Anti-Terrorism Day to be Observed on 21st May

Anti-Terrorism Day will be observed tomorrow. Every year it is observed throughout the country on 21st May. The day is marked by a pledge taking ceremony among other activities. 

The Day is observed to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people, about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country as a whole. It was on this day in 1991 that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi fell to the designs of terrorists. 

The objective behind the observance of Anti-Terrorism Day is to wean away the people from terrorism and violence. On the occasion, debates, discussions, symposia, seminars, lectures, etc. are held in schools, colleges and universities on the dangers of terrorism and violence. 

Many NGOs, social and cultural organizations also organize their own programmes to highlight the ill effects of violence and terrorism. Anti-terrorism/anti-violence pledge is taken in all Government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions. 

Study Group Report on Enhancement of GDS Bonus ceiling to Rs 3500/-

Click here to view the study Group report  dated 11.01.2013 on Enhancement of GDS Bonus ceiling to Rs 3500/-.

Answer key of PA/SA Examination held on 12.05.2013

•  GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Q1. Which of the following articles of Constitution says that the executive power of every state shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of Union?

(A) Article 258

(B) Article 355

(C) Article 356

(D) Article 257

Ans. (D) Article 257

Q2. The distance between earth and sun is greatest during:

(A) Winter Solstice

(B) Aphelion

(C) Perihelion

(D) Summer Solstice

Ans. (B) Aphelion

Q3. Which company has developed AKASH, the cheapest tablet computer?

(A) IBM   

(B) HCL   

(C) Datawind   

(D) Lenovo

Ans. (C) Datawind   

Q4. Bhopal Gas tragedy is associated with leakage of: 

(A)  Carbon dioxide 

(B) Methyl ISO cyanate   

(C) Sulphur Dioxide    

(D) Nitrogen dioxide

Ans. (B) Methyl ISO cyanate  

Q5. Who is the General Secretary of CPI(M)?

(A) Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy   

(B) Basudev Acharia             

(C) Prakash Karat               

(D) None of these

Ans. (C) Prakash Karat            

   

Q6. The central Government on 1^st Jan, 2013 launched the pilot phase of direct cash benefits transfer scheme. Under this scheme the cash will be directly transferred to the intended beneficiaries through.

(A) Permanent Account Number linked Bank Account  

(B) Voter I D linked Bank Account   

(C) Aadhar-Linked Bank Accounts    

(D) Ration Card linked Bank Accounts

Ans. (C) Aadhar-Linked Bank Accounts    

Q7. Identify three leader states in wind energy among the following:

(A) Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar              

(B)  Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal

(C) Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh

(D) TamilNadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat

Ans. (D) TamilNadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat

Q8. Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia said recently that the term “Bimaru” states should be done away with. Which states was/were termed as Bimaru states?

(A) Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh

(B) Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh   

(C) Bihar, Uttar Pradesh

(D) Bihar

Ans. (B) Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh   

 Note: The term 'Bimaru' was coined by a demographer Ashish Bose in the early 1980s, whereby he had classified Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh as laggards struggling to keep up in comparison with the growth rates set by other states.

Q9. Who was recently elected as vice President of Indian National Congress?

(A) Kapil Sibal

(B) Manmohan Singh

(C) P.Chidambaram  

(D) Rahul Gandhi

Ans. (D) Rahul Gandhi

Note: Rahul Gandhi on 19 January 2013 was formally elevated and was appointed at the position of party Vice-President of Congress at the Chintan Shivir organised at Jaipur in January 2013.

Q10. Recently consensus on GST have been arrived by center and states. What does GST mean?

(A) Gross Sales Tax

(B) Graded Sales Tax   

(C) Global Sales Tax 

(D) Goods and service Tax

Ans. (D) Goods and service Tax

Note: The proposed nationwide GST is intended to usher in a uniform market for goods and services, cut business costs, and boost government revenue. The indirect tax would replace existing levies such as excise duty, service tax and value-added tax (VAT).

Q11. The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to ensure withdrawal of Non-CTS 2010 standard cheques with CTS standard-2010 cheques by:

(A)  30^th April, 2013   

(B) 31^st December,  2013   

(C) 31^st March, 2013 

(D) None of these

Ans. (D) None of these.

Note:- On March 19, 2013 the RBI has once again extended the deadline for issuance of new format cheque till July-end. It has asked the banks to issue new cheque books only under the new format and gave them time till July-end to withdraw the old format cheques . In December, the RBI had extended the deadline to convert to the new standard CTS-2010 by three months to March 31, based on the representations from stakeholders.

Q12. How many gold medals were won by India at Copa-Brasil-2012 Tournament of wrestling?

(A) Eight  

(B) Nine  

(C) Seven 

(D) Six

Ans. (B) Nine  

Note: The Indian wrestling contingent finished with a rich-medal haul, including 9 golds and four bronze in the Copa Brasil-2012 tournament held in Rio from November 29 to December 2.

Q13. Who was named AIFF (All India football federation) player of the year 2012?

(A) Gouramangi Singh

(B) Sunil Chhetri  

(C) Syed Rahim Nabi

(D) Subrata Paul

Ans. (C) Syed Rahim Nabi

Square Communications wins creative mandate of India Post

Government postal agency India Post has empanelled Square Communications as its creative partner. The multi-agency pitch process began in early 2012 in Delhi. The agency will handle all above the line and below the line requirements of the overall brand (India Post) and its five product services - IMO (instant money order, EMO (electronic transmission of money order), speed post, postal life insurance and parcels - across India.

 

The business size is said to be in the range of Rs 5-10 crore.

 

In 2009, afaqs! had reported how India Post had given its creative and media mandate to Span Communications. Prior to that, the account was being serviced by Ogilvy, which helped in India Post's new branding makeover and created its new logo in 2008.

                               

Naveent Kapoor, President and CEO, Square Communications, says the agency will conceptualise and create a complete 360 degree campaigns for the postal service. Besides, TV, radio and outdoor, the agency will handle digital requirements. In fact, the agency is in talks to create a postal app and a microsite for each of the products offered by India Post. "We are aiming to emphasis on the concept of India Post delivering values," he says.

 

While, the agency has suggested a branding activity at airports, there are also talks on intra-communication solution within the organisation. Out of its 1,55,015 post offices, only 25000 are in urban areas. In rural areas, there is a lack of communication among the staff, who don't have in-depth knowledge about the different services. So, we have suggested workshops in India Post's 22 circles in India," Kapoor explains. He also points out that a TV, print and radio campaign is expected to come out by June.

Finance ministry opposes India Post’s banking licence plan

Mumbai: The finance ministry has opposed India Post’s plan to seek a commercial banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on grounds that the postal service doesn’t have the expertise needed in relevant areas, such as handling credit.

 

India Post is keen to set up a commercial bank called the Post Bank of India, arguing that it can significantly boost financial inclusion in Asia’s third largest economy through its nationwide network of 155,000 post offices.

 

This will also allow the organization, which posted a loss of Rs.6,346 crore in fiscal 2012, to make up for business dropping off over the years as letter writing dwindled and private courier firms took away market share.

 

Losses have significantly increased in recent years on account of higher expenses.

 

However, the finance ministry’s department of financial services doubts India Post’s ability to set up and run a bank, according to a senior postal department official who didn’t want to be named.

 

Some of the country’s large public sector banks have also been lobbying against the proposal, concerned that India Post, with its vast branch network, could pose a threat to their business, said the official, who’s directly involved with the proposal.

 

“The larger idea of setting up a bank is to further the cause of financial inclusion. Entry of India Post into banking can significantly help address this situation,” the official said.

 

However, “They (finance ministry officials) are asking too many questions. Why (do) you need a bank? What is your expertise to run a bank?” the official said.

India Post is engaged in several related functions, such as running a savings bank scheme, selling tax-saving instruments and accepting public provident fund deposits. The government also uses post office accounts to route payments to beneficiaries as part of the rural jobs programme and the direct transfer of subsidies.

 

A former government official said the postal department should focus on its existing business.

 

“It is totally illogical for the postal department to enter into banking. They do not have the experience in handling credit or the ability to manage a bank,” said D.K. Mittal, who was finance secretary till recently.

 

Transfer and Postings in JAG cadre of IPoS Group A

Directorate  has issued the following transfers and Postings in  JAG cadre of IPoS Group A  vide Memo No. No  2-8 / 2013 - SPG (pt) dated 10.05.2013.

1.   Shri.J.T.Venkateswaralu, (IPoS1994), DPS (HQ) TN Circle, Chennai posted as DPS, CCR, TN Circle.

2. Dr.N.Vinod Kumar, (IPoS1994), Director, PLI Investment Dn, Mumbai, Maharashtra posted as DPS (HQ), Maharashtra Circle.

3. Ms.Shoba Madhale, (IPoS1994), Director, Mumbai GPO, Maharashtra Circle posted as Director (Mails & SP), Maharashtra Circle, Mumbai.

 4. Shri.T.Manmingthang, (IPoS1994), DPS, Manipur (Imphal), NE Circle posted as Director, Mumbai GPO, Maharashtra Circle. 

5. Ms.S.S.Kujur, (IPoS1995), DPS (HQ), Jharkhand Circle, Ranchi posted as Director, PLI, Kolkatta, West Bengal Circle.

6. Shri.M.U.Abdali, (IPoS1995), DPS (HQ), Bihar Circle, Patna posted as Director (PMU), Dte, New Delhi.

7. Ms.Manisha Mishra,(IPoS1997), DPS Gurgaon, Haryana Circle posted as Director (Tech), Dte New Delhi.

8. Shri.V.S.Jayasankar, DPS, Southern Region, Madurai posted as DPS, Western Region, Coimbatore.

9. Shri.A.Govindarajan,(IPoS 2000), DPS (HQ), Kerala Circle, Thiruvananthapuram posted as DPS (HQ), Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai.

10. Shri.Parimal Sinha, (IPoS2001), Director (Mails & SP), Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai posted as DPS (HQ), Bihar Circle, Patna.

11. Shri.Ashok Kumar Yadav, IPoS2004) adhoc, Jt Director, RAKNPA, Ghaziabad posted as DPS, Gorakhpur, UP Circle.

12. Shri.Sayeed Rashid, (IPos2003), on deputation to Govt of Kerala posted in adhoc JAG as DPS (HQ), Kerala Circle, Thiruvananthapuram.

POSTAL ASSISTANT EXAM COMPLETE KEY HELD ON 21/04/2013

Postal Assistant Exam 2013 Question paper

Part A - General Knowledge

1. Government of India has recently granted "Maharatna Status to two more Navratna Public Sector enterprises. Which are the these new companies joining the club of Maharatna public sector undertakings.

(A) Steel authority of India Limited and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited
(B) Bharat heavy Electrical Ltd and Gas authority of India Limited
(C) Indian Oil Corporation and Coal India Limited
(D) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Oil and Natural gas corporation

 Ans: B

2. India's newly built and tested missile 'Astra' is meant for 
(A) Surface to surface strike
(B) Air to Air Strike
(C) Surface to Air Strike
(D) Air to surface Strike

Ans: B

3. The Governor General who adopted a policy of Europeanization of Bureaucracy and an exlusion of Indian from higher posts
(A) Warren Hastings
(B) Wellesley
(C) Cornwallis
(D) Dalhousie

Ans: C

4. During which movement Bal Gangadhar Tilak was given the epithet Lokmanya and Gandhiji give the slogan 'swaraj in a year' respectively:

(A) Home rule Movement and Non Cooperation Movement
(B) Swadeshi Movement and Dandi March
(C) Quit India Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement
(D) Khilafat Movement and Civil Disobedience MovementAns: A

5. Recently Dargah Muinuddin Chisti at Ajmer was in news due to visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Dargah Muinudding Chisti at Ajmer was built by:
(A) Qutubuddin Aibak
(B) Alauddin Khilji
(C) IItutmish
(D) Khijra Khan

Ans: B

6. Bauxite is an ore of:
(A) Zinc
(B) Aluminium
(C) Lead
(D) Copper

Ans: B

7. Which one of the following is the land area in the extreme south of India?
(A) Indira Point
(B) Rameshwaram
(C) Cape Comorin
(D) Puducherry

Ans: C

8. The ozone layer lies in the:
(A) Troposphere
(B) Tropopause
(C) Stratosphere
(D) None of these

Ans: C

9. In Union Budget 2013-14, "Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme" was launched by Government of India. This scheme is related to:
(A) Service Tax
(B) Commodity Transaction Tax
(C) Income Tax
(D) Securities Transaction TaxAns: A

10. Economic Survey 2012-13 states that Non Performing Assets of increased from 2.36% to 3.57% in September, 2012. The description of Non performing Assets was with reference to which sector.
(A) Telecom Sector
(B) Human Resource Sector
(C) Oil and Gas Sector
(D) Banking Sector

Ans: D

LSG Promotion in Kerala Circle

Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity under New Pension System

Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity under New Pension System to Central Government employees under New Pension System (NPS). The information was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena, in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Gratuity Pay under New Pension System

Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity is paid to Central Government employees under New  Pension System (NPS) as it is paid under the old pension scheme. The monthly annuity under the New Pension System (NPS) is only a replacement of pension on retirement and family pension of death after retirement. The benefits of Death cum Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) and pension/family pension have been provisionally allowed,  vide the Office Memorandum of Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare No. 38/41/06-P & PW(A) dated 5.5.2009 in respect of Central Government servants covered under NPS in cases where a Government Servant is retired on invalidation/disability and in the case of death of a Government servant in service on the same rates as are applicable under the old pension scheme Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972.

The retirement gratuity is payable to the retiring Government servant. A minimum of 5 years’ qualifying service and eligibility to receive service gratuity/pension is essential to get this one time lump sum benefit. Retirement gratuity is calculated @ 1/4th of a month’s Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance drawn before retirement for each completed six monthly period of qualifying service.

The maximum retirement gratuity payable is 16½ times the Basic Pay, subject to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh. If the Government Servant dies while in service, the death gratuity shall be paid to his family at rates furnished in the table below:

Sl. No.	Length of Qualifying Service	Rate of Death Gratuity
1.	Less than one year	2 times of emoluments
2.	One year or more but less than 5 years	6 times of emoluments
3.	5 years or more but less than 20 years	12 times of emoluments
4.	20 years or more	Half of emoluments for every completed six monthly period of qualifying service subject to a maximum of 33 times of emoluments.

Admissibility of Commission on TD Deposits to BPMs - SB Order no 07/2013