MBA in Mass communication

Colleges providing an MBA in mass communication are as follows :

Mudra Institute of Mass Communication

Programmes : Post Graduate programme diploma in management (communications)
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility : Admission to the PGDM(C) programme requires a Bachelor's degree (in keeping with the 10 + 2 + 3 (4) system) with minimum 50% marks
Admission process : Stage-I : MICAT (Feb-March)
                               Stage-II : Group Excercise and Personal Interview
Website : http://www.mica-india.net/index.htm

Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication

Programmes : PG Modules (mass communication),PG in communication management
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility :Graduates in any discipline from a recognized University with 50% (45% for SC/ST) aggregate are eligible
Admission process : SNAP followed by GD , home assignment and personal interview.
Website : http://www.simc.edu/pgp_curriculum.aspx

Operation Flood

What is operation flood?

Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid

Why is it important?

It resulted in making India the largest producer of milk and milk products, and hence is also called the White Revolution of India. It also helped reduce malpractices by milk traders and merchants. This revolution followed the Indian green revolution and helped in alleviating poverty and famine levels from their dangerous proportions in India during the era.

How was it conducted?

The entire process was divided into three phases.

Phase - I  : Phase I (1970–1980) was financed by the sale of skimmed milk powder and butter oil donated by the European Union through the World Food Programme.During its first phase, Operation Flood linked 18 of India's premier milksheds with consumers in India's major metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Thus establishing mother dairies in four metros.

Phase - II : Operation Flood Phase II (1981–1985) increased the milksheds from 18 to 136; 290 urban markets expanded the outlets for milk. By the end of 1985, a self-sustaining system of 43,000 village cooperatives with 4,250,000 milk producers were covered. Domestic milk powder production increased from 22,000 tons in the pre-project year to 140,000 tons by 1989, all of the increase coming from dairies set up under Operation Flood. In this way EEC gifts and World Bank loan helped promote self-reliance. Direct marketing of milk by producers' cooperatives increased by several million litres a day.

Phase - III : Phase III (1985–1996) enabled dairy cooperatives to expand and strengthen the infrastructure required to procure and market increasing volumes of milk. Veterinary first-aid health care services, feed and artificial insemination services for cooperative members were extended, along with intensified member education.
Operation Flood's Phase III consolidated India's dairy cooperative movement, adding 30,000 new dairy cooperatives to the 42,000 existing societies organized during Phase II. Milksheds peaked to 173 in 1988-89 with the numbers of women members and Women's Dairy Cooperative Societies increasing significantly.

The architect of White revolution

Gujarat based co-operation "Anand Milk Union Limited", often called Amul, was the engine behind the success of the programme, and in turn became a mega company based on the cooperative approach.

Tribhuvandas Patel was the founder Chairman of Amul, while Verghese Kurien was the chairman of NDDB at the time when the programme was implemented. Verghese Kurien, who was then 33, gave the professional management skills and necessary thrust to the cooperative, and is considered the architect of India's 'White Revolution' (Operation Flood).

His work has been recognised by the award of a Padma Bhushan, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, the Carnegie-Wateler World Peace Prize, and the World Food Prize.

MBA in Rural Management

MBA in Rural management and Agribusiness

The Institute of Rural management, Anand (IRMA)

Programmes : Post Graduate programme in rural management
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility : An aggregate marks of 50% is needed in graduation. 45% is for SC/ST candidates
Admission process : Entrance test (IRMA) followed by a GD and PI
For more information on IRMA check the following link : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/nitie-national-institute-of-industrial.html

Rural Management at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A)

Programmes : Post Graduate programme in agro-business management
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility : A bachelors or masters degree in agricultural sciences or agriculture or else a strong interest in agriculture or agro and food processing, rural and allied sectors.
Admission process : Entrance test (CAT) followed by a GD and PI

Indian Institute of Management  - Lucknow

Programme : PGP in Agribusiness Management
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility : A bachelors or masters degree in agricultural sciences or agriculture or else a strong interest in agriculture or agro and food processing, rural and allied sectors.

Admission process : Entrance test (CAT) followed by a GD and PI
Website : http://www.iiml.ac.in/post_graduate_program_agribusiness.html

Symbiosis Institute of International Business,Pune

Programmes : MBA-Agri Business
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility :
Admission process : SNAP + GD + PI
Website : http://www.siib.ac.in/contents.aspx?id=61&lid=20&pid=18

Some other colleges offering the same are as follows :

KIIT school of rural management : http://www.ksrm.ac.in/pages/home/home.htm
Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu : http://www.ruraluniv.ac.in/
Xavier Institute of Management, XIMB Bhubaneswar, Orissa : http://www.ximb.ac.in/ximb/index.php?id=32
Amity University, India : http://www.amity.edu/
Indian Institute Of Rural Management- Jaipur, India : http://www.iirm.ac.in/
 
For any queries on this post can be posted in the comments section of this post.

MBA in Petroleum Management

MBA in Petroleum Management

School of Petroleum Management , Gandhinagar [set up under Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University]

Programmes : MBA,Ph.D and Programmes for executives
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility: 50% in graduation
Admission process : accepts the CAT score followed by a GD and PI
Website : http://spm.pdpu.ac.in/index.asp

University of Petroleum and Energy studies,Dehradun

Programmes : MBA (Oil and Gas Management)
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility : Minimum 50% marks at Higher & SeniorSecondary level (10th & 12th)
Engineering*/ B. Sc. (PCM) Graduates with minimum 50%marks from a recognized University
Admission process : UPES Management Entrance Test (UPES-MET) + Group Discussion & Interview
Website : http://www.upes.ac.in/index.aspx

[some other courses offered by this university : MBA (Aviation management),MBA (Port and Shipping management),MBA (Energy trading),MBA (Infrastructure management)]

Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Management ,Rae Bareli (UP)

Programmes : MBA (petroleum and energy management)
Duration: 2 years
Eligibility:1.Minimum 60% in aggregate (55% for SC/ST) in Class 10, Class 12
Bachelors degree (4 years duration after 10+2) with 65% marks or C.P.I. of 7.0 in any branch of Engineering/Technology
Admission process:Should have Qualified either in CAT , JMET or GMAT followed by GD/Essay writing and PI
Website : http://rgipt.in/index.php

MBA in Hospital Management

MBA in Hospital Management

The various universities offering MBA in Hospital Management in India are as follows:
Tata Institute of Social Sciences,Mumbai

Programme : Master of Health Administration & Master of Hospital Administration
Duration : 2 years
Eligibility :
Admission process : TISS exam + PI
Website : http://www.tiss.edu/Admissions/masters-programmes.php#1

Symbiosis Institute of Health Care , Pune

Programme : Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital & Health Care Management
Duration :
Eligibility:
Admission process : SNAP +GD+PI
Website :

• Indian Institute Of Pharmaceutical Marketing, Lucknow : http://www.iipm.co.in/about.htm
• Nizam Institute Of Medical Sciences, Andhra Pradesh : http://nims.ap.nic.in/
• Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration, Hyderabad : http://www.apolloiha.ac.in/
• Symboisis Center Of Health Care, Pune : http://www.schcpune.org/schcnewsite/default.html
• Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chennai
• Department Of Hospital Management, Hyderabad
• Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi : http://fms.edu/

EngQuizzitive-32 (vocab):Quiz

EngQuizzitive-32 (vocab) : Answers

Answers

An introduction that comes before something we say or write : prologue [pro - before + logue-word]Meanings/etymology of other words:
prediction : pre-before + dictum-say
review : re-again + view-see
premonition : pre-before + monit-warn
monologue : mono (one) + logue-word

Characteristic of children or young people : juvenile [juvenus-young] and puerile
Meanings/etymology of other words:
leonine : leo-lion + ine-like
puerile : puer (child) : meaning : childish or immature

A large and impressive building : edifice
Meanings of the other words:
colossal : Of a size, extent, or degree that elicits awe or taxes belief; immense
citadel : A fortress in a commanding position in or near a city

A place where everything is perfect : utopia [eu-good+topos-place]
Meanings of the other words:
nectary : A glandlike organ, located outside or within a flower, that secretes nectar

One who abstains from alcoholic drinks: teetotaller
Meanings of the other words:
bootlegger : To make, sell, or transport (alcoholic liquor) for sale illegally
alderman : A member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions
bordure: a border around a shield

RC : Reading list

Sub wise reading list (CAT-10)

 http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4N2FmN2NjNDMtMjg4YS00ZWM4LTgzZjEtYzY1M2ZlNjc0MTg1&authkey=COua9NkC&hl=en_GB

Level wise reading list (CET-11))

http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4OWQ1ZDBiYjAtODcyMi00MWYwLTgxOTYtNTMwMjA5MWY0MTEw&authkey=CNacyN4L&hl=en_GB

Level wise reading list (CAT-11)

http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4MDQ5ZWQ5NjUtMDcwOC00YmY5LWI5YmItYTViYzU4YzI1ZTJh&authkey=CLnXu-oN&hl=en_GB

For other online reading sources check this link : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/08/links-for-downloading-online-books.html

Project Guttenberg : http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Verbal Ability : Word based questions

List of Homophones : http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4NjRjNjkzZGMtMTRjNS00OWFkLTg1MTMtMzEyYmVkYmJlNTFm&authkey=CJic06QG&hl=en_GB

List of Phrasal verbs : http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4MGUyZWZkMjAtZmUyNC00NzI2LWFkYWEtZmU1NTYwOTcwYTI3&authkey=CNnx9ocP&hl=en_GB

[the above lists have been contributed by Bhumika Bhatt : Verbal faculty,T.I.M.E. Mumbai]

FMS word list : http://docs.google.com/a/time4education.com/fileview?id=0B8Pk59ARz-e4NDMzZjJjYjQtNzlmYS00ODY0LWExN2YtZjM1ZjMwM2RkYTA3&authkey=CJrP_4cD&hl=en_GB

The Indian Army : a glimpse

With the AFSPA and the accusations against the Indian army for its role in the Kashmir valley being in news for a few days now I thought a peek into the structure of the Indian army would give one a better insight into the situation and the role that the army plays in disturbed areas in the country.

What is the Indian Army?

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 960,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's second-largest standing army.

What are the responsibilities of the Indian army?

 Its primary mission is to ensure the national security and defence of the Republic of India from external aggression and threats, and maintaining peace and security within its borders. It also conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other disturbances.

History of the Indian Army

The Indian Army came into being when India gained independence in 1947, and inherited most of the infrastructure of the British Indian Army that were located in post-partition India. It is a voluntary service and although a provision for military conscription exists in the Indian constitution, it has never been imposed

The structure of the Indian Army

The commander-in-chief : the President of India
The chief of army staff (General): in charge of the overall working of the operations

Divisions : the Indian army is divided into 6 divisions (depending on the location):these are headed General officer commander-in- chief
The 6 divisions in the Indian army are as follows:

• central command (Lucknow)
• eastern command (west bengal)
• norther command (J&K)
• souther command (Maharashtra)
• south western command (Rajasthan)
• western command

Corps : 2 or more corps are a part of one command.There are three types of corps :
Strike
Hold
mixed

Regiments : these are the funcitional departments of the Indian army and are entrusted with specific pan-army tasks eg. artillery regiment would be responsible for the artillery

Other units within a corps

Division : headed by Major General - consist of 15000 combat troops + 8000 support elements
Brigade : headed by Brigadier - consist of 3000 combat troops
Battalion: headed by a Colonel - consist of 900 combat personel (this is the main fighting unit)
Company : headed by a Major - consist of 120 soldiers
Platoon : headed by Lieutant (Subedar)-consist of 32 troops [each troop has 16-20 soldiers]
Section : headed by a Havaldar - smallest unit and consist of 10 personel
 
Should I post more articles on the Indian defence system? This according to me would help us understand further posts on terrorism and other problems that the country faces in terms of its security.
Do post your suggestions in the comments section of this post.

EngQuizzitive-CET-6 (grammar):Apostrophe:Quiz

EngQuizzitive-CET-6 (grammar):Apostrophe:Answers

The enigma called the apostrophe........

Generally students attribute the usage of the apostrophe sign to indicate possession. But a closer look at the placement of the apostrophe reveals something else.

Carefully look at what the apostrophe connotes in the following examples:

• It’s means it is; here the apostrophe stands for a missing i
• I’m means I am ; here the apostrophe stands for a missing a
• Ma’am means madam; here the apostrophe stands for a missing d
• 2o’clock means 2 of the clock ; here the apostrophe stands for a missing f

In all these cases an apostrophe simply means a word or a letter missing [traditionally an apostrophe was always used to indicate a letter missing]. So possibly in the usage Sneha’s bag the apostrophe could mean a missing word. Since this phrase means the bag belongs to Sneha it could mean a missing her. How?

This can be traced to a different word order that was a characteristic of old English. Sneha’s bag was written as Sneha her bag/John’s bag was written as John his bag.So an apostrophe with Sneha or John was used to indicate a missing his/her.

Since his and her indicate possession the apostrophe with a noun getst its current meaning that of indicating possession.

On this basis all the rules regarding the usage of the apostrophe can be explained. Here are few of them:

• Inanimate objects do not take an apostrophe (possessive pronouns can be used only for animate objects because only animate objects can possess)
• Possessive pronouns like hers, yours do not take an apostrophe (would lead to duplication)
• Words ending in the sound ‘s’ are followed only by the sign [‘] ( to prevent the hissing sound during pronunciation) e.g. Keats’, Charles’

So logic still prevails

Answers

1. Prince Charles' / Charles's  friend,Camilla ,is well known in social circles. [though traditional English grammar would not accept the second form , modern English usage does accept]
2. The first part of the novel is full of dense prose and delicately nuanced details. [inanimate objects do not take an apostrophe]
3. It's time we woke up and remember that each of us is important. [it's = it is / its : possessive pronoun]
4. The management is looking for someone with a good knowledge of French and with ten years'/years of experience in teaching. [the plural of year does not take an apostrophe]
5. Raju's and Ravi's workshops that are just round the corner,service motorbikes of all kinds. [ since the workshops belong to both Raju and Ravi both the nouns would take an apostrophe]

 Any queries on the quiz please post them in the comments section of this post.

Brand Taj Redefined : Why can't the media also highlight these unmatched acts of philanthropy?

The Taj gives a new life to the victims of 26/11 with a unique programme and sets an inspiring example for India Inc.

Setting an example of philanthropy,the Taj welfare trust has been helping not only the families of Taj group's employees and guests but also other victims of the 26/11 attack.

What have they done?

The Taj Welfare Trust,set up days after the 26/11 attacks have come to the rescue of a lot of victims of 26/11.Setting an example of unmatched philanthropy,the trust has been helping 138 victims of the attack and their families at a time when corporate social responsibilty either is shrinking or is limited.To date,the trust has spent 2.214 cr on families who were affected by the terror attack but have no direct connection with the Taj group.It does not include the money given to the family members and guests who were killed or injured in the attack.

How have they done this?How were the victims identified?

Taj Public Service Welfare trust is Ratan Tata's brainchild.The list of victims was obtained from the police and the collectorate.Surveyors from TISS went to the victims'houses and an assessment about their requirements was done.
The victims have been compensated either by monthly monetary compensation or by providing them jobs in the various Taj group hotels.The trust has also funded the education of many children especially the ones living in the slums in Mumbai.

In doing so the Tata's have touched the lives of many and perhaps changed their lives forever.Why doesn't the media ever highlight such goodwill gestures which would probably encourage others to give something back to the society?

I salute the spirit of Ratan Tata and his team at TATA Sons ,in true sense it is Wah Taj!!!!

Carbon credits and the world

What are carbon credits?
A Carbon credit is a generic term meaning that a value has been assigned to a reduction or offset of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon credits and markets are key components of national and international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs)

A brief history of Carbon credits:

Burning of fossil fuels is a major source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions, especially for power, cement, steel, textile, fertilizer and many other industries which rely on fossil fuels (coal, electricity derived from coal, natural gas and oil). The major greenhouse gases emitted by these industries are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), etc, all of which increase the atmosphere's ability to trap infrared energy and thus affect the climate.


The mechanism was formalized in the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement between more than 170 countries, and the market mechanisms were agreed through the subsequent Marrakesh Accords. The mechanism adopted was similar to the successful US Acid Rain Program to reduce some industrial pollutants.

Carbon credits and their financial role :
Credits represent the right to emit a specific amount of greenhouse gases. Credits can be exchanged between businesses or bought and sold in the international market at the current market price.One tonne of CO2-e should be equivalent to one carbon credit.

Question to ponder over :

• Do you thing that carbon credits could become the largest commodity traded in the world in the coming years?

Do post your opinion in the comments section of this post.Do you want me to post more articles on carbon credits?

Some information posted by Ashwini Nagarkatti (T.I.M.E. Powai) on carbon credits : http://storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/

GKpedia : Quiz (Current Affairs) : 1st Week : Quiz

GKpedia : Quiz (Current Affairs) : 1st Week:Quiz

Answers

1. Which committe report has been referred to in the Ayodhya verdict? [Liberhan]
2. Which Chief Minister has supported the dilution of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir? [Omar Abdullah]
3. Which Indian CWG official commented on the poor hygiene standards in our country ? [Lalit Bhanot]
4. Apart from 1951 which other year did India host the Asian games? [1982]
5. Which court is to announce a verdict on the Ayodhya case? [Allahabad High Court]

This quiz was based on the current affairs posts posted in the week [20th-26th September]. Here are the links for the various events posted :

Ayodhya verdict : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/ayodhya-verdict-24th-september.html
CWG : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/common-wealth-games-fiasco.html
AFSPA : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-is-afspa.html

Tackling the CAT examination verbally : An approach to the verbal section

An article by Sai Kumar Director,T.I.M.E. Mumbai

EngQuizzitive-31 (grammar) : Quiz

EngQuizzitive-31 (grammar):Answers

Topic : Phrasal verbs

To understand phrasal verbs let's first understand the difference between a phrase and a clause
A phrase is a group of words having a finite verb [a finite verb is a verb which takes tenses] which does not make complete sense on its own.
A clause is a group of words with a finite verb which may or may not make sense on its own.If the clause makes sense on its own it is known as Main Clause [a main clause is also known as a simple sentence]
and if it does not make sense on its own it is known as a subordinate clause.

I bought a cat with blue eyes. [no fintie verb hence a phrase]
I bought a cat that has blue eyes. [has a finite verb so a clause]

Idioms/Proverbs/Quotations

• Phrases having implied meanings are known as idioms [as fit as a fiddle.as busy as a bee]
• Sentences having an implied meaning are known as Proverbs. [Rome was not built in a day.]
• Quotations always require a source and when the source is not known we write 'anonymous'

Phrasal verbs : a verb + preposition [ having a literal or an implied meaning]

• abide by : If you want to stay at this school, you must abide by the rules. [obey]
• answer back : Don't answer back your mother. [reply rudely]
• add up : Her story just doesn't add up. [make sense]
• account for : I hope you can account for the money you spent! [explain]
• block off : The area was blocked off during the demonstration. [seperate using a barrier]

Answers

1. Tom will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down. [burn out : become exhausted from over working]
2. When the teacher arrived she clammed up. [clam up : refuse to speak]
3. The project came up against a lot of criticism. [come up against: be faced with or opposed by]
4. He was so exhausted that he conked out in front of the TV. [conk out : stop or fall asleep; the phrasal verb conk out has one more meaning : stop working : The car conked out on the motorway.]
5. After a long discussion they managed to even out their differences. [ even out : eliminate differences ; the phrasal verb even out has one more meaning : become level or regular : The road was evened out to make it safer.

Niyamgiri Forest Issue

What is the issue all about?
On October 5th, 2004 an official agreement was signed between the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and Sterlite Industries, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources plc, for the purpose of mining of bauxite reserves at at the foot of the Niyamgiri mountain, near the town of Lanjigarh.


The mining operation will have massive negative affects on the Dongria Kondh, one of India's most isolated tribes. The company is planning to mine over 1 million tonnes of bauxite a year from reserves within Niyamgiri mountain. Official studies have indicated that this is likely to lead to massive deforestation on the slopes, the destruction of protected local ecosystems rich in biodiversity, and the disruption of key water sources that supply springs and streams on the surrounding hillsides and feed two rivers which irrigate large areas of farmland in southeast Orissa.

Local communities and civil society groups have raised serious concerns about the impacts of the existing refinery operation, the proposed expansion of the refinery, and the mine.

Issues
Social Impact : The Dongria Kondh are considered a 'scheduled-tribe', living on the Niyamgiri Hills. Their economy is based on gathering forest products in these hills. Vedanta is determined to strip-mine the Niyamgiri Hills for Bauxite. If Vedanta is permitted to mine in Niyamgiri, two of India's strongest institutional guarantees will be overturned; the right of a 'primitive' tribal group to their territorial integrity and to decide on their own path of development (Schedule V of the Indian constitution), and the right to religious practices and beliefs (Article 25).
Nonetheless, the company has already built an aluminium refinery in the town of Lanjigarh at the foot of the mountain. Several villages have had to make way for the refinery. Others will have to vacate their lands as the plant expands and feeder roads, airstrips, and toxic waste ponds are built.

This refinery would have an equally bad effect on the environment.


This article was posted on the request of Asita Ajgaonkar.

EngQuizzitive - CET 5 (vocab):NMAT:Quiz

EngQuizzitive - CET 5 (vocab): Answers : NMAT

Last year NMAT had 4 questions where in a student had to fill in the blanks using the appropriate prepositions. This quiz was aimed at giving you practice on these kind of questions.I have tried to emulate the difficulty level of NMAT in this quiz.

Answers

1. The best detective novels have a strong plot line and within this basic structure there are a number of minor climaxes.
2. Until about nine months ago,John was in excellent health.
3. At 15,Anthony left school and found a job in a factory.
4. Finally he caught up with us. [caught up with is a phrasal verb which means met]
5. I advised him to stop mooning about the tragedy and concentrate on work.

For the theory on the usage of prepositions check the following two links :
http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/engquizzitive-29-grammaranswers.html
http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/engquizzitive-27-grammar-prepositions.html

GKpedia-2 : India (Geography)

Does history lead to geography or geography leads to history? I often ask students this question in class when I talk about the history of English language.A pointer to a few events will make answering this question slightly easier:

• Why was UP (before it split into UP and Uttaranchal) the most populous state in India? [because the Ganga flows maximum through UP;man settled where there was water;Egyptian civilzation across the Nile,Indus Valley civilisation across the Indus and so on...]
• Why is agriculture the chief occupation in Punjab? [because it is a land of five rivers]
• People's culture is influenced largely by the geography of the place they live in

I guess now it is quite clear that Geography leads to History.
Hence to understand the other aspects about India we need to understand its geography first.

Geographical or Physical features of India

Area : total (land/water)
Land boundaries : Pakistan,China,Bhutan,Bangladesh,Burma and Nepal
Terrain : upland plain (Deccan plateau) in South ,flat to rolling plain along the Ganges,deserts in West and Himalayas in North
Natural resources : coal,iron ore,manganese,mica,bauxite,natural gas,diamonds,limestone (remember as many as you can)
Oceans and Sea : peninsula : the Arabian Sea in West, the Indian ocean in South and the Bay of Bengal in East

Rivers : Major rivers
The Ganga : The Ganges and its tributaries like Yamuna, Son, Gandak, Budhi Gandak and Saraswati have been left out of the list which actually formulates the biggest cultivable plains of north and eastern India, known as the Gangetic plains. Ganga starts from Gangotri glaciers in the Himalayas and flows from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and then enters West Bengal and Bangladesh. It ultimately ends in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, where it is known as Padma.
Indus river system : The Indus river and its 5 tributaries the Beas,the Chenab,the Sutlej,the Ravi and the Jhelum form the Indus river system and flow predominantly through Punjab giving Punjab its name (punj = five + abb =water)
The Brahmaputra river system : The Brahmaputra originates in the Mansarovar lake, also the source of the Indus and the Sutlej. It is slightly longer than the Indus, but most of its course lies outside India.In India, it flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and is joined by several tributaries
The Narmada river system : The Narmada is a river in central India.It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India
The Tapi river system : The Taapi is a river of central India
The Godavari river system : The river with second longest course within India
The Krishna river system : The Krishna is one of the longest rivers of India .It originates at Mahabaleswar in Maharashtra and meets the sea in the Bay of Bengal
The Kaveri river system : The Kaveri (also spelled Cauvery or Kavery) is one of the great rivers of India and is considered sacred by the Hindus.this is the holy river of south indians.
The Mahanadi river system

Forest and wild life cover : Kaziranga National Park (WHS) : Located in Assam, this is one of the last areas in northern India undisturbed by man. The largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses in the world inhabits Kaziranga Park.
Keoladeo National Park (WHS) : This park was once a duck hunting reserve of the Maharajas. Today it is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia. Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the Park.
Sundarbans National Park (WHS): The mouths of the Ganges form the world's largest delta, and part of this vast mangrove swamp, some 100 km south of Calcutta, is a 2585-sq-km wildlife reserve. Part of Project Tiger, Sundarbans has one of the largest tiger populations of any of India's parks.
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (WHS): Strong winds, daily drizzle, and regular heavy snowfall have created a unique climate and hence a distinctive flora and fauna in this largely inaccessible region. Notable fauna inclue the musk deer, leopard, Himalayan black bear and the snow partridge.

If you think I have missed out any information regarding the physical features or characteristics of India please post them in the comments section of this post.

Physical map of India

GKpedia-1 : Introduction to GK

General Knowledge can be studied at two levels : National and International
National (means information about India)
International (means information about the world)

We'll begin with National coz that's the domain we are concerned with from the various entrance exam point of view.

If we need to know about India we need to understand the following aspects related to our country:

1. Geography
2. History
3. Politics
4. Economics and Business
5. Social (society)
6. Administrative
7. Technical

Each week we'll look at each of these areas in detail.Also we'll study aspects under each category that would help us build our GK and help crack the GK section of various exams.

GKpedia (What is it?)

Hi guys,

I have been flooded with request on posting something on how to prepare for the GK section for various entrance examinations like SNAP,IIFT,TISS and Bank PO exams.This series of post aim at helping you make a template for various GK questions.

Before we begin this rather arduous journey let me warn you GK is like a vast ocean that has a begining but no end.Nevertheless it is worth a try.What say?

So let's begin.

Difference between GK and current affairs?
GK is static (doesn't change very often)
Current affairs changes quite often (sometimes every minute)

Most of the MBA entrance exams have questions on GK while the Bank PO exams have questions on current affairs.For the MBA aspirants current affairs is useful during their GDPI process.

These posts named 'GKpedia' would enable people to approach GK studing in a slightly structured manner (atleast that is the aim of this section).

How would GKpedia function?

I would be posting templates on various facets of GK on GKpedia regularly (hopefully) and would follow it up with a quiz on a monday of every week.The quiz along with the answers would be posted on this blog under the label GKpedia.

You are expected to read and collect information on the template and answer questions in the quiz. The objective of this excercise is to be as regular as possible with GK learning.

I promise you I'll try to make this learning process as interesting as possible (I can almost feel people yawning) , but trust me it is fascinating to know more  about the country you are an integral part of.

So let's get started with the first dose of GKpedia :)

Any comments or suggestions on the same are welcome,just post them in the comments section of this post.

Common Wealth Games : fiasco :(

What is CWG?
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event which is held every four years and features competitions involving thousands of elite athletes from members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

As well as many Olympic sports, the Games also include some sports that are played mainly in Commonwealth countries, such as lawn bowls, rugby sevens and netball. The Games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities. The host city is selected from across the Commonwealth, with eighteen cities in seven countries having hosted it.

CommonWealth countries:
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and previously known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states. All but two of these countries were formerly part of the British Empire.

CWG and India connection?
The 2010 Commonwealth Games are the nineteenth Commonwealth Games, and the ninth to be held under that name. The Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi , India between 3 October and 14 October 2010. The games will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi

Certain pointers towards the lackadaiscal attitude portrayed by the Indian organising committee :

• corruption charges against Suresh Kalmadi (this was brought to light by the media when the arrangements for hosting the CWG were found inadequate)
• footover bridge leading to the Nehru Stadium (where the inaugration is to happen) collapsed
• this was followed by collapse of a false ceiling in the weightlifting stadium
• hygiene concerns in the CWG village

International reaction to the above events :

• many top athelets have pulled out of the event [Dani Samuels (UK)] citing security and hygiene concerns
• Scotland stopped its team from coming to India
• Australia warns nationals of troubles during the CWG
• Piling on the embarrassment for the organisers, Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive Mike Hooper on Tuesday termed the Athletes Village as "filthy and uninhabitable".
• NZ hires its own cleaners for the filthy CWG village

Government's shocking reaction to these events:

• Jaipal Reddy : concerns are exaggerated
• Sheila Dikshit : the footover bridge is for the spectators and not the athletes (comment after the collapse of the bridge) : blamed the media for exaggerating and called these incidents minor glitches
• Lalit Bhanot : CWG official Bhanot said 'cleanliness standards of other countries are different' (comment on the concerns over the hygiene concerns in the CWG village)

Questions to ponder over?

• Have the Commonwealth Games sullied India's image globally?
• Is India the only one to be blamed in the CWG fiasco?
• Can the games still be a success?

Post youir opinion in the comments section of this post.

Q&A : The Ayodhya dispute

What is the Ayodhya dispute all about?
Hindus and Muslims have quarreled for years over the history of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, a town in Uttar Pradesh. Hindus claim that the Babri mosque stands over a temple built in honour of Lord Rama. They say that the Babri Mosque was built by Babur’s general, Mir Baqi, on the orders of the Mughal leader Babur post destruction of the Ram Mandir in 1528.
Tension flared up in 1992 when supporters of VHP, Shiv Sena and BJP demolished the Babri mosque, stirring up nationwide riots between Hindus and Muslims which left more than 2,000 people dead.

Why is the dispute so dangerous?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the Ayodhya dispute is one of the biggest security challenges in India this year, along with the Maoist insurgency and the Kashmiri separatist rebellion.
The mosque was demolished by the supporters of VHP, Shiv Sena and BJP in 1992. Supporters of VHP, Shiv Sena and BJP say that they are justified in demolishing the mosque because there used to be a Rama temple on that spot on which the Babri mosque stands now.
In simple words, the Ayodhya land dispute has led to India’s worst bouts of nationwide religious rioting between Hindus and Muslims which left 2,000 people dead.
The Ayodhya land dispute is considered a serious threat to India’s secular identity.

What is the verdict all about?
The court will pass verdict on three key issues:
A) Is the disputed site in Ayodhya the birthplace of Lord Rama?
B) Was the Babri mosque built after the demolition of the Rama temple?
C) Was the mosque built in accordance with the tenets of Islam?
The September 24 judgement on the disputed land will pronounce if a temple will be built on the site or the Babri mosque will be reconstructed.

Is Ayodhya so politically sensitive?
Yes it is; since the country’s main opposition BJP was involved in the destruction of the mosque. For the BJP, the Ayodhya dispute has been a major political agenda and it had come to power at the centre riding on the Ayodhya issue.
But any verdict on the Ayodhya dispute will leave the present ruling coalition at the centre in a soup because endorsing a pro-Hindu verdict will affect the coalition’s secular image, while a pro-Muslim verdict could lead to issuing orders of evicting Hindu groups from the site, which will be a nightmare for the government.

Will this verdict bring an end to the dispute?
Whatever the verdict may be, it is almost certain that it will be challenged in the Supreme Court and a final judgement on the dispute may take years to come.

Another post on the Ayodhya verdict : http://engquizzitive.blogspot.com/2010/09/ayodhya-verdict-24th-september.html

What is the Salwa Judum movement?

Salwa Judum' (meaning "Peace March"in Gondi language) is an anti-Naxalite movement in Chhattisgarh, India, which started in 2005 as a people's resistance movement against the Naxalites, a far-left movement in some states in rural India that is designated by India as a terrorist organization on account of their violent Maoist activities in the state.

Initially an uprising of local indigenous people in Chhattisgarh, the Salwa Judum movement later received bi-partisan support from both the opposition and ruling parties.A few years later the state government adopted the salwa judum movement in order to restore democratic rule to the regions where the naxalites had established themselves by force.Chhattisgarh state has over the years trained a number of SPOs or 'Special Police Officers', from amongst the tribals, who are part of Salwa Judum in the state, also with its formation the state witnessed a marked rise in success against Naxalite action,as a result in 2008, Chhattisgarh along with neighboring Jharkhand accounted for over 65% of the total naxal violence in the country.The Chhattisgarh government on February 5, 2009, told the Supreme Court that the Salwa Judum was slowly disappearing in the State.

With success of counter-strikes on Naxalite hideouts in south Chhattisgarh, Maoist activities in the bordering districts of Orissa saw a rise in 2008, thus in Feb 2009, the Central government announced its plans for simultaneous, co-ordinated counter-operations in all Maoist extremism-hit states - Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, UP and West Bengal, to plug all possible escape routes of Naxalites.

This is the 100th post on this blog :) .....Cheers !!!!!

Institute Information

National Institute of Industrial Engineering NITIE offers PGDIE, PGDIM, PGDISEM, PGDITM programs PGDIE admissons are based on GATE NITIE announces admission to its 2 year Post Graduate Programs in Management. The institute offers the following programs: 1. Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Management (PGDIM) 2. Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Safety and Environmental Management (PGDISEM) 3. Post Graduate Diploma in Information Technology Management (PGDITM)Eligibility for NITIE: Candidates should have Bachelor's Degree with First Division in any branch of Engineering / Technology (5% concession in case of SC/ST/PD candidates). Candidates should take up the Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the IIMs in order to apply for the Programs. The sponsored candidates are required to have atleast 2 years of relevant experience after graduation in Engineering / Technology as on 31st March ,2009.Sponsored candidates are NOT required to give the Common Admissions Tese conducted by IIMs. Candidates who are currently in their final year of Engineering/Technology degree can also apply. They are required to : Complete their examination, viva voce etc, by June 20, 2009. Submit the final year mark-sheet and provisional certificate by september 30, 2009. The final results should indicate First Division (5% concession in case of SC/ST/PD candidates), else the admission to the program stands withdrawn.

Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) Postgraduate Programme in Rural Management (PRM) for those who wish to take on challenging managerial responsibilities in institutions working in the rural sector. PRM is recognised as a Master‘s degree by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is  a also approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Doctoral Programme titled Fellow Programme in Rural Management (FPRM) for students and professionals seeking careers in research, teaching, and specialised knowledge- based positions in rural management institutions. FPRM is approved by the AICTE as a doctoral programme in rural management. Management Development Programmes (MDPs) for middle- and senior-level in-service managers and officers of the union government, state governments, NGOs, and cooperatives working in the area of rural development. IRMA conducts many MDPs on various themes of development and management, ranging in duration from one week to six weeks. ELIGIBILITY: A graduate from any discipline, with a minimum of 15 years (10+2+3) of education, having 50 per cent (45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD*) aggregate marks at the graduation level can apply for admission. SELECTION PROCESS: All eligible candidates, including sponsored candidates, are required to appear for a written test conducted by IRMA. The written test (200 marks), comprises four sections: Analytical reasoning (50 marks), Quantitative Ability (50 marks), English Comprehension (40 marks), and Issues of Social Concern (60 marks). Website: https://www.irma.ac.in IMPORTANT DATES: Online application started Last date for receipt of completed applications : September 30, 2010 Written test : November 14, 2010 (9.15 a.m. – 12.15 p.m.) Announcement of entrance test results : December 27, 2010 Personal interviews and group discussions : January 31 to February 12, 2011 Please ensure you do not apply separately for each course. There are three ways for submitting your application i.e. 1) Apply Online and Pay Through Payment Gateway 2) Pay to any bracnch of SBI and Apply Online Take a print out of SBI challan available on Admissions Important Downloads section of IRMA website.         Make payment at any branch of SBI by using the challan. SBI would then issue a unique ID number.     Use this unique ID number and apply online through IRMA website.     Please paste/upload photograph at the appropriate places in the form, take a printout of the filled-in application     form, and send it to the institute along with SBI payment chalan. In case you are not able to upload photograph and signature, please     ensure you have enclosed them along with your printed version of your application

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES Eligibility Criteria for MBA (Full Time) Programme: Candidates applying for admission to the MBA (Full Time) programme must have pursued at least a 3-year Bachelor's Degree programme after twelve years of formal schooling in any of the following disciplines, having secured minimum aggregate markes as indicated below: Arts, Commerce or Social Sciences – 50 % Sciences – 55 % Mathematics or Statistics – 60% Medicine, Engineering or Technology – 60% / CGPA of at least 6 on a scale of 10 or Post Graduate Degree or 2 Degree examination after 10+2+3 scheme, securing at least 60% marks. Note: Candidates appearing in the final year examination of Bachelor's / Post Graduate Degree Examinations are eligible to apply and appear in the Entrance Test irrespective of their percentage of scores obtained till the time of application, provided that they expect to fulfill the eligibility criteria when their results are declared and which must be submitted to the FMS Office before 1st October 2011. Important dates: Exam date : 5th Dec, 2010 at 2.00 p.m. Registration opens on: 6th Sept, 2010 Last date : 15th Oct, 2010 Online application available. For further details visit the FMS website http://www.fms.edu

Mudra Institute of Communication Anand: MICA Admissions Test (MICAT). MICAT will be held in February-March, 2011. Admission Announcement and Issue of Forms September, 2010 Last Date for Issue of Application Forms 22nd January, 2011 Last Date for receipt of completed Application Forms 24th January, 2011 For further details visit : http://www.mica-india.net/academicprogrammes/admissions.html#sel

Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) Eligibility Criteria: Candidates with Bachelor's degree in any  discipline of Engineering/Technology with first class or its equivalent or a Master's degree with first class or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized Institute/University For every IIT the criteria is different. For more information please visit the websites of the management schools or departments at different IITs as given below: IIT Bombay: Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management IIT Delhi : Department of Management Studies IIT Kanpur : Department of Industrial & Management Engineering IIT Kharagpur : Vinod Gupta School of Management IIT Kharagpur : Department of Humanities and Social Sciences IIT Madras : Department of Management Studies IIT Roorkee : Department of Management Studies