Historical people, Temples, places and books

Eminent Personalities of Ancient India

• Alexander : he was the ruler of Macedonia in Greece. He attacked India in 326 BC and captured upto river Bias.
• Ajatasatru : Son of Bimbisara. He established the city of Pataliputra.
• Arien : Greek historian who wrote about Alexander's Indian invasion.
• Ashwaghosh : Buddhist monk who initiated Kaniskha to Buddhism wrote Buddha charita, Sutralankar and Sandaranand.
• AmarSimha : Sanskrit scholar in the court of Chandragupta who wrote Amarakosha.
•  Aryabhatta : He analysed the reasons for Solar and Lunar eclipses and declared that the Earth is round. Wrote Aryabhattiyam.
• Bimbisar : Founded the Magadhan Empire or Haryanka dynasty. He was the first influential king of ancient India.
• Banabhatta : Court poet of Harshavardhana and author of Harsha Charita and Kadambari.
• Charak : He was an Ayurvedic expert wrote Charak-Samhita and established the Aitereya branch of Ayurvedic medicines.
• Amoghavarsha : He was a famous Rashtrakuta ruler.
• Dhanananda : He was a powerful king of Magadha. Alexander did not go forward to invade Magadha only after hearing his reputation.
• Darius I : The ruler of Iran (Persia) who invaded India in 6th century BC.
• Gautami Putra Shatakarni : He was the mostfamous Satavahana king in 2nd Century.
• Harisena : He was the writer of Pryaga Prashasti or Allahabad Pillar Inscription.
• Kharavel : Ruler of Kalinga in I century AD. The Famous Hathigumbha inscription belonged to him.
• Kanishka : (I century AD) : Most powerful Kushan king. Started Shaka Era. Organised fourth Buddhist council at Kundalvan near Kashmir.
• Karikala : Chola ruler who founded the city of Puhar (Kaveri patanam) in I century BC.
• Kautilya : also known as Vishnugupta or Chanakya. He wrote Arthasasthra, which is compared to 'The prince' of Machiavelli.
• Kalidas : Famous Sanskrit poet who wrote, Raghuvamsa, Kumara Sambhavam, AbhigyanaShakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam andMalavikagnimitram. He also wroteMeghadootam and Ritusamharam.
• Kamban : A Tamil poet of 11th century who wrote Ramayan in Tamil.
• Mihir Bhoja : Famous Prathihara ruler of 9th century.
• Kalhana - Famous Kashmiri poet and historian.He wrote Raja Tarangini.
• Marco Polo : Venitian Traveller to India in 13^th century.
• Menander : He came to India as a foreign aggressor in II Century BC.MilindaPanho, a book written by Nagasena, is about him.
• Nagarjuna : Famous Buddhist monk. He popounded the philosophy known as Madhyamika.
• Makkali Gosala : Philosopher of 6th Century BC. He was the founder of Ajivika sect.
• Mihirkula : Huna conqueror defeated by Yashodharma.
• Skand Gupt : Last mighty Gupta ruler.
• Shushrut : He was a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine. He started the Dhanwantri branch and was an expert in Plastic Surgery.
• Pulikeshin II. Most powerful king of Chalukyas of Vatapi who defeated Harshavardhana in North and Mahendravarman of South.
• Pushya Mitra sunga : He killed the last Mauryan ruler and laid the foundation of Sunga dynasty in 185 BC.
• Pliny : He was a Roman historian who wrote the Natural History. He wrote about the Mauryas of India.
• Panini : Sanskrit scholar specially of Grammar. He wrote Ashtadyayi.
• Varahamihira : He was famous astronomer who wrote Brihat Samhita.
• Sankaracharya : He was born in Kaladi in Kerala. He propagated Advaita Philosophy.

Six systems of Indian Philosophy

• Samkya- Sage Kapila
• Yoga- Patanjali
• Vaisheshika- Kannada
• Nyaya- Akshapada (Gautama)
• Mimamsa- Jaimini

Symbols of Buddha

• Birth- Lotus and Bull
• Renunciation-Horse
• Enlightenment -Bodhitree
• First Sermon -Dharma Chakra
• Nirvana (Death)-Foot prints

Famous Eras

• Vikram Era -58 BC
• Saka Era - 78 AD
• Gupta Era- 320 AD
• Hijra Era -622 AD
• Kollam Era-825 AD
• Illahi Era -1583 AD

Historically Important Places

• Ayodhya- Birth place of Sri Rama (UP)
• Amber Palace- Rajasthan
• Aghakhan Palace- Pune (Maharashtra) (Gandhi and Kasturba were kept in prison here)
• Kedarnath- Holy place of Hindus (Utharanchal)
• Amarnath- Pilgrim centre (Kashmir)
• Elephanta caves- Near Mumbai
• Ellora Caves- Maharashtra - 34 cavetemples (Hindu, Buddha - Jaina)
• Rajgir- Jain Temple in Bihar
• Golden Temple- Amritsar - Harmandir Sahib of Sikhs
• Golgumbus- Bijapur (Karnataka) Tomb of Muhammed Adil Shah
• Tanjore- Capital of Cholas - Brihadveswara Temple
• Charminar- Hyderabad (Monument of Plague eradication)
• Konark Temple- Orissa (Sun Temple)
• Qutab Minar- Delhi
• Khajuraho- Near Bhopal (M.P.) 80 temples
• Mahabalipuram- Centre of Pallava architecture (Tamil Nadu)
• Kurukshetra- Battle of Mahabarata (in Haryana)
• TajMahal- Agra (UP) Built by Shah Jahan
• Sanchi- Buddhist Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)
• Haridwar- Holy Place of Hindus (Uttaranchal)

Books on Sciences

• Chandra Vyakaran- Chandragomin
• Amar Kosh - Amar Singh
• Niti Shastra - Kamandak
• Kamasutra - Vatsya yana
• Panchasiddhantika- Varahamihira
• Ashtanga Hridaya - Vaghbhatta
• Hastyaurveda-  Pulkapya
• Sankhyakarika- Iswarkrishna

Temples and Builders

• Kailas Temple at Ellora - Krishna I
• Chunnakesava Temple, Belur- Vishnuvardhana
• Rathas at Mahabilipuram-  Narashimhavarman I
• Brihadeswara Temple, Tanjavur- RajaRaja Chola
• Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram- Narasimha VarmanII
• Lingaraja Temple, Bhavaneswar - Eastern Gangarubs
• Karjuraho Temples- Chandellas
• Rajarajeshwara Temple, Tanjavur- Raja raja I
• Meenakshi Temple at Madhurai- Nayaka Rulers
• Shiva Temple at Tanjavur- Raja Raja Chola

All the Sikhs Guru and their Achievements

'Sikh' is a sanskrit word which means 'desciple'

Guru Nanak(1469- 1539)

• Founded Sikh Religion.
• His teachings are composed in Adi Granth or Granth Sahib.

Guru Angad(1538-1552)

• Invented a new script called "Guru-Mukhi".

Guru Amardas(1552-1574) -

• Started the Langar or Community Kichen.
• Led struggle against Sati and Purdah System.

Guru Ramdas(1574-1581)

• Founded Amritsar in 1577 on the land granted by Akbar.

Guru Arjun Dev(1581-1606)  

• Founded the Swarna Mandir orGolden Temple at Amritsar.
• Composed Adi Granth in 1604.
• Executed by Jehangir on charges of helping prince Khusrau with money and Prayer.

Guru Hargovind(1606-1645)

• Transformed the Sikh into a militant community.
• EstablishednAkal Takht and fortified Amritsar.

Guru Har Rai (1645-1661)

Guru Har Kishan(1661-1664)

• He is the youngest Sikh Guru

Guru Teg Bahadur(1664-1675)

• He was executed at Delhi by Aurangazeb for not embracing islam.
• He called himself "Sachcha Badshah".
• Guru Govind Singh(1675-1708)
• He founded the Khalsa in 1699.
• Introduced a new rite "Pahul".
• He made his headquarter atMakhowal or Anandpur. He compilled a supplementary Granth.
• He joined Bahadur Shah's camp as a noble.

TRICK To Remember Name : Nanak Angdan kr Amar ho Ram ke pass chale gaye lekin Arjun ne Govind ki Rai li or kitni baduri se Kudh Govind ban gaye.

• Guru Nanak .............................. 1469-1538
• Guru Angad ........................... 1538 - 1552
• Guru Amardas ........................ 1552 - 1574
• Guru Ramdas .......................... 1574 - 1581
• Guru Arjundev ....................... 1581 - 1606
• Guru Hargovind ...................... 1606 - 1645
• Guru Har Rai ........................... 1645 - 1661
• Guru Har Kishan ....................... 1661-1664
• Guru Teg Bahadur..................... 1664-1675
• Guru Govind Singh ................. 1675 - 1708

Important Events of Indian Freedom Movement

The important movements of the Gandhian phase:- 

Khilafat Movement: The Khilafat movement was launched as the communal movement in defense of the Turkish Khalifa and save his Empire from dismemberment by Britain and other European powers. The chief cause of the Khilafat Movement was the defeat of Turkey in the First World War. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Sevres (1920) was felt by the Muslims as a great insult to them. The Muslims in India were upset over the British attitude against Turkey and launched the Khilafat Movement. Ali brothers, Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr. M. Ansari, among others, started the movement. October 17, 1919 was known as Khilafat Day when the Hindu united with Muslims in fasting and observed a hartal on that day. The Khilafat Movement merged with the Non-cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.

Non-cooperation Movement: The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Gandhi, launched his first innovative protest, the Non-cooperation Movement on 1 August, 1920. It involved surrender of all titles, honorary offices and nominated posts in local bodies. British courts, offices and all kinds of government-run educational institutions were boycotted.

Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922): During the Non-cooperation Movement, being provoked by some policemen, a section of the crowd attacked them. The police opened fire. In retaliation, the entire procession killed 22 policemen and set the police station on fire. A stunned Gandhi decided to withdraw the movement.

Civil Disobedience Movement: Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in 1930 under Gandhi's leadership with the violation of the Salt Law after Dandi Salt March.

The Dandi march (Salt Satyagraha) started from Sabarmati Ashram and ended at Dandi (a place in Gujrat). This was followed by a lot of agitation all over the country. This angered the British government which resulted in the imprisonment of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. On March 1930, Gandhi signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact with the Viceroy Lord Irwin to call off the Movement but it finally came to an end on 7th April 1934.

The Individual Satyagraha (August 1940):Mahatma Gandhi launched in Individual Satyagraha. It was limited, symbolic and non-violent in nature. Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first Satyagrahi and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru was the second Satyagrahi and imprisoned for four months. The individual Satyagraha continued for nearly 15 months.

Quit India Movement: The Quit India Movement, also called the August Movement, launched on 8th August, 1942. It was a result of Gandhi's protest against the return of Sir Stafford Cripps. He wanted to negotiate with the British government for the independence of India through this movement. He gave slogan - 'Do or Die. On 9th August leaders of the Congress like Abul Kalam Azad, Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were arrested. The movement can be divided into four phases :

• In the first phase of the Quit India Movement, there were processions, strikes and demonstrations
• The second phase of the movement saw raids on the government buildings and municipal houses. Along with this, post offices, railway stations and police stations were set on fire.
• The third phase of Quit India movement began in September 1942. Mobs bombed police in places like Bombay, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Gradually, the movement gained back its peaceful form and continued till Mahatma Gandhi was released on May, 1944. This was the fourth phase of the movement.

Some other Important Events of Indian Freedom Struggle:-

The Home Rule Movement (1916): The release of Tilak after 6 years of jail is Mandalay (Burma) moderated the launching of Home Rule Movement by Tilak and Mrs. Annie Besnat, both of whom decided to work in close co-operation to launch the movement to attain concessions, disillusionment with Morley - Minto Reforms and Wartime miseries.

Rowlatt Act (March 1919): As per this Act, any person could be arrested on the basis of suspicion. No appeal or petition could be filed against such arrests. This Act as called the Black Act and it was widely opposed.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April, 1919):On the Baisakhi day (harvest festival), a public meeting was organized at the Jallianwala Bagh (garden) to support the Rowlatt Satyagraha. General Dyer marched in and without any warning opened fire on the crowd. According to official report 379 people were killed and 1137 wounded in the incident.

The Swaraj Party (Jan, 1923): The suspension of the Non Cooperation Movement led to a split within Congress in the Gaya session of the Congress in December 1922. On 1 January 1923 leaders like Motilal Nehru and Chittranjan Das formed a separate group within the Congress known as the Swaraj Party to contest the council elections and wrecked the government from within.

Simon Commission (Nov, 1927): Simon Commission was appointed in the chairmanship of Sir John Simon by the British Conservative government to report on the working of the Indian constitution established by the Government of India Act of 1919. All its seven members were Englishmen. As there was no Indian member in it therefore the Commission faced a lot of criticism. Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured in the police lathi charge in a large anti-Simon Commission demonstration on 30 October 1928 and he passed away after one month.

Poona Pact (1932): Poona pact was an agreement upon a joint electorate between the untouchables and the Hindus which The Poona pact took place at Yerawada jail in Pune on 24th September, 1932.

Cripps Mission (1942): The British Government in its continued effort to secure Indian cooperation sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India on 23 March 1942. This is known as Cripps Mission. The major political parties of the country rejected the Cripps proposals. Gandhi called Cripp's proposals as a "Post-dated Cheque".

The Cabinet Mission (1946): Three members of the British Cabinet - Pathick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander - were sent to India 15 March, 1946, under a historic announcement in which the right to self-determination and the framing of a Constitution for India were conceded. This is known as the Cabinet Mission.

Some useful Economics Terms

Balanced budget: A budget is said to be a balanced budget when current income is same as current expenditure.

Balance of Trade: Refers to the relationship between the values of country's imports and its export, i.e., the visible balance. These items only form part of the balance of payments which are (a) invisible items and (b) movements of capital.

Budget Deficit: When the expenditure of the Govt. exceeds the revenue, the balance between the two is the budget deficit.

Call Money: Is a loan that is made for a very short period of a few days only or for a week. It sanctions with a low rate of interest. In case of stock exchange, the duration length of the call money may be for a fortnight.

Cash Reserve Ratio: Refers to the ratio which banks have to maintain with the RBI as certain percentage between their holdings of cash and their time liabilities.

Deflation: Decline in the general price level of goods and services leading to rise in the value (purchasing power). A method of statistical conversion of a series of data to compensate for the general rise in prices.

Devaluation: Official reduction in the foreign value of domestic currency. It is done to encourage the country's export and discourage imports.

Direct Tax: Tax that cannot be shifted. The burden of direct tax is borne by the person on whom it is initially fixed. Examples: Personal income tax, Social Security tax paid by employees.

Elasticity: The degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to a change in price.

Excise Tax: Tax imposed on the manufacture, sale or the consumption of different commodities, such as taxes on textiles, fabric, cloth, liquor etc.

Fiscal policy: Government's expenditure and tax policy, an important means of moderating the upswings and downswings of the business cycle.

Foreign Exchange: Claims on a countries by another, held in the form of currency of that country. Foreign 'exchange system enables one currency to be exchanged for another thus facilitation trade between countries.

Foreign Exchange Rate: Prices of the domestic currency in terms of foreign currencies.

Indirect taxes: Taxes levied on goods purchased by the consumer (and exported by the producer) for which the tax payer's liabilities varies in proportion to the quantity of particular goods purchased or sold.

Inflation: A sustained and appreciable increase in the price level over a considerable period of time.

Laissez faire: The principle of non-intervention of government in economic affairs.

National Income (at factor cost): Total of all incomes earned or imputed to factors of manufacturing, used in economic literature to represent the output or income of an economy in a simple fashion.

Per Capita Income: Total GNP of a country divided by the total populace. Per capita income is often used as an economic indicator of the levels of living and development. If however, can be a biased index because it takes no account of income distribution.

Statutory Liquidity Ratio: The SLR is the ratio of cash in hands, exclusive of cash balance maintained by ranks to meet required CRR, but no excess reserves.

Tariff (ad valorem): A fixed percentage tax on the value of an imported product, tax levied at the point of entry into the importing country .

Tobin tax: Named after James Tobin, the Nobel prize winner for economics in 1981, a global tax on capital transfers, which could raise possibly $250 billion from financial markets worldwide. And this huge sum could be used to support the developing economies of the third world. The revenue from the Tobin tax can also be used to write off the third world countries debts.

Value Added Tax (VAT): This form of tax has been in operation in some countries. If brings a value added tax, a tax levied on the values that is added to goods and services turned out by the producers during stages of production and distribution.

Zero Based Budgeting: The practice of justifying the utility in cost benefit terms of each government expenditure on projects. The ZBB technique, involves a serious review of every scheme before a budgetary provision is made in its favour. This form of financial planning is with an objective to ensure that every rupee spent is result oriented. If ZBB is properly implemented it could help to reverse the trend of large deficits on the revenue account of the Union Government.

All about Indian Tax Structure and Five-Year Plan

Indian Tax Structure

Notes on Indian Tax Structure

When country or a state legislature enacts a new tax, the debate usually includes some opinions about who should pay for running the government or for the particular program being supported by the tax. A means by which government finance their expenditure by imposing charges on citizens and corporate entitles.

Economists distinguish between those who bear the burden of a tax and those on whom a tax is imposed. Taxes in India are imposed by the Central Government and the state governments. Some minor taxes are also imposed by the local authorities such as Municipality.

According to Indian Constitution, Article 246 distributes legislative powers including taxation, between the Parliament of India and the State Legislature. The Central Board of Revenue or Department of Revenue is the apex body charged with the administration of taxes. It is a part of Ministry of Finance which came into existence as a result of the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1924.

Central Government levies taxes on income (except tax on agricultural income, which the State Governments can levy), customs duties, and central excise and service tax.

State Government levies taxes - Value Added Tax (VAT), Stamp Duty, State Excise, Land Revenue and Profession Tax.

Local bodies are empowered to levy tax on Properties, Octroi and for utilizations like water supply, drainage etc.

In Indian taxation system, system is divided into two taxes - Direct Taxation andIndirect Taxation.

Direct Taxes -  

In Direct Taxes the burden directly falls on the taxpayer.

• Income Tax - According to Income Tax Act 1961, every person, who is an assessee and whose total income exceeds the maximum exemption limit, shall be chargeable to the income tax at the rate prescribed in the Financial Act. Such income tax shall be paid on the total income of the previous year in the relevant assessment year.
• Wealth Tax - Wealth tax, in India, is levied under Wealth-tax Act, 1957. Wealth tax is a tax on the benefits derived from property ownership. The tax is to be paid year after year on the same property on its market value. Chargeability to tax also depends upon the residential status of the assessee same as the residential status for the purpose of the Income Tax Act.

Indirect Taxes

• Service Tax- It is a tax levied on services provided in India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The responsibility of collecting the tax lies with the Central Board of Excise and Customs. From 2012, service tax is imposed on all services, except those which are specifically exempted under law.
• Excise Duty -Central Excise duty is an indirect tax levied on goods manufactured in India. Excisable goods have been defined as those defined as those, which have been specified in the Central Excise Tariff Act as being subjected to the duty of excise. There are three types of excise duties:
  1. Basic Excise Duty
  2. Additional Duty of Excise
  3. Special Excise Duty

• Custom Duty- Custom or import duties are levied by the Central Government of India on the goods imported in India. The rate at which customs duty is leviable on the goods depends on the classification of the goods determined under the customs traffic.
• Value Added Tax - VAT is a multi-stage tax on goods that is levied across various stages of production and supply with credit given for tax paid at each stage of value addition.

Five-Year Plans

When India became an independent country, many questions had arisen in front of the country's leaders at that time. The British had left the Indian economy handicapped; leaders had the challenges to make country's economy  strong. A formal model of planning was adopted. The Planning commission was established on 15^th March 1950, with Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as the Chairman. The Planning Commission used to directly report to the Prime Minister of India. The planning commission was replaced by  NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India Aayog) which was established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1^st January 2015.

Planning Commission was assigned the task of formulating plans for the most effective and balanced utilisation of resources and determining priorities. Since then the Planning Commission frames the centralized and integrated national economic programs at the interval of every five years, thereby known as the Five-Year Plans.

The First Five-Year Plan of India was presented by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.

First Plan (1951-56):

• It was based on Harrod-Domar Model.
• Focus on Agriculture, Price Stability, Power and Transport
• It was a successful plan primarily because of good harvests in the last two years of the plan.

Second Plan (1956-61):

• It also called Mahalanobis plannamed after the well known statistician.
• Focus on rapid industrialization
• Advocated huge imports through foreign loans.
• Shifted basic emphasis from agriculture to industry
• During this plan prices increased by 30%, against a decline of 13% during the First plan

Third Plan (1961-66):

• It stressed agriculture and improvement in the production of wheat, but the brief Sino-Indian war of 1962 exposed weaknesses in the economy and shifted the focus towards the defence industry and the Indian Army.
• Complete failure in reaching the targets due to unforeseen events-Chinese aggression (1962), Indo-Pak war (1964), severe drought 1965-66.

Three Annual Plans (1966-69):

• Prevailing crisis in agriculture and serious food shortage necessitated the emphasis on agriculture during the Annual Plans
• During these plans a whole new agricultural strategy was implemented. It involving wide-spread distribution of high-yielding varieties of seeds, extensive use of fertilizers, exploitation of irrigation potential and soil conservation.
• During the Annual Plans, the economy absorbed the shocks generated during the Third Plan.

Fourth Plan (1969-74):

• Main emphasis was on growth rate of agriculture to enable other sectors to move forward
• First two years of the plan saw record production. The last three years did not measure up due to poor monsoon
• Influx of Bangladeshi refugees before and after 1971 Indo-Pak war was an important issue

Fifth Plan (1974-79):

• It proposed to achieve two main objectives: 'removal of poverty' (Garibi Hatao) and 'attainment of self reliance'
• Promotion of high rate of growth, better distribution of income and significant growth in the domestic rate of savings were seen as key instruments
• The plan was terminated in 1978 (instead of 1979) when Janta Party government rose to power

Rolling Plan (1978-80):

• Janta government put forward a plan for 1978- 1983. However, the government lasted for only 2 years. Congress government returned to power in 1980 and launched a different plan.

Sixth Plan (1980-85):

• Focus - Increase in national income, modernization of technology, ensuring continuous decrease in poverty and unemployment, population control through family planning etc

Seventh Plan (1985-90):

• Focus - rapid growth in food-grains production, increased employment opportunities and productivity within the framework of basic tenants of planning
• The plan was very successful, the economy recorded 6% growth rate against the targeted 5%

Eight Plan (1992-97):

• The eighth plan was postponed by two years because of political uncertainty at the centre
• Worsening Balance of Payment position and inflation during 1990-91 were the key issues during the launch of the plan
• The plan undertook drastic policy measures to combat the bad economic situation and to undertake an annual average growth of 5.6%
• Some of the main economic outcomes during eighth plan period were rapid economic growth, high growth of agriculture and allied sector, and manufacturing sector, growth in exports and imports, improvement in trade and current account deficit

Ninth Plan (1997-2002):

• It was developed in the context of four important dimensions: Quality of life, generation of productive employment, regional balance and self-reliance.

Tenth Plan (2002-2007):

• To achieve 8% GDP growth rate
• Reduction of poverty ratio by 5 percentage points by 2007
• Providing gainful high quality employment to the addition to the labour force over the tenth plan period
• Universal access to primary education by 2007
• Reduction in gender gaps in literacy and wage rates by atleast 50% by 2007 Reduction in decadal rate of population growth between 2001 and 2011 to 16.2%
• Increase in literacy rate to 72% within the plan period and to 80% by 2012
• Increase in forest and tree cover to 25% by 2007 and 33% by 2012.
• Cleaning of all major polluted rivers by 2007 and other notified stretches by 2012.

Eleventh Plan (2007-2012):

• Accelerate GDP growth from 8% to 10%. Increase agricultural GDP growth rate to 4% per year
• Create 70 million new work opportunities and reduce educated unemployment to below 5%
• Raise real wage rate of unskilled workers by 20 %
• Lower gender gap in literacy to 10 percentage point. Increase the percentage of each cohort going to higher education from the present 10% to 15 %
• Reduce Total Fertility Rate to 2.1
• Raise the sex ratio for age group 0-6 to 935 by 2011-12 and to 950 by2016-2017
• Provide clean drinking water for all by2009
• Attain WHO standards of air quality in all major cities by 2011-12
• Increase energy efficiency by 20 percentage points by 2016-17

Previous Year Questions From Economics

Previous Year Questions From Economics which are very useful for upcoming SSC Exams.

1. Inflation, in theory, occurs when money supply grows at a higher rate than GDP in real terms.
2. The existence of a large parallel economy, fluctuations in agricultural and industrial output and indirect taxation are the reasons for : Cost-push inflation.
3. Among the supply side measures to contain inflation is: to increase the supply of products or commodities.
4. Population experts refer to the possible 'demographic bonus' that may accrue to India around 2016 A.D. They are referring to the phenomenon of: A surge in the population in the productive age groups.
5. The significant change in the new FEMA which has replaced FERA is that the emphasis from imprisonment will be shifted to: Voluntary Compliance
6. 'Level playing field' argument industries requires: Domestic industry to be treated at par with MNCs.
7. One of the disadvantages of the Wholesale Price Index in India is that: It does not cover the service sector.
8. Check-off system refers to the verification of membership through : deduction of subscription from pay.
9. Direct taxation is a better form of taxation because: It allows for taxation according to means.
10. Lender of the last resort, periodic inspection of commercial banks, issue of bank notes of all denominations are the functions of : Reserve Bank of India
11. Multi Fibre Agreement deals with :Textiles
12. Under the Medium Term Fiscal Restructuring Programme, state governments have been permitted to borrow from international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to : replace their high cost debt with low cost funds.
13. Open market operation of fiscal deficit was suggested by : Chakravarthy Committee.
14. According to chakravarthy Committee, one of the principal causes affecting price stability in India is: Violent fluctuation in agricultural production.
15. The concept of Total Fertility Rate(TFR) in population means the average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
16. The first bank managed by Indians was :Oudh Bank
17. The statement, "India has achieved national food security but has not ensured household food security" means: there is sufficient food stock but all households do not have access to it.
18. The permit for duty free trade issued by the East India Company at a price to private traders was called: Diwani
19. The demand for establishment of a department of agriculture in India was made by :Manchester Cotton Supply Association
20. The birth rate measures the number of births during a year per : 1000 of population
21. Structural unemployment arises due to :Inadequate productive capacity
22. "Disguised unemployment" refers to : more persons employed for a job which a few can accomplish.
23. The securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a restriction on money flow in equity through "P-Notes". The full form of "P-Notes" is: Participatory Notes.
24. The money which government of India spends on the development of infrastructure in country comes from the following sources- Loan from World Bank/ ADB etc. Taxes collected from the people, Loan from the RBI etc.
25. "Investor Protection Fund" has been established by : Stock Exchange
26. The full form of FII is: Foreign Institutional Investor
27. The Union Government, on March 3, 2008, launched a conditional cash transfer scheme for the girl child. The conditions of this scheme include registration of birth of the girl, following a total immunisation schedule, school enrolment and delaying of marriage until the age of 18 years. The name of this scheme is :Dhan Laxmi
28. The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), the premier trade body represents: the IT and BPO industry
29. The largest consumer of natural gas in the world is : the USA
30. The country which leads in oil-consumption in the world is : the USA
31. The country which leads in Internet users in the world is : the USA
32. World's leading gold producer country is: South Africa
33. Entry for Normal Loss is recorded in :Trading Account
34. In product life cycle, the cost per unit is generally highest in the stage of :Introduction
35. Accounting acronym GAAP stands for :Generally Accepted Accounting Practices
36. Limited Liability is available in the kind of business organisation called: Company
37. Rank Account is called :Real Account
38. The form of accounting states that transactions are to be recorded in the period that they occur is:  Accrual basis of accounting
39. The most important ratio for the Sales Tax Department from the control point of view is :Gross Profit Ratio
40. The most important ratio for the Income Tax Department from the control point of view is: Net Profit Ratio
41. The abbreviaion for debit and credit come from the language : Latin, 'debere and credere'
42. A Public Limited Company tries to maximise: Wealth of Shareholders
43. Anticipated losses are recorded in the books of accounts as per: Matching of Cost and Revenue
44. Goodwill is recorded in the books of account only when : It is valued
45. Depreciation Account is called: Nominal Account
46. Monopoly is when there is single: Seller
47. We can get the current ratio by :dividing current assets by current liabilities
48. The major rubber producing state in India is: Kerala
49.  

Tricks for Quick Learning

1. MP who became prime minister: -

Trick- "Icgard"

(1) I- Indira Gandhi

(2) f h. D. Devgodha ...

(3) Ga IK Gujral

(4) Rd- Dr. Manmohan Singh

2. India's position on the border neighborhoods

Trick: - "The MBA in childhood"

Bgladesh b --- --- (4096 KM)

F-China ---- (3917 KM)

W-Pakistn- (3310 KM)

Nepal not --- ---- (1752 KM)

In --- (SILENT)

M - Myanmar --- (1458 KM)

Bhutan B --- --- (587 KM)

A --- Afghanistan - (80 KM)

The (SILENT)

3. Those countries can easily remember ... whose currency is the rupee.

TRICK: - Mama Sri brother Pakistan (required)

MA: - Maldip ...

MA: - Maariss

Mr: - Sri Lanka

By: - Nepal

L: - India

E: - Indoneshiya

By: - Sesels

Pakistan - Pakistan

4. The order of Cini traveler to India

Trick: Cini traveler "Hu Fa c e"

Fa- Fahiyan (399 AD).

Snyugn C (518 AD).

Hu -hyensang (630 AD).

E Itsig (end of 7th century)

5. Jainism Anuyayi-:

Trick: - "KAACU" intonation

K = Kalinga King Kharavela

A = Ajatashatru

A = Amogwars ...

C = Chandragupta Maurya

U = Udayin

6. TRICK TO REMEMBER TYPE OF TAXES

Direct Taxes

Trick: - "Veprokcokin"

The-wealth tax

Pro-Property Tax

- The corporate tax

These - Income Tax

Indirekt Taxes

Trick: - "in Akskyuse"

X - Excise Tax

--- A custom tax

--- From service tax

7. What is the language of the United Nations?

TRICK: - SR FACE (face of Khan)

S - Spanish

R - Rsiyn ...

F - the French

A - Arabic

C - Cini

E - English

8. The state Legislative Council

TRICK: general sale in -jmmu

J = 1-J & K

Common = 2: Andhra + 3: Maharashtra ...

Available = 4: BH + 5: Karnataka + 6: UP

9. The person who received the Nobel Prize twice

Trick - "Madame Lee and John Friend"

Madam - Madam Curie

And - (Silent)

John - John Bardin

Friend - Frederick Sanger

Li --- Lins polling

--- The (Silent).

10 The chemical name of vitamin ABCDEK

Juggernaut is a Tafi Trick-

Vitamin A - and -retinalvitamin

Vitamin B - q -thayminvitamin

Vitamin C- A -ascarbik Amlvitamin

Vitamin D - a -kailsiferolvitamin

Vitamin E - ta -tokoferalvitamin

Vitamin K - FEI -filikwonon

Censorship on Press

Censorship on Press 

The censorship of Press act 1799

Wellesley Introduced

According to this Act “name of editor, printer & proprietor” published on newspaper.

Lord Hastings Abolished this Act in 1818.

The Licensing regulation act 1823

John Adam Introduced

Miralul Akhbar (Raja Ram Mohan Roy) seized by this act.

Metcalf Abolished this act in 1835,

Licensing Act 1857

Due to an emergency caused by 1857 revolt this act imposed licensing restrictions. The government reserved the right to stop publication & circulation of any book or newspaper.

Registration act 1867

This replaced Metcalf's act of 1835 & was of a regulatory, not restrictive nature, As per the act. Every book was required to print the name of the printer & publisher & the place of the publication.

The Vernacular Press act 1878

Introduced by Litten.

According to this act “The DM was empowered to call upon the printer & Publisher of any vernacular newspaper to enter into a bond with the government undertaking not to cause disaffection against the government. No appeal could be made in the court of law.

The act came to be nicknamed “The gagging act”.

Under this act, Proceeding was instituted against “som Prakash / Bharat Mihir, Dacca Prakash & Samachar.

Rippen Abolished this Act. – 1882

Newspaper (Incitement to offenses) Act 1908

Introduced Lord Minto – II

Aimed against extremists nationalist activities, the act empowers the magistrate to confiscate press property which published objectionable material.

The Indian Press act 1910

This act revised the burst feature of vernacular press act.

Local government was empowered to demand a security at registration from the publisher & de-register if it was an offending newspaper.

Abolished on recommendation of “Tej bahadur Saproo” committee

The Indian Press (emergency power) Act 1931

This act gave sweeping powers to provincial governments to suppress propaganda for civil disobedience movement.

In Favour of censor :- Wellesley, Lord Minto-II, Lord Adams, Lord Canning, Lord Litten. Lord Elphinstone, Sir Thomas Munro.

In Favour of Freedom of Press: - Lord Hastings, Charles Metcalf, Macauley, ripen.

 Important News Agencies

Associated Press of India – 1905

Free Press news service – 1927

United Press of India – 1934

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INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Mean of congress

•          Group of people
•         Term “congress” borrowed from USA
•         Term ‘congress’ given by Dada Bhai Naoroji

Establishment

•          28 Dec 1885
•          Place: Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Mahavidayala
•          Gwalia tank, Bombay
•          Founder: A.O.Hume
•          1^st chairman: W. C. Banerji
•          72 members – In 1^st meeting
•          Lord Dufferin (G.G)

Logic behind establishment of congress 

•   Lala Lajpat Rai:- Britishers have established INC to protect British India from disintegration
•  William Wedderburn: Safety value theory
•   Rajni Palme Dutt: Congress was established by Britisher with widening strategy.  

                                                  IMPORTANT SESSION OF INC 

First session/Summit – 1885

·         Bombay

·         W. C. Bannerji

 2^nd Summit, 1886

•          Calcutta
•          D. B. Naoroji

 3^rd Summit, 1887

•          Madras
•          Badruddin Taiyab [1^st Muslim chairman]

 4^th Summit, 1888

•          Allahabad
•          George Yule (1^st English chairman)

 5^th Summit, 1889

•       Bombay
•       William Wedderburn
•       First-time women participated in this summit.

Note: William Wedderburn was the chairman of congress session – Two times

(1889 → Bombay, 1910 → Allahabad)

 6^th Summit, 1890

•          Calcutta
•       Firojshah Mehta
•        Kadimbini Ganguly – First time, any women give a speech on the stage.

 12^th Session, 1896

•         Calcutta
•       Rahimtulla Sayani

Note: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, first-time sings ‘Bande matram’ in this session.

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