First in the world (Male)

1. First Asian to head the International Cricket Council Jagmohan Dalmiya

2. First man to climb Mount Everest Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and sir Edmund Hillary (29th May ,1953)

3. First man to go into space Major Yuri Gagarin (USSR)

4. First person to give information about planets and their motion

around the sun Alexei Leonal (Rerssiaj)

5. First man to compile Encyclopaedia Aspheosis (Athens)

6. First person to go on both the poles (North & South) Albert P Carey

7. First man to reach North Pole Robert Peary

8. First man to reach South Pole Roald Amundsen

9. First man to climb on Mt Everest without oxygen Phu Dorji Sherpa

First in the world

1. First Ratio Telescope Satellite Launched into Space Japan

2. First country to use glass Egypt and Mesopotamia

3. First country to make map Sumeria (3800BC) (1500BC)

4. First Space Ship Landed on Mars Viking –l (July 1976)

5. World’s first Multipurpose River Valley Project Tennessee River Valley Project (USA)

6. First Space Shuttle Launched Columbia

7. First rocket to go near the Sun Helius ‘B’

8. First country to make Constitution America

9. First country to start underground metro rail Britain

10. First unmanned mission on Moon LUNA-9

11. First van to carry man on Moon Appolo-11

12. First country to do Artificial Satellite Experiment Russia

13. Country to give voting right to women New Zealand

14. First country to appoint lokpal Sweden

15. First country to imposed carbon tax New Zealand

Superlatives (world)

(The largest, Biggest, Smallest, Longest, Highest)

1. Largest Airport King Abdul Khalid International Airport (Riyadh, Saudi Aribia)

2. Highest Airport Bangda Airport, Tibet (Now in China)

3. Tallest Building Burj Khalifa, dubai United Arab Emirates (828 m)

4. Largest Bay Hudson Bay ,Canada

5. Longest Big ship Canal Suez Canal (linking Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

6. Busiest Canal (Ship) White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal

7. Longest Epic The Mahabharata

8. Largest Diamond The Cullinan (South Africa)

9. Largest Island Greenland (renamed Kalaallit Nunaat)

10. Largest Mosque Jama Masjid, Delhi

11. Largest Delta Sundarbans, India

12. Largest Desert Sahara, Africa

13. Largest Lake Caspian Sea

14. Deepest Lake Baikal (Siberia)

15. Highest Lake Titicaca (between Boluia and Peru)

16. Largest Lake (Fresh Water) Lake Superior, USA

17. Largest Coral formation The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

18. Largest Continent Asia

19. Smallest Continent Australia

20. Highest Country Tibet (The Pamirs)

21. Largest Country (in population) China

22. Largest Country (in area) Russia

23. Biggest Dome Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur) India

24. Tallest Minar (Free Standing) great Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco

25. Largest City (in population) Tokyo

26. Highest City Wen Chuan (Tibet ,China)

27. Biggest City (in area) Hulunbuir, China

28. Longest Bridge (Railway) Huex P Long Bridge (7009m)

29. Largest Dam (Concrete) Grand Coulee Dam (USA)

30. Highest Dam Rogunskaya Dam Airels River Vakhsh , Tajikistan

31. Highest Straight Dam Bhakra Dam

32. Highest Capital City La Paz (Bolivia)

33. Highest Asian Desert Gobi, Mongolia

34. Largest Democracy India

35. Biggest Bell Great Bell at Moscow

36. Reptile which changes its colour Chameleon

37. Most intelligent Animal Chimpanzee

38. Highest Volcano Mauna Loa (Hawaii Islands)

39. Longest Wall Great wall of china

40. Highest Mountain Peak (World) Mount Everest (Nepal)

41. Highest Mountain Range Himalayas

42. Longest Mountain Range Andes Central (South America)

43. Biggest Museum British Museum (London)

44. Highest Waterfall Salto Angel Falls (Venezuela)

45. Longest Gulf Gulf of Maxico

46. Deepest and Biggest Ocean The Pacific

47. Largest peninsula Arabia

48. Largest Palace Imperial Palace (Gugong), Beijing (China)

49. Largest Park National Park, Greenland

50. Largest Archipelago Indonesia

51. Coldest place Verkhoyansk (Siberia) Temperature (-89.20C)

52. Driest place Death Valley (California)

53. Hottest Place Al-Aziziyah (Libya ,Africa) 1360F

54. Largest Platform (Railway) Gorakhpur (Utter Pradesh)

55. Largest Bridge (Railway) Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge (China)

56. Largest Plateau Tibetan Plateau

57. Largest River Basin Amazon Basin

58. World’s Rainiest Spot Cherrapunji (Meghalaya)

59. Largest Gorge Grand Canyon on the Colorade river , USA

60. Largest port Shanghai (China)

61. Busiest Port Shanghai (China)

62. Longest Railway Trans-Siberian Railway

63. Longest River Nile (6690 km)

64. Longest River Dam Hirakud Dam (Odisha) India

65. Largest Sea-Bird Albatross

66. Largest Sea (Inland) Mediterranean

67. Tallest Statue Statue of Liberty, New York (USA)

68. Tallest Tower Sky Tree Tower, Tokyo (Japan)

69. Longest Swimming Course English Channel (Between London and Edinburgh)

70. Longest Train Nonstop Flying Scotsman

71. Longest Tunnel (Railway) Seikan Rail Tunnel (Japan)

72. Longest and Largest Canal/Tunnel Le Rove Tunnel (South of France)

73. Lightest Gas Hydrogen

74. Lightest Metal Lithium

75. Highest Melting Point Tungstan, (341000C)

76. Hardest Substance Wurtzite Boron Nitride

77. Fastest Animal The Peregrine Falcon

78. Longest Poisonous Snake King Kobra

79. Largest Temple Angkor Vat (Combodia)

80. Largest Diamond Mine Kimbarley (South Africa)

Country with Capitals and Currencies

Country Capital Currency Country Capital Currency

Afghanistan Kabul Afghani Columbia Bogota Peso

Albania Tirana Lek Denmark Copenhagen Krone

Algeria Algiers Algerian Dinar Egypt Cairo Egyptian Pound

Angola Luanda Kwanza France Paris Franc

Argentina Buenos Aires Peso Germany Berlin Euro

Australia Canberra Australian Dollar Greece Athens Euro

Austria Vienna Euro Hungary Budapest Forint

Bangladesh Dhaka Taka India New Delhi Rupee

Belarus Minsk Ruble Indonesia Jakarta Rupiah

Belgium Brussels Euro Iran Tehran Riyal

Bhutan Thimphu Ngultrum Iraq Baghdad Dinar

Brazil Brasilia Cruzeiro Real Ireland Dublin Euro

Cambodia Phnom-Penh Riel Israel Jerusalem Shekel

Canada Ottawa Canadian Dollar Italy Rome Euro

Chile Santiago Peso Japan Tokyo Yen

China Beijing Yuan, Renminbi Kazakhstan Astana Tenge

Kenya Nairobi Shilling Russia Moscow Ruble

North Korea Pyongyang Won Saudi Arabia Riyadh Riyal

Kuwait Kuwait City Kuwait Dinar Somalia Mogadishu Somali Shilling

South Korea Seoul Won Singapore Singapore Dollar

Libya Tripoli Libyan Dinar South Africa Pretoria Rand

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Ringgit Spain Madrid Euro

Maldives Male Rufiyaa Sri Lanka Colombo Rupee

Mauritius Port Louis Rupee Sudan Khartoum Sudanese pound

Mongolia Ulan Bator Tugrik South Sudan Juba South Sudanese pound

Montenegro Podgorica Euro Sweden Stockholm Krona

Myanmar Naypyidaw Kyat Switzerland Bern Swiss Franc

Namibia Windhoek Namibian Dollar Taiwan Taipei New Taiwan doller

Nepal Kathmandu Rupaia Thailand Bangkok Baht

New Zealand Wellington New Zealand Dollar Turkey Ankara Lira

Nigeria Abuja Naira Uganda Kampala Uganda Shilling

Norway Oslo Krone Ukraine Kiev Hryvnia

Pakistan Islamabad Rupee UK London Pound Sterling

Phillippines Manila Peso US Washington DC Dollar

Poland Budapest Zloty Venezuela Caracas Bolivar

Portugal Lisbon Euro Zimbabwe Harare Dollar

Qatar Doha Riyal

Geographical Discoveries

Discovery Discoverer Discovery Discoverer

America Christopher Columbus New Foundland Gobot Sebastian

Sea Route to India via Vasco Da Gama Hudson Bay Henry Hudson

Cape of Good Hope

Solar System Copernicus Circumnavigation of world Magellan

Planets Kepler Mount Everest Edmund Hillary

South Pole Amundsen First Person to set foot

on the moon Neil Armstorng

North Pole Robert Peary Tasmania Island Tasman

China Marco Polo Cape of the Good Hope Baurtho Romelodeis

Geographical Epithets

Blue Mountains Nilgiri Hills Key to the Mediterranean Gibraltar

City Beautiful Chandigarh Land of Cakes Scotland

City of Golden Gate San Francisco Land of Golden Fleece Australia

City of Magnificent Land of Maple Canada

Building Washington Land of Morning Calm Korea

City of Palaces Kolkata Land of the Midnight Sun Norway

City of Seven Hill Rome Land of the Rising Sun Japan

Cockpit of Europe Belgium Land of the Thunderbolt Bhutan

Dark Continent Africa Land of Thousand Lakes Finland

Eternal City Rome Land of White Elephant Thailand

Forbidden City Lhasa (Tibet) Pearl of the Antilles Cuba

Garden City Chicago Pearl of the Pacific Guayaquil Port of Ecuador

Gift of the Nile Egypt Roof of the World The Pamirs, Central Asia

Granite City Aberdeen Spice Garden of India Kerala

Holy Land Palestine Sugar Bowl of the World Cuba

Island Continent Australia

Island of Cloves Zanzibar

Isle of Pearls Bahrain

Official Books of Major Countries

Blue Book An Official report of the British Government

Green Book An official publications of Italy and Iran

Grey Book An official reports of the Government of Japan and Belgium

Orange Book An official publications of the Government of Netherlands

White Book an official Publication of China, Germany and Portugal

White Paper an official paper of the government of Britain and India on a particular issue

Yellow Book French official Book

Important Monuments of Some Famous Countries

Monument Country Monument Country

Imperial Place (Tokyo) Japan Learning Tower of Pisa Italy

Eiffel Tower (Paris) France Pyramid (Giza) Egypt

Great Wall of China China Opera House(Sydney) Australia

Kremlin (Moscow) Russia Statue of Liberty (New York ) USA

Kinder Disk Denmark Taj Mahal (Agra) India

The Seven Wonders of the World

Ancient World Modern World The ‘New’ Wonder

The Colossus of Rome Channel Tunnel Chichen Itza, Mexico

The Great Pyramid of Giza CN Tower Christ Redeemer, Brazil

The hanging Garden of Babylon Empire State Building The Great Wall, China

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Golden Gate Bridge Machu Picchu, Peru

The statue of Zeus at Olympia Itaipu Dam Petra Jordan

The lighthouse of Alexandria Delta works Colosseum , Italy

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Panama Canal The Taj Mahal, India

Important symbols of or Signs

Pen Symbol of culture and civilisation

Lotus Culture and civilisation

Red Cross Medical aid hospital

Red Flag Revolution; also sign of danger

Black flag Symbol of Protest

Yellow Flag Flown on ships or vehicles carrying patients suffering from infectious diseases

Flag flown upside down Symbol of Distress

White Flag Symbol of truce

Pigeon of Dove Symbol of peace

A blindfolded woman holding

a balanced scale Symbol of Justice

Black strip on face arm Sign of mourning or protest

One skull on two bones crossing each

other diagonally Sign of Danger

Wheel (Chakra) Symbol of progress

Flag flown at half mast Symbol of national mourning

Olive Branch Symbol of peace

Languages Spoken

Language Member Language Member

Mandarin Chinese 882 million Arabic 206-422 million

Spanish 325 million Hindi 181 million

English 312-380 million Portuguese 215 million

Intelligence/Detective Agencies of the World

Detective Agency Country

Central external Liaison Department China

Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation Australia

KGB/GRU Russia

National Intelligence Agency South Africa

MI (Military Intelligence) -5 and 6, Special Branch, Joint intelligence Organisation United Kingdom

Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Pakistan

Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) , intelligence Bureau (IB) India

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) , Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USA

MOSSAD Israel

Mukhabarat Egypt

Naicho Japan

SAVAK (Sazamane Etelaatva Amniate Kechvar ) Iran

General Security Directorate Iraq

DGSE (Direction General de la Security Exterieur) France

Parliaments of the world

Country Name Parliament Name Country Name Parliament Name

Afghanistan Shora India Sansad

Australia Parliament Japan Diet

Bangladesh Jatia Sansad Nepal Rashtriya Panchayat

Bhutan Tasngadu Pakistan National Assembly

Canada Parliament Russia Duma

China National Assembly Spain Cortes

Egypt People’s Assembly Sweden Riksdag

France Parliament South Africa Parliament

Germany Bundestag Switzerland Federal Assembly

Great Britain Parliament USA Congress

Top 5 Largest and Smallest Countries

Largest Country Largest Country Smallest Country Smallest Contry

(Area-Wise) (Population-Wise) (Area-Wise) (Population-Wise)

Russia China Vatican City Vatican City

Canada India Monaco Nauru

China USA Nauru Tuvalu

United States Indonesia Tuvalu Palau

Brazil Brazil San Marino San Marino

Major News paper of the world

Newspaper Country Newspaper Country

The Sydney Morning Herald Australia The Hindustan Times India

The Age Australia Mainichi Daily News Japan

Globe and Mail Canada The New Zealand Herald New Zealand

The Gazette Canada The Press New Zealand

International Herald Tribune France The Times United Kingdom

Die Welt Germany The Scotsman United Kingdom

The Times of India India The Guardian United Kingdom

The Hindu India The Herald United Kingdom

The Tribune India The Courier United Kingdom

The Statesman India Washington Post United States of America

Religions of the World

Religion Member Percentage Religion Member Percentage

Christianity 2.1 billion 33.0% Buddhism 376 million 6%

Islam 1.5 billon 21% Sikhism 23 million 0.36%

Hinduism 900 Million 14% Jewish 14 million 0.2%

National Emblems of Major Countries

Country Emblem Country Emblem

Australia Kangaroo Italy White Lily

Bangladesh Water Lily Japan Chrysanthemum

Belgium Lion Netherlands Lion

Canada White Lily New Zealand Southern Cross, Kiwi, Fern

Chile Candor and Huemul Norway Lion

France Lily Pakistan Crescent

Germany Corn Flower Spain Eagle

India Lioned Capital United Kingdom Rose

Iran Rose United Kingdom of America Golden Rod

First in India

Newspaper Bengal Gazette (James Hickey)

Vernacular Daily Samachar Darpan

Hindi Newspaper Udant Marand

Telegraph Line Diamond Harbour to Kolkata

International Telephone Service Mumbai to London (1851)

Silent Movie Raja Harish Chandra (Dadasaheb Phalke 1913)

Talkie Movie Alam Ara (Ardeshir Irani-1931)

Aricraft Carriage Warship INS Vikrant

Satellite Aryabhatta (19th April, 1975)

Satellite dedicated exclusively for Education purposes EDUSAT

Successful indigenous launch vehicle SLV-3

Nuclear Reactor Apsara

Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-1 (October, 2008)

Mars Mission Mars Orbiter Mission (5th November, 2013)

Hydroelectric Project Sivasamudram (1902)

Asian Games Delhi (1951)

Census 1872

Regular Decadal Census 1881 Onwards

Biosphere Reserve Nilgire

National Haley National Park (Jim Corbett), 1936

Chairman of UPSC Rose Barker

First E-court Ahmadabad

Court exclusively dedicated to women malda (WB)

Technology park Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram

First in India (Male)

First Governor-General of India William Bentinck (1828)

Last Governor-General of India Lord Mountbatten

First and last Indian Governor – General of Free India C Rajgopalchari

First Commander-in –Chief of India Genral KM Karippa

First Field Marshal of India General SHFJ Manekshaw (1971)

First Indian to go in Space Rakesh Sharma

First Indian to climb the Mount Everest without oxygen Sherpa Ang Dorje

First Indian to become the Managing Director of World Bank Gautam Kaji

First chairman of National Human Right Commission Rangnath Mishra

First Indian to get Nobel Prize in Physics CV Raman (1930)

First Indian to get Nobel Prize in Literature Rabindranath Tagore (1913)

First Indian to get Nobel Prize in Economics Dr Amartya Sen

First Indian to get Nobel Prize in Medicines (Physiology) Dr Har Govind Khorana

First Indian to get Bharat Ratna Dr S Radhakrishnan, C Rajgopalchari and Dr CV Raman

First Person to be Honoured with the Jnanpith Award G Sankara Kurup (Malayalam)

First Person to be get Bharat Ratna (Posthumously) Lal Bahadur Shastri

First Cricket to get Padma Bhushan CK Naidu

First Indian to get through ICS Satyendra Nath Tagore (1869)

First Indian to swim across the English Channel Mihir Sen (1958)

First in India (Female)

First Indian Female Chairperson of Indian National Congress Sorojini Naidu (1925)

First Woman to climb the Everest Bechendri Pal (1984)

First Woman Cabinet Minister Rajkumari Amrit Kaur (1947)

First Woman Chairman of the UN General Assembly Vijaya Laxmi Pandit

First Woman President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil

First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar (2009)

First Woman Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Margaret Alva (1962)

First Woman Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi

First Woman to reach Antarctica Meher Moos (1976)

First Woman IAS Officer Anna Rajam George (1950)

First Female Chief Justice Leela Seth (1991)

First Woman to win the Jnanpith Award Asha Poorna Devi (1976)

First Woman to get the Bharat Ratna Indira Gandhi

First Female Nobel Prize Winner Mother Teresa (1979)

First Woman to complete century in World Cup Cricket Thirush Kamini

First actress to be nominated to the Rajaya Sabha Nargis Dutt

First Woman Chairperson of UPSC Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli)

Books and Authors

Author Name Book Name Author Name Book Name

Alexander Dumas The Three Musketeers Dr C Rangarajan Indian Economy:

Amartya Sen Identity and Violence the Essay on Money and Finance

Illusion of Destiny Edward Luce Inspite of the Gods

Amartya Sen The Argumentative Indian Eleanor Catton The Luminaries

Amartya Sen Development as Freedom EM Forster A Passage to India

Amitav Ghose River of Smoke Gen V P Malik Kargil: Surprise to Victory

Amitav Ghose Circle of Reason Gunter Grass The Tin Drum

Amrita Pritam Death of a City HR Bhardwaj Law: Lawyers and Judges

Anita Desai Clear Light of the Day Herbert George Wells Time Machine

Arun Shourie A Secular Agenda Indira Gandhi My Truth

Arundhati Roy The Algebra of Infinite Justice Jai Shankar Prasad Ajatha Shatru

Arundhati Roy Greater Common Good Jawaharlal Nehru Discovery of India

Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things Jawaharlal Nehru Glimpses of World History

Ashwaghosha Budda Charitham Jayaprakash Narayan Prison Diary

Anung San Suu Kyi Freedom from Fear K Natwar Singh Walking with Lions

Bankim Chandra Chatterji Durgeshnandini K Natwar Singh Curtain Raisers

Bankim Chandra Chatterji Anand Math Kapil Dev Straight from the Heart

Barack Obama Dreams of My Father Karl Marx Das Kapital

Barrett Lee, Marina Chapman The Girl with No Name Karl Marx and Fredrik Engels Communist Manifesto

Benazir Bhutto Pakistan the Gathering Storm Khushwant Singh Train to Pakistan

Javier Moro The Red Saree Kiran Bedi I Dare

Chandrashekhar Jail Dairy Kiran Bedi As I See

Charles Dickens David Copperfield Kiran Desai The Inheritance of Loss

Chetan Bhagat Revolution 2020 What Young Kuldeep mathur Too Old to be Bold

India Wants Half Girl Friend LK Advani A Prisoner’s Scrap

Chetan Bhagat One Night at Call Centre Mahatma Gandhi My Experiments with Truth

Chitra Subramaniam India for Sale Mark Tully The Heart of India

Dalai Lama Freedom in Exile Mulk Raj Anand Untouchable

Dalai Lama Ethics for New Millennium Premchand Godan

Dante A Divine Comedy RK Narayan The Guide

Ruskin Bond A Garland of Memories

Sorojini Naidu Golden Threshold

Sorojini Naidu The Broken Wings

Sir Richard Burton Arabian Nights

Books and Authors International Decades

Author Name Book Name 1997-2006 UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Essays on Gita 2001-10 Second UN Decade for the Eradication of

Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time Colonialism

Taslima Nasreen Koraner Nari 2001-10 International Decade for Culture of Peace and

Thomas Pynchon Against the Day Non-violence for Children

V S Naipaul India: A Wounded Civilisation 2014-24 Decade of Sustainable Energy for All

VS Naipaul Letters Between a Father and Son

Ved Vyas Bhagwad Gita International Year

Vikram Chandra Love and Longing in Bombay 2008 Year of Good Governance (for SAARC Countries)

Vikram Seth An Equal Music 2009 International Year of Astronomy

Vimal Kumar Sachin Cricketer of the Century 2010 International Year of Biodiversity

VS Naipaul An Area of Darkness 2011 International Year of Forest

VS Naipaul Half a Life 2012 International Year of Cooperatives

VS Naipaul Magic Seeds 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation

William Shakespeare As You Like it 2014 International Year of Family Farming

Yuvraj Singh The Test of My Life 2015 International Year of Light and Light based Technologies

Zoya Hasan Congress After Indira 2016 International Year of Pulses

Important dates and days of the Year

January March

1 Global Family Day 8 International Women’s Day

9 NRI Day 15 World Consumer Rights Day; World Disabled Day

12 Army Day 21 World Forestry Day, International for the Elimination

25 National Tourism Day, Voter’s Day of Racial Discrimination

26 Indian Republic Day, International Day 22 World Water Day

28 Data Protection Day 23 World Meteorological Day

30 Martyr’s Day (Mahatma Gandhi’s Martyrdom), 24 World TB Day

World Leprosy Eradication Day April

February 5 National Maritime Day , International Day for Mine

1 Global Family Day Awareness

20 World Cancer Day 7 World Health Day

24 Central Excise Day 18 World Heritage Day

28 National Science Day 21 Civil Services Day

22 World Earth Day

May

1 International Labour Day (May Day)

3. International Energy Day, World Press

Freedom Day

8. World Red Cross Day

21 Anti-Terrorism Day October

17 World Telecommunications Day 2 International Non-Violence Day Lal Bahadur Shastri

June Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday

5 World Environment Day 3 World Habitat Day

12 World Day Against Child Labour 5 World Teacher’s Day

20 World Refugee day 8 Indian Air Force Day

21 International Yoga Day 16 World Food Day

27 International Diabetes Day 24 United Nations Day

July November

4 American Independence Day 9 Legal Services Day

7 International day of Cooperatives 14 Children’s Day, World Diabetics Day

11 World Population Day 20 Universal Children’s Day (UN)

August December

6 Hiroshima Day 1 World AIDS Day

8 World Senior Citizen’s Day 2 World Computer Literacy Day

12 International Youth Day 4 Navy Day

18 Day of the World’s Indigenous Persons 7 Armed Forces Flag Day

29 National Sports Day (Dhyanchand’s Birth Day) 10 Human Rights Day

September 16 Vijay Diwas

5 Teacher’s Day( Dr Radhakrishnan’s Birth Day)

14 Hindi Day, World First Aid Day

16 World Ozone Day

18 International Day of Peace

21 Biosphere Day

27 World Tourism Day

Superlatives (India )

(The largest, Biggest, Smallest, Longest, Highest etc)

The longest River The Ganga (2525KM) The Largest Desert Thar (Rajasthan)

The longest Canal Indira Gandhi Canal or The Largest Delta Sunderbans (Paschim Banga)

Rajasthan Canal (Rajasthan) (649 km) The state with maximum

The longest Dam Hirakud Dam (Odisha) (26 km) Forest Area Madhya Pradesh (11.24%)

The longest Sea Beach Marina Beach (Chennai) (13 km) The Largest Zoo Zoological Garden (Kolkata)

The highest Lake Cholam Lake (Sikkim) The Biggest Stadium Yuva Bharti (Salt Lake) Stadium, Largest Saline Kolkata

Water Lake Chilka Lake (Odisha) The longest national Highway NH-7( Varansi to Kanakumari) The biggest River Island Majuli, Brahmaputra River(Asom) The highest Award Bharat Ratna

The largest fresh The highest Gallantry Award Param Vir Chakra

Water Lake Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) The Largest Gurudwara Golden Temple, Amritsar

The higest Dam Bhakhra Dam (740 Ft) on Satluej River The Largest Cave Temple Kailash Temple,(Ellora, Maharashtra)

(Punjab) The Highest Peak Godwin Austin 1,K2(8611m)

The Highest Waterfall Kunchikal Falls (Karnataka) (455m,1493ft) The largest Mosque Jama Masjid (Delhi)

The Deepest River Valley Bhagirathi and Alaknanda The longest Tunnel Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal Pass

The longest River Bridge Mahatma Gandhi Setu,Patna (5.575 km) (Jammu & Kashmir)

The Biggest Cantilever The largest Auditorium Sri Shanmukhanand Hall (Mumbai)

Bridge Rabindra Setu or Howrah Bridge (Kolkata) The largest Animal Fair Sonepur (Bihar)

The state with longest The largest Cave Amarnath (Jammu & Kashmir)

Coastline Gujarat (1600 km) The highest Gate Way Buland Darwaja Fathpur Sikri

The longest river (Uttar Pradesh)

without Delta Narmada The Tallest Statue Veera Abhaya Anajaneya

The longest Sea Bridge Bandra-Worli Sea link (5.6 km) Hanuman Swami (Andhra Pradesh,135ft)

The largest artificial Lake Govind Sagar Khakhra Nangal (HP) The largest public

The longest River of Sector Bank State Bank Of India

Southern India Godavari (1465 km) The most Populous City Mumbai (Maharashtra)

The longest Railway The biggest Church Saint Cathedral at Old Goa (Goa)

Platform Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh (1366.33m) The highest Battlefield Siachen Glacier (5753 m)

The longest Road Grand Trunk Road (Kolkata to Delhi)

The longest Corridor Corridor of Ramanathswami Temple at

Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

The highest Road Road at Khardungla (in Leh-Manali Sector)

The highest Airport Leh Airport (Ladakh)

Award and Honours

International

Nobel Prize

The most prestigious award in the world. It was set-up in 1900 under the will of Alfred Bernhard Nobel. The Nobel Prizes are presented annually on 10th December (The death anniversary of the founder) It is given in the fields of Peace, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine (from1901) and

Economics (from 1969)

Winners of Nobel Prize form India

Winner Field Year

Kailash Satyarthi Peace 2014

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Chemistry 2009

Amartry Sen Economics 1998

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Physics 1983

Mother Teresa Peace 1979

Hargobind Khorana Medicine 1968

CV Raman Physics 1930

Rabindranath Tagore Literature 1913

Grammy Awards

It is awarded for the austanding aehievemenls in the music industry by National Academy for Recording Arts and Sciencer,

Amencer. It was started in 1959. Pt. Rain Shankar got this 3 Times

Pulitzer Prize

Instituted in 1917 and named after US publisher Joseph Pulitzer.

It is conferred annually in the United States for the accomplishments in journalism, literature and music.

Magsaysay Awards

Instituted in 1957. Named after Ramon Magsaysay, the former President of Philippines.

The award is given annually on 31th August, the birth anniversary of Magsaysay, for outstanding contributions in

Public service, community leadership, Journalism, Literature and Creative Arts and International Understanding.

Right Livelihood Awards

The Right Livelihood Award was established in 1980.

It is also referred as ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’

It is given to persons to honour those “working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges

facing the world today.”

Oscar Awards

Instituted in 1929, these awards are conferred annually by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Science,

USA, in recognition of outstanding contribution in the various fields of film making.

The Indian films nominated for Oscar are Mother India (1957), Salam Bambay (1988), Lagan (2001),

Bhanu Athanya was the first India to win and Oscar Award in 1982 for costume design is Gandi.

UN Human Right Awards

Instituted in 1966, this award is given every 5 years for individual contributions to the establishment of human rights.

National

Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna is India’s Highest Civilian Award. It was first awarded in 1954.

The actual award is designed in the shape of peepal leaf with Bharat Ratna inscribed in Devanagri script in the Sun Figure.

The reverse side of the decoration Satyamevea Jayate has been written in Hindi with an inscription of state emblem.

The emblem the sun and the rim are of platinum. The inscriptions are in burnished bronze.

Republic Day Awards

Padma Awards

They fall in line after the Bharat Ratna. They were also discontinued in 1977 along with the Bharat Ratna and award was started again in 1980.

Padma Vibhushan is the second highest National Award given for exceptional and distinguished service

in any field including service rendered by government employees.

Padma Bhushan is the third highest National Award given for distinguished service in any field.

Padma Shri is the fourth highest Award given for distinguished service in any field.

Gallantry Awards

Param Vir Chakra is the highest decoration of valour award. It is the most conspicuous act of bravery or some

act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal is made of bronze.

Mahavir Chakra is the second highest gallantry award for acts of conspicuous in the presence of the

enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal is made of standard silver.

Vir Chakra is the awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air.

The medal is made of standard silver.

Ashok Chakra This is awarded for valour, courageous action or sacrifice, away from the battlefield.

It is highest military award during peacetime.

Kirti Chakra The decoration is awarded for conspicuous gallantry. It is made of standard silver and is circular in shape.

The obverse and the reverse are exactly the same as in Ashoka Chakra.

Shaurya Chakra the decoration is awarded for an act of gallantry during peacetime.

Sports Awards

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is instituted in 1991-92 with the objective of honouring most outstanding sports-person to enhance

their general status. It is the highest award bestowed to a sports person in India. The amount of prize money is 750000.

Arjuna Award instituted in 1961 by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National Sports.

The award carries a cash price 5 Lakh, a bronze statue of Arjuna and scroll of honour.

Dronacharya Award instituted in 1985 by the government of India to reconise excellence in sports coaching.

The award carries a cash prize of 5 Lakh, a bronze statue of Dronacharya and a scroll of honour.

Dhyanchand Award instituted in 2002, carries a cash prize of 1.5 Lakh, a plaque and a scroll of honour.

This honour is given to those sportspersons who have contributed to sportspersons, and sports by their

performance and continue to contribute their promotion for sports even after their retirement from active sporting career.

Indain Cinema Awards

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Dadasaheb Phalke is known as the Father of Indian Cinema. The highest National Film Award is named after him in 1869.

Dhundiraj Govind (Dadasheb) Phalke’s silent feature film, Raja Harishchandra released at Coronation Theatre in 1913,

was first indigenous feature film of India.

Ardeshir irani in 1931, released first full length talkies film Alam Ara at Majestic Cinema, Mumbai.

Master vithal was the first talkie hero.

Mrs Devika Rani Roerich was the first person to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969.

Other National Awards

Bhartiya Jnapith Award

Instituted in 22nd May, 1961 carries a cash prize of 5 Lakh, a citation and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati).

This award is given for the best literary writing by an Indian citizen in a language listed in Eighth Schedule of the Indian

Constitution.

Gandhi Peace Prize

Established in 2nd October, 1994, on the occasion of the 125th birthday anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,

carries a cash prize of 1 Crore.

Indian Government instituted this annual prize to encourage and promote the significance of Gandhian value over the world.

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace Disarmament and Development

Instituted in 1985, this prestigious award is regarded as ‘Nobel’ and over the years, it has been awarded to those

persons who have done outstanding work for international peace, disarmament and development.

Borlaug Award

Instituted in 1973, carries a cash prize of 1 Lakh.

Instituted to honour outstanding agricultural scientists.

Sahitya Akademi Award

Awarded for outstanding literary work and carries a cash prize of 1 Lakh.

Sahitya Academi gives 22 awards for literary works in the languages which has recognized works.

Sports

Olympics

Olympics games were started in 776 BC on Mount Olympia in the honour of Greek God, ‘Zeus’. The modern

Olympics games were started in Athens ,the capital of Greece on 6th April,1896 with great efforts made by

French nobleman, Baron Pierre De Coubertin.

The Olympic Games are organized after every 4 years. The Olympic flag is made up of white silk and contains five

intertwined rings as the Olympic Emblem.

The five interlaced rings are arranged in 3-2 pattern on a white Background, with the blue ring to the

extreme left, followed by yellow,black, green and red, in the same order, Blue for Europe, Black for Africa,

Red for Americas (North and South America), Yellow for Asia and Green for Oceania (Australia and New Zeland).

The official Olympic Motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius, a latin phrase meaning Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

The Head Office of International Olympic Committee (IOC) is at Lausanne (Switzerland).

Commonwealth Games

The first Commonwealth Games Were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada.

Since 1930, the games have been conducted every 4 years except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II.

There are currently 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participated in the games.

21st commonwealth Games 2018 will be held in Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia.

Commonwealth Games

The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, are a multi-sport event held every 4 years among athletes from all over Asia.

The games are regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).under the supervision of the International

Olympic committee (IOC).the first Asian Games were held in 1951 in New Delhi (India).

18the Asian Games of 2018 will be held at Jakarta (Indonesia)

Cricket World Cup

The first Cricket World Cup was organized in England in 1975. A separate women’s Cricket World Cup has been

held every 4 years since 1973.

List of Cricket world Cup

1975 England West Indies beat Australia

1979 England West Indies beat Australia

1983 England India beat West Indies

1987 India Australia beats England

1992 Australia Pakistan beats England

1996 Pakistan Sri Lanka beats Australia

1999 England Australia beats Pakistan

2003 South Africa Australia beats India

2007 West Indies Australia bets Sri Lanka

2011 India India beats Sri Lanka

2015 Australia and

New Zealand Scheduled

2019 England Scheduled

T-20 Cricke World Cup

2007 South Africa India beat Pakistan

2009 England Pakistan beat Sri Lanka

2010 West Indies England beat Australia

2012 Sri Lanka West Indies beats Sri Lanka

2014 Bangladesh Sri Lanka beats India

Hockey World Cup

The first Hockey World Cup was organized in Barcelona (Spain) in 1971. Women’s Hockey World Cup

has been held since 1974. The 13th Hockey World cup held in the Netherland (Hague) in 2014.

In the men’s, Australia become the champion and in the women’s, Netherland became the champion.

Football World Cup

The Football World Cup is organized by FIFA (Federation of International Football Association).

United Nations Organisation (UNO)

The United Nations (UN) is a world organisation formed in 24th October 1945. It came into existence after World War II,

when the leaders of the world, including American President Roosevelt and British Pirme Minister Churchill, decided

to create a World organisation that woruld help to ensure peace.

The original membership of 51 nations has grown to 193 members. The 193rd member being the newly created

South Sudan. The united Nations Headquarters is in New York City. The UN also has offices in

Nairobi (Kenya), Geneva (Switzerland) and Vienna (Austria).

The General Assembly is the main place for discussions and policy making in the United Nations.

The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Security Council is made up of 15 members.

There are five permanent members of the Security Concil-China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and USA and

10 non-permanent members elected for 2 years terms starting on 1st January.

Non- Permanent Member of UNSC

Country Term Began Term Ends

Angola 2015 2016

Malaysia 2015 2016

New Zealand 2015 2016

Spain 2015 2016

Venezuela 2015 2016

Chad 2014 2015

Chile 2014 2015

Jordan 2014 2015

Lithuania 2014 2015

Nigeria 2014 2015

In year 2013, Saudi Arabia refused to accept the Non-permanent member seat in UNSC, as a mark

of protest against the perceived inaction by world body against Syria. In its place, Jardan has

become member of UNSC for term 2014-15.

The International court of justice (ICJ), located in the Hague, Netherl-ands, is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations,

established in 1945 by the United Nations, charter, the Court began work in 1946, as the successor to the Permanent Court of

International Justice.

Trygve Lie of Norway (1946-52) was the first Secretary-General of the UN.

Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea is the present Secretary-General of the UN.

Some Important UN Agencies

Name Ested in Headquarter Purpose ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Telecommunication 1865 Geneva Sets international regulations for ratio telegraph, Union (ITU) telephone and space ratio communications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Labour 1919 Geneva To improve conditions and , Organisation (ILO) living standards of workers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Monetary 1945 Washington Promotes international Fund (IMF) DC monetary cooperation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ United Nations international 1945 New York To promotes Children’s Welfare all Children’s Emergency Fund over the world (UNESCO) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Food and Agricultural 1945 Rome To promotes living conditions of Origination (FAO) rural population. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ United Nations Educational, 1946 Paris To promote collaboration among Scientific and Cultural nations through educations, science Organisation (UNESCO) and culture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ World Health 1948 Geneva Attainment of highest possible Organisation (WHO) level of health by all people. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Atomic Energy 1957 Vienna To promote peaceful uses of , Agency (IAEA) atomic energy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Development 1960 Washington An affiliate of the World Bank, Association (IDA) DC aims to help under-developed Countries raise living standards. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ United Nations Environment 1965 New York Helps developing countries Programme (UNDP) increase the wealth producing Capabilities of their natural and Human resources. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ United Nations Environmental 1972 Nairobi Promotes international, Programme (UNEP) cooperation in human environment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ World Trade 1995 Geneva setting rules for world trade to Organisation (WTO) reduce triffs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ United Nations Office on Drugs 1997 Vienna To preventillict trafficking and , And Crime(UNODC) abuse of drug, crime prevention ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UN Women 2010 New York City To enable member states to , (USA) achieve gen den equality and Women empowerment.

Other International Organisations and Groups

Name Ested in Headquarter Member Objective ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Commonwealth 1926 London 53 it was originally known as ‘The British Commonwealth of Nations’. It is an association of sovereign and independent states which formally made up the British empire. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asia Pacific Economic 1989 Singapore 21 To promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin. Cooperation (APEC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asian Development Bank (ADB) 1966 Manila 67 To promote regional economic cooperation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Association of South-East Asian 1967 Jakarta 10 Regional, economics, social and cultural cooperation among the Nations (ASEAN) non-communist countries of South-East Asia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Commonwealth of independent 1991 Minsk(Belarus) 11 To coordinate inter-common wealth relations and to provide a. State (CIS) mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group of 8 (G-8) 1985 _______ 9 To promote cooperation among major non-communist . Powers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group of 15 (G-15) 1989 Geneva(Switzerland) 18 To promote economic cooperation among developing nations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Olympic 1894 Lausanne(Switzerland) 105 To promote the olympic ideals and administer Olympic games . Committee(IOC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Organisation for 1947 Geneva(Switzerland) 166 To promoted the development of international standards. Standardusation (ISO) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Non –Aligned Movement (NAM) 1961 ------------ 115 Political cooperation and separate itself form both USA and USSAR (in the cold-war era). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ European Union 1965 Brussels(Belgium) 28 To create a united Europe in which member countries would have (w.e.f 1st July, 1967) such strong economic and political bonds that war would cease to

be a recurring fact. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ North Atlantic Treaty 1949 Brussels(Belgium) 28 Mutual defence and cooperation. Organisation (NATO) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Organisation of Petroleum 1960 Vienna (Austria) 12 Attempts to set world prices by controlling oil production and also Exporting Countries (OPEC) pursues member interest in trade and development. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ South Asian Association for 1985 Kathmandu (Nepal) 8 To promote economic, social and cultural cooperation Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amnesty International (AL) 1961 London (UK) To keep a watch over human rights violation worldwide. Got Nobel Exporting Countries (OPEC) Prize in 1977 for Peace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ World wildlife Fund (WWF) for 1960 Gland, (Switzerland) All To save the wildlife from extinction. Nature countries

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------