Arabia |
| Largest River | Amazon (S. America) |
| Largest Sea-bird | Albatross |
| Largest Radio Telescope | New Mexico (U.S.A.) |
| Highest City | Van Chuan (China) |
| Tallest Statue | Statue of Motherland, Volgagrad (Russia) |
| Highest Volcano | Ojos del Salado (Andes, Ecuador) |
| Highest Waterfall | Angel (Venezuela) |
| Highest Lake | Titicaca (Bolivia) |
| Highest Dam (World) | Hoover Dam (U.S.A.) |
| Highest Capital | La Paz (Boliva) |
| Highest Tower (India) | Pitampura Tower, Delhi |
| Highest Waterfall | Gersoppa waterfall (Karnataka) |
| Highest mountain peak in India | Godwin Austin (K2) |
| Highest Dam in India | Tehri Dam on Bhagirathi River |
| Highest Gateway | Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur Sikri (Agra) |
| Highest straight gravity Dam | Bhakra Dam |
| Highest Lake | Devatal (Garhwal) |
| Highest Award | Bharat Ratna |
| Highest Gallantry Award | Paramveer Chakra |
| Highest Battle field | Siachin Glacier |
| Highest Airport | Len (Laddakh) |
| Tallest Animal | Giraffe |
| Fastest Bird | Swift |
| Smallest Bird | Humming Bird |
| Tallest in the World Building | Burj, Dubai (UAE) |
| Biggest City in Area | Mount Isa Australia |
| Costliest City | Tokyo |
| Smallest Continent | Australia |
| Biggest Country(Area) | Russia |
| Deepest Lake | Baikal (Siberia) |
| Highest Mountain Peak | Mount Everest (Nepal) |
| Longest Mountain Range | Andes (S. America) |
| Biggest Palace | Vatican (Italy) |
| Coldest Place(Habitated) | Verkhoyank (Siberia) |
| Dryest Place | Iqique (In Atacama Desert, Chile) |
| Hottest Place | Azizia (Libya, Africa) |
| Biggest Planet | Jupiter |
| Brightest Planet | Venus |
| Highest Plateau | Pamir (Tibet) |
| Smallest Planet | Mercury |
| Rainiest Place | Mausinram (Meghalaya, India) |
| Brightest Star | Sirius |
| World’s first Tramway | New York |
| Most Active Volcano | Maunaloa (Hawail-U.S.A.) |
| Lowest body Water | Dead Sea |
| Densest populated State | West Bengal |
| Biggest Hotel | Oberal –Sharaton (Mumbai) |
| Smallest State (Area) | Goa |
| Smallest State (Population) | Sikkim |
| Place of heaviest rainfall | Mausinram (Meghalaya) |
| Deepest river valley | Bhagirathi & Alaknanda |
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