CONTENTS Abbreviations 3 Contemporary and Current Abbreviation 15 Books and Authors Books and Authors 19 Latest Books and Authors 26 Religious Books 30 Famous Authors in Different Languages 31 Famous Indian Authors 31 Famous Indian Writers in English 38 Famous Characters in Literature 38 Popular Quotations 39 The Fine Arts (a) World Famous Sculptors 42 (b) World Famous Painters 42 (c) World Famous Composers and Musicians 42 Dates and Events Questions and Answers 43 Important Dates of Indian History 44 Dates and Events outside India 58 Battle and Wars Battles and Wars in India 70 Battles and Wars outside India 71 Indian History and Culture Indus Valley Civilization 75 Vedic Civilization 76 Myth of Golden Age of India 77
( vi ) Hindu Religious Books 77 Jainism 77 Buddhism 77 Alexander s Invasion of India 78 Bhakti Movement 78 Important Dynasties of India 78 Important Dynasties in the South 81 The British Rule in India 81 The Revolt of 1857 82 Famous Viceroys of India 83 Constitutional Governor-Generals of Indian Union 85 Presidents of the Republic of India 85 Prime Ministers of India 85 Important Land Marks in the Constitutional Development of India 86 Regulating Act of 1773 86 Pitt s India Act, 1784 86 Transfer of the Administration of India to the Crown 86 Indian Councils Act, 1861 86 Indian Councils Act, 1892 86 Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) 87 Government of India Act, 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms) 87 Simon Commission, 1928 87 Government of India Act, 1935 87 Cripps Mission, 1942 87 Quit India Movement (1942) 87 The Mountbatten Plan (1947) 88 Indian Independence Act, 1947 88 Important Events in World History 88 Magna Carta 88 Renaissance 88 The Glorious Revolution (England) 88 Industrial Revolution (England) 88 American War of Independence 89 French Revolution (1789) 89
( vii ) The Russian Revolution (1917) 89 World War I (1914 1918) Parties 89 World War II (1939 1945) Parties 89 Disintegration of the Soviet Union 89 Human Rights Charter 90 US Invasion of Iraq 90 National Symbols 91 Indian States 92 Union Territories 94 Population of India Figures At a Glance (India) 2011 95 Area, Situation of India 97 National Emblem of India 97 National Flag of India 97 National Anthem 97 National Song 97 National Animal 98 National Bird 98 National Flower 98 National Calendar of India 98 Months of National Calendar 98 World s 10 Most Populous Countries 98 Most Populous Country 98 Largest Country 98 World s 10 Least Populous Countries 98 List of Countries by Population Density 99 Highly Densely Populated Nations of the World 99 Least Populous Country 99 Smallest Country 99 Smallest Republic 99 Most Populous State in India 99 Least Populous State in India 99 The Constitution of India Indian Constitution 100 Salient Features of the Constitution 100 Features of Indian Constitution Adapted from Other Constitutions 101
( viii ) Methods of Amendment of the Constitution 102 Citizenship 102 Fundamental Rights 102 Right to Property 103 Fundamental Duties of Citizens 103 Directive Principles of State Policy 104 Socialistic Principles 104 Gandhian Principles 104 Difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles 105 Union Executive 105 President 105 Powers of the President 106 Vice-President 107 Council of Ministers 108 Prime Minister 108 The Union Parliament 108 The Council of States (Rajya Sabha) 109 The Supreme Court of India 110 High Court 111 Subordinate Courts 112 Speaker of Lok Sabha 112 Privileges and Immunities of the Members of Parliament and State Legislatures 113 The State Executive-Governor 113 Chief Minister 114 The State Legislature 114 Comptroller and Auditor General 115 Attorney General 115 Union Public Service Commission 115 Election Commission 116 Languages Recognised in the Indian Constitution 116 Official Language 117 Important Amendments to the Indian Constitution 117 Indian Defence and Allied Topics Indian Army 124 India s Nuke Command Set-up 124 National Cadet Corps (N.C.C.) 124
( ix ) Territorial Army 125 Home Guards 125 Border Security Force 125 Commands of The Army, Navy and Air Force 125 Army Training Institutes 126 Arjun Tanks for Army 126 Air Force Training Centres 126 Naval Training Centres 126 Hospital Ships 127 Indian Air Force 127 Indian Navy 129 Ships of the Indian Fleet 129 Other Newly Acquired Ships 130 Defence Public Sector Undertakings 134 Indian Economy : At a Glance Area 136 Population 136 GVA Growth in Various Sectors of the Economy 138 Growth Rates (At Constant Prices) 138 National Income Estimates 139 Economic Indicators 140 Annual Rate of Growth of GDP 141 Main Production 142 Foreign Trade 144 Foreign Exchange Reserves 145 Transport 145 Monetary and Credit Policy 146 External Debt 146 Banking in India 146 Foreign Direct Investment 147 Outlay on Major Schemes 149 Development and Employment Programme 152 Finance Commission 153 Planning in India Objects of Planning 154 Investment and Priorities of Various Five Year Plans in India 154 NITI Aayog 155
( x ) Railways in India Railway Zones with Headquarters 157 Length of Railway Lines 158 India s Fastest Train 159 India s Metro Railways 159 Manufacture of Locomotives and Coaches 159 Research and Training Centres of Railways 159 Civil Aviation International Airports Authority of India 160 Airports Authority of India 160 International Airports 160 World s Top 30 Airport 161 National Highways 162 National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) 162 Golden Quadrilateral Project 162 Inland Waterways 163 Inland Waterways Authority of India 164 Shipping Companies 164 Organisation Connected with Inland Water Transport 164 Coastal Shipping 164 Sethusamudram Project 164 Multipurpose River Valley Projects in India Important Multipurpose Projects 165 First in India 167 Affiliation of Personalities with Places 171 Famous Titles of Well-Known Persons & Places 172 Questions and Answers 172 Important Days (India) 174 Important Days (International) 174 Important Years (International) 176 Currency Units of Different Countries 178 Capitals of Countries 179 Names of Parliament of Different Countries 180 Officials Books 181
( xi ) National Emblems of Different Countries 181 Flags of Different Countries 181 Highest Military Decorations of Various Countries 182 Alternative or New Names of Countries / Cities 182 Signs and Symbols 183 Nick-Names 183 Trade Names 184 First in Different Fields First in Space 186 First in Sports 189 First Expeditioners 191 First / Last Heads of State 192 First Visitors and Invaders 193 Politics 193 Lines, Frontiers etc. 194 Mankind and Various Tribes 195 United Nations Organisation 197 Everyday Science (Scientific, Geographical and Astronomical Phenomena) Questions and Answers 206 Inventions and Discoveries Questions and Answers 215 Pioneers in Science 216 Pioneers in Mechanical Inventions & Discoveries 218 Medical Inventions and Discoveries 219 Geographical Discoveries 219 Inventions and Discoveries 220 I. Geographical 220 II. Chemistry & Physics 220 III. Mechanical 221 Latest Inventions / Discoveries in Science 222 Scientific Instruments 224 Scientific Terms Explained 227 Working Principle of Some Scientific Instruments 233
Hygiene and Physiology ( xii ) Questions and Answers 236 Some Medical Terms 237 Systems of the Human Body 238 Science Dealing with Different Subjects 239 Units of Measurement 241 Geography Questions and Answers 242 Indian Towns, Architectures, Monuments and Buildings 244 World Heritage Sites in India 252 Foreign Towns, Architectures, Monuments etc. 254 Important Residences of the World 264 Indian Towns Associated with Industries or Factories 264 Foreign Towns Associated with Industries 266 Countries Associated with Industries 267 Minerals where found (India) 269 Minerals, Crops and Other Products where Found 270 Plants of Chief Industries in India 271 Crops in India 272 Chief Crops and the States Producing Them 272 Some Curios The Largest, Longest, Biggest, Highest, Smallest in the World 273 Largest, Smallest, Highest and Longest in India 275 Geographical Surnames 276 Wonders of the World 278 Deserts 278 Important Towns on Rivers 279 Principal Bird Sanctuaries and National Parks in India 280 Hill Stations (India) 281 Major Ports of India 281 Other Principal Indian Ports 282 Famous Sites (India) 282 Famous Sites (Outside India) 283 Variety of Animals 284
Physical Geography ( xiii ) Questions and Answers 285 The Earth and its Motions 286 Natural Regions of the World 286 The Boundaries of the Temperature Zones 286 Factors Determining the Climate of a Place 287 Conditions of Rainfall 287 Weather and Climate 287 Tides and their Causes 288 Volcanoes 288 Earthquake 288 Star and Planet 288 Winds 289 Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse 289 Physical Geography of India 289 Methods of Irrigation in India 289 Revolution in Agriculture Sector of India 290 Geographical Terms Questions and Answers 291 Terminology 292 Sports Trophies Associated with Sports (National & International) 297 Places Associated with Sports 298 Number of Players on each side in Important Games 299 Measurements of Sports Fields etc. 299 Terms used in Different Games and Sports 299 Sports Stadiums in India 300 National Sports 300 Olympic Games 301 31st Olympic Games 2016 301 Some Important Results 303 18th Asian Games, 2018 307 21st Commonwealth Games 308 Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games 309 ESPN Cricinfo Awards 310 ICC Awards 310
Space Research ( xiv ) Apollo-Missions to the Moon (U.S.A.) 311 Jupiter Probe 311 INTELSAT 4-A 311 U.S.S.R. in the Field of Space Research 312 Skylab 312 Viking Project (U.S.A.) 313 India s Space Programme 315 Indian Satellite : At a Glance 320 Awards and Prizes International Awards 327 National Awards 330 Gallantry Awards 332 Sports Award 333 Other Awards 334 Miscellaneous Awards 337 Treaties, Pacts and Conferences etc. 344 Terminology Economic, Commercial and Trade Terms 352 Constitutional, Political, Diplomatic and Historical Terms 355 Legal Terms 359 Military, Aviation and Naval Terms 360 Artistic, Literary Terms 362 Space Terms 365 Groups and Organisations 366 Personalities (Past and Present) 368 Institutions, Research Stations and Plants in India National Laboratories in India 376 Research Institutes in India 376 Museums in India 377 Co-operative Research Institutions in India 378 Nuclear Research and Atomic Energy 378 Scientific Research Institutes 378 Medical Research Institutes 379 Ocean Development Research Institutes 379
( xv ) Government Industrial Undertakings 380 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) 380 Defence Research and Development Organisations Establishments / Laboratories 380 Space Centres 382 Atomic Research Reactors 382 Atomic Power Stations 382 Hindustan Machine Tools Factories 383 Fertilizer Plants 383 Oil Refineries 383 Art and Culture Academies Established by the Government of India for Encouragement of Art, Culture and Literature 385 National Gallery of Modern Art 385 National Book Development Board 386 Educational Research Centre 386 Indian Council for Cultural Relations 386 Newspapers in India and Abroad Newspapers in India 387 Agricultural News 388 News Agencies 389 Press Information Bureau (PIB) 389 Prasar Bharati 389 Agriculture Crops and Seasons 390 Sowing and Harvesting Periods of Crops 390 Conditions for the Growth of Crops 391 Principal Food Crops 392 Non-food Crops or Cash Crops 393 Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries 393 The Non-Aligned Movement 395 Countries of the World 399 Current Topics 1 32 Cabinet Ministers (i) (viii) uuiuu