Environment Quiz

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY QUIZ

TIEA and DTAA

However, in the absence of a bilateral treaty with Liechtenstein, India cannot seek any administrative assistance or details on Indian clients of the LGT Bank. If it goes for a TIEA, information would be exchanged relating to a specific criminal or civil tax investigation or civil tax matters under investigation. In DTAA, on the other hand, there are agreed rates of tax and jurisdiction on specified types of income arising in a country to a tax resident of another country. India has completed negotiations of 10 new TIEAs with Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Monaco, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Argentina and Marshall Islands out of 22 identified jurisdictions.

Negotiations with four countries are under progress and the response is awaited from another four, who want to sign DTAA instead of TIEA.

India has DTAAs with 79 countries. It has initiated process of negotiation with 65 countries to broaden the scope of article of exchange of information to include exchange of banking information. Negotiations and re-negotiations of DTAAs with 23 countries have been completed.

Should read in General Studies-Prelims

Coastal Zone Regulation/Management
Biosphere, O2, N2, H2O etc cycles, Food Chain, Ecosystem basics.
Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Smog, Acid Rain, Pollution & its types
Vision and lens & mirrors, latest Nobel Prize related basics, Common sense logical understanding of Light, sound and other waves.

Some particular diseases & their causative agents, symptoms and carriers etc. which include:
Vector borne- Malaria, Filaria, Kala Azar, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya.
Vaccine preventable- Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles and Tuberculosis.
Others- Leprosy, various Influenza (eg: Swine Flu, Bird Flu)

Bioethanol, biodiesel- their plants etc
Economic Survey- Poverty, Social, Human Development related chapters + Industry, Commerce, Economic Data
Fundamentals of the Economy- Fiscal & Monetary Policy
WTO, IMF, World Bank &WBGroup, UN Agencies, recent UN resolutions, FATF, EU, ASEAN, SAARC, APEC, GCC, Arab League, African Union, BRICS, BASIC, IBSA, RIC, BIMSTEC, NATO, CIS. [Read atleast the wikipedia pages of these organizations and on that atleast the data in the table on the right of the page and the background.]

Egypt. Libya. Yemen. Sudan. Somalia. Tunisia.

Vitamins, Organ Systems (only basics and not ultra-deep nomenclature) especially Digestive, Nervous, Respiratory & various hormones, proteins, fats & fatty acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals.
Photosynthesis, agricultural plants- their required climatic & soil conditions, and their GM or hybrid varieties that have been in recent news, Hybridization.

World Heritage Sites especially in India. New additions, if any.
Buddhism (especially because Tibetan Buddhism was in news this year), Jainism, Indus Valley Civilization.

Conventions & Protocols:
Ramsar, CITES 1973, Bonn, Montreal, Cartagena, UNFCCC, Kyoto, Copenhagen, Cancun, Basel, REDD & REDD+, Nagoya, Doha Development Round, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Vienna, CTBT, UN Conventions that have been making news eg: UN Convention against Corruption which was ratified by India in May 2011.
visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_environmental_agreements

Biosphere Reserves in India-those that are of international importance, National Parks, Project Tiger & Tiger Reserves, Project Elephant. Read about endangered species of India and their locations.

India's Military Exercises of the past year.
ISRO's recent launches & activities.
Defence - New achievements, missiles etc.

Some peak events in Sport in the last year, especially Tennis Opens. Records broken. Indians performance at different events. Indian sportspersons names who won medals in the last year, especially those that grabbed attention or created history. Arjuna Awardees.

Chemical & other such things the recent news. eg: Endosulphan, BT cotton, BT brinjal. Go into the basics that connect these to everyday life apart from technical stuff & the factual aspects.

Polity- Election Commission, Judiciary, 243-243ZG, FRs, DPSPs, Duties, Emergencies of different types, CAG, CVC, CIC, CBI, Lokpal, Recent Bills/Acts/Amendments.

Schemes of the Govt especially those of the last few years and the Flagship schemes.

Geography- River Systems, Vegetation, Soil types.

Wildlife in India and National Parks

About 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries have been created to protect this life from the onslaught of urbanization and rapidly increasing population.

Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks

There are a number of wildlife sanctuaries, and National parks all over this vast country which are well preserved. They cover hundreds of square kilometres and the varied wildlife can be observed here in their natural habitat.
Apart from this, the Government of India initiated Project Tiger in 1973. This has helped in increasing the numbers of tigers, over the years.


Some of the major wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India are located in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Mount Harriet National Park in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands hosts the Andaman wild pig, saltwater crocodile, turtle and robber crab. The best time to visit is January and February. There is also the Saddle Peak National Park famous for bird and the Andaman teal. Best time to visit is November to April. The Andamans also have Marine National Park.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam is famous for the one-horned rhinos, of which the park has a sizeable number. Apart from this, there are tigers, wild buffaloes, elephants, barasingha, hog deer, wild boars, leopards and leopard cats, and a large variety of birds. The best time to visit Kaziranga is October to March.

Hazaribagh National Park in Bihar showcases the tiger, leopard, sambar, chital, and wild boar and the best time to visit is October to March.

Palaman(Betla) National Park in Bihar, is also a Tiger Reserve and is best between October and May. It was once the homeland of the now extinct Indian cheetah, but you can still view the tiger, leopard, wolf, wild dog, jungle cat and the barking deer, here.

Bhagwan Mahavir National Park spread across Goa houses the gaur, sambar, mouse deer, barking deer, flying squirrel, and porcupine. Best time to visit is October to March.

Spreading over a large area in Gujarat, the Gir National Park (also a Lion Sanctuary) is best visited from October to June for a view of the Asiatic lion, panther, sambar, and the four-horned antelope.

The Velavadar National Park also in Gujarat hosts the blackbuck and the wolf. Best time to come here is October to May.

The Nal Sarovar Sanctuary in the state of Gujarat is known for its flocks of flamingoes and other birds which abound from October to February.

The Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh houses the snow leopard, mountain goat, yak cranes, and brown & black bears. The best time to view them are from April to June and from September to October.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has two national parks namely Dachigain and Kishtwar. While Danchigam is famous for its endangered Kashmir Stag called Hangul, it also has the Himalayan black bear, brown bear, leopard, hill fox, jungle cat, Himalayan weasel, and long - tailed marmot among others. The best time to visit in August to December. The Kishtwar National Park is best visited from May to October and includes snow leopard, antelope,wild yak and the Tibetan ass.

The Bandipur National Park, adjoining the Madhumalai sanctuary in Karnataka welcomes you all the year round with its inhabitants comprising the tiger, elephant, gaur, chitals, wild dog and sloth bear.

The Nagarhole Park also in Karnataka welcomes visitors all the year round and has a host of elephants, tigers, panthers, chitals, sambars, sloth bears, and the gaur.

The small state of Kerala has three major national parks:
The Eravikulam Park is open throughout the year and houses elephants, gaurs, sambars, lion-tailed macaque, and the famous Nilgiri tahr.
The Periyar Park has a large number of elephants, gaurs, wild dogs, sambars and can be best viewed from September to May.
The Silent Valley National Park houses elephants, wild boars, panthers, sambars, and the lion-tailed macaque which can be seen from September to March, best.

In the state of Madhya Pradesh there are three national parks namely Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench and the best time to visit them is November to June.
The Bandhavgarh Park spreads over 32 hills and is one of the best places to white tigers, and panthers, apart from the chitals, gaurs, sambars and the nilgai.
The Kanha park spreads over 1,945 sq. kms and is famous as the tiger land. Apart from the tiger it is home to panthers, barasingha, black buck, barking deer, mouse deer, nilgai, wild dog, chital and sambar.
The Pench National Park is also a good place to watch the tiger, panther, gaur, chital, sambar and nilgai.

Orissa also has three major wildlife habitats, out of which one is a National Park and two sanctuaries. While Chilka is an all year round destination, the Similipal National Park and Satkosia gorge sanctuary are best visited from November to May .
Spreading over 900 sq. kms of lakes, shore and hinterland, Chilka is part of a large lagoon, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a strip of sand. It is India's largest salt lake and home to a large number of migratory and other birds like flamingoes, duck, bar-headed goose, sandpiper, plover, ruddy shelduck, gulls, terns, and white-bellied sea eagle.

The Similipal Park, best time between November and June, is home to the tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard, mouse deer, flying squirrel, and the mugger crocodile.

The Satkosia Sanctuary houses the gharial, tiger, sloth bear and the leopard.

Rajasthan boasts of four National Parks.
The Desert National Park shelters the stately Great Indian Bustard. Apart from this are the Blackbuck, Chinkara, wolf, desert fox, hare, and desert cat, and is open all the year round.

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park welcomes tourists round the year for viewing its inhabitants which comprise as many as 350 species of birds including its winter visitors from Central Asia and Siberia. The rare Siberian crane traverses more than 6000 kms every year to reach here in winters. The best time to watch birds here is early morning or late evening. Some of the major species spotted here apart from the Siberian crane are, the cormorant , egret, heron, painted stork, spoonbills, ibis, pelican, barheaded goose, etc.. The mammals found here include the wild boar, sambar, chital, blackbuck, fishing cat, mongoose, and also the python and monitor lizard among the reptiles.

Nutrient Based Subsidy

The new nutrient-based subsidy policy is finally effective from April 1, 2010. The subsidy will be admissible for the three macro nutrients — nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) — one secondary nutrient — sulphur (S) — and two micro nutrients — zinc and boron — on actual weight of the nutrient in the fertiliser. The scheme will be applicable on controlled fertilisers other than urea, but including diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphates (MAP), triple superphosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP), ammonium sulphate, single superphosphate and 12 other complex fertilisers.

Earlier, the heavy subsidy on urea led to its overusage and smuggling to neighbouring countries.

The objective of shifting from product-based subsidy (PBS) to nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime was to restore soil health by addressing the nutrient imbalances of NPK and the lack of secondary and micro nutrients through use of fertilisers on specific soil-moisture conditions and crop needs. Also, price decontrol is supposed to incentivise innovation in fertiliser products. The NBS regime, like the earlier PBS regime, does not address the government's fiscal concerns if the issue price of fertilisers to the farmers is to be maintained. The NBS regime, as notified, seems to be old wine in new bottle. It is administered, and not market determined, and, therefore, will fail to ensure nutrient use as per soil health and crop requirements. Cheap urea will continue to be overconsumed. Deficiencies of other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum remain unaddressed.

But in the last one year since the start of the NBS scheme last April, there were huge increases in the global price of non-urea fertilisers . That has meant increased pressure on urea, a controlled fertiliser and therefore the cheapest and most used by farmers. Not freeing up its farm gate price for any longer will mean higher reliance on already high priced imports to the immense disadvantage of domestic units, something a government already struggling to get the math right on soaring subsidies right, can ill afford. But this remains a politically sensitive issue.

It will also defeat the very basic objective of balanced fertilisation espoused by the NBS. Under the nutrient-based subsidy regime, fertiliser companies will get the freedom to set prices on nutrientbased fertilisers leaving the government to decide a fixed annual per tonne subsidy on nutrients.

A Toast to Y7@Aquatics IITK

They gathered together...from Hall 3, Hall 2, Hall 5 and still more. For 4-5 years the pool's walls roared. They lined up against one another and relished this a lot....a rainbow of colors together for sport. They sprinted, they shot, they jumped, they shouted and sometimes got hustled...somehow they seemed to work it all out. They smiled, they laughed, they learned life's lessons....respected one another regardless of differences. Their big and small arguments put together now seem awkward...but amazingly enough they pushed them forward. Now they've packed up the balls, and rolled up the towels.....soon they'll put on their best suits and the finest of hats...will wave goodbye...come this 28th May...and celebrate one another in a hell of a way. I imagine this and think..when this is all over, its as good as it gets....a lifetime of memories with zero regrets. A truckload of Cheers to you!

The Measure of a Man.

These battered hands are all you own

This broken heart has turned to stone

Go hang your glory on the wall

There comes a time when castles fall

And all that's left is shifting in the sand

You're out of time, you're out of place

Look at your face

That's the measure of a man

This coat that fits you like a glove

These dirty streets you learned to love

So welcome back my long lost friend

You've been to hell and back again

God alone knows how you crossed that span

Back on the beat, back to the start

Trust in your heart

That's the measure of a man

It's the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand

It's the things you understand

Permanent ties from which you once ran

That's the measure of a man

You've come full circle, now you're home

Without the gold, without the chrome

And this is where you've always been

You had to lose so you could win

And rise above your troubles while you can

Now you can love, now you can lose

Now you can choose

That's the measure of a man

Survivor

Risin' up, back on the street

Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast

You trade your passion for glory

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past

You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's

the thrill of the fight

Rising up to the challenge of our rival

Face to face, out in the heat

Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry

They stack the odds, still we take to the street

For the kill with the skill to survive

Risin' up, straight to the top

Had the guts, got the glory

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop

Just a man and his will to survive.

The Fighter Within.

Some things are worth fighting for....Some feelings never lose their sheen,

I am thinking of what it was....I am thinking of what else could it have been.

We are not indestructible...we must better get that straight,

I think its unbelievable...the things that can happen in a battle of fate.

There's no easy way out...there's no shortcut around,

In such a mighty situation...its not all wrong to break down.

I am not asking for another chance...and don't want to pull you down,

All I am saying is...not everyone everywhere gets a chance for a rebound.

Some things are worth fighting for...some feelings never die,

Don't let it pacify...this fire that can make you try.

The fever is rising high...the moment of truth draws near,

I'm burning with determination...the rules have no more meaning here.

Some things are worth fighting for...some passions run down deep,

Lacking courage to face such odds...only makes you become obsolete.

I feel like a boy...who while playing 'snakes & ladders' might hit a 99,

So near yet so far...but won't give up until I cross that line.

Life is like a one way street...in a car with the windscreens gone,

If you can't see the road ahead...you'll still have to tag along.

Instead of going down an endless road...not knowing if you're dead or alive,

Some things are worth fighting for...some things deserve more than a try.

There's always hope...I believe tomorrow will be better than today,

It's when the chips are down...that the heroes rise to save the day.

The meaning of a flame of light...is found in the darkest night,

Some things are worth fighting for...no dark can quell your bright.

Not all can go wrong...I believe in this fate,

There is always room...boy you are never that late.

And in my final lines that I'd like to tender here,

In the fighter's code there is no surrender there.

Some things are worth fighting for...and I am an offender found rare.

Luck, Hardwork and Passion.

Luck, Hardwork and Passion were three friends,
Luck and Hardwork fought as if there were no other ends.
Passion alone stood in the corner,
watching it all with little to bother.
They fought and fought with no result,
blaming one another for no fault of the other.
Hardwork complained in success that Luck stole his credit,
Luck vetoed seeking an apology for failure leading to his discredit.
To help solve it needed someone else's nod,
so with Passion alongside they sought the help of God.
Luck thought that now he had an upper hand,
Having forgot that God didn't favour anyone's stand.
God said, "I am supreme of'em all,
Who then for success is the cause?"
Luck and Hardwork roared, "It must be us",
as they made God who he was.
God asked again, "I am supreme of'em all,
Who then for failure is the cause?"
Both stood still as they didn't want the blame,
but up rose Passion the hero that he was.
Passion said, "Its me who is to blame,
failure comes to those whose passion does not flame".
God smiled and replied, "To revel in success is everyone's ask,
but to burden the failure is a more difficult task."
Luck and Hardwork had now understood,
the story is not complete had Passion not withstood.
--
Pawan
All credit to Chetan Taneja for the original story of the 3 friends.

Quotes and Thoughts.

Smile.
If someone said that you've wasted your time...that you've not gained any practical knowledge in this time...that reading, hearing or studying theories doesn't really help much in real life situations. The best response to that someone would be to smile and appreciate the difference of opinion. What reading, studying and discussing can do. A freedom fighter in our independence struggle had first read, studied and discussed India for more than a year before joining the movement. He went on to become 'Mahatma' Gandhi. He created a new weapon the world had never seen before...a weapon that alone could have united us in the Movement...the weapon of Non-Violence. All this because he had read, studied and discussed. In the end it is you yourself who defines what constitutes a waste of time for you, the views of nobody else should matter or make you angry. That learning if you have come to acquire would constitute true Wisdom.


We Will Prevail.
Our stay on earth, if we place it with the timeline of the universe or for that matter even earth's existence, is smaller than a needle in a haystack...or a dot we make on that line. Given this, why don't we all try to create something that lasts long after we are gone. We have been fighting over petty issues in this scheme of things. I mean how can we place "Climate Change" and such other issues on the back burner. I address you today as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges. We know this could very easily be the end of all things. And for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. The human thirst for excellence, knowledge; every step up the ladder of science; every adventurous reach into space; all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations; even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all of the chaos that is our history; through all of the wrongs and the discord; through all of the pain and suffering; through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage. The dreams of an entire planet should be focused now. Every one counts. Make yourself that one among everyone. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through. God bless us, and good luck to you for being that one.


It is an irony that even when most people think and assume themselves and their thoughts and actions to be the most rational, moral, ethical, intelligent, educated, integral, sincere and honest still we somehow as a species are the most selfish, conniving, unethical, immoral, irrational, dishonest and corrupt. There is something seriously wrong somewhere and no one seems to be man enough to either point it out to us or if is man enough then gets the opportunity to affect such change. God! please give us what is necessary to heal as humankind or we will choke in these solitary spaces we have created for ourselves believing it to be otherwise.


Life is a interwoven sequence of emotions. Courage, fear, joy, sorrow, confidence, diffidence, love, hatred, honor, shame etc all emotions, plain and simple emotions. Every emotion can be intentionally generated at will and you alone are their master. You, therefore, my friend have all the power required to change all that you want about yourself or your life. You, therefore, are the master of your destiny.

As one journey ends...another begins. So is college, so is a job, so is life.

Forrest....life is a box of chocolates....you never know which one you'll get.

Failure in life is inevitable...it teaches you that you have stronger will than you had imagined...it brings you in touch with your true priorities...it makes you humble...it teaches you, inspires you, strips away the inessential, gives you a fresh new platform to build upon...and those who say they haven't failed are either dumb or have lived their lives so cautiously to not have lived it at all.

http://siddheshagashe.blogspot.com/2011/05/tragedy-of-being-25-in-indian-bschool.html

Its not what you do under pressure...its what you do when you are free that defines you.

Insaan bhi ajeeb cheez hai....har cheez ki aadat bana sakta hai!

Why isn't it allowed to marry oneself? I mean people marry each other and they marry God too (nuns, devadasis etal)..the only one you can't actually marry is yourself! Now, that's demeaning...It's like saying you aren't even good enough for yourself. Isn't it ? :P

Why isn't everything as simple as it was when I was a child?

A history here..a mystery there...everything is 'disclamatory' everywhere. A world desires...someone conspires...someone perspires...but eventually everyone retires. To a better tomorrow...no more of this sorrow...we believe in hope before someone pulls the rope. And that's all it has been or will be....like a history here...a mystery there...everything is 'disclamatory' everywhere.

I've come to believe that there is good in every heart. There is a joy in everyone's smile. A friendly hello in everyone glance. There's passion in everyone's eyes. And for the first time we can relate and appreciate each other. That's all it takes. That's where it starts...because I know if I do this then you'll do this...and all the rest is easy.

Zinda rehne ke mausam bahut hain magar jaan dene ki rut roz aati nahin.

Do pal ruka khwabon ka kaarwaan. Fir chal diye tum kahan hum kahan.

Don't drink and d(e)rive :D

I've always wondered why someone would like me!

We judge this world through the prism of our eyes...some things get refracted and some coloured...giving everyone their own version of reality. It takes wisdom and empathy to see what lies in the alternate paradigms of reality others live in...and as these are virtues not easily found still we wonder why things confound?

Life is Beautiful :)

His judgement cometh...and that Right soon.

I love you.

The greatest simple cause of a poor self-image is the absence of unconditional love.

Zarre zarre me chhupa hai hausle walon ka josh,
Paida hote hain issi mitti se hi Sarfarosh...

Urdu is such a beautiful language. I wish I knew it well enough to write it.

Afraad ke haathon main hai aqwaam ki taqdeer ,
Har fard hai millat ke muqaddar ka sitaraa . . .(courtesy Abid)
Translation:
In the hands of each man lies the destiny of a people ,
Each man therefore the guiding star of a nations future . . .(Abid)

Zindagi ke dorahe per chalte chalte baaz dafa aise lamhat bhi aate hain jab insaan ko apne jazbat ko kuchal kar doosron ke jazbat ka aitraam karna padta hai. Yehi woh manzil hai jahan insaniyat takmeel pati hai.

Zindagi ki asli udaan abhi baaki hai,
Zindagi ke kai imtihaan abhi baaki hai.
Abhi to napi hai muthi bhar zameen humne,
Aage abhi saara aasman baaki hai.

It is in the darkest hour that a ray of light gets its meaning. A single candle can light up thousands of others without losing a single minute of its own life...and all the darkness of this world cannot extinguish this single candle.

The feeling of contentment seems scarce in this bizarre rat-race leading us nowhere. Somehow the shallow consumerism and "social esteem" has eroded the much deeper humanity. Celebrating ourselves has been forgotten....I guess I miss a friend.

Yunan, Misr, Roma sab mit gaye jahan se.
Phir bhi magar hai baki, namo nishan hamara.
Kuchh baat hai ki hasti mitati nahin hamari,
Sadiyon raha hai dushman, daur-e-zaman hamara.

Everything could have been anything else, and it would have just as much meaning.

True love is only when u can clean the shit of the person when he/she is bedridden by bad health or age.

Facebook brings your friends close....but your enemies closer. I guess it serves the purpose!

My A.B.C of life: Accept, Believe, Create. Amazingly it fits everywhere :)

On the surface life is only a play of words. Beneath the surface, well...this frontier still remains unexplored.

Words can change everything. Everything! And anything can change the words.

“Ask what you have done for your country, not what your country can do for you” [JFK]
I guess an individual can make a big difference, Anna Hazare being the most recent such role model.

Its better to create history than quote it.

The power of a Sport was felt over the World yesterday, unprecedented in human history. It united Indians at home & abroad, forcing them onto the streets as much in Melbourne or Miami as in Mumbai, celebrating with otherwise strangers, transcending the barriers of age, ethnicity & gender making one another a proud Indian. A salute to the humble Little Master & the Team which gifted it to him and the nation.

(After India won the Cricket World Cup 2011)

"That which has no existence in the beginning and in the end,must be merely illusory in the interim,and shall not therefore be allowed to have any influence upon the mind"....Verse 28,chapter 2 [Geeta].