1151 Current Affairs (American Elections-Bernie Sanders), Lathi charges against women of Amaravati Capital Region, Supreme Court Justice Shri Gupta's observations on Freedom of Expression), Vyasa Mahabhagavata, Shringara Satakam, English GrammarVyasa Mahabharata

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TEST No.

Here is a 10 Multiple Choice Question Test on your favorite subject. Some Qs are actual Examination Questions, ABRIDGED & EDITED for brevity, and to facilitate easier comprehension. Actual Exam. Qs were lengthy and circumlocutive. Qs can be answered online, and score can be checked by clicking ~showprogress~ box at the end of any Q. There are minus marks of 0.25 (quarter mark) for each wrong answer. If any Qs are left out, there will be no change in score. ==Answers and explanations== for each Q can also be checked by moving your mouse on the word `mouse` at the end of each Q. You can try and retry any number of times.

1) COMPUTER LANGUAGES: Mr. Guido van Rossum is Conceiver of
a`Java b`PHP c`Python d`SQL --

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2) COMPUTERS: In UTF-8, utf=:
a`Uniform Transformation Format b`Uniform Transition Format c`Unicode Transformation Format d`Unicode Transition Format --

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3) 19c INDIAN HISTORY: 'You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita', is said to be a quote of
a`Gandhiji b`Patel c`Narendra Modi d`Swami Vivekananda --

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4) JAPANESE CULTURE: The word 'KATANA' is associated with
a`dwarfing of plants b`flower arrangements c`paper cutting d`martial arts --

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5) INDIAN GEOGRAPHY: SABARMATI RIVER originates in
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Madhya Pradesh d`Uttar Pradesh --

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6) 20c. INDIAN HISTORY: SABARMATI ASHRAM (also called Satyagraha Ashram) which Donald Trump visited in 2020, was founded in
a`1914 b`1915 c`1916 d`1917 --

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7) WORLD GEOGRAPHY: TROPIC OF CAPRICORN does not pass through:
a`Namibia b`South Africa c`Botswana d`Tanzania --

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8) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Tamil Nadu d`Andhra Pradesh --

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9) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Largest saltwater lake of Asia. Chilika lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Odisa d`Andhra Pradesh --

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10) ZOOLOGY: FLYING FOXES are resemble ___:
a`kites b`bats c`vultures d`storks --

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11) PHYSICS: Kerosene Lamps work on ___ action through flat wicks.
a`solvent b`adsorption c`capillary d`all --

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12) PHYSICS: A Washing machine uses ___Principle.
a`centrifugation b`sublimation c`osmosis d`diffusion --

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13) ENGLISH, AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: "Mr. Bernie Sanders, along with Elizabeth Warren, has embraced policies that are popular on the left and nowhere else: a ban on fracking. (New York Times)". 'Fracking' is a term used in the context of:
a`illegal immigration b`shale oil production c`healthcare insurance d`gun control --

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14) ENGLISH: "Art of peeling off voters- those in the middle or those who aren't ideological- may be the most important skill in politics. It doesn't require a mushy centrist policy agenda, either. (New York Times) ". In the context of this sentence, identify the word which is the nearest in meaning to the word 'mushy':
a`soft b`hard c`vague d`wary --

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15) CURRENT AFFAIRS OF BUDGETING 2020-21: India's Fiscal Deficit target, for the FY 2020-21 projected by Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance Minister is:
a`2.3% b`3.5% c`5.5% d`8% --

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TODAY'S highlights:

Mr. Bernie Sanders should visit India to spread the Message of Socialism:

1. Here is a Link to a New York Times (nytimes.com) article, titled: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/opinion/bernie-sanders-trump-2020.html: 'Bernie Sanders Is Making a Big Mistake' by the Opinion Columnist David Leonhardt.
2. Well, I have a different set of views about what Mr. David Leonhardt wrote, but I respect his views. Interested Readers of mine can read them.


3. Today (23rd Feb. 2020) Mr. Donald Trump, the reigning President, visited India, and has been received by the Hon. PMOI Shri Narendra Modi with great fanfare. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Gujarat Government are reported to have spent about Rs. one billion, on the arrangements for hosting Mr. Trump at Ahmedabad, and for beautifying and refurbishing his Motorcade Path from Ahmedabad Airport to the Motera Stadium where he has addressed a Huge gathering. It has also been reported that a wall has been built to mask the slums from Mr. Trump's view, on the road from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar.


4. Many critics view that Mr. Trump's visit to India at this juncture is intended to gather votes from NRIs and PIOs, in the ensuing American Presidential Elections 2020, through a Public Relations Exercise.


5. I wish that, irrespective of whether Mr. Bernie Sanders wins Democratic Party's Nomination, and /or ultimately the Presidential Contest, Mr. Bernie Sanders should visit India to spread the message of Socialism. I wish that the two major Communist Parties of India i.e. CPI and CPIM should invite Mr. Bernie Sanders to India, and talk to Indian Audiences about Socialism, making it clear to him that Communist Parties in India do not have enough moneys to accord him a welcome on par with the Reception extended to Mr. Trump. Funds of State and Central Governments were spent for hosting Mr. Trump. Except Kerala Government, Communist Parties are not in power in any other State. And Kerala Government has an ethical obligation to spend Public Moneys on receiptions. Hence, Mr. Bernie Sanders should not expect big Receiptions in India, but he can be assured of friendliness and warmth.


6. Even if he is elected as Prez to replace Mr. Trump, Mr. Bernie Sanders cannot really initiate radical reforms. In ybrao-a-donkey's personal view, for initiating radical reforms to establish Socialism / Marxism / Communism, needs at least two Communist /Socialist Parties. That is both the Ruling Party and the main Opposition party should be Socialists, and they should have a common goal of installing Socialism. Having two dominant Communist / Socialist Parties will be a distant dream both in USA and India.


7. If there is only a single Communist /Socialist Party which is elected to Power, and the Opposition consists of the Capitalists or their supporters , then the Ruling Party cannot initiate drastic reforms such as Removal of Private Property. Such an attempt can only lead to a Civil War in the country.



8. DECCAN CHRONICLE DOT COM'S EDITORIAL ABOUT SYCOPHANCY IN JUDICIARY IS WORTH READING:



9. Here is the link to this Editorial dated 24.02.2020 : https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/dc-comment/240220/judges-praise-of-pm-height-of-sycophancy.html. The context was, an International Conference titled 'Judiciary in a Changing World', attended by Judges from 20 countries.


10. Some of the phrases used by the 3rd Seniormost Justice Shri Arun Kumar Mishra are interesting.



11. "...an internationally acclaimed visionary...".



12. 
    
    "...versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally...".


13. 
    
    "...inspiring speech which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference..."


14. DeccanChronicle's observation about a few recent cases adjudicated by the Supreme Court is worth noting:



15. "...In the annals of India’s judiciary, the Supreme Court has keeled before the executive in the past (as during the Emergency) and is perceived to be doing so to this day. The Ayodhya case, the Judge Loya case, silence on habeas corpus matters pertaining to Kashmir, and the manner of handling the Rafale issue, have left much to be desired, and raised questions. However, it is hard to recall words that parallel Justice Mishra’s in praise of the PM. ...".



16. I often appreciate in silence within my conscience and consciousness, the quality of Editorials of DeccanChronicle, because the Editor(he-she) writes exactly in the manner I wish[ed] to write in my blogs. Owing to paucity of time, while I still brood over the News item, DC's Editor will pour out profusely as if he has transcended into my mind and grasped its gyrations and vibrations. Not only in the case of Justice Arun Kumar Mishra's speech, but earlier also this transcendence of Editor into my mind happened. Today, I am writing this eulogy to the Editor openly, although it may appear as though I am also engaging myself in sycophancy. DC's Editors save my time, and effort. Why rediscovering Rome? Why reinventing Wheel? Giving a Link will become adequate.


17. However, I just think of a chance to test my hypothesis . Today, there is a News item in DC, 1st page. It is about views expressed by Supreme Court Justice Deepak Gupta. Title: "Dissent isn't anti-national". Venue: Indian Law Institute. Date 24.02.2020 . Context: A function organised by Supreme Court Bar Association, New Delhi. While what he spoke at this Inaugural Function sounded so sweet to my ears like Ghantasala's or KLSaigal's song, my mind lingers around a doubt: 'Did he really intend those sweet things?', or was he singing "E rOTi daggara A rOTi pATa" (Telugu proverb: Singing that song which is required at that particular Grinding Stone).


18. Anecdote for this Telugu proverb: In good old days when there were no rice and flour mills, people used to pound paddy and grains, using pestles in a grinding stone called 'rOlu'. At each grinding stone, pounding the paddy/grains with pestles, there used to be three or four men/women/both, singing folk songs, to reduce their monotony and tiredness. During festival season, simultaneous pounding may be going in different houses, on different grinding stones, with different rOlu songs. A person going to friends'/relatives' homes , if he finds some pounding going on, may join the rOlu songs and take up the refrains/choruses. A person visiting friends' and relatives' homes will also become a versatile genius in singing rOlu songs. Mr. Narendra Modi praising Indian Judiciary, Supreme Court Judge praising Mr. Narendra Modi, Mr. Narendra Modi trumpeting for Trump, and Trump trumpeting for Modi, will also fall in that category. If Trump goes to Pakisthan, he will sing a rOlu song which will please Imran Khan. Ordinarily Trump's trumpeting will be limited only to Heads of UK and EU countries, and vice versa.


19. Back to Justice Deepak Gupta's pearls of Wisdom showering from His mind:



20. "...Criticising the government is not the same as criticising the country and those dissenting peacefully against the government cannot be dubbed as anti-nationals..."



21. "...A citizen has the right to get together (with other citizens) and protest but in a peaceful manner. The government is not always right. We all make mistakes. The government has no right to stifle a protest unless it has turned violent. ...".


22. "...Today in this country dissent is seen as anti-national. Government and country are two different things. Dissent must be encouraged. ...".


23. "...Discouraging dissent has a chilling effect on free speech...".


24. "...dissent was at the core of Mahatma Gandhi's civil disobedience movement. Discouraging dissent also harms democracy ...".


25. "...A free country is one in which there is freedom of speech and governance by rule of law as opposed to the 'whims of a few'. ..".


26. "...Majoritarianism is the very anti-thesis of democracy. ..."


27. "...If some party gets 51% votes does that mean that the other 49% should not speak for 5 years?..."


28. "...A government in a democracy is for everyone, so each person should have a voice, a role to play in a democracy...".


29. "...The right to dissent was a valuable part of democracy not because the preamble enshrines freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, but because it is a basic human right. ..."

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TODAY'S untrivia:

WHEN WILL THE POLICE BRUTALITIES ON AMARAVATI WOMEN WILL STOP? CAN'T INDIAN MPs BEHAVE IN A MORE CIVILISED MANNER?:

1. Ever since Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy , the Chief Minister of Residual Andhra Pradesh State , mooted the idea of three Capitals for the Residual Andhra Pradesh State, the farmers and women of the Amaravati Capital Region's 29 villages are forced to follow a peaceful agitational path, having formed a JAC (Joint Action Committee).
2. Some YSRC Party leaders call the agitating Farmers and Women as 'Paid Artists'. There is little truth in that. But, some of the State's Police Officials also seem to believe it. Consequently, Police using large number of Constables, HCs, ASIs, and SIs DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGER WHEN COMPARED TO THE number of farmers and women participating in the agitation, has become noticeable. While the Police beat farmers and women with Lathis mercilessly, the YSRC Party Leaders and their followers seem to be instigating the Police.


3. In January 2020, National Commission Team for Women visited Vijayawada, and one or two spots in Amarvati, without listening to the agitating women on the Actual Spot, made some notes into their scrap pads and went away. What corrective action they have initiated nobody knows.


4. The High Court of the Residual Andhra Pradesh State was also approached by the agitators for Relief. The High Court also took up the issue su moto, and issued some interim directions to the Police. Link for the News item: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2020/jan/14/andhra-pradesh-high-court-upset-with-police-crackdown-on-amaravati-women-protesters-2089343.html.


5. High Court's directions as per the above News Report:



6. The AP High Court, which took suo-motu cognisance of the alleged police high-handedness against the women protesting the State government’s three-capital proposal in the Amaravati region, has taken a serious view of the issue and directed the advocate general to file a detailed counter.



7. A Bench comprising Chief Justice JK Maheswari and Justice M Satyanarayana Murthy issued interim directions to the respondents, including the State government and Police department, to protect the fundamental and human rights of individuals.


8. These interim directions were to allow the public to leave their residences to attend their avocation to eke out their livelihood, to permit the public to demonstrate peacefully, permit them to perform customary/traditional rituals to the village deity/goddess, and not to enter the houses of villagers to conduct searches, except by strictly adhering to procedure contemplated in the CrPC.

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TODAY'S BHARTRUHARI--Sringara Satakam (100 verses of Love & Lust):

■sringara SATAKAM OF BHARTRUHARI: WOMEN, exceed swans in Captivating Talents ♞:

♛008. YEtAs calad valaya samhati mEkhalOttha
JhankAra nUpura parAjita rAjahamsyaha
Kurvanti na manO vivaSam taruNyO
Vitrasta mugdha hariNI sadrusaih kaTAkshaih.♝

♛The poet wonders: These girls equalling timid young deer with their askant looks, will they not captivate the hearts of men? The poet describes the capabilities of the girls and finds that they have excelled the male swans by attracting the female swans. Here, the excellence of the girls is in their elegant movement producing the "kala kala" sounds of swans. The bangles, the waist-ornaments, and the ornaments of the legs make resonant 'gala gala' sounds.♝

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TODAY'S KARL MARX :

1. ■KARL MARX & ENGELS , The Communist Manifesto♞: La classe des ouvriers modernes, qui ne vivent qu'à la condition de trouver du travail, et qui n'en trouvent plus dès que leur travail cesse d'agrandir le capital. Les ouvriers, contraints de se vendre au jour le jour, sont une marchandise comme tout autre article de commerce ; ils subissent, par conséquent, toutes les vicissitudes de la concurrence, toutes fluctuations du marché. English : The class of modern workers, who live only on condition of finding work, and who do not find any more as soon as their work ceases to enlarge the capital. The workmen, forced to sell from day to day, are a commodity like any other article of commerce; they suffer, therefore, all the vicissitudes of competition, all fluctuations of the market.

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TODAY'S EPISODE FROM VYASA MAHABHARATA ENGL. TRANSL.: :

1. ■VYASA MAHABHARATA TRANSLATED BY GANGULI, BOOK3, BOOK OF FOREST/m03199.♞:


2. The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva. Context: Pandavas were in a forest exile. Sage MarkanDEya visited them. The Sage was preaching to Exiled King YudhishThira.
3. One should feed Brahmanas with care on occasions of Sraddhas [post-funeral worship of dead ancestors], although those among them that are cursed or fallen should be excluded.


4. They also should be carefully excluded that are either excessively fair or excessively black, that have diseased nails, that are lepers, that are deceitful, that are born in bastardy of widows or of women having husbands alive; and they also that support themselves by the profession of arms.


5. That Sraddha which is censurable, consumeth the performer thereof like fire consuming fuel.


6. If they that are to be employed in Sraddhas happen to be dumb, blind, or deaf, care should be taken to employ them along with Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas.


7. O Yudhishthira, listen now unto whom you shouldst give.


8. He that knoweth all the Vedas should give only to that able Brahmana who is competent to rescue both the giver and himself, for he, indeed, is to be regarded as able who can rescue both the giver and himself.


9. O son of Pritha, the sacred fires do not receive such gratification from libations of clarified butter, from offerings of flowers and sandal and other perfumed pastes as from the entertainment of guests.


10. Therefore, do you strive to entertain guests, O son of Pandu! O king, they that give unto guests water to wash their feet, butter to rub over their (tired) legs, light during the hours of darkness, food, and shelter, have not to go before Yama.


11. The removal (after worship) of the flowery offerings unto the gods, the removal of the remnants of a Brahmana's feast, waiting (upon a Brahmana) with perfumed pastes, and the massaging of a Brahmana's limbs, are, each of them, O foremost of kings, productive of greater merit than the gift of kine.


12. A person, without doubt, rescueth himself by the gift of a Kapila cow.


13. Therefore, should one give away a Kapila cow decked with ornaments unto Brahmanas.


14. O you of the Bharata race, one should give unto a person of good lineage and conversant with the Vedas; unto a person that is poor; unto one leading a domestic mode of life but burdened with wife and children; unto one that daily adoreth the sacred fire; and unto one that has done you no service.


15. you shouldst always give unto such persons but not to them that are in affluence.


16. What merit is there, O you foremost of the Bharata race, by giving unto one that is affluent? One cow must be given unto one Brahmana.


17. [paragraph continues] A single cow must not be given unto many.


18. For if the cow so given away (unto many) be sold, the giver's family is lost for three generations.


19. Such a gift would not assuredly rescue the giver nor the Brahmana that takes it.


20. He who giveth eighty Ratis of pure gold, earneth the merit of giving away a hundred pieces of gold for ever.


21. He that giveth away a strong bull capable also of drawing the plough, is certainly rescued from all difficulties and finally goeth to heaven.


22. He that giveth away land unto a learned Brahmana, has all his desires fulfilled.


23. The tired traveller, with weakened limbs and feet besmeared with dust, asks for the name of him that may give him food.


24. There are men who answer him by telling him the name.


25. That wise man who informs these toil-worn ones of the name of the person who may give them food, is, without doubt, regarded as equal in merit unto the giver himself of food.


26. Therefore, abstaining from other kinds of gift, give you food.


27. There is no merit (arising out of gifts) that is so great as that of giving food.


28. The man that according to the measure of his might gives well-cooked and pure food unto the Brahmanas, acquires, by that act of his, the companionship of Prajapati {Brahma).


29. There is nothing superior to food.


30. Therefore, food is regarded as the first and foremost of all things (to be given away).


31. It has been said that food itself is Prajapati.


32. And Prajapati is regarded as the Year.


33. And the Year is sacrifice.


34. And everything is established in sacrifice, for it is from sacrifice that all creatures, mobile and immobile, take their origin.


35. For this reason, it has been heard by us, food is the foremost of all things.


36. They that give away lakes and large pieces of water, and tanks and wells, and shelter and food and they that have sweet words for all, have not to hear the admonitions of Yama.

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I undertake English, Hindi, Telugu language Translations. My labor charges: Ind. Rs. 110 per input page. E-mail input files to y b h a s k at g m a i l .com. No need to phone. Some of the documents which I have translated earlier: Sale Deeds, Public Copies of Sale Deeds, Sale Agreements, Lease Agreements, Mortgage Deeds, Land Records such as pahani-chowfasla, 10-1Adangal, Legal Notices, Replies to Legal Notices, Court Decrees, Police FIRs, Inquest Reports, Market Brochures, Employee Standing Orders, Letters to Govt. Departments, Letters received from Govt. Departments, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Marks Lists, Ration Cards, Ration Card Name deletion Certificates, Adoption Agreements, Divorce Agreements etc. etc.

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1150 Online cliickable MCQs, News Highlights, Current Affairs, Mahabharata, Sringara Satakam,

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TEST No.

Here is a 10 Multiple Choice Question Test on your favorite subject. Some Qs are actual Examination Questions, ABRIDGED & EDITED for brevity, and to facilitate easier comprehension. Actual Exam. Qs were lengthy and circumlocutive. Qs can be answered online, and score can be checked by clicking ~showprogress~ box at the end of any Q. There are minus marks of 0.25 (quarter mark) for each wrong answer. If any Qs are left out, there will be no change in score. ==Answers and explanations== for each Q can also be checked by moving your mouse on the word `mouse` at the end of each Q. You can try and retry any number of times.

1) GENERAL AWARENESS ABOUT ASTRONOMY: The planet with lowest density in the solar system is:

a`Jupiter
b`Saturn
c`Uranus
d`Pluto

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2) NUMERICAL ABILITY (Clat exam.): Average age of 80 boys in a class is 15.
Average age of a group of 15 boys in the class is 16.
Average age of another 25 boys in the class is 14.
Average age of remaining boys in the class=:
a`15.25 b`14 c`14.75 d`Cannot be determined --

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3) 19c INDIAN HISTORY: 'You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita', is said to be a quote of
a`Gandhiji b`Patel c`Narendra Modi d`Swami Vivekananda --

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4) JAPANESE CULTURE: The word 'KATANA' is associated with
a`dwarfing of plants b`flower arrangements c`paper cutting d`martial arts --

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5) INDIAN GEOGRAPHY: SABARMATI RIVER originates in
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Madhya Pradesh d`Uttar Pradesh --

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6) 20c. INDIAN HISTORY: SABARMATI ASHRAM (also called Satyagraha Ashram) which Donald Trump visited in 2020, was founded in
a`1914 b`1915 c`1916 d`1917 --

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7) WORLD GEOGRAPHY: TROPIC OF CAPRICORN does not pass through:
a`Namibia b`South Africa c`Botswana d`Tanzania --

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8) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Tamil Nadu d`Andhra Pradesh --

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9) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Largest saltwater lake of Asia. Chilika lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Odisa d`Andhra Pradesh --

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10) ZOOLOGY: FLYING FOXES are resemble ___:
a`kites b`bats c`vultures d`storks --

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11) PHYSICS: Kerosene Lamps work on ___ action through flat wicks.
a`solvent b`adsorption c`capillary d`all --

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12) PHYSICS: A Washing machine uses ___Principle.
a`centrifugation b`sublimation c`osmosis d`diffusion --

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13) ENGLISH, AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: "Mr. Bernie Sanders, along with Elizabeth Warren, has embraced policies that are popular on the left and nowhere else: a ban on fracking. (New York Times)". 'Fracking' is a term used in the context of:
a`illegal immigration b`shale oil production c`healthcare insurance d`gun control --

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14) ENGLISH: "Art of peeling off voters- those in the middle or those who aren't ideological- may be the most important skill in politics. It doesn't require a mushy centrist policy agenda, either. (New York Times) ". In the context of this sentence, identify the word which is the nearest in meaning to the word 'mushy':
a`soft b`hard c`vague d`wary '>-- ' />

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15) CURRENT AFFAIRS OF BUDGETING 2020-21: India's Fiscal Deficit target, for the FY 2020-21 projected by Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance Minister is:
a`2.3% b`3.5% c`5.5% d`8% --

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Today's Bar chart

INDIA'S TOP STATES IN TERMS OF AREA

THOUSANDS OF SQUARE KM.

1. Rajasthan : 342

2. MP : 308

3. Maharashtra : 307

4. U.P. : 243

5. Gujarat : 196

6. Karnataka : 192

7. A.P. : 163

8. Odisha : 156

9. Chattisgadh : 135

10. TN : 130

960 When two bourgeoisie leaders or two bourgeoisie parties fight, laborers and workers get trodded and trampled down

Ordinarily these type of things happen REGULARLY in countries like China, North Korea, African countries, Gulf Countries, and occasionally in United States, Europe, ANZ, Canada. Intolerance towards journalists and social media writers is raising day by day even in countries like India. Indians who write on Social Media platforms are not fully conversant with civil and criminal laws relating to libel (defamation), and Indian Penal Code Sections dealing with communal disharmony, sedition, treason etc. Consequently, they may be committing errors which may result in some Section or other of Indian Penal Code, or some other Indian laws, unintentionally. Political leaders also seem to get intolerant day-by-day towards any criticism against them, forgetting that criticism, dissent, cartoons, satires, jibes, etc. are part of a democratic process allowed not only by Indian Constitution, but also by democratic customs, traditions, and also by various Supreme Court and High Court Judgements, and their intolerance now-a-days is extending even upto thinking of arresting people under PREVENTIVE DETENTION (PD) ENACTMENTS, which are intended to be used against grave offenders such as terrorists, illegal arms dealers, smugglers of narcotics and spurious liquors and drugs, and not against casual laborers working at a monthly wage as paltry as Rs. 25,000 per month, to eke out a living in this monstrous world.

WHEN LARGE FOREST ANIMALS FIGHT, SMALL ANIMALS GET TRODDED UNDER THEIR FEET

Similar, will be the case when two bourgeoisie parties, landlord parties, business and industrialist tycoons fight. In the Residual Andhra Pradesh State, the two bourgeoisie parties --Ruling Party Telugu Desam, and the Opposition Y.S.R. Congress, are engaged in bitter battles of mutual blame, trying to annihilate one another. While the incumbant Chief Minister of Residual Andhra Pradesh seems to be eager to anoint his son as his de-facto successor, the Opposition Leader Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy seems to have become despondent and frustrated , unable to wait till 2019 or 2024 to become Chief Minister. In these games and battles of power, both the parties seem to have hired web-gens, netizens, to make Social Media Posts, for criticising the other side.

VERY SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN THE STATE OF RESIDUAL ANDHRA PRADESH

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Graduates, Postgraduates, Engineers in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science are joining the huge force of unemployed persons, seeking jobs involving use of website creation skills, and content writing skills, cartooning skills, photo processing skills. It is quite natural-a-compulsion to be ready to do any work legal or illegal, as may be directed by employers, if their bellies, and the bellies of their families are to be filled. The Ruling politicians of Andhra Pradesh have made many promises to provide some sustenance to the Unemployed, but the problem still persists, making unemployed persons to kneel and craqwl before their employers for the monthly pay packet. Mr. Ravikiran may be one of such unfortunate victims who might have been lured by YSRC Party. Similar other persons might have been employed by all the 'rich' parties in Andhra Pradesh, and India. If not today, some other day in the next decade, they may be posting something or other on Social Media which may hurt the Ruling Parties.

Is Mr. Ravikiran in the employment of YSRC Party Office or not?

Ordinarily employees, should refuse to carry out all illegal orders issued by Employers. iGNORANCE OF LAW cannot be an excuse. Compulsion by Employers also cannot be an excuse. Earning livelihood also cannot be excuse. When an employee refuses to carry out an illegal order, Employers may sack them. 'Hungry children and wife at home' also should not make an employee to carry out illegal orders of employers. After carrying out illegal orders of employers, if the employee gets arrested, then also, the 'hungry children and wife at home' will be in greater trouble, when compared to the hunger and deprivation as a result of unemployment resulting from 'sacking' by employer.

In Residual Andhra Pradesh, some employers provide legal aid, and subsistence to families, when an employee is arrested for doing something in course of their employment.

This help may continue till the employee comes back from jail. But, such benevolent or responsible employers are gradually becoming a vanishing tribe.

Did YSRC Party disown Mr. Ravikiran?

The following news report suggests that. Click here to go to https://www.mirchi9.com/politics/ysr-congress-disowns-inturi-ravikiran/ and study the Report.

In the wake of the legal proceedings initiated against Political Punch Inturi Ravikiran, YSR Congress and Sakshi has decided to disown their own employee. Sakshi and YSR Congress preferred to call him Cartoonist, Political Satirist, and Social Media Volunteer. But then his wife Sujana in an interview to Sakshi TV Channel clearly stated that he works in YSR Congress Office. The Anchor was seen stammering when she revealed that in live. In the interviews later on in the day, Sujana was trained to not talk about the YSR Congress affiliation.

VOCABULAR HELPER

despondent/dɪˈspɒnd(ə)nt/

adjective

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

To continue adding / deleting /modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

849 Hats off to the courage and forthrightness of Shri Ramachandra Guha in his views about Demonetization of Indian Rupee

Last time we touched about Shri Ramachandra Guha, renowned Indian Historian, was while dealing with about dangers to Freedom of Expression, in our blog-post No. 815, on 4th Oct. 2016. Click to go post No. 815 at this blog. In these two months, much water has flown in all the Indian Rivers. On the 8th Nov. 2016, our beloved Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has hit 90% of his subjects, with a surgical strike called "Demonetization of High Denomination Rs. 1000/- and Rs. 500 currency Notes", and he seems to want to rub our wounds with Iodised Salt for another 20 days, to make total 50 days, so that from the 51st day, we start getting new skins on our bruises. So far, so good, okay, welcome.

SEE THIS DECCAN CHRONICLE NEWS. Print edition dated 11.12.16, First Page. Net Link, unable to trace.

DC Correspondent, Guntur, Dec. 10

"..Angry people have gone berserk, broken glasses, chairs and furniture at banks, in the district,in recent days, but now an angry person tore a Rs. 2,000 currency note into pieces , after he was unable to get change despite repeated attempts for smaller currency.

The incident took place at Vinukonda on Saturday.

The man, however, refused to reveal his identity.

According to reports, the man came to a hotel from Vinukonda Bus Stand, to have lunch. He offered a Rs. 2,000 note to the hotel cashier to buy a meals token, but the hotel staff said that they were not in a position to give change.

He went to other hotels and shops to get change and have food, but in vain. Angry over this, he started shouting against the Government, tore th Rs. 2,000 currency note,in extreme anger, threw the pieces on to the road, and left the place.

Some onlookers came forward to offer him food, but he rejected their offer.

The incident shocked the public and they demanded immediate release of small currency notes including Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes to resolve the difficult situation.

yb-donkey's view:: To get that single piece of Rs. 2,000 note, I have been standing in ATM queues for the last 10 days. But by the time I reach near the ATM machine, the machine becomes empty, and all the people behind me, leave the place, blaming their misfortunes. At least, this man who tore the Rs. 2,000/-, got the note, which itself is something scarce. Even for that Rs. 2,000 note, though it is difficult to exchange, thousands of people are longing.

As a temporary refuge, because there was no alternative, I tried, for DEBIT CARD SCRATCHING ON A POS MACHINE, at a Departmental Stores run by Aditya Birla Group, which is in the same Street as the ATMs are. I purchased a bag of rice and some groceries there. Thereafter also, I made two or three more visits to buy food and sanitary items. I found that prices in Corporate Private Departmental Stores tend to be about 10% higher than the prices of small kirana shops in the street corners, whatever be the reason. In the particular street where I stood in ATM queues, while there are about 10 Bank ATMs, and about 50 ATMs in that Commercial locality, there are only 3/4 malls which have pos machines, including the one of Aditya Birla Group, and another of Reliance Group.

While in ATM queues, after failing to get the Rs.2,000 buck, I have tried to talk to people about some experimental purchases, using pos machines to buy groceries, but they were frank enough to express dissatisfaction about prices in Corporate Stores. They were not willing to visit the Corporate stores, as they are apprehensive of high prices. Suppose, if they follow the advice of our Information and Broadcasting Minister Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and our Chief Minister Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, there will be kilometer long queues before the Corporate Stores also. POS machines will not work because of congestion.

ROLE OF PRIVATE BANKS

I am not aware of the FORMULA OR PARAMETERS used by Reserve Bank of India to distribute the Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 500 new notes. 1) Allotment Formula for distribution among different States. 2) Allotment formula for distribution among different banks, and also apportionment formula between Private Banks and Public Sector Banks. RBI will do great justice to the People of India, if it reveals the formulas / parameters / guidelines it used for distributing new notes among States and Banks.

While ordinary hoi polloi(s) standing in Bank ATM queues all the night, find it difficult to get a single piece of Rs. 2,000, it is shocking that some persons like Gali Janardan Reddy (Mining Emperor of Bellary who is reported to have spent Rs.5.5 billion on his daughter's marriage) and Sand Mafia dons like Shri Sekhar Reddy (reported to be close to Late Jayalalithaa, Shri Pannir Selvam, and Ms. Sasikala) could get nearly 1 billion bucks of Rs. 2,000 notes. When Mr. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, arranged airlifting Rs. 2,000 notes for Andhra Pradesh, for its 13 Districts, some Districts got only Rs. 80 crore (Rs. 800 million), for all the Banks and Bank Branches in the District. That means Janardan Reddy and Sekar Reddy were able to knock away amounts higher than intended for population of entire Districts.

As Mr. Ram Babu, Trade Union Leader of Bank Employees has pointed out in some TV Channel discussions, the MASSIVE diversion of currency notes seems to have taken place either at RBI itself, or at top levels in Private Banks. It is difficult to think that Government of India or RBI will investigate into large scale diversions.

SUFFERINGS OF FOREIGN TOURISTS, AT TOURIST CENTERS

There are shocking news reports about the hardships of foreign tourists who have entered India just before demonetization, or after demonetization without knowing about the currncy crisis. Some of the foreign tourists seem to be starving, because they do not have low denomination INdian currency.

At some places, hotel owners seem to be feeding the foreign tourists, like good samaritans, pitying their condition, in an unknown country.

The article of Shri Ramachandra Guha, published in 'telegraphindia.com' two days back, reflects his great courage, and conviction. This article can be read at Click to go to http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161210/jsp/opinion/story_123842.jsp . It contains many things which I myself wanted to write, but I could not write as I was bogged down in ATM queues, and also in doing some freelance translation work to earn for my internet-connection, electricity expenses, laptop repair expenses. Hence, instead of reinventing the Wheel, or re-building Rome, I am giving a link to TelegraphIndia.Com. which contains Shri Ramachandra Guha's article.

We shall take some quotes from the article of Shri Ramachandra Guha, which we can recall and review thoroughly when time permits:

"...Consider first, the consequences of Namo's Demo for the institution that Modi himself described as "the temple of democracy" shortly after being elected prime minister, namely the Indian Parliament. It has been claimed that had Parliament been taken into confidence beforehand, black marketeers would have been forewarned. For demonetization to have an impact it had to be sudden and unanticipated. Fair enough, but why didn't the prime minister take the opportunity to explain and defend the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in Parliament soon after it was announced? Since this was a move that directly affects every Indian, surely that was the least the prime minister owed the only institution that directly represents every Indian. ..."

Some Opposition MP's complained that even as the prime minister was refusing to speak in Parliament, he found time to address the crowd in a rock concert in Mumbai. I myself think that his true contempt for Parliament was manifest far more in the 'poll' he conducted using the Narendra Modi App. Getting a high 'approval rating' from his followers for demonetization may have satisfied the prime minister's vanity. Yet it further undermined the role and credibility of Parliament. By refusing to engage with elected MPs, while seeking to build a direct link with his admirers, the prime minister wilfully defiled an institution that he had himself once compared to a shrine.

yb-a-donkey: This type of courage and conviction of great degree, which Mr. Ramachandra Guha has shown, other two writers who specialise in writing about Shri Narendra Modi, -- 1) Shri Neelanjan Mukhopadhyaya (biographer of Shri Narendra Modi), and 2) Shri Akar Patel (seems to have a good access to Shri Narendra Modi to observe his methods/modes of working, when he was CM of Gujarat), could not show. Of course, they may have their own reasons for it.

But, a piece written by Shri Aakar Patel, in Deccan Chronicle.com dated 11th Dec.2016, (print edition page, adjacent to Editorial page), Click to go to DC, read the article by Aakar Patel, titled: Test of PM’s working style . This article is very reveal-atory (revealing). This article is also very important from the 'Governance of Nation' point of view, especially because we are yet to experience the remaining 30 months of the 60months tenure of Shri Modi. This subject matter of "National Governance with the oral help of bureaucrats, without reading files", to write about, even 1000 pages will not be sufficient. If properly written, this Management Book will be larger than Mr. Peter F Drucker's Treatise "Management Tasks, Responsibilities". It is not clear whether the CopyRight for this 553 page book by Peter Drucker has expired or not; anyway a free ebook is available for download on internet. Those who are interested to download the pdf, and study it, can do it by googling.

Courtesy above article of Shri Aakar Patel, from Deccan Chronicle:
Mr Modi also revealed that he was a “good listener” and was able to absorb what was being said to him well. When I heard him say this I thought it made him vulnerable to the bureaucrats he was trusting because he is dependent and can be fed as much or as little as the officer wants him to know. In the style of working as Mr Modi describes it, a complex matter that occupies dozens and perhaps hundreds of pages in files is reduced to an oral summary. It is possible that because of lack of time or because the issue is overly complex, the oral summary is simplistic.

"... On the basis of this summary, Mr Modi takes a decision and this is then executed through the administration. This style seems to have worked well for Mr Modi because he is thought of as being a good chief minister in his 12 years in Gujarat. These days, however, I have been again thinking about Mr Modi’s style of taking input in this form when taking decisions. That is because the Supreme Court is asking critical questions about the way in which the demonetisation policy was rolled out. The court wants to know if the policy was planned properly, or a decision was taken “just like that” when Mr Modi scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8. ..."

"...Another important thing he revealed was how he actually worked. Mr Modi said he doesn’t read files. This I found to be unusual in someone who is so decisive because one needs full control over the subject if one is eager to take big decisions. But Mr Modi says he cannot govern through “academics studies (sic)” and instead asks his officers to summarise all issues for him, and brief him orally. They are expected to go through the file and tell him, as he put it, “yeh masla hai kya”. He said he had the capacity to figure out the delicate contours of these issues without actually reading about them. He said this is because “mera itna grasping tha”. ..."

Our next blog-post will be on the subject of "National Governance with the oral help of bureaucrats, without reading files". There are also, two Hindi phrases used by Shri Aakar Patel in his article "Note Ban, test of PM's working style", 1) "yeh masla hai kyA" (masla= problem, question, issue) approx. English: What is this problem? , and 2) "MErA itnA grasping thA" (Approx. English: I had so much understanding).

To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.

834 Only two Choices: Leaders have to spend less on security arrangements, if they represent poor. Else, be happy and secure without speaking about their past poverty or the poverty of the people.

Mr. Narendra Modi does not literally mean whatever he says rhetorically, to impress people. Recently, he is reported to have said, Won't stop, even if burnt alive. There are always wide wild differences between speeches of politicians, and their actions. Late Ms. Indira Gandhi, too used to say similar things. Readers will be surprised to know, that Mr. Narendra Modi, when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, spent approx. Rs. 150 crore (Rupees 1.5 billion or approx. $25 million) to build a bullet-proof Office for himself and his Cabinet. Here is a Times of India Link which reports the expense: Click to see TimesofIndia dated 23rd December 2012.. Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu also occasionally speaks of sacrificing his life, as if people were eager to kill him. But, to be on safe-side, he has spent Rs. 10 crore (Rs. 100 million) for bullet-proofing his office in Hyderabad; which he will have to vacate eventually, by shifting to Amaravati, the New Capital. We need not say, CM's Office in Amaravati will also be bullet-proofed.

Whether something is wrong or right for Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers, spending millions and billions on their security, is a separate question. The real question is, why should they often speak of their being ready to get killed, and also speak of poverty. Only one of the two things can be correct.
A poor PM / CM, if he-she is really sincere, will hesitated to spend huge amounts on bullet-proofing of Chambers, and air-lifting of bullet-proof cars to wherever they go. Let them be happy and secure, by having bullet-proof arrangements which are perfectly legal. Only thing is, they ought not to speak about their poverty, or their readiness to shed their lives.

Here is a Times of india.INdiatoday.Com Click to read the Times of India.Indiatimes dated 13th NOv. 2016, which reports Mr. Modi's emotional speech at Goa, wherein he says "I will not stop doing these things, even if someone were to set me on fire alive."

"... I know the forces up against me, they may not let me live. ..."

'... I am here to serve for the nation. ...'

"... I have seen poverty and understand people's problems. ...."

"I was not born to sit on a chair of high office, ..."

"... Whatever I had, my family, my home... I left all of it for the nation, ..."

"They think they can stop Modi by creating hurdles and harrowing him. I will not be cowed down. I will not stop doing these things, even if someone were to set me on fire alive.".

"I know the forces up against me. They may not let me live. They may ruin me, because their loot of 70 years is in trouble. But I am prepared," he declared in forceful tones.

yb-donkey's finding: Mr. Narendra Modi's intent may be to fight against those who looted India during the last 70 years. His intent may also be sincere to shed his life. We need not doubt the sincerity of Prime Ministers, Presidents, Governors and Chief Ministers. But actions should be proportionate to speeches.

By the demonetization drive of Mr. Narendra Modi, it is not the 70 year looters who are suffering. It is the poor agricultural laborers, other petty laborers, street vendors, who are not paid wages by their employers, because they do not have Rs. 100 notes to pay. How long should they starve. It is already one week.

Why Rs. 500 notes held by commonman on the streets are viewed with suspicion? Why they are not allowed to draw more than Rs. 2,000 per day from ATMS, and Rs. 10,000 from their accounts, as if they are criminals?

Here is an ND TV Report about the declaration of assets made by our gallant Finance Minister to the Election Commission, in 2014 Elections, contesting from Amritsar. Link to read it from NDTV website: Click to view NDTV Report(

"... Seemingly fond of luxury cars, Mr Jaitley has declared four wheelers including the high-end Porsche worth Rs 1.02 crore, Mercedes Benz (Rs 78.89 lakh), BMW (Rs 85.57 lakh), Honda Accord (Rs 20.44 lakh), and Toyota Fortuner (Rs 23.28 lakh) with a combined value of Rs 3.10 crore.

...Among movable assets, Mr Jaitley declared cash in hand worth Rs 1.35 crore while his spouse has cash worth Rs 7.5 lakh. 61-year-old Mr Jaitley has bank balance of Rs 18.01 crore while he has investments in bonds and PPF amounting to Rs 2 crore and Rs 15 lakh respectively.

... In his affidavit, he has shown personal loans and advances worth Rs 10.37 crore which also includes advances to his wife Sangeeta Jaitley of Rs 8.20 crore.

... Mr Jaitley, who studied LLB from Delhi University in 1973-77, has gold jewellery worth Rs 1.88 crore which includes 5,630 grams (5.6 kilos) of gold jewellery,15 kg of silver and diamonds. His wife has gold jewelry, silver, diamonds worth Rs 23.44 lakh.

Among his immovable assets worth Rs 75.70 crore, Mr Jaitley owns a plot in Faridabad (Haryana), commercial property at Cyber Park in Gurgaon, five residential properties at Delhi, Gurgaon and Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

Mr. Arun Jaitley might have submitted his PERFECTLY COMPILED INCOME TAX RETURNS, and everything may be MILKY WHITE. He might have paid so much of income tax. Great sacrificer. But, one question arises: Why should anybody earn so much? Mr. Jaitley, can satisfy himself with fcsoshe (Food, Clothing, Shelter, Old-age Security, Health and Education), which are minimum and maximum needs for 1.2 billion Indians? Why he could not allow other High Court / Supreme Court lawyers to earn something? Why couldn't he show some self-restraint in earning? There is no law for such self-restraints? Mr. Jaitley may have been a great competent Lawyer. Others may not be as competent as he is. Yet, they deserve some basic right to live. Why should one person corner away all the earnings?

yb-donkey: It will be extremely dangerous to criticize a Finance Minister or a Prime Minister. I am just reporting. Mr. Narendra Modi has only a day back spoken about Media freedom. I hope his speech about Media's freedom, applies to Bloggers also.

To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.