Trade ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa (BRICS) will meet in New Delhi today to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties ahead of the BRICS Summit.The summit will be held on Thursday.Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will meet his counterparts from Brazil Fernando Pimente, Chen Deming from China and Russia’s Elvira Nabiullina and Rob Davis from South Africa.

SEOUL – Leaders of 53 countries and four international organisations agreed in Seoul on Tuesday to implement specific plans and action to prevent nuclear terrorism and ensure atomic energy safety.

The two-day 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit closed on Tuesday afternoon at COEX in southern Seoul where South Korean President Lee Myung-bak held the Chair’s press conference to announce the results of the summit.

“The leaders unanimously adopted the Seoul communique, the official document of the summit,” Lee told reporters.

“This summit’s core accomplishment concerns the reduction of highly-enriched uranium and plutonium which is of the greatest significance in preventing nuclear terrorism.”

It was a major achievement that Ukraine and Mexico decided to completely eliminate HEU, he said.

Regarding concerns about the possibility of trafficking of nuclear materials from North Korea and Iran, Lee said the international community would closely cooperate in tracking nuclear sources.

The Seoul Communique, adopted by the 58 participating countries and international organizations including the UN, IAEA, EU and Interpol, called for further minimising HEU and plutonium, enhancing protection of atomic energy facilities and preventing trafficking of nuclear materials.

The communique encouraged summit participants to adhere to international conventions in the area of nuclear security, including the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

It also called on the states to voluntarily announce and take specific actions to minimise the use of HEU by 2013 and addressed transportation security to prevent theft of nuclear materials by terrorists.

US President Barack Obama, who initiated the Nuclear Security Summit in 2010, urged participants to continue fighting nuclear terrorism.

“There were those who questioned whether our nations could summon the will to confront one of the gravest dangers of our time,” Obama told the other leaders at the meeting, according to a transcript released by the White House.

“There was some skepticism that we would be able to sustain an effort around this topic. But that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Along with the communique, participating countries announced their individual goals to reduce or scrap civilian HEU.

Others vowed to convert military-purpose HEU into material for non-military purposes.

Twitter is an online social networking service and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, known as “tweets”. It was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July. The service rapidly gained worldwide popularity, with over 300 million users as of 2011,generating over 300 million and handling over 1.6 billion search queries per day.It has been described as “the SMS of the Internet.”

Twitter Inc. is based in San Francisco, with additional servers and offices in New York City.The official website address of twitter is www.twitter.com

Twitter Logo. “Larry the Bird”

On Monday, February 27, 2012, a tweet from an employee that works on the company’s platform and API discussed the evolution of the “Larry the Bird” logo with Twitter’s creative director and it was revealed that it was named after Larry Bird of the NBA’s Boston Celtics fame. This detail had previously been confirmed when the Boston Celtic’s director of interactive media asked Twitter co-founder Biz Stone about it in August 2011.

Kyung-sook Shin has won the Man Asian Literary Prize for her novel, Please Look After Mom. The South Korean novelist is the first woman to win the award.

The novel is about a family’s search for their mother, who goes missing one afternoon amid the crowds of the Seoul Station subway. It offers the reader an insight into traditional family life in contemporary South Korea.

Encyclopedia Britannica, a reference book in homes and libraries worldwide, will stop publishing the print edition for the first time in 244 years and shift focus to digital versions.

The book-form of the encyclopedia first hit the print in Scotland in 1768 and will stop being available after the current stocks run out, the Chicago based company announced.

The last edition of the 32-volume encyclopedia will be the 2010 one and the company said it will keep selling print editions until the current stock of around 4000 sets runs out.

“The announcement that we will no longer print the 32-volume encyclopedia is of great significance, not for what it says about our past, but for what it projects about our vibrant present and future as a digital provider of general knowledge and instructional services,” the company’s president Jorge Cauz said in a blog post titled Looking Ahead.

But whatever be the fate of printed Encyclopedia Britannica, it has already made history with thousands of contributors including Nobel laureates and world leaders like President Bill Clinton.

The end of the printed version was foreseen and the printers said they were seeking to keep its relevance in a digital market place that is increasingly dominated by e-books and tablets.

For Encyclopedia Britannica, the sales worldwide climaxed in 1990 when over 120,000 sets were sold, but sales fell to just 40,000 six years later. The final hardcover version on the shelf is priced at USD 1395.

Pakistan Beat Bangladesh by 2 Runs, Win Asia Cup

Pakistan regained the Asia Cup title after a gap of 12 years as they pulled off a nail-biting two run victory against Bangladesh who came agonisingly close to a historic triumph but ran out of steam in the dying moments to go past the target.

Pakistan were restricted to a modest 236 for nine but held their nerve to stop the spirited hosts at 234 for eight, shattering Bangladeshi hopes of notching up their maiden Asia Cup title.

It was a case of so near and yet so far the Bangladeshis who reached the final for the first time and very nearly upstaged their fancied opponents in a tournament in which they upset world champions India and Sri Lanka.

Shiva Thapa (56kg) was the lone Indian boxer to make the final after Olympic-bound Vikas Krishan (69kg) settled for a bronze medal following his loss in the semifinal of the 43rd men’s and women’s Grand Prix in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic.

Shiva, who has been picked in the team for next month’s Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kazakhstan, defeated Czech Republic’s Patrik Velky 9-5. He will now face Vittorio Jahyn Parrinnelo of Italy in the summit clash.

Vikas, on the other hand, lost to Cuba’s Despaigne Arisnoide 9-14.

“Both the boxers fought well but unfortunately Vikas lost. Shiva has been in good form ever since he came on the senior level last year and he showed why he is considered a promising talent. He was sharp as usual with his reflexes and has a solid defence,” coach Jagdeep Hooda, who is with the team, told PTI from Usti nad Labem.

“My critics haven’t taught me my cricket,” Sachin Tendulkar has said in a rebuttal to those who were calling for him to retire.

The day he feels “a little less passion” when walking out to bat for India, “I will give up the game”, the master batsman said, adding, “critics didn’t need to tell me to do so.”

Tendulkar said he had played cricket because he loved to do and there was nothing better than playing for India.

“I still get goosebumps as I stand with my teammates when the national anthem is on. I still feel the same passion when I pick up my bat and go out,” he said in an interview carried in the latest issue of Open magazine.

“They (critics) can question but none of them have answers to their own questions. None of them has been in my predicament and it is impossible for them to understand what I have been thinking and feeling,” said Tendulkar, who scored the historic 100th international ton in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh last week.

When asked whether the final hurdle of scoring the hundredth century was the most difficult, the veteran batsman said: “There is no doubt it was. The 100th hundred was the most difficult to get. I really don’t know why but it was.”

“May be because it turned into a national obsession. May be because I wasn’t able to escape talk of the 100th hundred and it was affecting me at a subconscious level. May be God was trying me harder,” he said.

Asked whether the thought of retiring from ODI cricket had crossed his mind after India won the World Cup last year, Tendulkar said such a thought had never occurred to him.

“A number of my friends have also asked me why I didn’t retire from ODI cricket after winning the world cup, they may well be right. It would indeed have been a grand exit, emotions were running high and the timing could not have been better but to be honest such a thought never occurred to me,” he said.

“The World Cup was about India and I had no right to make it an event of my own. My retirement was a non-issue, really. Had I made the announcement soon after winning the trophy, the focus would have shifted from the Cup triumph to my retirement,” Tendulkar said.

“Frankly, retirement isn’t of any significance when pitched against a World Cup victory. It was never about Sachin Tendulkar, it was about India and India only. It was not the time to turn selfish,” he explained.

Tendulkar said he was enjoying his game and retirement was not something he was thinking about as yet.

Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee to get Dadasaheb Phalke Award

New Delhi: Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee will receive the 2011 Dada Saheb Phalke Award for lifetime contribution to cinema. Chatterjee, 77, who has won a National Award in 2008 for his film ‘Podokkhep’, is an iconic actor in Bengali cinema with a career spanning over half a century.

He has worked alongside most of the stalwarts of the industry, including legendary actor Uttam Kumar, and some of the best directors of the country.

His best work includes films with honorary Academy Award winning director Satyajit Ray and Tapan Sinha. Apur Sansar, Devi, Teen Kanya, Abhijan, Ashani Sanket, Sonar Kella and Joy Baba Felunath are some of the films he shot with Ray.

“This award means a lot to me. I am grateful to my viewers,” Chatterjee said on Wednesday.

The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution.

Dear General Knowledge Today Readers,
This edition of general knowledge today is specially focused on Bank Exam Preparation.
Hope this special edition will help you a lot in preparation of upcoming bank examinations.

Best Regards,
admin,
Generalknowledgetoday.com

Upcoming Bank Recruitment Exams:-

Bank	Post & Vacancies	Last date for applying	Test date (tentative)
United Bank of India 450 PO Recruitment 2012	450 Probationary Officers’ Posts	Feb 24 to Mar 9 , 2012	Interview Dates to be mentioned Later
Allahabad Bank 1600 PO Recruitment 2012	1600 Probationary Officers’ Posts	Mar 10, 2012	Interview Dates to be mentioned Later
Bank of Baroda 600 PO Recruitment 2012	600 Probationary Officers’ Posts	Feb 21 to Mar 10, 2012,	Interview Dates to be mentioned Later
Bihar Kshetriya Gramin Bank Officers Recruitment 2012	56 Officers’ Posts	Feb 13 to Mar 12, 2012	Apr 15, 2012,
Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank Officers and Assistants Recruitment 2012	185 Officers and 211 Assistants	Mar 15, 2012,	Office Assistants :- May 06 , 2012, Officers (All Scales :- May 13, 2012
Gurgaon Gramin Bank Officers and Assistants Recruitment 2012	72 Officers and 124 Assistants	Mar 3 – 15, 2012,	Office Assistants :- Apr 08, 2012, Officers :- Apr 15, 2012
Bank of Maharashtra 457 PO Recruitment 2012	457 Probationary Officers’ Posts (IBPS SCORE)	Feb 25 to Mar 16, 2012	Interview Date to be Mentioned Later ,
UCO Bank 1100 PO Recruitment 2012	1100 Probationary Officers’ Posts (IBPS SCORE)	Feb 27 to Mar 17, 2012,	Interview Date to be Mentioned Later ,
National Insurance 345 Administrative Officers (Scale -I) recruitment 2012	Administrative Officers (Scale – I) :- 345 Posts	Mar 17, 2012	Apr 22, 2012
Reserve Bank of India 1000 Assistants Recruitment 2012	1000 Assistants Posts	Mar 25, 2012,	Apr 29, 2012
State bank of India 9500 Clerks Recruitment 2012	Clerks – ( Assistants – 8500 Posts, Stenographers – 1000 Posts )	Mar 05 to 26, 2012,	27.05.2012 and 03.06.2012
IBPS Second Common PO/MT Posts written Test (CWE) in June 2012	PO/MT Posts in 19 PSU Banks	Mar 30 2012,	June 17, 2012

www.BankNaukri.in -Get all the latest info about Bank jobs in India and Common Bank Exams in 2012.
Also know how to prepare for bank exams and interviews for bank jobs'

The Preamble of the Reserve Bank of India describes the basic functions of the Reserve Bank as:

“…to regulate the issue of Bank Notes and keeping of reserves with a view to securing monetary stability in India and generally to operate the currency and credit system of the country to its advantage.”

Central Board

The Reserve Bank”s affairs are governed by a central board of directors. The board is appointed by the Government of India in keeping with the Reserve Bank of India Act.

• Appointed/nominated for a period of four years
• Constitution:
  • Official Directors
    • Full-time : Governor and not more than four Deputy Governors
  • Non-Official Directors
    • Nominated by Government: ten Directors from various fields and one government Official
    • Others: four Directors – one each from four local boards

Functions : General superintendence and direction of the Bank”s affairs

• Mahtma Gandhi (MG) Series 1996

The banknotes in MG Series – 1996 are available   in the denomination of Rs.5, (introduced in November 2001) Rs.10 (13-06-1996), Rs.20 (24-08-2001), Rs.50 (14-03-1997), Rs.100 (04-06-1996), Rs.500 (20-10.1997) and Rs.1000 (November 2000).  All the banknotes of this series bear the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the obverse (front) side, in place of symbol of Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar, which has also been retained and shifted on the same side. This means that these banknotes contain Mahatma Gandhi watermark as well as Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait.

Are there any special features in the banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi series- 1996? The Mahatma Gandhi series-1996 banknotes contained several special features vis-à-vis the banknotes issued earlier. These are Security thread: Rs.10, Rs.20 and Rs.50 notes contain fully embedded security thread. Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 banknotes contain windowed security thread. This thread is partially exposed and partially embedded. When held against light, this thread can be seen as one continuous line. Other than on Rs.1000 banknotes, this thread contains the words ‘Bharat’ in the Devanagari script and ‘RBI’ appearing alternately. The security thread of the Rs.1000 banknote contains the inscription ‘Bharat’ in the Devanagari script, ’1000′ and ‘RBI’. Latent Image:  The vertical band next to the (right side)  Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait,  contains a latent image, showing the denominational value 20, 50, 100, 500 or 1000 as the case may be. The value can be seen only when the banknote is held horizontally  and light allowed to fall on it at 45° ; otherwise this feature appears only as a vertical band. Micro letterings: This feature appears between the vertical band and Mahatma Gandhi portrait. It contains the word ‘RBI’ in Rs.10. Notes of Rs.20 and above also contain the denominational value of the banknotes. This feature can be seen better under a magnifying glass. Identification mark:A special intaglio feature (raised printing) has been introduced on the left of the watermark window, on the obverse (front) on all banknotes except Rs.10/- banknote. This feature is in different shapes for various denominations (Rs.20-Vertical Rectangle, Rs.50-Square, Rs.100-Triangle, Rs.500-Circle, Rs.1000-Diamond) and helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination Intaglio Printing: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, Reserve Bank seal, Guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar Emblem  and RBI Governor’s signature are printed in intaglio i.e. in raised prints in Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 banknotes. Fluorescence: The number panels of the banknotes are printed in fluorescent ink. The banknotes also have optical fibres. Both can be seen when the banknotes are exposed to ultra-violet lamp. Optically Variable Ink: The numeral 500 & 1000 on the Rs.500 [revised colour scheme of mild yellow, mauve and brown] and Rs.1000 banknotes are printed in Optically Variable Ink viz., a colour-shifting ink. The colour of these numerals appears green when the banknotes are held flat but would change to blue when the banknotes are held at an angle. Watermark:    The banknotes contain the Mahatma Gandhi watermark with a light and shade effect and multi-directional lines in the watermark window.

iii) MG series – 2005 banknotes

MG series 2005 banknotes are issued in the denomination of Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 contain some additional / new security features. The Rs.50 and Rs.100 banknotes were issued in August 2005, followed by Rs.500 and Rs.1000 denominations in October 2005 and Rs.10 and Rs.20 in April 2006 and August 2006, respectively.

The additional / new security features in MG Series 2005 banknotes.

1. Security Thread: The machine-readable security thread  in Rs.10, Rs.20 and Rs.50 denomination banknotes is  windowed on front side and  fully embedded on reverse side. The thread fluoresces in yellow on both sides under ultraviolet light. The thread appears as a continuous line from behind when held up against light.
2. Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 denomination banknotes have machine-readable windowed security thread with colour shift   from green to blue when viewed from different angles.  It fluoresces in yellow on the reverse and the text will fluoresce on the obverse under ultraviolet light.
3. Intaglio Printing:  The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, Reserve Bank seal, Guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar emblem, Governor’s signature and the identification mark for the visually impaired persons are printed in improved intaglio.
4. See through register:  Half the numeral of each denomination (10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000) is printed on the obverse (front) and half on the reverse.  The accurate back to back registration makes the numeral appear as one when viewed against light.
5. Water Mark and electrotype watermark:  The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the multi-directional lines and an electrotype mark showing the denominational numeral 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 appear in this section respectively in each denomination banknote and these can be viewed better when the banknote is held against light.
6. Optically Variable Ink (OVI): The font size of the numeral 500 and 1000 in Rs.500 and Rs.1000 denomination banknotes is reduced, as compared to MG series banknotes issued in these denominations earlier in the year 2000. The colour of the numeral appears green when the banknote is held flat but would change to blue when the banknote is held at an angle.
7.  Dual coloured optical fibres, seen under UV lamp.
8. Year of Printing:  Year of printing appears on the reverse of the banknote

All these banknotes issued by the Bank are legal tender.