[Current Affairs] Timeline of Major Events 2001-2012

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See this Timeline I prepared: The Major events that defined our era (2001-2012).
Click on following photo

Click on thumbnail to see full size image

• Well No direct questions in prelims from this. (unless ofcourse: Arrange them in a chronological order)
• But it'd help to run the thought-process in a line, to see the world from up above (macro-view) between 2001-12.
• Perhaps we might get some profound wisdom lines for Essay or Interview after completing the entire jigsaw?
• Which events do you think, are missing in this Timeline? Both national and international. Do reply in Comments!

<Just while writing this post, it came in my mind: Facebook, twitter, Tata Nano>
[P.S. Don't mind the Dark knight it was just for "hello world" test purpose.]

[Update] Read the question please : Cheetah Dog and Animal GK thing

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with respect to, my previous post on
[Science] Animal Plants Disease etc GK

http://mrunal-exam.blogspot.in/2012/03/science-animals-plants-disease-etc-gk.html

I've received multiple emails that I factually wrong (or made typing mistake) in my article about Cheeta belonging to Dog family. You are right Cheetah doesn't belong to Dog family BUT
please read the introduction part of my article:
it says "Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?"

I had intentionally wrote those false statements for giving your practice!

Please read the entire article one more time,
Cheeta-Dog family is not the only wrong statement in it.
Even third statement is also false: Chinese tiger is not the smallest.

In crocodile question : Statement 2 and 3 =incorrect.
Female Mosquito: Statement 2 is incorrect
Dengue Question: Both statements incorrect.
Bamboo: Statement 2 and 3 incorrect.

[Science] Principle behind famous consumer products: Odomos, Hand Sanitizer etc

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In Prelims-2010, UPSC had asked about principle of Sugerfree (Artificial sweetener).
So based on that here goes some more; which of the following is true?

What is the Principle behind Mosquito repellent cream? (Odomos)

1. It contains a special volatile chemical that creates burning sensation in mosquito's respiratory system and eyes.
2. It contains a chemical that masks the distinctive body odour that human skin emits, making you virtually invisible to mosquitoes.

(Correct answer #2)

How does diabetes glucometer work ? (Waseem Akram's Accucheck meter ad)

You put blood drop on the strip. Strip contains chemical compounds: chemical reaction, color change. The glucometer measures the color-intensity and gives you the blood-glucose measurement.

Home Test kit for Pregnency (Accutest Cadila)

It detects the amount of HCG ( Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in woman's urine .
The levels of this hormone rise after the embryo has been implanted in the womb and the strip changes color after chemical reaction from urine drops.

Anti-perspirants (that John Abraham's ad)

Basically the aluminum chemical penetrates the armpit cells and makes them swell hence the sweat cannot come out.

Emergency contraceptive pills. (i-pill, Piramal Pharma)

They contain same hormones as in normal contraceptive pills but in heavy concentration and hence prevents fertilization.

Instant Hand sanitizer (Lifebouy, Dettol etc)

They Contain alcohol (not soap). Alcohol destroy the baterial cellmembrane and then evaporates. So you don't need water to wash off your hands.

Mortein Rat kill cakes. (why Chuhe mare baahar jaakar?)

Not very sure but apart from poison, it contains a chemical that makes Rats thirsty hence they run out of house in search of water.


I've given direct answers above, but UPSC is notorious for adding 'almost genuine and valid sounding' false options in the answers, so as I said in the Aukaat, Accuracy and Aim: don't push your luck, if you don't know the exact answer: just leave it.

Some more products (you dig):

1. Hair Colors with and without Ammonia (Laurel Paris etc.)
2. Goodknight mosquito coils, liquid vaporizers and silvermats.

Let's brainstorm, please add products and principles from your side!

[Science] Animals, Plants, Disease etc GK

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Since past four years, UPSC has been asking questions related to disease, plant and animal GK. We might see an increase in such questions under the 'Biodiversity' topic of syllabus. So here goes something

Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?

Crocodile and Alligator (Ghariyal) ?

1. Crocodiles can live in Freshwater habitat only.
2. Alligators (Ghariyal) can live in Saline water habitats.
3.   Crocodiles can regrow teeth for lifetime.

About Cheetah and Tiger

1. Cheetah doesn't have retractable claws like cats.
2. Cheetah belongs to Dog family while Leopard belongs to Cat family.
3. Siberian Tiger is the largest and Chinese Tiger is the smallest tiger in size.

Why is only Female Mosquito responsible for spreading Malaria?

1. Male feeds on plant nectar, only female feeds on human blood.
2. Plasmodium parasite cannot survive in Male Mosquito's body.

Dengue vs Chikungunya

1. Both Male and Female Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes cause Dengue fever in Human.
2. Dengue is a viral disease while Chikungunya is not a viral disease.

Bamboo vs Coconut

1. Bamboo is a grass, Coconut is a palm
2. Both Bamboo and Coconut are palm
3. Both Bamboo and Coconut are grass.

• No need to panic, if you haven't gone through such information, because There is no end to the list of diseases, Animal or plant GK as such, but better be prepared about some big and important ones. 
• and keep your 'brain open' while reading any book / newspaper item. UPSC won't generally ask from some relatively unknown disease or animal but will try to confuse you from well known stuff!

I'm intentionally not providing the answers within this article, so that you dig up on your own and subsequently come across some more related information.

Recommended Books for 'such' questions

• Do read all Science and Geography NCERTs [Can be downloaded for Free by clicking me]
• Any one General Studies manual.
• The Hindu's S&T section.
• Baaki toh Bhagwaan aur google search maalik hai, because there is no end to this!

[Science] Pulse Polio Campaign, India a Polio Free country?

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Demo Questions

#1) Identify Correct statement(s)
a. Polio virus directly damages the muscle cells and thus causes paralysis of legs.
b. Polio vaccine cannot be taken via Injection.
c.  Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only Polio Endemic nations in the world.
d.  India achieved complete Polio Free Status in 2012.

Ans

1. Only 1 and 2.
2. Only 1,2,3
3. Only 3
4. All of them

#2) Name of the chemical compound used in Indelible Ink Marker Pens during Elections and Pulse-Polio Campaigns.

1. Lead Acetate
2. Silver Nitrate
3. Chromium Sulphate
4. Zink Bromide

What is this disease?

Polio virus enters the nervous system and infects nerve cells that control muscles. Then in most cases, it causes paralysis of legs.

How does is spread?

Polio-virus spreads in human feces. People become infected with the virus through contaminated food and water, especially in areas where sanitation and hygiene are poor.

Vaccination?

• Jonas Salk of USA developed the vaccine to fight Polio in 1950s.
• He could have made billions of dollars by getting Patent rights for his vaccine but he didnot patent his discovery.
• Salk's vaccine, is known as the inactivated polio-virus vaccine (IPV)
• World Health Organization (WHO) had launched massive campaign against Polio, they provided the funds and India started Pulse Polio campaign in 1995.
• Polio vaccine can be given both orally as well as by injection. But in Pulse Polio campaigns, oral-vaccine is used, because it is cheap and doesn't require skilled medical staff for injections.

Prevalence

• Till 2011, Pak, Afghan, India, Nigeria (PAIN) were in the list of Polio endemic countries.
• In January 2011, last polio case in West Bengal. The traditional polio endemic states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have not reported any cases of polio.
• So according to WHO protocol, India's name is removed from the list of Polio Endemic countries in 2012 (No new cases of polio for 12 months continuously.)
• However, India is not yet a complete 'Polio Free' country, because According to protocol, India will have to remain polio-free for the next two years to achieve complete polio free status.

Problem in Vaccination

• Sometimes infants get fever, diarrhea after vaccination as side effects, but then some people exaggerate and start spreading rumors that Polio vaccine causes Impotency in Children. 
• Because of this reason many poor and illiterate parents particularly in the Muslim communities of UP and Maharashtra, didnot allow the health-workers to enter into their areas.
• Health workers and district administration  did their best in spreading awareness and breaking myths. And hence not much public-resistance to Polio vaccination in those regions, nowadays.

Earlier
Tuberculosis and DOTS therapy
Answers of Demo Q?: 
1. Only 3.
2. Silver Nitrate.