DESCRIPTIVE PAPER



In number of banks exam in addition to the Objective TestDescriptive Test is also taken.In this paper candidates have to answer 3 out of 4 OR 4 out of 5 questions as per the bank exam rule. The students has the option to answer these questions either in English, Hindi or the Language of State i.e. Regional Language.

                                                    Although this paper is only for "Qualifying Purpose" and number of the descriptive exam are not added while making Merit List but it is compulsory to pass this exam with atleast 40% marks (35% for Reserved). Without passing it your numbers of objective exam are worthless.

In Descriptive Exam 2 types of questions are asked -
  • The questions which will ask your answer in Favour & Againstof any topic. 
  • The questions whose answers demands your general views, ideas. So that examiner can know about your mind & your thinking.                   
Examples:
  • Some people feel that India has failed to utilize the huge talent pool available in country.Give your views on the above proposition from your own reading, experience, etc.
  • Some people feel that India should spend more money on education than on purchasing arms & ammunitions.Give two points in favour and two in against of above statement
  • Some people feel that the Government should substantially reduce the quantum of income tax for salaried individuals.Give two points in favour & two in against of the above proposition
  • Suggest three effective measures to improve the fertility of soil in India.Illustrate how measures suggested by you will be effective
  • If all the students of class 10th are taught only in vernacular medium throughout the country.What would happen ?
  • Give three posible consequences, if such a situation arises.

    PREPOSITIONS


    • Acquainted                   with
    • Angry                             with/at
    • Annoyed                       with/at
    • Averse                           to
    • Affection                       for
    • Ambition                       to
    • Alliance                         with
    • Assurance                   of
    • Access                          to
    • Alternative                    to
    • Afflicted                        with
    • Apology                        for
    • Antidote                        to/against
    • Antipathy                      to
    • Adhere                          to
    • Alight                             from
    • Abide                             by
    • Absorbed                     in
    • Abstain                         from
    • Acceptable                  to
    • According                   to
    • Aim                               at
    • Ability                          for
    • According                  to
    • Aim                              at
    • Ability                          for
    • Arrival                         at/in
    • Agree                          with/to
    • Belong                       to
    • Beware                      of
    • Aware                        of
    • Bless                         with
    • Beneficial                  to
    • Comparable             to
    • Proficient                  in
    • Ashamed                  of
    • Prevent                     from
    • Interest                     in
    • Convicted               of
    • Celebrated              for
    • Comply                    with
    • Depend                   on/upon
    • Deprive                    of
    • Feel                          for
    • Fond                        of
    • Full                           of
    • Grateful                   to (person)
    • Thankful                 to (god)
    • Guilty                      of
    • Innocent                of
    • Honesty                 in
    • Impress                 on
    • Insist                      on
    • Invite                      to
    • Conscious           of
    • Congratulate       on
    • Compliment         on
    • Consist                 of
    • Contend               with
    • Satisfy                  with
    • Contrary               to
    • Control                 over, on, to
    • Convey                 to
    • Convince             of
    • Deal                       with (person), in (business)
    • Search                  for
    • Share                    with
    • Surety                   for
    • Sufficient             for
    • Succumb             to
    • Surrender            to
    • Victim                   of
    • Welcome             to
    • Worthy                of
    • Watch                  for/out
    • Refrain                from
    • Reputation         for
    • Reference          to
    • Ready                 for
    • Similar                to
    • Sorry                  for
    • Suitable             for/to
    • Sure                   of
    • Suspicious      of
    • Reply                 to
    • Die                     of (disease) , of (accidents)
    • Due                    to(expectation)/for deserved
    • Qualified           for
    • Devoid              of
    • Dispose            of
    • Part                    from person/with things
    • Exception        to
    • Late                   by /time by
    • Faith                 in
    • Familiar           with/to
    • Eligible            for/to
    • Eager               for/to
    • Equal               to
    • Enter                in to
    • Disagree         with/to
    • Escape            from
    • Excel                in/at
    • Experienced   in
    • Envious          of somebody/something
    • Dispense        with
    • Involve            in
    • Intimacy         with
    • Indebted         to
    • Insensible      to
    • Irrelevant        to
    • Ignorant          of
    • Irrespective    of
    • Kind                 of
    • Liking              for
    • Longing         for
    • Liable             to
    • Limit               to
    • Lead              to
    • Listen            to
    • Opportunity  for/to
    • Opposition    to
    • Exception      to
    • Passion         for
    • Plunge           in to
    • Objection      to
    • Prefer             to
    • Prior               to
    • Prohibit         from
    • Protect          from
    • Proud            of
    • Pity                 for
    • Preferable    to
    • Reduce         to
    • Rely               on
    • Quarrel          with
    • Comment     on
    • Compliance   with
    • Connection   with
    • Compensation   for
    • Common          to
    • Commence     on
    • Collide             with
    • Compare         to
    • Confident        of
    • Confidence       in

    ANTONYMS

    • Adversity X prosperity 
    • Attraction X repulsion 
    • Advance X retreat 
    • Awkward X graceful 
    • Bravery X cowardice 
    • Borrow X lend 
    • Cheerful X gloomy 
    • Create X destroy 
    • Collect X scatter 
    • Courtesy X rudeness 
    • Complex X easy 
    • Deficit X surplus 
    • Exception X ordinary 
    • Effective X ineffective 
    • Entrance X exit 
    • Fact X fiction 
    • Fresh X state 
    • Folly X wisdom 
    • Familiar X strange 
    • Analysis X synthesis 
    • Appreciate X depreciate 
    • Arrogant X humble 
    • AmbiguousX clear 
    • Acquit X accuse 
    • Authentic X spurious 
    • Abortive X fruitful 
    • Abundant X amiability 
    • Acrimony X unfamiliar 
    • Alien X native 
    • Alleviate X increase 
    • Amass X scatter 
    • Annihilate X produce 
    • Barren X fertile 
    • Callous X sympathetic 
    • Colossal X modesty 
    • Conspicuous X concealed 
    • Curiosity X indifference 
    • Rich X poor 
    • Violent X non-violent 
    • Rejoice X lament 
    • Extinct X extant 
    • Frugal X extravagant 
    • Dearth X sufficiency 
    • Loyal X rebellious 
    • Embrace X reject 
    • Amalgamate X separate 
    • Mammoth X tiny 
    • Partial X impartial 
    • Religious X irreligious 
    • Rigid X flexible 
    • Rural X urban 
    • Smile X frown 
    • Serious X gracious 
    • Stupidity X intelligence 
    • Transparent X opaque 
    • Urbane X rude 
    • Violent X peaceful 
    • Dubious X impartial 
    • Durable X irreligious 
    • DiscriminationX indiscrimination 
    • Disparage X glorify 
    • Error X correction 
    • Eccentric X normal 
    • Envious X Friendly 
    • Erroneous X accurate 
    • Equanimity X disturbed 
    • Ethical X immoral 
    • Celebrated X notorious 
    • Confidence X diffidence 
    • Callous X soft 
    • Charitable X selfish 
    • Confess X deny 
    • Cheap X dear 
    • Culpable X innocent 
    • Despair X hope 
    • Diligent X lazy 
    • Demolish X build 
    • Idle X busy 
    • Moral X immoral 
    • Oral X soft 
    • Promotion X demotion 
    • Offer X refuse 
    • Monopoly X competition 
    • Moderate X excessive 
    • Optimism X pessimism 
    • Mortal X immortal 
    • Knowledge X ignorant 
    • Exceptional X ordinary 
    • Economy X extravagance 
    • Egoism X altruism 
    • Egotist X altruist 
    • Ecstasy X depression 
    • Ferocious X mid/gentle 
    • Funny X serious 
    • Frail X strong 
    • Futile X useful 
    • Gorgeous X simple 
    • Genuine X false 
    • Garrulity X reticence/silence 
    • Haughty X meek 
    • Hope X despair 
    • Hypocrisy X sincerity 
    • Harsh X melodious 
    • Hostile X friendly 
    • Insipid X tasty 
    • Infringe X obey 
    • Immense X small 
    • Invisible X visible 
    • Relevant X irrelevant 
    • Impotent X vigorous/strong 
    • Juvenile X matured/adult 
    • Judicious X rash/silly 
    • Knowledge X ignorance 
    • Liberty X slavery 
    • Lethargic X active 
    • Moderate X excessive 
    • Magnanimous X petty/mean 
    • Shrewd X dull 
    • Savage X civilized 
    • Progress X retrogress 
    • Visitor X host 
    • Triumph X defeat 
    • Vague X clear 
    • Whimsical X ordinary 
    • Fragile X sturdy 
    • Eulogise X criticize 
    • Common X rare 
    • Occasional X everyday 
    • Modern X ancient 
    • Praise X blame 
    • Monopoly X competition 
    • Lose X find 
    • Rude X polite 
    • Timid X bold 
    • Verbal X written 
    • Victory X defeat 

    BANKING TERMS


    •  Open Market operations(OMO):The buying and selling of government securities in the open market in order to expand or contract the amount of money in the banking system by RBI. Open market operations are the principal tools of monetary policy.
    • Micro Credit:It is a term used to extend small loans to very poor people for self-employment projects that generate income, allowing them to care for themselves and their families. 
    • RTGS:The acronym ‘RTGS’ stands for Real Time Gross Settlement. RTGS system is a funds transfer mechanism where transfer of money takes place from one bank to another on a ‘real time’ and on‘gross’ basis. This is the fastest possible money transfer system through the banking channel.Settlement in ‘real time’ means payment transaction is not subjected to any waiting period.The transactions are settled as soon as they are processed. ‘Gross settlement’ means the transaction is settled on one to one basis without bunching with any other transaction.
    •  Bancassurance:It is the term used to describe the partnership or relationship between a bank and an insurance company whereby the insurance company uses the bank sales channel in order to sell insurance products.
    • Wholesale Price Index(WPI):The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is the index used to measure the changes in the average price level of goods traded in wholesale market. A total of 435 commodity prices make up the index. It is available on a weekly basis. It is generally taken as an indicator of the inflation rate in the Indian economy. The Indian Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was first published in 1902, and was used by policy makers until it was replaced by the Producer Price Index (PPI) in 1978.
    • Consumer price Index(CPI):It is a measure estimating the average price of consumer goods and services purchased by households.
    • Venture Capital:Venture capital is money provided by an outside investor to finance a new, growing, or troubled business. The venture capitalist provides the funding knowing that there’s a significant risk associated with the company’s future profits and cash flow. Capital is invested in exchange for an equity stake in the business rather than given as a loan, and the investor hopes the investment will yield a better-than-average return.
    • Treasury Bills:Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are short term, Rupee denominated obligations issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. They are thus useful in managing short-term liquidity. At present, the Government of India issues three types of treasury bills through auctions, namely, 91-day, 182-day and 364-day. There are no treasury bills issued by State Governments.
    • Banking Ombudsmen Scheme:The Banking Ombudsman Scheme enables an expeditious and inexpensive forum to bank customers for resolution of complaints relating to certain services rendered by banks. The Banking Ombudsman is a senior official appointed by the Reserve Bank of India to redress customer complaints against deficiency in certain banking services. The Banking Ombudsman Scheme was first introduced in India in 1995, and was revised in 2002. The current scheme became operative from the 1 January 2006, and replaced and superseded the banking Ombudsman Scheme 2002.
    • Subsidy:A subsidy is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or to encourage it to hire more labor.
    • Debenture: A debenture is basically an unsecured loan to a corporation. A type of debt instrument that is not secured by physical asset. Debentures are backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the issuer.
      i)Convertible Debentures: Any type of debenture that can be converted into some other security or it can be converted into stock..
      ii)Non-Convertibility Debentures(NCB): Non Convertible Debentures are those that cannot be converted into equity shares of the issuing company, as opposed to Convertible debentures. Nonconvertible debentures normally earn a higher interest rate than convertible debentures do.       
    •  Hedge fund:Hedge means to reduce financial risk. A hedge fund is an investment fund open to a limited range of investors and requires a very large initial minimum investment. It is important to note that hedging is actually the practice of attempting to reduce risk, but the goal of most hedge funds is to maximize return on investment.
    • FCCB:A Foreign Currency Convertible Bond (FCCB) is a type of convertible bond issued in a currency different than the issuer’s domestic currency. In other words, the money being raised by the issuing company is in the form of a foreign currency. A company may issue an FCCB if it intends to make a large investment in a country using that foreign currency.
    • Capital Account Convertibility(CAC): It is the freedom to convert local financial assets into foreign financial assets and vice versa at market determined rates of exchange. This means that capital account convertibility allows anyone to freely move from local currency into foreign currency and back. The Reserve Bank of India has appointed a committee to set out the framework for fuller Capital Account Convertibility. Capital account convertibility is considered to be one of the major features of a developed economy. It helps attract foreign investment. capital account convertibility makes it easier for domestic companies to tap foreign markets.
    • Current Account Convertibility:It defines at one can import and export goods or receive or make payments for services rendered. However, investments and borrowings are restricted.
    • Arbitrage:The opportunity to buy an asset at a low price then immediately selling it on a different market for a higher price.
    • Capitalism:Capitalism as an economy is based on a democratic political ideology and produces a free market economy, where businesses are privately owned and operated for profit; in capitalism, all of the capital investments and decisions about production, distribution, and the prices of goods, services, and labor, are determined in the free market and affected by the forces of supply and demand.
    • Socialism:Socialism as an economy is based on a collectivist type of political ideology and involves the running of businesses to benefit the common good of a vast majority of people rather than of a small upper class segment of society.
    • Corporate governance: The way in which a company is governed and how it deals with the various interests of its customers, shareholders, employees and society at large. Corporate governance is the set of processes, customs, policies, laws, and institutions affecting the way a corporation (or company) is directed, administered or controlled.Is defined as the general set of customs, regulations, habits, and laws that determine to what end a firm should be run.
    • Functions of RBI:
      The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of India, was established on April 1, 1935 in
      accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The Reserve Bank of India was set up on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission. The commission submitted its report in the year 1926, though the bank was not set up for nine years.To regulate the issue of Bank Notes and keeping of reserves with a view to securing monetary stability in India and generally to operate the currency and credit system of the country to its advantage. Banker to the Government: performs merchant banking function for the central and the state governments; also acts as their banker.Banker to banks: maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks.
    • Monetary policy:A Monetary policy is the process by which the government, central bank, of a country controls (i) the supply of money, (ii) availability of money, and (iii) cost of money or rate of interest, in order to attain a set of objectives oriented towards the growth and stability of the economy.
    • Fiscal Policy:Fiscal policy is the use of government spending and revenue collection to influence the economy. These policies affect tax rates, interest rates and government spending, in an effort to control the economy. Fiscal policy is an additional method to determine public revenue and public expenditure.
    • Core Banking Solutions:Core banking is a general term used to describe the services provided by a group of networked bank branches. Bank customers may access their funds and other simple transactions from any of the member branch offices. It will cut down time, working simultaneously on different issues and increasing efficiency. The platform where communication technology and information technology are merged to suit core needs of banking is known as Core Banking Solutions 
    • E-Governance: E-Governance is the public sector’s use of information and communication technologies with the aim of improving information and service delivery, encouraging citizen participation in the decision-making process and making government more accountable,transparent and effective.
    • Right to information Act: The Right to Information act is a law enacted by the Parliament of India giving citizens of India access to records of the Central Government and State overnments.The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir – which is covered under a State-level law. This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 13 October 2005.
    • Credit Rating Agencies:The credit rating agencies in India mainly include ICRA and CRISIL. ICRA wasformerly referred to the Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited. Their main function is to grade the different sector and companies in terms of performance and offer solutions for up gradation. The credit rating agencies in India mainly include ICRA and CRISIL(Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited)
    • Cheque:Cheque is a negotiable instrument instructing a Bank to pay a specific amount from a specified account held in the maker/depositor’s name with that Bank.A bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and payable on demand.“Written order directing a bank to pay money”.
    • Demand Draft:A demand draft is an instrument used for effecting transfer of money. It is a Negotiable Instrument. Cheque and Demand-Draft both are used for Transfer of money. You can 100% trust a DD. It is a banker’s check. A check may be dishonored for lack of funds a DD can not. Cheque is written by an individual and Demand draft is issued by a bank. People believe banks more than individuals.
    • NBFC: A non-banking financial company (NBFC) is a company registered under the
      Companies Act, 1956 and is engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stock/bonds/debentures/securities issued by government, but does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity,
      sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
      NBFCs are doing functions akin to that of banks; however there are a few differences:
      (i)A NBFC cannot accept demand deposits (demand deposits are funds deposited at a depository institution that are payable on demand — immediately or within a very short period — like your current or savings accounts.)
      (ii) it is not a part of the payment and settlement system and as such cannot issue cheques to its customers; and
      (iii) Deposit insurance facility of DICGC is not available for NBFC depositors unlike in case of banks.
    • NASSCOM:The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), the Indian chamber of commerce is a consortium that serves as an interface to the Indian software industry and Indian BPO industry. Maintaining close interaction with the Government of India in formulating National IT policies with specific focus on IT software and services maintaining a state of the art information database of IT software and services related activities for use of both the software developers as well as interested companies overseas.
    • SIDBI: The Small Industries Development Bank of India is a state-run bank aimed to aid the growth and development of micro, small and medium scale industries in India. Set up in 1990 through an act of parliament, it was incorporated initially as a wholly owned subsidiary of Industrial Development Bank of India.
    • SENSEX and NIFTY:SENSEX is the short term for the words “Sensitive Index” and is associated with the Bombay (Mumbai) Stock Exchange (BSE). The SENSEX was first formed on 1-1-1986 and used the market capitalization of the 30 most traded stocks of BSE. Where as NSE has 50 most traded stocks of NSE.SENSEX IS THE INDEX OF BSE. AND NIFTY IS THE INDEX OF NSE.BOTH WILL SHOW DAILY TRADING MARKS. Sensex and Nifty both are an “index”. An index is basically an indicator it indicates whether most of the stocks have gone up or most of the stocks have gone down.
    • SEBI: SEBI is the regulator for the Securities Market in India. Originally set up by the Government of India in 1988, it acquired statutory form in 1992 with SEBI Act 1992 being
      passed by the Indian Parliament. Chaired by C B Bhave. 
    • ASSOCHAM: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), India’s premier apex chamber covers a membership of over 2 lakh companies and professionals across the country. It was established in 1920 by promoter chambers, representing all regions of India. As an apex industry body, ASSOCHAM represents the interests of industry and trade, interfaces with Government on policy issues and interacts with counterpart international organizations to promote bilateral economic issues. President-Swati Piramal
    • NABARD:NABARD was established by an act of Parliament on 12 July 1982 to implement the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act 1981. It replaced the Agricultural Credit Department (ACD) and Rural Planning and Credit Cell (RPCC) of Reserve Bank of India, and Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC). It is one of the premiere agency to provide credit in rural areas. NABARD is set up as an apex Development Bank with a mandate for facilitating credit flow for promotion and development of agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts.
    • Mutual funds: Mutual funds are investment companies that pool money from investors at large and offer to sell and buy back its shares on a continuous basis and use the capital thus raised to invest in securities of different companies. The mutual fund will have a fund manager that trades the pooled money on a regular basis. The net proceeds or losses are then typically distributed to the investors annually.
    • Asset Management Companies: A company that invests its clients’ pooled fund into securities that match its declared financial objectives. Asset management companies provide investors with more diversification and investing options than they would have by themselves. Mutual funds, hedge funds and pension plans are all run by asset management companies. These companies earn income by charging service fees to their clients.
    • Non-perfoming assets:Non-performing assets, also called non-performing loans, are loans,made by a bank or finance company, on which repayments or interest payments are not being made on time. A debt obligation where the borrower has not paid any previously agreed upon interest and principal repayments to the designated lender for an extended period of time. The nonperforming asset is therefore not yielding any income to the lender in the form of principal and interest payments.






      SPORTS - JANUARY

        • Arvind Bhat and Aditi Mutatkar emerged winners of the 75th National badminton championship in the men’s and women’s category respectively at the MDU Indoor hall on 10 January 2011. Arvind defeated P. Kashyap 21-13, 21-17 to win the title. Aditi defeated Arundhati Pantawane 19-21, 23-21, 21-15 in 65 minutes to win her first ever National ladies title.
        • Deepa Malik of India won silver medal in womens short put at the IPC Atheletics world championsh
        • World champion Viswanathan Anand hit a career-high rating of 2810 in the latest world anking list released by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). The second placed Anand had to make way for Norway's Magnus Carlsen who regained the top position at 2814.The lists: World (Top-10): Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 2814), 2. Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 2810), 3. Levon Aronian (Arm, 2805), 4. Vladimir Kramnik (Rus, 2784), 5. Sergey Karjakin (Rus, 2776), 6. Veselin Topalov (Bul, 2775), 7. Alexander Grishcuk (Rus, 2773), 8. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze, 2772), 9. Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 2764), 10. Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2751).
        • India-South Africa T20 match: India won the match
        • Australia- England T20 Series 1-1
        • Pakistan-Newzealand Test series: Pakistan won the series 2-0
        • Gurpal Singh of the Army won the 50-metre free pistol gold in the 54th National shooting championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad on 18 January 2011. He had earlier won bronze in the National Championship in Bangalore. Om Prakash overcame a three-point deficit to eventually clinch the silver. R.S. Rai, Viraj Singh, Kaikhusru Irani and Vijay Singh were the others to make the final and were placed fifth to eighth in that order.

            AWARDS - JANUARY

            • Crystal Award: Internationally renowned music composer A.R. Rahman was honoured with the Crystal Award of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the opening ceremony of its annual meet being attended by 2,500 global leaders from the fields of business, government, art, culture and religion. Mr. Rahman, 44, received the award, given to outstanding artists who use their talent for social and charitable work.
            • Gandhi Award for journalism:S. Rajkumar, Kairali TV reporter in Kollam, has been selected for this year's Gandhi Award for journalism.
            • Presidential Award for distinguished record of service: Additional Commissioner of Customs K.V.V.G. Diwakar of Visakhapatnam, currently working in Bangalore International Airport, received the Presidential Award for distinguished record of service.
            • Bharat Jyoti Award: Agricultural scientist K.V. Raman has been awarded the prestigious Bharat Jyoti Award of the India International Friendship Society for his contributions to science, technology and development.The former Election Commissioner, G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, presented the award to Dr. Raman at a function.
            • Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award: President Pratibha Patil presents the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2011 to Sri Lankan industrialist Mano Selvanathan at the Pravai BharatiyaDivas in New-Delhi.
            • Dr.Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award: Eminent Malaya, Kaula Lumpur University Vice- Chancelor Acharya Gowth Jasmok has been selected for the prestigious Dr.Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for the year 2011, for his contribution to science and technology, according to A.Jagadeesh, Director of Dr Y Nayudamma center for Devolopment Alternatives.
            • K. Janardhanan Pillai Endowment Award: P.K. Madhavan Nambiar, veteran Sarvodaya worker and president of the Gandhi Smaraka Grama Seva Kendram, Karadukka, Kasaragod, has been selected for the K. Janardhanan Pillai Endowment Award for the Best Constructive Gandhian Worker 2010.
            • Music Forum award for media excellence: N. Murali, Senior Managing Director of Kasturi and Sons Limited, was presented the Music Forum award for media excellence instituted by the International Foundation for the Fine Arts.
            • Man of the Decade award:Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham who is known for his apolitical approach to issues and decision making, Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas said. He was speaking after presenting the ‘Man of the Decade' award instituted by the People's Forum of Kochi to Mr. Abraham.
            • National Jewellery Awards 2011:Joy Alukkas has won two awards at the ‘National Jewellery Awards 2011' organised by the All-India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF).
            • Youth Icon Award: Bollywood actor Vivek Oberai received the "Youth Icon Award" from Art of living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar as part of the Vivekananda birth anniversary celebrations.
            • Critics' Choice award: A.R. Rahman wins Critics' Choice award. A.R. Rahman bagged the best original song trophy at the 16th Critics' Choice Awards for his number “If I Rise” in Danny Boyle's film 127 Hours.
            • Bigboss-4:Telivision actress Swetha Tiwari won the reality show 'Bigboss-4' at Lonavana. Swetha received winner's trophy and 1 crore rupees. 
            • Moortidevi Award: poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri being chosen for the prestigious Moortidevi Award of the Bharatiya Jnanpith for 2009.
            • Award for Excellence in Journalism: Tarun Tejpal, Editor of Tehelka, received the "Award for Excellence in Journalism for 2010"from Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily in New Delhi.
            • Udyog Rattan Award: Vishal Manchala, Founder Director and CEO of Vast Technologies Private Limited was chosen for Udyog Rattan Award by The Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi.
            • NTR Lalitha Kala Award: Movie Director Bapu and Poet Mullapudi Venkata Ramana were selected for "NTR Lalitha Kala Award" for 2010-11 Year. 
            • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: Odissi dancer, choreographer, teacher and arts administrator Aruna Mohanty will be the recipient of the coveted Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2010.
            • Best Suggestor Award: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Hyderabad, bagged the First prize in the 'Best Suggestor Award' category at the 21st Inssan National Convention held in Pune .
            • Election Commission's national excellence award: Karnataka District Collector P.B. Salim has been selected for the Election Commission's national excellence award.
            • Swamy Vivekananda National Award: Godavari Polymers Private Limited Director Dr. C. Rajendra Kumar Received the "Swamy Vivekananda National Award-2010" from Central Minister Ambika Soni at Delhi Siriport Auditorium.
            • Central Literature Academy: Award Saeed Saleem Selected for "Central Literature Academy Award-2010" for his novel of "Kaluthunna Pulatota”.
            • Lifetime Achievement Award of Geospatial World Forum: Union Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal presented the Lifetime Achievement Award of Geospatial World Forum to the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), K Kasturirangan.
            • SKOCH Financial Inclusion Award: Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has been awarded the SKOCH Financial Inclusion Award 2011 in recognition of its micro-insurance product catering the rural market by its plan called 'Sarve/Swayam Shakti Suraksha (SSS).
            • Icon of the year award: SAIL Chairman C.S.Verma received "ICWAI's Icon of the year award" as part of 52nd National Convention of ICWAI in Chennai.
            • Friendship of Sri Lankan Squash award:N. Ramachandran, President, World Squash Federation, was conferred the “Friendship of Sri Lankan Squash award” at a spectacular opening ceremony of the 15th Asian junior championship in Colombo.

            JANUARY ECONOMY


            • Nagesh Pydah is Oriental Bank's CMD Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) has a new Chairman and Managing Director in Mr Nagesh Pydah.Prior to this appointment, Mr Pydah was an Executive Director at Punjab National Bank (PNB). He succeeds T.Y.Prabhu.
            • ONGC, GAIL sign pact for marketing gas - State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and GAIL India (GAIL) on Monday announced that they had reached a landmark agreement to ensure mutual business growth in the areas of natural gas as well as petrochemicals.The two PSU giants signed a number of agreements and exchanged documents in this regard in the presence of the ONGC Chairman and Managing Director R. S. Sharma and GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B. C. Tripathi.
            • Fourth Electricity East Summit -   Current Plan is expected to see the addition of 62,374 MW of power generation capacity and projects for creating a capacity of 66,000 MW are now under implementation, Union Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde said. The private sector was poised to have a majority share of the sector — at least 52 per cent (against 32 per cent) by the next Plan period beginning April 2012, he said.
            • Sri Lanka to become regional financial hub:Sri Lanka is proactively engaged in the process of becoming the regional financial hub, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.Presenting the road map monetary and fiscal sector policies for 2011 and beyond, he said this was a gradual process.
            • Jindal Saw inks pact with Rajasthan Govt: Jindal Saw announced that it had inked a lease pact with Rajasthan Government to mine iron ore for 30 years from a deposit containing an estimated 180 million tonnes of resources.
            • India-China direct service from FedEx:FedEx Express, a subsidiary of world's largest express cargo company FedEx Corp, on Wednesday announced the launch of its direct services from India to China, giving a further boost to trade ties between the two countries.The newly dedicated cargo flight, to be operated with an Airbus 310 aircraft five times a week, will connect its Asia Pacific hub at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou in Southern China with Mumbai and New Delhi. “This flight would provide direct communication from India to Asia,an improved transit time, and 160 tonnes of cargo a week. The new flight will offer Indian businesses the benefits of additional outbound capacity to Asia,'' FedEx Express India, vice-resident Kenneth F. Koval said.
            • SMEs present Rs.50,000-crore funding opportunity for banks: Crisil - There is scope for banks to increase their lending to SMEs by Rs.50,000 crore, reveals a Crisil study on the funding patterns of 2,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India.The study indicates that while banks have been lending to the SME sector, they still have significant scope for increasing lending to the sector.The funding opportunity is greater for smaller SMEs in which turnover is less than Rs.500 lakh.
            • Mega food parks to be set up in Kerala: The scheme for setting up of mega food parks under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, launched two years ago, has been extended with a view to attracting more entities into the food processing sector. The government has invited proposals from prospective groups in various States, including Kerala.he government has launched the fresh effort to rope in more players in various States. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and Tripura are among the other States where the scheme is being offered now.
            • IMF pegs India's GDP growth at 8.75 %: Projecting India's economy to grow by 8.75 per cent in 2010-11 with a moderation to about 8 per cent during the next fiscal, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted elevated inflation and complications in macroeconomic management as the near-term challenges confronting the authorities and called for further monetary action by the Reserve Bank of India to contain the price spiral.
            • Darjeeling tea production at record low:Erratic weather conditions coupled with low productivity has led Darjeeling tea producers to close the year 2010 with a low crop of only around 7 million kg which is among the lowest in history. There are 87 tea estates in Darjeeling with 17.5 lakh hectares under cultivation.Chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) Sanjay Bansal told The Hindu that according to official estimates, output is around 7.74 million kg. While the crop has been dwindling for sometime, the output in 2010 would be the lowest in the 150-year-old history of Darjeeling tea.
            • Bajaj Allianz launches package for SMEs: Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has launched Commercial Package Policy, a comprehensive insurance for small and medium business enterprises (SME). The policy covers all major risks in a single policy. It also provides employees under group personal accident and workmen's compensation cover. It offers a sum insured of up to Rs.99 crore, making it suitable for both industrial and non-industrial commercial enterprise.
            • India to replace US as 2nd largest economy by 2050 PwC: India is poised to overtake the USA and emerge as the World's second largest economy on purchasing power parity basis by 2050 and has the potential to supersede China to the top spot, says a report published by PwC.
            • Birla Corporation plans to set up cement plant in Assam: Birla Corporation, flagship company of the M. P. Birla Group, is planning to set up a one-million tonne cement plant in Assam at an investment of around Rs.450 crore. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Assam Mineral Development Corporation.
            • $15 b target set for India-South Africa bilateral trade : Buoyed by the massive growth recorded in trade between India and South Africa, and the huge potential it holds for the future, the two countries have decided to set a target of achieving $15 billion bilateral trade by 2015.The two countries are also set to breach the $10 billion two-way trade target by next month, 23 months ahead of schedule. Mr. Sharma was speaking in Johannesburg during the inauguration of the first branch office of state-run commodity trading enterprise MMTC. Mr. Sharma, who met the South African President, Jacob Zuma, on Monday, will also have a bilateral meeting with South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.
            • Shriram Life ties up with TN coop bank: Shriram Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (SLIC), a joint venture between Shriram Group and Sanlam Group of South Africa, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tamil Nadu Co-operative State Agriculture & Rural Development Bank Limited.
            • Malegam panel proposes 24% cap on interest rate on MFI loans: Aimed at reviving the crisis- ridden micro finance sector, a Reserve Bank of India Committee on Wednesday suggested that micro finance institutions (MFIs) be allowed to charge a maximum interest of 24 per cent on small loans which cannot exceed Rs.25,000.
            • SAIL signs MoU with Hindustan Prefab: Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Prefab Ltd. (HPL) for jointly exploring the techno-economic viability of carrying out the business of prefabricated structures in steel and cement.
            • India-South Korea set $30 b trade target by 2014:Seeking to take the India-South Korea trade ties to a new level, both countries on Thursday agreed to set a $30 billion bilateral trade turnover target to be achieved by 2014.
            • L&T divides businesses into nine verticals: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is reorganising its businesses into nine empowered verticals or operating units in addition to its five existing subsidiaries. The nine companies will act like ‘independent companies' (ICs) going forward.Addressing the media here on Monday, L&T Whole-time Director and Advisor to Chairman and Managing Director J. P. Nayak said, “We are trying to bring about a transformation.
            • Trade target set at $25 b with Indonesia: India and Indonesia, seeking to take their partnership to the next level, have agreed to begin negotiations for concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and set a bilateral trade target of $25 billion by 2015 against $11 billion last fiscal.
            • International Customs Day celebrated:The Customs Commissionerate, Cochin, celebrated International Customs Day at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium,Kochi.The theme for this year's customs day was ‘knowledge, a catalyst for customs excellence'.The meeting was attended by S.V. Iyer and A.P. Sudhir, former members of CBEC as chief guests. Vineet Ohri, Chief Commissioner of Kerala Zone, presided.
            • Abengoa ties up with BHEL: Spanish company Abengoa on Thursday announced that it had signed an agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) and formalised a strategic partnership to jointly undertake Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects in India.
            • GDP growth for 2009-10 revised up to 8%: India's GDP (gross domestic product) growth stands revised upwards to 8 per cent for 2009-10 from the 7.4 per cent expansion estimated earlier for the fiscal, mainly on the strength of better showing by sectors such as manufacturing and services.
            • Call for early conclusion of Doha Round talks: Trade ministers of India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) and China met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos on Friday and reviewed the current status of the Doha Round of WTO negotiations and exchanged views on the need to conclude it at the earliest.The Indian delegation was led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma while China was represented by its Trade Minister Chen Deming, Brazil by Antonio Patriota and South Africa by Rob Davies.
            • India-China trade surpasses target: Bilateral trade between India and China exceeded the two countries' $60 billion target last year, driven largely by rising Indian imports of Chinese machinery that have left a record trade imbalance of $20 billion in China's favour.Figures released for last year showed that bilateral trade in 2010 reached $61.7 billion, with Chinese exports to India touching $40.8 billion.This marked a 43 per cent jump in trade volume from last year, when the recession reduced two-way trade to $43 billion. In 2008, China became India's largest trade partner with $51.8 billion in bilateral trade.
            • Unlimited ATM service from Federal Bank: Federal Bank will allow its customers unlimited withdrawal of cash from ATMs (automated teller machines) of other banks from January 26.Now, a bank customer can, using his/her bank's ATM card, make up to five transactions from other banks' ATMs. For every transaction beyond five, the customer has to pay Rs. 20 as fee. This is in accordance with an RBI's directive. However, Federal Bank would allow its customers to make any number of transactions from other banks' ATMs and the Rs.20 fee was being waived effective from Republic Day.

            PADMA AWARDS 2011

            Padma Vibhushan Award 2011:
            1. Dr. (Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan Art – Art Administration and
            Promotion. Delhi
            2. Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla Art – Photography Gujarat
            3. Shri A Nageshwara Rao Art- Cinema Andhra Pradesh
            4. Shri Parasaran Kesava Iyengar Public Affairs Delhi
            5. Dr. Akhlaq-ur-Rehman Kidwai Public Affairs Delhi
            6. Shri Vijay Kelkar Public Affairs Delhi
            7. Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia Public Affairs Delhi
            8. Shri Palle Rama Rao Science and Engineering Andhra Pradesh
            9. Shri Azim Premji Trade and Industry Karnataka
            10. Shri Brajesh Mishra Civil Services Madhya Pradesh
            11. Prof. (Dr.) Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu
            Kurup Literature and Education Kerala
            12. Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra Literature and Education Orissa
            13. Late Shri L. C. Jain Public Affairs Delhi
            Padma Bhushan
            1. Shri Satyadev Dubey Art – Theatre Maharashtra
            2. Shri Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi
            alias Khayyam Art – Cinema – Music Maharashtra
            3. Shri Shashi Kapoor Art – Cinema Maharashtra
            4. Shri Krishen Khanna Art – Painting Haryana
            5. Shri Madavur Vasudevan Nair Art – Dance – Kathakali Kerala
            6. Ms. Waheeda Rehman Art – Cinema Maharashtra
            7. Shri Rudrapatna Krishna Shastry Srikantan Art – Music-Vocal Karnataka
            8. Ms. Arpita Singh Art – Painting Delhi
            9. Dr. Sripathi Panditharadhyula
            Balasubrahmanyam Art – Playback Singing, Music
            Direction & acting Tamil Nadu
            10. Shri C.V. Chandrasekhar Art – Classical Dance-Bharatanatyam Tamil Nadu
            11. Shri Dwijen Mukherjee Art West Bengal
            12. Smt. Rajashree Birla Social work Maharashtra
            13. Mrs. Shobhana Ranade Social work Maharashtra
            14. Dr. Suryanarayanan Ramachandran Science and Engineering Tamil Nadu
            15. Shri S.(Kris) Gopalakrishnan Trade and Industry Karnataka
            16. Shri Yogesh Chander Deveshwar Trade and Industry West Bengal
            17. Ms. Chanda Kochhar Trade and Industry Maharashtra
            18. Dr. K. Anji Reddy Trade and Industry- Pharmacy Andhra Pradesh
            19. Shri Analjit Singh Trade and Industry Delhi
            20. Shri Rajendra Singh Pawar Trade and Industry Haryana
            21. Dr. Gunapati Venkata Krishna Reddy Trade and Industry Andhra Pradesh
            22. Shri Ajai Chowdhary Trade and Industry Delhi
            23. Shri Surendra Singh Civil Services Delhi
            24. Shri M. N .Buch Civil Services Madhya Pradesh
            25. Shri Shyam Saran Civil Services Delhi
            26. Shri Thayil Jacob Sony George Literature and Education Karnataka
            27. Dr. Ramdas Madhava Pai Literature and Education Karnataka
            28. Shri Sankha Ghosh Literature and Education West Bengal
            29. Late Shri K. Raghavan Thirumulpad Medicine – Ayurveda. Kerala*
            30. Late Dr. Keki Byramjee Grant Medicine – Cardiology Maharashtra *
            31. Late Shri Dashrath Patel Art Gujarat *
            Padma Shri Award 2011
            1. Ms. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry Art – Theatre Chandigarh
            2. Shri Makar Dhwaja Darogha Art- Chhau Dance Jharkhand
            3. Shri Shaji Neelakantan Karun Art ? Film Direction Kerala
            4. Shri Girish Kasaravalli Art – Film making Karnataka
            5. Ms. Tabassum Hashmi Khan alias Tabu Art – Cinema Maharashtra
            6. Shri Jivya Soma Mase Art – Warli Painting Maharashtra
            7. Guru (Ms.) M.K. Saroja Art – Dance- Bharatnatyam Tamil Nadu
            8. Shri Jayaram Subramaniam Art – Cinema Tamil Nadu
            9. Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty Art – Music-Indian Classical Vocal West Bengal
            10. Smt. Mahasundari Devi Art – Mithilia/ Madhubani Painting. Bihar
            11. Shri Gajam Govardhana Art – Handloom Weaving Andhra Pradesh
            12. Ms. Sunayana Hazarilal Art – Dance – Kathak Maharashtra
            13. Shri S.R. Janakiraman Art – Carnatic Vocal Music Tamil Nadu
            14. Shri Peruvanam Kuttan Marar Art – Chenda Melam- Drum concert Kerala
            15. Smt. Kalamandalam Kshemavathy
            Pavithran Art – Dance – Mohiniattam Kerala
            16. Shri Dadi Dorab Pudumjee Art – Puppetry Delhi
            17. Shri Khangembam Mangi Singh Art – Traditional Music of Manipur Manipur
            18. Shri Prahlad Singh Tipaniya Art – Folk Music Madhya Pradesh
            19. Smt. Usha Uthup Art – Music. West Bengal
            20. Smt. Kajol Art- Cinema Maharashtra
            21. Shri Irfan Khan Art- Cinema Maharashtra
            22. Shri Mamraj Agrawal Social work West Bengal
            23. Shri Jockin Arputham Social work Maharashtra
            24. Ms. Nomita Chandy Social work Karnataka
            25. Ms. Sheela Patel Social work Maharashtra
            26. Ms. Anita Reddy Social work Karnataka
            27. Shri Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor Social work Gujarat
            28. Shri Anant Darshan Shankar Public Affairs Karnataka
            29. Prof. M. Annamalai Science and Engineering Karnataka
            30. Dr. Mahesh Haribhai Mehta Science and Engineering -
            Agricultural Science Gujarat
            31. Shri Coimbatore Narayana Rao
            Raghavendran Science and Engineering Tamil Nadu
            32. Dr. (Mrs.) Suman Sahai Science and Engineering Delhi
            33. Prof.(Dr.) E.A. Siddiq Science and Engineering -
            Agricultural Science Andhra Pradesh
            34. Shri Gopalan Nair Shankar Science and Engineering -
            Architecture Kerala
            35. Shri Mecca Rafeeque Ahmed Trade and Industry Tamil Nadu
            36. Shri Kailasam Raghavendra Rao Trade and Industry Tamil Nadu
            37. Shri Narayan Singh Bhati
            Civil Services Andhra Pradesh
            38. Shri P K Sen Civil Services Bihar
            39. Ms. Shital Mahajan Sports – Adventure Sports- Para
            Jumping Maharashtra
            40. Ms. Nameirakpam Kunjarani Devi Sports – Weightlifting Manipur
            41. Shri Sushil Kumar Sports – Wrestling Delhi
            42. Shri Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman Sports – Cricket Andhra Pradesh
            43. Shri Gagan Narang Sports – Shooting Andhra Pradesh
            44. Smt. Krishna Poonia Sports – Discus Throw Rajasthan
            45. Shri Harbhajan Singh Sports – Mountaineering Punjab
            46. Dr. Pukhraj Bafna Medicine – Padeatrics Chhattisgarh
            47. Prof. Mansoor Hasan Medicine- Cardiology Uttar Pradesh
            48. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mandal Medicine – Orthopaedic Delhi
            49. Prof. (Dr.) Sivapatham Vittal Medicine – Endocrinology Tamil Nadu
            50. Prof. (Dr.) Madanur Ahmed Ali Medicine – Gastroenterology Tamil Nadu
            51. Dr. Indira Hinduja Medicine – Obstetrics and
            Gynaecology. Maharashtra
            52. Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram Medicine – Cardio-Thoracic
            Surgery. Kerala
            53. Prof. (Dr.) A. Marthanda Pillai Medicine – Neurosurgery Kerala
            54. Shri Mahim Bora Literature and Education Assam
            55. Prof. (Dr.) Pullella Srirama Chandrudu Literature and Education- Sanskrit Andhra Pradesh
            56. Dr. Pravin Darji Literature and Education Gujarat
            57. Dr. Chandra Prakash Deval Literature and Education Rajasthan
            58. Shri Balraj Komal Literature and Education Delhi
            59. Mrs. Rajni Kumar Literature and Education Delhi
            60. Dr. Devanooru Mahadeva Literature and Education Karnataka
            61. Shri Barun Mazumder Literature and Education West Bengal
            62. Dr. Avvai Natarajan Literature and Education Tamil Nadu
            63. Shri Bhalchandra Nemade Literature and Education Himachal Pradesh
            64. Prof. Riyaz Punjabi Literature and Education Jammu and
            Kashmir
            65. Prof. Koneru Ramakrishna Rao Literature and Education Andhra Pradesh
            66. Ms. Buangi Sailo Literature and Education Mizoram
            67. Prof. Devi Dutt Sharma Literature and Education Uttarakhand
            68. Shri Nilamber Dev Sharma Literature and Education Jammu and
            Kashmir
            69. Ms. Urvashi Butalia # Literature and Education Delhi
            Ms. Ritu Menon # Literature and Education Delhi
            70. Prof. Krishna Kumar Literature and Education Delhi
            71. Shri Deviprasad Dwivedi Literature and Education Uttar Pradesh
            72. Ms. Mamang Dai Literature and Education Arunachal
            Pradesh
            73. Dr. Om Prakash Agrawal Others – Heritage Conservation Uttar Pradesh
            74. Prof. Madhukar Keshav Dhavalikar Others – Archeology Maharashtra
            75. Ms. Shanti Teresa Lakra Others-Nursing Andaman &
            76. Smt. Gulshan Nanda
            Others – Handicrafts promotion Delhi
            77. Dr. Azad Moopen Social work UAE *
            78. Prof. Upendra Baxi Public Affairs -Legal Affairs United Kingdom *
            79. Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik Science and Engineering USA *
            80. Dr. Subra Suresh Science and Engineering USA *
            81. Prof. Karl Harrington Potter Literature and Education USA *
            82. Prof. Martha Chen Social work USA *
            83. Shri Satpal Khattar Trade and Industry Singapore *
            84. Shri Granville Austin Literature and Education USA *
            Note: * indicates awardees in the category of Foreigners / NRIs/ PIOs/ Posthumous.
            # indicates duo case.