ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 158 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.

ISO 9001 is a quality management system standard which standardizes and documents the various activities of the organization like purchase, stores, sales, processing, it focuses on customer needs and fulfilling the same hence enhancing the satisfaction levels and laying and implementing the systems for continual improvement.

ISI

ISI  is Indian Standards Institute, an  ISI mark means the product conforms to respective national product standard the customer has to accept the same.

BIS HALLMARK

BIS CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR HALLMARKING OF GOLD JEWELLERY

Government of India’ has identified BIS a sole agency in India to operate this scheme. BIS hallmarking Scheme is voluntary in nature and is operating under BIS Act, Rules and Regulations. It operates on the basis of trust and thus it is desirable that aspect of quality control are in built in the system responsible for managing quality.

The BIS Hallmarking Scheme has been aligned with International criteria on hallmarking (Vienna Convention 1972). As per this scheme, licence is granted to the jewellers by BIS under Hallmarking Scheme. The BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. The recognition to an Assaying and Hallmarking Centre is given against BIS criteria Doc: HMS/RAHC/GO1 which is in line with International criteria on Marking and Control of Precious metals.

A Hallmark, consists of five components i.e. BIS Mark, the Fineness number (corresponding to given caratage), Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s Mark, Jeweller’s identification Mark and year of Marking denoted by a code letter and decided by BIS (e.g. code letter `A’ was approved by BIS for year 2000, `B’ being used for the year 2001 and `C’ for 2002 and ‘J’ for 2008). The marking is done either using punches or laser marking machine.

The BIS hallmark, a mark of conformity widely accepted by the consumer bestow the additional confidence to the consumer on the purity of gold jewellery.

Q.1   Between 1192 AD to 1857 AD,who was the only Hindu ruler to ascend the throne of Delhi ?

a) Hemu Vikramaditya
b) Harshavardhana
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Chandragupta Vikramaditya

Ans: Hemu Vikramaditya

Q.2   In 1893,who revived Ganesh Chaturthi annual festival in the form of a public festival and gave it a distinct political face ?

a) Jyotirao Phule
b) Gopal Hari Deshmukh
c) Gopal Krishna Gokhle
d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Q.3   Which ruler of ancient India embraced Jainism and spent his last days at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka ?

a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
c) Gautamiputra Satakarni
d) Harshavardhana

Ans: Chandragupta Maurya

Q.4   White bud of maize is caused due to deficiency of

a) N
b) Zn
c) Cu
d) Mn

Ans: Zn

Q.5   An atom bomb is based on the principle of

a) nuclear fission
b) nuclear fusion
c) nuclear spallation
d) none of these

Ans: nuclear fission

Q.6   The term ‘Siamese Twins’ is used for

a) twins in which there is one male and one female
b) twins in which both are females
c) twins suffering from a common disease of siam
d) twins physically attached to each other

Ans: twins physically attached to each other

Q.7   Vitamin which promotes wound healing is

a) Vitamin B
b) Vitamin C
c) Vitamin A
d) Vitamin D
Ans: Vitamin A
Q.8   Bauxite is an ore of
a) Aluminium
b) Boron
c) Lead
d) Silver

Ans: Aluminium

Q.9   Electron-volt is the unit for
a) energy
b) charge of electron
c) potential difference
d) power

Ans: energy

Q.10   Every solar eclipse takes place on

a) full moon only
b) new moon only
c) both and
d) neither nor

Ans: new moon only

Q.11   Who invented the term ‘Sprung rhythm’ ?

a) Hopkins
b) Tennyson
c) Browning
d) Wordsworth

Ans: Hopkins

Q.12   Among the following which fruit is a rich source of iron ?

a) Jamun
b) Karonda
c) Loquat
d) Guava

Ans: Jamun

Q.13   Titan is the largest moon or satellite of
a) Mars
b) Venus
c) Jupiter
d) Saturn

Ans: Saturn

Q.14   Which Indian freedom fighter and educationist founded the Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan,an educational trust,in Mumbai on 7 November 1938 ?
a) K.M. Munshi
b) Madan Mohan Malaviya
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Dhondo Keshav Karve
Ans: K.M. Munshi

Q.15   In ancient times,which city was known as `Pragjyotishpur` ?

a) Patna (Bihar)
b) Ujjain (M.P.)
c) Kannauj (U.P.)
d) Guwahati (Assam)

Ans: Guwahati (Assam)

Q.16   Who won the prestigious 2010 Corporate Hotelier of the year award?

a) P.R.S. Oberoi (East India Hotels)
b) Taj hotel
c) Centaur Hotel
d) The Leela Palace

Ans: P.R.S. Oberoi (East India Hotels)

Q.17   Who is the President of Janata Party

a) Dr Subramanian Swamy
b) Deve Gowda
c) Lalu Prasad Yadav
d) Lal Krishna Advani

Ans: Dr Subramanian Swamy

Q.18   Kavaratti is the capital of?

a) Uttaranchal
b) Sikkim
c) Lakshadweep
d) Manipuri

Ans: Lakshadweep

Q.19   Who won the Lata Mangeshkar award for 2009-10? (given by Madhya Pradesh Government)

a) Anuradha Paudwal
b) Udit Narayan
c) Kumar Sanu
d) Sadhana Sargam

Ans: Anuradha Paudwal

Q.20   Aranmula Kannadi is a GI protected tag of Kerala. It is a ________?

a) Sweet
b) Handicraft
c) Plantation Product
d) Soft Drink

Ans: Handicraft

Q.21   The Poorna Swaraj Resolution adopted at the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress was moved by—

a) B. G. Tilak
b) J. L. Nehru
c) M. K. Gandhi
d) Sardar Patel

Ans: J. L. Nehru

Q.22   Which Sultan of Delhi brought Ashoka’s Pillar to Delhi ?

a) Firozshah Tughlaq
b) Jalaluddin Khilji
c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
d) Qutub-ud-din Aibak
Ans: Firozshah Tughlaq

Q.23   The first society founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy was—

a) Brahma Samaj
b) Atmiya Sabha
c) Brahma Sabha
d) Tatvabodhini Sabha

Ans: Atmiya Sabha

Q.24   The Sarnath Buddha image of Bhumisparshmudra belongs to—

a) Mauryan period
b) Sunga period
c) Kushana period
d) Gupta period
Ans: Kushana period

Q.25   Who among the following medieval scholars/writers belonged to the Jain religion ?

a) Maladhar Vasu
b) Hemchandra Suri
c) Parthasarthi
d) Saayan

Ans: Hemchandra Suri

1. Dr F Lanchester invented what motor safety aid in 1902?

Disc Brakes

2. Halophobia fear of what?

Speaking

3. Arthur Jefferson better known as who?

Stan Laurel

4. Why is the city La Paz in Bolivia safe from fire?

To high – Not enough air to burn

5. What is the national drink of Yugoslavia?

Slivovitz

6. Agnes the girls name means what?

Chaste

7. What were the wicks in the Vestal Virgins lamps made from?

Asbestos

8. Who is the Patron Saint of France?

St Denis

9. What are you supposed to give/get for 40 years of marriage?

Ruby

10. What is the Roman Numeral for 1000?

M

11. Who was the first man in space?

Yuri Gagarin
12. What would you do with a Yashmak?

Wear it – it’s an Arab veil
13. Who betrayed Jesus to the Romans?

Judas Escariot
14. Who’s band was The Quarrymen?

John Lenon
15. Which was the most successful Grand National horse?

Red Rum
16. Who starred as the Six Million Dollar Man?

Lee Majors
17. In the song Waltzing Matilda – What is a Jumbuck?

Sheep
18. Who was Dan Dare’s greatest enemy in the Eagle?

Mekon
19. What is Dick Grayson better known as?

Robin (Batman and Robin)
20. What was given on the fourth day of Christmas?

Calling birds
21. What was Skippy ( on TV )?

The bush kangaroo
22. What does a funambulist do?

Tightrope walker
23. What is the name of Dennis the Menace’s dog?

Gnasher
24. What are bactrians and dromedaries?

Camels (one hump or two)
25. Who played The Fugitive?

David Jason
26. Who was the King of Swing?

Benny Goodman
27. Who was the first man to fly across the channel?

Louis Bleriot
28. Who starred as Rocky Balboa?

Sylvester Stallone
29. In which war was the charge of the Light Brigade?

Crimean
30. Who invented the television?

John Logie Baird
31. Who would use a mashie niblick?

Golfer
32. In the song who killed Cock Robin?

Sparrow
33. What do deciduous trees do?

Lose their leaves in winter

34. In golf what name is given to the No 3 wood?

Spoon

35. If you has caries who would you consult?

Dentist – its tooth decay

36. What other name is Mellor’s famously known by?

Lady Chatterlys Lover
37. What did Jack Horner pull from his pie?

Plum

38. How many feet in a fathom?

Six
39. which film had song Springtime for Hitler?

The Producers
40. Name the legless fighter pilot of ww2?

Douglas Bader
41. What was the name of inn in Treasure Island?

Admiral Benbow
42. What was Erich Weiss better known as?

Harry Houdini
43. Who sailed in the Nina – Pinta and Santa Maria?

Christopher Columbus
44. Which leader died in St Helena?

Napoleon Bonaparte
45. Who wrote Gone with the Wind?

Margaret Mitchell
46. What does ring a ring a roses refer to?

The Black Death
47. Whose nose grew when he told a lie?

Pinocchio
48. Who has won the most Oscars?

Walt Disney
49. What would a Scotsman do with a spurtle?

Eat porridge (it’s a spoon)
50. Which award has the words for valour on it?

Victoria Cross

.In which year RBI was nationalized  ? Ans . 1949

Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, will shut down all its nuclear power plants by 2022, a decision that would make it the first major industrialised power to go nuclear-free in the aftermath of the atomic disaster in Japan. Germany’s coalition government announced the decision after seven hours of negotiations that stretched into the small hours at Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office. “We want the electricity of the future to be safe, reliable and economically viable,” Merkel said.

Merkel pushed through measures in 2010 to extend lifespan of the country’s 17 reactors, with the last one scheduled to go offline in 2036, but she reversed her pro-nuclear stance after the earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daichi plant on March 11, 2011, triggering nuclear meltdowns.

Germany’s energy supply chain “needs a new architecture,” necessitating huge efforts in boosting renewable energies, efficiency gains and overhauling the electricity grid, Merkel said.

To make up for the loss of nuclear energy, the German government will begin to switch to renewable energy and increase investments in energy research.

Indians are the world’s most depressed people with nearly 36 per cent suffering from Major Depressive Episode (MDE), the cluster of symptoms of depression, according to a WHO-sponsored study.

The study found that people living in wealthier nations like Netherlands, France and the US were less happy and more depressed than those in poorer ones.

Netherlands with an average 33.6 per cent cases of MDE came second while France and US were placed on third and fourth positions with 32.3 per cent and 30.9 per cent cases respectively.

In India, around 9 per cent of people reported having an extended period of depression within their lifetime and nearly 36 per cent suffered from MDE.

The average age of depression in India is 31.9 years compared to 18.8 years in China, and 22.7 years in the US.

The study, published in the BMC Medicine journal, is based on interviews of more than 89,000 people in 18 different countries.

One in seven people (15 per cent) in high-income countries is likely to get depression over their lifetime, compared with one in nine (11 per cent) in middle- and low-income countries, the study says.

MDE is characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration, besides feeling depressed.

WHO ranks depression as the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and projects that by 2020, it will be the second leading cause.

Women are twice as likely to suffer depression as men and the loss of a partner, whether from death or divorce, was a main factor, the study reveals.

Depression affects over 120 million people worldwide. It can interfere with a person’s ability to work, make relationships difficult, and destroy quality of life. In severe cases it leads to suicide, causing 850,000 deaths a year.

Former Indian captain Shabbir Ali today became the first footballer to be named for the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement.

55-year-old Ali, a prolific striker, has played for more than 100 international matches for the country, besides also having spent long years at Kolkata Maidan.

He had also coach some prominent clubs in the country, including I-League sides. He recently guided Bengal to Santosh Trophy title.

Ali, who was ignored for Arjuna Awards, the announcement for the Dhyan Chand Award for his contribution to Indian football, said he would remain the same
irrespective of any laurels. He said he would not have any regret if he was ignored for the award this time also.

Named after the legendary Indian hockey player, Dhyan Chand, the award, initiated in 2002, carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a statuette, ceremonial dress and a scroll of honour.

As a footballer, Ali was the finest striker in the 70s and 80s both at the national and international level.

He rose to fame at a very early age when he captained India to win the Asian Youth championships in Bangkok jointly with Iran in 1974.Ali had over 35 goals from about 100 international matches, a feat that was later eclipsed by Bhaichung Bhutia.

Cabinet Ministers

Serial Number|  Portfolio | Name of Minister
1. Prime Minister and also in-charge of the Ministries/Departments not specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister viz.:
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions,
Ministry of Planning,
Department of Atomic Energy and
Department of Space Dr. Manmohan Singh
2. Minister of Finance Shri Pranab Mukherjee
3. Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Sharad Pawar
4. Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony
5. Minister of Home Affairs Shri P. Chidambaram
6. Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna
7. Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shri Virbhadra Singh
8. Minister of Science and Technology and
Minister of Earth Sciences Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh
9. Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad
10. Minister of Power Shri Sushilkumar Shinde
11. Minister of Corporate Affairs Shri M. Veerappa Moily
12. Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah
13. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri S. Jaipal Reddy
14. Minister of Urban Development Shri Kamal Nath
15. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and
Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Vayalar Ravi
16. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smt. Ambika Soni
17. Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge
18. Minister of Human Resource Development and
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Shri Kapil Sibal
19. Minister of Commerce and Industry and
Minister of Textiles  Shri Anand Sharma
20. Minister of Road Transport and Highways  Shri C.P. Joshi
21. Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister of Culture Kumari Selja
22. Minister of Tourism Shri Subodh Kant Sahay
23. Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan
24. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and
Minister of Water Resources Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal
25. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik
26. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri M.K. Alagiri
27. Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Praful Patel
28. Minister of Coal Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal
29. Minister of Law and Justice and
Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Salman Khursheed
30. Minister of Tribal Affairs and
Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo
31. Minister of Steel Shri Beni Prasad Verma
32. Minister of Railways Shri Dinesh Trivedi
33. Minister of Rural Development and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Jairam Ramesh
Top
Ministers of State with Independent Charge
Serial Number Portfolio Name of Minister
1. Ministry of Mines Shri Dinsha J. Patel
2. Ministry of Women and Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath
3. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Ajay Maken
4. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prof. K.V. Thomas
5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Jena
6. Ministry of Environment and Forests Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan
7. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar
Ministers of State
Serial Number Portfolio Name of Minister
1. Ministry of External Affairs and
Ministry of Human Resource Development Shri E. Ahamed
2. Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Mullappally Ramachandran
3. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and
Prime Minister’s Office Shri V. Narayanasamy
4. Ministry of Commerce and Industry Shri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia
5. Ministry of Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari
6. Ministry of Railways Shri K.H. Muniappa
7. Ministry of Textiles Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi
8. Ministry of Finance Shri Namo Narain Meena
9. Ministry of Defence Shri M.M. Pallam Raju
10. Ministry of Urban Development Shri Saugata Ray
11. Ministry of Finance Shri S.S. Palanimanickam
12. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Shri Jitin Prasada
13. Ministry of External Affairs Smt. Preneet Kaur
14. Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Harish Rawat
15. Ministry of Railways Shri Bharatsinh Solanki
16. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Shri Mahadev S. Khandela
17. Ministry of Rural Development Shri Sisir Adhikari
18. Ministry of Tourism Shri Sultan Ahmed
19. Ministry of Shipping Shri Mukul Roy
20. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Shri Choudhury Mohan Jatua
21. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri D. Napoleon
22. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan
23. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Shri S. Gandhiselvan
24. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Shri Tusharbhai Chaudhary
25. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Shri Sachin Pilot
26. Ministry of Coal Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil
27. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and
Ministry of Corporate Affairs Shri R.P.N. Singh
28. Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Minority Affairs Shri Vincent Pala
29. Ministry of Rural Development Shri Pradeep Jain
30. Ministry of Rural Development Ms. Agatha Sangma
31. Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Science and Technology and
Ministry of Earth Sciences Shri Ashwani Kumar
32. Ministry of Power Shri K.C. Venugopal
33. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay
34. Ministry of Agriculture and
Ministry of Food Processing Industries Shri Charan Das Mahant
35. Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Jitendra Singh
36. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Shri Milind Deora
37. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Rajeev Shukla

Bankers and other stakeholders are now almost certain that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will increase the key policy rate, or the repo rate, by 25 basis points (bps) on Tuesday. But if they are still keenly awaiting the first quarter review of the monetary policy, it’s because of growing expectations that Governor D Subbarao will finally signal an end to the prolonged rate increase season, with core inflation showing signs of stabilising.

The central bank has increased rates 10 times in the last 15 months to arrest the rise in prices. If it does so on Tuesday, it will be the third time in as many months. In May, the policy rate was increased by 50 bps, while in June the quantum was 25 bps.

Economists and market watchers said though the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation was still much above the central bank’s comfort zone, non-food manufacturing-based inflation, or the core inflation, was steady in June, with food prices easing.

“We expect RBI to increase rates by 25 bps. There could be a pause after that in case core inflation shows signs of cooling off in the coming months,” said Siddhartha Sanyal, chief India economist, Barclays Capital.

In June, WPI inflation was 9.4 per cent and core inflation was 7.3 per cent, marginally up from the May figure of 7.2 per cent. Food inflation eased. It came down to 7.58 per cent as on July 9 compared to 8.31 per cent a week ago.

Economists say inflation is not likely to increase significantly in the coming months unless global commodity prices, particularly of oil, oilseeds, edible oil, sugar and metals, harden, or the monsoon is a big disappointment.

source: msn